There was a gradual rise toward the creek and we were obliged to cling to the bushes in making our ascent. Suddenly, as I paused for breath, Gillespie grasped my arm. "For God's sake, stop! This is no affair of yours. On my honor there's nothing that affects you here." "I will see whether there is or not!" I exclaimed, throwing him off, but he kept close beside me. We gained the trail that ran along the creek, and I paused to listen. "Where's your launch?" "Find it," he replied succinctly. I had my bearings pretty well, and set off toward the lake, Gillespie trudging behind in the narrow path. When we had gone about twenty yards a lantern glimmered below and I heard voices raised in excited colloquy. Gillespie started forward at a run. "Keep back! This is my affair!" "I'm making it mine," I replied, and flung in ahead of him. I ran forward rapidly, the voices growing louder, and soon heard men stumbling and falling about in conflict. A woman's voice now rose in a sharp cry: "Let go of him! Let go of him!" Gillespie flashed by me down the bank to the water's edge, where the struggle ended abruptly. I was not far behind, and I saw Henry Holbrook in the grasp of the Italian, who was explaining to the woman, who held the lantern high above her head, that he was only protecting himself. Gillespie had caught hold of the sailor, who continued to protest his innocence of any wish to injure Holbrook; and for a moment we peered through the dark, taking account of one another. "So it's you, is it?" said Henry Holbrook as the Italian freed him and his eyes fell on me. "I should like to know what you mean by meddling in my affairs. By God, I've enough to do with my own flesh and blood without dealing with outsiders." Helen Holbrook turned swiftly and held the lantern toward me, and when she saw me shrugged her shoulders. "You really give yourself a great deal of unnecessary concern, Mr. Donovan." "You are a damned impudent meddler!" blurted Henry Holbrook. "I have had you watched. You--you--" He darted toward me, but the Italian again caught and held him, and another altercation began between them. Holbrook was wrought to a high pitch of excitement and cursed everybody who had in any way interfered with him. "Come, Helen," said Gillespie, stepping to the girl's side; and at this Henry Holbrook turned upon him viciously. "You are another meddlesome outsider. Your father was a pig--a pig, do you understand? If it hadn't been for him I shouldn't be here to-night, camping out like an outlaw. And you've got to stop annoying my daughter!" Helen turned to the Italian and spoke to him rapidly in his own tongue. "You must take him away. He is not himself. Tell him I have done the best I could. Tell him--"