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diff --git a/old/tgfks10.txt b/old/tgfks10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..749bec4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tgfks10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11706 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext The Girl From Keller's, by Harold Bindloss + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by Dagny, dagnyj@hotmail.com +and John Bickers, jbickers@ihug.co.nz + + + + + +THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S + +BY + +HAROLD BINDLOSS + + + + +ORIGINAL PREPARER'S NOTE + + This text was prepared from an edition, published by Frederick A. + Stokes Company, New York, 1917. It was published in England under + the title "Sadie's Conquest." + + + + + +THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PORTRAIT + +It was getting dark when Festing stopped at the edge of a ravine on +the Saskatchewan prairie. The trail that led up through the leafless +birches was steep, and he had walked fast since he left his work at +the half-finished railroad bridge. Besides, he felt thoughtful, for +something had happened during the visit of a Montreal superintendent +engineer that had given him a hint. It was not exactly disturbing, +because Festing had, to some extent, foreseen the line the +superintendent would take; but a post to which he thought he had a +claim had been offered to somebody else. The post was not remarkably +well paid, but since he was passed over now, he would, no doubt, be +disappointed when he applied for the next, and it was significant that +as he stood at the top of the ravine he first looked back and then +ahead. + +In the distance, a dull red glow marked the bridge, where the glare of +the throbbing blast-lamps flickered across a muddy river, swollen by +melting snow. He heard the ring of the riveters' hammers and the clang +of flung-down rails. The whistle of a gravel train came faintly across +the grass, and he knew that for a long distance gangs of men were +smoothing the roughly graded track. + +In front, everything was quiet. The pale-green sky was streaked along +the horizon by a band of smoky red, and the gray prairie rolled into +the foreground, checkered by clumps of birches and patches of melting +snow. In one place, the figures of a man and horses moved slowly +across the fading light; but except for this, the wide landscape was +without life and desolate. Festing, however, knew it would not long +remain a silent waste. A change was coming with the railroad; in a few +years, the wilderness would be covered with wheat; and noisy gasoline +tractors would displace the plowman's teams. Moreover, a change was +coming to him; he felt that he had reached the trail fork and now must +choose his path. + +He was thirty years of age and a railroad builder, though he hardly +thought he had much talent for his profession. Hard work and stubborn +perseverance had carried him on up to the present, but it looked as if +he could not go much farther. It was eight years since he began by +joining a shovel gang, and he felt the lack of scientific training. He +might continue to fill subordinate posts, but the men who came to the +front had been taught by famous engineers and held certificates. + +Yet Festing was ambitious and had abilities that sprang rather from +character than technical knowledge, and now wondered whether he should +leave the railroad and join the breakers of virgin soil. He knew +something about prairie farming and believed that success was largely +a matter of temperament. One must be able to hold on if one meant to +win. Then he dismissed the matter for a time, and set off again with a +firm and vigorous tread. + +Spring had come suddenly, as it does on the high Saskatchewan plains, +and he was conscious of a strange, bracing but vaguely disturbing +quality in the keen air. One felt moved to adventure and a longing for +something new. Men with brain and muscle were needed in the wide, +silent land that would soon waken to busy life; but one must not give +way to romantic impulses. Stern experience had taught Festing caution, +his views were utilitarian, and he distrusted sentiment. Still, +looking back on years of strenuous effort that aimed at practical +objects, he felt that there was something he had missed. One must work +to live, but perhaps life had more to offer than the money one earned +by toil. + +The red glow on the horizon faded and an unbroken arch of dusky blue +stretched above the plain. He passed a poplar bluff where the dead +branches cut against the sky. The undergrowth had withered down and +the wood was very quiet, with the snow-bleached grass growing about +its edge, but he seemed to feel the pulse of returning life. The damp +sod that the frost had lately left had a different smell. Then a faint +measured throbbing came out of the distance, and he knew the beat of +wings before a harsh, clanging call fell from the sky. + +He stopped and watched a crescent of small dark bodies plane down on +outstretched wings. The black geese were breaking their long journey +to the marshes by the Arctic Sea; they would rest for a few days in +the prairie sloos and then push on again. Their harsh clamor had a +note of unrest and rang through the dark like a trumpet call, stirring +the blood. The brant and bernicle beat their way North against the +roaring winds, and man with a different instinct pressed on towards +the West. + +It was a rich land that rolled back before him towards the setting +sun. Birch and poplar bluffs broke the wide expanse; there was good +water in the winding creeks, a black soil that the wheat plant loved +lay beneath the sod, and the hollows held shallow lakes that seldom +quite dried up. Soon the land would be covered with grain; already +there were scattered patches on which the small homesteaders labored +to free themselves from debt. For the most part, their means and tools +were inadequate, the haul to the elevators was long, and many would +fall an easy prey to the mortgage robber. But things would soon be +different; the railroad had come. For all that, Festing resolved that +he would not be rash. His pay was good in the meantime, and he would +wait. + +By and by a cluster of buildings rose out of the grass. A light or two +twinkled; a frame house, a sod stable, and straw-covered wheat bins +that looked like huge beehives grew into shape. The homestead was +good, as homesteads in the back townships went, but Festing knew the +land was badly worked. Charnock had begun well, with money in the +bank, but luck had been against him and he had got slack. Indeed this +was Charnock's trouble; when a job got difficult, he did not stay with +it. + +Festing crossed the fall back-set, where the loam from the frost-split +clods stuck to his boots, passed the sod stable, noting that one end +was falling down, and was met on the veranda by Charnock's dogs. They +sprang upon him with welcoming barks, and pushing through them, he +entered the untidy living-room. Charnock sat at a table strewn with +papers that looked like bills, and there was a smear of ink on his +chin. + +"Hallo!" he said. "Sit down and take a smoke while I get through with +these." + +Festing pulled a chair into his favorite corner by the stove and +looked about when he had lighted his pipe. The room was comfortless +and bare, with cracked, board walls, from which beads of resin exuded. +A moose head hung above a rack of expensive English guns, a piano +stood in a corner, and lumps of the /gumbo/ soil that lay about the +floor had gathered among its legs. Greasy supper plates occupied the +end of the table, and the boards round the stove were blackened by the +distillate that dripped from the joint where the pipe went through the +ceiling. These things were significant, particularly the last, since +one need not burn green wood, which had caused the tarry stain, and +the joint could have been made tight. + +Then Festing glanced at Charnock. The latter was a handsome man of +about Festing's age. He had a high color and an easy smile, but he +had, so to speak, degenerated since he came to Canada. Festing +remembered his keenness and careless good-humor when he began to farm, +but disappointment had blunted the first, though his carelessness +remained. He had been fastidious, but one now got a hint of a coarse +streak and there was something about his face that indicated +dissipation. Yet Festing admitted that he had charm. + +"You don't look happy," he remarked. + +"I don't feel particularly happy," Charnock replied. "In fact, the +reckoning I've just made looks very like a notice to quit." He threw +Festing a paper and swept the others into a drawer. "You might examine +the calculations and see if they're right. I'm not fond of figures." + +"That was obvious long since. However, if you'll keep quiet for a few +minutes----" + +Festing studied the paper, which contained a rough statement of +Charnock's affairs. The balance was against him, but Festing thought +it might be wiped off, or at least pulled down, by economy and well- +directed effort. The trouble was that Charnock disliked economy, and +of late had declined to make a fight. Festing doubted if he could be +roused, but meant to try. + +"I see an error of a hundred dollars, but that doesn't make much +difference. Things look pretty bad, but I imagine they could be +straightened out." + +"How long would it take you to put them straight?" + +"Three years," said Festing, when he had made a rough calculation. +"That is, if I got moderately good crops, but I'd cut out drinks, the +pool game, and some other extravagances. You want to keep away from +the settlement." + +"You'd cut out all that makes life bearable," Charnock replied, and +added while his face went hard: "Besides, three years is too long." + +Festing thought he understood. The portrait of an English girl hung on +the wall behind the stove, and Charnock had already been some time in +Canada. + +"Anyhow," the latter resumed, "you take much for granted if you count +upon a moderately good crop; I haven't got one yet. We're told this is +a great country for the small farmer, and perhaps it is, so long as he +escapes a dry June, summer hail, rust, and autumn frost. As a matter +of fact, I've suffered from the lot!" + +"So have others, but they're making good." + +"At a price! They sweat, when it's light long enough, sixteen hours a +day, deny themselves everything a man can go without, and when the +grain is sold the storekeeper or implement dealer takes all they get. +When the fellow's sure of their honesty he carried them on, for the +sake of the interest, until, if they're unusually lucky, a bonanza +crop helps them to wipe off the debt. But do you imagine any slave in +the old days ever worked so hard?" + +Festing knitted his brows. He felt that Charnock must be answered, and +he was not a philosopher. + +"Canada's a pretty hard country, and the man without much capital who +undertakes to break new soil must have nerve. But he has a chance of +making good, and a few years of self-denial do a man no harm. In fact, +I expect he's better for it afterwards. A fool can take life easily +and do himself well while his dollars last." + +Charnock smiled sourly. "I've heard something of this kind before! +You're a Spartan; but suppose we admit that a man might stand the +strain, what about a woman?" + +"That complicates the thing. I suppose you mean an Englishwoman?" + +"I do. An Englishwoman of the kind you used to know at home, for +example. Could she live on rancid pork, molasses, and damaged flour? +You know the stuff the storekeepers supply their debtors. Would you +expect a delicately brought-up girl to cook for you, and mend and wash +your clothes, besides making hers? To struggle with chores that never +end, and be content, for months, with your society?" + +Festing pondered. Life on a small prairie farm was certainly hard for +a woman; for a man it was bracing, although it needed pluck and +resolution. Festing had both qualities, perhaps in an unusual degree, +and his point of view was essentially practical. He had grappled with +so many difficulties that he regarded them as problems to be solved +and not troubles to complain about. He believed that what was +necessary or desirable must be done, no matter how hard it was. One +considered only the best way of removing an obstacle, not the effort +of mind and body it cost. Still, he could not explain this to +Charnock; he was not a moralizer or clever at argument. + +Then half-consciously he fixed his eyes on the portrait which he had +often studied when the talk flagged. The girl was young, but there was +something in the poise of her head that have her an air of +distinction. Festing did not know if distinction was quite what he +meant, but could not think of a better term. She looked at one with +steady eyes; her gaze was frank and fearless, as if she had confidence +in herself. Yet it was not an aggressive confidence, but rather a calm +that sprang from pride--the right kind of pride. In a way, he knew +nothing about her, but he was sure she would disdain anything that was +shabby and mean. He was not a judge of beauty, but thought the arch of +her brows and the lines of nose and mouth were good. She was pretty, +but in admitting this one did not go far enough. The pleasure he got +from studying her picture was his only romantic weakness, and he could +indulge it safely because if he ever saw her it would be when she had +married his friend. + +The curious thing was that she had promised to marry Charnock. Bob was +a good sort, but he was not on this girl's level, and if she raised +him to it, would probably feel uncomfortable there. He was slack and +took the easiest way, while a hint of coarseness had recently got more +marked. Festing was not fastidious, but he lived with clear-eyed, wiry +men who could do all that one could expect from flesh and blood. They +quarreled about their wages and sometimes struck a domineering boss, +but they did their work, in spite of scorching heat and biting frost. +Raging floods, snowslides, and rocks that rolled down the mountain +side and smashed the track never daunted them. Their character had +something of the clean hardness of finely tempered steel. But Charnock +was different. + +"So you think of quitting?" Festing said at length. + +"I'm forced to quit; I'm in too deep to get straight. It's possible +that the man I owe most money might give me time, but it would only +mean that I'd slave for another year or two and come down after all. I +don't see why I should sweat and deny myself for somebody else's +benefit, particularly as I'm not fond of doing so for my own." + +"Then you have made a plan?" + +Charnock laughed. "I'd a notion of applying for a railroad job. The +pay's pretty good, and I daresay you could put me on the track." + +"I could. The trouble is that somebody else might afterwards put you +off. However, if you'd like to try--" + +"I'll wait a bit. I don't know that it's prudent to plunge into +things." + +"It is, if you plunge in and stop in until you struggle out with what +you want. Come up to the track and ask for me when you decide to let +the farm go." + +"On the whole, I think not," said Charnock, whose look got somewhat +strained. "You see, I expect an offer of another post though nothing's +been fixed yet. We'll let the matter drop in the meantime. Are you +going to the Long Lake picnic?" + +Festing looked at him with surprise. "Certainly not! Did you ever know +me leave my job to go to a picnic?" + +"It might be better if you did! My opinion is you think too much about +your job." + +"You think too little about yours," Festing rejoined. "Anyhow, what +amusement do you think I'd get from lounging round Long Lake all day?" + +"The ducks ought to be plentiful and I'd lend you a gun. In fact, I'll +lend you my second team, if you'll drive the Marvin girls over." + +"No, thanks," said Festing firmly. "Somebody left Flora Marvin on my +hands at the supper, and I imagine she got very tired. She certainly +looked tired; the girls about the settlement don't hide their +feelings. But who's going with you, since you want the other team?" + +"I promised to take Sadie Keller." + +"Sadie Keller?" Festing exclaimed and paused, rather awkwardly. "Well, +of course, I don't see why you shouldn't take her, if she wants to +go." + +Charnock looked at him with amusement. "As she's the chief organizer +of the picnic, Sadie does want to go. For that matter, it was her +suggestion that I should bring you." + +"I won't be there; for one thing, I'm too busy," Festing declared, and +soon afterwards got up. "It's time I started back to camp." + +Leaving the homestead, he walked thoughtfully across the plain. +Charnock had his faults, but he was his friend and was now in trouble. +However, as he had not the pluck to face his difficulties, Festing did +not see how he could help. Then he did not like Bob's taking Miss +Keller to the picnic, because he had met and thought her dangerous. It +was not that she had tried to flirt with him, although she had done +so; he felt that if he had played up, it might have been difficult +afterwards to let the matter drop. Sadie was not a silly coquette. She +had a calculating bent, ambition, and a resolute character. She would +not flirt with anybody who was, so to speak, not worth powder and +shot. + +Festing did not know how Miss Keller rated his value, but he was +satisfied to remain a bachelor, and had perhaps allowed her to +understand this, because she had since treated him with cold +politeness. Now it looked as if she had thrown Bob some favor, which +was ominous, because Sadie had generally an object. Of course, if Bob +were free and content to marry a girl from the settlement, Sadie would +not be a bad choice. She certainly had some virtues. But Bob was not +free, and it was unthinkable that a man who had won the love of the +girl whose portrait Festing knew should be satisfied with another of +Sadie's type. + +Then Festing pulled himself up. He could not warn Bob to be cautious, +or interfere with the girl's plans, supposing that she had made some. +Besides, it was Charnock's affair, not his. By and by he dismissed the +matter and thought about a troublesome job that must be undertaken in +the morning. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE PICNIC + +The picnic at Long Lake was an annual function, held as soon as the +weather got warm enough, to celebrate the return of spring. Winter is +long and tedious on the high Western plains, where the frost is often +Arctic and little work can be done, and after sitting by the red-hot +stove through the dark, cold months, the inhabitants of the scattered +homesteads come out with joyful hearts to greet the sunshine. There +is, however, no slow transition. Rushing winds from the North-west +sweep the sky, the snow vanishes, and after a week or two, during +which the prairie trails are impassable, the bleached grass dries and +green blades and flowers spring from the steaming sod. + +Moreover, the country round Long Lake has some beauty. To the east, it +runs back, bare and level, with scarcely a tree to break the vast +expanse; but to the west low undulations rise to the edge of the next +tableland. Sandhills mark the summits, but the slopes are checkered +with birches and poplars, and creeks of clear water flow through the +hollows in the shadow of thick bluffs. There are many ponds, and here +and there a shallow lake shines amidst the sweep of grass. The clear +air and the distance the view commands give the landscape a +distinctive charm. One has a sense of space and freedom; all the eye +rests upon is clean-cut. + +It was a bright morning when Charnock drove up to the door of Keller's +hotel. The street was one-sided, and for the most part of its length, +small, ship-lap-board houses boldly fronted the prairie. A few had +shallow verandas that relieved their bareness, but the rest were +frankly ugly, and in some the front was carried up level with the +roof-ridge, giving them a harsh squareness of outline. A plank +sidewalk, raised a foot or two above the ground, ran along the street, +where the black soil was torn by wagon wheels. + +There was nothing attractive about the settlement, and Charnock had +once been repelled by its dreariness. He, however, liked society, and +as the settlement was the only center of human intercourse, had +acquired the habit of spending time there that ought to have been +devoted to his farm. He enjoyed a game of pool, and to sit on the +hotel veranda, bantering the loungers, was a pleasant change from +driving the plow or plodding through the dust that rolled about the +harrows. For all that, he knitted his brows as his light wagon lurched +past the Chinese laundry and the poolroom in the next block. The place +looked mean and shabby in the strong sunlight, and, with feelings he +had thought dead re-awaking, he was conscious of a sharp distaste. +There was a choice he must shortly make, and he knew what it would +cost to take the line that might be forced on him. + +It was with a certain shrinking he stopped his team in front of the +hotel. The bare windows were open and the door was hooked back, so +that one could see into the hall, where a row of tin wash-basins stood +on a shelf. Dirty towels were scattered about, and the boarded floor +was splashed. The veranda, on to which the hall opened, was strewn +with cigar-ends and burnt matches, and occupied by a row of cheap +wooden chairs. Above the door was painted /The Keller House/. The +grocery in the next block, and the poolroom, bore the same owner's +name. + +When Charnock stopped, a man without a coat and with the sleeves of +his fine white shirt rolled up came out. He as rather an old man and +his movements were slack; his face was hard, but on the whole +expressionless. + +"Hallo!" he said. "Late again! The others have pulled out a quarter of +an hour since." + +"I saw them," Charnock answered with a languid hint of meaning. +"Didn't want to join the procession and thought they might load up my +rig if I got here on time." + +Keller looked hard at him, as if he understood, and then asked: "Want +a drink before you start?" + +"No, thanks," said Charnock, with an effort; and Keller, going to the +door, shouted: "Sadie!" + +A girl came out on the veranda. She was a handsome girl, smartly +dressed in white, with a fashionable hat that had a tall plume. Her +hair and eyes were black, the latter marked by a rather hard sparkle; +her nose was prominent and her mouth firm. Her face was colorless, but +her skin had the clean smoothness of silk. She had a firmly lined, +round figure, and her manner was easy and confident. Sadie Keller was +then twenty-one years of age. + +"I thought you had forgotten to come, Bob," she said with a smile. + +"Then you were very foolish; you ought to have known me better," +Charnock replied, and helped her into the wagon. + +"Well, you do forget things," she resumed as he started the team. + +"Not those I want to remember. Besides, if you really thought I had +forgotten, you'd have been angry." + +"How d'you know I'm not angry now?" + +Charnock laughed. "When you're angry everybody in the neighborhood +knows." + +This was true. Sadie was young, but there was something imperious +about her. She had a strong will, and when it was thwarted was subject +to fits of rage. Reserve was not among her virtues, and Charnock's +languid carelessness sometimes attracted and sometimes annoyed her. It +marked him as different from the young men she knew and gave him what +she called tone, but it had drawbacks. + +"Let me have the reins; I want to drive," she said, and added as the +horses trotted across the grass beside the torn-up trail: "You keep a +smart team, but they're too light for much work about the farm." + +"That's so. Still, you see, I like fast horses." + +"They have to be paid for," Sadie rejoined. + +"Very true, but I don't want to talk about such matters now. Then I've +given up trying to make the farm pay. When you find a thing's +impossible, it's better to let it go." + +Sadie did not reply. She meant to talk about this later, but preferred +to choose her time. Her education had been rudimentary, but she was +naturally clever. She liked admiration, but was not to be led into +foolishness by vanity. Sadie knew her value. It had for some time been +obvious that a number of the young farmers who dealt at the store and +frequented the hotel did so for her sake, and she was willing to +extend her father's trade. In fact, she helped to manage both +businesses as cleverly as she managed the customers. Her charm was +largely physical, but she used it with caution. One might indulge in +banter, and Sadie had a ringing laugh that young men liked, but there +were limits that few who knew her overstepped. One or two had done so, +but had been rebuked in a way they wished to forget. Sadie had the +tricks of an accomplished coquette, but something of the heart of a +prude. + +The settlement got indistinct, and crossing a low rise, they drove +past a birch bluff where the twigs were breaking into tiny points of +green. Then they forded a creek and skirted a shallow lake, from which +a flock of ducks rose and flew North in a straggling wedge. Sandhills +gleamed on the ridges, tall cranes stalked about the hollows, and when +the team, laboring through the loose soil, crossed an elevation one +could see the plain roll back into the far distance. It was sharp-cut +to the horizon; only the varying color that changed from soft blue to +white and yellow in the foreground helped the eye to gage its vast +extent. The snow had bleached the grass, which glittered like silver +in the strong sunlight. + +A boisterous wind from the North-west drove white-edged clouds across +the sky, but the air was soft with a genial warmth that drew earthy +smells from the drying sod. In places, an emerald flush had begun to +spread across the withered grass and small flowers like crocuses were +pushing through. The freshness and hint of returning life reacted on +Charnock, and stirred his blood when he glanced at his companion. He +felt her physical allurement as he had not felt it before, but now and +then he resolutely looked away. Sadie had shown him marked favor, but +there was much he might lose. + +She would not have charmed him when he first came to the prairie with +romantic hopes and vague ambitions. He had been fastidious then, and +the image of a very different girl occupied his heart. Even now he +knew the other stood for all that was best in life; for tender +romances, and sweetness, and high purpose. Helen had gracious +qualities he had once half-reverently admired. She loved pictures and +books and music, and was marked by a calm serenity that was very +different from Sadie's restless force. But it looked as if he had lost +her, and Sadie, who could break a horse and manage a hotel, was nearer +his level. Yet he hesitated; he must choose one of two paths, and when +he had chosen could not turn back. + +"You don't talk much," Sadie remarked at length. "Guess you must be +thinking about your mortgage." + +"I was, in a way. It was rather useless and very rude. However, I +won't think of it again until somebody makes me." + +"That's a way of yours. You think too late." + +"I'm afraid I sometimes do so," Charnock admitted. "Anyhow, to-day, +I'm not going to think at all." + +Sadie noted the reckless humor with which he began to talk, but she +led him on, and they engaged in cheerful banter until Long Lake began +to gleam among the woods ahead. Charnock skirted the trees and pulled +up where a number of picketed teams and rigs stood near the water's +edge. Farther along, a merry party was gathering wood to build a fire, +and Charnock did not find Sadie alone again for some hours after he +helped her down. + +In summer, Long Lake has no great beauty and shrinks, leaving a white +saline crust on its wide margin of sun-baked mud, but it is a +picturesque stretch of water when the snow melts in spring and the +reflections of the birches quiver on the smooth belt along its +windward edge. Farther out, the shadows of flying clouds chase each +other across the flashing surface. Two or three leaky canoes generally +lie among the trees, and in the afternoon Charnock dragged one down, +and helping Sadie on board, paddled up the lake. + +As they crept round a point flocks of ducks left the water and the air +throbbed with a beat of wings that gradually died away. The fire, +round which the others sat, was out of sight, and the rustle of the +tossing birches emphasized the quietness. Charnock let the canoe +drift, and Sadie looked up at him from her low seat among the wagon +robes he had brought. + +"What are you going to do about your farm?" she asked. + +"I don't know yet, and don't see why I should bore you with my +troubles." + +"Pshaw!" said Sadie. "You want to put the thing off; but you know you +can't." + +Charnock made a gesture of humorous resignation. "Very well! I expect +I won't be able to carry on the farm." + +"No," said Sadie, thoughtfully, "I don't think you could. There are +men who would be able, but not you." + +"I dare say you're right, but you're not flattering," Charnock +rejoined with a smile. + +Sadie gave him a steady look. "Your trouble is you laugh when you +ought to set your lips and get busy. One has got to hustle in Canada." + +"I have hustled. In fact, it's hustling that has brought me low. If I +hadn't spent my money trying to break fresh land, I wouldn't have been +so deep in debt." + +"And you'd have had more time to loaf about the settlement?" + +"On the whole, I don't think that's kind. If I hadn't come to the +settlement, I wouldn't have seen you, and that's about the only +comfort I have left." + +A touch of color crept into Sadie's face, but her thoughtful look did +not change. + +"Well," she said, "I'd surely have liked you to make good, and don't +know that we mightn't have got the mortgage held over; but it wouldn't +have been much use. You'd have started again and then got tired and +not have stayed with it." She spread out her hands impatiently. +"That's the kind of man you are!" + +"I'm afraid it's true," Charnock admitted. "But I hope you like me all +the same." + +Sadie was silent for a few moments, but her color was higher and +Charnock mused. He supposed she meant she could have persuaded her +father to come to his help, and it looked as if she well knew his +failings. Still he felt rather amused than resentful. + +"We'll let that go," she resumed. "I want you to quit joking and +listen. We're going to have a boom at the settlement as soon as the +railroad's opened, and I and the old man can hardly manage the store +and hotel. We've got to have help; somebody the boys like and we can +trust. Well, if you took hold the right way----" + +She stopped, but Charnock understood. Keller was often ill and was +getting old. He could not carry on his rapidly extending business much +longer, and Charnock might presently take his place. But this was not +all, and he hesitated. + +"Do you think I'm fit for the job?" he asked. + +"You could do it if you tried." + +Charnock smiled. "It's comforting to feel somebody trusts me, and I +see advantages in the plan. You keep the books, I think. It's very +nice in the little back office when the lamps are lit and the store is +shut. We could make up the bills together." + +Sadie blushed, and he thought he had not seen her look so attractive. +She was remarkably pretty, although there was now something about her +that puzzled him. It was something elusive that acted like a barrier, +keeping him away. Yet he knew the girl was fond of him; if he wanted +her, he had but to ask, and it was not on this account he hesitated. +He thought of a creeper-covered house in England; a house that had an +air of quiet dignity. He remembered the old silver, the flowers in the +shady rooms, and the pictures. The girl who moved about the rooms +harmonized with her surroundings; her voice was low and clear, she had +a touch of stateliness. Well, he was ruined, and she was far away, but +Sadie was close by, waiting for him. For a moment he set his lips, and +then, while his nerves tingled, banished the disturbing doubts. + +Dropping the paddle, he leaned forward, put his hand on the girl's +waist, and drew her towards him. He felt her yield, and heard her draw +a fluttering breath. Her head drooped so that he could not see her +face; she was slipping into his arms, and then, in the moment of +surrender, he felt her body stiffen. She put her hands on his shoulder +and pushed him back; the canoe lurched and he had some trouble to +prevent a capsize. The water splashed against the rocking craft, and +Sadie, drawing away, fixed her eyes on him. She was breathless, but +rather from emotion than effort. + +"Don't do that again!" she said. + +Charnock saw she meant it, which was strange. Sadie knew and sometimes +used her power of attraction, but it was obvious that she was angry. +It looked as if he had chosen the wrong moment, and he felt worse +baffled and disappointed than he had thought possible. + +"I won't," he said as carelessly as he could. "You nearly threw us +both into the water." + +"I guess that's what I meant to do," she answered fiercely. + +"Well, I expect I'd have been able to pull you out. Suppose I ought to +say I'm sorry; but I'm not. In fact, Sadie, I don't quite +understand--" + +"No," she said, "you don't understand at all! That's the trouble." + +Charnock took out his tobacco pouch and began to make a cigarette. +Sadie's cold dignity was something new and he thought she could not +keep it up. If she did not break out in passionate anger, she would +soon come round. As he finished the cigarette she turned to him with +flashing eyes. + +"Put that tobacco away or I'll throw it in the lake! Do you think you +can kiss me when you like?" + +"I wish I could," said Charnock. "As a matter of fact, I haven't +kissed you yet. But I'm sorry if you're vexed." + +For a moment Sadie hesitated and then fixed him with a fierce, +scornful gaze. + +"Oh," she said, "you're cheap, and you'd make me as cheap as you! You +want things for nothing; they must be given, where other men would +work and fight. But you can't amuse yourself by making love to me." + +Charnock felt humiliated. If he had really offended her, she could +have rebuked him with a look or sign. Her unnecessary frankness +jarred. + +"Very well; I must ask you to forget it. Of course, I was wrong, but +I'll try not to vex you again. What are we going to do now?" + +"Paddle back to the others as quick as you can." + +Throwing his cigarette into the water, Charnock turned the canoe. It +was a relief to be energetic, because Sadie's demand for speed stung +him. He glanced at her now and then, but she gave no sign of +relenting; her face was whiter than usual and her look was strained. +Getting angry, he drove the canoe down the lake with a curling wave at +her bow, until the paddle snapped in a savage stroke and he flung the +haft away. For a moment, he hoped Sadie would laugh, but she did not. + +"Now you'll have to paddle with your hands until you pick up the +broken blade," she said. + +Charnock did so and afterwards awkwardly propelled the craft towards +the camp fire. He thought Sadie might have suggested their landing and +walking back, but she was silent and calmly watched his clumsy +efforts. He was glad when they reached the beach where the others were +and he helped her out. An hour or two later he drove her home, but she +did not talk. Her anger had gone, but she seemed strangely distant. +After helping her down at the hotel he waited a moment. + +"Can't we make this up and be friends again?" he asked. + +She gave him a curious steady glance. "Not now. It looks as if you +didn't know me yet." + +Then she left him, and Charnock drove home in a thoughtful mood. He +had some idea about what she meant and had been rather surprised by +the pride she had shown. Sadie had certainly led him on; but she was +not altogether the girl he had thought. + + + +CHAPTER III + +KELLER INTERFERES + +For two or three weeks after the picnic Charnock did not meet Sadie. +The rebuff he had got did not rankle much, and was rather provocative +than daunting, but he understood why she had told him he made her +cheap. She meant to keep her caresses for her husband or declared +lover, and if he wanted her, he must pay the regular price. This was +very proper, from her point of view, but from his the price was high. + +Sadie was pretty, capable, and amusing, but he was not sure he would +like to see her every day, in his house and at his table. Besides, the +house would really be hers, and Sadie would not forget this. She was +determined and liked her own way. He had promised to marry another +girl, of a very different stamp, but his conscience was clear on that +point. It was better for Helen's sake that he should give her up, +because he was on the edge of ruin and she was much too good for him. +Irresolution, however, was perhaps his greatest failing, and now he +must decide, he wavered and thought about what he had lost. + +There were days when he would not admit that all was lost, and +harnessing his team in the early morning, drove the gang-plow through +the soil until the red sunset faded off the plain. In his heart, he +knew the fight was hopeless; Festing, for example, in his place, might +perhaps make good, but he had not the stamina for the long struggle. +All the same, he worked with savage energy until his mood changed and +he went off to hunt sandhill cranes. He would sooner have gone to the +poolroom, but there was a risk of his meeting Sadie at the settlement. + +In the meantime the days got warmer and a flush of vivid green spread +across the grass. The roaring wind that swept the tableland drove +clouds that never broke across the dazzling sky, and where there were +belts of plowed land the harrows clanked across the furrows amidst a +haze of blowing dust. The ducks and geese had gone, and red lilies +began to sway above the rolling waves of grass. Farmer and hired man +worked with tense activity, but Charnock's efforts were spasmodic and +often slack. + +In the meantime, trade was brisk at the settlement, and Keller found +his business made demands on him that he could hardly meet. It was +rapidly growing, and his strength got less. Indeed, he would have sold +out but for Sadie. The girl was clever and had tone; he wanted her to +find life smooth and taste pleasure her mother had not enjoyed. The +latter had helped him in a hard fight when dollars were very scarce, +and died, worn out, just before the tide turned. Since then he had +schemed and sweated to make her child's future safe. + +Now he thought he had done so, but it had been a struggle, and he knew +he had held on too long. Keeping store in a wheat-growing district was +not a simple matter of selling groceries; one was in reality a banker. +Bills were not often paid until the crop was harvested, farmers began +without much money, and one must know whom to trust. Indeed, one often +financed a hustler who had no capital, and kept an honest man who had +lost a crop on his feet; but the risk was great, and one felt the +strain when there was rust and autumn frost. + +One bright afternoon Keller stood on the sidewalk in front of the +store. He was not old, but his hair was gray and his face was pinched. +It was rather a hard face, for Keller's glance was keen and his lips +were generally firmly set. Yet he was liked by his customers. Now he +was breathing hard because he had helped a farmer to put a heavy bag +of flour in his wagon. The farmer drove away and a cloud of dust the +team stirred up blew down the street. The fronts of the wooden houses +were cracking in the hot sun; there was not a tree to relieve the bare +ugliness of the place, and the glare was dazzling. Keller at first +imagined this was why he could not see the wagon well, but after a few +moments he knew better. + +He went into the store with a staggering step, and the rank smell of +cheese and salt-pork nauseated him. The room felt very hot and was +full of flies that buzzed in a tormenting cloud round his head. He +wanted quietness and made his way to the dark back office, where he +dropped into a chair. + +"Go to the hotel," he ordered the clerk who entered after him. "Tell +Jake to give you a big glass of the special whisky. Be quick, but +don't run and spill the stuff." + +The clerk came back in a few minutes, and Keller pulled himself +together when he had drained the glass, though his forehead was damp +with sweat. + +"Now where's the list of the truck Gascoyne got?" he said. "I'll look +it up." + +"Sure you feel all right?" the clerk inquired. + +"Get the list," said Keller. "Take that glass away." + +He picked up a pen, but put it down when he found his hand shook, and +told the clerk to charge the goods. When the latter had gone, he sat +still for some minutes and then opened a book of accounts. He had had +another warning, sharper than the last, and had better put things +straight while he could. With this object he worked later than usual, +and when he returned to the hotel called Sadie into his private room. +The girl sat down, and he studied her, leaning his elbow heavily on +the table. + +Sadie had a strained look and had been quiet for the last week or two +except when she was angry. This indicated that her nerves were on +edge, and Keller thought he knew why. + +"I guess we've got to have a talk," he said. "I've put it off, but +now's the time." + +Sadie waited calmly. She had courage and knew she must be frank with +her father. He did not, as a rule, say much, but he noted things and +understood. + +"Well," he resumed, "I've built up a pretty good business here, but +I'll have to quit and leave you some day, and reckon you won't be +satisfied to stop at the hotel all your life. You're smart and a +looker, and I guess you want to go out and see the world. That's all +right, and you'll be able, as far as dollars count; but I can't go +with you and you can't go alone." + +Sadie shivered. Keller's face was pinched, and she knew his health was +not good, although she did not know how bad it really was. + +"I couldn't leave you, anyway, and hope you'll be with me a long time +yet." + +"It's possible," said Keller. "All the same, I can't keep my grip on +the business long and want a man to help. But I'm not going to trust a +stranger or a hired man. You see where this leads?" + +Sadie saw and made a vague gesture, though her glance was level. + +"Very well. The man who carries on my business must be your husband. +Now there are three or four of the boys in the settlement who could be +taught to run the store and hotel, but I allow you don't want me to +choose from them. Have I got that right?" + +"Yes," said Sadie with quiet calm, although her heart beat. "None of +them would suit." + +Keller knitted his brows and his look was grave. "They're good boys, +and if you had taken one of that bunch, I'd have been satisfied. I +reckon the trouble is they're my kind and belong where I do, while you +mean to go higher. Well, that's right; I've put up the dollars to give +you a good time, but you can't get where you want on your own feet." +He paused with a dry smile. "I allow you're smart enough to figure +this out." + +"I have," said Sadie. "There's much I don't know and couldn't learn +here. If I'm to move up, my husband must help." + +"Then I only know two men round the settlement who could help. +Festing's my choice." + +A wave of color flushed Sadie's white skin, but her voice was quiet. +"He isn't mine. I allow, in some ways, he's the better man, but that +doesn't count." + +Keller looked hard at her. "I used to think your head would guide you, +not your heart; but it seems you're like the rest--well, I was a very +poor man when your mother married me! Now I like Charnock and he has +tone; but if you take him, there's a risk--" + +"I know the risk." + +"It's plain! I'd stop the thing right now if you were a different +girl, but you know what you want and how to keep it when it's got. It +looks as if you had made up your mind?" + +Sadie's hands moved nervously. She made a sign of agreement, but did +not speak, and Keller went on: + +"Anyhow, you'd better understand what you're up against. Sometimes +you'll have to hustle Charnock and sometimes hold him tight. You must +keep him off the liquor, and maybe stop him getting after other girls. +Then when you sell out the business, you'll hold the dollars." + +For a moment Sadie turned her head and then got up and stood by her +father's chair. Her look was strained but resolute as she put her hand +on his arm. + +"I know all that! Bob has plenty of faults, but he's the man I love." + +Keller took and pressed her hand. He had some misgivings, but he knew +his daughter. + +"We all like Charnock, and though I wouldn't trust him far, I can +trust you. I think you've got that right and won't forget. Very well, +since you want Charnock I'll get him for you." + +Sadie stooped and kissed him and then went out. She was moved, but +there was nothing to be said. Her father was not a sentimentalist, but +he had never failed her and would not do so now. When she sat down in +her room, however, her face was grave. Her courage was high, but she +felt half afraid. Although she loved Bob Charnock, life with him might +be difficult. He was older than she and knew much more, but she must +lead him and be firm where he was weak. It was a hard task for an +ignorant girl, but she resolved to carry it out. + +Next morning Keller went down the street and entered a wooden building +filled with gaudily painted mowers and plows. He was not the man to +waste time when he had made a plan, and moreover felt that he had not +much time to lose. Finding the implement dealer in his office, he sat +down, breathing rather hard. + +"You don't look very spry this morning," the dealer remarked. + +"I don't feel so bright. The boys have been rushing me the last week +or two. Say, trade is booming now!" + +"It surely is. I could sell more machines than I've got, but I've got +a lot of money standing out, and after the bad harvest last fall, +don't know who to trust." + +They compared notes about their customers, and presently the dealer +remarked: "Charnock was in a few days ago, asking about a new wagon, a +mower, and some small tools." + +"Ah!" said Keller, rather sharply. "Then it looks as if he meant to +hold on! He reckoned, not long since, that he'd have to quit. But what +did you tell him?" + +"To come again. I'd like to keep Bob Charnock up, but guess it's +dangerous. Owes me a pile. How does he stand with you?" + +Keller supplied the information, and the other looked thoughtful. +"Didn't know it was quite so bad as that. I allow I'd better not let +him have the goods." + +"Well, I reckon he's trying the new man at Concord. Smith said he met +him there yesterday." + +The dealer frowned. He hated to think of a customer going to somebody +else. In fact, this was, for a debtor, an unpardonable offense. + +"Charnock's trouble is that he's not quite straight. Ought to have +stayed with me, told me how he was fixed, and let me see what I could +do. If he's going to deal with the new man, I'd better pull him up and +try to get my money back." + +"You can't get it," said Keller dryly. "He can't pay now, and if you +let him go on until harvest, you'll have a crowd of others with long +bills fighting for what's left." + +"Looks like that," the dealer agreed. "Well, I'd have liked to keep +him going if he'd stayed with me, but I can't stand for losing the +dollars he owes. What are we going to do about the thing?" + +Keller explained his plans, and after some argument the other agreed. +The decision they came to would bring Charnock's farming to an end, +but Keller left the office with some doubts. His scheme was going to +succeed, but he wondered whether he had indulged Sadie too far. Much +depended on her firmness, and she might find the job harder than she +thought; but on the whole he imagined she would be equal to the +strain. + +A week later, Charnock sat, one afternoon, in the saddle of his gang- +plow, tearing a row of furrows through the dusty sod. The sweating +horses moved leisurely, and he did not urge them as he moodily watched +the tangled grass part before the shares and vanish beneath the +polished surface of the turned-up clods. He was breaking new soil, +doing work that would be paid for in the future, and knew the reward +of his labor might never be his. When he reached the end of the +plowing he stopped and let the horses rest while he looked about. + +One side of the long furrows gleamed in the strong light, and another +team was moving towards him from the opposite end. The sun was hot, +but the wind was fresh, and thin clouds of dust blew across the plain. +Still the belt he was plowing was good soil; the firm black /gumbo/ +that holds the moisture the wheat plant needs. There was something +exhilarating in the rushing breeze and glow of light, but Charnock +frowned and wondered why he had worked so long. He had no real hope, +and admitted that he had continued his spasmodic efforts because he +could not face defeat. + +For all that, he had not been fighting entirely for his farm. He +wanted to keep his freedom; to break through trammels that were +getting tighter, and try to regain something that he had lost. +Sometimes he felt desperate, but now and then saw an elusive ray of +hope. If he could hold out until harvest and reap a record crop---- + +Then his hired man, driving the other plow, waved his arm, and +Charnock saw a rig lurch across a rise amidst a cloud of sand. It was +the mail-carrier going his round, but he would not have come that way +unless he had letters, and Charnock waited until the man arrived. + +"Here's your lot," he said, taking out three or four envelopes. + +Charnock's hand shook as he opened the first, it was large and had an +official look, and he found a number of unpaid accounts inside. +Besides these, there was a lawyer's letter, stating that certain +dealers had instructed him to recover payment of the debts Charnock +owed. He crushed the letter in his clenched hand and the veins stood +out on his forehead, while his face got red. The blow he feared had +fallen and he was ruined; but when the shock began to pass he felt a +faint relief. It was something to be free from doubt and anxiety, and +there were consolations. Now he was beaten, the line he must take was +plain, and it had some advantages. + +"You can quit plowing and put the teams in the stable," he said to the +hired man. + +"Quit now!" exclaimed the other. "What about the machines?" + +"Let them stop," said Charnock. "It seems they belong to my creditors, +who can look after them. I'm going to Concord and don't know when I'll +be back." + +He went off towards the homestead and half an hour later drove away +across the plain. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FESTING COMMITS THEFT + +The air was sharp and wonderfully invigorating when Festing stopped +for a few moments, one evening, outside Charnock's homestead. A row of +sandhills glimmered faintly against the blue haze in the east, but the +western edge of the plain ran in a hard black line beneath a blaze of +smoky red. It was not dark, but the house was shadowy, and Festing +noticed a smell of burning as he entered. + +The top was off the stove in Charnock's room, and the flame that +licked about the hole showed that the floor was strewn with torn +paper. Charnock was busy picking up the pieces, and when he threw a +handful into the stove a blaze streamed out and the light shone upon +the wall. Festing noted that the portrait that had hung there had +gone, and looking round in search of it, saw a piece of the broken +frame lying on the stove. It was half burned and a thin streak of +smoke rose from its glowing end. Festing remarked this with a sense of +anger. + +"What are you doing, Bob?" he asked. + +"Cleaning up," Charnock answered, with a hoarse laugh, as he sat down +among the litter. "Proper thing when you mean to make a fresh start! +Suppose you take a drink and help." + +A whisky bottle and a glass stood on the table, and Festing thought +Charnock had taken some liquor, although he was not drunk. Stooping +down, he began to pick up the papers, which, for the most part, looked +like bills. There were, however, a few letters in a woman's hand, and +by and by he found a bit of riband, a glove, and a locket that seemed +to have been trampled on. + +"Are these to be burned?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Charnock. "Don't want them about to remind me---- Burn the +lot." + +Festing, with some reluctance, threw them into the stove. He was not, +as a rule, romantic, but it jarred him to see the things destroyed. +They had, no doubt, once been valued for the giver's sake; dainty +hands had touched them; the locket had rested on somebody's white +skin. They were pledges of trust and affection, and he had found them, +trampled by Charnock's heavy boots, among the dust and rubbish. + +"You'd get on faster if you used a brush," he suggested. + +"Can't find the brush. Confounded thing's hidden itself somewhere. +Can't remember where I put anything to-night. Suppose you don't see a +small lace handkerchief about?" + +Festing said he did not, and Charnock made a gesture of resignation. +"Looks as if I'd burned it with the other truck, but I got that from +Sadie, and there'll be trouble if she wants to know where it's gone. +She may want to know some time. Sadie doesn't forget." + +"Did Sadie give you the locket?" + +"She did not," said Charnock. "You're a tactless brute. But there's +something else I want, and I don't know where it can have got." + +He upset a chair as he turned over some rubbish near the table, under +which he presently crawled, while Festing looking about, noted a small +white square laying half hidden by the stove. Picking it up, he saw it +was the portrait of the English girl, and resolved with a thrill of +indignation that Charnock should not burn this. He felt that its +destruction would be something of an outrage. + +He glanced at Charnock, but the latter's legs alone stuck out from +under the table, and as it was obvious that he could not see, Festing +dusted the portrait and put it in his pocket. By and by Charnock crept +out and got upon his feet. It was dark now, but the glow of the +burning paper flickered about the room and touched his face. His hair +was ruffled, his eyes were dull, and his mouth had a slack droop. +Festing felt some pity for the man, though he was also sensible of +scornful impatience. The smell of burned paper disturbed him with its +hint of vanished romance. Putting the lid on the stove, he took the +lamp from Charnock's unsteady hand, and, when he had lighted it, found +a brush and set to work. Presently Charnock made a vague sign of +relief as he looked at the swept floor. + +"All gone!" he remarked. "There was something I couldn't find. Suppose +I burned it, though I don't remember." + +"There's nothing left," said Festing, who felt guilty. "Why did you +destroy the things?" + +Charnock sat down and awkwardly lighted his pipe. "Wanted to begin +again with what they call a clean slate. Besides, the stove's the best +place for bills that bother you." + +"You can't get rid of the debts by burning the bills." + +"That's true," said Charnock with a grin. "Unfortunately obvious, in +fact! However, I cut up my account book." + +"I don't see how that would help." + +"My creditors can now amuse themselves by finding out how I stand." + +Festing frowned impatiently. "A rather childish trick! It doesn't +strike me as humorous." + +"You're a disgustingly serious fellow," Charnock rejoined. "But you +might be a bit sympathetic, because I've had a nasty knock. My +creditors have come down on me, and I'm going to be married." + +Festing smiled. He had some sense of humor, and Charnock's manner +seemed to indicate that he felt he was confronted with two +misfortunes. + +"You must have known your creditors would pull you up unless you came +to terms with them, but one would expect you to please yourself about +getting married." + +"I'm not sure your joke's in good taste," Charnock answered sullenly. +"But in a way, one thing depended on the other. Perhaps I oughtn't to +have said so, but I'm upset to-night. Though I did expect to be pulled +up, it was a knock." + +"No doubt. Are you going to marry Sadie?" + +"I am. Have you any reason to disapprove?" + +"Certainly not," said Festing. "Sadie's rather a friend of mine." + +In a sense, this was true. When Festing first came to the prairie from +a mountain construction camp, where he had not seen a woman for twelve +months, he had felt Sadie's charm. Moreover, he imagined that the girl +liked him and consciously used her power, although with a certain +reserve and modesty. For all that, he fought against his inclination +and conquered without much effort. Marriage had not much attraction +for him, but if he did marry, he meant to choose a wife of a different +type. + +"Sadie's a very good sort," Charnock resumed. "She knows what we are, +and doesn't expect too much; not the kind of girl to make ridiculous +demands. In fact, Sadie can make allowances." + +Festing thought this was doubtful praise, although it bore out his +opinion of the girl. For all that, Sadie might not be so willing to +make allowances for her husband as for a lover of whom she was not +quite sure. + +"Perhaps that kind of thing has advantages," he said. "But I don't +know--" + +"I do know," said Charnock; "I've tried the other way. The feeling +that you're expected to keep on a high plane soon gets tiresome; +besides, it isn't natural. It's better to be taken for what you are." + +"I suppose so," Festing assented. "Anyway, if Sadie's satisfied----" + +Charnock grinned, although there was a touch of color in his face. + +"You're not given to flattery, but might use a little tact. I've had a +knock and am not quite sober, so I can't argue the point. Then it +isn't your business if Sadie's satisfied or not." + +"That's so. But what are you going to do when your creditors turn you +out?" + +"Everything's arranged. I'm going to help Keller at the hotel and +store." + +Festing got up. "Well, I've stopped longer than I meant. I wish you +good luck!" + +"We'll have a drink," said Charnock, reaching for the bottle with an +unsteady hand. Then he paused and gave Festing a suspicious look. +"It's curious about that portrait! I used to see you gazing at it, and +don't remember that I picked it up." + +"No, thanks," said Festing, refusing the glass. "I think you've had +enough. In fact, it might have been better when you were wiping the +slate clean if you had put the bottle in the stove." + +He went out and walked back to the camp in the moonlight, thinking +hard. He was angry with Charnock, but vaguely sorry. Bob had some +virtues and was throwing himself away, although, when one came to +think of it, this was only true to some extent. What one meant was +that he was throwing away his opportunities of rising to a higher +plane; while Bob was satisfied with his present level Sadie was good +enough for him, perhaps too good. Life together might be hard for +both, and there was a touch of pathos in his burning all the tender +tokens that bound him to the past, though it was ominous that he kept +the whisky. He could, however, get as much liquor as he wanted at the +hotel; that is, if Sadie allowed it, but there was some comfort in the +thought that the girl was clever and firm. + +Festing dismissed the matter, and when he reached his shack at the +bridge put the portrait on the table and sat down opposite. He felt +that he knew this girl, whom he had never met, very well. Something in +her look had cheered him when he had difficulties to overcome; he felt +that they were friends. She was calm and fearless and would face +trouble with the level glance he knew, although now and then, when the +lamp flickered in the draught, he had thought she smiled. They had +been companions on evenings when Charnock wanted to read the newspaper +or the talk had flagged. Sometimes the window and door were open and +the smell of parched grass came in; sometimes the stove was red-hot +and the house shook in the icy blast. Festing admitted that it was not +altogether for Charnock's society he had visited the homestead. + +Then he began to puzzle about a likeness to somebody he knew. He had +remarked this before, but the likeness was faint and eluded him. +Lighting his pipe, he tried to concentrate his thoughts, and by and by +made an abrupt movement. He had it! When he was in British Columbia, +engaged on the construction of a section of the railroad that was +being built among the mountains, he met a young Englishman at a mining +settlement. The lad had been ill and was not strong enough to +undertake manual labor, which was the only occupation to be found in +the neighborhood. Moreover, he had lost his money, in consequence, +Festing gathered, of his trusting dangerous companions. + +Festing, finding that he had been well educated and articled to a +civil engineer, got him a post on the railroad, where he helped the +surveyors. Dalton did well and showed himself grateful, but when +Festing went to the prairie he lost touch with the lad. The latter +wrote to him once or twice, but he was too busy to keep up the +correspondence. Now he knew it was something in Dalton's face he found +familiar in the portrait. The girl had a steady level glance, and the +lad looked at one like that. Indeed, it was his air of frankness that +had persuaded Festing to get him the post. + +But this led him nowhere. He did not know the girl's name, and if it +was the same as the lad's, it would not prove that they were related. +He pushed back his chair and got up. It looked as if he was in some +danger of becoming a romantic fool, but he put the portrait carefully +away, Soon after he had done so a man came in, and sitting down, +lighted a cigarette. + +"I wanted to see you, Festing, but hadn't a chance all day," he said. +"Probably you haven't heard that I've got orders where to send the +staff when the bridge is finished, as it will be soon." + +Festing looked up sharply. Kerr was his superior in the company's +service, but they were on good terms. + +"I haven't heard. I'm anxious to know." + +Kerr told him, and Festing's face hardened. + +"So Marvin and I go on to the next prairie section! Since they want +the best men on the difficult work in the mountains, it means that +we're passed over." + +"It does, in a sense," Kerr agreed. + +"Then I think I know why you came," said Festing, who pondered for a +few moments. He had courage and decision, and it was his habit to face +a crisis boldly. "Now," he resumed, "I'm going to ask your opinion of +my prospects if I stay on the road?" + +"Your record's good. You're sure of a post, so long as there's any +construction work going on." + +"A post of a kind! Not the best kind, where a man would have a chance +of making his mark?" + +"Well," said Kerr, "I think that's what I meant. The headquarters +bosses don't know us personally, and judge by a man's training and the +certificates he's got. Of course, in spite of this, talent will find +its way, and sometimes one gets there by a stroke of luck." + +Festing smiled, rather bitterly. "I have no marked talent, and haven't +found it pay to trust to luck. In fact, my only recommendations are a +kind of practical ability and a capacity for hard work. I got on the +road by doing chores and fought my way up." + +"You are practical," Kerr agreed. "It's your strong point, but I've +thought it sometimes kept you back." + +He paused when Festing looked at him with surprise, but resumed in a +thoughtful voice: "When your job's in front of you, you see what must +be done, and do it well; there's not a man on my section does that +kind of thing better. Still, I'm not sure you always see quite far +enough. You miss what lies ahead and sometimes, so to speak, what's +lying all round. Concentration's good, but one can concentrate too +much. However, I didn't come to find fault, but to let you know how +matters are." + +"Thanks. I'm going to look ahead and all round now, and the situation +strikes me as much like this: If I'm content with a second or third +best post, I can stop; if I want to go as far as my power of +concentration may take me and find a place where I can use my +independent judgment, I'd better quit. Have I got that right?" + +"It's what I tried to hint. You can count on my recommendation when +it's likely to be of use, but you said something that was rather +illuminating. You want to use your judgment?" + +Festing laughed. "I don't know that I've thought much about these +matters, but I am an individualist. You get up against useless rules, +empty formalities, and much general stupidity in organized effort, and +good work is often wasted. When you see things that demand to be done, +you want to begin right there and get at the job. If you wait to see +if it's yours or somebody else's, you're apt not to start at all." + +"Your plan has drawbacks now and then," Kerr remarked. "But what are +you going to do about the other matter?" + +Festing was silent for a few moments. He had to make a momentous +choice, but had known that he must do so and did not hesitate. + +"I'm going to quit and try farming. After all, I don't know very much +about railroad building; up to now I've got on rather by determination +than knowledge. Then, if I stop with you, I'll come up against a +locked door whenever I try to push ahead." + +"There are locked doors in other professions." + +"That's so; but in a big organization you must knock and ask somebody +to let you through, and unless you have a properly stamped ticket, +they turn you back. When the job's your own you beat down the door." + +"I've seen farmers who tried that plan left outside with badly jarred +hands. Frost and rust and driving sand are difficult obstacles." + +"Oh, yes," said Festing. "But they're natural obstacles; you know what +you're up against and can overcome them, if you're stubborn enough. +What I really mean is, you don't trust to somebody else's good +opinion; whether you fail or not depends upon yourself." + +"Well," said Kerr, getting up, "I think you're making the right +choice, but hope you won't forget me when you leave us. You'll have a +friend in the company's service as long as I'm on the road." + +He went out and Festing lighted his pipe. Now he had come to a +decision, there was much that needed thought; but, to begin with, he +knew of a suitable piece of land. Living in camp, he had saved the +most part of his pay, and had inherited a small sum from an English +relative. In consequence, he could buy the land, build a comfortable +wooden house, and have something over to carry him on until he sold +his first crop. + +He resolved to buy the land and set the carpenters to work, but could +not leave the railroad for a month, when it would be rather late to +make a start. Then he had worked without a break for twelve years, for +the most part at camps where no amusement was possible, and resolved +to take a holiday. He would go back to England, where he had a few +friends, although his relatives were dead. This was, of course, an +extravagance; but after the self-denial he had practised there was +some satisfaction in being rash. Lighting another pipe, he abandoned +himself to pleasant dreams of his first holiday. + + + +CHAPTER V + +A RASH PROMISE + +A few days before he started for England, Festing went over to +Charnock's homestead, which was shortly to be sold. The evenings were +getting light, and although Festing had finished his day's work before +he left the bridge, the glow of sunset flooded Charnock's living-room. +The strong red light searched out the signs of neglect and +dilapidation, the broken boots and harness that needed mending, the +dust sticking to the resin-stains on the cracked walls, and the +/gumbo/ soil on the dirty floor. As Charnock glanced up a level ray +touched his face and showed a certain sensual coarseness that one +missed when the light was normal. Festing, however, knew the look, and +although he had not remarked it when he first met Charnock, thought it +had always been there. + +The change he had noted in his friend was only on the surface. +Charnock had not really deteriorated in Canada; the qualities that had +brought him down had been overlaid by a spurious grace and charm, but +it now looked as if moral slackness might develop into active vice. On +the whole, he thought Sadie would have trouble with Bob, but this was +not his business. + +"I've come to say good-bye," he remarked. "I won't see you again until +my return, and expect you'll be married then." + +"Yes," said Charnock, shortly. "I suppose you have made some plans for +your trip. Where are you going to stop in England?" + +Festing told him and he looked surprised. "I didn't know you had +friends in that neighborhood. Will you be with them some time?" + +"A month, anyway. Then I may come and go." + +Charnock pushed his chair back out of the light. "Well, this makes it +easier; there's something I want to ask. We are friends and I've let +you give me good advice, though I haven't always acted on it. I don't +know if this gives me a claim." + +"If there's anything I can do----" + +"There is," said Charnock, who hesitated for a few moments. "I want +you to go and see Helen Dalton. She's the girl I ought to have +married, and doesn't live very far from your friends." + +"Ah!" said Festing with a start. "It was her portrait you meant to +burn?" + +Charnock gave him a sharp glance. "Just so. I imagine I did burn it, +because I couldn't find it afterwards." + +There was silence for a few moments while Festing wondered whether the +other suspected him. Bob had an air of frankness, but was sometimes +cunning. This, however, was not important, and Festing was strongly +moved by the thought that he might see the girl. + +"Why do you want me to go?" he asked. + +"In order that you can tell her how I was situated. I want her to know +why I was forced to give her up." + +"But you have written and stated your reasons." + +Of course. But I've no talent for explanation, and in a letter you say +too little or too much; probably I didn't say enough. Then you can't +tell how far the person written to will understand, and questions +rise. But will you go?" + +Festing wanted to go, although he saw his task might be embarrassing. +He had been some time in Western Canada, where people are frank and do +not shrink from dealing with delicate matters. Then Charnock was his +friend. + +"It will be an awkward job, but you can indicate the line you think I +ought to take." + +"The line is plain. You will tell Helen what it means to lose one's +crop, and try to make her understand the struggle I've had--how the +weather was against me, and the debts kept piling up until I was +ruined. You can describe the havoc made by drought, and frost, and +cutting sand. Then there's the other side of the matter; the hardships +a woman must bear on the plains when money's scarce. The loneliness, +the monotonous drudgery, the heat, the Arctic cold." + +"Miss Dalton looks as if she had pluck. She wouldn't be easily +daunted." + +"Do you think I don't know? But when you meet her you'll see that the +life we lead is impossible for a girl like that." + +"It looks as if you wanted me to be your advocate," Festing remarked +rather dryly. "I'm to make all the excuses for you I can, and prove +that you were justified in breaking your engagement. I doubt if I'm +clever enough--" + +Charnock stopped him. "No! Perhaps I used excuses, but my object is +not to clear myself." He paused and colored. "We'll admit that Helen +lost nothing when I gave her up; but a girl, particularly a young, +romantic girl, feels that kind of thing, and it might hurt worse if +she thought she had loved a wastrel. I want her to feel that I broke +my engagement for her sake, when nothing else was possible. That might +soften the blow, and I really think it's true." + +"How much of it is true?" Festing asked bluntly. + +"Ah," said Charnock, "you're an uncompromising fellow. You meant that +if you'd had my debts and difficulties, you could have made good?" + +"I might; but we both know two or three other men whom I'd have backed +to do so." + +"For all that, you'll admit that the thing was impossible for me?" + +Festing knitted his brows. "I believe you could have overcome your +difficulties; that is, if you had really made an effort and faced the +situation earlier. But since you hadn't nerve enough, I dare say it +was impossible." + +"You forget one thing; I hadn't time. At the best, it would have taken +me three or four years to get straight, and as you haven't much +imagination, I suppose you don't realize what Helen's trials would +have been in the meanwhile. An engaged girl's situation isn't easy +when her lover is away. She stands apart, forbidden much others may +enjoy, and Helen would have had to bear her friends' contemptuous pity +for being bound to a man who had turned out a failure or worse." + +"I expect that's true," Festing agreed. "However, there's another +difficulty. Suppose I persuade Miss Dalton that you made a plucky +fight and only gave her up when you were beaten? She may refuse to let +you go, and insist on coming out to help." + +Charnock started, but with a rather obvious effort recovered his calm. +"You must see your suggestion's stupid. Helen can't come out; I'm +going to marry Sadie." + +"I forgot," said Festing. "Well, since you urge me, I'll do what I +can, although I don't like the job." + +He left the homestead shortly afterwards, but felt puzzled as he +walked across the plain. When he suggested that Miss Dalton might +resolve to join and help her lover, Charnock had looked alarmed. This +was strange, because although Festing had, for a moment, forgotten +Sadie, it was ridiculous to imagine that Bob had done so. Then why had +he started. There were, however, one or two other things that +disturbed Festing, who felt that he had made a rash promise. But the +promise had been made, and he must do his best to carry it out. + +He had a fine voyage, and a week after his arrival in the Old Country +walked up and down the terrace of a house among the hills in the North +of England. His host was an old friend of the family who had shown +Festing some kindness when he was young, and his daughter, Muriel, +approved her father's guest. She liked the rather frank, brown- +skinned, athletic man, whom she had joined on the terrace. He was a +new and interesting type; but although she was two or three years the +younger and attractive, their growing friendship was free from +possible complications. Muriel, as Festing had learned, was going to +marry the curate. + +After the roar of activity at the bridge, where the hammers rang all +day and often far into the night, he found his new surroundings +strangely pleasant. In Canada, he had lived in the wilds; on the vast +bare plains, and among snowy mountains where man grappled with Nature +in her sternest mood. Thundering snowslides swept away one's work, icy +rocks must be cut through, and savage green floods threatened the +half-built track when the glaciers began to melt. Every day had +brought a fresh anxiety, and now he welcomed the slackening of the +strain. The struggle had left its mark on him; one saw it in his lean, +muscular symmetry, his quiet alertness, and self-confidence. But he +could relax, and found the English countryside had a soothing charm. + +The sun was low and rugged hills cut against the pale-saffron sky. The +valley between was filled with blue shadow, but in the foreground a +river twinkled in the fading light. Feathery larches grew close up to +the house, and a beck splashed in the gloom among their trunks. +Farther off, a dog barked, and there was a confused bleating of sheep, +but this seemed to emphasize the peaceful calm. + +"It's wonderfully quiet," Festing remarked. "I can't get used to the +stillness; I feel as if I was dreaming and would wake up to hear the +din of the rivers and the ballast roaring off the gravel cars. +However, I have some business to do to-morrow that I'm not keen about. +Can one see Knott Scar from here?" + +"It's the blue ridge, about six miles off. The dark patch on its slope +is a big beech wood." + +"Then do you know the Daltons?" + +"Oh, yes," said Muriel. "Helen Dalton is a friend of mine. Although +the Scar's some way off, I see her now and then. But are you going +there?" + +"I am; I wish it wasn't needful," Festing answered rather gloomily. + +"Ah!" said Muriel, giving him a sharp glance. "Helen was to have +married a man in Canada, but the engagement was broken off. Do you +know him?" + +"I do. That's why I'm going to the Scar. I've promised to explain +matters as far as I can." + +Muriel studied his disturbed face with a twinkle of amusement. "Well, +I'm sorry for Helen; it must have been a shock. For all that, I +thought the engagement a mistake." + +"Then you have seen Charnock?" + +"Once. He's a friend of some people Helen used to stay with in the +South, but I met him at the Scar. Handsome, and charming, in a way, +but I thought him weak." + +"What are Miss Dalton's people like?" + +"Don't you want to know what Helen is like?" + +"No," said Festing. "I know her already; that is, I've seen her +picture." + +Muriel, glancing at him keenly, did not understand his look, but +replied: "Helen lives with her mother and aunt, but it's hard to +describe them. They are not old, but seem to date back to other times. +In fact, they're rather unique nowadays. Like very dainty old china; +you'd expect them to break if they were rudely jarred. You feel they +ought to smell of orris and lavender." + +"Ah," said Festing. "I was a fool to promise Charnock. I've never met +people like that, and am afraid they'll get a jar to-morrow." + +"I don't think you need be afraid," Muriel replied. "They're not +really prudish or censorious, though they are fastidious." + +"And is Miss Dalton like her mother and aunt?" + +"In a way. Helen has their refinement, but she's made of harder stuff. +She would wear better among strains and shocks." + +Festing shook his head. "Girls like her ought to be sheltered and kept +from shocks. After all, there's something to be said for Charnock's +point of view. Your delicate English grace and bloom ought to be +protected and not rubbed off by the rough cares of life." + +"I don't know if you're nice or not," Muriel rejoined with a laugh. +"Anyway, you don't know many English girls, and your ideas about us +are old-fashioned. We are not kept in lavender now. Besides, it isn't +the surface bloom that matters, and fine stuff does not wear out. It +takes a keener edge and brighter polish from strenuous use. And Helen +is fine stuff." + +"So I thought," said Festing quietly, and stopped at the end of the +terrace. The bleating of sheep had died away, and except for the +splash of the beck a deep silence brooded over the dale. The sun had +set and the landscape was steeped in soft blues and grays, into which +woods and hills slowly melted. + +"It's remarkably pleasant here," he said. "Not a sign of strain and +hurry; things seem to run on well-oiled wheels! Perhaps the greatest +change is to feel that one has nothing to do." + +"But you had holidays now and then in Canada." + +"No," said Festing. "Anyhow I've had none for a very long time. Of +course there are lonely places, and in winter the homesteads on the +plains are deadly quiet, but I was always where some big job was +rushed along. Hauling logs across the snow, driving them down rivers, +and after I joined the railroad, checking calculations, and track- +grading in the rain. It was a fierce hustle from sunrise to dark, with +all your senses highly strung and your efforts speeded up." + +"Then one can understand why it's a relief to lounge. But would that +satisfy you long?" + +Festing laughed. "It would certainly satisfy me for a time, but after +that I don't know. It's a busy world, and there's much to be done." + +Muriel studied him as they walked back along the terrace. He wore no +hat, and she liked the way he held his head and his light, springy +step, though she smiled as she noted that he pulled himself up to keep +pace with her. It was obvious that he was not used to moving +leisurely. Then his figure, although spare, was well proportioned, and +his rather thin face was frank. He had what she called a fined-down +look, but concentrated effort of mind and body had given him a hint of +distinction. He was a man who did things, and she wondered what Helen, +who was something of a romantic dreamer, would think of him. Then she +reflected with a touch of amusement that he would probably find the +errand his friend had given him embarrassing. + +"You don't look forward to seeing the Daltons to-morrow," she +remarked. + +"That's so," Festing admitted. "I didn't quite know what I'd +undertaken when I gave my promise. The thing looks worse in England. +In fact, it looks very nearly impossible just now." + +"But you are going?" + +Festing spread out his hands. "Certainly. What can I do? Charnock +hustled me into it; he has a way of getting somebody else to do the +things he shirks. But I gave him my word." + +"And that's binding!" remarked Muriel, who was half amused by his +indignation. She thought Charnock deserved it, but Festing could be +trusted. + +"I wish I could ask your advice," he resumed. "You could tell me what +to say; but as I don't know if Charnock would approve, it mightn't be +the proper thing." + +Muriel was keenly curious to learn the truth about her friend's love +affair, but she resisted the temptation. Because she liked Festing, +she would not persuade him to do something for which he might +afterwards reproach himself. + +"No," she said, "perhaps you oughtn't to tell me. But I don't think +you need be nervous. If you have the right feeling, you will take the +proper line." + +Then they went into the house where the curate was talking to +Gardiner. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +FESTING KEEPS HIS WORD + +Next afternoon Festing leaned his borrowed bicycle against the gate at +Knott Scar and walked up the drive. He had grave misgivings, but it +was too late to indulge them, and he braced himself and looked about +with keen curiosity. The drive curved and a bank of shrubs on one side +obstructed his view, but the Scar rose in front, with patches of +heather glowing a rich crimson among the gray rocks. Beneath these, a +dark beech wood rolled down the hill. On the other side there was a +lawn that looked like green velvet. His trained eye could detect no +unevenness; the smooth surface might have been laid with a spirit +level. Festing had seen no grass like this in Canada and wondered how +much labor it cost. + +Then he came to the end of the shrubs and saw a small, creeper-covered +house, with a low wall, pierced where shallow steps went up, along the +terrace. The creeper was in full leaf and dark, but roses bloomed +about the windows and bright-red geraniums in urns grew upon the wall. +He heard bees humming and a faint wind in the beech tops, but the +shadows scarcely moved upon the grass, and a strange, drowsy quietness +brooded over the place. Indeed, the calm was daunting; he felt he +belonged to another world and was intruding there, but went resolutely +up the shallow steps. + +Two white-haired ladies received him in a shady, old-fashioned room +with a low ceiling. There was a smell of flowers, but it was faint, +and he thought it harmonized with the subdued lighting of the room. A +horizontal piano stood in a corner and the dark, polished rosewood had +dull reflections; some music lay about, but not in disorder, and he +noted the delicate modeling of the cabinet with diamond panes it had +been taken from. He knew nothing about furniture, but he had an eye +for line and remarked the taste that characterized the rest of the +articles. There were a few landscapes in water-color, and one or two +pieces of old china, of a deep blue that struck the right note of +contrast with the pale-yellow wall. + +Festing felt that the house had an influence; a gracious influence +perhaps, but vaguely antagonistic to him. He had thought of a house as +a place in which one ate and slept, but did not expect it to mold +one's character. Surroundings like this were no doubt Helen Dalton's +proper environment, but he came from the outside turmoil, where men +sweated and struggled and took hard knocks. + +In the meantime, he talked to and studied the two ladies. Although +they had white hair, they were younger than he thought at first and +much alike. It was as if they had faded prematurely from breathing too +rarefied an atmosphere and shutting out rude but bracing blasts. Still +they had a curious charm, and he had felt a hint of warmth in Mrs. +Dalton's welcome that puzzled him. + +"We have been expecting you. Bob told us you would come," she said in +a low, sweet voice, and added with a smile: "I wanted to meet you." + +Festing wondered what Bob had said about him, but for a time they +tactfully avoided the object of his visit and asked him questions +about his journey. Then Mrs. Dalton got up. + +"Helen is in the garden. Shall we look for her?" + +She took him across the lawn to a bench beneath a copper beech, and +Festing braced himself when a girl got up. She wore white and the +shadow of the leaves checkered the plain dress. He noted the +unconscious grace of her pose as she turned towards him, and her warm +color, which seemed to indicate a sanguine temperament. Helen Dalton +was all that he had thought, and something more. He knew her level, +penetrating glance, but she had a virility he had not expected. The +girl was somehow stronger than he portrait. + +"Perhaps I had better leave you to talk to Mr. Festing," Mrs. Dalton +said presently and moved away. + +Helen waited with a calm that Festing thought must cost her much, and +moving a folding chair, he sat down opposite. + +"I understand Bob told you I would come," he said. "You see, he is a +friend of mine." + +"Yes," she replied with a faint sparkle in her eyes. "He hinted that +you would explain matters. I think he meant you would make some +defense for him." + +Festing noted that her voice was low like her mother's, but it had a +firmer note. He could be frank with her, but there was a risk that he +might say too much. + +"Well," he said, "I may make mistakes. In fact, it was with much +reluctance I promised to come, and if Bob hadn't insisted----" He +paused and pulled himself together. "On the surface, of course, his +conduct looks inexcusable, but he really has some defense, and I think +you ought to hear it, for your own sake." + +"Perhaps I ought," she agreed quietly. "Well, I am willing." + +Festing began by relating Charnock's troubles. He meant her to +understand the situation and supplied rather confusing particulars +about prairie farming and mortgages. For all that, the line he took +was strong; he showed how Charnock's embarrassments prevented his +offering her comforts she would find needful and saving her from the +monotonous toil an impoverished farmer's wife must undertake. In the +meantime, but unconsciously, he threw some light on Charnock's +vacillating character. + +When he stopped Helen mused for a few minutes. Although she had got a +shock when Charnock gave her up, she knew her lover better than when +she had promised to marry him. He came home once in the winter and she +had remarked a change. Bob was not altogether the man she had thought; +there were things that jarred, and his letters gradually made this +plainer. Still she had meant to keep her promise, and his withdrawal +hurt. She had borne something for his sake, because her mother and her +relations had not approved the engagement. Then she roused herself and +turned to Festing. + +"You have done your best for your friend and Bob ought to be grateful, +but you both start from a wrong point. Why do you take it for granted +that I would shrink from hardship?" + +"I didn't imagine you would shrink," Festing declared. "For all that, +Bob was right. The life is too hard for a girl brought up like you." +He hesitated a moment. "I mean for a girl brought up in your +surroundings." + +Helen smiled and he knew it was a sign of courage, but had a vague +feeling that he understood why she did so as he looked about. The +sighing in the beech tops had died away and the shadows did not move +upon the lawn. A heavy smell of flowers came from the borders and the +house seemed to be sleeping in the hot sunshine. Everything was +beautiful, well-ordered, and tranquil, but he knew if he stayed there +long he would hear the cry of the black geese and the clang of flung- +down rails ring through the soporific calm. Something in the girl's +face indicated that she might find the calm oppressive and sympathize +with him. + +"What is Bob going to do now he has lost his farm?" she asked after a +time. + +"In one respect, he won't be much worse off. They expect a boom at the +settlement, and he'll manage the hotel and store and poolroom for +Keller. The old man will probably retire soon and Bob will get the +business." + +"But why should the proprietor give the business to Bob?" + +"He's Sadie's father," Festing answered with some surprise. + +"But who is Sadie?" + +Festing looked up sharply and saw that Helen was puzzled and +suspicious. Her eyes were harder and her mouth was set. + +"Ah!" he said. "Don't you know?" + +A wave of color flushed Helen's face, but her voice was level. "I +don't know! It looks as if Bob had not told me the most important +thing. Do you mean that he is going to marry Miss Keller?" + +Festing felt pitiful. He saw that she had got a shock, but she bore it +pluckily, and he tried to conquer his indignant rage. Charnock had let +him believe he had told her; he ought to have realized that the fellow +could not act straight. + +"I thought you knew," he stammered. + +"That's obvious," Helen replied with an effort for calm. "But tell me +something about Miss Keller." + +"Sadie runs the hotel and helps at the store. She's rather pretty and +intelligent. In fact, she's generally capable and a good manager." + +"You seem to know her well since you call her Sadie." + +"Oh," said Festing, "everybody calls her Sadie!" + +"You mean in the bar and poolroom? I understand the latter's a public +billiard-saloon!" + +Festing felt that he must do Sadie justice. She had her virtues, and +although he was very angry with Charnock he did not want Helen to +think the fellow had given her up for a worthless rival. Still he was +not sure if his putting the girl in a favorable light would soften the +blow or not. + +"To begin with, they don't employ women in a Canadian bar. Then +Sadie's quite a good sort and understands Bob--perhaps better than an +English girl could. She was brought up on the plains and knows all +about the life we lead." + +"You imply that she is not fastidious, and will be lenient to her +husband's faults? That she will bring him down to her level?" + +"Well," said Festing, who thought Helen did not know Charnock's +dissipated habits, "I imagine she'll keep him there, and that's +something. I mean she won't let him sink below her level; Sadie's +shrewd and determined. Then marriage is a problem to men like Bob +farming the plains. Girls of the type they have been used to and would +naturally choose couldn't stand the hardships." + +"So they are satisfied with a lower type? With any girl who pleases +their eye?" + +"I don't think that's quite fair," Festing objected. "Besides, lower +is rather vague." + +"Then would you, for example, be satisfied with a girl like Miss +Keller?" + +"Certainly not," said Festing, with incautious firmness. "Anyway, not +now I've seen a different kind in the Old Country." + +Helen turned her head and said nothing for a few moments. Then she got +up. + +"I think you have had a difficult task, Mr. Festing, and I must thank +you for the way you have carried it out. We won't speak of it again; +but perhaps if Muriel Gardiner----" + +"She hasn't asked me any questions or hinted that she is curious." + +There was a gleam of amusement in Helen's eyes. "So you imagined she +wasn't interested! Well, you can tell her about Bob's losses and +farming troubles. You understand these matters, and it will save me +something." + +Festing made a sign of agreement and Helen went with him to the +terrace, where Mrs. Dalton told him when he would find them at home if +he wished to come again. He was glad to leave because he thought the +interview had been difficult for Helen, but her mother had made him +feel that if he came back he would be welcome. This was not altogether +conventional politeness; he imagined she wanted to see him, although +she was obviously willing to let him go then. + +He puzzled about it and other matters as he rode back. Helen Dalton +was finer than her picture. He had, no doubt, been awkward and had +hurt her by his clumsiness, while she had got a painful shock, but had +borne it with unflinching pluck. Her calm had not deceived him, since +he knew what it cost, and her smile had roused his pity because it was +so brave. Then his anger against Charnock returned with extra force. +The fellow, as usual, had shirked his duty, and left him to tell the +girl he had really given her up because he meant to marry somebody +else. Festing thought she was too just to blame him for Bob's fault, +but he had been forced to witness her humiliation, and she would, no +doubt, avoid him because of this. Well, he had done with Bob, although +he would see him once on his return and tell him what he thought. + +Then he heard a shout and saw a farmer trying to move a loaded cart +out of his way. He had not noticed that he was riding furiously down a +hill, but he sped past the cart upon the grassy margin of the road and +laughed as he went on. His mood had changed and he resolved that he +would go back to the creeper-covered house when Helen had had time to +recover and his society would be less disturbing. After all, Mrs. +Dalton had told him he might come. + +In the evening he walked up and down the terrace with Muriel, and told +her why he had gone to Knott Scar, although he was satisfied with +relating Charnock's financial troubles and said nothing about his +engagement to Sadie. He could not say that Muriel actually led him on, +but he felt that she would be disappointed if he did not take her into +his confidence. + +"Of course I saw you knew all about it," she said when he stopped. +"Besides, I expected that Helen would give you leave to tell me. It +would make things easier for her and be more authentic." + +"I should expect Miss Dalton to think of that." + +Muriel smiled. "Perhaps not. Well, I imagine it's lucky Charnock +released her; Helen is much too good for him. I suppose you thought +you took the proper line in laying all the stress you could upon the +hardships?" + +"I did. I thought she couldn't stand the strain she would have had to +bear." + +"How did she take that?" + +"She seemed surprised, as if she didn't think it much of a reason for +Charnock letting her go." + +"Frankly, I don't think it was." + +"You haven't been to Canada. The life is hard." + +"It doesn't seem to have broken down your health or nerve." + +"That's different. A man gets used to hardships and discomfort. +They're sometimes bracing." + +"A very masculine attitude! Then men alone have pluck and endurance?" + +"There are two kinds of pluck," Festing rejoined. "I dare say you +surpass us in the moral kind--I'm sure Miss Dalton has more than +Charnock. But there's the other; physical courage, and if you like, +physical strength." + +Muriel looked amused. "And you imagine Helen is deficient there? Well, +I suppose you don't know she's the best tennis player in the county +and a daring rock-climber. Girls are taking to mountaineering now, you +know. But are you going back to the Daltons?" + +Festing thought she gave him a keen glance, but answered steadily: "I +am going back, but not for some time. I want to go, but it might be +kinder if I kept away." + +"Well, it's a very proper feeling and you're rather nice. But you +talked about going to see the mountains for a few days. When do you +start?" + +"I don't know yet. Everything here is so charming, and I'm getting the +habit of lazy enjoyment. It will need an effort to go away." + +"You're certainly nice," Muriel rejoined, smiling. "However, you might +tell me when you do think of starting. I don't want you to be away +when we have arranged something to amuse you; and then, as I know the +mountains, I can indicate an interesting tour. You might miss much if +you didn't know where to go and what you ought to see." + +Festing promised, and she left him and went back to the house with a +thoughtful smile that hinted that she had begun to make an amusing +plan. Muriel was romantic and rather fond of managing her friends' +affairs for their good. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HELEN TAKES THE LEAD + +Festing was glad to sit down when he reached the bottom of a chasm +that divided the summits of two towering fells. He had crossed the +higher of the two without much trouble except for a laborious scramble +over large, rough stones, but the ascent of the other threatened to be +difficult. It rose in front, a wall of splintered crag, seamed by deep +gullies, for the strata was tilted up nearly perpendicular. All the +gullies were climbed by expert mountaineers, but this needed a party +and a rope, and the other way, round the shoulder of the great rock, +was almost as hard. Festing knew the easiest plan was to descend a +neighboring hollow, from which he would find a steep path to the top. + +Lighting his pipe, he glanced at his watch. It was three o'clock in +the afternoon, and having been on his feet since breakfast, he felt +tired. The nails he had had driven into his light American boots hurt +his feet, and the boots were much the worse for the last few days' +wear. Muriel had carefully planned the trip, and then delayed his +start by a week because she wanted to take him to a tennis party. +Since he could not play tennis much, Festing did not see why she had +done so, but agreed when she insisted. + +So far, he had followed her instructions and admitted that she had +directed him well, because it was hard to imagine there was anything +in England finer than the country he had seen. The mountains had not +the majestic grandeur of the British Columbian ranges, but they were +wild enough, and pierced by dales steeped in sylvan beauty. The chasm +in which he now rested had an impressive ruggedness. + +Blinks of sunshine touched the lower face of the crag, and in their +track the dark rock glittered with a steely luster, but trails of mist +rolled among the crannies above. Below, a precipitous slope of small +stones that the dalesmen call a scree ran down to a hollow strewn with +broken rocks, and across this he could distinguish the blurred flat +top of another height. The mountain dropped to a dale that looked +profoundly deep, although he could not see its bottom. + +The light was puzzling. For the most part, the sky was clear and the +gleams of sun were hot, but heavy, black clouds drifted about, and a +thick gray haze obscured the lower ground. Rain and mist would be +dangerous obstacles, but Festing understood that he could reach the +dale in about two hours' steady walking. Muriel had told him where to +stop; indeed, she had been rather particular about this, and had +recommended him to spend two days in the neighborhood. Luckily, there +would be no crags to climb if he kept the path across the summit, for +he had found it easier to reach the top of the hills than get down by +a different line. + +A rattle of stones made him look up, and he saw two girls silhouetted +in a flash of sunshine against the face of the crag. They carried +bulging rucksacks and were coming down towards him, picking their way +among the tumbled rocks. He could not see the face of the first, but +noticed her light poise and graceful movements as she sprang from +stone to stone. The other followed cautiously and Festing thought she +limped, but when the first stopped to wait for her and lifted her head +he felt a curious thrill. It was Helen Dalton. + +He sat still, knowing his gray clothes would be hard to distinguish +among the stones, and wondering what to do. He did not want to force +his society upon the girl just yet, but would be disappointed if she +passed. She came on, and when her eyes rested on him he got up. A +flush of embarrassment colored her face, but she stopped and greeted +him with a smile. + +"Mr. Festing! How did you get here?" + +"I came over the Pike," said Festing. "I'm going to the dale." + +"So are we," said Helen, who presented him to her companion. + +Festing remarked that they wore jackets that had a tanned look, +unusually short skirts, and thick nailed boots. Then he thought +Helen's eyes twinkled. + +"You would not have expected to find me engaged in anything so +strenuous as this?" + +"It is rather strenuous," Miss Jardine broke in. "You can stand if you +like; I'm going to sit down." + +They found a flat stone, and when Festing leaned against another Helen +resumed: "We meant to try the Stairs, but have had a hard day and +Alison is lame." + +"I hurt my foot," Miss Jardine explained. "Besides, I'm from the level +Midlands and we have been walking since breakfast. That doesn't matter +to Helen; she is never tired." + +Festing thought Helen looked remarkably fresh. Exertion and the +mountain air had brought a fine color to her face, her eyes were +bright, and there was a hint of vigor in her resting pose. Moreover, +he had studied the Stairs, which led behind the shoulder of the crag +to the summit. One could get up, if one was thin enough to squeeze +through a gap between two rocks, but nerve and agility would be +required. + +"But you must climb pretty well, if you meant to get up the Stairs," +he said. + +"I know the Carnarvon range, but only go there now and then, and one +needs some training to keep pace with people born among the fells who +walk like mountain goats." + +Had she said a mountain deer, Festing would have approved, for he had +noted Helen's easy balance and fearless grace as she crossed the +ragged blocks of stone. Then a rumble of distant thunder rolled among +the crags and Miss Jardine resumed: "We ought to fix upon the best way +down." + +"The best is a rather elastic term," Helen rejoined. "The easiest +would be to go back by the way we came." + +"It's much too far." + +"The shortest is up the crag by the Stairs or the gully on the other +side. The regular track takes us down near the bottom of the next +dale, and then back over the top." + +"That's unthinkable," Miss Jardine declared. + +"Well," said Helen thoughtfully, "there's a short line down the scree +and across the shoulder of the fell below, but it's steep and rough. +There are some small crags, too, but they're not much of an obstacle +when they're dry." + +They set off and Festing noticed Helen's confidence on the scree. The +descent was safe, but looked daunting, because their figures made a +sharp angle with the gravel slope, and now and then a mass of +dislodged stones rushed down hill. Sometimes the girl allowed herself +to slide, sometimes she ran a few yards and sprang, but she did not +stumble or lose her balance. Miss Jardine was cautious, and Festing +kept near her, carrying her sack. + +At the bottom they came to a wide belt of massive stones, fallen from +the heights above, and their progress was slow. One had to measure the +gaps between the blocks and step carefully across, while the stones +were ragged and had sharp corners. Festing was unable to look up and +followed Helen, but after a time Miss Jardine stopped, and he saw that +the crags were smothered in leaden cloud and all the sky was dark. + +"I must have a few minutes' rest," the tired girl declared. + +As they sat down on the edge of a ponderous slab there was a crash of +thunder that rolled from rock to rock, and a few big drops fell. Then +as the echoes died away the hillside was hidden by a curtain of +driving rain. One end of the slab was tilted and they crept into the +hollow underneath. + +"It will be awkward if this goes on," Miss Jardine remarked. + +"These thunderstorms seldom last," said Helen. "I expect we have seen +the worst, and we must start again as soon as we can see." + +Festing thought she was anxious to get down, but Miss Jardine grumbled +about the rain, and then turned to him. + +"It was a relief to give you my sack, and I was glad to see it didn't +bother you. I suppose you are used to these mountains." + +"No," said Festing. "This is the first time I've climbed a hill for +amusement." + +"But you are a climber. You have balance, trust your feet and not your +hands, and know how to step on a loose stone." + +Festing laughed. "I used to do something of the kind as a matter of +business. You see, I helped mark out the line for a new railroad in +British Columbia, and rocks are plentiful in that country." + +"It must be a wonderful place," said Helen. "I have a photograph of +the gorge at the foot of the glacier, where the line went through. You +had stern work when you laid the rails in winter." + +Festing looked at her in surprise, for he had worked to the edge of +exhaustion and run many risks at the spot, but while he wondered how +she knew Helen got up. + +"I think the rain is stopping and we can start," she said. + +There was not much rain, but thick mist rolled across the top of the +hill they were now level with, and everything below was blotted out. +Leaving the stones, they crossed a belt of boggy grass where their +feet sank, but Festing felt it a relief to have done with the rocks. +The narrow tableland they were crossing was comfortingly flat, and he +looked forward to descending a long grassy slope. When they reached +the edge, however, he got a rude disappointment, for the mist rolled +up in waves with intervals between, and when a white cloud passed a +gray light shone down into the gulf at his feet. + +In the foreground there was a steep slope where rock ledges broke +through the wet turf, and in one place a chasm cleft the hill. He +could not see the bottom, for it was filled with mist, but the height +of the rock wall hinted at its depth. A transverse ravine ran into the +chasm, and he could hear the roar of a waterfall. Then the mist rolled +up in a white smother and blotted everything out. + +"We cross the beck," said Helen. "Then we go nearly straight down, +keeping this side of the big ghyll." + +"As far away as possible, I hope. I don't like its look," Miss Jardine +remarked. + +Festing agreed with her. So far as he could see, the descent looked +forbidding, but there was no sign of the sky's clearing, and it was +obvious that they must get down. The thunder had gone, but the mist +brought a curious, searching damp, and a cold wind had begun to blow. +He was glad to think Helen knew the way. + +She took them down a steep pitch where small rocky ledges dropped +nearly vertical among patches of rotten turf and it was needful to get +a good grip with one's hands as well as with one's feet. Festing +helped Miss Jardine when he could, but he had an unpleasant feeling +that a rash step might take him over the edge of a precipice. +Sometimes he could see Helen in front, and sometimes, for a few +moments, her figure was lost in the mist. He was glad to note that she +was apparently going down with confidence. + +After a time the slope got easier and she stopped, lifting her hand. +Festing found her looking into a ravine through which water flowed. It +was not very deep, but its sides were perpendicular. Seeing that Miss +Jardine was some distance behind, she looked at Festing with a quiet +smile. + +"There is a place where one can cross without much trouble, but I +don't know whether to go up or down." + +Festing felt his heart beat. It looked as if she had taken him into +her confidence and asked his help. + +"Not down, I think. That would take us to the big ghyll. Let's try up, +and cross at the first practicable spot." + +Helen made a sign of agreement, and when Miss Jardine joined them they +turned back along the edge of the ravine. By and by Helen stopped +where patches of wet soil checkered the steep rock and a mountain-ash +offered a hold. Almost immediately below the spot, the stream plunged +over a ledge and vanished into the mist. + +Festing looked at Helen. The descent would be awkward, if not +dangerous, but he could trust her judgment. It was the first time he +had allowed a woman to give him a lead in a difficulty, and he +admitted that he would not have done so had his guide been anybody +else. + +"I think we can get across, and I don't want to go too far up," she +said. "If you don't mind helping Alison--" + +"I'll throw the sacks across first," Festing replied. + +He swung them round by the straps and let them go, and when the last +splashed into a boggy patch on the other side Miss Jardine laughed. + +"I'm selfishly glad that one is yours. If Helen's had fallen a foot +short, it would have gone over the fall, but I expect she had a reason +for taking the risk. Where our clothes have gone we must follow." + +Helen seized a tuft of heather, and sliding down, reached a narrow +shelf four or five feet below. Then a small mountain-ash gave her a +fresh hold and she dropped to the top of a projecting stone. Below +this there was another shelf and some boggy grass, after which a bank +of earth dropped nearly straight to the stream. + +"How we shall get down the last pitch isn't very obvious," Miss +Jardine remarked. "I suppose we will see when we arrive. It isn't my +resolution that gives way, but my foot. You might go first." + +Festing dropped on to the first shelf, and she came down into his +arms. The shock nearly flung him off, but he steadied her with an +effort and seized the stem of the small tree. + +"Looks like a tight-wire trick," he said, glancing at the stone. +"However, if we miss it, there's another ledge below." + +He reached the stone, and balancing on it with one foot, kicked a hole +in the spongy turf. Finding this would support him he held out his +hand. + +"Now. As lightly as you can!" + +The girl came down, struck the stone with her foot, and slipped, but +Festing had time to clutch her first. He could not hold her back, but +he could steady her, and for a moment felt his muscles crack and the +peat tear out from the hole in the bank. Then his hands slipped and he +fell, gasping and red in face, upon the shelf beside the girl. + +"Thank you; you did that rather well," she said. "It looks as if I +were heavier than you thought." + +While he had been occupied Festing imagined he had heard a splash, and +now looking down saw Helen standing on a boulder in the stream. She +gave him an approving nod before she sprang to the next stone, and he +felt a thrill of pleasure. She knew his task was difficult and was +satisfied with him. + +When they came to the scar where the floods had torn away the bank he +hesitated. It was some distance to the water, and there was no hold +upon the wall of soil, which was studded with small round stones. + +"Helen slid," his companion remarked. "I imagine she chose her time; +the sitting glissade isn't elegant. But if you'll go first and wait--" + +Festing leaned back with his shoulders against the bank and pushed +off. He alighted in the water, and Miss Jardine, coming down, kicked +his arm. He saved her from a plunge into the stream, but thought she +looked something the worse for wear as they made their way from stone +to stone. The other bank was easier, and for a time they had not much +trouble in going down hill, but the mist was very thick, and presently +the steep slope broke off close in front. Helen stopped and beckoned +Festing. + +Looking down, he saw the wet face of a crag drop into the rolling +vapor. For eight or nine feet it was perpendicular, and afterwards ran +down at a very steep slant, but immediately below there was a gully +with a foot or two of level gravel at its top. + +"This is not the regular track," Helen said. "However, I think I know +the gully." + +Festing pondered. The rock looked daunting, but one might get down to +the patch of gravel. The trouble was that one could not see what lay +below, and it might be difficult to climb back, if this was needful. + +"I could get as far as the edge yonder," he suggested. + +"No," said Helen. "You don't know the gully, and if I'm mistaken about +it, you could help me up." + +"That's true. Still I'd sooner go." + +Helen shook her head, and although she did not speak, he felt there +was something delightful in her consulting him. They had come to know +each other on the misty hillside in a way that would not have been +possible in conventional surroundings. He had seen a possibility of +the girl, so to speak, shutting him out in self-defense because he had +had some part in her humiliation, but he thought that risk had gone. + +"Well," he resumed, "what do you propose?" + +"I'm going to see if this is the place I think. You can steady me." + +Festing lay down with his head over the edge and found a grip for his +toes and knees. There were a few cracks in the rock and Helen had got +half way down before she took his hands. He felt the strain and braced +himself, determined that he would be pulled over before he let her +fall. + +"Loose me now," she said. + +"Have you got a safe hold for your foot?" Festing gasped. + +"I think I have. Let go." + +"Make sure first," he answered with a sobbing breath. + +She looked up into his set face, and although the strain was heavy he +thrilled as he saw her smile. The smile indicated courage and trust. + +"I'm quite safe," she said, and he let her go. + +She leaned cautiously over the next edge, but after a moment or two +turned and waved her hand. + +"This is the way I thought. Send Alison down." + +Miss Jardine descended with some help from both, and Festing dropped +safely on the gravel. He leaned against the rock to get his breath, +and Helen turned to him with a twinkle. + +"You doubted my nerve once. I suppose that was why you didn't let go." + +"I'm sometimes dull," said Festing. "Just now, however, I wanted to +make certain I could help you back." + +Helen laughed. "Well, I dare say you could have lifted me, but it +would have been simpler to lower me your coat." + +They went down the gully, where jambed stones made rude steps, and +reaching the bottom found a belt of grass that led them to the head of +a dale. The mist was thinner, and presently a few scattered houses +appeared across the fields. The path they followed forked, and Helen +stopped at the turning. + +"The hotel is yonder to the right," she said. "We are going to the +hall, where they sometimes take people in." + +Festing remembered that Muriel had indicated the hall, which he +understood was a well-built farm, as his stopping place. He wanted to +go there, but thought there was some risk of its looking as if he +meant to force his society on the girls. He took the path Helen +indicated, and when he had gone some distance, stopped, hesitated, and +then went on. + +The girls noted this and Miss Jardine said: "I suppose he remembered +that he has my sack, or else his heart failed him." + +Helen looked at her in surprise. "Did you forget?" + +"I did not," Miss Jardine admitted. "I thought I wouldn't spoil the +plot. It looked as if he wanted an excuse for meeting us again, but I +think I wronged him. That sudden stop was genuine." + +"The sack is yours," said Helen dryly. "But you will need the things +inside." + +"I imagine I will get them before long, although it doesn't seem to +have struck him that my clothes are damp. It's rather significant that +he went on when he could have run across the field and caught us up. +Have you known him long?" + +"I met him once," said Helen with an impatient frown. + +"Rather a good type," Miss Jardine remarked. "I think I should like +Canadians, if they're all like that." + +"He isn't a Canadian." + +"Then he hasn't been in England for some time, and so far as my +knowledge goes, men like variety. Of course, to some extent, he saw us +under a disadvantage. Mountaineering clothes are comfortable, but one +can't say much more." + +"Don't be ridiculous," Helen rejoined and went on across the field. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A DEBT OF GRATITUDE + +After dinner Festing walked across the fields to the farm. It was +raining and a cold wind swept the dale, but a fire burned in the room +into which he was shown and the curtains were drawn. Helen and Miss +Jardine got up when he came in and put the rucksack on the table. + +"I'm sorry I forgot this until I'd gone some distance," he said. "Then +I couldn't find anybody to send with it." + +"No doubt you wanted your dinner," Miss Jardine suggested. + +Festing saw that she wore a different dress that looked rather large. + +"No," he said, "it wasn't the dinner that stopped me. Besides, it +didn't strike me that--" + +"That I might need my clothes? Well, I don't suppose it would strike +you; but since you have come across in the rain, won't you stop?" + +Festing found an old leather chair, and sitting down, looked about +with a sense of satisfaction, for the fire was cheerful after the raw +cold outside. The room was large and old-fashioned, with heavy beams +across the low ceiling. There was a tall clock, and a big, black oak +chest; curled ram's horns and brass candlesticks twinkled on the +mantel; an old copper kettle threw back red reflections near the fire. +His companions occupied opposite sides of a large sheepskin rug, and +he felt that both had charm, though they were different. The contrast +added something to the charm. + +Miss Jardine's skin was a pure white; her hair and eyes were nearly +black, and she had a sparkling, and perhaps rather daring, humor. +Helen's colors were rose and cream, her hair changed from warm brown +to gold as it caught the light, and her eyes were calm and gray. She +was younger than the other and he thought her smile delightful, but, +as a rule, she was marked by a certain gravity. Her wide brows and the +firm lines of her mouth and nose hinted at pride and resolution. + +"I hope your foot is better," he said to Miss Jardine. + +"Yes, thanks. It mainly needed rest, and I must confess that I didn't +find it altogether a drawback when we stopped at the bottom of the big +crag. I should have had to go up if I hadn't been lame." + +"You were not disappointed because you couldn't reach the top?" + +Miss Jardine laughed. "Helen was. She makes it a rule to accomplish +what she undertakes. I wasn't disappointed then, though I am now. +Perhaps one really enjoys mountaineering best afterwards. You like to +think how adventurous you have been, but it's sometimes difficult +while the adventure's going on." + +"That's true," Festing agreed. "Still you feel sorry if, as we say, +you are unable to put the thing over." + +Helen gave him a sympathetic smile. "Yes; one feels that." + +"It depends upon one's temperament," Miss Jardine objected. "I know my +limits, though Helen does not know hers. When I can't get what I'm out +for, I'm satisfied with less. One can't always have the best." + +"It's worth trying for, anyway," Festing replied. + +He was afraid this sounded priggish. Miss Jardine got up. + +"Well, I'm not much of a philosopher and had better put out some of +the clothes you brought to dry, although it was thoughtful of you to +throw your bag into the bog instead of mine." + +"That was an accident," Festing declared. "I meant to throw them both +across." + +Miss Jardine picked up the sack. "There's nobody else here and a wet +evening's dreary. I hope you won't go before I come back." + +"I won't," said Festing. "They have only a deaf tourist and two tired +climbers, who seem sleepy and bad-tempered, at the hotel." + +Miss Jardine's eyes twinkled. "Well," she said as she went out, "I +suppose it's a fair retort." + +Festing colored and looked at Helen apologetically. "You see, I have +lived in the woods." + +"I expect that has some advantages," said Helen, who liked his frank +embarrassment. "However, it was lucky I met you to-day. You didn't +come back to see us, and there is something----" She hesitated and +then gave him a steady glance. "You are not so much a stranger to us +as you imagine." + +Festing wondered what she meant and whether she knew about the +portrait, but she resumed: "As a matter of fact, my mother and I felt +that we knew you rather well." + +"I don't understand." + +"Some time since, you found a young Englishmen in a Western mining +town. He had been ill and things had gone against him." + +"Ah," said Festing sharply. "Of course! I ought to have known---- He +looked like you. I mean I ought to have known the name. Was he a +relative?" + +"My brother," Helen replied. + +She was silent for a moment or two, and then went on in a tone that +made Festing's heart beat: "You gave him work and helped him to make a +new start. He was too proud to tell us about his difficulties." + +"It cost me nothing; there was a job waiting. Afterwards he got on by +his own merits. I had nothing to do with that." + +"But you gave him his chance. We can't forget this. George was younger +than me. I have no other brother, and was very fond of him. Indeed, I +think we owe you much, and my mother is anxious to give you her +thanks." + +"Is he all right now? I lost sight of him when they sent me to another +part of the road. It was my fault--he wrote, but I'm not punctual at +answering letters, and hadn't much time." + +"He is in the chief construction office," Helen replied. "In his last +letter he told us about the likelihood of his getting some new +promotion." She paused and resumed with a smile: "I don't suppose you +know you were a hero of his." + +"I didn't know. As a rule, the young men we had on the road seemed to +find their bosses amusing and rather patronized them. Of course, they +were fresh from a scientific college or engineer's office, and, for +the most part, we had learned what we knew upon the track." + +"But you knew it well. George wrote long letters about the struggle +you had at the canyon. Some fight, he called it." + +"Well," said Festing quietly, "we were up against it then. The job was +worth doing." + +"I know. George told us how the snowslide came down and filled the +head of the gorge with stones and broken trees, and wash-outs wrecked +the line you built along its side. He said it was a job for giants; +clinging to the face of the precipice while you blew out and built on +--under-pinning, isn't it?--the first construction track. But he +declared the leaders were fine. They were where the danger was, in the +blinding rain and swirling snow--and the boys, as he called them, +would always follow you." + +Festing colored, but Helen went on: "We were glad, when the worst was +over, that he had had this training. It was so clean a fight." + +"We were dirty enough often," Festing objected with an effort at +humor. "When things were humming we slept in our working clothes, +which were generally stained with mud and engine grease. Then I don't +suppose you know how dissipated a man looks and feels when he has +breathed the fumes of giant-powder." + +She stopped him with a half imperious glance. "I know it's the +convention to talk of such things as a joke; but you didn't feel that +in the canyon. Then it was a stubborn fight of the kind that man was +meant to wage. If you win in trade and politics, somebody must lose, +but a victory over Nature is a gain to all. And when your enemies are +storms and floods, cheating and small cunning are not of much use." + +"That is so," Festing agreed, smiling. "When you're sent to cut +through an icy rock or re-lay the steel across the gap a snowslide has +made, it's obvious if you have done the job or not. This has some +drawbacks, because if you don't make good, you often get fired." + +"But that was not what drove you on. You must have had a better motive +for making good." + +Festing felt embarrassed. The girl was obviously not indulging a +sentimental vein. She felt what she frankly hinted at, and although he +generally avoided imaginative talk, her remarks did not sound cheap or +ridiculous. + +"Well, he said, "the fear of getting fired is a pretty strong +incentive to do one's best, but I suppose when one gets up against big +things there is something else. After all, one hates to be beaten." + +Helen's eyes sparkled and she gave him a sympathetic nod. "The hate of +being beaten distinguishes man from the ape and puts him on the side +of the angels." + +Then Miss Jardine came in, somewhat to the relief of Festing, who felt +he could not keep up long on Helen's plane. Besides, he was not +altogether sure he understood her last remark. + +"I heard," said Miss Jardine. "Helen's sometimes improving, but +perhaps she was right just now. The ape is cunning but acquiescent and +accepts things as they are. Man protests, and fights to make them +better. At least, he ought to, though one can't say he always does." + +Festing did not reply and she sat down and resumed: "But I suppose you +haven't many shirkers in Canada?" + +"I imagine we have as many wastrels as there are anywhere else, but as +a rule one doesn't find them in the woods and on the plains. When they +leave the cities they're apt to starve." + +"You're a grim lot. Work or starve is a stern choice, particularly if +one has never done either. It looks as if you hadn't much use for +purely ornamental people. But what about the half-taught women who +don't know how to work? What do you do with them?" + +"They're not numerous. Then one can always learn, and I imagine every +woman can cook and manage a house." + +"You're taking much for granted, though yours seems to be the +conventional view. But how did you learn railroad building, for +example?" + +"By unloading ties and shoveling ballast on the track. The trouble was +that I began too late." + +"What did you do before that?" + +"Sometimes I worked in sawmills and sometimes packed--that means +carrying things--for survey parties, and went prospecting." + +"In the wilds? It sounds interesting. Won't you tell us about it?" + +Festing complied; awkwardly at first, and then with growing +confidence. He did not want to make much of his exploits, but there +was a charm in talking about things he knew to two clever and +attractive girls, and they helped him with tactful questions. Indeed, +he was surprised to find they knew something about the rugged country +in which he wandered. He told them about risky journeys up lonely +rivers in the spring, adventurous thrusts into the wilderness where +hardship was oftener to be found than valuable minerals, and retreats +with provisions running out before the Arctic winter. + +Something of the charm of the empty spaces colored his narratives as +he drew from memory half-finished pictures of the mad riot of +primitive forces when the ice broke up and the floods hurled the +thundering floes among the rocks; and of tangled woods sinking into +profound silence in the stinging frost. Moreover, he unconsciously +delineated his own character, and when he stopped, the others +understood something of the practical resource and stubbornness that +had supported him. + +It was encouraging to see they were not bored, but he did not know +that Miss Jardine had found him an interesting study and had skilfully +led him on. He was a new type to both girls, although Helen was nearer +to him than the other and sympathized where her companion was amused. +Festing's ideas were clean-cut, his honesty was obvious, and she noted +that he did not know much about the lighter side of life. Yet she saw +that, sternly practical as he was, he had a vague feeling for romance. + +"Will you stay on the railroad when it's finished?" she asked +presently. + +"I've left it. I hadn't the proper training to carry me far, and as +the road is opening up the country I've bought a prairie farm." + +"But do you know much about farming?" + +"I don't. As a matter of fact, not many of the boys do know much when +they begin, but somehow they make progress. On the plains, it isn't +what you know that counts, but the capacity for work and staying with +your job. That's what one really needs, if you see what I mean." + +"I think I do," Miss Jardine replied. "A Victorian philosopher, whose +opinions you seem to hold, said something of the kind. He claims that +genius takes many different forms, but is not different in itself. That +is, if you have talent, you can do what you like. Build railroads, for +example, and then succeed on a farm." + +Festing laughed good-humoredly. "It's a pretty big thing to claim, but +that man was near the mark; they live up to his theories on the +plains, where shams don't count and efficiency's the test. I don't +mean that the boys have genius, but gift and perseverance seem to be +worth as much. Anyhow, one can generally trust them to make good when +they undertake a job they don't know much about." + +Helen mused. Charnock, who knew something about farming, had tried it +and failed, but she thought Festing would succeed. The man looked +determined and, in a way, ascetic; he could deny himself and +concentrate. Knowledge was not worth as much as character. But she was +content to let Miss Jardine lead the talk. + +"One understands," said the latter, "that farming's laborious and not +very profitable work." + +"It's always laborious," Festing agreed. "It may be profitable; that +depends. You see----" + +He went on, using plain words but with some force of imagination, to +picture the wheat-grower's hopes and struggles; but he did more, for +as he talked Helen was conscious of the romance that underlay the +patient effort. She saw the empty, silent land rolling back to the +West; the ox-teams slowly breaking the first furrow, and then the big +Percheron horses and gasoline tractors taking their place. Wooden +shacks dotted the white grass, the belts of green wheat widened, +wagons, and afterwards automobiles, lurched along the rutted trails. +Then the railroad came, brick homestead and windmills rose, and cities +sprang up, as it were, in a night. Everything was fluid, there was no +permanence; rules and customs altered before they got familiar, a new +nation, with new thoughts and aims, was rising from the welter of +tense activity. + +Then Festing got up with an apologetic air. "I'm afraid I've stopped +too long and talked too much. Still the big movement out there is +fascinating and people in this country don't grasp its significance. I +felt I'd like to make you understand. Then you didn't seem--" + +"If we had been bored, it would have been our fault, but we were not +bored at all," Miss Jardine replied. "At least, I wasn't, and don't +think Helen was." + +Helen added her denial and gave Festing her hand. When he had gone +Miss Jardine looked at her with a smile. + +"He was interesting," she remarked. "Talks better than he knows, and I +suppose we ought to feel flattered, because he took our comprehension +for granted. After all, it was rash to talk about Canadian progress to +two English girls." + +"You made him talk," Helen rejoined. "It's the first time I've known +you interested in geography." + +Miss Jardine laughed. "I was interested in the man. He told us a good +deal about himself, although it would have embarrassed him if he'd +guessed. The curious thing is that he imagines he's practical, while +he's really a reckless sentimentalist." + +Helen did not answer and picked up a book, but she thought more about +Festing than about what she read. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +FESTING LOSES HIS TEMPER + +Next morning Festing got breakfast early and set off down the dale. +This was not the way Muriel had indicated, but he thought it better to +avoid temptation. The girls had received him graciously at the farm +and had perhaps listened with unusual patience, but if he overtook +them in the morning the thing might look too marked. Besides, he +doubted if it was advisable that Helen should see him again so soon, +since he might remind her of matters she wished to forget. + +The self-denial cost him something, and he went down the dale +irresolutely, stopping once or twice to look back. It was annoying to +feel himself so weak, because he had seldom vacillated in Canada, but +had chosen the proper line and then stuck to it. As a matter of fact, +he had generally had a definite object and definite plans for its +attainment. Although he had an object now, he was otherwise at a loss. + +He meant to marry Helen. Life was strenuous on the plains, and at +first there might be hardships, but if she loved him she would not +flinch. Her portrait had not done her justice; he dwelt upon her +fearless confidence as she came down the screes, her light, sure step, +and agile pose. These things indicated strength of mind and body, and +he knew, if the need came, she would make good use of both. + +By and by he thought of Charnock with keener anger than he had yet +felt. Bob was a weak fool and something worse. He had broken the +promise and then tricked his friend. The fellow's character was +warped; he could not go straight, but tried to escape the consequences +of his folly in a maze of crooked ways. The worst was that +consequences could not be shirked. If the real offender avoided them, +they fell upon somebody else, and now Festing had to pay. Bob had +prejudiced him with Helen. She would probably never quite forget that +he knew what she had suffered. + +Then he remembered that he had meant to spend a week or two in London, +and made his way towards a valley through which a railway ran. +Although he wanted to see Helen, he was half afraid, and imagined that +the longer he waited the less risk he would run of his society +jarring. Next day he left the hills, but did not greatly enjoy his +visit to town. London was much like Montreal, where the buildings were +as fine, only they did not dig up so many streets and fill the air +with cement from the towering blocks of new offices. The English liked +permanence, while the Canadians altered their cities from day to day. +Besides he wanted to go back to the North as soon as it was prudent. + +On the evening of his return it rained hard and he talked to Muriel in +her drawing-room. He liked Muriel Gardiner and she frankly enjoyed his +society. It did not matter that she sometimes seemed to find him +amusing when he was serious. A fire burned in the grate, for the +summer evening was cold, his low chair was comfortable, and Muriel, +holding a fan to shield her face, sat opposite in the soft light of a +shaded lamp that left much of the room in shadow. The circle of +subdued illumination gave one a pleasant feeling of seclusion and made +for mutual confidence, but Festing was silent for a time, thinking +rather hard. + +He was getting used to English comforts, which did not seem so +enervating as he had imagined, but he could give them up, and would, +indeed, be forced to do so when he occupied his prairie homestead. A +man could go without much that people in England required, and be the +better for the self-denial, but it might be different for a girl. Long +habit might make comfort and artistic surroundings actual necessities. +It was, however, encouraging to remember Helen's cheerfulness as she +led him among the crags in the rain. She had pluck and could bear +fatigue and hardship. Besides, there need not be much hardship after +all. + +Presently Muriel gave him a careless glance. "Helen told me she met +you in the hills and you came over to the hall where she and Alison +Jardine stopped. Now you have had an opportunity of correcting your +first impression, what do you think of her?" + +"What I have always thought," Festing replied. + +Muriel looked at him with surprise, and then laughed. "Oh, yes; I +remember you saw her portrait first. Well, you have more imagination +than I thought. But I understand you didn't see Helen again, although +she and Alison went over part of the route I marked out for you." + +Festing thought her manner was too careless, and felt suspicious, but +he said: "I changed my plans. I thought it might look significant if I +overtook the girls. One doesn't expect an accident to happen twice." + +"Perhaps you did the proper thing. But did you want to overtake them?" + +"I did," said Festing quietly. "Still I felt I'd better not." + +Muriel was silent for a few moments, and then remarked: "Self-denial +such as you practised deserves a reward, and I met Mrs. Dalton while +you were away. She asked me to bring you over when you came back. I +suppose you know what she wants?" + +"Yes," said Festing, who looked disturbed. "Do you?" + +"Mrs. Dalton told me. You helped George when he needed help, although +he had no particular claim." + +"He was ill and unfit for hard work." + +"Was that the only difficulty?" + +"I don't see what you mean," said Festing, with some embarrassment. + +"Then I'll be frank. In what kind of company did you find the lad? You +see, I know something about him." + +"If you insist, he'd got into bad hands." + +"That was what I suspected, and I think Mrs. Dalton knows. George was +not very steady when he was at home and got into some trouble before +he left the office of a civil engineer. In fact, this was why he went +to Canada." + +"But I don't see what it has to do with me." + +"I wonder whether you are as dull as you pretend. George is Mrs. +Dalton's only son; although he had faults she and Helen are very fond +of him. Now it would have been something if you had merely helped him +out of a difficulty, but you did much more. You gave him his chance of +making up for past follies. He has been steady ever since, and I +understand is now getting on very well. It looks as if you had used +some moral influence." + +"I didn't try," said Festing dryly, "I gave him his job and told him +I'd have him fired if he shirked." + +"You didn't consciously try, but it's possible to influence people +without knowing. However, as Mrs. Dalton has too much tact to +overwhelm you by her gratitude, you needn't be afraid of going to the +Scar with me, although you seem to hesitate about meeting Helen." + +Festing, who pondered for a few moments, felt that the girl was +studying him. She had shown a rather embarrassing curiosity, but he +though she meant to be his friend. + +"Did you know Miss Dalton was in the mountains when you planned my +walking tour?" he asked. + +"I did know," said Muriel with a direct glance. "Perhaps I was rash, +but if so, I'm not afraid to own my fault. I suppose you understand +why I sent you where I did?" + +"In one way, your object's plain. For all that, I'm puzzled." + +Muriel smiled. "As Helen is my friend, you ought to be flattered. +Doesn't it look as if I was satisfied with you?" + +"We'll let that go. You took something for granted. I suppose you see +you might have been mistaken about my feelings?" + +"Then no harm would have been done," Muriel rejoined, and putting down +her fan, gave him a steady look. "Was I mistaken?" + +"You were not," said Festing quietly. "I mean to marry Miss Dalton if +she is willing. I'm anxious to know what chance I've got." + +"I can't tell you that. Perhaps I have gone far enough; but George's +reformation is a good certificate of your character, and Helen and her +mother owe you a debt of gratitude." + +Festing colored rather angrily. "My helping the lad was, so to speak, +an accident; I don't want to be judged by this, and won't urge the +debt. Miss Dalton must take me on my merits." + +"You have pluck; it's a bold claim," said Muriel in a dry tone, and +then got up as Gardiner and the curate came in. + +Next day Festing went to the Scar, and when Mrs. Dalton received him +she put her hand gently on his arm. She said enough, but not too much, +and he was moved as he saw the moisture glisten in her eyes. + +"I don't deserve this," he answered awkwardly. "I found the lad in +some trouble, but hadn't to make much effort to help him out. In fact, +it was the kind of thing one does without thinking and forgets." + +"Ah," said Mrs. Dalton, "the consequences of one's deeds follow one, +whether they're good or bad." Then she gave him a very friendly smile. +"But perhaps we had better join the rest outside." + +Festing found Helen in the garden with her aunt and some friends, but +the others left them by and by, and they walked alone among the +flowers. The day was calm, the light clear, and the shadow of the dark +beeches on the hill crept slowly across the lawn. Beyond a low hedge, +woods, smooth pastures, and fields of ripening corn rolled back and +melted into the blue shadow beneath the rugged fells. It seemed to +Festing that the peaceful sylvan landscape was touched by a glamour +that centered in the fresh beauty of the girl. Sometimes they were +silent, and sometimes they talked about the mountains, but when they +went back to the house he thought they had got nearer. + +He returned to the Scar without Muriel a week later, and went again, +and one evening stood with Helen on the terrace. Gentle rain had +fallen for most of the day, but it had stopped, and a band of pale- +saffron glimmered under heavy clouds in the West. Moisture dripped +from the motionless branches and the air was hot. The lamps had just +been lighted in the house and a yellow glow streamed out. + +"I've stayed longer than I meant and forgot my lamp," Festing +remarked. "However, this has happened before, and I hope I haven't +stayed longer than I ought." + +"We will let you go now," said Helen. "For one thing, I must get up +early." + +"Eight o'clock?" Festing suggested. + +"No," said Helen, smiling. "I am always up before, but it will be six +o'clock to-morrow. I want to gather some mushrooms; they ought to be +plentiful after a day like this." + +"Is six o'clock a particularly suitable time?" + +"Five o'clock might be better. If you don't go early, you often find +that somebody has been round the fields first." + +Festing asked where she expected to find the mushrooms, and when she +told him said, "Very well; I'll meet you. It only means half an hour's +journey on your fine English road; that is, if the bicycle holds up." + +"But why do you want to gather mushrooms?" + +"I don't want to gather mushrooms. I really want to see you where I +think you belong." + +"In the fields?" Helen suggested humorously. + +"No," said Festing. "I don't mean in the fields. I've seen you in the +afternoon when the sun's on the ripening corn and the leaves are dark +and thick, but they stand for fulfilment, and that's not your proper +setting. Once or twice I've stopped until evening, but you don't +belong to the dusk." + +"Then where do I belong?" + +"To the sunrise, when the earth is fresh and the day is getting +bright. Promise is your sign; fulfilment hasn't come." + +Helen colored, and as she turned her head it struck her as portentous +that she glanced towards the saffron streak that glimmered in the +West. When she looked back, however, her face was calm. + +"Ah!" she said, "I wonder how and where the fulfilment will come! +Sometimes I think of it and feel afraid; my life has been so smooth." + +"You won't flinch if you have to bear some strain." + +Helen gave him her hand. "Well, you must go now. I will expect you +to-morrow." + +She stood looking towards the fading light for some time after his +figure melted into the shadows on the drive. Her heart beat and she +felt a thrill, for she admitted that the man had power to move her. As +yet she would not ask herself how far his power went, but she knew the +question must be answered soon. Other men had flattered her, and she +had smiled, knowing what their compliments were worth, but she could +not smile now. Then she roused herself and went in quietly. + +Festing met her next morning while the sun rose above the rounded +masses of the beech wood, and entering a dewy pasture they skirted a +fence half-smothered in briars. Both felt invigorated by the freshness +of the morning and brushed across the sparkling grass, engaged in +careless talk. By and by as Helen stooped to pick a mushroom a shrill +scream came from beyond the fence, and she rose with an angry color in +her face. + +"Oh!" she said; "that spoils everything!" + +"What is it?" Festing asked as the pitiful scream rose again. + +"A rabbit, choking, in a snare," she answered with a look of horror. + +Festing leaped across a ditch and plunged into the briars. Helen heard +the rotten fence-rails smash and he vanished behind the thorny +branches that closed across the gap. She was glad he had gone so +quickly; partly because it was her wish, and partly because she saw +the cry of pain had moved him. She liked to think he was +compassionate. + +As a matter of fact, Festing's pity was soon mixed with rage as he +came upon a scene of barbarous cruelty. Three or four rabbits lay +quiet upon the grass, but there were others that struggled feebly at +his approach; their eyes protruding and strangling wires cutting into +their throats. He thought they were past his help, but one rolled +round with half-choked screams and he ran to it first. It was +difficult to hold the struggling animal while he opened the thin brass +noose, but he set it free, and it lay paralyzed with fear for a few +moments before it ran off. + +Then he released the others as gently as he could. Their dew-draggled +bodies felt cold and limp and the wire had bitten deep into the +swollen flesh. Two, however, feebly crawled away and he carried +another to the mouth of a burrow, after which he wiped the dew and +blood from his hands, while his lips set in a firm line. He hoped he +was not a sentimentalist, and admitted that man must kill to eat; +moreover he had used the rifle in the Northern wilds. Once a hungry +cinnamon bear had raided the camp, and he remembered a certain big +bull moose. That was clean sport, for a man who faced such antagonists +must shoot quick and straight, but this torturing of small defenseless +creatures revolted him. Still he admitted that it might not have done +so quite so much but for the pain it caused the girl. + +Helen glanced at him with some surprise when he went back to the +fence. She had not seen him look like that. + +"I've let them go, but two or three are dead," he remarked. "I suppose +they've been lying there all night." + +"I'm afraid so. They come out to feed at dusk. It's horribly cruel." + +"It's devilish! Why don't you stop it? Is the field yours?" + +"It goes with the house, and when we let the grazing I stipulated that +no snares should be laid, but there was some mistake and the tenant +claimed the rabbits. We said he could shoot them, and I understand +he's disputing with the agent. But where are you going?" + +"I'm going back to finish the job; these particular snares won't be +used again. If you like, I'll come over every evening and pull the +blamed things up." + +"I don't think that will be necessary," Helen answered with a strained +laugh. + +She felt disturbed and excited when Festing turned away. Her life had +been smooth and she did not think she had seen a man seized by savage +anger; certainly not a man she knew. Festing was angry, and no doubt +justly, but at the Scar the primitive vein in human nature was +decently hidden. Now she did not know if she were jarred or not. Then +she heard voices, and going nearer the fence, tried to see through the +briars. + +Festing, with a pocket-knife and some brass wire in his hand, +confronted a big slouching man who carried a heavy stick and a net +bag. Bits of fur stuck to the fellow's clothes and there was blood on +his dirty hands. A half-grown lad with another stick waited, rather +uneasily, in the background. + +"What might you be doing?" the man inquired. + +"I'm cutting up your snares," Festing replied. "What have you got to +say about it?" + +The other gave him a slow, sullen look. "Only that you'd better leave +the snares alone. How many rabbits?" + +"Four," said Festing, pulling up another snare and cutting the noose. + +"Then that will be five shillings. I'll say nothing about the snares; +wire's cheap." + +Festing laughed. "It's a dead bluff. Light out of this field before I +put you off." + +The man hesitated, his eyes fixed on Festing's hardset face. Perhaps a +way out might have been found, but the lad precipitated matters. +Running to the mouth of the burrow, he picked up a half-dead rabbit +that was trying to crawl away, and leered at Festing as he raised his +stick. The blow was not struck, for Festing leaped across the grass +and next moment the boy fell beside the burrow. He was unhurt, but too +surprised to move, because he had never seen anybody move as fast as +the man who threw him down. + +Then Festing heard steps behind, and turned in time to guard his head +with his right arm. It felt numb and he was half dazed by a shock of +pain, but he struck savagely with his left hand and his knuckles +jarred on bone. The other's stick dropped, and when they grappled +Festing was relieved to feel his arm was not broken. His muscles were +hard and well trained, his blood was hot, and a struggle of the kind +was not altogether a novelty. When liquor is smuggled into a +construction camp, a section boss must sometimes use physical force or +relinquish his command. + +He staggered and nearly fell as his leg was seized. It looked as if +the lad had come to his master's help; but one could not be +fastidious, and a savage backward kick got rid of the new antagonist. +The other was powerful and stubborn, and Festing spent a strenuous few +minutes before he threw him into the sand beside the burrow. + +"I'm pretty fresh and ready to start again if you are," he said. +"Still I reckon you have had enough." + +The fellow got up scowling and told the lad to bring his bag. + +"You'll hear more about this," he rejoined and slouched off. + +Festing went back, and Helen started when he jumped across the ditch. +His jacket was torn, his lip was cut, and his face was bruised. He +looked dishevelled, but not at all embarrassed. In fact, there was a +gleam of half-humorous satisfaction in his eyes. + +"The snares are all cut up," he said. "I broke the fellow's stick and +threw away the pegs." + +Helen felt a strange desire to laugh. There was something ridiculous +in his naïve triumph, but she was not really amused. In fact, her +confused sensations were puzzling. + +"Did you hurt him?" she asked. + +"I hope so," said Festing. "I rather think I did and don't expect +he'll come back while I'm about. However, as I can't come here as +often as I'd like, it might be better to see your agent. In the +meantime, we'll look for some mushrooms." + +"But don't you want to bathe your face?" + +"I forgot that I probably look the worse for wear," said Festing, who +wiped his cut lip. "Still if I met your mother, she might get a shock, +and now I come to think of it, I'm no doubt jarring you, so I'll go +off and see your agent if you'll tell me where he lives." + +"It's some distance, and we don't do things so quickly here. I must +talk to my mother first. Besides, the agent may not have got up." + +"Then I'll sit on the doorstep. But what is there to talk about? You +don't want your rabbits tortured so that somebody may make thirty +cents apiece. It has got to be stopped, and why not stop it now? Where +does the fellow live?" + +Helen told him, and added: "But you can't go like that." + +"No; I suppose not," said Festing doubtfully. "It won't make a long +round if I call at Gardiner's. I'll come back later and tell you how +I've fixed things up." + +He lifted his badly crushed hat, and when he turned away Helen +laughed, a half-hysterical laugh. His fierce energy had, so to speak, +left her breathless; she was shaken by confused emotions. It was for +her sake he had plunged into the quarrel, but she felt disturbed by +his savageness. For all that, something in her approved, and it was +really this that troubled her. Picking up the basket, she crossed the +field with a very thoughtful look. + + + +CHAPTER X + +HELEN DECIDES + +Some weeks had passed since Festing went to gather mushrooms when he +sat, one evening, on the terrace in front of Gardiner's house. His +brows were knit and he had in his had a letter from Kerr at the +construction camp. The back of the letter was covered with penciled +calculations, but he presently put it down and looked moodily about. + +The larches that sheltered the house had been in full leaf when he +came, but now they were getting bare. One could see the hills through +a fine network of twigs, dotted with minute tassels of gold. The +beeches and oaks looked solid yet, but the former shone warm brown and +red against the others' fading green. Withered leaves fluttered down, +and the smell of a burning heap hung in the damp air. + +The touches of brown and gold in the landscape hinted that time was +passing. Winter was already advancing across the wastes of Northern +Canada and the geese and ducks were flying south. Festing heard in +fancy the brant's changing cry that always filled him with unrest, but +the letter in his hand was a clearer call. Kerr had offered him a +contract for hauling a quantity of telegraph posts and logs across the +snow, and his calculations indicated that the work ought to be +profitable. It would keep him occupied all winter; one could buy +horses cheap when harvest was over and sell them advantageously when +plowing began in the spring. Besides, the money he earned would help +him to stock his farm and furnish his homestead well. + +He had loitered in England long enough. He would never forget this +holiday, for he had learned what happiness life might have in store; +but it was a happiness that could not be attained by romantic dreams. +He must earn it by tense effort, and was willing to pay the price; +this was the reason he must get back to work. For all that, he had +doubts, and was glad when Muriel came along the terrace and sat down +on the bench. + +"You look unusually thoughtful," she said. + +"I have something to think about. I find I must go back to Canada very +soon." + +Muriel made an abrupt movement. "You are going away! But we thought--" +She paused and resumed: "Does Helen know?" + +"Not yet; I must tell her. It will cost me something to leave, but +I've got to go. Perhaps you had better see what Kerr has to say." + +He gave her the letter, and after waiting until she had read it, went +on: "I can't let this chance pass; I want the money." + +"I think I understand," said Muriel. "Still you haven't told me much." + +He was silent for a few moments and looked very grave, but she had for +some time imagined that he was bearing a strain. + +"Well," he said, "I'm up against things and can't see my way. That is, +I do see where I mean to go, but don't know if I ought." + +"The problem's not exactly new. However, if you will state it +clearly." + +"I'll try," said Festing. "One can trust you; in fact, I wanted to +tell you before." + +He explained his difficulties, practical and moral, and when he +finished Muriel said: "It comes to this-- You are in love with Helen +and mean to marry her, but hesitate because you fear she may find the +life too hard." + +"It's a big risk for an English girl. She must give up everything, +while I have all to gain." + +"But suppose she were willing?" + +"The trouble is that she doesn't know what she may have to bear." + +Muriel smiled. "It's a risk that many girls must run. But after all it +depends upon what she values most." + +"Comfort, leisure, refined friends, and other things you enjoy here +are worth much to a girl." + +"All this is true," Muriel agreed, and pausing, continued with a +blush: "Still these things don't satisfy every need, and perhaps my +example may be some encouragement. Fred isn't very clever and will +probably never be rich, but I'd sooner face poverty with him than +marry a prince." + +Festing bowed. "Thank you for that! Fred's a very good sort. I knew +you had pluck." + +"I really think Helen is pluckier and stronger than me. But I imagine +you have already made up your mind." + +"I have; for all that, I'm afraid. If I have bad luck, Helen will have +to pay. I know she was willing to marry Charnock, but she was very +young then and he was rich compared with me." + +"Then I suppose a little money would be a useful help?" + +"It would, in one way," Festing agreed. "The trouble is that I haven't +much; only enough to make a fair start if I'm economical." + +For a moment Muriel looked amused, but her seriousness returned. +"We'll let that go. You seem to forget that you don't stand alone. I +should have found it hard to forgive Fred if he had decided whether he +ought to marry or not, without consulting me. It's a girl's right, not +her lover's, to say what she values most and how much she is willing +to bear. If Helen loves you, she's entitled to be given the choice." + +"Ah," said Festing, "I don't know if she loves me yet!" + +Muriel's eyes twinkled. "That is something you must find out for +yourself. But perhaps I have said enough." + +She went back to the house and Festing sat still in the gathering +dark. He had made up his mind and felt encouraged, but he saw +difficulties that must be met. + +Next day he went to the Scar and found that Helen was not at home, but +Mrs. Dalton and her sister received him, and for a time he talked +about things that did not matter. It was dull and damp outside, and a +bright wood fire burned in the grate. The low-ceilinged room was very +warm, its comfort seemed enervating, and he felt braced as he thought +of the windswept prairie. Then he knew his remarks were vague and +disconnected. It was a relief to plunge into the business he had come +about. + +"I had better tell you that I am going to ask Helen to marry me," he +said. + +Mrs. Dalton did not look surprised, and he thought Miss Graham smiled. +Perhaps he had been abrupt, but he did not care. + +"You have done what is proper in warning my sister first," Miss Graham +remarked; but Mrs. Dalton was silent for a few moments. + +"You imply that Helen doesn't know," she said. + +"She does not; I've been careful not to give her a hint," Festing +declared. "I was afraid to alarm her by, so to speak, rushing things. +You're not used to it in England." + +Miss Graham's amusement was plainer. "The caution you exercised must +have cost you something." + +"After all, you haven't known Helen long," Mrs. Dalton resumed. + +"That's so, in a way, but five minutes was long enough. I knew I'd +never marry anybody else when I saw her in the garden the first day I +came." + +He thought Miss Graham gave him an approving look, but he turned to +Mrs. Dalton. + +"I hope you will give your consent; but, of course, if you object, or +there's anything you want to ask----" + +Mrs. Dalton roused herself. She felt breathless, as if she had been +carried along at an unusual pace. + +"To begin with," she said quietly, "I cannot object to you. We know +something about your character; you helped my son, helped him more +than you perhaps thought. But there is something I must ask." She +hesitated and then resumed: "You have seen the life Helen leads with +us. She has never had to use much self-denial. What have you to offer +her in Canada?" + +"Not much. In fact, that's partly why I came first to you. I felt you +should be warned; that's really what I meant." + +"You are honest," Miss Graham interposed. "You want my sister's +approval, but don't think it essential." + +Festing looked at Mrs. Dalton. "If you refused, I wouldn't be +altogether daunted. I might wait, but that is all. This is a matter +Helen must decide." + +"Yes. All the same, it is my duty to guard her from a possible +mistake." + +"Very well; I'll make matters as plain as I can. To begin with, I +haven't much money, and although I'm building a good homestead, a +Western farm is very different from the Scar. There's none of the +refinement you have round you; a man must work from sunrise until it's +dark, and there are many demands upon a woman. For all that, I can +guard against Helen suffering actual hardship. In fact, she shall +suffer nothing I can save her from. It's the pressure of things one +can't control and her own character that may cause the strain. If I +know her, she won't stand by and watch when there's much that ought to +be done." + +"She would not. But how long do you expect the strain to last?" + +"Not very long. Two years, three years; I can't tell. When you break +new land you work hard and wait. The railroad throws out branches, +elevators are built, small towns spring up, and while you improve your +holding comfort and often prosperity comes to you." + +"But in the meantime a little capital would help?" + +"Of course," said Festing. "The trouble is I haven't much, but I think +I have enough to provide all that's strictly necessary." + +He thought Mrs. Dalton gave her sister a warning glance, but she said: +"Well, you have my consent to ask Helen; but if she is willing to run +the risk, there is a stipulation I must make." + +"So long as you consent, I'll agree to anything," Festing declared. "I +can't repay you for your trust, but I'll try to deserve it." + +Mrs. Dalton told him where Helen had gone, and setting off to meet +her, he presently saw her come round a bend in a lane. The sun had set +and tall oaks, growing along the hedgerows, darkened the lane, but a +faint crimson glow from the west shone between the trunks. To the +east, the quiet countryside rolled back into deepening shadow. For a +moment Festing hesitated as he watched the girl advance. It was rash +to uproot this fair bloom of the sheltered English garden and +transplant it in virgin soil, swept by the rushing winds. Then he went +forward resolutely. + +Helen gave him her hand and moved on with disturbed feelings, for +there was something different in his look. + +"If you don't mind, we'll stop a minute; I have something to say. To +begin with, I'm going back to Canada." + +She looked up sharply and then waited with forced calm until he +resumed: "That precipitates matters, because I must learn if I've +hoped for too much before I go. I was a stranger when I came here, and +you were kind--" + +"You were not a stranger," Helen said quietly. "George told us about +you, and for his sake--" + +"I don't want you to be kind for George's sake, but my own. I'd sooner +you liked me for what I am, with all my faults." + +"If it's any comfort, I think I really do like you," Helen admitted +with a strained smile. + +"Well enough to marry me?" + +Helen colored, but gave him a level glance. "Ah," she said, "aren't +you rash? You hardly know me yet." + +"I'm not rash at all; I knew you long ago. Your portrait hung in +Charnock's house and I used to study it on winter nights. It told me +what you were, and when I saw you under the copper beech I knew you +very well. Still now I have seen you, your picture had lost its +charm." + +"Then you have it?" Helen asked. + +Festing gave her a Russia leather case and her face flushed red. + +"Did Bob give you this?" + +"No," said Festing quietly; "I stole it." + +"And the case?" + +"The case was made in Montreal. I went to Winnipeg, but could get +nothing good enough." + +Helen turned her head. It was a long way to Winnipeg from the prairie +bridge, and she was moved that he had made the journey to find a +proper covering for her picture. + +"You must have valued the portrait," she remarked shyly. + +"I did, but it won't satisfy me now. As soon as I met you I fell in +love with you. Somehow I think you must have seen--" + +"Yes," said Helen quietly, "I did see." + +Festing summoned his self-control. "You must know what you decide. I +must live in Canada; my homestead may seem rude and bare after your +mother's beautiful house, and I tried to show you what a prairie farm +is like." + +"I think I know," Helen said, and gave him a quick tender look. +"Still, such things don't really matter----" + +Then Festing stepped forward and took her in his arms. + +An hour later he sat talking to Mrs. Dalton and Miss Graham in the +drawing-room. + +"I am glad you have agreed to wait and come back for Helen in the +spring, but I ought to tell you something now, because it may make a +difference in your plans," Mrs. Dalton remarked "You admitted that +some of the difficulties you and Helen would have to meet might be +avoided if you had a little more capital." + +"It would certainly make a difference, but I have got no more." + +"Helen has some money," Mrs. Dalton replied. + +Festing knitted his brows. "I didn't suspect this!" + +"That is obvious," Miss Graham interposed. + +Festing got up, moved a pace or two, and stopped. "How much has she +got?" + +Mrs. Dalton told him and he frowned. "Then she had better keep it. I'd +sooner you tied it up." + +"Isn't that unreasonable?" Miss Graham asked. + +"It's a man's business to support his wife. I don't want to live on +Helen's money. Besides, I've made my plans." + +"I don't think you quite understand," Mrs. Dalton rejoined. "After +all, it is not a large sum and can be used for Helen's benefit. It may +save her from some discomfort and give her advantages you could not +provide." + +Festing pondered for a few moments, and then answered thoughtfully: +"Yes, I see this, and can't refuse. Well, perhaps the safest way would +be to transfer the land I bought to Helen and record it in her name. +It's bound to go up in value and couldn't be taken from her unless she +borrowed on a mortgage. The arrangement would set free my capital and +enable us to run the homestead on more comfortable lines." Then he +paused and asked: "Did Charnock know about the money?" + +"He did not," said Mrs. Dalton. "We thought it better not to tell him; +but we can trust you." + +"Thank you," said Festing, who was silent for a time. + +He had wondered whether he had misjudged Charnock in one respect, but +saw that he had not. The fellow was a cur and would not have married +Sadie if he had known about Helen's money. But this did not matter. + +"Well," he resumed, "if you agree to my proposition, we'll get a +lawyer to fix it up. In a way, it's some relief to know Helen has +enough, and now I'm going to talk to her." + +He found her in the next room and she gave him a smile. "I expect +mother has told you I'm not as poor as you thought. Are you pleased or +not?" + +"I'm pleased for your sake, because there's not much risk of your +finding things too hard, but I'd have been proud to marry you if you +had nothing at all." + +"Not even a certain prettiness?" Helen asked. + +"Your beauty's something to be thankful for; but after all it's, so to +speak, an accident, like your money. It wasn't your beauty, but you, I +fell in love with." + +Helen blushed. "Ah!" she said, "now you're very nice indeed!" + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SADIE USES PRESSURE + +It was getting cold in the small back office when Sadie put down her +pen and went into the store. She was cramped with sitting, for she had +been occupied with accounts for several hours and the stove had burned +low. + +"You can quit now, Steve," she said to the clerk. "Put out the lights, +but don't lock up. I'm going to wait until the boss comes." + +The clerk turned his head to hide a smile; because he knew where +Charnock was, and thought Mrs. Charnock might have to wait some time; +but he did as he was told, and when he went out Sadie stood shivering +at the door. She had married Charnock late in the fall and now it was +March, but there was no sign yet of returning spring. The sky was dark +and a bitter wind from the prairie blew down the empty street. Blocks +of square-fronted houses stood out harshly against the snow, which +sparkled here and there in a ray of light. The settlement looked ugly +and very desolate, and Sadie studied it with a feeling of weariness +and disgust. It seemed strange that she had once thought it a lively +place, but this was before she met Charnock, who had taught her much. + +Shutting the door, she returned to the office and glanced critically +at her reflection in a mirror on the wall. She had been ill, in +consequence of the strain she had borne while her father was sick, and +looked older. Her face was thin and she felt tired, but her skin had +not lost its silky whiteness, and her black dress hung in becoming +lines. It was a well-cut dress, for Sadie was extravagant in such +matters and knew how to choose her clothes. She had lost the freshness +that had marked her, but had gained something: a touch of dignity that +she thought of as style. + +Sitting down at the desk, she began to muse. Keller had fallen ill +soon after her wedding. It was a painful illness, and as skilled help +was scarce, she had nursed him until he died. He was a plain +storekeeper, but she knew he was, in many ways, a bigger and better +man than Bob. He demanded all that was his, but he kept his word, and +when he undertook a thing put it over, which Bob seldom did. Shortly +before he died he gave Sadie good advice. + +"You got the man you wanted, and now it's your job to look after him. +head him off the liquor, and keep your hands on the dollars. I've +fixed things so's they belong to you." + +Another time he asked for certain accounts, and after studying them +remarked: "You want to watch the business and run it all it's worth. +You have a husband to work for now, and I guess a man like Bob comes +expensive. Still, if you can guild him right, he's not all a fool." + +Sadie had not resented this. She knew it was true, and her father had +not meant to sneer. He was a blunt man and generally talked like that, +and Sadie sometimes did so. Well, she had not been cheated, because +she knew what Bob was before they married; and although ambition had +something to do with it, she loved him. For all that, she had got some +rude jars, and now passion was dying, her love was colored by a +certain half-maternal protection. Bob must be watched and guarded. + +Her ambition, however, remained. She had beauty and intelligence and +wanted to win a place in cultured society. Bob could help her, and she +was tired of the dreary settlement. But she was practical. Money would +be needed if they were to move to one of the cities, and although +trade was good, gathering dollars was slow work when one had an +extravagant husband. While she had been ill Bob was left in charge of +the business, and on recovering her first task had been to find out +how he had managed. Now she had found out and got something of a +shock. + +The room got colder, but Bob had made some entries in a cash-book she +could not understand, and opening the book again, she spent some time +in calculations that threw no fresh light on the matter. Then she +heard steps and turned as Charnock came in. + +He took off his fur-coat and Sadie frowned as he dropped it into a +dusty corner. It was an expensive coat, but one could not teach Bob to +take care of things. Then he kissed her and sat down on the edge of +the table. + +"You're getting prettier, Sadie; that thoughtful look of yours is +particularly fetching. But I can see you're tired. Put those books +away and let's get home." + +Sadie knew what his compliments were worth, although they had not lost +their charm. He wanted to put things off, but she must be firm. + +"You make me tired, and I haven't finished with the books. We've got +to have a talk." + +"I like you best when you don't talk; you sometimes say too much," +Charnock replied. "Besides a girl like you ought to be satisfied with +being seen. You're worth looking at." + +Sadie gave him a quick glance. He had recently become fastidious about +his clothes and she did not grudge the dollars he spent on them. His +taste was good, and he looked very graceful as he turned to her with a +smile on his face. The hint of dissipation it had worn was not so +marked, for she had some power over him and used it well, but she +thought he had been indulging. There was, however, no use in getting +angry with Bob. + +"You were at Wilkinson's again," she said. "You promised you'd stop +off going there. I suppose he set up the whisky!" + +"I didn't take much. It wasn't good whisky; not like ours. That +reminds me--I'm not much of a business man, but I've had a happy +thought. My notion is we give the boys better liquor than they want. +They wouldn't know the difference if we kept cheaper stuff." + +Sadie frowned, because she had accepted her father's business code. +His charges were high, but it had been his boast that Keller's +delivered the goods one paid for. Then she realized that Bob had +nearly succeeded in putting off the threatened talk. + +"No," she said, "that's bad business in the end. When you'd had some +whisky, Wilkinson got out the cards?" + +"Oh, well, you know you stopped me playing a quiet game at home, and +three or four of the boys were there. Then a Brandon real-estate man +asked for the cards." + +"How much were you out when you finished the game?" + +"Not much," said Charnock with some hesitation. + +"How much?" + +"If you insist, about ten dollars." + +Sadie made a gesture of impatience, but after all he might have had a +heavier loss. + +"Ten dollars and a headache next morning for an evening's card game. +You surely don't know much, Bob! But look at this statement and tell +me where the money's gone." + +Charnock took the paper she gave him and colored. + +"I never thought it was as much as that. Upon my word, I didn't!" + +"Where's it gone?" Sadie demanded. + +"I've been unlucky," said Charnock, who began a confused explanation. + +He had heard of a building lot on the outskirts of Winnipeg, to which +he had been told a new street line would run. He had paid for a time +option on the site, and now it appeared that the trolley scheme had +been abandoned. Then somebody had given him a hint about a deal in +grain that the speculators could not put over. It looked a safe snap +and he had sold down, but the market had gone up and his margin was +exhausted. When he stopped, Sadie's eyes flashed scornfully, but she +controlled her anger. + +"You're a fool, Bob; you never learn," she said wearily. "Anyhow, you +have got to cut out this kind of thing; the business won't stand for +it long. Well, as you can't be trusted with dollars, I'll have to put +you on an allowance. I hate to be mean, but if you waste what I give +you, you'll get no more." + +Charnock's face got red. "This is rather a nasty knock. Not that I +want your money, but the thing's humiliating." + +"Do you think it isn't humiliating to me?" + +"Perhaps it is," said Charnock, with a half-ashamed look. "I admit I +have been something of an ass, but you are mean, in a sense. What are +you going to do with your money, if you don't intend to spend it?" + +"Use if for making more; anyhow, until I get enough." + +"When will you have enough?" + +"When I can sell out the business and live where I want; give you the +friends you ought to have instead of low-down gamblers and whisky- +tanks. If you'd take hold and work, Bob, we'd be rich in a few years. +The boys like you, you could do all the trade, and the boom that's +beginning will make this settlement a big place. But I guess there's +no use in talking--and I'm ill and tired." + +Sadie's pose got slack and she leaned her arms on the table with her +face in her hands. Charnock, feeling penitent, tried to comfort her. + +"You're a very good sort, Sadie, and mean well; I'll go steady and try +not to bother you again. But we won't say any more about it now. Are +those new letters? The mail hadn't come when I left." + +She gave him two envelopes, and after reading part of the first letter +he started and the paper rustled in his hand. + +"What's the matter?" she asked. "Have you lost some money I don't know +about?" + +"I haven't," Charnock answered with a hoarse laugh. "The letter's from +some English friends. You head that Festing had gone back to the Old +Country. Well, he's going to be married soon and will bring his wife +out." + +"Do you know her? Who is she?" + +"Yes; I know her very well. She's Helen Dalton." + +"The girl you ought to have married!" Sadie exclaimed. "What's she +like? I guess you have her picture, though you haven't shown it me." + +"I had one, but haven't now. I meant to burn the thing, but suspect +that Festing stole it. Confound him!" + +Sadie was silent for a few moments and then gave Charnock a searching +look. "Anyhow, I don't see why that should make you mad. You let her +go and took me instead. Do you reckon she'd have been as patient with +you as I am?" + +"No," said Charnock, rather drearily. "Helen isn't patient, and I dare +say I'd have broken her heart. You have done your best for me, and I +expect you find it a hopeless job. For all that, I never thought +Festing----" + +"It's done with," Sadie rejoined quietly, although there was some +color in her face. "If the girl likes Festing, what has it to do with +you? Besides, as he has located some way back from the settlement, +there's no reason you should meet him or his wife." Then she frowned +and got up. "But the place is very cold; we'll go home." + +Charnock put out the light and locked the door, but he was silent as +they walked across the snow to the hotel, and Sadie wondered what he +thought. There was no doubt he was disturbed, or he would have tried +to coax her into abandoning her resolution to put him on an allowance. +She meant to be firm about this. + +For the next two or three weeks Charnock occupied himself with his +duties and everything went smoothly at the store and hotel. He was +popular in the neighborhood, since his weaknesses were rather +attractive than repellent to people who did not suffer from them. Men +who drove long distances from their lonely farms liked a cheerful talk +and to hear the latest joke; others enjoyed a game of cards in the +back office when Mrs. Charnock was not about. Besides, it was known +that Keller's was straight; one got full weight and value when one +dealt there. + +Trade, moreover, was unusually good. Settlers looking for land filled +the hotel, and now elevators were to be built, farmers hired extra +labor and broke new soil. Household supplies were purchased on an +unprecedented scale, and when snow melted the hotel stables were +occupied by rough-coated teams, while wagons, foul with the mud of the +prairie trails, waited for their loads in front of the store. Sadie +felt cheered and encouraged, and although Bob sometimes spent in +careless talk an hour or two that might have been better employed, she +was willing to make up for his neglect by extra work in the office at +night. He was doing well and she began to be hopeful. + +One evening, however, when there were goods to be entered and bills +written out, he went home for supper and did not come back. Sadie +stopped in the office long after the clerk had gone, but when she put +down her pen the stove was out and she was surprised to find how late +it was. She felt tired and annoyed, for she had been busily occupied +since morning, and suspected that Bob was telling amusing stories +while she did his work. Then in shutting up the store she forgot her +rubber over-shoes, and the sidewalk was plastered with sticky mud. She +wore rather expensive slippers and thought they would be spoiled. + +Charnock was not about when she entered the hotel, and the guests +seemed to have gone to bed. The light was out in the office, and the +big lounge room, where lumps of half-dry mud lay upon the board floor, +was unoccupied. The bell-boy, who was using a brush amidst a cloud of +dust, said he did not think the boss had gone upstairs, and with +sudden suspicion Sadie entered a dark passage that led to a room where +commercial travelers showed their goods. She opened the door and +stopped just inside, her head tilted back and an angry sparkle in her +eyes. + +The room was very hot and smelt of liquor, tobacco, and kerosene; the +lamp had been turned too high and its cracked chimney was black. +Charnock and three others sat round a table on which stood a bottle +and four glasses. One of the glasses had upset and there was a pool, +bordered by soaked cigar-ash, on the boards. The men were playing +cards, and a pile of paper money indicated that the stakes were high. +Sadie knew them all and deeply distrusted one, whom she suspected of +practising on her husband's weaknesses; she disliked another, and the +third did not count. She looked up rather awkwardly, and she saw that +Charnock had taken too much liquor. + +"Good evening, boys," she said. "I want to lock the doors, and guess +you don't know how late it is." + +Wilkinson, the man she distrusted, took out his watch. He had a horse +ranch some distance off, and the farmers called him a sport. As a +matter of fact, he was a successful petty gambler, but generally lost +his winnings by speculating in real-estate and wheat. + +"It's surely late, Mrs. Charnock," he agreed. "Still, I dare say you +can give us a quarter of an hour." + +"Five minutes," Sadie answered. "You can cut the game you're playing +when you like. I'm tired, but I'll wait." + +Wilkinson looked at Charnock, but stopped arranging his cards. "Well, +I'm ready to quit. Bob's made a scoop the last few deals, and I reckon +I've not much chance of getting my money back." + +"Go 'way, Sadie; go 'way right now!" Charnock interrupted. "You gotta +put up a fair game, and I can't stop when I've all the boys' dollars +in my pocket." + +Sadie was sometimes tactful, but her anger was quick, and she disliked +to hear her husband use Western idioms. Moreover she expected him to +be polite. + +"Well," she said, "I guess that's a change; your dollars are generally +in their wallets. But this game has to stop." + +Mossup, the man she did not like, turned in his chair. He was not +sober and his manners were not polished at the best of times. He sold +small tools and hardware for a Winnipeg wholesale firm. + +"Say, you might call a bell-boy. That whisky's rank; I want a +different drink." + +Charnock got up with an awkward movement, but Sadie did not want his +help. + +"Drinks are served in the bar and the bar is shut," she said. + +"I'm stopping here; I hired this room, and as long as I pay it's mine. +We're not in Manitoba, and I guess the law--" + +Sadie silenced him imperiously. She understood his reference to +Manitoba, where regulations dealing with liquor are strictly enforced. + +"I make the law at Keller's, and this hotel is not a gambling saloon. +Mr. Wilkinson, cork that bottle and put it on the shelf." + +As Wilkinson obeyed, Mossup put his hand on his arm to hold him back, +but Charnock interfered: + +"You sit down right now. Understand, everybody, what Mrs. Charnock +says goes." + +"Certainly," Wilkinson agreed. "Get off to bed Mossup; you'll have a +swelled head all right to-morrow, as it is. I'll put out the light, +Mrs. Charnock; guess I'll do it better than Bob." + +"Think I can't put out a common old lamp?" Charnock inquired. "Destroy +the blamed thing 'fore I let it beat me." + +"You're not going to try," said Wilkinson, who hustled him and Mossup +out of the room and then held the door open for Sadie. + +She thanked him, but felt that if she had ground to fear resentment, +it was not Mossup's but his. Wilkinson had manners, but she knew he +did not like to be robbed of an easy victim, and it was possible that +he had let Bob win until he was drunk enough to be fleeced. She waited +a few moments to let the others go, and then went upstairs and stopped +in a passage that led to her room. Her face was hot and she breathed +fast, for her part in the scene had cost her something. It would have +been different had Charnock not been there; she could have dealt with +the others, but he had made her ashamed. Then she heard his step and +turned with passionate anger as he came along the passage. He stopped +and looked at her with drunken admiration. + +"By George, you're a fine thing, Sadie! Handsomest and pluckiest woman +in the township!" + +Sadie said nothing, but her pose stiffened and her lips set tight. + +"Look your best when you're angry," Charnock went on. "Not quite so +'tractive, too pale and want animation, when you're calm." + +She did not answer, but felt a quiver of repulsion. His voice was +thick, his eyes had a stupid amorous look, and he smelt of whisky. +Sadie was not remarkably fastidious; she had, for several years, +managed a hotel, and had used her physical charm to attract the man, +but she was jarred. As yet, she made no appeal to the better side of +Bob's nature, if it had a better side, and his sensual admiration +revolted her. + +Charnock felt puzzled and somewhat daunted, but tried to put his arm +round her waist. Sadie seized his shoulders and pushed him violently +back. + +"Don't you touch me, you drunken hog!" she said. + +He gazed at her in dull surprise and then braced himself. Sadie had +moods, but generally came round if he made love to her. Besides, +although she was in one of her rages, her attitude was irresistibly +inciting. + +"I'm your husband anyhow. Now don't be a silly little fool----" + +She drew back as he advanced and picked up a mop. It was used for +polishing board floors and had a long handle. + +"You're my husband when you're sober; I didn't marry a whisky-tank. If +you touch me, Bob, I'll knock you down!" + +Charnock stopped. When Sadie spoke like that she meant what she said. +She looked at him steadily for a moment or two, and then put down the +mop and turned away. He durst not follow, and when she entered a room +close by, he shrugged with half-bewildered resignation and stumbled +off. + +Sadie, leaning with labored breath against the rail of her bed, heard +him fall down the three or four steps in the middle of the passage and +afterwards get up and go on again. Then she laughed, a strained, +hysterical laugh. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE SACRIFICE + +Charnock hesitated about meeting Sadie at breakfast, but found her +calm and apparently good-humored. He felt embarrassed and his head +ached, but she made him some strong coffee in a way he liked. Sadie +did not often sulk, and he was grateful because she said nothing about +what had happened on the previous night. Indeed, he was on the point +of telling her so, but her careless manner discouraged him and he +resolved instead that he would stop gambling and keep as steady as he +could. After all, Sadie was really treating him well; she might, for +example, have stopped his getting liquor. He meant to brace up and +give her no more trouble. + +He kept his resolve for a fortnight, and then, one morning, a man +brought him a note from Wilkinson, asking him to drive over to the +range. Charnock told the man he could not go, but presently put down +his pen and looked out of the open window of the office of the store. +The last of the snow had vanished some time since, and round white +clouds drifted across the sky. Flying shadows streaked the wide plain, +which gleamed like silver in the sunshine, and the bleached grass +rolled in long waves before the breeze. There was something strangely +exhilarating in the air and the dusty office smelt of salt-pork and +cheese. It was a glorious day for a drive, he need not stay long at +Wilkinson's, and the team needed exercise. Moreover, Sadie was not +about and would not come home until afternoon; he might get back +before her. He hesitated for a few minutes and then sent an order to +the stable. + +At midnight he had not returned, and Sadie sat in the office at the +hotel, making futile efforts to fix her attention on a newspaper. The +guests had gone to bed and the building was very quiet, but she had +kept the ostler up. He might be needed and she could trust him not to +talk. + +At length she heard the sound she listened for. A beat of hoofs and +rattle of wheels came down the street. It was their team, she knew +their trot, but she wondered anxiously whether Bob was driving. When +the rig stopped she went to the door, where the ostler stood with a +lantern, and caught her breath as Wilkinson got down. There was nobody +else on the seat of the light wagon, and Charnock had set off with a +different rig. + +"Where's Bob?" she asked in a strained voice. + +"We put him inside," said Wilkinson. "He wasn't quite able to sit up. +I'd have kept him all night only that I reckoned you might be scared." + +Sadie, putting her foot on the wheel when the ostler held up the +light, saw Charnock lying on a bundle of sacks. He was in a drunken +stupor. + +"Help Bill bring him, in," she said with stony calm. + +Wilkinson and the other lifted the unconscious man, and staggering +along a passage, awkwardly climbed the stairs. They put him on his bed +and were going out when Sadie stopped them. + +"Thank you, Bill; hold the team for a few minutes," she said and +turned to Wilkinson. "I want you to wait in the office." + +Then she shut the door, and after unfastening Charnock's collar and +vest stood looking at him for a minute or two. He had not wakened, but +she had seen him like this before and was not alarmed. His face was +flushed and the veins on his forehead were prominent; his clothes were +crumpled and sprinkled with bits of hay. Sadie studied him with a +feeling of helplessness that changed to contemptuous pity. Her +romantic dreams and ambitions had vanished and left her this---- + +As she turned away her mood changed again. After all, he was her +husband and she had schemed to marry him. She was honest with herself +about this and admitted that Bob had not really loved her much. But he +needed her and she must not fail him. There was some comfort in +remembering that he had sought no other woman; her rivals were cards +and liquor, and she did not mean that they should win. Obeying a +sudden impulse, she turned back and kissed his hot face, and then, +noting the smell of whisky, flushed and went out with a firm step. + +When she entered the office, however, her face was hard and white. She +did not sit down, but leaned against a desk opposite Wilkinson. + +"Why did you ask Bob out to the range?" + +Wilkinson did not like her look. It hinted that she was in a dangerous +mood, but he answered good-humoredly: "I thought he wanted a change. +You hold him too tight, Mrs. Charnock. Bob won't stand for being kept +busy indoors all day; he won't make a clerk." + +"He won't," said Sadie. "I'm beginning to see it now. But you don't +care a straw for Bob. You wanted a pick on me because I made you cut +out your game that night." + +"No," said Wilkinson, with a gesture of protest. "I certainly thought +you were too smart, although it was not my business. Anyhow, if you +let him have a quiet game with his friends at home--" + +"Pshaw! I know you, Jake Wilkinson, better than Bob does. You meant to +make him drunk this evening and empty his wallet, and I guess you +didn't find it hard." + +Wilkinson's face got red, but he saw he would gain nothing by denial. +Besides, there was a matter he was anxious about. + +"It wasn't hard to empty his wallet, because he had only a few small +bills." + +"Yes; I fixed that. How much did you win from him when he was drunk?" + +"He got drunk afterwards," Wilkinson objected. "Then I didn't win it +all; there were three or four others." + +Sadie smiled rather grimly. "How much?" + +She got a jar when Wilkinson told her, but she fixed him with steady +eyes. + +"You knew what he had in his wallet, but let him go on? You thought +Keller's would stand for the debt?" + +"Yes," said Wilkinson, with some alarm; "we certainly thought so." + +"Very well. Keller's makes good. Take the pen and right out a bill +like this--R. Charnock, debtor in losses on a card game." + +"You know it's never done." + +"It's going to be done now, or you won't get your cheque. I know what +I'm up against in you and your gang." + +Wilkinson hesitated, but he needed the money and made out the bill. +After examining it, Sadie wrote a cheque. + +"I've paid you once, for Keller's sake, but you had better stop the +card games after this. Bob's not my partner in the business, and no +more of my dollars will go on gambling." + +"Ah!" said Wilkinson sharply, "you're smarter than I thought!" + +Sadie gave him a searching glance and he noted an ominous tenseness in +her pose and her drawn-back lips. He said afterwards that she looked +like a wild cat. + +"Anyhow, I think I have you fixed. There's nothing doing in making Bob +drunk again, but you had better understand what's going to happen if +you try. The next time you drive over to the settlement after my +husband I'll whip you in the street with a riding quirt." + +Wilkinson put the cheque in his pocket and picked up his hat. + +"On the whole, I guess I'd better not risk it," he said and went out. + +Sadie let him go, and then went limply upstairs. She felt worn out and +her brain was dull. She could not think, and a problem that demanded +solving must wait until the morning. After looking into the room where +Charnock lay and seeing that he was sleeping heavily, she went to bed. + +Next morning she shut herself in the office at the store and gave the +clerks strict orders that she was not to be disturbed. Opening a +drawer, she took out a rough balance sheet, which showed that the +business was profitable and expanding fast. Things were going very +well, in spite of Bob's extravagance, and she thought she had +prevented his wasting any more money. In three or four years she could +sell the hotel and store for a large sum and, as she thought of it, +give herself a chance. + +She was young, clever, and attractive, and had recently tried to +cultivate her mind. It was laborious work and she had not much time, +but the clergyman of the little Episcopal church gave her some +guidance and she made progress. For one thing, she was beginning to +talk like Bob and thought he noticed this, although she had not told +him about her studies. She meant to be ready to take her part in a +wider and brighter life when she left the settlement. Knowing little +about large towns, she exaggerated the pleasures they could offer. +Montreal, for example, was a city of delight. She had been there twice +and had seen the Ice Palace glitter against the frosty sky, the +covered skating rinks, the jingling sleighs, and the toboggans rushing +down the long, white slides. Then she remembered afternoon drives in +summer on the wooded slopes of the Mountain, and evenings spent among +the garish splendors of Dominion Park, where myriads of lights threw +their colored reflections upon the river. Since then, however, her +taste had got refined, and she now admitted that if she lived at +Montreal it might be better to cut out Dominion Park. + +But she pulled herself up. It looked as if these delights were not for +her. She could enjoy them, if she wanted, in a few years' time, but +the risk was great. Bob might go to pieces while she earned the money +that would open the gate of fairyland. Although she had checked the +pace a little, he was going the wrong way fast. Sadie knitted her dark +brows as she nerved herself to make a momentous choice. + +On the one hand there was everything she longed for; on the other much +that she disliked--monotonous work, the loneliness of the frozen +prairie in the bitter winter, the society, at very long intervals, of +farmers who talked about nothing but their crops, and the unslackening +strain of activity in the hot summer. Sadie thought of it with +shrinking; she would soon get old and faded, and Bob, for whose sake +she had done so, might turn from her. Yet there was danger for him if +they stayed at the settlement. He had too many friends and whisky was +always about. She must save him from the constant temptation and must +do so now. + +For all that, she struggled. There were specious arguments for taking +the other course. Bob had failed as a farmer and would certainly fail +again if left to himself; but farming was the only occupation on the +lonely prairie. Loneliness was essential, because he must be kept away +from the settlements. But she saw the weak point in this reasoning, +because Bob need not be left to himself. She would, so to speak, stand +over him and see he did his work. Well, it looked as if she must let +her ambitions go, and she got up, straightening her body with a little +resolute jerk. + +"Tell the boss I want him," she said to the clerk. + +Charnock came in, looking haggard and somewhat ashamed, and Sadie knew +she had made the right choice when he sat down where the light touched +his face. For a moment he blinked and frowned. + +"I wish you'd pull down that blind," he said. "The sun's in my eyes, +and I can't get round the desk." + +Sadie did so, and then silently gave him Wilkinson's bill. He gazed at +the paper with surprise, and colored. + +"I'd no idea I lost so much. Why did you pay him?" + +"Because you can't," said Sadie. "He thought you had a share in the +business when he risked his dollars." + +"I suppose that means you told him I wasn't your partner?" + +"It does." + +"I see," said Charnock, with some dryness. "You thought he'd leave me +alone if he knew I wasn't worth powder and shot? Well, I believe it's +very possible." Then he paused and smiled. "I can imagine his +astonishment when you asked for a bill, and must admit that you're a +sport. All the same, it's humiliating to have my friends told you +don't trust me with money." + +"The trouble is I can't trust you. Now you listen, Bob. This tanking +and gambling has got to be stopped." + +"I'm afraid I've given you some bother," Charnock answered penitently. +"For all that, I'm not so bad as I was. In fact, I really think I'm +steadying down by degrees, and since you have paid my debts I don't +mind promising--" + +"By degrees won't do; you have got to stop right off. Besides, you +know how much your promises are worth." + +Charnock colored. "That's rather cruel, Sadie, but I suppose it's +deserved." + +"I don't mean what you think; not your promise to Miss Dalton," Sadie +answered with some embarrassment. "You told me you wouldn't drive over +to Wilkinson's again, and the first time I wasn't about you went. Very +well. Since I can't trust you round the settlement, we're going to +quit. I've decided to sell out the business as soon as I can get the +price I want." + +"Sell the store and hotel!" Charnock exclaimed. "I suppose you know +you'd get three or four times as much if you held on for a few years." + +"That's so. But what's going to happen to you while I wait?" + +Charnock turned his head for a moment, and then looked up with a +contrite air. + +"By George, Sadie, you are fine! But I can't allow this sacrifice." + +"You won't be asked," Sadie rejoined with forced quietness. She was +moved by Charnock's exclamation, but durst not trust him or herself. +There was a risk of his persuading her to abandon the plan if he knew +how deeply she was stirred. + +"Well," he said, "what do you propose to do?" + +"Take a farm far enough from town to make it hard for you to drive in +and out. Donaldson's place would suit; he quits in the fall, you know, +and we hold his mortgage." + +Charnock got up and walked about the floor. Then he stopped opposite +his wife. + +"You mean well, Sadie, and you're very generous," he said with some +emotion. "Still you ought to see the plan won't work. I had a good +farm and made a horrible mess of things." + +"You won't do that now. I'll be there," Sadie rejoined. + +Charnock did not answer, but gave her a curious look, and she pondered +for a moment or two. He was obviously moved, but one could not tell +how far his emotions went, and she knew he did not want to listen. She +understood her husband and knew he sometimes deceived himself. + +"No!" He resumed; "it's too big a sacrifice! You like people about you +and would see nobody but me and the hired man, while I admit I'm +enough to jar a woman's nerves. Then think of the work; the manual +work. You couldn't live as the bachelors live among dust and dirt, and +it's a big undertaking to keep a homestead clean when you can't get +proper help. Besides, there's the baking, cooking, and washing, while +you have done nothing but superintend. I'd hate to see you worn and +tired, and you know you're not so patient then. I get slack if things +go wrong, and if I slouched about, brooding, when I ought to be at +work, it would make you worse." + +Sadie smiled. "That's very nice, Bob; but how much are you thinking +about me and how much about yourself?" + +"To tell the truth, I don't know," Charnock replied with naïve +honesty. "Anyhow, I am thinking about you." + +"That is what I like, but there's no use in talking. Since I can make +this business go I can run a farm, and see no other way. My plan's +made and I'm going to put it over." + +Charnock was silent for some moments and then turned to her with a +look in his face she had not seen. + +"I don't want to farm, but if you can stand it for my sake, I must +try. You will need some patience, Sadie--I may break out at times if +the strain gets too hard. One can't help running away when one is +something of a cur. But I'll come back, ashamed and sorry, and pitch +in again. Since you mean to stand by me, perhaps I'll win out in the +end." + +Bending down suddenly, he kissed her and then went to the door. She +heard it shut, and sat still, but her eyes filled with tears. Bob had +not promised much, but she thought he meant to keep his word now, and +doubts that had troubled her melted away. She did not grudge the +sacrifice she had made, for a ray of hope had begun to shine. It was, +however, characteristic that after musing for a minute or two she took +out some notepaper and began to write. Since the business must be +sold, there was nothing to be gained by delay, and she gave a Winnipeg +agent clear instructions. Then she went out and hid her annoyance when +she saw Charnock sitting languidly on the hotel veranda. + +"Has Wilkinson sent back our rig?" she asked. + +"He has, but the team has done enough. Where are you going?" + +"To look at Donaldson's farm. I want you to come along. Go across and +ask Martin if he'll let you have his team." + +Charnock got up with a resigned shrug. "You are a hustler, Sadie. It's +not many minutes since you decided about the thing." + +"I don't see what I'd get by waiting, and you may as well make up your +mind that you're going to hustle, too. Now get busy and go for +Martin's team." + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + +It was a bright afternoon and white-edged clouds rolled across the sky +before a fresh north-west wind when Helen Festing rode up to a birch +bluff on the prairie. The trees made a musical rustling as they tossed +their branches, tufted with opening leaves. The sweep of white grass +was checkered by patches of green that gleamed when the light touched +them and faded as the shadows swept across the plain. There was +something strangely invigorating in the air, but when she reached the +bluff Helen pulled up her horse and looked about. + +She missed the soft blue haze that mellowed the landscape among the +English hills. Every feature was sharp and the colors were vivid; +ocher, green, and silver gleaming with light. Distant bluffs stood out +with sharp distinctness. She thought the new country was like its +inhabitants; they were marked by a certain primitive vigor and their +character was clearly defined. Neither the land nor the people had +been tamed by cultivation yet. One missed the delicate half-tones on +the prairie, but one heard and thrilled to the ringing note of +endeavor. + +When she looked west the land was empty to the horizon, and a flock of +big sand-hill cranes planed down the wind. An animal she thought was +an antelope moved swiftly through the waves of rippling grass. When +she turned east she saw a plume of black smoke roll across the sky and +the tops of three elevators above the edge of the plain. It was a +portent, a warning of momentous change, in which she and her husband +must play their part. What that part would be she could not tell, but +the curtain was going up, and on the whole she approved the stage and +scenery. + +Helen had been some time in Canada and did not feel daunted. The +sunshine and boisterous winds were bracing; one felt optimistic on the +high plains, and the wide outlook gave a sense of freedom. She had +many duties, but did not find them burdensome, or feel the strain of +domestic labor she had been warned about. For one thing, her money had +enabled Festing to arrange his household better than he had expected +and hire useful help. + +She took a rough trail through the bluff, picking her way among the +holes and rotting stumps, and as she rode out the horse plunged. After +calming the startled animal she saw a dirty handkerchief snapping in +the wind at the top of a stick. Close by a team cropped the grass and +the end of a big plow projected from the back of a wagon. There seemed +to be nobody about, but after riding on a few yards she saw a man +lying among some bushes with a pipe in his mouth. He looked half +asleep, but got up as she advanced, and she stopped her horse with a +jerk and tried to preserve her calm. Charnock stood looking at her +with a half-embarrassed smile. + +"Bob!" she exclaimed. "I didn't think I'd ever meet you." + +"I hope it wasn't a shock, and we were bound to meet sooner or later. +The distance between our homesteads isn't great." + +Helen had heard where his homestead was. Indeed, Festing had told her +that if he had known Charnock was coming to Donaldson's farm, he would +have located farther off. She would sooner have avoided the meeting, +but since it had happened, she must not cut it too short. + +"But what is the handkerchief for?" she asked. "And why were you lying +there?" + +"It's a signal of distress. Another trail crosses the rise a mile off, +and I was waiting in the hope that somebody might come along." + +Helen now noted that a wheel of the wagon leaned to one side, and he +remarked her glance. + +"The patent bush has got loose in the hub," he resumed. "I took the +pin out and then saw I might have trouble if the wheel came off. It +has been threatening to play this trick for some time." + +"Then why didn't you put the bush right before you started?" + +"I don't know. I expect you think it's typical." + +Helen laughed. Bob was taking the proper line, and she studied him +with curiosity. He looked older than she thought, but remembering +Festing's hints, she did not see the mark of dissipation she had +expected. Indeed, Charnock, having spent a sober month or two under +Sadie's strict supervision, looked very well. His face was brown, his +eyes twinkled, and his figure was athletic. He did not seem to need +her pity, but she felt compassionate. After all, she had loved him and +he had married a girl from a bar. + +"But where were you taking the plow?" she asked. + +"To the smith's; one of the free preemptors has a forge some distance +off, and if I'm lucky, I may find him at home." + +"You won't find him at home if you stop here." + +"That's obvious," said Charnock. "Still, you see, the plow's too heavy +for me to lift out. Unless I do get it out, I can't try to put the +wheel right." + +"Then why not take it to pieces?" + +"The trouble is you need a bent spanner to get at some of the bolts." + +"They give you spanners with the plows, and there's a box on the frame +to put them in. I've seen Stephen use the things." + +"Just so," Charnock agreed. "Stephen's methodical, but when I want my +spanner it isn't in the box." + +"You never were very careful," Helen remarked. + +"I don't know if there's much comfort in feeling that I've paid for my +neglect." + +Helen smiled; she was not going to be sentimental. "If you mean that +you lost the spanner, you don't seem to have suffered much. I think +you were asleep when I rode up. But I was surprised to hear you had +begun to farm again. Do you like it? And how are you getting on?" + +"I like a number of things better, but that's not allowed to make much +difference. Sadie has decided that farming is good for me. However, I +am making some progress, though as you know my temperament, I'll admit +that I'm being firmly helped along." + +There was silence for a few moments and Helen pondered. Bob had +generally been tactful and she thought his humor was rather brave. He, +no doubt, imagined she would soon learn all about his affairs and +meant to make the best of things. + +In the meantime, Charnock quietly studied her. She looked very fresh +and prettier than he thought. Although she had not ridden much in +England, he noted the grace and confidence with which she managed the +spirited range horse. For all that, he was rather surprised by his +sensations. He had expected to feel some embarrassment and sentimental +tenderness when they met, but she left him cold; his pulse had not +quickened a beat. Still it would be good for Sadie to know Helen, who +could teach her much, and she unconsciously gave him a lead. + +"Well," she said, "I must get home. I shall, no doubt, see you now and +then." + +"Not often, if you leave it to accident," he replied with a smile. "If +you like to arrange the thing, there's a nice point of etiquette. You +occupied your homestead before we came to ours, but you see we were on +the prairie first. Anyhow, I'd be glad if you will let me bring Sadie +over." + +Helen thought he was going too far. She did not want to arrange for a +meeting and would sooner not receive his wife. After all, the girl had +supplanted her. Still she was curious and could not refuse. + +"I'm often busy and daresay Mrs. Charnock is, while Stephen does not +stop work until late. However, if you like to take your chance----" + +"Thank you," said Charnock; "we'll take the risk of finding you not at +home. Now perhaps it wouldn't be much trouble if you told Jasper I'm +in difficulties. You'll see his place when you cross the ravine near +the bluff." + +Helen rode away, but when she saw Jasper's farm it was a mile off the +trail and she had to cross a broken sandy belt. For all that, she +smiled as she made the round. It was typical of Bob to send her. He +might have tethered his horses and walked the distance, but he had a +talent for leaving to somebody else the things he ought to do. + +After supper she sat on the veranda, while Festing leaned against the +rails. The house was built of ship-lap boards, with a roof of cedar +shingles, and wooden pillars supporting the projecting eaves. It had +been improved and made comfortable with Helen's money, and with the +land about it, registered as belonging to her. Festing had insisted on +this, rather against her will, because she had meant to make it a gift +to him. The wind, as usual at sunset, had dropped, and clear green +sky, touched with dull red on the horizon, overhung the plain. The air +was cold and bracing; sound carried far, and the musical chime of +cowbells came from a distant bluff. There were not many cattle in the +neighborhood, but the Government was trying to encourage stock-raising +and had begun to build creameries. + +Helen meditatively studied her husband. Festing had been plowing since +sunrise and looked tired. Something had gone wrong with his gasoline +tractor, and she knew he had spent two or three hours finding out the +fault. This had annoyed him, because time was valuable and he was +impatient of delay. Helen approved his industry and the stubborn +perseverance that led to his overcoming many obstacles, but sometimes +thought he took things too hard and exaggerated their importance. Now +as he leaned against the balustrade he had the physical grace of a +well-trained athlete, but she thought his look was fretful and his +mind too much occupied. + +"I met Bob by the long bluff as I rode home," she said. + +Festing looked up sharply. "Well, I suppose you were bound to meet him +before long. What was he doing at the bluff?" + +"Waiting for somebody to help him with his wagon," Helen answered with +a laugh. "A wheel was coming off." + +"That was like Bob. He has a rooted objection to helping himself when +it means an effort." + +"For all that, you were a friend of his." + +"I'm not his friend now. I've done with the fellow." + +"It's rather awkward," Helen remarked thoughtfully. "He asked if he +might bring his wife over, and although I wasn't very gracious, I +could not refuse." + +"Oh, well, it doesn't matter. As I won't have a minute until the +sowing is finished, I'll be out when he comes. If he stayed with his +work just now, it would be better for him." + +Helen was silent for a moment. Stephen was made of much finer stuff +than Bob, but he had not the latter's graceful humor and his curtness +jarred. + +"There's no reason you should resume your friendship if you don't +like," she said. "All the same, I think you ought to be polite to my +guests." + +"I can't pretend. The house is yours, but I don't want the fellow +here." + +"But why do you dislike him so much?" + +"I don't think you need ask me that. It's dangerous ground, but you +see----" + +"I have forgiven him," Helen answered, smiling. "Indeed, if I hadn't +done so long since, it would be easy to forgive him now. At first, I +did feel dreadfully humiliated, but I soon saw what he had saved me +from. And, of course, if he had kept his promise, I could not have +married you." + +Festing looked at her with surprise. In spite of her refinement, Helen +would now and then talk calmly about matters he shrank from +mentioning. But after the lead she had given him he could be frank. + +"Well," he said, "I haven't forgiven him yet; I couldn't pretend +friendship with anybody who had slighted you. Besides, when I found +out how he had cheated me it was the worst moment of my life. I +thought you would never speak to me again because, through the +fellow's treachery, it was I who hurt you." + +"You're very nice, Stephen," Helen replied, coloring. "But that's all +finished. Don't you like Bob's wife? I really don't want to meet her, +but one mustn't be a coward." + +"You couldn't be a coward. Sadie has her virtues and is certainly much +too good for Bob, but I don't want her here for all that. Frankly, +she's not your sort, and she's meddlesome. I'm not afraid she'll make +you discontented, but I can't have a girl like that telling you how +your house ought to be run. Although you're a beginner, you manage +very well, and I'd object to improvements on somebody else's plan." + +Helen smiled. "When you talk like that, you're charming; but we'll say +no more about it. You look tired. Are you sure you are not working too +hard? The last time Jasper came he seemed surprised when he saw the +ground you had broken. I imagined he thought you were trying to do too +much." + +As she spoke she glanced at the wide belt of plowing that broke the +delicate green and silver of the grass. In the foreground, the rows of +clods shone with an oily gleam in the fading light. Farther off, the +rows converged and melted into a sweep of purple-brown that narrowed +as it crossed a distant rise. There were two other belts; one where +white grasses broke through the harrow-torn sod, and another flat and +smooth where the land-packer had rolled in the seed. All told of +strenuous effort in which sweating men and horses had been aided by +tractor machines. + +"Jasper's conservative and I feel I ought to do as much as I can," +Festing replied. "When you bought the place you rather put me on my +mettle." + +Helen gave him a sharp glance. "I note that you spoke of it as my +house when you ought to have said ours. I don't like that, Stephen." + +"It is yours. I let you buy it because it's value must go up and the +money's safe. I'm glad, of course, that you have comforts I couldn't +have given you, but it's my business to support my wife, and I've got +to increase my capital. I want to give you things you like, bought +with money I have earned." + +"You really want to feel independent of me," Helen suggested with a +smile. "I suppose it's an honest ambition, but isn't the distinction +you try to make ridiculous?" + +"Perhaps, in a way," Festing agreed. "All the same, your help makes it +my duty to do my best. I don't want to feel I might be forced to fall +back on your dollars." + +"You are ridiculous, Stephen," Helen rejoined. "However, let's talk +about something else." + +The talked good-humoredly until the dew and growing cold drove them +in. Next morning Helen got up while the sun rose from behind a bluff +on the edge of the plain, but when she went out on the veranda she saw +the gasoline tractor and gang-plow lurch across the rise. This +indicated that Festing had been at work for some time, and she looked +thoughtful as she went back into the house. + +Stephen was doing too much, and she wondered whether he could keep it +up. Things, however, might be easier when the crop was sown, and if +not she must insist upon his hiring extra help. She liked to see him +keen about his work, but for the last few weeks he had scarcely had a +minute to talk to her, and she could not allow him to wear himself +out. After all, her money gave her some power, and there was no reason +she should not use the power for her husband's benefit. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SADIE FINDS A FRIEND + +The sun shone hot on the rippling grass, but it was cool on the shady +veranda where Helen sat in a basket chair. A newspaper lay close by +and the loose leaves fluttered now and then, but she did not notice +that it was in some danger of blowing away. She had been occupied +since early morning, but was not quite asleep, for she was vaguely +conscious of a rhythmic drumming. By and by she raised her head with a +jerk and glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was three o'clock and +she had been dozing for an hour. Then the drumming fixed her attention +and she saw a rig lurch along the uneven trail. The horses were +trotting fast and there were two people in the light wagon. + +Helen saw that one was Charnock. The other, who held the reins, was, +no doubt, his wife, and Helen was sorry that Festing was at work +beyond the rise. She would have liked him to be there when she +received her visitors, but did not think it prudent to send for him. +The rig was near the house now, and as she got up her dress moved the +newspaper, which was caught by a draught and blew down the stairs and +across the grass. It flapped in the fresh wind and fell near the +horses' feet. + +This was too much for the range-bred animals to stand, and they reared +and plunged, and then began to back away from the fluttering white +object. Charnock jumped out and ran towards their heads, but Sadie +raised her whip with a gesture of command. + +"Don't butt in, Bob; I'm going to take them past." + +Charnock stood back obediently, though his alert pose hinted that he +was ready to run forward if he were needed, and Helen studied his +companion. + +Sadie, dressed in black and white, with a black feather in her white +hat, was braced back on the driving seat, with one hand on the reins +while she used the whip. There was a patch of bright color in her +face, her eyes flashed, and the rigidity of her figure gave her an air +of savage resolution. She looked a handsome virago as she battled with +the powerful horses, which plunged and kicked while the wagon rocked +among the ruts. Helen watched the struggle with somewhat mixed +feelings. This was the girl for whom Bob had given her up! + +After an exciting minute or two Sadie forced the horses to pass the +fluttering paper, and then pulled them up. + +"Where's Stephen?" she asked. + +Helen said he was harrowing on the other side of the rise, and Sadie, +getting down, signed to Charnock. + +"Put the team in the stable, and then go and look for Festing. Don't +come back too soon." + +Then she came towards the house and Helen felt half-annoyed and half- +amused. Stephen did not like to be disturbed when he was busy, and she +knew what he thought of Bob. Moreover, she wondered with some +curiosity what Mrs. Charnock had to say to her. Sadie sat down and +waited until she recovered breath. + +"You know who I am," she remarked presently. "Bob can drive all right, +but he's too easy with the team. I don't see why I should get down +before I want because the horses are scared by a paper." + +"Perhaps it was better to make them go on, but they nearly upset you," +Helen agreed with a smile. + +Sadie gave her a steady, criticizing glance, but her naïve curiosity +softened her rudeness. + +"Well, I wanted to see you. Looks as if Bob was a fool, in one way, +but I guess I can see him through what he's up against on the prairie +better than you." + +Helen had been prejudiced against Mrs. Charnock, but her blunt +sincerity was disarming. Besides, she had expected something +different; a hint of defiance, or suspicious antagonism. + +"It's very possible," she said. "Everything is strange here. I feel +rather lost sometimes and have much to learn." + +Sadie studied her closely, and after pondering for a few moments +resumed: "When I was driving over I didn't know how I was going to +take you; in fact, I've been bothering about it for some time. I +thought you might be dangerous." + +"You thought I might be dangerous!" Helen exclaimed with rising color. +"Surely you understand--" + +"Now you wait a bit and let me finish! Well, I might have come now and +then, found out what I could, and given you a hint or two, until we +saw how things were going to be. But that's not my way, and I reckon +it's not yours. Very well. We have got to have a talk and put the +thing over. To begin with, I somehow feel I can trust you, and needn't +be disturbed." + +"Then I'm afraid you are rash," Helen rejoined with a resentment that +was softened by a touch of humor. "You can't form a reliable opinion, +because you don't know me." + +"That's so, but I know Bob." + +Helen laughed. She ought to be angry, for Mrs. Charnock was taking an +extraordinary line. But perhaps it was the best line, because it would +clear the ground. She said nothing and Sadie went on: + +"How do you like it here?" + +"Very much. I like the open country and the fresh air. Then I think I +like the people, and one has so much to do that there is not time to +feel moody. It's bracing to find every minute occupied by something +useful." + +"If you feel that way about it, you'll make good. And you've got a +fine man for your husband. When Festing first came to the bridge I +didn't know if I'd take him or Bob. In fact, I thought about it for +quite a time." + +Helen's eyes sparkled. Mrs. Charnock was going too far, but she +controlled her resentment. + +"After all, were you not taking something for granted?" + +"Well," said Sadie thoughtfully, "if I'd tried hard, I might have got +Steve then, but I don't know if I'd have been any happier with him. +He'd have gone his own way and taken me along; a good way, perhaps, +but it wouldn't have been mine. Bob's different; sometimes he has to +be hustled and sometimes led, but you get fond of a man you must take +care of. Then everybody likes Bob, and he kind of grows on you. I +don't know how it is, but you can't get mad with him." + +Helen thought there was something humiliating to Bob in his wife's +patience, but she was moved. Mrs. Charnock loved her husband, though +she knew his faults. Then Sadie resumed in a harder voice: + +"Anyhow, he's mine and I know how to keep what belongs to me." + +"I imagine you will keep him. I have no wish to take him away." + +"Well, that's why I came. I wanted to see you, and now I'm satisfied. +Bob needs a friend like your husband and he puts Steve pretty high. If +you can see your way to let us drive over now and then evenings----" + +Helen pondered this. Stephen might object, but he was not +unreasonable, and his society would certainly be good for Bob. She was +not altogether pleased by the thought of the Charnocks' visits, but +Sadie's resolve to help her husband had touched her. Then there was +something flattering in the hint that she and Stephen could take a +part in his reformation. + +"Very well," she said. "I hope you will come when you like. It will do +Stephen no harm to get a rest instead of hurrying back to work after +supper." + +Sadie looked grateful. "We'll certainly come. I've talked to you as +I'd have talked to nobody else, but you know Bob most as well as I do. +But perhaps there's enough said. Won't you show me the house?" + +Helen realized that she had made an alliance with Mrs. Charnock for +Bob's protection, and was conscious of a virtuous thrill. The work she +had undertaken was good, but she remembered with faint uneasiness that +she had pledged her husband to it without his consent. She showed +Sadie the house, and while there was much the latter admired, she +made, from her larger knowledge of the plains, a number of suggestions +that Helen thought useful. By and by Bob returned with Festing for +supper, and stopped for another hour. When he and Sadie had gone +Festing frowned as he glanced at his watch. + +"It's too late to finish the job I wanted to do tonight," he said, and +indicated the dark figures of a man and horses silhouetted against the +sunset on the crest of the rise. "There's Jules coming home. He +couldn't get on without me." + +Helen pretended not to notice his annoyance. "After all, you're not +often disturbed, and a little relaxation is good. I've no doubt you +had an amusing talk with Bob." + +"Bob bored me badly, though we didn't talk much. I was driving the +disc-harrows and he lay in the grass. I had to stop for a few minutes +every time I reached the turning and listen to his remarks." + +"And you feel you deserve some sympathy?" Helen said with a laugh. +"Well, I suppose it was an infliction to be forced to talk." + +Festing's annoyance vanished. "I mustn't make too much of it. I really +don't object to talking when I've finished my work." + +"When do you finish your work, Stephen?" + +"That's a fair shot! In summer, I stop when it's too dark to see. The +annoying thing wasn't so much the stopping as Bob's attitude. He lay +there with his pipe, looking as if nothing would persuade him to work, +and his smile hinted that he thought delaying me an excellent joke. I +believe I was polite, but certainly hope he won't come back." + +Helen thought it was not the proper time to tell him about the +invitation she had given Sadie, and she said, "Idleness seems to jar +you." + +"It does. I dislike the man who demands the best to eat and drink and +won't use his brain or muscle if he can help. In this country, the +thing's immoral; the fellow's obviously a cheat. We live by our labor, +raising grain and cattle--" + +"But what about the people in the towns?" + +"A number of them handle our products and supply us with tools. Of +course, there are speculators and real-estate boomsters who gamble +with our earnings, but their job is not as easy as it looks. They run +big risks and bear some strain. Still, if it was left to me, I'd make +them plow." + +Helen laughed. "You're rather drastic, Stephen; but if one takes the +long view, I dare say you are right." + +"Then let's take the narrowest view we can. When a farmer who hasn't +much money loafs about the poolroom and lies on his back, smoking, +it's plain that he's taking advantage of somebody else. Perhaps the +thing's shabbiest when he puts his responsibilities on his wife. +That's what Bob does." + +"I'm afraid he does," Helen admitted, and mused, while Festing lighted +his pipe. + +Stephen was not a prig and she recognized the justice of his +arguments, but he was rather hard and his views were too clear-cut. He +saw that a thing was good or bad, but could not see that faults and +virtues sometimes merged and there was good in one and bad in the +other. + +"Well," she said, "I like Mrs. Charnock, and she is certainly +energetic and practical. She went over the house and suggested some +improvements. For example, you are building a windmill pump for the +cattle, and it wouldn't cost very much to bring a pipe to the house. A +tap is a great convenience and would save Jules' time filling up the +tank." + +"It will need a long pipe and cost more than Sadie thinks, but I'll +have it done. However, I wish I had thought of it and she hadn't made +the suggestion. I don't want Sadie interfering with our house." + +"But you don't dislike Mrs. Charnock." + +"Not in a way; but I don't know that I want to see her here. Sadie has +a number of good points, but she's rather fond of managing other +folks' affairs. Then she's not your kind." + +On the whole, Helen was not displeased. Mrs. Charnock's bold +statements that she could have got Stephen if she had wanted had +jarred, but it looked as if she had made an empty boast. + +"I thought you were a democrat," she remarked, smiling. + +"So I am, in general; but when it's a matter of choosing my wife's +friends, I'm an exclusive aristocrat. That's the worst of having +theories; they don't apply all round." + +Helen thought his utilitarian dislike of idleness was open to this +objection, but it was not the time to urge Bob's cause. She would wait +for another opportunity, when Stephen had not been delayed, and she +made him a humorous curtsey. + +"Sometimes you're rather bearish, and sometimes you're very nice," she +said, and went into the house. + +The Charnocks returned a week later and came again at regular +intervals, while Helen rode over to their house now and then. Festing +refused to accompany her and sometimes grumbled, but on the whole +tolerated Charnock's visits so long as they did not delay his work. +Nothing must be allowed to interfere with that, for he was uneasily +conscious that he had set himself too big a task. His dislike to using +his wife's money had spurred him on, and he had sown a very large crop +at a heavy expense for labor, horses, and machines. Now he must spare +no effort to get his money back, and much depended on the weather. +Indeed, he was beginning to feel the strain of the unrelaxing exertion +and care about details, and this sometimes reacted upon his temper. +Still he must hold out until the crop was reaped, after which he could +go easy during the winter months. + +One hot afternoon, he lay under a mower in a sloo where the melted +snow had run in spring and the wild grass now grew tall. It made good +hay and the fierce sun had dried it well, so that he had only to cut +and haul it home; but something had gone wrong with the machine, and +after taking out the broken knife he dismantled the driving gear. When +he crawled out, with a greasy cogwheel in his hand, he was soaked with +perspiration and his overalls were stained by oil. The mosquitoes, +that did not as a rule venture out in the strong wind and sun, had +bitten him badly while he lay in the grass. + +"You had better wait for ten minutes and take a smoke," said Charnock, +who had come up quietly and sat in the shade of the partly-loaded +wagon. "You'll get on faster when you have cooled down." + +"You believe in waiting, don't you?" Festing rejoined. + +Charnock laughed. "I feel justified in going slow just now. Sadie has +given me a day off, and when she doesn't think I ought to work it +certainly isn't necessary. It saves you some bother if you can leave +that sort of thing to your wife." + +"Pshaw!" said Festing. "You make me tired." + +He picked up the broken knife and looked at Charnock. Bob was +bantering him, exaggerating his slackness. As a matter of fact, the +fellow was not so lazy as he pretended; Sadie was beginning to wake +him up. Stephen did not know if he had forgiven him or not, but they +had gradually dropped back into something like their old relations. + +"You might take off the broken blades," he resumed. "You'll find new +ones in the box. They ought to be riveted, but if you use the short +bolts and file down the nuts, I dare say they'll run through the +guides." + +Then he crawled back under the machine and did not come out until he +head a rattle of wheels. Wilkinson, whom he knew and disliked, stopped +his team close by and began to talk to Charnock. This annoyed Festing, +because he was nearly ready to replace the knife. + +"I called at your place and found you were out," Wilkinson remarked. +"They told me where you had gone, and when I saw Festing's wagon I +reckoned you might have gone with him. You come here pretty often, +don't you?" + +"Steve's patient," Charnock replied with a twinkle. "I'm not sure he +enjoys my visits, but he puts up with them." + +"Well, I want you to drive over to-morrow evening. A man you know from +Winnipeg is coming to see me about a deal in Brandon building lots. +The thing looks good and ought to turn out a snap." + +"The trouble is I haven't much money to invest," Charnock answered, +and Festing thought he was hesitating. It looked as if Wilkinson had +not seen him yet, for he was standing behind the machine. + +"I understand you have a bigger interest in the farm than you had in +the hotel and something might be arranged. Anyhow, come over and hear +what our friend has to say." + +"You'll be a fool if you go, Bob," Festing interposed. + +"I don't know that this is your business," Wilkinson rejoined. "I +haven't suggested that you should join us." + +"You know I wouldn't join you. I had one deal with you, and that's +enough. No doubt you remember selling me the brown horse." + +"You tried the horse before you bought him." + +"I did. He was quiet then, but I've since suspected that he was doped. +Anyhow, he nearly killed my hired man." + +Wilkinson laughed. "You had your trial and backed your judgment. Know +more about machines than horses, don't you?" + +"I didn't know the man I dealt with then. You warranted the brute +good-tempered and easy to drive. I'll give you five dollars if you'll +take him out of the stable and harness him now." + +"I haven't time," said Wilkinson. "Didn't charge you high and guess +you've got to pay for learning your business. The trouble is you're +too sure about yourself and reckoned you'd make a splash at farming +without much trouble. Anyhow, I don't want to sell Charnock a horse; +he's a better judge than you." + +"He's not much judge of building lots. If your friend has got a safe +snap, why do you want to let Charnock in?" + +Wilkinson began to look impatient. "I came over to talk to Charnock, +and if he likes the deal it's not your affair." + +"It is my affair if you stop him when he's helping me," Festing +rejoined. "If he's a fool, he'll talk to you some other time; if he's +wise, he won't. Just now I'd sooner you drove off my farm." + +Wilkinson gave him a curious look. "Very well. I reckon the place is +yours; or your wife's." Then he turned to Charnock. "Are you coming +over, Bob?" + +"No," said Charnock, irresolutely, "I don't think I will." + +He lighted his pipe when Wilkinson started his team, and presently +remarked: "On the whole, I'm glad you headed him off, because I might +have gone. You mean well, Stephen, but that man doesn't like you, and +I've sometimes thought he doesn't like Sadie." + +"It doesn't matter if he likes me or not," said Festing. "Let's get on +with the mower. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CHEQUE + +The North-west breeze was fresher than usual when, one afternoon, +Helen rode through a belt of sand-hills on her way to the Charnock +farm. Clouds of dust blew about the horse's feet, and now and then +fine grit whistled past her head. She had her back to the boisterous +wind, but she urged the horse until they got behind a grove of scrub +poplars. Then she rolled up her veil and wiped her face before she +looked about. + +Round, dark clouds rolled across the sky, as they had done since +spring, but for nearly a month none had broken. A low ridge, streaked +by flying shadows, ran across the foreground, and waves of dust rose +and fell about its crest. Sandy belts are common on parts of the +prairie, and when they fringe cultivated land are something of a +danger in a dry season, because the loose sand travels far before the +wind. + +Beyond the sand-hills, the level grass was getting white and dry, and +in the distance the figures of a man and horses stood out against a +moving cloud of dust. Helen supposed he was summer-fallowing, but did +not understand the dust, because when she last passed the spot the +soil looked dark and firm. She remembered that Festing had been +anxious about the weather. + +Riding on, she saw the roof of the Charnock homestead above a +straggling bluff, and her thoughts centered on its occupants. Strange +as the thing was, she had come to think of Sadie as her friend. Her +loyalty and her patience with her husband commanded respect, and now +it looked as if they would be rewarded. Bob was taking an interest in +his farm and had worked with steady industry for the last month or +two. Helen thought she deserved some credit for this; she had had a +part in Bob's reformation and had made Stephen help. + +Sadie trusted her, and no suspicion or jealousy marked their +relations. Indeed, Helen wondered why she had at one time been drawn +to Bob. Were she free to do so, she would certainly not marry him now. +Still she had loved him, and this gave her thoughts about him a vague, +sentimental gentleness. It was a comfort to feel that she had done +something to turn his wandering feet into the right path. + +When she reached the homestead she found Sadie looking disturbed. Her +face was hard, but her eyes were red, and Helen suspected that she had +been crying. It was obvious that something serious had happened, +because Sadie's pluck seldom broke down. + +"I'm glad you came," the latter said. "I'm surely in trouble." + +Helen asked what the trouble was, and Sadie told her in jerky +sentences. Charnock had started for the railroad early that morning, +and after he left she discovered that he had written a cheque, payable +to Wilkinson. + +"It's not so much the money, but to feel he has cheated me and broken +loose when I thought he was cured," she concluded. "He has been going +steady, but now that brute has got hold of him he'll hang around the +settlement, tanking and betting, for a week or two. Then he'll be +slack and moody and leave the farm alone, and I'll have to begin the +job again." + +Sadie paused, with tears in her eyes, and then pulled herself +together. "Pshaw!" she said, "I'm a silly fool. Before you came I +thought I'd quit and let Bob go his own way; but I'm not beaten yet. +If Wilkinson wants him, there's going to be some fight. Now, I want +you to ride over with me to the fellow's place." + +Helen felt sympathetic. Sadie's resentment was justified, and she +looked rather refined when angry. Her stiff pose lent her a touch of +dignity; her heightened color and the sparkle in her eyes gave her +face the charm of animation. Moreover, her want of reserve no longer +jarred. Reserve is not very common on the plains. + +"But you must tell me something about it first," Helen replied. "How +did you find out he had written the cheque?" + +"I suspected something after he'd gone and looked for his cheque-book. +He'd torn out a form, but hadn't filled up the tab. Bob's silly when +he's cunning and didn't think about his blotter. The top sheet was +nearly clean and I read what he'd written, in a looking-glass." + +"Why did he give Wilkinson the money?" + +"I guess it's to speculate in wheat or building-lots, and Bob will +certainly lose it all; but that's not what makes me mad. After all, +it's his money; he's been saving it since he steadied down. I can +manage Bob if he's left alone, and thought I'd cut out the friends he +shouldn't have. Wilkinson was the only danger left, but he's a blamed +tough proposition." + +Helen knew Festing disliked the man, but she felt puzzled. "The sum is +not very large," she said. "I don't quite see why Wilkinson thought it +worth while----" + +"It shows he's pinched for money, and there's some hope in that. Then +he doesn't like me, and I imagine he has a pick on your husband. +Stephen froze him off one day when he was getting after Bob. Anyhow, I +mean to get the money back." + +"But can you? It is Bob's cheque." + +"I'm going to try. The bank deals with /me/," Sadie answered. "But +come along; I hear the hired man bringing the rig." + +When they got into the vehicle, Helen remarked that Sadie had brought +a flexible riding whip. Since the quirt was useless for driving, Helen +wondered what she meant to do with it. The trail they took ran through +the grass, a sinuous riband of hard-beaten soil that flashed where it +caught the light. It was seamed by ruts and fringed by wild barley but +in places the grass had spread across it, leaving gaps, into which the +horses' legs and the wheel sank. The smell of wild peppermint rose +from among the crackling stalks as the team brushed through. Now and +then a prairie-hen got up, and small animals, like English squirrels, +squatted by the trail until the wheels were nearly upon them, and then +dived into holes. + +"The gophers are surely plentiful," Sadie remarked. "Don't know that +I've seen so many around before, and that's going to be bad for the +grain. They're generally worst when the crop is poor." + +"Do you think the crop will be poor?" + +Sadie glanced at the sky, which was a dazzling blue, flooded with +light, except where the scattered clouds drove by. + +"We didn't get the June rains, and the frost-damp has gone down pretty +deep. Then we have had very few thunder-storms, and the sand is +blowing bad. It makes trouble in parts of Manitoba, but the scrub +trees in our sand-hills generally hold it up. What does Steve think?" + +"He hasn't told me. Sometimes he looks anxious, but he doesn't talk +about it much." + +"That's Steve's way. I don't know if it's a good way. He sees when +he's up against a hard thing and makes his own plans. Now I want to +know my husband's troubles. You feel better when you can talk." + +Helen agreed with Sadie; she often wished Stephen would talk to her +about his anxieties. He wanted to save her and had confidence in +himself, but she felt that he left her out too much. + +"How does the sand damage the wheat?" she asked. + +"Cuts the stalk. Takes time, of course, but the sharp grit puts down +the grain like a binder knife, if it blows through the field long +enough. However, I'm not worrying much about that; there are worse +things than the sand and drought. We're fools and make our real +troubles; that's what's the matter with us." + +Helen smiled. Sadie was amusing when philosophized, but Helen thought +her views were sound. She had chosen a stern country, but its stinging +cold and boisterous winds were invigorating, and with pluck one could +overcome its material obstacles. It was human weaknesses that made for +unhappiness. + +"Well," she said, "we must hope the rain will come; but hadn't we +better go by the long bluff? The new man has put a fence across the +other trail." + +Sadie left the trail, and as they crossed a hollow the tall grass +rustled about the horses' legs. It had lost its verdure; the red +lilies and banks of yellow flowers had withered on their parched +stalks. When they reached the level the grass was only a few inches +high and the wide plain rolled back in the strong light, shining pale- +yellow and gray. It was only when the shadows passed that one could +see streaks and patches of faded green. In the distance a cluster of +roofs broke the bare expanse, and Helen knew they marked the Wilkinson +ranch. A horse and buggy approached it, looking very small, and she +glanced at Sadie, who said nothing, although her face was stern. By +and by the latter stopped her team in front of the homestead and +fastened the reins to a post. + +"Now," she said, "you sit on the veranda and wait for me. It was +Wilkinson's rig we saw, and I'll find him in." + +Wilkinson looked up from the table at which he was writing when Sadie +entered the room. He was, on the whole, a handsome man, but was rather +fat, and his black eyes were unusually close together. This perhaps +accounted for the obliquity of his glance, which, some believed, +conveyed a useful hint about his character. He was neatly dressed in +light, summer clothes, although the farmers generally wore brown +overalls. As he got up his look indicated that he was trying to hide +his annoyance. + +"This is something of a surprise, Mrs. Charnock," he said politely. +"However, if there's anything I can do--" + +"You can sit down again in the meantime," Sadie replied, and occupied +a chair opposite, with the quirt on her knee. "To begin with, if +you're writing to your Winnipeg friend, you had better wait a bit." + +"I'm not writing to Winnipeg; but don't see what this has to do with +your visit." + +"Then you haven't sent off Bob's cheque yet! I mean to get it back." + +Wilkinson saw that he had made a rash admission. Mrs. Charnock was +cleverer than he thought. + +"If Bob wants it back, why didn't he come himself?" + +"He doesn't know I have come," Sadie answered calmly. + +Wilkinson studied her and did not like her look. Her face was hard, +her color higher than usual, and her eyes sparkled ominously. + +"Well," he said, "you told me you would pay no more of your husband's +debts, but this is not a debt. Besides, the money must be Bob's, since +he gave me the cheque." + +"Why did he give it you?" + +The question was awkward, because Wilkinson did not want to state that +he had persuaded Bob to join him in a speculation. This was the best +construction that could be put upon the matter, and he did not think +it would satisfy Mrs. Charnock. + +"Why does a man give another a cheque?" he rejoined, with a look of +good-humor that he did not feel. + +"The best reason I know of is--for value received. But this doesn't +apply. You allowed it wasn't a debt, so Bob has got no value." + +"One sometimes pays for value one expects to get." + +Sadie laughed scornfully. "If that's what Bob has done, he'll get +badly stung. There's nothing coming to him from a deal with you. I +guess you don't claim he made you a present of the money?" + +"I don't," said Wilkinson, with a frown, for he thought he saw where +she was leading him. + +"Very well. One pays for something one has got or is going to get, and +as we can rule out both reasons, the cheque is bad. In fact, it's not +worth keeping. Better give it me back." + +"Your argument looks all right, Mrs. Charnock, but you don't start +from sure ground. How do you know there's nothing coming to your +husband?" + +"I know you," Sadie rejoined. "Anyhow, the cheque is certainly bad. +They'll turn it down if you take it to the bank." + +Wilkinson made an abrupt movement. "You can't stop your husband's +cheque. You don't mean he hasn't the dollars to meet it?" + +"I don't," said Sadie, with an angry flush. "Bob is honest. The +money's there, but if you think the bank will pay when I tell them +not, go and see. The manager knows me and he knows you." + +Wilkinson saw that he was beaten, but tried to hide his anger. "Well, +it looks as if Bob was lucky. He has a wife who will take care of him, +and I reckon he needs something of the kind. However, here's the +cheque; I want a receipt." + +Sadie wrote the receipt and he noted that her hand shook. As she got +up he glanced at the quirt. + +"Did you ride over? I thought I heard a rig." + +"I drove," said Sadie. "Looks as I needn't have brought the quirt. +Well, I'm glad you agreed about the cheque being bad. I meant to get +it anyhow." + +Wilkinson gave her a curious look, but said nothing and she went out. + +"I've saved Bob's money," she told Helen as she started the team. +"Wilkinson saw my arguments and didn't kick as much as I expected, but +he certainly doesn't like me any better. I think he'll make trouble if +he can." + +"That seems unlikely," Helen remarked. "I imagine that as you have +beaten him he'll be glad to let the matter drop. No doubt he wanted +the money and was vexed because he had to give it up, but I hardly +think he'll try to revenge himself on you. Men don't do these things." + +"My husband and yours don't, but Wilkinson is different," Sadie +answered. + +Charnock had not returned when she reached the farm, and after Helen +left she sat on the veranda, feeling disturbed. Bob had told her he +was going to the railroad to bring out some goods, but he could have +got back two or three hours earlier. Then Wilkinson no doubt knew +where he had gone. A small settlement, with two new hotels, had sprung +up round the station, and as the place was easily reached by the +construction gangs there was now and then some drunkenness and +gambling. For all that, Sadie did not mean to anticipate trouble, and +set about some household work that her drive had delayed. It got dark +before she finished, but Bob did not come, and she went outside again. + +The night was clear and refreshingly cold after the scorching day. The +wind had dropped, everything was very quiet, and she could see for +some distance across the plain. The hollows were picked out by belts +of darker shadow, and the scattered bluffs made dim gray blurs, but +nothing moved on the waste, and she did not hear the beat of hoofs she +listened for. + +For a time she sat still, lost in gloomy thought. Bob's relapse had +been a bitter disappointment, because she had begun to hope that the +danger of his resuming his former habits was past. He had stuck to his +work, which seemed to absorb his interest, and had looked content. +There was ground for believing that with a little judicious +encouragement he might make a good farmer, and Sadie did not grudge +the patient effort necessary to keep him in the proper path. Now he +had left it again and might wander far before she could lead him back. + +For all that, she did not mean to give up. She had fought hard for Bob +and was resolved to win, while there was a ray of comfort. The woman +she had at first thought a danger was her best friend, and she felt +for Helen Festing a grateful admiration that sometimes moved her +deeply. Helen had many advantages that she could not have combated had +they been used against her: grace, polish, and a knowledge of the +world in which Bob had lived. But Helen was on her side. Sadie's +admiration was perhaps warranted, but she undervalued her own patience +and courage. + +At length she got drowsy and forgot her troubles. She did not think +she really went to sleep, but after a time she got up with a start. A +beat of hoofs and rattle of wheels had roused her, and she saw a rig +coming towards the house. For a minute or two she stood shivering and +trying to brace herself. If Bob was driving, things might be better +than she thought; but when the horses stopped another man got down. + +"Perhaps you'd better rouse out your hired man, Mrs. Charnock," he +said awkwardly. "I've got your husband here, but it's going to take +two of us to bring him in." + +Sadie brought a lamp and, with her mouth firmly set, looked into the +rig. Bob lay upon some sacks in an ungainly attitude, and the jolting +had not broken his heavy sleep. It was some time since he had come +home like this, and Sadie felt dejected and tired. Then with an effort +she went to waken the hired man. + +They carried Charnock in, and when she had given the driver some money +she sat down and indulged her passionate indignation. Wilkinson had +sent the rig, but had not been prompted by kindness when he told the +man to drive Bob back; it was his revenge for his defeat. He had found +Bob, made him drunk, when there was nothing to be gained by doing so, +and sent him home like this. The fellow was poison-mean, but she +thought him rash. He had struck her a cruel blow, but she did not mean +to sit still and nurse the wound. She must strike back with all the +force she could use and make him sorry he had provoked her to fight. +Then, putting off her half-formed plans until next day, she went to +bed. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +A COUNTER-STROKE + +When Sadie got up next morning she ordered the buggy to be brought +round, and then went to look at Charnock. He was asleep, of which she +was rather glad, because there was something to be said and she was +highly strung. She could not trust her temper yet and might go too +far. Bob was generally docile, particularly when repentant; but it was +possible to drive him into an obstinate mood when nothing could be +done with him. She was angry, but her anger was mainly directed +against Wilkinson. + +After breakfast she drove off across the plain. It was about eight +o'clock, but the sun was hot. The breeze was not so fresh as usual, +and a bank of dark clouds rolled up above the prairie's edge. They +looked solid and their rounded masses shone an oily black, and she +wondered whether they promised one of the thunder-storms that often +broke upon the plains on summer afternoons. She would have welcomed +the savage downpour, even if it had spoiled her clothes. + +Sadie was getting anxious about the crop. Its failure would mean a +serious loss, and she hated to see labor and money wasted; but this +was not all. Knowing the risks the farmer ran on newly-broken land, +she had not adventured too much of her capital on the first year's +harvest; but success might encourage Bob, while failure would +certainly daunt him. He would work for an object he was likely to +gain, but if disappointed, regretted the exertions he had made, and +refused, with humorous logic, to be stirred to fresh effort. + +"I'm not convinced that farming's my particular duty," he once said. +"When I plow it's in the expectation of cashing the elevator warrants +for the grain. If I'm not to reap the crop, it seems to me that +working fourteen hours a day is a waste of time that might be +agreeably employed in shooting or riding about." + +Sadie urged that one got nothing worth having without a struggle. Bob +rejoined: "If you get the thing you aim at, the struggle's justified; +if you don't you think of what you've missed while you were uselessly +employed. Of course, if you like a struggle, you have the satisfaction +of following your bent; but hustling is a habit that has no charm for +me." + +Sadie reflected that the last remark was true. Bob never hustled; his +talk and movements were marked by a languid grace that sometimes +pleased and sometimes irritated her. It was difficult to make him +angry, and she was often silenced by his whimsical arguments when she +knew she was right. But he was her husband, and she meant to baulk the +man who hoped to profit by his carelessness. + +Then she urged the horse. It was a long drive to the settlement where +she had kept the hotel, and she had not been there for some time. The +goods she and her neighbors bought came from the new settlement on the +railroad, which was not far off; but she had an object in visiting the +other. It was noon when she reached the hotel and sat down to dinner +in the familiar room. She did not know if she was pleased or +disappointed to find the meal served as well as before, but her +thoughts were not cheerful while she ate. She remembered her ambitions +and her resolve to leave the dreary plains and make her mark in +Toronto or Montreal. Now her dreams had vanished and she must grapple +with dull realities that jarred her worse than they had done. + +The dining-room was clean, but unattractive, with its varnished board +walls, bare floor, and wire-mesh filling the skeleton door, which a +spring banged to before the mosquitoes could get in. There were no +curtains or ventilator-fans, the room was very hot, and the glaring +sunshine emphasized its ugliness. Then it was full of flies that fell +upon boards and tables from the poisonous papers, and a big gramophone +made a discordant noise. Sadie remembered Keller's pride in the +machine and how he had bought it, to amuse the boys, after hearing an +electric organ in a Montreal restaurant. Yet she knew her craving for +society must be gratified at such places as this; a rare visit to the +settlement was the only change from monotonous toil. + +When she offered her meal-ticket at the desk the clerk shook his head. + +"You don't need to open your wallet in this house. The boss left word +he'd be glad to see you at the store." + +Sadie, who had meant to see the proprietor, complied, and found him +and his wife in the back office, where she and Bob had often sat. The +woman gave Sadie a friendly smile. + +"I hope they served you well. When you're in town we want you to use +the house like it still belonged to you." + +Sadie made a suitable reply. She had charged a good price for the +business, but had stuck to the Keller traditions and made a straight +deal. Stock and furniture had been justly valued, and when the buyers +examined the accounts she had frankly told them which debts were +doubtful and which were probably bad. It was about these things they +wished to talk to her, and she meant to indulge them. + +"How's trade?" she asked, to give them a lead. + +"In one way, it's good," replied the man. "We're selling out as fast +as we can get the truck; but there's a point I want your views about. +The cheque I gave you wiped off most all the capital I had, +wholesalers put up their prices if you make them wait, and a number of +the boys have a bad habit of letting their bills run on. Now, if you +can give me some advice----." + +"Certainly," said Sadie, who thought the woman looked anxious. +"Suppose you read out the names and what they owe?" + +The man opened a ledger, and she told him what she knew about his +customers; whom he could trust and whom he had better refuse further +credit. Then she looked thoughtful when he said: "Wilkinson, of the +range--" + +"He didn't deal with us." + +"But you know everybody round here and can tell me if he's likely to +make good," the man urged. + +"How much does he owe you?" Sadie asked. + +The man named a rather large sum and she pretended to consider. + +"Well," she replied, "the boys have probably told you that Wilkinson's +not a friend of mine, and since that's so I'm not going to say much +about his character." + +"It's not his character we're curious about. Do you know how he's +fixed?" + +Sadie was silent for a few moments. The others were young and newly +married and had admitted that the purchase of the business had +strained their resources. It was plain that a large bad debt might +involve them in difficulties. Wilkinson had forced her to fight, and +she meant to show him no mercy, but she must say nothing that could +afterwards be brought up against her. + +"Character counts for as much as dollars," she remarked. "That was my +father's motto, and he was never afraid to take steep chances by +backing an honest man. Although he had debts on his books for three or +four years, it was seldom a customer let him down. But he cut out a +crook as soon as he suspected what the fellow was. However, you want +to know how Wilkinson stands? Well, it's a sure thing he finds dollars +tight." + +"Anyhow, a man can't disown his debts in this country." + +"That's so; but if he's a farmer, the homestead laws stop your seizing +his house and land and part of his stock, unless he has mortgaged them +to you. If somebody else holds a mortgage, you generally get stung." + +"The trouble is that if you're too hard on a customer, he tells his +friends, and the opposition gets his trade and theirs." + +"Sure," said Sadie, "Keller's let the opposition have that kind of +trade. A crook's friends are generally like himself, and there's not +much profit in selling goods to folk who don't mean to pay." + +"Has Wilkinson given a mortgage?" the man asked. + +"If he had, it's got to be registered. You can find out at the record +office, and I guess it would pay you to go and see." + +"Well, I hear he's just sold a good bunch of horses. That means he'll +have some money for a while." + +"Then you had better take your bills over and get them paid before the +money's gone," Sadie answered in a meaning tone. + +"If you had the store, would you risk his being able to pay all right +and afterwards dropping you?" + +"I certainly would," said Sadie. "I'd harness my team and start for +the range right now." + +The woman looked at her husband. "That's my notion, Tom; you'd better +go," she said, and turned to Sadie. "It would hit us hard if +Wilkinson's bill got much longer and he let us down." + +Sadie left them and went to a new store farther up the street, after +which she called on an implement dealer who occasionally speculated in +real estate and mortgages, and one or two others. She knew them all, +and they knew that on business matters her judgment was sound. It was +plain that they were suspicious about Wilkinson, but, so far, +undecided what to do. They had doubts, but hesitated to admit that +they had been rash, and shrank from using means that might cost them a +customer. Sadie gave one information she had gathered from another, +and added hints of what she herself knew. The tact she used prevented +their guessing that she had an object, and she did little more than +bring their own suspicions to a head; but she was satisfied when she +returned to the hotel. + +When the horse had rested she drove out of the settlement. For some +distance a wire fence ran along the dusty, graded road, but it ended +at a hollow, seamed by deep ruts that united on the other side, where +a trail emerged. Then for a mile or two, she passed new scattered +homesteads with their windmills and wooden barns, until these dropped +behind and she drove across the empty wilderness. No rain had fallen, +the sky was getting clear and green, and a vivid crimson sunset burned +on the edge of the grass. The air was now cool, and although she was +anxious about the weather, Sadie felt more cheerful than when she had +come. + +She had no scruples about what she had done. For one thing, she had +kept to the truth when she might have made her hints more damaging by +a little exaggeration. Her antagonist had struck her a treacherous +blow; he was dangerous, and must be downed. Then she smiled with grim +humor as she admitted that she had perhaps done enough for a time. +Wilkinson's creditors were on his track; it would be amusing to watch +them play her game. + +It was dark when she reached the farm and found Charnock waiting on +the veranda. He looked dull but not embarrassed, and there was nothing +to indicate that he had been disturbed by her absence. Sadie did not +tell him where she had been and did not talk much. She had found out +that it was better not to make things too easy for Bob. + +"I suppose you have a headache; you deserve it," she said. "I'm tired +and don't want to hear your excuses now." + +"I really haven't begun to make excuses," Charnock answered. + +"Then don't begin. It's late, and you have got to start for the bluff +at sun-up and haul those fence-posts home. The job has been hanging on +too long and must be finished to-morrow." + +"It will be finished before dinner," Charnock replied. "As a matter of +fact, I brought in most of the posts to-day." + +Sadie's look softened, but she did not mean to be gracious yet. + +"I reckoned you'd be loafing round the house and finding fault," she +said and left him. + +When she had gone Charnock smiled. Sadie would, no doubt, come round +to-morrow, and it was lucky she knew nothing about the cheque he had +given Wilkinson; but he wondered where she had been. Now he came to +think of it, Wilkinson had said nothing abut the cheque when they met +at the railroad settlement; but after all there was perhaps no reason +he should do so. + +About seven o'clock one evening a fortnight later, Festing threw down +the cant-pole he had been using to move a big birch log, and lighting +his pipe, stopped and looked about. A shallow creek flowed through a +ravine at the edge of the tall wheat, and below the spot where he +stood its channel was spanned by the stringers of an unfinished +bridge. The creek had shrunk to a thread of water, but Festing, who +had been wading about its bed, was wet and splashed with mire. +Moreover he had torn his threadbare overalls and his hot face was +smeared where he had rubbed off the mosquitoes with dirty hands. + +The evening was hot, he felt tired and moody, and his depression was +not relieved when he glanced at the wheat. There was no wind now, but +the breeze had been fresh, and the ears of grain that were beginning +to emerge from their sheaths dropped in a sickly manner. The stalks +had a ragged look and fine sand lay among the roots. The crop was +damaged, particularly along its exposed edge, although it might +recover if there was rain. Festing, studying the sky, saw no hope of +this. The soft blue to the east and the luminous green it melted into, +with the harsh red glare of the sinking sun, threatened dry and +boisterous weather. Unless a change came soon, the wheat would be +spoiled. + +It was obvious that he had sown too large a crop, and the work this +implied had overtaxed his strength. He had felt the strain for some +time, and now things were going against him it got worse. Hope might +have braced him, but the thought of failure was depressing. For all +that, there were economies he must practise at the cost of extra +labor, and bridging the creek would lessen the cost of transport and +enable him to sell one of his teams. He was late for supper, but +wanted to finish part of the work before he went home. + +By and by he saw Helen stop at the edge of the ravine. Her face was +hot, as if she had been walking fast, and she looked vexed. + +"You have kept us waiting half an hour and don't seem ready yet," she +said. + +"I'm not ready," Festing replied, and stopped abruptly. "Very sorry; I +forgot all about it," he resumed. + +Helen made a gesture of annoyance. She had invited some of their +neighbors to supper and had spent the day preparing the feast. Things, +however, had gone wrong; the stove had got too hot and spoiled her +choicest dishes. + +"You forgot!" she exclaimed. "It really isn't often I trouble you with +guests." + +"That's lucky, because I haven't much time for entertaining people. +I'm overworked just now." + +Helen hesitated because she was afraid she might say too much. She +admired his persevering industry, but had begun to feel that he was +slipping away from her and devoting himself to his farm. Sometimes she +indulged an angry jealousy, and then tried to persuade herself it was +illogical. + +"Then why give yourself another task by building the bridge?" she +asked. + +"I tried to explain that. I can get the thing done with less trouble +when the creek is nearly dry, and if we had to use the ford when +hauling out the grain, it would mean starting with a light load or +keeping a team of horses there. When I've built the bridge and graded +back the road we can take the full number of bags across, and that +makes for economy. It looks as if I'll have to be severely economical +soon." + +Helen colored. She thought he did not mean to vex her, but he had +ventured on dangerous ground. + +"You know that what is mine is yours," she said. + +"In a way, it is, but I put all my capital into the stock and crop, +and must try to get it back. I can't ask my wife for money if I loaf +about and lose my own." + +"You don't loaf," Helen rejoined. "But if you lose your crop from +causes you can't prevent happening, there is no reason you shouldn't +accept my help." + +"I know you're generous and would give me all you had but--" + +Helen shook her head. "You don't see the matter in the right way yet; +but we'll let it go. Get your jacket and come back at once." + +"Must I come?" Festing asked irresolutely. + +"Isn't it obvious?" + +"I don't think so. Can't you tell the folks I'd forgotten and started +something I must finish?" + +"I can't," said Helen sharply. "It hurts to know you had forgotten. +The farm is lonely and I haven't many friends; but I can't tell +outsiders how little that matters to you." + +"I'm sorry," Festing answered with some embarrassment. "Still I think +you're exaggerating; nobody would look at it like that. Our neighbors +know one has to stay with one's work." + +"Bob finds time to go about with his wife." + +"He does," said Festing dryly. "Driving about is easier than farming, +and Bob has no scruples about living on his wife's money. I expect +that was his object when he married her. There's another thing I +forgot; he's coming to-night." + +"He and Sadie have been at the house some time." + +Festing made a sign of resignation. "I could stand the others better. +They know what we may have to face, but nothing bothers Bob, and it's +hard to play up to his confounded cheerfulness when you're not in the +mood. Then I suppose I've got to put on different clothes?" + +Helen forced a smile. When they first came to the homestead, Stephen +had changed his clothes for supper and afterwards devoted himself to +her amusement, sometimes playing chess, and sometimes listening while +she sang. Then, as the days got longer, he had gradually grown +careless, contenting himself with changing his jacket and half an +hour's talk, until at length he sat down to the meal in dusty overalls +and hurried off afterwards. Helen had tried to make excuses for him, +but felt hurt all the same. Stephen was getting slovenly and +neglecting her. + +"It's plain that you must take off those muddy overalls," she said. + +They went back, and supper was delayed while Festing changed. He +forced himself to be polite when he joined his guests, but it cost him +something, and the dishes Helen had carefully prepared were spoiled. +On the whole, he felt grateful to Sadie and Bob, who kept the others +in good-humor and relieved him from the necessity of leading the talk; +but he was glad when they left. + +When the rigs melted into the shadowy plain he stood on the veranda +and yawned. + +"Well," he remarked, "that's over, and it will be some time before +they need come back. I hope none of them will think they have to ask +us out in return." + +"You gave them a very plain hint," Helen said bitterly. + +Festing did not answer and went into the house. He felt he had not +been tactful, but he was very tired, and if he ventured an explanation +might make things worse. Besides, he must get up at four o'clock next +morning. + +Helen sat still for some time, looking out on the prairie. She was +beginning to feel daunted by its loneliness. Except for Sadie +Charnock, visitors seldom came to the farm. Her neighbors lived at +some distance, but she had hoped to plan a round of small reunions +that would break the monotony. Stephen, however, had shown her that +she could expect no help from him, and had actually forgotten her +first party. She felt wounded; it was hard to think that so long as he +had work to do she must resign herself to being left alone. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +FESTING USES FORCE + +A week or so after the supper party Festing started for the settlement +with some pieces of a binder in his wagon. He had bought the machine +second-hand, and meant to replace certain worn parts before harvest +began, although he doubted if this was worth while. The drought was +ripening the grain prematurely and some of it was spoiled, but he must +try to save as much as possible. Reaching the edge of the wheat, he +stopped the team irresolutely, half tempted to turn back, because it +seemed unlikely that the old binder need be used. + +The wind had fallen; the mosquitoes were about and bit his face and +neck. Everything was strangely quiet, it was very hot, and masses of +leaden cloud darkened the horizon. Festing, however, had given up +hoping for rain, which would not make much difference if it came now. + +The front of the wide belt of grain was ragged and bitten into hollows +by the driving sand. The torn stalks drooped and slanted away from the +wind, while others that had fallen lay about their roots. Farther in, +the damage was less, but the ears were half-filled and shriveled. The +field was parti-colored, for the dull, dark green had changed to a +dingy, sapless hue, and the riper patches had a sickly yellow tinge +instead of a coppery gleam. + +Festing's face hardened. If he thrashed out half the number of bushels +he had expected, he would be lucky. He had staked all he had on the +chances of the weather and had lost. It was his first failure and came +as a rude shock to his self-confidence. He felt shaken and disgusted +with himself, for it looked as if he had been a rash fool. Still, if +rain came now, he might save enough to obviate the necessity of using +Helen's money. She would give him all he asked for, but this was a +matter about which he felt strongly, and she knew his point of view. + +Driving on, he met the mail-carrier, who gave him a letter. It was +from Kerr, his former chief on the railroad, who had been moved to a +new section on the Pacific Slope. He told Festing about certain +difficulties they had encountered, and the latter felt a curious +interest. Indeed, he looked back with a touch of regret to the +strenuous days he had spent at the construction camps. The work was +hard, but one was provided with the material required and efficient +tools. Then there was freedom from the responsibility he felt now; one +did one's best and the company took the risk. + +Festing's interest deepened when, at the end of the letter, Kerr told +him about a contract for which nobody seemed anxious to tender. It was +a difficult undertaking, but Kerr thought a bold, resourceful man +could carry it out with profit. He did not know if it would appeal to +Festing, although prairie farmers sometimes went to work with their +teams on a new track when their harvest was poor. Kerr ended with the +hope that this was not the case with Festing. + +The latter sat still for a few minutes with his brows knit and then +started his team. It was too late to think of railroad contracts; he +had chosen his line and must stick to it, but his look was irresolute +as he drove on. + +Some time after Festing reached the settlement, Wilkinson and three or +four others sat, smoking, in the poolroom. This supplied a useful hint +about their character, because supper would not be ready for an hour +or two, and industrious people were busily occupied. The room was hot, +the floor and green tables were sprinkled with poisoned flies, and the +wooden chairs were uncomfortably hard, but it was cooler than the +sidewalk, and the men lounged with their feet on the empty stove. + +"Does anybody feel like another game?" one asked. + +"No," said the man he looked at. "I've lost three dollars, and that's +all I can spare. Can't spare it, for that matter, but it's gone. I'm +going broke if this weather lasts. + +"That's nothing," remarked another. "Some of us have been broke since +we came here; you get used to it. There'll be other folks in a tight +place if the rain doesn't come; but it won't make much difference to +you, Wilkinson. I guess the storekeepers have you fixed now." + +Wilkinson frowned. He knew the remark was prompted by malice because +he had won the money his companion had lost. The fellow, however, had +not exaggerated. His creditors had recently stopped supplies and made +demands with which he was unable to comply, and since they were +obviously consulting each other, it looked as if he would be sold up +and forced to leave the neighborhood. Somebody had put them on his +track and he suspected Mrs. Charnock. He meant to punish her if he +could. + +"I've certainly got to sell off a bunch of young horses sooner than I +meant; I expect you've seen the notices," he said, and added with a +sneer: "They'd have made a much better price if I could have kept them +until the spring, and now's your chance if you have any dollars to +invest. It's a sure snap for anybody who'll help me hold them over." + +One of the men laughed ironically and another asked: "Why don't you +try Charnock? He used to be a partner of yours, and he's more money +than the rest of us." + +Wilkinson saw his opportunity. His companions were loafing gossips, +and those who were married would tell their wives. In a very short +time the rumor he meant to start would travel about the neighborhood, +and there was enough truth in it to make it dangerous and hard to +deny. + +"Charnock's deadbeat. He's as poor as you." + +"His wife has plenty dollars, anyhow." + +"That's so, but she's not going to give him any more," Wilkinson +rejoined. "He married Sadie for her money, and now he hasn't sense +enough to stick to her." + +It was obvious that he had secured the others' attention, for they +waited eagerly, with their eyes fixed on him. The room was quiet, but +a rig came up the street and the rattle of wheels and harness drowned +the sound of steps outside. Nobody noticed that the door, which was +not quite shut, opened wider. + +"What do you mean by that?" one asked. + +"Bob's running after Mrs. Festing. Old sweetheart of his in England, +though he turned her down to marry Sadie. Now she's got hold of him +again--tired of Festing or has a pick on Mrs. Charnock, perhaps. +Anyhow, Bob's round the Festing place all the time, and I don't know +that I blame him much. Mrs. Festing's a looker and Sadie's a difficult +woman to live with." + +"But what has Festing got to say?" + +Wilkinson laughed. "Festing's a bit of a sucker and doesn't know. He's +scared about the big crop he has sown and thinks of nothing but the +weather and his farm, while Bob goes over when he's off at work. But I +guess there's trouble coming soon." + +"It's coming now," said somebody, and Wilkinson's jaw fell slack, and +he sat with his mouth open as Festing strode into the room. + +The latter had come to look for a smith, and hearing Wilkinson's voice +as he went up the steps, waited for a moment or two. He was too late, +in one sense, because the harm had been done, but he could not steal +away. Although the course he meant to take was not very logical, +judgment would be given against him if he did nothing. His sunburned +face was rather white and he stood very stiff, with muscles braced, +looking down at Wilkinson. + +"Get up, you slanderous brute, and tell them it's a lie," he said. + +"I'll be shot if I will!" said Wilkinson, who got on his feet +reluctantly. "You know it's true." + +Then he flung up his arm, a second too late, for Festing struck him a +smashing blow and he staggered, with the blood running down his face. + +He recovered in a moment, and seizing a billiard cue brought the thick +end down on Festing's head. Festing swayed, half-dazed, but grasped +the cue, and they struggled for its possession, until it broke in the +middle, and Wilkinson flung his end in the other's face. After this, +for a minute or two, the fight was close and confused, and both made +the most of any advantage that offered. + +In Western Canada, personal combat is not hampered by rules. The main +thing is to disable one's antagonist as quickly as possible, and +Festing knew that Wilkinson would not be scrupulous. He must not be +beaten, particularly since his defeat would, to some extent, confirm +the slander. + +He grappled with Wilkinson as a precaution, because another cue stood +near, and with a tense effort threw him against the empty stove. The +shock was heavy enough to bring the stove-pipe down, and a cloud of +soot fell upon the struggling men, while the pipe rolled noisily +across the floor. Wilkinson, however, stuck to him, and they reeled up +and down between the wall and table, getting an arm loose now and then +to strike a blow, and scattering the chairs. Nobody interfered or +cleared the ground, and by and by Wilkinson caught his foot and fell +down, bringing Festing with him. After this, they fought upon the +floor, rolling over among the chairs, until their grip got slack. Both +got up, breathing hard, and Festing gasped: + +"Tell them you're a liar. It's the last chance you'll get!" + +Wilkinson did not answer, but struck him before he could guard, and +the fight went on again amidst a cloud of dust that rose from the +dirty boards. Then it ended suddenly, for Festing got his left arm +free as he forced his antagonist towards the open door. He struck with +savage fury, and Wilkinson, reeling backwards across the narrow +veranda, plunged down the stairs and fell into the street. He did not +get up, and Festing leaned against the wall and wiped his bleeding +face. + +"Pick up the hog and take him to the hotel," he said, and tried to +fill his pipe with shaking hands while the rest went out. + +Other people joined them in the street, and Festing, stealing away as +a crowd began to gather, went to the implement store, where he washed +his face and brushed his damaged clothes. There was a cut on his +forehead and his jacket was badly torn, while some of the soot that +had fallen upon it would not come off. After a rest and a smoke, +however, he did not feel much worse, and the dealer, going to the +hotel, brought back news that Wilkinson had driven home. + +"I guess you have done all you could and can let the fellow go," he +said. "My notion is he won't be in the neighborhood long." + +An hour later, Festing drove out of the settlement, with a strip of +sticking plaster on his forehead and his jacket clumsily mended. The +sky was now a curious leaden color, and the wild barley shone a livid +white against the dark riband of the trail; the air was very hot and +there was not a breath of wind. Festing noted that the horses were +nervous and trotted fast, although they had made a long journey. Now +and then they threw up their heads and snorted, and swerved violently +when a gopher ran across the trail or a prairie-hen got up. The flies +seemed to have gone, but the mosquitoes were out in clouds, and the +hand with which he slapped his face and neck was soon smeared with +small red stains. He could not hold the whip; but it was not needed, +because the team rather required to be checked than urged. + +When the trail permitted he let them go, and swung, lost in gloomy +thoughts, with the jolting of the rig. The damaging part of +Wilkinson's statement was false, but since part was true the tale +would spread and some would believe the worst. It was impossible to +doubt Helen, but he was angry with her. She had let her ridiculous +notion of reforming Bob carry her away. Festing did not think Bob +could be reformed, but it was Sadie's business, not Helen's. Besides, +he had objected to her encouraging the fellow to hang about the +homestead, and she had disregarded his warnings. Now, the thing must +be stopped, and it would be horribly disagreeable to tell her why. She +had been obstinate and rash, but after all she meant well and would be +badly hurt. He began to feel sorry for her, and his angry thought's +centered on Charnock. + +It was, of course, ridiculous to imagine that Bob was seriously trying +to make love to Helen; he knew her character too well. All the same, +the fellow might amuse himself by mild indulgence in romantic +sentiment. He was a fool and a slacker, and had now humiliated Helen +for the second time. The longer Festing thought about it, the angrier +he got, and when he roused himself as the horses plunged down the side +of a ravine he was surprised to note how far he had gone. He had just +time to tighten the reins and guide the team across the open log +bridge at the bottom, and as they plodded up the other side saw that +he had better get home as soon as possible. + +The drooping leaves of the birches in the hollow flittered ominously, +and when he reached the summit a bluff that stood out from the plain +two or three miles off suddenly vanished. It looked as if a curtain +had been drawn across the grass. The horses set off at a fast trot, +and the rig jolted furiously among the ruts. It would not be dark for +an hour, but the gray obscurity that had hidden the bluff was getting +near. At its edge and about a mile off a pond shone with a strange +sickly gleam. + +Then a dazzling flash fell from the cloud bank overhead and touched +the grass. A stunning crash of thunder rolled across the sky, and the +team plunged into a frantic gallop. Festing braced himself in a vain +attempt to hold them, for the trail was half covered with tall grass +and broken by badger holes. He was soon breathless and dazzled, for +the lightning fell in forked streaks that ran along the plain, and the +trail blazed in front of the horses' feet. Thunder is common in +Canada, but it is on the high central plains that the storms attain +their greatest violence. + +The team plunged on, and Festing, jolting to and fro, durst not lift +his eyes from the trail. The storm would probably not last long and +might do some good if it were followed by moderate rain. But he was +not sure that moderate rain would fall. By and by a few large drops +beat upon his hat, there was a roar in the distance, and a cool +draught touched his face. It died away, but the next puff was icy +cold, and the roar got louder. He looked up, for he knew what was +coming, but there was not a bluff in sight that would shield him from +the wind. + +Turning down his hat-brim against the increasing rain, he let the +horses go. He need not try to hold them; the storm would stop them +soon. It broke upon him with a scream and a shower of sand and +withered grass. He staggered as if he had got a blow, and then leaned +forward to resist the pressure. The horses swerved, and he had trouble +to keep them on the trail, but their speed slackened and they fell +into a labored trot. For a few minutes they struggled against the +gale, and then the roar Festing had heard behind the scream drowned +the rumbling thunder. He threw up his arm to guard his face as the +terrible hail of the plains drove down the blast. + +It fell in oblique lines of ragged lumps of ice, hammering upon the +wagon and bringing the horses to a stop. They began to plunge, turning +half round, while one pressed against the other, in an effort to +escape the savage buffeting. Festing let them have their way at the +risk of upsetting the rig, and presently they stopped with their backs +to the wind. He let the reins fall, and the hail beat upon his bowed +head and shoulders like a shower of stones. The horses stood limp and +trembling, as powerless as himself. + +Their punishment did not last long. The hail got thinner and the lumps +smaller; the roar diminished and Festing heard it recede across the +plain. The wind was still savage, but it was falling, and the thunder +sounded farther off. There was a savage downpour of drenching rain, +and when this moderated he pulled himself together, and turning the +horses, resumed his journey. He was wet to the skin, his shoulders +were sore, and his face and hands were bruised and cut. Pieces of ice, +some as large as hazelnuts, lay about the wagon, and the wild barley +lay flat beside the trail. Not a blade of grass stood upright as far +as he could see, and the ruts in which the wheels churned were full of +melting hail and water. + +It was getting dark when his homestead rose out of the plain; a +shadowy group of buildings, marked by two or three twinkling lights. +He was wet and cold, but he stopped by the wheat and nerved himself to +see what had happened to the crop. He had not had much hope, but for +all that got something of a shock. There was no standing grain; the +great field looked as if it had been mown. Bruised stalks and torn +blades lay flat in a tattered, tangled mass, splashed with sticky mud. +The rain that might have saved him had come too late and was finishing +the ruin the sand and hail had made. + +Then the downpour thickened and the light died out, and he drove to +the house. He could see in the morning if any remnant of the crop +could be cut, but there would not be enough to make much difference. +Hope had gone, and his face was stern when he called the hired man and +got down stiffly from the dripping rig. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +HELEN MAKES A MISTAKE + +When Festing had changed his clothes he entered the small sitting-room +with an effort at cheerfulness. The room was unusually comfortable for +a prairie homestead. The floor was stained, rugs were spread on the +polished boards, and Helen had drawn the curtains, which harmonized in +color with the big easy chairs. There were books in well-made cases, +and two or three good pictures on the painted walls, while a tall +brass lamp with a deep shade threw down a soft light. Helen had put a +meal on the table, and Festing sat down with a feeling that was half +uneasiness and half content. + +While he ate he glanced at his wife. She wore a pretty and rather +fashionable dress that she kept for evenings. She looked fresh and +vigorous, although the summer had been hot and she worked hard; the +numerous petty difficulties she had to contend with had left no mark. +Her courage had always been evident, but she had shown a resolution +that Festing had not quite expected. He admired it, in a way, but it +was sometimes awkward when they took a different point of view. + +There was a charm in coming back to a home like this when he was tired +and disappointed, but its taste and comfort were now disturbing. For +one thing, he had perhaps not made the best use of his privileges, +and, for another, Helen might have to be satisfied with a simpler mode +of life. It hurt him to think of this, because he had hoped to +beautify the house still further, so that she should miss nothing she +had been used to in the Old Country. It was obvious that she +understood something of his misfortune, for her look was sympathetic; +but she let him finish his supper before she began to talk. + +"Your jacket is badly torn, Stephen," she remarked when he lighted his +pipe. "And how did you cut your face?" + +"The hail was pretty fierce." + +"It was terrible. We never had storms like that in England. I was +frightened when I thought of your being out on the prairie. But I +don't mean the small bruises. How did you cut your forehead?" + +"Oh, that!" said Festing awkwardly. "I did it when I fell over a stove +at the settlement. The pipe came down and I imagine the edge struck +me." + +"You would have known if it hit you nor not." + +"Well, it might have been the top of the stove. The molding was +sharp." + +"But how did you fall against the stove?" Helen persisted. + +Festing did not want to tell her about the fight with Wilkinson. He +had resolved to say nothing about the matter until morning. + +"I tripped. There was a chair in the way and it caught my foot." + +Helen did not look altogether satisfied, but let the matter go. + +"Has the hail done much damage to the wheat?" + +"Yes," said Festing, with grim quietness. "I imagine it has done all +the damage that was possible. So far as I could see, the crop's wiped +out." + +They were sitting near together, and Helen, leaning forward, put her +hand on his arm with a gesture of sympathy. + +"Poor Stephen! I'm dreadfully sorry. It must have been a blow." + +Festing's hard look softened. "It was. When I stopped beside the wreck +I felt knocked out, but getting home braced me up. I begin to feel I +might have had a worse misfortune and mustn't exaggerate the +importance of the loss." + +Helen was silent for a few minutes, but she was sensible of a certain +relief. She was sorry for her husband, but there was some +compensation, since it looked as if a ray of light had dawned on him. +Although she had struggled against the feeling, she was jealous of the +farm that had kept him away from her. + +"I think you sowed too large a crop, and you could not have gone on +working as you have done," she said. "It would have worn you out." + +Festing put down his pipe and looked at her with surprise. "You don't +seem to understand that I'll have to work harder than before." + +"I don't understand," said Helen, taking away her hand. "To begin +with, it's impossible; then I'd hoped the loss of money, serious as it +is, would have made you cautious and, in a sense, more content." + +"You hoped the loss of the money--!" Festing exclaimed. "Did you ever +know losing money make anybody content? The thing's absurd!" + +Helen made a gesture of protest. "Stephen, dear, try to see what I +mean. You have been doing too much, running too big risks, and fixing +all your thought upon the farm. It has made you irritable and +impatient, and the strain is telling on your health. This could not go +on long, and although I'm truly sorry the wheat is spoiled, it's some +relief to know you will be forced to be less ambitious. Besides, it's +foolish to be disturbed. Neither of us is greedy, and we have enough. +In fact, we have much that I hardly think you value as you ought." + +"I haven't enough; that's the trouble." + +"Oh," said Helen, "you know that all I have belongs to both." + +"It doesn't," Festing answered in a stubborn tone. "You don't seem to +realize yet that I can't change my views about this matter. I've lost +most of my money, but that's no reason I should lose my wife's. +Besides, since you bought the farm, you haven't a large sum left." He +paused and indicated the handsome rugs and furniture. "Then it costs a +good deal to live up to this kind of thing." + +"We can change that; I can manage with less help and be more +economical. There is much that we can go without. I wouldn't mind at +all, Stephen, if it would help you to take things easily." + +Festing colored. "No. I can't let you suffer for my rashness. It's my +business to give you all the comforts you need." + +"Ah," said Helen, "I like you to think of me. But something's due to +pride. I wonder how much?" + +"I don't know," said Festing, rather wearily. "I'm what I am and +haven't much time to improve myself. For that matter, I'll have less +time now." + +"Then what do you mean to do?" + +"Make the most of what I have left. I'd hoped to give you a change +this winter--take you to Montreal and go skating and tobogganing, but +that's done with. I believe I have money enough to begin again in a +small way and work up. It may take me two or three years to get back +to where I was, but somehow I will get back." + +"Then you are going on as before; concentrating all your mind upon the +farm, taking no rest, denying yourself every pleasure you might have +had?" + +"I'm afraid that's the only way. It's a pretty grim outlook, but I +think I can stand the strain." + +"Then I suppose I must try," said Helen, very quietly. + +She was silent afterwards, and Festing lit his pipe. Something stood +between them, and she felt that it was not less dangerous because +their motives were good. Had they differed from selfishness, agreement +might have been easier, but an estrangement that sprang from principle +was hard to overcome. She wanted to help her husband and keep him to +herself; he meant to save her hardship and carry out a task that was +properly his. But perhaps their motives were not so fine as they +looked. Suppose there was shabby jealousy on her side, and false pride +on his? Well, Stephen was tired and could not see things in the proper +light, and it was some relief when he got up and went out. Helen +picked up a book, in the hope of banishing her uneasy thoughts. + +Next morning Festing came in for breakfast, feeling gloomy and +preoccupied. He had not slept much and got up early to examine the +damaged grain. It looked worse than he had thought and, for the most +part, must be burned off the ground. There were patches that might, +with difficulty, be cut, but he hardly imagined the stooks would pay +for thrashing. Moreover, he had bought and fed a number of expensive +Percheron horses, which ought to have been used for harvesting and +hauling the grain to the railroad, and had engaged men at lower wages +than usual, on the understanding that he kept them through the winter. +Now there was nothing for both to do, although their maintenance would +cost as much as before. + +He read Kerr's letter again. If he had not been married, it would have +given him a chance of overcoming his difficulties. A man and a team of +horses could do all that was required on the farm in winter, and he +could have taken the others to British Columbia. Kerr would arrange +for free transport, and, if he was lucky, he might earn enough on the +railroad to cover part of his loss. But this was impossible. He could +not leave Helen. + +Then there was the other matter. He had not yet told her what +Wilkinson had said, but she must be told, and Bob's visits must stop. +The trouble was that he had already vexed her by refusing her help, +and this would not make his delicate task easier. Besides, he was not +in the mood to use much tact. His nerves were raw; the shock he had +got had left him savage and physically tired. For all that, the thing +could not be put off. + +He said nothing until breakfast was over, and then, asking Helen to +come with him, went on to the veranda. The sun was hot, the sky clear, +and thin steam drifted across the drenched plain. Had the storm come +without the hail a few weeks sooner, it would have saved his crop; but +now the vivifying moisture seemed to mock him. It had come too late; +the wheat had gone. Struggling with a feeling of depression, he turned +to his wife. + +"There's something we must talk about; and I hope you'll be patient +with me if you get a jar." + +He leaned against the balustrade, nervously fingering his pipe, and +Helen sat down opposite. She felt curious and disturbed. + +"Well?" she said. + +"To begin with, I'll tell you what happened at the settlement +yesterday. You must remember that the statements are Wilkinson's." + +Helen's color rose, and when he stopped her face was flushed and her +eyes were very bright. + +"Ah," she said in a strained voice. "But what did you do?" + +Festing smiled rather grimly. "I dragged the brute about the floor and +threw him into the street. I don't know that it was a logical denial +of the slander, but it was what the others expected and I had to +indulge them." + +"And that was how you cut your forehead?" + +"Yes," said Festing, and for a few moments Helen tried to regulate her +thoughts. + +She felt shocked and disgusted, but did not mean to let her anger +master her, because there were matters that must be carefully weighed. +Indeed, it was something of a relief to dwell upon the first. To hear +of Festing's thrashing her traducer had given her a pleasant thrill, +but all the same she vaguely disapproved. He had not taken a dignified +line and had really made things worse. It was humiliating to feel that +she had been the subject of a vulgar poolroom brawl. + +"Could you not have found a better way to silence him?" she asked. + +"I could not. I was afraid you wouldn't like it, but you must try to +understand that I was forced to play up to local sentiment. English +notions of what is becoming don't hold good here; you can't stop a man +like Wilkinson with a supercilious look. If I'd let the thing go, the +boys would have thought his statements true, and the tale is bad +enough to deal with." + +Helen gave him a steady look, but her color was high and her face was +hard. + +"But you know it isn't true!" + +"Of course," said Festing, with quiet scorn. "All that the brute +insinuated is absolutely false. Bob's a fool, but he knows you, and +I'm beginning to think he's a little in love with his wife." + +"Ah," said Helen, "I knew you knew. But I felt I must hear you say +so." + +Festing hesitated. One difficulty had vanished, but there was another, +and he hoped Helen would see his point of view. + +"For all that, in a way, there was some truth in the story; enough, in +fact, to make it dangerous, and I think you have been rash. Bob has +been here too often, and you will remember I objected to his coming." + +"You did," said Helen. "You were rather disagreeable about it; but you +objected because he liked to talk and kept you from your work." + +"He certainly talked. General conversation is all right in English +country houses where nobody had much to do, but casual chatterers who +insist on talking when you're busy are a disgusting nuisance in +Canada. However, I don't think that's worth arguing about." + +"It is not," said Helen, with a smile. "Besides, I know your opinions +about that point. What do you wish me to do?" + +"Warn Sadie to keep Bob at home. There's no reason she shouldn't visit +you, but you can't go there." + +The color returned to Helen's face and she got up. She looked stately +with her air of injured pride. + +"Do you mean that I should rule my conduct to suit the ideas of the +drunken loafers at the settlement poolroom?" + +"Oh!" said Festing impatiently, "try to be sensible! You have done a +foolish thing, but you needn't make it worse. The trouble is that +those loafers' opinions will be reflected all round the neighborhood. +Wilkinson won't say anything more; at least, he won't when I'm about; +but I can't keep on throwing out people who agree with him." + +"That is plain. If you were not so angry, the remark would be +humorous." + +"I'm not angry," Festing rejoined. + +"Well, I am," said Helen. "And I think I have some grounds. Must I let +those tipsy gossips dictate when I may see my friends?" + +"Does it matter if you see them or not? You don't really care for +Bob." + +"No," said Helen, trying to be calm. "In a way, I don't care for Bob; +that is, I'm glad I didn't marry him. But I don't see why I should +stop him coming here when Sadie wants to bring him. She's my friend, +and she knows it does Bob good. I'm too angry to flatter you, Stephen, +but you have some influence--" + +Festing laughed. "All the influence I've got won't go far with Bob. I +don't say the fellow's vicious, but he's an extravagant slacker and a +fool, which is perhaps as bad. Anyhow, if he can be reformed at all, +it's Sadie's business, and I've no doubt she finds it an arduous job. +There's no use in an outsider meddling, and your anxiety for his +improvement might be misunderstood. In fact, it has been seriously +misunderstood." + +"You seem to have made up your mind about the matter," Helen remarked +with a curious look. + +"I have. Perhaps the easiest way would be for you to give Sadie a +hint." + +"Suppose I refuse?" + +"Then I shall have to talk to Bob. After all, that might be better." + +Helen flushed, but her color faded and her face got white. "You are +willing to let this scurrilous gossip influence you as far as that? Do +you mean to forbid my friends coming to see me?" + +"I won't have Bob hanging round my house. The wastrel has done you +harm enough." + +"You forget something," Helen rejoined in a strained, cold voice. "The +house is mine." + +She knew her mistake as she saw the change in Festing's look, and +weakly turned her head. When she looked back it was too late. His +hands were clenched and his gaze was fixed. + +"I--I didn't quite mean that," she faltered. + +"Anyhow, it's true," said Festing quietly. "The farm is yours as well, +and I admit you have no grounds for being satisfied with the way I've +managed your property. You won't have much trouble in getting a better +steward." + +Helen glanced at him, with a hint of fear. "But I don't want anybody +else. Do you mean to give up the farm?" + +"Yes. As soon as I can arrange things for you I'm going to British +Columbia for a time. I've been offered a railroad contract, and as +it's a job I know something about, I mayn't fail at that." + +"And you will leave me alone to face this slander?" + +"The remedy's in your hands. I'm powerless if you won't use it. I +can't forbid Bob coming here; you can." + +Helen hesitated. It was unfortunate that both were in an abnormal +mood. They had borne some strain, and the shock of the disaster to the +crop had left them with jangled nerves. This clouded Helen's judgment, +but reenforced her pride. She had meant well when she tried to help +Sadie with Bob, and could not give way to her husband's unreasonable +prejudice. This was a matter of principle. She could help Bob and must +not be daunted by vulgar gossip. + +"No," she said; "I can't break my promise to Sadie for the reasons you +give. You must do what you think best." + +Festing made a sign of acquiescence and went down the steps, while +Helen bit her lip. She wanted to call him back, but somehow could not. +It might be easier if he would look round, but he went on across the +grass and his step was resolute, although his head was bent. Then she +got up, and going to her room, sat down trembling. She had let her +best chance go; Stephen's resolve would stiffen, for when he had made +a choice he was hard to move. Besides, he had wounded her deeply. He +did not seem to understand that if he went away he would give people +ground for thinking the slander true. He ought to have seen this if he +had thought about her. Perhaps he had seen it and refused to let it +influence him. Well, if he wanted a reconciliation, he must make the +first offer. + +In the meantime, Festing went to look for the foreman, whom he could +trust. After some talk, the man agreed to manage the farm for the +winter on the terms Festing indicated. Then the latter asked if the +other men would go with him to the Pacific Slope, and finding them +willing, went back to his office and carefully studied his accounts. +He was glad to think that Helen had sufficient help and that the staid +Scottish housekeeper would take care of her. By and by he wrote a note +and then drove off to the settlement. He did not come back until next +morning, but his plans were made and he only waited a telegram from +Kerr. Three or four days later the telegram arrived. + +"All fixed," it ran. "Pass for transport mailed. Come along soon as +possible." + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +SADIE SEES A WAY + +Soon after Festing started for British Columbia Sadie drove over to +the farm; because she had heard about the fight in the poolroom and +suspected why he had gone. At first she found it difficult to break +down Helen's reserve, but the latter could not resist her frank +sympathy, and softening by degrees, allowed herself to be led into +confidential talk. Sadie waited until she thought she understood the +matter, and then remarked: + +"So you stuck to your promise that you'd help me with Bob, although +you saw what it would cost? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you hated +us." + +"It wasn't altogether the promise," Helen replied. "We were both +highly strung, and I thought Stephen hard and prejudiced; it seemed +ridiculous that he should care what the loafers said. But I don't hate +you. The fault was really mine, and I want a friend." + +"Well," said Sadie, "I feel I've got to help put this trouble right, +if I can." She paused and asked with some hesitation: "Will Steve be +away long?" + +"I don't know," Helen answered dejectedly. "He hinted that he might +not come until spring; I think he means to stop until he has earned +enough to make him independent. That's partly my fault--I said +something rash. If I hadn't had more money than him, it wouldn't have +happened." + +Sadie smiled. "My having more money won't make trouble between me and +Bob; he doesn't mind how much I've got. But I suppose you want Steve +back?" + +"Of course! It's all I want, but the matter is not as simple as it +looks. I don't think he will come back as long as he's poor, and if he +does, he won't use my capital, and things will be as before. If he +earns some money, I should feel hurt because he was obstinate and +wouldn't let me help. That's why I don't know what to do. I wish I'd +never had the money!" + +Sadie thought Helen had some ground she had not mentioned yet for her +distress. Moreover, it looked as if she still felt she had a grievance +against Festing, and their clashing ideas about the money did not +altogether account for this. + +"I guess you're keeping something back." + +Helen's reserve had broken down. She was half ashamed because she had +lost it, but she felt the need of sympathy, and Sadie could be +trusted. + +"He didn't see, or didn't mind, that his going away would bear out the +wicked story!" she exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "I feel that was the +worst." + +"I don't know that it looks quite as bad as you think. It's a common +thing for a farmer who has lost his crop to go off and work on a new +railroad, particularly if he has teams the construction boss can use. +Anyhow, I guess the thing will come right, and I'll help if I can. But +I want to see my way before I move." + +Helen did not answer, and soon afterwards Sadie left the homestead. +She said nothing to Charnock about her visit, but started for the +settlement next morning and informed herself about what had happened +at the poolroom and what people thought. Then she drove home, and +getting back at dusk, sat down opposite Charnock, who lounged in a +basket chair with a pipe in his mouth. Her eyes twinkled with rather +grim humor. + +"You don't look as if anything bothered you," she said. + +"It's possible," Charnock agreed. "I suppose I'm lucky because I have +nothing much to bother about." + +"You wouldn't bother about it, anyhow. You leave that kind of thing to +me." + +Charnock gave her a quick glance. She was not angry, which was +something of a relief, because Sadie was difficult when she let +herself go. Besides, he was not conscious of having done anything to +vex her since he gave Wilkinson the cheque. But she looked resolute. + +"I've a good excuse," he answered. "I've got a remarkably capable +wife." + +"We'll cut out the compliments. I don't think you have seen any of the +boys from the settlement since Festing left." + +Charnock said he had not done so, and she gave him a thoughtful look. + +"I suppose you can't remember when you last did something useful; +something that would help somebody else?" + +"It's a painful confession, but I can't remember. Still I've some +experience of being helped along a way I didn't want to go, which +leads me to believe it's often kinder to leave folks alone." + +"Anyhow, you have done some harm." + +"I'm afraid that's true. I don't know that I meant to do much harm, +but it's generally easier than doing good. For example, I've given you +some trouble; but at the moment I can't think of a new offense." + +"You can quit joking and put down that newspaper. It looks as if you +didn't know why Festing left?" + +Charnock said he could not guess, and got up abruptly when Sadie told +him. He kicked the newspaper out of his way and crossed the floor with +angry strides. His face was red when he stopped in front of his wife. + +"You don't believe the lying tale!" + +"No," said Sadie, calmly. "If I had believed it, I wouldn't have +talked to you like this." + +"Thank you! Now we have cleared the ground, I'm certainly going to do +something. I'll begin by driving over to Wilkinson's to-morrow, and +I'll take a whip." + +"Festing 'tended to that matter before he left, and making another +circus won't help. Besides, Wilkinson has got to quit. You'll see +notices about his sale soon; I fixed that up." + +Charnock laughed. "You're a marvel, Sadie, but the brute deserves it. +Well, if I mustn't thrash him, what's your plan?" + +"You'll go to British Columbia and bring Festing back." + +"I will, by George!" said Charnock. "We owe him and Helen much, and +the job is obviously mine--by joining Festing I give Wilkinson the +lie. You're clever, and I expect you saw this. Anyhow, I'll start; but +Festing's an obstinate fellow. Suppose he won't come back?" + +"He mayn't at first. If so, you'll have to wait." + +Charnock turned away and walked about the floor while Sadie watched +him, pleased but curious. Bob was rather hard to move, but he was +moved now. He came back, and sitting down, looked at her thoughtfully. + +"I imagine you are giving me a bigger job than you know. If Festing +has taken the railroad contract, he'll probably stop until he had +carried it out. Now I don't imagine I'd find it amusing to loaf about +and watch him work; for one thing, it's pretty cold in the ranges +after the snow comes." + +"Well?" said Sadie. + +Charnock leaned forward with an apologetic smile. "I'd like to take a +share in the contract and help him through; that is, of course, if he +won't come back at once. But there's a difficulty; I haven't the +cash." + +"You want me to give you some?" + +"Yes. I shouldn't feel much surprised if you refused. I've squandered +your money before, but this time I mean business. Can't you see that I +have, so to speak, got my chance at last?" + +"I don't quite see. You have had many chances." + +"I have," Charnock agreed; but there was a new note in his voice and a +look in his eyes that Sadie had not often seen. "I've been a fool, but +perhaps it doesn't follow that I'm incapable of change. However, let's +be practical. The crop is spoiled, we have no grain to haul in, and +there'll be nothing doing here while the snow is on the ground. Well, +if Festing can get some of his money back, why can't I? I've wasted +yours long enough, and now, if I can't bring him home, I'll stop with +him until we both make good." + +"You mean that, Bob?" + +"I do. Give me a chance to prove it." + +Sadie got up, and putting her hands on his shoulders, kissed him. +"Very well. You shall have all the money you want." + +Then she went back to her chair and turned her head. She had borne +with her husband's follies and fought hard for him, sometimes with +hope and sometimes in desperation, but always with unflinching +courage. Now it looked as if she had won. Victory was insecure yet, +and there was a risk that it might turn to defeat, but Sadie never +shrank from a daring venture. For a moment she could not speak; her +heart was full. + +"Hallo!" said Charnock, who got up and came towards her. "Crying, +Sadie? Will you miss me as much as that?" + +Sadie hastily wiped her eyes. "Yes, Bob; I'll miss you all the time. +But if you'll come back the man you are now, I'll wait as long as you +like." + +"I'll try," said Charnock simply. "I'm not going to protest, but you +deserve a much better husband than you've got. If I can't come back +better fit to live with you, I won't come back at all." + +"I wouldn't like that," Sadie answered, smiling uncertainly. "But I +guess I know what you mean. I'll wait, dear, because I know you are +going to make good." + +Then, feeling that she had said enough, she began to make plans. +Something might be saved from the ruined crop and she had better keep +a heavy team, but Charnock could have the other horses if they were +required. She could carry on whatever work was possible after the +frost set in, and would pay off one of the hired men. Charnock +approved, and after a time Sadie leaned back in her chair. + +"It's all fixed, but perhaps we mayn't need these plans," she said. +"Remember you're really going there to bring Festing home." + +"That's understood. However, I don't think he'll come, and if so, it +will be Helen's money that prevents him. If he's foolish enough to +doubt her, I can put him right, which will be something." + +"Yes," said Sadie, with a sigh. "Well, if he won't come, you must stop +and do the best you can." + +In the meantime, Festing reached the railroad camp. It was raining +when the construction train rolled noisily through a mountain gorge, +and he stood at the door of the caboose, looking out. Three or four +hundred feet below, a green river, streaked with muddy foam, brawled +among the rocks, for the track had been dug out of a steep hillside. +Festing knew this was difficult work; one could deal with rock, +although it cost much to cut, but it was another matter to bed the +rails in treacherous gravel, and the fan-shaped mounds of shale and +soil that ran down to the water's edge showed how loose the ground was +and the abruptness of the slope. Above, the silver mist drifted about +the black firs that clung to the side of the mountain, and in the +distance there was a gleam of snow. Some of the trees had fallen, and +it was significant that, for the most part, they did not lie where +they fell. They had slipped down hill, and the channels in the ground +indicated that the shock had been enough to start a miniature +avalanche which had carried them away. The pitch was near the slant +engineers call the angle of rest, but Festing thought there was rock +not far beneath, which prevented the solidification of the +superincumbent soil. It looked as if his contract would be difficult +and he would earn his pay. + +As the cars passed he saw the ballast creep about the ends of the +ties, which reached to the edge of the descent, and in places small +streams of gravel had run down, leaving hollows round the timber. The +harsh jolting indicated the consequences, but he knew that in the West +railroads are built as fast as possible and made safe afterwards. For +that matter, he had often run risks that would have daunted engineers +used to conservative English methods. In the meantime, the speed was +slackening, and by and by the harsh tolling of the locomotive bell +echoed among the pines. Tents, iron huts, and rude log shacks slipped +past; men in muddy slickers drew back against the bank, and then the +train stopped. + +Festing got down into the water that flowed among the ties, and Kerr +came forward in dripping slickers. + +"If you want help to get the teams out, I'll send some of the boys," +he said. "If not, you had better come along and I'll show you your +shack. I told our cook to fix your supper, and I'll be glad to sit +down for a time out of the wet." + +Festing followed him along the descending track, which presently ended +at a ledge of rock sixty or seventy feet above the river. Wire ropes +spanned the gap between the banks, and near the middle a rock islet +broke the surface of the savage flood. Here men were pouring cement +into holes among the foundations of an iron frame, while suspended +trollies clanged across the wires. On the other bank was a small flat +where shacks of log and bark stood among dripping tents. The roar of +the river filled the gorge, but its deep note was broken by the rattle +of hammers, clash of shovels, and clang of thrown-down rails. + +The sounds of keen activity stirred Festing's blood. He had a touch of +constructive genius, but lack of specialized training had forced him +into the ranks of the pioneers. Others must add the artistic finish +and divide the prizes of ultimate victory; his part was to rough out +the work and clear the way. But he was satisfied with this, and +something in him thrilled as he heard in the crash of a blasting +charge man's bold challenge to the wilderness. Kerr waited with a +twinkle of understanding amusement while Festing looked about, and +then took him up the hill. + +"You have come back," he remarked. "Well, I guessed you would come. +After all, this is your job; it's here you belong." + +"That is so, in a sense," Festing dryly agreed. "It looks as if my job +was to get tired and wet and dirty while others got the dollars; but +it's a job with different sides. Farming's as much a part of it as +this, and has very similar disadvantages." + +"There's an altruistic theory that the dollars don't count; but it's +easier to believe when you draw your wages regularly, and I've known +it break down when an engineer was offered a more lucrative post. +Anyhow, I reckon it's our business to make good, even if our pay isn't +equal to our desserts, which happens pretty often when you work on the +railroad." + +"If you work on a farm, you often don't get paid at all." + +Kerr laughed and indicated the pines that rolled up the hill in somber +spires. + +"Well, there's your raw material, and you won't have much trouble to +bring the logs down, though you may find stopping them from plunging +into the river a harder thing. However, you have some notion of what +you're up against, and I'll show you the plans and specifications when +we get out of the rain." + +He stopped in front of a small log shack, and opening the door, +beckoned Festing in. There was an earth floor, and a bunk, filled with +swamp-hay, was fixed to the wall; two or three camp-chairs stood +about, and a fire of scented cedar logs burned on the clay hearth. A +Chinaman, dressed in very clean blue clothes, was putting a meal on +the table. Festing hung up his wet slickers and sat down with a vague +sense of satisfaction. It was plain that he must go without many +comforts he had enjoyed at the farm, but he felt strangely at home. + +Kerr took supper with him, and afterwards threw some papers on the +table and lighted his pipe. Half an hour later Festing looked up. + +"I imagine I've got the hang of things, and I'll make a start +to-morrow. Your way of underpinning the track is pretty good, but I +don't like that plan. You can't hold up the road long with lumber; the +work won't stand." + +"I don't know if your objection springs from artistic delight in a +good job or British caution. Anyhow, you ought to know that in this +country we don't want work to stand; our aim is to get it finished. If +the track holds up until we can start the freight traffic running, +it's as much as we expect. We'll improve it afterwards as the dollars +come in." + +"A freight train in a Canadian river isn't a very uncommon object," +Festing rejoined. "However, it's my business to cut the logs and do +the underpinning as well as I can. On the whole, and barring +accidents, I see some profit on the job. I'm grateful to you for +putting it in my way." + +"Your thanks are really due to somebody else. The head contractor is +not allowed to sub-let work without our approval, and although I +recommended your being given a chance, the decision rested with +another man." + +"Who's that?" + +"He'll probably look you up to-night," Kerr replied with a twinkle. +"They sent him from headquarters to see how we're getting on. But I'll +leave you the plans. We're working nights with the blast-lamps, and +I've got to be about when the new shift makes a start." + +He went away and Festing studied the drawings. He had undertaken to +cut and dress to size the heavy logs required for the lower posts of +trestles and foundation piles. So far, he did not apprehend much +difficulty, but he would run some risk over the underpinning of part +of the track. In order to make a secure and permanent road-bed, it +would have been necessary to cut back the hillside for some distance +and then distribute the spoil about the slope below, but the engineers +had chosen a quicker and cheaper plan. Heavy timbers would be driven +into the face of the hill to make a foundation for the track, which +would be partly dug out of, and partly built on to, the declivity. +Where the main piles reached the rock the plan would be safe, but +where they were bedded in gravel there was danger of their giving way +under a heavy load. Festing knew he must share the risk of this +happening with the head contractor. + +By and by somebody knocked at the door, and he got up abruptly as a +man came in. + +"Dalton!" he exclaimed. + +The other smiled and threw off his wet slickers. It was getting dark, +but the firelight touched his face and Festing studied him with +surprise. The lad, whom he had not seen for some years, had grown into +a man, and had moreover a look of quiet authority. He had made rapid +progress if he had, as Kerr had stated, been sent to report upon the +latter's work. + +"You don't seem to have expected me, though, to some extent, I'm +responsible for your being here," he said. "However, I'm remarkably +glad we have met again." + +Festing, awkwardly conscious that his welcome was somewhat cold, +indicated a chair, and sitting down opposite began to fill his pipe. +Dalton sometimes wrote to Helen, but had not mentioned his being sent +to British Columbia. + +"Well," he said, "I was glad to hear you had got a move up once or +twice, but it looks as if you had gone farther than I thought." + +"I had the advantage of a proper training, and the reputation of the +engineer who gave it me counted for something, although I might never +have got my chance in this country but for you. Now I'm happy if I've +been able to show my gratitude. When Kerr brought your name forward I +told him to see you got the contract." + +"You did more than you knew," said Festing. "It looks as if you hadn't +heard from Helen." + +"Not for a time; I hope she's well. I'd thought about coming West to +see you, but couldn't get away, and she talked about your going to +Montreal this winter." + +"That's off, of course. It's plain you don't know that Helen and I +have quarreled." + +Dalton looked up sharply, but was silent for a moment or two. + +"This is a nasty knock," he said. "I don't know if my relation to you +justifies my venturing on dangerous ground, but do you feel at liberty +to tell me what you quarreled about?" + +Festing decided that Charnock's part in the matter must be kept dark. +It was unthinkable that Dalton should imagine he suspected his wife. + +"To put it roughly, we differed about what you might call a principle, +although Helen's money had something to do with the thing. You see, I +lost my crop and she was hurt because I wouldn't use her capital." + +"I don't see altogether," Dalton rejoined. "In fact, your objection +seems unusual." + +He pondered for a minute or two, and Festing marked the change in him. +Dalton had a reserve and thoughtfulness he had not expected. He had +grown very like Helen. + +"A quarrel about a principle is apt to be dangerous," he resumed. +"Although you are probably both wrong, you can persuade yourselves you +are right. Then while I was glad to hear about your wedding, I'll +admit that I saw some difficulties. Helen has a strong will and is +sometimes rather exacting, while you're an obstinate fellow and a +little too practical. I must wait until I know more than I do now, but +might be of some use as a peacemaker. Isn't it possible to compromise? +Can't you meet half way?" + +"Not in the meantime. I can't go home until I'm able to run the farm +without your sister's help. There's some risk of her despising me if I +did go." + +"You may be right; I can't judge," Dalton thoughtfully agreed. "Now I +could, of course, find an excuse for getting you dismissed, but I know +you both too well to imagine that plan would work. You would go +somewhere else, while though Helen is generous there's a hard streak +in her. I really think she'd like you better afterwards if you carried +your intentions out." + +He paused and smiled. "She got the money you object to in a very +curious way--by refusing to indulge the wishes of our only rich +relation. I was more compliant because his plans met my views, and he +paid for my education, but when he died we found Helen had got her +share and mine. I understand he told his lawyer that he still thought +her wrong; but if she thought she was right, she was justified in +refusing, and he admired her pluck." + +"She has pluck," said Festing. "On the whole I don't think that makes +things much better for me. Anyhow, I've taken this contract and I've +got to stay with it." + +"I'll help you as far as I can," said Dalton, who soon afterwards left +the shack. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +FESTING GETS TO WORK + +Mist rolled among the pines and it was raining hard when Festing led +his team down the hill. He wore big rubber boots and slickers, and a +heavy log trailed behind the horses through the mud. Some distance +above the river the slope was gradual, and it was necessary to haul +the logs to the skidway he had built. They would then run down without +help; indeed, the difficulty was to stop them when they reached the +track. Festing was wet and dirty, and the sweating horses were +splashed. When he stopped to unhook the chain, three or four men came +up with cant-poles, and struggling in the churned-up mire, rolled the +log to the top of the incline. + +A shallow, undulating trough scored the hillside, crossed at short +intervals by small logs, split up the middle and laid with their round +sides on top. It looked something like a switchback railway, only that +while the incline varied, all the undulations ran down hill. A few +logs rested insecurely on the top skids, and the men put the one +Festing had brought below the rest. Then they threw down their poles +and Festing looked about. + +Water filled the hollows in the wavy line of skids, which vanished at +the edge of a steeper dip and reappeared below, to plunge out of sight +again. Its end was banked up with wet gravel near the track. Festing +could not see the track, but the opposite side of the river was +visible, with the island, near which two wire-ropes skimmed the +surface of the flood. A man stood on the skids about half way down and +presently waved his arm. + +"Watch out below!" he shouted and signed to Festing. "All clear! You +can start her off." + +Festing seized a handspike and the skids groaned as the big log began +to move. The men helped and sprang back as it gathered speed. Water +flew up, the bark tore off in crumpled flakes, and the wet timber +smoked. The other logs were smaller and easier launched, but they did +not gain the momentum of the first, which plunged furiously down hill +and flung up its thin end as it leaped over the edge of the dip. + +"She's surely hitting up the pace," one of the men remarked. + +"The mud is greasing the skids," said Festing, who began to run down +the incline when the man below shouted. + +Two of the others followed, but stopped at the top of the last pitch, +which ended in the bank of gravel close above the track. The logs, +spread out at intervals, rushed down, rising and falling on the uneven +skids. Showers of mud and water marked their progress; there was a +crash as a smashed skid was flung into the air, and a roar when the +leading mass plowed through fallen gravel. Stones shot out and Festing +saw smoke and sparks, but the logs rushed on, and he wondered +anxiously whether the bank would stop them. So far, it had served its +purpose, but he was doubtful about it now, and hoped there was nobody +on the track beneath. + +The big log reached the bank and ran half way up the short incline +before its speed slackened much. Festing held his breath as he +watched, for some gravel cars had come down the track, and he could +not tell where they were. The log was going slower, but he doubted if +it would stop. + +It plowed on through the gravel, which shot up all round, and then the +end of the bank seemed to fall away. There was a shower of stones; the +butt of the log went down and its after end tilted up. Then it lurched +out of sight and there was a heavy crash below. After this Festing +heard a confused din, and imagined, though he could not see, the mass +of timber plunging down the precipitous slope, smashing rocks and +scattering gravel as it went. The noise stopped, he heard a splash, +and as the following logs leaped the broken bank, the first shot half +its length out of water, and falling again, drove down stream. + +The rope at the island caught it while a trolley ran down, but the +straining wire curved and parted, and the trolley fell into the river +as the log swept on. The others followed and vanished in a turmoil of +muddy foam, and Festing went down to the track. Things might have been +worse, for nobody was hurt, although some yards of road-bed had been +carried away and a derrick he had built to put the logs on the cars +was smashed. As he studied the damage a wet and angry engineer ran up. + +"You have got to stop your blamed logs jumping down like that! They've +broken a steel rope and there's a new trolley-skip in the river!" + +"I'm sorry," Festing answered. "I'll try to get the skip out as soon +as possible, and you can trust me to stop more logs getting away, for +my own sake." + +"There'll be trouble if you let your lumber loose on me, and I want +the skip soon," said the other. "A stranger asked for you a few +minutes ago and I sent him up the hill." + +He went away and Festing's men came up. + +"Pretty rough luck, boss!" one remarked. "What are we going to do +about it?" + +"We'll grade up the gravel dump to begin with, and then make a new +derrick," Festing answered gloomily. "It doesn't look as if I'd get +much profit on the first week's work." + +He moved off, and as he scrambled up the bank met a man coming down. +Both stopped abruptly and Festing frowned. + +"What in thunder has brought you, Bob?" he asked. + +"They told me you were up the hill," Charnock said, smiling. "I came +in on the last construction train." + +"But why did you come?" + +"I suppose you mean--Why did I come to bother you again? Well, the +explanation will take some time, and it's confoundedly muddy and +raining hard. When are you likely to be unoccupied?" + +Festing tried to control his annoyance. The accident had disturbed him +and he was not pleased to see Charnock, whom he did not wish to make +free of his shack. + +"What have you been doing since you arrived?" he asked. + +"Sitting in the bunk-house and waiting for the rain to stop. Then I +got dinner with the boys, and afterwards went to see a rather nice +young fellow called Dalton. I told him I was a friend of yours, and he +half promised to give me a job." + +"You don't seem to know who he is?" Festing remarked. + +"I don't; but I thought he looked hard at me when he heard my name. +However, don't disturb yourself on my account; I'm pretty comfortable +in the bunk-house." + +"Very well. You had better come to my shack when work stops. I can't +leave my men now." + +Charnock strolled off with his usual languid air, and Festing resumed +his work. He could not imagine what Charnock wanted, but wished he had +stopped away. In the meantime, he had much to do and drove his men +hard, until a steam-whistle hooted and they threw down their tools. +His supper was ready when he reached the shack, but Charnock had not +arrived, and although this was something of a relief, he felt annoyed. +He had told him to come when work stopped, but the fellow was never +punctual. An hour later Charnock walked in. + +"I thought I'd better wait until after supper," he said. "My coming +now leaves you more at liberty to turn me out." + +"To begin with, I'd like to know why you came at all?" + +"Sadie thought it was time I did something useful, and I agreed. It's +obvious that if anything useful can be done, I'm the proper person to +undertake the job. Now you understand me, shall I go on?" + +Festing nodded. Charnock's careless good humor had vanished; he looked +embarrassed but resolute, as if he meant to carry out a disagreeable +task. This was something new for Bob. + +"Very well," the latter resumed. "In order to clear the ground, do you +imagine I'm in love with your wife?" + +"I'm sure Helen is not in love with you," Festing rejoined. + +"That's much, but we have got to talk about the other side of the +matter," said Charnock quietly. "I went to your home with Sadie +because I thought she and Helen could learn something from each other; +while I suspect she thought your society was good for me. It's obvious +that Helen agreed, and Sadie and I will always be grateful for her +staunchness in sticking to us, although you disliked it. Whether I'm +worth the quarrel or not is another thing. I hope you understand me as +far as I've gone." + +Festing made a sign and Charnock continued: "Very well. There was a +time when I loved Helen, or honestly thought I did, but I imagine we +had both found out our mistake when I gave her up. It's certain that +she would not have been satisfied with me. Our romance came to nothing +and was done with long since; there's now no woman who could rouse the +feeling I have for my wife." + +He got up and leaned upon his chair, with his eyes fixed on Festing. +"When I told you I was going to be married, you showed your confounded +supercilious pity! You thought I was making a fatal mistake. Well, +you're not a clever fellow, Stephen, but that was the worst blunder +you ever made. Marrying Sadie is perhaps the only wise thing I have +done. She has borne with my follies, hustled me when I needed it, and +helped me to fight my weaknesses; and if there's any hope of my being +a useful man, I owe it to her. Now it's obvious that I can't draw +comparisons, but I think you see where this leads." + +"I do see," said Festing, who felt somewhat moved. He had not heard +Charnock talk like this before, and the note in his voice was +significant. He smiled, to ease the strain, as he replied: +"Comparisons would be particularly awkward just now, Bob. Besides, +they're unnecessary, I'm convinced!" + +"Then there's no reason you shouldn't go home, and I've come to take +you back." + +Festing shook his head. "There are two reasons. In the first place, +I've taken a contract." + +"That fellow, Dalton, would probably let you off." + +"It's uncertain, and I don't mean to ask. You don't seem to know that +Dalton is Helen's brother." + +Charnock laughed. "Then I've no doubt he knows who I am; his manner +ought to have given me a hint. The situation has a touch of ironical +humor, and perhaps the strangest thing is that we should now be better +friends than we have been yet. But what still prevents your going +back?" + +"Helen's money. I can't beg from her, after refusing the only thing +she has asked." + +"You're a bit of a fool," Charnock remarked with a grin. "I've begged +from Sadie often and imagine she liked me for it; anyhow she expected +it. But if you have made up your mind, I expect I can't persuade you." + +Festing's gesture indicated an unshaken resolve, and Charnock said: +"Then I'm going to stop and see you through." + +"That's ridiculous!" said Festing, who was strongly moved now. "You +must think of Sadie. You can't stop; I won't allow it!" + +Charnock's eyes twinkled. "I expect Sadie will bear the separation. +For one thing, we lost our crop and she'll save money while I'm away. +She's not parsimonious, but she hates to waste dollars, and must have +found me expensive now and then. Then I mean to earn something, and +can imagine her surprise when I show her my wages check." + +On the surface, his mood was humorous, but Festing got a hint of +something fine beneath. "But," he said, "you mustn't stay, and I'd +sooner you didn't joke." + +"Then I'll be serious; but after this there's no more to be said. +Don't imagine it's altogether for your sake I'm going to stay. You +know what I owe Sadie, and I want to show that her labor has not all +been lost. in fact, I've got my opportunity and mean to seize it. Then +if you feel some reparation is due to your wife, you can finish the +work you made her drop. Help me to cut out liquor and stay with my +job, and if you have trouble with your contract, I'll help all I can. +Is it a bargain?" + +"It's a bargain," said Festing quietly. "Now I think we'll talk about +something else." + +He sat still for some time after Charnock left. His bitterness against +his wife had gone, and it was plain that he had been a fool. For all +that, he could not go home yet; the money was still an obstacle. Pride +forbade his letting Helen support him. Moreover, he felt that to act +against his convictions now would cost him her respect. There was +perhaps no ground for supposing she felt much respect for him, but he +meant to keep all she had. + +Then he got up and straightened the blankets in his bunk. The sooner +he finished his contract, the sooner he could return, and there was +much to be done next morning. The job had not begun well. + +He got up at sunrise and spent several days repairing the damage the +accident had caused, after which, for a time, things went smoothly. +Then, one morning, he stood on a rocky ledge of the island, waiting +while two of his men dragged an iron pulley backwards and forwards +along a trolley wire. + +The morning was clear and cold, and the snow had crept nearer the belt +of dwindling pines that looked like matches tufted with moss. They +grew in size as they rolled down the tremendous slopes, until they +towered above the track in tall, dark spires. The mist had gone; rocks +and trees and glistening summits were sharply cut, but the valley was +rather marked by savage grandeur than beauty. There was something +about its aspect that struck a warning note. It had a look of +belonging to a half-finished world, into which man might only venture +at his peril. + +The river had fallen and its turbid green had faded, for the frost had +touched the glaciers that fed it on the heights, but the stream ran +fast, swirling round the island and breaking into eddies. In one +place, a white streak marked a rebound of the current from an obstacle +below, and it was across this spot the men dragged the pulley. A chain +and hook hung from the latter, and they were fishing for the skip that +was lost when the log broke the rope. + +Festing had spent the most part of the previous day trying different +plans for grappling the skip, but the fast currents and smooth side of +the big steel bucket had baffled him. His efforts had cost time and +money, and he began to realize that he must give it up or try +dangerous means. The chain stopped and tightened as the hook struck +something below the surface, but next moment it moved on again, and +when this had happened a number of times Festing raised his hand. + +"You can quit, boys," he said, and turned to a man close by. "She must +have fallen with the shackles where the hook can't get hold, but I +think she's only about three feet under water." + +The other studied the broken surface. The water was not transparent, +but here and there a darker patch indicated a rock below. The eddies +made a revolving slack along the bank, but near the skip joined the +main current in its downstream rush. + +"I've a notion there's a gully between her and us," he remarked. +"Anyhow, we'll try to wade, if you like." + +Festing threw off his jacket and plunged in. When he had gone a few +feet he was up to his waist and it cost him an effort to keep his +feet. After two or three more steps, the bottom fell away and, +floundering savagely, he sank to his shoulders. Then his companion +pulled him back. + +"The gully's there all right," the man remarked when they clambered +out. "Say, that water's surely cold." + +"It will be colder soon when the ice comes down, and if the skip's to +be got out, we must get her now. I think I could reach her by +swimming." + +The other looked doubtful, but Festing took off his heavy boots, and +picking up the end of the rope they had used to move the pulley, +walked to the edge of the island. He was now a short distance above +the skip, and hoped the eddies would help him to reach the ledge it +rested on before he was swept past; but he must avoid being drawn into +the main stream, since there was not much chance of landing on the +foam-swept rocks lower down. Making sure he had enough slack rope, he +plunged in. + +An eddy swung him out-shore, towards the dangerous rush; the cold +cramped his muscles and cut his breath, but he was already below the +spot he had left, and there was no time to lose. The white streak that +marked the skip seemed to forge up-stream to meet him, and he swam +savagely until he was in the broken water and something struck his +foot. Then he arched his back and dived, groping with his hands. He +grasped the slippery side of the skip and felt the shackle loop. With +some trouble he got the rope through, and then tried to put his feet +on the bottom. They were swept away and he came up gasping, knowing he +had made a mistake that might cost him dear. + +He held the end of the rope, but had been carried several yards down- +stream, and the lost ground must be regained. The rope was rather a +hindrance than a help, since the men on the bank could only haul him +back to the skip and drag him under water, while he must pull the +slack through the loop as he struggled to land. If he got out of the +eddies he would be swept past the island, but he did not mean to let +the rope go yet. + +A revolving eddy swung him in-shore, but the reflux caught and drove +him a few yards lower down. The men were shouting, but he could not +tell what they said. The roar of water bewildered him, and he fixed +his eyes upon the rocks that slid past until a wave washed across his +face. For a moment or two he saw nothing, and then was vaguely +conscious that a trolley was running down the wire above. An +indistinct object hung from the trolley and next moment fell away from +it. A dark body splashed into the water, vanished, and came up close +by. Then he was seized by the shoulder and driven towards the bank. + +The men had stopped shouting and ran into the water at the island's +lower end. Festing drifted towards them, but it looked as if he would +be carried past. The drag of the rope kept him back, and his strength +was going, but he braced himself for an effort and felt a helping +push. Then somebody seized his hand, he was pulled forward, and felt +bottom as he dropped his feet. In another few moments he staggered up +the bank and gave the nearest man the end of the rope. + +"Stick to that," he gasped, and turned to see who had helped him. + +"Bob!" he exclaimed. + +Charnock dashed the water from his hair and face. "Thought you +mightn't make it and jumped on a trolley they were loosing off. But we +had better change our clothes." + +"Come to my shack," said Festing. "Signal them to send a trolley, +boys." + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +CHARNOCK TRIES HIS STRENGTH + +The skip that crossed the river was loaded, and Charnock and Festing +were forced to wait until it came back. They climbed to a platform on +the bridge-pier and stood for some minutes, shivering in the wind. The +skip would only carry one, and when it arrived Charnock made Festing +get in. + +"You were in the water longest," he said. "Get aboard as quick as you +can!" + +Festing was swung across the river, but waited until Charnock arrived, +when they ran up the hill to the former's shack. The fire was out and +Festing's face was blue, while Charnock's teeth chattered as he threw +off his clothes. Festing gave him another suit. + +"I'm afraid they're not very dry, but they're the best I've got," he +said. "You did a plucky thing, Bob." + +"Not at all, and you would, no doubt, have landed if I hadn't come. +You see, the skip was starting and I didn't stop to think. But it's +horribly cold. Where's your towel?" + +He put on the half-dry clothes and went to the door. "I'm not often in +such a hurry to get back to work, but if I don't move I'll freeze. See +you later!" + +"Stop a moment," Festing called. "Do you find the bunk-house +comfortable?" + +"It's not luxurious, but doesn't leak very much unless it rains +unusually hard." + +"Then why not come up here at night? I haven't another bunk or I'd +have suggested it before, but a carload of ship-lap has arrived and I +dare say Kerr will let me have a few boards." + +"Thanks; I'd like that," said Charnock, who hurried away. + +Soon afterwards Festing resumed his work. Kerr allowed him to take the +boards, and when he had finished his supper Charnock came in. Sitting +down by the fire, he filled his pipe. + +"There's more room here and you can dry your clothes," he remarked, +stretching out his legs to the blaze. + +"We're going to talk about what happened this morning," Festing +replied. "I was getting exhausted when you jumped off the skip." + +"After all, I only gave you a push now and then. I was fresh, and +imagine I swim better than you." + +"It's possible. I don't swim very well." + +"Then why did you go into the rapid? I call it a blamed silly thing!" + +"I felt I had to recover the skip." + +"Not at all," said Charnock, with a grin. "The skip could have stopped +where it was. For a man who thinks much, you're ridiculously +illogical; got no proper sense of relative values. Your business is to +carry out your contract, and not risk your life for a rusty bucket." + +"You risked yours!" + +"I didn't. The only risk I ran was knocking your head off with my +heavy boots. But if you hadn't begun the folly, I wouldn't have +jumped, if the river had been full of the company's skips." + +Then the door opened and the head contractor's engineer came in. + +"You did a plucky thing to-day, Festing," he began; but Charnock +interrupted. + +"Don't spoil my argument, Mr. Norton. I've been proving he made a fool +of himself." + +"Then there were two of you," Norton rejoined. "The trolley was +running fast, and if you had dropped a few yards farther out, you +wouldn't have got back." He turned to Festing. "I was rather mad about +it when you broke the wire, and of course wanted the skip. Still I +didn't mean you to take a risk like that. We could have fixed the +thing." + +"A matter of bookkeeping?" Charnock suggested. "Much depends on how +you charge up your costs, and one understands that doing it cleverly +leads to promotion. The worst is when you come to the total--" + +"I'll talk to you later. You're up against a big proposition, Festing; +but if you find yourself in a tight place and I've a man or two to +spare, or can help---" + +"Thanks; I may take advantage of your promise," Festing replied, and +Norton turned to Charnock. + +"You are doing better than I expected when Dalton sent you along." + +"I imagine my recent activity would surprise my friends, and you're a +stranger. However, I suppose I've got to keep it up so long as I work +on the road." + +"That's sure," said the other dryly. "Well, I didn't think it prudent +to give you much at first, and now I'll mark you up an extra fifty +cents." + +He stopped a few minutes, and when he went out Charnock laughed. "Not +a bad sort, but I'm puzzled by my satisfaction at getting three +dollars more a week. If I wanted a check not long since, I'd only to +look penitent and go to Sadie." + +After this, they sat smoking quietly for a time, and then Charnock +drew up his legs and frowned. + +"What's the matter?" Festing asked. + +"Nothing much," said Charnock. "I've got a bit of a weakness I don't +think you know about. Neuralgic, I imagine; it grips me here." He +indicated the region between his belt and chest. "Comes and goes when +I'm not quite up to my proper form." + +"Then I expect jumping into the river and standing about in wet +clothes brought it on." + +"No; I have had it before. Besides, I've often been as wet; so have +you. Anyhow, the pain's going, and there's a thing I forgot to +mention. I met Wilkinson this afternoon." + +Festing knitted his brows. "Wilkinson! What do you think has brought +him?" + +"Chance and Sadie's scheming. I've cause to suspect she forced him off +his ranch, though she would probably wish she hadn't meddled if she +knew she'd sent him here. As he looked surprised when he saw me, I +imagine he'd no particular object in coming, except that he wanted a +job." + +"Did you speak to him?" + +"I did not. It's very possible he'd have resented my remarks. Then I +was on the company's business and the foreman was about." + +"Well," said Festing thoughtfully, "it might be better to keep out of +his way as far as you can. I don't know that he's likely to do us +harm, but wish he had gone somewhere else." + +They let the matter drop and talked about other things until they went +to bed. Next morning broke bracingly cold, but thin mist rolled among +the pines a few hundred feet above the track. For the most part the +climate of the interior of British Columbia is dry, and there are +belts where artificial irrigation is employed, but some of the valleys +form channels for the moist winds from the Pacific. Except in the +bitter cold-snaps, it was seldom that the white peaks above the track +were visible, and now something in the atmosphere threatened heavy +rain. + +Charnock began his work as usual with the gravel gang. It was his +business to spread the ballast thrown off the cars by the plow that +traveled along the train, and although the labor was not exhausting it +had tried his strength at first. His muscles, however, were hardening, +and until the last few days, he had been able to scatter heavy +shovelfuls of stones with a dexterous jerk that distributed them among +the ties. + +Streaks of dingy haze that looked like steam rose from the river. The +fresh smell of pines hung about the track, and the clash of shovels +and ringing of hammers mingled harmoniously with the deep-toned roar +of the rapids. The cold braced the muscles and stirred the blood, and +the sounds of activity had an invigorating influence while the day was +young, but Charnock felt slack. His pain had gone, but he was +conscious of a nervous tension and knew what it meant. A small blister +on his hand annoyed him, he growled at comrades who got in his way, +and swore when the gravel fell in the wrong place. Somehow he could +not get the stuff to go where it ought. + +For all that, he felt no serious inconvenience until about eleven +o'clock, when a stinging pain spread across the front of his body. For +a few moments he leaned on his shovel and gasped, but the pang +moderated and he roused himself when the foreman looked his way. He +must try to hold out for another hour, and he savagely attacked his +pile of stones. When the echoes of the whistle filled the hollow he +had some trouble in reaching the bunk-house, but felt better after +dinner and a smoke, which he enjoyed sitting on a box by the stove; +but the time for rest was short. The foreman drove him out, and +feeling very sore and stiff, he resumed work. + +About four o'clock another pang shot through him and he dropped his +shovel and sat down on a heap of ties, hoping to get a few minutes' +rest before the gravel train came up. The pain was troublesome, but +not dangerous. It might only bother him for a day or two, but it might +last a week. Rest was the best cure, but sick men were not wanted at +the camp. One must work or go, and when a cascade of gravel poured off +the cars as the plow moved along he pulled himself together. + +It began to rain soon afterwards and he had left his slickers at the +bunk-house, but he stuck to his work, while the sweat the effort +caused him ran down his face, until the whistle blew. Then he went +limply up the hill to Festing's shack. + +"I thought I'd have supper with you, if you don't mind," he said. +"Felt I couldn't stand for joining the boys. They've annoyed me all +day and eat like hogs." + +Festing gave him a sharp glance. Bob did not often lose his temper, +but he looked morose. + +"Of course I don't mind. Sit down." + +Charnock did so, and when Festing had filled his plate resumed: "This +food is decently cooked, and I like my supper served and not thrown at +me. Still, in view of what we're charged for board, it's annoying to +think the contractor will be richer for a meal I haven't got." + +"It's a new thing to find you parsimonious. I hope you'll keep it up." + +Charnock's gloomy face softened. "I mean to. I'm thinking of Sadie's +feelings when I come home with a wad of five-dollar bills. She won't +be surprised; she'll get a shock." + +He talked with better humor during the meal, but was silent afterwards +and sat with half-closed eyes, stretching out his feet towards the +crackling logs. Although the pain had nearly gone, it would, no doubt, +begin again in the morning, and he might have some trouble in hiding +his weakness from the foreman. He could lay off for a day or two, but +as his wages would stop and his board would be charged, it would cost +him something. Besides, if he laid off once or twice, he would be told +to leave. + +This, however, did not account for his moodiness. He knew of no cure +except rest, but it was easy to find relief; a small dose of spirit +would banish the pain for a time. The remedy was dangerous, +particularly to him, since it offered an excuse for repeated +indulgence, and he struggled with the temptation. Liquor was difficult +to get, because there was no settlement for some distance and the +engineers had tried to cut off supplies, but it could be got. In fact, +Charnock knew where he could buy as much whisky as he wanted, at +something above its proper price. So far he had not done so, but +continued self-denial would require a stern effort. A drink would +banish the pain and enable him to work. + +He had not known it fail since he drove over to Wilkinson's one +afternoon, when he had been loading prairie hay since early morning +and had forgotten his lunch. He reached the homestead scarcely able to +sit upright on the driving seat, and a man asked him what was the +matter. When Charnock told him he sent Wilkinson for whisky. + +"I know all about it; the blamed thing grips me now and then if I work +too hard and cut out a meal," he said. "I'll fix you up for the rest +of the day, but won't answer for your feeling pert to-morrow." + +As a matter of fact, Charnock had felt worse, but obtained relief by +increasing the dose. Indeed, he had once or twice done so with +unfortunate consequences; but after Sadie bought the farm and saw he +led a regular life the pain had gone and had not returned until he +went to work on the track. Now he was not going to give in, but did +not want to talk, and was glad that Festing was occupied with some +calculations and left him alone. + +Next morning he felt better and had two days' ease, after which the +pain wrung him for the rest of the week. Somehow he stuck to his work, +and his comrades, who were rudely sympathetic, helped him to elude the +foreman's watchfulness. It was obvious that he could not keep it up, +but the trouble often ended suddenly. Then an evening came when he +could scarcely drag himself to the bunk-house for supper. It had +rained all day and the building was overheated by a glowing stove and +filled with the smell of rank tobacco and steaming clothes. Charnock +could not eat the roughly served food, and for a time sat slack and +limp, with the sweat upon his face, and his arms on the table. Then he +got on his feet awkwardly and set off for Festing's shack. + +The rain and cold revived him, but walking was difficult, and when he +reached the shack he fell into a chair. Festing was not in, and +Charnock remembered he had said something about having extra work to +do. It was dark, but the log fire threw out a red light, and by and by +Charnock, glancing round as the shadows receded, thought there was +something unusual on the table. It looked like a bottle, but they kept +no liquor in the shack. Festing was abstemious but Charnock suspected +that he had practised some self-denial for his sake. + +He waited until a blaze sprung up, and then his relaxed pose +stiffened. It was a bottle of whisky, better stuff than the +railroaders generally drank, for he knew the label. Moreover, when the +light touched the glass the yellow reflection showed that it was full. +He got up and approached the table, wondering how the liquor came +there, until he saw some writing on the label. Picking up the bottle, +he read his own name. + +He put it down abruptly and stood with his hand clenched. The veins +swelled on his forehead and the pain nearly left him as he fought with +temptation. It was some weeks since he had tasted liquor, but this was +not all. A drink would give him relief from the gnawing ache and +perhaps a night's sound sleep. If he could get that, he might be well +for most of the next day. But he shrank from the remedy. There was +liquor enough to last some days, but the next bottle would not last as +long, and he knew there would be another. He must resist and conquer +his craving now. + +He opened the door and picked up the bottle by the neck. With a swing +of his arm he could throw it among the pines; he wanted to hear it +smash. Victory could be won by a quick movement; but afterwards? The +touch of the glass and the way the yellow liquid gleamed in the light +fired his blood. If he was to win an enduring victory, he must fight +to a finish. + +Leaving the bottle in the light, he moved his chair and sat down close +by, after which he looked at his watch. He would give himself half an +hour. If he could hold out now, he need not be afraid again, because +the odds against him would never be so heavy. The craving was +reenforced by pain and bodily fatigue; his jangled nerves demanded a +stimulant. Yet to win would make the next conflict easier, and he had +resources that he tried to marshal against the enemy. + +The rough work on the track had given him confidence. He had always +had physical courage and muscular strength, and it was something to +feel he could hold his own with his comrades at a strenuous task. +Moreover, his saving Festing from the river had restored his self- +respect. But he had stronger allies, and his face got hot as he +thought of the two women who had fought for him when he had scarcely +tried to help himself. + +Sadie had given up her ambitions and was content to live at the lonely +farm because she thought it best for him. He remembered the bitter +disappointments he had brought her and how he had found her sitting, +depressed and tired, at his neglected work when he came home from some +fresh extravagance. Sometimes she had met him with the anger he +deserved, but as a rule she had shown a patience that troubled him +now. Then there was Helen, who had borne slander and estrangement from +her husband for his sake. Both had made costly sacrifices, of which he +was unworthy; but it was unthinkable that the sacrifices should be +made in vain. + +Perhaps it was his imagination, or the proximity of relief, but the +physical torment he suffered got worse. He could not sit straight, and +leaned forward, with head bent and hands grasping the sides of his +chair, until he looked at his watch. Ten minutes had gone, but he must +hold out for twenty minutes more. Fumbling awkwardly in his pocket, he +got his tobacco pouch. He did not want to smoke, but could occupy some +time by filling his pipe, and did so with slow deliberation. Then he +let the match go out as an idea dawned on him. The bottle had been put +there with an object. + +Wilkinson hated Sadie. He had struck at her and injured Helen, but had +plotted a harder blow. The plot had, however, miscarried, for Charnock +almost forgot his pain in his fury. The fellow was a dangerous +reptile, and could not be allowed to hurt Sadie by his poisonous +tricks. Charnock meant to punish him, but must first overcome the +insidious ally the other had counted on. He looked at his watch again. +A quarter of an hour had gone; he felt stronger, and more confident. +For all that, the fight was stern, and at length Festing, entering +quietly, was surprised to find Charnock sitting with his watch in his +hand. His brows were knit; his face looked pinched and damp. + +"What are you doing, Bob?" he asked. + +"Trying my strength," said Charnock, who got up. "Three minutes yet to +go, but I think we can take it that I've won." + +"I don't understand. Is this a joke?" + +"Do I look as if I'm joking?" Charnock rejoined, with a forced smile. +"Anyhow, I'd like you to notice that I'm perfectly sober and this +bottle has not been opened, although I've sat opposite it for nearly +half an hour. I'd have finished the half-hour if you had not come in." + +Festing picked up the bottle and read the writing. "Who brought the +thing here?" + +"I suspect Wilkinson. He knows a drink would stop the pain." + +"Ah," said Festing quietly. "I think I understand! You have made a +good fight, Bob, and I believe you've won. But we'll take precautions; +it will be some satisfaction to throw out the stuff." + +He went to the door, but Charnock stopped him. + +"Hold on! I mean to keep the satisfaction to myself. Give me the +cursed thing!" + +Festing put the bottle in his hand, and opening the door Charnock +swung it round his head and let it go. There was a crash as it struck +a tree, and he went back to his chair. + +"That's done with! It's remarkable, but I don't feel as sore as I did. +Perhaps the effort of resisting was a counter-irritant. However, we +have said enough about it. Tell me how you got on with the job that +kept you late." + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +FESTING'S NEW PARTNER + +Charnock felt better next morning and luck favored him. An accident to +the gravel train disorganized the work, and he and some others were +dismissed for the afternoon. He went to Festing's shack, and making +himself comfortable by the fire, opened a tattered book and enjoyed +several hours of luxurious idleness. After his exertions in the rain +and mud, it was delightful to bask in warmth and comfort and rest his +aching limbs. The next day was Sunday and he lounged about the shack, +sometimes reading and sometimes bantering his comrade. The pain had +gone and he felt cheerful. + +When he returned to work on Monday he was sent with a bag of bolts to +the bridge, and presently reached a spot where the heavy rain had +washed away the track. For about a dozen yards the terrace cut in the +hillside had slipped down, leaving a narrow shelf against the bank. +The shelf broke off near the middle, where a gully had opened in the +hill. Water flowed through the gap, and in order to get across one +must pick a way carefully over the steep, wet slope. This, however, +would save a toilsome climb, and Charnock, jerking the bag higher on +his shoulders, went on. + +A few minutes later he saw Wilkinson come round a corner. One of them +would have to go back to let the other pass, and it would be difficult +to turn if they met at the gully. Charnock did not mean to give way, +and with his arms crooked to support his load, he required some room. +There was no way up the torn bank, and on the other side a nearly +perpendicular slope of wet soil and gravel ran down to the river. In +places, the surface was broken by small, half-buried firs. + +When both were near the gully Wilkinson stopped, and Charnock, whose +head was bent, thought he had not known who he was. He certainly +looked surprised, and Charnock was conscious of rather grim amusement +as he guessed the reason. Wilkinson had, no doubt, not expected him to +be capable of carrying a heavy bag along the dangerous ledge. + +"Hallo!" he said. "The boys told me you were crippled by your pains." + +"I was. The pain's gone." + +"Rest's a good cure," said Wilkinson. "You got laid off on Saturday, +didn't you?" + +The curiosity that had made Charnock stop was satisfied. Since +Wilkinson's work kept him at some distance from the gravel gang, it +looked as if he had made inquiries about Charnock, and had probably +been surprised to learn he had started with the others. There was, +however, no use in taxing the fellow with trying to make him drunk, +because he would deny that he knew anything about the whisky or +declare that he had sent it with a friendly object. + +"Yes," he said, "but I didn't need the cure as badly as you think. +However, I'm not in a talkative mood and this bag is heavy. I'll +trouble you to get out of the way." + +Wilkinson looked hard at him. Charnock knew why he had sent the whisky +and meant to quarrel, but was shrewd enough to choose his ground. + +"You can dump your bag and wait until I get past." + +"Not at all," said Charnock. "I don't see why I should pick up the +load again to convenience you. Anyhow, I'm going on, and the thing +takes up some room." + +Wilkinson measured the distance across the gap. He imagined he could +reach the other side first and squeeze against the bank, when Charnock +must take the outside and would probably fall. He did not mean to be +forced back, particularly as there were men at work not far off who +had, no doubt, noted Charnock's aggressive attitude. The latter, +however, was quicker than he thought, and reached the dangerous spot +before Wilkinson got across. Splashing, and slipping in the mud, he +advanced recklessly, and Wilkinson could not turn back. Moreover, he +could not strike Charnock, because he was in the workmen's view, and +the railroaders would not approve his attacking an apparently +defenseless man. He thought Charnock knew this, but the fellow was not +as defenseless as he looked. The heavy bag gave him a certain +stability and momentum. + +"If you come any farther before I find a hold, we'll both go down," he +said. + +"It looks like that," Charnock agreed. "I don't mean to stop." + +Wilkinson clutched at the slippery bank but the wet gravel tore out. +It was impossible to get up, and if he tried to scramble down, he +might not stop until he fell into the river. He glanced at Charnock's +set face and got something of a shock. He had thought the fellow meant +to bluff and would give way if he were resolutely met; Charnock was +impulsive, but never stayed with a thing. Now, however, he looked +dangerous. + +Driving his boots into the mud, Wilkinson braced himself, with one +foot so placed that it might trip his antagonist. Then he set his lips +as he met the shock. Charnock struck him with his shoulder and forced +him backwards by the weight of the bag. The mud slipped under his +feet; he staggered and clawed at the bank, but his fingers found no +hold. They plowed through the miry gravel, and falling face downwards, +he rolled down the hill. + +Charnock lurched across the gully and stopped when he reached the +shelf. Wilkinson had swung round on his descent and his head was +lowest. He was sliding down rather slower, and there were some trees +not far off. Charnock did not care if he brought up among them or not, +and watched with a curious dispassionate interest. The fellow looked +ridiculous as he went down, scattering the gravel with his hands. He +was in some danger, but this was his affair. + +Wilkinson rolled against the thin branches of a half-buried tree, +which caught and turned him partly round. The branches broke and he +went down sideways, until he and a wave of loosened gravel struck +another tree. This stopped him, and Charnock plodded on until he was +off the shelf. + +"Better go down and fetch him, boys," he shouted to the other men. "I +reckon he's not much the worse, except in temper, and you'll find a +rope a piece back up the track." + +He saw them start and then resumed his journey. Whether he was hurt or +not, Wilkinson could talk, for he was pouring out scurrilous epithets. +Charnock laughed as he stamped through the mud. His antagonist had got +the worst of it, and there was a satisfactory explanation of their +quarrel. They had met on a narrow path and neither would give way, but +as Charnock was carrying the load he had put the other in the wrong. +Wilkinson could not revenge himself by circulating the story he had +told before because it would interest nobody at the camp, and +Charnock's friendship with Festing would prove it untrue. In fact, he +imagined Wilkinson would think it prudent to leave him alone. + +He delivered the bag, and going back stopped at a spot where Festing +and some others were fitting the end of a heavy beam into a pole. +Charnock watched while the men dragged out the beam and then replaced +it after deepening the hole. They were splashed and dirty, and +presently Festing leaned upon his shovel while he got his breath. + +"You seem determined to fix it properly," Charnock remarked. + +Festing nodded. "There's no use in piling rock about half-bedded +frames. It would mean trouble if they gave way under a freight train." + +"You look ahead. The first difficulty is that if the frames don't hold +up, you won't get paid. The engineers are responsible after the +regular traffic starts, and I've no doubt they test a contractor's +work. You would save something in wages if you built a pile-driver to +sink those posts." + +"I haven't the men or time. If I don't get this part of the work done +before the frost comes, it's going to cost me more. It would mean +using powder and making fires to thaw out the ground." + +Charnock agreed and went on. He had been long enough over his errand +and the foreman's tongue was sharp, but he mused about Festing as he +picked his way across the pools between the ties. Festing's object was +to make money, and he imagined, perhaps foolishly, that he had urgent +ground for doing so, but he meant to make a good job. He felt his +responsibility, and apart from this took a curious delight in doing +things well. In fact, Festing's thoroughness was rather fine; he was +an artist in his way. The artist's methods, however, were not as a +rule profitable when applied to contract work. Then Charnock's +meditations were rudely disturbed, for he heard a shout and saw the +foreman had noted his cautious advance. + +"Watch him coming, boys!" the latter remarked. "Like a blamed cat +that's scared of wetting its pretty feet! Say, do you want a private +car to move you along the track? Jump now and load up that trolley, +you soft-bodied slob!" + +Charnock obeyed, promptly and silently. He had, at first, responded to +encouragement of this kind by a witty retort, but had found the +consequences unfortunate. There was no use in wasting delicate satire +on a dolt. Besides, it was a relief to feel he was getting better and +was able to work. + +In the afternoon, he had occasion to pass the spot where Festing was +occupied, and stopped to watch. The men were getting a big log on end; +two steadying it and supporting part of the weight by a tackle fixed +to its top, while Festing and another guided its foot into a hole. The +ground was wet and slippery and their task looked almost beyond their +strength, but Charnock knew he would get into trouble if he were seen +going to their help. Since he was not in view of the foreman where he +stood on top of the bank, it was prudent to remain there. + +The log swayed as its point caught a stone, and Festing's hands +slipped on the muddy bank. He shouted to the men at the tackle, who +bent their backs and hauled, but the timber did not rise as it ought. +Charnock, looking round, noted that the stake the tackle was fastened +to was pulling out. + +"Get from under! She's coming down on top of you!" he cried. + +Festing looked up and saw the danger; but if the log fell it would not +stop until it and the tackle plunged into the rapid below. + +"Stay with it!" he gasped; and he and his companions braced themselves +against the crushing weight. + +The veins rose on his forehead. His back was arched and his wet +slickers split, but it was plain to Charnock that the men could not +hold up the timber, which would injure them if it fell. But with help +they might perhaps move it enough for the point to sink into the hole +before the tackle gave way, and Charnock leaped recklessly from the +top of the bank. He knew what he was undertaking when he took hold. +Festing would not let go; he meant to put the log into its socket, or +let it start on its plunge to the river over his body. + +For a few tense moments they struggled savagely, with slipping hands +and labored breath, while Festing, using his head as a ram, pushed the +point of the swaying mass nearer the hole. Then, when all could do no +more, the strain suddenly slackened and there was a jar as the log, +sliding through their arms, sank into the pit. After this, it was +easier to hold it, while one threw in and beat down the gravel. Five +minutes later, Charnock sat down on the bank. His face was crimson, +his hands bled, and his chest heaved as he fought for breath, but he +felt ridiculously satisfied. + +"Thanks!" gasped Festing. "Lucky you came along. I thought she was +going!" + +"Blamed silly thing not to let her go," Charnock replied. "Some day +your confounded obstinacy will ruin you. Anyhow, we've put her in. Not +bad for a cripple!" + +Then he sucked his torn fingers, and fearing that he might have to +account for the delay, went about his business. It was curious that +the tense exertion had not brought on the pain, but his back and +shoulders were sore when he went to Festing's shack in the evening. +The small, earth-floored room was dry and warm, and smelt pleasantly +of resinous wood. They did not light the lamp, for although it was +dark the red glow of the fire flickered about the walls. Charnock felt +a comforting sensation of bodily ease as he lounged in his chair, and +when he had smoked a pipe told Festing about his encounter with +Wilkinson. + +"I imagine the brute isn't hurt much, but don't know if I'm glad or +not," he said. "He looked remarkably funny as he slid down the bank, +with his arms and legs spread out like a frog. Suppose I should have +thought about the risk of his tobogganing into the river, but I +didn't." + +"Well, I expect he deserves all he got, and remember the satisfaction +it gave me to throw him out of the poolroom. Looks as if we were +primitive." + +"We're all primitive in this country," Charnock rejoined. "They have +no use for philosophical refinement in Canada. Their objects are plain +and practical and they employ simple means. We're not bothered by the +conventions that handicap you at home. If a man hurts you, and you're +big enough, you knock him out." + +"We have both knocked out Wilkinson, but I'm not sure that we have +done with him. The simple plan's not always as easy as it looks." + +"I don't think he can make much trouble. If he does, one of us will +knock him out again. As it will hurt us less than it hurts him, he'll +probably get tired first." + +They let the matter drop, and Festing presently remarked: "The rain +makes things difficult, but it's lucky the frost keeps off. I must try +to get the frames up at the awkward places before it begins." + +"You haven't enough men." + +"I could use more. Still, one couldn't engage men to come here on +short notices, and if we get a long cold-snap I might have trouble to +keep them employed. I could, of course, use a number of men and teams +hauling out logs across the snow, but the heavier stuff won't be +needed for some time, and I can't lock up my money. The small man's +trouble is generally to finance his undertaking." + +Charnock looked thoughtful. "Yes; that's where the pinch comes. You +can't work economically unless you have capital. Sadie's a good +business woman, and she often said that if you want to save dollars, +you must spend some." + +"Much depends on how you spend." + +"Just so," said Charnock, smiling. "Betting against marked cards +doesn't pay, but I've stopped that kind of thing. However, I think I +could get you the money you need." + +Festing looked hard at him. "You have none." + +"Sadie has a pile. She'd give me enough with pleasure if she thought +it would help towards my reform. But if you take the dollars, you've +got to take me." + +"Ah!" said Festing. "But why do you want to join?" + +"To begin with, I'm getting avaricious and want to go home with my +wallet full. Then I'm tired of my job. I suppose it's a foreman's +privilege to insult his gang, but the brute we've got is about the +limit. He's truculent but not very big, and some day, if I stop on, +I'll pitch the hog into the river. Then I'll certainly get fired, and +there'll be an end to my dreams of wealth." + +Festing was silent for a few moments. He understood Charnock better +now, and knew that when he was serious he often used a careless tone. +Bob wanted to help him as much as he wanted to help himself, and he +saw no reason to reject his plan. He must, however, be warned. + +"If you join me, you run some risk of losing your money." + +"Of course. It's obvious that you don't think the risk very big, and +I'm willing to take a fighting chance." + +"I don't know how big it is. That depends on the weather and +accidents." + +"Exactly," said Charnock. "If I join you with some money and teams, +will it lessen, or add to, the risk?" + +"It will lessen the risk." + +"Will it reduce, or increase, your working costs?" + +"I think the answer's obvious." + +"Then it looks as if you'd be foolish to turn my offer down." + +Festing got up and walked about irresolutely for a moment or two. Then +he stopped with some color in his face. + +"I called you a shirker, Bob, and ordered Helen to leave you alone. +Now I see you're the better man and I'm a confounded, fault-finding +prig. But you're not vindictive, and we'll let that go. The trouble +is, I'm obstinate and sure of what I can do--at least, I was, though +my confidence has got shaken recently. Well, I think I can finish this +contract, but don't know. I've lost a good deal of money, and would +hate to feel I might lose yours." + +"That's the line you took with Helen," Charnock rejoined. "I'm not +surprised that she was vexed, and since we're being frank, you're a +little too proud of yourself yet. Anyhow, I like a plunge; it's +exhilarating, and there's not much excitement in betting on a +certainty." He paused and resumed with a twinkle: "Besides, if there +is a loss, Sadie will stand for it." + +Festing gave him a puzzled look, and he laughed. + +"You don't understand yet? You're dull, Stephen. Now I'm not a greedy +fellow, and my chief use for dollars is to spend them. I want to take +back some money to show Sadie I've made good, and if we put this +contract over she'll be satisfied and you'll have her gratitude. +That's why I mean to make a job if I join you, and I imagine you're +with me there. Well, perhaps I've said enough. Is it a bargain?" + +"Yes," said Festing quietly, and they shook hands. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +CHARNOCK MAKES PROGRESS + +Deep snow covered the hillside and the pines, with lower branches +bent, rose in somber spires against the dazzling background. The river +had shrunk and the dark water rolled in angry turmoil between ice- +glazed rocks. Streaks of gray haze rose a foot or two into the nipping +air, and the clash of shovels had a new, harsh ring. It was nearly +dinner time, and Festing noted that his men had not done much since +breakfast as he walked down the beaten hollow in the middle of the +track. One could not tell how long the cold-snap would last, but it +had already embarrassed him. + +He stopped above an excavation where Charnock and another were cutting +a hole in the frozen gravel. The former held a steel bar in blue, +frost-cracked hands and twisted it in the cavity while his companion +struck the end. He knelt, in a cramped pose, in the snow, and Festing +smiled. Bob was fond of comfort, and it was strange to see him +occupied like this. Then, noting the length of the bar, he thought +they would not sink the hole deep enough for the blasting charge +before dinner, which was unfortunate, because the powder fumes are +poisonous and would hang about the spot for some time. + +A few moments later the whistle blew, but Charnock and his companion +did not stop, and Festing heard the thud of the hammer as he went on. +This rather puzzled him. The work was hard and he had not expected +Charnock's assistant to continue his task longer than he need. Festing +was fastidiously just, and thought it shabby to steal a workman's +time; moreover, he imagined that if he had asked the fellow to go on +after the whistle blew he would have refused. + +Curiosity led him to wait farther along the track until the thud of +the hammer stopped. It looked as if Charnock was putting in the +dynamite, and Festing hoped he would be careful with the detonator. By +and by he heard a warning shout, and a moment or two afterwards saw a +blaze of light. Then there was a curious sharp report, and pieces of +broken rock splashed into the river. The gorge rang with echoes and a +mass of gravel roared down the slope. It was obviously a good shot and +had moved more spoil than Festing expected. A glance at his watch +showed that the others had given up a quarter of an hour of their +short noon rest. + +Festing set off again, and in the meantime, Charnock, holding his +breath as he stood on the snowy bank, looked down into the hole the +explosion had made. + +"I think we've made a first-class job," he said, stepping back out of +reach of the fumes. "I like the company's taste in powder." + +"It's better than ours," his companion agreed with a chuckle. + +"Much better. The company is richer than us. It would have saved us +some hard work if you had hooked a few more sticks." + +"They're a mean crowd," said the other. "Blamed suspicious how they +tally out their stores, but I'll see what I can do. I'd sooner use +good powder than cut frozen gravel with the pick." + +"The pick's no tool for white men. We won't use it unless we're +forced," Charnock answered, and both laughed. + +He went to the shack, and while they were at dinner Festing asked: +"How did you persuade Jim Brown to stop until you fired the shot?" + +"I didn't persuade him. I took it for granted he would stop." + +"He's a good man, but sometimes sulky if one wants him to do what he +thinks is outside his job. I don't imagine I'd have found him so +obliging if I'd asked him to keep on." + +Charnock laughed. "Perhaps not; our methods are different. You would +have explained logically why the thing ought to be finished; but +that's a mistake. There are not so many logical people as you think. +Instead of arguing, I made a silly joke." + +"You certainly get on with the boys," said Festing thoughtfully. + +"They're a careless, irresponsible crowd. I'm irresponsible, too, and +they understand me. They trust you, but you sometimes puzzle them. +Perhaps that accounts for the thing." + +Festing talked about something else until they went back to work. Next +morning he climbed the hill to a level bench where some of his men +were busy hauling logs to the top of the skids. It was easier to move +the big trunks across the snow, and he had seized the opportunity to +get some out, but was surprised when he saw the number ready to be +sent down. While he examined them, Charnock, sprinkled with dusty +snow, came up, leading a heavy Percheron team. They dragged a log into +place, and then Charnock unhooked the chain and beat his hands. His +skin-coat was ragged and his fur-cap battered, but he looked alert and +virile as he stood by the steaming horses' heads. The gray trunks of +the pines made a good background for his tall figure, which had an +almost statuesque grace. + +"You look very well, Bob," Festing remarked. "It's obvious that the +pain has gone." + +"It won't come back while the dry weather lasts; I don't know about +afterwards. These are pretty good logs." + +"I was wondering how you were able to bring up so many." + +"They're here; that's the main thing. You can look after other matters +and leave this to me." + +"If you don't mind, I'd like to see how you did it," Festing replied. + +"Oh, well! You're a persistent fellow; I suppose you had better come +along." + +Festing went with him and stopped where a gang of men were at work +among the fallen trees. Two, swaying backwards and forward with +rhythmic precision, dragged a big crosscut-saw through a massive +trunk. Others swung bright axes, and the wood rang with the noise of +their activity. All were usefully employed, but there were more of +them than Festing expected. + +"The two boys with the cantpoles belong to the contractor's bridge- +gang," he said. "What are they doing here?" + +"I think I told you Norton said I could have them when we were moving +the big poles," Charnock replied. "He saw I needed help." + +"But that was some days since. He sent them to help at a particular +job which you have finished." + +"He hasn't asked me to send them back. Looks as if he'd forgotten +them. Anyhow, they're useful." + +"We have no right to keep the men. How did you get them to stop?" + +"That was easy," said Charnock. "The cooking at the bunk-house isn't +very good, and I told our man to find out what they liked. In fact, I +said we'd stand for it if he put up a better hash." + +Festing laughed. The plan was characteristic of Bob's methods. + +"You must send them back," he said, and went away, doubting if Bob +would do so. + +For all that, he admitted that Charnock was doing well. He stuck to +his work, and had a talent for handling men. Nobody was at all afraid +of him; but his sympathetic forbearance with his helpers' weaknesses +and his whimsical humor seemed to pay much better than bullying. He +made a joke where Festing frowned, but the latter felt thoughtful as +he went down-hill. One must make allowance, but Bob was something of a +responsibility. + +A week later, he got a jar as he stood with Charnock beside a part of +the track they had laboriously underpinned. The ballast train was +coming down, filling the valley with its roar, and the beaten snow +heaved among the ties as the big cars rolled by. The rails sank +beneath the wheels and then sprang up until the load on the next axle +pressed them down again; the snow flaked off the side of the road-bed, +which was built up with broken rock. Festing thought the movement was +too marked and waited for the locomotive, which was coupled to the +back of the train. + +The engine was of the ponderous, mountain type, but it ran smoothly, +with steam cut off, and although the ground trembled and the rails +groaned as it passed, there was no threatening disturbance. + +"The bank's holding up, and this was about the worst spot," Charnock +remarked. "We had some trouble in bedding the king posts in the +slippery stuff." + +Then Kerr gave them a nod as he went by. "Looks pretty good, and they +have a full load on the cars." + +"I think we'll wait until the train comes back," Festing said to +Charnock. "The engineer will open the throttle wide to pull her up the +grade." + +They sat down in a hollow of the bank, for a bitter wind blew through +the gorge, and after a time the roar of falling gravel echoed among +the pines. Then there was a heavy snorting and the locomotive came +round a curve, rocking and belching out black smoke. The cars banged +and rattled, slowing with jarred couplings and rolling on when the +driving wheels gripped. Festing waited anxiously, because the wheels +of a locomotive when driven hard strikes what is called a hammer blow. + +By and by the ground began to throb; the vibration got sharper, and +Festing watched the track as the engine passed. Cinders rattled about +him, there was a mist of snow, but he saw the cross-ties start and the +rails spring up and down. Then the clanging cars sped past, and when +they had gone he climbed down the side of the bank. + +It was now bare of snow and one could see the stones. Two or three had +fallen, and the edges of the others were a little out of line. The +unevenness was marked, and although one or two of the heads of the +timbers had moved, the movement might not have caught Festing's eye +had he not known the treacherous nature of their support. He did not +think anybody else would notice that they were not quite in their +proper place. + +"I'm afraid we're up against trouble, Bob," he said. + +Charnock looked unusually thoughtful. "The engineer had to start from +a dead stop and turn on full steam. That made the jarring worse, but +it wouldn't happen with the ordinary traffic." + +"Perhaps not," Festing agreed. "Still, you see, the frequent +repetition of a smaller shock--" + +Charnock stopped him. "It's those confounded posts! If we pull them +out, we'll have to cut down to the rock to find a solid bed, and +there's a mass of stone to move. What would the job cost?" + +He said nothing for a minute after Festing told him, and then +remarked: "It's Kerr's business to find fault, and he looked +satisfied." + +"He doesn't know as much about it as we do." + +"Then I wish we knew less. How long do you think the track would stand +if we left it alone?" + +"Until we got paid," said Festing. "It might stand for some time +afterwards." + +He fixed his eyes on Charnock and waited. Bob had expressed some +praiseworthy sentiments about making a good job, but this was a +different thing from living up to them when it would cost him much. +What they ought to do was plain, but Festing admitted that the +sacrifice required an effort. Then, somewhat to his surprise, Charnock +looked up with a smile. + +"You're not sure of me yet, Stephen, and I don't know that you can be +blamed. It's a nasty knock, but we have got to bear it. Stop there a +few minutes." + +"Where are you going?" + +"To bring Kerr back and show him the damage. He'll have to lay off the +gravel gang while we pull down the bank." + +Festing waited. Bob would stand by him, but he felt anxious. It would +be an expensive business to rebuild the track and the frost would make +things worse. In fact, if they had any more trouble of the kind, they +might be ruined. Then he got up as he saw Kerr coming along the line. + +In an hour or two the rails were up and they began to pull down the +rockwork that faced the bank. The ragged stones cut their numbed +hands, their backs ached with lifting heavy weights, and they stumbled +under the loads they carried up the snowy incline. They had, however, +help enough, for Charnock went away for a time and came back with +three or four men from the construction gang. Festing noted that +although he made them useful, he did not give them the hardest work. +He refrained from asking how Charnock got the men, but was not +surprised when the foreman arrived and inquired in forcible language +what they were doing there. + +"Let me answer him," said Charnock. "I feel in the mood. It's my first +chance of letting myself go; as long as you're working for wages the +advantage is with the boss. Besides, I think I ought to do something +for the boys, who can't talk back." + +Festing admitted that he talked very well. Charnock had a keen eye for +the ridiculous and a pretty wit, and was no longer handicapped by the +fear of being dismissed. While the foreman replied with coarse but +rather meaningless abuse, Charnock's retorts had a definite aim and +hit their mark. He indicated with humorous skill the defects in his +antagonist's looks and character, and Festing's gang laughed +uproariously, while the borrowed workmen applauded as loudly as they +durst. At length, the foreman, breathless and red in face, gave up the +unequal contest and returned to his first question. + +"If you came for an argument, you've got it, and I can go on for some +time yet," Charnock replied. "However, if you really want to know why +the boys are helping me, you can ask Mr. Norton at the bridge." + +The foreman retired, muttering, but not towards the bridge, and +Festing looked hard at Charnock. + +"I was anxious for a moment," Charnock admitted. "But I didn't think +he'd go. For one thing, I knew he knows Norton doesn't like him." + +"Then I'll leave you to deal with Norton if he hears about the matter. +Now you have had your amusement, we had better get on." + +The short rest and laughter had refreshed the gang and they made good +progress. As the holes between the frames deepened, the work got +harder and the footing bad, because they were forced to stand on +slippery ledges while they passed the heavy stones from man to man. +Charnock was ready with jocular sympathy if one fell or a stone +bruised somebody's hand, and his jokes spurred on the weary. It got +dark soon in the hollow, but as the light faded the flame of a +powerful blast-lamp sprang up and threw out a dazzling glare. The lamp +belonged to the company, and Festing did not ask Charnock how he had +got it. Bob had his own methods, and it was better to leave him alone. +When the whistle blew, the latter turned to the borrowed men. + +"Go to our shack, boys, and get supper there. I told the cook to fix +up something extra, and dare say you'll find it better hash than +yours. I'd like you to come back to-morrow, but am afraid it's risky." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE CHINOOK WIND + +The frost got more rigorous, drying the snow to a dusty powder in +which Festing's lumber gang floundered awkwardly. Had there been a +thaw, the surface would have hardened, but now they were forced to +move the logs through loose, billowy drifts. The men sank to their +knees, it was difficult to find a fulcrum for the handspikes, and the +logs would not run well on the beaten roads. The latter broke into +holes, and the dry snow retarded the smooth sliding of the lumber like +dust. One could not touch a saw or ax-head with the naked hand. + +Festing had seen that he might be embarrassed by hard frost, but had +not expected it to continue. On the central tablelands of British +Columbia winter is severe, but near the coast and in valleys open to +the West the mitigating warmth of the Pacific is often felt. He had +imagined that when his work upon the track was hindered the snow would +help him to bring down lumber ready for use when a thaw set in. Now, +however, wages were mounting up and little work was being done. He +began to wonder what would happen if a change did not come. + +One morning he knelt in a hole below the track, holding a drill. He +wore mittens, but the back of one was split and showed a raw bruise on +his skin. It needs practise to hit the end of a drill squarely, and +Charnock, who swung the big hammer, had missed. The worst was that the +bruise would not heal while the temperature kept low. They were +sinking a hole through frozen gravel that was worse to cut than rock, +because the drill jambed in the crevices and would not turn. But for +the frost, they need not have used the tool; a hole for the post they +meant to put in could have been made with a shovel, without using +expensive powder. + +When he thought they had gone deep enough Festing got up and looked +about. White peaks glittered against a vivid blue sky. The pines +sparkled with frost and the snow in their shadow was a soft gray. The +river looked as black as ink, except where it foamed among the rocks, +and the gorge echoed with the crash of drifting ice that shocked and +splintered on the ledges. The light was strong, and rocks and trees +far up the slopes stood out, harshly distinct. As he turned to the +West, however, he noted a faint haziness and shading off in the +outline of the hills. + +"I don't know if that softness means anything, and hardly believe it +does," he said. "When I made up the wages book last night and saw what +the work we have been able to do has cost us, I got a shock. The boys +are a pretty good crowd, and if we pay them off we won't get them +back; but it's obvious we can't go on long like this." + +Charnock nodded. "How much money have we left?" + +When Festing told him he looked thoughtful. "I didn't know things were +quite as bad! Well, I suppose I could get another cheque, but don't +want to put too much strain on Sadie's generosity. She might imagine +I'd got on a jag! There are drawbacks to having a character like mine; +it's easier lived up to than got rid of. However, what do you +suggest?" + +"We'll hold on while the money lasts." + +"The plan's simple, as far as it goes. It's remarkable how short a +time money does last and how hard it is to earn. Sadie misled me about +that; she used to hint that I had only to apply my talents and pick up +the cash; but since she's a business woman, she ought to have known +better. The virtuous path is about as rocky as luck can make it; but +perhaps you take something for granted if you allow that making money +is virtuous." + +Festing frowned impatiently. "One ought to pay one's debts." + +"One's generally forced," Charnock replied. "But I think I see what +you mean. We undertook this contract and must carry it out if +possible. Sadie would agree. She's like her father, and the old man +often said: 'It's safe to deal with Keller's. When you put up the +money, we put up the goods.' But let's get the powder." + +Opening a box, he took out a stick of yellow material that looked +rather like a thick candle. A big copper cap was squeezed into one +end, and from the cap there trailed a length of black fuse. Festing +put the stick into the hole and cautiously filled this up with frozen +soil, leaving a short piece of fuse sticking out. While he was feeling +for his matches Kerr arrived. + +"You are making trouble for me," the latter began. "You did the square +thing in pulling out the weak frames, but they're not replaced, and I +can't run the gravel train across the spot. As the back track is +nearly ballasted up, I don't know how I'm going to use the locomotive +and cars." + +"The frost is stopping us," said Festing. "It is not our fault." + +"That's so, but my chiefs at headquarters don't want to know whose +fault it is. Their method, as you ought to know, is statistical--we're +given a number of men and tools, and the value of the work done must +equal the expense. It's the only standard for judging an engineer. His +business is to overcome the difficulties, and if he's unable he's +obviously of no use." + +Charnock grinned. "Employers' logic! Piffle of that kind only goes +when there are more engineers than jobs. I imagine there'll be a +change some day." + +"I'm sorry Dalton's gone back," Kerr resumed. "He's a friend of yours, +and would have seen what we're all up against. But there's another +thing; the boys are beginning to kick. We have had to lay off the +ballast gang for a day now and then, and they claim they're not +getting a square deal. One fellow told me we oughtn't to have given +the contract to a man without capital to carry him over a set-back. He +said if you'd had money you could have hired extra labor and kept to +schedule, and in the end it wouldn't have cost you more." + +"The argument is sound," Festing agreed. "In fact, it shows more +understanding than I'd expect the boys to use." + +Kerr looked hard at him. "I suspect that somebody is stirring them up. +You see, they haven't demanded more wages yet; they only claim that I +ought to hustle you." + +"The fellow's object isn't very plain, but I've no doubt the demand +for bigger pay will come. Well, we can't hire more help, and if +there's no change soon, the frost will break us without your +bothering. We'll do our best until then." + +"We'll leave it at that," said Kerr, with a sympathetic nod; and when +he went away Charnock turned to Festing. + +"Wilkinson's the man, and as the boys have a real grievance he'll find +them easy to work on. That means I've got to write to Sadie." + +"No," said Festing. "If you write, I stop. Your wife has sent you +money enough, and I'm afraid some of it is lost. We must trust to +luck, and in the meantime we'll fire the shot." + +He blew a whistle and then striking a match lighted the fuse and +hurried away. A minute or two later, lumps of frozen gravel flew about +the track and showers of smaller fragments scattered the snow. As +Festing came out of his shelter a man with an angry look advanced +along the line. + +"Why don't you warn folks before you shoot off your rocks?" he asked. + +"My partner whistled," Charnock answered. "What's the matter, anyhow? +Did the shot jar your nerves?" + +"A rock a foot across mighty near jarred my head! A smaller piece got +me plumb on the ribs." + +Festing thought this unlikely, in view of the fellow's distance from +the explosion, but could not be certain he was not struck. + +"I'm sorry if you got hurt" he said. "You ought to have heard the +whistle." + +"Anyhow, I didn't. You want to stop shooting rocks when there are men +around. Then you've mussed up the track and can't put her straight. +Why don't you hire more boys and rush the job? Can't see why the +bosses let two deadbeats like you and your partner have the contract!" + +"We have got it. How we mean to carry it out is our business, not +yours." + +"Then it's certainly our business if we work or not," the other +rejoined. "As the bosses will find out if they reckon we're going to +lose our time to help you save your dollars!" + +He went away grumbling, and Charnock looked at Festing. + +"Was that bluff? Do you think he means it?" + +"I don't know. They haven't lost much time through our fault, but the +frost has interfered with other jobs, and I expect there'll be trouble +if it lasts. I'm puzzled, because they're not a bad-tempered lot, and +I understand that Wilkinson is not a favorite. Your throwing him down +the bank wouldn't strengthen his influence." + +"It's easy to work on men's feelings when they're discontented," +Charnock replied. "The worst is that Kerr can't stand by us if the +gang put down their tools. Labor's scarce in the mountains, and he'll +be forced to do what they want." + +Festing gloomily agreed. "I'm afraid so. However, we must do the best +we can in the time we have left." + +They worked by a blast-lamp until late at night and began again before +daybreak in the morning. The weakened frame had been replaced, but +others needed strengthening and the rockwork must be built up among +the timbers. The stones required careful fitting, and it was +impossible to dress them to rough shape. The frozen surface resisted +the tool and they broke if much force was used. Fires were made, but +the rock thawed irregularly and much time was lost. + +Festing's bruised hand gave him trouble, his mittens wore to rags, and +his numbed fingers cracked and bled, but he worked savagely until +evening. Then he walked stiffly to the shack and sat, dejected and +aching, looking at the food on the table. Although he had eaten little +all day, it cost him something of an effort to begin his meal. + +An hour afterward he heard steps and voices outside and opened the +door. The light shone out from behind him and he saw a group of dark +figures in the snow. + +"Well, boys," he asked, "what do you want?" + +"We want to know when you're going to fix the track," one replied. + +"That's easily answered. We mean to put it right as soon as we can." + +"Not good enough!" remarked another. "We've got to know when." + +"Then I'm sorry I can't tell you. It depends on the weather." + +Some of them growled, and Festing felt Charnock's hand close warningly +on his arm. + +"Won't you come into the light, boys?" the latter asked. "I'd like to +know to whom I'm talking." + +They did not move, and Charnock resumed: "Have you brought your +foreman or Wilkinson?" + +Somebody said neither had come, and Charnock nodded. + +"Well, I reckon they know what's best for them! Wilkinson doesn't like +me, but he's not looking for more trouble; I imagine he's had enough. +Then the foreman's not a friend of mine, but he has a better job than +yours and means to hold it down. If you get up against the bosses, +he's not going to be fired." + +There was silence, and he saw his remarks had not been wasted. He had +hinted that the men were being used and given them ground to distrust +their leaders. + +"I half expected another fellow, a friend of Wilkinson's, who claimed +he had been hit by a stone. Has he come along?" + +"Said he was too sore and would have to lay off to-morrow," one +replied. "That's another thing. When you shoot off your blasts you +have got to watch out that nobody gets hurt." + +"Sure," agreed Charnock. "We did watch out and blew the whistle; but +we want to do the square thing. If Pearson got hurt and can't work, +let him show you the bruise. We'll stand for his pay until you think +he's fit to begin again." + +"That's fair," admitted the other with a laugh. "He wasn't showing the +bruise much. Say, you're pretty smart!" + +"I hope so," said Charnock, modestly. "Looks as if I needed all the +smartness I've got. We're up against the weather and a big awkward +job, and then you come along and worry us! However, what are you going +to do about it if we can't put the rails down as soon as you want?" + +"We'll make the bosses break your contract." + +Charnock pondered, keeping his hand on Festing's arm, because he +thought he could handle the matter better than his comrade. Festing +was too blunt and sometimes got angry. He saw that the men were +determined, but while they had, no doubt, been worked upon, he thought +they had no personal grudge against him or his partner. + +"There's only one way you could put the screw to the bosses, and that +way's dangerous. The /Colonist/ states that they have a number of men +unemployed in the coast towns. If Kerr wrote to a labor agent, he'd +send him up a crowd." + +"It would cost him high to bring the men here, and take some time." + +"That is so," Charnock agreed. He saw the others had made their plans +and calculated the pressure they could put upon the engineers. Time +was important, and he thought the foreman had helped them to estimate +the expense the company would incur by the delay before they could get +new men. + +"Putting down your tools would cost you something," he resumed. "How +long do you imagine it would take to persuade Kerr?" + +"I guess a week would fix him; he wouldn't stand for a fortnight." + +"Very well! I don't suppose your object is to put us off the road; you +want what you're entitled to. So do we all, and though it's often +troublesome to get, there's no use in taking the hardest way. If you +stop, you lose a fortnight's wages and somebody will get fired. Not +now, of course, but afterwards; the bosses know their job. Well, give +us ten days, and the time you miss won't run to many dollars. If we +can't put the rails down then, we'll quit." + +There was silence for a moment, and then somebody said, "We'll let it +go at that. It's a deal!" + +The others growled consent and Charnock waited until they moved away, +after which he shut the door and sat down wearily. + +"You took the right line," Festing said. + +"I hesitated about fixing the time, but we can't go on much longer." + +"No," said Festing. "Well, we have ten days!" + +They said nothing more and soon afterwards went to bed. Next morning +there was a marked haziness in the west, but the frost was keener. It +looked as if they must be beaten, although they meant to fight until +defeat was sure, and Festing was surprised when he glanced at his +comrade. This was not the careless lounger he had known. Charnock's +face was grim and somewhat pinched; his hands were torn and bruised. +He picked the heaviest stones to lift and was the first to take hold +of ponderous beams. Festing owned that he had misjudged Charnock, but +not more than he had misjudged himself. His farming had been a rash +experiment and the contract a reckless gamble; the one threatened to +end as badly as the other. Then Bob had somehow kept his wife's love, +and he, with senseless obstinacy, had estranged Helen. + +His thoughts were depressing, but they drove him on. Hope was dead; he +had made a horrible mess of things. All that was left was to take his +punishment and hold on until he was knocked out, but he meant to do +this. He did not stop for dinner with the rest, but occupied himself +with something that needed doing, and forgot that he had gone without +the meal. Afterwards a pain began in his left side, but he had other +aches, and the extra discomfort did not trouble him much. In the +afternoon he worked with a kind of sudden fury, and when at length the +tired men dropped their tools found some difficulty in straightening +his back. He had never used his muscles as he had done for the past +few days, but the strain would soon be over. + +It was unusually dark when he went up the hill to the shack. The pines +rose in blurred masses from the shadowy snow and he could not see the +hollow of the path. Supper was a melancholy meal, but he ate because +he was hungry, and afterwards dragged his chair to the fire. There was +a great pile of crackling logs and the blaze flickered about the room, +but bitter draughts came in beneath the door. + +"An open fire's of no use; I thought about getting a stove," he said, +and paused with a dreary smile. "It's lucky I didn't send the order!" + +"You may need it yet," Charnock replied. "Somehow we'll put the rails +down in time." + +Festing did not answer and picked up a newspaper. He did not want to +read, but could not sleep, although he was very tired, and felt he +must have some relief from his anxious thoughts. The newspaper was a +/Colonist/ that had left Victoria some days before, and he read it +methodically from the first column, trying to fix his attention on +things that had happened in remote mining settlements and market +reports. His efforts were mechanical, but he long afterwards +remembered what he read and how he dully followed the arguments in an +article on political reform. Indeed, when he saw the /Colonist/ his +imagination carried him back to the log-walled hut, and he felt +something of the dazed hopelessness that blunted his senses then. + +In the meantime, Charnock, half asleep, lounged with his legs +stretched out to the fire. The logs snapped and a fitful wind stirred +the tops of the pines. Now and then some snow fell from a branch and a +loose roofing shingle rattled, but by degrees the sounds died away. +Everything was strangely quiet, except for the roar of the river, +which had got more distinct. Charnock shivered and felt a puzzling +tension. It was often calm at night, particularly in hard frost, but +he felt as if something was going to happen. Looking up, he saw +Festing nod with his eyes half shut, and felt for his tobacco. + +While he cut the plug, the silence was broken. There was a humming in +the pine tops and light branches began to toss. The draught from the +door got stronger, but did not bite as keenly, and it sounded as if +the snow was falling from the trees. Then some slipped down the roof, +and getting up with tingling nerves, he opened the door. All the trees +were rustling and waves of sound came up the valley. The sound +swelled, the air felt damp, and a drop of moisture from the roof +splashed upon his head. He drew a deep breath of relief, for a warm +wind from the Pacific was roaring through the defile. Then Festing +dropped the newspaper. + +"Why have you opened the door?" he asked drowsily, and got up with a +jerk as the draught swept the smoke about the room. + +"A Chinook!" he exclaimed, and ran to the door. "We'll have rain and +warmth while it blows." + +"It's great!" said Charnock hoarsely. "We are through the worst!" Then +he caught Festing's arm and laughed. "Say something wise, partner; I +want to shout and dance." + +"You had better go to bed. It will be thawing hard to-morrow, and +there's much to be done. A Chinook doesn't last long in the +mountains." + +"This Chinook is going to last until we put the rails down," Charnock +replied. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE THAW + +When Festing went out at daybreak the air was soft, and drops from the +wet pines fell into the honeycombed snow. The surface was turning to +slush, but he knew it would wear down into a slippery mass on which +the logs would run. This was fortunate, because he doubted if labor +could be usefully employed upon the stones just yet. For a few moments +he pondered the matter and listened to the river's turmoil. The deep, +booming note was sharper, water splashed noisily in the gullies, and +there was a ringing crash as an ice-floe broke upon a rock. Then he +turned as Charnock came up. + +"Which is it--logs or stones?" the latter asked. + +"Logs, I think; we can handle them easily," Festing replied. "The +other job is urgent, but the thaw has only begun, and when the ground +gets properly soft we'll do twice as much as we could now. Still, +there's a risk. We could make some progress with the track, and the +warm spell mayn't last." + +"Take the risk," said Charnock with a laugh. "There's not much fun in +playing for safety, and you don't get far that way, while when you try +to foresee things you generally see them wrong. But let's be +practical! As soon as the ground is soft enough we'll ask leave to +hire half the gravel gang. That will make friends of the opposition +and won't put up our wages bill. If you double your helpers, you halve +the working hours." + +"Obviously. But you have to pay the larger number all at once. Where's +the money coming from?" + +"From the head contractor. We'll try to make Norton sign for an +interim payment. Let's go and see him." + +Festing was doubtful, but they found Norton, the contractor's +engineer, more compliant than he hoped. + +"I suppose you are entitled to ask for a sum on account, but I'd take +some responsibility in allowing the demand," he said. "Why did you +come to me now?" + +"We want to be just," Charnock answered modestly. "At present, there's +no prospect of our finishing the work we ask the money for." + +"It doesn't go much beyond a prospect yet," Norton rejoined. "However, +I'll help you if I can, and will see what Kerr thinks. He's the man we +have both to satisfy in the end." + +They went to work up the hill in the melting snow, and soon their +clothes were dripping and their long boots soaked. At first, the logs +vanished in the drifts through which they tried to roll them, and the +horses slipped and floundered in the slush, but this flowed away and +left a harder layer that was presently beaten firm. The surface turned +black and compressed into ice, and before long rows of heavy logs +plunged down the skids. Every moment must be turned to good account, +and Festing stopped and went down reluctantly when Kerr sent for him. + +"I've seen Norton and he thinks we ought to help you out," Kerr +remarked. "Though he argues from single instances, his judgment's +often good, and he seems convinced you can be trusted because you +saved a skip of his. Of course, I had my opinion; but as he represents +the contractor you are working for, I couldn't urge him." + +"Thanks!" said Festing. "I wish I'd brought Charnock; he'd deal with +this better." + +Kerr laughed. "Your partner has some talents and seems to have made +Norton and my storekeepers his friends. If he hadn't, there might have +been trouble about certain irregularities. However, you can have the +gravel gang if I'm forced to lay the boys off, and as soon as we can +run the train over the repaired track you'll get your cheque." + +Festing went away, feeling satisfied, but not without some anxiety. He +could not urge Norton to go farther than his employer would approve, +and the payment agreed upon was small. Besides, if the frost returned +before he had made the track secure, he would have spent enough money +in extra wages to prevent his going on, and should this happen it +might be difficult to obtain payment for other work already completed. +He would be at the mercy of Norton's employer, who might contend that +by throwing up his contract he had forfeited his claim. It was obvious +that he must make the utmost use of every hour of open weather, and +for the rest of the day he worked with a stubborn energy that +conquered fatigue. + +For a time, the logs went screaming and grinding down the skids, but +darkness made launching them dangerous, and they could not light the +lumber road on the hill. They worked in the dark, rolling out the sawn +trunks from among the brush and melting snow until there was room to +hook on the team. Then the driver, walking by his horses' heads, felt +with his feet for the hollowed track, and losing it now and then +embedded his load in snow. Then he called for help, and men with +cantpoles laboriously hove the ponderous mass back to the road. + +The work was worse on the inclines, where the logs ran smoothly and +there was a risk of their overtaking the horses. Rain had begun to +fall and one could not see the obstacles, but there were pitches where +one must go fast in order to keep in front of the dangerous loads. But +risks must be run in lumbering, and Festing felt that rashness was +justified. Speed was the thing that counted most. + +When supper time drew near, men and horses were worn out, and Festing +knew that if he urged the former to continue he could not do much +without the teams. There were, however, a few logs he meant to haul to +the skidway before he stopped, and he had some misgivings when he +started with the last. It was an unusually large trunk, and the tired +horses floundered as they tightened the chain. Thawing snow when +beaten hard is as slippery as ice, but the animals kept their feet and +the mass began to move. Festing got a firm grip on the near horse's +bridle and plodded forward cautiously, with the rain in his face when +he crossed the openings in the wood. The snow reflected a puzzling +glimmer, but the darkness was thick among the trees, and drops from +the shaking branches fell into his eyes. Turning his hat-brim down, he +felt for the edge of the trail. + +By and by he stopped at the top of a descent. The gray snow looked all +the same, and the hollow track vanished a few yards in front; the rows +of trunks had faded into a vague dark mass, and the branches met +overhead in a thick canopy. The horses were big, valuable Percherons, +but they were exhausted and stood slackly, with steam rising from +their foam-flecked coats. Festing did not like the look of the dip, +and knew the trees grew close upon the track at the bottom, but he +must go down, and shouted to the hesitating animals. + +They moved faster; the log grinding heavily across the snow behind. +Then the strain on the chain slackened, and he dragged at the bridle +as he began to run. The log could not be stopped now; it was moving +faster than he had thought, and all that he could do was to keep the +team in front. His feet slipped on the icy trail, and the horses +floundered, but they knew the danger and broke into a clumsy trot. It +was hard to keep up, but Festing must hold them to the track and steer +them round a bend ahead. + +The log lurched noisily across lumps and hollows, the chain made a +harsh clank, and the wood echoed the thud of heavy hoofs. Festing ran +his best, and imagined that he was running for the horses' lives and +perhaps for his. He durst not look round, and could only guess where +the log was by the noise. The blurred trees rolled back to him in a +thick dark mass, but he thought the gap he followed got narrower +ahead. This was, no doubt, the awkward spot where the trunks closed on +the track, and there was a corner. He must go on and trust to luck for +getting round. + +In a few moments he was almost at the corner, and although it was hard +to see, thought he distinguished a break in the dark wall of trees. +One must keep to the inside, on the right; but there was very little +room, and if he miscalculated, he or the horses would collide with a +trunk. He smashed through a bush that caught his foot, but his hold +upon the bridle saved him from a fall. It looked as if he had left the +track and was plunging into the wood. Then a black trunk became +detached from the rest, apparently straight in front. He did not mean +to let go, although he might be crushed between the horse's shoulder +and the tree, and drew as close as possible to the animal. Something +brushed his coat, he felt a button torn off, but the tree was passed. +He knew where he was now, and thrusting hard against the horse urged +the animal towards the other side of the road. The log ran into soft +snow and slowed; there was more room here and the steepest pitch was +behind. A few minutes later, he reached the top of the skids and sat +down on the log, breathing fast and feeling badly shaken. + +He frowned as he thought there was no physical reason he should feel +shaken. He was used to strenuous effort, and danger could not be +avoided when one engaged in construction work. It was mental strain +that was wearing him out; the constant endeavor to finish a task in +less than the necessary time. Want of money was, however, the main +cause of his difficulties, and when he had got his cheque it would be +possible to take things easier. Comforting himself with this +reflection, he got up and led the horses down-hill. + +The clang of hammers and rattle of shovels rose from the gorge, +sharply distinct at times, but melting when the throb of the river +swelled and a gust roared among the trees. A dark skeleton of steel +that stood out against pulsating flame, with blurred reflections +below, marked the central pier of the bridge; the line of track was +picked out by twinkling fires. Then the scream of a whistle pierced +the sound and the lights went out. The men were going back to the +bunk-house and Festing envied them. Their work was finished for the +day and they could rest, free from care, until the whistle roused them +to begin again. Many were, no doubt, tired, but that was man's common +lot, and muscular fatigue in moderation was no hardship. The strain +came when one had to make the dollars go round and see that every +effort paid its cost. Among the mountains, the cost was high. + +Charnock joined him when he was grooming the horses in the rude +stable, because the teams must be cared for before the men thought of +food. Supper was ready when they went in, and when they had eaten they +sat by the hearth, drying their damp clothes and enjoying the warmth. +They had scarcely spoken to one another during the day; as a rule, it +was only after supper one could indulge in talk. + +Presently Charnock took his pipe from his mouth. "It's luxuriously +warm, but one can't expect the Chinook to last. I imagine we'll have +some use for a stove after all." + +"We're not out of danger yet," Festing replied. "Norton's cheque has +still to be earned, but I begin to feel hopeful. If we can hold out +for a few more days, I think we'll turn the corner. Anyhow, the plan +you made prevents any trouble from Wilkinson for a time. Do you think +he has had enough and will leave us alone?" + +"I can't tell, but it doesn't matter much. We mustn't exaggerate the +fellow's importance; he's a very poor sample of the theatrical +villain. Besides, I imagine you seldom meet the latter in real life; +it's an unnecessary part." + +"You mean we're up against enough without a plotting antagonist? Well, +I must agree. Considering the weather--" + +Charnock stopped him with a smile. "I don't mean the weather, though +one can't leave that out. In a new country, man must make the best +fight he can against Nature; but she's not his worst enemy. It's our +passions, our virtues sometimes, that lead us into a coil. Looks as if +they didn't want much help from outside." + +"That kind of speculation's not much in my line." + +"Just so. You're what you call practical, and your mind runs upon the +number of yards of rockwork you can put up in a day or the logs you +can cut. Very useful, but it doesn't take you far enough. In fact, if +you had thought more about other matters, you wouldn't be here now. +Nor would I." + +"I'm not sure I see your drift," said Festing impatiently. "What's +your explanation for our being here?" + +Charnock's eyes twinkled. "If you want the truth, it's because you're +something of an obstinate ass. Wilkinson had really nothing to do with +it, and the weather hasn't much. Your pride brought you and keeps you. +You took the wrong line with Helen, and then, knowing you were wrong, +couldn't force yourself to accept her help. However, I'll admit that +we are a pair of fools. I could have spent a lazy winter at the +homestead if I'd liked." + +"You came to look for me," Festing remarked with feeling. + +"I did, but stayed to please myself. Thought I'd show Sadie what I +could do; felt virtuous about it at the time, but begin to suspect +that vanity pushed me on. Sadie would, no doubt, sooner have me safe +at home. Anyhow, I think I've proved my argument--we're here, doing +unthinkable things, freezing, sweating, getting thin, because of our +own stupidity." + +"In a way, that is so," Festing agreed. "Still, I can't go back until +I have finished this job." + +"Perhaps you had better not," said Charnock dryly. "I imagine you +wouldn't be easy to live with it you felt you had come home because +you had failed. You might make good resolutions, but the thing would +spoil your temper all the same. The pinch comes when you try to carry +good resolutions out." + +Festing got up and threw fresh wood on the fire. "If you have finished +philosophizing, we'll talk about something else." + +"I'm not going to talk about logs and wages," Charnock replied. + +"Very well. You haven't told me much about Wilkinson. He seems a +clever rascal. Do you think we have ground for being afraid of him?" + +"I don't imagine he'd run much risk or make a sacrifice for the sake +of getting his revenge; that kind of thing isn't often done by normal +people. All the same, he doesn't like us, and if he found he could do +us an injury without much trouble, I dare say he'd seize the chance. +On the whole, it might be prudent to watch him. Now we'll let the +matter go." + +Festing nodded, and they lounged in silence by the snapping fire. + +Next morning they got to work upon the track, and on the following +afternoon, when the thaw had gone far enough into the ground, Charnock +went for the gravel gang. The men came willingly, although Wilkinson +and the foreman did not appear, and with the connivance of one +Charnock obtained several of the company's blast-lamps. They worked +well, and when they went away Festing was satisfied with what they had +done. He imagined that Kerr and Norton had put themselves to some +inconvenience in order to let him have the gang, and for the next two +or three days he redoubled his efforts. The strain was getting +unbearable, but the thaw would not last, and he must finish all the +work the frost would delay while he could get the men. When he +dismissed his helpers, they parted on friendly terms; but his look was +grave that evening when he made up his accounts. + +The wages had been a heavy drain, and he could not meet his +storekeeper's bills unless he got his cheque. The defective +underpinning had, however, been replaced or strengthened, and he +expected that Kerr would test it soon. If the work did not pass the +test, he would be ruined, and would, moreover, have involved Charnock +in a serious loss. + +It was about the middle of the morning when he stood with Kerr and his +partner beside the mended tract. Bright sunshine touched the hillside, +leaving the gorge in shadow, and the air was clear and cold. The snow +had gone for a few hundred feet above the rails; the pines stood out +sharply from the dark background, and the hollows in the glittering +slopes beyond were marked by lines of soft-blue shade. Festing thought +a change was coming, and he had not finished the track too soon. + +By and by a plume of smoke rose above the trees and something twinkled +in an opening. A rhythmic snorting and a rumble pierced the throb of +the river, and Kerr looked up the track. + +"The engineer's bringing her along fast. Shall I flag him to snub her +and shut the throttle before he runs across the new stuff?" + +"No," said Festing quietly. "It won't be needful." + +"The work hasn't had much time to settle, and a locomotive using steam +hits the rails harder than when she's running loose." + +"We don't want our money until it's earned, and you'll have to haul +heavy loads up the grade when the regular traffic begins." + +"In the meantime, I'm not thinking about the rest, but about the +gravel train." + +"The track will stand," said Festing, in a steady voice. + +The train came on; the long, low-sided cars rocking and banging down +the incline. Small figures jolted up and down on the gravel, and at +the far end the big plow flashed in the sun. The front of the engine +got larger, and Festing fixed his eyes upon the rockwork he had built +among the piles. All that could be done had been done; he had not +spared money or labor, for Charnock had agreed that the job must +stand. It was, no doubt, exaggerated sentiment, for he was highly +strung, but he felt that he had staked his wife's respect and his +future happiness on his work. + +The ground shook, and flying fragments of ballast beat upon his +turned-down hat; there was a deafening roar as the cars jolted past, +and he saw the rails spring. Then the wind that buffeted him changed +to eddying puffs, the noise receded, and he lifted his bent head. The +rockwork stood firm, the ends of the timbers had not moved, and only a +few small heaps of gravel had fallen from the road-bed. Festing felt +that he was trembling, and Kerr put his hand on his arm. + +"It's a good job; I'm quite satisfied. If you'll come along to +Norton's office, I'll tell him he can give you an order on +headquarters for your cheque." + +"I'll come instead," said Charnock, who turned to Festing. "Go to the +shack and take a smoke. If you come out before I return, I'll stop the +gang." + +Half an hour later he found Festing sitting slackly by the fire. + +"The order is in the mail-bag and will go out on the first train," he +said. "It's lucky we got it, because we have cut things very fine. I +had a note some days since from the fellow who sends us our stores, +insisting on our settling his bill." + +"Then why didn't you tell me?" Festing asked. + +Charnock laughed. "I imagined you had enough to bother you, and his +account is big. We couldn't have paid him without going broke, and +wages have first claim. There was a way out, but you had given me +strict orders not to write to Sadie." + +"I couldn't have allowed that, but you're a good sort, Bob!" + +"Well," said Charnock cheerfully, "it was, so to speak, touch and go; +but we have turned the awkward corner, and I think are going to make +good." + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A NEW UNDERTAKING + +Soon after the rails were laid down the frost returned, and one cold +morning Festing sat in his shack, studying a letter from Helen. +Norton's cheque had helped him to overcome the worst of his +difficulties, things were going better, and Charnock would superintend +the workmen until he was ready to go out. Festing felt that he need +not hurry, and wanted to think. + +Helen had written to him before, without any hint of resentment, and +he had told her what he was doing. She knew Bob was his partner, and +no doubt understood what this implied. It was obvious that he had been +wrong in disliking Bob and half suspecting him; besides Helen knew +from the beginning that he had not suspected her, although he had +insisted that she had been imprudent. This ground for difference had +vanished, but he wondered what she thought, and could not gather much +from her letter. + +She wrote with apparent good-humor and stated that all was going +satisfactorily at the farm, where, indeed, nothing of importance could +be done until spring. For all that, there was some reserve. A personal +explanation was needed before they could get back to their old +relations of intimate confidence, and he was ready to own his +mistakes. Unfortunately, the explanation must be put off, because +there was one point on which he was still determined, although his +resolve no longer altogether sprang from pride. He must, if possible, +repair his damaged fortunes before he went home. Farming on a proper +scale was expensive work, and Helen's capital was not large. In order +to raise a big crop, one must speculate boldly, and he meant to do so +with his own money. + +He saw a danger in staying away too long, but his contract was only +beginning to be profitable. Besides, one thing led to another, and a +number of extras, for which the pay was good, had been added to the +original plans. Then he had been asked to undertake another job and +had arranged to go over the ground with Kerr and Norton that morning. +In a way, he would sooner have left it alone, because it would keep +him longer from home, but the terms offered a strong inducement to +stop. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly time to meet the +engineers. + +He found them and Charnock near the half-finished bridge, which +crossed the river obliquely. The track approached its end in a curve +and then stopped where a noisy steam-digger was at work. Between the +machine and the bridge, the hillside fell in a very steep slope to the +water, which rolled in angry turmoil past its foot, and the channel +dividing the bank from the island that supported the central bridge- +pier was deep. Here and there a slab of rock projected from the slope, +but, for the most part, the latter consisted of small stones and soil. +The surface was now frozen beneath a thin crust of snow and the pines +were white. + +"You know roughly what we want," said Kerr. "If you'll come along, you +can look at the shot-holes we made to test the ground. Then I'll show +you a car-load of the rock we want to use, but it's largely a lumber +job and that's why we thought of offering it you. You have some good +choppers besides the teams and plant required." + +They climbed about the bank by dangerous paths, and then stopped at +the end of the bridge. + +"The thing can be done, but it will only make a temporary job," +Festing remarked. "You will have to do it again, properly, in a year +or two." + +"That the Company's business," Kerr replied. "As soon as we start the +traffic improvements can be paid for out of revenue instead of piling +up construction costs." + +"You can imagine the cost if we cut back the hill far enough to ease +the curve and lay the track on solid ground," Norton interposed. "The +half-measure of scooping out a shallow road-bed and dumping the stuff +on the incline is ruled out, because the spoil wouldn't lie and the +river would sweep the dirt away. If we filled up the channel with +rock, we'd turn the current on the bridge-pier." + +Then Charnock said something and Festing let them talk while he looked +about. Since a temporary job was required, he thought the plan was +perhaps the best that could be used. It called for a timber framework, +beginning about half-way up the bank, although its height would vary +with the ground. The gaps between the frames would be faced with +rockwork and then filled with rubble in order to make a bed for the +rails on top. + +"If you will come to the office, I'll show you the detailed drawings," +Norton said presently, and the others followed him. + +When they reached the office Festing studied the drawings, and then +giving them to Charnock, lighted his pipe. He wanted to undertake the +contract, but hesitated. The work already on his hands would occupy +him for some time, and a lengthy absence might prejudice him with +Helen. Besides, he had taken risks enough and a new venture might +prove a rash challenge to fortune; one could not foresee all the +difficulties that might arise. But, if he succeeded, he would go home +with the means to resume his farming on a profitable scale. Then he +saw Charnock looking at him and knew he would agree to his decision. +Festing put down his pipe and knitted his brows. + +"Well?" said Charnock. + +Festing got up with a quick, resolute movement, and turned to Norton. + +"We'll undertake the job." + +"That's all right," said Norton. "I'll get the papers drawn up and +send them over for you to sign." + +They went out, and as they climbed the hill Charnock remarked: "This +may turn out a big thing, partner. Are you going home before we +start?" + +Festing looked up sharply, with a disturbed air. "No. To begin with, +I've got to be about because the thing is big." + +"Then, as matters are going smoothly now, I'll leave you for a week." + +"I can manage for a week and one of us must stay. But why d'you want +to leave?" + +"On the whole, I think one of us had better go," Charnock answered +with some dryness. "If you don't mind, I'll get off to-morrow." + +He started next morning, in the caboose of a returning supply train, +and Festing, who went to see him off, stood for a few minutes on the +snowy track while the rattle of wheels and snorting of the locomotive +died away. Bob had made a curious remark when he talked about going, +and Festing wondered what he meant, but dismissed the matter and went +back to his work. + +It was a bitter afternoon when Charnock got down at the little prairie +station that was marked by a water-tank, the agent's shack, and the +lower frames of three unfinished grain elevators. He hired a rig at +the livery stable, and borrowing a fur-robe started on his drive +across the plain. The landscape was empty and featureless except for +the gray smears of distant bluffs. Nothing moved on the white expanse, +and there was no sound but the measured thud of the horses' feet; the +air was still and keen with frost. When the cluster of wooden houses +sank behind a gradual rise, the wavy, blue riband of the trail was the +only sign of human activity in the frozen wilderness. + +The snowfall, however, is generally light on the Western plains, and +the trail was good. Its smooth surface was dusty rather than slippery +and the team went fast. Everything was different from the varied +grandeur of the mountains; the eye found no point to rest upon, and +the level snow emphasized the loneliness. In spite of the thick +driving-robe, the cold bit through Charnock's worn-out clothes, but he +was conscious of a strange and almost poignant satisfaction. This was +not because he was at heart still something of a sybarite and had +borne many hardships on the railroad; he was going home and in an hour +or two Sadie would welcome him. It was curious, but when he married +Sadie he had not thought she could inspire him with the feeling he had +now. But he had learned her value and understood something of what she +had done for him. + +When it got dark he urged the horses and tried to control his +impatience. Later he felt his heart beat as he drove round the corner +of a shadowy bluff and saw his home-lights twinkle across the snow. A +hired man came out to take the team, he got down, nearly too numbed to +move, and as he stumbled up the steps Sadie met him with a cry of +delight. She drew him in and when he stood, half-dazed by the +brightness and change of temperature, in the well-warmed room, she +took her arm from round his neck and moved back a pace or two. + +Charnock's skin-coat was ragged, his mittens were tattered, and his +long boots badly worn. He looked tired and unkempt, but Sadie's eyes +were soft as she studied him. + +"Your face is very thin, but I don't like it less," she said. "You +haven't come back the same, Bob; I think you have grown." + +"Perhaps the pains account for the thinness," Charnock answered with a +smile. "Anyway, you ought to be satisfied, because you tried to make +me grow, and in a sense I was very small when I left you. But we won't +be sentimental and I want to change my clothes." + +He found fresh clothes ready, and when he came back his slippers, +pipe, and a recent newspaper occupied their usual place. Sitting down +with a smile of content, he lazily looked about. + +"This is remarkably nice," he said. "The curious thing is that I feel +as if I'd only left the house five minutes since. Everything I want is +waiting, although you didn't know I was coming." + +"I knew you would come some day, and come like this, without letting +me know." + +"And so you kept everything ready?" Charnock rejoined. "Well, I +imagine that's significant! But you see, I didn't know I could leave +camp until the day before I started, and then it looked as if I'd get +here as soon as the mail." + +Sadie gave him a quick glance. "Then something happened that made you +leave?" + +"Something did happen, but nothing bad. However, it's a long story and +I've not had much to eat." + +"Supper will be ready in five minutes, and I've got something that you +like." + +"Ah!" said Charnock, "I suppose that means you kept the thing I like +ready, too?" + +They talked about matters of no importance until the meal was over, +and then Sadie made him sit down by the stove and light his pipe. + +"Now," she said, "you can tell me all you did at the construction +camp, and leave nothing out." + +Charnock was frank. He knew Sadie understood him, perhaps better than +he understood himself, and if his narrative gave her any pleasure, he +thought she deserved it. Moreover, when he wanted he talked rather +well, making his meaning clear without saying too much. When he +finished she gave him a level glance. + +"You're surely a bigger man, Bob! I see that, not only by what you +have done but by what you think." + +"Well," said Charnock, twinkling, "I'm glad you're satisfied, but +you'll probably find out that there's room for improvement yet." + +"I suppose you must joke," Sadie rejoined with mild reproof. "But what +about Festing? Doesn't he meant to come back until the job's +finished?" + +"So far as I could gather, he does not. I tried tactfully to persuade +him he was acting like a fool and imagine he sees a glimmer of the +truth. All the same, he's obstinate." + +Sadie was silent for a minute, knitting her brows, and then looked up. + +"You have only three days; I suppose I mustn't keep you after that?" + +"It mightn't be prudent. If I stay longer, I shall, no doubt, feel +unequal to going back at all. My industrious fit's very recent and +good resolutions fail." + +"Pshaw!" said Sadie. "Try to be serious. I must see Helen to-morrow +and can't take you. She may have a message for her husband." + +"Couldn't she write the message, if you went after I had gone?" + +"NO," said Sadie firmly. "She must send it now." + +Charnock looked hard at her and nodded. "Well, perhaps it's a good +plan. Meddling is sometimes dangerous, but one can trust you." + +Sadie, wrapped in furs, drove across the prairie next afternoon, and +found Helen at home. The latter looked rather forlorn and dispirited, +and Sadie felt that she had undertaken a delicate task. + +"Bob has come home for three days," she said by and by. "He can't stop +longer, but I thought you'd like to know how they are getting on with +their contract." + +"Stephen writes to me," Helen replied with a hint of sharpness. + +"I guess he does," Sadie agreed. "Still, from what Bob says, they +haven't much time for letters, and he talked to me about the work all +last evening. He could leave when Stephen couldn't because he's the +junior partner and doesn't know much about railroading yet." + +Helen smiled, rather curiously. "Do you feel you must explain why your +husband came home and mine did not?" + +For a moment or two Sadie hesitated. It looked as if she had not begun +well, but she braced herself. If her tact were faulty, she would try +frankness. + +"Yes," she said; "in a way that was what I did come to explain, though +it's difficult. In the first place, I know why Stephen couldn't come." + +Helen waited, and then, as Sadie seemed to need some encouragement, +said, "Very well. I think I'd like to be convinced." + +"The reason Bob came and Stephen stayed begins with the difference +between them. We know them both, and I want to state that I'm quite +satisfied with Bob. That had to be said, and now we'll let it go. But +they are different. Bob will work for an object; for dollars, to feel +he's making good, or to please me. Your husband must work, whether he +had an object or not, because that's the kind of man he is." + +"Bob's way is easier understood," Helen rejoined. "Besides, Stephen is +working for money enough to farm again on the old large scale." + +"He is; but you don't understand yet, and I want to show you why he +feels he has got to farm. Stephen's the kind we have most use for in +this country. In fact, he's my kind; perhaps I know him better than +you. Give him a patch of pine-scrub or a bit of poor soil in a sand- +belt and he'd feel it his duty to cultivate it, no matter how much +work it cost. Show him good wheat land lying vacant or rocks that +block a railroad, and he won't rest till he starts the gang-plow or +gets to work with giant-powder. He can't help it; the thing's born in +him. Like liquor or gambling, only cleaner!" + +"But when such a man marries----" + +"What about his wife? Well, she must help all she can or stand out and +let him work alone. It's a sure thing she can't stop him." + +Helen pondered, and then remarked: "Stephen is not your kind, as you +said. You wanted to leave the prairie and live in a town." + +"I certainly did, but I didn't know myself. Though I wanted to meet +smart people and wear smart clothes, to push Bob on and see him make +his mark in big business or perhaps in politics. Now I know I really +wanted power; to order folks about and get things done." + +"You found you must give up your ambitions." + +"I saw they had to be altered," Sadie replied. "But when you can't get +things done by others, you can do them, in a smaller way, yourself, +and I find I can be satisfied with running a prairie farm as it ought +to be run." She paused and resumed with a soft laugh: "Looks as if +neither of us was fixed quite as we like. I have a husband who must be +hustled; you want to hold yours back. Well, I guess we can't change +that; we must take the boys for what they are and make allowances. +Besides, your man's fine energy is perhaps the best thing he has." + +Helen was somewhat moved. Sadie's rude philosophy was founded on +truth, and having made sacrifices, she had a right to preach. After +all, to dull the fine edge of Stephen's energy would be an unworthy +action and perhaps dangerous. Helen had been jealous of his farm, but +admitted that she might have had worse rivals. + +"Do you know 'The Sons of Martha'?" she asked and recited a verse. + +"It's great," said Sadie simply. "That man has our folks placed. Well, +I don't read much poetry, but there's a piece of Whitman's I like. +When I watch an ox-team break the first furrow in virgin soil, or a +construction train, loaded with new steel, go by, I hear him calling: +'Pioneers! Oh, Pioneers!' " + +There was silence for a few moments, and then Sadie leaned forward. "I +don't know if I've said enough, or said too much, but Bob goes back in +three days and could take a message." + +The color crept into Helen's face, and her look was strangely soft. + +"Let him tell Stephen to finish his work as well as he can; say I +understand." + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +SNOW + +Tossing snowflakes filled the air, and although it was three o'clock +in the afternoon the light was fading, when Charnock opened the door +of the caboose. A bitter wind rushed past him and eddied about the +car, making the stove crackle. The iron was red-hot in places and a +fierce twinkle shone out beneath the rattling door. Half-seen men lay +in the bunks along the shadowy wall, tools jingled upon the throbbing +boards, but the motion was gentler than usual and the wheels churned +softly instead of hammering. + +"Is she going to make it?" somebody asked. + +Charnock leaned out of the door. Black smoke streamed about the cars +and he heard a heavy snorting some distance off, but the caboose +lurched slowly along the uneven track. The construction train was +climbing a steep grade, the driving wheels slipped and he doubted if +the locomotive could reach the summit, from which the line ran down to +the camp. Dim pines, hardly distinguishable from the white hillside, +drifted past; a shapeless rack loomed up and slowly drew abreast. It +was some moments before Charnock lost it in the tossing white haze. + +"I don't know if she'll make it or not, but rather think she won't," +he said. + +"Then come in and shut the blamed door," another growled. "No need to +worry about it, anyhow! Pay's as good for stopping in the caboose as +for humping rails in the snow." + +"You're luckier than me in that way," Charnock answered as he shut the +door. "There are some drawbacks to being your own boss. When you can't +get to work it's comforting to know that somebody else has to find the +dollars and put up the hash." + +He shivered as he sat down on a box. The snow was obviously deep and +things would be unpleasant at the camp, but Festing would not let this +interfere with work. Charnock thought he had been foolish to come +back, but Festing expected him and Sadie agreed that he ought to go. +It was something of an effort to live up to the standards of such a +partner and such a wife. Sadie was a very good sort, better than he +deserved, but he would not have minded it if she were not quite so +anxious about his moral welfare. Besides, after the comfort of the +homestead, the caboose jarred. It smelt of acrid soft-coal smoke, the +air was full of dust, and rubbish jolted about the floor. Then +Charnock grinned as he admitted that he had not expected to find the +path of virtue smooth. + +His reflections were rudely disturbed, for a violent jolt threw him +off the box. The boards he fell upon no longer throbbed, and it was +evident that the train had stopped. The others laughed as he got up. + +"Loco's hit a big drift," said one. "I guess the engineer won't butt +her through." + +"He'll surely try; Jake hates to be beat," another remarked, and the +caboose began to shake as the train ran backwards down the line. + +A minute or two later there was a savage jerk and a furious snorting. +The caboose rolled ahead again, faster than before, for the wheels had +cut a channel through the snow, and somebody said, "Watch out! Hold +tight when she jumps!" + +The speed slackened, a jarring crash ran backwards along the train, +and the caboose tilted as if the wheels had left the rails. Tools and +sacks of provisions rolled across the inclined floor, which suddenly +sank to a level, and a man who had fallen from his bunk got up and +opened the door. + +"She's bedded in good and fast. Guess Jake will be satisfied now," he +said, and laughed when a whistle rang through the snow. "Nobody could +hear that a mile ahead, and as she's not over the divide it's some way +to camp. I reckon we'll stop here until they dig us out." + +Soon afterwards some more men came in, covered with snow. Then the +door was shut, the stove filled and a lamp lighted, and Charnock +resigned himself to spending another night in the caboose. After all, +it was as warm as the shack, and he reflected with some amusement that +Festing probably did not expect him to be punctual. The latter knew +his habits, and no doubt imagined that he would find the comfort of +the homestead seductive. But Festing did not know Sadie, who had sent +him back within the promised time. He enjoyed his supper and slept +well afterwards. In fact, he did not waken until a stinging draught +swept through the caboose and he saw that it was daylight. The door +was open and he heard voices outside. He recognized one as the +foreman's, and presently the fellow came in. + +"D'you reckon you're here for good, you blamed hibernating deadbeats?" +he asked the occupants of the bunks. "Turn out and get busy before I +put a move on you!" + +The men got up, grumbling, and Charnock buttoned his skin-coat and +jumped down into the snow. He sank to his knees, but went deeper +before he reached the engine, round which a gang of men were at work +with shovels. It was not his business to help them and he floundered +on up the track they had made until he crossed the summit and saw the +bridge in the distance. Half an hour afterwards he met Festing and +thought he looked surprised. + +"You didn't come with the boys to dig us out," Charnock remarked. + +"No," said Festing. "We knew the train had passed the Butte, and +guessed where she was held up. But I hardly thought--" + +"You didn't think I'd be up to time?" Charnock suggested. "Well, it's +remarkable what a good example does!" + +"Did you see Helen?" + +"Sadie saw her. I understand she was very well and sent you a message. +You're to finish your job and make good--Helen understands." + +Festing was silent a moment, and when he looked up his eyes were soft. +"Thank you, Bob! Or perhaps it's Sadie I ought to thank?" + +"I wouldn't bother about it. Sadie's fond of meddling," Charnock +answered with some embarrassment. "But will the snow stop the work?" + +"Not altogether. We can keep busy on the hill and I'm going up now. +Will you come?" + +"Presently," said Charnock, smiling. "Food's a thing you don't seem to +need when you're occupied, but I want my breakfast before I start." + +Festing went away, and after a time Charnock joined him on the hill, +where fresh trees had been felled and roughly squared with the ax. Men +and horses were working hard, but Charnock stopped for a minute or two +before he began. The snow was different from the thin covering that +scarcely hid the short grass on the plains. The pines were glittering +white pyramids, with branches that bent beneath their load, and there +were no inequalities on the drop to the river. Every projection was +leveled up, the hollows were filled, and the snow ran unbroken among +the trunks in a smooth white sheet. It was not drying and getting +powdery, because the frost was not very keen, and he imagined that +Festing meant to get as much lumber as possible down while the surface +could be beaten into a smooth track. + +"You might take Gordon's team and break a trail by hauling the lighter +pieces to the top," Festing said. "They'll run down when they have +worn a chute, but we'll have some trouble man-handling the first." + +Charnock nodded as he glanced over the edge of the narrow tableland. +The descent was not steep near the top, but farther on it dropped +precipitously to the water, crossing the curve by the bridge. + +"How will you stop the heavy stuff going into the river?" he asked. + +Festing indicated two men moving about the waterside. They looked +curiously stumpy with their legs buried in the snow. + +"I sent them to make a chain fast to the rocks. We'll shackle up the +first logs we run down and make a lumber pond. A few may shoot across +the top, but we'll see what must be done as we get on." + +Charnock hooked the chain round the smallest log he could find and +started the horses. They slipped and floundered as they plodded +through the soft snow. Sometimes the log ran for a few yards, crushing +down the surface, but it often sank overhead and the team struggled +hard to drag it out. For all that, Charnock reached the top of the +slope, and turning back, widened the trail he had made. The next log +ran easier, although it gave him trouble, but when he stopped at noon +he had beaten down a road. + +When they started again he left the team to somebody else and joined +the men who were clearing out a trough down the hill. This was harder +work, but the small contractor finds it pays to give his men a lead +instead of orders, and for a time Charnock used the shovel and his +feet. Then Festing said they had better move a few logs as far as they +would go, and they worked the first trunk down hill with handspikes +and tackles. The lumber scored the bottom of the trough and would not +run, and they struggled through the banked-up snow, lifting the heavy +mass when it sank. Now and then they fixed the tackle to a tree and +dragged the log across short skids thrust under its end, and at length +launched it from the brow of the steeper pitch. + +It plunged down some distance, but stopped again, half buried in loose +snow, and they scrambled after it, clinging to small trees. Then the +work got dangerous. One could scarcely stand on the steep bank, and +when the log started it rather leaped than slid. Spikes, torn from the +men's hands, shot into the air, and those in front sprang back for +their lives, but the mass seldom went far before loose snow brought it +up and the struggle with the levers began again. At last, it slipped +from a hummock and glided slowly down, crumpling the snow in front, +while a man, clinging to the butt and shouting hoarse jokes, trailed +down the track behind. + +Moving the next was easier, and those that followed ran without much +help for most of the way, while when dark came the bank at the top was +empty and there was a pile of logs held up by the chain at the +waterside. Their descent had worn the channel smooth, and it was now +difficult to stop them going too far. In a day or two Festing brought +the most part of his material to the spot where it would be used, and +got ready to put up the frames. + +Stinging frost set in, and on the morning they cleared the ground for +the first post Charnock felt daunted as he beat his numbed hands. The +sky was clear; a hard, dazzling blue, against which the white peaks +were silhouetted with every ridge and pinnacle in sharp outline. They +twinkled like steel in places, but there were patches of delicate +gray, and here and there a dark rock broke through its covering. The +bottom of the gorge was soft blue, and the river a streak of raw +indigo, but there was no touch of warm color in the savage landscape. +The glitter made Charnock's eyes ache and the reflected sunshine +burned his skin. + +Some of the construction gangs were laid off, but in places men were +at work. They looked small and feeble on the vast white slope, and a +few plumes of smoke seemed to curl futilely out of the hollow. Frost +and snow defied man's engine power, and the rattle of the machines was +lost in the din the river made. Its channel was full of snow that had +frozen in the honey-combed masses, and the ragged floes broke with a +harsh, ringing crash. Others screamed as they smashed among the rocks +and ground across ledges, while the tall cliffs on the opposite bank +flung the echoes far among the pines. The uproar rose and sank, but +its throbbing note voiced a challenge to human effort, and Charnock +admitted that had the choice been left to him, he would have gone back +to the warm shack and waited for better conditions. + +Festing, however, would wait for nothing, and Kerr and Norton were +equally resolute. Just now Festing was clearing away the snow while +three or four men cautiously descended the bank, dragging loads of +branches. A big fire was soon lighted, and when the resinous wood +broke into snapping flame Festing cleared a spot farther on for +another. By and by he scattered the first, the thawed surface was +pierced, and a hole dug. Then with half an hour's savage labor they +got the first big post on end. The next broke the supporting tackle +and a man narrowly escaped when it fell, but they raised it again and +got to work upon the braces. The wood was unseasoned and hard with +frozen sap. Saw and auger would scarcely bite, but somehow they cut +the notches and bored the holes. When the first frame was roughly +stayed Charnock sat down with a breathless laugh. + +"I suppose it's the best job we can make and it's up to specification. +Still, when one comes to think of it, the optimism of these railroad +men is remarkable. Green wood and uncovered bolts that will soon work +loose in the rotting pine! If I was an engineer, the thing would +frighten me." + +"The track will stand while they want it," Festing answered with an +impatient look. "Long before it gets shaky they'll pull it down." + +"Pulling things down is a national habit. A man I met in Winnipeg +bought a nearly new hotel because he thought he could put up a better +building on the site. However, I suppose there's something to be said +for his point of view. Progress implies continuous moving on!" + +"It does," said Festing. "While you moralize, the men you ought to put +to work are standing still." + +Charnock got up and went off, beating his hands. He noted that there +was a hole in the mittens he had brought from home. This was annoying +because Sadie had given him the mittens. In spite of many +difficulties, they braced the posts securely before they stopped work, +and when supper was over Charnock reluctantly put on his coat. He +wanted to ask Norton something, and when he left the latter's office +came back along a narrow path above the track. After going a short +distance he stopped to look down at the half-finished frames. + +The moon had not risen, but a pale glow shone above a gray peak and +the sky was clear. One could not see much in the hollow, but the snow +reflected a faint light. The timbers they had erected rose like a +black skeleton, and after glancing at them, Charnock's eyes were drawn +towards the pile of logs in the pond at the water's edge. A log pond +is generally made in a river, where the stream will carry the trunks +into the containing chains. But Festing had made his on land, using +the snow instead of the current. Charnock could not tell what had +attracted his attention, but stood motionless for a moment or two. + +He heard nothing but the roar of the current and the crash of +splintering ice, and could hardly distinguish the logs. Their outline +was blurred and the dark-colored mass melted into a dusky background +of rock and water. Yet he thought something had moved beside the pond. + +Then an indistinct object detached itself from the pile. It was +shapeless and he lost it next moment, but it had been visible against +a patch of snow. It was not a man's height, and, so far as he could +see, moved like an animal, but no wild beast would haunt the outskirts +of a noisy construction camp. Since he could not imagine why a man +should crawl about the logs at night, he resolved to satisfy his +curiosity. + +This needed caution, and he lay down and rolled himself in the snow. +It stuck to his shaggy skin-coat, and remembering that some drills had +been left near the track he felt about until he found one. The short +steel bar was easy to carry and might be useful. The next thing was to +get down without being seen, and he crept to the log-slide and sitting +down let himself go. His coat rolled up and acted like a brake, but he +reached and shot over the top of the last pitch. Next moment he struck +the logs at the bottom with a jar that left him breathless, and he lay +still to recover. His coat was white; indeed, the snow had forced its +way inside his clothes, but he must be careful about his background +and avoid abrupt movements. + +Getting on his hands and knees, he crawled along the bottom of the +pile. The logs were not numerous, since some had been used, and when +Charnock reached the end he crouched in the snow and looked about. +Nobody was there and his ears were not of much use because the crash +of ice drowned every other sound. This made silence needless, and he +tried to get between the logs and the water, but found it dangerous. +The chain had sagged with the strain, and the lowest tier was scarcely +a foot from the bank, along which the ice-floes rasped. + +He came back and crawled half-way up the pile, meaning to reach the +top, but stopped and lay flat. An object moved along the highest row, +and he knew it was a man. The fellow's figure showed against the sky, +though Charnock imagined he would have been invisible from above. He +waited and felt his heart beat as he clenched the bar. The other did +not seem to know he was watched and Charnock resolved to find out what +he meant to do. He thought of the chain that held the logs; if this +were loosed, the pile would roll into the river and be washed away, +but it would be impossible to slip the fastening toggle while the +links were strained. Still one might be nicked with a hacksaw and left +to break with the shock when the next log ran down the slide. The man, +however, could not get at the chain from the top row. + +He came nearer and then stopped abruptly, as if alarmed. Charnock lay +close in the hollow between two logs, but his coat was snowy and it +was possible that the other had noticed the white patch. He turned and +began to move back, not fast but with caution. Charnock felt it was +unthinkable that he should get away, and raising himself, swung the +drill round his head and let it go. It flew over the other man and +vanished without a sound because the turmoil of the water drowned the +splash, but Charnock lost his balance and rolled off the logs. He fell +into the snow, and when he got up the man had gone. + +For a few moments he stood still, hesitating and abusing his folly. He +did not know if the fellow had seen the drill fly past or not, but he +had thrown away his weapon, and might have a dangerous antagonist. For +all that, he meant to discover who his antagonist was. Floundering +through the snow, he reached the end of the pile, but found nobody +there. The lumber gang had made a path along the water's edge, but +Charnock could see nobody among the scattered trees. He climbed to the +top of the logs and looked down on the other side, but saw nothing +between the water and the pile. + +After this, he felt the fastening of the chain, which did not seem to +have been tampered with, because the toggle was securely fixed across +the strap-link. Then he crept about the pile again, with an +uncomfortable feeling that the other might be lying in wait for him, +but saw nothing suspicious, and there was no use in examining the +trampled snow. By and by he gave up the search and returned to the +path, feeling disturbed. It was impossible to guess what the man had +meant to do, or who he was, but Charnock resolved to watch. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE LEWIS BOLT + +Charnock went back next morning and examined the chain, but found none +of the links or fastenings damaged. This was puzzling, and he wondered +whether the man he had seen, knowing that somebody was about, had +stolen away without beginning what he came to do. The explanation was +plausible, but left Charnock uncertain who the fellow was. He +suspected Wilkinson, but only because he could think of nobody else +with any ground for wishing to do him or Festing an injury. + +On the whole, he thought it better not to tell Festing. It was rather +an improbable story, and Stephen might think him imaginative, but he +would watch and try to catch the fellow if he came again. For a week, +he made excuses for going out after supper, and Festing did not object +although he looked surprised, but he saw nothing and it was very cold +lurking about the track. Moreover he was generally tired after his +day's hard work, and was glad to give up the search. + +Some time later, he returned from Norton's office one night and had +reached the track when he saw a man coming obliquely up the slope. +There was moonlight, and the snow glittered between the shadows of the +trees. Charnock saw the other plainly and drew back into the gloom +along the bank. The fellow did not seem to mind whether he was seen or +not, but Charnock thought he knew his walk and figure, and when he +reached the track set off with the object of overtaking him. The loose +snow dulled his steps, and he was close upon the man when the latter +stopped and turned. Then Charnock saw, without much surprise, that it +was Wilkinson. + +"What were you doing down there?" he asked. + +"I don't see what that has to do with you," Wilkinson answered coolly. + +"The logs in the pond are ours." + +Wilkinson looked amused and Charnock tried to control his temper. He +would gain nothing by using force, and thought the other meant to give +him no excuse for doing so. + +"You don't imagine I meant to steal your logs!" Wilkinson rejoined. +"They're too large to carry away, and there's no sawmill to buy them +if I sent them down the river." + +"That's obvious," said Charnock, who thought it prudent not to hint +that he had seen the fellow lurking about the pond before. For that +matter, he was not certain he had seen Wilkinson. + +"You're much more suspicious than you were when I first knew you," +Wilkinson resumed in a mocking tone. + +"I was a confiding fool then and trusted my friends. It cost me +something." + +"And now you're afraid to let anybody pass your logs in the dark? +Well, caution's useful, but it can be overdone." + +"Why did you want to pass the pond?" + +"For one thing, because it's the easiest way of getting from the +smithy to the track; then this piece of hillside doesn't belong to +you. However, as I guess you don't claim it, you no doubt reckoned I +meant to play you some shabby trick; turn your logs adrift, for +example?" + +"I don't think it's impossible." + +Wilkinson laughed. "Well, I might do you an injury if the thing wasn't +difficult, but don't let your suspicions make you ridiculous. If you +feel uneasy, you can watch the pond. Anyhow, the cold's fierce and I'm +going to the bunk-house." + +Charnock let him go and returned thoughtfully to the shack. He did not +doubt that Wilkinson had been to the smithy, because one could find +out if he had not, but he felt disturbed. The fellow had somehow +encouraged him to believe he might tamper with the logs; but would +hardly have done so had he meant to set them adrift. He might, of +course, have wanted to keep him uneasy without ground; but suppose it +was a feint, intended to cover the real attack, made at another point? +Charnock determined to be cautious and keep his eyes open. + +He saw nothing to cause him fresh anxiety, although he once or twice +visited the pond at night. In the daytime his work absorbed his +attention, for they were now building a lofty frame on the steepest +pitch of the dip. The foot of the longest timber, which was unusually +massive, rested in a socket cut in the rock near the water's edge, and +it cost them a very hard and dangerous day's work to get the log on +end. Indeed, for a few anxious minutes Charnock imagined that the mass +would break the tackles and come down. When fixed, it was nearly +perpendicular, but its top inclined slightly toward the bank, and +Festing sent for Norton and Kerr. + +"It's a good post, but I'm not sure we have got spread enough," he +said. "There's not much to resist the outward thrust a heavy train +might cause. Still, I don't see how we could have carried the foot +farther back." + +"You'd have to go into the water," Norton agreed. "That would have +meant a coffer dam, and the Company won't stand for expensive extras." + +"The ice would have smashed the dam," said Kerr. "The job meets the +plan, which calls for stays to stop the post canting out. Put in an +extra king-tie half-way up and I'll pass your bill and find the +ironwork." + +Festing was satisfied with this, and the post was stayed with chains +while they got the braces fixed. This took some days, for the men were +forced to work on dangerous snowy ledges and boards, hung from the +top. Where there was most risk and difficulty Festing went himself, +but he looked anxious. + +"It's the worst part of the job and perhaps the most awkward thing +I've done," he said one night. "If the frame came down with the +rockwork filling, it might start the rest and shake some length of +road." + +"But there's no reason it should come down," Charnock argued. + +"Not in a way, but I'm glad Kerr authorized the extra brace. We'll use +the heaviest stuff we can, and although the fastenings may give some +trouble, we haven't come to them yet. Perhaps I'm getting nervous. +We're up to schedule and doing pretty well, but it will be a relief to +get the contract finished." + +Charnock told him about Wilkinson, and he looked thoughtful. + +"I can't see his object, particularly since he left the chain alone. +Of course he may have meant some mischief, but gave it up when he +found you on his track." + +"Somehow I don't think that was it," said Charnock, who went to open +the door. + +Kerr came in and after a time began to talk about the fastenings for +the main tie-beam. + +"As the rock is sound and can be thawed, I think we could use a bolt +on the Lewis plan. Give me some paper and I'll make a sketch you can +take to the smith." + +Charnock examined the drawing and noted that the holding part of the +bolt was shaped like the letter Y, except that the stalk was split. A +wedge was sketched to fit the split, and would obviously expand the +upper arms to fit tightly into a fan-shaped hole with a narrow mouth. + +"I've not seen this kind of fastening before," he said. "It ought to +grip well, but something depends upon the wedge." + +Kerr nodded. "The wedge must be properly forged and fit tight, but +there's a cross bolt to stop it backing out. So long as it doesn't +break under the hammer, it can't come loose. Something depends on the +way the hole is cut and the rock, but the stuff you're working is hard +enough." + +Next morning Charnock took the drawing to the smith, and calling at +the forge a day or two later, found Wilkinson sitting on a box. He had +brought a pick to be mended and made a few ironical remarks, until the +smith showed Charnock some irons he had forged. + +"I guess that's what you want, but I haven't finished the Lewis yet. +Reckoned I'd wait until I could get a bit of horseshoe iron for the +wedge when the new stores come along." + +"What's that bar in the corner?" Charnock asked. + +"Steel," said the smith. "A bit off the end would make a wedge, but +you want to be careful you don't overheat the steel in the forge if +it's to stand hammering after. Horseshoe iron's better for your +particular job. Come back in a day or two and I'll have the thing +ready." + +Charnock left him and one afternoon soon afterwards helped Festing to +notch and bore the heavy cross-tie to fit the post and the ends of the +timbers it was to hold in place. These were intended to strengthen the +frame, of which the post and tie were the most important members, and +Festing had waited until their other ends were securely fixed. When +the light was fading he beckoned Charnock. + +"You might get the Lewis bolt. The smith sent word it's ready and I +want to fasten the tie before we stop." + +When Charnock reached the forge the smith was absent, but he blew the +fire until the light flickered about the shop and looked for the bolt. +He found it in a corner and took the wedge to the hearth. It was +properly shaped and slotted for a cross-bolt, but it looked rough and +scaly, and giving the blower a few more strokes he tapped it once or +twice. The scale fell off and the metal looked sound. Then while the +flame spread about the fuel he glanced round the shop. There was no +horseshoe iron, but the bar of steel had recently been cut, and he +thought the wedge had been forged out of its end. + +Charnock did not think this mattered much. Festing had urged the smith +to finish the job, and the man knew his business. Since he had been +forced to use steel, he had no doubt taken the necessary precautions. +It was dark when Charnock got back to the frame, but a blast-lamp +threw out a dazzling glare and he climbed to a beam on which Festing +sat. At the timber's inner end a fire burned on a shelf of rock and a +man was stirring something in an iron pot. + +"We're melting lead to fill up the hole, though I don't know if it's +necessary," Festing said. "Have you got the bolt?" + +"It's here. He has made it out of steel; the iron he expected hasn't +arrived." + +"That's all right. They now use steel for many jobs instead of iron, +and the softer kinds are quite as tough. Anyhow, we can trust the +smith not to burn the metal. Help Black while I get the tie ready for +fastening." + +Half an hour later the big cross-beam was in position and Charnock +watched Festing fit the bolt into its fan-shaped socket. He did so +with fastidious care and then standing on the beam swung the hammer a +workman gave him. The blast-lamp roared upon a timber overhead, +throwing down waves of light that flooded the rock face, but the +twinkling brightness rather puzzled the eye. For all that, Festing +struck the wedge squarely and drove it home with a few heavy blows. +Then he fastened the cross-bolt and Charnock filled a ladle with the +melted lead. A blue flame flickered about the cavity as he poured in +the stuff, there was an angry sputtering, and he afterwards found some +holes in his coat. Festing dropped his hammer with a gesture of +satisfaction. + +"That's an awkward piece of work finished, and I feel happier now! You +can put out the lamp and quit, boys; I'll mark you up full time." + +Then they got down from the frame and went home to supper, earlier +than usual. In the morning they began to build a wall of roughly-cut +stones among the timber, filling in the space behind with rubble; and +kept on until at noon, a day or two later, heavy snow began to fall. +It was impossible to work, and they lounged about the shack, smoking +and reading, all next day. Charnock was thankful for the rest, but +Festing grumbled and now and then walked impatiently to the door. Late +at night the former was wakened by a distant rumbling. It sounded like +thunder, and he called to his comrade. + +"What's that? Had we better get up?" + +"Sounds like a big snow-slide," said Festing, raising himself in his +bunk. "Won't harm us; shack's on top of the ridge and we're safer here +than anywhere else." He stopped and listened to the swelling roar and +then resumed: "I'm glad we got that frame braced. It's a big slide and +will probably come down the gully near the bridge. They're going to +snowshed that piece of track and we'll haul out the posts if we can't +get on with the other job." + +He lay down again, but Charnock waited. This was the first snow-slide +he had heard and he felt awed by the din. Growing in a long crescendo, +it rolled down the hill in a torrent of sound, but by and by he +thought he could distinguish different notes; the crash of trees +carried away by the avalanche and the scream of gravel grinding across +rocky scraps. He could imagine the stones being planed away and the +mass of broken trunks riding on top of the huge white billow. + +It was impossible to sit still, and jumping down, he lighted the lamp, +but found it hard to replace the glass. The shack throbbed, the table +on which he put the matches shook, and there was a rattle of crockery, +but this was drowned by an overwhelming roar. The avalanche was +pouring down a gully near the shack, and he leaned against the table, +deafened, until it passed. Then he heard the turmoil of a tremendous +cataract and imagined the snow was plunging into the river and +deflecting the current upon the other bank. The sound gradually died +away and he could hear detached noises; great pines, broken rocks, and +soil, rushing down behind the fallen mass. There were heavy splashes, +and then a strange, unnatural silence. + +"It's finished," Festing remarked. "Rather alarming for the first +time, but one gets used to it. You can put out the light and go back +to bed." + +Charnock did so and soon went to sleep. In the morning they found that +the most part of the avalanche had fallen into the river, but its tail +remained, resting in a steep cone of snow and broken trees and soil, +against the bank on which they had built the frames. The top of the +cone extended far up the hill, but, owing to the sharpness of the +pitch, its bottom, which covered the frames and rockwork, was thin. +Festing sent half the men to cut this portion away, and the others up +the hill to haul posts for the snowshed to the top of the slides. It +was obvious that a very heavy weight rested on the buried work, but +the pressure was uniform, unlike the jarring of a train, and he did +not feel disturbed. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon he came to see how much progress +the shovel gang had made, and Charnock, who superintended their labor, +showed him what they had done. They had cut a gap in the cone, and +part of the rockwork was exposed nearly to the bottom. On each side, +the snow ran down to the water in a uniform smooth slant, except where +broken trees projected from the surface. Above, the mass of snow +rested on the shelf that would carry the track and on the top of the +half-finished work. It glittered with a yellow flush where it caught +the fading light, but in the hollow its color was a dull, cold blue. + +By and by they examined the wall. So far as they could see, the +stonework bore the unusual load well, but in one spot there was a +crack between two courses. + +"I'll get up there in the morning and see if it's worth while to drive +in a few wedges," Festing remarked. "You had better watch that bank of +snow. Some of it will probably break away." + +"We have had two or three small falls," said Charnock, and Festing +beckoned one of the men. + +"Come up the hill in the morning, Tom. I'm going to clear the log- +slide or break a new one. Which d'you think would be best?" + +While they talked about it, a shower of snow fell on Charnock, who +stepped back. + +"Watch out!" he cried. "There's more coming!" + +Festing moved a pace or two and went on talking, but Charnock fixed +his eyes on the snow. The part above the track overhung the gap in a +bulging cornice, as if it was moving down hill, and in a few moments a +heavier shower began. The bulge got more prominent, but the cornice +did not break off, and while he watched it, wondering whether he +should call out the men, a stone fell from the wall and dropped at his +feet. This was ominous, but next moment a mass of snow struck his +head, nearly knocking him down, and when he recovered his balance and +wiped his face he noted with alarm that the stones were opening and +the big post leaned outwards. + +"Jump for your lives, boys!" he shouted, and throwing himself on +Festing, drove him back. + +Then there was a roar of falling stones and a crash. The massive post +lurched towards him and the air was filled with snow. He heard struts +and braces crack as the post tore them out, and thought Festing turned +round in order to see what was happening. He pushed him away, and then +sank into loose snow and fell. Before he could get up there was a +deafening noise, something struck him a heavy blow, and he was buried. + +After a short struggle he got his head out, and finding that he was +thinly covered, made an effort to extricate himself. When he had done +so, he saw the men some distance up the bank. They were all there +except Festing, but he noticed a heap of big stones and broken beams +close by. + +"Back here, boys! The boss is underneath!" he shouted, and threw +himself upon the stones as the others ran up. + +For a minute or two they worked desperately, flinging the lumps of +rock about and dragging away the beams; and then stopped as they +uncovered Festing. His face looked very white, although a red stain +ran down his forehead. Charnock shivered and glanced at the break in +the white mass above the track. + +"It's risky, but we've got to pull him out before some more snow comes +down," he said in a hoarse voice. "Scrape the snow off carefully, Tom. +Get hold here with me, Pete." + +After two or three minutes' cautious work they lifted Festing out of +the hole. He was unconscious and his arm looked short and distorted. +Charnock felt horror-struck and dizzy, but pulled himself together. + +"Go for Kerr, one of you," he said. "Then I want the stretcher and a +hand-sledge. Bring a blast-lamp; ours is smashed." + +The men scattered, except for one who stayed with him, and kneeling in +the snow he opened Festing's fur-coat and took off his cap. His head +was cut and his arm broken, but Charnock did not think this altogether +accounted for his unconsciousness. He suspected broken ribs, but could +detect nothing unusual when he felt his comrade's side. + +Kerr arrived first and looked at Festing. + +"Unconscious all the time?" he asked, and when Charnock nodded +resumed: "Most important thing's to get a doctor, and I'll see to +that. Then I'll get some brandy." + +As he hurried away three or four men came down the hill with the +sledge and stretcher, and one rigged and lighted a powerful lamp. +Accidents are common at construction camps, and one of Norton's gang +examined Festing. + +"He's sure got it badly; arm's not the worst," he said. "We'll tend to +that and then slide him gently on the stretcher. Carrying him might be +dangerous; we'll fix the whole outfit on the sled." + +While they were occupied a plume of smoke shot up above the pines, and +Charnock knew Kerr had sent off a locomotive to bring help. When they +had put Festing on the stretcher a man arrived with brandy, but +Festing could not swallow, and seizing the sledge traces, they started +up the hill. Norton was in the shack when they reached it, and felt +Festing's clothes. + +"Not damp; it would be safer to let him lie until the doctor comes," +he said, and sent the men away. Then he turned to Charnock sharply. +"Sit right down!" + +Charnock swayed, clutched the chair, and sank limply into the seat. +The floor heaved and the quiet figure on the stretcher got indistinct. +Then Norton held out a glass. + +"Drink it quick!" + +Charnock's teeth rattled against the glass, but he swallowed the +liquor, and sat motionless for a moment or two. + +"Seemed to lose my balance. Bit of a shock you know, and I expect that +stone hit me pretty hard." + +"So I imagine; there's an ugly bruise on your face," said Norton, +giving him back the glass. "The first dose braced you. Take some +more." + +"I think not," said Charnock, with a forced smile. "Dangerous remedy +if you have suffered from my complaint. Didn't know my face was hurt +until you told me. When d'you think the doctor will come?" + +"There's a man at Jackson's Bench. Loco ought to make the double trip +in about two hours." + +"Two hours!" said Charnock faintly, and braced himself to wait. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +FOUL PLAY + +Some time after the accident a doctor arrived and set Festing's arm. +He found two ribs were broken and suspected other injuries, but could +not question his half conscious patient. When he had done all that was +possible in the meantime and had seen Festing lifted carefully into +his bunk, he put a dressing on Charnock's bruised face and pulled a +chair to the fire. + +"I'll keep watch; your partner has got an ugly knock," he said. "Don't +think I'll want anything, and you had better go to bed." + +Charnock could not sleep and spent the night uncomfortably on a chair. +He was sore and dazed, but his anxiety would not let him rest, and +once or twice he softly crossed the floor to his comrade's bunk. The +last time he did so the doctor, whose head had fallen forward, looked +up with a jerk and frowned as he signed him to go back. After this, +Charnock kept as still as his jarred nerves would permit. Sometimes +Festing groaned, and sometimes made a feeble movement, but so far as +Charnock could see, his eyes were shut. + +About three o'clock in the morning, the doctor stood for some minutes +beside the bunk, and Charnock shivered as he watched his face. The +shack seemed very quiet except for the throb of the river and the +grinding of the ice. Then the doctor gave him a nod that hinted at +satisfaction, and told him to refill the iron drum at Festing's feet +with hot water. By and by he put fresh wood in the stove, moving +cautiously and taking as long as possible, because it was a relief to +do something after sitting still in suspense. + +At daybreak there was a knock at the door, and Charnock, finding Kerr +and Norton outside, looked at the doctor, who put on his fur-coat and +went out to them. + +"Have you any news for us?" Norton asked. + +"No change yet. That's encouraging, as far as it goes." + +"What about breakfast? Ours is ready. Will you join us?" + +"I think not. If my patient doesn't come out of his stupor, I must try +to rouse him soon. Send a man here and take Mr. Charnock. I expect he +needs food." + +"Very well," said Kerr. "We'll see the cook looks after you; but can +you give us no idea about Festing? You see, there are matters, +business matters--" + +"He has had a bad shock and it will be a long job; a month anyway. I +can't stop long and he ought to have a nurse, although it would be +difficult to get one to come here. But I can't form an opinion yet." + +He dismissed them and Kerr took Charnock away. It was very cold. The +white pines were growing into shape; their tops caught the light in +the east and glimmered with a faint warm flush against the dim blue +shadow. Smoke and puffs of steam floated up from the gorge, and the +ringing clang of steel pierced the turmoil of the river. Charnock felt +braced but dizzy. Now he came to think of it, he had eaten no supper, +and after a day of laborious effort the night's watch had fatigued +him. Besides, his face smarted under the bandage, and his back was +sore. + +When he sat down in Norton's shack, where a plate was put for Kerr, he +felt ravenously hungry and did not talk much until the meal was over. +Then Norton made him sit near the stove. + +"It's an awkward business," he said. "To begin with, what are we going +to do about a nurse? This is hardly the place for a woman, and I doubt +if we could get anybody to undertake the job." + +"I'll write to Mrs. Festing." + +"Would she come out?" + +"I imagine so," said Charnock thoughtfully. "Still she doesn't know +much about nursing." + +"His wife is the proper person to look after him," Kerr interposed. +"Then I have a young fellow in the rail gang who could help; found him +useful once or twice when the boys got hurt. In fact, I suspect he's +had some medical training, though I didn't ask why he quit." + +Norton smiled. It is not unusual to find men whose professional career +has been cut short working on a Western track. + +"That simplifies matters. If you had wanted a lawyer or an accountant, +I could have sent a man. However, there's another thing--" + +"There is; it's important," Kerr agreed. "Who's going to carry on the +contract?" + +Charnock leaned forward eagerly. "I'll try. Give me a chance. I think +I know my job." + +There was silence for a few moments and Norton looked at Kerr, who +slowly filled his pipe. + +"I'd like to consent," he said, "but I'm the Company's servant and +there's a risk." He paused and turned to Norton. "However, it's really +your business. If things go wrong, the trouble's coming to you first." + +"Sure. I'm willing to take the risk. I don't expect Charnock will fool +the job, but if he does you can get after me. I'll stand for it." + +"Very well! We'll let it go at that." + +Charnock got up, with some color in his bandaged face, because he knew +what Norton's confidence meant. He was, so to speak, an unknown man +and the contract had been given to Festing, who was an engineer. If he +failed, the men who trusted him would be held accountable. + +"Thank you both," he said with feeling. "If labor and money can put +the thing over, I won't let you down." + +He went out, for he had, in his anxiety about other matters, forgotten +his men, and it was now important that no time, which must be paid +for, should be wasted. Finding some of the gang at work clearing away +the fallen material and some hauling lumber on the hill, he gave them +a few orders and returned to the shack. When he got there Festing was +conscious and the doctor said he might speak to him. + +"How do you feel?" Charnock asked. + +"Better than the doctor thinks I ought to feel," Festing answered with +a feeble smile. "You seem to have got knocked about!" + +Charnock said he was not much the worse, and Festing resumed: "Have +you seen Norton? What does he say about the contract?" + +"I have seen him; you needn't bother. He has left the job to me; I'll +finish it somehow." + +A look of relief came into Festing's face. "That's comforting news; I +was afraid-- You're a good partner, Bob!" + +"I don't know if I've been of much help so far, and the money I put +into the undertaking wasn't mine. There's a third partner, Stephen, +and I think she'd like me to see you through." + +Festing gave him a grateful glance and closed his eyes. After a time, +he opened them feebly and asked: "Do you know why the frame gave way?" + +"Not yet," said Charnock with some dryness. "I mean to find out!" + +Then the doctor interrupted and sent him away. Going back to the scene +of the accident, he found the damage less serious than he thought. +Part of the wall had fallen and the post, which had broken, had pulled +down the timbers attached, but these could be replaced, and Charnock, +calling two men, began to clear the snow from the king-tie, which he +imagined had given way first. He found the Lewis bolt fixed to its +end, but the wedge had gone, and he climbed to the spot where the end +of the beam had been fixed. The stone socket had not broken, but +pieces of crushed lead lay near the hole. The soft metal had not much +holding power and had been used to fill up the crevices. + +Sitting down, he began with methodical patience to turn over the snow +and loose rubble that remained on the shelf after the large stones had +fallen. The odds were against his finding what he sought, but he +persevered for an hour and then picked up a piece of broken metal a +few inches long. It was half of the wedge, which had broken at the +slot, but although he searched carefully he could not find the other +part. Putting the piece in his pocket, he went to the forge and, +seeing the smith was occupied, sat down and filled his pipe. The door +was open and the light reflected from the snow was strong. Charnock +was glad of this, because he wanted to see the smith, who presently +dropped his hammer and leaned against the hearth. + +"How's your partner getting on?" he asked. "Mr. Festing's the kind of +man I like; I was sorry to hear he had got hurt." + +Charnock studied the man. His face was pale and wrinkled under the +grime, but he looked honest, and if his statement was sincere, as +Charnock thought, it seemed to clear the ground. After giving him a +few particulars about Festing's injuries, he lighted his pipe. + +"Wilkinson's not here to-day," he remarked. + +"He's not always here," said the smith. "He comes when there are picks +and drills that want sharpening." + +"I saw him once or twice when I was in, and thought he was a friend of +yours." + +"He can swap a good yarn; kind of handy man and sometimes helps me +with the hammer, but I guess that's all there is to it." + +"Just so," said Charnock carelessly. "This is a warm place for a quiet +smoke, and the foreman can't tell how long one ought to stop, +particularly as you're sometimes out at the machine-shop. Do you find +the boys meddle with your tools if they come in while you're away?" + +"No, sir; there'd be trouble if I did! Besides, nobody comes but +Wilkinson, and if I'm out he waits." + +Charnock nodded, as if it did not matter. He had found out what he +wanted to know and thought he had not excited the smith's suspicions. +Taking the broken wedge from his pocket, he put it on the hearth. + +"I expect you know what that is! The Lewis smashed when the frame came +down." + +"It's the wedge. Don't see why it broke; plenty metal left, though the +slot weakened it." + +"What's it made of?" + +"Steel. The iron I wanted didn't come; but this is mild, low-carbon +stuff." + +"Then what's the matter with it. It did break." + +The smith put the piece into a socket in the anvil and struck it with +a hammer. The end broke short, and picking up the fragment he went to +the door. + +"Nature's gone out of it; I sure can't understand the thing," he said +with a puzzled look. "If I hadn't forged the stuff myself, I'd allow +it was burned." + +"You don't often overheat the steel you work." + +"No, sir," said the smith, who took up a piece of metal, pierced with +holes. "Made this out of the same bar, and it took more forging. Now +you watch!" + +He put the object in a vise and hammered down the end, which did not +break. "That's all right, anyhow; tough and most as soft as iron. But +steel's sometimes treacherous; you want to be careful--" + +"Could you tell by looking at it if a piece was burned?" + +"Well," said the smith thoughtfully, "it's not always easy, but if the +thing was badly scaled, I'd be suspicious. Of course, there might be +some scale--" + +"But the wedge looked all right when you finished it?" + +"It certainly did," said the smith, who hesitated. "Say do you reckon +it was the bolt going that let down your frame?" + +"So far, I imagine it was the weight of snow. The pile ran back up the +hill and must have made a crushing load. For all that, I'm curious +about the wedge." + +"Well," said the other, "If it was the wedge, I'm surely sorry! The +blamed thing is burned, though I don't know how. But if she was loaded +up too much, she might have broken anyhow, burned or not." + +"I expect so," said Charnock, getting up. "You needn't bother about +the matter; I'm not blaming you." + +His face got very grim when he went out, for what he had learned +fitted in with his suspicions. Wilkinson had heard the smith say that +steel could be easily spoiled, and sometimes came to the forge when +the man was away. Then there was the rough, scaly look of the wedge, +which had been put out of the smith's sight, inside the split shank of +the bolt. Everything was plain; Charnock knew why the tie gave way and +allowed the frame to fall. + +The thought of the treacherous injury made his blood boil. The thing +had been so easily done; five minutes' work at the blower, a few +strokes with a big hammer when the steel was dangerously hot, and +then, perhaps, a sudden quenching in the snow, when the steel ought to +have slowly cooled. He had been wrong in thinking men would not risk +much for the sake of revenge. Wilkinson had foully struck his comrade +and perhaps crippled him for life. But the cunning brute must be +punished, and driven from the camp, and when he left should carry +marks that would make it difficult to forget his offense. + +Charnock, however, could not at once seek out his antagonist. He had +promised Festing to carry on the contract; they had had a number of +setbacks, and the accident would cost them much. Wages were high and +it was essential that the men should be usefully employed, while there +was now nobody but himself to superintend the work. Besides, the +doctor might want him and he must call at the shack every now and then +to see how Festing was getting on. It looked as if he must leave +Wilkinson alone until he had more leisure in the evening. + +It was a trying day. The doctor sent him errands and sometimes allowed +him to come in for a few minutes, but his reports were not favorable, +and Festing was either asleep or too feeble to talk. When work stopped +and Charnock went to the shack after some hours' absence the doctor +looked very grave. + +"I'm sorry I must keep you out," he said. "You mean well, but you're +clumsy, while the young fellow Mr. Kerr sent has had some training and +knows his job." + +"Then my partner's worse?" + +"Well, I'll own that I'm anxious about to-night; but if he gets over +the early morning, I'll have hope. Go to the engineer's shack and I'll +send you a report, if possible." + +Charnock tried to brace himself as he went away. So far, he had not +imagined that Festing might die. He had got a shock, but must not let +it overwhelm him. Thinking hard, he walked to Norton's shack to get +some food. He was worn out and felt some pain. + +Norton gave him supper and offered him room for the night, and +Charnock forced himself to eat. When the meal was over he lounged in a +comfortable chair with his eyes shut for a time, and then got up and +put on his coat. + +"Where are you going?" Norton asked. + +"I've some business at the camp," Charnock replied in a very grim +voice. + +He went out and as he walked down the track met the locomotive +engineer, who stopped. + +"Is that you, Mr. Charnock? Cold's pretty fierce to-night. How's Mr. +Festing?" + +Charnock had not felt the cold until then, but he shivered and beat +his hands as he replied that Festing was badly hurt. Then he asked: +"Are you going out with the loco?" + +"Thought I'd finished, but they've wired that the cars are wanted on +the next section and I've got to run them along." + +"Ah," said Charnock. "Have you seen Wilkinson?" + +"Met him going to the bunk-house just before you came up." + +Charnock went on, and presently entered the big wooden shed, which was +full of tobacco smoke and the smell of hot iron and food. The warmth +made him dizzy after the cold outside. A group of men had gathered +about the stove, others sat at the dirty table with pipes and +newspapers, and a few were quarreling about a game of cards, but +Charnock could not see them distinctly. + +One or two looked round as he stopped near the door, dazzled by the +light. He had pulled off the bandage, and there was a large, dark +bruise on his face, which was set. His mouth made a firm line and his +eyes glittered. Then the foreman got up. + +"Well," he asked harshly, "what do you want?" + +Charnock gave him a careless glance. The fellow was truculent and had +bullied Charnock when he worked in his gang, while the latter had +sometimes replied to his abuse with witty retorts that left a sting. +Afterwards, he had beaten his persecutor badly in the dispute about +the borrowed workmen. + +"I'm looking for Wilkinson." + +"What d'you want him for?" the foreman asked suspiciously. + +"That's my business." + +"Then this is my bunk-house; anyhow, I'm in charge. Guess you'd better +get back to the bosses' shacks, where you belong." + +Charnock noted the sneer, but said quietly, "I'll go as soon as I've +had a word with Wilkinson." + +He tried to see if Wilkinson was there, and did not think he was, but +could not be certain. The foreman's manner hinted that he meant to +protect the fellow. + +"You'll go now! D'you want me to put you out?" + +For a moment Charnock stood still, and then suddenly lost his self- +control in a fit of savage rage. He had suffered at the hands of the +brute, who was trying to prevent his finding Wilkinson. But he did not +mean to be baulked, and stepped forward with his fists clenched. + +He could not remember who struck first, but got a blow on his body +that made him gasp. Then he felt his knuckles jar on his antagonist's +face, and the next moment staggered and fell against a bench that +upset with a crash. He recovered, bent from the waist to dodge a blow +that would have felled him, and struck over the other's arm. + +The foreman reeled, but did not fall, and closed with Charnock, who +could not get away because of the table. The latter felt his +antagonist's strength, and there was no room for skill. When he tried +to break loose his feet struck the upset bench, and the wall was close +by. Breathing hard, they rocked to and fro in a furious grapple, +striking when a hand could be loosed, and then fell apart, exhausted. +Both were bleeding but determined, for deep-rooted dislike had +suddenly changed to overpowering hate. Moreover Charnock knew the +foreman was Wilkinson's friend, and half suspected him of a share in +the plot. + +In the meantime the men gathered round, scarcely giving the fighters +room, and some, crowded off the floor, mounted the table. Nobody, +however, interfered. They had no part in the quarrel and did not know +what it was about, but while a number sympathized with Charnock, it +was dangerous to offend their boss. + +Charnock resumed the attack, advancing with a savage rush. The foreman +gave ground, but stretched out his foot and Charnock, tripping over +it, plunged forward and fell among the legs of the nearest men. They +crowded back, and as he got up awkwardly the foreman seized a heavy +billet of cordwood and flung it at his head. The billet struck his +shoulder, but he was on his feet, his face set and white, and his eyes +vindictively hard. It was a foul blow, but there are few rules to +hamper men who fight in a Western construction camp, and Charnock +thought his antagonist meant to use a stove-iron that lay close by. +Feinting at the other, he dodged and seized a pick-handle he had +noticed on the floor. He was just in time, for the foreman struck at +him with the iron. It clashed upon the pick-handle, but Charnock got +the next blow home and the foreman fell upon the table, on which +Charnock pinned him down. Then getting his right arm loose, he struck +with blind fury. + +He was seized from behind, and while he struggled to get loose +somebody gasped: "That's enough! Do you want to kill the man?" + +"Yes," said Charnock hoarsely. "Let me go!" + +"Help me choke him off! He's surely mad!" cried the man behind. + +Somebody else got hold of Charnock. He was dragged back, hustled away +from the table and towards the door. Then the bar was torn from his +hands and a man pushed him out in the snow. + +"You have fixed him good," said somebody in a breathless voice. "Go +home and cool off!" + +"If Wilkinson's inside, I'm coming back," Charnock declared. + +The man laughed. "Wilkinson lit out through the store-shed 'bout a +minute after you came in." + +Charnock felt faint and dizzy, but tried to think when the fellow +banged the door. It looked as if Wilkinson knew why he had come, and +had stolen away after seeing the struggle begin. Moreover he had +friends who might go after him and tell him what had happened to the +foreman. Then he remembered that the locomotive engineer had been +ordered to move some cars, and set off for the track. + +The snow was rough, he fell into holes, and stubbed his feet against +the ties, but stumbled on until he heard the locomotive snort. Then +there was a jar of iron, wheels rattled, and a dark mass in front +began to roll away. He was too late, and when he stopped and tried to +get his breath two men came down the track. + +"Did any of the boys go out on the train?" he asked. + +"Only Wilkinson," one replied. + +"Where's he going?" + +"I don't know," said the other. "As he took his clothes-bag, it +doesn't look as if he was coming back." + +Charnock set off for Norton's office. He did not know how he got +there, because a reaction had begun, and he sat down feeling powerless +and badly shaken. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +UNDERSTANDING + +At midnight, Charnock, sitting drowsily in a chair in Norton's office, +roused himself with a jerk. He was too anxious about Festing to go to +bed, but bodily fatigue reacted on his brain and dulled his senses. +For all that, he thought he heard steps in the snow, and getting up +quickly went to the door. The bitter cold pierced him like a knife and +he shivered. A man stood outside, and his dark figure, silhouetted +against the snow, was somehow ominous. Charnock tried to brace +himself, for he feared bad news. + +"Well?" he said hoarsely. + +"It's Musgrave; the doctor sent me along. Your partner's taken a turn. +He's going the right way now." + +Charnock looked at the messenger. His relief was overwhelming and he +could not speak. + +"That's all, but I guess it's good enough, and you can go to sleep," +the other resumed, and went away. + +When he vanished among the trees Charnock returned to his chair. He +thought he ought to have brought the man in and made him some coffee, +but he was horribly tired and did not want to move about and talk. +Besides, he was conscious of a poignant satisfaction that prevented +his thinking about anything else. While he indulged it a wave of +fatigue swept over him and his head drooped. He tried to open his eyes +but could not, and a few minutes later he was sound asleep. + +When he awoke the sun shone into the office and he felt stiff and +cramped, but not cold. This was strange, and he glanced at the stove, +which he had expected to find nearly out. The iron, however, glowed a +dull red and he could hear the cordwood snapping. Somebody must have +put in fresh fuel, and looking at his watch he got up with a start. +The men had been at work for two hours, with nobody to superintend +them. Then he heard a movement and turning round saw one in the room. + +"Feeling better, boss?" the fellow asked. "Mr. Kerr told me to come +and see if you were awake. Said you'd find breakfast ready if you went +to his place." + +"I expect you thought waiting for me to wake was easier than rolling +logs," Charnock suggested. + +"Oh, well!" said the other; "you won't find we've fooled away much +time." + +Charnock went to Festing's shack and the doctor nodded and indicated +his comrade's bunk. As Charnock stopped beside it Festing turned his +head. + +"Things going all right, Bob?" + +"They were last night," said Charnock, with some embarrassment. "I +don't know about this morning because I've just got up. But how are +you?" + +Festing smiled. "Much better; imagine I'm not knocked out yet. You +needn't bother about being late. The boys are a pretty good crowd, and +they like you. I'm rather glad you didn't hustle them as much as I +wanted." + +"That's enough," said the doctor, who followed Charnock to the door +and gave him a hopeful report. + +Charnock ate a very good breakfast in Kerr's shack, but his face was +grave when he began his work. Luck had put upon him a heavy +responsibility, but he must shoulder the load. Sadie and Helen and +Festing had given him much, and now the time had come to pay them +back. Moreover, with the responsibility had come a chance of proving +and, so to speak reinstating, himself. He was entangled in a coil from +which there was but one way out; he must stand by his comrade and +finish the contract, or own himself a wastrel. The difficulties were +obvious, but there was some encouragement. Perhaps the hardest battle +had been fought, for he had grappled with his craving for liquor and +thought he had won. Then the pain had not troubled him for some time. + +The men gave him no trouble, and he imagined they worked with more +energy than usual. Now and then one or another stopped to ask, with +obvious sincerity, how the boss was getting on; men from the railroad +gangs, some of whom he scarcely knew, made inquiries, and Charnock +felt moved. His partner's justice had won him respect, but he saw that +some of the sympathy was meant for himself. + +Two days later he heard the rumble of an approaching supply train and +walked up the track to meet it. The locomotive stopped farther off +than he expected, and a woman got down. Running forward, he saw that +it was Helen. + +"Stephen's doing well; that's the first thing you'll want to know," he +said when they met. + +"I know it already. A man told me as soon as the train stopped; he +seemed to guess who I am." + +"Ah!" said Charnock; "the boys are very good! It makes me proud to +feel they all like Stephen. But why didn't you telegraph us? The +Company would have sent on the message." + +Helen smiled. "I didn't see much use in doing so. You knew when your +letter would arrive and how long it would take me to come. It's +significant that you came to meet the train." + +"Perhaps it's characteristic that I came too late to help you down! +But the engineer stopped short of the usual place, and I really have +much to do just now." + +Helen gave him a quick glance. Bob had not lost his humor, but had +gained something else. He was thin and haggard, but looked determined. +Although his smile was frank, his mouth was firm and his eyes were +steady. + +"I know!" she answered quickly; "I know what you have done for Stephen +and what you mean to do. There is nobody else who can help him and if +there was, the help would not be like yours." + +"Thank you," said Charnock. "I'm afraid you're mistaken about one +point, but I have an extra reason for doing the best I can." Then he +paused and smiled. "We tried to make the place comfortable, but you'll +find things rough. One lives in a rather primitive way at a +construction camp." + +"Perhaps, so far, I have found things too smooth." + +Then Helen asked him about the accident and he told her as much as he +thought advisable, until they reached the shack, where the doctor met +them at the door. + +"I expect you're Mrs. Festing," he said. "You'll find your husband +able to talk, but remember that he must be kept calm. I'm going out, +but will be back soon, and we'll see about getting you some food." + +He took Charnock away, and Festing looked up with a strained +expression as Helen crossed the floor. Her eyes were wonderfully +gentle, and stooping beside the bunk she kissed him and put her arm +round his neck. + +"My dear!" she said softly. "My poor hurt dear! I have come to take +care of you until you get well." + +"I imagine I'll need to be taken care of afterwards," Festing +answered, with a forced smile. "It looks as if I hadn't much ground +for self-confidence." + +Helen pressed his arm. "We have both made mistakes; but we won't talk +about that now. Do you really feel you're getting better?" + +"Of course," said Festing, smiling. "Very much better! I'll get well +remarkably fast now you have come." + +Helen brought a chair and for a time they engaged in happy but +careless talk. Both knew there was much to be said, but Helen +skilfully avoided striking a serious note. The time for that had not +arrived yet. + +When it got dark the doctor came in and joined them at a meal. + +"The engineers have promised to put me up to-night, and I must leave +to-morrow when the train goes out," he said. "I'll try to get back, +but Musgrave knows what to do and will send for me if necessary. The +most important thing is to keep Mr. Festing quiet." + +"I'm afraid it will be difficult," Helen answered. + +The doctor's eyes twinkled. "So I imagine, but it's your job. If you +find it too hard, Musgrave will put your husband in plaster." + +He went East next morning with the supply train, and Helen was sorry +to see him go. He had done what was needed with quiet efficiency, but +she knew he had other patients scattered about a wide district. + +Charnock came in for a few minutes now and then during the day, and +Musgrave was often about, but Helen was content to be left alone with +her husband. His helplessness moved her; he had been marked by such +vigor and energy, and it was strange to see him unable to move. Yet, +while very pitiful, she felt a vague satisfaction because she could +help him and he needed her. + +When it was getting dark she went to the door and looked out. The +evening was calm and belts of pale-yellow broke the soft gray clouds. +The eastern peaks were touched with an orange glow, but the snow lower +down faded through shades of blue and purple into gloom. To the west, +the pines were black and sharp, with white smears on their lower +branches, and a thin haze rose from the river. The coloring of the +landscape was harmoniously subdued, but its rugged grandeur of outline +caught Helen's eye, and she stood for a few minutes, looking about +with half-awed admiration. + +"Do you feel the cold, Stephen?" she asked. + +"No," said Festing. "Wonderful view, isn't it? But what's it like +outside?" + +"Very still. Everything has a soft look; the harsh glitter's gone and +the air has not the sting it had. Somehow the calm's majestic. The +pictures one sees of the mountains hardly give a hint; one feels this +is the grandest country in the world, but it looks strangely +unfinished." + +Festing laughed. "A few ranches, roads, and cornfields would make a +difference? Well, they follow the Steel in Canada and it's my job to +clear the way. But the soft look promises warmer weather, and Bob will +get ahead if a Chinook wind begins to blow. I imagine he hasn't done +very much the last few days." + +"You mustn't bother about what Bob is doing," Helen said firmly. + +"Very well. Light the lamp and sit where I can see you. There's +something I want to say." + +Helen did so and waited until Festing resumed: "To begin with, I've +been a short-sighted, censorious fool about Bob. I'm ashamed to +remember that I said he was a shiftless wastrel. The worst is I can't +apologize; it wouldn't make things better to tell him what I thought." + +"That's obvious," said Helen, with a smile. "Still, in a way perhaps, +you were not so very wrong. Bob was something of a wastrel; his wife +has made him a useful man." + +"Another thing I was mistaken about! I rather despised Sadie. Now I +want to take off my hat when I think of her. But it's puzzling. A girl +without polish, taste, or accomplishments marries a man who has them +all. She has no particular talents; nothing, in fact, except some +beauty, rude integrity, and native shrewdness. Yet she, so to speak, +works wonders. Puts Bob on his feet and leads him on, when nobody else +could have pulled him out of the mire!" + +"She loved him," said Helen softly. "Love gave her patience and +cleverness. However, I think Sadie did not always lead Bob. She knew +when to drive." + +Festing was silent for a few moments and then went on: "Well, I have +confessed two blunders and think it has done me good; but I'm getting +nearer what I want to say. Bob's something of a philosopher and once +remarked that events and people seldom force us into coils; our +passions and characters entangle us. He was scoffing at the power of +the theatrical villain and used Wilkinson for an example." + +"But Wilkinson had something to do with our troubles." + +"Not very much, after all. Perhaps he's accountable for my broken +bones, but it was my obstinacy and ridiculous self-confidence that +sent me here. That's what I really mean to talk about." + +"Is it necessary?" Helen asked. "I was foolish to be jealous of the +farm. Women have sometimes worse grounds for jealousy." + +"That would have been impossible for us! Nobody who knew you could be +attracted by another woman." + +"Bob was attracted," said Helen with a blush. "One must own that he +was prudent. I haven't Sadie's courage and patience." + +"In those days, Bob was a besotted whisky-tank; but we are not going +to talk about him. I'm afraid I was forgetful and went my own way like +an obstinate fool. It was wrong, ridiculously wrong; I'm not going to +excuse myself, but I want you to understand." + +He paused, for effort and emotion had tired him, but presently +resumed: "I wouldn't use your money, but this wasn't altogether +because I was too proud to let you help. I wanted to keep you safe; +farming's a risky business, and I couldn't play a niggardly, cautious +game. There was the land, waiting to be worked; I couldn't spare labor +or money. But since both might be lost, I was afraid to use your +fortune as a stake." + +"I understand," said Helen. "All the same, I would have been glad to +take the risk. I don't think I'm very much afraid of hardship--" + +Festing smiled. "You have pluck, but don't know the strain that the +wives of the struggling farmers have to bear. My object is to see that +you don't know. But there's another thing, harder to explain; you felt +that I neglected you, and I fear I did!" + +"You didn't mean to neglect me. Perhaps I was foolish, Stephen, but I +felt you left me out. There were ways I could have helped." + +"I took the wrong line; that's plain now, but we must think of the +future and not make the same mistake. You are first with me, Helen, +but I must work; it's all I'm fit for. I can't play games and am not +an amusing talker--though I'm talking at large to-night. Well, we have +made our home on the prairie, and all round us the best wheat-soil in +the world is lying waste. They're getting short of food in Europe, +America will soon use all she grows, and folks in the older countries +fix their eyes on us. Then we have room for an industrious population +on our wide plains, cities are waiting to spring up, a new nation is +being born. I and the others who were given the land must clear the +way. It's our business, our only justification for being there. Sounds +romantic and exaggerated, but I think it's true!" + +"It is true," said Helen. "Your views are larger than mine." + +"Well," said Festing, smiling. "I don't often let myself go and look +far ahead. It's my share to tackle the job before my eyes; to drive +the tractor plow, and the grading scoop along the road reserve. For +all that, it's not a vague sense of duty that really drives me on; I +must work, I'm unhappy when I stop! I'm afraid I'll always feel like +that. what are we going to do about it?" + +"You must let me help more." + +"I need help; that's something I have learned, and nobody can help +like you. But the strain will slacken soon. The things that will make +life easier for you are coming fast; branch railroads, telephones, +busy little towns, neighbors, and social amusements. Much that you +enjoyed in England will surround you on the plains. But it will not +come as a gift, as it did at home; we will have worked for and made it +possible." + +Helen got up. Her color was higher than usual and her eyes sparkled. +She was romantic and Festing had struck the right note, with rude +sincerity and unconscious power. She saw visions of the future and the +dignity of the immediate task. In this wide, new country, man needed +woman's help, and her part was as large as his. Like Sadie, and many +another, she heard the call for Pioneers. Crossing the door she stood +by Festing's bunk. + +"I understand it all, Stephen. We must be patient and allow for small +differences in our points of view, for I think, in the main, we see +together. You must never leave me out again; I want to do my part." + +Festing said nothing, but he pressed her hand and she kissed him. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +CHARNOCK'S TRIUMPH + +Six weeks after the accident Musgrave and Charnock came into the shack +one evening. The former had examined Festing in the afternoon, and +Helen gave him a meaning look. It hinted that she had expected his +visit and meant to encourage him. + +"Come near the stove and smoke if you like. It is very cold." + +"No sign of the frost's breaking, I suppose?" said Festing, who lay +propped up with pillows. "Did you get the particulars I asked for, +Bob?" + +Charnock gave him a paper with some calculations, and after a time he +nodded. + +"On the whole, this is satisfactory; things are going better than I +thought. But what about the new job across the river?" + +"Things are going better than he thought! Isn't that like Stephen?" +Charnock remarked to the others, and then turned to Festing. "However, +I expect you didn't mean to be rude and you never were very tactful. +We haven't begun the job you mentioned, but I don't know that it +matters since we're busy at something else, and that's not what I want +to talk about. Musgrave has examined you and gives us an encouraging +report." + +"My opinion is that he can be moved and the journey home won't hurt +him if proper care is used." + +"But I don't want to be moved just yet," Festing objected. + +"No doubt," said Musgrave dryly. "You are an obstinate fellow, but +you're in our hands now, and we have to think what is best for you. To +begin with, you won't be able to get about in time to be of much use, +and you don't get better as fast as you ought. Then I understood you +were resigned to going home before the contract is finished." + +"If I must; but I don't want to go now. I'm able to arrange things +with Charnock in the evenings." + +"The fact is he doesn't trust me yet," Charnock remarked with a grin. + +"You know that isn't true, Bob!" + +"Then prove you trust me by going home with Helen. She has been plucky +to stay so long, and now you're fit to be moved, you oughtn't to keep +her. There's another thing; to be frank, you don't help much. We need +a boss to superintend, which you can't do, and when I want advice I +can go to Norton. As a matter of fact, when I come here in the +evenings you find fault with what I've done. When I undertake a job I +like to feel I'm carrying it out." + +Festing stopped him and looked at Helen, for he was not deceived by +Charnock's injured tone. + +"I imagine this is something like a plot to get me away." + +"I think you would get better much faster at home, Stephen. You cannot +do anything useful here, and you cannot rest. Mr. Musgrave agrees." + +"Certainly. If he stays, Festing will do himself harm and bother his +partner." + +Festing knitted his brows and was silent for a moment or two. Then he +said, "Since it looks as if you had made your plans, I had better go. +You're a very good fellow, Bob; but if you can't keep things straight, +I'll come back and superintend from a stretcher." + +They talked about other matters, but when Charnock left, Helen put on +her furs and told Festing she wanted fresh air. Moonlight shone upon +the dark pines and sparkled on the snow, and when they came out of the +shadow of the trees she thought Charnock's face was grave. + +"I'm grateful, Bob," she said. "It's a big thing you have undertaken!" + +"I frankly wish it was smaller," Charnock answered. "I fact, I feel I +have been horribly rash. I haven't Stephen's constructive talent or, +for that matter, his energy, but somehow I mustn't be beaten." + +Helen gave him a gentle look. "You won't be beaten. It's unthinkable! +We trust you." + +Then she went back and read a newspaper to Festing, who was carried +down to the supply train next day and made comfortable in the caboose. +Charnock talked to him carelessly until the couplings tightened and +the locomotive began to snort, but his mouth was firm and his face set +as he went back to his work. He knew what he was up against, and there +were difficulties he had not told Festing about. + +The days got longer, and the frost was relaxing its grip on the white +prairie, when Festing left his homestead and walked to the trail-fork +to meet the mail-carrier. He returned with some letters and sat down +limply. His face was thin and pale. + +"I get tired soon, and there's nothing from Bob yet," he grumbled as +he turned over the envelopes. "It's curious, because he told us the +job was nearly finished and some of the big engineers were coming out +to examine the track. They ought to have arrived some days ago, and +I've no doubt they'd test the work thoroughly when they were there." + +"You get too anxious," Helen replied. "If you had a calmer +temperament, you would be stronger now. The engineers can hardly have +had time to make a proper test." + +"I have some grounds for being anxious. If the fellows aren't +satisfied, we won't get paid." + +Helen smiled. "You're really afraid that Bob may have been careless +and neglected something!" + +"Bob's a very good partner; I've confessed that I misjudged him," +Festing answered with a touch of embarrassment. "Still, you see, I +know his drawbacks, and I know mine. There were two or three pieces of +work, done before I left, that I now see might have been better +planned." + +Helen went to the door, for she heard a soft drumming of hoofs on +beaten snow. + +"Sadie's coming," she said. "Perhaps she has some news." + +Festing followed her and Sadie stopped the horses, but did not get +down. + +"I've a telegram from Bob; he'll be home to-morrow," she said. "He +wants you both to meet him at the station." + +"Did he say anything about the job being finished?" Festing asked as +he went down the steps. + +"No," said Sadie. "He seemed particularly anxious to see you at the +depot; my hands are too numb or I'd show you the telegram. I haven't +time to come in and don't want the team to stand in the cold." + +Then she waved her hand to Helen and drove away. + +About six o'clock next evening Helen and Festing walked up and down +beside the track at the railroad settlement. There was no platform, +but the agent's office stood near the rails, with a baggage shed, and +a big tank for filtering saline water near the locomotive pipe. Behind +these, three tall grain-elevators, which had not been finished when +Festing saw them last, rose against the sky, dwarfing the skeleton +frame of a new hotel. The ugly wooden houses had extended some +distance across the snow, and Festing knew the significance of this. +It was not dark yet, but the headlamp of a locomotive in the side- +track flung a glittering beam a quarter of a mile down the line. In +the west, a belt of saffron light, cut by the black smear of a bluff, +glimmered on the horizon. Festing indicated the settlement. + +"It has grown fast, but if things go as some of us expect, the change +will soon be magical. In a year or two you'll see a post-office like a +palace, and probably an opera-house, besides street cars running north +and south from the track." + +"I think I should like that," Helen remarked. "When it comes, you will +have an office and a telephone, and be satisfied to superintend." + +Festing laughed. "It's possible, but there's much to be done first, +and I'm not getting on very fast just now. Still I don't feel knocked +out and I've walked half a mile." + +Glancing at the elevator towers and blocks of square-fronted houses +that rose abruptly from the snow, Helen mused. The settlement jarred +her fastidious taste, but she had seen Western towns that had, in a +few years, grown out of their raw ugliness and blossomed in an +efflorescence of ambitious architecture. Such beauty as they then +possessed was not refined or subdued, but it was somehow +characteristic of the country and harmonized with the builders' +optimism. There was no permanence on the prairie; everything was in a +fluid state of change and marked by a bold, but sometime misguided, +striving for something better. Then she turned to her husband. His +face was thin and she noted lines that came from mental strain and +physical suffering, but his eyes were calm. She liked his look of +quiet resolution. + +"You are getting stronger fast," she said. "The days are lengthening, +spring is near, and you will soon be able to work again. Well, I will +not try to stop you. When the prairie is plowed and covered with wheat +I want you to feel that you have done your part. The change that is +coming will bring the things women like; comfort, amusements, society. +But what about you and the others, the pioneers, when there is no more +ground to be broken and the way is cleared?" + +Festing smiled. "As a rule, the pioneer sells his homestead and goes +on into the wilds to blaze another trail, but I imagine I shall be +glad to rest. If not, we're an adaptable people and there are +different ways of helping things along. One can learn to use other +tools than the ax and plow." + +"Ah," said Helen, "You are getting broader. You see clearly, Stephen, +and your views are often long, but I sometimes thought you focused +them too narrowly on the object in front. Perhaps I shall have done +something if I have taught you to look all round. But here's Sadie and +the train." + +A light sprang out from the distant bluff and grew into a dazzling +fan-shaped beam. Then the roar of wheels slackened, and Sadie joined +the others as a bell began to toll, and with smoke streaming back +along the cars the train rolled into the station. Somebody leaned out +from the rails of a vestibule, and Sadie began to run beside the +track. + +"Come along!" she cried. "It's Bob!" + +Festing and Helen followed, and when they reached the vestibule +Charnock pushed a door open and took them inside. The car was brightly +lighted, but not furnished on the usual plan. A table stood in the +middle, the curtained berths were at one end, and there were cases +holding books and surveying instruments. It was obviously meant for +the use of railroad managers and engineers, and three or four +gentlemen stood near the table, as if they had just got up. Festing +saw that one was Dalton, who advanced eagerly as Helen came in. He +presented his companions to her and Sadie, and a gentleman who was +well known on Canadian railroads gave Festing his hand. Another was +Norton's employer, a famous contractor. + +"Sit down," said the first. "The engineer wants to fill his tank, and +they won't pull out until we are ready." Then he turned to Festing. +"We have examined a piece of tract you helped build and I must +compliment you on a first-class job. As a rule, we are glad to get our +contract work up to specification, but you have done better." + +"My partner is really responsible for that," Festing replied. "I got +knocked out soon after we made a good start and had to leave him to +carry on." + +The contractor smiled as he interposed: "A good beginning counts for +much, and I'm glad to state that Mr. Charnock has kept to your lines. +When you were forced to leave it seemed prudent to make some +inquiries, but we found that your partner was doing high-grade work, +and now we have inspected it, I must admit that Norton's favorable +reports were deserved." He paused and turned to Sadie. "If your +husband's as good a farmer as an engineer, he'll make progress." + +Sadie flushed with pride. "Looks as if he'd made some already, but you +didn't run much risk when you trusted him." + +"My wife's the farmer and my partner the engineer," Charnock remarked. +"I know my limits, but try to keep going when somebody starts me +well." + +"You have gone farther than our bargain demanded, which doesn't often +happen," said the contractor, who turned to Festing. "Mr. Charnock has +my cheque for the main job, but there are some accounts to make up and +you won't find my cashier disputes the extras. Perhaps that's all I +need say, except that you have satisfied me, and, I gather, satisfied +your men. In fact, you and Mr. Charnock leave us with general good +feeling." + +Then they talked about something else until a man came in to say that +the locomotive tank was filled, and the engineer and contractor went +to the vestibule with their guests. For a minute or two the group +stood on the platform, exchanging farewell compliments, while the +station agent waited in the snow. Then the engineer said: + +"I wanted to meet your husband, Mrs. Festing, and if we have any more +difficult work, hope you will let me have him again." + +"He came back the worse last time," Helen answered smiling. "I'm not +sure I would have the courage to let him go. Besides, he has other +work at home. A farm makes many demands on one." + +"I have no doubt it does," agreed the engineer. "One imagines that on +the Festing farm all demands will be met." + +He signed to the agent, the others went down the steps, and the bell +began to toll as the lighted cars rolled by. The rattle of wheels got +louder, and a plume of smoke trailed back and spread in a dingy cloud, +but Helen and Festing stood, a little way from the others, watching +the receding train. They felt that something was finished; +satisfactorily finished amidst well-earned praise, but done with for +good. Festing looked at Helen with a comprehending smile. + +"You answered right; I'm not going back! Our work is waiting, here on +the plains." + +"Ah," said Helen softly, "how much easier you make it when you call it +ours!" + +They went to the hotel where they had left the team, and as the others +followed Sadie turned to her husband with a glow of happy pride. He +had come back, so to speak, triumphant, the guest of famous men who +had said flattering things about him, and for his sake the train had +been held up while the great contractor talked to her. + +"Bob," she said, "you have made good! I can't tell you all I feel +about it. Some day you'll be a famous man." + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext The Girl From Keller's, by Harold Bindloss + |