oice.

Paul saw Henry's face and he understood its expression. He knew that it
was harder for his comrade than for himself to endure the confinement
within four walls, but he said nothing. Words would be wasted.

Later in the day their door was opened, and Mr. Pollock came in bringing
with him a cheery breeze.

"I've come to tell you what news there may be," he said, "and also to ask
questions. Now, sit down and make yourselves comfortable. That's right.
The cunning and ambitious Don Francisco Alvarez is in a rage. He is also
somewhat frightened. He knows that Bernardo Galvez will be busy the next
few days trying to secure the proof of the charges that you make against
him. In my opinion, Galvez believes that they are true, but, as you will
agree, he cannot act without proof."

"But that is exactly what we lack at this time," said Henry, "and how can
we get it while we are locked up here?"

"Just so! Just so! That is a point to which I am coming. Now, about this
renegade, this Braxton Wyatt. You say he is the man who drew the maps and
who has been the intermediary in this whole nefarious scheme. Maps could
be drawn, of course, for a purpose not wicked, but if they could be
produced, and above all if Alvarez had made any notes upon them in his own
handwriting, they would go far to help. If not proof, they would at least
be a strong indication. Now, where do you think these maps are kept?"

"On the person of Braxton Wyatt," replied Henry promptly.

The merchant smiled with pleasure.

"Of course! Of course!" he said. "They belong to Wyatt and naturally he
would keep them. Naturally, also, Alvarez would want him to keep them. He
would take care that such things were not found on his own person. We must
get possession of those maps. But we must go further. This renegade has
lived among both the Shawnees and Miamis and is high in their confidence,
is it not so?"

"Yes, both the great head-chiefs, Yellow Panther and Red Eagle, trust
him."

"And to carry out this nefarious alliance some promise must have passed
between Alvarez and the two head chiefs. That promise had to take a
concrete form to be binding."

"War belts," suggested Henry.

"But a white man does not send war belts. He has another kind of token,
and he makes that token with paper, ink, and a goose quill. Yes, Alvarez
is cunning, I know, but the most cunning of all men when he enters a great
conspiracy must leave a loose end hanging about somewhere. O