e gripped
Jean's arm forcefully while she peered along the woodland fringe. The
man listened.

"Let's git on quick," Davia whispered. And her mouth was dry with her
terror.

They found Victor as Jean had left him. The prisoner looked up when the
door opened. His eyes brightened at the sight of the woman.

No word was spoken for some moments. In that silence a drama was swiftly
working itself out. Victor was calculating his chances. Davia was
thinking in a loving woman's unreasoning fashion. And Jean was watching
both. At last the giant stooped and removed the gag from his captive's
mouth. The questioning eyes of Victor Gagnon looked from one to the
other and finally rested upon Davia.

"Wal?" he said.

And Davia turned to Jean.

"Loose him!" she said imperiously.

And Jean knew that trouble had come for his plans. He shook his head.
The glance of Victor's eyes as they turned upon Jean was like the edge
of a super-sharpened knife. The trader knew that a crisis had arrived.
Which was the stronger of these two, the brother or the sister? He
waited.

"What are you goin' to do with him?" Davia asked.

She could scarcely withhold the anger which had risen within her.

But Jean did not answer; he was listening to a strange sound which came
to him through the open door. Suddenly he stooped again and began to
readjust the rope that held his prisoner. He secured hands and feet
together in a manner from which Victor was not likely to free himself
easily; and yet from which it was possible for him to get loose. Davia
followed his movements keenly. At last the giant rose; his task was
completed.

"Now," he said, addressing them both. "Say your says--quick."

"You ain't leavin' him here," said the woman, looking squarely into her
brother's eyes.

"That's so."

A strange light leapt into Davia's eyes. Jean saw it and went on with a
frown.

"I'm easy, dead easy; but I guess I've had enough. He'll shift fer
himself. If he'd 'a' acted straight ther'd 'a' been no call fer me to
step in. He didn't. He ain't settin' you right, Davi'; he can't even act
the thief decent. He'd 'a' robbed you an' me, an' left you what you are.
Wal, my way goes."

Then he turned to Victor and briefly told him Davia's story of the
mountain tragedy. As he came to the climax the last vestige of the
trader's insolence vanished. Nick was on his way to the store armed
and--mad. Panic seized upon the listener. His bravado had ever been but
the v