THE BUILDING OF THE SHACK 85 



heated the pork scalding hot. Jack clawed at it 

 with his feet and burnt his toes his tongue 

 was blistered. 



&quot; What s that noise ? &quot; exclaimed Rod, for a 

 distinct muffled laugh had escaped from the band 

 of animals. 



&quot; It s de float-ice groundin on de ribber- 

 banks, I tink me,&quot; answered Fra^ois, cocking 

 his head sideways to listen. 



As the animals slipped away in alarm, Jack 

 came fluffing after them, and perched himself 

 indignantly on Mooswa s great antlers. 



&quot; O my Giant Brother ! &quot; he cried furiously, 

 &quot;come and kill that debased Man-Cub, I beg you.&quot; 



The Moose s shaggy sides were heaving with 

 suppressed laughter. &quot; What has he done, Sweet 

 Bird ? &quot; he moaned. 



&quot; Taken the skin off my toes, and blistered my 

 tongue with his accursed fat pork.&quot; 



&quot; Why don t you wear boots as I do, and not 

 knock around barefooted ? I should be always 

 jamming my toes if I had n t these thick boots. 

 Why, last year when the big fire was on, I went 

 through miles of burning country, and except a 

 little hardening up of the soles, there was no 

 harm done.&quot; 



&quot; But you don t wear them on your tongue, 

 do you ? &quot; asked the Bird, crossly. 



