he others followed and on reaching the wire-fenced corral they found
the animal lying down, with its forequarter stained with blood. George
sent for some water, and he soon found the wound, which was very small
and round.

"It's a curious mark," Hardie commented.

"Yes," said George; "it's a bullet hole."

The surprise of the others was obvious.

"I think it's a hint," George explained. "We'll try to get him on his
feet."

They succeeded, and when the beast had been led into a stall, George
turned to Hardie.

"As you said you wouldn't stay the night, would you mind starting for
the settlement now? The livery stable fellow is said to be clever at
veterinary work; you might send him out, and mail a note I'll give you
to the police."

Hardie professed his willingness to be of service, and on getting into
his buggy said, with some hesitation:

"I'm afraid you're right in your suspicions, and I'm particularly
sorry. In a way, I'm responsible for this."

George smiled, rather grimly.

"One can't go into a fight without getting hurt; and we haven't come to
the end of it yet. This affair won't cost you my support."

The clergyman's eyes sparkled as he held out his hand.

"I never imagined it--you have my sympathy, Mr. Lansing. It would give
me the greatest pleasure to see the cowardly brute who fired that shot
brought to justice."

He drove away, and George went moodily back to the house with Edgar.

"That's a man who has had to choose between his duty and his interest,"
George said; "but just now we have other things to think about. It's a
pity I can't get the bullet out until help arrives."

The livery man turned up on the following day and succeeded in
extracting it; and Flett made his appearance the morning after. He
examined the wounded animal.

"It may have been done by accident; but, if so, it's curious the beast
should have been hit close to a place where it would have killed him,"
he remarked.

"What's your private opinion?" George asked.

The constable smiled.

"As we haven't gone very far yet, I'll reserve it." He took up the
bullet. "Winchester or Marlin; usual caliber; nothing to be made of
that. Now let's go and take a look at the place where the shot was
fired."

They traced back the path of the wounded beast from the spot where
Grierson had found it, by the red splashes that here and there stained
the short grass of the unfenced prairie. At last they stopped where
the grou