on the Assiniboine River,--Prix Laroux and wife Ninette, Pierre and Cif
Bordoux and their wives Anon and Micene, Franz LeClede and wife Mora,
Henri Baptiste and wife Marie, and Maren Le Moyne, an unmarried woman
and sister to Marie Baptiste."

A sudden little light flamed for a moment in the young factor's blue
eyes.

For some unknown reason it had pleased him, that last ingenious
sentence.

"Prix Laroux," he said, turning to his new acquisition, "we will get to
the work of our contract."



CHAPTER II THE SPRING

Springtime lay over the vast region of lake and forest. Along the
shores of the little rivers the new grass was springing, and in nook
and sheltered corner of rock and depression shy white flowers lifted
their pretty heads to the coaxing sun. Deep in the budding woods birds
in flocks and bevies called across the wilderness of tender green,
while at the post the youths sang snatches of wild French songs and all
the world felt the thirst of the new life.

A somewhat hard winter it had been, long and cold, with crackling frost
of nights and the snow piled deep around the stockade, and the gracious
release was very welcome.