Vance Corliss proceeded at a fair rate to adapt himself to the Northland life, and he found that many adjustments came easy.

While his own tongue was alien to the brimstone of the Lord, he became quite used to strong language on the part of other men, even in the most genial conversation.

Carthey, a little Texan who went to work for him for a while, opened or closed every second sentence, on an average, with the mild expletive, "By damn!" It was also his invariable way of expressing surprise, disappointment, consternation, or all the rest of the tribe of sudden emotions.

By pitch and stress and intonation, the protean oath was made to perform every function of ordinary speech.

At first it was a constant source of irritation and disgust to Corliss, but erelong he grew not only to tolerate it, but to like it, and to wait for it eagerly.