ue, poured into the
Fort. The lucky pelt hunters were the men who brought black-fox, and
Alaskan sable, or a few odd seals from the uncontrolled hunting grounds
within the Arctic circle. These men departed with amply laden canoes,
with, amongst their more precious trophies, inferior modern rifles and
ammunition.

But these voyageurs did not make up the full tally of the fall trade
which gave Murray so much joy. There were the men of the long trail.
The long, land trail. Men who came with their whole outfit of
belongings, women and children as well. They packed on foot, and on
ponies, and in weird vehicles of primitive manufacture, accompanied by
the dogs which would be needed for haulage should the winter snows
overtake them before they completed their return journey.

These were of the lesser class trade. It was rare enough to obtain a
parcel of the more valuable pelts from these folk. But they not
infrequently brought small parcels of gold dust, which experience had
taught them the curious mind of the white man set such store by.

Gold came in shyly, however, in the general trade. Indian methods were
far too primitive in procuring it. Besides which, for all the value of
it, traders in these remotenesses were apt to discourage its pursuit.
It was difficult to understand the psychology of the trader on the
subject. But no doubt he was largely influenced by the fear of a white
invasion of his territory, should the news of the gold trade leak out.
Maybe he argued that the stability of his legitimate trade was
preferable to the risks of competition which an influx of white folk
would bring. Anyway, open trade of this nature was certainly
comparatively discouraged.

But Murray was not alone in the work of the fall trade. Ailsa Mowbray
supported him in a very definite share. She had returned to the work
of the store, such as she had undertaken in the days when her husband
was alive and Murray had not yet made his appearance upon the river.
Then, too, Alec had returned from his summer trail, his first real
adventure without the guiding hand of his father to direct him. He had
returned disillusioned. He had returned discontented. His summer bag
was incomparable with his effort. It was far below that of the average
river Indians.

He went back to the store, to the work he disliked, without any
willingness, and only under the pressure of his perturbed mother and
sister. Furthermore, he quickly began to di