rried. I was half guessing----" He broke
off and sighed as though in relief. "But I've got it clear enough now.
And Louis Creal'll have to reckon with me first. We'll make back to
camp."

Bill offered no comment. He watched the great figure of his companion
move towards the door. Nor was the nerve of the man without deep
effect upon him. Kars passed out on to the open plateau and instantly
a rain of bullets spat their vicious purpose all about him. Even as
Bill stepped out after him his feelings were absorbed in his admiration
of the other.

The shots continued. They all came from the same direction, from the
woods across the river, somewhere just above their camp. It was Indian
firing. Its character was unmistakable. It was erratic, and many of
the shots failed hopelessly to reach the plateau at all.

The movements of the two men were rapid without haste, and, as they
left the plateau, the firing ceased.

An hour later they were walking up the foreshore to their camp, and the
canoe was hauled up out of the water. The sluices were in full work
under the watchful eye of Abe Dodds. The thirsty Saunders was driving
his gang at the placers, from which was being drawn a stream of pay
dirt that never ceased from daylight to dark. They had heard the
firing, as had the whole camp, and they had wondered. But for the
present their responsibility remained with their labors. The safe
return of Kars and his companion nevertheless afforded keen
satisfaction.

Bill smiled as they moved up towards their quarters. Curiously enough
the recent events seemed to have lightened his mood. Perhaps it was
the passing of a period of doubt. Perhaps the reconstruction of
Murray's doings, which Kars had set out so clearly, had had its effect.
It was impossible to say, for his shrewd eyes rarely told more than he
intended them to.

"Makes you feel good when the other feller starts right in to play his
'hand,'" he said.

Kars looked into the smiling face. He recognized in this man, whose
profession should have robbed him of all the elemental attributes, and
whose years should have suggested a desire for the ease of a successful
life, a real fighter of the long trail, and his heart warmed.

"Makes you feel better when you know none of your 'suits' are weak," he
replied.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE DEPUTATION

Kars was asleep. He was in the deep slumber of complete weariness in
the shanty which had been erected for