Now only the most important happenings in his life have returned to him." John Ball could not remember the date when, as a young boy, he left York Factory, on Hudson Bay, to come a thousand miles down to civilization in company with the two Frenchmen who killed themselves in the old cabin.

But the slip of paper which Rod had discovered filled that gap.

He was the son of the factor at York Factory, and was to spend a year at school in Montreal.

On their trip down it was the boy who found gold in the chasm.

John Ball could remember none of the details.