wo bullets here, and both of them are
for Simon. To-night I had him in my power and spared him. Now I am
going back, and I shall shoot him down like a dog, whether he is armed
or defenceless."

"You no shoot Simon," the Indian grunted. "_Le diable_ him frien'.
You had him to-night; why you no shoot him then?"

I did not know. But I was going to find out soon.

"I am going back to kill him now," I repeated. "Afterward I do not
know what will happen. But you can go on to the hut of Pere Antoine
and, if luck is with me, I shall meet you, there--perhaps with Mlle.
Jacqueline."

But I had little hope of meeting him with Jacqueline. Only I could not
forbear to speak her name again.

Pierre's face was twitching. "You no go back!" he cried. "Simon he
kill you. No use to fight Simon. Him time not come yet. When him
time come, he die."

"When will it come?" I asked, looking at the man's features, which were
distorted with frenzied hate.

"I not know!" exclaimed Pierre. "I try find--cards to tell me. No
Indian man in this part country remember how to tell me. In old days
many could tell. Now I wait. When his time come, old Indian know. He
kill Simon then himself. Nobody else kill Simon. No use you try."

I own that, standing there and thinking upon the man's hellish design,
his unscrupulousness, his singular success, I felt the old fear of
Leroux in my heart, and with it something of the same superstition of
his invulnerability. But my resolution surpassed my fear, and I knew
it would not fail me. How often had I resolved--and forgotten. Not
again would I forget.

I shook the Indian's hands away and plunged forward into the tunnel
again. I heard him calling after me; but I think he saw that I was not
to be deterred, for he made no attempt to follow me.

And so I went on and on through the darkness, and with each step toward
the _chateau_ my resolution grew.

I seemed to have been travelling for a much longer period than before.
Every moment, straining my eyes, I expected to see the light of the
entrance, but the road went on straight apparently, and there was
nothing but the darkness.

At last I stood still; and then, just as I was thinking of retracing my
steps, I felt a breath of air upon my forehead.

I hurried on again, and in another minute I saw a faint light in front
of me. Presently it grew more distinct. I was approaching the
tunnel's mouth. But I stopped again. I was waiting f