nother advantage over the coast traders: he would
establish a trading station in the very heart of the wilderness, in
the midst of the Indian hunting country.

Previous to his coming into his little fortune his father had, as far
back as Bob could remember, been struggling under a load of debt. At
times the family had been plunged into the very uttermost depths of
poverty; and even now a sickening dread stole upon Bob as he recalled
some of the winters through which they had passed when the factor at
the post had refused them further credit, and the flour barrel at home
was empty, and they could scarcely have survived had it not been for
the bounty of Douglas Campbell.

This was the condition still with many of the families of the Bay.
They were always in debt to the Company for advances of provisions,
and there was no hope that they could ever emerge from the deplorable
condition. It was the policy of the Company that they should not.

In accepting credit from the Company, the trapper placed himself under
obligation to deliver to the Company every product of his labours
until the debt was discharged. The Company allowed the trapper in
return for his pelts such an amount as it saw fit. He had no word in
the matter, and of necessity was compelled to accept the Company's
valuation of his furs, which valuation the Company took good care to
place so low as to obviate any probability of his release from debt.
At a reasonable valuation of their furs, there was seldom a year that
most, if not all, the Bay trappers might not have been freed from
their serfdom.

Thus when a trapper died his only inheritance to his children was a
burden of debt, which sometimes passed down from generation to
generation; for the son who refused to assume his father's debt was
denied credit or consideration at the Company's stores.

The Grays, as we have stated, had felt the heavy hand of this
inquisitional system. Now that they were free, Bob's sympathy was
poured out to his neighbours, and he was secretly planning how, when
he became a trader, he might also compass their release.

As rapidly as his profits would permit, Bob was determined to advance,
first to one family, then to another, sufficient cash to discharge
their debts and relieve them from their obligation to the Company.

Then he would advance them the necessary provisions and supplies to
sustain them until they returned from their trails with their hunt. He
would buy their pel