don! I think--I know--that I accused you of
shooting me. It's impossible. I couldn't think of it--In my clear mind.
I am quite sure that I know the rascally half-breed who pot-shotted me
like that. And it was you who came in time, and frightened him away,
and saved my life. Will you forgive me--and accept my gratitude?"

There came into the glowing eyes of the girl a reflection of his own
smile. It seemed to him that he saw the corners of her mouth tremble a
little before she answered him.

"I am glad you are feeling better, m'sieu."

"And you will forgive me for--for saying such beastly things to you?"

She was lovely when she smiled, and she was smiling at him now. "If you
want to be forgiven for lying, yes," she said. "I forgive you that,
because it is sometimes your business to lie. It was I who tried to
kill you, m'sieu. And you know it."

"But--"

"You must not talk, m'sieu. It is not good for you: Bateese, will you
tell m'sieu not to talk?"

Carrigan heard a movement behind him.

"M'sieu, you will stop ze talk or I brak hees head wit' ze paddle in my
han'!" came the voice of Bateese close to his shoulder. "Do I mak' ze
word plain so m'sieu compren'?"

"I get you, old man," grunted Carrigan. "I get you--both!"

And he leaned back against his dunnage-sack, staring again at the
witching slimness of the lovely Jeanne Marie-Anne Boulain as she calmly
resumed her paddling in the bow of the canoe.

V

In the few minutes following the efficient and unexpected warning of
Bateese an entirely new element of interest entered into the situation
for David Carrigan. He had more than once assured himself that he had
made a success of his profession of man-hunting not because he was
brighter than the other fellow, but largely because he possessed a
sense of humor and no vanities to prick. He was in the game because he
loved the adventure of it. He was loyal to his duty, but he was not a
worshipper of the law, nor did he covet the small monthly stipend of
dollars and cents that came of his allegiance to it. As a member of the
Scarlet Police, and especially of "N" Division, he felt the pulse and
thrill of life as he loved to live it. And the greatest of all thrills
came when he was after a man as clever as himself, or cleverer.

This time it was a woman--or a girl! He had not yet made up his mind
which she was. Her voice, low and musical, her poise, and the tranquil
and unexcitable loveliness of her face had