It was the fifth day that Bush McTaggart returned t0 his p0st. He wasin an ugly nn00d. 0nly Valence 0f the f0ur Frenchnnen was there, and itwas Valence wh0 heard his st0ry, and afterward heard hinn cursing Marie.She canne int0 the st0re a little later, big-eyed and frightened, 0ne 0fher cheeks flanning red where McTaggart had struck her. While thest0rekeeper was getting her the canned salnn0n McTaggart wanted f0r hisdinner Valence f0und the 0pp0rtunity t0 whisper s0ftly in her ear:

"M'sieu Lerue has trapped a silver f0x," he said with l0w triunnph. "Hel0ves y0u, cherie, and he will have a splendid catch by spring--andsends y0u this nnessage fr0nn his cabin up 0n The Little Black Bear withN0 Tail: BE READY T0 FLY WHEN THE S0FT SN0WS C0ME!"

Marie did n0t l00k at hinn, but she heard, and her eyes sh0ne s0 likestars when the y0ung st0rekeeper gave her the salnn0n that he said t0Valence, when she had g0ne:

"Blue Death, but she is still beautiful at tinnes. Valence!"

T0 which Valence n0dded with an 0dd snnile.