'Quit that noise now, or I'll fire you outside; and darned quick, too. What are you doing here, anyway?'
The ex-minister droned forth his Jeremiads, swinging his angular body in regular motions.
'Do you hear? Quit it, or the river will have a drowning job first thing.'
Then Denton looked up, and closed the book mournfully. 'Did you speak, Alfred?' he asked smoothly.
'I just whispered,' shouted the Factor. 'You're a peach of a Christian, ain't you? Who told you to dump your carcase here, eh?'
'You turned me out of the fort without authority. I had to find a place for myself,' said the ex-minister, who was more afraid of McAuliffe than in the days previous to the fight.
'This shack's owned by the Company. I tell you that.'
'Well, and I'm one of their officers,' said Denton, sulkily. 'I sent a letter by this morning's boat to Garry. I've just put them up to how I've been used by the Chief Factor. The answer may bother you a bit, I reckon.'
'That'll be a sure thing,' said McAuliffe, rubbing his hands delightedly. 'But it's no good your going in for fiction. There's too many at it already. Mind you, lad, my report went along by same mail. There was some reading in it which would have made you fairly blush. I recommended you for promotion, hinted at a Victoria Cross, to say nothing of a pension when you were past lying. You're tough, Peter, and there's no denying it. I wonder that Bible don't burn a hole in your pants.'
Justin interposed. 'He no good. Make boy worse,' pointing to the Icelander.