ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE 21 



forgotten his daughter; so after more haggling the trader 

 agreed to advance her ten skins. Her mind had long been 

 made up. She bought a three-point blanket, a small head 

 shawl, and a piece of cotton print. Then the grandsons crowded 

 round and grumbled because there was nothing for them. 



By this time the trader was beginning to feel that he had 

 done pretty well for the family already; but he kept up the 

 appearance of bluff good humour, and asked: 



" Well, Oo-koo-hoo, what wad ye be wantin' for the laddies? " 



"My grandsons are no bunglers, as you know," said the 

 proud old grandsire. "They can each kill at least twenty 

 skins' worth of fur." 



"Aye, aye!" rejoined the trader. "I shall e'en gi'e them 

 twenty atween them." 



In the goodness of his heart he offered the boys some advice 

 as to what they should buy: "Ye'U be wantin' to buy traps, 

 I'm jalousin', an' sure ye'll turn oot to be graun' hunters, 

 Nimrods o' the North that men'll mak' sangs aboot i' the comin' 

 years." He cautioned them to choose wisely, because from 

 henceforth they would be personally responsible for everything 

 they bought, and must pay, "skin for skin" (the motto of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company). 



The boys listened with gloomy civility, and then purchased 

 an assortment of useless trifles such as ribbons, tobacco, but- 

 tons, candy, rings, pomatum, perfume, and Jew's harps. 



The Factor's patience was now nearly exhausted. He 

 picked up his account book, and strode to the door, and held it 

 open as a hint to the Indians to leave. But they pretended to 

 take no notice of his action. 



The granddaughters, who had been growing more and more 

 anxious lest they should be forgotten, now began to be voluble 

 in complaint. Oo-koo-hoo called the trader aside and explained 

 the trouble. The Factor realized that he was in a corner, and 

 that if he now refused further supplies he would offend the old 



