The Challenge of the North | Page 5

spit of land from Port Nelson. And the railway from

The Pas to Port Nelson is being pushed to completion. With the paper
on the Bay, I can ship by rail or boat to the market."
"And you want to locate the mill on the Hayes River?"
"No; the Hayes runs too flat. Either on the upper Shamattawa, or on
Gods River, which lies between the two, an' flows into the Shamattawa.
There's plenty of water in either one, an' I think both or 'em have got
fall enough. I want the mill where it will be easy to get the wood to it,
an' at the same time, where we'll have a good head of water--an' it's got
to be done quick. The options expire the first of August, an' I've nosed
around an' found out there's no chance to renew 'em on decent terms.
When you get the mill located, then you've got to slip down the river
an' find out what kind of scows we'll need, an' lay out a road to the new
Hudson Bay Railway that's headed for Port Nelson. We'll haul in the
material an' save time. An' when you've finished that, you can make a
survey of the pulpwood available outside our present holdin's."
"Quite a job, take it all in all."
"Yes--an' takin' it all in all, it'll take quite a man to fill it," retorted
McNabb brusquely. "The man that puts this through won't never need
to hunt another job, because this is only the beginnin' of the pulpwood
game for me----" The telephone on the desk rang, and after a moment's
conversation, McNabb arose and tossed the packet of papers into
Wentworth's lap. "I've got to step out for a matter of ten or fifteen
minutes," he said. "Here's the papers, an' a map of the country. Look
'em over, an' if you care to tackle it, let me know when I come back."
Alone in the office, Wentworth studied the map fully five minutes; then
he read over the option contract. Suddenly, he straightened in his chair,
and read the last clause of the contract carefully:
Be it further agreed that if the said John McNabb, or his authorized
representative, does not demand fulfillment of the terms of this
agreement, and accompany the said demand by tender of at least ten
percent of the purchase price named herein, on or before noon of the
first day of July, nineteen hundred and twenty-one, this agreement shall

automatically become null and void in its entirety.
Be it further agreed between the said John McNabb, and the said
Canadian Wild Lands Company, Ltd., that aforementioned demand and
tender of payment shall be made at and in the store of that trading post
of the Hudson's Bay Company, situated upon the north shore of Gods
Lake, and known as Gods Lake Post.
Swiftly Wentworth stepped to the desk and, lifting the receiver from its
hook, called a number. "Hello! Wolverine Bank? I want to speak with
Mr. Orcutt. Hello, Mr. Orcutt? This is Wentworth--No, I don't want any
money. Listen, I must see you at once. I'm on the trail of something big,
and I need you to help swing it. There's a million in it--can't say more
now. What? One o'clock at the bank? Right, I'll be there. Good-by."
A few moments later McNabb entered the office. "Well, did you look
the proposition over? Ye see by the map how we can get the paper to
the Bay. What d'ye say? Take it, or leave it?"
"I'll take it," answered Wentworth.
"An' ye'll start to-morrow?"
"Why--it's pretty short notice--but--yes, I'll start to-morrow."
Old John McNabb drew a check which he handed to Wentworth.
"Expenses, an' a month's advance salary," grunted the older man.
"And when do you want a report on the mill site?"
"As soon after the ice goes out as you can make it."
"And you will be up during the summer?"
"Some time in July--I've got to be there on the first of August to close
that option. Take those location papers with ye. Ye'll need them, an' the
map--I have another copy in the vault at the bank. I'll bring 'em up
when I come, so if somethin' comes up so you couldn't be at the post on

the first of August, it won't hold up the deal. Run along now, I must
catch the 11:45 train for Grand Rapids--see you in July."

IV
Upstairs in the fur department Oskar Hedin paused in the act of
returning some fox pieces to their place, and greeted the girl who had
halted before the tall pier glass to readjust her hat and push a refractory
strand of hair into place. "Back again?" he smiled. "And now for the
coat!"
"Now for the