t Mr. McDonald, the
factor, Douglas and Bob seated themselves upon a bench before the
cabin and discussed the proposed new trails.

"Now, Bob, 'tis this I were wantin' t' say to you, an' I weren't
wantin' t' say it when your mother'd hear, an' set her worryn'," said
Douglas finally. "Don't forget you're goin' where no white trapper was
ever goin' before. You'll have to be a wonderful sight more careful
than on th' Big Hill trail. Last year when I goes on th' Big Hill
trail some Mingen Injuns come t' th' last tilt an' made some trouble,
an' told me they'd never let a white trapper hunt th' country beyond
th' Big Hill trail, an' you plans t' go, Bob. Now, if you works
west'ard of a line from th' last tilt o' th' Big Hill trail an' th'
river, be wonderful careful o' th' Mingens. They's a bad lot of
Injuns."

"I'll be careful, sir," promised Bob, adding, however, "I'm not
fearin' th' Injuns, though."

"You never knows what an Injun's goin' t' do," cautioned Douglas. "You
was findin' th' Nascaupees friendly, but th' Mingens is different."

Presently Tom joined them and invited them to dinner in the crudely
furnished but spotlessly clean living-room of the cabin. Mrs. Black, a
stout, motherly woman, had countless questions to ask of Douglas and
Bob as to how "th' folks t' home" fared, while she and her daughter
Bessie served the meal.

Shad dined with Mr. McDonald, but directly after dinner joined Bob
while they made their purchases in the shop, and prepared for
immediate departure to Wolf Bight. When all was ready, Bob left Shad
waiting at the boat while he returned to the cabin to say goodbye to
Mrs. Black and Bessie.

Bessie followed him to the door, and when they were outside where none
could see she drew from beneath her apron a buckskin cartridge pouch,
upon which she had neatly worked in silk the word "BOB" in the centre
of a floral design, doubtless the result of many days' labour.

"Here, Bob," said she, "I were makin' it for you, an' when you carries
it on th' trail remember we're all thinkin' of you down here, an'
wishin' you luck in th' furrin', an' hopin' you're safe."

"Oh!--Bessie--'tis--'tis wonderful kind of you--I'll always be
rememberin'," Bob stammered in acceptance, for a moment quite overcome
with surprise and embarrassment.

"Now take care of yourself, Bob. We'll be missin' you th'
winter--good-bye, Bob."

"Good-bye, Bessie."

Bob and Shad quickly hoisted sail, and as they drew away from