"I met up with these here Britishers when they came in on the train from the East, an' I'm goin' t' enlist," admitted the shambling Joe, his breath confirming his appearance. "Where you been?" "Back to the States to get my outfit. I'm goin' ter start in fer myself up to Fort Macleod. So you've decided to be a damned Britisher, eh?" Burroughs reverted to Joe's statement. "Yeh'll have to take the oath of allegiance fer three years of enlistment. Did yeh know that?" He closed one eye, as if speculating how this might further his own interests. "You'll make a fine police, Joe, you will!" he jeered in conclusion. "You goin' to Fort Macleod?" questioned Joe. "You'll git no trade in Canada!" "Don't yeh ever think it!" returned Burroughs, with a look that Danvers sub-consciously noted. Beyond the crowd he saw a child, held by a man with a scarred face. His involuntary look of amazement changed the pensiveness of her delicate face to animation, and she returned his smile. This unexpected exchange of friendship restored his self-respect and his anger evaporated. He recalled the childhood spent in English lanes with his only sister. He beckoned enticingly, and soon she came near, shy and lovely. "What's your name, little girl?" "Winifred." "That's a pretty name," said the young trooper. "Are you going to Fort Benton with your papa?" "No. Papa's dead--and--mamma. That's my brother," indicating the man who had held her. "He came to get me. His name is Charlie." "Dear little girl!" thought Philip Danvers, as the child ran to brotherly arms. "Howdy!" Charlie gave unconventional greeting as he took a bench near by. "I've been getting acquainted with your sister," explained the Englishman. "Glad of it. Winnie's afraid of most o' the men, an' there aren't more'n three white women up the river. I've had to bring her back with me, and I don't know much about children. But there's one good old lady at Benton," the frontiersman proceeded, cheerfully. "She'll look after her. You see, I'm away most of the time. I'm a freighter between the head of navigation and the Whoop Up Country--Fort Macleod." "Oh!" "I got the contract to haul the supplies for the North West Mounted Police this spring. I'll be in Fort Macleod 'most as soon as you, I reckon. What is it, Winnie?" he questioned, as the child drew shrinking closer to him. "I don't like that man," asserted Winifred, as Robert Burroughs passed. "You mustn't say that, Winnie," reproved Charlie. "Burroughs"--addressing Philip--"Sweet Oil Bob, we call him, is goin' to start a new tradin' post at Macleod. He's clerked at Fort Benton till he knows more about the profits of an Injun tradin' post than any man on the river! Yeh'll likely see quite a little o' him. Most of the Canadian traders 'd rather he stayed this side o' the line." "Surely there are other American traders in this Whoop Up Country, as you call it."