00-KOO-HOO PLAYS THE GAME 155 



On their return home they found Oo-koo-hoo and Amik 

 sorting their furs in anticipation of the fur-runner's arrival. 

 Before them lay, among the other skins, the skin of the black 

 fox, and when the boys entered the lodge Oo-koo-hoo ad- 

 dressed the whole family, saying: 



"Do not mention the black fox to the fur-runner, since 

 I intend keeping it until I go to the Post, in the hope of making 

 a better bargain there. Now sort your skins, and set aside 

 those you wish to give in payment on your debt to the Great 

 Company." 



During the afternoon of the following day Lawson the fur- 

 runner for the Hudson's Bay Company arrived with his dog- 

 train. He shook hands with Oo-koo-hoo and Amik and the 

 boys, and kissed the women and the girls, as the custom of the 

 traders is. It being late in the day, Oo-koo-hoo decided not to 

 begin trading until next morning. So they spent the evening 

 in spinning yarns around the fire. Shortly after breakfast 

 strange dogs were heard. The boys ran out and saw an un- 

 known man approaching. When the newcomer — a French- 

 Canadian half-breed — had eaten, and had joined the others in 

 a smoke, he gave me a letter from Free Trader Spear. Then 

 Oo-koo-hoo began questioning him : 



"My brother, you are a stranger in this country; so I have 

 given you fire and food and tobacco in friendship. Tell me 

 now why and from whence you come?" 



The half-breed replied: "My brother, I come from the 

 Border Lands — where the plains and the forests meet — and 

 my name is Gibeault. I have come to trade regularly with 

 you as I am now working for Free Trader Spear, whose post, 

 as you know, is near Fort Consolation. You will do well to 

 encourage opposition to the Great Company, and thus raise 

 the price of furs." 



The half-breed then presented the hunters with several 

 plugs of "T & B," some matches, tea, sugar, flour, and a piece 



