you out for the trail if
you want to take it," he added. But it was easy to see that his
mind was not in his words.

Donald uttered no thanks. He had gained his end; he would not be
sent back to the Hudson Bay camp. He looked at his brooding companion,
furtively.

"Let him enjoy his hour of triumph and dreaming," he thought,
good-humoredly; "it won't last long." And he started back through
the woods to the camp.

Seguis, apparently wrapped in pleasurable plans, followed slowly
at a distance.

CHAPTER XXIV

NINE POINTS OF THE LAW

For two days, affairs in the camp remained unchanged. Donald,
unobtrusively watching events, saw Charley Seguis often in conference
with old Maria. The faces of both were lighted with a certain joy,
but, at times, that of the half-breed seemed to assume a brooding
somberness. McTavish, for his part, was merely waiting. After that
stormy day by the blasted pine, and the glimpse he had caught of
the coveted certificate, a change had been wrought in him. He
temporarily relinquished the idea of obtaining the paper: that had
come later. Other things of more vital importance demanded his
attention, things that boded no good for these men in whose midst
he lived, unmolested, an alien. He had seen opportunity to serve
the Company, that inflexible master which had almost crushed his
life out more than once, and the inherent loyalty in him had
responded. Where before he had been willing to give his life in
defense of his own ideals, now he was setting personal desire aside
that the Company might be served.

In the free-traders' camp, the situation was once more becoming
acute. Supplies were again low, although the week allowed for the
arrival of the French pack-trains was not up. The men were loath
to leave the camp exposed, to search for the expected arrivals,
and they hung on, trusting that the traders would come through.

The third morning after the talk with Seguis, the Hudson Bay man
opened another conversation between them.

"I've changed my mind, Seguis, about staying here any longer," he
said. "The other day, you promised to fit me out for the trail, if
I wanted to go, and I've decided to take advantage of that offer,
if it's still open."

"It is still open," replied the other. "What has changed your mind
so suddenly?"

"Oh, everything!" was the despondent answer. "I can't see much
ahead of me, and I might as well hit the trail. I think I'll head
for Labrador. I can make