The Frenchmen were getting the small end of the deal." "Eighteen hundred fifty-nine," mused Rod.

"That was forty-nine years ago, before the great Civil War.

Say--" He stopped and looked hard at Wabigoon.
"Did it ever strike you that John Ball might not have been murdered ?" Wabi leaned forward with more than usual eagerness.
"I have had a thought--" he began.
"What ?" "That perhaps he was not killed." "And that after the two Frenchmen died in the knife duel he returned and got the gold," continued Rod.
"No, I had not thought of that," said Wabi.

Suddenly he rose to his feet and joined Mukoki out in the gloom of the chasm.
Rod was puzzled.

Something in his companion's voice, in his face and words, disturbed him.