forefinger. "This is the latest from the government," he
continued, with his back to Philip, "but it ain't here. There's a
God's Lake down south of Nelson House, but that's the only thing
with a God about it north of fifty-three."

"It's not so far south as that," said Philip, rising.

Pearce's little eyes were fixed on him shrewdly.

"Never heard of it," he repeated. "What sort of a place is it, a
post--"

"I have no idea," replied Philip. "I came for information more out
of curiosity than anything else. Perhaps I misunderstood the name.
I'm much obliged."

He left Pearce in his chair and went directly to the factor's
quarters. Bludsoe, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company in the
far north, could give him no more information than had Pearce. He
had never heard of Fort o' God. He could not remember the name of
Couchee. During the next two hours Philip talked with French,
Indian, and half-breed trappers, and questioned the mail runner,
who had come in that morning from the south. No one could tell him
of Fort o' God.

Had Pierre lied to him? His face flushed with anger as this
thought came to him. In the next breath he assured himself that
Pierre was not a man who would lie. He had measured him as a man
who would fight, and not one who would lie. Besides, he had
voluntarily given the information that he and Jeanne were from