he would call off.  Seated on an empty box and smoking, Magarth recalled all the transactions since the last entry on the book, which Archie set down, astonished at the accuracy of the memory of the man, who gave dates, names, and quantities with as much ease as if reading them from a list before him.  This done, he got him to fill out his report to the crown lands department, to write several letters to the firms he dealt with in Toronto, and one to his daughter, which was original in matter and expression.  Archie recognized the shrewdness and ability of this unlettered man, who carried on with ease several lines of business in addition to his farm.  After supper he made Archie sit beside him and asked if he would not give up his notion of taking up land and hire with him.  Finding he was determined to have a home of his own, Magarth gave him much advice as to how he should begin, not concealing, on learning he had only a few dollars, that he was sure he would fail.  After breakfast Magarth told him what he could not do without, and laid in a bundle an ax, a saw, a spokeshave, an auger, a hammer, nails, and would have added a grindstone had there been any way of carrying it.  ’You’ll have to come out to us when your ax needs grinding.’  In a pail he put some flour, peas, and a lump of pork, tying a frying-pan to the handle.  ’But I have not money enough to pay for all this,’ said Archie.  ‘I know you haven’t,’ was the reply, ’you are to pay me in ashes.’  Sending a man with him to point out the lot, and to stay long enough to help to raise a shelter, Archie started.  Their way lay across the country, through a dense forest, for the concession his lot was on lay to the north and no side road had been opened to it.  His guide, whose name was Dennis, had his ax over his shoulder and blazed the trees as they tramped on their way.  Archie wondered why he should have been given a lot so far back when they were going over so much land that was unoccupied.  Finally Dennis halted, and, after a little searching for surveyor’s posts, which were not hard to find, for the concession had been laid out within a year, he showed Archie his limits.  ‘The road allowance is here,’ said Dennis, ’and if I were you I would put my shanty close to it, cut the logs for it off the allowance, and kill two birds with one stone, make a beginning on your road and have a shanty.’  Archie was willing but made a poor fist in felling trees, and before an hour his hands were blistered.  Dennis left to him the rolling of the logs to the chosen site and notching their corners.  At noon they rested, Dennis lighting a fire and showing Archie how to cook flour cakes and fry pork at the same time.  Towards nightfall a like meal was cooked, and creeping into a thicket of cedars they were soon fast asleep.  Next morning Dennis picked out ash-trees and hickories small enough to make handspikes and skids and the rearing of the shanty began.  It was small, 10 by 12 feet, in front 7 feet high sloping backward.