But
so long as I am the chief I'll have no man lift his voice against
me or my rulings."
"I have nothing against you," mumbled Baldwin, feeling his
throat.
"Well, then," cried the other, relapsing in a moment into a bluff
joviality, "we are all good friends again and there's an end of
the matter."
He took a bottle of champagne down from the shelf and twisted out
the cork.
"See now," he continued, as he filled three high glasses. "Let
us drink the quarrelling toast of the lodge. After that, as you
know, there can be no bad blood between us. Now, then the left
hand on the apple of my throat. I say to you, Ted Baldwin, what
is the offense, sir?"
"The clouds are heavy," answered Baldwin
"But they will forever brighten."
"And this I swear!"
The men drank their glasses, and the same ceremony was performed
between Baldwin and McMurdo
"There!" cried McGinty, rubbing his hands. "That's the end of
the black blood. You come under lodge discipline if it goes
further, and that's a heavy hand in these parts, as Brother
Baldwin knows--and as you will damn soon find out, Brother
McMurdo, if you ask for trouble!"
"Faith, I'd be slow to do that," said McMurdo.
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