ey and has a claim on your homestead, which will
increase in value as the settlement grows, while sooner or later
they'll bring a railroad in. Now, after what you once told me, I don't
think there's any reason why you shouldn't pay him off in a year or two
if you keep steady and work hard, but while you were in his clutches
that looked very far from probable."

"You might have put it more plainly--I was drinking myself to death."
Benson's face grew stern. "You suggest that this is what the fellow
wished?"

"You can form your own opinion. My point is that it would suit him if
you didn't come back from this trip. With nobody to dispute his
statements he'd prove he had a claim to all you own."

Benson started. "I believe he would stick at nothing; you may be
right. But I'm only one of the party; what would he gain if you and
Blake came to grief?"

"That," said Harding, "is not so clear."

He glanced at his companion searchingly and seeing that he suspected
nothing, decided not to enlighten him. Benson seemed to have overcome
his craving, but there was a possibility that he might relapse upon his
return to the settlement and betray the secret in his cups. Harding
thought Clarke a dangerous man of unusual ability and abnormal
character. He had learned from Benson something of Blake's history and
had seen a chance of extorting money from Colonel Challoner. Indeed,
Clarke had made overtures to Blake on the subject, with the pretext of
wishing to ascertain whether the latter was willing to seek redress,
and had met with an indignant rebuff. This much was a matter of fact,
but Harding surmised that the man, finding Blake more inclined to
thwart than assist him, would be glad to get rid of him. With Blake
out of the way, the Challoners, father and son, would be at his mercy;
and it unfortunately looked as if his wishes might be gratified.
Harding, however, meant to make a determined effort to save his comrade.

"I don't understand what you're leading up to," Benson remarked.

"It's this--I suspect Clarke intended us to get entangled among these
muskegs where we'd have no chance of renewing our provisions, and
misled us about the Stony village, which he didn't wish us to reach.
Well, he has succeeded in getting us into trouble and now he has to
help us out. The fellow is a doctor."

Benson looked up eagerly. "You're going to bring him here? It's a
daring plan, because it will be difficult to make him come."