George T. Marsh

“ Unknown to Gordon, who had made little of his defeat of the plans of Monsieur Bruette to his friend Captain Freakley of the steamer, Michel spent one entire July evening in regaling the delighted crew with the details of the affair, and furthermore hinted strongly that the Northwest in vain had offered fabulous sums for the services of the factor of Whale River.
The Northern summer waned and died on the east coast. Vanguards of the swift autumn, the snowy geese swept back to join the gray hosts already at the fall rendezvous on yellowing south-coast marshes. ”

“ But Bruette will have your fur, and you will return to your hunting-grounds without tea and flour and shells for your guns, and your women will starve, and your children cry to you through the long snows, for your tepees will be empty.”
Again there were vehement protests from the young Crees, but the older men held them in check while Gordon went on:
“Many freezing moons you have toiled for this fur, but you drink it up in one sleep in the burning water they give you. You are fools and the sons of fools, to listen to this man whom I once beat with my own hands for trying to rob you.” ”

“ And the arm of Batoche was twisted in the grip of steel till the half-breed went pale with pain. The fight was out of him, for the strength of Michel was a tradition on Whale River.
“You, Jean Elkwan!” Gordon called to an old Cree on the outskirts of the throng. “You have traded with me for many snows. Do I speak the truth of the new company and their water of fire?”
“Always you have spoken with one tongue,” replied the old Cree. “The young men would not listen to us, but drank the stinging water. The next sun I go to the old fort to trade my fur.” ”

“ Hastily bidding her good-by, the Scotchman found his head voyageur Michel and four Company Indians on the shore with the canoe.
“There'll be Government police from Ottawa on the east coast this summer, Angus,” he said to his clerk standing beside him. “Two thousand dollars' fine and a two-year jail sentence for giving whisky to an Indian, mind you. The Northwest are daily in more ways than one, lad.” The Scotchman smiled mysteriously to himself as he stepped into the boat. ”

“ The Man with One Tongue knows not how to lie.”
This defense of Gordon drew scattering shouts of approval, mingled with jeers from the younger men who resented the interference with their debauch.
“The new company loves the Crees,” repeated Gordon, while at his side Michel watched the discomfited half-breed through narrowed eyes; “so they send this man with his water of fire to steal away your brains and get your black fox and fisher and martin pelts without paying you in trade-goods. ”

“ I told him I wouldn't sign a contract until the spring trade was over, but he figures that I wont fight him for it. That's where Mr. Bruette blundered.”
“Oh, don't you see now, what he must think of you, John, even though he wants you?”
“I don't care what he thinks, Mother; I'm a Hudson's Bay man still; and this thing settles it. I stay one. I'm going upriver to show the Northwest that John Gordon can hold the Crees, drunk or sober, on this coast.” ”

“ Through the long afternoon and far into the twilight the voyageurs drove the canoe up the swift river, paddling, or poling where the current permitted, often compelled to track the boat from the shore with a long line. ”

“ There are many tepees all from the Caribou Lakes,” the Indian replied in his native tongue. “One sleep ago we met there Batoche with a canoe from the new Company post. They carry a keg of burning water and wait for the canoes from Rivière de Loup. When the moon rose, I started and have not stopped to eat, that you might know.”
“What do you say, whisky?” cried the amazed Gordon. “The Northwest people are upriver meeting the Crees with whisky?”
“It is the truth. They have already given our young men this burning water, and they are all camped waiting for the Wolf River Crees.” ”

“ A man, if not already bound, might honorably sell his services to the highest bidder, but for the agent of the North west Company to imagine that John Gordon, while still in the employ of the Hudson's Bay, would shut his eyes to this business and not make a fight for the spring trade! ”

“ Hard in their wake, riding the first stinging northwesters, raced the brant from far Arctic islands to fatten on succulent goose-grass before their long pilgrimages south to their winter home on the great gulf. ”

“ With the fur-brigade was old Joseph Kapiskau, treaty-chief, and stanch friend of the ancient company. Gathered on the shore, the Indians listened to Gordon's recital of the work of Batoche at Three Islands and of his defeat the previous day.
When Gordon had finished, Kapiskau addressed his people:
“Many long snows have fallen and vanished since the Man with One Tongue came to this country to trade with the Crees. In all that time his word to us has been unbroken. Always he has been our friend. ”

“ Forty miles away—two days travel—lay their goal. The factor had little hope of doing anything with the Crees at the Rapids, already debauched by Northwest liquor. True, there were old men there who, drunk or sober, would listen to John Gordon; but of the young men, inflamed with their first orgy, he despaired. Still, if he could reach the Cree camp before the upper Whale River and Rivière de Loup hunters arrived and were seduced by Batoche, he was confident of spoiling Monsieur Bruette's game. ”

“ The Company had had its chance, had held John Gordon too lightly—and lost him. Others knew his worth—would pay well for his influence with the Crees. Why should he not go with the Northwest? A man was not a slave. And then the bairns, and the woman who had been his stanch helpmate through all the years—they would be provided for.
Monsieur Bruette broke into his revery.
“Monsieur Gordon, we weel mak' contract wid you for fifteen year, at t'ree thousand a year. We weesh you in all way satisfied. De Northwest Companee know the wort' of a man, eef de H. B. C. do not.” ”

“ The-bushy eyebrows of the Scotchman lifted with surprise,
“De Nor'wes' companee weel geeve you two t'ousand dollar. for t'ree year, and den t'ree t'ousand as long as you stay. Dat ees better dan de H. B. C. pay deir inspector, eh?”
Gordon nodded. Truly, the Frenchman knew whereof he spoke.
“You forget my pension, Mr. Bruette. Four years more, and I can retire. If I go with your people, I lose that.”
For a moment Monsieur Bruette was occupied seemingly in a mental calculation. Then he replied:
“You are right, Monsieur Gordon. ”