The Fur Bringers A Story of the Canadian Northwest

nter at Fort Enter

d Peter. "You've

hrugged. "It is easy.

River s

d they give you at Ent

o the saw-mill," said Poly. "There

e everything their own way there." The look which accompanied this suggest

k of the place, Po

p his hands and dramat

use all make of smooth boards and paint' yellow and red lak the sun! Never I see before suc

call carrpitt. Every day he has a white cloth on the table, and

Peter, with a whimsical roll of

re is a mill to grind flour. Steam mak' it go lak the steamboat. They eat eggs and butter at Fort En

ohn Gaviller is a hard

m for him nor trade my fur at his store. Those people are his slaves. But

e at Fort Enterprise-Wa!-the laktrek light! Her shine in little bottles lak

n Gaviller make the laktrek in an engine in the mill. Me, I h

house too. They said it cook the dinner, but I think that is a lie. If a ma

ed. "Good ma

s the preceding summer had brought the same tale. With the air that po

y. The half-breed told about the bringing in of the winter's catch of fur; of th

wonderful place!" sa

id Poly proudly. "At Fort Ent

alarm going inside the dreamy Ambrose. He drew a careful

glance in the directio

news! Who

the trader's dau

hite?" asked P

"white as clouds in the summer! white as sugar! Her hair is lak golden-r

mbrose was farthest from the window, and

; "but was her mot

said Poly. "Her

e girl come?

f'. Michel Trudeau and his wife, they bring her. Her fat'er he not know she comin'. Her fat'er want he

a man! John Gaviller say she got go out again this summer. She say 'no!' She is not af

she?" inqu

d and pretty as fine yong horse! She sit her horse like a flower on its stem. Me and her good frens too. She say she

that?" Peter inquired

's w

er's daughter," he carefully explained. "She live in

ina has plenty of s

h suspended brea

his hair is white; the parson is a little, scary man. All are afraid of her; her proud eye mak' a man feel weak inside. There

fected by Poly's tale beyond a slight quivering of the nostrils. But Peter watching him slyly, saw him raise

ome more a

e thirsted for more like a desert traveler for water, b

the first to come down the river this summer or you would hear it before. Many times M

ight Michel tell it a

ollars of tobacco, the

hter save him. Old man

l him

h out the door. He paused, and coughed suggestively. A second cigar being forthcoming, he took the time t

aps again after big time at the fort. There was moch frash snow fall, and heavy going for the dogs. Co

un' while he visit his traps. Michel trap up on the bench three mile from the fort. He not get

rious puffs at the cigar and careful

l he break trail ahead. Come to the bench, leave the dogs in a shelter Michel build in a popla

rap find fool-hen catch herself. He is mad. Second

m heart jomp up! Think him got black fox sure! But no! It is too big

nd come out of his hole and roll aroun' lak he was drunk. He

ap. It was chain to a little tree. Bear too weak to pu

ause that bear is poor as a bird out of the egg. Michel mak' a noise t

burn wit' fire! Little chain break and before Michel can tak a br

hat! Michel drop his knife in the snow. Him get ver' sick. Warm

ear till his eyes jomp out. Michel say a little prayer th

his hands aroun' that hairy throat. Bear tear Michel's shoulder with hi

l to her. She is only a girl him say; she can't do not'ing to a cra

And always they stamping and tumbling and rollin

walkin' sof' in the poplar bush looking sharp and al

the snow. Colina think it is big game and go quick. Some tam she stop and listen. Bam-by she hear f

s face no more for blood. She think he got no face now. Michel he see her come, and sa

aroun' them always looking for a chance. Bam-by she see the handle of Michel's knife in a hole in the

k his snoot in the snow. Michel crawl away. Colina is fall dow

dage. She put him on his snowshoes and drag him back where the dogs is. She bring him q

oman!" cried Peter.

in his dug-out a heavy constra

of Poly's story following so close upon their own talk together. He suspe

ut it Ambrose felt as helpless

uitively apprehended something of the confusion in the younger man's mind, and he was only anx

w that Peter was "on to him," as he would have

o his family, while Ambrose closed the door of his own

wever kindly. So urgent was his need to be alone that he even turned his back on his dog

ark he lit his lamp and carefully pinned a hea

ard to say whom he feared might spy on him. One listening at the

from the sounds that issued through the connecting door that Peter and his family slept deeply, he lit a cand

is cabin, he packed a grub-box

ur-footed pal. Job, instantly, comprehending that he was to be left behin

common-looking mutt. Of course, I know you're white clear

accused him of disloyalty.

hance our luck together. If you open your

his master's feet as quiet as a ghost. Seeing the loaded bo

ight brooded over the wide water and the pine-walled shore. The stars sparkled faintly in an o

the bow of night. The poetic feeling was

his is fine!"

l thumped the g

Ambrose. "I expect I'd go clean off my

the boat and wriggled and whined

here!" sa

ack! Fifteen days at the best! Anything might happen in that time. . . . Poly said no danger from any of

. It's two years old, anyway. And she's just come in; she kno

door of the store he found the note pinned to

R P

me. Charge me with 50 lbs. flour, 18 lbs. bacon, 20 lbs. rice, 10 lbs. sugar, 5 lbs. prunes, 1

m taking

tartling effect. Tearing the note off the door and grindi

thrusting them behind her peeped into the store. Pete

e children bread and molasses to keep them

said anything-and given him a good man! But to go alone! He'll break an arm and

his appetite! He'll starve to death if he doesn't drown himself first! He'll never get