Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE do you know about this murder? " Donald sat at the dinner table in Fort Dickey with John Buller and Pierre Cardepie, his two assistants. A roaring log fire barely fought off the cold as they ate their caribou steak, beans, bread, and tea. "Not much," replied Buller. "The day after you left, one of the Indians tore in at midnight with the news. He said that he and his partner, the murdered man, had been met by Charley Seguis while running their trap-line, and that Charley had drawn the other aside in private conversation. Half an hour later, there had been sudden words, followed by blows, and, before Johnny could defend himself, Seguis had stabbed him. What they had been talking about the Indian didn't know, for Charley had hurried off immediately after the murder." " What direction did he take? " asked McTavish. " The rumor declared that he went north, toward Beaver Lake." " Could he give any motive for the deed? " " No. So far as he knew, Johnny had never seen .Charley Seguis before." "Well, boys, I'm off in the morning after him.The factor is particularly keen for having hint brought in right away. He also wants to know what I have done with all the furs that he claims have disappeared from this district during the last year." Donald's tone was contemptuous. " I didn't know any had disappeared," said Bul- ler, in amazement. " Nor me! " I tink dat Feetzpatreeck ees gone crazy in hees old age," added Cardeple, with a snort. " Well, whatever it is, he claims the Company has lost twenty thousand pounds, and that I'm to blame for it," said Donald. " There's something wrong here, Mac," remarked Buller, decisively. " This isn't all accident, and, if you say so, I'll go with you to-morrow." " It's awfully good of yo...