He had left the little dog tied there, but now heard it whining, and stopped to loosen it.

It ran about, barking.
Head down, Sim Gage stumbled off, following a trail which he half thought he saw, but he lost it on the pine needles, and came back, bitter of heart, once more to face the man who lay helpless on the ground--the man who now he knew was his enemy, not to be forgiven or spared.
"Where is she ?" he said to Aleck once more.

"It was her trail, I know it.

Tell me the truth now, while you can talk." "You was follering right the way she went, far as I know," moaned Aleck.

"How kin I tell where she went, after I was shot ?" "After you was shot?
Who shot you?
_Did she_ ?" "I told you who shot me.