MacDonnell nodded at Miki, lying at Challoner’s feet.

“Then he lies,” said Challoner quietly.

“He says he bought him of Jacques Le Beau.”

“Then Le Beau sold a dog that didn’t belong to him.”

For a moment MacDonnell was silent.  Then he said: 

“But that wasn’t what I had you come over for, Challoner.  Durant told me something that froze my blood to-night.  Your outfit starts for your post up in the Reindeer Lake county to-morrow, doesn’t it?”

“In the morning.”

“Then could you, with one of my Indians and a team, arrange to swing around by way of the Jackson’s Knee?  You’d lose a week, but you could overtake your outfit before it reached the Reindeer—­and it would be a mighty big favour to me.  There’s a—­a hell of a thing happened over there.”

Again he looked at Miki.

“Gawd!” he breathed.

Challoner waited.  He thought he saw a shudder pass through the Factor’s shoulders.

“I’d go myself—­I ought to, but this frosted lung of mine has made me sit tight this winter, Challoner.  I ought to go.  Why—­(a sudden glow shot into his eyes)—­I knew this Nanette Le Beau when she was so high, fifteen years ago.  I watched her grow up, Challoner.  If I hadn’t been married—­then—­I’d have fallen in love with her.  Do you know her, Challoner?  Did you ever see Nanette Le Beau?”

Challoner shook his head.

“An angel—­if God ever made one,” declared MacDonnell through his red beard.  “She lived over beyond the Jackson’s Knee with her father.  And he died, froze to death crossing Red Eye Lake one night.  I’ve always thought Jacques Le Beau made her marry him after that.  Or else she didn’t know, or was crazed, or frightened at being alone.  Anyway, she married him.  It was five years ago I saw her last.  Now and then I’ve heard things, but I didn’t believe—­not all of them.  I didn’t believe that Le Beau beat her, and knocked her down when he wanted to.  I didn’t believe he dragged her through the snow by her hair one day until she was nearly dead.  They were just rumours, and he was seventy miles away.  But I believe them now.  Durant came from their place, and I guess he told me a whole lot of the truth—­to save that dog.”

Again he looked at Miki.

“You see, Durant tells me that Le Beau caught the dog in one of his traps, took him to his cabin, and tortured him into shape for the big fight.  When Durant came he was so taken with the dog that he bought him, and it was while Le Beau was driving the dog mad in his cage to show his temper that Nanette interfered.  Le Beau knocked her down, and then jumped on her and was pulling her hair and choking her when the dog went for him and killed him.  That’s the story.  Durant told me the truth through fear that I’d have the dog shot if he was an out-and-out murderer.  And that’s why I want you to go by way of the Jackson’s Knee.  I want you to investigate, and I want you to do what you can for Nanette Le Beau.  My Indian will bring her back to Port O’ God.”