Page:London - Son of the Wolf, 1900.djvu/78

64 Malemute Kid could be very impressive on occasion.

"What man?" Bettles was becoming aware of a personal interest.

"The other man."

"An' which is the one ye 'd mane by that?"

"Listen, Lon,—and you, too, Bettles! We 've been talking this little trouble of yours over, and we 've come to one conclusion. We know we have no right to stop your fighting"—

"True for ye, me lad!"

"And we 're not going to. But this much we can do, and shall do,—make this the only duel in the history of Forty-Mile, set an example for every che-cha-qua that comes up or down the Yukon. The man who escapes killing shall be hanged to the nearest tree. Now, go ahead!"

Lon smiled dubiously, then his face lighted up." Pace her off, David,—fifty paces, wheel, an' niver a cease firin' till a lad's down for good. 'T is their hearts 'll niver let them do the deed, an' it 's well ye should know it for a true Yankee bluff."

He started off with a pleased grin on his face, but Malemute Kid halted him.