“Think! It is no time for thinking, it is the time for action. There’s some infernal work afoot, and I start on that man’s trail tomorrow. Whatever his game may be now—and it’s a mystery that passes my comprehension—he’s the murderer of Rolf Gargrave, and I’ll get him if I follow him to the Pole! But the story puzzles me! Those Indians asked about Koona Dick. Why should they do that?”
The chief shook his head. “Dat I cannot tell.”
“It’s odd, very odd! Koona Dick is the one man who may reasonably be suspected of a motive for getting rid of Rolf Gargrave. That I know, but——”
He broke off as a thought occurred to him, and then remarked thoughtfully, “The question may have been a mere bluff of Dick’s. He may after all have recognized Sibou and set his men to ask the question in order to discover whether your man had any knowledge of his name! Yes, that may be it! But I will find him, and I will learn the truth. Louis, can I have a team and stores for the morning? And Sibou also? He knows the man and I do not. Of course the service will be paid for from Regina.”
The chief nodded his head. “Ze dogs are yours, with the stores, also Sibou goes with you. But you will find ze trail hard, for dat leg he is not yet strong.”
“It will grow stronger every day, and with Sibou to pack the trail I shall do well. I start at dawn in the morning.”
“Then,” said Louis, rising, “I will go, and ze teams select for you. Ze dogs shall be of ze best.”
He went out leaving Roger Bracknell in a whirl of conflicting thoughts.