f his discomfort. Nick
was accustomed to think of himself as a whale of a fine fellow, as they
say in the West; he heard every day that he was the smartest man up
North; and, of course, he believed it. He regarded himself as a prince
of generosity; for was not his liberality to the half-breed women a
reproach among cannier white men? He was fond of children, too; and one
of his amusements was to distribute handfuls of candy over the counter
of his store. And candy ("French creams," God save the mark!) is worth
seventy-five cents a pound on Lake Miwasa. When any poor fellow froze
to death, or went "looney" in the great solitudes, it was Nick Grylls
who dug deepest in his pocket for the relief of the unfortunate family.
This, then, was the meat of his amazed grievance; that he, the great
man, the patron, should, here in his own country, be coolly ignored
by a mere boy and girl.

There was good in Nick Grylls; and Garth travelling alone would have got
along very well with him, and worked him for copy; but having Natalie
to look after, he instinctively put himself on his guard against the
triumphant Silenus. Grylls, with an enormous capacity for pleasure, had
carelessly taken his fill. He had to content himself with the coarse
plants of the North; and up to now he had desired no other. But he had
arrived at the age when, the passions beginning to cool, the grossest
man conceives of fastidiousness; and at this crisis Fate had thrust a
perfect blossom before him. Never so close to a woman of Natalie's world
before, he had been free to look at her throughout an entire day; and
she had actually spoken to him once. He did not realize what was the
matter with him yet; but presently, when Natalie came out of the house,
he would know.

Garth strolled out from breakfast; and filled his pipe while he waited
for Natalie to repack her valise within. Nick's chaotic passions leaped
to meet the aspect of the cool young man, and fastened on him. But there
was no relief here; his hearty and irresistible career over prostrate
necks was suddenly arrested in the light of Garth's cool glance. In his
heart Nick suspected he was despised, and the fact emasculated his rage.
He hung his head, and looked elsewhere.

When the horses were hitched, Xavier went into the bunkhouse for his
master's bedding, old Paul pottered around the harness, while Albert,
Nell's companion, strolled back to join Grylls.

"What do you make of this young couple?" aske