'Say, Billy, where's that hut, anyway?' asked the Factor.
''Way down the swamp. Only she and the old medicine man know of it.'
'Thought I knew all the district. Wonder I never struck it.'
'It's well hidden. Petroleum swamp, too. There's a shining fortune lying around there.'
'No way of shipping it, and no market. But think of you hiding down there, and then larking out of the bush that night on me and Kit. You made me swear off liquor for a month, Billy. Why didn't you come back to the fort?'
'Didn't dare,' said Sinclair, shortly.
'Don't see what there was to be scared of.'
'Lamont. I tell you straight I was afraid of him. He's a strong will, while mine after that shot got a bit broken. I was weak and nervous as a baby all summer. Then, I reckoned, if I lay quiet till I got fixed up, I might be able to get in a dirty sort of shot at him to level matters. Yes, I was cowardly mean enough to want a pot at him, same as he put in at me.'
There was no remark, so the hunter continued,—
'When Lamont made off, last boat in the fall, my idea was to follow. Menotah helped me again. Through her I got a canoe with a couple of nitchi boys, who paddled me away across to Horse Island.[1] From there I was lucky enough to get a passage in a late fishing boat. It was a terrible risky journey. We were frozen in twice; but it broke and we got back. Even since then I've kept away from Garry, until I'd got everything ready fixed. Didn't want Lamont to see me. He's round here, you know.'