“‘He’s a devil in a fight,’ I told the boy. ‘Man to man on equal terms he could beat up either one of us.’
“I liked the cool, questioning look in the boy’s eyes. I learned afterwards that he had gone through the braves in old Wah-na-ta-hi-ta’s tribe and come out top dog. But he had never gone the full limit—never killed a man.
“‘And this half-breed Guerrin has it in for me. He would rather get me than get free, I believe. He knows all the tricks too. Can we take him through, or will we have to let him go, Paul?’ I said, trying him out. He could not hide the surprise, the contempt in his eyes.
“‘I thought the Mounted Police always got their man,’ he said.
“‘They do—finally—but sometimes a Mounted Police has had to pay the price,’ I said, keeping my eyes on his.
“‘Of course,’ he said, without a quiver of a lid, ‘they do their duty.’
“I tell you, old man, from that minute I felt sure we would make it or both be feeding the wolves. Then I sprung my plan on him.
“‘Paul,’ I said, ‘I’m going to swear you in as a special constable.’
“‘Can you?’ he said.
“‘I have the authority. Are you willing?’