him. He come on shore to me."

"What kind of a canoe?" asked Stonor.

"Kakisa canoe. Got willow-branches in it, for cause Eembrie sit on his
knees and paddle, not like Kakisa."

This was a convincing detail. Little beads of perspiration sprang out on
Stonor's brow.

Etzooah went on: "We talk----"

"Could he speak Kakisa?"

"No. We talk by signs. He know some Kakisa words. I teach him that. I
say to him Red-coat and White girl gone down river to see you. You not
see them? How is that? Eembrie laugh: say: 'I see them, but they not see
me. Red-coat want to get me I guess, so I run away.' Eembrie say: 'Don'
you tell Red-coat you see me.' That is why I not want tell. I mean no
harm. Eembrie is my friend. I not want police to get him."

Stonor scarcely heard the last words. His world was tumbling around his
ears. But Etzooah's and Mary's sly, scared glances in his face brought
him to himself. "Anything more?" he asked harshly.

Etzooah hastened on: "Eembrie moch in a hurry. Not want spell. Say he
come away so quick got no grub but duck him shoot. I got not'ing but
little rabbit, but I say, come to my camp, got plenty dry meat, dry
fish. So we paddle up river till the sun is near gone under. Eembrie not
talk much. Eembrie not want come to my camp. Not want my wife, my
brot'er, my children see him. My camp little way from river. Eembrie
wait beside the river. I go bring him dry meat, dry fish, matches and a
hatchet. Eembrie go up river. That is all."

The story had a convincing ring. So far as it went Stonor could scarcely
doubt it, though there was much else that needed to be explained. It
pricked the bubble of his brief happiness. How was he going to tell
Clare? He had much ado to keep his face under the Indians' curious
glances. They naturally were ascribing their terrors to him. This idea
caused him to smile grimly.

"What kind of a gun did Imbrie have?" he asked.

Etzooah replied through Mary that he had not seen Imbrie's gun, that it
was probably covered by his blankets.

Stonor seemed to be pondering deeply on what he had heard. As a matter
of fact, conscious only of the hurt he had received, he was incapable of
consecutive thought. The damnable question reiterated itself. "How am I
going to tell Clare?" Even now she was waiting with her eyes upon him
for some word. He dared not look at her.

He was roused by hearing Etzooah and Mary talking together in scared
voices.

"What does Etzooah say?" he deman