over with. "I just lay there
and waited."

"What did you think?"

"That Bella was in collusion with the Indian, and that Borg was to be
murdered. It came to me at once."

"And you did nothing?"

"Nothing." His voice sank, and his eyes dropped to Frona, leaning
against the box beneath him and steadying it. She did not seem to be
affected. "Bella came over to me, but I closed my eyes and breathed
regularly. She held the slush-lamp to me, but I played sleep naturally
enough to fool her. Then I heard a snort of sudden awakening and
alarm, and a cry, and I looked out. The Indian was hacking at Borg
with a knife, and Borg was warding off with his arms and trying to
grapple him. When they did grapple, Bella crept up from behind and
threw her arm in a strangle-hold about her husband's neck. She put her
knee into the small of his back, and bent him backward and, with the
Indian helping, threw him to the floor."

"And what did you do?"

"I watched."

"Had you a revolver?"

"Yes."

"The one you previously said John Borg had borrowed?"

"Yes; but I watched."

"Did John Borg call for help?"

"Yes."

"Can you give his words?"

"He called, 'St. Vincent! Oh, St. Vincent! Oh, my God! Oh, St.
Vincent, help me!'" He shuddered at the recollection, and added, "It
was terrible."

"I should say so," Brown grunted. "And you?"

"I watched," was the dogged reply, while a groan went up from the
crowd. "Borg shook clear of them, however, and got on his legs. He
hurled Bella across the cabin with a back-sweep of the arm and turned
upon the Indian. Then they fought. The Indian had dropped the knife,
and the sound of Borg's blows was sickening. I thought he would surely
beat the Indian to death. That was when the furniture was smashed.
They rolled and snarled and struggled like wild beasts. I wondered the
Indian's chest did not cave in under some of Borg's blows. But Bella
got the knife and stabbed her husband repeatedly about the body. The
Indian had clinched with him, and his arms were not free; so he kicked
out at her sideways. He must have broken her legs, for she cried out
and fell down, and though she tried, she never stood up again. Then he
went down, with the Indian under him, across the stove."

"Did he call any more for help?"

"He begged me to come to him."

"And?"

"I watched. He managed to get clear of the Indian and staggered over
to me. He was streaming blood, and I could see he