of exercise after working all day in the store. I saw
the light of your fire."

He was too anxious to have it understood that the meeting was
accidental. Ambrose began to suspect that he had ridden out on purpose
to see him.

The better men among the natives, such as Tole Grampierre, have a pride
of their own; but they never presume to the same footing as the white
men. Strange, however, talked as one gentleman to another.

There was nothing blatant in it; he had a well-bred man's care for the
prejudices of another. Nevertheless, as they talked on Ambrose began
to feel a curious repugnance to his visitor, that made him wary of his
own speech.

"Too damn gentlemanly!" he said to himself.

"Why didn't you come in to see us to-day?" inquired Strange. "We don't
expect a traveler to give us the go-by."

"Well," said Ambrose dryly, "I had an idea that my room would be
preferred to my company."

"Nonsense!" said Strange, laughing. "We don't carry our business war
as far as that. Why, we want to show you free-traders what a fine
place we have, so we can crow over you a little. Anyway, you dined
with Mr. Gaviller, didn't you?"

"John Gaviller would never let himself off any of the duties of
hospitality," said Ambrose cautiously.

He was wondering how far Strange might be admitted to Gaviller's
confidence. That he was being drawn out, Ambrose had no doubt at all,
but he did not know just to what end.

Strange launched into extensive praises of John Gaviller. "I ought to
know," he said in conclusion. "I've worked for him twenty-nine years.
He taught me all I know. He's been a second father to me."

Ambrose felt as an honest man hearing an unnecessary and fulsome
panegyric must feel, slightly nauseated. He said nothing.

Strange was quick to perceive the absence of enthusiasm. He laughed
agreeably. "I suppose I can hardly expect you to chime in with me," he
said. "The old man is death on free-traders!"

"I have nothing against him," said Ambrose quickly.

"Of course I don't always agree with him on matters of policy," Strange
went on. "Curious, isn't it, how a man's ruling characteristic begins
to get the better of him as he grows old.

"Mr. Gaviller is always just--but, well, a leetle hard. He's pushing
the people a little too far lately. I tell him so to his face--I
oppose him all I can. But of course he's the boss."

Ambrose began to feel an obscure and discomforting indignation at his
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