"Yes."
"Then I'll not touch it--I will starve to death first," and Pisew sat meekly on his haunches and rolled his eyes sanctimoniously.
"I had no idea there was so much honourable observance of the law in your nature," sneered Jack. "In the Plenty Year we are all honest; but in this, the Season of Starvation, to be honourable and regardful of each other's Eating is indeed noble. Will he swallow that?" queried the Jay to himself.
"Thank you, sayer-of-wise-words," murmured Pisew. "I always have been misunderstood--accused of the vilest things--even to the eating of Lodge-Builder's Children."
"Disgusting!" exclaimed Jack, smartly. "They must be horrible eating, those young wearers of Castoreum."
"No--they're delicious!" interrupted Pisew, unwarily,--"I mean--I mean--they're delightful little creatures," he added, lamely.
"Well, I must be off, you-who-keep-the-fast," declared Jack. "I'm glad you have resisted the temptation, for I must admit that I was only trying you."
"I thought so--I thought so!" snickered Lynx; "and at first I joked to draw you on--pretended that I would do this disgraceful thing--take our most worthy Lieutenant's store of Eating."
"Now I must warn the Council," thought Jack, as he flew swiftly through the forest, "for Pisew will make straight for Carcajou's bacon. Deceitful wretch! he deserves to be hanged. His death will save many a Fox-Cub, many a Kit-Beaver, and many a Bird's egg."
"Wise Bird, indeed!" sneered Lynx. "I've deceived him. I'll soon have Gulo the Glutton's Fat-eating; and Whisky-Jack will bear witness to my honesty. They are all so wise; but Pisew, the despised, fares better than any one. No; nobody will know if I take it--not even the Devil-eyes of Carcajou will discover whose trail it is, for I will drag the Fat-eating, walking backwards, so it will look more like the trough-trail of Nekik, who slides on his belly through the deep snow. And Blue Wolf's nose will discover only the scent of smoke-tainted meat, for it will come last over my tracks. Ha, ha!" he laughed disagreeably; "we'll see who lives through the Year of Distress by the aid of his brains."