boys noticed Alex and Moise step a little apart and begin to
converse in low tones. From their looks and gestures, the boys
gathered that the men were speaking of something in which they
themselves were concerned, in just what way they could not tell.
Presently Moise smiled and nodded vigorously. Approaching the
camp-fire, he took up his short-handled ax and slung it at his back by
a bit of thong. Then he stepped over to the tallest and straightest
pine-tree which grew close to the water's edge thereabout. Active as a
cat, he soon had climbed the lower branches, where, without pausing,
he began to hack off, close to the trunk, every branch within his
reach. Having done so, he climbed yet higher up and repeated the
operation, as though it were his purpose to cut off nearly all the
branches to the top of the tree. At first the boys thought he was
gathering boughs for the beds, but as they were almost ready to break
camp they could not understand this.

"Let's go up and help him, fellows!" exclaimed John.

Alex restrained them. "No, you mustn't do that." John stopped rather
abashed.

"You see," explained the old hunter, "you are concerned in this, so
you must not help."

"I don't understand--" began John.

"Well, the truth is, we are going to give you a celebration. In short,
we are making a monument for you young gentlemen, all of you."

Rob broke into the conversation. "A monument? But we're not dead, and
aren't going to be soon!"

"This is a monument of the Far North. It is not necessary to die. We
are making you what we call a 'lob-stick,' or 'lop-stick.'"

"I never heard of anything like that."

"Very likely not. Nor do I suppose there is one this far to the west,
although there are some which we may see down the Peace River. Had
Mackenzie and Fraser got their dues, each of them would have had a
'lob-stick' somewhere in here. Probably they were too busy in those
days. But if either of them had had a 'lob-stick' made for him it
would very likely be standing to-day. In that case every man who went
past on the river would know why it had been given."

The boys were very much excited over this and demanded of Alex that he
should explain more precisely these matters.

"Well," said the old hunter, kindly, "each country has its own ways.
When I was in London with General Kitchener I went to Westminster
Cathedral, and saw there engraved in brass the names of men who had
done deeds worth commemorating. It is our