" "Air you half-breed?" "No, sir."
"Well, let's hear about this business," and he turned his
piercing eyes full on the lad's face.
Rolf told the simple, straight story of their acquaintance with Hoag,
from the first day at Warren's to their arrival at the Falls.
There is never any doubt about the truth of a true story,
if it be long enough, and this true story, presented in its
nakedness to the shrewd and kindly old hunter, trader, mill-owner
and magistrate, could have only one effect.
"Sonny," he said, slowly and kindly, "I know that ye have told me
the truth. I believe every word of it. We all know that Hoag is
the meanest cuss and biggest liar on the river. He's a nuisance,
and always was. He only promised to give ye the canoe and the
rifle, and since he don't want to, we can't help it. About the
trouble in the woods, you got two witnesses to his one, and ye
got the furs and the traps; it's just as well ye left the other
furs behind, or ye might have had to divide 'em; so keep them and
call the hull thing square. We'll find ye a canoe to get out of
this gay metropolis, and as to Hoag, ye needn't a-worry; his
travelling days is done.
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