In preparing for the winter hunt it was more convenient for these men to take their supplies to their tilts by boat up the Grand River than to haul them in on toboggans on the spring ice, as nearly every other hunter, whose trapping ground was not upon so good a waterway, was compelled to do, and so it was that they were now at the trading post selecting their outfits preparatory to starting inland before the very cold winter should bind the river in its icy shackles.

The men were up early in the morning, and Douglas went with Bob to the office of Mr. Charles McDonald, the factor, where it was arranged that Bob should be given on credit such provisions and goods as he needed for his winter’s hunt, to be paid for with fur when he returned in the spring.  Douglas gave his verbal promise to assume the debt should Bob’s catch of fur be insufficient to enable him to pay it, but Bob’s reputation for energy and honesty was so good that Mr. McDonald said he had no fear as to the payment by the lad himself.

The provisions that Bob selected in the store, or shop, as they called it, were chiefly flour, a small bag of hardtack, fat pork, tea, molasses, baking soda and a little coarse salt, while powder, shot, bullets, gun caps, matches, a small axe and clothing completed the outfit.  He already had a gray cotton wedge-tent.  When these things were selected and put aside, Douglas bought a pipe and some plugs of black tobacco, and presented them to Bob as a gift from himself.

“But I never smokes, sir, an’ I ‘lows he’d be makin’ me sick,” said Bob, as he fingered the pipe.

“Just a wee bit when you tries t’ get acquainted,” answered Douglas with a chuckle, “just a wee bit; but ye’ll come t’ he soon enough an’ right good company ye’ll find he of a long evenin’.  Take un along, an’ there’s no harm done if ye don’t smoke un—­but ye’ll be makin’ good friends wi’ un soon enough.”

So Bob pocketed the pipe and packed the tobacco carefully away with his purchases.

After a consultation it was decided that the men should all meet the next evening, which would be Sunday, at Bob’s home at Wolf Bight, near the mouth of the Grand River, and from there make an early start on Monday morning for their trapping grounds.  “I’ll have William over wi’ one o’ my boats that’s big enough for all hands,” said Douglas.  “No use takin’ more’n one boat.  It’s easier workin’ one than two over the portages an’ up the rapids.”

When Bob’s punt was loaded and he was ready to start for home, he ran to the kitchen to say good-bye to Mrs. Black and the girls, for he was not to see them again for many months.

“Bide in th’ tilt when it storms, Bob, an’ have a care for the wolves, an’ keep clear o’ th’ Nascaupees,” warned Bessie as she shook Bob’s hand.

“Aye,” said he.  “I’ll bide in th’ tilt o’ stormy days, an’ not go handy t’ th’ Nascaupees.  I’m not fearful o’ th’ wolves, for they’s always so afraid they never gives un a chance for a shot.”