He started for the door, but stopped beside the old couch. “I’ve had that couch fifty years, and it feels like a map of Macedonia. Do you suppose that haircloth can be bought nowadays?” “I don’t believe so.” “Well, I’m going to take a sample and find out.” Kneeling, he clipped away a little triangle. He put it in his pocket, kissed her good-by, and went down to the pier. There lay the Kittiwake. “Marvin, I wish to go to town.” “I was just coming up, sir, to ask the favor of your company.” The doctor stepped aboard, and for some time not a word was said. They ran so lightly over the mirror that they seemed four men. All four were still, shadows fleeting between two heavens. “Dr. Rich, last evening I proposed and was refused.” “Naturally. I warned you that you must give her time. Under the circumstances, I don’t think you had better leave us today.” “I’m not intending to leave. May I ask at what price you value your estate?” “Three thousand.” “Doctor, this morning she refused ten thousand for her island.” “Ah! Did you explain why you wanted it?” “No, I’m acting under sealed orders.” “I’m afraid, my son, that your orders are as transparent as this water. Your principal is a steel man. I will reason with her this evening.” “Thank you. Meantime I shall be obliged if you will give me a brief option on your place.” “I will do so. But speaking of islands, wouldn’t the one ahead of us serve your purpose?” “I intend to buy that one, too.” “Marvin, I clean forgot Keego has graves on it.” “So I understand. I should hate to have Ojeeg sell me his graves in order to buy liquor.” “Never fear. You couldn’t buy them.” “But wouldn’t he sell them to give his son a medical education?” “I doubt it. Ojeeg can go into the bush in January and sleep on the ground, but when he comes into his house, he seals the windows and huddles over the stove. When his dearest child was very low with tuberculosis, he brought the jossakeed and let the old fool treat her by incantations. The girl of course died, and Ojeeg’s faith in doctors died with her.” “Might not his wife or his mother help me?” “They would if they could, but they have no influence. I have known his mother half a century. She was a very fine woman in her youth. I remember—” The doctor stopped short. His old blue eyes turned a little to the west, as if seeking out some spot on the water. “Marvin, your family name is Celtic for Bear. In the days of Agricola your folks were the Orsini of Britain. Now the Bear is sacred to the Ojibway, and especially sacred to the Crane totem. Address the old woman as the Bright River, and tell her that, being a Bear, you have come for your fish.” Marvin laughed outright at this sudden access of craftiness in a man who adored infinite honesty. “I’ll obey orders, sir, but suppose the charm fails to work?” “In that case,” said the old man, drawing the bit of haircloth from his pocket, “give her this and say that I should be glad if you might own Keego.”