left
it, allayed his fears. Everything about the camp was still. Cautiously
drawing up the canoe, he advanced with confidence to give the prearranged
knock on the door. His knuckles beat upon the air. The door was wide open.

Then Garth's heart shrivelled in his breast; and his throat was
constricted as by sudden deadly fumes. He staggered in. There was
a stale odour of gunpowder in the room.

"Natalie! Charley!" he called, in a choked whisper.

The stillness mocked him.

He ran into Natalie's room, still faintly illumined by the embers of
the hearth. A glance told him it was empty; but he felt with his hands
in all the dim corners, agonizingly whispering her name. There was no
evidence here that any struggle had taken place.

Running out to the outer room toward Charley's bed, he fell over a body
lying on the floor. A touch told him it was the boy. He disregarded it,
until he had made sure Natalie was not there. Then dragging the body
into the inner room, he built up the fire. He saw the boy was not dead;
he could find no wound on him. He worked desperately to bring him to.

Charley stirred at last, and opened his eyes.

"What happened?" besought the distracted Garth.

The boy only looked at him stupidly.

"For God's sake collect your wits, and tell me!" he cried.

Charley, suddenly clutching Garth's arm, raised himself on his elbow.
"Garth!" he cried wildly. "Natalie! Where is she?"

"God knows!" groaned Garth.

Terrible recollection returned to the boy's eyes. He sat up dizzy and
nauseated. "I remember now!" he stuttered.

"Quick! Quick!" implored Garth.

"It was a little while after you went," Charley continued, getting it
out with difficulty. "Natalie came and shook me. She said she heard a
sound outside.... We waited and listened--a quarter of an hour it
seemed.... We heard nothing.... Then suddenly with one big crack, the
door flew open. They drove a log against it.... I couldn't tell how many
came in--maybe three.... I shoved Natalie behind me in the farthest
corner. I had the Winchester ready in my hands.... They dropped to the
floor when they came in; and scattered. I couldn't tell where they
were--I don't know how long it was.... Suddenly I heard something close
to--somebody breathing. I fired. In the flash I saw them all, Xavier,
Mary, and right over me, Nick Grylls, swinging the butt of his gun--then
my head split in pieces ... and you came!"

"Oh, my God!" cried Garth.

He picked up hi