these men and the wild, uncouth life they led. The long,
grey winter and the brief, fleeting summer, the desolate wastes and
dreary isolation.

After awhile the sum of Victor's entertainment was worked out and they
fell back on mere talk. But as the potent spirit worked, the
conversation became louder than usual, and Victor did not monopolize it.
The two brothers did their share, and each, unknown to the other, was
seeking an opportunity of turning Victor's thoughts into the channel
where dwelt his recollections of the wonderful White Squaw.

Nick was the one who broke the ice. The more slow-going Ralph had not
taken so much spirit as his brother. Nick's eyes were bright, almost
burning, as he turned his flushed, rugged face upon the half-breed. He
leant forward in his eagerness and his words came rapidly, almost
fiercely.

"Say, Victor," he jerked out, as though he had screwed himself up for
the necessary courage to speak on the subject. "I was thinkin' o' that
white crittur you got yarnin' about when you come around our shanty.
Jest whar's that Moosefoot Reserve, an'--an' the bit o' forest whar her
lodge is located? Maybe I'd fancy to know. I 'lows I was kind o' struck
on that yarn."

The trader saw the eager face, and the excitement in the eyes which
looked into his, and, in a moment, his merry mood died out. His dark
face became serious, and his keen black eyes looked sharply back into
Nick's expressive countenance. He answered at once in characteristic
fashion.

"The Reserve's nigh on to a hund'ed an' fifty miles from here, I guess.
Lies away ther' to the nor'east, down in the Foothills. The bluff lies
beyond." Then he paused and a flash of thought shot through his active
brain. There was a strange something looking out of Nick's eyes which he
interpreted aright. Inspiration leapt, and he gripped it, and held it.

"Say," he went on, "you ain't thinkin' o' makin' the Reserve, Nick?"
Then he turned swiftly and looked at Ralph. The quieter man was gazing
heavily at his brother. And as Victor turned back again to Nick his
heart beat faster.

Nick lowered his eyes when he found himself the object of the double
scrutiny. He felt as though he would like to have withdrawn his
questions, and he shifted uneasily. But Victor waited for his answer and
he was forced to go on.

"Oh," he said, with a shamefaced laugh, "I was on'y jest thinkin'. I
'lows that yarn was a real good one."

There was a brief silence while