I could fire," Clare went on. "Your wound is not
serious. The bullet only ploughed the scalp above your ear."

"Who bandaged me?"

"I did. They didn't want to let me, but I made them. I sewed the wound
first. I don't know how I did it, but I did."

Imbrie looked over and saw them talking. "Let him alone," he said
harshly. "Come over here and get your breakfast."

"Go," said Stonor with his eyes and lips. "If he attempted to ill-treat
you in my sight I----"

She understood, and went without demur. Imbrie motioned her to a place
beside him and put a plate before her. She went through the motions of
eating, but her eyes never left Stonor's face. Stonor closed his eyes
and considered their situation. Frightful enough it was in good sooth,
yet it might have been worse. For as he lay quiet he felt his powers
returning. Beyond a slight nausea he was himself again. He thanked God
for a hard skull.

Meanwhile the breed woman was bragging of her exploit. She spoke in
English for the pleasure it gave her to triumph over the whites.

"He gave Mary his canoe and made for the bench."

"I know that," said Imbrie. "Go on."

"Well, as soon as Mary had bound up her leg she wanted to start. But her
leg got worse on the way. When it came time to spell, she had to untie
me and let me cook, while she kept watch over me with the gun--my gun
that Stonor gave her. It was at this place that we spelled. When we went
on, her leg kept getting worse, and soon she said we'd have to stop for
the night. So I made camp. Then she ordered me to come up to her and get
my hands tied, and patted the gun as a sort of hint. I went up to her
all right, and when she put down the gun and took up the rope, I
snatched up the gun, and then I had her!"

The woman and Imbrie roared with laughter.

"Then I just took her knife and her food, and went," the woman said,
callously.

"Damned inhuman--!" Stonor cried involuntarily.

"What's the matter with you!" she returned. "Do you think I was going to
let her take me in and turn me over for shooting at a policeman? Not if
I know it! I was charitable to her if it comes to that. I could have
taken her canoe, too, and then she would properly have starved. But I
left her the canoe and a piece of bread, too. Mary Moosa is fat enough.
I guess she can live off her fat long enough to get to Myengeen's
village."

"What then?" asked Imbrie.

"I just walked off up the river. She couldn't follow me with her leg.
S