ly.

"He say to me he not 'urt you, if you keep away from there," Rina went
on.

"Keep away!" Mabyn fumed. "This is my place! I'll go where I choose on
it! He's trespassing on my land! I've a right to drive him off! I've a
right to kill him if he doesn't go!"

"He will hear you!" said Rina warningly.

"Let him hear me!" said the man--nevertheless he lowered his voice.
"They're a quarter-mile off," he added.

"Listen!" said Rina.

Over the lake, from an immeasurable distance, came throbbing the
imbecile laughter of a loon.

"Loon, him three miles off," said Rina significantly.

Thereafter, Mabyn spoke in a whisper; a wheedling note crept into his
voice. "That was a good scheme of yours, going to the camp to set the
girl's arm," he said. "Now we can find out all they do!"

"I not go to find out," said Rina sadly. "I go for I sorry I 'urt her. I
shoot her jus' lak a breed I am!"

Mabyn paid no attention to this. "Keep your eyes open when you're in
their camp every day," he urged. "See how much food they have; find out
where he keeps the shells for his gun. If you could only steal the gun!"

"He carry it always on his back," said Rina. "He never put it down."

"I know, he's on his guard now," said Mabyn. "But if you act friendly
all the time, he'll forget. We've got plenty of time; do nothing for a
few days. I'll keep away from there too. He'll think it's all right.
_Then_"--Mabyn's whisper was pure venom--"sneak up behind him and knock
him on the head with an axe! Choose a moment when the girl is asleep or
delirious. We will throw his body in the lake. No one will ever know how
it happened!"

There was a pause.

"Will you do it?" said Mabyn eagerly.

Rina remained silent.

Mabyn cursed her under his breath. "I believe this smooth-faced young
whelp has cast an eye on you too," he snarled. "You're false to me!"

A low cry was forced from Rina's lips; she made a rapid move; and Garth
understood that she had thrown herself at the man's feet. "'Erbe't, you
know you don' speak true," she whispered painfully. "You my 'osban'! All
men I hate, but you!"

"Then do what I tell you," snarled Mabyn.

"'Erbe't!" she pleaded rapidly and urgently. "Let them go! What have
they got to do with us? To-morrow I go to him. I tell him how to mak'
her well. The man will give me a horse and things. An' you and I will
ride to the Rice River people. They are my people. They will give me a
gun. We will be so ver' happy, and n