ntly for
the door to open, and gazing meanwhile at the desk littered with papers
and maps, the shelves stacked with musty documents and old account
books. I had not been up long, having slept till past noon. It had been
daylight when I retired, and Captain Rudstone was then closeted with the
factor. I had seen neither of them since.

"Mr. Macdonald has evidently been detained," said the law clerk as he
looked at the huge silver watch he had carried through all his
adventures. "He told me to find you and bring you here, and promised to
join us almost immediately."

"He must have a great many things on his mind to-day," I replied. "But,
tell me, why did he request my presence?"

"It was my suggestion, Mr. Carew. You have always shown a keen interest
in the matter, and I thought you would like to see if this last straw to
which I am clinging amounts to anything."

"You are quite right," said I. "It was thoughtful of you to remember me,
and I am very anxious to know the result of your search."

This, I must confess, was a polite evasion of truth. I had much rather
have been with Flora, whom I had seen for only a few moments since the
previous evening.

"I am by no means sanguine of success," the law-clerk resumed. "There is
but a meagre chance. And yet I feel a sort of presentiment that--Ah,
here he comes now!"

As he spoke the door opened, and Macdonald entered the room. I saw at a
glance, and with some surprise, that he was in good spirits.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting for me," he began. "I had some urgent
matters to attend to. I turned in long after you, Carew, and slept but
two hours. Have you seen anything of Captain Rudstone?"

"No," Mr. Burley and I answered together.

"He is doubtless in bed yet, he needed rest," said the factor. "I had
his whole story from him this morning."

"He gave me an outline of it last night," said I. "It was a most
thrilling narrative."

"Yes, and one that I was heartily glad to hear," replied Macdonald.
"Even if Cuthbert Mackenzie had been killed otherwise than in a struggle
his death would have been a simple act of justice; for it seems that he
admitted and boasted of his part in the capture of Fort Royal. As for
the charge of murder, it is ridiculous!"

"Then you think the affair will blow over?" I cried.

"I am sure of it, under the circumstances," declared the factor. "I
understand that Lieutenant Boyd spoke plainly last night, intimating
that our people suspected