, and it
now hung down his back. His fur cap was removed, thus displaying a
coarse mane of long black hair, and a face as sombre and strong as the
world to which he belonged.

The room was untidy. The bed stood at one end, and the tumbled blankets
upon it looked as though they had not been straightened for weeks. A
small table supported the remains of a frugal meal and the floor about
it was littered with food and crumbs. Everywhere were signs of
half-breed slovenliness.

For some moments silence had reigned. The North, that Land of Silence,
makes men sparing of words, and even women only talk when it is
necessary. Just now, there was that between these two men which held
every thought to the main issue.

Victor's attention was for the moment upon a rough-hewn chest which was
standing on the floor at the big man's feet.

"An' why didn't she come right along with you?"

"Mebbe cos she's smarter nor any o' us; mebbe cos I jest didn't want her
to. There's somethin' 'tween you an' me, Victor, that needs some
parley."

The big man spoke quite calmly, but his very calmness was portentous.

"Smarter?" said Victor contemptuously, ignoring the latter part of the
other's remark.

"That's what I said," went on the giant, in dispassionate tones. "Davia
reckoned as it wa'n't jest safe to light right out lest them fellers
found they'd been robbed o' their wad. She's stayin' around to put 'em
off'n the trail. They're dead sweet on her an' ain't likely to 'spect
who's got the stuff while she's around."

Victor nodded approvingly. His face was less angry. He knew Davia would
serve him well. A silence fell again. The stove roared under the forced
draught of the damper. Then the big man spoke as though he had not
broken off.

"But that ain't on'y the reason, I guess. I wanted her to stay. You an'
me are goin' to talk, Victor Gagnon."

The trader glanced angrily at the man with the hood.

"See here, Jean Leblaude, you allus had a crank in yer head, an' I don't
cotton to cranks anyhow."

"But you'll cotton to this," replied Jean drily.

"Eh?"

"It's nigh on to three year since you an' sister Davi' took on
together," he went on, ignoring the interruption, and speaking with
great feeling. "Guess you said as you'd marry her when you was
independent o' the company. It was allus the company. Didn't want no
married traders on their books. An' you hadn't no cash pappy. That's how
you sed. Mebbe it's different now. Wal? When ar