re is no more fur. But always there is mouths for
bread. If I be farmer and teach my boys, they not starve when fur is
no more.

"My fat'er say to Gaviller: 'All right.' Writings are made and signed.
The ot'er men with good land on the river, they say they raise wheat,
too.

"After that the machines is brought in. Good crops is raised.
Ev'rything is fine. Bam-by Gaviller put the price down to
two-twenty-five. Bam-by he only pay two dollar. Tams is hard, he say.
Las' year he pay one-seventy-five. Now he say one-fifty all he pay.

"The farmers say they so poor now, might as well have nothing. They
say they not cut the grain this year. Gaviller say it is his grain.
He will go on their land and cut it. There will be trouble."

"This is a kind of slavery!" cried Ambrose.

"There is more to mak' trouble," Tole went on with his calm air.
"Three years ago Gaviller build a fine big steamboat. He say: 'Now,
boys, you can go outside when you want.' He says: 'This big boat will
bring us ev'rything good and cheap from outside.'

"But when she start it is thirty dollars for a man to go to the
Crossing. And fifty cents for every meal. Nobody got so much money as
that.

"It is the same to bring t'ings in. Not'ing is cheaper. Jean Bateese
Gagnon, he get a big book from outside. In that book there is all
things to buy and pictures to show them. The people outside will send
you the t'ings. You send money in a letter."

"Mail order catalogue," suggested Ambrose.

"That is the name of the book," said Tole. In describing its wonders
he lost, for the first time, some of his imperturbable air. "Wa! Wa!
All is so cheap inside that book. It is wonderful. Three suits of
clothes cost no more as one at the Company store.

"Everyt'ing is in that book. A man can get shirts of silk. A man can
get a machine to milk a cow. All the people want to send money for
t'ings. Gaviller say no. Gaviller say steamboat only carry Company
freight. Gaviller say: 'Come to me for what you want and I get it--at
regular prices.'"

"And this is supposed to be a free country," said Ambrose.

"The men are mad," continued Tole. "They do not'ing. Only Jean
Bateese Gagnon. He is the mos' mad. He say he don' care. He send the
money for a plow las' summer. All wait to see w'at Gaviller will do.

"Gaviller let the steamboat bring it down. He say the freight is
fifteen dollars. Jean Bateese say: 'Tak' it back again. I won't p