ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE 



23 



"De'il ha'e ye!" roared the Factor, "what is't the noo?" 



"Never mind, it will do to-morrow," muttered the hunter 

 with an offended air. 



"As I'm a leevin' sinner, it's noo or it's nivver," insisted 

 the Factor, who had no desire to let the Indian have another 

 day at it. "Come back this verra minnit, an' I'll gi'e ye a 

 wheen poothers an' sic like, that'll keep ye a' hale and hearty, I 

 houp, till ye win name again." 



The Factor took him back and gave him some salts, pepper- 

 mint, pain-killer, and sticking-plaster to offset all the ills that 

 might befall him and his party during the next ten months. 



Once more they started for the house. The Factor was 

 ready to put up with anything as long as he could get them 

 away from the store. Oo-koo-hoo now told the trader not to 

 charge anything against his wife as he would settle her account 

 himself, and that as Amik would be back in the morning, he, 

 too, would want his advances, and if they had forgotten any- 

 thing, Amik could get it next day. 



The Factor scowled again, but it was too late. 



While the Indians lounged around the kitchen and talked 

 to the Factor's wife and the half-breed servant girl, the Factor 

 went to his office and made out Oo-koo-hoo 's bill, which read: 



