"How did it happen?"
"Too much rum an' a fight. We've not been on good terms with the gang since Seth Lupin's death. They blamed us fer their troubles."
"What! Is Seth dead? Who killed him?" This was important news to
Dane.
"Yes, Seth's dead, but who killed him I don't know. It was awful!"
"Where? When?"
"Up stream, just outside the lodge where the Indians had left the
Colonel's daughter."
He paused, but Dane laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
"Go on," he ordered, in a voice filled with intense excitement. "Where is the girl? Is she safe?"
"Blamed if I know. We got them Injuns to carry her off fer Seth. Then that night jist as he was about to enjoy her company something happened. Me an' my pardners were waitin' fer him to come back, but he never came. At last gittin' anxious, we went to see what was the matter, an' there we found Seth layin' on the ground dead. I tell you it was awful. I ain't been any good since."
"What became of the girl?" Dane questioned.