PISEW STEALS THE BOY S FOOD 199 



the mention of Fish ; and the thief-thought that 

 was always in his heart kept whispering, &quot; Fish ! 

 Fish! Fish that is in the Shack The Boy s 

 Fish ! &quot; The woods were so bare, too. It was the 

 Seventh Year, the Famine Year, and a chance of 

 eating came only at long intervals. Carcajou had 

 robbed the Shack, and it had been accounted 

 clever all the Flesh Eaters had feasted merrily 

 off the loot. Why should he not also steal the 

 twelve Fish ? But he was not like Carcajou, a 

 feast-giver, an Animal to make himself popular by 

 great gifts ; if he stole the Fish he would cache 

 them, and the eating would round up his lean 

 stomach. 



&quot; Carrier of Messages/ began Mooswa, ad 

 dressing Whisky-Jack, &quot; thy part of the Oath 

 Promise is watching over The Boy. If aught 

 goes wrong, bring thou the news. * 



&quot; Very well, old Sober-sides,&quot; answered Jay, 

 saucily. &quot; I 11 come and sit on your horns that 

 have so many beautiful roosts for me, and whisper 

 each day into your ear, that is big enough to hold 

 my nest, all that happens at the Shack ! &quot; 



&quot;He ll keep you busy, Mooswa,&quot; smirked 

 Pisew. 



&quot; Mooswa has time to spare for his Friends,&quot; 

 answered Jack, &quot; because he eats an honest dinner. 

 You, Bob-tail, are so busy with your thieving and 



