180 MOOSWA 



&quot; Who s at the Man-shack ? &quot; queried the 

 other in answer, entirely ignoring Jack s personal 

 gibe. 



&quot; Nobody,&quot; piped the Bird ; &quot; left me in charge 

 and went out on their Marten Road.&quot; 



&quot; And the Dogs, O One-in-charge ? &quot; asked 

 Carcajou. 



&quot; Gone too ; are you out for a scrap with the 

 Huskies, my bad-tempered Friend ? &quot; 



&quot; Were you sweet-tempered, gentle Bird, when 

 you burnt your toes, and scorched your gizzard 

 with the Man-Cub s fat pork ? &quot; 



&quot; Well, sore toes are enough to ruffle one, 

 are n t they, Hunchback, Crop-eared Stealer 

 of Things ? &quot; 



&quot; And your Men Friends took the leg off our 

 King,&quot; continued Wolverine, ignoring the other s 

 taunt. &quot; The Red Widow is close to an attack 

 of rabies with all this worry.&quot; 



&quot; You re full of stale news,&quot; retorted Jay. 



&quot;If they are all away,&quot; declared Carcajou, 

 &quot; I m going to have another peep at that chim 

 ney. Also there are three debts to be paid.&quot; 



The Bird chuckled. &quot; Generous Little Lieu 

 tenant ! leave my account out. But if you must 

 go to the Shack, I 11 keep watch and give you 

 a call if I see them coming back.&quot; 



&quot; Fat-eating ! but I hate climbing,&quot; grunted 



