pened along and interfered, you struck at him with
a knife, and made the terrible scar on his breast which he showed the
boys."

"The brute! The brute!"

"You remember the night you pinned him over the bar, and were just
going to smash his face when you saw the scar which startled you so
much?"

"Yes, I remember it only too well."

"Well, he's making a mighty lot out of that, and the hard part is so
many of the boys believe him."

"Joe," said Keith, "it's cold here," and he shivered. "Let us take
some of these magazines in our arms and go back to the Indian school
room. It's warm there, and I want to tell you something."

"Now, sit down," he said, when they had reached the place, "and listen
to what I have to say, that you may know the truth.

"When I came here ten years ago the Indians were in a wretched
condition of semi-starvation. They sold their skins to a fur-trading
company, which sent a boat up stream for the very purpose. For
valuable furs they received cheap, gaudy dress material, useless toys,
and many other things they didn't need. They were being robbed right
along. After a while I induced them to give up this ruinous barter,
and deal with a more honest company, which agreed to send up a small
steamer twice a year, in the Spring and Fall. Now the Indians have
their own store, and keep those goods you saw on hand. I have never
made a cent out of the business, for the natives get everything. Once
a year they appoint one of their number to keep the store, and the lot
has fallen time and again to Amos, who is paid by the Indians for his
work.

"When a native brings in, say, a fox skin, he receives its value
according to the previous year's rate. If he needs tea and sugar he is
charged the same amount as was paid to the company---not a cent more.
When that fox skin is sold, if it brings more the Indian is credited
with the amount, but, if less, it is deducted. We have a simple yet
splendid system of accounts, which has taken years to perfect. At the
end of the year every Indian is given a statement of how he stands, and
so far there has been very little complaining.

"When an Indian does not wish to take up the full value of his furs in
goods at one time, he is given a number of large beads, their standard
of wealth, which he keeps on a stout string. Some of the natives have
saved up quite an amount in this way, and in times of sickness, or
during a bad hunting season, are not dependent