BUSINESS AND ROMANCE 301 



humining the same old tune. A little later, however, I was 

 almost startled when Mrs. Spear exclaimed: 



"But I'll lend you a photograph of Athabasca for six 

 weeks!" 



Thereupon Mrs. Spear left her chair and going upstairs 

 presently returned with a photograph wrapped in a silk 

 handkerchief; and as at that very moment the Free Trader and 

 his daughter entered the room, I, without comment, shpped 

 the photograph into my inside pocket, and wished them all 

 good-bye; though they insisted upon walking down to the 

 landing to wave me farewell on my way to Fort Consolation. 



MUSTERING THE FUR BRIGADE 



Next morning, soon after dawn, the church bells were ringing 

 and everyone was up and astir; and presently all were on their 

 way to one or another of the Httle log chapels on the hill; where, 

 a little later, they saw the stalwart men of the Fur Brigade 

 kneehng before the altar as they partook of the holy sacra- 

 ment before starting upon their voyage to the frontier of 

 civihzation. 



Strange, isn't it, that the writers of northern novels never 

 depict a scene Uke that.^ Probably because they have never 

 been inside a northern church. 



Next, breakfasts were hurriedly eaten, then the voyageurs 

 assembled upon the beach placed those big, beautifully formed, 

 six-fathom canoes upon the water, and paddled them to the 

 landing. Then Chief Factor Thompson and Factor Mackenzie 

 joined the throng; and that veteran voyageur, Oo-koo-hoo, who 

 was to command the Fur Brigade, touched his hat and con- 

 versed with the officers. A few moments later the old guide 

 waved his swarthy men into line. From them he chose the 

 bowmen, calling each by name, and motioning them to rank 

 beside him; then, in turn, each bowman selected a man for his 



