But Forsdyke tells the worst story--he heard it in New Orleans.

It seems Le Gaire owned a young girl--a quadroon--whom he took for a mistress; then he tired of the woman, they quarrelled, and the cowardly brute turned her back into the fields, and had her whipped by his overseer.

She died in three months." "I guess it's all true, Bell," I said, and I told him of the boy.

"He was our guide here last night, and it is just as well for Le Gaire the lad did not know he was present.

Help me up, will you ?" I leaned on his arm heavily, but, except for the throbbing of my head, appeared to be in good enough condition.