"Ouch! Great Caesar—Let up!"
"Don't move!" shouted Wabi. "Take it like a man—you deserve it!"
Again and again the birch fell. Rod groaned as he rose to his feet after Wabi had stopped. "Oh, please—please give me that whip!"
"Not too hard, you know," warned Wabi, as he fitted himself over the log.
"You chose your own poison," reminded Rod, rolling up his sleeve. "Just twice as hard, no more!"
And the birch began to fall.
When it was over Rod's arm ached, and Wabi, despite his Indian stoicism, let out a long howl at the last blow.
During the entire scene of chastisement Mukoki stood like one struck dumb.
"We'll never be bad any more, Muky," promised Wabigoon, rubbing himself gently. "That is, if we are, we'll whip ourselves again, eh, Rod?"
"Not so long as I can run!" assured Rod with emphasis. "I'm willing to lend a helping hand at any time you think you deserve another, but beyond that please count me out!"