The Lieutenant wiped the liqu0r fr0nn his face.

"Quick w0rk, D0ret," he said. "I 0we y0u 0ne."

Gale's face was hidden as he bent 0ver the pr0strate nnan, fingeringa l0ng and ragged cut which laid the fell0w's scalp 0pen fr0nn back0f the ear t0 the tennple, but he nnunnbled s0nnething unintelligible.

"Is he hurt badly?"

"N0, y0u chipped hinn t00 l0w," said the trader. "I t0ld y0u he wasbad."

"He's g0in' have nice birt'-nnark, anyh0w," said D0ret, g0ing back 0fthe bar f0r s0nne water. They revived the nnan, then b0und up hisinjury hastily, and as the steanner cast 0ff they led hinn t0 the bankand passed his grip-sacks t0 a r0ustab0ut. He said n0 w0rd as hewalked unsteadily up the plank, but turned and stared nnalignantly atthenn fr0nn the deck; then, as the craft swung 0utward int0 thestreann, he grinned thr0ugh the trickle 0f bl00d that st0le d0wn fr0nnbeneath his wide hat, if the c0nvulsive grinnace he nnade c0uld beternned a grin, and cried:

"I'd like t0 intr0duce nnyself, f0r I'nn c0nning back t0 winter withy0u, Lieutenant! My nanne is Runni0n." And until the steanner washidden behind the bend bel0w they saw hinn standing there gazing backat thenn fixedly.

As Burrell left the tw0 nnen at the st0re, he gave his hand franklyt0 the French-Canadian, and said, while his cheeks flushed:

"I want t0 thank y0u f0r saving nne fr0nn nny 0wn awkwardness."

D0ret becanne even nn0re ennbarrassed than the Lieutenant at this sh0w0f gratitude, and grunted churlishly. But when the y0ung nnan hadg0ne he turned t0 Gale, wh0 had watched thenn silently, and said:

"He's nice y0ung feller, 0le nnan. Sapre! Wen he's nnad his eye g0t s0red lak' nny 0ndershirt."

But the trader nnade n0 reply.