Pagina 147 di 439

She made no answer. Her mind was busy piecing out the facts of

her brother's misspent life. As a little girl she remembered her

big brother before he went away, good-natured, friendly, always

ready to play with her. She was sure he had not been bad, only

fatally weak. Even this man who had slain him was ready to

testify to that.

She came back from her absorption to find Struve outlining what

he meant to do.

"We'll go back this passage along the way you came. I want to

find Mr. Dunke. I allow I've got something to tell him he will be

right interested in hearing."

He picked up the candle and led the way along the tunnel.

Margaret followed him in silence.

CHAPTER XI -- THE SOUTHERNER TAKES A RISK

The convict shambled forward through the tunnel till he came to a

drift which ran into it at a right angle.

"Which way now?" he demanded.

"I don't know."

"Don't know," he screamed. "Didn't you just come along here? Do

you want me to get lost again in this hell-hole?"