alled a man in the prow; whom Dupre knew for a wintering
partner by the name of McIntosh of none too savoury report.

"Hudson's Bay trapper, M'sieu," he said politely, going a step nearer
the water. "I wait, with Madame my wife, the coming of our brigade from
York, now one day overdue."

"Ah,--my mistake. I had thought the H. B. C.'s this fortnight gone down.
As ever, they are a trifle behind."

While he addressed Dupre his bold eyes were fastened on Maren, where she
hung a dressed fish on a split prong.

"Not behind, M'sieu," said the young man gently. "They but take the time
of certainty. A Saulteur passing this way at daylight reported them as
at McMillan's Landing."

"Then your waiting is short. I am glad,--for Madame. So lone a camp must
be hard for a woman."

With the words the Nor'wester scanned the girl's face with a glance that
pierced her consciousness, though her eyes were fixed on her task. Not a
tinge of deeper colour came to her cheeks. There was no betrayal of the
part Dupre had assigned her, and with a word of parting the canoe swung
out to its place, though McIntosh's eyes clung boldly to her beauty so
long as he could see her.

"Ah-h,--a close shave!" thought the trapper as he picked up a splinter
and once more fell to upon the boat.

Twenty-four hours later there came out of the north the thrice blessed
brigade of the H. B. C., bound down the lake to Grand Rapids, where the
canoes would separate into two parties, one going up the Saskatchewan to
Cumberland House, the other down to the country of the Assiniboine.

Eager as a hound for the quarry Maren stood forth beside Dupre to hail
them.

Head of the brigade was Mr. Thomas Mowbray, a gentleman of fine presence
and of gentle manners.

In answer to the hail from shore he came to, and presently he stood in
the prow of his boat listening to an appeal that lightened his grave
eyes.

"Men we must have, M'sieu," Maren was saying passionately; "men of the
Hudson's Bay. Against all odds we go of a truth, but strategy and wit
accomplish much, and the Nakonkirhirinons have no thought of rescue.
Besides, the farther north they get the less keen will be their
vigilance. With men, M'sieu, we may retake, by strategy alone of course,
the factor of Fort de Seviere. Therefore have we come across your way,
In the Name of Mary, M'sieu, I beg that you refuse me not!"

She was like some young priestess as she stood in the westering light on
the green-frin