Yet deep down, whenever their own wrongs were not uppermost, both men wondered at their comrades.  They had expected opposition, and this tacit acquiescence hurt them.  It seemed more was due them from the men they had been so close with, and they felt a vague sense of wrong, rebelling at the thought of so many of their brothers coming out, as on a gala occasion, without one word of protest, to see them shoot each other down.  It appeared their worth had diminished in the eyes of the community.  The proceedings puzzled them.

‘Back to back, David.  An’ will it be fifty paces to the man, or double the quantity?’

‘Fifty,’ was the sanguinary reply, grunted out, yet sharply cut.

But the new manila, not prominently displayed, but casually coiled about Malemute Kid’s arm, caught the quick eye of the Irishman, and thrilled him with a suspicious fear.

‘An’ what are ye doin’ with the rope?’ ‘Hurry up!’ Malemute Kid glanced at his watch.

’I’ve a batch of bread in the cabin, and I don’t want it to fall.  Besides, my feet are getting cold.’  The rest of the men manifested their impatience in various suggestive ways.

‘But the rope, Kid’ It’s bran’ new, an’ sure yer bread’s not that heavy it needs raisin’ with the like of that?’ Bettles by this time had faced around.  Father Roubeau, the humor of the situation just dawning on him, hid a smile behind his mittened hand.

‘No, Lon; this rope was made for a man.’  Malemute Kid could be very impressive on occasion.

‘What man?’ Bettles was becoming aware of a personal interest.

‘The other man.’  ‘An’ which is the one ye’d mane by that?’ ’Listen, Lon—­and you, too, Bettles!  We’ve been talking this little trouble of yours over, and we’ve come to one conclusion.  We know we have no right to stop your fighting-’ ’True for ye, me lad!’ ’And we’re not going to.  But this much we can do, and shall do—­make this the only duel in the history of Forty-Mile, set an example for every che-cha-qua that comes up or down the Yukon.  The man who escapes killing shall be hanged to the nearest tree.  Now, go ahead!’

Lon smiled dubiously, then his face lighted up.  ’Pace her off, David—­fifty paces, wheel, an’ niver a cease firin’ till a lad’s down for good.  ’Tis their hearts’ll niver let them do the deed, an’ it’s well ye should know it for a true Yankee bluff.’

He started off with a pleased grin on his face, but Malemute Kid halted him.

‘Lon!  It’s a long while since you first knew me?’ ’Many’s the day.’  ‘And you, Bettles?’

‘Five year next June high water.’  ’And have you once, in all that time, known me to break my word’ Or heard of me breaking it?’ Both men shook their heads, striving to fathom what lay beyond.

‘Well, then, what do you think of a promise made by me?’ ’As good as your bond,’ from Bettles.

‘The thing to safely sling yer hopes of heaven by,’ promptly endorsed Lon McFane.