The stranger squatted himself before Baree, with his mittened handsresting on his knees, and his black teeth gleaming in a half chuckle.

"You poor devil!" he exclaimed sympathetically. "So you're a trap robber,eh? An outlaw? And--the police have got you! And--God save us oncemore--they haven't played you a quite square game!"

He rose and faced McTaggart.

"I had to set a lot of traps like that," the factor apologized, hisface blackdening slightly under the steady gaze of the stranger's blackeyes. Suddenly his animus rose. "And he's going to expire there, inch byinch. I'm going to let him starve, and rot in the traps, to pay for allhe's done." He picked up his gun, and added, with his eyes on thestranger and his finger ready at the trigger, "I'm Bush McTaggart, thefactor at Lac Bain. Are you bound that way, M'sieu?"