"It's that awful Murphy, is n't it?"

"He's the one I'm starting after first, and one sight at his right hand

will decide whether he is to be the last as well."

"I never supposed you would seek revenge, like a savage," she remarked,

quietly. "You never used to be that way."

"Good Lord, Naida, do you think I 'm low down enough to go out hunting

that poor cuss merely to get even with him for trying to stick me with

a knife? Why, there are twenty others who have done as much, and we

have been the best of friends afterwards. Oh, no, lassie, it means

more than that, and harks back many a long year. I told you I saw a

mark on his hand I would never forget--but I saw that mark first

fifteen years ago. I 'm not taking my life in my hand to revenge the

killing of Slavin, or in any memory of that little misunderstanding

between the citizens of Glencaid and myself. I should say not. I have

been slashed at and shot at somewhat promiscuously during the last five

years, but I never permitted such little affairs to interfere with

either business, pleasure, or friendship. If this fellow Murphy, or

whoever the man I am after may prove to be, had contented himself with

endeavoring playfully to carve me, the account would be considered

closed. But this is a duty I owe a friend, a dead friend, to run to

earth this murderer. Do you understand now? The fellow who did that

shooting up at Bethune fifteen years ago had the same sort of a mark on

his right hand as this one who killed Slavin. That's why I'm after

him, and when I catch up he'll either squeal or die. He won't be very

likely to look on the matter as a joke."

"But how do you know?"

"I never told you the whole story, and I don't mean to now until I come

back, and can make everything perfectly clear. It would n't do you any

good the way things stand now, and would only make you uneasy. But if

you do any praying over it, my girl, pray good and hard that I may

discover some means for making that fellow squeal."

She made no response. He had told her so little, that it left her

blindly groping, yet fearful to ask for more. She stood gazing

thoughtfully past him.

"Have you heard anything lately, Bob, about the Seventh?" she asked,

finally. "Since--since N Troop left here?"




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