question. The last time we met you acquiesced in my decision
that I had better keep out of the country, and I see no reason for
changing it."

"The question must certainly be raised; that is why I sent for you.
You can understand my anxiety to learn what truth there is in the story
I have heard."

"It might be better if you told me all about it."

"Very well; the task is painful, but it can't be shirked."

Challoner carefully outlined Clarke's theory of what had happened
during the night attack, and Blake listened quietly.

"Of course," Challoner concluded, "the man had an obvious end to serve,
and I dare say he was capable of misrepresenting things to suit it.
I'll confess that I found the thought comforting; but I want the truth,
Dick. I must do what's right."

"Clarke once approached me about the matter, but he will never trouble
either of us again. I helped to bury him up in the wilds."

"Dead!" exclaimed Challoner.

"Frozen. In fact, it was not his fault that we escaped his fate. He
set a trap for us, intending that we should starve."

"But why?"

"His motive was obvious. There was a man with us whose farm and stock
would, in the event of his death, fall into Clarke's hands; and it's
clear that I was a serious obstacle in his way. Can't you see that he
couldn't use his absurd story to bleed you unless I supported it?"

Challoner felt the force of this. He was a shrewd man, but just then
he was too disturbed to reason closely and he failed to perceive that
his nephew's refusal to confirm the story did not necessarily disprove
it. That Clarke had thought it worth while to attempt his life bulked
most largely in his uncle's eyes.

"He urged me to take some shares in a petroleum syndicate," he said.

"Then, I believe you missed a good thing." Blake seized upon the change
of topic. "The shares would probably have paid you well. He found the
oil, and put us on the track of it, though of course he didn't have any
wish to do that. We expect to make a good deal out of the discovery."

"It looks like justice," Challoner declared. "But we are getting away
from the point. I'd better tell you that after my talk with the man, I
felt that he might be dangerous and that I must send for you."

"Why didn't you send for Bertram?"

Challoner hesitated.

"When I cabled out instructions to find you, there was no word of his
leaving India; then, you must see how hard it would have been to hint
at my sus