The Flaming Forest

fterward, the sensation, perhaps, of one who feels himself confronted for a moment by a presence more potent than that of flesh and blood. BLACK ROGER AUDEMARD! Three times, twice

eached out a hand and groped about him, very careful not to make a sound, urged by the feeling that some

was empty. He drew a deep breath and went to the window. It was still open. The voice had undoubtedly come to him through that window, and he fancied he could see where the screen netting was crushed a bit

'clock. In spite of the stars, dawn was close at hand. When he looked out of the window again they were paler and more distant.

he made up his mind that it was not Bateese who had uttered the mysterious words of a few hours ago, for the half-breed had evidently experienced a most uncomfortable night. He was like a rat recently pulled out of

even more miserable than Bateese. And the breakfast amazed him. It was not so much the caribou tenderloin, rich in its own red juice, or the potato, or the pot of coffee that was filling the cabin with it

of the river. The world was a blaze of sunlit glory. His imagination carried him across the river. Somewhere over there, in an open spot where the sun was blazing, Jeanne Marie-Ann

the fist of either Bateese or Nepapinas. In another moment the door swung open,

own of her head, was not wet. She was not the rain-beaten little partridge that had passed in tragic bedragglement through his mind. Storm had not touched her. Her cheeks were soft with the warm flush of long hours of sleep. When she came in, her lips greetin

n her eyes. She had left the door open, so that the sun filled

endid," he managed to say. "Have

I don't think he liked it. He doesn't understand why

didn't like the thought that I had turned you out in

he cabin, beyond the wardrobe closets and the piano. "There is a little dini

m where you were, and I th

, M'sieu David. Even when I was a baby and he carried me about in his arms, he

rranged the damask curtains which he had crumpled with his hands, placed two or three chairs in their usual places

ge she had sent to him by Bateese. She was warmly and gloriously human. In her apparent unconcern at his presenc

in her throat which he loved to hear, like the faintest melody of laughter that

sing-table and came to him with

these-on occasions,"

silence, betraying something of his mental clumsiness, that brought a faint flush of color into her cheeks. He noted that; and also that th

nd beautiful on him again, was like a knife cu

d watch him smoke," she said. "I am glad it doesn't a

ooked at his breakfast things. "You like muffins, to

, as if her words were a mos

for St. Pierre. He is very fond of them. He say

her two?" a

laughed softly, the color deepening in her chee

lowly. "But there are one or two

nne, if you care to," she interrupt

ed by the fact that she was offering him a privilege which

sual situation, isn't it? In spite of all your kindness, including what was probably your good-intentioned endeavor to put an

n to you last night?"

oner, that I must make no attempt to escape, and that if I did

eriously. "That is

I am a prisoner? You

f you make no attempt to escape,

ze what has happened? Don't you know that according to every law of God and man I should arrest you

nger the flush of color in her cheeks. But her eyes, looki

ock, and if you ask me, I shall refuse to talk to you. If I let you go now, you would probably have me arrested and put in jail. So I

or the Law was struck dead. He stared into the pale face, the beautiful, waiting eyes, saw the pathetic intertwin

-absolutely-r

er eyes filled with a sudden glow that made the little

make no attempt to escape until I have talked with St. Pierre. Bu

e assured him

ited faith in St. Pierre,"

most wonderful man in the worl

t place, he will follow the advice Bateese gave you-tie a

think he will do that

you w

will do anything for me. I don't think he would kill you if I asked him n

aw it is my duty to ask you a few questions. It rests in your power to answer all of them or none of them. I have given you my word not to act until I have seen St