hand.

"You're going to be fair, aren't you, Mr. Macdonald? Because you--don't
like him--you won't--?"

He looked straight into the dark, appealing eyes. "I'm going to be fair
to Robert Milton," he told her harshly. "I'm going to see his murderers
hanged if it costs me every dollar I have in the world."

"None of us object to justice," she told him proudly. "Gordon has
nothing to fear if only the truth is told."

"Then why come to me?" he demanded.

She hesitated; then with a wistful little smile, spoke what was in her
heart. "I'm afraid you won't do justice to yourself. You're good--and
brave--and strong. But you're very willful and set. I don't want to lose
my friend. I want to know that he is all I have believed him--a great
man who stands for the things that are fine and clean and just."

"Then it is for my sake and not for his that you want me to drop the
case against Elliot?" he asked ironically.

"For yours and for his, too. You can't hurt him. Nobody can really be
hurt from outside--not unless he is a traitor to himself. And Gordon
Elliot isn't that. He couldn't do such a thing as this with which you
charge him. It is not in his nature. He can explain everything."

"I don't doubt that. He and his friend Holt are great little
explainers."

In spite of his bitterness Sheba felt a change in him. She seemed to
have a glimpse of his turbid soul engaged in battle. He turned away
without shaking hands, but it struck her that he was not implacable.

While they were at luncheon half a dozen pack-mules laden with supplies
for a telephone construction line outfit had passed. Their small,
sharp-shod hoofs had punched sink-holes in the trail at every step.
Instead of a smooth bottom the dogs found a slushy bog cut to pieces.

At the end of an hour of wallowing Macdonald called a halt.

"There is a cutoff just below here. It will save us nearly two miles,
but we'll have to break trail. Swing to the right just below the big
willow," he told Elliot. "I'll join you presently and relieve you on the
job. But first Miss O'Neill and I are going for a little side trip."

All three of them looked at him in sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer and closed them again without speaking. Sheba had flashed
a warning to him.

"I hope this trip isn't very far off the trail," she said quietly. "I'm
just a wee bit tired."

"It's not far," the mine-owner said curtly.

He was busy unpacking his sled. Presently he fo