"Feel it," grunted Houston. "Of course I feel it! I'm ticklish." "You hear, Golemar?" Ba'tiste, contorted with merriment, pointed vaguely in the direction of the bed, "M'sieu l' Nobody, heem is ticklish!" "Of course I'm ticklish. Who isn't, on the bottom of his feet?" The statement only brought a new outburst from the giant. It nettled Houston; further, it caused him pain to be jerking constantly about the bed in an effort to evade the tickling touch of the trapper's big fingers. Once more Ba'tiste leaned forward and wiggled his fingers as if in preparation for a new assault, and once more Barry withdrew his pedal extremities to a place of safety. "Please don't," he begged. "I--I don't know what kind of a game you're playing--and I'm perfectly willing to join in on it when I feel better--but now it hurts my arm to be bouncing around this way. Maybe this afternoon--if you've got to play these fool games--I'll feel better--" The thunder of the other man's laugh cut him off. Ba'tiste was now, it seemed, in a perfect orgy of merriment. As though weakened by his laughter, he reeled to the wall and leaned there, his big arms hanging loosely, the tears rolling down his cheeks and disappearing in the gray beard, his face reddened, his whole form shaking with series after series of chuckles. "You hear heem?" he gasped at the wolf-dog. "M'sieu l' Nobody, he will play with us this afternoon! M'sieu l' Ticklefoot! That is heem, my Golemar, M'sieu l' Ticklefoot! Oh, ho--M'sieu l' Ticklefoot!" "What in thunder is the big idea?" Barry Houston had lost his reserve now. "I want to be a good fellow--but for the love of Mike let me in on the joke. I can't get it. I don't see anything funny in lying here with a broken arm and having my feet tickled. Of course, I'm grateful to you for picking me up and all that sort of thing, but--" Choking back the laughter, Ba'tiste returned to the foot of the bed and stood wiping the tears from his eyes. "Pardon, _mon ami_," came seriously at last. "Old Ba'teese must have his joke. Listen, Ba'teese tell you something. You see people here today, _oui_, yes? You see, the petite Medaine? Ah, _oui_!" He clustered his fingers to his lips and blew a kiss toward the ceiling. "She is the, what-you-say, fine li'l keed. She is the--_bon bebe_! You no nev' see her before?" Barry shook his head. Ba'tiste went on. "You see M'sieu Thayer? _Oui_? You know heem?" "No." "You sure?" "Never saw him before." "So?" Batiste grinned and wagged a finger, "Ba'teese he like the truth, yes, _oui_. Ba'teese he don't get the truth, he tickle M'sieu's feet." "Now listen! Please--"