"Eet ees not so ver' mooch," proceeded the factor, ignoring Al's question and quickly changing his tack regarding the ransom. "T'ree horse, feefty pound flouair, ten pound shot et ten pound powdair." Al was aghast, for he understood that these items would cost far more than he had money to pay for. But here Captain Lamont broke into the conversation. "That's more than Mr. Briscoe or I can pay you for just now," said he, blandly. "However, we can give you a note and pay the amount over to Mr. Charles P. Chouteau for you when we reach St. Louis." Mr. Chouteau was the manager of the American Fur Company and the factor knew as well as did Captain Lamont that he would not allow one of his employees to practise such extortion upon the relatives or friends of an unfortunate prisoner rescued from the savages. The Frenchman shifted his feet uneasily. "Has m'sieu feefty dollair, cash?" he asked. "Fifty dollars?" "Oui, m'sieu. Pour zat ve call ze mattair--how you say?--sqvare." The Captain looked at Al and nodded, for the amount was about one-third of what the man's first demand would have made it. "But I haven't even that much, Captain," said Al, despairingly. "I have forty dollars, Al," said Wallace. "Take that." He thrust his hand into his pocket. "Pshaw, that's all right," broke in the Captain, stopping him. "I have plenty, but we don't want to be bled, that's all." He turned to the factor. "Very well," he remarked. "We'll pay you fifty dollars, cash. Now where's the boy?" "M'sieu has ze cash money here, dans sa poche, for geeve me now?" the factor persisted, anxiously. "Yes, yes," replied Captain Lamont, impatiently. "But before I give it to you, you must first show us the boy." The Frenchman waved his hands pathetically. "Oui, mais je ne peut pas show ze pauvre boy. Il est depart down ze rivair pour la S'in' Louis pour--two veek." "You say you can't show him?" exclaimed the Captain. "He started for St. Louis two weeks ago?" "Oui, m'sieu, oui. Sur le steamair _North Vind_. Je poot heem ver' comfor'ble sur le steamair. He shall reach S'in' Louis safe." "Huh! That remains to be seen!" grunted the Captain. Then he looked sympathetically into Al's disappointed face. "Well, my boy," said he, "that seems to be all there is to it. Your brother has gone down and you can do nothing but follow. Here is your money, factor. We thank you for your trouble." He handed the Frenchman fifty dollars in greenbacks from an amply filled wallet, for the steamboat officers of those days earned handsome salaries and were seldom without plenty of money.