“Whar’d you come from?” asked a short, gruff-looking man.
“No place in particular, at present,” I replied, pleasantly.
“One of them Nor’west chaps, I s’pose?”
“No, sir; I am no trapper at all, but a mere adventurer in these parts.”
“Pooty story to tell them as will believe it,” he retorted, angrily.
“I am sure it is immaterial with me whether you believe it or not. If I were a member of the Northwest Fur Company, I should not be ashamed or afraid to own it, as I believe that is as respectable and honorable as the one in whose service you are.”
“A fight! a fight! make a ring for them.”
“Boys! do you hear that?” called out a fellow beside me. “Yer’s one of them sneaking chaps—a Nor’wester, and he’s insulted us—”
“Beg your pardon, sir,” I interrupted; “I did no such thing.”