 However, shortly thereafter Joe Easter catches them up, and Prescott meditates on the idea of shooting him outright, but does not.Easter has come not to reclaim Alverna and punish Prescott, but to save Prescott from the mistake that he himself made, of becoming involved with Alverna.Easter goes on to explain that his stocks and warehouse have been destroyed by a fire set by the Cree in reprisal for the traders having cut off their credit