hope you will not deprive yourself or me of the
privilege of settling this little business."

"I will be glad," said Ranald, his eyes once more lighting up. "Very
glad indeed, if you wish."

"Nonsense," cried Harry, passionately, "I tell you I will not have it.
He has given you ample apology, De Lacy; and you, Ranald, I thought a
Macdonald never fought except for sufficient cause!" Harry remembered
the fighting rule of the Macdonald gang.

"That is true," said Ranald, gravely, "but it was a cruel blow,"
pointing to Rouleau, who, supported by LeNoir, was sitting on a chair,
his face badly cut and bleeding, "and that, too, after taking from him
the wages of six months in the bush!"

"I suppose you admit the game was fair," said the lieutenant, moving
nearer to Ranald, the threat in his tone evident to all.

"The game was fair," said Ranald, facing De Lacy, "but I will say the
lad was no fair match for you!"

"He chose to risk his money, which you were not willing to do." De Lacy
felt that he was being put in an unpleasant light and was determined to
anger Ranald beyond control. Ranald caught the sneer.

"If I did not play," he cried, hotly, "it was for no fear of you or any
of you. It was no man's game whatever," he continued, contemptuously.

"Now, De Lacy," cried Harry, again, "let this stop. The man who fights
will first fight me!"

"Perhaps Mr. Macdonald would show us how the game should be played,"
said Mr. Sims, coming as near to a sneer as he dared.

"It would not be hard to show you this game," said Ranald, ignoring Mr.
Sims, and looking the lieutenant in the eyes, "or perhaps the other!"

"Good!" cried Harry, gladly seizing the opportunity of averting a fight.
"The game! Take your places, gentlemen!"

The lieutenant hesitated for a moment, as if uncertain what to do. Then,
with a slight laugh, he said, "Very well, one thing at a time, the other
can wait."

"Come on!" cried Harry, "who goes in? LeNoir, you?"

LeNoir looked at Ranald.

"What you say?"

"No," said Ranald, shortly, "this is my game!" With that he turned
aside from the table and spoke a few words in a low tone to LeNoir,
who assisted Rouleau from the room, and after some minutes' absence,
returned with a little linen bag. Ranald took the bag and began to count
out some money upon the table before him.

"I will play to one hundred dollars," he said.

The lieutenant and Mr. Sims each laid the same amount before them upon
the table