back to the mountains and his own country by way of the
unexplored river.

We established the fact that Hooliam did not tell his mother what had
happened at the Great Falls. She thought that Hooliam had found Ernest
gone still further north. You can see at the hearing how when Stonor
first told of the murder, in her horror at the discovery that one
brother had killed the other the truth finally came out. Though she had
always taken Hooliam's part she could not altogether deny her feeling
for the other son.

Well, that's about all. I consider that they got off easily; Hooliam
with twenty years, and the woman with half that sentence; but in the
man's case it was impossible to prove that the murder was a deliberate
one, and though the woman certainly did her best to put Stonor out of
the way, as it happened he escaped.

You ask about the Indian woman, Mary Moosa, who served Stonor and Mrs.
Imbrie so faithfully. We overtook her at Swan Lake on the way out. So
she did not starve to death on the river, but recovered from her wound.

When we got out as far as Caribou Lake we met Mrs. Imbrie's distracted
father coming in search of her. The meeting between them was very
affecting. I am happy to say that the young lady has since recovered
her memory entirely, and at the last account was very well.

You are curious to know what kind of fellow Stonor is. I can only
answer, an ornament to the service. Simple, manly and dependable as a
trooper ought to be. With a splendid strong body and a good wit. Out of
such as he the glorious tradition of our force was built. They are
becoming more difficult to get, I am sorry to say. I had long had my eye
on him, and this affair settled it. I have recommended him for a
commission. He is a man of good birth and education. Moreover I saw that
if we didn't commission him we'd lose him; for he wants to get married.
As a result of the terrible trials they faced together he and Ernest
Imbrie's widow have conceived a deep affection for each other. Enlisted
men are not allowed to marry. They make a fine pair, Doncourt. It makes
an old fellow sort of happy and weepy to see them together.

Stonor is now at the Officers' School at General Headquarters, and if he
passes his examinations will be commissioned in the summer.

We'll talk further about this interesting case when good fortune brings
us together again. In the meantime, my dear Doncourt,

Yours faithfully,