He went more slowly toward the cabin, keeping in the deep shadows and stopping now and then to listen.

At the edge of the clearing he paused for a long time.

There was no sign of life about the cabin abandoned by Gregson and Thorne.

It was probable that the two men who had passed along the path had returned to the camp by another trail, and still keeping as much within the shadows as possible he went to the door and entered.
With his feet propped in front of the big box stove sat Jackpine.

The Indian rose as Howland entered, and something in the sullen gloom of his face caused the young engineer to eye him questioningly.
"Any one been here, Jackpine ?" The old sledge-driver gave his head a negative shake and hunched his shoulders, pointing at the same time to the table, on which lay a carefully folded piece of paper.
"Thorne," he grunted.
Howland spread out the paper in the light of the lamp, and read: "MY DEAR HOWLAND: "I forgot to tell you that our mail sledge starts for Le Pas to-morrow at noon, and as I'm planning on going down with it I want you to get over as early as you can in the morning.