Again she worked up craftily to another and stronger climax, though she felt all the time that La Flitche fathomed her. "You say it was very dark, Mr. La Flitche?" "Ah, oui; quite dark." "How dark? How did you know it was John you met?" "John make much noise when he run. I know that kind of noise." "Could you see him so as to know that it was he?" "Ah, no." "Then, Mr. La Flitche," she demanded, triumphantly, "will you please state how you knew there was blood on the hands of Mr. St. Vincent?" His lip lifted in a dazzling smile, and he paused a moment. "How? I feel it warm on his hands. And my nose--ah, the smoke of the hunter camp long way off, the hole where the rabbit hide, the track of the moose which has gone before, does not my nose tell me?" He flung his head back, and with tense face, eyes closed, nostrils quivering and dilated, he simulated the quiescence of all the senses save one and the concentration of his whole being upon that one. Then his eyes fluttered partly open and he regarded her dreamily. "I smell the blood on his hands, the warm blood, the hot blood on his hands." "And by gad he can do it!" some man exclaimed. And so convinced was Frona that she glanced involuntarily at St. Vincent's hands, and saw there the rusty-brown stains on the cuffs of his flannel shirt. As La Flitche left the stand, Bill Brown came over to her and shook hands. "No more than proper I should know the lawyer for the defence," he said, good-naturedly, running over his notes for the next witness. "But don't you think it is rather unfair to me?" she asked, brightly. "I have not had time to prepare my case. I know nothing about it except what I have gleaned from your two witnesses. Don't you think, Mr. Brown," her voice rippling along in persuasive little notes, "don't you think it would be advisable to adjourn the meeting until to-morrow?" "Hum," he deliberated, looking at his watch. "Wouldn't be a bad idea. It's five o'clock, anyway, and the men ought to be cooking their suppers." She thanked him, as some women can, without speech; yet, as he looked down into her face and eyes, he experienced a subtler and greater satisfaction than if she had spoken. He stepped to his old position and addressed the room. "On consultation of the defence and the prosecution, and upon consideration of the lateness of the hour and the impossibility of finishing the trial within a reasonable limit, I--hum--I take the liberty of moving an adjournment until eight o'clock to-morrow morning." "The ayes have it," the chairman proclaimed, coming down from his place and proceeding to build the fire, for he was a part-owner of the cabin and cook for his crowd. CHAPTER XXVII Frona turned to St. Vincent as the last of the crowd filed out. He clutched her hands spasmodically, like a drowning man. "Do believe me, Frona. Promise me."