What did it all mean? Had I done anything to displease her? No; I
could think of nothing of the sort, so I felt a little easier.
Suddenly, however, she glanced up and, looking straight at me, began:

"Mr. Heming . . . we have only one child . . . and we love her
dearly . . ."

But the pause that followed was so long drawn out that I began to lose
interest, especially as the flies were once more humming the same old
tune. A little later, however, I was almost startled when Mrs. Spear
exclaimed:

"But I'll lend you a photograph of Athabasca for six weeks!"

Thereupon Mrs. Spear left her chair and going upstairs presently
returned with a photograph wrapped in a silk handkerchief; and as at
that very moment the Free Trader and his daughter entered the room, I,
without comment, slipped the photograph into my inside pocket, and
wished them all good-bye; though they insisted upon walking down to the
landing to wave me farewell on my way to Fort Consolation.


MUSTERING THE FUR BRIGADE

Next morning, soon after dawn, the church bells were ringing and
everyone was up and astir; and presently all were on their way to one
or another of the little log chapels on the hill; where, a little
later, they saw the stalwart men of the Fur Brigade kneeling before the
altar as they partook of the holy sacrament before starting upon their
voyage to the frontier of civilization.