"This unfortunate affair has upset me. It has quite disarranged my plans. We have lost five days here, and I shall be compelled to curtail my journey. I have decided to cut out the visits to the posts north of this, and to work across to the Peace River, and so southward."
"You are going back?" cried Ainley in some consternation. "You are going to leave Miss Yardely——"
"No, my dear fellow," interrupted Sir James, anticipating the conclusion of his subordinate's sentence. "I am not going to leave her to her fate. I am going to leave you to find her. I have thought the matter out very carefully. I shall leave four Indians with you, and shall establish a camp at this point, so that in the event of Helen returning here you will not miss her by any chance. I shall send a messenger to Rodwell, at Fort Malsun, instructing him to send you down an outfit that will last the winter if necessary, and you will have carte blanche to follow your own plans, only you must understand, Ainley, my niece must be found. Even though you have to comb this country through with a dust-comb she must be found."
"She shall be, Sir James," answered Ainley with conviction.
"It is, of course, just possible that the man with whom your half-breed saw her was making north to the post at Lobstick Creek, and it will be as well to make an early inquiry there."
"Yes, Sir James, I have thought of that."
"By the way, did you get any description of the man whom my niece was with?"
"Yes. You remember that man who was at Fort Malsun, and who departed quietly one night?"
"You mean that fellow whom you knew at Oxford, and who has since gone under?"
"That is the man, Sir James; I am convinced of it, from the half-breed's description."