r lasts the open water will soon be upon us."

"You are right, Tonal'," answered the trader, knocking the ashes out of
his pipe, and proceeding to refill it. "That iss just what wass in my
own mind, for we must be thinkin' about makin' preparations for our trip
to the Ukon Ruver. We will hev to start whenever my successor arrives
here. Man, it will be a goot job when we are off, for I am seek--tired
of this place. Wan hes nothin' in the world to think about but his
stamik, an' that iss not intellectooal, whatever."

"Are we to use the inch or the inch-an'-a-half nails?" asked Mowat,
after a moment's pause.

"Whichever you like, Tonal'. There iss plenty of both in the store, an'
ye are as goot a judge o' these metters as I am myself. Just help
yoursel', man; only see that the work is done well, for there iss a
rough trup before us when we do git away. An' the load will be heavy
moreover, for there will be a deal of stuff needed if we are to build an
outpost fit to spend a winter in. Man, it iss pleasant to think that we
will break up new ground--open up a new country among savitches that
scarce knows what like a white man iss. We will feel quite like what we
felt as boys when we was readin' Robinson Crusoe."

"We will need two pit-saws," remarked the practical Orkney-man in a
meditative tone.

"No doubt, no doubt," returned MacSweenie, "and a grindstone too. Do
you remember what that man Nazinred said when he came here on his last
trup,--that the Indians about his country would be fery pleased to see
traders settle among them? He little thought--an' no more did I--that
we would be so soon sent to carry out their wishes; but our Governor is
an active-minded man, an' ye never know what he'll be at next. He's a
man of enterprise and action, that won't let the gress grow under his
feet--no, nor under the feet of anybody that he hes to do wi'. I am
well pleased, whatever, that he hes ordered me on this service. An' no
doubt ye are also well pleased to go, Tonal'. It will keep your mind
from gettin' rusty."

"I am not ill-pleased," returned the interpreter gravely.--"I'm thinkin'
there won't be enough o' pitch to go over all the seams o' the boat. I
was--"

"Hoot, man! never mind the putch, Tonal'. What there iss will do fery
well, an' the boat that comes with supplies for the new post will be
sure to hev plenty. By the way, I wonder if that fine man Nazinred will
hev come back when we get to the Ukon