A sudden thrill shot through him as he rose to examine it.

With his back toward Thorne he said, half laughing, "Perhaps Gregson was afraid that the fellow who clipped off his finger would get him through the window, eh ?" He pretended not to perceive the effect of his words on the senior engineer.

The two sat down to supper and for an hour after they had finished they smoked and talked on the business of the camp.

It was ten o'clock when Thorne and Jackpine left the cabin.
No sooner had they gone than Howland closed and barred the door, lighted another cigar, and began pacing rapidly up and down the room.

Already there were developments.