"Do you mean to murder me?" he asked hoarsely.
"I mean to question you," said I. "Be good enough to step into that canoe."
The Indian and I held the frail craft. Moucher stepped into it, stumbling in the darkness and trembling all over.
"Sit down on the bottom, midway between bow and stern!"
He took the place as I directed.
"Take the bow paddle," said I to Yellow Leaf. "Also loosen your knife."
And when he was ready, I shoved off, straddled the stern, and, kneeling, took the broad paddle.
"Captain Moucher," said I, "if you think to overturn the canoe, in hope of escape, my Indian will kill you in the water."
The canoe slid out into darkness under the high stars.