There came an exclamation in a hoarse and broken voice. "Who are you? Don't shoot--I surrender." "How many are there of you?" inquired Doctor Barnes. "It's me--Big Aleck--I'm shot--I'm dying-- Help!--Who is it?" "Come out, Aleck!" called the high and resolute voice of Sim Gage--"Come on out!" "I can't come out. I'm shot, I tell you." Then Sim Gage did what ordinarily might not have been a wise thing to do. Without pause he swept aside the tent flap with the barrel of his rifle, and stepped in, quickly covering the prostrate figure that lay on the bloody blankets before him. Big Aleck was able to do more than move. He raised one hand, feebly, imploring mercy. "Come out, damn you!" said Sim Gage, his hand at the dollar of the crippled man. He dragged his prisoner out into the light and threw him full length,--mercilessly--upon the needle-covered sand. The crippled man began to weep, to beg. It was small mercy he saw as he looked from face to face. "That's my man," exclaimed Doctor Barnes. "But it's not any accident with a tree. That's gun shot!" "Who done that work down below?" demanded Sim of the prostrate man. "Where is she? Tell me!" His voice still rang high and imperative. Big Aleck shivered where he lay. Now he too saw the flames on ahead in the woods. "Who set that fire?" demanded the Doctor suddenly. "Whose work was that?" "It was sabcats!" said Big Aleck, frightened into an ingenious lie. "They was in here. I'm the government foreman. I don't know how they got in or got out. They must of set a 'clock' somewhere for to start it." "Who do you mean--sabcats?" demanded Doctor Barnes. The other three stood coldly and implacably staring at the crippled man. "I caught them in here--I'm in charge of this work, you see. I tried to stop them. They shot me and left me here. They said they'd send a doctor." "I'm the doctor," replied the medical man, who stood looking at him. "Where is that woman?" Big Aleck rolled his head. "I don't know. I don't know nothing. I'm shot--I'm going to die." "We've got to get out," said Doctor Barnes. "Boys, shall we get him into the car?" "No!" said Sim Gage, sharply. "I won't ride with him. _Where is she_?" He stepped close up to Big Aleck, pushing in front of the others. "You know. Damn you, tell me!" "Keep him away!" yelled Big Aleck. "He's going to kill me!" He tried to get on his elbows, his hands and knees, but could not, broken down as he was. He was abject--an evil man overtaken by an evil fate. "Where is she?" repeated Sim Gage. "Tell me!" "I tell you I don't know. She ran off, that way." "That's the car that brung her up!" said Wid Gardner, motioning toward the ragged tire of the rear wheel. "See that tire, Sim? That's the car! She's been here." "Go see if you can git the trail, Wid," said Sim Gage to his friend. "Quick!"