“Doctor Joe’s gone to the Post,” said Andy.  “Eli Horn came for he.  Two of the lumber folk most killed another of un over there.  Davy took Doctor Joe over.”

“And two of un most killed the boss at the camp,” explained Peter.  “They comes there from the Post about six o’clock and were packin’ a flatsled with things.  The boss asks un where they’s goin’.  They answers some way that makes he mad, and he hits one of un.  Then they jumps at he and pounds and kicks he till he’s like dead, and he don’t come to again.  The two men has rifles and they keeps all the lumbermen back, and off they goes with the flatsled, and they gets away.”

“Will the boss die then?” asked Jamie in horror.

“With Doctor Joe gone he’ll sure be dyin’,” declared Peter desperately.  “His arm is broke and he’s broke somewhere inside, and his face is awful to look at, all pounded and kicked and bleedin’.  Me and Lige goes up to sit a bit and hear un tell their stories, and we gets there just after the two men gets away.  With Doctor Joe’s teachin’ we fixes the boss up the best we can, and whilst Lige stays to help look after he, I comes for Doctor Joe.  Pop’s to the Post with the dogs and I has to walk, and facin’ the wind ’twere hard.  And now Doctor Joe’s gone, the poor man’ll sure die!”

“You has wonderful grit to come!” said Jamie admiringly. “’Tis wonderful frosty and nasty outside.”

“’Twere to save the boss’s life!  ’Tis the scout law,” Peter asserted stoutly.  “I’ll be goin’ to the Post now for Doctor Joe.”

“You’re nigh done up, Peter.  You’ll be stayin’ here with Jamie. I’m goin’ to the Post for Doctor Joe,” declared Andy.

“I am most done up,” Peter confessed.  “But the wind’ll be in your back goin’ to the Post.  She’s just startin’ though, and she’ll be a wonderful sight worse than she is now before you gets there.  ’Twill be terrible nasty.”

“I’m goin’ too,” said Jamie.

“You’re not goin’,” said Andy.  “I’m bigger and I can travel faster if you’re not comin’.  ’Twould be wrong to leave Peter here alone.”

“I’m goin!” repeated Jamie stubbornly.

“Won’t you be stayin’ with me?” pleaded Peter.  “I—­I’m afeared to stay here alone with those two men like to come in on me.”

“I’ll stay,” Jamie consented.

A blast of wind shook the cabin.

“I’m fearin’ you can’t do it, Andy!  ’Twill soon be too much for flesh and blood out on the Bay!” said Peter.

“’Tis in my scout oath to do my best,” said Andy, adjusting the hood of his sealskin netsek.  “I’m goin’, now.”

Andy closed the door behind him.  It was pitchy dark.  The snow was driving in blinding clouds, and he stood for a moment to catch his breath.  Then he felt his way down across The Jug and out upon the Bay ice.  Here the full force of the north-east blizzard met him.  He staggered and choked with the first blast, then in a temporary lull forged ahead.