ble?"

The court-room held its breath for her answer.

"Favorable," she murmured.

John Gaviller looked up astonished.

The judge gave her over to Denholm. "Will you examine?" he asked.

Denholm consulted with his client. Ambrose, up to this moment so
indifferent to the lawyers, could be seen giving him positive
instructions. Denholm expostulated with him. The bench showed
symptoms of impatience. Finally Denholm rose.

"My lord," he said. "I have never seen Miss Gaviller before this
moment. I have no inkling of the nature of her evidence. Left to
myself, I should ask for an adjournment; surely we are entitled to it.
But my client insists on going ahead. My lord"--his voice shook a
little--"none but an innocent man could be so rash!"

"Never mind that," rebuked the judge. He was distinctly nettled by the
upset of court decorum.

"I will therefore respectfully ask the indulgence of the court,"
Denholm went on, "and move to reopen the taking of testimony."

"Proceed," said the judge.

A court attendant led Colina to the witness stand. She was sworn.
Judge, lawyers, and spectators alike searched her grave, composed face
for some suggestion of what she had to say. Nothing was to be read
there.

"Miss Gaviller," said Denholm, "I can only ask you to tell in your own
words all that you know bearing on the offenses with which Ambrose
Doane is charged."

"My father, Mr. Macfarlane, Dr. Giddings have all testified, I
suppose," said Colina. "They can tell you as much or more than I can.
I have come to tell you of things that happened after his arrest, after
all the others went out of the country."

Every one connected with the case sat up. Denholm's eye brightened.

"Please go on," he said and sat down.

Colina, in a low, steady voice, commenced her story at the point where
Ambrose had asked her to find some one to go in search of Nesis.

While she spoke her grave eyes were brooding over the prisoner's bent,
dark head below. He dared not look at her. The court-room was so
still that when she paused for a word one could hear the clock on the
wall tick.

She told of her journey to the Kakisa River; her interview with
Sergeant Plaskett (which provoked a smile); her search among the
teepees; her encounter with Marya, and all that followed on that.

Without a trace of self-consciousness she told how she and Cora had set
off at night on the unknown trail, and how she had ridden into the
middle of t