lege in a hurry. The minutes went by without the
Governor appearing, or the young Scotsman returning, and, in rising
wrath, Andrew Macrae was just about to knock on the inside door, when
suddenly it opened, and there stood before him a thick-set,
shaggy-haired personage, whose deeply flushed features showed that he
had been dining not wisely but too well. 'What is it?' he demanded
brusquely. 'Why do you bother me now? Why can't you wait until the
morning?'

In a firm, yet respectful, tone, Hector's father stated the reason of
his coming. 'Tut! Tut!' growled the man. 'I can't attend to that
to-night. Come back to-morrow,' and he was about to close the door,
when Mr. Macrae, with a quick movement, thrust his foot against it, and
at the same moment he laid his hand firmly upon the factor's arm.

'It's ma ain bairn I'm seeking, and I shall na leave here until I find
him.' As he spoke, his companions pressed close behind him, shoulder
to shoulder.

The factor's bloodshot eyes went from one stern, intent face to
another. Manifestly, these were not men to be trifled with. Obscured
by strong drink as his brain was, enough sense remained to understand
that. With an oath he flung the door open, and said sneeringly: 'Do ye
expect to find him in here?'

Through the cloud of tobacco smoke that filled the room, Mr. Macrae saw
several men sitting at the table with glasses before them.

'Surely not;' he replied, an accent of fine scorn in his deep voice.
'But with your permission, I'll search the fort.'

'Do so, and----' here followed rough words, but Andrew, having gained
his point, took no notice of the man's gross rudeness.

CHAPTER VI

Ordered Off

'Come awa', men,' he said to his companions. 'We'll na give o'er till
we've searched the place throughout. Lead awa', Dour, gude dog.'

The clever collie needed no second bidding. He had been very
impatiently awaiting the conclusion of the colloquy at the factor's,
and now bounded across the open space between the different buildings,
making straight for the fur-house.

By this time, several of the inmates of the fort had gathered, curious
as to what was up, and, had Mr. Macrae been alone, their sinister looks
might well have made him anxious concerning his own safety.

But his only thought was for Hector, and the grave, sinewy men by his
side, though few in numbers, were not the kind to invite hasty attack;
so, paying no heed to threatening looks or m