so much."

Ambrose immediately grinned--after a fashion. "I've got a lot to tell
you," he said. "We'll talk after supper."

Half the night they talked. Ambrose laid his proposal before Peter in
anxious trepidation. Peter earned the young man's lifelong gratitude
by the promptness and heartiness of his response.

"You did right!" he cried with another clap on the back. "It will be a
fine adventure! We'll go into Fort Enterprise and make a killing!
We'll buy all the grain in sight!"

"It's a big weight to swing," murmured Ambrose.

"Sure!" cried Peter. "But no man would refuse it. What if it does
break us? We're young. And we'll have a grand run for our money."

The excess of Ambrose's relief unnerved him a little. "Peter, you're a
man!" he murmured brokenly. "I was near crazy, wondering if you'd
stand by me!"

"Hey, cut it out!" cried Peter. "Buck up! We got work to do to-night!"

Throughout the hours of darkness they counted up their resources,
decided as to the friends they could call on for assistance, and
planned ways and means.

There was not a day to be lost, and it was first of all decided that
Ambrose must start for the outside world next morning. Once started he
would be out of touch with his partner for good, therefore every
question had to be discussed that night, and there were a hundred.

Ambrose was astonished by Peter's pluck and dash in business affairs.
Like many another junior partner he had been accustomed to patronize
his elder a little.

"I'll stand by you to the limit," Peter had said. "But this is your
put. You must do everything yourself."

Therefore, after the details had been arranged, it fell to Ambrose to
compose the letter to Simon Grampierre. It was the longest letter he
had ever written.

Tole and I arrived yesterday after a quick trip. I have talked with my
partner. We agree to purchase all the grain grown around Fort
Enterprise this season at one-seventy-five per bushel.

We will load up a york boat immediately with a small load of supplies
for present use. Tole will steer it up the river. He will take this
letter to you. It may take four or five days to get a crew.

(Here followed an inventory of the goods they had decided to send.)

We appoint you our agent to distribute these goods. I will send you a
book in which to put down all the charges. Let the crew of the york
boat have two dug-outs to return home in, and keep the york boat at
y