“That is not the truth!  I do not believe it!  I will not believe it!”

The steel-grey eyes of the man bored deep into the shining eyes of brown.  “I know that you do not believe it.  But you are wrong when you say that you will not believe it.  You are honest and unafraid, and, therefore, you will learn, and now, one thing further.

“We will say that you succeed in keeping your school, or post, or mission, from this condition of debauchery—­which you will not.  What then?  Suppose you educate your Indians?  There are no employers in the North.  None who buy education.  The men who pay out money in the waste places pay it for bone and brawn, not for brains; they have brains—­or something that answers the purpose—­therefore, your educated Indian must do one of two things—­he must go where he can use his education or he must remain where he is.  In either event he will be the loser.  If he seeks the land of the white man, he must compete with the white man on the white man’s terms.  He cannot do it.  If he stays here in the North he must continue to hunt, or trap, or work on the river, or in the mines, or the timber, and he is ever afterward dissatisfied with his lot.  More, he has wasted the time he spent in filling his brain with useless knowledge.”

MacNair spoke rapidly and earnestly, and Chloe realized that he spoke from his heart and also that he spoke from a certain knowledge of his subject.  She was at a loss for a reply.  She could not dispute him, for he had told her not to believe him; to go see for herself.  She did not believe MacNair, but in spite of herself she was impressed.

“The missionaries are doing good!  Their reports show——­”

“Their reports show!  Of course their reports show!  Why shouldn’t they?  Where do their reports go?  To the people who pay them their salaries!  Do not understand me to say that in all cases these reports are falsely made.  They are not—­that is, they are literally true.  A mission reports so many converts to Christianity during a certain period of time.  Well and good; the converts are there—­they can produce them.  The Indians are not fools.  If the white men want them to profess Christianity, why they will profess Christianity—­or Hinduism or Mohammedanism.  They will worship any god the white man suggests—­for a fancy waistcoat or a piece of salt pork.  The white man gives many gifts of clothing, and sometimes of food—­to his converts.  Therefore, he shall not want for converts—­while the clothing holds out!”

“And your Indians?  Have they not suffered from their contact with you?”

“No.  They have not suffered.  I know them, their needs and requirements, and their virtues and failings.  And they know me.”

“Where is your fort?”

“Some distance above here on the shore of this lake.”

“Will you take me there?  Show me these Indians, that I may see for myself that you have spoken the truth?”