"Oh, nothing much. We thought we should like to hold a conversation with him, that's all," answered Stacy carelessly.

"You are quite sure it was a buck that he was carrying?" questioned Butler.

"I reckon I ought to know."

"I think you are mistaken."

"Eh?"

"It was a doe."

"So?"

"Yes, sir. It was my doe," persisted Butler.

"Yours?" in well-feigned amazement.

"It was. I shot him and someone stole him. If you know anything about the man who took him, I would ask you kindly to tell me. He may have carried the carcass away under the impression that the man who killed the doe had abandoned it."