they arrested Doane in the house the gun they took from him was
one that had been stolen from the Company store earlier in the night.
Remember that.

"At daylight the Indians came and made a demand on the defenders of the
house for their leader, Ambrose Doane. They threatened to burn the
house down if he was not given up to them. They welcomed him with
extravagant expressions of joy.

"This is positive evidence, gentlemen. Those in the house saw the
prisoner give an order to bear away the dead bodies, and the order was
obeyed. Such little facts are highly significant.

"Watusk's evidence makes the next link. I do not attempt to justify
this unfortunate man, gentlemen. At least he is contrite, and throws
himself on the mercy of the court. Watusk says when they came back
across the river the Indians were sorry for what they had done and
terrified of punishment.

"Watusk urged them to return what they had stolen. He had taken no
part in the looting of the store. But Ambrose Doane would have none of
it. He persuaded Watusk to give the order to break camp and fly back
to the Kakisa River. Doane promised the bewildered Indian that he
would make good terms for the offenders with the police when they came.

"Doane's contention that he was a prisoner among the Kakisas is
unsupported. Watusk and five other Indians have sworn that not only
was he free to come and go as he chose, but that he directed their
movements.

"As to the prisoner's story of the Indian girl, ah--a touching story,
gentlemen!" Mr. Pascoe paused for a comfortable, silent little laugh.
He wiped his eyes. "Almost worthy of one of our popular romancers!

"Not very original perhaps, the beautiful Indian maid falling a victim
to the charms of the pale-faced prisoner, whispering to him at night
through a chink in his prison wall, and smuggling a knife to assist his
escape!

"Not very original, I say; is it possible he could have read it
somewhere, adding a few little touches of his own? Unfortunately, our
story-teller in his desire for artistic verisimilitude has overreached
himself.

"That touch about Nesis--if that is what he called her, being the
fourth wife of Watusk. Why fourth? one wonders. You have heard Lona
testify that she was Watusk's one and only wife. She ought to know. I
fancy I need say no more about that.

"Next comes Inspector Egerton. The inspector testifies that the trap
set for his men in the hills north of the Ka