"Mostly Mackenzie River freight," replied Cardigan. "A long run."

"The finest in all the North. Three years ago O'Connor and I made
it with the Follette outfit. Remember Follette--and Ladouceur?
They both loved the same girl, and being good friends they decided
to settle the matter by a swim through the Death Chute. The man
who came through first was to have her. Gawd, Cardigan, what funny
things happen! Follette came out first, but he was dead. He'd
brained himself on a rock. And to this day Ladouceur hasn't
married the girl, because he says Follette beat him; and that
Follette's something-or-other would haunt him if he didn't play
fair. It's a queer--"

He stopped and listened. In the hall was the approaching tread of
unmistakable feet.

"O'Connor," he said.

Cardigan went to the door and opened it as O'Connor was about to
knock. When the door closed again, the staff-sergeant was in the
room alone with Kent. In one of his big hands he clutched a box of
cigars, and in the other he held a bunch of vividly red fire-
flowers.

"Father Layonne shoved these into my hands as I was coming up," he
explained, dropping them on the table. "And I--well--I'm breaking
regulations to come up an' tell you something, Jimmy. I never
called you a liar in my life, but I'm calling you one now!"