sleigh,
and besides, one of the horses is working in the stump lot; but I think
I can manage."

In a little while he led a horse round to the front door. The animal
had a pole attached to either side, the other end of which dragged out
behind; across the two poles, just behind the horse's tail, was
fastened a rack of cross poles upon which was placed some straw and a
buffalo robe. It was really a _travois_, the kind of conveyance used
by the Plains Indians. Getting aboard the affair, off we went, the old
plug rumbling along in a kind of a trotting walk, while Athabasca held
the reins. The morning being a fine sunny one, and the trees being
draped and festooned with snow, the scene was so beautiful when we got
into the thicker woods that it made one think of fairyland. A couple
of fluffy little whiskey jacks followed us all the way there and back,
just as though they wanted to see and hear everything that was going
on; but those little meddlers of the northwoods must have been
disappointed, for both Athabasca and I were not only too shy to talk,
but too bashful even to sit upright; in fact, we both leaned so far
away from one another that we each hung over our side of the trap, and
did nothing but gaze far off into the enchanted wood. We must have
been gone nearly two hours when the house again came into view. Yes, I
enjoyed it. It was so romantic. But what I couldn't understand was
why her parents allowed her to go with me, when they were already
counting on "Son-in-law" marrying her. It was certainly a mystery to
me. However, that afternoon I left for Fort Consolation.

BACK TO FORT CONSOLATION

On my way across the lake I noticed that the wind was veering round
toward the east and that the temperature was rising. When I arrived in
good time for supper Factor Mackenzie seemed relieved, and remarked
that the barometer indicated a big storm from the northeast. That
night, in front of the big open fire, we talked of the fur trade.
Among other books and papers he showed me was a copy of the Company's
Deed Poll; not published a century ago, but printed at the time of
which I am writing, and thus it read:

"To all whom these presents shall come, The Governor and Company of
Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson's Bay send greeting.
Whereas His Majesty King Charles the Second did, by His Royal Charter,
constitute the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading
into Hudson's Bay in a Body Cor