He again tried to put the matter behind him for the present, knowing that he must face it one day, and staving off its reality as long as possible.

He did his utmost to be philosophical and say his quid refert, but it was easier tried than done; for Jacques Pontiac's words kept rankling in his mind, and he found himself carrying round a vague load, which made him abstracted occasionally, and often a little reckless in action and speech.

In hunting bear and moose he had proved himself more daring than the oldest hunter, and proportionately successful.

He paid his servants well, but was sharp with them.
He made long, hard expeditions, defying the weather as the hardiest of prairie and mountain men mostly hesitate to defy it; he bought up much land, then, dissatisfied, sold it again at a loss, but subsequently made final arrangements for establishing a very large farm.

When he once became actually interested in this he shook off something of his moodiness and settled himself to develop the thing.