“Yes.”
“What was he to you?”
“He was Ahdeek’s father.”
“Your real father?”
The half-breed hesitated again.
“Tell me if that old man was your real father, and the secret of the ring—for you know it. Don’t lie to me now, boy, for in your sleep, in the cave, you told me that you knew the secret of the ring. Now tell me.”
“Will the trader die then?”
“Yes.”
“Then Silver Rifle is—,” the half-breed paused, for the trader’s head fell heavily on his breast, and lay there still.
Ahdeek raised it, but the meaningless stare in the eyes told him that Doc Cromer was dead, beyond peradventure.