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〃We've found the place；〃 said Rea。 〃Frank built a cabin here in 1819。 An' in 1833 Captain Back wintered here when he was in search of Captain Ross of the vessel Fury。 It was those explorin' parties thet cut the trees。 I seen Indian sign out there； made last winter； I reckon； but Indians never cut down no trees。〃
The hunters completed the cabin； piled cords of firewood outside； stowed away the kegs of dried fish and fruits； the sacks of flour； boxes of crackers； canned meats and vegetables； sugar； salt； coffee； tobaccoall of the cargo； then took the boat apart and carried it up the bank； which labor took them less than a week。
Jones found sleeping in the cabin； despite the fire； uncomfortably cold； because of the wide chinks between the logs。 It was hardly better than sleeping under the swaying spruces。 When he essayed to stop up the crack； a task by no means easy； considering the lack of materialRea laughed his short 〃Ho！ Ho！〃 and stopped him with the word； 〃Wait。〃 Every morning the green ice extended farther out into the lake； the sun paled dim and dimmer； the nights grew colder。 On October 8th the thermometer registered several degrees below zero； it fell a little more next night and continued to fall。
〃Ho！ Ho！〃 cried Rea。 〃She's struck the toboggan； an' presently she'll commence to slide。 Come on； Buff； we've work to do。〃
He caught up a bucket； made for their hole in the ice； rebroke a six…inch layer； the freeze of a few hours； and filling his bucket； returned to the cabin。 Jones had no inkling of the trapper's intention； and wonderingly he soused his bucket full of water and followed。
By the time he had reached the cabin； a matter of some thirty or forty good paces； the water no longer splashed from his pail； for a thin film of ice prevented。 Rea stood fifteen feet from the cabin； his back to the wind； and threw the water。 Some of it froze in the air； most of it froze on the logs。 The simple plan of the trapper to incase the cabin with ice was easily divined。 All day the men worked； easing only when the cabin resembled a glistening mound。 It had not a sharp corner nor a crevice。 Inside it was warm and snug； and as light as when the chinks were open。
A slight moderation of the weather brought the snow。 Such snow！ A blinding white flutter of grey flakes； as large as feathers！ All day they rustle softly； all night they swirled； sweeping； seeping brushing against the cabin。 〃Ho！ Ho！〃 roared Rea。 〃'Tis good； let her snow； an' the reindeer will migrate。 We'll have fresh meat。〃 The sun shone again； but not brightly。 A nipping wind came down out of the frigid north and crusted the snows。 The third night following the storm； when the hunters lay snug under their blankets； a commotion outside aroused them。
〃Indians；〃 said Rea； 〃come north for reindeer。〃
Half the night； shouting and yelling； barking dogs； hauling of sleds and cracking of dried…skin tepees murdered sleep for those in the cabin。 In the morning the level plain and edge of the forest held an Indian village。 Caribou hides； strung on forked poles； constituted tent…like habitations with no distinguishable doors。 Fires smoked in the holes in the snow。 Not till late in the day did any life manifest itself round the tepees； and then a group of children； poorly clad in ragged pieces of blankets and skins； gaped at Jones。 He saw their pinched； brown faces； staring； hungry eyes； naked legs and throats； and noted particularly their dwarfish size。 When he spoke they fled precipitously a little way； then turned。 He called again； and all ran except one small lad。 Jones went into the cabin and came out with a handful of sugar in square lumps。
〃Yellow Knife Indians；〃 said Rea。 〃A starved tribe！ We're in for it。〃
Jones made motions to the lad； but he remained still； as if transfixed； and his black eyes stared wonderingly。
〃Molar nasu （white man good）；〃 said Rea。
The lad came out of his trance and looked back at his companions； who edged nearer。 Jones ate a lump of sugar； then handed one to the little Indian。 He took it gingerly； put it into his mouth and immediately jumped up and down。
〃Hoppiesharnpoolie！ Hoppiesharnpoolie！〃 he shouted to his brothers and sisters。 They came on the run。
〃Think he means sweet salt；〃 interpreted Rea。 〃Of course these beggars never tasted sugar。〃
The band of youngsters trooped round Jones； and after tasting the white lumps； shrieked in such delight that the braves and squaws shuffled out of the tepees。
In all his days Jones had never seen such miserable Indians。 Dirty blankets hid all their person； except straggling black hair； hungry； wolfish eyes and moccasined feet。 They crowded into the path before the cabin door and mumbled and stared and waited。 No dignity； no brightness； no suggestion of friendliness marked this peculiar attitude。
〃Starved！〃 exclaimed Rea。 〃They've come to the lake to invoke the Great Spirit to send the reindeer。 Buff； whatever you do； don't feed them。 If you do； we'll have them on our hands all winter。 It's cruel； but； man； we're in the north！〃
Notwithstanding the practical trapper's admonition Jones could not resist the pleading of the children。 He could not stand by and see them starve。 After ascertaining there was absolutely nothing to eat in the tepees； he invited the little ones into the cabin； and made a great pot of soup； into which he dropped compressed biscuits。 The savage children were like wildcats。 Jones had to call in Rea to assist him in keeping the famished little aborigines from tearing each other to pieces。 When finally they were all fed； they had to be driven out of the cabin。
〃That's new to me；〃 said Jones。 〃Poor little beggars！〃
Rea doubtfully shook his shaggy head。
Next day Jones traded with the Yellow Knives。 He had a goodly supply of baubles； besides blankets； gloves and boxes of canned goods； which he had brought for such trading。 He secured a dozen of the large…boned； white and black Indian dogs； huskies； Rea called themtwo long sleds with harness and several pairs of snowshoes。 This trade made Jones rub his hands in satisfaction； for during all the long journey north he had failed to barter for such cardinal necessities to the success of his venture。
〃Better have doled out the grub to them in rations；〃 grumbled Rea。
Twenty…four hours sufficed to show Jones the wisdom of the trapper's words； for in just that time the crazed； ignorant savages had glutted the generous store of food； which should have lasted them for weeks。 The next day they were begging at the cabin door。 Rea cursed and threatened them with his fists； but they returned again and again。
Days passed。 All the time； in light and dark； the Indians filled the air with dismal chant and doleful incantations to the Great Spirit； and the tum！ tum！ tum！ tum！ of tomtoms； a specific feature of their wild prayer for food。
But the white monotony of the rolling land and level lake remained unbroken。 The reindeer did not come。 The days became shorter； dimmer； darker。 The mercury kept on the slide。
Forty degrees below zero did not trouble the Indians。 They stamped till they dropped； and sang till their voices vanished； and beat the tomtoms everlastingly。 Jones fed the children once each day； against the trapper's advice。
One day； while Rea was absent； a dozen braves succeeded in forcing an entrance； and clamored so fiercely； and threatened so desperately； that Jones was on the point of giving them food when the door opened to admit Rea。
With a glance he saw the situation。 He dropped the bucket he carried； threw the door wide open and commenced action。 Because of his great bulk he seemed slow； but every blow of his sledge…hammer fist knocked a brave against the wall； or through the door into the snow。 When he could reach two savages at once； by way of diversion； he swung their heads together with a crack。 They dropped like dead things。 Then he handled them as if they were sacks of corn； pitching them out into the snow。 In two minutes the cabin was clear。 He banged the door and slipped the bar in place。
〃Buff； I'm goin' to get mad at these thievin' red； skins some day；〃 he said gruffly。 The expanse of his chest heaved slightly； like the slow swell of a calm ocean； but there was no ot