Eh, shall we
mak' ze bargain?"
"You are planning a pleasant time for me, Bateese," said Carrigan,
"but I am afraid it will be impossible. You see, this captain of
yours, Black Roger Audemard--"
"W'at!" Bateese jumped as if stung. "W'at you say, m'sieu?"
"I said that Roger Audemard, Black Roger, the man I thought was
St. Pierre Boulain--"
Carrigan said no more. What he had started to say was unimportant
compared with the effect of Roger Audernard's name on Concombre
Bateese. A deadly light glittered in the half-breed's eyes, and
for the first time David realized that in the grotesque head of
the riverman was a brain quick to grip at the significance of
things. The fact was evident that Black Roger had not confided in
Bateese as to the price of the wager and the confession of his
identity, and for a moment after the repetition of Audemard's name
came from David's lips the half-breed stood as if something had
stunned him. Then slowly, as if forcing the words in the face of a
terrific desire that had transformed his body into a hulk of
quivering steel, he said:
"M'sieu--I come with message--from St. Pierre. You see windows--
closed.
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