Louie Beaudet started forward, but the doctor blocked him again.
"Marie see you!" exploded Louie angrily.
"She seen me?" Bud scratched his head wonderingly.
"She don't know what happened," explained the doctor. "She says she was coming from my cabin. It was a bit after dark. A man grasped her and something struck her on the head. She has a faint memory of someone giving her a drink of strong liquor, and in an interval of half-consciousness she saw the scarlet jacket of the Mounted."
"And h'every man of de force be here at de pos', except you!" exclaimed Louie, shaking with anger. "You are de man!"
"And we were found together this morning, eh?"
"Pierre Ravalli was bad cut in a fight," said Joe, "and I'm come here for de doctor. When we go back we find you beside de road."
Dr. Clarey nodded sadly. "That is true."
"Did Ravalli die?" asked Bud.