The Lady of North Star

have turned out to be the man whose trail he had followed had occasioned no wonder after the first shock of surprise; but the mystery of the attack upon him,

at Joy herself had any complicity in that business, her frankness havin

him entering the Lodge with a rifle, and he had certainly shown a keen interest about the sled which had waited in the wood, but from the first he had casually offer

a certain knowledge as to the place where the crime had been committed, but he himself might easily have communicated that knowledge to Rayner, though he could not recollect having done so, whilst on the other hand, t

ed the question aloud, and answered it the same w

and Rayner has given no sign. There's th

ection of the trail. The new snow had drifted, but the thick pinewood which grew on the banks of the smaller stream had turned the snow in places, and about two

, and will probably have made a camp

8

ely virgin surface. This made the going very hard, and he marched ahead of his labouring dogs, packing the snow with the great webbed shoes of the North, lifting each foot clear almost perpendicularly, then planting it do

d nothing save these twin scars running parallel to one another. But one sled had passed that way, and he was sure that he was on t

of burning resinous wood reached his nostrils. He stepped off the sled, and hanging on to the gee-pole tried to check the pace of his team. His efforts however, were in vain. The dogs bent their heads to the ice and threw themselves against the

e unfastened the holster wherein he carried his service pistol. He did not know what to expect. That aromatic odour might come from an Indian

l smiled and dropped his hand from the pistol-holster, finding the look of the place altogether reassuring. The dogs came to a standstill on the packed snow in front of the cabin, yelping delight, and whip in hand Bracknell waited, listening. If there were dogs at the cabin they might be expected to charge the new-comers, who fastened in the traces would be heavily handicapped.

answered a

t worked the wooden catch, opened the door, an

the voice again. "N

nds moved instinctively toward

in, but the corners were in comparative darkness, and it was a second or two before he located the owner of the voice. Then, in a bunk in the corner furthest from the door, he caught sight of a man propped among furs and blankets. On the edge of the bunk rested a hand which held a heavy p

he long trail

ying in the bunk. His eyes measured the distance between them and he speculated what chance there was of the success of a sudden spring pro

ot if I were you. I may be a s

as perfectly steady. He recognized the hopelessness of any attack provin

e answered, speaking

gun, of course, in that holster of yours? Well, when I give the word, you will unbuckle the belt, and fling it pistol and all under the bunk h

his fingers worked at the stiff buckle, wondered

r Bracknell hesitated for a second.[86] His fingers fumbl

the command in a

or and it slid to the edge of the b

e. And now having got rid of your arsenal, you can sit down at the table, and put your hands upon it. That wi

e corporal moved towards the rough tab

nd shove that stool fo

lift and throw it. Evidently his mentor realized that also, and was taking no chances, so, still at the pistol point, Corporal Bra

n, with a short laugh,

swered the corp

k you.... Why did you pot me in the wood at North Star Lodge three[87] nig

"and the answer to your other qu

ey? Then who t

know," was the corporal's reply

t's no use trying to bluff me. I know you've been on my track for weeks, and that you were

that not because I am afraid. It is true that I was trailing you, and that I was close at your heels at North Star. But

from his tones the corporal knew that

of further surprising hi

rson whom you went to m

s, and for a moment after the exclamation he stared at

ed the[88] corporal steadily. "You wen

o whistle thoughtfully to himself the while he stared at the man whose

mit that Joy Gargrave was not without grievances

harshly. "If you know Joy at all, you know that the idea of shooting me

s testimony, then, still trying to move the other to some indiscretion of speech, he answered quietly, "

on is preposterous. I won't listen to it; and I war

ral with a short laugh. "But we can easily settle whethe

here were two shots, and[89] they came from both sides of me.

ou hit?" aske

illed clean throug

thing happened?" asked the corporal. "

the main road. I had heard something moving

atically. "It was the shot from the left that

eft? Tell me that if

of the mysteries of this business. I don't know, I w

t, and the wounded man leaned forward with amazement showi

!" answered the

t him thoughtfully, then he said sudd

whilst the other searched his face with inquisitive eyes. The

9

ice dramatic meeting. Drury Lane isn't in it with us, though what the bla

ross your cheek bone was particularized. That and the beard you wear are acquisitions since the old days at Har

to know?" asked th

gun to write your surname and then crossed it out. That gave me the first inkling that you and Koona Dick w

ou now know, you wo

hand that held the pistol hung loosely over the edge of the bunk. The co

pelled to. Duty

your cousin!" c

ore's t

an caught the barrel of the pistol, and turned it away from himself, whilst with the other hand he caught his cousin's wrist, and dug his thumb into the sinews of it, in order to force him to release his hold. In the midst of the struggle there was a sudden clamour of dogs outside, but neither of the men noticed it. The pistol cracked again, and at that moment the door opened