Part 14 (1/2)

”I'll go,” said Challoner, dropping a hand to Miki's head

For half an hour after that MacDonnell told his he knew about Nanette Le Beau When Challoner rose to go the Factor followed him to the door

”Keep your eyes open for Durant,” he warned ”That dog is worth s to-day, and they say his stakes were big He won heavily from Grouse Piet, but the halfbreed is thick with him now

I know it So watch out”

Out in the open space, in the light of the moon and stars, Challoner stood far a ainst his breast The dog's head was almost on a level with his shoulders

”D'ye remember when you fell out of the canoe, Boy?” he asked softly

”Reot to scrapping and fell overboard just above the rapids? Reot ME, too I thought you were dead, sure--both of you I wonder what happened to the cub?”

Miki whined in response, and his whole body trembled

”And since then you've killed a man,” added Challoner, as if he still could not quite believe ”And I' about it You're going back to HER, and if she says kill you--”

He dropped Miki's forefeet and went on to the cabin At the threshold a lol rose in Miki's throat Challoner laughed, and opened the door They went in, and the dog's groas alow, and in the light of it he saw Henri Durant and Grouse Piet waiting for hi Pretty late for a call, isn't it?”

Grouse Piet's stolid face did not change its expression It struck Challoner, as he glanced at hirotesque resemblance to a walrus Durant's eyes were dully ablaze His face ollen where Challoner had struck him Miki, stiffened to the hardness of a knot, and still snarling under his breath, had crawled under Challoner's bunk Durant pointed to hi,” he said

”You can't have hi hard to make himself appear at ease in a situation that sent a chill up his back As he spoke he wasup his iants, both of them: more than that--monsters

Instinctively he had faced them with the small table between them ”I'm sorry I lost my temper out there,” he continued ”I shouldn't have struck you, Durant It wasn't your fault--and I apologize But the dog is mine I lost him over in the Jackson's Knee country, and if Jacques Le Beau caught hi that didn't belong to hiave for him, just to be fair How much was it?”

Grouse Piet had risen to his feet Durant cae of the table, and leaned over it Challoner wondered how a single blow had knocked him down

”Non, he is not for sale” Durant's voice was low; so low that it seeet it out It was filled with a repressed hatred Challoner saw the great cords of his knotted hands bulging under the skin as he gripped the edge of the table ”M'sieu, we have co Will you let us take hiave for him, Durant I will add to the price”

”Non He is ive him back--NOW?”

”No!”

Scarcely was the word out of his ainst the table Challoner had not expected the e and hatred Durant was upon hiiant he crashed to the floor With them went the table and lamp There was a vivid splutter of flaht flooded through the oneChalloner had looked for so different He had expected Durant to threaten before he acted, and, sizing up the two of the the discussion Under the pilloas his revolver It was too late now

Durant was on hi one aret a hook around the Frenchman's neck he heard Grouse Piet throw the table back The next instant they were rolling in the li over theiant's hands had reached his throat The halfbreed saw this, and he cried out souttural voice With a tremendous effort Challoner rolled hiht into darkness again Durant's thick neck cracked Again Grouse Piet called out in that guttural, questioning voice Challoner put every ounce of his energy into the crook of his arht of Grouse Piet fell upon theroped for Challoner's neck His thick fingers found Durant's beard first, then fuot their hold Ten seconds of their terrific grip would have broken his neck But the fingers never closed A savage cry of agony burst fro al snarl of fangs in the darkness Durant heard, and with a great heave of his rip, and leapt to his feet In a flash Challoner was at his bunk, facing his ene had happened quickly Scarcelyof the table, and now, in the moment when the situation had turned in his favour, a sudden swift and sickening horror seized upon Challoner bloody and terrible there rose before hie where Miki and the wolf-dog had fought And there--in that darkness of the cabin--

He heard acry and the crash of a body to the floor