at White Chief's Officer
where they are, so he can take their bones back to their own country, or
bury them as he sees fit. If Chief Wanak-aha does not tell White
Officer, and his young men don't show him this place, then the thunders
and lightning will come and kill up all Indian 'Sleeper' men."

An-ina interpreted rapidly. And by the length of her harangue, and by
the attitude of the old man, Steve shrewdly suspected she was adding
liberal embellishments such as her own savage mind suggested as being
salutory. It was always so. An Indian on the side of the police was
merciless to his own people.

The old man replied with surprising energy, and it was obvious to Steve
that panic had achieved all he desired. So he was content to watch
silently while the soft-voiced woman, with unsmiling eyes, spurred the
little, old, great man to decisions which it is more than probable only
real fear could have hastened.

At last An-ina ceased speaking. She turned to Steve who received the net
results she had achieved in concrete form.

"It much good," she said, without permitting the smallest display of
feeling before the watchful eyes of the old chief. "Him say all as
An-ina tell boss white man officer. Young men find dead white men all
kill up. In great, deep place by big waters. So. Him say when winter him
all go then young men take boss white man officer, show him all. Help
him much plenty. All him dog-train, all him young man for boss white man
officer. Yes. Not so as snow him not go. Not find. All kill dead, sure.
'Sleeper' man sleep plenty. Then him all wake. Boss white man say 'go.'
Yes."

The purpose of the visit was achieved. Steve desired nothing more. These
Indians would take him to the place where the two white men had fought
out the old, old battle for a woman. Yes, he was convinced now that
An-ina's original story was the true one. His visit to these squalid
creatures had served a double purpose. The old man's willingness to
comply with his demands amply convinced him that the wife's belief had
no foundation in the facts. Had the Indians murdered Marcel Brand and
his partner, the whole attitude of the chief must have been very
different.

It was some moments before he replied. It was necessary that he should
play his part to the end. So he appeared to consider deeply before he
accepted the chief's offer.

At length he raised his eyes from the flickering blaze of the fire. He
gazed round the dimly lit room where