8 IN A FRONTIER SETTLEMENT 



we'll hit it off. You're not Government ? No 

 party, no big stores, no following of camp cooks 

 and freighters. What are you out for ? Fur, 

 foxes, or prospecting ? " 



" No, Ryan, I'm going for none of those 

 things. When you've come off the Drive, when 

 you've had your glorious c flare up ' in the city, 

 and your body and mind are sick and sore with 

 months of summer idleness, what do you long 

 for ? Do you not crave again for the freedom 

 of the backwoods ; for the great silence ; for 

 the peace of the camp fire ? " 



" Aye, aye, Mate." 



" Well, so am I here. There's no rest in the 

 cities. I go to study the birds and animals, 

 and all of nature's things — and to bring, for the 

 Government, specimens for their museum. 



" I travel, as you would travel — alone, caring not 

 for the ease and noise of retinue in surroundings 

 which are Ino part of such things. From maps 

 I know something of the main lakes and rivers, 

 and leave the rest to bush-craft. 



"•What do you say, Ryan, will you come ? " 



"H'm! — Ya, I guess so, Stranger — never had 

 a chance before to see that darned North Country." 



" Right, Joe ! Shake ! Get what you want 

 in the store, on my account — six months' tobacco, 

 mind — and be around ready to pull out first 

 thing in the morning." 



Joe Ryan, Riverman and Lumber-jack 



Joe Ryan was a hard man. Hard, by nature 

 of his calling ; hard, at the bidding of his mind. 

 He has an unforgiving countenance, deep-seared 



