Saxton opened the box he pointed to, and then looked at him with a grin as he took out a bottle. "I've no great use for California wine. Bourbon whisky's good enough for me," he said. "Who've you been entertaining? Not Devine, anyway." "Isn't the question a little outside the mark? If you want it, there's water with ice in it here. It's from the tail of the glacier." Saxton laughed. "Then it would take a man 'most an hour and a half to bring a pail of it. It's quite easy to tell where you came from. Well, I'm here; but on the other occasions it was I who sent for you." "There is, however, a difference on this one, though I wouldn't like you to think that was the reason. The fact is, I've been busy." "Well," said Saxton, "we'll get down to the business one. Still, how'd you get your arm in a sling?" "Are you sure you don't know?" "Quite!" and Saxton's sincerity was evident. "How should I?" "I had fancied you knew all about it by this time, and felt a little astonished that you didn't come over, but I see I was mistaken. I tried to get hold of Devine's papers, as I promised you, and came upon another man attempting the same thing. During the difference of opinion that followed he shot me." Saxton rose, and, kicking his chair aside, condemned himself several times as he moved up and down the tent. "To be quite straight, I put another man on to it, as you didn't seem to be making much of a show," he said. "Still, what in the name of thunder did he want to shoot you for, when he knew you were standing in with me?" "I can't say. The difficulty was that I was not as well informed as he seems to have been. It would have paid you better to be frank with me. Hasn't the man come back to you?" "No," and Saxton's face grew a trifle vicious, "he hasn't--concern him! You see what that brings us to? I felt sure of that man; but it's plain he meant to find out what I wanted, and then, if he couldn't make use of it himself, sell it me. There are three of us after the same thing now." Brooke shook his head. "No," he said, drily, "I don't think there are. You and the other man make two, while I scarcely fancy either of you will get hold of the papers, because I gave them back to Devine, and he has sent them to Vancouver." "You had them?" and Saxton gasped. "I certainly had," said Brooke. "They were put up in a very flimsy packet, which Mrs. Devine handed me. I did not, however, look at one of them." Saxton, who seemed about to sit down, crossed the tent and stared at him. "Well," he said, "may I be shot if I ever struck another man quite like you! What in the name of thunder made you let Devine have them back for?"