Cherry Malotte turned slowly to the landing-place and made her way into the launch. All the way back she kept silence, and Boyd, confused by her attack upon the citadel of his faith and strangely sore at heart, made no effort at speech.
"Fingerless" Fraser met him at the water's edge.
"Where in the devil have you been?" he cried, breathlessly.
"At the Indian village after help. Why?"
"Big George is in more trouble; he sent for help two hours ago. I was just going to 'beat it' down there."
"What's up?"
"There's six of your men in the bunk-house all beat up; they don't look like they'd fish any more for a while. Marsh's men threw their salmon overboard, and they had another fight. Things are getting warm."
"We can't allow ourselves to be driven from the banks," said Boyd, quickly. "I'll get the shoremen together right away. Find Alton, and bring him along; we'll need every man we can get."
"Nothing doing with that party; he's quit like a house cat, and gone to bed."
"Very well; he's no good, anyhow; he's better out of the way."