He was a tall, lithe, muscular half-breed, with small, restless,
hawk-like eyes and a beaked nose that was not unlike the beak of a
hawk. He had the copper-hued skin and straight black hair of the
Indian, but otherwise his features might have been those of a white
man. Indian Jake had been the trapping companion of David and Andy the
previous winter, and, as previously stated, was this year to be Thomas
Angus's trapping partner on the fur trails.

The boys were vastly fond of Indian Jake, and Thomas and Doctor Joe
shared their confidence, but the Bay folk generally looked upon him
with distrust and suspicion. Several years before, he had come to the
Bay a penniless stranger. He soon earned the reputation of being one
of the best trappers in the region. Then, suddenly, he disappeared
owing the Hudson's Bay Company a considerable sum for equipment and
provisions sold him on credit. It was well known that in the winter
preceding his disappearance Indian Jake had had a most successful
hunting season and was in possession of ample means to pay his debts.
His failure to apply his means to this purpose was looked upon as
highly dishonest--akin, indeed, to theft.

Two years later he reappeared, again penniless. The Company refused
him further credit, and he had no means of purchasing the supplies
necessary for his support during the trapping season in the interior.
It was at this time that Thomas Angus broke his leg, and it became
necessary for David and Andy to take his place on the trails. They
were too young to endure the long months of isolation without an older
and more experienced companion. There was none but Indian Jake to go
with them, and he was engaged to hunt on shares a trail adjacent to
theirs.