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He meditated a moment, went back to the window, looked out again, shook his head negatively, and with a sigh, walked over to the huge fireplace. He stood thoughtfully considering the floor until the door opened and sub-factor Jaspar Hume entered. The factor looked up and said: "Hume, I've something here that's been worrying me a bit. This letter came in the monthly batch this morning.

He came at least twice a week to Hume's log house, and, sitting down silent and cross-legged before the fire, watched the sub-factor working at his drawings and calculations. Sitting so for perhaps an hour or more, and smoking all the time, he would rise, and with a grunt, which was answered by a kindly nod, would pass out as silently as he came.

"Yes." The hands of the sub-factor chafed those of the other. "But you said you were a friend, and come to save me." "I have come to save you." There was a shiver of the sufferer's body. This discovery would either make him stronger or kill him. Hume knew this, and said: "Lepage, the past is past and dead to me; let it be so to you." There was a pause. "How did you know about me?"

Late Carscallen, after a long pause, said "Amen," and Jeff said in a whisper to Gaspe Toujours: "That's to the point. Infirmities and dangers and necessities is what troubles us." Immediately after, at a sign from the sub-factor, Cloud-in-the-Sky began to transfer the burning wood from one fire to the other until only hot ashes were left where a great blaze had been.

He had just finished this as Sergeant Gosse knocked at the door, and immediately afterwards entered the room. "Gosse," said the sub-factor, "find Jeff Hyde, Gaspe Toujours, and Late Carscallen, and bring them here." Sergeant Gosse immediately departed upon this errand. Hume then turned to the Indian, and said "Cloud-in-the-Sky, I want you to go a long journey hereaway to the Barren Grounds.

Little could be seen of their faces; they were snuffled to the eyes. Gaspe Toujours was drinking a basin of tea, and Jeff Hyde was fitfully dozing by the fire. The dogs were above in the tent all but Bouche, who was permitted to be near his master. Presently the sub-factor rose, took from a knapsack a small tin pail, and put it near the fire.

The sub-factor turned at the door. "If it will please you, tell your wife that I saved you. Some one will tell her; perhaps I would rather at least it would be more natural, if you did it." He passed out into the sunshine that streamed into the room and fell across the figure of Lepage, who murmured dreamily: "And begin the world again." Time passed.

I shall get to the place where we left them about noon; you should reach there at night or early the next morning." "Hadn't you better take Bouche with you?" said Late Carscallen. The sub-factor thought a moment, and then said: "No, he is needed most where he is."

Have twelve dogs ready by nine to-morrow morning." Cloud-in-the-Sky shook his head thoughtfully, and then after a pause said: "Strong-back go too?" Strongback was his name for the sub-factor. But the other either did not or would not hear. The Indian, however, appeared satisfied, for he smoked harder afterwards, and grunted to himself many times.

"Ay, that, but there's no place for me like Fort Providence." "Try this pheasant. And you are sub-factor now, Carscallen?" "There's two of us sub-factors Jeff Hyde and myself. Mr. Field is old, and can't do much work, and trade's heavy now." "I know. I hear from the factor now and then. And Gaspe Toujours, what of him?" "He went away three years ago, and he said he'd come back.