“Both shots from the back,” he mused.  “This wound explains his condition.  The one in the head only scraped the skull, and couldn’t have more than stunned him for a short time.  The other has caused a good deal of bleeding and may be serious.”

With David’s help Doctor Joe carried Lem to his bunk and removed his outer clothing.

The water in the kettle on the stove was now warm enough for Doctor Joe’s purpose.  He poured some of it into a dish, and after dissolving in it some antiseptic tablets, cleansed and temporarily dressed the wounds.

Restoratives were now applied.  Lem responded promptly.  His breathing became perceptible, and at length he opened his eyes and stared at Doctor Joe.  There was no recognition in the stare and in a moment the eyes closed.  Presently they again opened, and this time Lem’s lips moved.

“Where’s Jane?” he asked feebly.

“Your wife seems to be away and the boys, too,” said Doctor Joe.  “We found you alone.”

“Gone to Fort Pelican,” Lem murmured after a moment’s thought.  He stared at Doctor Joe for several minutes, now with the look of one trying to recall something, and at length asked: 

“What’s—­been—­happenin’ to me?”

“You’ve been shot,” said Doctor Joe.  “We found you on the floor.  Some one has shot you.”

“The silver!  The silver fox skin!” Lem displayed excitement.  “Be it on the table?  I had un there!”

“There was no fur on the table when we came,” said Doctor Joe.

Lem made a feeble attempt to rise, but Doctor Joe pressed him gently back upon the pillow, saying as he did so: 

“You must lie quiet, Lem.  Don’t try to move.  You’re not strong enough.”

Lem, like a weary child, closed his eyes in compliance.  Several minutes elapsed before he opened them again, and then he looked steadfastly at Doctor Joe.

“Do you know who I am?” Doctor Joe asked.

“Yes,” answered Lem in a feeble voice; “you’re Doctor Joe.  I knows you.  I’m—­glad you—­came—­Doctor Joe.”

“Lem, you’ve been shot, but we’ll pull you through.  It isn’t so bad, but you’ve lost some blood, and that’s left you weak for a little while.  Don’t talk now.  Rest, and you’ll soon be on your feet again.”

While Lem lay with closed eyes, Doctor Joe turned to consideration of the crime.  If it were true that a silver fox skin had been taken, robbery was undoubtedly the motive for the shooting.  But who could have known of the existence of the skin?  And who could have come to this out-of-the-way place unobserved by the old trapper and shot him without warning?

Instinctively Indian Jake rose before his eyes.  The half-breed’s unsavoury reputation forced itself forward.  And there was the circumstance of Indian Jake’s visit to Flat Point camp the previous evening, his hurried departure in the morning, and his evident desire to hurry into the interior wilderness where he would be swallowed up for several months, and from which there would be innumerable opportunities to escape.  Suddenly Doctor Joe was startled by Lem’s voice, quite strong and natural now: