the factor called me.

"I am going to the settlement," he said, "on a matter of business. Do
you care to ride along with me, Carew?"

Any occupation promised to be a relief, and I gladly accepted the
invitation. Half an hour later we were off, mounted on good horses. The
object of our visit was to examine several secret agents--spies, to
speak plainly--who had come in with reports concerning the Northwest
Company. For obvious reasons, Macdonald did not wish them to be seen
entering the fort.

It proved to be a lengthy business, and we were detained all afternoon
and part of the evening. As to what we learned, that may be dismissed in
a few words: but the news was more satisfactory than it had been for a
long time. The half-breeds were comparatively quiet, presumably because
of a warning hint from headquarters. And the truculent officials of the
rival company had taken no steps to call our people to account for the
attack on Lagarde's store, nor did they appear to have any intention of
demanding the person of Captain Rudstone. Doubtless they thought it best
to let sleeping dogs lie. Of course this altered situation caused the
factor and myself no little relief.

We had supper at the settlement, and rode back by moonlight. We put our
horses away, and entered the house. It was then half-past ten o'clock,
and we found Christopher Burley in solitary possession of the sitting
room, hugging the stove closely and reading an old newspaper. Every one
else, he informed us, had turned in for the night, Captain Rudstone
having left only a few minutes before.

"I'm not sleepy," Macdonald said to me. "Are you?"

"Not a bit," I replied. "Then we'll have a sociable hour, Carew. I'm
just in the humor for it."

He took tobacco and whisky from a closet, and after filling our glasses
and lighting our pipes, we joined the law clerk round the stove.

"It has been a tiresome afternoon," the factor said finally, "but the
prospect looks bright--very bright. You will be glad to hear, Mr.
Burley, that his lordship--ahem! I mean your client--need not remain at
Fort Garry any longer than he wishes. At least that is my opinion."

"I am indeed relieved, sir," the law clerk replied. "I feared grave
complications. I admit that I am anxious--if I may say so without
putting any slight upon your gracious hospitality--to start for England
as soon as possible. There is much to be done--many legal matters to be
attended to--and it is important that