"I have thought of that, but there are difficulties," he said, as a man considering. "I shall excite less enmity if I can provide for her safety in another way." "The Mission--" I suggested. "I should have both tongs at my throat at once," he laughed. "She must be where she can be returned at my will. And it is best that she should be with some good white woman." "I’m afraid that the good white woman you have in mind would not care to take her in charge on those terms," I said. Big Sam looked at the girl thoughtfully. "Well, then, I must let my benevolent plans for her welfare go. It is a pity, too. I do not often indulge in such a luxury. But there are more important matters at stake than the life of a girl." I looked at the girl and remembered a painted face that had grinned at me from behind a wicket a little while before. At the thought of what it meant to her, I took a sudden resolve. "If I can be of service, I shall be happy." "I don’t think you will regret it," said Big Sam. "Can you arrange it by this evening?" "I can not promise. The conditions make a difficulty." "True. But they are imperative. I must trust to your honor to carry them out. But I hope that you will remember that I stake my life on it." I looked my surprise. "It is quite true," he said simply. "My people are not troubled with scruples in the matter, and I must be security that the girl will be returned when the conditions I make are complied with." "And these are--" "That a worthy man of her race wishes to make her his wife, and is willing to settle the claims of the two tongs." "The two tongs?" "Yes. He must pay the price demanded by the one, and the--the--" "Blackmail," I suggested, as Big Sam hesitated for a word. "Well, yes--not a pleasant word, I believe, but accurate--the blackmail demanded by the other." "I will do my best to find a guardian who will meet your conditions." "Can you make it convenient to bring your word this evening?" "That is short notice." "It is important. I shall be here from nine to twelve." "I shall do my best." "I shall be deeply in your debt," he said. I looked at him closely. "You can cancel it readily." "I shall be most happy. How?" I hesitated a moment and rose. "By telling me what is the business of your communications with Mr. Peter Bolton." We had come to such confidential terms on the matter of the maiden that Big Sam allowed himself to be surprised. His discomposure flashed in his eyes for but an instant, and was gone. "I do not understand you," he said politely, rising in his turn. "The memorandum that I brought might remind you," I said dryly. I could see that I had risen a notch in Big Sam’s estimation; and he was uncertain how much more I knew than was on the surface.