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218 able. There had been delay in bringing him from Fort Saskatchewan prison, and Dick was presently put in the witness-box in his stead. He felt a moment's tremor as he took the oath. For he meant to clear Jennifer if it were possible; but he knew that it would be at heavy cost to himself. Tempest, looking at him, remembered his Indian name of Carcajou and sighed a little. Dick was very quiet, and his eyes were half-closed; but Tempest knew how he could flash out when it came to fight. Some unimportant questions opened the way for the leading one:

"Why did you take Sergeant Forsyth up to Lobstick Island immediately after having been out in the canoe with Mrs. Ducane?"

"Because she told me I would find her husband and Robison there."

"It is alleged that you went for another reason."

"Well, as it happens, I did. I made Sergeant Forsyth sea-sick." The counsel reddened as a smothered laugh ran through the court.

"The captain of the tug has accused Mrs. Ducane of sending you and Forsyth there to clear the way for the murder of Ducane."

"He would," said Dick composedly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"To accuse everyone interested in the surest way to save himself from suspicion. But I haven't heard yet that he accused Ducane."

"Do you mean that Ducane may have committed suicide?"

"Certainly not. I do not think that Ducane is dead."

"What reason do you give for that opinion?"

"Sergeant Forsyth has had parties searching the woods and Captain Emmett has had men dragging the Channel almost ever since Ducane disappeared. I cannot believe that they would not find him, supposing he was there—if they wished to."

"What do you mean by 'if they wished to'?"

"Captain Emmett might not care to acknowledge publicly that through personal fear he had subjected a woman to a thing of this sort."