auses his
heart to leap, and induces him to toil for months and months together in
the heat of summer and amid the frost and snow of winter; that which
_actually_ accomplishes, what music is _said_ to achieve, the "soothing
of the savage breast:" in short, here are stored up blankets, guns,
powder, shot, kettles, axes, and knives; twine for nets, vermilion for
war-paint, fish-hooks and scalping-knives, capotes, cloth, beads,
needles, and a host of miscellaneous articles, much too numerous to
mention. Here, also, occur periodical scenes of bustle and excitement,
when bands of natives arrive from distant hunting-grounds, laden with
rich furs, which are speedily transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company's
stores in exchange for the goods aforementioned. And many a tough
wrangle has the trader on such occasions with sharp natives, who might
have graduated in Billingsgate, so close are they at a bargain. Here,
too, voyageurs are supplied with an equivalent for their wages, part in
advance, if they desire it (and they generally do desire it), and part
at the conclusion of their long and arduous voyages.

It is to one of these stores, reader, that we wish to introduce you now,
that you may witness the men of the North brigade receive their
advances.

The store at Fort Garry stands on the right of the fort, as you enter by
the front gate. Its interior resembles that of the other stores in the
country, being only a little larger. A counter encloses a space
sufficiently wide to admit a dozen men, and serves to keep back those
who are more eager than the rest. Inside this counter, at the time we
write of, stood our friend Peter Mactavish, who was the presiding genius
of the scene.

"Shut the door now, and lock it" said Peter, in an authoritative tone,
after eight or ten young voyageurs had crushed into the space in front
of the counter. "I'll not supply you with so much as an ounce of
tobacco if you let in another man."

Peter needed not to repeat the command. Three or four stalwart
shoulders were applied to the door, which shut with a bang like a
cannon-shot, and the key was turned.

"Come now, Antoine," began the trader, "we've lots to do, and not much
time to do it in, so pray look sharp."

Antoine, however, was not to be urged on so easily. He had been
meditating deeply all morning on what he should purchase. Moreover, he
had a sweetheart, and of course he had to buy something for her before
setting out on his