he charge is against me?"

Stonor had no intention of letting out what he knew. He figured that
Imbrie's mind was probably perfectly at ease regarding the
murder--always supposing there had been a murder--because he could not
possibly guess that the body had not been carried over the falls. He
retorted: "If your conscience is easy, what do you care what charge is
made?"

"Naturally I want to know why I'm obliged to upset all my plans to make
this journey."

"There is no charge yet."

"But when you bring me in you'll have to make some kind of a charge."

"Oh, I suppose they'll merely ask you to explain your business up here."

"And if I stand on my rights as a free man, and refuse to tell my
business?"

Stonor shrugged. "That's not up to me. I shan't be the one to question
you."

"Is it a crime to live alone?"

"No. But why did you run away when I came to see you?"

"I didn't run away."

"Don't know what you call it, then. When you saw us coming you hid in a
tree."

"Who was us?" asked Imbrie, with a leer.

Stonor could not bring himself to name Clare's name to the man. "I think
you know," he said quietly. "When night came you fell or jumped out of
the tree, and took to the bush. Later you attempted to sneak into the
house----"

"Well, it was my own house, wasn't it?"

"Sure, that's what puzzles me. What were you afraid of? Then when the
Indian woman screamed you lit out for the beach, and beat it up the
river."

"Well, was that a crime?"

"No, only a suspicious circumstance. Frankly, now, don't you consider
yourself a suspicious character?"

"Oh, it's your business to suspect everybody!"

"Well, when I first met you, why did you lie to me concerning your
identity?"

"I didn't lie. I just kept the truth to myself."

"You told me your name was Hooliam."

"Can't a man have more than one baptismal name?"

"Is it Ernest William, or William Ernest?" asked Stonor mockingly.

"I shan't tell you. I shan't tell you anything about myself until I
know what I'm wanted for. I suppose that's my right, isn't it?"

"Sure!" said Stonor good-naturedly. "Anything you like. Travellers must
be saying something to each other."

But Imbrie was not content to let the matter drop. There was a little
gnawing anxiety somewhere. He burst out: "And have I got to put myself
to the trouble of taking this long journey, just because you're too
thick-witted to understand my perfectly natural motives?"

"Put it that w