secret movements, and attack us whenever we leave a vulnerable point open.  The most surprising part of the whole affair is this:  in spite of my own efforts to keep our losses quiet the rumor has spread for hundreds of miles around us, even reaching Churchill, that the northerners have declared war against our enterprise and are determined to drive us out.  Two-thirds of my men believe this.  MacDougall, my engineer, believes it.  Between my working forces and the Indians, French, and half-breeds about us there has slowly developed a feeling of suspicion and resentment.  It is growing—­ every day, every hour.  If it continues it can result in but two things—­ruin for ourselves, triumph for those who are getting at us in this dastardly manner.  If something is not done very soon—­ within a month—­perhaps less—­the country will run with the blood of vengeance from Churchill to the Barrens.  If what I expect to happen does happen there will be no government road built to the Bay, the new buildings at Churchill will turn gray with disuse, the treasures of the north will remain undisturbed, the country itself will slip back a hundred years.  The forest people will be filled with hatred and suspicion so long as the story of great wrong travels down from father to son.  And this wrong, this crime—­”

Philip’s face was white, cold, almost passionless in the grim hardness that had settled in it.  He unfolded a long typewritten letter, and handed it to Gregson.

“That letter is the final word,” he explained.  “It will tell you what I have not told you.  In some way it was mixed in my mail and I did not discover the error until I had opened it.  It is from the headquarters of our enemies, addressed to the man who is in charge of their plot up here.”

“He waited, scarce breathing, while Gregson bent over the typewritten pages.  He noted the slow tightening of the other’s fingers as he turned from the first sheet to the second; he watched Gregson’s face, the slow ebbing of color, the gray white that followed it, the stiffening of his arms and shoulders as he finished.  Then Gregson looked up.

“Good God!” he breathed.

For a full half-minute the two men gazed at each other across the table, without speaking.

IV

Philip broke the silence.

“Now—­you understand.”

“It is impossible!” gasped Gregson.  “I cannot believe this!  It—­it might have happened a thousand—­two thousand years ago—­but not now.  My God, man!” he cried, more excitedly.  “You do not mean to tell me that you believe this will be done?”

“Yes,” replied Philip.

“It is impossible!” exclaimed Gregson again, crushing the letter in his hand.  “A man doesn’t live—­a combination doesn’t exist—­ that would start such a hell loose as this—­in this way!”

Philip smiled grimly.