impressive because Blake and his companions had narrowly escaped the
same fate. In spite of the cheerful fire, the camp had a lonely air,
and Blake shivered as he glanced at the gleaming snow and the dusky
trees that shut it in. There was something in the desolate North that
daunted him.

Harding's reflections also centered on the dead man, and he had food
for thought. There was a mystery to be explained. He imagined that he
had a clue to it in his pocket, though he could not follow it up for
the present. He waited with some anxiety until Lane closed his book.

"Now," said the sergeant, "there are one or two points I want
explained, and as you know the man, it's possible that you can help me.
How did he come to be here with only about three days' rations?"

"I can answer that," said Harding. "He was in the habit of staying at
the Indian village we told you of. We saw tracks coming from it when
we were there the day before the blizzard began."

"A white man's tracks? Why did you go to the village?"

"I believe they were. We went to look for provisions, and didn't get
them, because the place was empty."

"Then how do you account for the fellow's being there alone?"

"I can't account for it," Blake said quietly.

Lane turned to Harding. The American had a theory, but he was not
prepared to communicate it to the police.

"It's certainly curious," he said evasively.

"We'll start for the village to-morrow."

"As the Indians are away, there won't be much to be learned," Benson
suggested.

"They may have come back. Anyway, it's my business to find out all I
can."

Soon afterward they went to sleep; and, rising an hour or two before
daylight, they broke camp and turned back across the hills. The march
was rough and toilsome, and when they camped at night fatigue and
drowsiness checked conversation, but Blake and his comrades were
sensible of a difference in Lane's manner. It had become reserved, and
he had a thoughtful look. Reaching the village one evening, they were
surprised to find that some of the Indians had returned. After supper
Lane summoned them into the tepee he occupied. Emile interpreted, but
he had some difficulty in making himself understood, for which Harding
was inclined to be thankful.

The sergeant began by explaining the authority and business of the
North-West Police, of whom it appeared one or two of the Indians had
heard. Then he made Emile ask them if they knew Clarke.