but the Great Company that you're alive to-day."

With a grunt of disapproval Oo-koo-hoo sullenly retorted:

"The Priest says it is The Master of Life we have to thank for that. I
am sure that the Commissioner of the Great Company is not so great as
God. It is true you give us good prices now, but it is also true that
you have not given us back the countless sums you stole from our
fathers and grandfathers and all our people before them; for did you
not wait until the coming of the free traders before you would give us
the worth of our skins? No wonder you are great masters; it seems to
me that it takes great rogues to become great masters."

The angry Lawson, to save a quarrel, bit his moustache, smiled faintly
and, presenting the hunter with even more than Gibeault had given, said:

"Never mind, my brother, you're a pretty smart man."

Without replying, Oo-koo-hoo accepted the present so eagerly that he
jerked it out of the trader's hand. That pleased Lawson. Presently
the Indian threw down a bear skin, saying:

"My brother, this is to see how you look at me."

Now the way of the experienced fur-runner is to offer a big
price--often an excessive price--for the first skin. He calculates
that it puts the Indian in a good humour and in the end gives the
trader a chance of getting ahead of the native. That is just what
Lawson did, and Gibeault refused to raise the bid.