"I've found a _cache_ of whiskey, sir," he answered, respectfully. The captain investigated. Then he opened the door of the shack and surprised the Americans eating breakfast. When placed under arrest, they seemed stunned, submitting without demur. "I bet Danvers found that _cache_!" muttered Bill. "He's too foxy fer me!" On the return trip to Fort Macleod, Me-Casto began to fear that the men would attempt to prove that the whiskey was not Burroughs'. He knew what he had heard in the lodges; but what would his word be, as against these defiant men? He pondered for many miles, then thought of another way to bring disgrace on Burroughs. He would yet have Pine Coulee, himself! Riding close to the wagon where the morose Charlie sat, Me-Casto craftily engaged in conversation. "_Kitzi-nan-nappi-ekki?_" (your whiskey?) he asked. The Blackfeet would make no effort to learn English, although they understood a little; but most white men had a fair knowledge of the Indian dialects. "No," answered Charlie. "_Nee-a-poos?_" (Burroughs?) "No." "Whose?" was the next question in Blackfoot. "I don't know." "You'll get six months in the guard-room if they get you." "I s'pose so," was the reluctant admission. The prospect was not pleasing. "Then Burroughs have Pine Coulee all time!" "What'd you mean?" thundered Charlie, effectually interested. "Burroughs give Pine Coulee a new dress--new beads--new blanket," was the candid reply. The teamster was stricken dumb. He made no comment on the gossip, but when it came his turn to be examined before Colonel Macleod, he swore that Burroughs was the owner of the seized liquor and that he had been employed to drive these men North. In every way he could, he offset the perjured testimony of Bill, who posed as the victim of circumstantial evidence. The commandant-magistrate was puzzled. Me-Casto had testified that he had heard Burroughs in one of the lodges, arranging for the _caching_ of expected whiskey, in one of the cut banks of the river. The teamster corroborated the Indian. Wild Cat Bill and Burroughs swore that neither owned the confiscated liquor. Colonel Macleod knew nothing of Charlie or Bill; but he considered the standing of Burroughs, also the unreliability of most Indians' testimony, and finally acquitted Burroughs unconditionally, while declaring Bill and Charlie guilty of smuggling, and he sentenced them accordingly. Burroughs promptly furnished the money for the payment of Bill's fine, and Latimer, believing Charlie's tale, loaned him money to escape the guard-room. * * * * * Great was the rejoicing in Burroughs' post that night. Long after midnight Bill waited for a moment with his chief. "I done the best I could, Bob," he said dejectedly, when they were at last alone. "'F Phil Danvers hadn't been along I'd 'a' made it." "I'll get even with him," growled Burroughs.