47 



CHAPTER III. 



ELL, Mr. Gresham," said the Hudson's 

 Bay agent, one morning after Paul 

 *^'S had resided under his hospitable 

 roof at Montreal for a fortnight, 

 during which time he had purchased 

 an outfit under his host's direction, " when 

 do you think you will be ready for a start?" 

 " I think my kit is pretty complete now," 

 replied the young man, "and I am quite at your 

 disposal. Indeed, the sooner I make a beginning 

 the better, and I am longing to enter upon the wild 

 life of which your head voyageur Pierre is never 

 tired of singing the charms." 



" Then in that case there need be no further 

 delay, and you can start the day after to-morrow. 

 Mr. Marshall wishes you to learn the varied duties 

 of a fur trader thoroughly, and therefore I have 

 decided on sending you first to Osnaburg House, 

 at the head of Lake Joseph, where you will see the 

 method of trading with the Wood Indians ; after- 

 wards we can move you to a prairie station. You 



