a bad name
around. A girl can't have no bad name."

They laughed with light scorn. "You're done for already," Joe said.

"Nobody knows him," said Jack. "He'll never be missed. We'll take good
care he ain't found, neither."

"The police will know," insisted Bela. "They can smell blood. Bam-by
maybe you mad at each ot'er. One will tell."

This was a shrewd shot. The three scowled at each other furtively.
There was no confidence between them.

"Well--what do you want to do?" asked Jack uneasily.

"I give him to the police," stated Bela eagerly. "They comin' up the
river now. Come every year this tam. Then all will be known. It is not
my fault he tak' me away. I good girl."

"Maybe she wants to get him to marry her," suggested Joe.

[Illustration: Bela (Colleen Moore) overhears the brave bargaining for
her.

(_Photoplay Edition--"The Huntress"_) (_A First National Picture_)]

"No marry!" cried Bela with a fine assumption of anger. "He throw
me down! Speak bad to me! I hate him! I want punish!"

"Sounds fishy somehow," muttered Jack, hesitating.

"You come wit' me," she said, shrugging. "See all I do."

"Maybe the idea is to get us away from the boat so he can sneak back
and swipe it," suggested Joe.

"You foolish!" said Bela, with a glance of scorn. "You can walk to
Johnny Gagnon's and get your horses. Let one man stay here to watch
the boats."

"Come on!" cried Shand from the top of the bank. "Catch him first and
decide what we'll do to him after."

"Go on," said Bela sullenly. "I not track him wit'out you give him me
for punish."

"You swear you'll hand him over to the police," demanded Jack sternly.

"I swear it!" she replied instantly, looking him in the eye and
holding up her hand.

"All right. Come on. I'm satisfied," assented Jack.

"Wait!" she said. "You promise to me you not hurt him. Give me your
hand."

She forced all three to shake hands on it, Joe submitting with an ill
grace.

"Now come on," said Shand impatiently.

"Leave your guns," commanded Bela. "Maybe he run. You get mad and
shoot. I want no blood."

Jack scowled at her with reawakened suspicions. "I keep my gun by me,"
he growled.

"He got no gun," sneered Bela scornfully. "You 'fraid catch him wit'
hands?"

"You said he had your gun," said Big Jack.

"He give it back," said Bela. "He is bad man; but no steal. My big
gun, my little gun--see?" She exhibited them.

Jack knew that Sam owned no gun; still he was suspi