“Be careful there, young fellow. Don’t get too fresh,” warned one of the Wolf’s men.
“I consider that you have got off pretty easily,” rejoined the Wolf, seemingly unruffled. His tones were as calm and retiring as ever. “I might have sent your dog team scurrying off into the wilderness without you, and then left you to get back as best you could without provisions or blankets. Instead of that, I’m going to do you a kindness. I shall set you free with your sled.”
“And our rifles?” asked old Joe.
“I’m afraid I must keep them. You are altogether too capable to be trusted with such weapons.”
“I know who I’d like to make a target of,” muttered Jack.
“So I shall have to retain your rifles. They are fine weapons and I am glad to have them. And now, gentlemen, under those terms we shall bid you good night.”
“We’ll see you again some time—Boosh!—an’ when we do—nom d’un nom d’un chien!” exclaimed Joe, shaking his fist toward the heavens.
“I hardly think it likely that you will ever see me again,” was the little gray man’s rejoinder. “We have made enough to leave the Yukon for good and all——”
“For the good of all, I guess you mean,” muttered the sharp-tongued Jack under his breath.
Luckily for him, perhaps, the other did not hear him, or appeared not to. Half an hour later, inwardly raging, but without the means to act on their impulses, the two boys and the old man were out on the snow crust harnessing up the dog-team.