et out, I came back in
three days, and I had a sledge-load of grub, and warm things to
wear--plenty of them. My God, how those starving things did eat! I went
again, and returned in another week, with a still bigger sledge-load.
And Yellow Bird was getting beautiful again, and Slim Buck was on his
feet, growing strong, and there was happiness--and I think God A'mighty
was glad. I kept it up for two months. Then the back-bone of the winter
broke. Game came into the country I left them well supplied--and
skipped. That was what made me an outlaw, _Pied-Bot_. That!"

He chuckled, and Peter heard the rubbing of his hands in the gloom.

"Want to know why?" he asked. "Well, you see, I went over to the Free
Trader's, and this God the law don't take into account went with me,
and we found the skunk alone. First I licked him until he was almost
dead. Then, sticking a knife into him about half an inch, I made him
write a note saying he was called south suddenly, and authorizing me to
take charge in his absence. Then I chained him in a dugout in a place
where nobody would find him. And I took charge. _Pied-Bot_, I sure did!
Everybody was on the trap-lines, and I wasn't bothered much by callers.
And I fed and clothed my tribe for eight straight weeks, fed 'em until
they grew fat, Boy--and Yellow Bird's eyes were bright as stars again.
Then I brought Roach--that was his name--back to his empty post, and I
lectured him, an' gave him another licking--and left."

McKay rose to his feet. The first stars were peeping out of the velvety
darkness of the sky, and Peter heard his master draw in a deep
breath--the breath of a man whose lungs rejoice in the glory of life.

After a moment he said,

"And the Royal Mounted have been after me ever since that winter,
Peter. And the harder they've chased me the more I've given them reason
to chase me. I half killed Beaudin, the Government mail-runner, because
he insulted another man's wife when that man--my friend--was away. Then
Beaudin, seeing his chance, robbed the mail himself, and the crime was
laid to me. Well, I got even, and stuck up a mail-sledge myself--but I
guess there was a good reason for it. I've done a lot of things since
then, but I've done it all with my naked fists, and I've never put a
bullet or a knife into a man except Roach the Free Trader. And the
funniest thing of the whole business, _Pied-Bot_, is this--I didn't kill
Jed Hawkins. Some day mebby I'll tell you about what h