While the smoke was still pouring from his gunbarrel, Dave caught sight of a larger deer, previously hidden from view by some brushwood. Scarcely had he laid the fawn low when another gunshot rang out, and this deer also went down, kicking convulsively. "Hullo, Sam and Henry must be near!" he thought, and ran forward to make certain that the second animal should not get away. At the same time he set up a shout, so that neither of the others might fire on him by mistake. But the second shot bad been almost as true as the first, and by the time he came up the large deer was breathing its last. "Hullo!" he shouted. "We must have spotted these deer at exactly the same time." No answer came back to this call, and now Dave looked around with surprise. If Henry and Barringford were near, why did they not show themselves? "It's mighty queer," he muttered to himself. "If they--hullo! Hector Bergerac!" Dave was right, and an instant later the French hunter and trapper stepped into the opening. He gazed around sharply to see if the young pioneer had any companions with him. His clothing was almost in tatters, and his general manner showed that he had been having a hard time of it. "Are you alone, Morris?" was his first question. "Perhaps I had better ask you that question," came just as quickly from the young pioneer. "Yes, I am alone," was the answer. "I was making my way to your father's trading-post when I saw the deer and shot it." "And I shot the fawn. What were you going to do at the trading-post?" "I wish to talk to your father on matters of business." "Did Jean Bevoir send you?" At the mention of Bevoir, Hector Bergerac's face grew dark and took on a look full of bitterness. "No, he did not send me, I came of my own accord. I was a fool to go with him in the first place, and that is why I wish to see your father." "Did you have anything to do with the looting of the pack-train?" "No! no! I am not a robber of the road, like Bevoir and Valette. They wanted me to go into the thing, but I refused. Then we quarreled, and I went my own way. But after that Jean Bevoir made me a prisoner--he and Flat Nose--thinking I was going to tell upon them. I was a prisoner until yesterday, when I managed to get away, taking this gun with me. For twenty-four hours I have tasted nothing but one little bird, and I am half starved." "You say you want to see my father," went on Dave after a pause. "May I ask what you wish of him?" "I want to tell him of some plans Bevoir and Flat Nose have made. They wish to make trouble." "Are they near here?" "No, they are going away for the present. But they will be back, either in the winter or the spring." Hector Bergerac was willing enough to go into the camp with Dave, and between them they dragged the fawn and the large deer to the spot. The fire was started up and some venison set to broiling, and of this the Frenchman partook liberally, proving that he was indeed half starved.