od
nearly breast-high among dry brush and withered fern, he heard a faint
noise. Not far off, a narrow trail led through the trees to the back
of the hotel. Standing quite still, he searched the wood with narrowed
eyes.

It was shadowy all around him, but where the trees grew farther apart
their tall straight trunks cut against the glimmer of the snow. The
noise had stopped, but he could see anybody who crossed the nearest
opening, and waited, tense and highly-strung. Then he heard steps
coming from the hotel, and an indistinct object emerged from the gloom.
It was a man, taking some care to move quietly. When he got nearer,
Foster, knowing there was dark brush behind him, thrust his arm into
the fern and made it rustle as a gust of wind swept the wood.

The man, who wore an old skin coat, stopped and looked round, and
Foster saw his face. It was Daly, and he seemed uncertain if the wind
had made the noise or not. After standing motionless for a few
moments, he took out his watch, and then moved on again as softly as he
could.

The meaning of this was plain. Daly had learned that Walters had been
taken away by the police and had concluded that Lawrence meant to
fight. As it was too late to interfere, he meant to make his escape.
Foster resolved to prevent this if he could, but Daly had the advantage
of an open trail, while he was entangled in the brush. He crept out
and pushed through the wood as fast and silently as possible, but when
looking for a way round a thicket caught his foot and fell among some
rotten branches with a crash. He got up, growling at the accident, for
there was no use in following the other after this, although he did not
feel beaten yet. Daly no doubt hoped to get away by the Montreal
express, but would hide in the bush until the last moment.

Foster went back to the hotel for Pete, and leaving a note for
Lawrence, dressed for a journey and took the road to the station. On
reaching a bend, however, he plunged into the wood and made his way to
the line, beside which he and Pete crept in the gloom of the trees, and
only came into the open for a few yards near the agent's shack. Here
they sat down behind a big water tank and Foster felt satisfied. If
they had reached the station without being noticed, they would find
Daly when he got on board the train, and if he had seen them, they had
cut off his best chance of escape.

It was nearly dark and very cold, but Foster was glad the