which
met his eyes gave him a severe shock. Everything in the room was
smashed to pieces, table, benches, and bunks. It was evident that a
great fight had taken place, and the victors had departed leaving their
two victims upon the floor.

Dane paid no heed to the dead man in a corner of the room, but turned
his attention to the wounded one near the door. He could not see his
face, and as he looked he gave a sudden start, for lying before him was
one of the three men who had attacked him at Portland Point.

"Where are you hurt?" he asked.

"Here," and the man placed his hand to his left side. "One of them
devils jabbed me with his knife. Oh!" His hand dropped, and his face
became distorted with pain.

Dane felt certain that the injured man could live but a short time, so
he must gain all the information possible. He stooped and held the
candle low.

"Do you know me?" he asked.

The prostrate man stared hard at his face for a few seconds, but
manifested no sign of recognition.

"I guess you don't," Dane continued. "But I know you as one of the men
who attacked me last May at Portland Point. I am Dane Norwood, the
King's ranger."

"Good Lord!" Botreau gasped. "Do it quick, then, fer God's sake."

"Do what?"

"Finish what them devils nearly did. I deserve it."

"I'm not a brute even if you are," Dane declared. "I want to help you,
not kill you."

"But I'm beyond help, an' will soon be like Tom there."

"How did it happen?"

"Too much rum an' a fight. We've not been on good terms with the gang
since Seth Lupin's death. They blamed us fer their troubles."

"What! Is Seth dead? Who killed him?" This was important news to
Dane.

"Yes, Seth's dead, but who killed him I don't know. It was awful!"

"Where? When?"

"Up stream, just outside the lodge where the Indians had left the
Colonel's daughter."

He paused, but Dane laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.

"Go on," he ordered, in a voice filled with intense excitement. "Where
is the girl? Is she safe?"

"Blamed if I know. We got them Injuns to carry her off fer Seth. Then
that night jist as he was about to enjoy her company something
happened. Me an' my pardners were waitin' fer him to come back, but he
never came. At last gittin' anxious, we went to see what was the
matter, an' there we found Seth layin' on the ground dead. I tell you
it was awful. I ain't been any good since."

"What became of the girl?" Dane questione