CHAPTER XVIII 

THE HAND IN THE WATER 

Scott lying among the pine-needles after work had stopped, lighted his pipe and glanced at Thirlwell, who had been talking for some minutes. 

"On the whole, it was lucky the smith had an iron hot," he said. "Black Steve's a dangerous man and we know something about the _Metis_ temper. Drummond, of course, is hardly a _Metis_, but he has a drop of Indian blood that must be reckoned on. It's a remarkably virile strain." 

"I was rather glad they quarreled. I'd been afraid Driscoll might learn he knew something about the lode and persuade him to join the gang. I wouldn't trust him far." 

"You can trust his Indian instincts," Scott replied. "No doubt he's greedy, but he hates Stormont, and I imagine he'd sooner punish the fellow than find the silver." He paused, and looked thoughtful when he went on: "The other matter's difficult; but, like Father Lucien, I don't see what we can do. It's possible that Steve drowned his partner, or anyhow, took advantage of an accident to let him drown; but we're not detectives, and you can't move against a man without something besides suspicion to go upon. Then we were under the cracking beam when he fixed the prop that stopped the roof coming down." 

"I suppose, if he's guilty, that oughtn't to count?" 

"It's an awkward question," Scott replied. "However, we don't know if he is guilty, and I don't see much chance of our finding out. But there's something else. Miss Strange had the shock of hearing about her father's sudden death, and it would not be kind to harrow her again." 
what is scott lying on?
who is he listening to?
what did he light?
who is dangerous?
what temper does he have?
is Drummond Metis?
what kind of blood does he have?
a lot?
how much?
why was he happy about their quarrel?
and what else?
who would he learn something about?
what does scott trust about him?
who does this person hate?
does scott have a solution?
who else doesn't know what to do?
what does he think steve did?
or?
are they investigators?
The pine-needles.
Scott lying among the pine-needles after work had stopped
Thirlwell
lighted his pipe and glanced at Thirlwell, who had been talking for some minutes. 
His pipe
Scott lying among the pine-needles after work had stopped, lighted his pipe 
Black Steve.
Black Steve's a dangerous man and we know something about the _Metis_ temper
Metis_ temper
Black Steve's a dangerous man and we know something about the _Metis_ temper
Hardly
Drummond, of course, is hardly a _Metis
Indian blood
but he has a drop of Indian blood that must be reckoned on
No.
but he has a drop of Indian blood that must be reckoned on.
A drop.
but he has a drop of Indian blood that must be reckoned on
He feared that Driscoll may learn something new.
I was rather glad they quarreled. I'd been afraid Driscoll might learn he knew something about the lode and persuade him to join the gang. I wouldn't trust him far
He would persuade him to join the gang.
 I'd been afraid Driscoll might learn he knew something about the lode and persuade him to join the gang.
The lode.
Driscoll might learn he knew something about the lode and persuade him to join the gang
His Indian instincts,
"You can trust his Indian instincts," Scott replied.
Stormont
 "No doubt he's greedy, but he hates Stormont
No.
You can trust his Indian instincts," Scott replied. "No doubt he's greedy, but he hates Stormont, and I imagine he'd sooner punish the fellow than find the silver." He paused, and looked thoughtful when he went on: "The other matter's difficult; but, like Father Lucien, I don't see what we can do. It's possible that Steve drowned his partner, or anyhow, took advantage of an accident to let him drown; but we're not detectives, and you can't move against a man without something besides suspicion to go upon. Then we were under the cracking beam when he fixed the prop that stop
Father Lucien,
The other matter's difficult; but, like Father Lucien, I don't see what we can do. 
Drowned his partner
 It's possible that Steve drowned his partner
Took advantage of an accident to let him drown
 don't see what we can do. It's possible that Steve drowned his partner, or anyhow, took advantage of an accident to let him drown
no..
 but we're not detectives, and you can't move against a man without something besides suspicion to go upon.