"I thought you had gone to New York," she said. "I took the train east, but only to the next station from Bleachers." "You've not been stopping at that wretched hotel in Bleachers ever since?" "Oh no; I received a pressing invitation from some friends of mine to be their guest, with a prospect of a little shooting, so I've been staying with them ever since." "Did you have a pleasant time?" "Oh, excellent, and I heard more entertaining stories than ever I listened to in a similar period." "Good shooting?" "First rate. Limited in quantity, but of finest quality. Indeed, I may boast of a record; I hit everything I aimed at. Camp fare, however, left a good deal to be desired, so you may imagine how glad I am to return." "I'm very pleased to have an opportunity of giving you something better. How would you like some nice broiled trout, freshly caught this morning?" "Oh, heavenly!" cried Stranleigh, enthusiastically. "I haven't had anything but bread and salt pork since I saw you. Who caught the trout?" "I did. I went down the river early this morning. I must have had a premonition that you would return, famished for trout, and I had quite an adventure, or rather, plunged into a mystery which I have not yet solved. I heard the sound of firing; first a single shot, then a fusilade. I could not tell from whence the sound came. I hurried home with my basket, but there was no one in sight. After a while Jim came in, very much crestfallen, it seemed to me, with his ear tied up clumsily in a handkerchief. He had been shot through the ear, and of course I came to his aid at once. With a woman's curiosity, I asked him how the accident happened. Now, one of Jim's infirmities is that he can only tell the truth when it suits his convenience." "Many of us are like that," said Stranleigh. "Well, this time it didn't suit his convenience." "What did he say?" "That the boys were having a sort of shooting match. I told him I had heard the firing, and feared that there had been a battle of some sort. He said it was the first shot that did for him. They had some bet on as to who could fire the quickest at a flying mark. In his hurry to get ready he had mishandled his gun, and sent a bullet through his ear. The other men had then fired almost simultaneously." "Miss Armstrong, I fear you are too sceptical. Why shouldn't that be a true story?"