, warned, and advised. Twine was to be got for nets and
fishing-lines, powder and shot, axes for cutting his winter firewood,
cloth for his own and his wife's leggings, knives, tobacco, needles, and
an endless variety of things, which gradually lessened his little pile
of sticks, until at last he reached the sticking point, when all his
sticks were gone.

"Now, Darkeye," (that was the chief's name), "you've come to the end at
last, and a good thing you have made of it this year," said Mr Grant,
in the Indian language. "Have you got all you want?"

"Darkeye wants bullets," said the chief.

"Ah, to be sure. You shall have a lot of these for nothing, and some
tobacco too," said the trader, handing the gifts to the Indian.

A look of satisfaction lighted up the chief's countenance as he received
the gifts, and made way for another Indian to open and display his pack
of furs. But Jasper was struck by a peculiar expression in the face of
Darkeye. Observing that he took up one of the bullets and showed it to
another savage, our hunter edged near him to overhear the conversation.

"Do you see that ball?" said the chief, in a low tone.

The Indian to whom he spoke nodded.

"Look here!"

Darkeye put the bullet into his mouth as he spoke, and bit it until his
strong sharp teeth sank deep into the lead; then, holding it up, he
said, in the same low voice, "You will know it again?"

Once more the savage nodded, and a malicious smile played on his face
for a moment.

Just then Mr Grant called out, "Come here, Jasper, tell me what you
think this otter-skin is worth."

Jasper's curiosity had been aroused by the mysterious conduct of
Darkeye, and he would have given a good deal to have heard a little more
of his conversation; but, being thus called away, he was obliged to
leave his place, and soon forgot the incident.

During the whole of that day the trading of furs was carried on much as
I have now described it. Some of the Indians had large packs, and some
had small, but all of them had sufficient to purchase such things as
were necessary for themselves and their families during the approaching
winter; and as each man received from Mr Grant a present of tobacco,
besides a few trinkets of small value, they returned to the Hall that
night in high good humour.

Next day, Jasper and his friends bade the hospitable trader farewell,
and a few days after that the Indians left him. They smoked a farewell
pipe, then str