red readily enough.

"That's jest how, pard. An' it ain't a yarn neither. It's gospel truth.
I know."

"Hah!" ejaculated Nick, while a strange feeling passed down his spine.
Ralph's eyes had slowly opened, but the others did not notice him.

"I've seen her!" went on the trader emphatically.

"You've seen her!" said Nick, in an awed whisper.

An extra loud burst of the storming wind held the men silent a moment,
then, as it died away, Victor went on.

"Yes, I see her with my own two eyes, an' I ain't like to ferget it
neither. Say, ye've seen them Bible 'lustrations in my shanty? Them
pictur's o' lovesome critturs wi' feathery wings an' sech?"

"I guess."

"Wal, clip them wings sheer off, an' you've got her dead right."

"Mush! But she must be a dandy sight," exclaimed Nick, with conviction.
"How come ye to--"

"Guess it's a long yarn, an' maybe ye're wantin' to sleep."

"Say, I 'lows I'd like that yarn, Victor. I ain't worried for sleep,
any."

Nick deliberately refilled his pipe and lit it, and passed his tobacco
to the trader. Victor took the pouch. Ralph's eyes had closed again.

"You allus was a great one fer a yarn, Nick," began the half-breed, with
a laugh. "Guess you most allus gets me gassin'; but say, this ain't no
yarn, in a way. It's the most cur'us bit o' truth, as maybe you'll
presently allow. But I ain't goin' to tell it you if ye ain't believin',
'cause it's the truth." The trader's face had become quite serious and
he spoke with unusual earnestness. Nick was impressed, and Ralph's eyes
had opened again.

"Git goin', pard; guess your word's good fer me," Nick said eagerly.
"You was sayin'--"

"Ye've heard tell o' the Moosefoot Injuns?" began the trader slowly.
Nick nodded. "They're a queer lot o' neches. I used to do a deal o'
trade wi' them on the Peace River, 'fore they was located on a reserve.
They were the last o' the old-time redskin hunters. Dessay they were the
last to hunt the buffalo into the drives. They're pretty fine men now, I
guess, as neches go, but they ain't nothin' to what they was. I guess
that don't figger anyway, but they're different from most Injuns, which
is what I was coming to. Their chief ain't a 'brave,' same as most,
which, I 'lows, is unusual. Maybe that's how it come they ain't allus on
the war-path, an' maybe that's how it come their river's called Peace
River. Their chief is a Med'cine Man; has been ever since they was drove
across the mountains from Br