The big
Canuck saw him coming and knew what his visit portended--so he wasn't
taken unawares. It was a case of fight for his job--and Rondeau
fought."
"The devil you say!"
"I do--and there was the devil to pay. It was a rough and tumble and
no grips barred--just the kind of fight Rondeau likes. Nevertheless
old Duncan floored him. While he's been away somebody taught him the
hammer-lock and the crotch-hold and a few more fancy ones, and he got
to work on Rondeau in a hurry. In fact, he had to, for if the tussle
had gone over five minutes, Rondeau's youth would have decided the
issue."
"And Rondeau was whipped?"
"To a whisper. Mac floored him, climbed him, and choked him until he
beat the ground with his free hand in token of surrender; whereupon
old Duncan let him up, and Rondeau went to his shanty and packed his
turkey. The last I saw of him he was headed over the hill to Camp Two
on Laguna Grande. He'll probably chase that assistant woods-boss I
hired after the consolidation, out of Shirley's woods and help
himself to the fellow's job. I don't care if he does. What interests
me is the fact that the old Cardigan woods-boss is back on the job in
Cardigan's woods, and I'm mighty glad of it. The old horsethief has
had his lesson and will remain sober hereafter.
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