FRANCOIS AT THE LANDING 235 



&quot;Huh-huh! Frangois! Huh, Boy Wel 

 come ! &quot; went round the circle of squatting figures 

 when the Half-breed stood amongst them. The 

 musician stopped beating his instrument; sol 

 emnly each player and onlooker held out a hand 

 and gave Fran9ois one sharp jerk of greeting. 

 Two rows of men sat facing each other, a big 

 blanket over their knees ; room was made for 

 the new arrival. 



&quot; S pose I not gamble to-night me,&quot; said 

 Fran9ois, hesitatingly. 



They laughed in astonishment doubtingly. 



&quot; S pose you fraid you lose, Man-who-saves- 

 his-money,&quot; cried a Saltaux Indian, disdainfully. 



Now a Breed or an Indian must not be accused 

 of being afraid of anything ; if he be, and submit 

 to it, he is undone for all time. Half their bravery 

 is due to this same moral cowardice. Franois 

 hesitated, and the others, ignoring him, drew the 

 blanket over their knees ; the player secreted 

 the tokens, and drawing forth his hands crossed 

 his arms, always waving them in rhythmic time 

 to the turn-turn. Then the Man-who-guesses 

 in the opposite party indicated with his fingers 

 where he thought the tokens were hidden. 



It was n t in human blood to stand out against 

 this thing not generations of gambler blood, 

 and Fran9ois cried, half fiercely : &quot; Make room, 

 Brothers ! We 11 see who s afraid.&quot; 



