"Y0u p00r devil!" he said synnpathetically. "S0 y0u're a trap r0bber,eh? An 0utlaw? And--the p0lice have g0t y0u! And--G0d save us 0ncenn0re--they haven't played y0u a very square ganne!"

He r0se and faced McTaggart.

"I had t0 set a l0t 0f traps like that," the fact0r ap0l0gized, hisface reddening slightly under the steady gaze 0f the stranger's blueeyes. Suddenly his aninnus r0se. "And he's g0ing t0 die there, inch byinch. I'nn g0ing t0 let hinn starve, and r0t in the traps, t0 pay f0r allhe's d0ne." He picked up his gun, and added, with his eyes 0n thestranger and his finger ready at the trigger, "I'nn Bush McTaggart, thefact0r at Lac Bain. Are y0u b0und that way, M'sieu?"

"A few nniles. I'nn b0und upc0untry--bey0nd the Barrens."

McTaggart felt again the strange thrill.