Company, as
does this fort and all therein."

"Nom de Dieu!" cried the other, springing back and tossing up his head;
"I knew it not! How is it, then, that at midday of this day we met on
the river one who told us of this post of De Seviere, and that it
served the Montreal merchants? That we should here find hospitality and
friends?"

"Eh?" shot out McElroy sharply. "Of what like was such a person?"

"A big man, swarthy and dark, with sullen eyes, clad in garments of
tanned hides and wearing a red cap and a knife in his belt. He bore on
his left temple a pure white lock amid his black hair."

"Bois DesCaut!" said Edmonton Ridgar; "he has been these two days gone
in his canoe."

"A traitorous trapper, M'sieu," said the factor, "one who has umbrage at
me for a rebuke administered some time back and hopes by this sorry
joke to win revenge. But what is done cannot be helped. We have met
as friends,--the unfortunate fact that we find ourselves rivals,--that
almost speaks the word 'foes,' I must inform you, M'sieu, since the
strife between our companies has become so sharp,--should not cause us
to forget the bread we have broken between us personally. I still offer
you a night's rest."

But De Courtenay had drawn himself to his slender height, his hand at
his hip, where, in other times, had dangled a sword.

"Nay, M'sieu," he said quickly, "a blunder found and unremedied
becomes two. If I ay gather my men we will sleep outside an unfriendly
fort,--and in the name of De Courtenay allow me to repay the cost of
their entertainment."

Reckless, indeed, was this young cavalier, else he would not have made
that speech.

Anders McElroy turned white beneath his tan and his fingers tapped the
table.

"Not ungrateful am I, M'sieu, but I stick by the colours I choose. If
our companies are rivals, then we are such, and I follow my master's
lead. It is at present the North-west organisation. I am pledged in
Montreal--and--I prove faithful."

The young man's face was fired with that spirit which ever lay so near
the surface and he looked at his whilom host with a mighty hauteur.

"I thank you for your kindness, M'sieu, but I must decline it further.
Come, Ivrey," and turning he picked up his wide hat, bowed first to
McElroy and then to Ridgar, and strode toward the outer door. As he
passed the lintel the not insignificant form of Rette blocked his exit,
en route for a cup she had left behind. With an instant flourish the ha