he pot.

"How much is left?" asked McKay.

"Hardly enough for two days--for the two of us; four days perhaps for
one!" answered the other.

McKay looked up quickly, but the Canadian was gazing abstractedly into
the pot. Apparently his remark had no significance. But McKay did not
think so. Since arriving in the colony he had seen and heard much about
deception and crime among both Indians and half-breeds. Being
suspicious by nature, he became alarmed, for it was evident enough, as
Perrin had said, that food to last two men for three days would last one
man for six, and the one who should possess six days' provisions might
hope to reach the Settlement alive, even though weakened by previous
starvation.

The dark expression which had procured for Duncan McKay junior the
_sobriquet_ of Cloudbrow from La Certe and his wife, deepened visibly as
these thoughts troubled his brain, and for some time he sat gazing at
the fire in profound abstraction.

Young McKay was not by any means one of the most depraved of men, but
when a man is devoid of principle it only requires temptation strong
enough, and opportunity convenient, to sink him suddenly to the lowest
depths. Starvation had so far weakened the physique of the hunters that
it was obviously impossible for both of them to reach the Settlement on
two days' short allowance of food. The buffalo had been driven away
from that neighbourhood by the recent storm, and the hope of again
falling in with them was now gone. The starving hunters, as we have
said, had broken up camp, and were scattered over the plains no one
could tell where. To find them might take days, if not weeks; and, even
if successful, of what avail would it be to discover groups of men who
were in the same predicament with themselves? To remain where they were
was certain and not far-distant death! The situation was desperate, and
each knew it to be so. Yet each did not take it in the same way.
McKay, as we have said, became abstracted and slightly nervous. The
Canadian, whatever his thoughts, was calm and collected, and went about
his culinary operations as if he were quite at ease. He was about to
lift the pot off the hook that suspended it over the fire, when his
companion quietly, and as if without any definite purpose, took up his
gun.

Perrin observed the action, and quickly reached out his hand towards his
own weapon, which lay on the ground beside him.

Quick as lightning McKay raised