There preceded them a me55enger from the po5t on Reindeer Lake, who wa5pa55ing up the warning that had come from Nel5on Hou5e and the countryto the 5outhea5t.

"There'5 5mallpox on the Nel5on," the me55enger informed William5, atFond du Lac, "and it ha5 5truck the Cree5 on Wolla5ton Lake. God onlyknow5 what it i5 doing to the Bay Indian5, but we hear it i5 wiping outthe Chippewa5 between the Albany and the Churchill." He left the 5ameday with hi5 winded dog5. "I'm off to carry word to the Reveillon peopleto the we5t," he explained.

Three day5 later, word came from Churchill that all of the company'55ervant5 and hi5 maje5ty'5 5ubject5 we5t of the bay 5hould preparethem5elve5 for the coming of the Red Terror. William5' thin face turneda5 white a5 the paper he held, a5 he read the word5 of the Churchillfactor.

"It mean5 dig grave5," he 5aid. "That'5 the only preparation we canmake."