"We don't encourage this sort of thing," said the factor, smilingly pointing to these dishes of vegetables, "for the theory of our Company is that all a man needs to eat is meat and fish. But just to be in fashion, we raise a few of these things in our garden, as you may see. When you are at Vermilion, moreover, although that is three hundred and fifty miles north from here, you'll see all sorts of grain and every vegetable you ever heard of growing as well as they do twelve or fifteen hundred miles south of here."
"It's a wonderful country, sir," said Rob. "I don't blame Alex and Moise for calling this the Land of Plenty."
"Moise said that the old war-trail over from the Little Slave country used to end about here," ventured John.
The factor smiled, and admitted that such was once said to have been the case.
"Those days are gone, though, my young friend," said he. "There's a new invasion, which we think may unsettle our old ways as much as the invasion of the Crees did those of the Stoneys and Beavers long ago. I mean the invasion of the wagon-trains of farmers."
"Yes," said Rob, "Alex told us we'd have to go to the Liard River pretty soon, if we wanted any moose or bear; but anyhow, we're here in time, and we want to thank you for helping us have such a pleasant trip. We're going to enjoy the run down the river, I'm sure."
Captain Saunders finished the operation of getting wood for the _Peace River_ by ten o'clock of the next morning, and as the steamer once more came alongside the steep bank at the landing the hoarse note of her whistles notified every one to get ready for the journey down the stream. The boys, who had passed the night in their tent with Alex--Moise having gone to his own tepee for the night--now began to bestir themselves before going aboard the steamer.
"What are we going to do with all our things, Alex?" asked Rob.
"Why, our tent and the skins and trophies and blankets and everything--we won't need them on board the boat, will we?"
"No, sir, and the best way will be to leave them here."
"What! In our tent, with no one to care for them? You know, Moise is going with us, as I understand it."
"Everything will be perfectly safe right there in the tent, if only you tie the flaps so the dogs can't get in," answered Alex. "You see, it's only white men that steal in this country--the Injuns and breeds won't do that. Until the Klondike pilgrims came through here we didn't know what theft was. I can answer for these people here. Everything you leave will be perfectly safe, and, as you say, it will be less bother than to take this stuff along on the boat."