Loseis smiled coldly. So this was what he had been leading up to!
Conacher’s blue eyes widened with indignation. “Well, I’ll be damned!” he cried. “If this doesn’t. . . .”
Loseis touched him warningly. “I thank you,” she said to Gault with hard sweetness. “Mr. Conacher and I both thank you. We offer you all the thanks that is due to your most generous offer. But under the circumstances, we prefer to remain here.”
Gault’s face was like a wall. He bowed to Loseis, and left them.
“By God . . . !” began Conacher.
“Hush!” said Loseis. “Anger just gives him an opening to get angry too. But coldness mixes him all up.”
“What a fool he must be to think . . .”
“He is not a fool,” interrupted Loseis. “He knew exactly what he was doing. You see he was not sure if we knew that he meant murder. His object was to find that out. Well, he did find out.”
CHAPTER XX
BESIEGED
A little tent of pale green silk, trim and elegant, was pitched for Gault in the meadow below, a short distance from the big fire built by the Crees. After supper they could see Gault seated in the place of honor beside the fire, surrounded by his men. Apparently all was peace and good-fellowship in that camp. The attitudes of the men suggested story-telling, and hearty laughter.