McCREADY PAYS THE DEBT For a long time after he had uttered those words McCready sat in silence beside the fire.

Only for a moment or two at a time did his eyes leave Kazan.

After a little, when he was sure that Thorpe and Isobel had retired for the night, he went into his own tent and returned with a flask of whisky.

During the next half-hour he drank frequently.

Then he went over and sat on the end of the sledge, just beyond the reach of Kazan's chain.
"Got you, didn't I ?" he repeated, the effect of the liquor beginning to show in the glitter of his eyes.