Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/136

 "That tickled Tib. It was a situation he liked. To reform and keep lamblike a bevy of fifty maneaters was what would appeal to his decent mind. Of course, violence was out of the question, and that's why he liked the game. It demanded subtle and scientific treatment.

"‘Billy,' he whispered, as we spun down the river, I'm going to make that the nicest place in the northern zone, I'll fix 'em so they'll be pure as the nine months' snows.'

"And all the way to Red Ant he was busy scheming. But it was only after he had rummaged among the camp's stores on the boat that he saw a light. 'It's all easy now,' he encouraged. 'I've found just what I need.'

"Our reception at Red Ant was hearty and wholesome, but as I heard the crowd clamoring for whiskey I knew Tib had a tough outfit to convert. I could see they tolerated us as they would a couple of Chinese servants. But Tib was all enthusiasm, and after two days' work, no one lending a willing hand, we had broken open the cargo and had it neatly arranged in the big, double log-house which was to be our home and store combined. Fortunately, Ruddy Mac's toot had not resulted in a useless invoice, and although there were many knick-knacks there was also a large amount of tinned and canned stuff and other fodder.