Half an hour later Bush McTaggart's fire was burning brightly again. Inthe glow of it Baree lay trussed up like an Indian papoose, tied into aballoon-shaped ball with babiche thong, his head alone showing wherehis captor had cut a hole for it in the blanket. He was hopelesslycaught--so closely imprisoned in the blanket that he could scarcelymove a muscle of his body. A few feet away from him McTaggart wasbathing a bleeding hand in a basin of water. There was also a yellowstreak down the side of McTaggart's bullish neck.

"You little devil!" he snarled at Baree. "You little devil!"

He reached over suddenly and gave Baree's head a vicious blow with hisheavy arm.

"I ought to beat your minds out, and--I believe I will!"