And when he spoke, his voice had in it the deep, low, cavernous note of a partridge's drumming.
"I'm glad you've come, Aldous," he said.

"I've been waiting ever since the train come in.

I was afraid you'd go to the cabin!" Aldous stepped forth and gripped the old mountaineer's outstretched hand.
There was intense relief in Donald's eyes.
"I got a little camp back here in the bush," he went on, nodding riverward.
"It's safer 'n the shack these days.

Yo're sure--there ain't no one following ?" "Quite certain," assured Aldous.

"Look here, MacDonald--what in thunder has happened?
Don't continue my suspense! Who shot you?
Why did you warn me ?" Deep in his beard the old hunter laughed.
"Same fellow as would have shot you, I guess," he answered.