started out to run down a band of Indian thieves. More important
business had crossed his trail, and he explained the whole matter
to Superintendent Fitzgerald, commanding "M" Division at Fort
Churchill. He told Pierre Breault's story as he had heard it. He
gave his reasons for believing it, and that Bram Johnson, three
times a murderer, was alive. He asked that another man be sent
after the Indians, and explained, as nearly as he could, the
direction he would take in his pursuit of Bram.

When the report was finished and sealed he had omitted just one
thing.

Not a word had he written about the rabbit snare woven from a
woman's hair.





CHAPTER IV




The next morning the tail of the storm was still sweeping bitterly
over the edge of the Barren, but Philip set out, with Pierre
Breault as his guide, for the place where the half-breed had seen
Bram Johnson and his wolves in camp. Three days had passed since
that exciting night, and when they arrived at the spot where Bram
had slept the spruce shelter was half buried in a windrow of the