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"I beg pardon for waking you, sir," he said, leaning close over Kent, as though fearing the guard ht it best for you to hear about the Indian, sir"

"The Indian?"

"Yes, sir--Mooie, sir I a that he had found the scohich the girl was going down-river He said it was hidden in Ki-place, Mercer!"

"A very good place of concealment indeed, sir As soon as it was dark, Mooie returned to watch What happened to him I haven't fully discovered, sir But it ered up to Crossen's place, bleeding and half out of his senses They brought hiht He says the girl went aboard the scow and that the scow started down-river That ue I can not understand Crossen says it's Cree, and that old Mooie believes devils jumped on him with clubs down at Kim's Bayou Of course they must have been men I don't believe in Mooie's devils, sir"

"Nor I," said Kent, the blood stirring strangely in his veins "Mercer, it si that trail"

With a curiously tense face Mercer was looking cautiously toward the door Then he leaned still lower over Kent

"During his s, when I was alone with him, I heard him speak a name, sir Half a dozen times, sir--and it was--KEDSTY!"

Kent's fingers gripped the young Englishman's hand

"You heard THAT, Mercer?"

"I am sure I could not have been mistaken, sir It was repeated a nuainst his pillows Hisswiftly He knew that behind an effort to appear calm Mercer was uneasy over what had happened

"We et out, Mercer," he said "If Mooie should be badly hurt--should die, for instance--and it was discovered that you and I--"

He knew he had gone far enough to give effect to his words He did not even look at Mercer

"Watch hi that happens Find out more about Kedsty, if you can I shall advise you how to act It is rather ticklish, you know--for you! And"--he s Add another egg, will you, Mercer? Three instead of two, and a couple of extra slices of toast And don't let any one know thatIt may be best for both of us--especially if Mooie should happen to die Understand, old man?"