selves. They saw piled up on the shelves and counters all sorts of
the products of civilization--hardware of every kind, groceries,
tinned goods, calicoes, clothes, hats, caps, guns, ammunition--indeed,
almost anything one could require.

John was looking behind the counters with wistful eye, for the time
ceasing his investigation of the piles of bright new moccasins.

"I don't see any, Alex," said he, at last.

"Any what, Mr. John?"

"Well, you said there'd be toffy."

Alex laughed and beckoned to the clerk. When John made known his
wishes, the latter ran his hand in behind a pile of tobacco and
brought out a number of blue-covered packages marked "Imperial Toffy."

"I think you will find this very nice, sir," said he. "It's made in
the old country, and we sell quite a bit of it here."

John's eyes lighted up at this, and, if truth be told, both of the
other boys were glad enough to divide with him his purchase,
quantities of which he generously shared also with the Indian and
half-breed children whom he presently met in the street.

"I don't see but what this is just the same as any other town," said
he at length, his mouth full.

They were received with great courtesy by the factor of the Hudson Bay
Company, who invited them to have lunch with him. To their surprise
they found on the table all the sorts of green vegetables they had
ever known--potatoes, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, many varieties, and
all in the greatest profusion and excellence.

"We don't encourage this sort of thing," said the factor, smilingly
pointing to these dishes of vegetables, "for the theory of our Company
is that all a man needs to eat is meat and fish. But just to be in
fashion, we raise a few of these things in our garden, as you may see.
When you are at Vermilion, moreover, although that is three hundred
and fifty miles north from here, you'll see all sorts of grain and
every vegetable you ever heard of growing as well as they do twelve or
fifteen hundred miles south of here."

"It's a wonderful country, sir," said Rob. "I don't blame Alex and
Moise for calling this the Land of Plenty."

"Moise said that the old war-trail over from the Little Slave country
used to end about here," ventured John.

The factor smiled, and admitted that such was once said to have been
the case.

"Those days are gone, though, my young friend," said he. "There's a
new invasion, which we think may unsettle our old ways as much as the
invasion o