That night Whisky-Jack, sitting on his perch under the extended end of the roof, heard something that gave him a start. Rod had discovered the loss of his Fish.
"My God! this is serious," the Bird heard him say. "Two fish and a handful of flour for ten days' food--perhaps longer. This is terrible. It's that Devil of the Woods, Carcajou, who has robbed me, I suppose--he stole the bacon before. If I only could get a chance at him with a rifle, I'd settle his thieving life."
The misery in The Boy's voice touched Whisky-Jack.
"Pisew has done this evil thing," he chirped to himself. "If he has, he has broken his oath of the Boy-care."
THE PUNISHING OF PISEW
In the morning Whisky-Jack flew early to the home of Black King, and told him of the fish-stealing.
"Yes," affirmed the Red Widow, "it was Pisew. His father before him was a Traitor and a Thief; they were always a mean, low lot. And wasn't this Man-Cub good and kind to my Babe, Stripes, when that brute of a Huskie Dog attacked him?"
"Yes, Good Dame," affirmed the Bird; "but for this Man-Cub your Pup would have lined the stomach of a Train Dog--now he may live to line the cloak of some Man-woman--that is, if François catches him. But what shall be done to this breaker of Boundary Laws and Sneak-thief, Pisew, Your Majesty?"
"Summon Carcajou, Mooswa, Blue Wolf, and others of the Council, my good Messenger," commanded the King. "There is no fear of the trail now, for François is gone, and The Boy hunts not."
When they had gathered, Whisky-Jack again told of what had been done.