the children of the North-West to the extent of five dollars yearly to every man and woman and child which can produce the Treaty-tickets carrying his or her name, the number of his band and family, and the date of his last payment.
A big man with his eyes reddened by the smoke-reek halted at Gillington's elbow. He carried a brown battered bag, and there was a suggestion of strenuousness above all his movements. For the last three hours he had been examining wounds, disease, and various sicknesses in the colony of tepees set along the sandy short, and those hours had been very full indeed. Because many of the distant tribes take their doctor as they take their Treaty-money, once only in a year.
"I've just seen that old scoundrel, Turquetil," he said. "He and his son had a fight, and they're more or less laid out. Send them their Treaty by Charlie Diamond, won't you, Gillington? He'll see that they get it."
Gillington growled assent, ticking off the necessary dollars for Little Hat and his belongings. Charlie Diamond was Chief of the Canoe River Band of which Turquetil was an unworthy member.
"Sure," he said. "Got many sick, Sherwood?"
The doctor thrust his lip out. He was lighting a pipe with eager fingers.
"Same as usual," he said. "If only the Lord had made 'em able to comprehend the meaning of cleanliness life would be simplified. Joseph Iron broke his leg yesterday, and I met him crawling out for his Treaty just now. For the land's sake, Gillington, what are you doing with all those police? Do the people at headquarters think our precious lives need guarding?"
Gillington glanced round to the tent where, in the shade, three khaki uniforms made a dull blurr. Two more walked the stretch of sandy level immediately behind the tepees. As Gillington looked they separated; and one went up to the barracks and the other came down towards the tent.
"Those four came in just now," he said. "A patrol going through to Fullerton. Tempest is in charge. You remember him? The man who was made Inspector for his moral influence—and a few more reasons."
