sir. As soon as it was dark,
Mooie returned to watch. What happened to him I haven't fully
discovered, sir. But it must have been near midnight when he staggered
up to Crossen's place, bleeding and half out of his senses. They
brought him here, and I watched over him most of the night. He says the
girl went aboard the scow and that the scow started down-river. That
much I learned, sir. But all the rest he mumbles in a tongue I can not
understand. Crossen says it's Cree, and that old Mooie believes devils
jumped on him with clubs down at Kim's Bayou. Of course they must have
been men. I don't believe in Mooie's devils, sir."

"Nor I," said Kent, the blood stirring strangely in his veins. "Mercer,
it simply means there was some one cleverer than old Mooie watching
that trail."

With a curiously tense face Mercer was looking cautiously toward the
door. Then he leaned still lower over Kent.

"During his mumblings, when I was alone with him, I heard him speak a
name, sir. Half a dozen times, sir--and it was--_Kedsty_!"

Kent's fingers gripped the young Englishman's hand.

"You heard _that_, Mercer?"

"I am sure I could not have been mistaken, sir. It was repeated a
number of times."

Kent fell back against his pillows. His mind was working swiftly. He
knew that behind an effort to appear calm Mercer was uneasy over what
had happened.

"We mustn't let this get out, Mercer," he said. "If Mooie should be
badly hurt--should die, for instance--and it was discovered that you
and I--"

He knew he had gone far enough to give effect to his words. He did not
even look at Mercer.

"Watch him closely, old man, and report to me everything that happens.
Find out more about Kedsty, if you can. I shall advise you how to act.
It is rather ticklish, you know--for you! And"--he smiled at
Mercer--"I'm unusually hungry this morning. Add another egg, will you,
Mercer? Three instead of two, and a couple of extra slices of toast.
And don't let any one know that my appetite is improving. It may be
best for both of us--especially if Mooie should happen to die.
Understand, old man?"

"I--I think I do, sir," replied Mercer, paling at the grimly smiling
thing he saw in Kent's eyes. "I shall do as you say, sir."

When he had gone, Kent knew that he had accurately measured his man.
True to a certain type, Mercer would do a great deal for fifty
dollars--under cover. In the open he was a coward. And Kent knew the
value of such a man under