t white forehead.

"Us go by river. An-ina hide. Boy hide. Then Uncle Steve come. Boy jump
out. Him say 'Boo!' Uncle Steve all scairt. Much frightened all dead.
So?"

The appeal was irresistible. The boy's excitement leapt. In a moment he
was transformed from a tearful "brave" to a happy, laughing child. He
set off at a run for the river, with An-ina close upon his heels,
utterly regardless of the fact that they were within full view of the
on-coming trail men. This was a detail. The child's enthusiasm permitted
no second thought, and his breathless orders to his nurse were flung
back as he ran. The cover of the bush-lined river was reached, and the
hiding-place was selected just short of the flood water.

The child crouched down trembling with excitement. And the sound of
Uncle Steve's voice giving orders as he came up on the far side of the
water made the suspense almost unendurable. He talked to An-ina, who
crouched at his side. He chattered incessantly. The splash of a canoe,
dropped into the water, was exquisite torture. The dip of paddles set
him well-nigh beside himself. Then, a few moments later, when the light
craft slithered on the mud of the shallows, just beyond the
hiding-place, he felt the psychological moment had come. Out he sprang
at his victim, who was still ankle deep in the water.

"Boo-o-o!" he shrieked, with all the power of his little lungs, and, a
moment later, he was gathered into the caressing arms of a terrified
"uncle."

* * * * *

The work was accomplished. The police officer had fulfilled his mission,
a mission detailed to him coldly, officially, without a shadow of regard
for the tremendous trials entailed, and with only an eye for the
capacity of the officer selected.

So far he had beaten his own schedule. He had calculated his work would
occupy two years from the moment of his going to his return to
Deadwater, but he meant to cut this down by something like six months.
The resolve to do so had been taken during the drear of winter. He had
been haunted by the appealing eyes of the woman he loved, and by the
memory of the soft clutch of baby hands. And his desire had become
irresistible.

Under his new resolve it had become necessary to speed the waking of the
Indians. He had had no scruple. Again he had bearded the chief and
forced his will upon him. For all the old man's fears of the white man's
threats it had been no easy task. But at last he ha