at does this mean?" she cried out.

"It means you have lost your wits," answered Richard, contemptuously;
but his eyes on his sister's face were full of pleading agony.

"What knife did you give me when I started home last night?"

"I gave you no knife."

Old Luke Basset asserted himself again. "The gal's lost her balance,"
he said. "It was Burr Gordon's knife, with his name cut into it, that
was stickin' out of Lot Gordon's side."

"Is Lot Gordon dead?" Louis demanded, hoarsely.

"No, he ain't dead, but the doctor thinks he can't live long. Ephraim
Steele and Eleazer Hooper were a-goin' home from the ball when they
come right on Lot layin' side of the road and Burr a-tryin' to draw
his knife out, so it shouldn't testify against him."

"It's a lie!" Madelon groaned. "Burr Gordon did not kill him. It was
I! He met me, and tried to--kiss me, and--the knife was in my
hand--Richard made me take it because I was coming home alone, and
there had been rumors of a bear."

"I did not," persisted Richard, doggedly. "I did not make her take my
knife. Here is my knife, with my name cut in the handle."

Madelon turned on him fiercely. "You did, you know you did!" said
she.

"Here is my knife, with my name cut on the handle."

"You gave me a knife as I was coming out of the tavern."

"No, I did not."

"You did, and I killed him with it. It was not Burr! I ran for help,
and I met Burr, and I told him what I had done, and he went back with
me to Lot. Then he sent me home when he heard somebody coming. Ask
Lot Gordon if I did not kill him; if he can speak he can tell you."

"There won't neither him nor Burr say a word," said the old man, "but
there was Burr's knife a-stickin' into Lot's side, with his name cut
into it."

Madelon turned sharply to Louis. "You saw the blood on my hand when I
was rubbing your arm last night," she said.

He made no reply, but stared gloomily at the fire.

"Louis, you saw Lot Gordon's blood on my hand?"

Louis sprang up with an oath, and pushed past her out of the room.

"Louis," Madelon cried, "tell them!"

"She is trying to shield Burr Gordon!" Louis called back, fiercely,
and the closing door shook the house like a cannon-shot.

"Where is Burr?" Madelon demanded of old Luke Basset.

"The sheriff took him to New Salem to jail this morning," he replied,
grinning.

Madelon gave a great cry and started to rush out of the room, but her
father stood in her way.

"Where are you goi