Part 22 (2/2)

Through the storh a rifle had been fired; the two listened intently But they heard nothing more, and Donald miserably watched Jean push open the rude door of the little cabin Only when Fitzpatrick's voice sounded did he turn away

Next , the sky had cleared, and there was a considerable show of activity in the cah some secret orders had been issued The men had not much more than finished breakfast when a trapper, who had been out still-hunting ga his rifle over his head

No sooner was he within reach than he was surrounded by a circle of the curious

”There's the deuce to pay for somebody, boys,” he cried, ”for I just found the body of Indian Tom, old Maria's son, out there in the woods A bullet hole in the back did the trick He was carrying a gun, but it's still loaded and his cartridge-belt's full, so he couldn't have done the job himself I reached hio Now, I don't knoho had it in for him He ay beyond the sentry lines, and we're twenty miles from the other campI wonder it any of the boys were out in the woods last night?”

Donald, who had not heard the first of the speech, caught the last sentence, and hed shortly

”Well, boys,” he reht; in fact, I heard the shot that finished Indian To out in the woods in a storm like that, McTavish?” someone demanded

Donald hesitated, and bit his lip with vexation He was trapped

It was next to the last thing in his oal becoht into any of his doings But he was not a good liar, and he groped frantically for an adequate answer

”Come on--out with it! Is it so hard to remember?” drawled Buxton

Still, Donald could not say anything He laughed uneasily, and a flush uess, boys,” he finally blurted out, ”I'd rather not say; it was a private matter”

The men looked at one another, and were silent Finally, one, bolder than the rest, cleared his throat

”Didn't you give Tonificantly

The flush became deeper on McTavish's face

”It's none of your darned business, my friend,” he replied, acidly

”But I'll answer your question I did give hi, and he deserved it How did you find it out?

”I dunno It's just one of those things that drifted in I couldn't tell you noho sprung it But I'hty sorry you did it”

”Why?”

”Because, Captain McTavish, there is nothing to do but hold you on suspicion That's the least charge that can be o tell the factor what's happened, and say we'll bring McTavish in shortly”

”Look here, boys, you're not going to try and put that Indian's death on hast

”Sorry, Mac; but what you yourself have adh to lock you up, accused of roaned Donald to hi else cous Fitzpatrick, lying on the bed of boughs, it seeh the old rip on that wounded shoulder, and smiled inwardly with pleasure, for his spirit was still bitterly vindictive