"She'll chust spoil if she gets caud," muttered Watty. "The teer-fat
goes hart and stickits to the roof of her mouth, an' it's a pity to
spoil such bonnie meat."

He gave his shock head a rub, and looked round again, wondering whether
there were any bears likely to come and disturb him; but, as far as he
could see, he was quite alone in the grand solitude, and he uttered a
deep sigh.

"She never said she was to cook anny meat," he said, "an' it such a pity
to let it spoil. She'll chust eat this wee pit, an' they'll pe pack py
the time the nex' pit is tone."

Watty took another look, then seasoned and saw to the fresh piece
frizzling; and the next minute the smell and sight of the slice upon the
stone were too tempting to be resisted longer, and he began upon it and
finished it as ravenously as if he had not had a morsel before.

"Hey, put she is fine," he murmured with a sigh of satisfaction; "she
never hat such a gran' treat pefore, an' it would pe wicket to let such
gude meat spoil by ketting caud. The captain an' the tocktor poth said
they wadna eat a pit, an' perhaps Meester Stevey's gone pack to ta ship
or the poat pecause she was tired. She hasna the hairt to see such gude
meat spoil."

Poor Watty had grown reckless now, and, casting conscience to the winds,
he went on with his banquet. His appetite seemed to increase as he went
on, and, forgetful of bears, captains, doctors, Norsemen, and Steves,
seeing, tasting, and enjoying the cooking and eating of these juicy,
well-seasoned, delicious pieces of venison, time seemed to be no more
for him, and he only awoke to his position as he shook out the contents
of his pepper and salt rags on the last piece of meat, a goodly slice,
the best of all, which he had avoided eating, always having selected the
smaller bits.

"Hat she petter leave tat?" he sighed, as he looked at it longingly and
passed his tongue over his lips. "Nay, if she toes, they'll expeckit
mair; put if there's nane they winna say a word. She'll hae to eat tat,
too."

The piece was half done, and he turned it, inhaling its delicious odour
as he gloated over the brown side, and then took out his biscuits and
had them ready.

"Chust to fanish off," he said, smiling faintly. "She'll chust pit it
atween twa biscuit, an' mak' a santwich of it, an' then--Yah!"

Watty uttered an unearthly yell, for a great shadow fell across the fire
at that moment, and he was thrust sidewise, to fall just c