the following story is intended to illustrate one of the many phases of the fur-trader’s life in those wild regions of north america which surround hudson’s bay.

most of its major incidents are facts—fiction being employed chiefly for the purpose of weaving these facts into a readable form.

if this volume should chance to fall into the hands of any of those who acted a part in the first settlement of ungava, we trust that they will forgive the liberty that has been taken with their persons and adventures, remembering that transpositions, modifications, and transformations are necessary in constructing a tale out of the “raw material.”

we take this opportunity of expressing to the leader of the adventurous band our grateful acknowledgements for his kindness in placing at our disposal the groundwork on which this story has been reared.

r.m. ballantyne.