ngth away, his
gray-blue eyes fixed upon him, and the deep seams of his heavy face set
as if graven in stone. His huge, knotted hands were upon the table, and
between them lay a naked knife.

CHAPTER XVI

JOHN GALE'S HOUR

It was a heathenish time of night to arouse the girl, thought Burrell,
as he left the barracks, but he must allay these fears that were
besetting him, he must see Necia at once. The low, drifting clouds
obscured what star-glow there was in the heavens, and he stepped back
to light a lantern. By its light he looked at his watch and exclaimed,
then held it to his ear. Five hours had passed since he left Gale's
house. Well, the call was urgent, and Necia would understand his
anxiety.

A few moments later he stood above the squaw, who crouched on the
trader's doorstep, wailing her death song into the night. He could not
check her; she paid no heed to him, but only rocked and moaned and
chanted that strange, weird song which somehow gave strength to his
fears.

"What's wrong; where is Necia? Where is she?" he demanded, and at last
seized her roughly, facing her to the light, but Alluna only blinked
owlishly at his lantern and shook her head.

"Gone away," she finally informed him, and began to weave again in her
despair, but he held her fiercely.

"Where has she gone? When did she go?" He shook her to quicken her
reply.

"I don' know. I don' know. Long time she's gone now." She trailed off
into Indian words he could not comprehend, so he pushed past her into
the house to see for himself, and without knocking flung Necia's door
open and stepped into her chamber. Before he had swept the unfamiliar
room with his eyes he knew that she had indeed gone, and gone
hurriedly, for the signs of disorder betrayed a reckless haste. Hanging
across the back of a chair was what had once been the wondrous dress,
Poleon's gift, now a damp and draggled ruin, and on the floor were two
sodden satin slippers and a pair of wet silk stockings. He picked up
the lace gown and saw that it was torn from shoulder to waist. What
insanity had possessed the girl to rip her garment thus?

"She take her 'nother dress; the one I make las' summer," said Alluna,
who had followed him in and stood staring as he stared.

"When did she go, Alluna? For God's sake, what does this mean?"

"I don' know! She come and she go, and I don' see her; mebbe three,
four hour ago."

"Where's Gale? He'll know. He's gone after her, eh?"