out a word, she
turned back into the house. Jessie followed her mother. It was nature
asserting itself. Danger was in the air, and the sex instinct at once
became uppermost.

The men were left alone.

Murray turned on the Indian. Father Jose and Alec Mowbray waited
attentively.

"Tell me," Murray commanded. "Tell me quickly--while the missis and
the other are gone. They got his words. You tell me yours."

His words came sharply. Keewin was Allan Mowbray's most trusted scout.

The man answered at once, in a rapid flow of broken English. His one
thought was succor for his great white boss.

"Him trade," he began, adopting his own method of narrating events,
which Murray was far too wise in his understanding of Indians to
attempt to change. "Great boss. Him much trade. Big. Plenty. So we
come by Bell River. One week, two week, three week, by Bell River."
He counted off the weeks on his fingers. "Bimeby Indian--him come
plenty. No pow-wow. Him come by night. All around corrals. Him make
big play. Him shoot plenty. Dead--dead--dead. Much dead." He
pointed at the ground in many directions to indicate the fierceness of
the attack. "Boss Allan--him big chief. Plenty big. Him say us fight
plenty--too. Him say, him show 'em dis Indian. So him fight big. Him
kill heap plenty too. So--one week. More Indian come. Boss Allan
then call Keewin. Us make big pow-wow. Him say ten Indian kill. Good
Indian. Ten still fight. Not 'nuff. No good ten fight whole tribe.
Him get help, or all kill. So. Him call Star-man. Keewin say
Star-man plenty good Indian. Him send Star-man to fort. So. No help
come. Maybe Star-man him get kill. So him pow-wow. Keewin say, him
go fetch help. Keewin go, not all be kill. So Keewin go. Indian find
Keewin. They shoot plenty much. Keewin no care that," he flicked his
tawny fingers in the air. "Indian no good shoot. Keewin laugh. So.
Keewin come fort."

The man ceased speaking, his attitude remaining precisely as it was
before he began. He was without a sign of emotion. Neither the Padre
nor Alec spoke. Both were waiting for Murray. The priest's eyes were
on the trader's stern round face. He was watching and reading with
profound insight. Alec continued to regard the Indian. But he chafed
under Murray's delay.

Before the silence was broken Ailsa Mowbray reappeared in the doorway.
Jessie had remained behind.

The wife's face was a study in st