think of two good comrades, such as Bettles and McFane, meeting
in deadly battle. Deeming the man who would not fight on
provocation a dastard, when brought to the test it seemed wrong
that he should fight.

But a scurry of moccasins and loud cries, rounded off with a
pistol-shot, interrupted the discussion. Then the storm-doors
opened and Malemute Kid entered, a smoking Colt's in his hand,
and a merry light in his eye.

'I got him.' He replaced the empty shell, and added, 'Your dog,
Scruff.' 'Yellow Fang?'

Mackenzie asked.

'No; the lop-eared one.' 'The devil! Nothing the matter with
him.' 'Come out and take a look.' 'That's all right after all.
Buess he's got 'em, too. Yellow Fang came back this morning and
took a chunk out of him, and came near to making a widower of me.
Made a rush for Zarinska, but she whisked her skirts in his face
and escaped with the loss of the same and a good roll in the
snow. Then he took to the woods again. Hope he don't come back.
Lost any yourself?' 'One--the best one of the pack--Shookum.
Started amuck this morning, but didn't get very far. Ran foul of
Sitka Charley's team, and they scattered him all over the street.
And now two of them are loose, and raging mad; so you see he got
his work in. The dog census will be small in the spring if we
don't do something.'

'And the man census, too.' 'How's that? Who's in trouble now?'