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For the feel of the bite of the gut-lash was strong upon him. "B'jo'! B'jo'! Nitchi!" greeted LeFroy, smiling into the scowling face. "B'jo'!" grunted the younger man with evident lack of enthusiasm. "Kah MacNair?" The Indian returned a noncommittal shrug. LeFroy repeated his question, at the same time taking from his pocket a cheap clasp-knife which he extended toward the Indian.
Thus it was that the relieved LeFroy leaped with alacrity to obey when, a moment later, MacNair ordered him to the storehouse to break out the necessary provisions for a ten-days' journey for all his Indians.
They were on the steamer together for about twenty-four hours, during which Lefroy hardly spoke a word. As far as his companion could understand he was out of funds, because he remained sober during the greater part of the day, taking only what amount of liquor was provided for him. Before, however, they reached St.
LeFroy was kept busy in the storehouse, and with the passing of the days Chloe noticed that he managed to spend more and more time in company with Big Lena. At first she gave the matter no thought. But when night after night she heard the voices of the two as they sat about the kitchen-stove long after she had retired, she began to consider the matter seriously.
The Doctor could be got to believe it. But then if it were not true? It was only for a moment that he doubted. "I must go to 'Frisco all the same," he said. "Why so?" "Because I must in truth stand upon his grave. I must have proof that he has been buried there." "Then you may go by yourself," said Robert Lefroy.
Big Lena shook the man roughly by way of emphasis, and MacNair smiled as he noted the foolish grin with which LeFroy submitted to the inevitable. For years he had known LeFroy as a bad man, second only to Lapierre in cunning and brutal cruelty; and to see him now, cowering under the domination of his future spouse, was to MacNair the height of the ridiculous but MacNair was unmarried.
Peacocke now passed over lightly, saying nothing specially of the assistance which he himself had rendered. "And she was left quite alone?" asked the Doctor. "Quite alone." "And for how long?" "Eighteen months had passed before we heard any tidings. Then there came news that Colonel Lefroy was dead." "The husband?" "We did not know which. They were both Colonels." "And then?"
Each evening Lapierre repaired to the cottage, and LeFroy at his post in the storehouse nodded sagely to himself as the notes of the girl's rich contralto floated loud and clear above the twang of the accompanying guitar. Always the quarter-breed spoke eagerly to Chloe of the proposed trip to Snare Lake, and bitterly he regretted the enforced delay incident to outfitting the trappers.
With the pistol still held at the other man's head, Peacocke slowly extracted himself from his bed. "Now," said he, "if you don't come away from the door I shall fire one barrel just to let them know in the house what sort of affair is going on. Put the knife down. You know that I shall not hurt you then." After hesitating for a moment or two, Lefroy did put the knife down.
A doubt that caused her to ponder long of nights as she lay in her little room listening to the droning voices of LeFroy and Big Lena as they talked by the stove in the kitchen. Strange fancies and pictures the girl built up as she lay, half waking, half dreaming between her blankets.
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