re spoiling for news. Come on up to the store
and have a cigar."

Seven hundred miles from the railway a cigar is something of a
phenomenon. Poly Goussard displayed twenty dazzling teeth and made
haste to follow. The three men entered the store and found seats on
boxes and bales.

CHAPTER II.

FORT ENTERPRISE.

"Me, I work all winter at Fort Enterprise," said Poly.

"So I heard," said Peter. "You've had quite a trip."

The rosy half-breed shrugged. "It is easy. Jus' floatin' down the
Spirit River six days."

"What kind of a job did they give you at Enterprise?" asked Peter.

"I drove a team, me, haulin' logs to the saw-mill," said Poly. "There
is plentee work at Fort Enterprise."

"The Company's most profitable post," remarked Peter to Ambrose. "They
have everything their own way there." The look which accompanied this
suggested to Ambrose it would be a good place for Minot & Doane to
start a branch.

"What did you think of the place, Poly?" asked Ambrose.

The half-breed flung up his hands and dramatically rolled his eyes.

"_Wa_! _Wa_! _Towasasuak_! It is a gran' place! Jus' lak outside!
Trader him live in great big house all make of smooth boards and paint'
yellow and red lak the sun! Never I see before such a tall house, and
so many rooms inside full of fine chairs and tables so smoot' and shiny.

"He is so reech he put blankets on the floor to walk on, w'at you call
carrpitt. Every day he has a white cloth on the table, and a little
one to wipe his hands! I have seen it! And silver dishes!"

"There is style for you!" said Peter, with a whimsical roll of his eye
in Ambrose's direction.

"There is moch farming by the river at Fort Enterprise," Poly went on;
"and plaintee grain grow. There is a mill to grind flour. Steam mak'
it go lak the steamboat. They eat eggs and butter at Fort Enterprise,
and think not'ing of it. Christmas I have turkey and cranberry sauce.
I am going back, me."

"They say the trader John Gaviller is a hard man," suggested Peter.

Poly shrugged elaborately. "Maybe. He owe me not'ing. Me, I would
not farm for him nor trade my fur at his store. Those people are his
slaves. But he pay a strong man good wages. I will tak' his wages and
snap my fingers!

"But wait!" cried Poly with a sparkling eye. "The 'mos' won'erful
thing I see at Fort Enterprise--Wa!--the laktrek light! Her shine in
little bottles lak pop, but not so big. John Gaviller, h