I saw Thorpe--alone. He had been drinking. He
laughed at me, and said that Jeanne and I were fools--that he
would not leave as he had said he would--but that he would remain
--always. I told Jeanne, and asked her again to let me kill him.
But she said no--and I had taken my oath to her. Jeanne saw him
again to-night. I was near the cabin, and saw you. I told him I
would kill him if he did not go. He laughed again, and struck me.
When I came to my feet he was half across the open; I followed. I
forgot my oath. Rage filled my heart. You know what happened. You
will tell Jeanne--so that she will understand--"
"Can we not send for her?" asked Philip. "She must be near."
"No, M'sieur," he replied, softly. "It would only give her great
pain to see me--like this. She was to meet me to-night--at twelve
o'clock--on the trail where the road-bed crosses. You will meet
her in my place. When she understands all that has happened you
may bring her here, if she wishes to come. Then--to-morrow night--
you will go together to fire the signal."
"But Thorpe is dead," said Philip. "Will they attack without him?"
"There is another, besides him," said Pierre. "That is one secret
which Thorpe has kept from Jeanne--who the other is--the one who
is paying to have you destroyed.
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