to me 'cause 'twas too heavy fer 'im to carry, so I 'jist
brought her along, an' thar she be. Ye may keep her, lassie, if ye
like."

Constance made no reply to these words, but grasped the violin firmly
in her hands, while a look of hope shone in her eyes, Then she realized
her position, and what a strange scene she was making before these men.
The blood rushed to her face.

"Please take me home," she said to Pete, "I wish to be alone."

During this brief scene Keith was undergoing an agony of soul. How he
longed to rush forward, clasp those little hands in his own, and speak
words of comfort. But he had no comfort to give, he could only bring
deep sorrow if he told what he knew. Should he speak? Would it be
right? Whenever the question arose, he crushed it back. No, not now;
some other time. And so he watched her leave the building without one
word of farewell, and as the door closed behind her a sense of
loneliness swept over him, which even the presence of the miners could
not dispel.

"Pete," he asked that night, as the two sat alone in the cabin, "did
Miss Radhurst question you much about her brother?"

"Question me? question me?" replied the prospector. "She drained me
like a force pump."

"And did you tell her all?"

"No, why do ye ask, laddie?" and Pete looked at him in surprise.

"Did you tell her about her brother's cruel partner?"

This time Pete was more than surprised. He stared at his companion in
amazement. "What d'ye mean?" he demanded. "What d'ye know about the
matter?"

"Keep cool, Pete. I know more than you think. Listen, and I will tell
you something."

"My God!" burst from the old man's lips, when Keith had told him the
story of the death in the Ibex cabin, and had shown him the little
locket. "It will kill her!"

"Now, that's the point, Pete. Is it right for us to tell her? She has
enough trouble at the present time with her father, and this new sorrow
will, I am afraid, break her down completely.

"Right, laddie, right ye are," groaned Pete. "But what are we to do?"

"I've been thinking of that," went on Keith. "Mr. Radhurst's
condition is very serious, and he must have special and regular
treatment. I can't stay here, as there is trouble at Klassan, so I
must leave to-morrow."

"What; so soon?" exclaimed Pete.

"Yes, it is necessary."

"But what about the 'Colonel'?"

"He must go to Klassan. Will you take him? He has a good cabin there,
I understand,