it gave astonishing results. Before this happened, however, his
employers had sent him out on the road; and as they were sceptical
about his discovery and he would not take them fully into his
confidence, they merely promised to keep his place open for a time.
Now he was going to search for the gum at his own expense.

"We'll order the outfit in the morning," he said presently, glancing
toward a man who sat across the room. "Do you think that fellow Clarke
can hear? I've a notion that he's been watching us."

"Does it matter?"

"You must bear in mind that we have a valuable secret; and I understand
that he lives somewhere in the country we are going through."

As he spoke, the Hudson Bay agent came in and walked over to Clarke.

"That was good stuff you gave me a dose of last night," he said to him.
"It cured my ague right off."

"It's a powerful drug," Clarke answered, "and must be used with
discretion. If you feel you need it, I'll give you another dose. It's
an Indian remedy; I learned the secret up in the timber belt, but I
Spent some time experimenting before I was satisfied about its
properties."

"Then you get on with Indians?"

"Yes," Clarke said shortly. "It isn't difficult when you grasp their
point of view. You ought to know something about that. On the whole,