00-KOO-HOO PLAYS THE GAME 157 



morrow; but the Company is here for ever. But I will not be 

 hard on you; I will wait and see how you look at me." 



For a while the dignified Indian sat puffing at his pipe 

 and gazing at the fire. Every line of his weather-beaten and 

 wrinkled but handsome face was fuU of sterling character. 

 At times his small eyes twinkled as a flash of cunning crept 

 into them, and a keen sense of humour frequently twitched the 

 corners of his determined mouth. Then he brought out a 

 pack of furs and, handing it to Lawson, said : 



"This is to pay the Great Company for the advances they 

 gave us last summer." 



Lawson took the bundle without opening it, as it would not 

 be checked over until he delivered it at Fort Consolation. 

 Resenting the Indian's attitude toward Gibeault he began: 



"I see, now that there's another trader here, it's easy for you 

 to forget your old friends. The free trader comes and goes. 

 Give him your furs, an' he doesn't care whether you're dead 

 to-morrow. It's not like that with the Great Company. The 

 Company came first among your people, and since then it has 

 been hke a father, not only to all your people before you, but 

 to you as well. Whenever your forefathers were smitten with 

 hunger or disease, who looked after them.^^ It wasn't the free 

 trader; it was the Company. Who sells you the best goods.^ 

 It isn't the free trader; it's the Company. Who gave you your 

 debt last fall and made it possible for you to hunt this winter .►> 

 It wasn't the free trader; it was the Company. My brother, 

 you have none to thank but the Great Company that you're 

 alive to-day." 



With a grunt of disapproval Oo-koo-hoo sullenly retorted: 



"The Priest says it is The Master of Life we have to thank 

 for that. I am sure that the Commissioner of the Great Com- 

 pany is not so great as God. It is true you give us good prices 

 now, but it is also true that you have not given us back the 

 countless sums you stole from our fathers and grandfathers 



