diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:09:27 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:09:27 -0700 |
| commit | cc30167b52a901f6fb3cc3c05887872cebd14b6e (patch) | |
| tree | a6bdb3d187d90e3d2d825ebfc5e94b4feab89673 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-8.txt | 9256 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 151386 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 236119 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-h/38069-h.htm | 9441 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 66083 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069-h/images/logo.png | bin | 0 -> 10177 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069.txt | 9256 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 38069.zip | bin | 0 -> 151352 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 27969 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38069-8.txt b/38069-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ffd8d81 --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9256 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northwest! + +Author: Harold Bindloss + +Release Date: November 20, 2011 [EBook #38069] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +NORTHWEST! + +By HAROLD BINDLOSS + +Author of "THE MAN FROM THE WILDS," "LISTER'S GREAT ADVENTURE," +"WYNDHAM'S PAL," "PARTNERS OF THE OUT-TRAIL," "THE LURE OF THE NORTH," +ETC. + +[Illustration] + + NEW YORK + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + PUBLISHERS + + Copyright, 1922, by + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + +PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND UNDER THE TITLE "THE MOUNTAINEERS" + +_All Rights Reserved_ + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I JIMMY SIGNS A NOTE 1 + II JIMMY'S APOLOGY 9 + III THE CAYUSE PONY 19 + IV KELSHOPE RANCH 29 + V JIMMY HOLDS FAST 38 + VI DEERING OWNS A DEBT 47 + VII AN INSURABLE INTEREST 56 + VIII JIMMY GETS TO WORK 67 + IX THE QUIET WOODS 78 + X LAURA'S REFUSAL 87 + XI THE GAME RESERVE 98 + XII STANNARD FRONTS A CRISIS 108 + XIII THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD 117 + XIV A SHOT IN THE DARK 126 + XV TROOPER SIMPSON'S PRISONERS 135 + XVI THE NECK 144 + XVII DILLON MEDITATES 152 + XVIII THE CARTRIDGE BELT 162 + XIX USEFUL FRIENDS 171 + XX BOB'S DENIAL 182 + XXI DEERING'S EXCURSION 190 + XXII DEERING TAKES COUNSEL 200 + XXIII MARGARET TAKES A PLUNGE 208 + XXIV JIMMY RESIGNS HIMSELF 218 + XXV THE CALL 227 + XXVI DEERING TAKES THE TRAIL 236 + XXVII DEERING'S PROGRESS 245 + XXVIII A DISSOLVING PICTURE 254 + XXIX HELD UP 263 + XXX THE GULLY 274 + XXXI STANNARD'S LINE 281 + XXXII BY THE CAMP-FIRE 288 + XXXIII SIR JAMES APPROVES 297 + + + + +NORTHWEST! + + + + +I + +JIMMY SIGNS A NOTE + + +The small room at the Canadian hotel was hot and smelt of cigar-smoke +and liquor. Stannard put down his cards, shrugged resignedly, and opened +the window. Deering smiled and pulled a pile of paper money across the +table. He was strongly built and belonged to a mountaineering club, but +he was fat and his American dinner jacket looked uncomfortably tight. + +Deering's habit was to smile, and Jimmy Leyland had liked his knowing +twinkle. Somehow it hinted that you could not cheat Deering, but if you +were his friend you could trust him, and he would see you out. Now, +however, Jimmy thought he grinned. Jimmy had reckoned on winning the +pool, but Deering had picked up the money he imagined was his. + +Jackson wiped a spot of liquor from his white shirt and gave the boy a +sympathetic glance. Jackson was thin, dark-skinned and grave, and +although he did not talk much about himself, Jimmy understood he was +rather an important gentleman in Carolina. Stannard had indicated +something like this. Stannard and Jimmy were frankly English, but Jimmy +was young and the other's hair was touched by white. + +Yet Stannard was athletic, and at Parisian clubs and Swiss hotels men +talked about his fencing and his exploits on the rocks. He was not a big +man, but now his thin jacket was open, the moulding of his chest and the +curve to his black silk belt were Greek. All the same, one rather got a +sense of cultivation than strength; Stannard looked thoroughbred, and +Jimmy was proud he was his friend. + +Jimmy was not cultivated. He was a careless, frank and muscular English +lad, but he was not altogether raw, because he knew London and Paris and +had for some time enjoyed Stannard's society. His manufacturing +relations in Lancashire thought him an extravagant fool, and perhaps had +grounds for doing so, for since Jimmy had broken their firm control his +prudence was not marked. + +"I must brace up. Let's stop for a few minutes," he said and went to the +window. + +The room was on the second floor, and the window opening on top of the +veranda, commanded the valley. Across the terrace in front of the hotel, +dark pines rolled down to the river, and the water sparkled in the moon. +On the other side a belt of mist floated about the mountain slope and +dark rocks went up and melted in the snow. The broken white line ran far +North and was lost in the distance. One smelt the sweet resinous scents +the soft Chinook wind blew across the wilderness. + +Jimmy's glance rested on the river and the vague blue-white field of ice +from which the green flood sprang. Now the electric elevators had +stopped, the angry current's measured throb rolled across the pines. But +for this, all was very quiet, and the other windows opening on the +veranda were blank. Jimmy remembered the hotel manager himself had some +time since firmly put out the billiard-room lights, when Jimmy was about +ten dollars up at pool. He had afterwards won a much larger sum at +cards, but his luck had begun to turn. + +By and by Stannard came out and jumped on the high top rail. The light +from the window touched his face, and his profile, cutting against the +dark, was good and firmly lined. His balance on the narrow rail was like +a boy's. + +"If you carried my weight, you wouldn't get up like that. Two hundred +pounds wants some moving," Deering remarked with a noisy laugh. + +"I've known you move about an icy slope pretty fast," said Stannard, and +taking his hands from the rail, pulled out his watch. "Two o'clock!" he +resumed and gave Jimmy a smile. "I rather think you ought to go to bed. +You have not got Deering's steadiness and still are a few dollars up. To +stop when your luck is good is a useful plan." + +"My legs are steadier than my head," Deering rejoined. "When I played +the ten-spot Jimmy saw my game. Cost me five dollars. I reckon I ought +to go to bed!" + +Jimmy frowned. He was persuaded he was sober, and although Stannard was +a very good sort, sometimes his fatherly admonition jarred. Then he had +won a good sum from Stannard and must not be shabby. The strange thing +was he could not remember how much he had won. + +"To stop as soon as my luck turns is not my plan," he said. "I feel I +owe you a chance to get your own back." + +"Oh, well! If you feel like that, we had better go on; but your +fastidiousness may cost you something," Stannard remarked, and Deering +hit Jimmy's back. + +"You're a sport; I like you! Play up and play straight's your rule." + +Jimmy was flattered, although he doubted Deering's soberness. He did +play straight, and when he won he did not go off with a walletful of his +friends' money. All the same, Jackson's bored look annoyed him, since it +rather indicated that he was willing to indulge Jimmy than that he noted +his scrupulous fairness. Jimmy resolved to banish the fellow's languor, +and when they went back to the card table demanded that they put up the +stakes. Jackson agreed resignedly, and they resumed the game. + +The room got hotter and the cigar-smoke was thick. Sometimes Stannard +went to the ice-pail and mixed a cooling drink. Jimmy meant to use +caution, but his luck had turned, and excitement parched his mouth. By +and by Stannard, who was dealing, stopped. + +"Your play is wild, Jimmy," he remarked. "I think you have had enough." + +Jimmy turned to the others. His face was red and his gesture boyishly +theatrical. + +"I play for sport, not for dollars. I don't want your money, and now +you're getting something back, we'll put up the bets again." + +"Then, since your wad is nearly gone, somebody must keep the score," +said Jackson, and Stannard pulled out his note-book. + +Jimmy took another drink and tried to brace up. His luck, like his roll +of bills, was obviously gone, but when he was winning the others had not +stopped, and he did not want them, so to speak, to let him off. When he +lost he could pay. But this was not important, and he must concentrate +on his cards. The cards got worse and as a rule the ace he thought one +antagonist had was played by another. At length Stannard pushed back his +chair from the table. + +"Three o'clock and I have had enough," he said, and turned to Jimmy. "Do +you know how much you are down?" + +Jimmy did not know, but he imagined the sum was large, and when Stannard +began to reckon he went to the window. Day was breaking and mist rolled +about the pines. The snow was gray and the high rocks were blurred and +dark. Jimmy heard the river and the wind in the trees. The cold braced +him and he vaguely felt the landscape's austerity. His head was getting +steadier, and perhaps it was the contrast, but when he turned and looked +about the room he was conscious of something like disgust. Stannard, +occupied with his pencil, knitted his brows, and now his graceful +carelessness was not marked; Jimmy thought his look hard and +calculating. Yet Stannard was his friend and model. He admitted he was +highly strung and perhaps his imagination cheated him. + +He was not cheated about the others. Now a reaction from the excitement +had begun, he saw Deering and Jackson as he had not seen them before. +Deering's grin was sottish, the fellow was grossly fat, and he fixed his +greedy glance on Stannard's note-book. Jackson, standing behind +Stannard, studied the calculations, as if he meant to satisfy himself +the sum was correct. Jimmy thought them impatient to know their share +and their keenness annoyed him. Then Stannard put up his book. + +"It looks as if your resolve to play up was rash," he remarked and +stated the sum Jimmy owed. "Can you meet the reckoning?" + +"You know I'm broke. You're my banker and must fix it for me." + +Stannard nodded. "Very well! What about your bet in the billiard-room?" + +"Nothing about it. I made the stroke." + +Deering grinned indulgently, and when Jackson shrugged, Jimmy's face got +red. + +"If they're not satisfied, give them the lot; I don't dispute about +things like that," he said haughtily. "Write an acknowledgment for all I +owe and I'll sign the note." + +Stannard wrote and tore the leaf from his note-book, but he now used a +fountain pen. Jimmy took the pen, signed the acknowledgment and went +off. When he had gone Deering looked at Stannard and laughed. + +"Your touch is light, but if the boy begins to feel your hand he'll +kick. Anyhow, I'll take my wad." + +Stannard gave him a roll of paper money and turned to Jackson. + +"I'll take mine," said Jackson. "In the morning I pull out." + +"You stated you meant to stop for a time." + +"There's nothing in the game for me, and I don't see what Deering +expects to get," said Jackson in a languid voice. "I doubt if you'll +keep him long; the boys in his home section, on the coast, reckon he +puts up a square deal. Anyhow, you can't have my help." + +Stannard gave him a searching glance and Deering straightened his big +body. Jackson's glance was quietly scornful. + +"A hundred dollars is a useful sum, but my mark's higher, and I play +with men. Maybe I'll meet up with some rich tourists at the Banff +hotels," he resumed, and giving the others a careless nod, went off. + +"A queer fellow, but sometimes his mood is nasty," said Deering. "I +felt I'd like to throw him over the rails." + +"As a rule, his sort carry a gun," Stannard remarked. + +Deering wiped some liquor from the table, picked up Jimmy's glass, which +was on the floor, and put away the cards. + +"In the morning you had better give the China boy two dollars," he said +in a meaning voice, and when he went to the door Stannard put out the +light. + + + + +II + +JIMMY'S APOLOGY + + +In the morning Jimmy leaned, rather moodily, against the terrace wall. +There was no garden, for the hotel occupied a narrow shelf on the +hillside, and from the terrace one looked down on the tops of dusky +pines. The building was new, and so far the guests were not numerous, +but the manager claimed that when the charm of the neighborhood was +known, summer tourists and mountaineers would have no use for Banff. + +Perhaps his hopefulness was justified, for all round the hotel primeval +forest met untrodden snow, and at the head of the valley a glacier +dropped to a calm green lake. A few miles south was a small +flag-station, and sometimes one heard a heavy freight train rumble in +the woods. When the distant noise died away all was very quiet but for +the throb of falling water. + +Jimmy had not enjoyed his breakfast, and when he lighted a cigarette the +tobacco did not taste good. He admitted that he had been carried away, +and now he was cool he reflected that his rashness had cost him a large +sum and he had given Stannard another note. He was young, and had for a +year or two indulged his youthful craving for excitement, but he began +to doubt if he could keep it up. After all, he had inherited more than +he knew from his sternly business-like and rather parsimonious +ancestors. Although the Leyland cotton mills were now famous in +Lancashire, Jimmy's grandfather had earned day wages at the spinning +frame. + +Jimmy felt dull and thought a day on the rocks would brace him up. Since +his object for the Canadian excursion was to shoot a mountain-sheep and +climb a peak in the Rockies, he ought to get into trim. Stannard could +play cards all night and start fresh in the morning on an adventure that +tried one's nerve and muscle, but Jimmy admitted he could not. When he +loafed about hotel rotundas and consumed iced drinks he got soft. + +After a time, Laura Stannard crossed the veranda and went along the +terrace. Her white dress was fashionable and she wore a big white hat. +Her hair and eyes were black, her figure was gracefully slender, and her +carriage was good. Jimmy thought her strangely attractive, but did not +altogether know if she was his friend, and admitted that he was not +Laura's sort. It was not that she was proud. Something about her +indicated that her proper background was an old-fashioned English +country house; Jimmy felt his was a Lancashire cotton mill. Laura did +not live with Stannard, but she joined him and Jimmy in Switzerland not +long before they started for Canada. Stannard was jealous about his +daughter and had indicated that his friends were not necessarily hers. +Jimmy had grounds to think Stannard's caution justified. + +For a minute or two Jimmy left the girl alone. He imagined if Laura were +willing to talk to him she would let him know. She went to the end of +the terrace, and then turning opposite a bench, looked up and smiled. +Jimmy advanced and when he joined her leaned against the low wall. Laura +studied him quietly and he got embarrassed. Somehow he felt she +disapproved; he imagined he did not altogether look as if he had got up +after a night's refreshing sleep. + +"You got breakfast early," she remarked. + +"That is so," Jimmy agreed. "A fellow at my table argues about our +slowness in the Old Country and sometimes one would sooner be quiet. +Then I thought I'd go off and see if I could reach the ice-fall on the +glacier; after the sun gets hot the snow is treacherous. Anyhow, you +have come down as soon as me." + +"I mean to go on the lake and try to catch a trout." + +"Then, I hope you'll let me come. You'll want somebody to row the boat +and use the landing-net." + +"The hotel guide will row and I doubt if we'll need the landing-net," +Laura replied and gave him a level glance. "Besides, I shall return for +lunch and I rather think you ought to go for a long climb. When I came +out, you looked moody and slack." + +Jimmy colored. Although he was embarrassed, to know Laura had bothered +to remark his moodiness was flattering; the strange thing was, when she +crossed the veranda he had not thought she saw him. Jimmy was raw, but +not altogether a fool. He knew Laura did not mean him to go with her to +the lake. + +"Oh, well," he said. "When one loafs about, one does get slack." + +"You are young and ought not to loaf." + +"I imagine I'm a little older than you," Jimmy rejoined with a twinkle. + +Laura let it go. As a rule, she did not take the obvious line, and +although she knew much Jimmy did not, she said, "Are you old enough to +play cards with Jackson and Deering?" + +"One must pay for all one gets, and, in a sense, I get much from men +like that," Jimmy replied. "There's something one likes about Jackson, +and Deering's a very good sort." + +"Are you ambitious to be Deering's sort?" Laura asked. + +Jimmy pondered. It was obvious she knew the men were Stannard's friends, +and she, no doubt, knew Stannard was a keen gambler. The ground was +awkward and he must use some caution. + +"Mr. Stannard's my model," he said. + +Laura's glance was inscrutable. Since her mother died she had not lived +with Stannard and he puzzled her. Sometimes she was disturbed about him, +and sometimes she was jarred. When she joined him for a few weeks he was +kind, but he did not ask for her confidence and did not give her his. + +"It looks as if my father's attraction for you was strong," she said +thoughtfully. + +"That is so," Jimmy declared with a touch of enthusiasm Laura saw was +sincere. "Mr. Stannard has all the qualities I'd like to cultivate. My +habit, so to speak, is to shove along laboriously; he gets where he +wants without an effort. On the trains and steamers he gets for nothing +things another couldn't buy, and at the hotel the waiters serve him +first. People trust him and are keen about his society. He's urbane and +polished, but when you go with him on the rocks you note his steely +pluck. When I'm stuck and daunted he smiles, and somehow I get up the +awkward slab. Besides, he stands for much I wanted but couldn't get +until he helped." + +"What did you want?" + +"Excitement, adventure, and the friendship of clever people; something +like that," said Jimmy awkwardly. "To begin with, I'd better tell you +about my life in Lancashire, but I expect you're bored----" + +Laura was not bored; in fact, her curiosity was excited. Stannard's +young friends were numerous, but when he opened his London flat to them +she stopped with her aunts. Now she wondered whether it was important he +had allowed her to join his Canadian excursion. + +"I am not at all bored," she said. + +"Very well. My father died long since and I went to my uncle's house. +I'd like to draw Ardshaw for you, but I cannot. Inside, it's overcrowded +by clumsy Victorian furniture; outside is a desolation of industrial +ugliness. Smoky fields, fenced by old colliery ropes, a black canal, and +coalpit winding towers. I went to school on board a steam tram, along a +road bordered all the way by miners' cottages." + +"The picture's not attractive," Laura remarked. "Was your uncle +satisfied with his house?" + +Jimmy smiled. "I think he was altogether satisfied. The Leylands are a +utilitarian lot, and rather like ugliness. Our interests are business, +and religion of a stern Puritanical sort. From my relations' point of +view, grace and beauty are snares. Besides, Dick Leyland got Ardshaw +cheap and I expect this accounts for much. When he went there the +Leyland mills were small; my grandfather had not long started on his +lucky speculation." + +"But after a time you went away to school--a public school?" + +"I did not. I imagined it was obvious," said Jimmy with a touch of +dryness. "I went to the mill office and sat under a gas-lamp, writing +entries in the stock-books, from nine o'clock until six. Dick Leyland +had no use for university cultivation and my aunt was persuaded Oxford +was a haunt of profligates. Well, because I was forced, I held out until +I was twenty-one. Then I'd had enough and I went to London." + +"Were your relations willing for you to go?" + +"They were not at all willing, but I inherit a third-part of the Leyland +mills. For all that, unless my trustees approve, I cannot, for another +two or three years, use control, and the sum I may spend is fixed. +Well, perhaps you can picture my launching out in town. I had no rules +to go by; I wore the stamp of the cotton mill and a second-class school. +For five years I'd earned a small clerk's pay, and now, by contrast, I +was rich." + +Laura could picture it. The boy's reaction from his uncle's firm and +parsimonious guardianship was natural, and she studied him with fresh +curiosity. He was tall but rather loosely built, and his look was +apologetic, as if he had not yet got a man's strength and confidence. +One noted the stamp of the cotton mill. As a rule Jimmy was generous and +extravagant; but sometimes he was strangely business-like. + +"Were you satisfied with your experiment?" she asked. + +"I expect you're tired. If you were not kind, you'd have sent me off." + +"Not at all," said Laura. "I like to study people, and your story has a +human touch. In a way, it's the revolt of youth." + +"Oh, well; I expect one does not often get all one thinks to get. I +wanted the cultivation Oxford might have given me; I wanted to know +people of your sort, who don't bother about business, but hunt and fish +and shoot. Well, I can throw a dry-fly and hold a gun straight; but +after all I'm Jimmy Leyland, from the mills in Lancashire." + +Laura liked his honesty, but his voice was now not apologetic. She +rather thought it proud. + +"You met my father in Switzerland?" she said. + +"At Chamonix, about a year ago. When I met Mr. Stannard my luck was +good. I'd got into the wrong lot; they used me and laughed. Well, your +father showed me where I was going and sent the others off. Perhaps you +know how he does things like that? He's urban, but very firm. Anyhow, +the others went and I've had numerous grounds to trust Mr. Stannard +since." + +Jimmy lighted a cigarette. Perhaps he ought to go, but Laura's interest +was flattering and she had not allowed him to talk like this before. In +fact, he rather wondered why she had done so. In the meantime Laura +pondered his artless narrative. His liking her father was not strange, +for Stannard's charm was strong, but Laura imagined to enjoy his society +cost his young friends something. Perhaps it had cost Jimmy something, +for he had stated that one must pay for all one got. He was obviously +willing to pay, but Laura was puzzled. If his uncle's portrait was +accurate, she imagined the sum Jimmy was allowed to spend was not large. + +"One ought to have an object and know where one means to go," she +remarked. "When you look ahead, are you satisfied?" + +"In the meantime, I'll let Mr. Stannard indicate the way," said Jimmy +with a smile. "On the whole, I expect Dick Leyland would sooner I didn't +meddle at the office, but after a year or two I'll probably go back. +You see, Dick has no children and Jim's not married. To carry on +Leyland's is my job." + +"Who is Jim?" + +"Sir James Leyland, knight. In Lancashire we have not much use for +titles; the head of the house is Jim and I'm Jimmy. Perhaps the +diminutive is important." + +"But suppose your uncles did not approve your carrying on the house?" + +"Then, I imagine they could, for a time, force me to leave the mills +alone. However, although Dick is very like a machine, I've some grounds +to think Jim human. All the same, I hardly know him. He's at Bombay; the +house transacts much business in India. But I must have bored you and +you haven't got breakfast. I suppose you really won't let me row the +boat?" + +Laura pondered. Her curiosity was not altogether satisfied and she now +was willing for Jimmy to join her on the lake. Yet she had refused, and +after his frank statement, she had better not agree. + +"I have engaged the hotel guide, Miss Grant is going, and the boat is +small," she said. "Besides, when one means to catch trout one must +concentrate." + +Jimmy went off and Laura knitted her brows. She knew Jimmy's habit was +not to boast, and if she had understood him properly, he would by and by +control the fortunes of the famous manufacturing house. Her father's +plan was rather obvious, and the blood came to Laura's skin. She knew +something about poverty and admitted that when she married her marriage +must be good, but she was not an adventuress. Yet Jimmy was rather a +handsome fellow and had some attractive qualities. + + + + +III + +THE CAYUSE PONY + + +The afternoon was hot, the little wineberry bushes were soft, and Jimmy +lay in a big hemlock's shade. A few yards in front, a falling pine had +broken the row of straight red trunks, and in the gap shining snow peaks +cut the serene sky. Below, the trees rolled down the hillside, and at +the bottom a river sparkled. Rivers, however, were numerous, the bush on +the hill-bench Jimmy had crossed was thick, and he frankly did not know +where he had come down. If the hotel was in the valley, he need not +bother, but he doubted, and was not keen about climbing another mountain +spur. In the meantime, he smoked his pipe and mused. + +He owed Stannard rather a large sum. They went about to shooting parties +at country houses and lodges by Scottish salmon rivers. Visiting with +Stannard's sporting friends was expensive and he allowed Jimmy to bear +the cost. Jimmy was willing and made Stannard his banker; now and then +they reckoned up and Jimmy gave him an acknowledgment for the debt. +Although Stannard stated he was poor, his habits were extravagant and +somehow he got money. + +Yet Jimmy did not think Stannard exploited him. He had found his advice +good and Stannard had saved him from some awkward entanglements. In +fact, Stannard was his friend, and although his friendship was perhaps +expensive, in a year or two Jimmy would be rich. Since his parsimonious +uncle had not let him go to a university, his spending a good sum was +justified, and to go about with Stannard was a liberal education. +Perhaps, for a careless young fellow, Jimmy's argument was strangely +commercial, but he was the son of a keen and frugal business man. + +Then he began to muse about Laura. Her beauty and refinement attracted +him, but he imagined Laura knew his drawbacks, and to imagine Stannard +had planned for him to marry her was ridiculous. Stannard was not like +that, and when Laura was with him saw that Jimmy did not get much of her +society. In fact, had she not come down for breakfast before the other +guests, Jimmy imagined he would not have enjoyed a confidential talk +with her. All the same, to loaf in the shade and dwell on Laura's charm +was soothing. + +In the meantime, he was hungry, and he had not bothered to carry his +lunch. When he got breakfast he had not much appetite. Since morning he +had scrambled about the rocks, and he thought the hotel was some +distance off. Getting up with something of an effort, he plunged down +hill through the underbrush. At the bottom he stopped and frowned. He +ought not to have lost his breath, but he had done so and his heart +beat. It looked as if he must cut out strong cigars and iced liquor. + +A few yards off a trail went up the valley and slanted sunbeams crossed +the narrow opening. Jimmy thought he heard a horse's feet and resolved +to wait and ask about the hotel. He was in the shade, but for a short +distance the spot commanded the trail. + +The beat of horse's feet got louder and a girl rode out from the gap in +the dark pine branches. A sunbeam touched her and her hair, and the +steel buckle in her soft felt hat shone. She rode astride and wore +fringed leggings and a jacket of soft deerskin. Her figure was graceful +and she swung easily with the horse's stride. Her hair was like gold and +her eyes were deep blue. Jimmy afterwards thought it strange he noted so +much, but she, so to speak, sprang from the gloom like a picture on a +film, and the picture held him. + +He did not know if the girl was beautiful, but in the tangled woods her +charm was keen. Her dress harmonized with the moss on the tall red +trunks, and the ripening fern. Something primitive and strong marked her +easy, confident pose. The horse, an Indian _cayuse_, tossed its head and +glanced about nervously, as if its habit was to scent danger in the +bush. Jimmy sprang from primitive stock and he knew, half instinctively, +the girl's type was his. He must, however, inquire about the hotel, and +he pushed through the raspberries by the trail. + +The horse, startled by the noise, stopped and tried to turn. The girl +pulled the bridle and braced herself back. The cayuse jumped like a cat, +plunged forward, and feeling the bit, bucked savagely. Jimmy wondered +how long the girl would stick to the saddle, but after a moment or two +the cayuse started for the bush. Jimmy thought he knew the trick, for +when a cayuse cannot buck off its rider it goes for a tree, and if one +keeps one's foot in the stirrup, one risks a broken leg. He jumped for +its head and seized the links at the bit. + +The girl ordered him to let go, but he did not. He had frightened her +horse and must not allow the savage brute to jamb her against a tree. +Its ears were pressed back and he saw its teeth, but so long as he stuck +to the bit, it could not seize his hand. Then it went round in a +semi-circle, the link twisted and pinched his fingers, and he knew he +could not hold on. The animal's head went up, Jimmy got a heavy blow and +fell across the trail. A few moments afterwards he heard a beat of +hoofs, some distance off, and knew the cayuse was gone. The girl, +breathing rather hard, leaned against a trunk. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked. + +"I don't know yet," Jimmy gasped. "I'll find out when I get up." + +He got up and forced a smile. "Anyhow, nothing's broken. Are you hurt?" + +"No," she said. "I'm not hurt, but I'm angry. When you butted in I +couldn't use the bridle." + +"I'm sorry; I wanted to help. However, it looks as if your horse had run +away. Have you far to go?" + +"The ranch is three miles off." + +"How far's the hotel?" + +"If you go by the trail, about eight miles. Perhaps four miles, if you +cross the range." + +Jimmy studied the thick timber and the steep rocky slopes. Pushing +through tangled underbrush has drawbacks, particularly where +devil's-club thorns are numerous. Besides, he had got a nasty knock and +his leg began to hurt. Then he noted a cotton flour bag with straps +attached lying in the trail. + +"I think I won't cross the range. I suppose that bag is yours?" + +"It is mine. They put our groceries off the train. I reckon the bag +weighs about forty pounds. I carried the thing on the front of the +saddle; but when you----" + +Jimmy nodded. "When I butted in you were forced to let it go! Well, +since I frightened your horse, I ought to carry your bag. If I take it +to the ranch, do you think your folks would give me supper?" + +"It's possible. Can you carry the bag?" + +"I'll try," said Jimmy. "Have you some grounds to doubt?" + +"Packing a load over a rough trail is not as easy as it looks," the girl +rejoined with a twinkle. "Then I expect you're a tourist tenderfoot." + +Jimmy liked her smile and he liked her voice. Her Western accent was not +marked and her glance was frank. He thought, if he had not meddled, she +would have mastered the frightened horse; her strength and pluck were +obvious. In the meantime his leg hurt and he could not examine the +injury. + +"I am a tourist," he agreed. "Since I'm going to your house, perhaps I +ought to state that I'm Jimmy Leyland, from Lancashire in the Old +Country." + +"I am Margaret Jardine." + +"Then you're a Scot?" + +"My father is a Scot," said Margaret. "I'm Canadian." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "I've heard something like that before and begin to +see what it implies. Well, it looks as if you were an independent lot. +Is one allowed to state that in the Old Country we are rather proud of +you?" + +"Since I'd like to make Kelshope before dark, perhaps you had better get +going," Margaret remarked. + +Jimmy picked up the bag and fastened the deerskin straps, by which it +hung from his shoulders like a rucksack. They started, and for a time he +kept up with Margaret, but he did not talk. The pack was heavy, he had +not had much breakfast and had gone without his lunch. Besides, his leg +was getting very sore. At length he stopped and began to loose the +straps. + +"Do you mind if I take a smoke?" he asked. + +Margaret looked at him rather hard, but said she did not mind, and +Jimmy, indicating a cedar log, pulled out his cigarette case. + +"Do you smoke?" + +"I do not. In the bush, we haven't yet copied the girls at the hotels." + +"Now I think about it, the girls who smoked at the Montreal hotel were +not numerous," Jimmy remarked. "When I went to the fishing lodge in +Scotland, all smoked, but then Stannard's friends are very much +up-to-date. The strange thing is, we're thought antiquated in the Old +Country----" + +He stopped and tried to brace up. What he wanted to state eluded him. He +felt cold and the pines across the trail got indistinct. + +"You see, in some of our circles we rather feel our duty is to be +modern," he resumed with an effort. "I think you're not like that. +Canada's a new country, but, in a way, one feels you're really older +than we are. We have got artificial; you are flesh and blood----" + +"Don't talk!" said Margaret firmly, but Jimmy thought her voice was +faint, and for a few moments the tall pines melted altogether. + +When he looked up Margaret asked: "Have you got a tobacco pouch?" + +Jimmy gave her the pouch and she went off. He was puzzled and rather +annoyed, but somehow he could not get on his feet. By and by Margaret +came back, carrying the pouch opened like a double cup. Jimmy drank some +water and the numbness began to go. + +"You're very kind. I expect I'm ridiculous," he said. + +"I was not kind. I let you carry the pack, although the cayuse knocked +you down." + +"Perhaps the knock accounts for something," Jimmy remarked in a languid +voice. + +He had got a nasty knock, but he imagined Stannard's cigars and +Deering's iced drinks were really accountable. In the meantime, he noted +that Margaret was wiping his tobacco pouch. + +"You mustn't bother," he resumed. "Give me the thing." + +"But when it's wet you cannot put in the tobacco." + +"I thought you threw away the stuff. I can get another lot at the +hotel." + +Margaret brushed the tobacco from a flake of bark, and filled the pouch. + +"In the woods, one doesn't throw away expensive tobacco." + +"Thanks!" said Jimmy. "Some time since, I lived with people like you." + +"Poor and frugal people?" + +"No," said Jimmy, with a twinkle. "Dick and his wife were rather rich. +In fact, in England, I think you begin to use economy when you get rich. +Anyhow, it's not important, and you needn't bother about me. As a rule, +philosophizing doesn't knock me out. The cayuse kicked pretty hard. +Well, suppose we start?" + +He got up and when Margaret tried to take the pack he pulled it away. + +"The job's mine. I undertook to carry the load." + +"But you're tired, and I think you're lame." + +"We won't dispute," said Jimmy. "You oughtn't to dispute. Perhaps it's +strange, but one feels your word ought to go." + +"It looks as if my word did not go." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "when you command people, you have got to use +some caution. Much depends on whom you command, and in Lancashire we're +an obstinate lot. Anyhow, I'll take the bag." + +He pushed his arms through the straps and Margaret said nothing. She +might have taken the bag from him, but to use force was not dignified +and she knew to let her carry the load would jar. When they set off she +noted that his face was rather white and his step was not even. He had +obviously got a nasty kick, but his pluck was good. + +The sun went down behind the woods, the pines got dim and sweet resinous +scents floated about the trail. The hum of insects came out of the +shadow, and Jimmy was forced to rub the mosquitoes from his neck. To put +up his hands was awkward, for the ground was uneven, and he must balance +his load. He could not talk, the important thing was to reach the ranch +before it got dark, and setting his mouth, he pushed ahead. + +At length Margaret stopped at a fence, and when she began to pull down +the rails Jimmy leaned against a post. The rails were rudely split, and +the zig-zag fence was locked by crossed supports and not fastened by +nails. On the other side, where timothy grass and oats had grown, was +stubble, dotted by tall stumps and fern. A belt of chopped trees +surrounded the clearing, and behind the tangled belt the forest rose +like a dark wall. An indistinct log house and barns occupied the other +end. An owl swooped noiselessly across the fence, and Jimmy heard the +distant howl of a timber wolf. + +"Kelshope ranch," said Margaret. "The path goes to the house. I must put +up the rails." + +Jimmy went through the gap. Perhaps it was soothing quietness, but he +felt he liked Kelshope and his curiosity was excited. He knew the big +Canadian hotels, the pullmans and observation-cars. So far, money had +supplied him, as in London, with much that made life smooth. Now he was +to see something of the Canada in which man must labor for all he gets. +The strange thing was, he felt this was the Canada he really ought to +know. + + + + +IV + +KELSHOPE RANCH + + +Breakfast was over at Kelshope ranch and Jimmy occupied a log at the +edge of the clearing. Although his muscles were sore, he felt strangely +fresh and somehow satisfied. At the hotel, as a rule, he had not felt +like that. His leg hurt, but his host had doctored the cut with some +American liniment, and Jimmy was content to rest in the shade and look +about. He thought he saw the whole process of clearing a ranch. + +In the background, was virgin forest; pine, spruce and hemlock, locking +their dark branches. Then one noted the _slashing_, where chopped trees +had fallen in tangled rows, and an inner belt of ashes and blackened +stumps. Other stumps, surrounded by fern, checkered the oblong of +cultivated soil, and the dew sparkled on the short oat stubble. The oats +were not grown for milling; the heads were small and Jardine cut the +crop for hay. The garden-lot and house occupied a gentle slope. The +walls were built of logs, notched and crossed at the corners; cedar +shingles, split by hand on the spot, covered the roof. Behind the house, +one saw fruit trees and log barns. Nothing was factory-made, and Jimmy +thought all indicated strenuous labor. + +A yard or two off, Jardine rubbed his double-bitted axe with a small +round hone. He wore a gray shirt, overalls and long boots, and his skin +was very brown. He was not a big man, but he looked hard and muscular +and his glance was keen. + +"Ye need to get the edge good. It pays to keep her sharp," he said and +tried the blade with his thumb. + +"I expect that is so," Jimmy agreed. "Did you, yourself, clear the +ranch?" + +"I chopped every tree, burned the slashing, and put up the house and +barns. Noo I'm getting things in trim and run a small bunch of stock." + +Jimmy thought it a tremendous undertaking; the logs stacked ready to +burn were two or three feet across the butt. + +"How long were you occupied?" he asked. + +"Twelve years," said Jardine, rather drily. "When the country doon the +Fraser began to open up I sold my other ranch, bought two or three +building lots in a new town, and started for the bush. I liked this +location and I stopped." + +"But can you get your stuff to a market?" + +"Cows can walk, but when ye clear a bush ranch ye dinna bother much +about selling truck. Ye sit tight until the Government cuts a wagon +trail, or maybe a railroad's built, and the settlements spring up." + +"And then you expect to sell for a good price all the stuff you grow?" + +Jardine smiled. "Then I expect to sell the ranch and push on again. The +old-time bushman has no use for game-wardens, city sports, +store-keepers and real-estate boomers----" + +He stopped and his look got scornful. Jimmy found out afterwards that +the pioneer hates the business man and Jardine sprang from Scottish +Border stock. Perhaps he had inherited his pride and independence from +salmon-poaching ancestors. What he wanted he labored for; to traffic was +not his plan. + +"Weel," he resumed, "I'd better get busy. After dinner I'll drive ye to +the hotel." + +He went off, and although Jimmy had expected to lunch at the hotel he +was satisfied to wait. He mused about his host. Jardine was not young, +but he carried himself well and Jimmy had known young men who did not +move like him; then the ranch indicated his talent for labor. Yet +muscular strength was obviously not all one needed; to front and remove +daunting obstacles, one must have pluck and imagination. The job was a +man's job, but, in a sense, the qualities it demanded were primitive, +and Jimmy began to see why the ranch attracted him. His grandfather had +labored in another's mill; the house of Leyland's was founded on +stubborn effort and stern frugality. + +Jimmy began to wonder where Jardine fed his cattle, because he saw none +in the clearing, but by and by a distant clash of bells rolled across +the trees. Jimmy had heard the noise before; when he went to sleep and +again at daybreak, a faint, elusive chime had broken the quietness that +brooded over Kelshope ranch. It was the clash of cow-bells, ringing as +the stock pushed through the underbrush. When he heard a sharper note +he got up and, for his leg hurt, went cautiously into the woods. + +By and by he stopped in the tall fern. Not far off Margaret, holding out +a bunch of corn, occupied the middle of an opening in which little red +wineberries grew. Her pose was graceful, she did not wear a hat, and the +sun was on her hair. Her neck was very white, and then her skin was +delicate pink that deepened to brown. Her dress was dull blue and the +yellow corn forced up the soft color. + +"Oh, Bright; oh, Buck!" she called, and Jimmy thought her voice musical +like the chiming bells. + +Where the sunbeams pierced the shade long horns gleamed, the bells rang +louder, and a big brown ox looked out, fixed its quiet eyes on the girl, +and vanished noiselessly. Margaret did not move at all. She was still as +the trees in the background, and Jimmy approved her quietness. He got a +hint of balance, strength and calm. + +"Oh, Bright!" she called, and a brawny red-and-white animal pushed out +from the fern, shook its massive head, and advanced to smell the corn. + +Jimmy now saw Margaret carried a rope in her other hand, but she let the +ox eat the corn and stroked its white forehead before she threw the rope +round its horns. Although she was very quick, her movements were gentle +and the animal stood still. Then she looked up and smiled. + +"You can come out, Mr. Leyland." + +"You knew I was in the fern?" + +"Sure," said Margaret. "I was born in the woods. All the same, you were +quiet. I reckon you can be quiet. In the bush, that's something." + +"You imply that I was quiet, for a tenderfoot?" + +"Why, yes," Margaret agreed, smiling. "As a rule, a man from the cities +can't keep still. He must talk and move about. You didn't feel you ought +to come and help?" + +Jimmy wondered whether she knew he had wanted to study her, but thought +she did not. Anyhow, he was satisfied she, so to speak, had not posed +for him. + +"Not at all," he said. "I saw you knew your job, and I reflected that +the ox did not know me. But shall I hold him until you catch the other?" + +"Buck will follow his mate," Margaret replied, and when they started a +cow-bell clashed and Buck stole out of the shade. + +Jimmy thought stole the proper word. He had expected to hear branches +crack and underbrush rustle, but the powerful oxen moved almost silently +through the wood. + +"Now I see why you give them bells," he remarked. "But doesn't the +jangling bother the animals?" + +"They like the bells. At night I think they toss their heads to hear the +chime. Then they know the bells are useful. Sometimes when all is quiet +the cattle scatter, but when the timber wolves are about or a cinnamon +bear comes down the rocks the herd rolls up. Bush cattle are clever. Now +Bright feels the rope, he's resigned to go to work." + +"You know the woods. Have you always lived at a ranch?" + +"For a time I was at Toronto," Margaret replied. "When I was needed at +Kelshope, I came back." + +Jimmy felt she baffled him. Margaret had not stated her occupation at +Toronto, but he had remarked that her English was better than the +English one used at the cotton mills. After all, he was not entitled to +satisfy his curiosity. + +"One can understand Mr. Jardine's needing you," he said. "I expect a +bush rancher is forced to hustle." + +"A bush rancher must hustle all the time," Margaret agreed. "Still, work +one likes goes easily. Have you tried?" + +"I have tried work I did not like and admit I've had enough," Jimmy +said, and laughed. "When I started for Canada, my notion was I'd be +content to play about." + +Margaret nodded. "We know your sort. You are not, like our tourists, +merchants and manufacturers. You have no use for business. All you think +about is sport, and your sport's extravagant. You stop at our big +hotels, and when you go off to hunt and fish you hire a gang of packers +to carry your camp truck." + +"I doubt if I really am that sort," Jimmy rejoined. "After all, my +people are pretty keen business men, and I begin to see that to +cultivate the habits of the other lot is harder than I thought. In +fact, I rather think I'd like to own a ranch." + +"For a game?" said Margaret and laughed, a frank laugh. "You must cut it +out, Mr. Leyland. One can't play at ranching, and you don't know all the +bushman is up against." + +"It's possible," Jimmy admitted. "Well, I expect I am a loafer, but I +did not altogether joke about the ranch. The strange thing is, after a +time loafing gets monotonous." + +Margaret stopped him. "I must get busy and you ought not to walk about. +Sit down in the shade and I'll give you the _Colonist_." + +Jimmy sat down, but declared he did not want the newspaper. He thought +he would study ranching, particularly Margaret's part of the job. She +put a heavy wooden yoke on the oxen's necks, fastened a rope to the +hook, and drove the animals to a belt of burned slashing where big +charred logs lay about. Jardine hitched the rope to a log and the team +hauled it slowly to a pile. Jimmy wondered how two people would get the +heavy trunk on top, but when Margaret led the oxen round the pile and +urged them ahead, the log went up in a loop of the rope. For all that, +Jardine was forced to use a handspike and Jimmy saw that to build a +log-pile demanded strength and skill. + +Resting in the shade, he felt the picture's quiet charm. The oxen's +movements were slow and rhythmical; Jardine's muscular figure, bent, got +tense, and relaxed; the girl, finely posed, guided the plodding +animals. Behind were stiff, dark branches and rows of straight red +trunks. A woodpecker tapped a hollow tree, and in the distance cow-bells +chimed. The dominant note was effort, but the effort was smooth and +measured. One felt that all went as it ought to go, and Jimmy thought +about the big shining flywheel that spun with a steady throb at the +Leyland cotton mill. Then his head began to nod and his eyes shut, and +when he looked up Margaret called him to dinner. + +After dinner Jardine got out his Clover-leaf wagon and drove Jimmy to +the hotel. When they arrived Jimmy took him to his room on the first +floor, and meeting Stannard on the stairs, was rather moved to note his +relief. Stannard declared that he and some others had searched the woods +since daybreak and were about to start for the ranch. By and by Deering +joined them and made an iced drink. Jardine, with tranquil enjoyment, +drained his long glass, and lighting a cigar, began to talk about +hunting in the bush. His clothes were old and his hat was battered, but +his calm was marked and Jimmy thought he studied the others with quiet +curiosity. After a time they went off, and Jardine gave Jimmy a +thoughtful smile. + +"Your friends are polite and Mr. Deering can mix a drink better than a +bar-keep." + +"Is that all?" Jimmy inquired. + +Jardine's eyes twinkled. "Weel, if I was wanting somebody to see me out, +maybe I'd trust the big fellow." + +Jimmy thought his remark strange. Stannard was a cultivated gentleman +and Deering was frankly a gambler. Yet Jimmy had grounds to imagine the +old rancher was not a fool. He was puzzled and rather annoyed, but +Jardine said he must not stay and Jimmy let him go. + + + + +V + +JIMMY HOLDS FAST + + +The sun had sunk behind the range, and the sky was green. In places the +high white peaks were touched by fading pink; the snow that rolled down +to the timber-line was blue. Mist floated about the pines by the river, +but did not reach the hotel terrace, and the evening was warm. Looking +down at the dark valley, one got a sense of space and height. + +At the end of the terrace, a small table carried a coffee service, and +Laura occupied a basket chair. She smoked a cigarette and her look was +thoughtful. Jimmy, sitting opposite, liked her fashionable dinner dress. +He had met Laura in Switzerland, but he felt as if he had not known her +until she went with Stannard to the Canadian hotel. In fact, he imagined +she had very recently begun to allow him to know her. Stannard had gone +off a few minutes since, and Deering was playing pool with a young +American. + +"Since you came back from the ranch I've thought you preoccupied," Laura +remarked. + +"I expect you thought me dull," said Jimmy with an apologetic smile. +"Well, for some days I've been pondering things, and I'm not much used +to the exercise. In a way, you're accountable. You inquired not long +since if I knew where I went?" + +"Then you got some illumination at the ranch?" + +"You're keen. I got disturbed." + +"Does to stop at a ranch disturb one?" Laura asked in a careless voice. + +"I expect it depends on your temperament," Jimmy replied and knitted his +brows. "Kelshope is a model ranch; you feel all goes as it ought to go. +When you leave things alone, they don't go like that. At Jardine's you +get a sense of plan and effort. The old fellow and his daughter are +keenly occupied, and their occupation, so to speak, is fruitful. The +trouble is, mine is not." + +Laura saw that when he, some time since, apologized for his loafing, her +remarks had carried weight. Jimmy had begun to ponder where he went, and +she wondered whether he would see he ought to return to the cotton mill. +Still she did not mean to talk about this. + +"You stopped Miss Jardine's horse?" she said. + +"I did not stop the horse. I tried, but that's another thing. If I had +not meddled, I expect Miss Jardine would have conquered the nervous +brute and I would not have got a nasty kick." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "Sometimes to meddle is rash, but your object +was good." + +Then Stannard came to the veranda steps and looked about the terrace. + +"Hello, Jimmy! Deering has beaten Frank and we must arrange about our +excursion to-morrow." + +Jimmy frowned and hesitated. When he had talked to Laura before, +Stannard had called him away, but he thought she did not mean him to +stay and he went off. When he had gone Laura mused. + +She knew Stannard was jealous for her. He did not allow her to join him +when his young friends were about, and she did not want to do so. For +the most part she lived with her mother's relations, who did not approve +of Stannard and were not satisfied about her going to Canada. + +To some extent Laura imagined their doubts were justified. She knew +Stannard had squandered much of her mother's fortune, and now that her +trustees guarded the small sum she had inherited, he was poor. Yet he +belonged to good clubs and went to race meeting and shooting parties. It +looked as if sport and gambling paid, and Laura saw what this implied. +Yet her father was kind and when she was with him he indulged her. + +She had remarked his calling Jimmy away. As a rule, his touch was very +light, and she wondered whether he had meant to incite the young fellow +by a hint of disapproval; but perhaps it was not his object and she +speculated about Jimmy. He was now not the raw lad she had known in +Switzerland, although he was losing something that at the beginning had +attracted her. She thought he ought not to stay with Stannard and +particularly with Deering, and she had tried to indicate the proper line +for him to take. Well, suppose he resolved to go back to Lancashire? +Laura knew her charm and imagined, if she were willing, she might go +with Jimmy. Although he could not yet use his fortune, he was rich, and +after a time would control the famous manufacturing house. Besides, he +was marked by some qualities she liked. Laura got up with an impatient +shrug, and blushed. She would not think about it yet. She was poor, but +she was not an adventuress. + +In the morning, Stannard, Deering and Jimmy started for the rocks. Their +object was to follow the range and look for a line to the top of a peak +they meant to climb another day. They lunched on the mountain, and in +the afternoon stopped at the side of a gully that ran down to the +glacier. The back of the gully was smooth, and the pitch was steep, but +hardly steep enough to bother an athletic man. In places, banks of small +gravel rested, although it looked as if a disturbing foot would send +down the stones. + +Some distance above the spot, the top of another pitch cut a background +of broken rocks, streaked by veins of snow. The sun was on the rocks and +some shone like polished steel, but the gully was in shadow and Jimmy +had felt the gloom daunting. Deering pulled out his cigar-case. His face +was red, his shirt was open and his sunburned neck was like a bull's. + +"My load's two hundred pounds, and we have shoved along pretty fast +since lunch," he said. "Anyhow, I'm going to stop and take a smoke." + +"To lean against a slippery rock won't rest you much," Stannard +remarked. "We'll get on to the shelf at the top of the slab." + +"Then, somebody's got to boost me up," Deering declared, and when +Stannard went to help, put his boot on the other's head and crushed his +soft hat down to his ears. + +Next moment he was on the shelf and shouted with laughter. Sometimes +Deering's humor was boyishly rude, but his friends were not cheated, and +Jimmy thought the big man keen and resolute. Stannard went up lightly, +as if it did not bother him. He was cool and, by contrast with Deering, +looked fastidiously refined. Jimmy imagined he had an object for leaving +the gully. Stannard knew the mountains; in fact, he knew all a sporting +gentleman ought to know and Jimmy was satisfied with his guide. + +"Since you reckon we ought to get from under, why'd you fix on this line +down?" Deering inquired. + +"The line's good, but we were longer than I thought, and the sun has +been for some time on the snow." + +"Sure," said Deering. "The blamed trough looks like a rubbish shoot." + +Jimmy had trusted Stannard's judgment, but now he saw a light; for one +thing, the back of the gully was smooth. The mountain fronted rather +north of west, and so long as the frost at the summit held, the party +did not run much risk, but when the thaw began snow and broken rocks +might roll down. When Deering had nearly smoked his cigar he looked up. + +"Something's coming!" + +Jimmy heard a rumble and a crash. A big stone leaped down the gully, +struck a rock and vanished. A bank of gravel began to slip away, and +then a gray and white mass swept across the top of the pitch. Snow and +stones poured down tumultuously, and when the avalanche was gone +confused echoes rolled about the rocks. + +"That fixes it," said Deering. "I'm going the other way. Had we shoved +along a little faster, we might have made it, but I was soft, and +couldn't hit up the pace." He laughed his boisterous laugh and resumed: +"The trouble is, I played cards with Jimmy when I ought to have gone to +bed. Well, since we didn't bring a rope, what are you going to do about +it?" + +"If we can reach the top, I think we can get down along the edge," +Stannard replied. + +After something of a struggle, they got up, and for a time to follow the +top of the gully was not hard. Then they stopped on an awkward pitch +where a big bulging stone, jambed in a crack, cut their view. + +"I'll try the stone, but perhaps you had better traverse out across the +face and look for another line," Deering said to Stannard. + +Jimmy went with Deering, and when they reached the stone saw a broken +shelf three or four yards below. On one side, the rocks dropped straight +to the gully; in front, the slope beyond the shelf was steep. For a few +moments Deering studied the ground. + +"A rope would be useful, but if we can reach the shelf, we ought to get +down," he said. "I'll try to make it. Lie across the stone and give me +your hands." + +Jimmy nodded. At an awkward spot the second man helps the leader, who +afterwards steadies him. The rock was rough and a small knob and the +deep crack promised some support. Still, caution was indicated, because +the shelf, on which one must drop, was inclined and narrow. Jimmy lay +across the stone and Deering, slipping over the edge, seized his hands. +He was a big fellow and Jimmy thought the stone moved, but he heard +Deering's boots scrape the rock and the strain on his arms was less. + +Then he heard another noise, and snow and rocks and a broken pine rolled +down the gully. The avalanche vanished, the uproar sank, and Deering +gasped, "Hold fast!" + +The load on Jimmy's arms got insupportable. He imagined the noise had +startled Deering and his foot had slipped from the knob. It looked as if +he must hold the fellow until he found the crack. Jimmy meant to try, +although the stone rocked, and he knew he could not long bear the +horrible strain. If Deering fell, he would not stop at the shelf; he +might not stop for three or four hundred feet. Jimmy set his mouth and +tried to brace his knees against the rock. The stone was moving, and if +it moved much, Deering would pull him over. Yet in a moment or two +Deering might get his boot in the crack, and to let him fall was +unthinkable. + +Jimmy held on until Deering shouted and let go. He had obviously found +some support, and Jimmy tried to get back, but could not. His chest was +across the edge, and the stone rocked. He was slipping off, and saw, +half-consciously, that since he must fall, he must not fall down the +rock front. Pushing himself from the edge, he plunged into the gully, +struck the rock some way down, and knew no more. Deering, on the shelf, +saw him reach the bottom, roll for a distance and stop. He lay face +downwards, with his arms spread out. + +A few moments afterwards Stannard reached the spot and looked down. +Deering's big chest heaved, his mouth was slack, and his face was white. +When he indicated Jimmy his hand shook. + +"I pulled him over," he said in a hoarse voice. + +Stannard gave him a keen, rather scornful glance. "Traverse across the +front for about twenty yards and you'll see a good line down. When you +get down, start for the hotel and bring the two guides, our rope, a +blanket and two poles. Send somebody to telegraph for a doctor." + +"Not at all! I'm going to Jimmy. I pulled the kid over." + +Stannard frowned. "You are going to the hotel. For one thing, I doubt if +you could reach Jimmy; you're badly jarred and your nerve's gone. Then, +unless you get help, we can't carry Jimmy out." + +"You mustn't leave him in the gully," Deering rejoined. "Suppose a fresh +lot of stones comes along?" + +"Go for help," said Stannard, pulling out his watch. "Come back up the +gully. If you have a flask, give it to me. I'm going down." + +"But if there's another snow-slide, you and Jimmy will get smashed. +Besides, the job is mine." + +"The snow and stones come down the middle and they'll stop by and by. +Don't talk. Start!" + +Deering hesitated. He was big and muscular, but he admitted that on the +rocks Stannard was the better man. Moreover, to know he was accountable +for Jimmy's plunge had shaken him, and he saw Stannard was very cool. + +"Take the flask," he said and went off at a reckless speed. + + + + +VI + +DEERING OWNS A DEBT + + +Jimmy saw a pale star, and veins of snow streaking high shadowy rocks. +He thought when he looked up not long before, the sun was on the +mountain, but perhaps it was not. His brain was dull and he was numbed +by cold. He shivered and shut his eyes, but after a few minutes he smelt +cigar-smoke and looked about again. Although it was getting dark, he saw +somebody sitting in the gloom at the bottom of the rocks. + +"Where's Deering?" he asked. "Did I let him go?" + +"You did not. Take a drink," the other replied and pushed a flask into +Jimmy's hand. + +Jimmy drank, gasped, and tried to get up, but found he could not move. + +"Where is Deering?" he insisted. + +"I expect he's crossing the glacier with the guides from the hotel," +said the man, who took the flask from him, and Jimmy knew Stannard's +voice. + +"Then where am I?" + +"You are in the gully. You held on to Deering until he got support for +his foot. Then you slipped off the big stone. Something like that, +anyhow. Do you feel pain at any particular spot?" + +"I don't know if one spot hurts worse than another. All hurt; I doubt if +I can get up." + +"You mustn't try," said Stannard firmly. "When Deering arrives we'll +help you up." + +Jimmy pondered. Since the evening was very cold, he thought it strange +Stannard had pulled off his coat. Then he saw somebody had put over him +a coat that was not his. + +"Why have you given me your clothes?" he asked. + +"For one thing, I didn't fall about forty feet." + +"If I had fallen forty feet, I'd have got smashed. It's obvious!" + +"Perhaps you hit the side of the gully and rolled down, but it's not +important. When one gets a jolt like yours the shock's as bad as the +local injury. Are you cold?" + +"I'm horribly cold, but although I heard stones not long since I don't +think I got hit." + +"The stones run down the middle and I pulled you against the rock." + +"You're a good sort," Jimmy remarked. "Deering's a good sort. To know +he's not hurt is some relief." + +Stannard said nothing and Jimmy asked for a cigarette. Stannard gave him +a cigarette and a light, but after a few moments he let it drop. + +"The tobacco's not good," he said, dully, and began to muse. + +He was strangely slack and his body was numb. Perhaps to feel no local +pain was ominous; he knew a man who fell on the rocks and had not +afterwards used his legs. To be wheeled about for all one's life was +horrible. When a doctor arrived he would know his luck, and in the +meantime he dared not dwell on things like that. He studied the rocks. +Stannard had obviously come down by the slanting crack; Jimmy thought he +himself could not have done so. Then Stannard, risking his getting hit +by rebounding stones, had remained with him for some hours. When Jimmy +helped Deering the sun shone, and now the stars were out. The gully was +high on the mountain and after the sun went the cold was keen, but +Stannard had given him his coat. Stannard was like that. + +"I expect you sent Deering to the hotel?" Jimmy resumed after a time. + +"Yes; I was firm. Deering wanted to go down to you; but I doubted if he +could get down and the important thing was to fetch help. You must be +moved as soon as possible." + +Jimmy nodded; Deering was the man he had thought. All the same, +Stannard's was the finer type. Jimmy had long known his pluck, but he +had other qualities. When one must front a crisis he was cool; he saw +and carried out the proper plan. But Jimmy's brain was very dull, and +Stannard's figure melted and the rocks got indistinct. + +After a time, he heard a noise. A shout echoed in the gully, nailed +boots rattled on stones and it looked as if men were coming up. Deering, +breathless and gasping, arrived before the others and motioned to +Stannard. + +"Not much grounds to be disturbed, I think," said Stannard in a quiet +voice. "He was talking sensibly not long since." + +Deering came to Jimmy and touched his arm. "You're not broke up, +partner? You haven't got it against me that I pulled you off the rocks?" + +"Certainly not! I slipped off," Jimmy declared. "Anyhow, you're my +friend." + +"Sure thing," said Deering quietly. "Take a drink of hot soup. We'll +soon pack you out." He put a vacuum flask in Jimmy's hand and turned to +the others. "Let's get busy, boys." + +Jimmy did not know much about their journey down the gully and across +the glacier, but at length he was vaguely conscious of bright lights and +the tramp of feet along an echoing passage. People gently moved him +about; he felt he was in a soft, warm bed, and with languid satisfaction +he went to sleep. + +When the others saw Jimmy was asleep they went off quietly, but at the +end of the passage Deering stopped Stannard. + +"Let's get a drink," he said. "For four or five hours I've hustled some +and I need a pick-me-up." + +Stannard gave him a keen glance. Deering had hustled. To carry Jimmy +down the rocks and across the glacier, in the dark, was a strenuous +undertaking, and where strength was needed the big man had nobly used +his. Yet Stannard imagined the strain that had bothered him was not +physical. + +"Oh, well," he said, "I'll go to the bar with you. Waiting for you in +the gully was not a soothing job." + +"You knew I'd get back," Deering rejoined. "If I'd had to haul out the +cook and bell-boys I'd have brought help." + +"I didn't know how long you'd be and speed was important." + +"You're a blamed cool fellow," Deering remarked. "If you had not taken +control, I expect we'd have jolted Jimmy off the stretcher, and maybe +have gone through the snow-bridge the guide didn't spot. Then you stayed +with him, pulled him out of the way of the snow-slides, and kept him +warm. I expect you saved his life." + +"To some extent, perhaps that is so," Stannard agreed. "That somebody +must pull Jimmy against the rock was obvious. All the same, I knew the +stones wouldn't bother us after it got cold." + +Deering was puzzled. Stannard's habit was not to boast, but it looked as +if he were willing to admit he had saved Jimmy's life. Deering +speculated about his object. + +"Well," he said, "I own I was badly rattled. You see, if the kid had not +held fast, I'd have gone right down the rock face and don't know where +I'd have stopped. Perhaps it's strange, but I remembered I'd got five +hundred dollars of his and the thing bothered me. To know I'd played a +straight game didn't comfort me much." + +"You're a sentimentalist," Stannard rejoined with a smile. "I don't know +that a crooked game was indicated. But let's get our drinks." + +They went to the bar and when Deering picked up his glass he said, "Good +luck to the kid and a quick recovery!" He drained the glass and looked +at Stannard hard. "When Jimmy needs a help out, I'm his man." + +Stannard said nothing, but lighted a cigarette. + +In the morning a young doctor arrived from Calgary and was some time in +Jimmy's room. + +"I reckon your luck was pretty good," he remarked. "After three or four +days you can get up and go about--" He paused and added meaningly: "But +you want to go slow." + +Jimmy's face was white, but the blood came to his skin. + +"I'd begun to think something like that," he said in a languid voice. + +The doctor nodded. "Since you could stand for the knock you got, your +body's pretty sound, but I get a hint of strain and the cure's moral. +You want to cut out hard drinks, strong cigars, and playing cards all +night." + +"Do the symptoms indicate that I do play cards all night?" + +"I own I was helped by inquiries about your habits," said the doctor, +smiling. "If you like a game, try pool, with boys like yourself, and bet +fifty cents. I don't know about your bank-roll, but your heart and +nerve won't stand for hundred-dollar pots when your antagonists are +men." + +"One antagonist risked his life to save mine," Jimmy declared, with an +angry flush, for he thought he saw where the other's remarks led. + +"I understand that is so," the doctor agreed. "My job's not to talk +about your friends, but to give you good advice. Cut out unhealthy +excitement and go steady. If you like it, go up on the rocks. +Mountaineering's dangerous, but sometimes one runs worse risks." + +He went off and by and by Deering came in. + +"The doctor allows you are making pretty good progress. The man who +means to put you out must use a gun," he said with a jolly laugh. +"Anyhow, we were bothered and when we got the bulletin we rushed the bar +for drinks." + +"My friends are stanch." + +"Oh, shucks!" said Deering. "You're the sort whose friends are stanch. +Say, your holding on until I pulled you over was great!" + +"You didn't pull me over. The stone rocked and I came off." + +"One mustn't dispute with a sick man," Deering remarked. "All the same I +want to state I owe you much, and I pay my debts. I'd like you to get +that." + +Jimmy smiled. "If it's some comfort, I'm willing to be your creditor. I +know you'd meet my bill." + +"Sure thing," said Deering, who did not smile. "When you send your bill +along, I'll try to make good. That's all; I guess we'll let it go." + +"Very well. I don't see how you were able to stick to the slab." + +"My foot slipped from the knob, but for a few moments you held me up, +and bracing my knee against the stone, I swung across for the crack. +Then I was on the shelf and you went over my head. That's all I knew, +until Stannard joined me and took control." + +"He sent you off?" + +Deering nodded. "I wasn't keen to go, but he saw help was wanted, and he +thought about wiring for a doctor. When I got back with the boys, our +plan was to rush you down to the hotel, but it wasn't Stannard's. I +allow we were rattled; he was cool. We must go slow and not jolt you; at +awkward spots somebody must look for the smoothest line. Crossing the +glacier, he went ahead with the lantern and located a soft snow-bridge +the guide was going to cross." + +"Stannard is like that," said Jimmy. "His coolness is very fine." + +Deering agreed, but Jimmy thought he hesitated before he resumed: "In +some ways, the fellow's the standard type of highbrow Englishman. He's +urbane and won't dispute; he smiles and lets you down. He wears the +proper clothes and uses the proper talk. If you're his friend, he's +charming; but that's not all the man. Stannard doesn't plunge; he +calculates. He knows just where he wants to go and gets there. I guess +if I was an obstacle, I'd pull out of his way. The man's fine, like +tempered steel, and about as hard-- Well, the doctor stated you wanted +quiet and I'll quit talking." + +He went away and Jimmy mused. Deering talked much, but Jimmy imagined he +sometimes had an object. Although he frankly approved Stannard, Jimmy +felt he struck a warning note. Since Jimmy owed much to Stannard's +coolness, he was rather annoyed; but the talk had tired him and he went +to sleep. + + + + +VII + +AN INSURABLE INTEREST + + +The sun was hot and Jimmy loafed in an easy chair at the shady end of +the terrace. Laura occupied a chair opposite; the small table between +them carried some new books, and flowers and fruit from the Pacific +coast. In the background, a shining white peak cut the serene sky. + +Three or four young men and women were on the veranda steps not far off. +A few minutes since they had bantered Jimmy, but when Laura arrived they +went. Jimmy rather thought she had meant them to go and he gave her a +smile. + +"I expect you have inherited some of Mr. Stannard's talents," he +remarked. + +"For example?" + +Jimmy indicated the rather noisy group. "It looks as if you knew my head +ached and I couldn't stand for Stevens' jokes. When you joined me he and +his friends went off. Your father arranges things like that, without +much obvious effort." + +"I knew the doctor stated you must not be bothered," Laura admitted. +"Besides, I engaged to go fishing with Stevens and some others, and +before I get back expect I'll have enough." + +"Is Dillon going?" + +"Frank planned the excursion," said Laura and Jimmy was satisfied. + +Dillon was a young American whom Jimmy rather liked, but to think Laura +liked Frank annoyed him. Now, however, she had admitted that his society +had not much charm. + +"Anyhow, you're very kind," he remarked, and indicated the fruit and +flowers. "These things don't grow in the mountains." + +"The station is not far off and to send a telegram is not much bother." + +"To send up things from Vancouver is expensive." + +"Sometimes you talk like a cotton manufacturer," Laura rejoined. + +Jimmy colored but gave her a steady glance. "It's possible. My people +are manufacturers; my grandfather was a workman. Not long since, I meant +to cultivate out all that marked me as belonging to the cotton mill. Now +I don't know-- Perhaps I inherited something useful from my grandfather; +but in the meantime it's not important. You _are_ kind." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "You were moody and the doctor declared you had +got a very nasty jolt." + +"I was thoughtful. To some extent you're accountable. When one is forced +to loaf one has time to ponder, and when you inquired if I knew where I +went--" + +He stopped, for a guide, carrying fishing rods and landing nets, went +down the steps and Stannard came out of the hotel. + +"Your party's waiting for you," Stannard remarked to Laura, who got up +and gave Jimmy a smile. + +"Get well and then ponder," she said and joined the others. + +Jimmy frowned. The others, of course, ought not to wait for Laura, but +Stannard had sent her off like that before. All the same, he was her +father and Jimmy owned he must not dispute his rule. When the party had +gone, Stannard sat down opposite Jimmy and lighted a cigarette. + +"I'm glad to note you make good progress." + +"In a day or two I'll go about as usual. In fact, if the others go +fishing to-morrow, I'll try to join them. I think I could reach the +lake." + +"Some caution's necessary," Stannard remarked. "You got a very nasty +shake and ran worse risks than you knew. When you stopped in the bank of +gravel your luck was remarkably good; I did not expect you to stop until +you reached the glacier. Then, had I not had a thick coat that helped to +keep you warm, you might not have survived the shock. Afterwards much +depended on Deering's speed and his getting men who knew the rocks. +Indeed, when we started I hardly thought we could carry you down in +useful time." + +Jimmy was puzzled, because he did not think Stannard meant to imply that +his help was important. The risk Jimmy had run, however, was obvious, +and Stannard's talking about it led him to dwell on something he had +recently weighed. + +"Since I was forced to stay in bed I've tried to reckon up and find out +where I am," he said. "You are my banker. How does the account stand?" + +"I imagine Laura's advice was good; wait until you get better," Stannard +said carelessly. + +"When I start to go about, I'll be occupied by something else. How much +do I owe?" + +For a few minutes Stannard studied his note-book, and when he replied +Jimmy set his mouth. He knew he had been extravagant, but his +extravagance was worse than he had thought. + +"Until I get my inheritance, it's impossible for me to pay you," he said +with some embarrassment. "I, so to speak, have pawned my allowance for a +long time in advance." + +"Something like that is obvious." + +"Very well! What am I going to do about it?" + +"My plan was to wait until you did get your inheritance; but I see some +disadvantages," said Stannard in a thoughtful voice. + +"The trouble is, I might not inherit," Jimmy agreed. "One must front +things, and climbing's a risky hobby. We mean to shoot a mountain sheep +and I understand the big-horn keep the high rocks. Then we have +undertaken to get up a very awkward peak. Well, suppose I did not come +back?" + +"You don't expect a fresh accident! Haven't you had enough? However, if +your gloomy forebodings were justified, I expect your relations would +meet my claim." + +"After all, mountaineering accidents are numerous, and you don't know +Dick Leyland. You have got a bundle of acknowledgments, but the notes +are not stamped and Dick hates gambling. It's possible he'd dispute my +debts and he's a remarkably keen business man." + +"If that is so, it might be awkward," Stannard agreed. "But what about +the other trustee?" + +"Sir James is in India; I expect he'd support Dick. During their +lifetime my share is a third of the house's profit, but, unless they're +satisfied, I cannot for some time use much control. In fact, they have +power to fix my allowance." + +Stannard's look was thoughtful, as if he had not known; but since Laura +knew, Jimmy wondered why she had not enlightened her father. + +"Very well," said Stannard. "My plan might not work. Have you another?" + +The other plan was obvious. Jimmy was surprised because Stannard did not +see it. + +"You trusted me and I mustn't let you down," he said with a friendly +smile. "If we insure my life, you'll guard against all risk." + +"My interest is insurable--" Stannard remarked and stopped. Then he +resumed in a careless voice: "Your caution's ridiculous, but if you are +resolved, I suppose I must agree. In order to satisfy you, we'll look up +an insurance office at Vancouver." + +Somehow Jimmy was jarred. Stannard's remark about his insurable interest +indicated that he had weighed the plan before, and Jimmy thought his +pause significant. Then, although he had agreed as if he wanted to +indulge Jimmy, his agreement was prompt. For all that, the plan was +Jimmy's and Stannard's approval was justified. + +Then Deering came along the terrace and said to Stannard, "Hello! I +thought you had gone to write some letters, and Jimmy's look is +strangely sober. Have you been weighing something important?" + +The glance Stannard gave Jimmy was careless, but Jimmy thought he meant +Deering was not to know. + +"Sometimes Jimmy's rash, but sometimes he's keener than one thinks. +Anyhow, he's obstinate and we were disputing about a suggestion of his I +did not at first approve. I wrote the letters I meant to write. Sit down +and take a smoke." + +Deering sat down and they talked about the peaks they had planned to +climb. + +A week or two afterwards, Stannard and Jimmy went to Vancouver, and when +he had seen the insurance company's doctor Jimmy walked about the +streets. He liked Vancouver. When one fronted an opening in the rows of +ambitious office blocks, one saw the broad Inlet and anchored ships. +Across the shining water, mountains rolled back to the snow in the +North; on the other side, streets of new wooden houses pushed out to +meet the dark pine forest. The city's surroundings were beautiful, but +Jimmy felt that beauty was not its peculiar charm. + +At Montreal, for example, one got a hint of cultivation, and to some +extent of leisure, built on long-established prosperity. Notre Dame was +rather like Notre Dame at Paris and St. James's was a glorious +cathedral. Quiet green squares checkered the city, and the streets at +the bottom of the mountain were bordered by fine shade trees. Vancouver +was frankly raw and new; one felt it had not yet reached its proper +growth. All was bustle and keen activity; the clang of locomotive bells +and the rattle of steamboat winches echoed about the streets. Huge +sawmills and stacks of lumber occupied the water-front. Giant trunks +carried electric wires across the high roofs, and, until Jimmy saw the +firs in Stanley Park, he had not thought logs like that grew. + +Then he thought the citizens typically Western. Their look was keen and +optimistic; they pushed and jostled along the sidewalks. Jimmy saw an +opera house and numerous pool-rooms, but in the daytime nobody seemed to +loaf. All struck a throbbing note of strenuous business. Jimmy studied +the wharfs and mills and railroad yard, but for the most part he stopped +opposite the land-agents' windows. + +The large maps of freshly-opened country called. Up there in the wilds, +hard men drove back the forest and broke virgin soil. Their job was a +man's job and Jimmy pictured the struggle. He had loafed and indulged +his youthful love for pleasure, but the satisfaction he had got was +gone. After all, he had inherited some constructive talent, and he +vaguely realized that his business was to build and not to squander. +Then Laura and the doctor had worked on him. Laura had bidden him study +where he went; the other hinted that he went too fast. + +At one office he saw a map of the country behind the hotel and he picked +out the valley in which was Kelshope ranch. There was not another +homestead for some distance and a notice stated that the land was cheap. +Jimmy pondered for a few minutes and then went in. + +The agent stated his willingness to supply land of whatever sort Jimmy +needed, but he thought, for an ambitious young man, the proper +investment was a city building lot. In fact, he had a number of useful +lots on a first-class frontage. Jimmy studied the map and remarked that +the town had not got there yet. The agent declared the town would get +there soon, and to wait until the streets were graded and prices went up +was a fool's plan. Jimmy stated he would not speculate; if the price +were suitable, he might buy land in the Kelshope valley on the other +map. + +The agent said the valley was not altogether in his hands. Kelshope was +in Alberta, but for a split commission he could negotiate a sale with +the Calgary broker. If one bought a block and paid a small deposit, he +imagined a good sum might stand on mortgage. Jimmy replied that he would +think about it and went off. It was not for nothing he had studied +business methods at the Leyland mill. + +In the evening he and Stannard occupied a bench in the hotel rotunda. +Cigar-smoke floated about the pillars; the revolving glass doors went +steadily round, and noisy groups pushed in and out, but Stannard had got +a quiet corner and by and by Jimmy asked: "Have you agreed with the +insurance office?" + +"They have not sent the agreement. I expect to get it." + +"Then, I'd like you to go back in the morning and insure for a larger +sum. I'll give you a note for five hundred pounds." + +"I haven't five hundred pounds," said Stannard with surprise. "Why do +you want the sum?" + +"I'm going to buy a ranch near Jardine's," Jimmy replied. "The agent +wants a deposit and I must buy tools. Can you help?" + +Stannard looked at him hard and hesitated, but he saw Jimmy was +resolved. + +"I might get the money in three or four weeks. It will cost you +something." + +"That's understood," Jimmy agreed. "I don't, of course, expect the sum +for which you'll hold my note. Will you get to work?" + +"I rather think your plan ridiculous." + +"You thought another plan of mine ridiculous, but you helped me carry it +out," Jimmy said quietly. + +Stannard looked up with a frown, for Deering crossed the floor. + +"I've trailed you!" he shouted. "There's not much use in your stealing +off." + +"I didn't know you had business to transact in Vancouver," Stannard +rejoined. + +"Dillon had some business and brought me along," said Deering with a +noisy laugh. "Looks as if my job was to guide adventurous youth." + +Jimmy smiled, for he imagined the young men Deering guided paid +expensive fees. He did not know if Deering's occupation was altogether +gambling, but he did gamble and his habit was to win. Yet Jimmy liked +the fellow. + +"Jimmy's mood is rashly adventurous; he wants to buy a ranch," Stannard +resumed. "I understand he has interviewed a plausible land-agent." + +"All land-agents are plausible," said Deering. "Tell us about the +speculation, Jimmy." + +Jimmy did so. Stannard's ironical amusement had hurt, and he tried to +justify his experiment. + +"Looks like a joke; but I don't know," said Deering. "If you can stand +for holding down a bush block until the neighborhood develops, you ought +to sell for a good price. All the same, the job is dreary. Have you got +the money?" + +"I was trying to persuade Stannard to finance me. He doesn't approve, +but thinks he could get the sum." + +"That plan's expensive," Deering observed. "What deposit does the agent +want?" + +Jimmy told him and he pondered. Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed by Deering's meddling. Moreover, Jimmy thought Deering knew. +After a few moments Deering looked up. + +"If you mean to buy the block, I'll lend you the deposit and you can pay +me current interest. I expect the agent will take a long-date mortgage +for the rest, but you ought to ask your trustees in England for the +money." + +"Have you got the sum?" Stannard inquired. + +"Sure," said Deering, with a jolly laugh. "Dillon and I met up with two +or three sporting lumber men who have just put over a big deal. My luck +was pretty good, and I'd have stuffed my wallet had not a sort of +Puritan vigilante blown in. He got after the hotel boss, who stated his +was not a red light house." + +Jimmy studied the others, and although Stannard smiled, was somehow +conscious of a puzzling antagonism. On the whole, he liked Deering's +plan; he did not think Dick Leyland would agree, but Sir Jim might do +so. + +"Thank you, but Stannard's my banker," he replied. "All the same, in the +morning I'll write to my trustees." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "If you want the money, I'm your man. But +let's get a drink." + + + + +VIII + +JIMMY GETS TO WORK + + +On the evening Jimmy returned from Vancouver he went to the dining-room +as soon as the bell rang and waited by Stannard's table. The table +occupied a corner by a window, and commanded the room and a noble view +of rocks and distant snow. Other guests had wanted the corner, but +Stannard had got it for his party. Although he was not rich, Stannard's +habit was to get things like that. + +The room was spacious and paneled with cedar and maple. Slender wooden +pillars supported the decorated beams, the tables were furnished with +good china and nickel. The windows were open and the keen smell of the +pines floated in. + +After a few moments Jimmy heard Deering's laugh and Stannard's party +crossed the floor. Frank Dillon talked to Laura, whom Jimmy had not seen +since he returned; Frank was rather a handsome, athletic young fellow. +Laura wore a fashionable black dinner dress and her skin, by contrast, +was very white. Her movements were languidly graceful, and Jimmy got a +sense of high cultivation. He was young and to know he belonged to +Laura's party flattered him. Yet he was half embarrassed, because he +waited for other guests and did not know if Laura would like his +friends. When she gave Jimmy her hand Stannard indicated two extra +chairs. + +"Hallo!" he said. "I must see the head waiter. This table's ours." + +"Two friends of mine are coming," Jimmy replied and turned to Laura +apologetically. "Perhaps I ought to have told you, but I wrote to +Jardine from Vancouver and when I returned and got his letter you were +not about." + +"Was it not Miss Jardine you helped when her horse ran away?" + +"I doubt if I did help much, but after the horse knocked me down I went +to the homestead and Jardine was kind. Now I want to talk to him; he's a +good rancher." + +"Then, ranching really interests you?" + +"Jimmy has bought a ranch and I'm going to stay with him," said Deering +with a noisy laugh. "Perhaps to hunt and live the simple life will help +me keep down my weight." + +Laura gave Jimmy a keen glance and he thought she frowned. "You a +rancher? It's ridiculous! But Deering likes to joke." + +"It is not at all a joke," Deering rejoined. "Jimmy has bought a ranch, +and Stannard and I disputed who should lend him the money. As a rule, +one's friends don't dispute about that sort of privilege; but one trusts +Jimmy. Perhaps his trusting you accounts for it." + +"I suppose Miss Jardine comes with her father?" Laura remarked. + +Jimmy agreed and looked at Stannard, who had picked up the bill of fare. + +"We must wait for your friends," he said carelessly, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed. + +Then Jimmy turned and saw Margaret and Jardine. The rancher's clothes +were obviously bought at a small settlement store, but his figure was +good and his glance was keen and cool; somehow Jimmy imagined him +ironically amused. Margaret's blue dress was not fashionable, but she +carried herself like an Indian and was marked by something of the +Indian's calm. In the sunset, her hair was red, her eyes were blue, and +her skin was brown. When Jimmy advanced to meet her she gave him a frank +smile. He presented her to Laura and noted Dillon's admiring glance. + +Stannard called a waiter and when dinner was served began to talk. Laura +supported him, but Jimmy rather thought her support too obvious. This +was strange, because Laura was clever and knew where to stop. Now it +looked as if she did not. The Jardines were his friends, but nothing +indicated that for them to dine at a fashionable hotel was embarrassing. +He imagined Margaret studied Laura, and sometimes Laura's glance rested +on the other for a moment and was gone. When Deering had satisfied his +appetite, however, he firmly took the lead and Jimmy let him do so. +Sometimes Deering's humor was rude, but it was kind. + +When they went to the terrace others joined them and soon a party +surrounded Stannard's table. After a time the people moved their chairs +about and Jimmy saw Jardine was with Deering and Dillon had joined +Margaret. He fancied Laura had remarked this, but she lighted a +cigarette and gave him a friendly smile. + +"Your friends don't want you just now. When you started for Vancouver, I +think you ought to have told me about your ranching experiment." + +"I didn't know," said Jimmy in an apologetic voice. "I saw a map in a +land-agent's window and something called. I hesitated for a few minutes +and then went in." + +"Then, you didn't go to Vancouver in order to buy a ranch?" + +"Not at all--" said Jimmy and stopped, because he did not want to state +why he did go. "Of course, it looks like a rash plunge," he resumed. +"Still I doubt if it really is rash and I imagined you would approve." + +Laura smiled. "I don't know much about ranching." + +"Not long ago you declared I ought to have an occupation." + +"Then, you felt you must get to work because I thought you ought?" said +Laura and gave Jimmy a gentle glance. + +Jimmy's heart beat, but he knitted his brows. He was sincere and Laura +was not altogether accountable for his resolve. + +"Well," he said in a thoughtful voice, "I was getting slack and loafing +along the easy way, until you pulled me up. I owe you much for that. You +forced me to ponder and I began to see loafing was dangerous. One must +have an object and I looked about--" + +He stopped, with some embarrassment, and Laura saw he was moved. Jimmy +did owe her something, for she had meddled at a moment when he was +vaguely dissatisfied and looking for a lead. At the beginning, she was +not selfish; she wanted him to stop and ponder, but he had started off +again and was not going where she wanted him to go. + +"You imply you have found an object?" she remarked. "After all, one's +object ought to be worth while, and to chop trees on a ranch will not +carry you far. Perhaps your proper occupation is at the cotton mill." + +"I think not; anyhow, not yet. Until I'm twenty-five, Dick Leyland has +control. Dick is a good mill manager, but his school is the old school. +He holds down our work-people and they grumble; the machinery's crowded +and some is not safe; the operatives have not the space and light that +makes work easier. Then the office is dark and cold. One can't persuade +Dick that harshness and parsimony no longer pay. Well, when I go back I +must have power to put things straight. The house is famous, my father +built its fortune, and after all I'm its head." + +Laura mused. She was poor, and hating poverty, had begun to weigh +Jimmy's advantages. To marry the head of the famous house was a sound +ambition, and she thought if she used her charm, Jimmy would marry her. +He was young and in some respects argued like a boy; Laura was young, +but she argued like a calculating woman. Yet she hesitated. + +"But you have some power," she said and smiled. "Besides, you're +obstinate." + +"It's possible. All the same, I haven't tried my power and don't trust +myself. Dick and I would jar, and when I couldn't move him I expect I'd +get savage and turn down the job. When I have done some useful work, for +example, cleared a ranch, got confidence and know my strength, I'll go +back and try to take my proper part." + +"Does one get the qualities you feel you want at a bush ranch?" + +"Jardine has got a number. At Kelshope all is properly planned and +stubbornly carried out. His labor's rewarded, and the important thing +is, he is satisfied. I'm not, and I admit I haven't much ground to be +satisfied." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "In a few days we start on our excursion to +Puget Sound. I think you agreed to join us." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. He wanted to join the party, but saw some +obstacles. + +"We talked about it. If I agreed, of course, I'll go." + +"Because you agreed?" + +"Not altogether. I'd like to go." + +"Then why do you hesitate? We want you to join us." + +"For one thing, I really don't think I did agree. Anyhow, you'll have +Dillon. His home's on Puget Sound and I expect he's going." + +"Frank is rather a good sort, but sometimes he bores one," Laura +remarked carelessly. "Besides, after a time he's going to some friends +in Colorado." + +Jimmy's heart beat. Although he was not yet Laura's lover, her charm was +strong. Still he ought to get to work, and if he went to Puget Sound +with Laura, he might not afterwards bother about the ranch. Well, +perhaps the ranch was not important; if he wanted, he could, no doubt, +sell the land. + +The clash of a locomotive bell, softened by the distance, echoed across +the bush. A freight train had started from the water tank for the long +climb to the pass and Jimmy felt the faint notes carried a message. +Canada was a land of bells. At Montreal the locomotive bells rang all +night; their tolling rolled across wide belts of wheat, and broke the +silence that broods over the rocks. When all was quiet in the bush, the +cow-bells rang sweet chimes. Perhaps Jimmy was romantic, but he felt the +bells stood for useful effort, and now they called. The strange thing +was, he thought he heard pine branches crack and Margaret's voice. "Oh, +Buck! Oh, Bright!" + +"I'm sorry, but I can't go," he said. "I have bought the ranch and must +get to work." + +Laura gave him a keen glance and got a jar. He frowned and his mouth +was tight. She had thought she could move Jimmy, but now she doubted, +and because she was proud she dared not try. + +"Oh, well," she said, "we have talked for some time, and Deering has +left Jardine." + +She sent Jimmy off and looked about. Dillon talked to Margaret, and +although Laura imagined a smile would detach him from the group, she did +not smile. After all, if Frank joined her, Jimmy might occupy the chair +he left. Laura crossed the terrace and joined a young Canadian. + +Jimmy sat down by the rancher and inquired: "Do you know the land I +bought?" + +"The soil is pretty good, but the timber's thick and until ye work oot +the turpentine, ye'll no' get much crop. Ye'll need to chop and burn off +the trees, grub the stumps, and then plow for oats and timothy. For some +years, the oats will no' grow milling heads; ye cut them for hay." + +"Looks like a long job. Suppose I wanted to sell the block after a +time?" + +"It depends," said Jardine dryly. "Ye might get your money back." + +"You imply it depends on the labor one uses?" Jimmy remarked. "Well, I +know nothing about chopping and I haven't pulled a crosscut saw. Do you +think I can make good?" + +Jardine looked about the terrace and his eyes twinkled. He noted the +men's dinner jackets and the women's fashionable clothes. People talked +and laughed and smoked. + +"I'm thinking your friends would not make good. Ye canna play at +ranching." + +"My object's not to play," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "Anyhow, before +you start to work you must get proper tools. Suppose you tell me what I +need?" + +Jardine did so and added: "Proper tools and stock are a sound +investment, but ye canna get them cheap. Can ye put up the money?" + +"I must borrow some," Jimmy admitted, and thought Jardine studied +Stannard, who talked to two or three young men not far off. + +"Then, maybe ye had better borrow from Mr. Deering." + +Jardine had said something like this before, but Jimmy let it go and the +rancher indicated Margaret. Dillon leaned against a post opposite the +girl and a group of young men and women occupied the surrounding chairs. +A touch of color had come to Margaret's skin; her look was alert and +happy. Jimmy had known her undertake a man's job at the ranch, but on +the hotel veranda she was not at all exotic. + +"I must thank ye, Mr. Leyland. Sometimes it's lonesome at the ranch," +Jardine remarked. + +Jimmy said he hoped his guests would stay for some days, but Jardine +refused. + +"At Kelshope work's aye waiting and we'll start the morn. If ye come +back wi' us, we'll look ower the block ye bought, and I might advise ye +aboot layin' 't oot. In the meantime, we'll reckon up the tools and +stock ye'll need--" + +They began to talk about the ranch, and Stannard joined Laura, who sent +off her companion. + +"What do you think about Jimmy's experiment?" Stannard asked. + +Laura studied him. On the whole, his look was careless, but she doubted. + +"I don't know. Do you think him rash?" + +Stannard shrugged. "My notion is, the thing's a rather expensive +caprice, but after all, Jimmy's rich. He's easily moved and perhaps his +bush friends have persuaded him." + +"It's possible," Laura agreed. "All the same, Jimmy's keen. He really +means to ranch." + +"You have some grounds to know him keen?" + +Laura's grounds were good and she wondered whether Stannard knew. Her +father was clever and she saw his look was thoughtful. + +"For one thing, he declares he cannot go with us to Puget Sound," she +said. + +"You imply he would sooner start for the bush with the Jardines?" +Stannard suggested with a smile. + +"After all, it's not important, and I expect Jimmy will go where he +wants," said Laura, and went up the veranda steps. + +She thought she had baffled Stannard, but she was hurt. At the +beginning, she knew her advice to Jimmy was good. When he was going the +wrong way she had stopped him. Now, however, it looked as if her power +was gone. She could see herself Jimmy's guide in Lancashire, but to +guide him in the lonely bush was another thing. + + + + +IX + +THE QUIET WOODS + + +A warm Chinook wind, blowing from the Pacific, carried the smell of the +pines. The dark branches tossed and a languid murmur, like distant surf, +rolled up the valley. Jimmy had pulled off his coat and his gray +workman's shirt was open at the neck, for he liked to feel the breeze on +his hot skin. He was splitting cedar for roof shingles, but had stopped +in order to sharpen his ax. Since he had not yet cut his leg, he thought +his luck was good. + +A few maples, beginning to turn crimson, broke the rows of somber pines. +In the foreground were chopped trunks, blackened by fire, ashes and +white chips. A tent and a half-built house of notched logs occupied the +middle of the small clearing. In the background, one saw high rocks, +streaked at their dark tops by snow. Some of the snow was fresh, and +Jimmy imagined the speed he had used was justified. Yet, so long as the +Chinook blew, gentle Indian summer would brood over the valley. + +Jimmy's skin was brown, his mouth was firm, and his look alert. His +hands were blistered and his back was sore, but this was not important. +He could now pull a big saw through gummy logs and, as a rule, drive the +shining ax-head where he wanted it to go. A belt held his overalls +tight at his waist; when he tilted back his head to get his breath his +balance and pose were good. + +A plume of aromatic smoke floated across the clearing and Okanagan Bob +squatted by the fire. Bob's hair was black and straight and his eyes +were narrow. His crouching pose was significant, because a white man +sits. Bob's skin was white, but it looked as if some Indian blood ran in +his veins. He was an accurate shot and a clever fisherman. Now he fried +trout for breakfast and Jimmy wondered whether he would leave the fish +long enough in the pan. As a rule, Bob did not cook things much. + +"Somebody's coming," he remarked and began to eat. "Take your fish when +you want. I've got to pull out." + +For a minute or two Jimmy heard nothing, and then a faint beat of +horse's feet stole across the woods. The noise got louder and by and by +Margaret rode into the clearing. When Jimmy jumped for his jacket she +smiled and the nervous cayuse plunged. In the bush, all goes quietly and +abrupt movement means danger. + +Margaret rode astride. Her dress was dull yellow and her leggings were +fringed deerskin. At the hotel, Jimmy had approved her blue clothes, +but he thought he liked her better in the bush. Somehow she harmonized +with the straight trunks. It was not that she was finely built and +beautiful; one got a hint of primitive calm and strength. + +"Shall I hold the bridle?" Jimmy asked. + +"I think not," said Margaret and soothed the horse. "Another time when +you took the bridle I was forced to walk home and you got a kick." + +"On the whole, I think my luck was good," Jimmy rejoined. "When I went +to Kelshope, things, so to speak, began to move." + +Margaret got down, took a pack from the saddle, and tied the horse to a +tree. Bob got up from the fire, seized his rifle, and looked at +Margaret. + +"I'm going to get a deer," he said and vanished in the wood. The +underbrush was thick, but they did not hear him go. + +"When I was at the station the agent gave me your mail and some +groceries," said Margaret. "My father allowed you were busy, and I'd +better take the truck along." + +Jimmy said, "Thank you," and gave her a thoughtful look. Margaret's +voice was cultivated, but she talked like a bush girl. At the hotel she +had not. + +"I didn't order a fruit pie and a number of bannocks," he said when he +opened the pack. + +"Oh, well, I was baking, and I reckoned if Bob was cook, you wouldn't +get much dessert. But have you eaten yet?" + +Jimmy said he imagined breakfast was ready and Margaret went to the +fire, glanced at the half-raw trout, and threw a black, doughy cake from +a plate. + +"A white man _cooks_ his food," she said meaningly. "Take a smoke while +I fix something fit to eat." + +Jimmy pushed two or three letters into his pocket and sat down on a +cedar log. If Margaret meant to cook his breakfast, he imagined she +would do so and he was satisfied to watch her. For one thing, she knew +her job, and Jimmy liked to see all done properly. She did not bother +him for things; she seemed to know where they were. After a time, she +put the trout and some thin light cakes on a slab of bark, and Jimmy +remarked that the fish were an appetizing golden brown. + +"I expect you have not got breakfast, and I'll bring you a plate," he +said. + +"At a bush ranch the woman gets the plates." + +"There's not much use in pretending the bush rules are yours," Jimmy +rejoined. "Anyhow, I'll bring you all you want." + +"Wash the plate, please," said Margaret. "I'd sooner you did not rub it +with the towel." + +Jimmy laughed. "You take things for granted. I'm not a complete bushman +yet." + +He cleaned the plates and knives, and Margaret studied him. Something of +his carelessness and the hint of indulgence she had noted were gone. His +face had got thin and his frank glance was steady. Although he laughed, +his laugh was quiet. The bush was hardening him, and when she looked +about she saw the progress he had made was good. Well, she knew Jimmy +was not a loafer; after the cayuse kicked his leg he carried her heavy +pack to the ranch. + +"Now we can get to work," he said. + +Margaret allowed him to put a trout and some hot flapjacks on her plate. + +"After all, I like it when people bring me things," she remarked. "At +Kelshope, when one wants a thing one goes for it. I reckon your friends +ring a bell." + +"Perhaps both plans have some drawbacks. Still I don't see why you +bother to indicate that you do not ring bells." + +"It looks as if you're pretty keen," said Margaret. + +"Keener than you thought? Well, not long since I'd have admitted I was +something of a fool. Anyhow, I rather think you know the Canadian +cities." + +"At Toronto I stopped at a cheap boarding-house. They rang bells for +you. If you were not in right on time for meals, you went without. You +didn't ask for the _menu_; you took what the waitress brought. Now you +ought to be satisfied. I'm not curious about your job in the Old +Country." + +"I'm not at all reserved," Jimmy rejoined. "I occupied a desk at a +cotton mill office, and wrote up lists of goods in a big book, until I +couldn't stand for it. Then I quit." + +Margaret weighed his statement and imagined he had used some reserve. +For a clerk at a cotton mill to tour about Canada with rich people was +strange. + +"You talk about the Old Country, although you stated you were altogether +Canadian," Jimmy resumed. + +"My father's a Scot. He came from the Border." + +"Your name indicates it. The Jardines and two or three other clans +ruled the Western Border, but were themselves a stubborn, unruly lot. +Your ancestors were famous. I know their haunts in Annandale." + +"I reckon my father was a poacher," Margaret observed. + +Jimmy laughed. "It's possible the others were something like that. +Anyhow, their main occupation was to drive off English cattle, but we +won't bother--" + +He stopped and mused. Sometimes, when he was at the cotton mill, he had +gone for a holiday to the bleak Scottish moors. The country was +romantic, but rather bleak than beautiful, and he had thought a touch of +the old Mosstroopers' spirit marked their descendants. The men were big +and their Scottish soberness hid a vein of reckless humor. They were +keen sportsmen and bold poachers. When one studied them, one noted their +stubbornness and something Jimmy thought was quiet pride. Margaret had +got the puzzling quality; one marked her calm level glance and her +rather haughty carriage. Although she was a bush rancher's daughter, +Jimmy did not think he exaggerated much. + +"Your house is going up and you have cleared some ground," she said. "It +looks as if you had not slouched." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy modestly, "your father reckoned I must push ahead +before the frost began; but if we have made some progress, I imagine Bob +is mainly accountable." + +"Do you like Okanagan?" + +"I don't know," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. "He stays with his +job, and puts it over, but he doesn't talk. Unless he's chopping and you +hear his ax, you don't know where he is. He _steals_ about. In fact, the +fellow puzzles me. What's his proper business?" + +"Bob's a trapper. To get valuable skins you must go far North, but the +black bear are pretty numerous and sometimes a cinnamon comes down the +rocks. Then tourists give a good price for a big-horn's head. I reckon +Bob's wad was getting big, until the politicians resolved to see the +game laws were carried out. Now you must buy a license before you shoot +large animals, and you may only shoot one or two. Then reserves are +fixed where you may not shoot at all. The belt across the range is a +reserve and the game-warden made some trouble for Bob. Perhaps this +accounts for his hiring up with you." + +"Do you like the fellow?" + +Margaret hesitated. She did not like Bob, but she did not mean to +enlighten Jimmy. Sometimes Bob came to Kelshope and when he fixed his +strange glance on her she got disturbed. + +"Well," she said, "if I wanted a loghouse put up or the timber wolves +cleared off, I'd send for Okanagan; but I'd stop there. He's not the +sort I'd want for a friend." + +"You imply, if you were a rancher, you wouldn't want him for a friend?" + +Margaret's eyes twinkled. "Why, of course, I implied something like +that." + +"But Bob goes to Kelshope, and Mr. Jardine suggested my hiring him." + +"My father's a bushman," said Margaret, rather dryly. "His habit's not +to get stung; but we'll let it go. What about your chickens?" + +Jimmy had sent for some poultry, and so long as Margaret was willing to +stop, he was satisfied to talk about his flock. Sometimes the bush was +lonely and to sit opposite Margaret had charm. She banished the +loneliness and gave his rude fireside a homely touch. By and by, +however, she got up. + +"I have stopped some time and you ought to get busy." + +She would not take his help to mount. She seized the bridle, stroked the +cayuse, and was in the saddle. The horse plunged into the fern, Margaret +waved her hand and vanished, but for a few minutes Jimmy smoked and +pondered. + +He thought Margaret harmonized with the quiet, austere woods, but +although she talked like a bush girl, he wondered whether she had not +done so in order to baffle him. Anyhow, he hoped she would come back and +cook his breakfast another time. He could not see Laura Stannard beating +up dough for flapjacks by his fire. Laura's proper background was an +English drawing-room. She had grace and charm, and on the hotel terrace +Jimmy was keen about her society. Then Laura was a good sort and he +owed her much; the strange thing was, although she had stated he ought +to follow a useful occupation, she did not approve his ranching +experiment. In fact, she had urged him to go back to the cotton mill. +Jimmy admitted he was rather hurt because she was willing for him to go. +Now, however, her picture began to get indistinct. The bush called and +Laura did not harmonize with the woods. + +Then Jimmy remembered Margaret had brought him some letters and when he +pulled out an envelope with an Indian stamp, his look was anxious. Sir +James, however, stated that his London agents would send a check on a +Canadian bank, and when Jimmy wanted to stock his ranch his bills would +be met. Sir James remarked that to buy cattle was better than to bet on +horses that did not win, and chopping trees was not, by contrast with +some other amusements, very expensive. Moreover, if Jimmy got tired, he +could sell the ranch. He added that he was presently going to Japan and +afterwards to England by the Canadian Pacific line. When he crossed +Canada, he would stop and look his nephew up. + +Jimmy liked his uncle's rather dry humor, and admitted that some of his +remarks were justified, for when Jimmy went to the races his luck was +bad, but he put the letter in his pocket and picked up his ax. For some +time he had talked and smoked and, unless he hustled, the shingles he +wanted would not be split by dark. + + + + +X + +LAURA'S REFUSAL + + +Smoke rolled about the clearing and dry branches snapped in the flames. +A keen wind fanned the blaze and in places the fire leaped up the trees +and resinous needles fell in sparkling showers. Okanagan Bob went about +with a coal-oil can, and Jimmy drove the red oxen that hauled loads of +brush. Jimmy's face was black, his hand was burned, and his shirt was +marked by dark-edged holes, but his mood was buoyant. The fire had got +firm hold and advanced steadily across the belt of chopped trunks and +branches bushmen call the _slashing_. When it burned out Jimmy thought +only half-consumed logs would be left. A good _burn_ ought to save him +much labor. + +Perhaps his keenness was strange. To clear a ranch is a long and arduous +job that he was not forced to undertake; but he was keen. His +occupation, so to speak, had got hold of him. Moreover he felt, rather +vaguely, it was a test of his endurance and pluck. Since he left the +cotton mill he had loafed and squandered; now he had got a man's job, +and when the job was carried out he would know himself a man. + +By and by he stopped the oxen in front of the house. A few yards off +Deering notched the end of a log. He wore long boots, overall trousers +and a torn shirt. His face was red, but his big body followed the sweep +of the ax with a measured swing and the shining blade went deep into the +log. Deering had arrived a few days before to arrange about a hunting +excursion. + +"You have put up a fresh log since I came along. You chop like a +bushman," Jimmy remarked. + +"Two logs," said Deering and dropped his ax. "I reckon I am a bushman. +Anyhow I was born at a small Ontario ranch, and hired up at another in +Michigan." + +Jimmy was surprised. Although Deering was not at all like Stannard, his +habits were extravagant and nothing indicated that he had engaged in +bodily labor. He saw Jimmy's surprise and laughed. + +"For a few minutes I'll cool off and take a smoke," he resumed. +"Chopping's a healthy occupation, but I soon had enough. I was out for +money and wasn't satisfied to earn two-and-a-half a day. Then in Canada, +and I reckon in Michigan, you don't get two generations to stay on the +land. You clear a ranch, but your son weighs all you're up against and +resolves to quit. He reckons keeping store at a settlement is a softer +job." + +"Did you keep a store?" + +"I ran a pool room. After a time, a women's reform guild got busy and +the town reeve hinted I'd better get out." + +Jimmy laughed. He liked Deering's frankness, but he said, "I suppose +Dillon left Stannard at Puget Sound? He talked about going to Colorado." + +"When we had stopped a week or two at the Dillon house, Frank reckoned +he'd come back with us," Deering replied with some dryness. "Frank has +not bought a ranch, but he's steadying up and I imagine Miss Laura has +got after him. Anyhow, he's cut out cards and bets with me. Looks as if +Miss Laura had some talent for steering young men into the proper +track." + +The blood came to Jimmy's skin, but Deering's humorous twinkle did not +account for all. Jimmy did not like to think about Laura's steering +Dillon; he felt Laura was his guide and not the other's. + +"If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon, I'll come along," he +said. "Perhaps I ought to see Stannard about our hunting trip." + +"He stated he wanted to see you," Deering replied with a careless nod +and resumed his chopping. + +When the fire had burned out they started for the hotel, but they +arrived after dinner and Laura was engaged with other guests. In the +morning she went off to the lake with Dillon and one or two more whom +Jimmy did not know, and since she did not suggest his joining the party, +he loafed about the hotel. It looked as if she was satisfied with +Dillon's society and did not want his. + +Jimmy was hurt, and sitting on the terrace, he smoked and pondered. From +the beginning he had felt Laura's charm, although he had not thought +himself her lover; for one thing, he knew his drawbacks. Yet Laura +liked Dillon, whose drawbacks were as obvious as his. Somehow Jimmy had +taken it for granted he had a particular claim to her friendship, but if +the friendship must be shared with Frank its charm was gone. + +After an hour or two his resolution began to harden. Perhaps his asking +Laura to marry him was not as ridiculous as he had thought. At all +events, he would take the plunge. She knew he had stopped loafing and +started on a fresh line, and his having done so because she urged it was +a useful argument. Jimmy admitted he did not see Laura helping at the +ranch, but this was not important. So long as she engaged to marry him +when he made good, he would be resigned. If she hesitated, he must try +to indicate something like that. + +In the evening Laura returned from the lake, but for some time after +dinner she was engaged with her party and left Jimmy alone. Jimmy did +not join the group, for the suspense bothered him and the others' light +banter jarred. He thought it strange, but he felt he had nothing to do +with the careless people whose society Laura enjoyed. When he had talked +to Laura he was going back to the quiet woods. + +At length Laura came along the terrace and Jimmy braced himself. She +wore a black dinner dress and when a beam from the window touched her +Jimmy thought her skin shone like the snow on the rocks. Then she turned +her head and looked back. The tranquil movement was strangely graceful, +but Jimmy frowned. Dillon had obviously meant to go with Laura, and +although she motioned him back Jimmy knew she smiled. He fetched a chair +and leaned against the terrace wall. + +"Well, Jimmy," she said in a careless voice, "you don't look very +bright." + +"It's possible. You haven't talked to me for five minutes since I +arrived." + +"I was on the terrace. Had you wanted to join us, you could have done +so." + +"If you had wanted me, I expect you'd have indicated it." + +"Sometimes you're rather keen," Laura remarked. "Still sometimes you are +obstinate. I have known you do things I would sooner you did not." + +"I expect I'm dull, for I don't know if you imply that my obstinacy +would not have annoyed you. Anyhow, I left the ranch because I wanted to +see you. I didn't want to stand about with the others and laugh at their +poor jokes. They're a slack and careless lot." + +Laura looked up. Jimmy's mouth was firm and she thought him highly +strung. He was thin and hard and his pose was good. In fact, she felt he +was not altogether the raw lad she had known. + +"Not long since, you rather cultivated people like that and tried to use +their rules," she said. "I think you made some progress." + +"Oh, well, I own I was a fool and I owe you something because you helped +me see my folly. To take the proper line at a ball and a dinner party, +to shoot straight and play a useful game at cards is perhaps a sound +ambition, but I begin to doubt if it's worth the effort it costs. In the +woods, one gets another ambition." + +Laura smiled. "You're impulsive. When one indicates the way for you to +go, you go much faster than one thinks, but we won't philosophize. Did +it not cost you something to leave your ranch?" + +"I wanted to see you," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "I'd better state my +object, because in a minute or two I expect your friends will come +along--" + +Laura thought not. The end of the terrace was not lighted. She and Jimmy +were in the gloom and the others were not very dull. + +"Well?" she said. + +"I wanted to ask if you will marry me?" + +For a few moments Laura said nothing and Jimmy noted that her pose was +very quiet. Then she looked up. + +"You are very young, Jimmy." + +"I'm not younger than you. Besides, I don't see what my youth has to do +with it." + +"Your youth is a drawback," said Laura thoughtfully. "You will inherit a +large fortune, but I am poor, and if I married you, your trustees would +imagine I, and my father, had planned to capture you." + +"Now you are ridiculous!" Jimmy declared. "You have talent, beauty, and +cultivation: I'm raw and know nothing but the cotton mill. You ought to +see, if I can persuade you, the gain is altogether mine." + +Laura gently shook her head. "I don't see it, Jimmy, and others would +not." + +"Dick Leyland might grumble," Jimmy admitted with a frown. "For all +that, he has nothing to do with my marrying, and Sir Jim is another +type. He'd fall in love with you--" + +He stopped and Laura pondered. She must make a good marriage and the +marriage Jimmy urged was good, but she saw some obstacles. For one +thing, she did not love Jimmy. Ambition called, but she calculated. If +he would take the line she thought he ought to take, she might agree. + +"If you were at the cotton mill and claimed your proper post, all would +be easier," she said. "Your uncles could not then dispute your right to +marry whom you liked." + +Jimmy's laugh was scornful. "My uncles control my fortune for a year or +two; that's all. However, if you hesitate, I won't urge you to marry me +yet. If you engage to do so when I get my inheritance, I'll be +satisfied." + +The blood came to Laura's skin. Jimmy's keenness was not remarkable, but +she knew his sincerity and she forced a smile. + +"You are philosophical." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some embarrassment, "I feel I ought not to +urge you now. I wanted to know you belonged to me, and then I needn't +bother when I'm at the ranch-- The trouble is, if I waited, somebody +might carry you off. So long as you agree--" + +Laura's look got rather hard. When she wanted him to go back to England +she was not altogether selfish. Although she did not love him, she liked +Jimmy, and felt he ought not to stay in Canada with Stannard and +Deering. + +"Then, you mean to go on at the ranch?" she said. + +"Of course. You declare I'm young. I feel I must take a useful job and, +so to speak, make good. Besides, I can't go back to Lancashire to be +ruled by Uncle Dick. When I take my inheritance, it will be another +thing. Then, when you own a ranch, there's something about the woods +that calls. You get keen; to plan and work is not a bother." + +"But is the reward for your labor worth while?" + +"In money, the reward is not worth while; but that's not important. +Somehow I know Dick Leyland is not carrying on the house's business as +it ought to be carried on. We are getting rich, but we cannot much +longer use his old-fashioned parsimonious rules. Jim's at Bombay, and +there's no use in my making plans for Dick to oppose. You see, I have +nothing to go upon. For five years I was a clerk, like our other clerks; +afterwards I was a careless slacker, and Dick would sternly put me down. +But I've stated something like this before. You ought to see--" + +Laura saw he had some grounds for his resolve to remain. Still she did +not see herself helping at the ranch and to wait, for perhaps three or +four years, while he carried out his rash experiment was not her plan. +She imagined his trustees would not approve his marrying her and they +controlled his fortune and were clever business men. Yet had she loved +Jimmy, she might have agreed. In the meantime, he studied her with keen +suspense, and getting up, she gave him a quiet resolute look. + +"You must let me go," she said. "I like you, Jimmy, but I am not the +girl for you." + +Jimmy tried to brace himself and advanced as if he meant to touch her, +but she stopped him. + +"I ought not to return to Lancashire yet; but if that's the obstacle, +I'll start when you like," he said, in rather a hoarse voice. + +Laura was moved. In fact, she was moved to generosity. Now she had +conquered, the strange thing was, she knew she must not use her triumph. +Although Jimmy was beaten, she admitted his firmness at the beginning +was justified, and she thought he would after a time repent. + +"I see some other obstacles," she replied. "Since you are satisfied that +your proper job is in Canada, you must carry it out. There is no use in +talking, Jimmy. I am not at all the girl for you." + +Her resolution was obvious, and Jimmy stepped back. Laura gave him a +friendly smile and went off. Jimmy frowned, for although he had doubted +if he could persuade her, he had got a nasty knock. At the other end of +the terrace Stannard joined Laura and indicated Jimmy. + +"Well?" he said. + +"Jimmy wanted me to marry him. I refused." + +"Ah," said Stannard. "I suppose you had some grounds for your refusal?" + +"I imagine he does not love me," Laura replied in a quiet voice. + +Stannard studied her. Her color was rather high, but she was calm. In +some respects, she was like her mother and not like him. Stannard was +satisfied it was so. + +"Yet he asked you to marry him!" + +"Perhaps I am attractive; but now I think about it, he did not urge me +much. For all that, Jimmy is a good sort." + +For a few moments Stannard said nothing. Laura imagined he had meant her +to marry Jimmy and her refusal bothered him. Yet his look rather +indicated resignation than anger. She really did not know her father, +but he was kind. + +"Jimmy is a good sort," he remarked. "He has some other advantages." + +"His advantages are obvious; he's sincere and frank and generous," Laura +agreed with a touch of emotion. "Had he not been like that, I might have +risked it." + +Stannard shrugged. "Perhaps you're not altogether logical; but it's done +with." + +"I'm sorry, father," said Laura in a gentle voice and went up the steps. + +Stannard stopped and his look was sternly thoughtful. He was an +adventurer and his scruples were not numerous, but he had not used his +daughter's beauty as he might have used it. Now he knew he ran some +risks and, for her sake, he had wanted her to marry Jimmy. Well, she had +refused, and Jimmy owed him much, but for some time could not pay. +Stannard lighted a cigar and knitted his brows. + + + + +XI + +THE GAME RESERVE + + +At the end of the small open glade the pack-horses dragged about their +ropes. A short distance in front, the thick timber stopped and a +mountain spur went up to the dim white peaks. The sun had gone and the +sky was calm and green. One heard a river brawl and a faint wind in the +trees. Deering lay in the pine needles and rubbed his neck. + +"The mosquitoes are fierce. Throw some green stuff on the fire and make +a smoke," he said. "I don't want to get up." + +Jimmy, sitting on a log, pushed green branches into the flames, and then +turned his head and looked about. Two Indians were cutting poles and +putting up a tent. In the gaps between the trunks the gloom got deep, +and although the sharp top of the spur was distinct, Jimmy only saw a +few small pines and junipers. Stannard and Okanagan Bob, who had gone up +in the afternoon to look for a line to the high rocks, were not coming +yet. The horses could not go farther and in the morning the hunting +party would leave them behind. + +"They recently let me join a highbrow mountain club; but when I start +for the rocks I hesitate," Deering resumed. "To boost two hundred pounds +up crags and glaciers is a strenuous job, and I allow I'd sooner +Stannard had brought the hotel guides. When I camp I like two blankets +and a square meal. A good guide can carry a lot of useful truck." + +"Their charges are high and Okanagan claims he knows the big-horn's +haunts." + +"Somehow I reckon Bob knows too much," Deering rejoined. "Well, I allow +to let you break your neck wouldn't pay Stannard." + +"In one sense, it wouldn't cost him much," said Jimmy, with a laugh. +"You see, I insured my life in his favor some time since." + +"Ah," said Deering, thoughtfully. "That was when he took you down to +Vancouver?" + +"I went down. The plan was mine. After I fell into the gully, I saw +Stannard ran some risk." + +Deering grinned. "I like you, Jimmy! You're sure an honest kid." Then +his glance got keen and he resumed: "Say, are you going to marry Laura?" + +"Miss Stannard refused to marry me," Jimmy replied in a quiet voice. +"But we were talking about the insurance. I rather urged Stannard--" + +"Exactly! Stannard's a highbrow Englishman," said Deering, but somehow +Jimmy thought his remark ironical. "Well, you urged, and since Stannard +is not rich, he agreed? Perhaps the strange thing is, he was able to +lend you a pretty good sum. Do you know where he gets the money?" + +"I don't know. It's not important." + +"Oh, well! You have insured your life and Miss Laura has refused you! +She's a charming girl, but since I don't see her helping you run a bush +ranch, perhaps her refusal was justified. However, I think somebody's +coming down the ridge." + +Not long afterwards Stannard and Bob reached the camp and Stannard said, +"We have found a line and we'll start at daybreak. Bob now declares he +expects a reward for each good head we get." + +"You can promise him his bonus. If we shoot a big-horn, we're lucky; the +tourist sports have scared them back to the North," Deering remarked. + +They got supper and went to bed. The spruce twigs were soft and the +Hudson's Bay blankets were warm, but for a time Jimmy did not sleep. The +tent door was hooked back and the night was not dark. He saw the smoke +go up and the mist creep about the trunks. Sometimes a horse broke a +branch and sometimes the river's turmoil got louder, but this was all +and Jimmy missed the cow-bells that chimed at Kelshope ranch. + +Perhaps it was strange, but Laura's refusal had not hurt him very much. +In fact, he began to feel that so long as she did not marry Dillon he +would be resigned. Now Jimmy came to think about it, Deering's hint that +she attracted Frank to some extent accounted for his resolve to marry +Laura. Anyhow, Laura was his friend, and Stannard had used tact. He was +quietly sympathetic and soon banished Jimmy's embarrassment. Then the +noise of the river got indistinct and Jimmy thought he heard cow-bells +ring. Branches cracked and somebody called, "Oh, Buck! Oh, Bright!" + +At daybreak Bob sent off two Indians to wait for the party at another +spot. He and an Indian carried heavy loads, but all carried as much as +possible, because Bob declared the party was rather large for good +hunting and refused to take another man. When they stopped at noon +Deering's face was very red and Jimmy was satisfied to lie in the stones +while Bob brewed some tea. + +After lunch they pushed through a belt of timber. The trees were small, +but some had fallen and blocked the way. Others, broken by the wind, had +not reached the ground and the locked branches held up the slanted +trunks. Where the underbrush below was thick, one must crawl along the +logs. + +On the other side of the timber an avalanche had swept the slope, +carrying down soil and stones, and the party was forced to cross steep +rock slabs. Jimmy carried a rifle, a blanket, and a small bag of flour +and admitted that he had got enough. To pitch camp at sunset behind a +few half-dead spruce was a keen relief. + +They had not a tent and the cold was keen, but where one can find wood +one can build a shelter. Supper was soon cooked and when they had +satisfied their appetite all were glad to lie about the fire. Some +distance above them, untrodden snow, touched with faint pink by the +sunset, glimmered against the green sky. Below, rocks and gravel went +down to the forest, across which blue mist rolled. Sometimes a belt of +vapor melted and one saw a vast dim gulf and a winding line that was a +river. The austere landscape rather braced than daunted Jimmy. He knew +the Swiss rocks and the high snows called. + +Two days afterwards Jimmy, one afternoon, got his first shot at a +mountain-sheep. Until the big-horn moved, it looked like a small gray +stone, but it did move and when it vanished they studied the ground. +There was no use in trying a direct approach, but the rocky slope was +broken and Bob imagined they could climb a gully and come down near the +animal farther on. They must, however, take their loads, because he had +not yet found a spot to pitch camp. + +To climb the gully, embarrassed by a heavy pack, and a rifle, was hard, +and for some time afterwards they crawled across the top of a big +buttress. When they reached another gully the sun was gone, but Bob +thought they would find the sheep not far from the bottom. He said two +might go, and when they had spun a coin Stannard and Jimmy took off +their packs. + +The gully was very steep and they used some caution. Near the bottom +Jimmy slipped and might have gone down had not Stannard steadied him. +Bob, carrying the glasses, went a short distance in front. At the bottom +he got behind a stone and presently waved his hand. + +When Jimmy reached the spot he saw a horseshoe slope of rock and gravel +that fell sharply for five or six hundred feet and then stopped, as if +at the edge of a precipice. He thought if the big-horn went down there, +they must let it go. Then Bob touched his arm and indicated a spot level +with them, but some distance off. Something moved and Jimmy, taking the +glasses, saw it was a sheep. + +"Your shot. Use a full sight; it's farther than you think," said +Stannard in a low voice, and when Jimmy had pulled up the slide he +rested the rifle barrel on the rock. + +His arm was on the stone; he knew he ought to hold straight, but the +shot was long and the hole in the telescopic sight was small. Perhaps he +was too keen, for although Stannard had got a noble head, he himself had +not yet fired a shot, but when he began to pull the trigger his hand +shook. He stopped and drew his breath, and the sheep moved. + +"He's going," said Bob, and Jimmy crooked his finger. + +The rifle jerked. In the distance, a small shower of dust leaped up and +the sheep jumped on a stone. In a moment it would vanish and Jimmy +savagely snapped out the cartridge. Then he saw a pale flash and knew +the report of Stannard's English rifle. The sheep plunged from the +stone, struck the ground, and began to roll down the incline. Its speed +got faster and Jimmy thought it went down like a ball. In a few moments +it would reach the top of the precipice, and if it plunged across they +would not find its broken body. Then it struck a rock and stopped, so +far as one could see, a few yards from the edge. Stannard gave Bob his +rifle and picked up the glasses. + +"A fine head! Call Deering, Jimmy. I think we can get down." + +Jimmy thought not, but he shouted and Deering arrived and studied the +ground. + +"Looks awkward, but perhaps we can make it." + +"You have got to make it! You don't want to leave a sheep like that +about," said Bob. + +Stannard gave him a keen glance, but Deering said, "Let's try; I've +brought the rope. If you'll lead, Stannard, I'll tie on at the top. +We'll leave Jimmy." + +"Since I missed my shot, I ought to go," Jimmy objected. + +"My weight's a useful anchor and you're not up to Stannard's form," +Deering rejoined and they put on the rope. + +They started and Jimmy lighted his pipe. He had wanted the noble head +and Stannard had got another, but Jimmy was not jealous. Although +Stannard had hardly had a moment before the sheep went off, he had +seized the moment to shoot and hit. In the meantime, however, the others +were getting down the slope and Jimmy used the glasses. + +The job was awkward. Sometimes the stones ran down and Stannard +hesitated; Deering stopped and braced himself, ready to hold up his +companions. Bob was at the middle of the rope and, so far as one could +see, was satisfied to follow Stannard. They reached the sheep, and Bob +got on his knees by the animal. His knife shone and after a few minutes +he gave Stannard the head. + +Then it looked as if they disputed, but Bob got up and began to drag the +sheep to the edge. Jimmy was puzzled, for stones were plunging down and +it was plain the fellow ran some risk. One could not see his object for +resolving to get rid of the headless body. After a minute or two he +pushed the sheep over the edge and the party began to climb the slope. + +They got to the top, and going up the gully, after a time found a corner +in the rocks and pitched camp. Bob and the Indian had carried up a small +quantity of wood and when they cooked supper Stannard remarked: "I +expect you're satisfied nobody in the valley could see our fire?" + +"Nobody's in the valley, anyhow," said Bob. + +"Then, my seeing smoke was strange," Stannard rejoined. + +"But suppose somebody had camped in the trees? Why shouldn't the fellow +see our fire?" Jimmy inquired. + +"Perhaps Bob will enlighten you," said Stannard coolly. + +"Ah," said Deering, "he didn't mean to leave the sheep around, and +although I didn't get his object for pushing the body off the rocks, I +reckon it went down a thousand feet into the timber--" He stopped and +looking hard at Bob resumed: "What was your object?" + +Bob's dark face was inscrutable. + +"I saw smoke. When we got busy, I calculated the game-warden had located +at the other end of the range." + +"You greedy swine!" said Stannard, and Deering began to laugh. + +"Jimmy doesn't get it! Well, Bob meant to earn his bonus, and since he +took us shooting on a government game reserve, I admit his nerve is +pretty good. Anyhow, I won't grumble because I haven't killed a +big-horn. Stannard's may cost him two or three hundred dollars." + +"Why did you play us this shabby trick, Bob?" Jimmy asked in a stern +voice. + +Bob gave him a rather strange look. + +"I sure wanted the bonus and the reserve is new. I allowed I'd beat the +warden and you wouldn't know. He got after me another time and I had to +quit and leave a pile of skins." + +"You wanted to get even?" Deering remarked and turned to Stannard. "What +are you going to do about it? In a way, the thing's a joke, but our +duty's obvious. We ought to give up the heads and take Bob along to the +police." + +Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy imagined he did not mean to give up the +heads. Bob's calm was not at all disturbed. + +"Shucks!" he said. "You're pretty big, Mr. Deering, but I reckon the +city man who could take me where I didn't want to go isn't born. Why, +you can't get off the mountains unless I help you fix camp and pack +your truck!" + +"I don't like packing a heavy load," Deering admitted. "We'll talk about +it again, and in the meantime you had better take the frying-pan from +the fire. I hate my bannocks burned." + + + + +XII + +STANNARD FRONTS A CRISIS + + +At Kelshope ranch fodder was scarce and so long as the underbrush was +green Jardine let his cattle roam about. The plan had some drawbacks, +and Jardine, needing his plow oxen one afternoon, was forced to search +the tangled woods. Sometimes he heard cow-bells, but when he reached the +spot the animals were gone. A plow ox is cunning and in thick timber +moves much faster than a man. + +Jardine, however, was obstinate and for an hour or two he pushed across +soft muskegs and through tangled brushwood. When at length he stopped he +saw he had torn his new overalls and broken an old long boot. Besides, +he hated to be baffled and since he could not catch the oxen he could +not move some logs. + +When he got near the ranch he stopped. Somebody was quietly moving about +the house, as if he wanted to find out who was at home, and Jardine, +advancing noiselessly, saw it was Bob. He admitted he had expected +something like that, for Bob's habits were not altogether a white man's. +Jardine imagined he did not know Margaret had gone to the railroad. + +Had he found his team, he might have given Bob supper and sent him off +before Margaret arrived, but he had not found the team and Bob's +creeping about the house annoyed him. In the Old Country Jardine was a +poacher, but he sprang from good Scottish stock and he hated to think +Bob bothered Margaret. Moving out of the shadow, he went up the path. + +He did not make a noise, but Bob turned, and Jardine thought had the +fellow been altogether a white man he would have started. Bob did not +start. His look was calm, like an Indian's, and his pose was quiet. + +"Hello!" he said. "I reckoned you'd gone after your plow team." + +"Ye didna reckon I'd come back just yet!" + +Bob smiled, but his eyes got narrower and his mouth went straight. He +was a big man and carried himself like an athlete. + +"Well," he said, "I allowed Miss Margaret was around and I'd wait a +while." + +Jardine wondered whether Bob meant to annoy him. As a rule the fellow +was not frank and now his frankness was insolent. + +"If ye come another time, ye'll come when I'm aboot. What have ye in yon +pack?" + +"Berries," said Bob, opening a cotton flour bag. "I reckoned Miss +Margaret wanted some. Then I brought a pelt; looked the sort of thing to +go round her winter cap." + +In the woods, the Indians dry the large yellow raspberries and Bob had +brought a quantity to the ranch before. Now he pulled out a small dark +skin that Jardine imagined was worth fifty dollars. The value of the +present was significant. + +"Ye can tak' them back. We have a' the berries we want." + +"Anyhow, I guess Miss Margaret would like the skin." + +"She would not. Margaret has nae use for ony pelts ye bring." + +For a few moments Bob was quiet. Then he said, "Sometimes I blew in for +supper and you let me stay and smoke. When you put up the barn, you sent +for me to help you raise the logs. The English tenderfoot hadn't located +in the valley then." + +The blood came to Jardine's skin. To some extent Bob's rejoinder was +justified; but Jardine had not until recently imagined Margaret +accounted for the fellow's coming to the ranch. + +"When we put up the barn ye got stan'ard pay. I allow ye're a useful man +to handle logs, but I'm no' hiring help the noo." + +"You reckoned me your hired man?" said Bob in an ominously quiet voice. +"That was all the use you had for me?" + +"Just that!" Jardine agreed. "Margaret has nae use for ye ava'." + +"Then, if you reckon you're going to get my highbrow English boss for +her, you're surely not very bright. His sort don't marry--" + +"Tak' your pack and quit," said Jardine sternly. "Get off the ranch, ye +blasted half-breed!" + +Bob was very quiet, but his pose was alert and somehow like a hunting +animal's. Perhaps instinctively, he felt for his knife. Jardine's ax +leaned against a neighboring post. If he jumped, he could reach the +tool, but he did not move. For a moment or two they waited, and then Bob +picked up the flour bag and went down the path. Jardine went to the +kitchen and lighted his pipe. Bob was gone, and Jardine hardly thought +he would come back, but he was not altogether satisfied he had taken the +proper line. Indian blood ran in Bob's veins; an Indian waits long and +does not forget. For all that, Jardine did not see himself warning +Leyland and enlightening Margaret. + +A week afterwards, Stannard one evening occupied a chair at his table on +the terrace. He had returned from the mountains with two good big-horn +heads and nothing indicated that the game-warden knew the party had +poached on the reserve. Stannard, however, was not thinking about the +hunting excursion. The English mail had arrived and sometimes he studied +a letter and sometimes looked moodily about. + +Laura, Dillon, and two or three young men were on the steps that went +down to the woods. Laura wore her black dinner dress and Stannard +thought she had not another that so harmonized with her beauty. Dillon +obviously felt her charm. He was next to Laura, and since it looked as +if the others were ready to dispute his claim to the spot, Stannard +imagined Frank would not have occupied it unless Laura meant him to +remain. + +After a time Stannard pushed the letter into his pocket and gave +himself to gloomy thought, until Deering came along the terrace and +asked him for a match. + +"You look as if you were bothered," Deering remarked. + +"Sometimes one is bothered when one's mail arrives." + +"That is so," said Deering, with a sympathetic nod. "Opening your mail +is like dipping in a lucky bag; your luck's not always good. I got some +bills in my lot." + +"I got a demand for a sum I cannot pay. I expect you haven't two +thousand dollars you don't particularly need?" + +Deering laughed. "Search me! All I've got above five hundred dollars you +can have for keeps. Looks as if you must put the fellow off." + +"He's obstinate and unless I can satisfy him it might be awkward for +me." + +"Then, you had better try Dillon. The kid's rich and sometimes +generous," Deering remarked. "In a sense, he's mine, but since you're up +against it, I'll lend him to you." + +He went off and Stannard frowned. For him to be fastidious was +ridiculous, but Deering's frankness jarred. Still he needed a large sum, +and although he could borrow for Jimmy, he could not borrow for himself; +the fellow who supplied him was a keen business man. Stannard lived +extravagantly, but the money he used was not his, and unless he +justified the speculation supplies would stop. So far, the speculation +had paid and he owned he ought not to be embarrassed. The trouble was, +he squandered all he got. + +He weighed Deering's plan. Dillon's father was rich and indulged the +lad. Stannard had stopped at his ambitious house on Puget Sound, and +imagined the old lumber man approved Laura. In fact, the drawback to +Deering's plan was there. Stannard had not bothered much about Laura and +was willing for his wife's relations to undertake his duty, but he did +not mean to put an obstacle in her way. She must make a good marriage; +after all, her aunts were poor. + +By and by the group on the steps broke up and Laura came to Stannard's +table. He noted that her eyes sparkled and her color was rather high. It +looked as if she had triumphed over another girl; Stannard admitted the +others were attractive, but none had Laura's charm. + +"You have soon forgotten Jimmy," he remarked. + +"No," said Laura, "I have not forgotten Jimmy. Although I did not want +him for a lover, he's my friend. But he really was not my lover. That +accounts for much." + +"Yet I imagine, if he had been persuaded to go back to the cotton +mill--" + +Laura blushed, but she gave Stannard a steady look. "I liked Jimmy, +Father, and I was not altogether selfish. I felt he ought to go back." + +"To lead a young man where he ought to go is rather an attractive part," +Stannard remarked. "Jimmy wanted to marry you. What about Frank +Dillon?" + +"Ah," said Laura. "Frank is not as rash as Jimmy! Jimmy doesn't ponder. +He plunges ahead." + +"You imply that Frank uses caution." + +"Oh, well," said Laura, smiling, "perhaps I use some reserve." + +Stannard thought her voice was gentle, and turning his head, he studied +Dillon. The young fellow stood at the top of the steps as if he wanted +to follow Laura, but waited for her to indicate that he might. Stannard +reflected with dry amusement that Laura kept her lovers in firm control. +Frank was rather a handsome fellow and Stannard knew him sincere and +generous. Perhaps it was strange, but a number of the young men he +admitted to his circle were a pretty good type. Although Stannard was +not bothered by scruples, he was fastidious. + +"But I want to know-- It's important," he said. "Suppose Frank is as +rash as Jimmy? Will you refuse him?" + +Laura blushed, but after a moment or two she looked up and fronted her +father. + +"Why is it important for you to know?" + +Stannard hesitated. He had not used his daughter for an innocent +accomplice, and had she married Jimmy he would have tried to free the +lad from his entanglements. Now, if she loved Frank, he must not +embarrass her. + +"Well," he said, "I rather think I must give you my confidence. I need +money and it's possible Frank would help." + +"Oh, Father, you mustn't use Frank's money!" Laura exclaimed and, since +her disturbance was obvious, Stannard's curiosity was satisfied. "He's +your friend and trusts you," she resumed. "I think you ought to force +Deering to leave him alone." + +For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Laura loved Frank; at all events +she was willing to marry him, and it looked as if she knew more about +her father than he had thought. Well, Laura was not a fool. + +"Sometimes your tact is rather marked," he said. "I wonder whether you +really think Deering a worse friend for Frank than me? However, we'll +let it go. If you marry the young fellow, he, of course, ought not to be +my creditor." + +Laura gave him a grateful look and when she replied her voice was +apologetic. "Perhaps I wasn't justified, but I felt I was forced-- I +mean, I didn't want you to bother Frank, and one cannot trust Deering." + +"I imagine I see," Stannard rejoined. "Well, perhaps Deering's a better +sort than you think. He stated, rather generously, that he would lend me +Frank, but if it's some comfort, I'll engage not to bother the young +fellow." + +"You're a dear!" said Laura with a touch of emotion. + +Stannard shrugged. "I have not carried out my duty and you do not owe me +much, but after all it was for your sake I sent you to your aunts. +Since your father was a bad model, I hoped your mother's sisters would +help you to grow up like her. Well, since I long neglected you, I must +not now put an obstacle in your way." + +"You are kind," said Laura. "Perhaps I'm cold and calculating. I know my +shabbiness, but I did not love Jimmy and I think I do love Frank." + +She touched Stannard's arm gently and went into the hotel. A few moments +afterwards, Dillon crossed the terrace and went up the steps. Stannard +smiled, but by and by threw away his cigar and knitted his brows. He +thought he need not bother about Laura, but he saw no plan for meeting +his importunate creditor's demands. + + + + +XIII + +THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD + + +Stannard and a party from the hotel were in the mountains, and Laura and +Mrs. Dillon one morning occupied a bench on the terrace. Mrs. Dillon had +arrived a few days since, and when Stannard returned Laura was going +back with her to Puget Sound. Dillon, sitting on the steps, tranquilly +smoked a cigarette. Laura had engaged to marry him and he had refused to +join Stannard's rather ambitious excursion to a snow peak that had +recently interested the Canadian Alpine Club. So far as Dillon knew, +nobody had yet got up the mountain, and if its exploration occupied +Stannard and Jimmy for some time, he would be resigned. Jimmy was his +friend, but on the whole Frank would sooner he was not about. + +"Two strangers went into the clerk's office some time since," Laura said +presently. "One wore a sort of cavalry uniform. Do you know who they +are?" + +"One's a subaltern officer of the Royal North-West Mounted Police," +Dillon replied. "I expect the other's a small boss in the Canada +forestry department, or something like that. Perhaps a careless tourist +has started a bush fire." + +"They are coming out," said Laura, and added with surprise: "I think +they want to see us." + +The men crossed the terrace and the young officer gave Laura an +envelope. + +"I understand you are Miss Stannard and this is your father's." + +Laura nodded agreement and studied the envelope. The address was +Stannard's and at the top was printed, _Sports service. Taxidermy._ + +"Perhaps you had better open the envelope," the officer resumed. + +Laura did so and pulled out a bill. "To preserving and mounting two +big-horn heads-- To packing for shipment--" + +The other man took the bill. He was a big brown-skinned fellow and his +steady quiet glance indicated that he knew the woods. + +"Sure!" he said. "The charge for packing is pretty steep; but when you +mean to beat the export-prohibition-- Well, I guess this fixes it!" + +"What has Mr. Stannard's bill to do with you?" Laura asked in a haughty +voice. + +"To begin with, he can't ship those heads out of Canada. Then it looks +as if he killed the big-horn on a government game reserve." + +"Your statement's ridiculous," said Laura angrily. "My father is an +English sportsman, not a poacher." + +"Anyhow, he killed two mountain sheep not long since." + +"You cannot force Miss Stannard to admit it," Dillon interrupted. + +"Not at all," the young officer agreed politely. "Still I think some +frankness might pay. My companion is warden Douglas, from the reserve, +and the game laws are strict, but it's possible some allowance would be +made for tourists who did not know the rules. If Miss Stannard does +reply, it might help." + +"Very well," said Laura. "My father and a party went shooting and he +brought back two big-horn heads, but I'm satisfied he did not know he +trespassed on a game reserve." + +"His partners were Leyland and Deering," warden Douglas remarked. "I +expect they took a guide, although they didn't hire up the men at the +hotel." + +"Mr. Leyland's man, Okanagan, went." + +Douglas looked at the officer and smiled meaningly. "Now I get it! I +reckon Bob _played_ them fellers." + +"Mr. Stannard is again in the mountains?" the officer said to Laura. "I +don't urge you to reply, but although my duty's to find out all I can, I +don't think your frankness will hurt your father." + +Laura said Stannard had gone to climb a famous peak and admitted that he +had taken Okanagan. + +"They'll hit the range near the head of the reserve and a hefty gang +could get down the Wolf Creek gulch," Douglas observed. "Looks as if Bob +had gone back for another lot! I guess an English sport would put up +fifty dollars for a good head." + +"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said the officer. "The department will claim +the heads and perhaps demand a fine, but the sum will depend upon Mr. +Stannard's statements. This, however, is not my business." + +He bowed and went off, but he stopped Douglas on the veranda. + +"If you want to go after the party, I'll give you trooper Simpson." + +"I'm going after Okanagan and I mean to get him," said Douglas grimly. +"I reckon he fooled the tourists, but they've got to pay the fine. Can't +you give me a bushman trooper? Okanagan's a tough proposition and he +doesn't like me." + +The officer said he had not another man and must go off to make +inquiries about a forest fire. He sent for his horse and the group on +the terrace saw him ride down the trail. + +"I'm sorry for Father and know he'll hate to give up the heads; but I +think the men were satisfied Jimmy's helper cheated him," Laura +remarked. + +A few days afterwards, Stannard's party stopped one evening at a small, +empty homestead. Thin forest surrounded the clearing, but on one side +the trees were burned and the bare rampikes shone in the sun. In places +the crooked fence had fallen down, tall fern grew among the stumps, and +willows had run across the cultivated ground. For all that, the loghouse +was good, and since the horses could not go much farther, Stannard +resolved to use the ranch for a supply depot. On the rocks the climbing +party could not carry heavy loads. + +When the sun got low they sat on the veranda and smoked. They did not +talk much, and Jimmy felt the brooding calm was melancholy. Somebody, +perhaps with high hope, had cleared the ground the forest now was +taking back. Labor and patience had gone for nothing; the grass was +already smothered by young trees. It looked as if the wilderness +triumphed over human effort. + +"How long do you think its owner was chopping out the ranch? And why did +he let it go?" Jimmy asked. + +"I reckon nine or ten years," Deering replied. "Maybe he speculated on +somebody's starting a sawmill or a mine. Maybe the block carried a +mortgage and he pulled out to earn the interest. As a rule, the small +homesteader takes any job he can get, and when his wallet's full comes +back to chop, but a railroad construction gang's the usual stunt and +some don't come back. I expect the fellow was blown up by dynamite or a +rock fell on him. Anyhow, when you hit a deserted ranch, the owner's +story is something like that. Canada's not the get-rich country land +boomers state." + +Then Deering turned to Stannard. "Did you find a good line to the ridge +from which we reckon to make the peak?" + +"I found a line I think will go. You follow the ridge until a big +buttress breaks the top some distance above the snow level. A _col_ goes +down to a glacier and one might get across to another ridge that would +help us up the peak. Still I doubt if our map's accurate, and my notion +is to climb the buttress." + +Deering took the map. "Good maps of the back country are not numerous, +but if the _col_'s where you locate it, I reckon the old-time miners +shoved up the glacier when they came in from the plains. Some made the +Caribou diggings from Alberta long before the railroad was built." + +"Their road was rough," said Stannard and lighted his pipe. + +He was not keen to talk. For one thing, he was tired, and he did not yet +know where to get the sum he needed. The sum, however, must be got. So +long as he belonged to one or two good clubs and visited at fashionable +country houses, the allowance on which he lived would be paid; but if he +did not satisfy his creditor he must give up his clubs and would not be +wanted at shooting parties. + +By and by Deering turned to Bob, who was cleaning a rifle. + +"We have guns. Have you got a pit-light?" + +Bob grinned. "You can't use a pit-light. Some cranks at Ottawa allow +they're going to carry out the law." + +"It depends," said Deering dryly. "I wouldn't go still-hunting if I +thought a game-warden was about, but we oughtn't to run up against a +warden in this neighborhood. Anyhow, I see the deer come down to feed on +the fresh brush, and some venison would help out our salt pork. Say, +have you got a light?" + +"I've got one," Bob admitted. "We brought some candles, and I guess I +could cut two or three shields from a meat can." + +"Then you can get to work," said Deering, and turned to the others. "The +sport's pretty good. You hook a small miner's lamp in your hat and pull +out the brim, but you can use a candle and a bit of tin. Since the +lamp's above the tin shield, the deer can't see you. They see a light +some distance from the ground and, if you're quiet, they come up to find +out what it's doing there. When their eyes reflect the beam, you shoot." + +"I don't suppose we'd run much risk, but a still-hunt is poaching and I +doubt if it's worth the bother," Stannard replied carelessly. + +"When you start poaching, you don't know where to stop. Not long since +we shot two big-horn on a game reserve," said Deering with a laugh. "The +strange thing is, although I quit ranching for the cities, I want to get +back and play in the woods. Give me an ax and a gun and I'm a boy again. +Say, let's try the still-hunt!" + +The others agreed and after supper the party waited for dark. The green +sky faded and the trees were very black. Then their saw-edged tops got +indistinct and gray mist floated about the clearing in belts that +sometimes melted and sometimes got thick. The resinous smell of the +pines was keen and all was very quiet but for the turmoil of the river. +An owl swooped by the house, shrieked mournfully, and vanished in the +gloom. + +At length Jimmy fixed his candle in a rude tin shield, felt that his +rifle magazine was full, and waited for Bob to take the others to their +posts. So long as they went away from him, all he saw was a faint +glimmer, but sometimes one turned at an obstacle and a small bright +flame shone in the mist. It looked as if the light floated without +support and Jimmy could picture its exciting the deer's curiosity. One +could not use a pit-lamp in the tangled bush, but the clearing was some +distance across and the deer came to feed on the tender undergrowth that +had sprung up since the trees were chopped. + +After a time Bob returned, but now Jimmy must go to his post he admitted +he would sooner go to bed. He was tired and still-hunting with a light +was forbidden; besides, they had not long since poached on a game +reserve. Had not Deering bothered them, Jimmy thought Stannard would not +have gone, but in the woods Deering's mood was a boy's. The packers and +the horses were in a barn some distance back among the trees, and they +had not got a light at the house. Somehow the quiet and gloom were +daunting, but to hesitate was ridiculous and Jimmy went off with Bob. + +In North America, trees are not cut off at the ground level and the +clearing was dotted by tall stumps. Fern grew about the roots, and +tangled vines and young willows occupied the open spaces. At a boggy +patch the grass was high, and a ditch went up the middle and into the +bush. The ditch was deep and Jimmy knew something about the labor it had +cost. To see useful effort thrown away disturbed him and he speculated +about the lonely rancher's stubborn fight. The man was gone; perhaps he +knew himself beaten before he went, and the forest reclaimed the +clearing. + +They crossed the ditch and Bob stationed Jimmy behind a big stump at the +edge of the trees. He said quietness was important, and if Jimmy left +his post and did not take his light, he might get shot. Moreover, he +must not shoot unless he saw a deer's eyes shine; he must wait until he +thought the animal near enough and then aim between the two bright +spots. He might soon get a shot, but he might wait until daybreak and +see nothing. + +Then Bob went off and Jimmy was sorry he could not light his pipe. The +night was cold and waiting behind the stump soon got dreary. Sometimes +the mist was thick and sometimes it melted, but one could not see across +the clearing and nothing indicated that the others were about. Jimmy did +not know their posts; he imagined Bob had put them where they would not +see each other's lights. He wondered whether the deer would soon arrive. +If he did not see one before his candle burned out, he would lie down at +the bottom of the stump and go to sleep. + + + + +XIV + +A SHOT IN THE DARK + + +Jimmy imagined he did for a few minutes go to sleep, because he did not +know when the noise began. Branches cracked as if a deer pushed through +the brush a short distance off. Jimmy was not excited; in fact, he was +cold and dull, and he used some effort to wake up. + +The noise stopped and then began again. It now looked as if a large +animal plunged across the clearing. Jimmy did not think a deer went +through the brush like that, but for a moment he saw a luminous spot in +the dark. Something reflected the beam from his candle and he threw the +rifle to his shoulder. + +His hand shook and he tried to steady the barrel. He felt a jerk and was +dully conscious of the report. As a rule, when one concentrates on a +moving target one does not hear the gun; the strange thing was Jimmy +imagined he heard his a second before the trigger yielded. + +The deer did not stop and he pumped in another cartridge. He heard +nothing, but red sparks leaped from the rifle and then all was dark. A +heavy object rolled in the young willows and somebody shouted. Lights +tossed and it looked as if people ran about. + +Jimmy shouted to warn the others and left the stump. When he jumped +across the ditch his candle went out, and on the other side his foot +struck something soft. Stooping down, he felt about and then got up and +gasped. His heart beat, for he knew the object he had touched was not a +deer. + +After a moment or two Stannard joined him and took a miner's lamp from +his hat. Jimmy shivered, for the light touched a man who lay in the +willows. His arms were thrown out, and as much of his face as Jimmy saw +was very white. The other side was buried in the wet grass. + +"Is he dead?" Jimmy gasped. + +"Not yet, I think," said Stannard, and Deering, running up, pushed him +back and got on his knees. + +Using some effort, he lifted the man's head and partly turned him over. +The others saw a few drops of blood about a very small hole in the +breast of his deerskin jacket. + +"A blamed awkward spot!" Deering remarked and gave Jimmy a sympathetic +glance. "Your luck's surely bad, but get hold. We must carry him to the +house." + +Stannard got down; he was cooler than Jimmy, but they heard an angry +shout, and Deering jumped for the lamp. When he ran forward the others +saw a young police-trooper crawl from the ditch. Stopping on the bank, +he looked down into the mud, and Bob, a few yards off, studied him with +a grim smile. Jimmy remarked that Okanagan had not a rifle. + +"If you try to get your blasted gun, I'll sock my knife to you," said +Bob. "Shove on in front and stop where the light is." + +The trooper advanced awkwardly. His Stetson hat was gone and his head +was cut. When he saw the man on the ground he stopped. + +"You've killed him," he said. "Put up your hands! You're my prisoners!" + +Bob laughed. + +"Cut it out! That talk may go at Regina; we've no use for it in the +bush." + +"An order from the Royal North-West goes everywhere. Quit fooling with +that knife. My duty is--" + +"Oh, shucks!" said Bob, and turned to the others. "The kid fell on his +head and is rattled bad." + +"He's hurt; give him a drink, Stannard," said Deering. "We must help the +other fellow. Lift his feet; I'll watch out for his head. Get hold, +Bob." + +They carried the man to the house. When they put him down he did not +move, but Jimmy thought he breathed. Deering pushed a folded coat under +his neck and held Stannard's flask to his mouth. His lips were tight and +the liquor ran down his skin. + +"A bad job!" said Deering, who opened the man's jacket. "All the same, +his heart has not stopped." + +The packers from the barn were now pushing about the door and he +beckoned one. + +"Take the best horse and start for the hotel. Get the clerk to wire for +a doctor and bring him along as quick as you can make it." + +The packer went off and Deering asked the policeman: "Who's your pal?" + +"He's Douglas, the game-warden. Looks as if you'd killed him." + +"He's not dead yet," Deering rejoined, and pulled out some cigarettes. +"He may die. I don't know, but we'll give him all the chances we can. In +the meantime, take a smoke and tell us what you were doing at the +clearing." + +The trooper lighted a cigarette and leaned against the wall. Somebody +had fixed two candles on the logs and the light touched the faces of the +group. All were quiet but Deering, and Jimmy noted with surprise that +Stannard let him take control. Stannard's look was very thoughtful; +Bob's was keen and grim. The trooper had obviously got a nasty knock. At +the door the packers were half seen in the gloom, but Jimmy felt the +unconscious man on the boards, so to speak, dominated the picture. +Although Jimmy himself was highly strung he was cool. + +"My officer sent me to help the warden round you up for poaching on the +reserve," said the trooper. "When we hit the clearing we saw you were +out with the pit-light and Douglas reckoned we'd get Okanagan first; the +rest of you were tourists and wouldn't bother us. Douglas calculated +Okanagan knew the best stand for a shot and would go right there. His +plan was to steal up and get him. I was to watch out and butt in when I +was wanted." + +"It didn't go like that!" Bob remarked. "When you saw me by the ditch +had I a gun?" + +"So far as I could see you had not. You began to pull your knife." + +Stannard motioned Bob to be quiet and the other resumed: "I heard +Douglas shout and I got on a move. In the dark, I ran up against a +stump, pitched over, and went into the ditch. I heard a shot--" + +"You heard _one_ shot?" said Deering. + +"I don't know--I'd hit my head and was trying to find my rifle. Well, I +guess that's all!" + +"I shot twice," said Jimmy, in a quiet voice. "I don't think Bob used a +gun. All the same, when I pulled the trigger I imagined I heard another +report; but perhaps it was my rifle. I really don't know." + +"The number of shots is important," Stannard observed. + +Deering looked up sharply. "To find out is the police's job. Ours is not +to help." + +"We ought to help," Jimmy rejoined. "I thought a deer was coming; I had +no object for shooting the warden, but if my bullet hit him, the police +must not blame Bob." He turned to the others. "How many shots did you +hear?" + +Perhaps it was strange, but nobody knew. A packer thought he heard three +shots, although he admitted he might have been cheated because the +reports echoed in the woods. After a few moments they let it go and +Deering glanced at the man on the floor. + +"Maybe he knows. I doubt if he will tell!" + +The trooper advanced awkwardly. "Give me a light. I'm going across the +clearing; I want to see your stands." + +For the most part, the others went with him. Their curiosity was keen +and it looked as if nobody reflected that the lad was their antagonist. +In fact, since they carried in the warden, all antagonism had vanished. +Jimmy, however, remained behind. He was on the floor and did not want to +get up. After the strain, he was bothered by a dull reaction and felt +slack. By and by Stannard returned and sat down on the boards. + +"Well?" said Jimmy. "Have you found out much?" + +"The trooper found your two cartridges and the posts Bob gave us. You +were at a big stump, Bob a short distance on your left, although he +declares he had not a gun. My stand was on your other side. The warden's +track across the brush was plain. He was going nearly straight for the +stump and the bullet mark is at the middle of his chest." + +"It looks as if I shot him," Jimmy said and shivered. + +"Then you must brace up and think about the consequences!" + +"Somehow I don't want to bother about this yet. Besides, it's plain I +thought I aimed at a deer." + +"I doubt," Stannard remarked, with some dryness. "For one thing, the +police know we killed the big-horn on the reserve, and since we took Bob +again, to state he cheated us would not help. The fellow's a notorious +poacher, and when the warden arrived he found us using the pit-light, +which the game laws don't allow. On the whole, I think the police have +grounds to claim Douglas was not shot by accident." + +"But he may get better." + +"It's possible; I think that's all. But suppose he does get better? Do +you imagine his narrative would clear you?" + +Jimmy pondered. Until Stannard began to argue, all he had thought about +was that he had shot the warden, but now he weighed the consequences. He +was young and freedom was good. Moreover, he had seen men, chained by +the leg to a heavy iron ball, engaged making a road. A warden with a +shot-gun superintended their labor, and Jimmy had thought the indignity +horrible. He could not see himself grading roads, perhaps for all his +life, with a gang like that. + +"What must I do about it?" he asked. + +"I'd put up some food and start for the rocks. Take a rifle and the +Indian packer, and try to get down the east side of the range by the +neck below the buttress. Then you might perhaps push across to the +foothills and the plains. The police will, no doubt, reckon on your +going west for the Pacific coast, and, if you tried, would stop you. As +far as Revelstoke, the railroad follows the only break in the mountains, +and orders will be telegraphed to watch the stations. No; I think you +must steer for the Alberta plains." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. If he could reach the coast, he might get into +the United States or on board a ship, but he must cross British +Columbia and, for the most part, the province was a rugged, mountainous +wilderness. The northern railroads were not yet built; the settlements +were along the C. P. R. track and the lake steamboat routes. He dared +not use the railroad; but when he thought about the rocks and broken +mountains he must cross to reach the plains he shrank. + +"I could not carry the food I'd need," he said. + +"You have a rifle, and must take the packer. So long as deer and grouse +are in the woods, an Indian will not starve," Stannard replied and gave +Jimmy his wallet. "Offer the fellow a large sum and he'll see you out. +But you must start!" + +"Thank you; I'll risk it," said Jimmy, and giving Stannard his hand, +went off. + +Not long afterwards the others returned and Deering looked about the +room. + +"Where's Jimmy?" he asked. + +"He went out a few minutes since," Stannard replied in a careless voice +and Deering turned to the trooper. + +"Somebody must watch Douglas, but you're knocked out and Mr. Stannard +and I will undertake the job until sun-up. It's obvious our interest is +to keep him alive." + +The lad agreed. His head was cut and he had not found his rifle. To +imagine he could control a party of athletic men was ridiculous, and +since they were friendly he must be resigned. + +Not long before daybreak Deering woke up and looked about. Bob's +pit-lamp, hanging from a beam, gave a dim light. + +"Hello! Jimmy's not back!" + +Stannard looked at the others and thought them asleep. Motioning to +Deering to follow, he went to the door. He had pulled off his boots and +Deering trod like a cat. + +"Jimmy will not come back. He started for the plains, across the neck." + +"You sent the kid across the hardest country in Alberta?" + +"I don't know that I did send him; but we'll let it go. Jimmy's a +mountaineer and he took the Indian." + +"Shucks!" said Deering. "The Indian's a coast Siwash and not much use on +the rocks. Jimmy's an English tenderfoot and has no _Chinook_. He can't +talk to the Indian. I doubt if he's got a compass or a map." + +"He has my map and I imagine an Indian does not need a compass," +Stannard rejoined. "At all events, I didn't see another plan." + +Deering looked at him hard. "Well, perhaps Jimmy's lucky because I was +born and raised in the bush. Fix up a plausible tale for the policeman. +When he wakes I'll be hitting Jimmy's trail." + +He turned and his bulky figure melted in the dark. Stannard knew he was +going to the barn to get food, and for a few moments knitted his brows. +Then he shrugged philosophically and went back to the house. + + + + +XV + +TROOPER SIMPSON'S PRISONERS + + +Day broke drearily across the clearing. Mist rolled about the dark pines +and when the wind got stronger the dark branches tossed. The loghouse +was cold and trooper Simpson, turning over on the hard boards, shivered. +Then he remarked that although the pit-lamp had gone out the room was +not dark and he was dully conscious that he had slept longer than he +ought. After a few moments, his glance rested on an object covered by +blankets at the other end of the room and he got up with a jerk. + +His head hurt and he was dizzy. He now remembered that he had run +against a stump and fallen into the ditch; but he must brace up and with +something of an effort he crossed the floor. So far as he could see, the +warden's eyes were shut and his face was pinched. All the same, Simpson +thought he breathed and when he touched him his skin was not cold. + +"Hello!" he said, and Stannard, sitting by Douglas, turned. + +"He's very sick," Simpson resumed. "What are we going to do about it?" + +"We must try to keep him warm and when he can swallow give him a little +weak liquor and perhaps some hot soup. I expect that's all, but I have +sent for a doctor." + +"I see you have given him good blankets," said Simpson, who looked +about. "Leyland's not back; you allowed he had gone out for a few +minutes. Then where's the big man?" + +"I stated Leyland went out a few minutes before Deering inquired for +him," Stannard said dryly. "Some time after Leyland went, Deering +started for the bush." + +"Then, I've got stung! You knew I'd lost my rifle and you helped my +prisoners get off!" + +Stannard smiled. "To talk about your prisoners is ridiculous; I imagine +we are rather your hosts. I am not a policeman, and when my friends +resolved to leave the camp I had no grounds to meddle. However, if it +will give you some satisfaction, I'll lend you a rifle." + +"I'm going to get mine," said Simpson and started across the clearing. + +He came back before long, carrying a wet rifle. His clothes were muddy +and his mouth was tight. + +"I found her in two or three minutes, but when I was in the ditch last +night I felt all about." + +"To find an object in the dark is awkward," Stannard remarked. + +Simpson gave him an angry glance. "The magazine's broke and the +ejector's jambed. I don't see how she got broke. I didn't hit the stump +with my gun; I hit it with my head." + +"The thing is rather obvious. The cut ought to satisfy your officer," +said Stannard soothingly. + +"If you hadn't let your partners go, I wouldn't have had to satisfy my +officer. Now I sure don't see where I am." + +"The situation is embarrassing," Stannard agreed. "My friends have been +gone some time and are pretty good mountaineers; it's possible they +could go where you could not. Then, if you went after Deering and +Leyland, I might go off another way. I don't want to persuade you, but +perhaps you ought to stop and take care of Douglas." + +Simpson frowned and put down his damaged rifle. + +"Looks as if you had got me beat and I've no use for talking. Now the +light's good, I'll take a proper look at your party's tracks." + +Stannard let him go and soon afterwards Bob came in. Sitting down on the +boards, he struck a pungent sulphur match and lighted his pipe. +Stannard's glance got hard. He knew the Western hired man's +independence, but he thought Bob truculent. + +"The warden's very ill and your tobacco's rank," he said. + +"He's sick all right. I doubt if he'll get better," Bob agreed in a +meaning voice, although he did not put away his pipe. + +For a few moments Stannard pondered. To baffle the young trooper had +rather amused him, but to dispute with Bob was another thing. + +"If Douglas does not get better, it will be awkward," Stannard said. + +"It will sure be awkward for Mr. Leyland." + +"Or for you!" + +"Shucks! You know I was sort of superintending and hadn't a gun." + +"I don't know," said Stannard. "You stated you had not a gun. In the +meantime, I imagine Simpson is measuring distances and fixing angles, or +something like that. I can't judge if he knows his job; perhaps you +can." + +Bob's glance was a little keener. "Huh!" he said scornfully, "the kid's +from the cities and can't read tracks. All the same, somebody shot +Douglas, and if the police can't fix it on Leyland, they'll get after +me." + +"I don't see where I can help. For one thing, Mr. Leyland is my friend. +Then all I can state is, I didn't see you carry a gun. On the whole, I +don't think the police have much grounds to bother you." + +"Well, I don't take no chances; the police would sooner I was for it. +They can't claim Leyland meant to kill the warden, but they might claim +I did. Gimme a hundred dollars and I'll quit." + +Stannard smiled. "I have not got ten dollars; I gave Jimmy my wallet. +He's your employer." + +"Then, if I run up against Mr. Leyland, I'll know he carries a wad and I +guess I can persuade him to see me out," said Bob. "Now I'm going to +take all the grub I want. So long!" + +He went off and Stannard shrugged; but a few moments afterwards he +rested his back against the wall and shut his eyes, as if he were tired. +By and by Simpson returned and met Bob near the door. Bob carried a big +pack, a cartridge belt, and a rifle. + +"Hello!" said Simpson. "Another for the woods? Well, you got to drop +that pack. You're not going." + +"You make me tired. _My_ gun's not broke," Bob rejoined and shoved the +muzzle against Simpson's chest. "Get inside, sonny. Get in quick!" + +The Royal North-West Police do not enlist slack-nerved men and Simpson's +pluck was good. For all that, he was lightly built and was hurt, while +Bob was big and muscular. When Simpson seized the rifle barrel Bob +pushed hard on the butt. The trooper staggered back, struck the +doorpost, and plunged into the house. Bob laughed. + +"Your job's to help cure your partner. Maybe he knows who shot him," he +remarked, and started across the clearing. + +Simpson leaned against the wall and gasped. When he got his breath he +turned to Stannard savagely. "Where's your rifle?" + +"In the corner behind you," Stannard replied, and Simpson, seizing the +rifle, jerked open the breech. + +"My cartridge shells won't fit." + +"It's possible," said Stannard. "I didn't engage to lend you ammunition, +but if you go to the barn, you'll find a brown valise. Bring me the +valise and I may find you a box of cartridges." + +"Do you reckon Bob is going to wait until I get all fixed?" + +"That's another thing," said Stannard pleasantly. + +Simpson put down the rifle. "In about a minute the fellow'll hit the +timber and his sort don't leave much trail. Then you have not pulled out +yet." + +"You imagine if you went after Bob and did not find him, you might not +find me when you came back?" + +"That's so," Simpson agreed. "Not long since I reckoned I'd got the +gang. Now you're all that's left. The packers don't count." + +"Oh, well," said Stannard, smiling. "I'll agree to remain. I expect to +pay a fine for poaching, although I didn't know I was on the reserve. +Since I'm resigned, it doesn't look as if my friends had an object for +shooting Douglas. You see, I killed the big-horn." + +"All the same, three have lit out." + +"There's the puzzle; the warden was hit by one bullet. I own I don't see +much light; but I think you sketched the clearing." + +Simpson pulled out a note-book and Stannard remarked that the plan of +the ground was carefully drawn. He thought the spots the sportsmen had +occupied were accurately marked; distances and the lines of the warden's +and Simpson's advance were indicated. + +"The thing's like a map," he said. "How did you fix the positions?" + +"I carry a compass and can step off a measurement nearly right. At +Regina they teach us to study tracks, but I was at a surveyor's office +before I joined up." + +"Then, you are a surveyor?" said Stannard with keen interest, for he saw +the accuracy of the plan was important. + +Simpson smiled. "Surveying's a close profession. I was a clerk, but I +copied plans and sometimes the boss took me out to help pull the +measuring chain. Well, I guess that plan will stand!" + +When Stannard gave back the book his look was thoughtful, but he said, +"Until the doctor arrives, we must concentrate on keeping Douglas alive. +To begin with, we'll get the packers to make a branch bed and light a +fire." + +Douglas lived, but, so far as the others could see, this was all. He +hardly moved and he did not talk, but sometimes at night his skin got +hot and he raved in a faint broken voice. A packer shot some willow +grouse and they made broth, and Stannard put away the party's small +stock of liquor and canned delicacies for his use. Sometimes he +swallowed a little food, but for the most part he lay like a log in +blank unconsciousness. + +Simpson, Stannard, and a packer watched, and before long Stannard knew +the trooper was his man. He had qualities that attracted trustful youth +and used his talent cleverly. For all that, when the doctor and an +officer of the mounted police arrived, Stannard's look was worn and +Simpson's relief was keen. The officer sent Stannard from the room, but +ordered him to wait at the barn. + +After some time Simpson came to the barn and Stannard, returning to the +house, saw the officer's brows were knit. The doctor put some +instruments into a case and then turned his head and looked at his +companion. Stannard imagined they had not heard his step and for the +moment had forgotten about him. + +"He was obviously hit in front. The bullet mark's near the middle of his +body and indicates he was going for the man who shot him," the officer +remarked. + +"The wound at the back does not altogether support your argument," the +doctor replied. "It is not at the middle, and the fellow is lucky +because it is not. The mark's, so to speak, obliquely behind the other." + +"The mark where a bullet leaves the body is generally larger?" + +"To reckon on its being larger is a pretty safe rule," the doctor +agreed. + +Stannard's interest was keen, but the officer saw him and looked at the +doctor, who signed to Stannard to advance. + +"I imagine you have used some thought for the sick man," he said. "Sit +down; I want to know--" + +In a few minutes Stannard satisfied his curiosity, and the officer then +took him to another room. He used reserve, but he was polite, and +Stannard thought he had examined Simpson and the trooper's narrative had +carried some weight. + +"The doctor states Douglas must not be moved," the officer presently +remarked. "In the morning, I must start for the railroad and you will go +with me. I'll try to make things as easy as I can, but if you tried to +get away, you would run some risk. The Royal North-West have powers the +Government does not give municipal police." + +"Had I wanted to get away, I would have gone some time since," Stannard +replied. + +The other nodded. "Simpson admits your help was worth much. Well, you +will certainly be made accountable for poaching, but this may satisfy my +chiefs--I don't know yet. I expect there's no use in my trying to get +some light about your friends' plans?" + +"There is not much use," Stannard agreed. "For one thing, my friends did +not altogether enlighten me." + +"Very well," said the officer, smiling. "So long as you do not go off +the ranch, you can go where you like. After breakfast in the morning we +start for the railroad." + + + + +XVI + +THE NECK + + +Mist floated about the rocks and the evening was dark. To push on was +rash, but Jimmy hoped he might get down to the trees below the +snow-line. Anyhow, he must if possible get off the broken crest of the +range. Since noon until the sun went west and shadow crept across the +mountain, he and the Indian had crouched behind a shelf and watched snow +and stones plunge to the valley. Now all was quiet and the snow was +firm, but the mist was puzzling and Jimmy could not see where he went. +All he knew was, he followed the neck to lower ground. + +Jimmy was tired. In the wilds, if one can shoot straight, fresh meat may +sometimes be got, but one must carry a rifle, flour, and groceries. +Moreover, he now felt the reaction after the strain, and the journey on +which he had started daunted him. He must push across a wilderness of +high rocks and snow. In the mountains one cannot travel fast, and when +he reached the plains the distance to the American frontier was long. He +dared not stop at the settlements and, until he crossed the boundary, +must camp in the grass, although the days got short and the nights were +cold. + +The Indian, heavily loaded, went a few yards in front, but he came from +the warm coast and his part was to supply them with game and fish. Jimmy +got some comfort from reflecting that he himself knew the Swiss rocks, +because he rather thought all mountains whose tops were above the +snow-line, so to speak, approximated to a type. + +Frost split their ragged pinnacles and great blocks plunged down. +Avalanches ground their shoulders to precipitous slopes, from which +battered crags stuck out. As a rule, the top of the long ridges was +narrow, like a rough saw-edge, but sometimes a bulging snow-cornice +followed the crest. Where the snow-fields dropped to a hollow, a glacier +generally went down in flowing curves. One could follow a glacier, but +at some places the surface wrinkled and broke in tremendous cracks. + +By and by the Indian stopped and Jimmy looked about. The neck had got +very steep and the mist was thick. The pitch at the top of the glacier +is awkward and Jimmy knitted his brows. If he balanced properly, pushed +off, and trailed his rifle butt, he would go down like a toboggan; the +trouble was, he might go over a perpendicular fall and into the +_bergschrund_ crack. To climb down and slip meant a furious plunge like +the other, and if there was not a _bergschrund_, he might hit a rock. +Yet, if he meant to go east, he must get down, and for a few minutes he +sat moodily in the snow. + +The strange thing was, Stannard had told him to try the neck. Stannard +knew much about rocks and glaciers, but perhaps he had not explored +far. Then, to some extent, Jimmy had started because Stannard urged him. +Now he thought about it, to run away was to admit his guilt. Stannard +ought to have seen this, but obviously had not. All, however, had got a +nasty jolt, and when one was jolted one was not logical. In the +meantime, he must concentrate on getting down. + +By and by he heard a shout and steps. Flat lumps of snow like plates +rolled down and Jimmy thrilled. Somebody was coming and he thought he +knew Deering's voice. Then an indistinct object pierced the mist, slid +for some distance and stopped. + +"Hello, Jimmy! You haven't got far ahead," Deering shouted, and his +strong voice echoed in the rocks. + +Jimmy was moved and comforted. Deering looked very big and his +heartiness was bracing. + +"I was forced to stop at the buttress in the afternoon." + +"Sure," said Deering. "I reckoned on your getting held up. I was on the +ridge and shoved right along, but I'm going to stop for a few minutes +now. Get off the snow; we'll sit on my pack." + +"What about the warden?" Jimmy asked. + +"When I started he wasn't conscious. Shock collapse, I guess, but you +could hear his breath and a little color was coming to his skin. On the +whole, I think if they get a doctor quick he'll pull Douglas through. +The trouble is, we won't know-- But we'll talk about this again. The +ground ahead is blamed steep. Looks as if we might hit an awkward +_schrund_ at the top of the glacier. Anyhow, we'll wait a bit. I think +the moon's coming out." + +Jimmy agreed. He knew that where a snow-field comes down nearly +perpendicularly to a glacier one generally finds a tremendous crack. By +and by the mist rolled off and a small dim moon came out. Deering got up +and when he strapped on his pack they started down the slope. They used +caution and after a time Deering stopped. + +The mist was thinner and one could see for a short distance. Black and +white rock bordered the narrowing neck, and in front the snow fell away, +plunging down rather like a frozen wave. Shreds of mist floated up from +the cloud that filled the valley, and Jimmy, looking down on the vapor's +level top, got a sense of profound depth. All the same, the mist did not +interest him much. Fifty yards off, an uneven dark streak marked the +bottom of the snowy wave. The streak was broad; its opposite edge +sparkled in the moon and then melted into shadow that got deeper until +it was black. Jimmy studied the yawning gap and shivered. Had Deering +not arrived and the moon shone out, he thought he would have gone across +the edge. + +"I've no use for fooling around a _schrund_ in the mist and we can't +wait for daybreak," Deering remarked. "We must get back and make the +timber line on the other side before we freeze." + +Jimmy doubted if he could get back and shrank from the effort. He +thought the buttress five or six hundred feet above him, and for a +fresh, athletic man to get up in an hour was good climbing. But he was +not fresh; his body was exhausted and he had borne a heavy nervous +strain. All the same, to wait in the snow for daybreak was unthinkable. + +They fronted the long climb and Jimmy, breathing hard and sometimes +stumbling, made slow progress. He doubted if he could have got up the +steepest pitch had not Deering helped him, and at another the Indian +took his pack. They reached the top, and Deering studied the white slope +that went down the other side. The moon had gone and thick cloud rolled +about the heights. + +"This lot peters out in a gravel bank near the snow-line. I guess we'll +slide it," he said and vanished in the mist. + +Jimmy braced his legs, pushed off and let himself go. In Switzerland he +had studied the _glissade_, but when one carries a heavy load to balance +on a precipitous slope is difficult. It looked as if Deering could not +balance, because after a few moments Jimmy shot past an object that +rolled in the snow. Then he himself lost control, his pack pulled him +over, and he went head-foremost down hill. When he stopped the pitch was +easier, and looking back he saw a belt of cloud three or four hundred +feet above. He had gone through the cloud and when he turned his head he +saw dark forest roll up from the valley in front. For all that, the +highest trees were some distance off. + +By and by the Indian and Deering arrived and soon afterwards the snow +got thin. Stones covered the mountain-side and now and then a bank their +feet disturbed slipped away and carried them down. At length, Deering, +smashing through some juniper scrub, seized a small dead pine, and when +Jimmy, breathless and rather battered, arrived, declared they had gone +far enough. They had got fuel and water ran in the stones. + +Half an hour afterwards, Jimmy sat down on thin branches in a hollow +behind a rock. In front a fire snapped and the rock kept off the wind. +The smell of coffee floated about the camp and the Indian was occupied +with a frying-pan. + +When Jimmy had satisfied his appetite he lighted his pipe. He was warm +and the daunting sense of loneliness had gone. By and by Deering began +to talk. + +"When Stannard stated you had pulled out for the foothills I thought I'd +better come along. He talked about your shoving across for the boundary, +but I doubted if you could make it. Perhaps an Alpine Club party, +starting from a base camp, with packers to relay supplies, could cross +the rocks, but when your outfit's a little flour and a slab of pork it +sure can't be done. My notion is, we'll get back from the railroad, +pitch camp in a snug valley and hunt." + +"But you have no grounds to hide from the police." + +"I'm pretty keen on hunting and I like it in the mountains," Deering +replied with a laugh. "To start with horses and packers is expensive, +but our hunting won't cost much. Then I'd a sort of notion I ought to +see you out. We'll let it go at that. For a time the police will watch +the railroad, but they'll get tired." + +"You're a very good sort," Jimmy declared and resumed: "The Royal +North-West boast they have never let a man they really wanted get away." + +"Police talk!" said Deering. "Reckon it up. They put two troopers to +watch a hundred miles of wilderness. In broken, timbered country a horse +can't go and a man can hardly shove along. I allow the boys are smart, +but they can't do more than's possible for flesh and blood. When we've +put them off our track we'll fix up a scheme." + +"Now I think about it, I don't know if I ought to have run away. +Stannard rather persuaded me to start." + +"Perhaps he was justified. The forestry department bosses can't allow +their wardens to be shot. Then you belong to a gang that had killed +big-horn on a reserve and engaged a notorious poacher for guide. When +Douglas was shot he was getting after your man. On the whole, I reckon +I'd have pulled out. But I don't see why Stannard suggested your going +for the plains. He ought to know you couldn't make it." + +"He didn't know," Jimmy declared. + +"Very well! I reckon he knew you could not get down the neck. Anyhow, he +knew the ground; he was up on the range." + +Jimmy was vaguely disturbed. Deering's remarks indicated that he was not +satisfied and he thought the fellow studied him. + +"Stannard reached the neck, but it's obvious he did not go far enough to +see the ice-fall." + +"I didn't see the ice-fall, but I expected to get up against something +of the sort. Stannard's a famous climber." + +"After all, we might have got down." + +"It's possible," Deering agreed with some dryness. "If we'd had two good +fresh men, a proper rope and ice-picks, I might have tried, after +sun-up. But we hadn't got the proper truck, and I own I wasn't fresh." + +"I was exhausted," said Jimmy. "Still an exploit we thought daunting +might not daunt Stannard. I expect that accounts for it." + +Deering gave him a keen glance and smiled. + +"Oh, well; he's sure a good man on the rocks." + +Jimmy knocked out his pipe. So long as he had persuaded Deering that +Stannard had not carelessly allowed him to run a risk he was content. He +did not want to dispute about it. He liked Deering and to see him across +the fire was some comfort. Deering had not Stannard's qualities, but +Jimmy began to see he himself was rather Deering's sort than the +other's. Then in the mountains cultivation had not the importance it +had, for example, at an English country house. Jimmy liked Deering's raw +human force, his big muscular body, and his rather noisy laugh. Anyhow, +Deering had joined him and meant to see him out. He put away his pipe, +pulled up his thick blue blanket and went to sleep. + + + + +XVII + +DILLON MEDITATES + + +When Stannard reached the settlements he was again examined by the +police. He knew where frankness paid and was frank, but he owed +something to trooper Simpson's narrative and something to his personal +charm. A magistrate ordered him to pay a rather heavy fine and give up +the big-horn heads, and then let him go, but Stannard doubted if the +police were altogether satisfied. The officer who examined him was +remarkably keen. + +On the evening Stannard returned to the hotel, Laura and Dillon occupied +chairs at the table on the terrace. Electric lights burned on the +veranda, for the days got short, but the sunset was not altogether gone. +Dillon saw Laura's face in profile against the fading reflections. She +looked away from him to the north, where pines and rocks and snow were +all deep, soft blue. Her arm was on the table, her body was partly +turned, and Dillon thought her strangely beautiful. All the same, he +wanted her to look round. + +"You are quiet," he remarked. + +"I'm thinking about Jimmy in the wilds. Do you mind?" + +"Not at all," Dillon declared. "When Jimmy was around the hotel, I had +no use for the fellow; now he's in the mountains, I'm bothered about +him. Somehow one likes Jimmy, and if I knew how I could help, I'd +start." + +Laura turned her head and gave him a curious glance. + +"Why do you like Jimmy? He's English and you're frankly American." + +"That is so. To begin with, I've no pick on Jimmy because he loved you; +if he had not loved you, I'd have known his blood wasn't red. Then, +although he's English, in a sense he's our type. He's sincere; we are +sincere, you know, and perhaps, from your point of view, we don't use +much reserve. You can move us and when we're moved we talk and get busy. +Well, Jimmy's like that; he's marked by something generously human, but +I doubt if he got it at London clubs. Maybe it's his inheritance from +the folks who built the cotton mill." + +Laura said nothing. She doubted if Frank's willingness to state his +grounds for liking Jimmy altogether accounted for his rather unusual +effort. Indeed, she imagined he labored to get a light on a subject that +puzzled him. + +"Well," he resumed, "to know Deering went after Jimmy is some comfort. +If Jimmy gets up against it in the rocks, Deering will see him through." + +"Your trust in Deering is remarkable!" + +"He's a white man," said Dillon with a smile. "To be his friend cost me +high, but now I've cut out bets and cards, I'd sooner he'd got my money +than another. You see, I got something back. The fellow's big." + +Laura was annoyed. She wanted to feel Deering was her antagonist and had +exploited Frank's trust. The trouble was, she could not altogether do +so, but she dared not admit that Stannard shared his guilt and perhaps +his reward. To chastise Deering, so to speak, exculpated her father. + +"He is certainly muscular, and rather gross," she remarked. + +"He's flesh and blood. I doubt if you quite get us yet. In the West, we +haven't cultivated out rude emotions; we like a fellow who plunges at an +obstacle, sweats and laughs, and sometimes gets mad. We're up against +savage Nature and our job is a man's first job, to satisfy human needs. +Well, you know my father; he's a pretty good Western type. When he +started in, his food was frugal and his clothes were overalls. Now he's +moving forests, and architects come to study the office block he built; +but if things go wrong in the woods, his superintendents know he can use +their talk and handle a cant-pole. His power springs from the primitive +streak." + +"We'll let it go," said Laura, and indicated the long rows of pines +melting into the gloom. "Dark now comes soon." + +"Before long the frost will come and in the mountains the cold is pretty +fierce. On Puget Sound the soft Chinook blows and the white Olympians +stand between you and the winds from the Rockies. The old man's keen +for me to bring you back. What about our starting?" + +Laura blushed, for she had agreed to marry Dillon soon, but she said, +"My father cannot go yet. So long as Jimmy is in the mountains and the +warden cannot tell his story, I think he will remain in Canada. Perhaps +he ought to remain." + +"Oh, well; you can reckon on Mr. Stannard's taking the proper line," +Dillon agreed rather moodily. "You feel the thing's mechanical. Mr. +Stannard is like that." + +"Mechanical?" said Laura, lifting her brows. + +"His taking the proper line's mechanical. He doesn't bother about it. In +the West, his correctness is somehow exotic." + +"If my father is exotic, I expect I am exotic." + +"Sure! You are like a bird of paradise or a flower from the tropics. We +are a rude lot of hustlers and your grace and beauty carry us away." + +"You're romantic, but sometimes you're rather nice," Laura remarked with +a smile. "All the same, if my father resolves to remain in Canada, it is +not a mechanical resolve but because he feels he ought." + +"I expect that is so," Dillon agreed, and lighted a cigarette. + +He thought Stannard ought to stay, and since he meant to do so, to doubt +him was not logical; yet Dillon did doubt. For one thing, the fellow was +Jimmy's friend, but when Jimmy started for the rocks Deering, not the +other, went after him. Then Stannard's narrative was puzzling. Jimmy had +run away and his going indicated that he was accountable for the +warden's getting shot. If Jimmy imagined he had shot at a deer, he ought +to have stayed. Moreover, Bob had run away, and if he had hit the +warden, it was obvious that Jimmy had not. Stannard's tale was not +plausible, and since Stannard was clever Dillon imagined he had not told +all he knew. + +But Dillon began to see his vague antagonism had another foundation. He +was frankly Western and Stannard's type was new, although some people in +down-East cities cultivated his qualities. On the Pacific slope, men +were highly-strung, optimistic, and rather boyishly keen. They plunged +into big risky undertakings, sweated, and fought. In fact, where Nature +was not yet conquered, their part was protagonist. Dillon owned that he +himself was loafing, but he had not loafed long and would soon return to +his proper occupation. + +Stannard had not an occupation and Dillon thought the grounds for his +distrust were there. Moreover, he had not a bank-roll, although he lived +extravagantly and indulged his fastidiousness. His habit was to strike +exactly the proper note, but sometimes its monotonous accuracy jarred. +Fastidious cultivation was for women. Yet Stannard was not at all +womanly; Dillon began to sense in him a hard, calculating vein. For all +that, he must not exaggerate, and Laura was not like her father. + +"You could of course join my folk, although Mr. Stannard would sooner +wait," he said. + +"I think not. My father planned the excursion to the mountains and led +the party. Until people are satisfied about the shooting accident, I +must not go to your house." + +"Now you are ridiculous!" Dillon declared. + +"All the same, I will not go," said Laura firmly. + +"Then, I'm going to stay with you. I'd like to stay, but if Jimmy wants +me, I'm his man." + +"I don't expect Jimmy will need you. Father imagines he's a long way off +and will soon reach the plains," said Laura and began to talk about +something else. + +Jimmy was not steering for the plains; he had, in fact, known for some +time that he could not get there. The morning after Deering joined him +was calm and cold. The sun touched the high rocks and in places a pine +branch sparkled with dew, but a thousand feet below the camp the mist +was like a level floor. One could not see the valley, and the turmoil of +a river came up with a faint hoarse throb as if from a long way off. +Jimmy's fatigue and gloom were gone; he felt fresh and to see Deering +fry pork was comforting. He got a rather frugal breakfast and lighted +his pipe. + +"What are our plans for to-day?" he asked. + +"We must try to get a deer. Fresh venison's most as tough as rawhide, +but, if you put the roasted meat in a bag with salt, after a week or two +you can eat the stuff. How many cartridges have you got?" + +"Six," said Jimmy and Deering smiled. + +"You started for the plains with six shells! Well, I've got a box of +twenty-five, but somebody has taken out ten or twelve. Looks as if we +want to shoot straight. The pork won't hold up long." + +"Where do we go when we have got a deer?" + +"I reckon we'll go north," said Deering thoughtfully. "They talk about +new railroads, but so far the only line of communication between the +Rockies and the sea is the C. P. R. track. The settlements follow the +line, and when you pull out of the narrow belt you're in the wilderness. +The police will, no doubt, reckon on your trying to make Vancouver. +We'll stop in the wilds and let them watch the railroad until they get +tired." + +"But if they find I haven't gone to Vancouver, won't they try the bush?" + +"Look at Stannard's map," said Deering, with a smile. "Note the row of +ranges and valleys running north and south. But the big ridges and +furrows are not even; they're broken by high bench country and cut up by +cross-spurs. Pretty awkward ground to search for two fellows' tracks! +Our trouble's not to hide, but to get supplies. All the food they use in +British Columbia comes in by the C. P. R." + +Jimmy studied the map and agreed. Moreover, he was young and the wilds +called. To plunge into the great desolation was something of an +adventure and Deering claimed to know the bush. + +"What about your hired man? Did you trust the fellow?" Deering resumed. + +"I had no grounds to doubt him," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. +"Bob was rather inscrutable and didn't attract me, but he could chop and +this was all I wanted." + +"So far as you can calculate, he hadn't a pick on you?" + +"Not at all. I think he was satisfied with his pay, and since I +generally let him plan the work we did not dispute. All the same, +sometimes I imagined he gave me a queer moody look." + +"Do you think he was, in any sense, Stannard's man?" + +"Certainly not," said Jimmy, with some surprise. "Anyhow, I don't see--" + +"I don't see," Deering admitted. "I'm looking for a light, but don't get +much yet. Well, when you have smoked your pipe we'll hit the trail." + +They got off a few minutes afterwards, and at noon reached the bottom of +the hill. A high spur blocked the valley behind them, and the echoes of +small avalanches rolled across the rocks. Deering declared the sliding +snow would cover their tracks at the neck, but their line was to some +extent obvious, and until they could break it, they must push on as fast +as possible. + +To push on fast was hard. Fallen trees and tangled brush blocked the +gaps in the rows of trunks, but by and by Jimmy, looking through an +opening, saw the woods shine with reflected light. The trees were like +silver trees; they sparkled as if touched by frost, and for a few +moments Jimmy was puzzled. Then he said, "Rampikes?" + +Deering nodded. "A big burn! I expect it has cleared some ground for +us." + +A short distance farther on, the brushwood vanished. Underfoot was a +soft carpet of ashes from which the trunks rose like columns. Their +branches were gone and the smooth, round logs reflected the light. For a +time to get free from entangling vines and thorns was a relief, but the +ash was soft and when one disturbed it, went up in clouds. The black +dust stuck to Jimmy's hot skin and he labored across the clogging stuff. +Then the desolation began to react on him. The birds were gone and the +feathery ash was not broken by the tracks of animals. It was obvious +they would not find a deer. All was dead, and but for the noise of +falling water the silence was daunting. At length Jimmy stopped and +leaned against a trunk. + +"Come off!" said Deering. "Sit down, if you like, although I'd sooner +keep on my feet. You don't want to lean against a rampike." + +Jimmy was tired and sat in the ashes. + +"How do the fires start?" he asked. + +"It's puzzling. The forestry people claim they're not spontaneous," +Deering replied. "Around the settlements, a fire sometimes starts from a +burned slashing and the police get after the homesteader. All the same, +you hit _brûlés_ in country the Indians and prospectors leave alone. +Anyhow, I guess we're lucky because there's not much wind, and while our +luck is good we'll push along." + +They set off and some time afterwards the roar of an avalanche broke the +brooding calm. The noise swelled and rolled about the valley, as if +great rocks were coming down, and then Jimmy heard a near, sharp crash. +He jumped mechanically, and looking back, saw a pillar of dust float up +like smoke from a blasting shot. In the dust, a big rampike slanted, +broke, and plunged. Another went and Deering pushed Jimmy. + +"We'll pull out!" he shouted and they began to run. + +When Jimmy stopped to get his breath the echoes had died away and all +was quiet, but he felt he had had enough of the burned forest. After +studying the rocks and gravel on the hillside he turned to Deering. + +"You talked about breaking our line, and I expect we could get over the +spur in front," he said. "Let's try." + + + + +XVIII + +THE CARTRIDGE BELT + + +Jimmy's clothes were torn and he was bothered about his boots. He rather +thought clothes and boots that would long bear the strain of a journey +across the rocks were not made. At all events, one could not buy them at +a Canadian settlement store. Then the things were wet and the morning +was cold. + +For all that, he must not grumble. The deer did not like the heavy dew +and their habit was to come out on the rocks and get the sun. The Indian +thought he had found a spot they haunted, and after breakfast led the +others across a small tableland. By and by he stopped and Jimmy got down +in the fern. In front, the timber was thin and a short distance off was +a smooth rock. Jimmy saw the rock and the trees on the other side, but +for a few moments this was all. A deer's soft color harmonizes with +stones and trunks, and, when its outline is broken, to distinguish the +animal is hard. + +The Indian frowned and signed, and Jimmy imagined the small patch of +light color cutting a pine trunk was a head. For one thing, it moved, +and the crooked line below it looked like a leg. Jimmy did not see the +deer's back, but the top of the leg indicated where its shoulder was, +and he rested his rifle on a branch. He got the sights where he wanted, +braced his muscles, held his breath, and steadily pulled the trigger. + +The deer jumped and a thin streak of smoke floated in front of Jimmy's +eyes. The animal was not on the rock, but after a moment or two he saw +it rise from a thicket and go over some tangled branches a man's height +from the ground. Yet he thought the leap awkward and the deer came down +in the fern before it ought. His heart beat and he waited for another +shot, until he saw Deering a few yards off and remembered that their +cartridges were not numerous. Deering's body was firmly poised, his head +was bent forward and he balanced his rifle half-way to his shoulder as +if it were a gun. Jimmy knew he could use it like a gun. + +When the deer broke from the fern at the edge of the tableland Jimmy did +not shoot. The animal's leap carried it across a clump of tall +raspberries, but it would vanish in a moment and the brush in front was +thick. Deering's rifle jerked, and the graceful body, carried by its +speed, plunged into the brush. Jimmy heard a crash and the deer was +gone. He thought it had gone over a rock and putting down his rifle he +ran. + +A minute or two afterwards he stopped at the top of a precipitous slope. +A stream, however, cut the mountain-side, and in places small trees were +rooted in the stones. A hundred feet below, the deer lay on a shelf by a +waterfall. + +"I think I can reach it," said Jimmy, and went cautiously down. + +They needed the venison, but when he had got down a short distance he +knew he was rash, for it looked as if the rocks on the other side of the +waterfall were perpendicular. Then, although he might perhaps reach the +shelf, to carry the deer back was another thing. + +Using the small trees for support, he got to a slab above the shelf. The +slab was wet and dotted by greasy moss, but a few cracks and small +stones broke its surface and Jimmy trusted his luck. When he came down +the ground shook and he saw the shelf was not, as he imagined, a solid +block but two or three large stones embedded in boggy soil. At one end +the cascade had scooped out a small basin and the deer's hind quarters +were in the pool. Jimmy seized its fore legs, and bracing his feet +against a stone, began to pull. He pulled hard, but although he felt he +moved, the deer did not. Then his foot went down, and letting go the +animal, he threw himself back. + +The deer rolled over and vanished. Water splashed, and Jimmy saw the +stones plunge down the face of the cliff. For a moment or two he was +rather angry than alarmed. They wanted the meat but the deer was gone. +Then he saw he ran some risk of going down the cliff and he began to +study the ground. Scratches on the stone indicated how he had reached +the spot, but he had let himself go because the shelf was in front. The +pitch was very steep and the rock was mossy. Not far off a small tree +grew in a crack, but he could not reach the trunk and rather thought to +try would send him over the precipice. + +He heard a shout and nailed boots rattled. Deering was coming down, +although he was not yet in Jimmy's line of view. After a time, Jimmy, +lying against the rock, turned his head and saw Deering had got hold of +the tree. + +"I'm anchored," said Deering. "Can you reach my hand?" + +The effort was risky, but Jimmy tried and Deering seized his wrist. +Deering pulled him up for a foot or two, and then stopped and gasped. + +"Jamb yourself against the slab; I've got to let go." + +Jimmy's boots slipped on the smooth stone and his hands were wet; he +could not get a proper hold and the moss was slimy under his knees. +Spreading out his arms, he let himself go slack and trusted his limp +body would not slip back. He could not now see Deering and did not know +what he did. After a moment or two he felt him seize his cartridge belt. + +"Use your knees. When I lift grab the tree." + +The cartridge belt got tight and Jimmy, using its support, reached the +trunk. His jacket felt slack, as if something were gone, but this was +not important and he heard Deering's labored breath. + +"Thanks!" he said, rather dully. "We have lost the deer." + +"We have used two shells," said Deering. "Let's get up." + +They got up, and at the top Jimmy put his hand to his waist. + +"Hello! Where's my belt?" + +"Now I think about it, when I held you up I felt something give. I +guess the buckle was pulling out. Well, we ought to see the brown +leather." + +They did not see it and Jimmy said, "All the cartridges I had are gone. +How many have you got?" + +"Twelve," said Deering, rather grimly. "Anyhow, I'm not going down +again." + +Jimmy nodded. He thought the belt had gone over the cliff. + +"I brought about six pounds of pork from the camp." + +"My load's flour, desiccated fruit, and a few cans of meat. Looks as if +we had got to eat salmon." + +"In the Old Country, one doesn't grumble about eating salmon," Jimmy +remarked. + +"Oh, well," said Deering, "I was raised in the bush and am not +fastidious, but if we can't get salmon, I'll be resigned. The trouble +is, since food's short we can't push back too far from the settlements. +Well, we must try to hit a creek." + +In the evening they came down to a small river and pitched camp on the +bank. The Indian cut and trimmed a straight fir branch, but left a fork +at the thinner end. Then he pulled out two cleverly-carved bone barbs, +which he fitted on the forks and fastened by sinews to the staff. + +"You could carry the business part of his outfit in your pocket," +Deering remarked. "I expect his folks have used barbs like that for a +thousand years. An Indian's tools are standardized, but when he thinks +them good enough he stops. All the same, I reckon he gets most as far +as a man can get alone. He's an artist, but we beat him by cooperating +to make machines. Anyhow, the fellow doesn't want you. Take a smoke and +let him spear a fish." + +Jimmy lighted his pipe and looked about. A few yards off, the current +splashed against the stones. The water was green, and the line of +driftwood and dead leaves on the bank indicated that the frost was +stopping the muddy streams from the glaciers. Some distance down the +river, the Indian balanced on a rock in a pool at the tail of a rapid. +For a time he did not move and Jimmy thought his quietness statuesque. +The fellow was like the herons he had studied with his glasses by a pool +on the Scottish border. Then his body bent and the spear went down. The +thrust and recovery were strangely quick and Jimmy rather doubted if the +man had moved. + +"It looks as if he missed his stroke," he said. + +"He's using a fir branch. An Indian spear is beautifully modeled," +Deering replied. + +A few minutes afterwards, the Indian bent backwards and a shining object +struck the bank. Coming to the fire, he put down the fish and Jimmy's +appetite was blunted. The salmon was lean and battered. Its color was +dull and its tail was broken. Rows of scales were rubbed off; the fins +were worn from the supporting ribs. + +"I'm not as hungry as I was. Are all like that?" he said. + +"It depends on when you get them," Deering replied. "A June steelhead, +fresh from the sea, is pretty good, but a salmon that has pushed through +to head waters in the fall is another thing. When you think about it, +the salmons' journey inland is remarkable. They bore against the autumn +floods when the melted snow comes down; they force tremendous rapids, +whirlpools, and roaring falls. Where the water's calm in the valleys, +eagles and fish-hawks harry them, and the mink hunts them in the +shallows. But they can't be stopped; they follow Nature's urge and shove +on across all obstacles for the distant gravel banks. Then they spawn, +where they were hatched, and the bears eat their spent carcasses. The +trouble is, I'm not a bear, but I've got to eat salmon." + +When the Indian had fried two or three thick steaks, Jimmy sympathized +with Deering. The flesh was soft and its taste was rank. For all that, +he thought if he had not seen the salmon he might have had a better +appetite. At the hotel he had eaten because his food tempted him; now he +ate because he must. By and by he threw down his tin plate. + +"I've had enough. If we can find a deer, we must risk another cartridge. +We have got twelve." + +"You can't reckon on getting a deer for every shot, and although, as a +rule, the deer are pretty numerous about the small clearings, in some +belts of back country you can't find one. I expect they're attracted by +the crops. In fact, the wild animals and large birds aren't much afraid +of the ranchers; they quit when the automobiles and city sports arrive." + +"But if we stop in the neighborhood of a settlement, the police may get +on our trail," Jimmy rejoined. + +"The police are smart and I allow they're obstinate. All the same, to +search the rocks from Banff to Revelstoke is a big job. You can give +yourself away by two things, shooting and smoke, but we can fix the +smoke and we're not going to shoot much. As soon as we hit a proper +spot, we'll build a shack." + +"By and by our supplies will run out." + +"That is so," Deering agreed. "In the meantime, we're baffling the +police. Just now I expect they're busy looking for our tracks, but they +have got other jobs and can't keep it up. Well, when we think they're +forced to quit, we'll find a plan----" + +He stopped and the Indian turned his head. A faint, hoarse bark came +from the distance and echoed across the valley. Jimmy jumped up and +looked about. The light was going and the pines were blurred. + +"A dog?" he said. + +"A timber wolf," said Deering. "He's not alone. I hear another." + +A howl, pitched on a high mournful note, pierced the gloom and Jimmy +shivered. The noise was strangely dreary. + +"Will the wolves bother us?" + +"I think not," said Deering and talked in Chinook to the Indian, who +nodded. "The fellow agrees," he resumed. "In North Ontario we watch out +for wolves when the snow is on the ground, but as a rule in British +Columbia they leave the ranchers alone. Sometimes they take a sheep; I +reckon that's all. The trouble is, they kill deer, and when the wolves +start hunting the deer pull out." + +Jimmy got down on his blanket by the fire. He felt the wilds were +daunting and to see the flame leap about the branches was some comfort. +Now and then a wolf howled in the distance, but by and by all was quiet +and he went to sleep. + + + + +XIX + +USEFUL FRIENDS + + +Breakfast was over and, although Jimmy would have liked another bannock, +he got up and strapped on his pack. Deering needed the bannock, for +flour was running out. A fire burned on the stone hearth and the little +shack in a corner of the rocks was warm. Jimmy did not want to leave it, +but he knew he must, and the Indian waited for him to start. + +They had not killed a deer and although they had shot two or three blue +grouse a blue grouse is not large. Sometimes one can knock down a little +willow grouse with a stick, but the willow grouse had recently vanished +and the Indian had caught nothing in his snares. In fact, it looked as +if all the birds and animals had gone south. Jimmy had eaten salmon +until he loathed the battered fish, but the salmon had begun to die. + +"Your load's not big," said Deering, "Have you put up all the food you +need?" + +"I've got all the food I'm going to take," Jimmy rejoined. "I can load +up at Kelshope, but you must wait until I get back." + +"Oh, well; but since I know the bush and might make better time, you +ought to let me go." + +"You're obstinate," said Jimmy. "I know Jardine and we want his help." + +"That is so," said Deering and gave him his hand. "Anyhow, you have got +the Indian and I expect he'll hit the shortest line. I wish you luck." + +Jimmy pulled up his pack and set off. Speed was important, for he +imagined he had left Deering a larger supply of food than the other +knew. Since he was going to Kelshope, he could get fresh supplies, but +Deering could not. Yet if he was longer than he calculated, it would be +awkward. Jimmy felt lonely and rather daunted. The shack was small and +rude, but the bark walls kept out the wind and in the cold evenings he +had liked to sit by the snapping fire. + +Now the trackless wilderness was in front, and he must get across before +his food was gone. He did get across, but he imagined the Indian's +inherited talents accounted for his doing so. Jimmy himself did not know +much about the journey. When he thought about it afterwards, he dully +pictured the fatigue and strain, the sharpening pinch of hunger and the +stern effort to push on. + +At length they came down the rocks one morning and saw his clearing in +the distance. Jimmy gave the Indian all the food he had, and telling him +to camp at the ranch, started for Jardine's. He was hungry and for a day +or two his side had hurt. Sometimes he was faint, and when he crossed a +stony belt he stumbled awkwardly. For all that, in the evening he +reached the split-rail fence at Kelshope. + +Jimmy knew how one pulled out the bars, but they baffled him and he +knocked down the crossed supports. In front of the house he stopped, for +a flickering light shone from the window and he saw Margaret sewing by +the fire. His broken boots and torn clothes embarrassed him, but he +braced up and went to the door. + +Margaret put down her sewing and her look was rather strained. Jimmy +leaned against the table and gave her an apologetic smile. His hair was +long, his beard had begun to grow and his face was pinched. His ragged +clothes looked slack and although he had given the Indian his blanket, +his shoulders were bent from weariness. + +"Oh, Mr. Leyland!" Margaret exclaimed in a pitiful voice. + +"To my friends, I'm Jimmy," he rejoined. "To know you and your father +are my friends is some comfort, because I'm going to use your +friendship. Besides, I rather think I don't look like Mr. Leyland." + +Margaret's voice was gentle and she said, "Very well, Jimmy! But where +have you come from?" + +"I started, about a week since, from our bark shack across the range, +but I don't know much about it. The Indian's at my ranch and can hold +out until the morning. I want to borrow some cartridges and food." + +"Why of course!" said Margaret and indicated a chair. "I'll get supper +ready. Father's at the depot, but we won't wait for him." + +Jimmy got into the chair; for he imagined he did not sit down +gracefully. The deerskin was soft and his head went back against the +rail. Now he was not forced to keep going, he knew he was very tired. +Margaret began to move about and by and by he asked: "Can't I help?" + +Margaret looked up with a smile. "No, Jimmy. I have not much use for the +help you could give." + +Jimmy was satisfied to rest. He was dull, but he liked to see Margaret +break up the fire and carry about the plates. She was very graceful and +he knew her sympathetic, but this was not all. After the lonely bush, +the ranch kitchen, lighted by the snapping flames, was like home. When +supper was ready it cost him something of an effort to pull around his +chair, and then for a time he tried to conquer his savage appetite. When +one was opposite an attractive girl one did not eat like a wolf. +Margaret knew the bush and smiled. + +"Isn't the food good? I really think I can cook." + +"My notion is, the best hotel cook in Canada could not serve a supper +like yours." + +"Very well," said Margaret "If you are polite, you will annoy me. What +did you eat in the bush?" + +"Salmon! When I see a river, I want to go the other way." + +"Oh!" said Margaret "You ate salmon now?" + +"When they began to float up on the stones, we stopped," Jimmy replied. + +Margaret was moved. She knew the trackless bush sometimes was cruel and +all who felt its lure did not return. Sometimes one, crossing a creek, +lost a load of food, and sometimes one's rifle jambed. Then, if the +march to the settlements were long, one starved. Jimmy had not starved, +but he was worn and thin. + +"The coffee's very good; may I have some more?" he resumed. "We used +green tea, because it's light and goes far; but I mustn't bother you +about our housekeeping. Do you know if the police have brought back the +game warden?" + +"They arrived some time since and put Douglas on the cars. A doctor went +with him----" + +"Then he's alive?" said Jimmy, with keen relief. + +"He was badly hurt, but that is all I know," Margaret replied. "Nobody +was allowed to see him----" She stopped and resumed with some +hesitation: "Mr. Stannard's packers stated----" + +Jimmy gave her a steady glance. "It looks as if I shot Douglas; in the +dark, I thought him a deer. You did not imagine I meant to hurt the +man?" + +"I know you did not," said Margaret in a quiet voice. + +"Very well. I must tell you all I know, but I'll wait until your father +arrives. Perhaps he'll see a fresh light. Sometimes I'm puzzled----" + +"You mustn't bother to talk," said Margaret. "Turn your chair to the +fire and take a smoke." + +Jimmy pulled out his tobacco pouch and frowned. Margaret saw the pouch +was flat and took a plug of tobacco from a shelf. + +"Wait a moment; don't get up," she said and began to cut the plug. + +For a few moments Jimmy watched her with dull satisfaction. She cut the +tobacco in thin, even slices; Jimmy had remarked before that all +Margaret did was properly done. Although it was nearly dark, she had not +got a light, and red and yellow reflections from the logs played about +the room. Sometimes her eyes and hair shone and her face stood out +against a background of shadow. Jimmy thought the picture charming and +when it melted he waited for the flames to leap again, but by and by it +got indistinct. + +"Give me your pouch," said Margaret and he tried to push it across. + +The pouch fell from the table and his pipe went down. His head leaned to +one side and found the chair rail, and he knew nothing more. + +Margaret heard his sigh and was quiet. Now sleep smoothed out the marks +of strain and fatigue, Jimmy's look was boyishly calm. He moved her to +pity, but he moved her to trust. Margaret was not a raw, romantic girl; +she knew the Canadian cities and she had studied men. If Jimmy had, +indeed, shot the agent, a strange blunder accounted for his doing so, +but Margaret doubted. She had some grounds to think the shot another's. +Then she got up quietly and carried off the plates. + +Some time afterwards Jardine came in and, seeing Jimmy, stopped and +turned to Margaret. It was typical that he said nothing, but his glance +was keen. Margaret smiled and in a low voice narrated all she knew. +Jardine nodded, and sitting down, waited until Jimmy's head slipped from +the chair rail and the jerk woke him up. He looked about as if he were +puzzled, and then said, "Hello, Mr. Jardine! I didn't understand your +sitting opposite me. I expect I was asleep." + +"Sure thing," Jardine agreed with a twinkle. "We have sortit the bit +back room for ye and ye had better go to bed." + +"I'm not going yet," said Jimmy. "I want a smoke, but my tobacco's run +out." + +Margaret gave him his pouch and he smiled, "The tobacco's yours, sir. +Miss Jardine is very kind. Well, I reckoned on her kindness, because I +want to borrow a quantity of truck, but we'll talk about this again. Do +you know where Stannard is?" + +"Stannard and his daughter are at the hotel," Jardine replied and looked +at Jimmy rather hard. "Maybe he feels he ought to stay until the police +have settled who shot warden Douglas." + +"But Stannard had nothing to do with it," Jimmy replied. + +"He was leader o' your party and, in a way, accountable. Maybe ye ken +Okanagan started for the bush soon after ye went?" + +"I didn't know," said Jimmy with some surprise. "Bob claimed he hadn't a +gun and I think he had not. Sometimes I'm puzzled, but I really think +the unlucky shot was mine." + +"The packers allood it was yours, although they werena sure how many +shots they heard. Can ye locate the others' stands?" + +"I tried, afterwards. In the evenings when we camped in the woods I +speculated about the accident," said Jimmy, and pulling out a few small +objects arranged them to indicate the spots the sportsmen had occupied. +"If you will imagine the table's the clearing, Bob posted us something +like this. Well, I expect the warden was going straight for my stand +behind the stump." + +"Ye're thinking aboot the bullet mark in front," said Jardine. "The +packers telt me aboot it. Did ye see the other mark?" + +"I did not," said Jimmy with a shiver. "When we carried Douglas to the +house I'd had enough. But I don't see where you lead." + +"If the mark at the back was at the middle, he was going straight for +you. Weel, I'll take a smoke----" + +He knitted his brows and for some minutes quietly studied Jimmy's plan +of the clearing. Then he said, "It's no' as plain as it looks, but the +packers reckoned two o' the police who went in with the doctor were +pretty good bushmen. We dinna ken what they think. Anyhow, ye're going +to sleep and ought to go to bed." + +Jimmy went and Jardine resumed his study. Margaret left him alone. In +Scotland her father was a poacher; in the Canadian woods his rifle +supplied the ranch with meat. One could trust his judgment about +shooting. By and by he looked up. + +"If Jimmy has fixed their stands right, it's possible he shot Douglas +and he reckons he did so. That's something; but he has a kind o' notion +he heard another shot. Weel, the lad's a tenderfoot. Maybe he was +excited and did not hold straight." + +"_Bob_ would not get excited and he can hit a jumping deer," said +Margaret. + +Jardine nodded meaningly. "I've thought aboot Bob! The warden was after +him and he lit oot. There's the puzzle for the police; three o' the +party quit!" + +"Mr. Deering went because he is Jimmy's friend," said Margaret. + +"Just that! Ye can trust the big fellow," Jardine agreed. "Then, if he +was where Jimmy puts him, he didna shoot. Stannard stopped and it looks +as if he had nothing to do wi' it; but I dinna ken. Stannard's no' a man +ye can reckon up, and a line from his stand would cut the warden's +track." + +"But the bullet mark----" + +Jardine smiled. "Jimmy, and maybe the trooper lad, would think that +fixed it, but he didna look where the bullet _cam' oot_. I wonder if +Stannard looked." + +"Bob is accountable," said Margaret obstinately. + +"Verra weel. Bob's in the rocks. Are ye for tracking the man?" + +"By and by he must come down for food. When he does come down we'll try +to find him." + +"Bob's a good bushman," Jardine remarked. "I alloo the police will not +hit his trail, but maybe he will not bother to watch out for us----" He +stopped and gave Margaret a thoughtful look when he resumed: "Bob would +reckon to find out who shot Douglas is no' our job." + +"The job is ours," said Margaret quietly, but Jardine thought the blood +came to her skin. She, however, got up and when she had put out the +plates for breakfast went to bed. + +In the morning Jardine gave Jimmy boots and clothes, and two days +afterwards loaded him with all the supplies he would carry. After +breakfast Jimmy strapped on his pack, but when he was ready to go he +hesitated. The loghouse was warm and home-like, and for two days he had +rested and enjoyed Margaret's society. Now he must plunge into the +wilds, he frowned. The snow was creeping down the rocks and a cold wind +wailed in the dark pine-tops. Then Jimmy turned to his hosts and forced +a smile. + +"You have given me all I needed; I knew you would see me out." + +"Sure thing," said Jardine. "In the bush, your friends' job is to see ye +oot." + +"You are useful friends," Jimmy replied with a touch of emotion. "All +the same, I feel I ought not to bother you; I ought to start for the +railroad and give myself up to the police. If Douglas was hurt by my +carelessness, I ought to pay." + +"You mustn't go yet," said Margaret firmly. "You don't altogether know +the carelessness was yours, and perhaps it was not. Somehow I think we +will find out." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "if you do find out the shot wasn't mine---- But I +doubt and the doubt weighs on me." + +Margaret smiled and gave him her hand. "Brace up and trust your luck! +Stop in the mountains until we send for you. Perhaps we will send for +you sooner than you think." + +Jimmy went down the path and joined the waiting Indian. He was +comforted, and when he plunged into the woods his moodiness was gone. +Margaret went back into the house and Jardine said in a thoughtful +voice, "Ye kind o' engaged ye'd send for the lad; but until ye satisfy +the police he's no' their man, he canna come back." + +"That is so. The thing is rather obvious," Margaret agreed and smiled. +"However, since I did engage to send for Jimmy, I must try to make +good." + + + + +XX + +BOB'S DENIAL + + +Not long after Jimmy's visit to Kelshope, Margaret one evening rode up +the trail from the station. Her cayuse carried a load of groceries, but +when she set off her object was not altogether to bring home supplies. +Wakening before daybreak, she imagined she heard the fence-rails rattle +at the corner farthest from the house. Sometimes a deer jumped the +fence, and when Margaret got up she went to the spot. She saw no tracks, +but some time afterwards found a footmark where the trail left the +clearing. The mark was fresh and she thought it was not made by her +father's boot. + +Margaret said nothing to Jardine. Had a stranger come down the valley, +he would have kept the smooth path, because in the dark the belt of +slashing that generally surrounds a forest ranch is an awkward obstacle. +Moreover, to account for a stranger's coming from the mountains was +hard. Had Jimmy returned, he would have stopped at the house; but Bob +would not and Margaret had undertaken to find Bob. + +When the Vancouver train rolled into the station nobody got on board, +but a police trooper came from the agent's office, and going along the +line, looked into the cars. Margaret had not remarked him before the +train stopped and thought his curiosity ominous. If Bob had stolen past +the ranch, he, however, had not tried to get on board and was hiding +somewhere about. Margaret was puzzled and resolved to stop at the hotel +and see Stannard. She admitted that her resolve was perhaps not logical, +because if Stannard knew more about the shooting than others, he would +not enlighten her. All the same, she meant to see him. + +Getting down where the wagon road went round to the front of the hotel, +she tied her horse to a tree and took a path across the hill. The trees +were thick, but the moon was bright and in places its beams pierced the +wood. In front and some distance above her, she saw illuminated windows +at the top of the hotel; then the terrace wall cut the reflection from +the drawing-room and rotunda. The high wall was in the gloom, but at the +bottom pools of silver light broke the dark shadow of the trees. +Margaret knew the steps to the terrace. Had she gone to the front door, +she must have waited at the office until a page brought Stannard, and +she thought she would sooner find him in the rotunda before he knew she +was about. + +She heard music in the drawing-room and somebody on the terrace talking, +but the wall was high and when the music stopped all was quiet. In the +woods one lifts one's feet with mechanical caution and Margaret was a +rancher's daughter. Her advance was noiseless, but at a bend of the path +she stopped. + +A few yards off, a man stood under a tree. His back was to Margaret, but +the dark object across his shoulder was a slung rifle and she thought +she knew him. Stannard leaned against a trunk opposite. He wore dinner +dress and a loose light coat. He was in the moonlight, and when he shook +his head Margaret thought his smile ironical. The other's pose was stiff +and his fist was clenched. Margaret put her hand in the pocket of her +deerskin coat and then moved a branch. The man turned and his hand went +to his rifle. Margaret heard the sling rattle. + +"You don't want your gun, Bob; I know you. Besides, I've got a pistol," +she said. + +Bob swore softly and Stannard lifted his hat. + +"Aren't you rather theatrical, Miss Jardine? I imagined gun pulling was +out of date." + +"Bob's theatrical; but he's _slow_," Margaret rejoined, and although her +heart beat her voice was steady. "I haven't yet pulled my gun." + +"It looks as if you had better leave yours alone," Stannard remarked to +Bob. + +Bob's face got very dark, but Stannard smiled. + +"Did you want to see me or the other, Miss Jardine?" + +"I want to see Bob first, but you may remain," said Margaret and gave +Bob a searching glance. "Who shot warden Douglas?" + +"I did not, anyhow," Bob replied fiercely. "I hadn't a gun and when I'd +fixed the others I put out my lamp. I'd no use for using the pit-light. +The fool plan was Deering's." + +"All the same, you quit!" + +"I sure quit. Somebody shot Douglas and the police knew he'd got a pick +on me. They'd got to put the shooting on one of the gang." + +"Perhaps it's important the police knew you had a pick on Douglas," +Stannard remarked. + +"For all that, I didn't use my gun," Bob rejoined. + +Margaret pondered. As a rule, Bob was marked by a rather sinister +quietness, but now he talked with something like passion. He had stepped +forward and a moonbeam touched his face. Margaret thought he knew, but +he did not move out of the light. Somehow she felt she must believe his +statement. Then Stannard turned to her. + +"Perhaps it's strange, but I rather think he speaks the truth." + +"If you did not use your gun, who did shoot Douglas?" Margaret resumed, +looking at Bob. "I want to know. A trooper's watching the station, and +if I shout, the hotel clerk will call him on the 'phone." + +Bob's passion vanished and Margaret thought his calm ominous. + +"That's another thing! Looks as if Jimmy plugged the fellow. He sort of +allowed he done it and he started for the rocks." + +"I imagine Bob doesn't know," said Stannard. "Before you arrived he +implied that I was accountable and demanded a hundred dollars. In fact, +when he didn't get the sum he was much annoyed." + +"I was mad all right," Bob agreed. "My flour and tea's gone, and I can't +hire up about the settlements, but if I'd a hundred dollars, I'd try to +make the coast." He looked hard at Stannard and resumed: "Are you going +to help me get off?" + +"Certainly not," said Stannard in a careless voice. "I am not as rich as +you think, and to give you money would be rash, particularly when Miss +Jardine is about." + +Margaret pulled out her wallet. "I can give you ten dollars, Bob; but I +can shout to the people at the hotel. You know Mr. Leyland did not shoot +Douglas." + +"I sure don't know," said Bob and gave Margaret a haughty glance. "Put +up your wad; I've no use for your money. If you like, shout for them to +'phone the police." + +For a moment or two Margaret hesitated. She was persuaded Bob himself +was not accountable, but she thought this was all she would know. She +was hurt and humiliated, for now she had found Bob she had not helped +Jimmy much. + +"Shall I shout?" she asked Stannard. + +"To choose is your part. I rather think Dillon is on the terrace and two +or three athletic young sportsmen are at the hotel, but unless you are +willing to use your gun, I doubt if Bob would wait until the others +arrive. Then, although I don't know where Jimmy is, perhaps for the +police to search the neighborhood would have some drawbacks." + +Margaret turned to Bob. "Get off! If you come back, I'll send the +troopers after you." + +Bob went, and when he vanished in the gloom Stannard laughed. "I expect +your arrival disturbed the fellow. At the beginning, he tried to force +me to give him my wallet; then he took another line and hinted that +Leyland was the guilty man. Well, he has gone. Will you come back with +me and talk to Laura?" + +Margaret noted that he was not curious about her object for stopping at +the hotel, but she said, "I wanted to see you. What do you know about +the accident?" + +"I really don't know much, although I am persuaded accident is the +proper word. Jimmy thought the unlucky shot was his and when he resolved +to go off I agreed." + +"But you knew what the police would think about his running away!" + +"That is so," said Stannard coolly. "All the same, Jimmy was with me +when I killed the big-horn, and when Douglas found us at the old ranch +we were using pit-lights. One of our party shot him, and since we were +again poaching, it hardly looked as if the shot were accidental. Jimmy +is young and when he saw the risk he ran he was afraid. I thought he did +run some risk, but, if he could cheat the police for a time, we might +find a clue to the puzzle." + +Margaret remarked his frankness. Although she thought he did not know +Jimmy had stopped at the ranch, his arguments were the arguments Jimmy +stated he had used. Moreover, she admitted the arguments carried some +weight. + +"We have not yet found a clue," she said drearily. "Still, if the +warden gets better---- Do you know where he is?" + +For a moment or two Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "We can get no +news about Douglas, and perhaps we ought not to expect much from his +narrative. When you use a pit-lamp your hat-brim shades your face, and I +imagine all Douglas saw was the light. Yet the police's reserve is +strange." + +"Perhaps they know something we do not," said Margaret. "Well, my father +is waiting and I must not stop." + +She went off and Stannard went up the steps to the hotel. In a corner of +the veranda Dillon talked to Laura, and Stannard remarked the smile she +gave the young man. Stannard knitted his brows and did not stop. In some +respects, the marriage would be good, but it was not the marriage he had +wanted Laura to make. All the same, Jimmy was obviously satisfied with +the bush girl and Stannard thought she loved him. Well, he had done with +Jimmy. + +When Margaret got down at the ranch she went to the kitchen and sat by +the fire. For a time she said nothing and Jardine quietly smoked his +pipe. Then she looked up with a frown. + +"I found Bob," she said. "He was talking to Mr. Stannard outside the +hotel." + +"In the trees, I'm thinking! Did he tell ye much?" + +"He declared when they used the pit-lights he had not a gun and somehow +I think he hadn't." + +"Maybe!" said Jardine, with some dryness. "Was it all ye got?" + +"That was all. I'm not as clever as I thought. Bob wanted Mr. Stannard +to give him a hundred dollars." + +"Ah!" said Jardine. "Weel, I expect ye see----" + +"Stannard _laughed_. It was plain he was not at all afraid of Bob." + +"Stannard's no' a fool," Jardine remarked. + +"I thought his carelessness sincere. Besides, Bob soon afterwards +implied that Jimmy hit Douglas. I imagine Bob really doesn't know who +did use his gun." + +"It's possible," Jardine agreed. "My notion is, Jimmy had better keep +the woods. In the meantime, I've no use for Bob's hanging round the +ranch." + +"Bob will not bother us; I don't think he'll bother Mr. Stannard again," +said Margaret and got some sewing. + + + + +XXI + +DEERING'S EXCURSION + + +Rain beat the bark roof and heavy drops splashed on the floor. Sometimes +a gust of wind swept the window opening and smoke blew about, but on the +whole the shack was dry and warm. Jimmy thought they had made a good +job, and sitting by the fire, he tranquilly smoked his pipe. The Indian, +opposite him, plaited a snare; Deering studied a card problem in an old +newspaper. + +"The game's pretty good, but I soon got on to it," he said. "When you +locate the bower---- Come across and I'll show you." + +"No, thanks," said Jimmy, smiling. "To know where the bower is, is +useful, but sometimes you don't know and a ten-spot knocks you out. +Things are like that. Anyhow I've not much use for cards." + +"You were keen. I reckon your keenness cost you something!" + +Jimmy nodded. "That is so; but I really think I wanted to satisfy my +curiosity. I wanted the thrills others seemed to get, and I experimented +with cards and two or three expensive sports. Now I feel I'd sooner +build a shack than win a pot of money on a first-class race. The strange +thing is, when I was at the cotton mill and Dick wanted me to study the +machinery, I was bored." + +"I expect he tried to force you," Deering remarked. "When one is young +one doesn't study the things others think one ought----" He frowned and +jerked his head. "Another blamed big drop on the back of my neck!" + +"When the rain stops I'll mend the roof," said Jimmy. "The shack's a +pretty good shack and two or three slabs of bark will cure the leak. +Then I must get some green clay and flat stones for the chimney." + +"You talk as if you meant to remain in the rocks!" + +"It looks as if I might have to stay for some time." + +Deering shook his head. "In a proper cold snap you want double windows, +but we have got a hole. Then I've not much use for a blanket door. When +the frost begins we have got to quit." + +"But where can we go?" + +"I don't know yet; I have thought about your ranch. Jardine stated the +police had searched it, and I reckon they won't come back. However, +we'll talk about this again. I think Miss Jardine gave you a needle and +thread?" + +Jimmy said Margaret had done so and inquired why Deering wanted the +thread. + +"We can't get out and I guess I'll sew my clothes for you. In the +morning I'm going to use Jardine's." + +"But why----" Jimmy began. + +Deering indicated his torn shooting-jacket, ragged knickerbockers, and +soil-stained puttees. + +"I must start for Vancouver, to look up a fellow who has got some money +of mine. Then I want to find out if the police have cured Douglas and +what they are doing. If I wore my clothes, people would speculate about +the dead-broke sporting guy." + +"Jardine's clothes are not very good; I've worn them for some time in +the bush. Then I expect you'll find them tight." + +"They're a rancher's clothes and I don't mind looking like a bushman. In +fact, until I make Vancouver, the part will go all right." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. Perhaps he had thought too much for himself, +but he owned he did not want Deering to leave him. + +"Well," he said, "I mustn't grumble. But will you be long?" + +"When I've fixed my business and found out something useful I'll come +right back," Deering replied and threading the needle began to sew. "I +was raised in the bush and the small homesteaders are a pretty frugal +lot. They don't throw away their old clothes." + +"When you reach the settlements, won't you run some risk?" Jimmy +inquired. + +"I expect the risk will not be altogether mine. So far as I know, the +police are not looking for me. The trouble is, I might put them on your +track; but so long as I'm steering for the coast this needn't bother us. +I don't want them to hit my trail when I'm coming back. Well, I'm pretty +big to hide, but if they are after me, they'll watch out for a city +sport, not a bushman." + +In the morning Deering started, and after a strenuous journey reached a +small station some distance from the hotel. He did not buy his ticket +from the agent; the conductor would supply him, and when the long train +rolled in he got aboard. The porter was making up the second-class +berths and when Deering got his he went to bed. So far, his luck was +good, but after he had slept for five or six hours he began to doubt. + +A savage jolt threw him against the curtain, and the thin material tore +from the rings. Deering went through, but came down like a cat on the +floor. The brakes jarred and startled passengers ran about. For the most +part, they did not wear their proper clothes, but when Deering went to +bed he wore all his and he pushed through a group that blocked the +vestibule. The train stopped and from the platform he saw a leaping +pillar of flame and reflections on rocks and trees. The white beam from +the locomotive headlamp melted in the strong illumination, and moving +figures cut the dark background. The picture was distinct and vivid like +a scene from a film, until a cloud of steam rolled across the light and +all was blurred. + +Deering heard hammers and the clang of rails. A construction gang was +obviously at work and he imagined a trestle had broken or perhaps +another train had jumped the track. When he waited at the station, he +had not tried to hide himself; to do so was risky, since he imagined the +police had warned the agent to study the passengers. If the agent had +remarked him, the delay would be awkward and he wondered whether the +telegraph wires were broken. + +Jumping down, he went along the track and stopped in the strong light a +blast-lamp threw across a gap. The road-bed was gone and a great bank of +stones and snow rested on the hillside. Bent rails slanted into the hole +and a broken telegraph pole hung by the tangled wires. Shovels rattled +and a gang of men threw down soil and stones. Deering stopped one. + +"How long is it since the land-slide cut the track?" + +"About two hours since we got the call." + +"Then, they rushed you up pretty quick. I expect you got the call by +wire?" + +The other indicated the broken post. "Wires went when the track went. +The section man came for us on a trolley; we're grading for a new bridge +a few miles down the line." + +"Are you going to be long filling her up?" + +"Three or four hours, I reckon. The boys are loading up the gravel +train. But if the boss spots me talking, I'll get fired." + +Deering pondered. If the agent had been warned to look out for him, the +fellow had had time to telegraph before the wires broke, and the police +could arrange to watch the stations or put a trooper on board the train. +Deering did not think they had a warrant for his arrest, but they would +try to use him in order to get on Jimmy's track. There was not much use +in leaving the train, because he would be spotted when he boarded +another. He resolved to go back to his berth and soon after he did so he +went to sleep. + +In the morning the train started. Deering got a good breakfast at a meal +station and afterwards occupied a corner of a smoking compartment. Sleep +and food had refreshed him and his mood was cheerful. He admitted he was +perhaps ridiculous, but he had begun to enjoy his excursion; Deering was +marked by a vein of rather boyish humor and to cheat the police amused +him. By and by he speculated about his object for going after Jimmy when +the warden was shot. + +Jimmy had plunged into the gully sooner than let him go, but perhaps +this did not account for all. Stannard had urged Jimmy to push for the +plains, although Stannard ought to know the lad could not cross the +mountains. Then he had indicated a line over the neck and Deering had +stopped Jimmy at the top of a pitch that dropped to a horrible crevasse. +The thing was strange and sinister, but Jimmy trusted Stannard. Deering +did not. He was intrigued, and felt he ought to see Jimmy out. + +After a time a police trooper came from the vestibule and stopped for a +moment at the door of the smoking compartment. His glance rested +carelessly on Deering, and then he went through into the car. At the +next station the policeman got down and went to the office. When the +train started Deering did not see him get on board, but people moved +about and the end cars were behind the water tank. + +In the afternoon, when he leaned back, half asleep, in his corner, the +trooper came in again. Deering did not move, but his eyes were not +altogether shut and he saw the fellow's glance was keen and fixed. In a +moment or two the trooper turned his head, and going into the vestibule, +did not shut the door quietly. Deering's curiosity was satisfied; the +police knew he was on board. + +Lighting his pipe, he looked out of the window. The train was speeding +down the lower Fraser valley. Orchards, fields with white snake-fences, +and wooden homesteads rolled by. The sun was near the hilltops and the +shadows of the pines were long. When they reached Vancouver it would be +dark and the trooper's duties would be undertaken by the municipal +police. The Royal North-West had nothing to do with the +British-Columbian cities; their business was in the wilds. + +Deering pulled out his watch. A short distance from Vancouver they would +stop at a junction where a line for Washington State branched off, but +his business was not in Washington. + +Fast steamers sailed from Vancouver for the ports on Puget Sound, and +since the police would expect him to go on board, he thought he saw a +plan. Some time after dark he went to the platform in front of the car. +A half-moon shone between slow-moving clouds and he saw vague hills and +sparkling water. Then the lights of anchored steamers began to twinkle +and sawmill chimney stacks cut the sky. Lights in rows and clusters +marked the front of a low hill, the cars rolled along the waterside, and +presently stacks of lumber blocked the view. Then the whistle screamed, +the brakes jarred, and the passengers began to push out from the +vestibule. + +Deering jumped down and looked about. Freight cars occupied the tracks +and the dazzling beam from a locomotive's headlamp touched piles of +goods and hurrying people. Round the tall electric standards were pools +of light, but smoke and steam blew about the wharf and where the strong +illumination was cut off all was dark. Bells tolled, wheels rattled, and +the clang of the steamer's winches pierced the din. Her double row of +passenger decks towered above the wharf, and Deering joined the crowd at +the slanted gangway. He was willing for the city police to see him board +the steamer. + +At the top of the gangway a steward indicated the way to the +second-class deck, but Deering pushed by and went to the saloon. Since +he was playing a bush rancher's part, the police would expect him to +travel second class, and he must for a few minutes put them off his +track. As soon as the luggage was on board, the boat would start. + +For the most part, the people were on deck, and the spacious saloon was +quiet. Deering thought he did not look like a first-class passenger. His +hair was long, his hat was battered, and Jardine's rather ragged +clothes were tight on his big body. Searching the room with a keen +glance, he stopped, for a group of three people occupied a seat at the +other end. He wondered whether he ought to steal off, but Dillon jumped +up. + +"Why, it's Deering!" he exclaimed. + +Laura started and her companion turned. Deering imagined the lady was +Mrs. Dillon and he crossed the floor. Dillon's surprise was obvious, but +he gave Deering his hand. + +"We have been bothered about you for some time and it looks as if you +had got up against it. But where's Jimmy?" + +"Jimmy's at the shack we built in the rocks. What about the warden?" + +"We can get no news. I imagine the police are hiding the fellow." + +"Why did you leave Jimmy?" Laura interrupted, and Deering saw she did +not altogether trust him. "Has he food and proper clothes? If he is in +trouble, we must try to help." + +"That is so," said Dillon. "If Jimmy wants me, I'll get off the boat." + +"Jimmy's clothes are worse than mine, but he doesn't particularly want +your help. I pulled out because I must transact some business, and I've +pretty good grounds to imagine the police are on my track." + +"I expect we'll sail in a few minutes," said Dillon. "Do you think the +police know you got on board?" + +Deering glanced at the others. He thought Laura imagined he had meant +to join them and she was not yet satisfied. Mrs. Dillon was frankly +annoyed. + +"So long as they don't know I got off again, it's not important," he +replied. + +"Are you going to get off?" + +"Certainly," said Deering and turned to Laura with a twinkle. "The trick +is not remarkably fresh, but since the police reckon I'm bound for the +United States, it ought to work. You see, Jimmy's my friend, and when +I've put across my business I'm going back." + +Laura gave him her hand. "I didn't know--I wish you luck! When you think +we can help, you must send us a letter." + +The whistle blew, a bell rang, and people began to enter the saloon. + +"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said Deering and crossed the floor. + +He went along an alley and through the second-class saloon to the deck +in front. The steamer's bows were in the gloom and a number of +wharf-hands hurried down a plank. Deering joined the row and followed +the men to a cargo shed. The shed was dark, but the sliding doors on the +other side were open and he crawled under a freight car and crossed the +track. A minute or two afterwards he stopped. So far as he could see, +nobody but a few train-hands were about; the steamer had swung away from +the wharf and was steering for the Narrows. Deering laughed and went up +the hill behind the water-front. + + + + +XXII + +DEERING TAKES COUNSEL + + +A Canadian hotel is something of an inexpensive club. People who sleep +elsewhere come for meals, and a number come to smoke and talk. In +Western towns their manners and clothes are marked by sharp contrasts, +but so long as they observe a few primitive rules, nobody inquires if +they are customers of the house. + +In consequence, when Deering stopped in front of an ambitious building +he was not at all embarrassed. The noise he heard indicated that the +rotunda was occupied, but while some of its occupants were, no doubt, +important citizens, he expected to find lumbermen and miners from the +bush whose clothes were like his. Pushing round the revolving doors, he +went in, waited until he saw the clerk was engaged, and then went +upstairs. A noisy electric elevator was running, but Deering thought he +would not bother the boy. + +On the second landing he opened a door. An electric lamp threw a strong +light about the room, and a gentleman leaned back in a hardwood chair +and rested his feet on the ornamental radiator. He was dressed like a +prosperous citizen, and he gave Deering a keen glance. + +"Hello!" he said. "Have you been in the woods?" + +"Looks like that!" said Deering. "I want a razor and a bath; then I +want a suit of clothes, the biggest standard size. I doubt if the clerk +and bell-boys saw a bushman come up, but if they did so, I'd sooner they +didn't see him come down." + +"I can fix you," said the other, smiling. "All the same, I expect you +must get a barber to finish the job." + +When Deering used a glass he admitted that his friend's remark was +justified, but so long as he looked like a wild man from the woods, to +recline, wrapped in a white sheet, in a barber's front window had +obvious drawbacks. As a rule, a North American barber carries on his +occupation as publicly as possible. He got a bath, and when he returned +to his friend's room Neilson gave him a cigar and they began to talk. + +"Very well," said Neilson, "I can get the money for you and will soon +fix up the other matters. I have sent for some clothes and booked your +room. But you look as if you'd hit some adventures in the woods, and I'd +rather like to know----" + +"Perhaps you noted something in the newspapers about a game-warden's +getting shot?" + +"The _Colonist_ printed a short paragraph; I imagined the police edited +the story. Old man Salter knows his job, although the shooting was on +the Royal North-West's ground. Anyhow, the tale left you to guess. But +were you in it?" + +"Sure thing," said Deering, dryly. "I'll tell you----" + +When he finished his narrative, Neilson knitted his brows. He was +frankly an adventurer, but he had his code and Deering trusted the +fellow. Moreover, Neilson knew men, and particularly men who lived by +exploiting others' weaknesses. + +"I'm not a hunter. We'll cut out the shooting and concentrate on the +gang," he said. "I want to get Stannard right. His occupation's ours?" + +"Something like ours," Deering agreed. "We play a straight game, because +we know a straight game pays; I've spotted Stannard using a crook's +cheap trick. But he doesn't bet high at cards. His line's financing +extravagant young suckers." + +"Then, he's rich?" + +"I think not. Not long since he wanted money. My notion is, he's got a +partner in the Old Country who supplies him. Stannard's something of a +highbrow and a smart clubman. He has qualities---- I rather like the +fellow, although I know him." + +"What about the girl? Does Stannard use her?" + +"Not at all," said Deering. "Miss Laura's straight; I doubt if she +really knows her father's occupation. Maybe she's ambitious and +calculating, but she's not his sort." + +"Is Leyland much in Stannard's debt?" + +"Stannard's an expensive friend; but I guess he wanted Jimmy for Laura +and didn't take all he might. Still I expect Jimmy owes a useful sum, +and Laura's going to marry Dillon." + +"Ah," said Neilson, "perhaps that's important! I reckon Stannard has got +Leyland insured?" + +Deering nodded. He saw where Neilson's remarks led and on the whole +agreed. He had given the fellow his confidence because he wanted to see +the arguments another would use. + +"Well," resumed Neilson, "what about Dillon and your guide?" + +"Dillon was not in the woods. I don't know much about the guide. Bob's a +queer fellow and is not all white. Then he has a pick on Jimmy. I reckon +he took a shine to the rancher's daughter who is now Jimmy's girl." + +"Jealousy bites hard, and I wouldn't trust a breed," Neilson remarked. +"Well, perhaps we have got Bob's object; let's study Stannard's. +Leyland's wanting the ranch girl wasn't in his plan, and when he knew +Miss Stannard meant to marry Dillon he'd make another. Leyland owes him +much, can't pay yet, and is insured. Let it go in the meantime, and +weigh another thing. Leyland doesn't altogether know if he shot the +warden, but if he did shoot him, he thought him a deer. All the same, he +pulled out! Is the boy a fool? Is his nerve weak?" + +"Jimmy's clean grit," said Deering. "Still he is a boy." + +"Then it's possible he got rattled. Suppose when he was rattled an older +man he trusted put it up to him that he ought to light out? The kid +wouldn't ponder; he'd start." + +"That is so," said Deering. "Stannard did talk like that." + +Neilson shrugged meaningly. "Very well! I'm through with my argument. If +we could find warden Douglas, he might tell us something useful. I'll +try." + +Deering thought the plan good. Neilson was a gambler, but his word went; +in fact, Deering imagined it sometimes went with the police. Neilson +knew the half-world, and now that he had undertaken an awkward job +strange helpers would be put to work. + +When he had lighted a fresh cigar he resumed: "I don't see _your_ object +for hiding in the woods." + +"Sometimes I'm romantic; you don't know me yet," Deering said, and +laughed. "Jimmy's my pal; when I came near getting a fall that would +have knocked me out, he held me up. Then I was born a bushman and the +bush calls. I like it in the woods and I'm keen about the detective +game----" He stopped and went on in a thoughtful voice: "The strange +thing is, when Jimmy went over the rocks, Stannard went after him. Snow +and stones were coming down, but he stayed with the kid." + +"That was when it looked as if Miss Stannard would marry your pal!" said +Neilson meaningly. "Well, I wouldn't bother about the police. _Watch out +for Stannard----_" + +Somebody knocked at the door and Neilson, getting up, came back with a +parcel. + +"Your clothes," he said. + +Deering put on the clothes and packed up Jardine's to be thrown into the +harbor. For a few days he stopped at the hotel, and then Neilson +admitted that his inquiries about Douglas had not carried him far. + +"We know where he is and he's very sick, but that's all," he said. "The +police mean to use him and he can't be got at." + +"Then, I'll start for the woods," said Deering. "The trouble is to hit +the proper line. It's possible the police are willing to leave me alone, +but I mustn't help them get on to Jimmy." + +In the morning he started for New Westminster, although this was not the +line to the mountains. At Westminster he vanished in the meadows along +the Fraser, and after a time turned north into the woods. In order to +rejoin Jimmy, he must follow the great river gorge, and at Mission he +risked getting on board the cars. Nobody bothered him, and at length he +labored one evening up the rugged valley in which was the shack. He had +bought a skin coat and carried a heavy pack, but he was not warm. The +sky was dark and threatening, the ground was hard, and a bitter wind +shook the tops of the stiff pines. Deering thought snow was coming and +pushed on as fast as possible, until he saw a gleam of light. + +A big fire threw a cheerful glow about the shack and Jimmy occupied a +pile of branches by the snapping logs. He had pulled a blanket over his +shoulders, but when he heard Deering's step he jumped up. Deering +dropped his load, straightened his back and looked about. + +"Where's the Indian?" + +"He's gone," said Jimmy. "I expect he had enough. In fact, I'd begun to +feel I'd had enough, and when I heard your step my relief was pretty +keen." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "Let's get supper and then we'll talk." + +When he had satisfied his appetite he narrated his adventures and his +meeting Laura and Dillon. + +"If you want Frank, he's your man and he might be useful," he remarked. +"Then I reckon Miss Laura's willing for him to help. Your friends are +good." + +"That is so," said Jimmy, looking at Deering hard. "My friends are +better than I deserve. But what about Douglas? Did you find out much?" + +Deering admitted that he did not, but when he talked about Neilson he +used some caution. Since Jimmy trusted Stannard, there was no use in +trying to warn him; some time he would get enlightenment. + +"On the whole, I think the police knew I was at Vancouver," he said. +"Their plan was to hit my trail when I started back. I don't expect they +did so, but it's possible. Anyhow, now the Indian's gone, and a cold +snap threatens, we have got to quit. My plan's to start for your ranch." + +"The ranch is not far from the railroad." + +"Its being near the track has some advantages. Since the police searched +the spot, I guess they're satisfied. Then we want food, and packing +supplies for a long distance is a strenuous job. The Indian could move a +useful load, but to carry fifty pounds across rocks and fallen trees +makes me tired." + +"A rifle, a blanket, and twenty pounds is my load," said Jimmy and +resumed in a thoughtful voice: "Yet I started for the plains----" + +Deering used some control and let Jimmy's remark go. + +"You could not have made it," he said quietly. "But what about our +jumping off?" + +"We'll talk about it again," Jimmy replied. "I suppose we must go, but +now you're back, I don't want to bother. You brace me up. Until I heard +your step, I felt down and out." + +He threw fresh wood on the fire, and soon afterwards they went to sleep. +Jimmy's sleep was broken, and when he woke at daybreak he shivered. He +did not want to get up, but he must fetch water. The kettle handle stung +his skin, the pools on the creek were frozen, and he saw the snow had +moved five or six hundred feet down the rocks. Rose-pink light touched +the high peaks and hoar frost sparkled on the pines, but the stern +beauty of the wilds was daunting. Jimmy wanted the deep valleys up which +the soft Chinook blew. + +When he went back, Deering was occupied at the fire. He looked up and +remarked with a twinkle: "The cold is pretty fierce. If we're going to +stay, you'll want a skin coat and another blanket." + +"When we have got breakfast we'll start for the ranch," Jimmy replied. + + + + +XXIII + +MARGARET TAKES A PLUNGE + + +For a time Jimmy was not disturbed at the ranch. On the high rocks the +frost was keen, but in the deep valley a gentle wind from the Pacific +melted the snow. Jimmy dared not order sawed lumber, but Jardine got him +a door and windows and the house was warm. Sometimes he went shooting +and sometimes he went to Kelshope. Jardine was friendly, but when the +rancher had gone to look after his stock Jimmy was resigned. To sit by +the fire and talk to Margaret was a delightful occupation. + +At the beginning he had remarked her beauty, but now he knew beauty was +not all her charm. Margaret was clever; she saw his point of view, and +when she did not agree her argument was logical and keen. Then she was +proud and fearless, and he sensed in her something primitive. Margaret +was his sort and sprang from stock like his. Yet he felt her physical +charm. Her eyes were sea-blue, and in the firelight her hair was like +red California gold. She had a bushman's balance, and her unconscious +pose was Greek. Although she was frank, with something of a great lady's +frankness, Jimmy soon knew her fastidious. + +But for his part in the shooting accident, his satisfaction would have +been complete. It looked as if the police had resolved to leave him +alone, and Deering had made one or two excursions to the cities, but +Jimmy doubted. He knew the Royal North-West do not forget. Moreover, +somebody shot Douglas, and on the whole he thought he had done so. +Sometimes he wondered whether he ought to go to Kelshope, but all the +same he went. + +When Deering was at Calgary, Margaret one afternoon rode home from the +station as fast as possible. At the ranch she took down the load of +groceries but left the horse tied to a post. Jardine was by the fire and +had pulled off his boot. In the morning he had cut his foot with his ax. +He gave Margaret a keen glance and saw she had ridden fast. + +"Weel?" he said. "Is something bothering ye?" + +"Two troopers and their horses came in on the freight train. I expect +they're looking for Mr. Leyland." + +"Ah," said Jardine. "Somebody has given the lad away." + +"Bob," said Margaret and her eyes sparkled. + +Jardine knitted his brows. "Maybe, but I dinna ken; Bob hasna been +around for long. Did the troopers saddle up?" + +"When I left, they were cinching on their camp truck. I thought they'd +soon start. Mr. Leyland can't come down the valley and Deering's not +with him. Where is he to go?" + +"If he could make Green Lake, Peter would put him on the Mission +trail." + +"He cannot make Green Lake," Margaret rejoined. "He doesn't know the +bench country and must start in the dark." + +"Jimmy must start soon. If he stays, the troopers will get him," Jardine +agreed, and indicated his cut foot. "Somebody must warn the lad, but I +canna gang." + +Margaret tried to brace up, for she had not reckoned on her father's +lameness. The strange thing was, Jardine had walked some distance to +round up his cattle. She must, however, weigh this again. Speed was +important and Jimmy was her friend; in fact, she had begun to think him +her lover. + +"You could ride the cayuse and carry the packs. If Mr. Leyland was not +loaded he could make a good pace." + +"The cayuse wouldna carry a weight like mine across the bench belt and +Green Lake's a two-days' hike. I canna walk; I doubt if I could get on +my boot," Jardine replied, and added with philosophical resignation: +"It's a pity o' the lad! I expect the police are noo on the ranch trail, +but I dinna see how we can help." + +Margaret clenched her hands. Somebody must warn Jimmy and her father +declared he could not. She looked at him hard and knew he could not be +moved. He gave her an apologetic glance and began to fill his pipe, as +if the thing was done with. Yet it was not done with. Margaret saw, +rather vaguely because she refused to think about it, all her going to +warn Jimmy implied, since if her help was to be useful, she must go +with him to Green Lake. For a few moments she hesitated, but she was +generous and her pluck was good. Then she turned to Jardine, who had +begun to smoke. + +"The police shall not get Mr. Leyland. I will go." + +"Verra weel," said Jardine. "If ye mean to gang, ye had better start. +Ye'll need to take some food; I'll get the saddle bag." + +He crossed the floor and Margaret remarked that for a few steps he went +lightly, as if his foot did not hurt. Then he limped, and when he got to +the door he stopped and leaned against the post. All the same, it was +not important and Margaret began to pack some food and clothes. Ten +minutes afterwards, she untied the horse and gave Jardine her hand. + +"Good-bye," she said in a quiet voice. "I don't know when I shall get +back." + +Jardine held the stirrup, she seized the bridle, set her mouth and +started the horse. When she vanished in the woods Jardine went back to +the house, rested his foot on a chair, and knitted his brows. He saw he +ran some risk, but he knew his daughter and thought he knew Jimmy. Jimmy +was a white man; Jardine, so to speak, bet all he had on that. + +Some time afterwards, Jimmy, cooking his supper, heard a horse's feet +and went to the door. He smiled, because he thought he knew the horse; +but Margaret was obviously riding fast and snapping branches indicated +that she had cut out a bend of the trail. When she got down her color +was high and the horse's coat was white. + +"Roll up your blanket and put the sling on your rifle," she said. "Then +I'll help you pack some food." + +Jimmy studied her with surprise. Her look was resolute, but he got a +hint of embarrassment. Then he saw a light. + +"Ah!" he said. "The police are on my track?" + +"Two troopers are riding up the valley. They may stop at Kelshope for a +few minutes. Where do you keep your groceries!" + +Jimmy opened a box, and Margaret picked out a number of articles. "Now +make a pack, because you must start at once for my cousin's at Green +Lake. I expect Peter will help you south." + +"But I don't know the trail, and it will soon be dark." + +"Make your pack! The police will arrive in a few minutes," Margaret +rejoined impatiently and turned her head. "There is not a trail. I am +going with you." + +"No!" said Jimmy with some embarrassment. "You're kind, of course, but +you ought to see---- If you start me off, I expect I can find my way." + +Margaret turned and fronted him. The blood came to her skin and her look +was strained. + +"You can't find the way and I can't go back. The police know I'm not at +the ranch, and if I start for home, I'll meet them in the valley. But we +mustn't talk. We must get off." + +Jimmy leaned against the table and frowned. Although his heart beat, he +hesitated. He knew Margaret's pluck and he loved her, but she must not +pay for her rash generosity. One must think for the girl one loved. + +"Suppose the police do know you warned me? It's awkward, but perhaps +that's all. Anyhow, I'll go down and meet them. Since I expect I shot +warden Douglas, I must bear the consequences." + +"Oh, but you are obstinate!" Margaret exclaimed and used Stannard's +argument. "It looks as if one of your party meant to shoot Douglas and +the police have not caught the man. They must catch somebody and they'll +try to fix the shooting on you. To join the chain-gang would be +horrible." + +"The thing has not much charm," Jimmy agreed and was rather surprised by +his coolness, but he was cool. "I don't know much about the police code, +but I rather think they'd stop at----" + +He heard a noise and Margaret turned. + +"I put up the rails," she said in a sharp voice. + +Jimmy went to the window and saw a mounted policeman pull down the +slip-rails at the fence and ride through the gap. Then he heard a quick +step and looked round. Margaret had got his rifle. The butt was at her +shoulder and the barrel rested against the doorpost. Jimmy saw her face +in profile; her mouth was set tight, her glance was fixed and hard. He +jumped for the door, but struck a chair and the collision stopped him. +The rifle jerked and a little smoke floated about the girl. + +When Jimmy reached the door he saw the policeman's horse stumble. The +trooper leaned back, tried to pull his foot from the stirrup, and fell +with the animal. Jimmy thought it rolled on him, but after a few moments +he crawled away from its hoofs. The horse was quiet and the man got up. +His movements were awkward and he looked dully at the house. + +Margaret pushed Jimmy back and put the rifle to her shoulder. A sharp +report rolled across the clearing, twigs fell from a quivering pine +branch, and the trooper vanished in the woods. Jimmy's hands shook, but +his relief was keen. + +"I expect his rifle's in the bucket under the horse and the horse is +dead," Margaret remarked. "I was forced to shoot." + +"Ah!" said Jimmy hoarsely. "I thought you had hit the man!" + +Margaret's pose was stiff, as if she braced herself, but she smiled. + +"He knows I shoot straight. Until his partner comes and helps him get +his rifle, he'll stop in the woods." + +"But perhaps the other's not far off." + +"He's at the ranch," said Margaret "He'd stop to see if you were about +and try to find out something from father. Father would keep him as long +as possible----" She stopped and turning her head resumed: "But the +first fellow knows a woman shot his horse. When I put up the rifle, he +was riding for the door." + +"I expect that is so," said Jimmy. "After all, you must go to your +cousin's. Let's start!" + +Margaret said nothing. When Jimmy brought her horse she got up and he +ran by her stirrup. For a time she went up the valley, and then turning +back obliquely through thin timber, pushed up a steep hill. Near the top +she stopped and Jimmy got his breath and looked down across the trees. +Dusk was falling and all was very quiet. Gloom had invaded the clearing, +but he saw a small dark object he knew was the policeman's horse. A thin +plume of smoke went up from his house; his fire was burning, and he +wondered when it would burn again. For a few moments he was moved by a +strange melancholy, and then his heart beat. + +"I hate to go away. If you were not with me, I think I'd stay and risk +it all," he said. "I was happy at the ranch; in fact, I soon began to +see I hadn't known real happiness before. At the beginning I was +puzzled, but now I can account for it. You were at Kelshope----" + +"Not long since you didn't want me to go with you," Margaret remarked. + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some awkwardness, "you hadn't yet shot the +policeman's horse." + +Margaret said nothing and he seized the bridle, pulled 'round the +cayuse, and forced her to look down. + +"Will you marry me at the Mission, Margaret?" + +She met his glance and hers was proud. "I think not, Jimmy. You are a +white man and mean to take the proper line. But I will not marry you +because I stopped the trooper." + +Jimmy threw back his head and she liked his frank, scornful laugh. "Now, +you're altogether ridiculous! Your stopping the fellow does not account +for my wanting to marry you. Soon after I got to work at the ranch I +knew I loved you, but I went to the mountains with Stannard and the +trouble began. So long as the police were hunting for me I dared not +urge you." + +"But now you urge me? It looks as if your scruples had vanished!" + +Jimmy let go the bridle and bent his head. "I suppose it does look like +that. All the same, I love you." + +Margaret leaned down and touched him gently. "You keep your rules, and +your rules are good. Perhaps it's strange, but I think a woman will +break conventions where a man will not. Still, you see, I'm proud----" + +"You are very hard," Jimmy rejoined. "Yet you ran some risk to warn me. +I know your pluck, but if you had not loved me, I think you'd have +stayed at Kelshope." + +"We'll let it go," said Margaret in a quiet voice. "There's another +thing; ranching is a game for you, but it's my proper work. Yours is at +the cotton mill. You're rich and your wife must be clever and +cultivated." + +"I haven't known a girl with talents, grace and beauty like yours," +Jimmy declared. "Then I'm not rich yet, the police are on my track, and +I may soon be a prisoner----" He looked up and added in a dreary voice: +"I admit it's not much of an argument for your marrying me." + +Margaret smiled "Perhaps you were not logical, but we'll talk about it +again, when we get to Green Lake. You mustn't talk now. I don't know if +the trooper would stop long at the ranch, and we must cross the hill +before the moon is up." + +She started her horse and they pushed on. An hour afterwards the moon +rose from behind a broken range, and silver light touched the stiff dark +pines. The high peaks sparkled; a glacier glimmered in the rocks, and +the mists curling up from the valley were faintly luminous. Jimmy smelt +sweet resinous smells and heard a distant river throb. The landscape was +strangely beautiful, but its beauty was austere. All was keen, and cold, +and bracing, and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's bridle, thought her charm +was the charm of the stern and quiet North. + + + + +XXIV + +JIMMY RESIGNS HIMSELF + + +The morning was calm and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's horse, turned his +head. Faint, sweet notes stole across the rocks and he knew the distant +chime of cow-bells. As a rule, the elfin music moved him. Where the +cow-bells rang, cornfields and orchards advanced up the valleys and man +drove back the forest, but Jimmy's satisfaction was blunted. For two +days Margaret and he had pushed through the quiet woods. In the cold +evenings they had talked by the snapping fire, but now the romantic +journey was near its end. + +After a few minutes Margaret stopped the horse. In front, dark pines +rolled up the hill and the long rows of ragged tops looked like the +waves of an advancing tide that broke against the rocks. Across the +valley, the sun touched the snow, and at the bottom of a broken slope a +lake sparkled. Jimmy saw its surface rippled, for a Chinook wind blew +and the frost was gone. Near the end of the lake a plume of smoke +streaked the trees. + +"Green Lake ranch!" said Margaret. + +For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. When they reached the valley he +thought the strange charm he had felt in the mountains would vanish; it +was too fine and elusive for him to recapture. Until they started for +Green Lake, he had not known Margaret. Cleverer than himself at +woodcraft, she had a man's strength and pluck. She did not grumble; she +was frank and not embarrassed. Yet a womanly gentleness marked her, and +she did not think for herself. Although her touch was light, Jimmy had +felt her control and took the line she meant him to take. In the +meantime they were not lovers, but partners in romantic adventure. + +"For your sake, I'm glad we'll soon reach your cousin's house," he said. +"I don't know if I'm glad for mine." + +Margaret smiled but gently shook her head. "You must play up, Jimmy!" + +"I have played up. Perhaps it's strange, but in the woods to be content +because we were pals was not hard. Now we'll soon reach your cousin's, +I'm not content, and one is forced to think----" + +"For a time you must think about beating the police; that's all," said +Margaret firmly. + +"It is not all," Jimmy declared. "When we went up the hill in the +evening, I asked you to marry me and you promised----" + +"I promised we would talk about it," said Margaret. "Before you start +from Peter's we will do so; but since you must start soon, we'll go on." + +Jimmy saw he could not move her, and they went down the hill. At the +ranch fence a man met them and took them to the house. When they went in +a woman got up, kissed Margaret, and gave Jimmy a smile. So far as he +could see, Mrs. Jardine and her husband did not think it strange he had +arrived with Margaret, and he was somewhat comforted, although he noted +that Margaret's color rose. Margaret knew her relations. They were +primitive, honest folk, and took it for granted Jimmy was her lover. + +"Sit right down. Dinner will soon be ready," said Peter Jardine. "How's +the old man? Give us your news." + +Jimmy narrated his and Margaret's adventures and, until he stopped, his +hosts said nothing. It did not look as if they were disturbed, but they +were bush folk and the bush is quiet. For all that, Jimmy felt they +owned themselves Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to +help him out. + +"The trapper's old shack is the spot for you," Peter remarked. "After +dinner we'll start. Margaret must stay with us." + +Margaret agreed, but Jimmy objected. + +"Margaret is going with me to the Mission. The police will soon arrive." + +"I reckon they don't know her, and they don't know how many womenfolk +I've got. When she puts on Sadie's clothes, she'll look as if she +belonged to the ranch. Maybe the police haven't found your trail; but we +mustn't bet on that." + +Margaret went off with Sadie and Jimmy speculated about their talk. By +and by he turned to his host. + +"I'm going to marry your cousin when she is willing." + +"Sure," said Peter. "You reckoned to get married at the Mission?" + +"That is so. So far, Margaret refuses." + +Peter knitted his brows. "Sometimes I don't see what Sadie gets after +and I sure can't calculate Margaret's notion. Women beat me. All the +same, it's plain she thinks you a white man, and Margaret's not a fool. +Now we'll let it go. Say, did you plug the warden?" + +"It looks like that," Jimmy replied. "However, if I did hit the fellow, +I didn't know I was shooting at a man." + +"Very well! You can't get down the main track to the coast, because the +police will reckon on your going there and watch the stations. I'd make +for the plains and then shove south for Montana." + +"That was Stannard's plan." + +Peter smiled scornfully. "You were to cross the rocks and carry your +grub and camping truck? Shucks! An old-time prospector might make it; +you could not. You've got to lie up at the trapper's shack until we look +about. Maybe we can fix it to ship you out of the mountains on board a +construction train that sometimes runs down to a station on the Calgary +side. Well, let's make our packs and catch the horse." + +They got to work and after the horse was caught, Peter turned back to +the house, but Jimmy stopped. "I must talk to Margaret for a few +minutes," he said. + +Margaret came out to him. Her look was quiet but he knew her resolute. + +"When dinner's over, Peter and I must start," he said. "You refused to +go to the Mission. I want to know what this implies." + +Margaret gave him a level glance. "Isn't it plain, Jimmy? You know my +father, and now you have met my relations. They are not your sort." + +"So far as I know, they're a remarkably good sort," Jimmy rejoined. +"Besides, in a way, I am their sort. My grandfather was a mill hand; my +father borrowed a small sum, and started with cheap machinery to spin +cotton at a little old-fashioned mill. He was frugal and laborious; in +fact, he prospered because he had your bushman's qualities. I have +loafed and squandered, but after a time I felt I'd had enough and began +to see I'd inherited something from the people who made Leyland's go. +Then, if we must talk about our relations, you don't know my uncle Dick. +Well, I've stated something like this before, but it's my reply to your +argument." + +"But you mean to go back to Lancashire, and when you marry your wife +ought----" + +"To begin with, I doubt if the police will allow me to go back. Then, if +I can't get you, I don't want a wife!" + +"Yet, not very long since, it looked as if you might be satisfied with +Miss Stannard." + +The blood came to Jimmy's skin, and to conquer his embarrassment was +hard. + +"I don't think you're kind. Well, I'm young and, until I met Stannard, I +was very raw. All I knew was the cotton mill, and I expect Laura +carried me away. But I was not altogether a fool; Laura Stannard is a +charming girl. The obstacle was, she saw I was not the man for her. Then +I did not know you." + +Margaret smiled, but her smile was gentle. "Perhaps I was not kind. +You're stanch and my experiment was shabby." + +"Your remark was justified. Anyhow, it's not important. If I can cheat +the police and get back to Lancashire, will you marry me, Margaret?" + +For a few moments Margaret was quiet. Then she said in a steady voice: +"Your cheating the police would not persuade me; in fact, somehow I +think they will find out you had nothing to do with the warden's getting +shot. The obstacle's not there. You are young, Jimmy, and you admitted +you were carried away." + +"One cannot carry you away," Jimmy rejoined. + +"I must think for you and for myself," said Margaret and Jimmy's heart +beat, because he saw her calm was forced. "Suppose your trustees did not +approve your marrying a girl from the bush?" + +"Dick Leyland might not approve; his habit's to be nasty, but mine's not +to bother about Dick. Sir Jim is head of the house and he's human. I +can't picture his not being altogether satisfied with you." + +"But you don't know!" + +Jimmy pondered. Margaret's firmness baffled him, but, from her point of +view, he saw she took the proper line. All the same, it cost her +something; she was highly strung, her color came and went, and her +tight mouth was significant. The trouble was, he dared not urge her very +hard. In the meantime, he must hide from the police and might be sent to +the chain-gang. + +"I want you, my dear," he said. "I'm selfish. If you marry me, I run no +risk, but you may run some. My drawbacks are rather numerous, +particularly just now." + +"Very well," said Margaret. "When you come back from the mountains, I +may perhaps agree. But your relations must approve and I don't yet +engage----" + +Jimmy advanced, but she stepped back and stopped him. Then he turned and +saw Mrs. Jardine wave to them from the stoop. + +Dinner was a melancholy function, and Jimmy thought his hosts disturbed. +They were Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to help, +but he pictured Mrs. Jardine's weighing the risk. Then he was bothered +about Margaret, for Peter's confidence that his wife could bluff the +police if they arrived before he returned did not banish his doubts. + +At length Mrs. Jardine got up and Peter and Jimmy went to load the +horse. By and by the rancher ran back for some tobacco and Jimmy moodily +fastened the pack-rope. Stooping by the horse, he thought he heard a +step, but did not look up, and a few moments afterwards he felt a hand +on his shoulder. Then an arm went around his neck and Margaret turned +his head and kissed him. He tried to seize her, but she slipped away +and stopped a yard or two off. Jimmy thrilled and his eyes sparkled. + +"Now I know when I come back you won't refuse me." + +"You don't know; I don't know," Margaret replied in a trembling voice. +"All the same, I love you, and you're going away----" + +Peter and Mrs. Jardine came out. The rancher seized the bridle and +called to the horse. Jimmy lifted his battered hat and they started +across the clearing. + +Three days afterwards, they stopped at a small stone hut, built against +the bottom of a great rock. On one side dark pines rolled up to the +walls, and a hundred yards off one could hardly see the pile of stones +was a building. Yet the small room was rudely furnished and the earth +floor was dry. They cut some wood, made a fire, and cooked food, and +after the meal lighted their pipes. + +"You have got an ax and a rifle, but if you run out of grub, Graham, the +section-hand on the railroad will put me wise," said Peter. "Tom's a +white man and his post's not far from the spot we crossed the line. The +trapper who lived here is dead and I reckon nobody but Tom and me knows +about the shack." + +"I expect I've got all I want, but I'm bothered about Margaret." + +"You don't want to bother. In the meantime, Margaret's my wife's sister +from Calgary. That's good enough for the police, and anyhow the Royal +North-West aren't city patrolmen. They reckon they're highbrow frontier +cavalry and I guess the trooper won't allow a girl held him up. You'll +stay put, until we see if we can ship you out with the construction boys +to the Calgary side. If that plan won't go, we'll push across the range +for the big park valley and try to run you south. I think that's all; +but if you want to send a letter to your friends, Graham will mail it +for you." + +After a time Peter knocked out his pipe and Jimmy went with him to the +door. When the rancher vanished in the woods and all was quiet Jimmy +leaned against the post and gave himself to gloomy thought. + +It began to get dark. The snow-veined rocks melted in the mist and the +pines were vague and black. In the distance a timber wolf howled and the +long mournful note emphasized the dreariness. In the rocks where Jimmy +hid at the beginning he had Deering's society and at the ranch he had +Margaret's and Jardine's. Now he was altogether alone in the savage +wilds. Going back to the fire, he threw on fresh wood, and although he +was not keen about smoking, lighted his pipe. + + + + +XXV + +THE CALL + + +Jimmy fastened his skin coat, and going to the door of the section-man's +hut, looked up the track. The railroad and an angry river occupied the +bottom of the gorge, but the water was low and a rapid throbbed on a +dull note. Jimmy knew its slack beat was ominous; the frost had stopped +the streams that not long since leaped out from the glaciers. + +He shivered, for the cold was keen and the coat he had got at Green Lake +was old. Besides, he was tired; he had started before daybreak from his +shack, but when he reached the railroad the moon was on the rocks. In +the shadow, the snow that streaked the mountain-side was blue; across +the gorge broken crags shone like polished steel and the small pines +growing in the cracks sparkled with frost. Not far off, a dark hole in a +slanted white bank indicated the mouth of a snow shed, but Jimmy knew +the stones and snow had come down the hill. + +When he looked up, his view on one side was cut by the top of a +precipice; it was like looking up from a deep pit. Farther along the +gorge, the rocks got indistinct and melted in the moon's pale +reflections. No track but the railroad pierced the mountains, although +the wide chain was broken by narrow valleys running north and south. +Jimmy had come up the line from the valley he occupied, and by another +some distance off one could reach Green Lake. The nearest station was +twelve miles away, at the end of Graham's section. + +Jimmy had arrived half an hour since, but had not found Graham, although +his stove was burning. Peter Jardine had stated he could trust the man, +who had begun to clear a ranch at Green Lake but had stopped when his +money was gone. In the mountains, ranching is a slow and laborious job, +and men whose means are small are forced at times to follow another +occupation. + +By and by a lantern twinkled at the mouth of the snow shed and a man +came up the track. + +"Hello!" he said. "I've got some news and wondered if you'd blow in, but +I wanted to take a look at the rock-cut before the freight comes +through. Did you make supper?" + +Jimmy said he had cooked some flapjacks, although he felt he ought to +wait until his host arrived. + +"Shucks!" remarked Graham. "Jardine's my neighbor and he allows you're +his friend. But the cold's fierce. Let's get in." + +They sat down by the stove and for a minute or two Jimmy was content to +warm himself and smoke. At the shack he had no light but the fire and +the long evenings were dreary. All the same, he was disturbed and with +something of an effort he said, "Well?" + +"Two troopers got off the west-bound at the depot and my partner, +Tellson, allowed they brought a lot of truck. Looks as if they meant to +stop around and search the neighborhood." + +"Ah!" said Jimmy. "I expect they know I'm about! Did they bring their +horses?" + +"Tellson saw no horses. If the boys were going to Green Lake, they could +ride. Besides, the other outfit went there not long since." + +Jimmy nodded. He knew the police had not bothered Margaret and he must +think for himself. The troopers not bringing their horses was ominous, +since it indicated that they were going to push into the mountains. The +valley in which he hid did not open to the track; to reach it one must +climb a mountain spur, but he imagined the police meant to climb. If +they found the mouth of the valley, they might reach the shack before he +knew, and if he got away, he must take the snowy rocks. + +"I expect Jardine hasn't yet arranged to send me out on board a train?" +he said. + +"Peter was trying to fix it; he had to wait until he met a construction +boss he knows; but he can't fix it now. The police will stop the gangs +and tally up the boys." + +"If they come down the line, to find out where I am won't take them +long." + +"Your chances don't look very good," Graham agreed. "If you could cross +the range to the park valley, you might get away south, but I doubt if +you could make it." + +Jimmy said nothing. He imagined Deering stated the range had been +climbed by some city members of the Canadian Alpine Club; but they, no +doubt, took packers to carry supplies and went when the snow-line was +high. For a lonely man to venture on the icy rocks was ridiculous. After +a few minutes Graham pulled out his watch. + +"The freight's making good time and when she's gone I must go up the +track to the piece the boys underpinned," he said. "I reckon I'll be +away an hour and you had better go to bed." + +Jimmy heard a rumble and went with Graham to the door. To watch the +great train come down the gorge would for a few minutes banish his +gloomy thoughts. Up the track, a streak of silver light touched the +rocks and trees. The speeding beam got brighter, and by and by dazzling +radiance flooded the gorge. The ground began to shake, harsh, clanging +echoes rolled across the rocks; one heard the big cars jolt and the roar +of wheels. Then black smoke swirled about the hut and the beam was gone. +In the dark, the banging cars rushed by, a blaze touched the snow shed +and went out, and the turmoil died away. + +Graham picked up his lantern and Jimmy went back to the stove. Lighting +his pipe, he pulled out Stannard's map and began to ponder. It was +obvious he must not stay long at the trapper's shack. Since the police +watched the neighborhood, he could not get food, and when they found the +way to the valley he would be driven back into the mountains. In fact, +he felt he ought to try for freedom now before his line of retreat was +cut, but he was tired and did not see where he could go. + +There was no use in stealing off along the track, because the station +agents were, no doubt, warned to look out for him. If he started before +daybreak, he might perhaps reach the trail to Green Lake, but Peter had +already run some risk for him and Margaret was at her cousin's. To go to +Green Lake would put the police on her track. + +Jimmy studied Stannard's map. Across the mountains behind the shack, the +park valley ran southeast and from its other end one could perhaps reach +the plains and the United States. Graham had stated Jimmy could not +cross the range, but Graham was not a mountaineer. Stannard was a +mountaineer and could get supplies and packers. Then Stannard was his +friend and perhaps owed him something. + +The adventure was daunting, but Jimmy resolved to try it. He must for a +few days risk stopping at the shack, and pulling out a blank-book, he +wrote a note. Graham would send the note and Stannard would, no doubt, +start soon after it arrived. Then Jimmy thought he ought to let Margaret +know his plans and he wrote another note. Putting the envelopes on a +shelf, he got into Graham's bunk. + +When Jimmy's note arrived at the hotel Stannard was at dinner. For the +most part, the guests had gone, but Mrs. Dillon had returned with Frank +and Laura, and a young man had joined the party. Stevens belonged to +the Canadian Alpine Club, and knowing about Stannard's exploits, had +cultivated his society. + +Stannard took the soiled envelope from the page and noted it had not a +stamp. + +"Who brought the letter?" he asked. + +"A freight brakesman gave it to our porter at the station." + +Stannard put down the envelope and resumed his dinner, but Laura said, +"The hand is Jimmy's. Aren't you curious?" + +"I am curious, anyhow," Dillon declared, and Mrs. Dillon looked up, for +she knew something about Jimmy's adventures. + +"If you want to read your letter, do so," she said to Stannard. + +Stannard opened the envelope and Laura remarked his thoughtful look. She +took the note from him and after a moment or two gave it Dillon. + +"Is it possible for Jimmy to get across?" Dillon asked. + +"I frankly don't know," said Stannard and turned to Stevens. "A young +friend of ours wants to try a rather bold exploit; he thinks he can +cross the Cedar Range and I could help. In summer, I wouldn't hesitate. +To venture on the snow-fields now is another thing." + +Stevens's eyes sparkled. He was young and enthusiastic, and to climb +with a mountaineer like Stannard was something to talk about. + +"Although I haven't long joined the club, sir, I went with Gordon when +he explored the Cascades from Rawden. If you go, I'd like to join you." + +"I don't yet know if I'll go or not," said Stannard and resumed his +dinner. + +Mrs. Dillon touched Laura. She was a large and rather quiet lady and not +marked by much refinement, but she was kind and sometimes firm. + +"I want to see that note," she said. + +Laura looked at Stannard and gave her the note. + +"The poor young man. He's surely up against it!" she exclaimed. "I like +Jimmy. If I was a mountain clubman, I'd feel I'd got a call." + +Stannard said nothing and Laura was quiet. She was disturbed about +Jimmy, but she knew her father. Besides, she thought Stevens curious. By +and by she looked at Dillon, who began to talk about something else. + +When dinner was over Mrs. Dillon joined another lady and Stannard went +off. Laura and Dillon remained at the table and Stevens saw they did not +want his society. He went away and Laura asked: "Do you think Jimmy can +escape?" + +"If he stops at his hut, I expect the police will get him," Dillon +replied. + +Laura frowned and looked about. The table was decorated by flowers from +the coast, and the electric light was reflected by good china and glass. +In the background were polished hardwood panels and carved pillars. The +spacious room was warm; all struck a note of luxurious refinement, but +Laura thought about Jimmy, cut off from his supplies, in the snow. + +Had Jimmy gone back to Lancashire, she admitted she might have married +him. He had refused and for a time his obstinacy had hurt, but she was +not revengeful and, since she had rather weighed his advantages than +loved him, she could let it go. She liked Jimmy and was moved by a +gentle sentimental tenderness. + +"Are you willing to help Jimmy, Frank?" she asked. + +"Why, of course! I thought you knew I mean to help," Dillon declared. +"Perhaps I was jealous about Jimmy, but now I'm sorry for him. All the +same, your father puzzles me. He's not keen." + +"I expect he knows the risk," said Laura thoughtfully, for Stannard's +hesitation was obvious. "Since he must lead the party, he feels he ought +not to be rash. Then if Jimmy got away across the mountains, I expect +the police would make you all accountable." + +"Oh, well, the job is awkward, although I expect we could put it over. +Suppose we look for Mr. Stannard?" + +Stannard was in the rotunda, and when Laura and Dillon advanced he +smiled. + +"You are young and romantic, but I am not. When one gets old one uses +caution." + +"I doubt if I am romantic, but I think Mrs. Dillon did not exaggerate," +Laura rejoined. "Jimmy is our friend and trusts us. His note is a call." + +"Sometimes deafness is not a drawback. I own I'd sooner not hear the +call." + +"But you mean to go?" + +"It looks as if I might be forced. Frank's resolve is rather obvious," +said Stannard with a resigned shrug. + +Dillon gave him a keen glance. Somehow he felt Stannard did mean to go, +but wanted to be forced. Frank thought it strange. + +"I feel we ought to help, and now Deering is not about, nobody but you +can lead us." + +For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "Very well, but if +we are going, we must start soon. We want packers to carry food and a +tent as far as possible, and I'd like a good mountaineer to help on the +rocks. The hotel guides are gone, but I expect the clerk knows where to +find them." + +"Grant lives at Calgary." + +"I think the fellow I want's at Revelstoke and he could get the train +that arrives in the morning," said Stannard, and pulled out his watch. +"We can send a night-letter and needn't use economy. I'll telephone the +station agent and give him the message." + +Frank knew Grant of Calgary was a good mountaineer, but he said nothing +and Stannard gave Laura a smile. + +"I expect you are satisfied." + +"You're as noble as I thought," said Laura. "I knew why you hesitated +and it wasn't for yourself. But I knew you would go." + + + + +XXVI + +DEERING TAKES THE TRAIL + + +Stannard was marked by a superficial languidness. Strangers thought him +careless and his humorous tranquillity had charm. For all that, when +speed was important he moved fast and after he telephoned to the station +he got to work. He packed rucksacks for his companions, got ropes and +ice-axes, and arranged with the hotel cook to put up a supply of food. +Then he sent a messenger for two or three half-breeds who carried loads +for fishing parties. Stevens helped and admitted that Stannard knew his +job. All he did was carefully thought about. + +After some time Dillon joined them and Stannard said, "It's awkward, but +Willmer at Revelstoke is engaged. However, he states he can send us a +useful man and we are to meet him at the station. He'll come by the +train in the morning and we'll get on board. We ought to reach the +railroad hut Jimmy talks about by dark and if the night is clear we'll +push on." + +"If the police are about the station where we get off, they may stop +us." + +"It's possible," Stannard agreed. "Still they don't know our object and +we must persuade them we are mountaineering tourists. Boast about your +climbing and the Canadian Alpine Club; Stevens knows their exploits. +All the same, I imagine the police are in the mountains. Well, your sack +is packed, and when you have got your snow-spectacles and the grease for +your skin, we'll stop for a smoke." + +In the morning the half-breed packers arrived and soon afterwards all +were ready to start. The hotel servants and three or four guests came to +see them go, but when the others strapped on their loads Stannard joined +Laura on the steps. + +"Well, we are going to Jimmy's help," he said with a smile. "Frank is +very keen, but as far as possible I'll try to see he does nothing rash. +To know your marriage is fixed is some comfort." + +Laura looked up quickly. Although Stannard's smile was kind, she was +vaguely disturbed. + +"When Frank wanted the wedding soon I thought you agreed rather easily. +I was satisfied to stay with you for some time." + +"Oh, well," said Stannard. "I'm afraid I haven't carried out my duties. +I'm a careless fellow and feel my daughter does not owe me much. +Although you have grown up beautiful and attractive, Nature and your +aunts are accountable. Then, you see, I'm getting old, and +mountaineering is my hobby. Sometimes one slips on an icy rock--" + +"You mustn't talk like that; it hurts," said Laura with a touch of +emotion. "You gave me all I asked for; you have always indulged me. Then +I urged you to go, and now I feel I ought not to urge. To be generous +in my way costs one nothing. I shall not venture on the rocks; I send +you." + +Stannard laughed, but Laura, studying him, was moved. Her father was +handsome and wore the stamp of high cultivation. Although he was not +young, he carried himself like an athlete. She knew his strength and +pluck and his gentleness to her. Now she thought him fine and +chivalrous. + +"You follow your heart," he said and kissed her. Then he pulled out his +watch. "But I must not be selfish and Frank is waiting." + +Dillon advanced and Stannard resumed: "Youth is romantic and sometimes +exaggerates. Laura imagines her generosity and yours accounts for my +starting on our adventure. Well, perhaps I'm slow and cautious, but now +and then one recaptures a touch of one's boyish rashness. However, I +mustn't philosophize. We must get off in a few minutes." + +"I'll join you on the trail," said Dillon, who remarked that Stannard +implied that he hesitated to go. Stannard had said something like that +before, as if he wanted others to note that the plan was not his. All +the same, it was not important, and Dillon took Laura's hand. + +Five minutes afterwards the party started. The packers carried the heavy +loads, the others the ice-axes, and Stevens and Stannard wore round +their shoulders coils of Alpine rope. Where the trail turned they +stopped for a moment and waved their hats, and then vanished in the +trees. + +Some time afterwards Laura saw a plume of black smoke roll across the +pines and stole off to her room. She did not want Mrs. Dillon's comfort. +Her father and her lover had started for the rocks, and if they paid for +their rashness, she was accountable. + +In the morning she got a jar, for a sergeant of the Royal North-West +Police arrived at the hotel. He was polite but firm, and Laura saw she +must brace up. Mrs. Dillon had gone with her to the rotunda and to know +she had her help was some comfort. + +"Mr. Stannard started for the mountains yesterday," the sergeant +remarked. "He took a quantity of camp truck and two of your friends. +Where did he go?" + +"I don't altogether know his line," Laura replied. "When you climb high +mountains you cannot make fixed plans. Much depends on the snow." + +"Well, I expect Mr. Stannard stated where he meant to start?" + +"Why, of course," said Mrs. Dillon. "He'd get off at the Green River +depot." + +The sergeant remarked her frankness, but thought she saw some frankness +was indicated, because for him to find out where the party had got off +was not hard. + +"Do you know Mr. Stannard's object? Our clubmen go for the rocks in +summer. His starting now was strange." + +Laura lifted her head and her look was proud. She thought she could play +up and the fellow must not imagine Stannard had gone to Jimmy's help. + +"My father is not a Canadian clubman. He's a famous Alpine mountaineer +and can go where others cannot." + +"Our boys are pretty smart," said the sergeant, smiling. "But are all +Mr. Stannard's party expert mountaineers? Mr. Stevens, for example? And +Mr. Frank Dillon?" + +"My son," said Mrs. Dillon, who saw the other had talked to the hotel +clerk. "Frank knows something about the rocks and belongs to a club that +explores the Olympian range. We're Americans." + +The sergeant bowed politely, but she resumed: "Mr. Stannard's English, +all the lot are tourists and I sure can't see what the Canadian police +have to do with their going off to climb your rocks. You're not going to +draw strangers to the country if you bother them like that." + +"Sometimes the police's duty is awkward," said the sergeant in an +apologetic voice. + +"The police have not much grounds to inquire about my father's +excursion," Laura remarked haughtily. "When he killed the big-horn he +did not know he poached on a game reserve, but he paid the fine and it +is done with." + +The sergeant saw her eyes sparkled and she was not playing a part. She +did not know all he knew, and he must not enlighten her. + +"Not long since Mr. Stannard went shooting with the pit-light, which is +not allowed, and the game-warden was shot." + +"My father did not shoot the warden; he stayed and helped the police." + +"Three of his party pulled out," the sergeant rejoined. "Maybe Mr. +Leyland could put us wise about the shooting and we reckoned Mr. +Stannard knows where he is." + +"Then you must wait for his return. If you found his track, I don't +suppose you could follow him on the rocks." + +"In the meantime, you're resolved not to help us hit his track?" + +"I don't know his track," Laura replied. + +The sergeant went off. He had talked to the hotel clerk, and although he +had not found out much from Laura, he had found out something. The girl +was persuaded Stannard had gone to help Leyland, and the sergeant +thought his plan really was to help the young fellow get away. In fact, +the sergeant thought he saw Stannard's object for doing so. + +Laura, however, was disturbed. She was anxious for Jimmy and knew the +risks Stannard ran in the mountains, but she imagined she had baffled +the sergeant and she resigned herself to wait for news. + +When the next train for the coast rolled across the pass Deering was on +board a first-class car. He was dressed like a city sportsman, but his +clothes were thick and his shooting jacket was lined with sheepskin, for +Deering knew the wilds. When he went to Vancouver his movements +interested the police, but at Calgary they left him alone, and nothing +indicated that they now bothered where he went. Deering thought it +strange, unless they knew something he did not. + +In the meantime, he was occupied by another subject. Although he meant +to see Jimmy out, he had frankly no use for hiding much longer at the +ranch. Jimmy must be smuggled across the boundary to the United States +and Deering weighed a plan. + +When he got down at the station he meant to push on for Jardine's, but +Kelshope was some distance off and he resolved to stop at the hotel. He +had been for some time at Calgary and Stannard would perhaps know if +Jimmy was all right. The clerk sent for Laura and by and by she came +down. She gave Deering a cold glance, but he had long known her +antagonism. + +"You cannot see my father. He and Frank are in the mountains," she said. + +Deering knitted his brows. When winter had begun one did not start for +the rocks for nothing. + +"It looks as if the police have found out Jimmy was at his ranch." + +"Then, Jimmy was at the ranch? We didn't know; he did not come to see +us. I expect you stopped him!" + +"You don't trust me, Miss Laura. Still you ought to see Jimmy dared not +come to the hotel." + +"I did not think you a proper friend for Jimmy and Frank." + +Deering smiled. He knew he was a better friend of Jimmy's than +Stannard, but he said, "Oh, well; perhaps it's not important. Anyhow, +Jimmy trusts me, and I mustn't let him down. You imply he's not at the +ranch?" + +Laura told him about Jimmy's note, and he inquired about Stannard's +plans. When she had satisfied his curiosity his look was thoughtful. + +"Stannard will send back the packers at the bottom of the rocks," he +remarked. "Has he got a guide?" + +"He could not engage the guide he wanted. Another man about whom I don't +think he knew much was sent." + +"Your father needs a useful man. Jimmy's steady on an awkward pitch, but +sometimes he's rash. The others are raw boys. It looks as if I've got to +hit the trail." + +"Frank is not a boy, and my father is a famous climber," Laura rejoined. +"If he cannot cross the mountains, do you think it's possible for you? +Then you ought to have started before. The police have followed Jimmy +for some time and I think another party set off yesterday." + +Deering thought to embarrass him gave her some satisfaction, but he +smiled. + +"I know you're not my friend, Miss Laura, and I must try to be resigned. +All the same, unless you put me wise, it may be awkward for Jimmy. What +about the last lot of police?" + +She told him and he bowed. "Thank you! I'll get off." + +"But the sergeant is in front of you and there is not a train." + +"The police are pretty smart, but I've known them bluffed," Deering +remarked. "Then the station agent and another fellow talked about a +construction train's going up the line. I've traveled on board a +calaboose before." + +Laura hesitated, and then gave him her hand. "After all, I think you +want to help, and if you agree to leave Frank alone--" + +"I rather think you don't know your power," Deering rejoined with a +twinkle. "Frank is well guarded from all my wiles. In fact, I'm willing +to give you best." + +"Oh, well," said Laura, "perhaps I was not just." + +He went off and Laura mused. She had not liked Deering. He was a gambler +and exploited the extravagance of rich young men. Yet Frank trusted the +fellow and she began to doubt if her antagonism were altogether +warranted. For one thing, Deering was stanch, and his pluck was rather +fine. Her father had started with a well-equipped party; Deering went +alone, and when he got to Green Lake must baffle the police. Then she +liked his humorous politeness. He knew she doubted him, but he was not +revengeful. On the whole, she thought when she gave him her hand she +took the proper line. + + + + +XXVII + +DEERING'S PROGRESS + + +Soon after Deering started from the hotel he met Jardine. Deering knew +the shrewd Canadian Scots and thought the rancher a man to trust. +Moreover he had not yet got all the light he wanted. Jardine was on foot +and Deering said, "Hello! It's a long hike to Kelshope. Where's your +horse?" + +"Margaret's got the cayuse at Green Lake. D'ye no' ken?" + +"I didn't know," said Deering. "But you're coming from the station. When +do they expect the construction train?" + +"She stopped doon the track for the boys to fix some rails. The operator +was grumbling because she'd no' get through till dark and he'd got to +block the line for the Kamloops freight." + +"Oh, well," said Deering, "since I want to get on board the calaboose, +perhaps her stopping in the dark is not a drawback. But what about Miss +Margaret's going to Green Lake?" + +Jardine looked at him rather hard. "I alloo ye're Mr. Leyland's friend?" + +"Sure thing!" said Deering. "Jimmy reckons you his friend. Well, I want +to know how he got away." + +Jardine told him and Deering pondered. He had undertaken an awkward +job, and since he saw some obstacles, he resolved to give the rancher +his confidence. Among the trees the frost was not keen and the sun was +on the road. Deering indicated a spruce log and pulled out some cigars. + +"Suppose we take a smoke and talk," he said, and when Jardine lighted a +cigar resumed: "Won't Miss Margaret's shooting the fellow's horse make +trouble for her?" + +"I reckon not," said Jardine, who had heard the trooper's statement, and +when he got a note from Margaret remarked that the narratives did not +agree. "I'm thinking the boys dinna mean to pit it on Margaret and the +trooper's no' altogether prood." + +"It's possible. But why didn't _you_ put Jimmy wise?" + +"I'd cut my foot chopping, a day or two before." + +Deering rather doubted if Jardine's cutting his foot accounted for all, +but he said, "Let's talk straight! I suppose Miss Margaret is going to +marry Leyland?" + +"Maybe, but I dinna ken. Jimmy wanted to marry her." + +"Very well," said Deering. "I'll tell you all I know." + +He narrated his interview with Laura and Stannard's going to Jimmy's +help. Jardine's look got thoughtful and sometimes he frowned. When +Deering stopped he said, "Ye dinna trust Stannard! Ye'd sooner Jimmy +hadna gone across the rocks wi' him?" + +"I would sooner he had not," Deering agreed. "Jimmy trusts Stannard, +the others are tenderfoots, and I understand they have not a first-class +guide." + +"The man they've got is no' a mountain guide ava; Gillane's a packer on +the Government surveys. But I dinna see much light yet. Jimmy owes +Stannard a guid sum." + +"Leyland insured his life in Stannard's favor and Stannard wants money. +Well, I'm going up the line with the construction gang to follow the +party's trail." + +Jardine got up and his look was very grim. "Just that! I'll join ye." + +"Not at all," said Deering. "Your part's to go to Green River depot +afterwards and watch out. I expect you're a good bushman, but this is a +job for a first-class mountaineer. Besides, you cut your foot!" + +Jardine gave him a keen glance, but Deering resumed. "You see, I must +hit up the pace and can't boost you along. Can I hire a young man, a +prospector if possible, at Green River?" + +The other's arguments did not move him and by and by Jardine resigned +himself to stay behind. + +"I'm thinking my nephew, Peter, is the man ye want. Whiles he goes to +the depot for his groceries and mail. The storekeeper will ken if he's +aboot. Ye can tell Peter I sent ye to him." + +After a few minutes Deering went off, but he went slowly and did not +keep the road to the station. Joining the line two or three miles down +the valley, he found a track-grader's tool hut and went in and smoked. +The hut was cold, but Deering's fur coat was thick and good. When dusk +began to fall he walked along the track and stopped three or four +hundred yards from the station. + +By and by a light twinkled like a star in the gloom of the woods. A +steady throb rolled up the valley, and presently Deering distinguished a +locomotive's measured snorts and the rumble of wheels. The star was now +a dazzling moon, and its reflections picked out, far in advance, +glittering rails and frost-spangled trees. When the locomotive was level +with Deering he began to run up the line, and soon after the train +stopped he got behind the last car. + +He knew the company's rules, but he knew something about train-gangs, +and he had ready a few dollar bills. Although the station agent did not +see him get on board, when the train rolled up the track he occupied a +box in front of the calaboose stove. The men gave him supper, and when +he had drained a can of strong coffee he pulled out some cards and +showed how an expert puzzled his antagonists. + +Cold draughts swept the rocking calaboose, the stove roared, and one +smelt locomotive smoke. Labored snorts echoed in the rocks, couplings +rang, and when the train sped across a bridge the roll of wheels drowned +Deering's voice. Deering smiled and waited for the noise to stop. He had +undertaken a daunting job and was bothered about Jimmy, but in the +meantime he owed something to his hosts and he played up. Although +Deering had some drawbacks, his rule was to play up. + +A number of the men had long studied cards and could bluff on a poor +hand. Three or four won regularly some part of their companions' wages, +but they knew a master's touch and for a time Deering held the group. +Then he lighted his pipe and began to talk about something else. He +found out that the train ran between a gravel pit and Green River. The +men were filling up a trestle and cutting out an awkward curve. + +"Have they got a hotel at the settlement?" Deering inquired. + +"They've no use for a hotel at Green River. Sometimes a rancher comes in +for his mail and a survey party jumps off. I guess that's all. You can +stop at the post office. The man who keeps it runs a small store." + +"Nothing much doing yet," Deering remarked. "Do the mounted policemen +come to the settlement?" + +A big shovel-man laughed. "They're getting busy around Green River. Two +lots came in not long since and a trooper's there now, but he won't +bother you. Looks as if he was sent to watch out for somebody who wanted +to _get on_ the train." + +"Then, you reckon they're after somebody in the rocks?" said Deering +carelessly. + +"That's so," another agreed. "I wouldn't bet much on the fellow's +chance! When we ran up with the last load, a police outfit was starting +for the range. Three or four troopers and a pack-horse. They'd loaded up +some truck." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "The Royal North-West are smart boys, but I've +known them beat. However, I've been for some time on the road and think +I'll go to bed. Can somebody give me a bunk?" + +They gave him a bunk, and for an hour or two he slept; he knew it might +be long before he slept warm again. When he awoke the locomotive bell +was tolling and the roll of wheels was getting slack. The calaboose was +very cold, and Deering, jumping from his bunk, went to the open door. + +In front a fire burned by a water tank and the beam from the headlamp +flickered across a small clearing and touched a wooden house. Farther +off, a big blast-lamp threw up a pillar of flame. The light tossed and +for a few moments all was shadowy. Then the strong illumination leaped +up again, and Deering saw a man who carried a short rifle walk along the +line. He knew the Royal North-West uniform. + +Deering picked up his fur coat and hesitated. In the mountains one must +wear proper clothes and the coat was good, but unless he could cheat the +trooper he might not reach the mountains. He touched the man who had +given him the bunk. + +"I'll trade my coat and cap for yours." + +The fellow's skin coat and cap were old, and he looked at Deering with +surprise. + +"Why do you want to trade? A track-grader doesn't buy Revillon furs." + +Deering indicated the trooper. "The policeman might calculate something +like that, but I expect he knows you belong to the gang. You are going +to dump some rails and for half an hour I want a job." + +"Now I get you!" said the other. + +He pulled off his shabby coat, and when the train stopped and Deering +jumped down nothing distinguished him from the construction gang. +Climbing on to a flat car, he joined the men who threw down the rails, +and presently saw the trooper stop the fellow who wore his coat and cap. +He did not know how the railroad man accounted for his wearing good +furs, but he was obviously a track-grader and after a few moments the +trooper let him go. Then the train rolled up the line and Deering stayed +with the men who moved the rails. + +By and by the trooper walked past the gang, glanced at the men +carelessly, and, turning back, vanished in the gloom. Deering thought +him satisfied nobody but the track-graders was about, and soon +afterwards he started for the house. So far, he had trusted his luck, +but he wanted help and must get food. Moreover, he must not excite the +storekeeper's curiosity. + +A clump of pines cut the illumination up the track. Sometimes when the +blast-lamp's flame leaped up, bright reflections touched the house, but +for the most part, the ground in front was dark. When Deering was near +the door, a man came out and stopped for a few moments. Deering thought +him a rancher and when he went down the steps met him at the bottom. + +"Can I buy some flour and groceries?" he asked. + +"You might," said the other and looked at Deering as if he thought the +inquiry strange. "Why do you want groceries? Where are you going?" + +Deering saw something must be risked and when a risk must be run he did +not hesitate. + +"If I can find the trail, I'm going up the valley. Peter Jardine has a +ranch at the lake, I think?" + +"That's so," said the other. "I'm Peter Jardine!" + +Deering laughed. His luck had not turned and when the reflections from +the blast-lamp touched the rancher's face he thought he had got the +proper man. + +"Then, as soon as you can get me some groceries, I'll start for the +rocks. Your uncle sent me along and stated you would help. You see, I'm +Jimmy Leyland's partner and Miss Margaret's friend." + +"Ah," said Peter, "you're Deering? Well, the police are after Jimmy. For +some days two troopers hunted for his tracks and then a sergeant and +another came in on the train and started off as if they knew where he +was. In the meantime, a sports outfit hit the trail, but I didn't meet +up with them. I made the station in the afternoon and didn't know what I +ought to do. In fact, when you came along, I was wondering if I'd pull +out for the ranch." + +"You're coming with me. I don't want to boast, but I'm a mountain +clubman and on the rocks I reckon I can beat the police." + +"But Jimmy's friends got off in front of the troopers." + +"There's the trouble; they're not all his friends," Deering rejoined. +"On the whole, I'd sooner the police got him than he crossed the range +with the other lot. But we'll talk about this again. When can you +start?" + +"I can start as soon as my horse is loaded up, but we have got to bluff +the policeman. He mustn't see us take the mountain trail. Well, I've +pork and flour and groceries. Have you got all you want?" + +"I want a Hudson's Bay blanket and a pack-rope," said Deering and gave +Peter a roll of bills. "Then you had better buy a frying-pan and +grub-hoe." + +"Very well. Go ahead up the trail across the clearing and wait for me by +the creek," said Peter and returned to the store. + +After a time he rejoined Deering and tied his loaded horse to a branch. + +"The storekeeper knows I hit the Green Lake trail, and we don't want the +cayuse. When we have sorted out the truck we need, he'll make the ranch +all right. Light the lantern and we'll fix our packs." + +Deering lighted the lantern and after a few minutes strapped a bag of +food on his back. He pushed his folded blanket through the straps, gave +Peter the rope, and picked up the grub-hoe, a Canadian digging tool very +like a mountaineer's ice-ax. Then they put out the light, let the horse +go, and went back quietly to the railroad. Nobody was about, and +stealing across the line, they plunged into the gloom. + +"My luck's good," said Deering. "When I think about all we're up +against, I sure want it good." + + + + +XXVIII + +A DISSOLVING PICTURE + + +After a time Deering stopped and looked about. The stones on the river +bank were large and sharp, the night was dark, and his load embarrassed +him. In the distance, he saw a small red fire; a dim light marked the +post office, and the reflections from the blast-lamp quivered behind the +trees. Deering got his breath and braced up. + +Born in the bush, he had known poverty and stern physical toil. He was a +good mountaineer, but he admitted that his two hundred pounds was +something of a load to carry across icy rocks. Then he had, for the most +part, lived extravagantly at fashionable hotels, and his big muscles +were soft; but this was not all. The distant lights stood for human +society and civilization. Deering was very human and fought against an +atavistic shrinking from the dark and loneliness. Moreover, he knew the +wilds. For all that, he meant to conquer his shrinking. + +He admitted that he was perhaps a romantic sentimentalist and his +adventure did not harmonize with his occupation. Sometimes, however, one +was not logical and not long since he would have plunged down the rocks +but for Jimmy's pluck. Besides he saw Stannard had used him to entangle +the lad. Deering had his rude code, but Stannard had none. He was cold +and calculating, and Deering thought he meant to carry out the plan he +tried before when he sent Jimmy over the neck. Although Deering did not +like the job, he meant to baffle him. + +In the meantime, all was quiet but for the turmoil of the river a few +yards off. Dark pines occupied the narrow level belt by the track, and +on the other side vague blurred rocks went up. Thin mist drifted about, +and the line, running downhill, melted into the gloom. The trooper was +at the station and Deering imagined nobody was about. + +"The stones are sharp and slippery," he said. "We'll take the track and +push on for the section-hut." + +They got on the line, but did not progress fast. The gravel ballast was +large and hurt their feet; the ties were not evenly spaced. Sometimes +Deering stepped on the timber and sometimes on the loose stones. Then +numerous ravines pierced the rocks, and although the construction gangs +had begun to fill up the chasms, for the most part wooden trestles +spanned the gaps. To cross an open-work trestle in the dark is awkward, +and when Deering balanced on a narrow tie and looked for the next, he +sweated and breathed hard. On one trestle he stopped. Sixty feet below +him, he saw the foam of an angry torrent; the next tie was some distance +off, and the wood sparkled with frost. + +In a sense, his adventure was ridiculous. When he used the railroad he +went on board a first-class car and checked his baggage. Now he stumbled +over the ballast and carried on his back all he could not go without. In +the meantime, however, he must cross the trestle, and he trusted his +luck and jumped. + +He got across and after three or four hours they reached the +section-shack. Graham was in bed, but he got up and told them all they +wanted to know. Three policemen with an Indian and a pack-horse had come +down the track and Graham imagined they had found the entrance to +Jimmy's valley. He reckoned they would send back the Indian and the +horse when they took the rocks, but the fellow had not yet returned. +Peter was puzzled about the Indian. + +"They didn't hire him up at the station," he remarked. "Looks as if +they'd fixed it for him to meet them." + +"It looks as if they'd made their plans and their plans were pretty +good," said Deering. "However, since they've got a loaded horse, they +can't shove on fast. How long was the other outfit in front?" + +Graham told him and for a few moments Deering pondered. Then he said, +"It's awkward! Stannard knows where Jimmy is, and he'll hit up the pace. +I reckon the police don't know and must look for his tracks. If we +hustle, we'll run up against the gang." + +The difficulty was obvious and Peter frowned. + +"We might get by their camp in the dark. We'd see the fire." + +"I doubt," Deering rejoined. "If the boys make a fire, they'll make it +where the light is hid. They don't want to put Jimmy wise." + +"Well?" said Peter. "What is your plan?" + +Deering laughed, a noisy laugh, for now he had started, his hesitation +vanished. + +"We'll trust our luck and shove ahead. In the morning we'll get up the +rocks and look about. I've brought my glasses. Let's get going." + +Graham gave them directions and when they climbed a steep hill they +found the valley. The ground was broken and in places covered by tangled +brush, but they made progress and at daybreak labored across the snow to +the top of a spur. Deering sat on his pack and used his prismatic +glasses. + +Gray cloud floated about the mountain slopes, but the high peaks were +sharp and began to shine in the rising sun. Some were rose-pink and some +were yellow; the hollows between their broken tops were gray and blue. A +map of the mountains occupied a wall of the hotel rotunda, and Deering, +using his glasses, imagined it roughly accurate. + +"I expect the blue gap is the head of the valley," he remarked and when +Peter nodded resumed: "We'll allow Stannard joined Jimmy ahead of the +police and took him along. We have got to hit their line and this is not +as hard as it looks. They can't steer for the shoulder of the big peak; +the rocks won't go and I see an ugly ice-fall on the glacier. I reckon +I'd head back, obliquely, for the _col_, up the long _arrête_." + +"I don't use no _habitant_ French," Peter observed. + +"Oh, well. Our clubmen have begun to use the tourists' talk," said +Deering and gave Peter the glasses. "Anyway, you see the ridge that runs +up to the neck?" + +Peter studied the ridge. He had hunted mountain sheep and imagined sun +and frost had worn the rocks to something like a knife-edge. In places, +sharp pinnacles broke the top, and he thought it significant that for +the most part the snow did not lie. The shadow behind the top, no doubt, +marked a great precipitous gulf, but the farther end of the ridge +touched a white hollow between two peaks. If one could get across, one +might find a glacier going down the other side. + +"I reckon your friends couldn't make it between sun-up and dark," he +said. "Anyhow, the police would see them on the rocks." + +"Stannard might hit a line a few yards below the top, but I imagine the +clouds will soon roll up. Give me the glasses. I want to locate a gully +that goes for some distance up the ridge." + +Peter saw his object. The long ridge ran back obliquely from farther up +the valley and to get up by the line Deering marked would cut out the +corner. Moreover Peter imagined the police had reached Jimmy's hut, and +if they found the tracks of Stannard's party, they would climb the ridge +from the other end. In consequence, Deering's going up the gully would +put him in front. + +"I guess we'll start. When we noon we'll be nearer, and if the mist's +not thick, you can look for the line you want." + +They went down the hill, and by and by the cloud rolled up the slope, +and rocks and peaks were lost in gloom. Then Deering began to get tired, +for although there was no snow at the bottom of the valley, the ground +was rough. After an hour or two he pushed into the timber and stopped. + +"Perhaps it's risky, but I've got to eat and take a rest," he said. "The +trees are pretty thick, and if the smoke goes up, the hill's a good +background." + +They cooked some food and then sat by the fire. Not far off the belt of +trees was broken, and presently Deering saw the cloud had got thin and +begun to roll back, up the mountains. Vague rocks pierced the vapor and +grew distinct; the mist trailed away from battered trees and slanted +fields of snow. For a time it clung about the high dark precipices, and +then one saw the snow-packed gullies seam the crags like marble veins. A +faint light pierced the vapor, and the broken top of the ridge began to +cut the background. + +Deering pulled out his glasses and went to the opening in the wood. The +light was getting stronger, but he did not think the cloud would +altogether melt and he must search the rocks while search was possible. +By and by a beam touched the ridge and the snow glimmered like pale gold +against blue shadow. Above the shadow were broken peaks, but the belt of +dark blue indicated a gap and Deering, noting the strong color, thought +the gap profound. + +The landscape, lighted by the unsteady beam, was strangely beautiful. +The pale illumination did not travel far and the rocks outside its reach +owed something of their mysterious grandeur to the contrast. Deering, +however, was not romantic and thought he saw a line, across a steep, +white slope and up a buttress, to the ridge. If he could get up, he +would cut Stannard's track and imagined he would not be much behind the +party. + +He concentrated on the ridge. The slope along the top was not even but +went up, rather like a terraced walk. Rocky buttresses supported the +terraces, and, for the most part, the stones were free from snow; +Deering knew this indicated a very steep pitch. One buttress was marked +by a broad white band, and when he rubbed the glasses he thought he saw +on the snow a small object he had not remarked before. The object moved, +and calling Peter, he gave him the glasses. + +"What's that? A cinnamon?" + +"The bears have come down," said Peter. "The big-horn have gone for the +low benches. I guess the thing's a man." + +Deering agreed and waited. Perhaps it was strange, but of all the +animals, civilized man alone was willing to front the cold on the +daunting heights. The ridge, outlined against a vague background of +majestic peaks, looked as remote as another world. To imagine flesh and +blood could reach it was hard, but Deering meant to try and knew +Stannard's calculating steadiness. If one went carefully, studying the +obstacles, and using the ax and rope-- + +"It's a man all right. I see another," said Jardine and gave Deering the +glasses. Deering saw three men. They advanced very slowly, and he +pictured their cutting steps before they moved. One crossed the +snow-belt and vanished. When he was anchored in the rocks he would +steady his companions. Deering knew it was Stannard, for Stannard would +not trust a poor guide at a spot like that. The others, perhaps, were +Dillon and Stevens. Then he saw two more; Gillane, the packer, and +Jimmy. Anyhow, Stannard had started with three companions and now he had +four. Deering knew all he wanted to know. + +He watched the party, strung out at even distances, move across the +white band; and then the figures melted. They had not reached the other +side, but when he rubbed his glasses they were gone. The peaks in the +background vanished, the ridge got indistinct, and the black pines on +the lower snow-fields faded, as if a curtain were drawn across the +picture. + +Deering shut his glasses and went for his pack. The mist was not thick +and he knew his line to the buttress. + +"Put out the fire and let's get off," he said. + +"You can't cross the ridge in the dark and the cold's going to be +fierce," Peter remarked. + +"That is so. I doubt if Stannard can make the neck, but if he gets +there, he must wait for morning. Maybe we'll find a hole in the rocks." + +Peter said nothing. He had engaged to go where the other went and must +try to make good, although the road was daunting. In thick timber, a +bushman can front biting cold; but on the high, icy rocks one could not +make camp and light a fire. If their luck were very good, they might +find a hole behind a stone, in which they must wait for daybreak and try +not to freeze. + +He put out the fire and when they went through the wood pondered +gloomily. To reach the neck would cost them much; but to get there was +not all. They must get down on the other side, and, for the most part, +the mountain tops were tremendous precipices. Peter rather thought the +neck opened on a glacier, but sometimes a glacier is broken by awkward +ice-falls. + +All the same, Peter set his mouth and pushed ahead. In the valley, he +could hit up the pace for Deering, but he imagined to follow the big +fellow on the rocks was another thing. When a bushman took the rocks he +went to shoot big-horn and bear. The mountain clubmen studied climbing +as one studies the ball-game. + + + + +XXIX + +HELD UP + + +A few pale stars were in the sky and the moon was over a vague, gray +peak. Deering shivered, beat his numbed hands, and looked about. The +frost was keen and he had not thought he could sleep, but when he looked +about before the stars were bright and the moon was not above the peak. +In front, the buttress cut the sky, and although the rocks were +indistinct, he saw the belt of snow Stannard had crossed. Since Stannard +had got his party up the buttress, Deering imagined he could get up; but +the rocks were awkward. + +Deering wore the railroad man's skin coat and a thick Hudson's Bay +blanket. For climbing their weight was an embarrassment, but he would +sooner carry the load than freeze. Although he lay with his shoulders +against Jardine, he was numb, and the outside of the blanket sparkled +with frost. A tilted slab partly covered them, but the gravel in the +hole was frozen and Deering's hip-joint hurt. The worst trouble was, +when he was very cold his brain got dull and he hated to use effort. Yet +effort was needed, for day had begun to break and he must cross the neck +by dark. To stop another night on the high rocks was unthinkable and he +knew his luck might turn. If thick snow fell or a strong wind blew, he +and Peter would stay on the rocks for good. + +Moreover, Jimmy was in front, and Deering thought Jimmy ran a daunting +risk. He ought to get up and start, but he shrank from the frost, and +for a minute or two he weighed his grounds for doubting Stannard. Jimmy +owed Stannard a large sum and had insured his life. If he went over a +precipice, the company would pay Stannard. Deering admitted the argument +looked ridiculous; Stannard was highly cultivated, rather extravagant +than greedy, and not at all the man to plan a revolting crime. Yet he +had not engaged a proper guide and his companions were trustful young +fellows whom he could mislead. Moreover, he had gone down into a +snow-swept gully to help Leyland and knew this would weigh. Stannard had +then expected Jimmy to marry Laura. + +Deering pushed Peter, who woke up and grumbled. Deering open his pack +awkwardly and pulled out a bannock and some canned meat. + +"Day is breaking. When you have had your breakfast we must start." + +"Unless I get a hot drink, I've not much use for breakfast," Peter +replied. "When do you reckon we'll get down to the timber? When I camp I +like a fire." + +"Depends on our luck," said Deering, dryly. "I doubt if you'll make a +fire to-night." + +"If I wasn't a fool, I'd go right back. Stannard's most a day's hike +ahead. Then if the police have hit his trail, they're not far behind +us." + +"We cut out some ground and on the rocks two men go faster than five. +Stannard must find a line for his gang and us. Then I expect he'll be +held up for a time at the neck. I don't know where the police are." + +Peter ate the bannock and put on his pack. "Well, let's get going!" + +The light was not yet good. Their muscles were stiff, physical fatigue +reacted on their nervous strength, and at the belt of snow they stopped. +The belt was perhaps ten yards across and occupied a channel in the +rocks. The surface was smooth and hard, and Deering imagined if one +slipped one would not stop until one reached the valley. A row of small +holes, however, indicated that Stannard's party had gone across and up +the dark, forbidding buttress on the other side. Deering frankly shrank +from the labor and risk of crossing, but he dared not turn back. + +"Where the boys have gone we mustn't stop," he said. "Tie on the rope +and give me the grub-hoe." + +Peter gave him the hoe. The blade was curved, like a carpenter's adze, +and at its head was a short pick. The tool, although rather heavy, was a +good ice-ax. In soft snow, one can kick holes, but the snow was hard and +Deering doubted if the notches Stannard had cut would carry him. He used +the pick, balancing in a hole while he chipped out the next, and when +they got across he sent Peter in front. Their hands were numb and where +the snow had melted veins of ice filled the cracks in the rocks. The +hold was bad and Peter stopped at the bottom of a slab Deering had +remarked when he sent him in front. + +"I sure don't know how we're going to get up." + +"Stannard got up," said Deering and looked about. + +Thirty feet below him the belt of snow pierced the rocks. It looked +nearly perpendicular and the snow-field at its foot was horribly steep. +In the shadow, the surface was gray and dark patches marked where rocks +pushed through. A very long way down, across a sharp but broken line, +the color was blue, and Deering thought the line the top of a precipice. +He turned and looked up. The slab was upright and about ten feet high; +he could not see a crack or knob, but he noted two or three fresh +scratches. + +"Lean against the rock and spread your arms," he said, and when Peter +did so climbed up his back. + +Standing on the other's shoulders, he could reach the top of the slab. +The top was nearly flat and went back for some distance, but the snow +was hard. Deering dared not trust his numbed hands and he tried the +pick. The blade got hold, but he could not see farther than the handle. +If he had caught a small lump of ice that would not support him, the +rope would pull Jardine off the rock. All the same, something must be +risked. + +"Brace up good," he said and trusted the pick. + +The tool held and he got his chest on the top, but now the blade was +near his body, his reach was short and when he used his hand his stiff +fingers slipped across the snow. It was obvious he must move the pick, +but the tool was his main support and the effort to push it forward +might send him down. Still, if he could get three or four inches higher, +he might, perhaps, balance on the edge. + +His boots got no grip on the smooth slab, but when he used his knee his +clothes stuck to the stone. When his waist was nearly level with the top +he pulled out the pick and moved it forward. For a moment or two the +blade came back and he began to go down; then it held and after a stern +effort he was up. The rock above the ledge was broken, and throwing the +rope across a knob, he helped Peter. + +Half an hour afterwards, they reached the ridge behind the buttress. +Deering's hands were bleeding and he was not cold. His skin was wet and +he breathed by labored gasps. In front, the ridge went up, unevenly, to +the neck. The narrow, broken top, for the most part, was supported by +precipitous rocks. One must use caution and could not go fast, but after +a time a snow cornice began on one side. The top, leveled by the wind, +was smooth, and, so far as it rested on the stone, was firm. As a rule, +a snow cornice is widest above, and Deering knew if he crossed the line +where it overhung its base he might break through, but the marks in +front indicated where Stannard had gone. + +Stannard knew much about snow cornices and Deering wondered whether he +could not have found some grounds for throwing off the rope and letting +Jimmy venture on the dangerous overhang. He had obviously not done so; +moreover he had brought his companions up the buttress. If Deering +himself had meant to let somebody fall, he thought he would have tried +at the awkward slab. In fact, he admitted that to picture Stannard's +weighing a plan like that was theatrically extravagant. Yet he knew +Stannard, who was not the man people thought. He was very clever and if +he plotted to get rid of Jimmy, he would not do so soon after he had +taken him into the mountains. He would wait until he had nearly carried +out his job and was bringing his party down from the rocks. Anyhow, +Deering's business was to overtake the party. To wonder whether he +exaggerated Jimmy's danger would not help. + +For a time he made good progress along the cornice, and in the afternoon +he reached the neck. At the end of the ridge Stannard's tracks forked. +One row of footmarks crossed a steep snow-bank running up a peak; the +other went along the hollow neck. + +"All the outfit went up the neck and then two or three turned back," +Peter remarked after examining the trampled snow. + +Deering nodded. "Stannard sent them back and pushed ahead with Gillane +to look for a line down the other side. When we get across we'll see +what he was up against." + +At the end of the neck they stopped and Deering frowned. He had been +longer than he thought and a pale illumination behind a peak indicated +that the sun was low. In the valley below, he saw a frozen lake and a +dark, winding band he knew was timber on a river bank. He had food, and +if he could reach the trees he need not bother about the frost. A +Canadian grub-hoe, made for cutting roots, is a useful tool, and he +could build a wall of bark and branches, light a fire and brew hot tea. +The trouble was, to get down to the friendly pines. + +In front of him, a snow-field sloped to a spot at which two uneven, +converging rows of dark rocks ought to have met. The rocks were the tops +of precipices, but the point of their intersection was cut out, and a +glacier began at the gap. Deering could see for a short distance down +the glacier, until it plunged across the top of a steeper pitch, and +when he used his glasses he noted its surface was crumpled, as if it +broke in angry waves. In fact, it was rather like a rapid suddenly +frozen at the top of a fall. Deering knew it was an ice-fall and the +waves were giant blocks. The rocks at the side were very steep and +veined by snow. + +"Nothing's doing there!" he remarked. "I don't see Stannard, but he +won't find a useful line. Let's look for the boys." + +They turned and, following the tracks along the neck, after some time +went round a buttress that broke the front of the range. On the other +side three people occupied a little hollow in the rock. One got up +awkwardly. + +"It's Peter!" he shouted. "Why, Deering, you grand old sport!" + +Deering gave Jimmy his hand and noted that his look was strained and his +face was pinched. + +"Miss Laura put me on your track and Mr. Jardine wanted to come along," +he said and studied the others, who did not get up. + +"They've had enough," said Jimmy. "We were two nights on the rocks and +the cold was keen. Stannard's gone to see if we can get down the +glacier, but I don't think he's hopeful. Anyhow, let's go back into our +hole. When you wriggle down under a blanket, it's a little warmer than +outside." + +Deering joined the others. A jambed stone partly covered the hole, and +the boys' packs, fur coats and blankets kept them from freezing, but he +saw their pluck was nearly gone. + +"What about the police?" he asked, when he had lighted his pipe. + +"We don't know where they are," Jimmy replied. "Stannard brought us up +the ridge, but from my shack you see another way up at the head of the +valley. I went over to study the ground and thought the climb harder +than it looks. All the same, I imagine the police have tried it. Of +course, when they got to the snow they wouldn't find our tracks, but +they know we're in the mountains--" + +"Then, they're south of us?" + +Jimmy nodded. "On this side of the range; they'd reckon on our pushing +south and expect to cut us off. Now you see why Stannard's keen about +getting down the glacier!" + +"We can't get down; the ice-fall won't go," said Stevens moodily. "I +doubt if I could get down a ladder. My notion is, Stannard knows his +plan's a forlorn hope and Gillane is badly rattled." + +"The fellow's a common packer; Stannard ought not to have hired him," +Dillon agreed. "Still we couldn't wait and when the Revelstoke man sent +Gillane we were forced to start. Anyhow, I'd trust Stannard where I +wouldn't trust a guide." + +"He hasn't hit a useful line yet," Stevens rejoined. "We're held up, and +I doubt if we can stand for another night in the frost." + +"I'm willing to go back and risk the police," said Jimmy. "Still, we +couldn't start until daybreak and would be forced to camp again on the +ridge. The valley's not far off; if we can make it." + +"We must wait for Stannard's report," said Deering soothingly. "When I +was at the hotel the clerk gave me a letter for you." + +Jimmy beat his numbed hands and opened the envelope. Then he laughed, a +dreary laugh. + +"In a way, the thing's a joke! Leyland's has something to do with a +Japanese cotton mill and Sir Jim writes from Tokio. He's going to +England by Vancouver and sails on board the first C.P.R. boat. He means +to stop for a few days and look me up--" Jimmy studied the postmark and +resumed: "I expect he's at Vancouver now." + +"Your luck is certainly bad," Deering remarked in a sympathetic voice. + +"Jim's the head of the house; Dick owns him boss," Jimmy went on. "His +letter's kind, and if he'd arrived before, when I was making good, I +might have got his support. I wanted to persuade him I was not a +careless fool; but when he gets to know my recent exploits--" + +Deering imagined Jimmy had wanted his uncle to agree about his marrying +Margaret. Since Sir James was a sober business man, the lad had not much +grounds to hope he would approve his nephew's romantic adventures. + +"After all, I rather think we'll cheat the police," he said. "They don't +know where we are and when we make the valley we'll hit up the pace. +I've friends who'll help you across the frontier and you can sail for +England from New York." + +"The drawback is, we can't make the valley. Stannard can't lead us +down," Stevens interrupted gloomily. + +Deering looked up. "We'll know soon. I hear steps." + +Stannard came round the corner, saw Deering, and stopped, rather +quickly. + +"Hello! We did not expect you. Were you at the hotel? Have you got some +news?" + +"I was at the hotel," Deering replied. "The morning before I got there a +police sergeant arrived. I understand he was curious about your +excursion." + +Stannard's glance was keen and Deering thought him disturbed. + +"You imply the fellow knew I'd gone to join Jimmy?" + +"Miss Laura imagined something like that. But what about the glacier?" + +Stannard hesitated and knitted his brows. "I think we'll risk it in the +morning. You see, if we pushed along the range, we might meet the +police. Besides, we must get down to the timber soon." + +"You sure can't get down," remarked Gillane, the packer, who had +followed Stannard. + +"We'll try," said Stannard, and turning to the others, forced a smile. +"Well, I want some food and Frank might light the spirit lamp. You must +brace up for another night on the mountain, but we're lucky because we +have got a corner where we shan't freeze." + + + + +XXX + +THE GULLY + + +Day broke drearily. The sky was dark and snow clouds rolled about the +peaks. In the hollow behind the rock Stannard's party crowded round the +spirit lamp. One could get no warmth, but in the snowy wilds the small +blue flame and steaming kettle called. Moreover, each would soon receive +a measured draught of strong hot tea. + +All were numb and their faces were pinched. Stevens was frankly +despondent, and when Dillon broke his hard bannock his stiff hands +shook. Gillane was apathetic, but when Stannard measured out the tea he +joked and Deering laughed. To laugh cost the big man something, but he +knew he must. Stern effort was needed and human effort does not +altogether depend on muscular strength. The packer's mood was daunting +and it was obvious they would not get much help from him. + +Jimmy was quiet. He must concentrate on holding out and could not force +a laugh. He admitted he had not pluck like Stannard's. Stannard was +indomitable, and now his gay carelessness was very fine. Although he was +the oldest of the party and his face was haggard, he joked and his jokes +were good. When the meal was over he got up and beat his hands. + +"We must get down before dark and I think I know a line," he said. "If +our luck is good, we'll camp in the trees by a splendid fire." + +To start was hard, but they got off and the snow was firm. The steep +slope below the neck was smooth and for a time they made progress. Jimmy +remarked the thickening snow cloud and knew Stannard thought it ominous, +for he pushed on as fast as possible. So far, one could use some speed; +the obstacles were in front. + +The snow-field stopped at the top of a chain of precipices. The rocks +were broken by the deep gap through which the glacier went, but Jimmy +noted smaller breaks he thought were gullies filled by snow. He could +not see the front of the precipices, but he pictured their falling for +six or seven hundred feet. At the bottom, no doubt, were steep spurs and +long ridges, across which one might reach the trees rolling up from the +valley. The precipice was the main obstacle, but Jimmy did not think the +rocks were perpendicular. Anyhow, the glacier was not, and if one could +cross the ice-falls, it would carry them down. The trouble was, the +cloud was getting thick. + +After a time, they stopped at the head of the glacier, and Stannard, +Jimmy and Deering climbed to a shelf that commanded the ice-fall. Mist +rolled about, but for some distance one saw the broad white belt curve +down between the rocks. Then Jimmy saw the fall and set his mouth. The +snowy ice was piled in tremendous blocks and split by yawning cracks. +It looked as if the cracks went to the bottom, and one imagined others, +hidden by fresh snow. Stannard turned to Deering, who shook his head. + +"The boys can't make it; I doubt if you can. Nothing's doing!" + +"Very well," said Stannard. "I marked a gully about two miles south. I +don't know if you'll like it, but we must get down." + +Deering pulled out his watch. "You have got to hustle. The boys can't +stand for another night on the mountain." + +When they rejoined the others, it looked as if his remark was justified. +Gillane declared if they could not cross the ice-fall they must stop and +freeze; Stevens owned he was exhausted and doubted if he could reach the +gully. Jimmy would sooner have risked the fall, since he was persuaded +the other line would not carry them down, but if Stannard thought the +line might go, he was willing to try it. + +They fronted the laborious climb to the snow-field, and soon after they +got there mist blew across the slope. The party was now drawn out in a +straggling row and by and by Deering stopped and looked about. He knew +two or three were behind him, but he saw nobody. + +"Where are the boys?" he shouted. + +Peter said he had not seen Stevens and Dillon for some time, but they +were no doubt pushing along and the party's track was plain. + +"I'm going back," said Deering. "Watch out for Jimmy." + +He plunged into the mist and presently found Stevens sitting in the +snow. Dillon was with the lad and when Deering arrived urged him to get +up. Stevens dully refused and said there was no use in the others +bothering; he could go no farther. Deering pulled him up and shoved him +along. + +"You're going to the gully, anyhow," he shouted with a jolly laugh. +"When we get you there, you can sit down and slide." + +Dillon helped and some time afterwards they came up with Peter. + +"Where's Jimmy?" Deering asked in a sharp voice. + +"Stannard reckoned he was near the spot he'd marked. He took a rope, and +Gillane and Jimmy went along. They allowed I must stop to watch out for +you." + +"You let Jimmy go!" + +"Sure I did," said Peter, with sullen quietness. "I reckon you needn't +bother about Jimmy. Something's bitten you. Stannard's all right. If he +can't help us, we have got to freeze." + +Deering said nothing. Stannard's charm was strong, and cold and fatigue +had dulled Peter's brain. There was no use in arguing and he followed +the others' track. He could not see much, for the mist was thick. The +ground got steeper and rocks pierced the snow. It looked as if he were +near the top of the precipice, but so long as the marks in front were +plain he need not hesitate. After a few minutes he saw Gillane. The +packer leaned against a massy block, round which he had thrown the rope; +the end was over the top of the rocks. + +"Hello!" said Deering. "What's your job?" + +"I'm standing by to steady Mr. Stannard. Top of the gully's blocked, and +he calculated to get in by a traverse across the front. There's a kind +of ledge, but we didn't see a good anchor hold." + +Deering remarked that the fellow's grasp was slack and a single turn of +the rope was round the stone. If a heavy strain came on the end, he +thought the rope would run and Gillane would not have time to throw on +another loop. Cold and fatigue had made him careless. + +"Get a good hold and stiffen up," said Deering. "I'm going after +Stannard." + +The rocks were not as steep as he had thought and the ledge was wide +enough to carry him, but a yard or two in front it turned a corner. +Although the mist was puzzling, Deering thought it melted. In the +meantime, he must reach the corner. Sometimes Jimmy was rash, and if +Stannard allowed him to run a risk he ought not to run, nobody would +know. + +When Deering got to the corner, the mist rolled off the mountain top. He +saw a tremendous slope of rock, pierced by a narrow white hollow. For +four or five hundred feet the gully went down and gradually melted in a +fresh wave of mist. Deering noted the sharpness of the pitch and then +fixed his glance on Stannard, who leaned back against the rock. Jimmy, +holding on by Stannard's shoulder, was trying to get past on the outside +of the ledge. + +Deering stopped and his heart beat. The others did not see him and he +dared not shout, but if Stannard moved, it was obvious Jimmy would fall. +Stannard did not move, and Jimmy, crossing in front of him, stopped and +looked down. + +"The stretch is awkward and you can't steady me," he said. "Still I +think I could reach the slab and slide into the gully. Before we bring +the others, perhaps I ought to try." + +"You have a longer reach than mine and you are younger," Stannard +replied. + +Deering could not see the slab, but he imagined Stannard had noted +something about it that Jimmy had not. Now Jimmy fronted the other way, +Stannard's hand was at his waist and Deering thought he loosed the knot +on the rope. + +"Hold on, Jimmy," he said in a quiet voice. + +Jimmy stopped. Stannard turned, and although his look was cool Deering +thought his coolness forced. He leaned against the rock, but Deering saw +his hands were occupied behind his back. + +"I thought you went for Stevens," he remarked. + +"The kid wasn't far back," Deering replied and laughed. "Gillane's +rattled and half frozen. I reckon he might let you go, but my two +hundred pounds is a pretty good anchor. Slip off the rope and I'll help +Jimmy; he won't pull me off." + +Stannard awkwardly pulled out the knot, and Deering, who had thought to +see the rope fall, was baffled. For all that, he knew Stannard's +cleverness and imagined the fellow knew he had experimented. + +"I'm going in front of you," he resumed. "Wait until I tie on, Jimmy. +You can't trust the slab." + +When he had tied on he braced himself against the rock. Jimmy vanished +across the edge and the rope got tight. After a few minutes he came up. + +"So far as I can see, we can get down by cutting steps, but I couldn't +see very far," he said. "Your tip about the slab was useful, Deering. +The top was rotten and a lump came off. I was lucky because I put on the +rope." + +"On the rocks caution pays," Deering remarked. "Well, let's get up and +go for the others. Cutting steps for four or five hundred feet is a +pretty long job." + +They went back along the ledge, but Deering felt slack and his big hands +shook. He had borne some strain and rather thought that had he arrived a +few moments later Jimmy, and perhaps Gillane, would have gone down the +rocks. Yet he did not know. In fact, he admitted that he might not +altogether know. + + + + +XXXI + +STANNARD'S LINE + + +A wave of mist rolled across the rocks, but the vapor was faintly +luminous, as if a light shone through. Deering, Stannard, Jardine and +Jimmy waited on the steep bank above the ledge; Gillane had gone back +for the others. When he arrived the party would start. + +Deering knew the venture was rash and the labor heavy. They would use +two ropes and the leader must kick and cut steps in the snow; the others +behind would then occupy the holes and hold him up until he cut another +lot. Cutting steps, however, soon tired one's arms, and when the leader +was exhausted to pull him up and tie on a fresh man might be dangerous. +Then nobody knew what was at the bottom and the gully might break off on +the front of an icy cliff. + +All the same, some rashness was justified. Nothing indicated that the +mist would altogether roll away, and in two or three hours it would be +dark. If they stopped for another night on the high rocks, all would +freeze; an effort to reach the timber and camp by a fire was, so to +speak, their forlorn hope. Besides, Stannard was persuaded they could +get down, and Deering admitted his judgment was good. By and by +Stannard gave him a careless glance. + +"I'll lead on the first rope and take Gillane and Stevens. Jimmy and the +others will go with you." + +Deering wondered. He was resolved Jimmy should use his rope, but +Stannard's proposing it was significant. If Stannard knew why he had +joined them on the ledge, it looked as if he were resigned to let Jimmy +go. Then Stannard pulled out his watch. + +"We must get off. Shout for Gillane. Your voice carries well." + +Deering shouted and fixed his glance on the slope behind the group. +After a few minutes, two or three indistinct objects loomed in the mist. + +"The boys are coming," he said, and resumed in a puzzled voice: "Gillane +went for Stevens and Dillon; but I see _four_." + +"There are four," said Jimmy, and Deering's mouth got tight. + +He thought the first man did not belong to Stannard's party, and now he +saw two others behind the advancing group. + +"The police!" said Stannard, and shrugged resignedly. + +Jimmy turned. His face was pinched and his pose was slack, but his look +was calm. + +"You have played up nobly, but we're beaten and I've had enough. In +fact, to know I'm beaten is rather a relief." + +Deering nodded gloomily. There was no use in trying to get away; the +Royal North-West are empowered to shoot, and, as a rule, shoot straight. +He waited and noted mechanically that Stannard was a few yards nearer +the top of the rocks. By and by a police sergeant stopped opposite the +group. + +"We have got you! Don't move until you get my orders," he said, and +signing a trooper, indicated Gillane's party. "Hold that lot off!" + +"We are not looking for trouble and the boys won't bother you," said +Deering. "What's your business?" + +He turned and glanced at Stannard, who said nothing. The mist was +getting thin and Deering thought his look strained. Gillane had stopped +behind the police, and the sergeant advanced, pulling at his belt. + +"I have a warrant, but my hands are frozen and I can't get inside my +coat." + +"You can show us the warrant later," said Jimmy. "I'm James Leyland, the +man you want." + +"We _don't want you_," the sergeant replied. + +Jimmy's legs shook and he sat down in the snow. After the long strain, +his relief was poignant and reacted on his exhausted body. He gave the +sergeant a dull, puzzled look. + +"Then whom do you want?" + +"Harvey Stannard," said the other, and Stannard turned. + +His figure cut the misty background and he carried himself as if he were +not disturbed. In fact, Jimmy imagined he had expected something like +this. + +"I am Stannard. Why do you want me?" + +"When I can loose my belt I'll read you the warrant. The charge is +killing game-warden Douglas." + +"Then Douglas is dead?" said Stannard in a quiet voice. + +"He died four or five days since," the sergeant replied. + +"Ah!" said Stannard, and braced himself. "Well, I have nothing to state. +I reserve my defense----" + +"Stop him!" shouted the sergeant, and leaped across the snow. + +Stannard stepped back, stumbled on the steep bank and vanished. + +For a moment Jimmy, numbed by horror, wondered whether his imagination +had cheated him. Then he saw Stannard was really gone and he ran for the +ledge. The others joined him, but Stannard was not on the ledge. Two or +three hundred feet below a dark object rolled down a long slab and at +the bottom plunged into a gulf where the gray mist tossed. + +"He's gone," Deering remarked to the sergeant. "Perhaps you'll find him +when the snow melts." + +They went back to the spot where they had left their packs and ropes. +For a time all were quiet, and then the sergeant said to Deering: "He +beat me, but I don't get it yet. I didn't reckon on his going over; he +stated he reserved his defense." + +"Perhaps he was rash," Deering remarked in a thoughtful voice. "In the +meantime, however, we must let it go and think about getting down to +the bush. How did you find us?" + +"We went for a neck behind Mr. Leyland's shack. When we saw no tracks we +pushed along the main range. We reckoned you'd gone by the long ridge +and we might cut your trail. We were three nights in the rocks and are +all played out." + +"Then you had better join us. We are going to try Stannard's line down +the gully. I don't engage to make the woods, but I don't see another +plan." + +The sergeant hesitated. "Stannard hit the line?" + +"He declared the line would go," said Deering quietly. "Perhaps you have +not much grounds to trust him, but he was a great mountaineer." + +Jimmy turned and threw Deering the end of the rope. + +"Don't talk!" he said to the sergeant. "If you mean to join us, tie on. +We must start." + +A few minutes afterwards, they crossed the shelf. Deering led, and +Jimmy, going first on the second rope, rather doubted if they would +reach the trees. In summer the long straight crack was obviously the +mountain's rubbish shoot and its sides were ground smooth by rolling +stones; now it was packed by hard, firm snow. To slip would mean a +savage _glissade_, and then perhaps a plunge---- + +Much depended on the leader's nerve. Reaching down, held by the rope, he +must chip out holes; and then, when the man behind him occupied the +notches, move a foot or two and cut another. Sometimes Deering used his +boots and sometimes the ice-pick; but, for the most part, when his party +had gone across, the holes were broken and Jimmy was forced to cut. The +labor was exhausting and by and by Deering owned he had had enough. The +trouble was to help him back and put another in his place, but Gillane +got into the loop and brought them down some distance. Then he stopped +and for a few minutes all lay in the snow. Mist hid the bottom of the +gully and none dared hope their labor would be lightened much when they +got there. For all they knew they were painfully crawling down to the +top of a precipice. In fact nobody was willing to brace up for the +effort to change the leaders. + +After a time Jimmy turned his head. The mist was lifting. It went up in +torn shreds and the bottom of the gully began to get distinct. Where the +dark trough ran out from the rocks a smooth snow-field went down. The +vapor steadily rolled off the slope, until Jimmy saw a vague, dark belt +he thought was timber. His heart beat and he got back his pluck. + +"Stannard hit the proper line," he said. "We'll pitch camp in the +woods." + +Dillon took Gillane's post, the sergeant took Jimmy's, and they pushed +on. By and by the mist rolled down and hid the pitches below, but, now +all knew where they went, the gloom vanished and slack muscles were +braced. For all that, when they reached the snow-field Deering looked +to the west and frowned. + +"The light's going and the trees are a long way off," he said. "Mush +along, boys. You have got to get there!" + +In places the snow was loose and to get forward was hard. Jimmy pushed +Stevens for some distance and they were forced to stop for a young +police trooper. On some pitches the snow was hard and slippery, and +rocks with icy tops broke the surface. Dark crept up from the valley and +the trees were behind the ground in front. Yet from the daunting gully +they had looked down across the vast white slope and the picture that +melted like the mist led them on. Ahead were rest and food and warmth. +At length, two or three hours after dark, Dillon stumbled and rolled in +the snow. + +"Watch out for the juniper I ran up against," he shouted. "Keep going! +This trail's for the woods!" + +Half an hour afterwards Jimmy threw off his pack and leaned against a +spruce. The ground was steep and stony, but rows of small trunks cut the +glimmering snow. All round was fuel and one could build a shelter and +eat hot food. He thrilled and the blood came to his frozen skin. They +had run daunting risks and borne all flesh and blood could bear, but the +strain was done with. They had made it! + + + + +XXXII + +BY THE CAMP-FIRE + + +In the timber the cold was not very keen and the tired men braced +themselves for the effort to pitch camp. Peter and the sergeant took +control and soon a big fire burned behind a wall of branches. Against +the wall twigs and thin branches were packed for beds. Where the bushman +can find fuel and material for building he does not bother about the +frost, and in winter the Royal North-West patrols sleep by their +camp-fires far out on the snowy wilds. + +A trooper fried pork and doughy bannocks, Deering brewed a kettle of +strong tea, and when all had eaten like famished animals the men, for +the most part, went to sleep. For a time, however, Deering, the +sergeant, and Jimmy sat by the fire and smoked. + +On the mountains, they were absorbed by the stern physical effort, and +concentrated mechanically on getting down. Animal instinct urged them +forward, but now the risk of freezing was gone, they began to think like +men. The sergeant and Jimmy were puzzled and imagined they might get +some light from Deering. Jimmy's brows were knit and when he looked +about he frowned. Although he was warm and the hot tea had revived him, +he felt his brain was dull. + +Sparks leaped up from the fire; smoke tossed about the camp. One heard +the wind in the pine-tops and the trunks reflected gleams of flickering +light. The mist had blown away, and Jimmy saw far off a dim white ridge +cut the sky. Then he turned his head and shivered, for he knew +Stannard's broken body was somewhere in the rocks and perhaps nobody +would find the spot. Stannard was his friend, a cultivated gentleman and +a famous mountaineer; but he had slipped and gone down the precipice +like a raw tourist. Moreover, although it looked as if he had killed the +game warden, he had said nothing. In fact, it looked as if he were +willing for Jimmy to pay. Yet Jimmy was not persuaded; for Stannard to +use treachery like that was unthinkable. + +"You're satisfied I'm not accountable for the shooting accident?" he +said to the sergeant. + +"I guess my chiefs are satisfied. Our orders were to leave you alone." + +For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. He had carried a heavy load and now +the load was gone. He could urge Margaret to marry him and get on with +his ranching. Perhaps, if she agreed, he might go back to Lancashire, +but he must not yet dwell on this. + +"When did your officers find out I had nothing to do with it?" he +resumed. + +"Not long since; the day before warden Douglas died. All the time he was +at the hospital we waited for his statement, but got nothing. Although +I've seen men shot, Douglas puzzled me and I reckon he puzzled the +doctors. Sometimes he was sensible, but he didn't talk, and when we +asked him about the shooting he looked at us as if he'd plumb forgot. +Then, one day, it all came back and he gave us his story." + +"The night was dark and Douglas could not see much," Deering remarked. +"I expect you had something to go on that helped you fill out his +statement." + +The sergeant smiled. "The trooper who measured up the distances and made +a plan of the clearing was a surveyor's clerk. Then Douglas was shot in +the center of his chest, but the mark at the back was to one side. +Besides, we had got Mr. Leyland's hired man; Miss Jardine put us on his +track. He sure doesn't like Mr. Leyland but his tale was useful." + +"In fact, if Mr. Leyland had not pulled out, you would not have bothered +him?" + +"I expect that is so. When Stannard sent Mr. Leyland off, he reckoned to +give us a useful clue. Our duty was to try the clue." + +Jimmy looked up sharply, but Deering said, "Stannard's plan was good, +but your officers are not fools. Then another thing is obvious; if you +had tried very hard, you might have hit Mr. Leyland's trail before." + +"It's possible," the sergeant agreed with a touch of dryness. "Maybe the +bosses were after Stannard. But I don't get it all yet. Stannard was not +a fool. I guess he knew we couldn't put it on him that he meant to +shoot Douglas. Since he was using the pit-light, he'd have gone to the +pen, but I guess he could have stood for all he got. Yet when he saw he +was corralled, he stepped back off the rocks!" + +"Stannard was an English highbrow. A year or two in a penitentiary would +have knocked him out. Perhaps this accounts for it." + +"Oh, well," said the sergeant, "I guess we'll let it go. For three +nights I've shivered on the rocks and I want to sleep." + +He lay down on the branches and Jimmy waited. The smoke was gone, the +fire was clear, and red reflections played about the quiet figures at +the bottom of the rude wall. After a time Jimmy thought all slept and he +turned to Deering. + +"I don't know if the sergeant was satisfied, but I am not. You imply +that when Stannard stepped back he knew where he went?" + +Deering pondered. He saw Jimmy was disturbed and puzzled, but he doubted +if there was much use in enlightening him. Stannard was gone. Jimmy had +trusted the fellow and had already got a nasty knock. Yet if he had +begun to see a light, Deering did not mean to cheat him. He was not +Stannard's champion. + +"Well," he said, "it certainly looks like that." + +"But why? The sergeant thinks they would not have tried Stannard for +shooting with intent to kill; he declares Stannard could have stood for +all he got." + +"I expect that is so. Sometimes, however, people are not logical. For +example, when you thought you had shot Douglas, you pulled out." + +"I ought to have stayed. Now I think about it, Stannard rather persuaded +me to go," Jimmy agreed and looked at Deering hard. "When you recently +found out Stannard had gone to my help, why did you go after him?" + +"For one thing, I knew he had not got a proper guide. I thought the job +a man's job, and Stevens and Dillon are boys." + +"Somehow I feel that's not all," said Jimmy and for a moment or two was +very quiet. Then he resumed: "When Stannard and I were on the ledge you +were at the corner. I was going to jump on the slab, but you shouted." + +"Sometimes you're rash. When you jump on a rock, you want to know the +rock is sound." + +"The slab was not sound," said Jimmy in a hoarse voice. "Still I was on +the rope and Stannard knew, if I went down, I might pull him off the +ledge----" + +He stopped and Deering saw he did not want to solve the puzzle. "It's +done with and you're a stanch friend," he resumed. "Well, I'm very +tired." + +Deering gave him a sympathetic nod, and pulling his blanket round him, +got down on a pile of twigs. Jimmy sat with his back against a log and +looked into the gloom behind the black pine-tops. High up on the lonely +rocks a rotten slab dropped to the gully, and, but for Deering's +stanchness, he might have taken an awful plunge. In the meantime, the +cold was keen, his body was exhausted and his brain was dull. He did not +know much and did not want to know all. The thing was done with and he +resolved to let it go. By and by he got down on the twigs by Deering, +stretched his legs to the fire and went to sleep. + +In the morning after breakfast the sergeant lighted his pipe and stopped +the troopers, who had begun to roll up their packs. + +"We won't break camp yet, boys," he said and turned to Deering. "Mr. +Stevens can't stand for a long hike and my orders were to bring Stannard +back." + +"Sometimes the police orders do not go," said Deering dryly. "Until the +snow melts nobody will bring Stannard back. He has cheated you." + +"I've got to try and want your help." + +"You can reckon on mine," said Dillon and looked at Jimmy. "Laura must +be satisfied----" + +"That is so; I'm going to stay," said Jimmy; and when Deering agreed, +the sergeant ordered a trooper and Gillane to start for the railroad. + +He stated he must send a report, and Jimmy and Dillon gave the packer +some telegrams. The men set off and soon afterwards the others, leaving +Stevens to watch the fire, began to climb the long steep ridge behind +the camp. + +The effort cost them much. All were slack and tired and knew their labor +would not be rewarded. Yet for some hours they struggled across the +snow-fields and searched the rocks with the glasses. In the afternoon +they went back, and lying about the fire, talked and smoked. + +At daybreak they started again and reached higher ground. The day was +bright and the rocks and gullies were distinct, but when the sun sank +behind the range, they had found nothing. All the same, Jimmy saw that +when Stannard resolved to try the gully his judgment was strangely good. +There was not another line down the rocks and nowhere but at the bottom +could the party have reached a slope leading to the trees. At length +Deering gave the sergeant his glasses. + +"Nothing's on the big gravel bank and we can't get up the cliff," he +said. "I have had enough and I expect you are satisfied. Maybe you'll +find Stannard after the thaw, but when he stepped off the rocks I think +he went for good." + +"I've tried," said the sergeant. "Let's get down. At sun-up we'll pull +out for the railroad." + +They went back, but after supper nobody talked much. Somehow the camp +was gloomy and Jimmy fought against a vague sense of horror. To know +they would take the trail in the morning was some relief. + +At daybreak they broke camp and started downhill. All were glad to go, +but when they reached the valley Jimmy stopped and looked up at the +distant white streak in the rocks. Now he was on level ground, to +picture his crawling down the awful gully was hard, and at the top was +the snow-bank where Stannard vanished. + +Jimmy shivered, but after a few moments turned and ran to join the +others. He was young, the sun was on the mountains and the doubts and +horror he had known melted like the dark. The thing was done with, the +load he had carried was gone, and he was free. + +Perhaps it was strange, but he began to perceive that the freedom he +thought he enjoyed with Stannard was an illusion. Stannard's light touch +was very firm and he had led Jimmy where he did not mean to go. Laura, +not knowing all she did, had helped him to resist, and when he knew +Margaret, Stannard's control was broken. It looked as if Stannard had +not meant to let him go; but Jimmy refused to speculate about the +other's plans. + +At length, so to speak, he was his own man. He had paid for his +extravagance and extravagance had lost its charm. Now he knew no +obstacle to his marrying Margaret, and if she were willing, he resolved +to resume his proper job at the cotton mill. When he thought about it +his heart beat, but Margaret was not yet persuaded, and unless she knew +his relations approved, to persuade her might be hard. Well, Sir James +was at Vancouver; in fact, he was perhaps at the hotel, and Jimmy was +keen to meet him. + +Progress, however, was slow. Broken trees and rocks from the mountain +blocked the way, fresh snow had fallen, and Stevens was lame. He had +slept with his wet boots on and his foot was frostbitten. Then Dillon +was slack and moody. His fatigue was not gone, and if Gillane had sent +the telegrams, when the party reached the settlement Laura would be +waiting. Dillon shrank from enlightening her and Jimmy sympathized. + + + + +XXXIII + +SIR JAMES APPROVES + + +The sun was low but the light was good, and Jimmy's party, crossing a +hillside, saw a long plume of smoke. The smoke moved and when it melted +the rumble of a distant freight train rolled up the valley. After a +time, they saw telegraph posts, a break in the rocks, and two or three +small houses. Then their fatigue vanished and all went fast, but Jimmy +was sorry for Dillon, whose mouth was tight. Jimmy thought Laura waited +at the railroad and Frank must tell her Stannard would not come back. +Moreover, she must soon know Stannard had shot the game warden and was +willing for Jimmy to pay. When they reached the bottom of the hill he +stopped Dillon. + +"I expect Laura has got a cruel knock, but perhaps we can save her some +extra pain. If you take the line you think will hurt her least, I'll +play up, and you can trust Deering." + +Dillon said nothing, but gave Jimmy a grateful look. Half an hour +afterwards they pushed through a belt of trees and saw a party waiting +by the railroad. It was obvious the telegrams had arrived. Although the +people were some distance off, Jimmy picked out Margaret, who stood by +a man he did not think was Jardine; the bush ranchers did not wear furs +like his. By and by he distinguished Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Jardine, +Graham, the section hand, and a police trooper, but they were not +important and he speculated about the stranger, until, when the track +was not far off, he saw a light. Margaret's companion was Sir James +Leyland. + +Jimmy frowned. His uncle's arrival was awkward, for he had rather hoped +to work on Margaret's emotion and carry her away. In fact, he had +wondered whether to take her boldly in his arms might not be a useful +plan. Now the plan would not work; although when he stopped in front of +Margaret he saw she was moved. The blood came to her skin and her glance +was very kind. She wore an old fur cap and a soft deerskin jacket; in +fact, her clothes were a rancher's daughter's clothes, but somehow she +was marked by a touch of dignity. She gave Jimmy her hand and he turned +to his uncle. + +"You know Miss Jardine, sir?" + +"It looks like that," Sir James replied with a smile. "Since you are my +nephew, I felt I ought to know your friends. Then Miss Jardine was kind, +and seeing my curiosity, helped to throw some light upon your romantic +adventures." + +Jimmy gave Margaret a grateful look and laughed. "I expect you were +puzzled, sir?" + +"To some extent, I was puzzled," Sir James agreed. "I'm a sober and +perhaps old-fashioned business man. The golden days when I was young +and rash are gone, but one recaptures a reflection of their vanished +charm." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "I knew you were human! No days were golden for Uncle +Dick. I expect you know we jarred?" + +"Dick indicated something like that, but he has a number of useful +qualities. Perhaps they're inherited qualities, because I think one or +two are yours. For example, I went to see your ranch. You have made good +progress, on sound business lines, although chopping trees is obviously +a strenuous job." + +"Do you know much about ranching?" Jimmy inquired. + +"I do not. Miss Jardine thought I ought to see the ranch and her father +enlightened me." + +Margaret blushed and Sir James smiled. "Friends are useful, Jimmy, so +long as one's friends are good; but we mustn't philosophize. They are +cooking some food for you at the post office and the station agent has +agreed to stop the Vancouver express. He imagines the train will arrive +before very long." + +They went to the post office and soon afterwards the train rolled down +the gorge. Jimmy helped Margaret up the steps, gave Peter his awkward +thanks, and jumped on board. By and by the cars sped past a small stone +hut and he wondered whether he was the man who had not long since stolen +down at night to meet the section hand. + +When they reached the hotel the guests Jimmy had known were gone, and a +lonely stranger occupied a room. The clerk stated they would shut down +for the winter as soon as the party went, but dinner would be served as +usual in the big dining-room. + +Jimmy, refreshed by a hot bath, dressed with luxurious satisfaction. To +wear clean, dry clothes and know others would cook his food was +something new. When he went downstairs Sir James was in the rotunda. + +"Now you are the fashionable young fellow I expected to meet," he +remarked with a twinkle. "You see, Dick drew your portrait." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "I expect I bothered Dick and perhaps he was a +better friend than I thought. All the same, I hope to persuade you the +portrait was something of a caricature." + +Sir James gave him a thoughtful glance. "It is possible. When you came +down the hill at Green River, carrying your heavy pack, your mouth tight +and your eyes fixed, I knew my nephew. Sometimes when the cheap mill +engine stopped and your father put down his pen and took off his coat he +looked like that. Well, it's long since and I have got a title I did not +particularly want; but after all we are new arrivals and the primitive +vein is not yet run out----" He stopped and resumed: "Mrs. Dillon is in +the drawing-room, but we must wait for Miss Jardine. She and her father +are my guests." + +"You are kind, but I thought them my guests, sir!" + +Sir James smiled. "You are rather dull, Jimmy. After all, I am the head +of your house." + +They went to the dining-room and at the door Jimmy stopped. Margaret and +Jardine crossed the belt of polished wood between the pillars, but now +Margaret was not dressed like a bush girl. The deerskin jacket was gone, +her clothes were fashionable and her skin shone against the fine +dark-colored material. Yet she was marked by the grace and balance one +gets in the woods, and Jimmy thought her step like a mountain deer's. +Then he saw his uncle studied him and he crossed the floor. + +Mrs. Dillon, Frank and Deering came in, but although Sir James was an +urbane host sometimes the talk got slack. Laura had not come down and +another occupied Stannard's chair. + +The stranger Jimmy had remarked dined alone some distance off, but when +Mrs. Dillon got up he joined the group. + +"You agreed to give me an interview," he said to Sir James. + +"That is so," Sir James replied. "You wanted to see my nephew, I think, +and since we may talk about Stannard, I would like Mr. Deering to join +us." + +They went to the rotunda and the stranger pulled out some documents. He +was old and rather fat, but his clothes were fastidiously neat and his +glance was keen. + +"You know I'm Mayson, and my London address is on my card," he said. +"The card does not state my occupation, but I lend money." + +"I imagined something like that," said Sir James. "Stannard was your +partner?" + +"He was my agent. Stannard belonged to exclusive sporting clubs I could +not join; but perhaps this is not important. I understand you are +satisfied he is dead?" + +Deering nodded. "Nothing made of flesh and blood could stand for his +plunge down the rocks." + +"Since he was a famous mountaineer, I expect you thought his +carelessness strange." + +"I have some grounds to think you could account for it," said Deering +dryly. + +"We will talk about this again," said Mayson and turned to Sir James. +"Mr. Leyland owes me a large sum; I have brought his notes." + +Sir James studied the documents and gave them to Jimmy, who admitted the +account was accurate. + +"Very well," said Sir James. "My nephew meets his bills. The interest is +high, but he must pay for his extravagance. Before I write you a check, +I want to see your agreement with Stannard and would like some +particulars." + +Mayson gave him a document, and when Jimmy stated that he knew +Stannard's hand, resumed: "Stannard joined me some years since, at a +time when he was awkwardly embarrassed. The combine had advantages. +Stannard had qualities I had not; his friends were fashionable sporting +people. For all that, he was bankrupt and I supplied him with money." + +"Exactly," said Sir James. "Still, perhaps Stannard's agreeing to tout +for you was strange. My nephew thought him a fastidious gentleman. +There's another thing: since he was willing to exploit his friends, did +you not imagine he might cheat you?" + +Mayson smiled. "Stannard dared not cheat me, and perhaps I can give Mr. +Deering the light he wants. I knew something about Stannard that, had +others known, would have broken him. When we made our agreement, he +declared the person he had injured was recently dead and the risk he ran +was gone. Perhaps he was sincere, but sometimes I doubt. Not long since, +when he began to keep back sums I ought to have got, I made inquiries +and found out that another knew. In fact, it looked as if Stannard were +buying the fellow's silence with my money. Had he been frank, I might +have broken the extortioner, but he was not frank. I think he knew he +had deceived me about the agreement and was afraid. Anyhow, he tried to +meet the demands, until----" + +"I think I see," said Deering. "You do not yet know all Stannard's plans +and now they're not important. I expect we can take it for granted that +he imagined the demands could not long be met. Then he saw the police +had found out his part in the shooting accident and he went down the +rocks." + +"It looks like that," Mayson agreed. + +Deering turned to Jimmy. Jimmy's look was stern and his brows were knit. +Deering thought he saw a light, but he said nothing and Sir James got +up. + +"If you will go with me to the office, Mr. Mayson, I will write you a +check." + +They went off and soon afterwards Dillon joined Jimmy. + +"Laura wants to see you," he said in a disturbed voice. "She knows +Stannard shot Douglas, and it's now obvious he meant you to pay; but I +rather think that's not all. She talks about her not being justified in +marrying me. The thing's ridiculous; if Stannard was a crook, she's not +accountable, but my arguments don't carry much weight. Perhaps you can +help. You agreed to play up." + +"I'll try," said Jimmy, and went to the drawing-room. + +Nobody but Laura was about and her forlorn look moved him. Her face was +pinched and all her color was gone, but she gave Jimmy a level glance. + +"You know I'm sorry," he said, and taking her cold hand, resumed with +some embarrassment: "Frank's my friend and you were very kind. Not long +since I thought----" + +"You thought you were my lover?" said Laura in a quiet voice. "You were +lucky because you were not, but had you agreed to go back to the cotton +mill, I might have married you. Now you know my shabbiness." + +"I know nothing like that," Jimmy declared. "I do, however, know I owe +you much. You were the first to warn me where my extravagance led. Now I +want to help----" + +"Ah," said Laura, "you are generous! I was willing to cheat you and it's +plain my father was not your friend." + +Jimmy studied her and thought her afraid. In fact, he began to see why +she had sent for him. Laura was keen; she knew something, but he +imagined she did not know all. Anyhow, he was not going to enlighten +her. + +"You mustn't exaggerate the importance of the shooting accident," he +said. "I and Mr. Stannard used our rifles. The night was dark and I +imagined I had hit the warden. I expect Mr. Stannard had no grounds to +think the unlucky shot was his. Until recently, the police believed the +shot was mine." + +Laura was quiet for a few moments, and then with an effort looked up. + +"My father knew the rocks; he was a famous mountaineer. Yet when the +police sergeant ordered him to stop he went down the bank----" + +"After all, his carelessness was not very strange," Jimmy replied. "Mr. +Stannard was leader and had borne a heavy strain; in fact, we were all +exhausted and our nerve was gone. Then the police came out of the mist, +the sergeant shouted, and Mr. Stannard knew they claimed he had shot the +warden. He was startled and, so to speak, mechanically stepped +back----" + +He stopped, for although his object was good, he knew Laura's +cleverness. He did not know if he had altogether banished her doubts, +but she gave him a grateful look. + +"Frank is your friend," she said in a quiet voice. "He wants me to marry +him. Are you satisfied I ought not to refuse?" + +"Why, of course I'm satisfied," Jimmy declared. "You had nothing to do +with the shooting accident; you were my friend before Frank was. I hope +we're friends for good. To refuse to marry Frank is ridiculous. Since +I'm persuaded, you ought not to doubt." + +Laura gave him her hand. + +"You are stanch, Jimmy, but I'm tired," she said, and let him go. + +In the hall Jimmy met Sir James, who said, "I am going for a quiet +smoke. Will you join me?" + +"Not for a time, sir. Since I arrived I've been strenuously occupied +doing things I ought. Now I'm going to do something I want to do." + +"For example?" Sir James inquired. + +"I'm going to talk to Margaret. I hope to persuade her to marry me." + +"When I suggested our taking a smoke, my object was to inquire about +your friendship for Miss Jardine. After all, I am your trustee." + +"I hope you approve my plan, sir," Jimmy rejoined. + +"You know where to stop," Sir James remarked with a twinkle. "Perhaps my +approval carries more weight than you think; because had I not approved, +Miss Jardine would not have agreed." + +"Then you have talked to her about it?" said Jimmy with keen surprise. + +"Not at all; Miss Jardine is not dull. I soon saw she understood my +importance, but did not mean to use her charm. Her friendliness was +marked by some reserve. In fact, it was plain she acknowledged my +business was to judge if she were the girl for you and she would not +persuade me. Well, I liked her pride, and although we did not talk about +it, I rather think she knew I did approve." + +"Thank you, sir," said Jimmy with a grateful look. + +Sir James put his hand on Jimmy's arm. + +"When I started from Bombay I was bothered about you. Dick had found out +something about Stannard and he imagined that Miss Stannard was his +accomplice." + +"Miss Stannard didn't know Stannard's occupation. She is not accountable +for her father." + +"That is so," Sir James agreed. "I think Miss Stannard a charming girl, +but she was not the girl for you. Leylands are manufacturers and your +job is to control a big industry; Miss Stannard's is to cultivate her +social talents and amuse herself. Margaret Jardine, however, is our +sort. She's stanch and sincere; you know her pluck and all she risked +for you. You want a wife like that, and I wish you luck!" + +Jimmy found Margaret in the drawing-room. Mrs. Dillon had gone off with +Laura, and Jimmy advanced resolutely. + +"At Green Lake I asked you to marry me and you refused. Yet you knew I +loved you and perhaps I had some grounds to think----" + +The blood came to Margaret's skin. "I did know, Jimmy; but to marry you +because I stopped the trooper was another thing." + +"Now you're ridiculous! All the same, in some respects your refusal was +justified. My drawbacks were plain. For all you knew, I was an +extravagant wastrel, and the police were on my track. Since I mustn't +urge you, I was forced to be resigned." + +"Sometimes you are rather dull," Margaret remarked and smiled. + +"Well, I'm not forced to try for resignation now. I was something of an +extravagant fool, but the police will leave me alone." + +"The police were not the obstacle," said Margaret in a quiet voice. + +Jimmy laughed. "It looks like that; the trooper who tried to catch us +did not bother you long. If Sir James was the obstacle, he's, so to +speak, removed. You have conquered him and he declared a few minutes +since you were the girl for me. He's a kind old fellow. Don't you think +you ought to indulge him?" + +He reached down and took her hands. "I want you, Margaret. My +extravagance is done with. I'm going back to undertake my proper job and +I need your help." + +"Then I must try to help," said Margaret, and Jimmy took her in his +arms. + + +THE END. + + + + +_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ + +NORTHWEST! +THE MAN FROM THE WILDS +KIT MUSGRAVE'S LUCK +LISTER'S GREAT ADVENTURE +THE WILDERNESS MINE +WYNDHAM'S PAL +PARTNERS OF THE OUT-TRAIL +THE BUCCANEER FARMER +THE LURE OF THE NORTH +THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S +CARMEN'S MESSENGER +JOHNSTONE OF THE BORDER +THE COAST OF ADVENTURE +HARDING OF ALLENWOOD +THE SECRET OF THE REEF +FOR THE ALLISON HONOR +THE INTRIGUERS +PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN +RANCHING FOR SYLVIA +THE LONG PORTAGE +A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP +SYDNEY CARTERET, RANCHER +THE GREATER POWER +THRICE ARMED +LORIMER OF THE NORTHWEST +DELILAH OF THE SNOWS +FOR JACINTA +WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE +THE DUST OF CONFLICT +THE CATTLE BARON'S DAUGHTER + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected. + +In Chapter III, a period was changed to a question mark after "do you +think your folks would give me supper". + +In Chapter IV, "The oldtime bush-man has no use for game-wardens" was +changed to "The old-time bushman has no use for game-wardens". + +In Chapter IX, "her leggings were fringed deer-skin" was changed to "her +leggings were fringed deerskin". + +In Chapter XII, "Sometimes he heard cowbells" was changed to "Sometimes +he heard cow-bells". + +In Chapter XV, "struck the door-post" was changed to "struck the +doorpost". + +In Chapter XIX, a single quotation mark (') was changed to a double +quotation mark (") before "My notion is". + +In Chapter XXV, "the snow that streaked the mountainside" was changed to +"the snow that streaked the mountain-side". + +In Chapter XXXI, "when they reached the snowfield" was changed to "when +they reached the snow-field". + +In Chapter XXXII, "One heard the wind in the pinetops" was changed to +"One heard the wind in the pine-tops". + +Also, the list of other novels by Harold Bindloss was moved from the +front of the book to the back. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + +***** This file should be named 38069-8.txt or 38069-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/0/6/38069/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/38069-8.zip b/38069-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a00522 --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-8.zip diff --git a/38069-h.zip b/38069-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..638176f --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-h.zip diff --git a/38069-h/38069-h.htm b/38069-h/38069-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a20edb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-h/38069-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9441 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr.wide { width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.thin { width: 45%; margin-top: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1.25em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .lowercase {text-transform: lowercase;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .bigtext {font-size: 120%;} + .smalltext {font-size: 80%;} + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align: center; + margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + + .chapnum {text-align: right;} + .chapname {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps; + padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 3em;} + .chappage {text-align: right;} + .chapterone {margin-bottom: 2em;} + .newchapter {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; + margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .booktitles {list-style-type: none; padding-left: 50%; text-indent: -5em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0q {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0.4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2.4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4.4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northwest! + +Author: Harold Bindloss + +Release Date: November 20, 2011 [EBook #38069] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="391" height="600" alt="cover of Northwest!" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1>NORTHWEST!</h1> + +<p class="center bigtext">By HAROLD BINDLOSS</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Author of</i> "<span class="smcap">The Man from the Wilds</span>," "<span class="smcap">Lister's Great Adventure</span>," +"<span class="smcap">Wyndham's Pal</span>," "<span class="smcap">Partners of the Out-trail</span>," "<span class="smcap">The Lure of the North</span>," +<span class="smcap">etc</span>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/logo.png" width="200" height="246" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"> +NEW YORK<br /> +FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS<br /> +</p> + +<p class="center smalltext"><i>Copyright, 1922, by</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Frederick A. Stokes Company</span></p> + +<p class="center smalltext">PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND UNDER THE TITLE<br /> +"THE MOUNTAINEERS"</p> + +<p class="center smalltext"><i>All Rights Reserved</i></p> + +<p class="center smalltext"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table class="figcenter" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum smalltext">CHAPTER</td> +<td class="chapname smalltext"> </td> +<td class="chappage smalltext">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">I</td> +<td class="chapname">Jimmy Signs a Note</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">II</td> +<td class="chapname">Jimmy's Apology</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#II">9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">III</td> +<td class="chapname">The Cayuse Pony</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#III">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">IV</td> +<td class="chapname">Kelshope Ranch</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#IV">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">V</td> +<td class="chapname">Jimmy Holds Fast</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#V">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VI</td> +<td class="chapname">Deering Owns a Debt</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#VI">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VII</td> +<td class="chapname">An Insurable Interest</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#VII">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">VIII</td> +<td class="chapname">Jimmy Gets to Work</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#VIII">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">IX</td> +<td class="chapname">The Quiet Woods</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#IX">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">X</td> +<td class="chapname">Laura's Refusal</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#X">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XI</td> +<td class="chapname">The Game Reserve</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XI">98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XII</td> +<td class="chapname">Stannard Fronts a Crisis</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XII">108</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIII</td> +<td class="chapname">The Deserted Homestead</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XIII">117</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIV</td> +<td class="chapname">A Shot in the Dark</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XIV">126</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XV</td> +<td class="chapname">Trooper Simpson's Prisoners</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XV">135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVI</td> +<td class="chapname">The Neck</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XVI">144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVII</td> +<td class="chapname">Dillon Meditates</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XVII">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XVIII</td> +<td class="chapname">The Cartridge Belt</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XVIII">162</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XIX</td> +<td class="chapname">Useful Friends</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XIX">171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XX</td> +<td class="chapname">Bob's Denial</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XX">182</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXI</td> +<td class="chapname">Deering's Excursion</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXI">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXII</td> +<td class="chapname">Deering Takes Counsel</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXII">200</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIII</td> +<td class="chapname">Margaret Takes a Plunge</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXIII">208</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIV</td> +<td class="chapname">Jimmy Resigns Himself</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXIV">218</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXV</td> +<td class="chapname">The Call</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXV">227</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVI</td> +<td class="chapname">Deering Takes the Trail</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXVI">236</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVII</td> +<td class="chapname">Deering's Progress</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXVII">245</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXVIII</td> +<td class="chapname">A Dissolving Picture</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXVIII">254</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXIX</td> +<td class="chapname">Held Up</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXIX">263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXX</td> +<td class="chapname">The Gully</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXX">274</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXXI</td> +<td class="chapname">Stannard's Line</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXXI">281</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXXII</td> +<td class="chapname">By the Camp-fire</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXXII">288</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">XXXIII</td> +<td class="chapname">Sir James Approves</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#XXXIII">297</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="NORTHWEST" id="NORTHWEST"></a>NORTHWEST!</h2> + +<h2 class="chapterone"><a name="I" id="I"></a>I<br /> +<span class="smalltext">JIMMY SIGNS A NOTE</span></h2> + + +<p>The small room at the Canadian hotel was hot and smelt of cigar-smoke +and liquor. Stannard put down his cards, shrugged resignedly, and opened +the window. Deering smiled and pulled a pile of paper money across the +table. He was strongly built and belonged to a mountaineering club, but +he was fat and his American dinner jacket looked uncomfortably tight.</p> + +<p>Deering's habit was to smile, and Jimmy Leyland had liked his knowing +twinkle. Somehow it hinted that you could not cheat Deering, but if you +were his friend you could trust him, and he would see you out. Now, +however, Jimmy thought he grinned. Jimmy had reckoned on winning the +pool, but Deering had picked up the money he imagined was his.</p> + +<p>Jackson wiped a spot of liquor from his white shirt and gave the boy a +sympathetic glance. Jackson was thin, dark-skinned and grave, and +although he did not talk much about himself, Jimmy understood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> he was +rather an important gentleman in Carolina. Stannard had indicated +something like this. Stannard and Jimmy were frankly English, but Jimmy +was young and the other's hair was touched by white.</p> + +<p>Yet Stannard was athletic, and at Parisian clubs and Swiss hotels men +talked about his fencing and his exploits on the rocks. He was not a big +man, but now his thin jacket was open, the moulding of his chest and the +curve to his black silk belt were Greek. All the same, one rather got a +sense of cultivation than strength; Stannard looked thoroughbred, and +Jimmy was proud he was his friend.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was not cultivated. He was a careless, frank and muscular English +lad, but he was not altogether raw, because he knew London and Paris and +had for some time enjoyed Stannard's society. His manufacturing +relations in Lancashire thought him an extravagant fool, and perhaps had +grounds for doing so, for since Jimmy had broken their firm control his +prudence was not marked.</p> + +<p>"I must brace up. Let's stop for a few minutes," he said and went to the +window.</p> + +<p>The room was on the second floor, and the window opening on top of the +veranda, commanded the valley. Across the terrace in front of the hotel, +dark pines rolled down to the river, and the water sparkled in the moon. +On the other side a belt of mist floated about the mountain slope and +dark rocks went up and melted in the snow. The broken white line ran far +North and was lost in the distance. One smelt the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> sweet resinous scents +the soft Chinook wind blew across the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's glance rested on the river and the vague blue-white field of ice +from which the green flood sprang. Now the electric elevators had +stopped, the angry current's measured throb rolled across the pines. But +for this, all was very quiet, and the other windows opening on the +veranda were blank. Jimmy remembered the hotel manager himself had some +time since firmly put out the billiard-room lights, when Jimmy was about +ten dollars up at pool. He had afterwards won a much larger sum at +cards, but his luck had begun to turn.</p> + +<p>By and by Stannard came out and jumped on the high top rail. The light +from the window touched his face, and his profile, cutting against the +dark, was good and firmly lined. His balance on the narrow rail was like +a boy's.</p> + +<p>"If you carried my weight, you wouldn't get up like that. Two hundred +pounds wants some moving," Deering remarked with a noisy laugh.</p> + +<p>"I've known you move about an icy slope pretty fast," said Stannard, and +taking his hands from the rail, pulled out his watch. "Two o'clock!" he +resumed and gave Jimmy a smile. "I rather think you ought to go to bed. +You have not got Deering's steadiness and still are a few dollars up. To +stop when your luck is good is a useful plan."</p> + +<p>"My legs are steadier than my head," Deering rejoined. "When I played +the ten-spot Jimmy saw my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> game. Cost me five dollars. I reckon I ought +to go to bed!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy frowned. He was persuaded he was sober, and although Stannard was +a very good sort, sometimes his fatherly admonition jarred. Then he had +won a good sum from Stannard and must not be shabby. The strange thing +was he could not remember how much he had won.</p> + +<p>"To stop as soon as my luck turns is not my plan," he said. "I feel I +owe you a chance to get your own back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well! If you feel like that, we had better go on; but your +fastidiousness may cost you something," Stannard remarked, and Deering +hit Jimmy's back.</p> + +<p>"You're a sport; I like you! Play up and play straight's your rule."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was flattered, although he doubted Deering's soberness. He did +play straight, and when he won he did not go off with a walletful of his +friends' money. All the same, Jackson's bored look annoyed him, since it +rather indicated that he was willing to indulge Jimmy than that he noted +his scrupulous fairness. Jimmy resolved to banish the fellow's languor, +and when they went back to the card table demanded that they put up the +stakes. Jackson agreed resignedly, and they resumed the game.</p> + +<p>The room got hotter and the cigar-smoke was thick. Sometimes Stannard +went to the ice-pail and mixed a cooling drink. Jimmy meant to use +caution,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> but his luck had turned, and excitement parched his mouth. By +and by Stannard, who was dealing, stopped.</p> + +<p>"Your play is wild, Jimmy," he remarked. "I think you have had enough."</p> + +<p>Jimmy turned to the others. His face was red and his gesture boyishly +theatrical.</p> + +<p>"I play for sport, not for dollars. I don't want your money, and now +you're getting something back, we'll put up the bets again."</p> + +<p>"Then, since your wad is nearly gone, somebody must keep the score," +said Jackson, and Stannard pulled out his note-book.</p> + +<p>Jimmy took another drink and tried to brace up. His luck, like his roll +of bills, was obviously gone, but when he was winning the others had not +stopped, and he did not want them, so to speak, to let him off. When he +lost he could pay. But this was not important, and he must concentrate +on his cards. The cards got worse and as a rule the ace he thought one +antagonist had was played by another. At length Stannard pushed back his +chair from the table.</p> + +<p>"Three o'clock and I have had enough," he said, and turned to Jimmy. "Do +you know how much you are down?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy did not know, but he imagined the sum was large, and when Stannard +began to reckon he went to the window. Day was breaking and mist rolled +about the pines. The snow was gray and the high rocks were blurred and +dark. Jimmy heard the river<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> and the wind in the trees. The cold braced +him and he vaguely felt the landscape's austerity. His head was getting +steadier, and perhaps it was the contrast, but when he turned and looked +about the room he was conscious of something like disgust. Stannard, +occupied with his pencil, knitted his brows, and now his graceful +carelessness was not marked; Jimmy thought his look hard and +calculating. Yet Stannard was his friend and model. He admitted he was +highly strung and perhaps his imagination cheated him.</p> + +<p>He was not cheated about the others. Now a reaction from the excitement +had begun, he saw Deering and Jackson as he had not seen them before. +Deering's grin was sottish, the fellow was grossly fat, and he fixed his +greedy glance on Stannard's note-book. Jackson, standing behind +Stannard, studied the calculations, as if he meant to satisfy himself +the sum was correct. Jimmy thought them impatient to know their share +and their keenness annoyed him. Then Stannard put up his book.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if your resolve to play up was rash," he remarked and +stated the sum Jimmy owed. "Can you meet the reckoning?"</p> + +<p>"You know I'm broke. You're my banker and must fix it for me."</p> + +<p>Stannard nodded. "Very well! What about your bet in the billiard-room?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing about it. I made the stroke."</p> + +<p>Deering grinned indulgently, and when Jackson shrugged, Jimmy's face got +red.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>"If they're not satisfied, give them the lot; I don't dispute about +things like that," he said haughtily. "Write an acknowledgment for all I +owe and I'll sign the note."</p> + +<p>Stannard wrote and tore the leaf from his note-book, but he now used a +fountain pen. Jimmy took the pen, signed the acknowledgment and went +off. When he had gone Deering looked at Stannard and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Your touch is light, but if the boy begins to feel your hand he'll +kick. Anyhow, I'll take my wad."</p> + +<p>Stannard gave him a roll of paper money and turned to Jackson.</p> + +<p>"I'll take mine," said Jackson. "In the morning I pull out."</p> + +<p>"You stated you meant to stop for a time."</p> + +<p>"There's nothing in the game for me, and I don't see what Deering +expects to get," said Jackson in a languid voice. "I doubt if you'll +keep him long; the boys in his home section, on the coast, reckon he +puts up a square deal. Anyhow, you can't have my help."</p> + +<p>Stannard gave him a searching glance and Deering straightened his big +body. Jackson's glance was quietly scornful.</p> + +<p>"A hundred dollars is a useful sum, but my mark's higher, and I play +with men. Maybe I'll meet up with some rich tourists at the Banff +hotels," he resumed, and giving the others a careless nod, went off.</p> + +<p>"A queer fellow, but sometimes his mood is nasty,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> said Deering. "I +felt I'd like to throw him over the rails."</p> + +<p>"As a rule, his sort carry a gun," Stannard remarked.</p> + +<p>Deering wiped some liquor from the table, picked up Jimmy's glass, which +was on the floor, and put away the cards.</p> + +<p>"In the morning you had better give the China boy two dollars," he said +in a meaning voice, and when he went to the door Stannard put out the +light.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="II" id="II"></a>II<br /> +<span class="smalltext">JIMMY'S APOLOGY</span></h2> + + +<p>In the morning Jimmy leaned, rather moodily, against the terrace wall. +There was no garden, for the hotel occupied a narrow shelf on the +hillside, and from the terrace one looked down on the tops of dusky +pines. The building was new, and so far the guests were not numerous, +but the manager claimed that when the charm of the neighborhood was +known, summer tourists and mountaineers would have no use for Banff.</p> + +<p>Perhaps his hopefulness was justified, for all round the hotel primeval +forest met untrodden snow, and at the head of the valley a glacier +dropped to a calm green lake. A few miles south was a small +flag-station, and sometimes one heard a heavy freight train rumble in +the woods. When the distant noise died away all was very quiet but for +the throb of falling water.</p> + +<p>Jimmy had not enjoyed his breakfast, and when he lighted a cigarette the +tobacco did not taste good. He admitted that he had been carried away, +and now he was cool he reflected that his rashness had cost him a large +sum and he had given Stannard another note. He was young, and had for a +year or two indulged his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> youthful craving for excitement, but he began +to doubt if he could keep it up. After all, he had inherited more than +he knew from his sternly business-like and rather parsimonious +ancestors. Although the Leyland cotton mills were now famous in +Lancashire, Jimmy's grandfather had earned day wages at the spinning +frame.</p> + +<p>Jimmy felt dull and thought a day on the rocks would brace him up. Since +his object for the Canadian excursion was to shoot a mountain-sheep and +climb a peak in the Rockies, he ought to get into trim. Stannard could +play cards all night and start fresh in the morning on an adventure that +tried one's nerve and muscle, but Jimmy admitted he could not. When he +loafed about hotel rotundas and consumed iced drinks he got soft.</p> + +<p>After a time, Laura Stannard crossed the veranda and went along the +terrace. Her white dress was fashionable and she wore a big white hat. +Her hair and eyes were black, her figure was gracefully slender, and her +carriage was good. Jimmy thought her strangely attractive, but did not +altogether know if she was his friend, and admitted that he was not +Laura's sort. It was not that she was proud. Something about her +indicated that her proper background was an old-fashioned English +country house; Jimmy felt his was a Lancashire cotton mill. Laura did +not live with Stannard, but she joined him and Jimmy in Switzerland not +long before they started for Canada. Stannard was jealous about his +daughter and had indicated that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> his friends were not necessarily hers. +Jimmy had grounds to think Stannard's caution justified.</p> + +<p>For a minute or two Jimmy left the girl alone. He imagined if Laura were +willing to talk to him she would let him know. She went to the end of +the terrace, and then turning opposite a bench, looked up and smiled. +Jimmy advanced and when he joined her leaned against the low wall. Laura +studied him quietly and he got embarrassed. Somehow he felt she +disapproved; he imagined he did not altogether look as if he had got up +after a night's refreshing sleep.</p> + +<p>"You got breakfast early," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"That is so," Jimmy agreed. "A fellow at my table argues about our +slowness in the Old Country and sometimes one would sooner be quiet. +Then I thought I'd go off and see if I could reach the ice-fall on the +glacier; after the sun gets hot the snow is treacherous. Anyhow, you +have come down as soon as me."</p> + +<p>"I mean to go on the lake and try to catch a trout."</p> + +<p>"Then, I hope you'll let me come. You'll want somebody to row the boat +and use the landing-net."</p> + +<p>"The hotel guide will row and I doubt if we'll need the landing-net," +Laura replied and gave him a level glance. "Besides, I shall return for +lunch and I rather think you ought to go for a long climb. When I came +out, you looked moody and slack."</p> + +<p>Jimmy colored. Although he was embarrassed, to know Laura had bothered +to remark his moodiness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> was flattering; the strange thing was, when she +crossed the veranda he had not thought she saw him. Jimmy was raw, but +not altogether a fool. He knew Laura did not mean him to go with her to +the lake.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," he said. "When one loafs about, one does get slack."</p> + +<p>"You are young and ought not to loaf."</p> + +<p>"I imagine I'm a little older than you," Jimmy rejoined with a twinkle.</p> + +<p>Laura let it go. As a rule, she did not take the obvious line, and +although she knew much Jimmy did not, she said, "Are you old enough to +play cards with Jackson and Deering?"</p> + +<p>"One must pay for all one gets, and, in a sense, I get much from men +like that," Jimmy replied. "There's something one likes about Jackson, +and Deering's a very good sort."</p> + +<p>"Are you ambitious to be Deering's sort?" Laura asked.</p> + +<p>Jimmy pondered. It was obvious she knew the men were Stannard's friends, +and she, no doubt, knew Stannard was a keen gambler. The ground was +awkward and he must use some caution.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stannard's my model," he said.</p> + +<p>Laura's glance was inscrutable. Since her mother died she had not lived +with Stannard and he puzzled her. Sometimes she was disturbed about him, +and sometimes she was jarred. When she joined him for a few weeks he was +kind, but he did not ask for her confidence and did not give her his.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>"It looks as if my father's attraction for you was strong," she said +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"That is so," Jimmy declared with a touch of enthusiasm Laura saw was +sincere. "Mr. Stannard has all the qualities I'd like to cultivate. My +habit, so to speak, is to shove along laboriously; he gets where he +wants without an effort. On the trains and steamers he gets for nothing +things another couldn't buy, and at the hotel the waiters serve him +first. People trust him and are keen about his society. He's urbane and +polished, but when you go with him on the rocks you note his steely +pluck. When I'm stuck and daunted he smiles, and somehow I get up the +awkward slab. Besides, he stands for much I wanted but couldn't get +until he helped."</p> + +<p>"What did you want?"</p> + +<p>"Excitement, adventure, and the friendship of clever people; something +like that," said Jimmy awkwardly. "To begin with, I'd better tell you +about my life in Lancashire, but I expect you're bored——"</p> + +<p>Laura was not bored; in fact, her curiosity was excited. Stannard's +young friends were numerous, but when he opened his London flat to them +she stopped with her aunts. Now she wondered whether it was important he +had allowed her to join his Canadian excursion.</p> + +<p>"I am not at all bored," she said.</p> + +<p>"Very well. My father died long since and I went to my uncle's house. +I'd like to draw Ardshaw for you, but I cannot. Inside, it's overcrowded +by clumsy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> Victorian furniture; outside is a desolation of industrial +ugliness. Smoky fields, fenced by old colliery ropes, a black canal, and +coalpit winding towers. I went to school on board a steam tram, along a +road bordered all the way by miners' cottages."</p> + +<p>"The picture's not attractive," Laura remarked. "Was your uncle +satisfied with his house?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy smiled. "I think he was altogether satisfied. The Leylands are a +utilitarian lot, and rather like ugliness. Our interests are business, +and religion of a stern Puritanical sort. From my relations' point of +view, grace and beauty are snares. Besides, Dick Leyland got Ardshaw +cheap and I expect this accounts for much. When he went there the +Leyland mills were small; my grandfather had not long started on his +lucky speculation."</p> + +<p>"But after a time you went away to school—a public school?"</p> + +<p>"I did not. I imagined it was obvious," said Jimmy with a touch of +dryness. "I went to the mill office and sat under a gas-lamp, writing +entries in the stock-books, from nine o'clock until six. Dick Leyland +had no use for university cultivation and my aunt was persuaded Oxford +was a haunt of profligates. Well, because I was forced, I held out until +I was twenty-one. Then I'd had enough and I went to London."</p> + +<p>"Were your relations willing for you to go?"</p> + +<p>"They were not at all willing, but I inherit a third-part of the Leyland +mills. For all that, unless my trustees approve, I cannot, for another +two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> years, use control, and the sum I may spend is fixed. +Well, perhaps you can picture my launching out in town. I had no rules +to go by; I wore the stamp of the cotton mill and a second-class school. +For five years I'd earned a small clerk's pay, and now, by contrast, I +was rich."</p> + +<p>Laura could picture it. The boy's reaction from his uncle's firm and +parsimonious guardianship was natural, and she studied him with fresh +curiosity. He was tall but rather loosely built, and his look was +apologetic, as if he had not yet got a man's strength and confidence. +One noted the stamp of the cotton mill. As a rule Jimmy was generous and +extravagant; but sometimes he was strangely business-like.</p> + +<p>"Were you satisfied with your experiment?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I expect you're tired. If you were not kind, you'd have sent me off."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said Laura. "I like to study people, and your story has a +human touch. In a way, it's the revolt of youth."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; I expect one does not often get all one thinks to get. I +wanted the cultivation Oxford might have given me; I wanted to know +people of your sort, who don't bother about business, but hunt and fish +and shoot. Well, I can throw a dry-fly and hold a gun straight; but +after all I'm Jimmy Leyland, from the mills in Lancashire."</p> + +<p>Laura liked his honesty, but his voice was now not apologetic. She +rather thought it proud.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>"You met my father in Switzerland?" she said.</p> + +<p>"At Chamonix, about a year ago. When I met Mr. Stannard my luck was +good. I'd got into the wrong lot; they used me and laughed. Well, your +father showed me where I was going and sent the others off. Perhaps you +know how he does things like that? He's urban, but very firm. Anyhow, +the others went and I've had numerous grounds to trust Mr. Stannard +since."</p> + +<p>Jimmy lighted a cigarette. Perhaps he ought to go, but Laura's interest +was flattering and she had not allowed him to talk like this before. In +fact, he rather wondered why she had done so. In the meantime Laura +pondered his artless narrative. His liking her father was not strange, +for Stannard's charm was strong, but Laura imagined to enjoy his society +cost his young friends something. Perhaps it had cost Jimmy something, +for he had stated that one must pay for all one got. He was obviously +willing to pay, but Laura was puzzled. If his uncle's portrait was +accurate, she imagined the sum Jimmy was allowed to spend was not large.</p> + +<p>"One ought to have an object and know where one means to go," she +remarked. "When you look ahead, are you satisfied?"</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, I'll let Mr. Stannard indicate the way," said Jimmy +with a smile. "On the whole, I expect Dick Leyland would sooner I didn't +meddle at the office, but after a year or two I'll probably go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> back. +You see, Dick has no children and Jim's not married. To carry on +Leyland's is my job."</p> + +<p>"Who is Jim?"</p> + +<p>"Sir James Leyland, knight. In Lancashire we have not much use for +titles; the head of the house is Jim and I'm Jimmy. Perhaps the +diminutive is important."</p> + +<p>"But suppose your uncles did not approve your carrying on the house?"</p> + +<p>"Then, I imagine they could, for a time, force me to leave the mills +alone. However, although Dick is very like a machine, I've some grounds +to think Jim human. All the same, I hardly know him. He's at Bombay; the +house transacts much business in India. But I must have bored you and +you haven't got breakfast. I suppose you really won't let me row the +boat?"</p> + +<p>Laura pondered. Her curiosity was not altogether satisfied and she now +was willing for Jimmy to join her on the lake. Yet she had refused, and +after his frank statement, she had better not agree.</p> + +<p>"I have engaged the hotel guide, Miss Grant is going, and the boat is +small," she said. "Besides, when one means to catch trout one must +concentrate."</p> + +<p>Jimmy went off and Laura knitted her brows. She knew Jimmy's habit was +not to boast, and if she had understood him properly, he would by and by +control the fortunes of the famous manufacturing house. Her father's +plan was rather obvious, and the blood came to Laura's skin. She knew +something about poverty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> and admitted that when she married her marriage +must be good, but she was not an adventuress. Yet Jimmy was rather a +handsome fellow and had some attractive qualities.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="III" id="III"></a>III<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE CAYUSE PONY</span></h2> + + +<p>The afternoon was hot, the little wineberry bushes were soft, and Jimmy +lay in a big hemlock's shade. A few yards in front, a falling pine had +broken the row of straight red trunks, and in the gap shining snow peaks +cut the serene sky. Below, the trees rolled down the hillside, and at +the bottom a river sparkled. Rivers, however, were numerous, the bush on +the hill-bench Jimmy had crossed was thick, and he frankly did not know +where he had come down. If the hotel was in the valley, he need not +bother, but he doubted, and was not keen about climbing another mountain +spur. In the meantime, he smoked his pipe and mused.</p> + +<p>He owed Stannard rather a large sum. They went about to shooting parties +at country houses and lodges by Scottish salmon rivers. Visiting with +Stannard's sporting friends was expensive and he allowed Jimmy to bear +the cost. Jimmy was willing and made Stannard his banker; now and then +they reckoned up and Jimmy gave him an acknowledgment for the debt. +Although Stannard stated he was poor, his habits were extravagant and +somehow he got money.</p> + +<p>Yet Jimmy did not think Stannard exploited him. He had found his advice +good and Stannard had saved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> him from some awkward entanglements. In +fact, Stannard was his friend, and although his friendship was perhaps +expensive, in a year or two Jimmy would be rich. Since his parsimonious +uncle had not let him go to a university, his spending a good sum was +justified, and to go about with Stannard was a liberal education. +Perhaps, for a careless young fellow, Jimmy's argument was strangely +commercial, but he was the son of a keen and frugal business man.</p> + +<p>Then he began to muse about Laura. Her beauty and refinement attracted +him, but he imagined Laura knew his drawbacks, and to imagine Stannard +had planned for him to marry her was ridiculous. Stannard was not like +that, and when Laura was with him saw that Jimmy did not get much of her +society. In fact, had she not come down for breakfast before the other +guests, Jimmy imagined he would not have enjoyed a confidential talk +with her. All the same, to loaf in the shade and dwell on Laura's charm +was soothing.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, he was hungry, and he had not bothered to carry his +lunch. When he got breakfast he had not much appetite. Since morning he +had scrambled about the rocks, and he thought the hotel was some +distance off. Getting up with something of an effort, he plunged down +hill through the underbrush. At the bottom he stopped and frowned. He +ought not to have lost his breath, but he had done so and his heart +beat. It looked as if he must cut out strong cigars and iced liquor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>A few yards off a trail went up the valley and slanted sunbeams crossed +the narrow opening. Jimmy thought he heard a horse's feet and resolved +to wait and ask about the hotel. He was in the shade, but for a short +distance the spot commanded the trail.</p> + +<p>The beat of horse's feet got louder and a girl rode out from the gap in +the dark pine branches. A sunbeam touched her and her hair, and the +steel buckle in her soft felt hat shone. She rode astride and wore +fringed leggings and a jacket of soft deerskin. Her figure was graceful +and she swung easily with the horse's stride. Her hair was like gold and +her eyes were deep blue. Jimmy afterwards thought it strange he noted so +much, but she, so to speak, sprang from the gloom like a picture on a +film, and the picture held him.</p> + +<p>He did not know if the girl was beautiful, but in the tangled woods her +charm was keen. Her dress harmonized with the moss on the tall red +trunks, and the ripening fern. Something primitive and strong marked her +easy, confident pose. The horse, an Indian <i>cayuse</i>, tossed its head and +glanced about nervously, as if its habit was to scent danger in the +bush. Jimmy sprang from primitive stock and he knew, half instinctively, +the girl's type was his. He must, however, inquire about the hotel, and +he pushed through the raspberries by the trail.</p> + +<p>The horse, startled by the noise, stopped and tried to turn. The girl +pulled the bridle and braced herself back. The cayuse jumped like a cat, +plunged forward,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> and feeling the bit, bucked savagely. Jimmy wondered +how long the girl would stick to the saddle, but after a moment or two +the cayuse started for the bush. Jimmy thought he knew the trick, for +when a cayuse cannot buck off its rider it goes for a tree, and if one +keeps one's foot in the stirrup, one risks a broken leg. He jumped for +its head and seized the links at the bit.</p> + +<p>The girl ordered him to let go, but he did not. He had frightened her +horse and must not allow the savage brute to jamb her against a tree. +Its ears were pressed back and he saw its teeth, but so long as he stuck +to the bit, it could not seize his hand. Then it went round in a +semi-circle, the link twisted and pinched his fingers, and he knew he +could not hold on. The animal's head went up, Jimmy got a heavy blow and +fell across the trail. A few moments afterwards he heard a beat of +hoofs, some distance off, and knew the cayuse was gone. The girl, +breathing rather hard, leaned against a trunk.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet," Jimmy gasped. "I'll find out when I get up."</p> + +<p>He got up and forced a smile. "Anyhow, nothing's broken. Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said. "I'm not hurt, but I'm angry. When you butted in I +couldn't use the bridle."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry; I wanted to help. However, it looks as if your horse had run +away. Have you far to go?"</p> + +<p>"The ranch is three miles off."</p> + +<p>"How far's the hotel?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>"If you go by the trail, about eight miles. Perhaps four miles, if you +cross the range."</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied the thick timber and the steep rocky slopes. Pushing +through tangled underbrush has drawbacks, particularly where +devil's-club thorns are numerous. Besides, he had got a nasty knock and +his leg began to hurt. Then he noted a cotton flour bag with straps +attached lying in the trail.</p> + +<p>"I think I won't cross the range. I suppose that bag is yours?"</p> + +<p>"It is mine. They put our groceries off the train. I reckon the bag +weighs about forty pounds. I carried the thing on the front of the +saddle; but when you——"</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. "When I butted in you were forced to let it go! Well, +since I frightened your horse, I ought to carry your bag. If I take it +to the ranch, do you think your folks would give me supper?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible. Can you carry the bag?"</p> + +<p>"I'll try," said Jimmy. "Have you some grounds to doubt?"</p> + +<p>"Packing a load over a rough trail is not as easy as it looks," the girl +rejoined with a twinkle. "Then I expect you're a tourist tenderfoot."</p> + +<p>Jimmy liked her smile and he liked her voice. Her Western accent was not +marked and her glance was frank. He thought, if he had not meddled, she +would have mastered the frightened horse; her strength and pluck were +obvious. In the meantime his leg hurt and he could not examine the +injury.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>"I am a tourist," he agreed. "Since I'm going to your house, perhaps I +ought to state that I'm Jimmy Leyland, from Lancashire in the Old +Country."</p> + +<p>"I am Margaret Jardine."</p> + +<p>"Then you're a Scot?"</p> + +<p>"My father is a Scot," said Margaret. "I'm Canadian."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Jimmy, "I've heard something like that before and begin to +see what it implies. Well, it looks as if you were an independent lot. +Is one allowed to state that in the Old Country we are rather proud of +you?"</p> + +<p>"Since I'd like to make Kelshope before dark, perhaps you had better get +going," Margaret remarked.</p> + +<p>Jimmy picked up the bag and fastened the deerskin straps, by which it +hung from his shoulders like a rucksack. They started, and for a time he +kept up with Margaret, but he did not talk. The pack was heavy, he had +not had much breakfast and had gone without his lunch. Besides, his leg +was getting very sore. At length he stopped and began to loose the +straps.</p> + +<p>"Do you mind if I take a smoke?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Margaret looked at him rather hard, but said she did not mind, and +Jimmy, indicating a cedar log, pulled out his cigarette case.</p> + +<p>"Do you smoke?"</p> + +<p>"I do not. In the bush, we haven't yet copied the girls at the hotels."</p> + +<p>"Now I think about it, the girls who smoked at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> the Montreal hotel were +not numerous," Jimmy remarked. "When I went to the fishing lodge in +Scotland, all smoked, but then Stannard's friends are very much +up-to-date. The strange thing is, we're thought antiquated in the Old +Country——"</p> + +<p>He stopped and tried to brace up. What he wanted to state eluded him. He +felt cold and the pines across the trail got indistinct.</p> + +<p>"You see, in some of our circles we rather feel our duty is to be +modern," he resumed with an effort. "I think you're not like that. +Canada's a new country, but, in a way, one feels you're really older +than we are. We have got artificial; you are flesh and blood——"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk!" said Margaret firmly, but Jimmy thought her voice was +faint, and for a few moments the tall pines melted altogether.</p> + +<p>When he looked up Margaret asked: "Have you got a tobacco pouch?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy gave her the pouch and she went off. He was puzzled and rather +annoyed, but somehow he could not get on his feet. By and by Margaret +came back, carrying the pouch opened like a double cup. Jimmy drank some +water and the numbness began to go.</p> + +<p>"You're very kind. I expect I'm ridiculous," he said.</p> + +<p>"I was not kind. I let you carry the pack, although the cayuse knocked +you down."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the knock accounts for something," Jimmy remarked in a languid +voice.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>He had got a nasty knock, but he imagined Stannard's cigars and +Deering's iced drinks were really accountable. In the meantime, he noted +that Margaret was wiping his tobacco pouch.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't bother," he resumed. "Give me the thing."</p> + +<p>"But when it's wet you cannot put in the tobacco."</p> + +<p>"I thought you threw away the stuff. I can get another lot at the +hotel."</p> + +<p>Margaret brushed the tobacco from a flake of bark, and filled the pouch.</p> + +<p>"In the woods, one doesn't throw away expensive tobacco."</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" said Jimmy. "Some time since, I lived with people like you."</p> + +<p>"Poor and frugal people?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Jimmy, with a twinkle. "Dick and his wife were rather rich. +In fact, in England, I think you begin to use economy when you get rich. +Anyhow, it's not important, and you needn't bother about me. As a rule, +philosophizing doesn't knock me out. The cayuse kicked pretty hard. +Well, suppose we start?"</p> + +<p>He got up and when Margaret tried to take the pack he pulled it away.</p> + +<p>"The job's mine. I undertook to carry the load."</p> + +<p>"But you're tired, and I think you're lame."</p> + +<p>"We won't dispute," said Jimmy. "You oughtn't to dispute. Perhaps it's +strange, but one feels your word ought to go."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>"It looks as if my word did not go."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "when you command people, you have got to use +some caution. Much depends on whom you command, and in Lancashire we're +an obstinate lot. Anyhow, I'll take the bag."</p> + +<p>He pushed his arms through the straps and Margaret said nothing. She +might have taken the bag from him, but to use force was not dignified +and she knew to let her carry the load would jar. When they set off she +noted that his face was rather white and his step was not even. He had +obviously got a nasty kick, but his pluck was good.</p> + +<p>The sun went down behind the woods, the pines got dim and sweet resinous +scents floated about the trail. The hum of insects came out of the +shadow, and Jimmy was forced to rub the mosquitoes from his neck. To put +up his hands was awkward, for the ground was uneven, and he must balance +his load. He could not talk, the important thing was to reach the ranch +before it got dark, and setting his mouth, he pushed ahead.</p> + +<p>At length Margaret stopped at a fence, and when she began to pull down +the rails Jimmy leaned against a post. The rails were rudely split, and +the zig-zag fence was locked by crossed supports and not fastened by +nails. On the other side, where timothy grass and oats had grown, was +stubble, dotted by tall stumps and fern. A belt of chopped trees +surrounded the clearing, and behind the tangled belt the forest rose +like a dark wall. An indistinct log house and barns occupied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> other +end. An owl swooped noiselessly across the fence, and Jimmy heard the +distant howl of a timber wolf.</p> + +<p>"Kelshope ranch," said Margaret. "The path goes to the house. I must put +up the rails."</p> + +<p>Jimmy went through the gap. Perhaps it was soothing quietness, but he +felt he liked Kelshope and his curiosity was excited. He knew the big +Canadian hotels, the pullmans and observation-cars. So far, money had +supplied him, as in London, with much that made life smooth. Now he was +to see something of the Canada in which man must labor for all he gets. +The strange thing was, he felt this was the Canada he really ought to +know.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV<br /> +<span class="smalltext">KELSHOPE RANCH</span></h2> + + +<p>Breakfast was over at Kelshope ranch and Jimmy occupied a log at the +edge of the clearing. Although his muscles were sore, he felt strangely +fresh and somehow satisfied. At the hotel, as a rule, he had not felt +like that. His leg hurt, but his host had doctored the cut with some +American liniment, and Jimmy was content to rest in the shade and look +about. He thought he saw the whole process of clearing a ranch.</p> + +<p>In the background, was virgin forest; pine, spruce and hemlock, locking +their dark branches. Then one noted the <i>slashing</i>, where chopped trees +had fallen in tangled rows, and an inner belt of ashes and blackened +stumps. Other stumps, surrounded by fern, checkered the oblong of +cultivated soil, and the dew sparkled on the short oat stubble. The oats +were not grown for milling; the heads were small and Jardine cut the +crop for hay. The garden-lot and house occupied a gentle slope. The +walls were built of logs, notched and crossed at the corners; cedar +shingles, split by hand on the spot, covered the roof. Behind the house, +one saw fruit trees and log barns. Nothing was factory-made, and Jimmy +thought all indicated strenuous labor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>A yard or two off, Jardine rubbed his double-bitted axe with a small +round hone. He wore a gray shirt, overalls and long boots, and his skin +was very brown. He was not a big man, but he looked hard and muscular +and his glance was keen.</p> + +<p>"Ye need to get the edge good. It pays to keep her sharp," he said and +tried the blade with his thumb.</p> + +<p>"I expect that is so," Jimmy agreed. "Did you, yourself, clear the +ranch?"</p> + +<p>"I chopped every tree, burned the slashing, and put up the house and +barns. Noo I'm getting things in trim and run a small bunch of stock."</p> + +<p>Jimmy thought it a tremendous undertaking; the logs stacked ready to +burn were two or three feet across the butt.</p> + +<p>"How long were you occupied?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Twelve years," said Jardine, rather drily. "When the country doon the +Fraser began to open up I sold my other ranch, bought two or three +building lots in a new town, and started for the bush. I liked this +location and I stopped."</p> + +<p>"But can you get your stuff to a market?"</p> + +<p>"Cows can walk, but when ye clear a bush ranch ye dinna bother much +about selling truck. Ye sit tight until the Government cuts a wagon +trail, or maybe a railroad's built, and the settlements spring up."</p> + +<p>"And then you expect to sell for a good price all the stuff you grow?"</p> + +<p>Jardine smiled. "Then I expect to sell the ranch and push on again. The +old-time bushman has no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> use for game-wardens, city sports, +store-keepers and real-estate boomers——"</p> + +<p>He stopped and his look got scornful. Jimmy found out afterwards that +the pioneer hates the business man and Jardine sprang from Scottish +Border stock. Perhaps he had inherited his pride and independence from +salmon-poaching ancestors. What he wanted he labored for; to traffic was +not his plan.</p> + +<p>"Weel," he resumed, "I'd better get busy. After dinner I'll drive ye to +the hotel."</p> + +<p>He went off, and although Jimmy had expected to lunch at the hotel he +was satisfied to wait. He mused about his host. Jardine was not young, +but he carried himself well and Jimmy had known young men who did not +move like him; then the ranch indicated his talent for labor. Yet +muscular strength was obviously not all one needed; to front and remove +daunting obstacles, one must have pluck and imagination. The job was a +man's job, but, in a sense, the qualities it demanded were primitive, +and Jimmy began to see why the ranch attracted him. His grandfather had +labored in another's mill; the house of Leyland's was founded on +stubborn effort and stern frugality.</p> + +<p>Jimmy began to wonder where Jardine fed his cattle, because he saw none +in the clearing, but by and by a distant clash of bells rolled across +the trees. Jimmy had heard the noise before; when he went to sleep and +again at daybreak, a faint, elusive chime had broken the quietness that +brooded over Kelshope ranch. It was the clash of cow-bells, ringing as +the stock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> pushed through the underbrush. When he heard a sharper note +he got up and, for his leg hurt, went cautiously into the woods.</p> + +<p>By and by he stopped in the tall fern. Not far off Margaret, holding out +a bunch of corn, occupied the middle of an opening in which little red +wineberries grew. Her pose was graceful, she did not wear a hat, and the +sun was on her hair. Her neck was very white, and then her skin was +delicate pink that deepened to brown. Her dress was dull blue and the +yellow corn forced up the soft color.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bright; oh, Buck!" she called, and Jimmy thought her voice musical +like the chiming bells.</p> + +<p>Where the sunbeams pierced the shade long horns gleamed, the bells rang +louder, and a big brown ox looked out, fixed its quiet eyes on the girl, +and vanished noiselessly. Margaret did not move at all. She was still as +the trees in the background, and Jimmy approved her quietness. He got a +hint of balance, strength and calm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bright!" she called, and a brawny red-and-white animal pushed out +from the fern, shook its massive head, and advanced to smell the corn.</p> + +<p>Jimmy now saw Margaret carried a rope in her other hand, but she let the +ox eat the corn and stroked its white forehead before she threw the rope +round its horns. Although she was very quick, her movements were gentle +and the animal stood still. Then she looked up and smiled.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>"You can come out, Mr. Leyland."</p> + +<p>"You knew I was in the fern?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Margaret. "I was born in the woods. All the same, you were +quiet. I reckon you can be quiet. In the bush, that's something."</p> + +<p>"You imply that I was quiet, for a tenderfoot?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," Margaret agreed, smiling. "As a rule, a man from the cities +can't keep still. He must talk and move about. You didn't feel you ought +to come and help?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy wondered whether she knew he had wanted to study her, but thought +she did not. Anyhow, he was satisfied she, so to speak, had not posed +for him.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he said. "I saw you knew your job, and I reflected that +the ox did not know me. But shall I hold him until you catch the other?"</p> + +<p>"Buck will follow his mate," Margaret replied, and when they started a +cow-bell clashed and Buck stole out of the shade.</p> + +<p>Jimmy thought stole the proper word. He had expected to hear branches +crack and underbrush rustle, but the powerful oxen moved almost silently +through the wood.</p> + +<p>"Now I see why you give them bells," he remarked. "But doesn't the +jangling bother the animals?"</p> + +<p>"They like the bells. At night I think they toss their heads to hear the +chime. Then they know the bells are useful. Sometimes when all is quiet +the cattle scatter, but when the timber wolves are about or a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> cinnamon +bear comes down the rocks the herd rolls up. Bush cattle are clever. Now +Bright feels the rope, he's resigned to go to work."</p> + +<p>"You know the woods. Have you always lived at a ranch?"</p> + +<p>"For a time I was at Toronto," Margaret replied. "When I was needed at +Kelshope, I came back."</p> + +<p>Jimmy felt she baffled him. Margaret had not stated her occupation at +Toronto, but he had remarked that her English was better than the +English one used at the cotton mills. After all, he was not entitled to +satisfy his curiosity.</p> + +<p>"One can understand Mr. Jardine's needing you," he said. "I expect a +bush rancher is forced to hustle."</p> + +<p>"A bush rancher must hustle all the time," Margaret agreed. "Still, work +one likes goes easily. Have you tried?"</p> + +<p>"I have tried work I did not like and admit I've had enough," Jimmy +said, and laughed. "When I started for Canada, my notion was I'd be +content to play about."</p> + +<p>Margaret nodded. "We know your sort. You are not, like our tourists, +merchants and manufacturers. You have no use for business. All you think +about is sport, and your sport's extravagant. You stop at our big +hotels, and when you go off to hunt and fish you hire a gang of packers +to carry your camp truck."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if I really am that sort," Jimmy rejoined. "After all, my +people are pretty keen business men, and I begin to see that to +cultivate the habits of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> other lot is harder than I thought. In +fact, I rather think I'd like to own a ranch."</p> + +<p>"For a game?" said Margaret and laughed, a frank laugh. "You must cut it +out, Mr. Leyland. One can't play at ranching, and you don't know all the +bushman is up against."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Jimmy admitted. "Well, I expect I am a loafer, but I +did not altogether joke about the ranch. The strange thing is, after a +time loafing gets monotonous."</p> + +<p>Margaret stopped him. "I must get busy and you ought not to walk about. +Sit down in the shade and I'll give you the <i>Colonist</i>."</p> + +<p>Jimmy sat down, but declared he did not want the newspaper. He thought +he would study ranching, particularly Margaret's part of the job. She +put a heavy wooden yoke on the oxen's necks, fastened a rope to the +hook, and drove the animals to a belt of burned slashing where big +charred logs lay about. Jardine hitched the rope to a log and the team +hauled it slowly to a pile. Jimmy wondered how two people would get the +heavy trunk on top, but when Margaret led the oxen round the pile and +urged them ahead, the log went up in a loop of the rope. For all that, +Jardine was forced to use a handspike and Jimmy saw that to build a +log-pile demanded strength and skill.</p> + +<p>Resting in the shade, he felt the picture's quiet charm. The oxen's +movements were slow and rhythmical; Jardine's muscular figure, bent, got +tense, and relaxed; the girl, finely posed, guided the plodding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +animals. Behind were stiff, dark branches and rows of straight red +trunks. A woodpecker tapped a hollow tree, and in the distance cow-bells +chimed. The dominant note was effort, but the effort was smooth and +measured. One felt that all went as it ought to go, and Jimmy thought +about the big shining flywheel that spun with a steady throb at the +Leyland cotton mill. Then his head began to nod and his eyes shut, and +when he looked up Margaret called him to dinner.</p> + +<p>After dinner Jardine got out his Clover-leaf wagon and drove Jimmy to +the hotel. When they arrived Jimmy took him to his room on the first +floor, and meeting Stannard on the stairs, was rather moved to note his +relief. Stannard declared that he and some others had searched the woods +since daybreak and were about to start for the ranch. By and by Deering +joined them and made an iced drink. Jardine, with tranquil enjoyment, +drained his long glass, and lighting a cigar, began to talk about +hunting in the bush. His clothes were old and his hat was battered, but +his calm was marked and Jimmy thought he studied the others with quiet +curiosity. After a time they went off, and Jardine gave Jimmy a +thoughtful smile.</p> + +<p>"Your friends are polite and Mr. Deering can mix a drink better than a +bar-keep."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" Jimmy inquired.</p> + +<p>Jardine's eyes twinkled. "Weel, if I was wanting somebody to see me out, +maybe I'd trust the big fellow."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>Jimmy thought his remark strange. Stannard was a cultivated gentleman +and Deering was frankly a gambler. Yet Jimmy had grounds to imagine the +old rancher was not a fool. He was puzzled and rather annoyed, but +Jardine said he must not stay and Jimmy let him go.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="V" id="V"></a>V<br /> +<span class="smalltext">JIMMY HOLDS FAST</span></h2> + + +<p>The sun had sunk behind the range, and the sky was green. In places the +high white peaks were touched by fading pink; the snow that rolled down +to the timber-line was blue. Mist floated about the pines by the river, +but did not reach the hotel terrace, and the evening was warm. Looking +down at the dark valley, one got a sense of space and height.</p> + +<p>At the end of the terrace, a small table carried a coffee service, and +Laura occupied a basket chair. She smoked a cigarette and her look was +thoughtful. Jimmy, sitting opposite, liked her fashionable dinner dress. +He had met Laura in Switzerland, but he felt as if he had not known her +until she went with Stannard to the Canadian hotel. In fact, he imagined +she had very recently begun to allow him to know her. Stannard had gone +off a few minutes since, and Deering was playing pool with a young +American.</p> + +<p>"Since you came back from the ranch I've thought you preoccupied," Laura +remarked.</p> + +<p>"I expect you thought me dull," said Jimmy with an apologetic smile. +"Well, for some days I've been pondering things, and I'm not much used +to the exercise. In a way, you're accountable. You inquired not long +since if I knew where I went?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>"Then you got some illumination at the ranch?"</p> + +<p>"You're keen. I got disturbed."</p> + +<p>"Does to stop at a ranch disturb one?" Laura asked in a careless voice.</p> + +<p>"I expect it depends on your temperament," Jimmy replied and knitted his +brows. "Kelshope is a model ranch; you feel all goes as it ought to go. +When you leave things alone, they don't go like that. At Jardine's you +get a sense of plan and effort. The old fellow and his daughter are +keenly occupied, and their occupation, so to speak, is fruitful. The +trouble is, mine is not."</p> + +<p>Laura saw that when he, some time since, apologized for his loafing, her +remarks had carried weight. Jimmy had begun to ponder where he went, and +she wondered whether he would see he ought to return to the cotton mill. +Still she did not mean to talk about this.</p> + +<p>"You stopped Miss Jardine's horse?" she said.</p> + +<p>"I did not stop the horse. I tried, but that's another thing. If I had +not meddled, I expect Miss Jardine would have conquered the nervous +brute and I would not have got a nasty kick."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Laura. "Sometimes to meddle is rash, but your object +was good."</p> + +<p>Then Stannard came to the veranda steps and looked about the terrace.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jimmy! Deering has beaten Frank and we must arrange about our +excursion to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Jimmy frowned and hesitated. When he had talked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> to Laura before, +Stannard had called him away, but he thought she did not mean him to +stay and he went off. When he had gone Laura mused.</p> + +<p>She knew Stannard was jealous for her. He did not allow her to join him +when his young friends were about, and she did not want to do so. For +the most part she lived with her mother's relations, who did not approve +of Stannard and were not satisfied about her going to Canada.</p> + +<p>To some extent Laura imagined their doubts were justified. She knew +Stannard had squandered much of her mother's fortune, and now that her +trustees guarded the small sum she had inherited, he was poor. Yet he +belonged to good clubs and went to race meeting and shooting parties. It +looked as if sport and gambling paid, and Laura saw what this implied. +Yet her father was kind and when she was with him he indulged her.</p> + +<p>She had remarked his calling Jimmy away. As a rule, his touch was very +light, and she wondered whether he had meant to incite the young fellow +by a hint of disapproval; but perhaps it was not his object and she +speculated about Jimmy. He was now not the raw lad she had known in +Switzerland, although he was losing something that at the beginning had +attracted her. She thought he ought not to stay with Stannard and +particularly with Deering, and she had tried to indicate the proper line +for him to take. Well, suppose he resolved to go back to Lancashire?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +Laura knew her charm and imagined, if she were willing, she might go +with Jimmy. Although he could not yet use his fortune, he was rich, and +after a time would control the famous manufacturing house. Besides, he +was marked by some qualities she liked. Laura got up with an impatient +shrug, and blushed. She would not think about it yet. She was poor, but +she was not an adventuress.</p> + +<p>In the morning, Stannard, Deering and Jimmy started for the rocks. Their +object was to follow the range and look for a line to the top of a peak +they meant to climb another day. They lunched on the mountain, and in +the afternoon stopped at the side of a gully that ran down to the +glacier. The back of the gully was smooth, and the pitch was steep, but +hardly steep enough to bother an athletic man. In places, banks of small +gravel rested, although it looked as if a disturbing foot would send +down the stones.</p> + +<p>Some distance above the spot, the top of another pitch cut a background +of broken rocks, streaked by veins of snow. The sun was on the rocks and +some shone like polished steel, but the gully was in shadow and Jimmy +had felt the gloom daunting. Deering pulled out his cigar-case. His face +was red, his shirt was open and his sunburned neck was like a bull's.</p> + +<p>"My load's two hundred pounds, and we have shoved along pretty fast +since lunch," he said. "Anyhow, I'm going to stop and take a smoke."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>"To lean against a slippery rock won't rest you much," Stannard +remarked. "We'll get on to the shelf at the top of the slab."</p> + +<p>"Then, somebody's got to boost me up," Deering declared, and when +Stannard went to help, put his boot on the other's head and crushed his +soft hat down to his ears.</p> + +<p>Next moment he was on the shelf and shouted with laughter. Sometimes +Deering's humor was boyishly rude, but his friends were not cheated, and +Jimmy thought the big man keen and resolute. Stannard went up lightly, +as if it did not bother him. He was cool and, by contrast with Deering, +looked fastidiously refined. Jimmy imagined he had an object for leaving +the gully. Stannard knew the mountains; in fact, he knew all a sporting +gentleman ought to know and Jimmy was satisfied with his guide.</p> + +<p>"Since you reckon we ought to get from under, why'd you fix on this line +down?" Deering inquired.</p> + +<p>"The line's good, but we were longer than I thought, and the sun has +been for some time on the snow."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Deering. "The blamed trough looks like a rubbish shoot."</p> + +<p>Jimmy had trusted Stannard's judgment, but now he saw a light; for one +thing, the back of the gully was smooth. The mountain fronted rather +north of west, and so long as the frost at the summit held, the party +did not run much risk, but when the thaw began snow and broken rocks +might roll down. When Deering had nearly smoked his cigar he looked up.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"Something's coming!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy heard a rumble and a crash. A big stone leaped down the gully, +struck a rock and vanished. A bank of gravel began to slip away, and +then a gray and white mass swept across the top of the pitch. Snow and +stones poured down tumultuously, and when the avalanche was gone +confused echoes rolled about the rocks.</p> + +<p>"That fixes it," said Deering. "I'm going the other way. Had we shoved +along a little faster, we might have made it, but I was soft, and +couldn't hit up the pace." He laughed his boisterous laugh and resumed: +"The trouble is, I played cards with Jimmy when I ought to have gone to +bed. Well, since we didn't bring a rope, what are you going to do about +it?"</p> + +<p>"If we can reach the top, I think we can get down along the edge," +Stannard replied.</p> + +<p>After something of a struggle, they got up, and for a time to follow the +top of the gully was not hard. Then they stopped on an awkward pitch +where a big bulging stone, jambed in a crack, cut their view.</p> + +<p>"I'll try the stone, but perhaps you had better traverse out across the +face and look for another line," Deering said to Stannard.</p> + +<p>Jimmy went with Deering, and when they reached the stone saw a broken +shelf three or four yards below. On one side, the rocks dropped straight +to the gully; in front, the slope beyond the shelf was steep. For a few +moments Deering studied the ground.</p> + +<p>"A rope would be useful, but if we can reach the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> shelf, we ought to get +down," he said. "I'll try to make it. Lie across the stone and give me +your hands."</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. At an awkward spot the second man helps the leader, who +afterwards steadies him. The rock was rough and a small knob and the +deep crack promised some support. Still, caution was indicated, because +the shelf, on which one must drop, was inclined and narrow. Jimmy lay +across the stone and Deering, slipping over the edge, seized his hands. +He was a big fellow and Jimmy thought the stone moved, but he heard +Deering's boots scrape the rock and the strain on his arms was less.</p> + +<p>Then he heard another noise, and snow and rocks and a broken pine rolled +down the gully. The avalanche vanished, the uproar sank, and Deering +gasped, "Hold fast!"</p> + +<p>The load on Jimmy's arms got insupportable. He imagined the noise had +startled Deering and his foot had slipped from the knob. It looked as if +he must hold the fellow until he found the crack. Jimmy meant to try, +although the stone rocked, and he knew he could not long bear the +horrible strain. If Deering fell, he would not stop at the shelf; he +might not stop for three or four hundred feet. Jimmy set his mouth and +tried to brace his knees against the rock. The stone was moving, and if +it moved much, Deering would pull him over. Yet in a moment or two +Deering might get his boot in the crack, and to let him fall was +unthinkable.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>Jimmy held on until Deering shouted and let go. He had obviously found +some support, and Jimmy tried to get back, but could not. His chest was +across the edge, and the stone rocked. He was slipping off, and saw, +half-consciously, that since he must fall, he must not fall down the +rock front. Pushing himself from the edge, he plunged into the gully, +struck the rock some way down, and knew no more. Deering, on the shelf, +saw him reach the bottom, roll for a distance and stop. He lay face +downwards, with his arms spread out.</p> + +<p>A few moments afterwards Stannard reached the spot and looked down. +Deering's big chest heaved, his mouth was slack, and his face was white. +When he indicated Jimmy his hand shook.</p> + +<p>"I pulled him over," he said in a hoarse voice.</p> + +<p>Stannard gave him a keen, rather scornful glance. "Traverse across the +front for about twenty yards and you'll see a good line down. When you +get down, start for the hotel and bring the two guides, our rope, a +blanket and two poles. Send somebody to telegraph for a doctor."</p> + +<p>"Not at all! I'm going to Jimmy. I pulled the kid over."</p> + +<p>Stannard frowned. "You are going to the hotel. For one thing, I doubt if +you could reach Jimmy; you're badly jarred and your nerve's gone. Then, +unless you get help, we can't carry Jimmy out."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't leave him in the gully," Deering rejoined. "Suppose a fresh +lot of stones comes along?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>"Go for help," said Stannard, pulling out his watch. "Come back up the +gully. If you have a flask, give it to me. I'm going down."</p> + +<p>"But if there's another snow-slide, you and Jimmy will get smashed. +Besides, the job is mine."</p> + +<p>"The snow and stones come down the middle and they'll stop by and by. +Don't talk. Start!"</p> + +<p>Deering hesitated. He was big and muscular, but he admitted that on the +rocks Stannard was the better man. Moreover, to know he was accountable +for Jimmy's plunge had shaken him, and he saw Stannard was very cool.</p> + +<p>"Take the flask," he said and went off at a reckless speed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DEERING OWNS A DEBT</span></h2> + + +<p>Jimmy saw a pale star, and veins of snow streaking high shadowy rocks. +He thought when he looked up not long before, the sun was on the +mountain, but perhaps it was not. His brain was dull and he was numbed +by cold. He shivered and shut his eyes, but after a few minutes he smelt +cigar-smoke and looked about again. Although it was getting dark, he saw +somebody sitting in the gloom at the bottom of the rocks.</p> + +<p>"Where's Deering?" he asked. "Did I let him go?"</p> + +<p>"You did not. Take a drink," the other replied and pushed a flask into +Jimmy's hand.</p> + +<p>Jimmy drank, gasped, and tried to get up, but found he could not move.</p> + +<p>"Where is Deering?" he insisted.</p> + +<p>"I expect he's crossing the glacier with the guides from the hotel," +said the man, who took the flask from him, and Jimmy knew Stannard's +voice.</p> + +<p>"Then where am I?"</p> + +<p>"You are in the gully. You held on to Deering until he got support for +his foot. Then you slipped off the big stone. Something like that, +anyhow. Do you feel pain at any particular spot?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>"I don't know if one spot hurts worse than another. All hurt; I doubt if +I can get up."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't try," said Stannard firmly. "When Deering arrives we'll +help you up."</p> + +<p>Jimmy pondered. Since the evening was very cold, he thought it strange +Stannard had pulled off his coat. Then he saw somebody had put over him +a coat that was not his.</p> + +<p>"Why have you given me your clothes?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"For one thing, I didn't fall about forty feet."</p> + +<p>"If I had fallen forty feet, I'd have got smashed. It's obvious!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you hit the side of the gully and rolled down, but it's not +important. When one gets a jolt like yours the shock's as bad as the +local injury. Are you cold?"</p> + +<p>"I'm horribly cold, but although I heard stones not long since I don't +think I got hit."</p> + +<p>"The stones run down the middle and I pulled you against the rock."</p> + +<p>"You're a good sort," Jimmy remarked. "Deering's a good sort. To know +he's not hurt is some relief."</p> + +<p>Stannard said nothing and Jimmy asked for a cigarette. Stannard gave him +a cigarette and a light, but after a few moments he let it drop.</p> + +<p>"The tobacco's not good," he said, dully, and began to muse.</p> + +<p>He was strangely slack and his body was numb. Perhaps to feel no local +pain was ominous; he knew a man who fell on the rocks and had not +afterwards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> used his legs. To be wheeled about for all one's life was +horrible. When a doctor arrived he would know his luck, and in the +meantime he dared not dwell on things like that. He studied the rocks. +Stannard had obviously come down by the slanting crack; Jimmy thought he +himself could not have done so. Then Stannard, risking his getting hit +by rebounding stones, had remained with him for some hours. When Jimmy +helped Deering the sun shone, and now the stars were out. The gully was +high on the mountain and after the sun went the cold was keen, but +Stannard had given him his coat. Stannard was like that.</p> + +<p>"I expect you sent Deering to the hotel?" Jimmy resumed after a time.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I was firm. Deering wanted to go down to you; but I doubted if he +could get down and the important thing was to fetch help. You must be +moved as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded; Deering was the man he had thought. All the same, +Stannard's was the finer type. Jimmy had long known his pluck, but he +had other qualities. When one must front a crisis he was cool; he saw +and carried out the proper plan. But Jimmy's brain was very dull, and +Stannard's figure melted and the rocks got indistinct.</p> + +<p>After a time, he heard a noise. A shout echoed in the gully, nailed +boots rattled on stones and it looked as if men were coming up. Deering, +breathless and gasping, arrived before the others and motioned to +Stannard.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>"Not much grounds to be disturbed, I think," said Stannard in a quiet +voice. "He was talking sensibly not long since."</p> + +<p>Deering came to Jimmy and touched his arm. "You're not broke up, +partner? You haven't got it against me that I pulled you off the rocks?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not! I slipped off," Jimmy declared. "Anyhow, you're my +friend."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Deering quietly. "Take a drink of hot soup. We'll +soon pack you out." He put a vacuum flask in Jimmy's hand and turned to +the others. "Let's get busy, boys."</p> + +<p>Jimmy did not know much about their journey down the gully and across +the glacier, but at length he was vaguely conscious of bright lights and +the tramp of feet along an echoing passage. People gently moved him +about; he felt he was in a soft, warm bed, and with languid satisfaction +he went to sleep.</p> + +<p>When the others saw Jimmy was asleep they went off quietly, but at the +end of the passage Deering stopped Stannard.</p> + +<p>"Let's get a drink," he said. "For four or five hours I've hustled some +and I need a pick-me-up."</p> + +<p>Stannard gave him a keen glance. Deering had hustled. To carry Jimmy +down the rocks and across the glacier, in the dark, was a strenuous +undertaking, and where strength was needed the big man had nobly used +his. Yet Stannard imagined the strain that had bothered him was not +physical.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>"Oh, well," he said, "I'll go to the bar with you. Waiting for you in +the gully was not a soothing job."</p> + +<p>"You knew I'd get back," Deering rejoined. "If I'd had to haul out the +cook and bell-boys I'd have brought help."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know how long you'd be and speed was important."</p> + +<p>"You're a blamed cool fellow," Deering remarked. "If you had not taken +control, I expect we'd have jolted Jimmy off the stretcher, and maybe +have gone through the snow-bridge the guide didn't spot. Then you stayed +with him, pulled him out of the way of the snow-slides, and kept him +warm. I expect you saved his life."</p> + +<p>"To some extent, perhaps that is so," Stannard agreed. "That somebody +must pull Jimmy against the rock was obvious. All the same, I knew the +stones wouldn't bother us after it got cold."</p> + +<p>Deering was puzzled. Stannard's habit was not to boast, but it looked as +if he were willing to admit he had saved Jimmy's life. Deering +speculated about his object.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I own I was badly rattled. You see, if the kid had not +held fast, I'd have gone right down the rock face and don't know where +I'd have stopped. Perhaps it's strange, but I remembered I'd got five +hundred dollars of his and the thing bothered me. To know I'd played a +straight game didn't comfort me much."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>"You're a sentimentalist," Stannard rejoined with a smile. "I don't know +that a crooked game was indicated. But let's get our drinks."</p> + +<p>They went to the bar and when Deering picked up his glass he said, "Good +luck to the kid and a quick recovery!" He drained the glass and looked +at Stannard hard. "When Jimmy needs a help out, I'm his man."</p> + +<p>Stannard said nothing, but lighted a cigarette.</p> + +<p>In the morning a young doctor arrived from Calgary and was some time in +Jimmy's room.</p> + +<p>"I reckon your luck was pretty good," he remarked. "After three or four +days you can get up and go about—" He paused and added meaningly: "But +you want to go slow."</p> + +<p>Jimmy's face was white, but the blood came to his skin.</p> + +<p>"I'd begun to think something like that," he said in a languid voice.</p> + +<p>The doctor nodded. "Since you could stand for the knock you got, your +body's pretty sound, but I get a hint of strain and the cure's moral. +You want to cut out hard drinks, strong cigars, and playing cards all +night."</p> + +<p>"Do the symptoms indicate that I do play cards all night?"</p> + +<p>"I own I was helped by inquiries about your habits," said the doctor, +smiling. "If you like a game, try pool, with boys like yourself, and bet +fifty cents. I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> know about your bank-roll, but your heart and +nerve won't stand for hundred-dollar pots when your antagonists are +men."</p> + +<p>"One antagonist risked his life to save mine," Jimmy declared, with an +angry flush, for he thought he saw where the other's remarks led.</p> + +<p>"I understand that is so," the doctor agreed. "My job's not to talk +about your friends, but to give you good advice. Cut out unhealthy +excitement and go steady. If you like it, go up on the rocks. +Mountaineering's dangerous, but sometimes one runs worse risks."</p> + +<p>He went off and by and by Deering came in.</p> + +<p>"The doctor allows you are making pretty good progress. The man who +means to put you out must use a gun," he said with a jolly laugh. +"Anyhow, we were bothered and when we got the bulletin we rushed the bar +for drinks."</p> + +<p>"My friends are stanch."</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" said Deering. "You're the sort whose friends are stanch. +Say, your holding on until I pulled you over was great!"</p> + +<p>"You didn't pull me over. The stone rocked and I came off."</p> + +<p>"One mustn't dispute with a sick man," Deering remarked. "All the same I +want to state I owe you much, and I pay my debts. I'd like you to get +that."</p> + +<p>Jimmy smiled. "If it's some comfort, I'm willing to be your creditor. I +know you'd meet my bill."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>"Sure thing," said Deering, who did not smile. "When you send your bill +along, I'll try to make good. That's all; I guess we'll let it go."</p> + +<p>"Very well. I don't see how you were able to stick to the slab."</p> + +<p>"My foot slipped from the knob, but for a few moments you held me up, +and bracing my knee against the stone, I swung across for the crack. +Then I was on the shelf and you went over my head. That's all I knew, +until Stannard joined me and took control."</p> + +<p>"He sent you off?"</p> + +<p>Deering nodded. "I wasn't keen to go, but he saw help was wanted, and he +thought about wiring for a doctor. When I got back with the boys, our +plan was to rush you down to the hotel, but it wasn't Stannard's. I +allow we were rattled; he was cool. We must go slow and not jolt you; at +awkward spots somebody must look for the smoothest line. Crossing the +glacier, he went ahead with the lantern and located a soft snow-bridge +the guide was going to cross."</p> + +<p>"Stannard is like that," said Jimmy. "His coolness is very fine."</p> + +<p>Deering agreed, but Jimmy thought he hesitated before he resumed: "In +some ways, the fellow's the standard type of highbrow Englishman. He's +urbane and won't dispute; he smiles and lets you down. He wears the +proper clothes and uses the proper talk. If you're his friend, he's +charming; but that's not all the man. Stannard doesn't plunge; he +calculates. He knows just where he wants to go and gets there. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> guess +if I was an obstacle, I'd pull out of his way. The man's fine, like +tempered steel, and about as hard— Well, the doctor stated you wanted +quiet and I'll quit talking."</p> + +<p>He went away and Jimmy mused. Deering talked much, but Jimmy imagined he +sometimes had an object. Although he frankly approved Stannard, Jimmy +felt he struck a warning note. Since Jimmy owed much to Stannard's +coolness, he was rather annoyed; but the talk had tired him and he went +to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">AN INSURABLE INTEREST</span></h2> + + +<p>The sun was hot and Jimmy loafed in an easy chair at the shady end of +the terrace. Laura occupied a chair opposite; the small table between +them carried some new books, and flowers and fruit from the Pacific +coast. In the background, a shining white peak cut the serene sky.</p> + +<p>Three or four young men and women were on the veranda steps not far off. +A few minutes since they had bantered Jimmy, but when Laura arrived they +went. Jimmy rather thought she had meant them to go and he gave her a +smile.</p> + +<p>"I expect you have inherited some of Mr. Stannard's talents," he +remarked.</p> + +<p>"For example?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy indicated the rather noisy group. "It looks as if you knew my head +ached and I couldn't stand for Stevens' jokes. When you joined me he and +his friends went off. Your father arranges things like that, without +much obvious effort."</p> + +<p>"I knew the doctor stated you must not be bothered," Laura admitted. +"Besides, I engaged to go fishing with Stevens and some others, and +before I get back expect I'll have enough."</p> + +<p>"Is Dillon going?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>"Frank planned the excursion," said Laura and Jimmy was satisfied.</p> + +<p>Dillon was a young American whom Jimmy rather liked, but to think Laura +liked Frank annoyed him. Now, however, she had admitted that his society +had not much charm.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, you're very kind," he remarked, and indicated the fruit and +flowers. "These things don't grow in the mountains."</p> + +<p>"The station is not far off and to send a telegram is not much bother."</p> + +<p>"To send up things from Vancouver is expensive."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes you talk like a cotton manufacturer," Laura rejoined.</p> + +<p>Jimmy colored but gave her a steady glance. "It's possible. My people +are manufacturers; my grandfather was a workman. Not long since, I meant +to cultivate out all that marked me as belonging to the cotton mill. Now +I don't know— Perhaps I inherited something useful from my grandfather; +but in the meantime it's not important. You <i>are</i> kind."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Laura. "You were moody and the doctor declared you had +got a very nasty jolt."</p> + +<p>"I was thoughtful. To some extent you're accountable. When one is forced +to loaf one has time to ponder, and when you inquired if I knew where I +went—"</p> + +<p>He stopped, for a guide, carrying fishing rods and landing nets, went +down the steps and Stannard came out of the hotel.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>"Your party's waiting for you," Stannard remarked to Laura, who got up +and gave Jimmy a smile.</p> + +<p>"Get well and then ponder," she said and joined the others.</p> + +<p>Jimmy frowned. The others, of course, ought not to wait for Laura, but +Stannard had sent her off like that before. All the same, he was her +father and Jimmy owned he must not dispute his rule. When the party had +gone, Stannard sat down opposite Jimmy and lighted a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to note you make good progress."</p> + +<p>"In a day or two I'll go about as usual. In fact, if the others go +fishing to-morrow, I'll try to join them. I think I could reach the +lake."</p> + +<p>"Some caution's necessary," Stannard remarked. "You got a very nasty +shake and ran worse risks than you knew. When you stopped in the bank of +gravel your luck was remarkably good; I did not expect you to stop until +you reached the glacier. Then, had I not had a thick coat that helped to +keep you warm, you might not have survived the shock. Afterwards much +depended on Deering's speed and his getting men who knew the rocks. +Indeed, when we started I hardly thought we could carry you down in +useful time."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was puzzled, because he did not think Stannard meant to imply that +his help was important. The risk Jimmy had run, however, was obvious, +and Stannard's talking about it led him to dwell on something he had +recently weighed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>"Since I was forced to stay in bed I've tried to reckon up and find out +where I am," he said. "You are my banker. How does the account stand?"</p> + +<p>"I imagine Laura's advice was good; wait until you get better," Stannard +said carelessly.</p> + +<p>"When I start to go about, I'll be occupied by something else. How much +do I owe?"</p> + +<p>For a few minutes Stannard studied his note-book, and when he replied +Jimmy set his mouth. He knew he had been extravagant, but his +extravagance was worse than he had thought.</p> + +<p>"Until I get my inheritance, it's impossible for me to pay you," he said +with some embarrassment. "I, so to speak, have pawned my allowance for a +long time in advance."</p> + +<p>"Something like that is obvious."</p> + +<p>"Very well! What am I going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"My plan was to wait until you did get your inheritance; but I see some +disadvantages," said Stannard in a thoughtful voice.</p> + +<p>"The trouble is, I might not inherit," Jimmy agreed. "One must front +things, and climbing's a risky hobby. We mean to shoot a mountain sheep +and I understand the big-horn keep the high rocks. Then we have +undertaken to get up a very awkward peak. Well, suppose I did not come +back?"</p> + +<p>"You don't expect a fresh accident! Haven't you had enough? However, if +your gloomy forebodings were justified, I expect your relations would +meet my claim."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>"After all, mountaineering accidents are numerous, and you don't know +Dick Leyland. You have got a bundle of acknowledgments, but the notes +are not stamped and Dick hates gambling. It's possible he'd dispute my +debts and he's a remarkably keen business man."</p> + +<p>"If that is so, it might be awkward," Stannard agreed. "But what about +the other trustee?"</p> + +<p>"Sir James is in India; I expect he'd support Dick. During their +lifetime my share is a third of the house's profit, but, unless they're +satisfied, I cannot for some time use much control. In fact, they have +power to fix my allowance."</p> + +<p>Stannard's look was thoughtful, as if he had not known; but since Laura +knew, Jimmy wondered why she had not enlightened her father.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Stannard. "My plan might not work. Have you another?"</p> + +<p>The other plan was obvious. Jimmy was surprised because Stannard did not +see it.</p> + +<p>"You trusted me and I mustn't let you down," he said with a friendly +smile. "If we insure my life, you'll guard against all risk."</p> + +<p>"My interest is insurable—" Stannard remarked and stopped. Then he +resumed in a careless voice: "Your caution's ridiculous, but if you are +resolved, I suppose I must agree. In order to satisfy you, we'll look up +an insurance office at Vancouver."</p> + +<p>Somehow Jimmy was jarred. Stannard's remark about his insurable interest +indicated that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> weighed the plan before, and Jimmy thought his +pause significant. Then, although he had agreed as if he wanted to +indulge Jimmy, his agreement was prompt. For all that, the plan was +Jimmy's and Stannard's approval was justified.</p> + +<p>Then Deering came along the terrace and said to Stannard, "Hello! I +thought you had gone to write some letters, and Jimmy's look is +strangely sober. Have you been weighing something important?"</p> + +<p>The glance Stannard gave Jimmy was careless, but Jimmy thought he meant +Deering was not to know.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes Jimmy's rash, but sometimes he's keener than one thinks. +Anyhow, he's obstinate and we were disputing about a suggestion of his I +did not at first approve. I wrote the letters I meant to write. Sit down +and take a smoke."</p> + +<p>Deering sat down and they talked about the peaks they had planned to +climb.</p> + +<p>A week or two afterwards, Stannard and Jimmy went to Vancouver, and when +he had seen the insurance company's doctor Jimmy walked about the +streets. He liked Vancouver. When one fronted an opening in the rows of +ambitious office blocks, one saw the broad Inlet and anchored ships. +Across the shining water, mountains rolled back to the snow in the +North; on the other side, streets of new wooden houses pushed out to +meet the dark pine forest. The city's surroundings were beautiful, but +Jimmy felt that beauty was not its peculiar charm.</p> + +<p>At Montreal, for example, one got a hint of cul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>tivation, and to some +extent of leisure, built on long-established prosperity. Notre Dame was +rather like Notre Dame at Paris and St. James's was a glorious +cathedral. Quiet green squares checkered the city, and the streets at +the bottom of the mountain were bordered by fine shade trees. Vancouver +was frankly raw and new; one felt it had not yet reached its proper +growth. All was bustle and keen activity; the clang of locomotive bells +and the rattle of steamboat winches echoed about the streets. Huge +sawmills and stacks of lumber occupied the water-front. Giant trunks +carried electric wires across the high roofs, and, until Jimmy saw the +firs in Stanley Park, he had not thought logs like that grew.</p> + +<p>Then he thought the citizens typically Western. Their look was keen and +optimistic; they pushed and jostled along the sidewalks. Jimmy saw an +opera house and numerous pool-rooms, but in the daytime nobody seemed to +loaf. All struck a throbbing note of strenuous business. Jimmy studied +the wharfs and mills and railroad yard, but for the most part he stopped +opposite the land-agents' windows.</p> + +<p>The large maps of freshly-opened country called. Up there in the wilds, +hard men drove back the forest and broke virgin soil. Their job was a +man's job and Jimmy pictured the struggle. He had loafed and indulged +his youthful love for pleasure, but the satisfaction he had got was +gone. After all, he had inherited some constructive talent, and he +vaguely realized that his business was to build and not to squan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>der. +Then Laura and the doctor had worked on him. Laura had bidden him study +where he went; the other hinted that he went too fast.</p> + +<p>At one office he saw a map of the country behind the hotel and he picked +out the valley in which was Kelshope ranch. There was not another +homestead for some distance and a notice stated that the land was cheap. +Jimmy pondered for a few minutes and then went in.</p> + +<p>The agent stated his willingness to supply land of whatever sort Jimmy +needed, but he thought, for an ambitious young man, the proper +investment was a city building lot. In fact, he had a number of useful +lots on a first-class frontage. Jimmy studied the map and remarked that +the town had not got there yet. The agent declared the town would get +there soon, and to wait until the streets were graded and prices went up +was a fool's plan. Jimmy stated he would not speculate; if the price +were suitable, he might buy land in the Kelshope valley on the other +map.</p> + +<p>The agent said the valley was not altogether in his hands. Kelshope was +in Alberta, but for a split commission he could negotiate a sale with +the Calgary broker. If one bought a block and paid a small deposit, he +imagined a good sum might stand on mortgage. Jimmy replied that he would +think about it and went off. It was not for nothing he had studied +business methods at the Leyland mill.</p> + +<p>In the evening he and Stannard occupied a bench in the hotel rotunda. +Cigar-smoke floated about the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> pillars; the revolving glass doors went +steadily round, and noisy groups pushed in and out, but Stannard had got +a quiet corner and by and by Jimmy asked: "Have you agreed with the +insurance office?"</p> + +<p>"They have not sent the agreement. I expect to get it."</p> + +<p>"Then, I'd like you to go back in the morning and insure for a larger +sum. I'll give you a note for five hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>"I haven't five hundred pounds," said Stannard with surprise. "Why do +you want the sum?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to buy a ranch near Jardine's," Jimmy replied. "The agent +wants a deposit and I must buy tools. Can you help?"</p> + +<p>Stannard looked at him hard and hesitated, but he saw Jimmy was +resolved.</p> + +<p>"I might get the money in three or four weeks. It will cost you +something."</p> + +<p>"That's understood," Jimmy agreed. "I don't, of course, expect the sum +for which you'll hold my note. Will you get to work?"</p> + +<p>"I rather think your plan ridiculous."</p> + +<p>"You thought another plan of mine ridiculous, but you helped me carry it +out," Jimmy said quietly.</p> + +<p>Stannard looked up with a frown, for Deering crossed the floor.</p> + +<p>"I've trailed you!" he shouted. "There's not much use in your stealing +off."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know you had business to transact in Vancouver," Stannard +rejoined.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>"Dillon had some business and brought me along," said Deering with a +noisy laugh. "Looks as if my job was to guide adventurous youth."</p> + +<p>Jimmy smiled, for he imagined the young men Deering guided paid +expensive fees. He did not know if Deering's occupation was altogether +gambling, but he did gamble and his habit was to win. Yet Jimmy liked +the fellow.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy's mood is rashly adventurous; he wants to buy a ranch," Stannard +resumed. "I understand he has interviewed a plausible land-agent."</p> + +<p>"All land-agents are plausible," said Deering. "Tell us about the +speculation, Jimmy."</p> + +<p>Jimmy did so. Stannard's ironical amusement had hurt, and he tried to +justify his experiment.</p> + +<p>"Looks like a joke; but I don't know," said Deering. "If you can stand +for holding down a bush block until the neighborhood develops, you ought +to sell for a good price. All the same, the job is dreary. Have you got +the money?"</p> + +<p>"I was trying to persuade Stannard to finance me. He doesn't approve, +but thinks he could get the sum."</p> + +<p>"That plan's expensive," Deering observed. "What deposit does the agent +want?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy told him and he pondered. Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed by Deering's meddling. Moreover, Jimmy thought Deering knew. +After a few moments Deering looked up.</p> + +<p>"If you mean to buy the block, I'll lend you the deposit and you can pay +me current interest. I expect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> the agent will take a long-date mortgage +for the rest, but you ought to ask your trustees in England for the +money."</p> + +<p>"Have you got the sum?" Stannard inquired.</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Deering, with a jolly laugh. "Dillon and I met up with two +or three sporting lumber men who have just put over a big deal. My luck +was pretty good, and I'd have stuffed my wallet had not a sort of +Puritan vigilante blown in. He got after the hotel boss, who stated his +was not a red light house."</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied the others, and although Stannard smiled, was somehow +conscious of a puzzling antagonism. On the whole, he liked Deering's +plan; he did not think Dick Leyland would agree, but Sir Jim might do +so.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, but Stannard's my banker," he replied. "All the same, in the +morning I'll write to my trustees."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Deering. "If you want the money, I'm your man. But +let's get a drink."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">JIMMY GETS TO WORK</span></h2> + + +<p>On the evening Jimmy returned from Vancouver he went to the dining-room +as soon as the bell rang and waited by Stannard's table. The table +occupied a corner by a window, and commanded the room and a noble view +of rocks and distant snow. Other guests had wanted the corner, but +Stannard had got it for his party. Although he was not rich, Stannard's +habit was to get things like that.</p> + +<p>The room was spacious and paneled with cedar and maple. Slender wooden +pillars supported the decorated beams, the tables were furnished with +good china and nickel. The windows were open and the keen smell of the +pines floated in.</p> + +<p>After a few moments Jimmy heard Deering's laugh and Stannard's party +crossed the floor. Frank Dillon talked to Laura, whom Jimmy had not seen +since he returned; Frank was rather a handsome, athletic young fellow. +Laura wore a fashionable black dinner dress and her skin, by contrast, +was very white. Her movements were languidly graceful, and Jimmy got a +sense of high cultivation. He was young and to know he belonged to +Laura's party flattered him. Yet he was half embarrassed, because he +waited for other guests<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> and did not know if Laura would like his +friends. When she gave Jimmy her hand Stannard indicated two extra +chairs.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" he said. "I must see the head waiter. This table's ours."</p> + +<p>"Two friends of mine are coming," Jimmy replied and turned to Laura +apologetically. "Perhaps I ought to have told you, but I wrote to +Jardine from Vancouver and when I returned and got his letter you were +not about."</p> + +<p>"Was it not Miss Jardine you helped when her horse ran away?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt if I did help much, but after the horse knocked me down I went +to the homestead and Jardine was kind. Now I want to talk to him; he's a +good rancher."</p> + +<p>"Then, ranching really interests you?"</p> + +<p>"Jimmy has bought a ranch and I'm going to stay with him," said Deering +with a noisy laugh. "Perhaps to hunt and live the simple life will help +me keep down my weight."</p> + +<p>Laura gave Jimmy a keen glance and he thought she frowned. "You a +rancher? It's ridiculous! But Deering likes to joke."</p> + +<p>"It is not at all a joke," Deering rejoined. "Jimmy has bought a ranch, +and Stannard and I disputed who should lend him the money. As a rule, +one's friends don't dispute about that sort of privilege; but one trusts +Jimmy. Perhaps his trusting you accounts for it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>"I suppose Miss Jardine comes with her father?" Laura remarked.</p> + +<p>Jimmy agreed and looked at Stannard, who had picked up the bill of fare.</p> + +<p>"We must wait for your friends," he said carelessly, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed.</p> + +<p>Then Jimmy turned and saw Margaret and Jardine. The rancher's clothes +were obviously bought at a small settlement store, but his figure was +good and his glance was keen and cool; somehow Jimmy imagined him +ironically amused. Margaret's blue dress was not fashionable, but she +carried herself like an Indian and was marked by something of the +Indian's calm. In the sunset, her hair was red, her eyes were blue, and +her skin was brown. When Jimmy advanced to meet her she gave him a frank +smile. He presented her to Laura and noted Dillon's admiring glance.</p> + +<p>Stannard called a waiter and when dinner was served began to talk. Laura +supported him, but Jimmy rather thought her support too obvious. This +was strange, because Laura was clever and knew where to stop. Now it +looked as if she did not. The Jardines were his friends, but nothing +indicated that for them to dine at a fashionable hotel was embarrassing. +He imagined Margaret studied Laura, and sometimes Laura's glance rested +on the other for a moment and was gone. When Deering had satisfied his +appetite, however, he firmly took the lead and Jimmy let him do so. +Sometimes Deering's humor was rude, but it was kind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>When they went to the terrace others joined them and soon a party +surrounded Stannard's table. After a time the people moved their chairs +about and Jimmy saw Jardine was with Deering and Dillon had joined +Margaret. He fancied Laura had remarked this, but she lighted a +cigarette and gave him a friendly smile.</p> + +<p>"Your friends don't want you just now. When you started for Vancouver, I +think you ought to have told me about your ranching experiment."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know," said Jimmy in an apologetic voice. "I saw a map in a +land-agent's window and something called. I hesitated for a few minutes +and then went in."</p> + +<p>"Then, you didn't go to Vancouver in order to buy a ranch?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all—" said Jimmy and stopped, because he did not want to state +why he did go. "Of course, it looks like a rash plunge," he resumed. +"Still I doubt if it really is rash and I imagined you would approve."</p> + +<p>Laura smiled. "I don't know much about ranching."</p> + +<p>"Not long ago you declared I ought to have an occupation."</p> + +<p>"Then, you felt you must get to work because I thought you ought?" said +Laura and gave Jimmy a gentle glance.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's heart beat, but he knitted his brows. He was sincere and Laura +was not altogether accountable for his resolve.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>"Well," he said in a thoughtful voice, "I was getting slack and loafing +along the easy way, until you pulled me up. I owe you much for that. You +forced me to ponder and I began to see loafing was dangerous. One must +have an object and I looked about—"</p> + +<p>He stopped, with some embarrassment, and Laura saw he was moved. Jimmy +did owe her something, for she had meddled at a moment when he was +vaguely dissatisfied and looking for a lead. At the beginning, she was +not selfish; she wanted him to stop and ponder, but he had started off +again and was not going where she wanted him to go.</p> + +<p>"You imply you have found an object?" she remarked. "After all, one's +object ought to be worth while, and to chop trees on a ranch will not +carry you far. Perhaps your proper occupation is at the cotton mill."</p> + +<p>"I think not; anyhow, not yet. Until I'm twenty-five, Dick Leyland has +control. Dick is a good mill manager, but his school is the old school. +He holds down our work-people and they grumble; the machinery's crowded +and some is not safe; the operatives have not the space and light that +makes work easier. Then the office is dark and cold. One can't persuade +Dick that harshness and parsimony no longer pay. Well, when I go back I +must have power to put things straight. The house is famous, my father +built its fortune, and after all I'm its head."</p> + +<p>Laura mused. She was poor, and hating poverty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> had begun to weigh +Jimmy's advantages. To marry the head of the famous house was a sound +ambition, and she thought if she used her charm, Jimmy would marry her. +He was young and in some respects argued like a boy; Laura was young, +but she argued like a calculating woman. Yet she hesitated.</p> + +<p>"But you have some power," she said and smiled. "Besides, you're +obstinate."</p> + +<p>"It's possible. All the same, I haven't tried my power and don't trust +myself. Dick and I would jar, and when I couldn't move him I expect I'd +get savage and turn down the job. When I have done some useful work, for +example, cleared a ranch, got confidence and know my strength, I'll go +back and try to take my proper part."</p> + +<p>"Does one get the qualities you feel you want at a bush ranch?"</p> + +<p>"Jardine has got a number. At Kelshope all is properly planned and +stubbornly carried out. His labor's rewarded, and the important thing +is, he is satisfied. I'm not, and I admit I haven't much ground to be +satisfied."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Laura. "In a few days we start on our excursion to +Puget Sound. I think you agreed to join us."</p> + +<p>Jimmy knitted his brows. He wanted to join the party, but saw some +obstacles.</p> + +<p>"We talked about it. If I agreed, of course, I'll go."</p> + +<p>"Because you agreed?"</p> + +<p>"Not altogether. I'd like to go."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>"Then why do you hesitate? We want you to join us."</p> + +<p>"For one thing, I really don't think I did agree. Anyhow, you'll have +Dillon. His home's on Puget Sound and I expect he's going."</p> + +<p>"Frank is rather a good sort, but sometimes he bores one," Laura +remarked carelessly. "Besides, after a time he's going to some friends +in Colorado."</p> + +<p>Jimmy's heart beat. Although he was not yet Laura's lover, her charm was +strong. Still he ought to get to work, and if he went to Puget Sound +with Laura, he might not afterwards bother about the ranch. Well, +perhaps the ranch was not important; if he wanted, he could, no doubt, +sell the land.</p> + +<p>The clash of a locomotive bell, softened by the distance, echoed across +the bush. A freight train had started from the water tank for the long +climb to the pass and Jimmy felt the faint notes carried a message. +Canada was a land of bells. At Montreal the locomotive bells rang all +night; their tolling rolled across wide belts of wheat, and broke the +silence that broods over the rocks. When all was quiet in the bush, the +cow-bells rang sweet chimes. Perhaps Jimmy was romantic, but he felt the +bells stood for useful effort, and now they called. The strange thing +was, he thought he heard pine branches crack and Margaret's voice. "Oh, +Buck! Oh, Bright!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but I can't go," he said. "I have bought the ranch and must +get to work."</p> + +<p>Laura gave him a keen glance and got a jar. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> frowned and his mouth +was tight. She had thought she could move Jimmy, but now she doubted, +and because she was proud she dared not try.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," she said, "we have talked for some time, and Deering has +left Jardine."</p> + +<p>She sent Jimmy off and looked about. Dillon talked to Margaret, and +although Laura imagined a smile would detach him from the group, she did +not smile. After all, if Frank joined her, Jimmy might occupy the chair +he left. Laura crossed the terrace and joined a young Canadian.</p> + +<p>Jimmy sat down by the rancher and inquired: "Do you know the land I +bought?"</p> + +<p>"The soil is pretty good, but the timber's thick and until ye work oot +the turpentine, ye'll no' get much crop. Ye'll need to chop and burn off +the trees, grub the stumps, and then plow for oats and timothy. For some +years, the oats will no' grow milling heads; ye cut them for hay."</p> + +<p>"Looks like a long job. Suppose I wanted to sell the block after a +time?"</p> + +<p>"It depends," said Jardine dryly. "Ye might get your money back."</p> + +<p>"You imply it depends on the labor one uses?" Jimmy remarked. "Well, I +know nothing about chopping and I haven't pulled a crosscut saw. Do you +think I can make good?"</p> + +<p>Jardine looked about the terrace and his eyes twinkled. He noted the +men's dinner jackets and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> women's fashionable clothes. People talked +and laughed and smoked.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking your friends would not make good. Ye canna play at +ranching."</p> + +<p>"My object's not to play," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "Anyhow, before +you start to work you must get proper tools. Suppose you tell me what I +need?"</p> + +<p>Jardine did so and added: "Proper tools and stock are a sound +investment, but ye canna get them cheap. Can ye put up the money?"</p> + +<p>"I must borrow some," Jimmy admitted, and thought Jardine studied +Stannard, who talked to two or three young men not far off.</p> + +<p>"Then, maybe ye had better borrow from Mr. Deering."</p> + +<p>Jardine had said something like this before, but Jimmy let it go and the +rancher indicated Margaret. Dillon leaned against a post opposite the +girl and a group of young men and women occupied the surrounding chairs. +A touch of color had come to Margaret's skin; her look was alert and +happy. Jimmy had known her undertake a man's job at the ranch, but on +the hotel veranda she was not at all exotic.</p> + +<p>"I must thank ye, Mr. Leyland. Sometimes it's lonesome at the ranch," +Jardine remarked.</p> + +<p>Jimmy said he hoped his guests would stay for some days, but Jardine +refused.</p> + +<p>"At Kelshope work's aye waiting and we'll start the morn. If ye come +back wi' us, we'll look ower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> the block ye bought, and I might advise ye +aboot layin' 't oot. In the meantime, we'll reckon up the tools and +stock ye'll need—"</p> + +<p>They began to talk about the ranch, and Stannard joined Laura, who sent +off her companion.</p> + +<p>"What do you think about Jimmy's experiment?" Stannard asked.</p> + +<p>Laura studied him. On the whole, his look was careless, but she doubted.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Do you think him rash?"</p> + +<p>Stannard shrugged. "My notion is, the thing's a rather expensive +caprice, but after all, Jimmy's rich. He's easily moved and perhaps his +bush friends have persuaded him."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Laura agreed. "All the same, Jimmy's keen. He really +means to ranch."</p> + +<p>"You have some grounds to know him keen?"</p> + +<p>Laura's grounds were good and she wondered whether Stannard knew. Her +father was clever and she saw his look was thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"For one thing, he declares he cannot go with us to Puget Sound," she +said.</p> + +<p>"You imply he would sooner start for the bush with the Jardines?" +Stannard suggested with a smile.</p> + +<p>"After all, it's not important, and I expect Jimmy will go where he +wants," said Laura, and went up the veranda steps.</p> + +<p>She thought she had baffled Stannard, but she was hurt. At the +beginning, she knew her advice to Jimmy was good. When he was going the +wrong way she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> had stopped him. Now, however, it looked as if her power +was gone. She could see herself Jimmy's guide in Lancashire, but to +guide him in the lonely bush was another thing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE QUIET WOODS</span></h2> + + +<p>A warm Chinook wind, blowing from the Pacific, carried the smell of the +pines. The dark branches tossed and a languid murmur, like distant surf, +rolled up the valley. Jimmy had pulled off his coat and his gray +workman's shirt was open at the neck, for he liked to feel the breeze on +his hot skin. He was splitting cedar for roof shingles, but had stopped +in order to sharpen his ax. Since he had not yet cut his leg, he thought +his luck was good.</p> + +<p>A few maples, beginning to turn crimson, broke the rows of somber pines. +In the foreground were chopped trunks, blackened by fire, ashes and +white chips. A tent and a half-built house of notched logs occupied the +middle of the small clearing. In the background, one saw high rocks, +streaked at their dark tops by snow. Some of the snow was fresh, and +Jimmy imagined the speed he had used was justified. Yet, so long as the +Chinook blew, gentle Indian summer would brood over the valley.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's skin was brown, his mouth was firm, and his look alert. His +hands were blistered and his back was sore, but this was not important. +He could now pull a big saw through gummy logs and, as a rule, drive the +shining ax-head where he wanted it to go.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> A belt held his overalls +tight at his waist; when he tilted back his head to get his breath his +balance and pose were good.</p> + +<p>A plume of aromatic smoke floated across the clearing and Okanagan Bob +squatted by the fire. Bob's hair was black and straight and his eyes +were narrow. His crouching pose was significant, because a white man +sits. Bob's skin was white, but it looked as if some Indian blood ran in +his veins. He was an accurate shot and a clever fisherman. Now he fried +trout for breakfast and Jimmy wondered whether he would leave the fish +long enough in the pan. As a rule, Bob did not cook things much.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's coming," he remarked and began to eat. "Take your fish when +you want. I've got to pull out."</p> + +<p>For a minute or two Jimmy heard nothing, and then a faint beat of +horse's feet stole across the woods. The noise got louder and by and by +Margaret rode into the clearing. When Jimmy jumped for his jacket she +smiled and the nervous cayuse plunged. In the bush, all goes quietly and +abrupt movement means danger.</p> + +<p>Margaret rode astride. Her dress was dull yellow and her leggings were +fringed deerskin. At the hotel, Jimmy had approved her blue clothes, +but he thought he liked her better in the bush. Somehow she harmonized +with the straight trunks. It was not that she was finely built and +beautiful; one got a hint of primitive calm and strength.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>"Shall I hold the bridle?" Jimmy asked.</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Margaret and soothed the horse. "Another time when +you took the bridle I was forced to walk home and you got a kick."</p> + +<p>"On the whole, I think my luck was good," Jimmy rejoined. "When I went +to Kelshope, things, so to speak, began to move."</p> + +<p>Margaret got down, took a pack from the saddle, and tied the horse to a +tree. Bob got up from the fire, seized his rifle, and looked at +Margaret.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get a deer," he said and vanished in the wood. The +underbrush was thick, but they did not hear him go.</p> + +<p>"When I was at the station the agent gave me your mail and some +groceries," said Margaret. "My father allowed you were busy, and I'd +better take the truck along."</p> + +<p>Jimmy said, "Thank you," and gave her a thoughtful look. Margaret's +voice was cultivated, but she talked like a bush girl. At the hotel she +had not.</p> + +<p>"I didn't order a fruit pie and a number of bannocks," he said when he +opened the pack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I was baking, and I reckoned if Bob was cook, you wouldn't +get much dessert. But have you eaten yet?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy said he imagined breakfast was ready and Margaret went to the +fire, glanced at the half-raw trout, and threw a black, doughy cake from +a plate.</p> + +<p>"A white man <i>cooks</i> his food," she said meaningly. "Take a smoke while +I fix something fit to eat."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>Jimmy pushed two or three letters into his pocket and sat down on a +cedar log. If Margaret meant to cook his breakfast, he imagined she +would do so and he was satisfied to watch her. For one thing, she knew +her job, and Jimmy liked to see all done properly. She did not bother +him for things; she seemed to know where they were. After a time, she +put the trout and some thin light cakes on a slab of bark, and Jimmy +remarked that the fish were an appetizing golden brown.</p> + +<p>"I expect you have not got breakfast, and I'll bring you a plate," he +said.</p> + +<p>"At a bush ranch the woman gets the plates."</p> + +<p>"There's not much use in pretending the bush rules are yours," Jimmy +rejoined. "Anyhow, I'll bring you all you want."</p> + +<p>"Wash the plate, please," said Margaret. "I'd sooner you did not rub it +with the towel."</p> + +<p>Jimmy laughed. "You take things for granted. I'm not a complete bushman +yet."</p> + +<p>He cleaned the plates and knives, and Margaret studied him. Something of +his carelessness and the hint of indulgence she had noted were gone. His +face had got thin and his frank glance was steady. Although he laughed, +his laugh was quiet. The bush was hardening him, and when she looked +about she saw the progress he had made was good. Well, she knew Jimmy +was not a loafer; after the cayuse kicked his leg he carried her heavy +pack to the ranch.</p> + +<p>"Now we can get to work," he said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>Margaret allowed him to put a trout and some hot flapjacks on her plate.</p> + +<p>"After all, I like it when people bring me things," she remarked. "At +Kelshope, when one wants a thing one goes for it. I reckon your friends +ring a bell."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps both plans have some drawbacks. Still I don't see why you +bother to indicate that you do not ring bells."</p> + +<p>"It looks as if you're pretty keen," said Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Keener than you thought? Well, not long since I'd have admitted I was +something of a fool. Anyhow, I rather think you know the Canadian +cities."</p> + +<p>"At Toronto I stopped at a cheap boarding-house. They rang bells for +you. If you were not in right on time for meals, you went without. You +didn't ask for the <i>menu</i>; you took what the waitress brought. Now you +ought to be satisfied. I'm not curious about your job in the Old +Country."</p> + +<p>"I'm not at all reserved," Jimmy rejoined. "I occupied a desk at a +cotton mill office, and wrote up lists of goods in a big book, until I +couldn't stand for it. Then I quit."</p> + +<p>Margaret weighed his statement and imagined he had used some reserve. +For a clerk at a cotton mill to tour about Canada with rich people was +strange.</p> + +<p>"You talk about the Old Country, although you stated you were altogether +Canadian," Jimmy resumed.</p> + +<p>"My father's a Scot. He came from the Border."</p> + +<p>"Your name indicates it. The Jardines and two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> or three other clans +ruled the Western Border, but were themselves a stubborn, unruly lot. +Your ancestors were famous. I know their haunts in Annandale."</p> + +<p>"I reckon my father was a poacher," Margaret observed.</p> + +<p>Jimmy laughed. "It's possible the others were something like that. +Anyhow, their main occupation was to drive off English cattle, but we +won't bother—"</p> + +<p>He stopped and mused. Sometimes, when he was at the cotton mill, he had +gone for a holiday to the bleak Scottish moors. The country was +romantic, but rather bleak than beautiful, and he had thought a touch of +the old Mosstroopers' spirit marked their descendants. The men were big +and their Scottish soberness hid a vein of reckless humor. They were +keen sportsmen and bold poachers. When one studied them, one noted their +stubbornness and something Jimmy thought was quiet pride. Margaret had +got the puzzling quality; one marked her calm level glance and her +rather haughty carriage. Although she was a bush rancher's daughter, +Jimmy did not think he exaggerated much.</p> + +<p>"Your house is going up and you have cleared some ground," she said. "It +looks as if you had not slouched."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Jimmy modestly, "your father reckoned I must push ahead +before the frost began; but if we have made some progress, I imagine Bob +is mainly accountable."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>"Do you like Okanagan?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. "He stays with his +job, and puts it over, but he doesn't talk. Unless he's chopping and you +hear his ax, you don't know where he is. He <i>steals</i> about. In fact, the +fellow puzzles me. What's his proper business?"</p> + +<p>"Bob's a trapper. To get valuable skins you must go far North, but the +black bear are pretty numerous and sometimes a cinnamon comes down the +rocks. Then tourists give a good price for a big-horn's head. I reckon +Bob's wad was getting big, until the politicians resolved to see the +game laws were carried out. Now you must buy a license before you shoot +large animals, and you may only shoot one or two. Then reserves are +fixed where you may not shoot at all. The belt across the range is a +reserve and the game-warden made some trouble for Bob. Perhaps this +accounts for his hiring up with you."</p> + +<p>"Do you like the fellow?"</p> + +<p>Margaret hesitated. She did not like Bob, but she did not mean to +enlighten Jimmy. Sometimes Bob came to Kelshope and when he fixed his +strange glance on her she got disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Well," she said, "if I wanted a loghouse put up or the timber wolves +cleared off, I'd send for Okanagan; but I'd stop there. He's not the +sort I'd want for a friend."</p> + +<p>"You imply, if you were a rancher, you wouldn't want him for a friend?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>Margaret's eyes twinkled. "Why, of course, I implied something like +that."</p> + +<p>"But Bob goes to Kelshope, and Mr. Jardine suggested my hiring him."</p> + +<p>"My father's a bushman," said Margaret, rather dryly. "His habit's not +to get stung; but we'll let it go. What about your chickens?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy had sent for some poultry, and so long as Margaret was willing to +stop, he was satisfied to talk about his flock. Sometimes the bush was +lonely and to sit opposite Margaret had charm. She banished the +loneliness and gave his rude fireside a homely touch. By and by, +however, she got up.</p> + +<p>"I have stopped some time and you ought to get busy."</p> + +<p>She would not take his help to mount. She seized the bridle, stroked the +cayuse, and was in the saddle. The horse plunged into the fern, Margaret +waved her hand and vanished, but for a few minutes Jimmy smoked and +pondered.</p> + +<p>He thought Margaret harmonized with the quiet, austere woods, but +although she talked like a bush girl, he wondered whether she had not +done so in order to baffle him. Anyhow, he hoped she would come back and +cook his breakfast another time. He could not see Laura Stannard beating +up dough for flapjacks by his fire. Laura's proper background was an +English drawing-room. She had grace and charm, and on the hotel terrace +Jimmy was keen about her society. Then Laura was a good sort and he +owed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> her much; the strange thing was, although she had stated he ought +to follow a useful occupation, she did not approve his ranching +experiment. In fact, she had urged him to go back to the cotton mill. +Jimmy admitted he was rather hurt because she was willing for him to go. +Now, however, her picture began to get indistinct. The bush called and +Laura did not harmonize with the woods.</p> + +<p>Then Jimmy remembered Margaret had brought him some letters and when he +pulled out an envelope with an Indian stamp, his look was anxious. Sir +James, however, stated that his London agents would send a check on a +Canadian bank, and when Jimmy wanted to stock his ranch his bills would +be met. Sir James remarked that to buy cattle was better than to bet on +horses that did not win, and chopping trees was not, by contrast with +some other amusements, very expensive. Moreover, if Jimmy got tired, he +could sell the ranch. He added that he was presently going to Japan and +afterwards to England by the Canadian Pacific line. When he crossed +Canada, he would stop and look his nephew up.</p> + +<p>Jimmy liked his uncle's rather dry humor, and admitted that some of his +remarks were justified, for when Jimmy went to the races his luck was +bad, but he put the letter in his pocket and picked up his ax. For some +time he had talked and smoked and, unless he hustled, the shingles he +wanted would not be split by dark.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="X" id="X"></a>X<br /> +<span class="smalltext">LAURA'S REFUSAL</span></h2> + + +<p>Smoke rolled about the clearing and dry branches snapped in the flames. +A keen wind fanned the blaze and in places the fire leaped up the trees +and resinous needles fell in sparkling showers. Okanagan Bob went about +with a coal-oil can, and Jimmy drove the red oxen that hauled loads of +brush. Jimmy's face was black, his hand was burned, and his shirt was +marked by dark-edged holes, but his mood was buoyant. The fire had got +firm hold and advanced steadily across the belt of chopped trunks and +branches bushmen call the <i>slashing</i>. When it burned out Jimmy thought +only half-consumed logs would be left. A good <i>burn</i> ought to save him +much labor.</p> + +<p>Perhaps his keenness was strange. To clear a ranch is a long and arduous +job that he was not forced to undertake; but he was keen. His +occupation, so to speak, had got hold of him. Moreover he felt, rather +vaguely, it was a test of his endurance and pluck. Since he left the +cotton mill he had loafed and squandered; now he had got a man's job, +and when the job was carried out he would know himself a man.</p> + +<p>By and by he stopped the oxen in front of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> house. A few yards off +Deering notched the end of a log. He wore long boots, overall trousers +and a torn shirt. His face was red, but his big body followed the sweep +of the ax with a measured swing and the shining blade went deep into the +log. Deering had arrived a few days before to arrange about a hunting +excursion.</p> + +<p>"You have put up a fresh log since I came along. You chop like a +bushman," Jimmy remarked.</p> + +<p>"Two logs," said Deering and dropped his ax. "I reckon I am a bushman. +Anyhow I was born at a small Ontario ranch, and hired up at another in +Michigan."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was surprised. Although Deering was not at all like Stannard, his +habits were extravagant and nothing indicated that he had engaged in +bodily labor. He saw Jimmy's surprise and laughed.</p> + +<p>"For a few minutes I'll cool off and take a smoke," he resumed. +"Chopping's a healthy occupation, but I soon had enough. I was out for +money and wasn't satisfied to earn two-and-a-half a day. Then in Canada, +and I reckon in Michigan, you don't get two generations to stay on the +land. You clear a ranch, but your son weighs all you're up against and +resolves to quit. He reckons keeping store at a settlement is a softer +job."</p> + +<p>"Did you keep a store?"</p> + +<p>"I ran a pool room. After a time, a women's reform guild got busy and +the town reeve hinted I'd better get out."</p> + +<p>Jimmy laughed. He liked Deering's frankness, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> he said, "I suppose +Dillon left Stannard at Puget Sound? He talked about going to Colorado."</p> + +<p>"When we had stopped a week or two at the Dillon house, Frank reckoned +he'd come back with us," Deering replied with some dryness. "Frank has +not bought a ranch, but he's steadying up and I imagine Miss Laura has +got after him. Anyhow, he's cut out cards and bets with me. Looks as if +Miss Laura had some talent for steering young men into the proper +track."</p> + +<p>The blood came to Jimmy's skin, but Deering's humorous twinkle did not +account for all. Jimmy did not like to think about Laura's steering +Dillon; he felt Laura was his guide and not the other's.</p> + +<p>"If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon, I'll come along," he +said. "Perhaps I ought to see Stannard about our hunting trip."</p> + +<p>"He stated he wanted to see you," Deering replied with a careless nod +and resumed his chopping.</p> + +<p>When the fire had burned out they started for the hotel, but they +arrived after dinner and Laura was engaged with other guests. In the +morning she went off to the lake with Dillon and one or two more whom +Jimmy did not know, and since she did not suggest his joining the party, +he loafed about the hotel. It looked as if she was satisfied with +Dillon's society and did not want his.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was hurt, and sitting on the terrace, he smoked and pondered. From +the beginning he had felt Laura's charm, although he had not thought +himself her lover; for one thing, he knew his drawbacks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Yet Laura +liked Dillon, whose drawbacks were as obvious as his. Somehow Jimmy had +taken it for granted he had a particular claim to her friendship, but if +the friendship must be shared with Frank its charm was gone.</p> + +<p>After an hour or two his resolution began to harden. Perhaps his asking +Laura to marry him was not as ridiculous as he had thought. At all +events, he would take the plunge. She knew he had stopped loafing and +started on a fresh line, and his having done so because she urged it was +a useful argument. Jimmy admitted he did not see Laura helping at the +ranch, but this was not important. So long as she engaged to marry him +when he made good, he would be resigned. If she hesitated, he must try +to indicate something like that.</p> + +<p>In the evening Laura returned from the lake, but for some time after +dinner she was engaged with her party and left Jimmy alone. Jimmy did +not join the group, for the suspense bothered him and the others' light +banter jarred. He thought it strange, but he felt he had nothing to do +with the careless people whose society Laura enjoyed. When he had talked +to Laura he was going back to the quiet woods.</p> + +<p>At length Laura came along the terrace and Jimmy braced himself. She +wore a black dinner dress and when a beam from the window touched her +Jimmy thought her skin shone like the snow on the rocks. Then she turned +her head and looked back. The tranquil movement was strangely graceful, +but Jimmy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> frowned. Dillon had obviously meant to go with Laura, and +although she motioned him back Jimmy knew she smiled. He fetched a chair +and leaned against the terrace wall.</p> + +<p>"Well, Jimmy," she said in a careless voice, "you don't look very +bright."</p> + +<p>"It's possible. You haven't talked to me for five minutes since I +arrived."</p> + +<p>"I was on the terrace. Had you wanted to join us, you could have done +so."</p> + +<p>"If you had wanted me, I expect you'd have indicated it."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes you're rather keen," Laura remarked. "Still sometimes you are +obstinate. I have known you do things I would sooner you did not."</p> + +<p>"I expect I'm dull, for I don't know if you imply that my obstinacy +would not have annoyed you. Anyhow, I left the ranch because I wanted to +see you. I didn't want to stand about with the others and laugh at their +poor jokes. They're a slack and careless lot."</p> + +<p>Laura looked up. Jimmy's mouth was firm and she thought him highly +strung. He was thin and hard and his pose was good. In fact, she felt he +was not altogether the raw lad she had known.</p> + +<p>"Not long since, you rather cultivated people like that and tried to use +their rules," she said. "I think you made some progress."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I own I was a fool and I owe you something because you helped +me see my folly. To take the proper line at a ball and a dinner party, +to shoot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> straight and play a useful game at cards is perhaps a sound +ambition, but I begin to doubt if it's worth the effort it costs. In the +woods, one gets another ambition."</p> + +<p>Laura smiled. "You're impulsive. When one indicates the way for you to +go, you go much faster than one thinks, but we won't philosophize. Did +it not cost you something to leave your ranch?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to see you," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "I'd better state my +object, because in a minute or two I expect your friends will come +along—"</p> + +<p>Laura thought not. The end of the terrace was not lighted. She and Jimmy +were in the gloom and the others were not very dull.</p> + +<p>"Well?" she said.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to ask if you will marry me?"</p> + +<p>For a few moments Laura said nothing and Jimmy noted that her pose was +very quiet. Then she looked up.</p> + +<p>"You are very young, Jimmy."</p> + +<p>"I'm not younger than you. Besides, I don't see what my youth has to do +with it."</p> + +<p>"Your youth is a drawback," said Laura thoughtfully. "You will inherit a +large fortune, but I am poor, and if I married you, your trustees would +imagine I, and my father, had planned to capture you."</p> + +<p>"Now you are ridiculous!" Jimmy declared. "You have talent, beauty, and +cultivation: I'm raw and know nothing but the cotton mill. You ought to +see, if I can persuade you, the gain is altogether mine."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>Laura gently shook her head. "I don't see it, Jimmy, and others would +not."</p> + +<p>"Dick Leyland might grumble," Jimmy admitted with a frown. "For all +that, he has nothing to do with my marrying, and Sir Jim is another +type. He'd fall in love with you—"</p> + +<p>He stopped and Laura pondered. She must make a good marriage and the +marriage Jimmy urged was good, but she saw some obstacles. For one +thing, she did not love Jimmy. Ambition called, but she calculated. If +he would take the line she thought he ought to take, she might agree.</p> + +<p>"If you were at the cotton mill and claimed your proper post, all would +be easier," she said. "Your uncles could not then dispute your right to +marry whom you liked."</p> + +<p>Jimmy's laugh was scornful. "My uncles control my fortune for a year or +two; that's all. However, if you hesitate, I won't urge you to marry me +yet. If you engage to do so when I get my inheritance, I'll be +satisfied."</p> + +<p>The blood came to Laura's skin. Jimmy's keenness was not remarkable, but +she knew his sincerity and she forced a smile.</p> + +<p>"You are philosophical."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some embarrassment, "I feel I ought not to +urge you now. I wanted to know you belonged to me, and then I needn't +bother when I'm at the ranch— The trouble is, if I waited, somebody +might carry you off. So long as you agree—"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>Laura's look got rather hard. When she wanted him to go back to England +she was not altogether selfish. Although she did not love him, she liked +Jimmy, and felt he ought not to stay in Canada with Stannard and +Deering.</p> + +<p>"Then, you mean to go on at the ranch?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Of course. You declare I'm young. I feel I must take a useful job and, +so to speak, make good. Besides, I can't go back to Lancashire to be +ruled by Uncle Dick. When I take my inheritance, it will be another +thing. Then, when you own a ranch, there's something about the woods +that calls. You get keen; to plan and work is not a bother."</p> + +<p>"But is the reward for your labor worth while?"</p> + +<p>"In money, the reward is not worth while; but that's not important. +Somehow I know Dick Leyland is not carrying on the house's business as +it ought to be carried on. We are getting rich, but we cannot much +longer use his old-fashioned parsimonious rules. Jim's at Bombay, and +there's no use in my making plans for Dick to oppose. You see, I have +nothing to go upon. For five years I was a clerk, like our other clerks; +afterwards I was a careless slacker, and Dick would sternly put me down. +But I've stated something like this before. You ought to see—"</p> + +<p>Laura saw he had some grounds for his resolve to remain. Still she did +not see herself helping at the ranch and to wait, for perhaps three or +four years, while he carried out his rash experiment was not her plan. +She imagined his trustees would not approve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> his marrying her and they +controlled his fortune and were clever business men. Yet had she loved +Jimmy, she might have agreed. In the meantime, he studied her with keen +suspense, and getting up, she gave him a quiet resolute look.</p> + +<p>"You must let me go," she said. "I like you, Jimmy, but I am not the +girl for you."</p> + +<p>Jimmy tried to brace himself and advanced as if he meant to touch her, +but she stopped him.</p> + +<p>"I ought not to return to Lancashire yet; but if that's the obstacle, +I'll start when you like," he said, in rather a hoarse voice.</p> + +<p>Laura was moved. In fact, she was moved to generosity. Now she had +conquered, the strange thing was, she knew she must not use her triumph. +Although Jimmy was beaten, she admitted his firmness at the beginning +was justified, and she thought he would after a time repent.</p> + +<p>"I see some other obstacles," she replied. "Since you are satisfied that +your proper job is in Canada, you must carry it out. There is no use in +talking, Jimmy. I am not at all the girl for you."</p> + +<p>Her resolution was obvious, and Jimmy stepped back. Laura gave him a +friendly smile and went off. Jimmy frowned, for although he had doubted +if he could persuade her, he had got a nasty knock. At the other end of +the terrace Stannard joined Laura and indicated Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"Well?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy wanted me to marry him. I refused."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>"Ah," said Stannard. "I suppose you had some grounds for your refusal?"</p> + +<p>"I imagine he does not love me," Laura replied in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>Stannard studied her. Her color was rather high, but she was calm. In +some respects, she was like her mother and not like him. Stannard was +satisfied it was so.</p> + +<p>"Yet he asked you to marry him!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I am attractive; but now I think about it, he did not urge me +much. For all that, Jimmy is a good sort."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Stannard said nothing. Laura imagined he had meant her +to marry Jimmy and her refusal bothered him. Yet his look rather +indicated resignation than anger. She really did not know her father, +but he was kind.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy is a good sort," he remarked. "He has some other advantages."</p> + +<p>"His advantages are obvious; he's sincere and frank and generous," Laura +agreed with a touch of emotion. "Had he not been like that, I might have +risked it."</p> + +<p>Stannard shrugged. "Perhaps you're not altogether logical; but it's done +with."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, father," said Laura in a gentle voice and went up the steps.</p> + +<p>Stannard stopped and his look was sternly thoughtful. He was an +adventurer and his scruples were not numerous, but he had not used his +daughter's beauty as he might have used it. Now he knew he ran some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +risks and, for her sake, he had wanted her to marry Jimmy. Well, she had +refused, and Jimmy owed him much, but for some time could not pay. +Stannard lighted a cigar and knitted his brows.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE GAME RESERVE</span></h2> + + +<p>At the end of the small open glade the pack-horses dragged about their +ropes. A short distance in front, the thick timber stopped and a +mountain spur went up to the dim white peaks. The sun had gone and the +sky was calm and green. One heard a river brawl and a faint wind in the +trees. Deering lay in the pine needles and rubbed his neck.</p> + +<p>"The mosquitoes are fierce. Throw some green stuff on the fire and make +a smoke," he said. "I don't want to get up."</p> + +<p>Jimmy, sitting on a log, pushed green branches into the flames, and then +turned his head and looked about. Two Indians were cutting poles and +putting up a tent. In the gaps between the trunks the gloom got deep, +and although the sharp top of the spur was distinct, Jimmy only saw a +few small pines and junipers. Stannard and Okanagan Bob, who had gone up +in the afternoon to look for a line to the high rocks, were not coming +yet. The horses could not go farther and in the morning the hunting +party would leave them behind.</p> + +<p>"They recently let me join a highbrow mountain club; but when I start +for the rocks I hesitate," Deering resumed. "To boost two hundred pounds +up crags<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> and glaciers is a strenuous job, and I allow I'd sooner +Stannard had brought the hotel guides. When I camp I like two blankets +and a square meal. A good guide can carry a lot of useful truck."</p> + +<p>"Their charges are high and Okanagan claims he knows the big-horn's +haunts."</p> + +<p>"Somehow I reckon Bob knows too much," Deering rejoined. "Well, I allow +to let you break your neck wouldn't pay Stannard."</p> + +<p>"In one sense, it wouldn't cost him much," said Jimmy, with a laugh. +"You see, I insured my life in his favor some time since."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Deering, thoughtfully. "That was when he took you down to +Vancouver?"</p> + +<p>"I went down. The plan was mine. After I fell into the gully, I saw +Stannard ran some risk."</p> + +<p>Deering grinned. "I like you, Jimmy! You're sure an honest kid." Then +his glance got keen and he resumed: "Say, are you going to marry Laura?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Stannard refused to marry me," Jimmy replied in a quiet voice. +"But we were talking about the insurance. I rather urged Stannard—"</p> + +<p>"Exactly! Stannard's a highbrow Englishman," said Deering, but somehow +Jimmy thought his remark ironical. "Well, you urged, and since Stannard +is not rich, he agreed? Perhaps the strange thing is, he was able to +lend you a pretty good sum. Do you know where he gets the money?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. It's not important."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well! You have insured your life and Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Laura has refused you! +She's a charming girl, but since I don't see her helping you run a bush +ranch, perhaps her refusal was justified. However, I think somebody's +coming down the ridge."</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards Stannard and Bob reached the camp and Stannard said, +"We have found a line and we'll start at daybreak. Bob now declares he +expects a reward for each good head we get."</p> + +<p>"You can promise him his bonus. If we shoot a big-horn, we're lucky; the +tourist sports have scared them back to the North," Deering remarked.</p> + +<p>They got supper and went to bed. The spruce twigs were soft and the +Hudson's Bay blankets were warm, but for a time Jimmy did not sleep. The +tent door was hooked back and the night was not dark. He saw the smoke +go up and the mist creep about the trunks. Sometimes a horse broke a +branch and sometimes the river's turmoil got louder, but this was all +and Jimmy missed the cow-bells that chimed at Kelshope ranch.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was strange, but Laura's refusal had not hurt him very much. +In fact, he began to feel that so long as she did not marry Dillon he +would be resigned. Now Jimmy came to think about it, Deering's hint that +she attracted Frank to some extent accounted for his resolve to marry +Laura. Anyhow, Laura was his friend, and Stannard had used tact. He was +quietly sympathetic and soon banished Jimmy's embarrassment. Then the +noise of the river got indistinct and Jimmy thought he heard cow-bells<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +ring. Branches cracked and somebody called, "Oh, Buck! Oh, Bright!"</p> + +<p>At daybreak Bob sent off two Indians to wait for the party at another +spot. He and an Indian carried heavy loads, but all carried as much as +possible, because Bob declared the party was rather large for good +hunting and refused to take another man. When they stopped at noon +Deering's face was very red and Jimmy was satisfied to lie in the stones +while Bob brewed some tea.</p> + +<p>After lunch they pushed through a belt of timber. The trees were small, +but some had fallen and blocked the way. Others, broken by the wind, had +not reached the ground and the locked branches held up the slanted +trunks. Where the underbrush below was thick, one must crawl along the +logs.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the timber an avalanche had swept the slope, +carrying down soil and stones, and the party was forced to cross steep +rock slabs. Jimmy carried a rifle, a blanket, and a small bag of flour +and admitted that he had got enough. To pitch camp at sunset behind a +few half-dead spruce was a keen relief.</p> + +<p>They had not a tent and the cold was keen, but where one can find wood +one can build a shelter. Supper was soon cooked and when they had +satisfied their appetite all were glad to lie about the fire. Some +distance above them, untrodden snow, touched with faint pink by the +sunset, glimmered against the green sky. Below, rocks and gravel went +down to the for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>est, across which blue mist rolled. Sometimes a belt of +vapor melted and one saw a vast dim gulf and a winding line that was a +river. The austere landscape rather braced than daunted Jimmy. He knew +the Swiss rocks and the high snows called.</p> + +<p>Two days afterwards Jimmy, one afternoon, got his first shot at a +mountain-sheep. Until the big-horn moved, it looked like a small gray +stone, but it did move and when it vanished they studied the ground. +There was no use in trying a direct approach, but the rocky slope was +broken and Bob imagined they could climb a gully and come down near the +animal farther on. They must, however, take their loads, because he had +not yet found a spot to pitch camp.</p> + +<p>To climb the gully, embarrassed by a heavy pack, and a rifle, was hard, +and for some time afterwards they crawled across the top of a big +buttress. When they reached another gully the sun was gone, but Bob +thought they would find the sheep not far from the bottom. He said two +might go, and when they had spun a coin Stannard and Jimmy took off +their packs.</p> + +<p>The gully was very steep and they used some caution. Near the bottom +Jimmy slipped and might have gone down had not Stannard steadied him. +Bob, carrying the glasses, went a short distance in front. At the bottom +he got behind a stone and presently waved his hand.</p> + +<p>When Jimmy reached the spot he saw a horseshoe slope of rock and gravel +that fell sharply for five or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> six hundred feet and then stopped, as if +at the edge of a precipice. He thought if the big-horn went down there, +they must let it go. Then Bob touched his arm and indicated a spot level +with them, but some distance off. Something moved and Jimmy, taking the +glasses, saw it was a sheep.</p> + +<p>"Your shot. Use a full sight; it's farther than you think," said +Stannard in a low voice, and when Jimmy had pulled up the slide he +rested the rifle barrel on the rock.</p> + +<p>His arm was on the stone; he knew he ought to hold straight, but the +shot was long and the hole in the telescopic sight was small. Perhaps he +was too keen, for although Stannard had got a noble head, he himself had +not yet fired a shot, but when he began to pull the trigger his hand +shook. He stopped and drew his breath, and the sheep moved.</p> + +<p>"He's going," said Bob, and Jimmy crooked his finger.</p> + +<p>The rifle jerked. In the distance, a small shower of dust leaped up and +the sheep jumped on a stone. In a moment it would vanish and Jimmy +savagely snapped out the cartridge. Then he saw a pale flash and knew +the report of Stannard's English rifle. The sheep plunged from the +stone, struck the ground, and began to roll down the incline. Its speed +got faster and Jimmy thought it went down like a ball. In a few moments +it would reach the top of the precipice, and if it plunged across they +would not find its broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> body. Then it struck a rock and stopped, so +far as one could see, a few yards from the edge. Stannard gave Bob his +rifle and picked up the glasses.</p> + +<p>"A fine head! Call Deering, Jimmy. I think we can get down."</p> + +<p>Jimmy thought not, but he shouted and Deering arrived and studied the +ground.</p> + +<p>"Looks awkward, but perhaps we can make it."</p> + +<p>"You have got to make it! You don't want to leave a sheep like that +about," said Bob.</p> + +<p>Stannard gave him a keen glance, but Deering said, "Let's try; I've +brought the rope. If you'll lead, Stannard, I'll tie on at the top. +We'll leave Jimmy."</p> + +<p>"Since I missed my shot, I ought to go," Jimmy objected.</p> + +<p>"My weight's a useful anchor and you're not up to Stannard's form," +Deering rejoined and they put on the rope.</p> + +<p>They started and Jimmy lighted his pipe. He had wanted the noble head +and Stannard had got another, but Jimmy was not jealous. Although +Stannard had hardly had a moment before the sheep went off, he had +seized the moment to shoot and hit. In the meantime, however, the others +were getting down the slope and Jimmy used the glasses.</p> + +<p>The job was awkward. Sometimes the stones ran down and Stannard +hesitated; Deering stopped and braced himself, ready to hold up his +companions. Bob was at the middle of the rope and, so far as one could +see, was satisfied to follow Stannard. They reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> the sheep, and Bob +got on his knees by the animal. His knife shone and after a few minutes +he gave Stannard the head.</p> + +<p>Then it looked as if they disputed, but Bob got up and began to drag the +sheep to the edge. Jimmy was puzzled, for stones were plunging down and +it was plain the fellow ran some risk. One could not see his object for +resolving to get rid of the headless body. After a minute or two he +pushed the sheep over the edge and the party began to climb the slope.</p> + +<p>They got to the top, and going up the gully, after a time found a corner +in the rocks and pitched camp. Bob and the Indian had carried up a small +quantity of wood and when they cooked supper Stannard remarked: "I +expect you're satisfied nobody in the valley could see our fire?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody's in the valley, anyhow," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Then, my seeing smoke was strange," Stannard rejoined.</p> + +<p>"But suppose somebody had camped in the trees? Why shouldn't the fellow +see our fire?" Jimmy inquired.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Bob will enlighten you," said Stannard coolly.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Deering, "he didn't mean to leave the sheep around, and +although I didn't get his object for pushing the body off the rocks, I +reckon it went down a thousand feet into the timber—" He stopped and +looking hard at Bob resumed: "What was your object?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>Bob's dark face was inscrutable.</p> + +<p>"I saw smoke. When we got busy, I calculated the game-warden had located +at the other end of the range."</p> + +<p>"You greedy swine!" said Stannard, and Deering began to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy doesn't get it! Well, Bob meant to earn his bonus, and since he +took us shooting on a government game reserve, I admit his nerve is +pretty good. Anyhow, I won't grumble because I haven't killed a +big-horn. Stannard's may cost him two or three hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"Why did you play us this shabby trick, Bob?" Jimmy asked in a stern +voice.</p> + +<p>Bob gave him a rather strange look.</p> + +<p>"I sure wanted the bonus and the reserve is new. I allowed I'd beat the +warden and you wouldn't know. He got after me another time and I had to +quit and leave a pile of skins."</p> + +<p>"You wanted to get even?" Deering remarked and turned to Stannard. "What +are you going to do about it? In a way, the thing's a joke, but our +duty's obvious. We ought to give up the heads and take Bob along to the +police."</p> + +<p>Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy imagined he did not mean to give up the +heads. Bob's calm was not at all disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" he said. "You're pretty big, Mr. Deering, but I reckon the +city man who could take me where I didn't want to go isn't born. Why, +you can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> get off the mountains unless I help you fix camp and pack +your truck!"</p> + +<p>"I don't like packing a heavy load," Deering admitted. "We'll talk about +it again, and in the meantime you had better take the frying-pan from +the fire. I hate my bannocks burned."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">STANNARD FRONTS A CRISIS</span></h2> + + +<p>At Kelshope ranch fodder was scarce and so long as the underbrush was +green Jardine let his cattle roam about. The plan had some drawbacks, +and Jardine, needing his plow oxen one afternoon, was forced to search +the tangled woods. Sometimes he heard cow-bells, but when he reached the +spot the animals were gone. A plow ox is cunning and in thick timber +moves much faster than a man.</p> + +<p>Jardine, however, was obstinate and for an hour or two he pushed across +soft muskegs and through tangled brushwood. When at length he stopped he +saw he had torn his new overalls and broken an old long boot. Besides, +he hated to be baffled and since he could not catch the oxen he could +not move some logs.</p> + +<p>When he got near the ranch he stopped. Somebody was quietly moving about +the house, as if he wanted to find out who was at home, and Jardine, +advancing noiselessly, saw it was Bob. He admitted he had expected +something like that, for Bob's habits were not altogether a white man's. +Jardine imagined he did not know Margaret had gone to the railroad.</p> + +<p>Had he found his team, he might have given Bob supper and sent him off +before Margaret arrived, but he had not found the team and Bob's +creeping about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> the house annoyed him. In the Old Country Jardine was a +poacher, but he sprang from good Scottish stock and he hated to think +Bob bothered Margaret. Moving out of the shadow, he went up the path.</p> + +<p>He did not make a noise, but Bob turned, and Jardine thought had the +fellow been altogether a white man he would have started. Bob did not +start. His look was calm, like an Indian's, and his pose was quiet.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said. "I reckoned you'd gone after your plow team."</p> + +<p>"Ye didna reckon I'd come back just yet!"</p> + +<p>Bob smiled, but his eyes got narrower and his mouth went straight. He +was a big man and carried himself like an athlete.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I allowed Miss Margaret was around and I'd wait a +while."</p> + +<p>Jardine wondered whether Bob meant to annoy him. As a rule the fellow +was not frank and now his frankness was insolent.</p> + +<p>"If ye come another time, ye'll come when I'm aboot. What have ye in yon +pack?"</p> + +<p>"Berries," said Bob, opening a cotton flour bag. "I reckoned Miss +Margaret wanted some. Then I brought a pelt; looked the sort of thing to +go round her winter cap."</p> + +<p>In the woods, the Indians dry the large yellow raspberries and Bob had +brought a quantity to the ranch before. Now he pulled out a small dark +skin that Jardine imagined was worth fifty dollars. The value of the +present was significant.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>"Ye can tak' them back. We have a' the berries we want."</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, I guess Miss Margaret would like the skin."</p> + +<p>"She would not. Margaret has nae use for ony pelts ye bring."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Bob was quiet. Then he said, "Sometimes I blew in for +supper and you let me stay and smoke. When you put up the barn, you sent +for me to help you raise the logs. The English tenderfoot hadn't located +in the valley then."</p> + +<p>The blood came to Jardine's skin. To some extent Bob's rejoinder was +justified; but Jardine had not until recently imagined Margaret +accounted for the fellow's coming to the ranch.</p> + +<p>"When we put up the barn ye got stan'ard pay. I allow ye're a useful man +to handle logs, but I'm no' hiring help the noo."</p> + +<p>"You reckoned me your hired man?" said Bob in an ominously quiet voice. +"That was all the use you had for me?"</p> + +<p>"Just that!" Jardine agreed. "Margaret has nae use for ye ava'."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you reckon you're going to get my highbrow English boss for +her, you're surely not very bright. His sort don't marry—"</p> + +<p>"Tak' your pack and quit," said Jardine sternly. "Get off the ranch, ye +blasted half-breed!"</p> + +<p>Bob was very quiet, but his pose was alert and somehow like a hunting +animal's. Perhaps instinc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>tively, he felt for his knife. Jardine's ax +leaned against a neighboring post. If he jumped, he could reach the +tool, but he did not move. For a moment or two they waited, and then Bob +picked up the flour bag and went down the path. Jardine went to the +kitchen and lighted his pipe. Bob was gone, and Jardine hardly thought +he would come back, but he was not altogether satisfied he had taken the +proper line. Indian blood ran in Bob's veins; an Indian waits long and +does not forget. For all that, Jardine did not see himself warning +Leyland and enlightening Margaret.</p> + +<p>A week afterwards, Stannard one evening occupied a chair at his table on +the terrace. He had returned from the mountains with two good big-horn +heads and nothing indicated that the game-warden knew the party had +poached on the reserve. Stannard, however, was not thinking about the +hunting excursion. The English mail had arrived and sometimes he studied +a letter and sometimes looked moodily about.</p> + +<p>Laura, Dillon, and two or three young men were on the steps that went +down to the woods. Laura wore her black dinner dress and Stannard +thought she had not another that so harmonized with her beauty. Dillon +obviously felt her charm. He was next to Laura, and since it looked as +if the others were ready to dispute his claim to the spot, Stannard +imagined Frank would not have occupied it unless Laura meant him to +remain.</p> + +<p>After a time Stannard pushed the letter into his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> pocket and gave +himself to gloomy thought, until Deering came along the terrace and +asked him for a match.</p> + +<p>"You look as if you were bothered," Deering remarked.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes one is bothered when one's mail arrives."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Deering, with a sympathetic nod. "Opening your mail +is like dipping in a lucky bag; your luck's not always good. I got some +bills in my lot."</p> + +<p>"I got a demand for a sum I cannot pay. I expect you haven't two +thousand dollars you don't particularly need?"</p> + +<p>Deering laughed. "Search me! All I've got above five hundred dollars you +can have for keeps. Looks as if you must put the fellow off."</p> + +<p>"He's obstinate and unless I can satisfy him it might be awkward for +me."</p> + +<p>"Then, you had better try Dillon. The kid's rich and sometimes +generous," Deering remarked. "In a sense, he's mine, but since you're up +against it, I'll lend him to you."</p> + +<p>He went off and Stannard frowned. For him to be fastidious was +ridiculous, but Deering's frankness jarred. Still he needed a large sum, +and although he could borrow for Jimmy, he could not borrow for himself; +the fellow who supplied him was a keen business man. Stannard lived +extravagantly, but the money he used was not his, and unless he +justified the speculation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> supplies would stop. So far, the speculation +had paid and he owned he ought not to be embarrassed. The trouble was, +he squandered all he got.</p> + +<p>He weighed Deering's plan. Dillon's father was rich and indulged the +lad. Stannard had stopped at his ambitious house on Puget Sound, and +imagined the old lumber man approved Laura. In fact, the drawback to +Deering's plan was there. Stannard had not bothered much about Laura and +was willing for his wife's relations to undertake his duty, but he did +not mean to put an obstacle in her way. She must make a good marriage; +after all, her aunts were poor.</p> + +<p>By and by the group on the steps broke up and Laura came to Stannard's +table. He noted that her eyes sparkled and her color was rather high. It +looked as if she had triumphed over another girl; Stannard admitted the +others were attractive, but none had Laura's charm.</p> + +<p>"You have soon forgotten Jimmy," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"No," said Laura, "I have not forgotten Jimmy. Although I did not want +him for a lover, he's my friend. But he really was not my lover. That +accounts for much."</p> + +<p>"Yet I imagine, if he had been persuaded to go back to the cotton +mill—"</p> + +<p>Laura blushed, but she gave Stannard a steady look. "I liked Jimmy, +Father, and I was not altogether selfish. I felt he ought to go back."</p> + +<p>"To lead a young man where he ought to go is rather an attractive part," +Stannard remarked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> "Jimmy wanted to marry you. What about Frank +Dillon?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Laura. "Frank is not as rash as Jimmy! Jimmy doesn't ponder. +He plunges ahead."</p> + +<p>"You imply that Frank uses caution."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Laura, smiling, "perhaps I use some reserve."</p> + +<p>Stannard thought her voice was gentle, and turning his head, he studied +Dillon. The young fellow stood at the top of the steps as if he wanted +to follow Laura, but waited for her to indicate that he might. Stannard +reflected with dry amusement that Laura kept her lovers in firm control. +Frank was rather a handsome fellow and Stannard knew him sincere and +generous. Perhaps it was strange, but a number of the young men he +admitted to his circle were a pretty good type. Although Stannard was +not bothered by scruples, he was fastidious.</p> + +<p>"But I want to know— It's important," he said. "Suppose Frank is as +rash as Jimmy? Will you refuse him?"</p> + +<p>Laura blushed, but after a moment or two she looked up and fronted her +father.</p> + +<p>"Why is it important for you to know?"</p> + +<p>Stannard hesitated. He had not used his daughter for an innocent +accomplice, and had she married Jimmy he would have tried to free the +lad from his entanglements. Now, if she loved Frank, he must not +embarrass her.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I rather think I must give you my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> confidence. I need +money and it's possible Frank would help."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father, you mustn't use Frank's money!" Laura exclaimed and, since +her disturbance was obvious, Stannard's curiosity was satisfied. "He's +your friend and trusts you," she resumed. "I think you ought to force +Deering to leave him alone."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Laura loved Frank; at all events +she was willing to marry him, and it looked as if she knew more about +her father than he had thought. Well, Laura was not a fool.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes your tact is rather marked," he said. "I wonder whether you +really think Deering a worse friend for Frank than me? However, we'll +let it go. If you marry the young fellow, he, of course, ought not to be +my creditor."</p> + +<p>Laura gave him a grateful look and when she replied her voice was +apologetic. "Perhaps I wasn't justified, but I felt I was forced— I +mean, I didn't want you to bother Frank, and one cannot trust Deering."</p> + +<p>"I imagine I see," Stannard rejoined. "Well, perhaps Deering's a better +sort than you think. He stated, rather generously, that he would lend me +Frank, but if it's some comfort, I'll engage not to bother the young +fellow."</p> + +<p>"You're a dear!" said Laura with a touch of emotion.</p> + +<p>Stannard shrugged. "I have not carried out my duty and you do not owe me +much, but after all it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> for your sake I sent you to your aunts. +Since your father was a bad model, I hoped your mother's sisters would +help you to grow up like her. Well, since I long neglected you, I must +not now put an obstacle in your way."</p> + +<p>"You are kind," said Laura. "Perhaps I'm cold and calculating. I know my +shabbiness, but I did not love Jimmy and I think I do love Frank."</p> + +<p>She touched Stannard's arm gently and went into the hotel. A few moments +afterwards, Dillon crossed the terrace and went up the steps. Stannard +smiled, but by and by threw away his cigar and knitted his brows. He +thought he need not bother about Laura, but he saw no plan for meeting +his importunate creditor's demands.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD</span></h2> + + +<p>Stannard and a party from the hotel were in the mountains, and Laura and +Mrs. Dillon one morning occupied a bench on the terrace. Mrs. Dillon had +arrived a few days since, and when Stannard returned Laura was going +back with her to Puget Sound. Dillon, sitting on the steps, tranquilly +smoked a cigarette. Laura had engaged to marry him and he had refused to +join Stannard's rather ambitious excursion to a snow peak that had +recently interested the Canadian Alpine Club. So far as Dillon knew, +nobody had yet got up the mountain, and if its exploration occupied +Stannard and Jimmy for some time, he would be resigned. Jimmy was his +friend, but on the whole Frank would sooner he was not about.</p> + +<p>"Two strangers went into the clerk's office some time since," Laura said +presently. "One wore a sort of cavalry uniform. Do you know who they +are?"</p> + +<p>"One's a subaltern officer of the Royal North-West Mounted Police," +Dillon replied. "I expect the other's a small boss in the Canada +forestry department, or something like that. Perhaps a careless tourist +has started a bush fire."</p> + +<p>"They are coming out," said Laura, and added with surprise: "I think +they want to see us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>The men crossed the terrace and the young officer gave Laura an +envelope.</p> + +<p>"I understand you are Miss Stannard and this is your father's."</p> + +<p>Laura nodded agreement and studied the envelope. The address was +Stannard's and at the top was printed, <i>Sports service. Taxidermy.</i></p> + +<p>"Perhaps you had better open the envelope," the officer resumed.</p> + +<p>Laura did so and pulled out a bill. "To preserving and mounting two +big-horn heads— To packing for shipment—"</p> + +<p>The other man took the bill. He was a big brown-skinned fellow and his +steady quiet glance indicated that he knew the woods.</p> + +<p>"Sure!" he said. "The charge for packing is pretty steep; but when you +mean to beat the export-prohibition— Well, I guess this fixes it!"</p> + +<p>"What has Mr. Stannard's bill to do with you?" Laura asked in a haughty +voice.</p> + +<p>"To begin with, he can't ship those heads out of Canada. Then it looks +as if he killed the big-horn on a government game reserve."</p> + +<p>"Your statement's ridiculous," said Laura angrily. "My father is an +English sportsman, not a poacher."</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, he killed two mountain sheep not long since."</p> + +<p>"You cannot force Miss Stannard to admit it," Dillon interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," the young officer agreed politely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> "Still I think some +frankness might pay. My companion is warden Douglas, from the reserve, +and the game laws are strict, but it's possible some allowance would be +made for tourists who did not know the rules. If Miss Stannard does +reply, it might help."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Laura. "My father and a party went shooting and he +brought back two big-horn heads, but I'm satisfied he did not know he +trespassed on a game reserve."</p> + +<p>"His partners were Leyland and Deering," warden Douglas remarked. "I +expect they took a guide, although they didn't hire up the men at the +hotel."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Leyland's man, Okanagan, went."</p> + +<p>Douglas looked at the officer and smiled meaningly. "Now I get it! I +reckon Bob <i>played</i> them fellers."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stannard is again in the mountains?" the officer said to Laura. "I +don't urge you to reply, but although my duty's to find out all I can, I +don't think your frankness will hurt your father."</p> + +<p>Laura said Stannard had gone to climb a famous peak and admitted that he +had taken Okanagan.</p> + +<p>"They'll hit the range near the head of the reserve and a hefty gang +could get down the Wolf Creek gulch," Douglas observed. "Looks as if Bob +had gone back for another lot! I guess an English sport would put up +fifty dollars for a good head."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said the officer. "The department will claim +the heads and perhaps demand a fine, but the sum will depend upon Mr. +Stannard's statements. This, however, is not my business."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>He bowed and went off, but he stopped Douglas on the veranda.</p> + +<p>"If you want to go after the party, I'll give you trooper Simpson."</p> + +<p>"I'm going after Okanagan and I mean to get him," said Douglas grimly. +"I reckon he fooled the tourists, but they've got to pay the fine. Can't +you give me a bushman trooper? Okanagan's a tough proposition and he +doesn't like me."</p> + +<p>The officer said he had not another man and must go off to make +inquiries about a forest fire. He sent for his horse and the group on +the terrace saw him ride down the trail.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry for Father and know he'll hate to give up the heads; but I +think the men were satisfied Jimmy's helper cheated him," Laura +remarked.</p> + +<p>A few days afterwards, Stannard's party stopped one evening at a small, +empty homestead. Thin forest surrounded the clearing, but on one side +the trees were burned and the bare rampikes shone in the sun. In places +the crooked fence had fallen down, tall fern grew among the stumps, and +willows had run across the cultivated ground. For all that, the loghouse +was good, and since the horses could not go much farther, Stannard +resolved to use the ranch for a supply depot. On the rocks the climbing +party could not carry heavy loads.</p> + +<p>When the sun got low they sat on the veranda and smoked. They did not +talk much, and Jimmy felt the brooding calm was melancholy. Somebody, +perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> with high hope, had cleared the ground the forest now was +taking back. Labor and patience had gone for nothing; the grass was +already smothered by young trees. It looked as if the wilderness +triumphed over human effort.</p> + +<p>"How long do you think its owner was chopping out the ranch? And why did +he let it go?" Jimmy asked.</p> + +<p>"I reckon nine or ten years," Deering replied. "Maybe he speculated on +somebody's starting a sawmill or a mine. Maybe the block carried a +mortgage and he pulled out to earn the interest. As a rule, the small +homesteader takes any job he can get, and when his wallet's full comes +back to chop, but a railroad construction gang's the usual stunt and +some don't come back. I expect the fellow was blown up by dynamite or a +rock fell on him. Anyhow, when you hit a deserted ranch, the owner's +story is something like that. Canada's not the get-rich country land +boomers state."</p> + +<p>Then Deering turned to Stannard. "Did you find a good line to the ridge +from which we reckon to make the peak?"</p> + +<p>"I found a line I think will go. You follow the ridge until a big +buttress breaks the top some distance above the snow level. A <i>col</i> goes +down to a glacier and one might get across to another ridge that would +help us up the peak. Still I doubt if our map's accurate, and my notion +is to climb the buttress."</p> + +<p>Deering took the map. "Good maps of the back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> country are not numerous, +but if the <i>col</i>'s where you locate it, I reckon the old-time miners +shoved up the glacier when they came in from the plains. Some made the +Caribou diggings from Alberta long before the railroad was built."</p> + +<p>"Their road was rough," said Stannard and lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p>He was not keen to talk. For one thing, he was tired, and he did not yet +know where to get the sum he needed. The sum, however, must be got. So +long as he belonged to one or two good clubs and visited at fashionable +country houses, the allowance on which he lived would be paid; but if he +did not satisfy his creditor he must give up his clubs and would not be +wanted at shooting parties.</p> + +<p>By and by Deering turned to Bob, who was cleaning a rifle.</p> + +<p>"We have guns. Have you got a pit-light?"</p> + +<p>Bob grinned. "You can't use a pit-light. Some cranks at Ottawa allow +they're going to carry out the law."</p> + +<p>"It depends," said Deering dryly. "I wouldn't go still-hunting if I +thought a game-warden was about, but we oughtn't to run up against a +warden in this neighborhood. Anyhow, I see the deer come down to feed on +the fresh brush, and some venison would help out our salt pork. Say, +have you got a light?"</p> + +<p>"I've got one," Bob admitted. "We brought some candles, and I guess I +could cut two or three shields from a meat can."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>"Then you can get to work," said Deering, and turned to the others. "The +sport's pretty good. You hook a small miner's lamp in your hat and pull +out the brim, but you can use a candle and a bit of tin. Since the +lamp's above the tin shield, the deer can't see you. They see a light +some distance from the ground and, if you're quiet, they come up to find +out what it's doing there. When their eyes reflect the beam, you shoot."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose we'd run much risk, but a still-hunt is poaching and I +doubt if it's worth the bother," Stannard replied carelessly.</p> + +<p>"When you start poaching, you don't know where to stop. Not long since +we shot two big-horn on a game reserve," said Deering with a laugh. "The +strange thing is, although I quit ranching for the cities, I want to get +back and play in the woods. Give me an ax and a gun and I'm a boy again. +Say, let's try the still-hunt!"</p> + +<p>The others agreed and after supper the party waited for dark. The green +sky faded and the trees were very black. Then their saw-edged tops got +indistinct and gray mist floated about the clearing in belts that +sometimes melted and sometimes got thick. The resinous smell of the +pines was keen and all was very quiet but for the turmoil of the river. +An owl swooped by the house, shrieked mournfully, and vanished in the +gloom.</p> + +<p>At length Jimmy fixed his candle in a rude tin shield, felt that his +rifle magazine was full, and waited for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> Bob to take the others to their +posts. So long as they went away from him, all he saw was a faint +glimmer, but sometimes one turned at an obstacle and a small bright +flame shone in the mist. It looked as if the light floated without +support and Jimmy could picture its exciting the deer's curiosity. One +could not use a pit-lamp in the tangled bush, but the clearing was some +distance across and the deer came to feed on the tender undergrowth that +had sprung up since the trees were chopped.</p> + +<p>After a time Bob returned, but now Jimmy must go to his post he admitted +he would sooner go to bed. He was tired and still-hunting with a light +was forbidden; besides, they had not long since poached on a game +reserve. Had not Deering bothered them, Jimmy thought Stannard would not +have gone, but in the woods Deering's mood was a boy's. The packers and +the horses were in a barn some distance back among the trees, and they +had not got a light at the house. Somehow the quiet and gloom were +daunting, but to hesitate was ridiculous and Jimmy went off with Bob.</p> + +<p>In North America, trees are not cut off at the ground level and the +clearing was dotted by tall stumps. Fern grew about the roots, and +tangled vines and young willows occupied the open spaces. At a boggy +patch the grass was high, and a ditch went up the middle and into the +bush. The ditch was deep and Jimmy knew something about the labor it had +cost. To see useful effort thrown away disturbed him and he speculated +about the lonely rancher's stubborn fight. The man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> was gone; perhaps he +knew himself beaten before he went, and the forest reclaimed the +clearing.</p> + +<p>They crossed the ditch and Bob stationed Jimmy behind a big stump at the +edge of the trees. He said quietness was important, and if Jimmy left +his post and did not take his light, he might get shot. Moreover, he +must not shoot unless he saw a deer's eyes shine; he must wait until he +thought the animal near enough and then aim between the two bright +spots. He might soon get a shot, but he might wait until daybreak and +see nothing.</p> + +<p>Then Bob went off and Jimmy was sorry he could not light his pipe. The +night was cold and waiting behind the stump soon got dreary. Sometimes +the mist was thick and sometimes it melted, but one could not see across +the clearing and nothing indicated that the others were about. Jimmy did +not know their posts; he imagined Bob had put them where they would not +see each other's lights. He wondered whether the deer would soon arrive. +If he did not see one before his candle burned out, he would lie down at +the bottom of the stump and go to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A SHOT IN THE DARK</span></h2> + + +<p>Jimmy imagined he did for a few minutes go to sleep, because he did not +know when the noise began. Branches cracked as if a deer pushed through +the brush a short distance off. Jimmy was not excited; in fact, he was +cold and dull, and he used some effort to wake up.</p> + +<p>The noise stopped and then began again. It now looked as if a large +animal plunged across the clearing. Jimmy did not think a deer went +through the brush like that, but for a moment he saw a luminous spot in +the dark. Something reflected the beam from his candle and he threw the +rifle to his shoulder.</p> + +<p>His hand shook and he tried to steady the barrel. He felt a jerk and was +dully conscious of the report. As a rule, when one concentrates on a +moving target one does not hear the gun; the strange thing was Jimmy +imagined he heard his a second before the trigger yielded.</p> + +<p>The deer did not stop and he pumped in another cartridge. He heard +nothing, but red sparks leaped from the rifle and then all was dark. A +heavy object rolled in the young willows and somebody shouted. Lights +tossed and it looked as if people ran about.</p> + +<p>Jimmy shouted to warn the others and left the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> stump. When he jumped +across the ditch his candle went out, and on the other side his foot +struck something soft. Stooping down, he felt about and then got up and +gasped. His heart beat, for he knew the object he had touched was not a +deer.</p> + +<p>After a moment or two Stannard joined him and took a miner's lamp from +his hat. Jimmy shivered, for the light touched a man who lay in the +willows. His arms were thrown out, and as much of his face as Jimmy saw +was very white. The other side was buried in the wet grass.</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?" Jimmy gasped.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, I think," said Stannard, and Deering, running up, pushed him +back and got on his knees.</p> + +<p>Using some effort, he lifted the man's head and partly turned him over. +The others saw a few drops of blood about a very small hole in the +breast of his deerskin jacket.</p> + +<p>"A blamed awkward spot!" Deering remarked and gave Jimmy a sympathetic +glance. "Your luck's surely bad, but get hold. We must carry him to the +house."</p> + +<p>Stannard got down; he was cooler than Jimmy, but they heard an angry +shout, and Deering jumped for the lamp. When he ran forward the others +saw a young police-trooper crawl from the ditch. Stopping on the bank, +he looked down into the mud, and Bob, a few yards off, studied him with +a grim smile. Jimmy remarked that Okanagan had not a rifle.</p> + +<p>"If you try to get your blasted gun, I'll sock my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> knife to you," said +Bob. "Shove on in front and stop where the light is."</p> + +<p>The trooper advanced awkwardly. His Stetson hat was gone and his head +was cut. When he saw the man on the ground he stopped.</p> + +<p>"You've killed him," he said. "Put up your hands! You're my prisoners!"</p> + +<p>Bob laughed.</p> + +<p>"Cut it out! That talk may go at Regina; we've no use for it in the +bush."</p> + +<p>"An order from the Royal North-West goes everywhere. Quit fooling with +that knife. My duty is—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, shucks!" said Bob, and turned to the others. "The kid fell on his +head and is rattled bad."</p> + +<p>"He's hurt; give him a drink, Stannard," said Deering. "We must help the +other fellow. Lift his feet; I'll watch out for his head. Get hold, +Bob."</p> + +<p>They carried the man to the house. When they put him down he did not +move, but Jimmy thought he breathed. Deering pushed a folded coat under +his neck and held Stannard's flask to his mouth. His lips were tight and +the liquor ran down his skin.</p> + +<p>"A bad job!" said Deering, who opened the man's jacket. "All the same, +his heart has not stopped."</p> + +<p>The packers from the barn were now pushing about the door and he +beckoned one.</p> + +<p>"Take the best horse and start for the hotel. Get the clerk to wire for +a doctor and bring him along as quick as you can make it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>The packer went off and Deering asked the policeman: "Who's your pal?"</p> + +<p>"He's Douglas, the game-warden. Looks as if you'd killed him."</p> + +<p>"He's not dead yet," Deering rejoined, and pulled out some cigarettes. +"He may die. I don't know, but we'll give him all the chances we can. In +the meantime, take a smoke and tell us what you were doing at the +clearing."</p> + +<p>The trooper lighted a cigarette and leaned against the wall. Somebody +had fixed two candles on the logs and the light touched the faces of the +group. All were quiet but Deering, and Jimmy noted with surprise that +Stannard let him take control. Stannard's look was very thoughtful; +Bob's was keen and grim. The trooper had obviously got a nasty knock. At +the door the packers were half seen in the gloom, but Jimmy felt the +unconscious man on the boards, so to speak, dominated the picture. +Although Jimmy himself was highly strung he was cool.</p> + +<p>"My officer sent me to help the warden round you up for poaching on the +reserve," said the trooper. "When we hit the clearing we saw you were +out with the pit-light and Douglas reckoned we'd get Okanagan first; the +rest of you were tourists and wouldn't bother us. Douglas calculated +Okanagan knew the best stand for a shot and would go right there. His +plan was to steal up and get him. I was to watch out and butt in when I +was wanted."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>"It didn't go like that!" Bob remarked. "When you saw me by the ditch +had I a gun?"</p> + +<p>"So far as I could see you had not. You began to pull your knife."</p> + +<p>Stannard motioned Bob to be quiet and the other resumed: "I heard +Douglas shout and I got on a move. In the dark, I ran up against a +stump, pitched over, and went into the ditch. I heard a shot—"</p> + +<p>"You heard <i>one</i> shot?" said Deering.</p> + +<p>"I don't know—I'd hit my head and was trying to find my rifle. Well, I +guess that's all!"</p> + +<p>"I shot twice," said Jimmy, in a quiet voice. "I don't think Bob used a +gun. All the same, when I pulled the trigger I imagined I heard another +report; but perhaps it was my rifle. I really don't know."</p> + +<p>"The number of shots is important," Stannard observed.</p> + +<p>Deering looked up sharply. "To find out is the police's job. Ours is not +to help."</p> + +<p>"We ought to help," Jimmy rejoined. "I thought a deer was coming; I had +no object for shooting the warden, but if my bullet hit him, the police +must not blame Bob." He turned to the others. "How many shots did you +hear?"</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was strange, but nobody knew. A packer thought he heard three +shots, although he admitted he might have been cheated because the +reports echoed in the woods. After a few moments they let it go and +Deering glanced at the man on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he knows. I doubt if he will tell!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>The trooper advanced awkwardly. "Give me a light. I'm going across the +clearing; I want to see your stands."</p> + +<p>For the most part, the others went with him. Their curiosity was keen +and it looked as if nobody reflected that the lad was their antagonist. +In fact, since they carried in the warden, all antagonism had vanished. +Jimmy, however, remained behind. He was on the floor and did not want to +get up. After the strain, he was bothered by a dull reaction and felt +slack. By and by Stannard returned and sat down on the boards.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Jimmy. "Have you found out much?"</p> + +<p>"The trooper found your two cartridges and the posts Bob gave us. You +were at a big stump, Bob a short distance on your left, although he +declares he had not a gun. My stand was on your other side. The warden's +track across the brush was plain. He was going nearly straight for the +stump and the bullet mark is at the middle of his chest."</p> + +<p>"It looks as if I shot him," Jimmy said and shivered.</p> + +<p>"Then you must brace up and think about the consequences!"</p> + +<p>"Somehow I don't want to bother about this yet. Besides, it's plain I +thought I aimed at a deer."</p> + +<p>"I doubt," Stannard remarked, with some dryness. "For one thing, the +police know we killed the big-horn on the reserve, and since we took Bob +again, to state he cheated us would not help. The fellow's a notorious +poacher, and when the warden arrived he found us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> using the pit-light, +which the game laws don't allow. On the whole, I think the police have +grounds to claim Douglas was not shot by accident."</p> + +<p>"But he may get better."</p> + +<p>"It's possible; I think that's all. But suppose he does get better? Do +you imagine his narrative would clear you?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy pondered. Until Stannard began to argue, all he had thought about +was that he had shot the warden, but now he weighed the consequences. He +was young and freedom was good. Moreover, he had seen men, chained by +the leg to a heavy iron ball, engaged making a road. A warden with a +shot-gun superintended their labor, and Jimmy had thought the indignity +horrible. He could not see himself grading roads, perhaps for all his +life, with a gang like that.</p> + +<p>"What must I do about it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I'd put up some food and start for the rocks. Take a rifle and the +Indian packer, and try to get down the east side of the range by the +neck below the buttress. Then you might perhaps push across to the +foothills and the plains. The police will, no doubt, reckon on your +going west for the Pacific coast, and, if you tried, would stop you. As +far as Revelstoke, the railroad follows the only break in the mountains, +and orders will be telegraphed to watch the stations. No; I think you +must steer for the Alberta plains."</p> + +<p>Jimmy knitted his brows. If he could reach the coast, he might get into +the United States or on board<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> a ship, but he must cross British +Columbia and, for the most part, the province was a rugged, mountainous +wilderness. The northern railroads were not yet built; the settlements +were along the C. P. R. track and the lake steamboat routes. He dared +not use the railroad; but when he thought about the rocks and broken +mountains he must cross to reach the plains he shrank.</p> + +<p>"I could not carry the food I'd need," he said.</p> + +<p>"You have a rifle, and must take the packer. So long as deer and grouse +are in the woods, an Indian will not starve," Stannard replied and gave +Jimmy his wallet. "Offer the fellow a large sum and he'll see you out. +But you must start!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you; I'll risk it," said Jimmy, and giving Stannard his hand, +went off.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards the others returned and Deering looked about the +room.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jimmy?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"He went out a few minutes since," Stannard replied in a careless voice +and Deering turned to the trooper.</p> + +<p>"Somebody must watch Douglas, but you're knocked out and Mr. Stannard +and I will undertake the job until sun-up. It's obvious our interest is +to keep him alive."</p> + +<p>The lad agreed. His head was cut and he had not found his rifle. To +imagine he could control a party of athletic men was ridiculous, and +since they were friendly he must be resigned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>Not long before daybreak Deering woke up and looked about. Bob's +pit-lamp, hanging from a beam, gave a dim light.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Jimmy's not back!"</p> + +<p>Stannard looked at the others and thought them asleep. Motioning to +Deering to follow, he went to the door. He had pulled off his boots and +Deering trod like a cat.</p> + +<p>"Jimmy will not come back. He started for the plains, across the neck."</p> + +<p>"You sent the kid across the hardest country in Alberta?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I did send him; but we'll let it go. Jimmy's a +mountaineer and he took the Indian."</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" said Deering. "The Indian's a coast Siwash and not much use on +the rocks. Jimmy's an English tenderfoot and has no <i>Chinook</i>. He can't +talk to the Indian. I doubt if he's got a compass or a map."</p> + +<p>"He has my map and I imagine an Indian does not need a compass," +Stannard rejoined. "At all events, I didn't see another plan."</p> + +<p>Deering looked at him hard. "Well, perhaps Jimmy's lucky because I was +born and raised in the bush. Fix up a plausible tale for the policeman. +When he wakes I'll be hitting Jimmy's trail."</p> + +<p>He turned and his bulky figure melted in the dark. Stannard knew he was +going to the barn to get food, and for a few moments knitted his brows. +Then he shrugged philosophically and went back to the house.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV<br /> +<span class="smalltext">TROOPER SIMPSON'S PRISONERS</span></h2> + + +<p>Day broke drearily across the clearing. Mist rolled about the dark pines +and when the wind got stronger the dark branches tossed. The loghouse +was cold and trooper Simpson, turning over on the hard boards, shivered. +Then he remarked that although the pit-lamp had gone out the room was +not dark and he was dully conscious that he had slept longer than he +ought. After a few moments, his glance rested on an object covered by +blankets at the other end of the room and he got up with a jerk.</p> + +<p>His head hurt and he was dizzy. He now remembered that he had run +against a stump and fallen into the ditch; but he must brace up and with +something of an effort he crossed the floor. So far as he could see, the +warden's eyes were shut and his face was pinched. All the same, Simpson +thought he breathed and when he touched him his skin was not cold.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said, and Stannard, sitting by Douglas, turned.</p> + +<p>"He's very sick," Simpson resumed. "What are we going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"We must try to keep him warm and when he can swallow give him a little +weak liquor and perhaps some hot soup. I expect that's all, but I have +sent for a doctor."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>"I see you have given him good blankets," said Simpson, who looked +about. "Leyland's not back; you allowed he had gone out for a few +minutes. Then where's the big man?"</p> + +<p>"I stated Leyland went out a few minutes before Deering inquired for +him," Stannard said dryly. "Some time after Leyland went, Deering +started for the bush."</p> + +<p>"Then, I've got stung! You knew I'd lost my rifle and you helped my +prisoners get off!"</p> + +<p>Stannard smiled. "To talk about your prisoners is ridiculous; I imagine +we are rather your hosts. I am not a policeman, and when my friends +resolved to leave the camp I had no grounds to meddle. However, if it +will give you some satisfaction, I'll lend you a rifle."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get mine," said Simpson and started across the clearing.</p> + +<p>He came back before long, carrying a wet rifle. His clothes were muddy +and his mouth was tight.</p> + +<p>"I found her in two or three minutes, but when I was in the ditch last +night I felt all about."</p> + +<p>"To find an object in the dark is awkward," Stannard remarked.</p> + +<p>Simpson gave him an angry glance. "The magazine's broke and the +ejector's jambed. I don't see how she got broke. I didn't hit the stump +with my gun; I hit it with my head."</p> + +<p>"The thing is rather obvious. The cut ought to satisfy your officer," +said Stannard soothingly.</p> + +<p>"If you hadn't let your partners go, I wouldn't have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> had to satisfy my +officer. Now I sure don't see where I am."</p> + +<p>"The situation is embarrassing," Stannard agreed. "My friends have been +gone some time and are pretty good mountaineers; it's possible they +could go where you could not. Then, if you went after Deering and +Leyland, I might go off another way. I don't want to persuade you, but +perhaps you ought to stop and take care of Douglas."</p> + +<p>Simpson frowned and put down his damaged rifle.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if you had got me beat and I've no use for talking. Now the +light's good, I'll take a proper look at your party's tracks."</p> + +<p>Stannard let him go and soon afterwards Bob came in. Sitting down on the +boards, he struck a pungent sulphur match and lighted his pipe. +Stannard's glance got hard. He knew the Western hired man's +independence, but he thought Bob truculent.</p> + +<p>"The warden's very ill and your tobacco's rank," he said.</p> + +<p>"He's sick all right. I doubt if he'll get better," Bob agreed in a +meaning voice, although he did not put away his pipe.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Stannard pondered. To baffle the young trooper had +rather amused him, but to dispute with Bob was another thing.</p> + +<p>"If Douglas does not get better, it will be awkward," Stannard said.</p> + +<p>"It will sure be awkward for Mr. Leyland."</p> + +<p>"Or for you!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>"Shucks! You know I was sort of superintending and hadn't a gun."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Stannard. "You stated you had not a gun. In the +meantime, I imagine Simpson is measuring distances and fixing angles, or +something like that. I can't judge if he knows his job; perhaps you +can."</p> + +<p>Bob's glance was a little keener. "Huh!" he said scornfully, "the kid's +from the cities and can't read tracks. All the same, somebody shot +Douglas, and if the police can't fix it on Leyland, they'll get after +me."</p> + +<p>"I don't see where I can help. For one thing, Mr. Leyland is my friend. +Then all I can state is, I didn't see you carry a gun. On the whole, I +don't think the police have much grounds to bother you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't take no chances; the police would sooner I was for it. +They can't claim Leyland meant to kill the warden, but they might claim +I did. Gimme a hundred dollars and I'll quit."</p> + +<p>Stannard smiled. "I have not got ten dollars; I gave Jimmy my wallet. +He's your employer."</p> + +<p>"Then, if I run up against Mr. Leyland, I'll know he carries a wad and I +guess I can persuade him to see me out," said Bob. "Now I'm going to +take all the grub I want. So long!"</p> + +<p>He went off and Stannard shrugged; but a few moments afterwards he +rested his back against the wall and shut his eyes, as if he were tired. +By and by Simpson returned and met Bob near the door. Bob carried a big +pack, a cartridge belt, and a rifle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>"Hello!" said Simpson. "Another for the woods? Well, you got to drop +that pack. You're not going."</p> + +<p>"You make me tired. <i>My</i> gun's not broke," Bob rejoined and shoved the +muzzle against Simpson's chest. "Get inside, sonny. Get in quick!"</p> + +<p>The Royal North-West Police do not enlist slack-nerved men and Simpson's +pluck was good. For all that, he was lightly built and was hurt, while +Bob was big and muscular. When Simpson seized the rifle barrel Bob +pushed hard on the butt. The trooper staggered back, struck the +doorpost, and plunged into the house. Bob laughed.</p> + +<p>"Your job's to help cure your partner. Maybe he knows who shot him," he +remarked, and started across the clearing.</p> + +<p>Simpson leaned against the wall and gasped. When he got his breath he +turned to Stannard savagely. "Where's your rifle?"</p> + +<p>"In the corner behind you," Stannard replied, and Simpson, seizing the +rifle, jerked open the breech.</p> + +<p>"My cartridge shells won't fit."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," said Stannard. "I didn't engage to lend you ammunition, +but if you go to the barn, you'll find a brown valise. Bring me the +valise and I may find you a box of cartridges."</p> + +<p>"Do you reckon Bob is going to wait until I get all fixed?"</p> + +<p>"That's another thing," said Stannard pleasantly.</p> + +<p>Simpson put down the rifle. "In about a minute the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> fellow'll hit the +timber and his sort don't leave much trail. Then you have not pulled out +yet."</p> + +<p>"You imagine if you went after Bob and did not find him, you might not +find me when you came back?"</p> + +<p>"That's so," Simpson agreed. "Not long since I reckoned I'd got the +gang. Now you're all that's left. The packers don't count."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Stannard, smiling. "I'll agree to remain. I expect to +pay a fine for poaching, although I didn't know I was on the reserve. +Since I'm resigned, it doesn't look as if my friends had an object for +shooting Douglas. You see, I killed the big-horn."</p> + +<p>"All the same, three have lit out."</p> + +<p>"There's the puzzle; the warden was hit by one bullet. I own I don't see +much light; but I think you sketched the clearing."</p> + +<p>Simpson pulled out a note-book and Stannard remarked that the plan of +the ground was carefully drawn. He thought the spots the sportsmen had +occupied were accurately marked; distances and the lines of the warden's +and Simpson's advance were indicated.</p> + +<p>"The thing's like a map," he said. "How did you fix the positions?"</p> + +<p>"I carry a compass and can step off a measurement nearly right. At +Regina they teach us to study tracks, but I was at a surveyor's office +before I joined up."</p> + +<p>"Then, you are a surveyor?" said Stannard with keen interest, for he saw +the accuracy of the plan was important.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>Simpson smiled. "Surveying's a close profession. I was a clerk, but I +copied plans and sometimes the boss took me out to help pull the +measuring chain. Well, I guess that plan will stand!"</p> + +<p>When Stannard gave back the book his look was thoughtful, but he said, +"Until the doctor arrives, we must concentrate on keeping Douglas alive. +To begin with, we'll get the packers to make a branch bed and light a +fire."</p> + +<p>Douglas lived, but, so far as the others could see, this was all. He +hardly moved and he did not talk, but sometimes at night his skin got +hot and he raved in a faint broken voice. A packer shot some willow +grouse and they made broth, and Stannard put away the party's small +stock of liquor and canned delicacies for his use. Sometimes he +swallowed a little food, but for the most part he lay like a log in +blank unconsciousness.</p> + +<p>Simpson, Stannard, and a packer watched, and before long Stannard knew +the trooper was his man. He had qualities that attracted trustful youth +and used his talent cleverly. For all that, when the doctor and an +officer of the mounted police arrived, Stannard's look was worn and +Simpson's relief was keen. The officer sent Stannard from the room, but +ordered him to wait at the barn.</p> + +<p>After some time Simpson came to the barn and Stannard, returning to the +house, saw the officer's brows were knit. The doctor put some +instruments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> into a case and then turned his head and looked at his +companion. Stannard imagined they had not heard his step and for the +moment had forgotten about him.</p> + +<p>"He was obviously hit in front. The bullet mark's near the middle of his +body and indicates he was going for the man who shot him," the officer +remarked.</p> + +<p>"The wound at the back does not altogether support your argument," the +doctor replied. "It is not at the middle, and the fellow is lucky +because it is not. The mark's, so to speak, obliquely behind the other."</p> + +<p>"The mark where a bullet leaves the body is generally larger?"</p> + +<p>"To reckon on its being larger is a pretty safe rule," the doctor +agreed.</p> + +<p>Stannard's interest was keen, but the officer saw him and looked at the +doctor, who signed to Stannard to advance.</p> + +<p>"I imagine you have used some thought for the sick man," he said. "Sit +down; I want to know—"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Stannard satisfied his curiosity, and the officer then +took him to another room. He used reserve, but he was polite, and +Stannard thought he had examined Simpson and the trooper's narrative had +carried some weight.</p> + +<p>"The doctor states Douglas must not be moved," the officer presently +remarked. "In the morning, I must start for the railroad and you will go +with me. I'll try to make things as easy as I can, but if you tried to +get away, you would run some risk. The Royal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> North-West have powers the +Government does not give municipal police."</p> + +<p>"Had I wanted to get away, I would have gone some time since," Stannard +replied.</p> + +<p>The other nodded. "Simpson admits your help was worth much. Well, you +will certainly be made accountable for poaching, but this may satisfy my +chiefs—I don't know yet. I expect there's no use in my trying to get +some light about your friends' plans?"</p> + +<p>"There is not much use," Stannard agreed. "For one thing, my friends did +not altogether enlighten me."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the officer, smiling. "So long as you do not go off +the ranch, you can go where you like. After breakfast in the morning we +start for the railroad."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE NECK</span></h2> + + +<p>Mist floated about the rocks and the evening was dark. To push on was +rash, but Jimmy hoped he might get down to the trees below the +snow-line. Anyhow, he must if possible get off the broken crest of the +range. Since noon until the sun went west and shadow crept across the +mountain, he and the Indian had crouched behind a shelf and watched snow +and stones plunge to the valley. Now all was quiet and the snow was +firm, but the mist was puzzling and Jimmy could not see where he went. +All he knew was, he followed the neck to lower ground.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was tired. In the wilds, if one can shoot straight, fresh meat may +sometimes be got, but one must carry a rifle, flour, and groceries. +Moreover, he now felt the reaction after the strain, and the journey on +which he had started daunted him. He must push across a wilderness of +high rocks and snow. In the mountains one cannot travel fast, and when +he reached the plains the distance to the American frontier was long. He +dared not stop at the settlements and, until he crossed the boundary, +must camp in the grass, although the days got short and the nights were +cold.</p> + +<p>The Indian, heavily loaded, went a few yards in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> front, but he came from +the warm coast and his part was to supply them with game and fish. Jimmy +got some comfort from reflecting that he himself knew the Swiss rocks, +because he rather thought all mountains whose tops were above the +snow-line, so to speak, approximated to a type.</p> + +<p>Frost split their ragged pinnacles and great blocks plunged down. +Avalanches ground their shoulders to precipitous slopes, from which +battered crags stuck out. As a rule, the top of the long ridges was +narrow, like a rough saw-edge, but sometimes a bulging snow-cornice +followed the crest. Where the snow-fields dropped to a hollow, a glacier +generally went down in flowing curves. One could follow a glacier, but +at some places the surface wrinkled and broke in tremendous cracks.</p> + +<p>By and by the Indian stopped and Jimmy looked about. The neck had got +very steep and the mist was thick. The pitch at the top of the glacier +is awkward and Jimmy knitted his brows. If he balanced properly, pushed +off, and trailed his rifle butt, he would go down like a toboggan; the +trouble was, he might go over a perpendicular fall and into the +<i>bergschrund</i> crack. To climb down and slip meant a furious plunge like +the other, and if there was not a <i>bergschrund</i>, he might hit a rock. +Yet, if he meant to go east, he must get down, and for a few minutes he +sat moodily in the snow.</p> + +<p>The strange thing was, Stannard had told him to try the neck. Stannard +knew much about rocks and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> glaciers, but perhaps he had not explored +far. Then, to some extent, Jimmy had started because Stannard urged him. +Now he thought about it, to run away was to admit his guilt. Stannard +ought to have seen this, but obviously had not. All, however, had got a +nasty jolt, and when one was jolted one was not logical. In the +meantime, he must concentrate on getting down.</p> + +<p>By and by he heard a shout and steps. Flat lumps of snow like plates +rolled down and Jimmy thrilled. Somebody was coming and he thought he +knew Deering's voice. Then an indistinct object pierced the mist, slid +for some distance and stopped.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jimmy! You haven't got far ahead," Deering shouted, and his +strong voice echoed in the rocks.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was moved and comforted. Deering looked very big and his +heartiness was bracing.</p> + +<p>"I was forced to stop at the buttress in the afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Deering. "I reckoned on your getting held up. I was on the +ridge and shoved right along, but I'm going to stop for a few minutes +now. Get off the snow; we'll sit on my pack."</p> + +<p>"What about the warden?" Jimmy asked.</p> + +<p>"When I started he wasn't conscious. Shock collapse, I guess, but you +could hear his breath and a little color was coming to his skin. On the +whole, I think if they get a doctor quick he'll pull Douglas through. +The trouble is, we won't know— But we'll talk about this again. The +ground ahead is blamed steep. Looks as if we might hit an awkward +<i>schrund</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> at the top of the glacier. Anyhow, we'll wait a bit. I think +the moon's coming out."</p> + +<p>Jimmy agreed. He knew that where a snow-field comes down nearly +perpendicularly to a glacier one generally finds a tremendous crack. By +and by the mist rolled off and a small dim moon came out. Deering got up +and when he strapped on his pack they started down the slope. They used +caution and after a time Deering stopped.</p> + +<p>The mist was thinner and one could see for a short distance. Black and +white rock bordered the narrowing neck, and in front the snow fell away, +plunging down rather like a frozen wave. Shreds of mist floated up from +the cloud that filled the valley, and Jimmy, looking down on the vapor's +level top, got a sense of profound depth. All the same, the mist did not +interest him much. Fifty yards off, an uneven dark streak marked the +bottom of the snowy wave. The streak was broad; its opposite edge +sparkled in the moon and then melted into shadow that got deeper until +it was black. Jimmy studied the yawning gap and shivered. Had Deering +not arrived and the moon shone out, he thought he would have gone across +the edge.</p> + +<p>"I've no use for fooling around a <i>schrund</i> in the mist and we can't +wait for daybreak," Deering remarked. "We must get back and make the +timber line on the other side before we freeze."</p> + +<p>Jimmy doubted if he could get back and shrank from the effort. He +thought the buttress five or six hun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>dred feet above him, and for a +fresh, athletic man to get up in an hour was good climbing. But he was +not fresh; his body was exhausted and he had borne a heavy nervous +strain. All the same, to wait in the snow for daybreak was unthinkable.</p> + +<p>They fronted the long climb and Jimmy, breathing hard and sometimes +stumbling, made slow progress. He doubted if he could have got up the +steepest pitch had not Deering helped him, and at another the Indian +took his pack. They reached the top, and Deering studied the white slope +that went down the other side. The moon had gone and thick cloud rolled +about the heights.</p> + +<p>"This lot peters out in a gravel bank near the snow-line. I guess we'll +slide it," he said and vanished in the mist.</p> + +<p>Jimmy braced his legs, pushed off and let himself go. In Switzerland he +had studied the <i>glissade</i>, but when one carries a heavy load to balance +on a precipitous slope is difficult. It looked as if Deering could not +balance, because after a few moments Jimmy shot past an object that +rolled in the snow. Then he himself lost control, his pack pulled him +over, and he went head-foremost down hill. When he stopped the pitch was +easier, and looking back he saw a belt of cloud three or four hundred +feet above. He had gone through the cloud and when he turned his head he +saw dark forest roll up from the valley in front. For all that, the +highest trees were some distance off.</p> + +<p>By and by the Indian and Deering arrived and soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> afterwards the snow +got thin. Stones covered the mountain-side and now and then a bank their +feet disturbed slipped away and carried them down. At length, Deering, +smashing through some juniper scrub, seized a small dead pine, and when +Jimmy, breathless and rather battered, arrived, declared they had gone +far enough. They had got fuel and water ran in the stones.</p> + +<p>Half an hour afterwards, Jimmy sat down on thin branches in a hollow +behind a rock. In front a fire snapped and the rock kept off the wind. +The smell of coffee floated about the camp and the Indian was occupied +with a frying-pan.</p> + +<p>When Jimmy had satisfied his appetite he lighted his pipe. He was warm +and the daunting sense of loneliness had gone. By and by Deering began +to talk.</p> + +<p>"When Stannard stated you had pulled out for the foothills I thought I'd +better come along. He talked about your shoving across for the boundary, +but I doubted if you could make it. Perhaps an Alpine Club party, +starting from a base camp, with packers to relay supplies, could cross +the rocks, but when your outfit's a little flour and a slab of pork it +sure can't be done. My notion is, we'll get back from the railroad, +pitch camp in a snug valley and hunt."</p> + +<p>"But you have no grounds to hide from the police."</p> + +<p>"I'm pretty keen on hunting and I like it in the mountains," Deering +replied with a laugh. "To start with horses and packers is expensive, +but our hunting won't cost much. Then I'd a sort of notion I ought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> to +see you out. We'll let it go at that. For a time the police will watch +the railroad, but they'll get tired."</p> + +<p>"You're a very good sort," Jimmy declared and resumed: "The Royal +North-West boast they have never let a man they really wanted get away."</p> + +<p>"Police talk!" said Deering. "Reckon it up. They put two troopers to +watch a hundred miles of wilderness. In broken, timbered country a horse +can't go and a man can hardly shove along. I allow the boys are smart, +but they can't do more than's possible for flesh and blood. When we've +put them off our track we'll fix up a scheme."</p> + +<p>"Now I think about it, I don't know if I ought to have run away. +Stannard rather persuaded me to start."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he was justified. The forestry department bosses can't allow +their wardens to be shot. Then you belong to a gang that had killed +big-horn on a reserve and engaged a notorious poacher for guide. When +Douglas was shot he was getting after your man. On the whole, I reckon +I'd have pulled out. But I don't see why Stannard suggested your going +for the plains. He ought to know you couldn't make it."</p> + +<p>"He didn't know," Jimmy declared.</p> + +<p>"Very well! I reckon he knew you could not get down the neck. Anyhow, he +knew the ground; he was up on the range."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was vaguely disturbed. Deering's remarks indicated that he was not +satisfied and he thought the fellow studied him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>"Stannard reached the neck, but it's obvious he did not go far enough to +see the ice-fall."</p> + +<p>"I didn't see the ice-fall, but I expected to get up against something +of the sort. Stannard's a famous climber."</p> + +<p>"After all, we might have got down."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Deering agreed with some dryness. "If we'd had two good +fresh men, a proper rope and ice-picks, I might have tried, after +sun-up. But we hadn't got the proper truck, and I own I wasn't fresh."</p> + +<p>"I was exhausted," said Jimmy. "Still an exploit we thought daunting +might not daunt Stannard. I expect that accounts for it."</p> + +<p>Deering gave him a keen glance and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; he's sure a good man on the rocks."</p> + +<p>Jimmy knocked out his pipe. So long as he had persuaded Deering that +Stannard had not carelessly allowed him to run a risk he was content. He +did not want to dispute about it. He liked Deering and to see him across +the fire was some comfort. Deering had not Stannard's qualities, but +Jimmy began to see he himself was rather Deering's sort than the +other's. Then in the mountains cultivation had not the importance it +had, for example, at an English country house. Jimmy liked Deering's raw +human force, his big muscular body, and his rather noisy laugh. Anyhow, +Deering had joined him and meant to see him out. He put away his pipe, +pulled up his thick blue blanket and went to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DILLON MEDITATES</span></h2> + + +<p>When Stannard reached the settlements he was again examined by the +police. He knew where frankness paid and was frank, but he owed +something to trooper Simpson's narrative and something to his personal +charm. A magistrate ordered him to pay a rather heavy fine and give up +the big-horn heads, and then let him go, but Stannard doubted if the +police were altogether satisfied. The officer who examined him was +remarkably keen.</p> + +<p>On the evening Stannard returned to the hotel, Laura and Dillon occupied +chairs at the table on the terrace. Electric lights burned on the +veranda, for the days got short, but the sunset was not altogether gone. +Dillon saw Laura's face in profile against the fading reflections. She +looked away from him to the north, where pines and rocks and snow were +all deep, soft blue. Her arm was on the table, her body was partly +turned, and Dillon thought her strangely beautiful. All the same, he +wanted her to look round.</p> + +<p>"You are quiet," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking about Jimmy in the wilds. Do you mind?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Dillon declared. "When Jimmy was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> around the hotel, I had +no use for the fellow; now he's in the mountains, I'm bothered about +him. Somehow one likes Jimmy, and if I knew how I could help, I'd +start."</p> + +<p>Laura turned her head and gave him a curious glance.</p> + +<p>"Why do you like Jimmy? He's English and you're frankly American."</p> + +<p>"That is so. To begin with, I've no pick on Jimmy because he loved you; +if he had not loved you, I'd have known his blood wasn't red. Then, +although he's English, in a sense he's our type. He's sincere; we are +sincere, you know, and perhaps, from your point of view, we don't use +much reserve. You can move us and when we're moved we talk and get busy. +Well, Jimmy's like that; he's marked by something generously human, but +I doubt if he got it at London clubs. Maybe it's his inheritance from +the folks who built the cotton mill."</p> + +<p>Laura said nothing. She doubted if Frank's willingness to state his +grounds for liking Jimmy altogether accounted for his rather unusual +effort. Indeed, she imagined he labored to get a light on a subject that +puzzled him.</p> + +<p>"Well," he resumed, "to know Deering went after Jimmy is some comfort. +If Jimmy gets up against it in the rocks, Deering will see him through."</p> + +<p>"Your trust in Deering is remarkable!"</p> + +<p>"He's a white man," said Dillon with a smile. "To be his friend cost me +high, but now I've cut out bets<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> and cards, I'd sooner he'd got my money +than another. You see, I got something back. The fellow's big."</p> + +<p>Laura was annoyed. She wanted to feel Deering was her antagonist and had +exploited Frank's trust. The trouble was, she could not altogether do +so, but she dared not admit that Stannard shared his guilt and perhaps +his reward. To chastise Deering, so to speak, exculpated her father.</p> + +<p>"He is certainly muscular, and rather gross," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"He's flesh and blood. I doubt if you quite get us yet. In the West, we +haven't cultivated out rude emotions; we like a fellow who plunges at an +obstacle, sweats and laughs, and sometimes gets mad. We're up against +savage Nature and our job is a man's first job, to satisfy human needs. +Well, you know my father; he's a pretty good Western type. When he +started in, his food was frugal and his clothes were overalls. Now he's +moving forests, and architects come to study the office block he built; +but if things go wrong in the woods, his superintendents know he can use +their talk and handle a cant-pole. His power springs from the primitive +streak."</p> + +<p>"We'll let it go," said Laura, and indicated the long rows of pines +melting into the gloom. "Dark now comes soon."</p> + +<p>"Before long the frost will come and in the mountains the cold is pretty +fierce. On Puget Sound the soft Chinook blows and the white Olympians +stand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> between you and the winds from the Rockies. The old man's keen +for me to bring you back. What about our starting?"</p> + +<p>Laura blushed, for she had agreed to marry Dillon soon, but she said, +"My father cannot go yet. So long as Jimmy is in the mountains and the +warden cannot tell his story, I think he will remain in Canada. Perhaps +he ought to remain."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; you can reckon on Mr. Stannard's taking the proper line," +Dillon agreed rather moodily. "You feel the thing's mechanical. Mr. +Stannard is like that."</p> + +<p>"Mechanical?" said Laura, lifting her brows.</p> + +<p>"His taking the proper line's mechanical. He doesn't bother about it. In +the West, his correctness is somehow exotic."</p> + +<p>"If my father is exotic, I expect I am exotic."</p> + +<p>"Sure! You are like a bird of paradise or a flower from the tropics. We +are a rude lot of hustlers and your grace and beauty carry us away."</p> + +<p>"You're romantic, but sometimes you're rather nice," Laura remarked with +a smile. "All the same, if my father resolves to remain in Canada, it is +not a mechanical resolve but because he feels he ought."</p> + +<p>"I expect that is so," Dillon agreed, and lighted a cigarette.</p> + +<p>He thought Stannard ought to stay, and since he meant to do so, to doubt +him was not logical; yet Dillon did doubt. For one thing, the fellow was +Jimmy's friend, but when Jimmy started for the rocks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> Deering, not the +other, went after him. Then Stannard's narrative was puzzling. Jimmy had +run away and his going indicated that he was accountable for the +warden's getting shot. If Jimmy imagined he had shot at a deer, he ought +to have stayed. Moreover, Bob had run away, and if he had hit the +warden, it was obvious that Jimmy had not. Stannard's tale was not +plausible, and since Stannard was clever Dillon imagined he had not told +all he knew.</p> + +<p>But Dillon began to see his vague antagonism had another foundation. He +was frankly Western and Stannard's type was new, although some people in +down-East cities cultivated his qualities. On the Pacific slope, men +were highly-strung, optimistic, and rather boyishly keen. They plunged +into big risky undertakings, sweated, and fought. In fact, where Nature +was not yet conquered, their part was protagonist. Dillon owned that he +himself was loafing, but he had not loafed long and would soon return to +his proper occupation.</p> + +<p>Stannard had not an occupation and Dillon thought the grounds for his +distrust were there. Moreover, he had not a bank-roll, although he lived +extravagantly and indulged his fastidiousness. His habit was to strike +exactly the proper note, but sometimes its monotonous accuracy jarred. +Fastidious cultivation was for women. Yet Stannard was not at all +womanly; Dillon began to sense in him a hard, calculating vein. For all +that, he must not exaggerate, and Laura was not like her father.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>"You could of course join my folk, although Mr. Stannard would sooner +wait," he said.</p> + +<p>"I think not. My father planned the excursion to the mountains and led +the party. Until people are satisfied about the shooting accident, I +must not go to your house."</p> + +<p>"Now you are ridiculous!" Dillon declared.</p> + +<p>"All the same, I will not go," said Laura firmly.</p> + +<p>"Then, I'm going to stay with you. I'd like to stay, but if Jimmy wants +me, I'm his man."</p> + +<p>"I don't expect Jimmy will need you. Father imagines he's a long way off +and will soon reach the plains," said Laura and began to talk about +something else.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was not steering for the plains; he had, in fact, known for some +time that he could not get there. The morning after Deering joined him +was calm and cold. The sun touched the high rocks and in places a pine +branch sparkled with dew, but a thousand feet below the camp the mist +was like a level floor. One could not see the valley, and the turmoil of +a river came up with a faint hoarse throb as if from a long way off. +Jimmy's fatigue and gloom were gone; he felt fresh and to see Deering +fry pork was comforting. He got a rather frugal breakfast and lighted +his pipe.</p> + +<p>"What are our plans for to-day?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We must try to get a deer. Fresh venison's most as tough as rawhide, +but, if you put the roasted meat in a bag with salt, after a week or two +you can eat the stuff. How many cartridges have you got?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>"Six," said Jimmy and Deering smiled.</p> + +<p>"You started for the plains with six shells! Well, I've got a box of +twenty-five, but somebody has taken out ten or twelve. Looks as if we +want to shoot straight. The pork won't hold up long."</p> + +<p>"Where do we go when we have got a deer?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon we'll go north," said Deering thoughtfully. "They talk about +new railroads, but so far the only line of communication between the +Rockies and the sea is the C. P. R. track. The settlements follow the +line, and when you pull out of the narrow belt you're in the wilderness. +The police will, no doubt, reckon on your trying to make Vancouver. +We'll stop in the wilds and let them watch the railroad until they get +tired."</p> + +<p>"But if they find I haven't gone to Vancouver, won't they try the bush?"</p> + +<p>"Look at Stannard's map," said Deering, with a smile. "Note the row of +ranges and valleys running north and south. But the big ridges and +furrows are not even; they're broken by high bench country and cut up by +cross-spurs. Pretty awkward ground to search for two fellows' tracks! +Our trouble's not to hide, but to get supplies. All the food they use in +British Columbia comes in by the C. P. R."</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied the map and agreed. Moreover, he was young and the wilds +called. To plunge into the great desolation was something of an +adventure and Deering claimed to know the bush.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>"What about your hired man? Did you trust the fellow?" Deering resumed.</p> + +<p>"I had no grounds to doubt him," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. +"Bob was rather inscrutable and didn't attract me, but he could chop and +this was all I wanted."</p> + +<p>"So far as you can calculate, he hadn't a pick on you?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all. I think he was satisfied with his pay, and since I +generally let him plan the work we did not dispute. All the same, +sometimes I imagined he gave me a queer moody look."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he was, in any sense, Stannard's man?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said Jimmy, with some surprise. "Anyhow, I don't see—"</p> + +<p>"I don't see," Deering admitted. "I'm looking for a light, but don't get +much yet. Well, when you have smoked your pipe we'll hit the trail."</p> + +<p>They got off a few minutes afterwards, and at noon reached the bottom of +the hill. A high spur blocked the valley behind them, and the echoes of +small avalanches rolled across the rocks. Deering declared the sliding +snow would cover their tracks at the neck, but their line was to some +extent obvious, and until they could break it, they must push on as fast +as possible.</p> + +<p>To push on fast was hard. Fallen trees and tangled brush blocked the +gaps in the rows of trunks, but by and by Jimmy, looking through an +opening, saw the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> woods shine with reflected light. The trees were like +silver trees; they sparkled as if touched by frost, and for a few +moments Jimmy was puzzled. Then he said, "Rampikes?"</p> + +<p>Deering nodded. "A big burn! I expect it has cleared some ground for +us."</p> + +<p>A short distance farther on, the brushwood vanished. Underfoot was a +soft carpet of ashes from which the trunks rose like columns. Their +branches were gone and the smooth, round logs reflected the light. For a +time to get free from entangling vines and thorns was a relief, but the +ash was soft and when one disturbed it, went up in clouds. The black +dust stuck to Jimmy's hot skin and he labored across the clogging stuff. +Then the desolation began to react on him. The birds were gone and the +feathery ash was not broken by the tracks of animals. It was obvious +they would not find a deer. All was dead, and but for the noise of +falling water the silence was daunting. At length Jimmy stopped and +leaned against a trunk.</p> + +<p>"Come off!" said Deering. "Sit down, if you like, although I'd sooner +keep on my feet. You don't want to lean against a rampike."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was tired and sat in the ashes.</p> + +<p>"How do the fires start?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It's puzzling. The forestry people claim they're not spontaneous," +Deering replied. "Around the settlements, a fire sometimes starts from a +burned slashing and the police get after the homesteader. All the same, +you hit <i>brûlés</i> in country the Indians and pros<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>pectors leave alone. +Anyhow, I guess we're lucky because there's not much wind, and while our +luck is good we'll push along."</p> + +<p>They set off and some time afterwards the roar of an avalanche broke the +brooding calm. The noise swelled and rolled about the valley, as if +great rocks were coming down, and then Jimmy heard a near, sharp crash. +He jumped mechanically, and looking back, saw a pillar of dust float up +like smoke from a blasting shot. In the dust, a big rampike slanted, +broke, and plunged. Another went and Deering pushed Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"We'll pull out!" he shouted and they began to run.</p> + +<p>When Jimmy stopped to get his breath the echoes had died away and all +was quiet, but he felt he had had enough of the burned forest. After +studying the rocks and gravel on the hillside he turned to Deering.</p> + +<p>"You talked about breaking our line, and I expect we could get over the +spur in front," he said. "Let's try."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE CARTRIDGE BELT</span></h2> + + +<p>Jimmy's clothes were torn and he was bothered about his boots. He rather +thought clothes and boots that would long bear the strain of a journey +across the rocks were not made. At all events, one could not buy them at +a Canadian settlement store. Then the things were wet and the morning +was cold.</p> + +<p>For all that, he must not grumble. The deer did not like the heavy dew +and their habit was to come out on the rocks and get the sun. The Indian +thought he had found a spot they haunted, and after breakfast led the +others across a small tableland. By and by he stopped and Jimmy got down +in the fern. In front, the timber was thin and a short distance off was +a smooth rock. Jimmy saw the rock and the trees on the other side, but +for a few moments this was all. A deer's soft color harmonizes with +stones and trunks, and, when its outline is broken, to distinguish the +animal is hard.</p> + +<p>The Indian frowned and signed, and Jimmy imagined the small patch of +light color cutting a pine trunk was a head. For one thing, it moved, +and the crooked line below it looked like a leg. Jimmy did not see the +deer's back, but the top of the leg indicated where its shoulder was, +and he rested his rifle on a branch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> He got the sights where he wanted, +braced his muscles, held his breath, and steadily pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>The deer jumped and a thin streak of smoke floated in front of Jimmy's +eyes. The animal was not on the rock, but after a moment or two he saw +it rise from a thicket and go over some tangled branches a man's height +from the ground. Yet he thought the leap awkward and the deer came down +in the fern before it ought. His heart beat and he waited for another +shot, until he saw Deering a few yards off and remembered that their +cartridges were not numerous. Deering's body was firmly poised, his head +was bent forward and he balanced his rifle half-way to his shoulder as +if it were a gun. Jimmy knew he could use it like a gun.</p> + +<p>When the deer broke from the fern at the edge of the tableland Jimmy did +not shoot. The animal's leap carried it across a clump of tall +raspberries, but it would vanish in a moment and the brush in front was +thick. Deering's rifle jerked, and the graceful body, carried by its +speed, plunged into the brush. Jimmy heard a crash and the deer was +gone. He thought it had gone over a rock and putting down his rifle he +ran.</p> + +<p>A minute or two afterwards he stopped at the top of a precipitous slope. +A stream, however, cut the mountain-side, and in places small trees were +rooted in the stones. A hundred feet below, the deer lay on a shelf by a +waterfall.</p> + +<p>"I think I can reach it," said Jimmy, and went cautiously down.</p> + +<p>They needed the venison, but when he had got down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> a short distance he +knew he was rash, for it looked as if the rocks on the other side of the +waterfall were perpendicular. Then, although he might perhaps reach the +shelf, to carry the deer back was another thing.</p> + +<p>Using the small trees for support, he got to a slab above the shelf. The +slab was wet and dotted by greasy moss, but a few cracks and small +stones broke its surface and Jimmy trusted his luck. When he came down +the ground shook and he saw the shelf was not, as he imagined, a solid +block but two or three large stones embedded in boggy soil. At one end +the cascade had scooped out a small basin and the deer's hind quarters +were in the pool. Jimmy seized its fore legs, and bracing his feet +against a stone, began to pull. He pulled hard, but although he felt he +moved, the deer did not. Then his foot went down, and letting go the +animal, he threw himself back.</p> + +<p>The deer rolled over and vanished. Water splashed, and Jimmy saw the +stones plunge down the face of the cliff. For a moment or two he was +rather angry than alarmed. They wanted the meat but the deer was gone. +Then he saw he ran some risk of going down the cliff and he began to +study the ground. Scratches on the stone indicated how he had reached +the spot, but he had let himself go because the shelf was in front. The +pitch was very steep and the rock was mossy. Not far off a small tree +grew in a crack, but he could not reach the trunk and rather thought to +try would send him over the precipice.</p> + +<p>He heard a shout and nailed boots rattled. Deering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> was coming down, +although he was not yet in Jimmy's line of view. After a time, Jimmy, +lying against the rock, turned his head and saw Deering had got hold of +the tree.</p> + +<p>"I'm anchored," said Deering. "Can you reach my hand?"</p> + +<p>The effort was risky, but Jimmy tried and Deering seized his wrist. +Deering pulled him up for a foot or two, and then stopped and gasped.</p> + +<p>"Jamb yourself against the slab; I've got to let go."</p> + +<p>Jimmy's boots slipped on the smooth stone and his hands were wet; he +could not get a proper hold and the moss was slimy under his knees. +Spreading out his arms, he let himself go slack and trusted his limp +body would not slip back. He could not now see Deering and did not know +what he did. After a moment or two he felt him seize his cartridge belt.</p> + +<p>"Use your knees. When I lift grab the tree."</p> + +<p>The cartridge belt got tight and Jimmy, using its support, reached the +trunk. His jacket felt slack, as if something were gone, but this was +not important and he heard Deering's labored breath.</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" he said, rather dully. "We have lost the deer."</p> + +<p>"We have used two shells," said Deering. "Let's get up."</p> + +<p>They got up, and at the top Jimmy put his hand to his waist.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Where's my belt?"</p> + +<p>"Now I think about it, when I held you up I felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> something give. I +guess the buckle was pulling out. Well, we ought to see the brown +leather."</p> + +<p>They did not see it and Jimmy said, "All the cartridges I had are gone. +How many have you got?"</p> + +<p>"Twelve," said Deering, rather grimly. "Anyhow, I'm not going down +again."</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. He thought the belt had gone over the cliff.</p> + +<p>"I brought about six pounds of pork from the camp."</p> + +<p>"My load's flour, desiccated fruit, and a few cans of meat. Looks as if +we had got to eat salmon."</p> + +<p>"In the Old Country, one doesn't grumble about eating salmon," Jimmy +remarked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Deering, "I was raised in the bush and am not +fastidious, but if we can't get salmon, I'll be resigned. The trouble +is, since food's short we can't push back too far from the settlements. +Well, we must try to hit a creek."</p> + +<p>In the evening they came down to a small river and pitched camp on the +bank. The Indian cut and trimmed a straight fir branch, but left a fork +at the thinner end. Then he pulled out two cleverly-carved bone barbs, +which he fitted on the forks and fastened by sinews to the staff.</p> + +<p>"You could carry the business part of his outfit in your pocket," +Deering remarked. "I expect his folks have used barbs like that for a +thousand years. An Indian's tools are standardized, but when he thinks +them good enough he stops. All the same, I reckon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> he gets most as far +as a man can get alone. He's an artist, but we beat him by cooperating +to make machines. Anyhow, the fellow doesn't want you. Take a smoke and +let him spear a fish."</p> + +<p>Jimmy lighted his pipe and looked about. A few yards off, the current +splashed against the stones. The water was green, and the line of +driftwood and dead leaves on the bank indicated that the frost was +stopping the muddy streams from the glaciers. Some distance down the +river, the Indian balanced on a rock in a pool at the tail of a rapid. +For a time he did not move and Jimmy thought his quietness statuesque. +The fellow was like the herons he had studied with his glasses by a pool +on the Scottish border. Then his body bent and the spear went down. The +thrust and recovery were strangely quick and Jimmy rather doubted if the +man had moved.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if he missed his stroke," he said.</p> + +<p>"He's using a fir branch. An Indian spear is beautifully modeled," +Deering replied.</p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards, the Indian bent backwards and a shining object +struck the bank. Coming to the fire, he put down the fish and Jimmy's +appetite was blunted. The salmon was lean and battered. Its color was +dull and its tail was broken. Rows of scales were rubbed off; the fins +were worn from the supporting ribs.</p> + +<p>"I'm not as hungry as I was. Are all like that?" he said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>"It depends on when you get them," Deering replied. "A June steelhead, +fresh from the sea, is pretty good, but a salmon that has pushed through +to head waters in the fall is another thing. When you think about it, +the salmons' journey inland is remarkable. They bore against the autumn +floods when the melted snow comes down; they force tremendous rapids, +whirlpools, and roaring falls. Where the water's calm in the valleys, +eagles and fish-hawks harry them, and the mink hunts them in the +shallows. But they can't be stopped; they follow Nature's urge and shove +on across all obstacles for the distant gravel banks. Then they spawn, +where they were hatched, and the bears eat their spent carcasses. The +trouble is, I'm not a bear, but I've got to eat salmon."</p> + +<p>When the Indian had fried two or three thick steaks, Jimmy sympathized +with Deering. The flesh was soft and its taste was rank. For all that, +he thought if he had not seen the salmon he might have had a better +appetite. At the hotel he had eaten because his food tempted him; now he +ate because he must. By and by he threw down his tin plate.</p> + +<p>"I've had enough. If we can find a deer, we must risk another cartridge. +We have got twelve."</p> + +<p>"You can't reckon on getting a deer for every shot, and although, as a +rule, the deer are pretty numerous about the small clearings, in some +belts of back country you can't find one. I expect they're attracted by +the crops. In fact, the wild animals and large birds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> aren't much afraid +of the ranchers; they quit when the automobiles and city sports arrive."</p> + +<p>"But if we stop in the neighborhood of a settlement, the police may get +on our trail," Jimmy rejoined.</p> + +<p>"The police are smart and I allow they're obstinate. All the same, to +search the rocks from Banff to Revelstoke is a big job. You can give +yourself away by two things, shooting and smoke, but we can fix the +smoke and we're not going to shoot much. As soon as we hit a proper +spot, we'll build a shack."</p> + +<p>"By and by our supplies will run out."</p> + +<p>"That is so," Deering agreed. "In the meantime, we're baffling the +police. Just now I expect they're busy looking for our tracks, but they +have got other jobs and can't keep it up. Well, when we think they're +forced to quit, we'll find a plan——"</p> + +<p>He stopped and the Indian turned his head. A faint, hoarse bark came +from the distance and echoed across the valley. Jimmy jumped up and +looked about. The light was going and the pines were blurred.</p> + +<p>"A dog?" he said.</p> + +<p>"A timber wolf," said Deering. "He's not alone. I hear another."</p> + +<p>A howl, pitched on a high mournful note, pierced the gloom and Jimmy +shivered. The noise was strangely dreary.</p> + +<p>"Will the wolves bother us?"</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Deering and talked in Chinook to the Indian, who +nodded. "The fellow agrees," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> resumed. "In North Ontario we watch out +for wolves when the snow is on the ground, but as a rule in British +Columbia they leave the ranchers alone. Sometimes they take a sheep; I +reckon that's all. The trouble is, they kill deer, and when the wolves +start hunting the deer pull out."</p> + +<p>Jimmy got down on his blanket by the fire. He felt the wilds were +daunting and to see the flame leap about the branches was some comfort. +Now and then a wolf howled in the distance, but by and by all was quiet +and he went to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX<br /> +<span class="smalltext">USEFUL FRIENDS</span></h2> + + +<p>Breakfast was over and, although Jimmy would have liked another bannock, +he got up and strapped on his pack. Deering needed the bannock, for +flour was running out. A fire burned on the stone hearth and the little +shack in a corner of the rocks was warm. Jimmy did not want to leave it, +but he knew he must, and the Indian waited for him to start.</p> + +<p>They had not killed a deer and although they had shot two or three blue +grouse a blue grouse is not large. Sometimes one can knock down a little +willow grouse with a stick, but the willow grouse had recently vanished +and the Indian had caught nothing in his snares. In fact, it looked as +if all the birds and animals had gone south. Jimmy had eaten salmon +until he loathed the battered fish, but the salmon had begun to die.</p> + +<p>"Your load's not big," said Deering, "Have you put up all the food you +need?"</p> + +<p>"I've got all the food I'm going to take," Jimmy rejoined. "I can load +up at Kelshope, but you must wait until I get back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; but since I know the bush and might make better time, you +ought to let me go."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>"You're obstinate," said Jimmy. "I know Jardine and we want his help."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Deering and gave him his hand. "Anyhow, you have got +the Indian and I expect he'll hit the shortest line. I wish you luck."</p> + +<p>Jimmy pulled up his pack and set off. Speed was important, for he +imagined he had left Deering a larger supply of food than the other +knew. Since he was going to Kelshope, he could get fresh supplies, but +Deering could not. Yet if he was longer than he calculated, it would be +awkward. Jimmy felt lonely and rather daunted. The shack was small and +rude, but the bark walls kept out the wind and in the cold evenings he +had liked to sit by the snapping fire.</p> + +<p>Now the trackless wilderness was in front, and he must get across before +his food was gone. He did get across, but he imagined the Indian's +inherited talents accounted for his doing so. Jimmy himself did not know +much about the journey. When he thought about it afterwards, he dully +pictured the fatigue and strain, the sharpening pinch of hunger and the +stern effort to push on.</p> + +<p>At length they came down the rocks one morning and saw his clearing in +the distance. Jimmy gave the Indian all the food he had, and telling him +to camp at the ranch, started for Jardine's. He was hungry and for a day +or two his side had hurt. Sometimes he was faint, and when he crossed a +stony belt he stumbled awkwardly. For all that, in the evening he +reached the split-rail fence at Kelshope.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>Jimmy knew how one pulled out the bars, but they baffled him and he +knocked down the crossed supports. In front of the house he stopped, for +a flickering light shone from the window and he saw Margaret sewing by +the fire. His broken boots and torn clothes embarrassed him, but he +braced up and went to the door.</p> + +<p>Margaret put down her sewing and her look was rather strained. Jimmy +leaned against the table and gave her an apologetic smile. His hair was +long, his beard had begun to grow and his face was pinched. His ragged +clothes looked slack and although he had given the Indian his blanket, +his shoulders were bent from weariness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Leyland!" Margaret exclaimed in a pitiful voice.</p> + +<p>"To my friends, I'm Jimmy," he rejoined. "To know you and your father +are my friends is some comfort, because I'm going to use your +friendship. Besides, I rather think I don't look like Mr. Leyland."</p> + +<p>Margaret's voice was gentle and she said, "Very well, Jimmy! But where +have you come from?"</p> + +<p>"I started, about a week since, from our bark shack across the range, +but I don't know much about it. The Indian's at my ranch and can hold +out until the morning. I want to borrow some cartridges and food."</p> + +<p>"Why of course!" said Margaret and indicated a chair. "I'll get supper +ready. Father's at the depot, but we won't wait for him."</p> + +<p>Jimmy got into the chair; for he imagined he did not sit down +gracefully. The deerskin was soft and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> his head went back against the +rail. Now he was not forced to keep going, he knew he was very tired. +Margaret began to move about and by and by he asked: "Can't I help?"</p> + +<p>Margaret looked up with a smile. "No, Jimmy. I have not much use for the +help you could give."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was satisfied to rest. He was dull, but he liked to see Margaret +break up the fire and carry about the plates. She was very graceful and +he knew her sympathetic, but this was not all. After the lonely bush, +the ranch kitchen, lighted by the snapping flames, was like home. When +supper was ready it cost him something of an effort to pull around his +chair, and then for a time he tried to conquer his savage appetite. When +one was opposite an attractive girl one did not eat like a wolf. +Margaret knew the bush and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Isn't the food good? I really think I can cook."</p> + +<p>"My notion is, the best hotel cook in Canada could not serve a supper +like yours."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Margaret "If you are polite, you will annoy me. What +did you eat in the bush?"</p> + +<p>"Salmon! When I see a river, I want to go the other way."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Margaret "You ate salmon now?"</p> + +<p>"When they began to float up on the stones, we stopped," Jimmy replied.</p> + +<p>Margaret was moved. She knew the trackless bush sometimes was cruel and +all who felt its lure did not return. Sometimes one, crossing a creek, +lost a load of food, and sometimes one's rifle jambed. Then, if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> the +march to the settlements were long, one starved. Jimmy had not starved, +but he was worn and thin.</p> + +<p>"The coffee's very good; may I have some more?" he resumed. "We used +green tea, because it's light and goes far; but I mustn't bother you +about our housekeeping. Do you know if the police have brought back the +game warden?"</p> + +<p>"They arrived some time since and put Douglas on the cars. A doctor went +with him——"</p> + +<p>"Then he's alive?" said Jimmy, with keen relief.</p> + +<p>"He was badly hurt, but that is all I know," Margaret replied. "Nobody +was allowed to see him——" She stopped and resumed with some +hesitation: "Mr. Stannard's packers stated——"</p> + +<p>Jimmy gave her a steady glance. "It looks as if I shot Douglas; in the +dark, I thought him a deer. You did not imagine I meant to hurt the +man?"</p> + +<p>"I know you did not," said Margaret in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I must tell you all I know, but I'll wait until your father +arrives. Perhaps he'll see a fresh light. Sometimes I'm puzzled——"</p> + +<p>"You mustn't bother to talk," said Margaret. "Turn your chair to the +fire and take a smoke."</p> + +<p>Jimmy pulled out his tobacco pouch and frowned. Margaret saw the pouch +was flat and took a plug of tobacco from a shelf.</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment; don't get up," she said and began to cut the plug.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Jimmy watched her with dull<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> satisfaction. She cut the +tobacco in thin, even slices; Jimmy had remarked before that all +Margaret did was properly done. Although it was nearly dark, she had not +got a light, and red and yellow reflections from the logs played about +the room. Sometimes her eyes and hair shone and her face stood out +against a background of shadow. Jimmy thought the picture charming and +when it melted he waited for the flames to leap again, but by and by it +got indistinct.</p> + +<p>"Give me your pouch," said Margaret and he tried to push it across.</p> + +<p>The pouch fell from the table and his pipe went down. His head leaned to +one side and found the chair rail, and he knew nothing more.</p> + +<p>Margaret heard his sigh and was quiet. Now sleep smoothed out the marks +of strain and fatigue, Jimmy's look was boyishly calm. He moved her to +pity, but he moved her to trust. Margaret was not a raw, romantic girl; +she knew the Canadian cities and she had studied men. If Jimmy had, +indeed, shot the agent, a strange blunder accounted for his doing so, +but Margaret doubted. She had some grounds to think the shot another's. +Then she got up quietly and carried off the plates.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards Jardine came in and, seeing Jimmy, stopped and +turned to Margaret. It was typical that he said nothing, but his glance +was keen. Margaret smiled and in a low voice narrated all she knew. +Jardine nodded, and sitting down, waited until Jimmy's head slipped from +the chair rail and the jerk woke him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> up. He looked about as if he were +puzzled, and then said, "Hello, Mr. Jardine! I didn't understand your +sitting opposite me. I expect I was asleep."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," Jardine agreed with a twinkle. "We have sortit the bit +back room for ye and ye had better go to bed."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going yet," said Jimmy. "I want a smoke, but my tobacco's run +out."</p> + +<p>Margaret gave him his pouch and he smiled, "The tobacco's yours, sir. +Miss Jardine is very kind. Well, I reckoned on her kindness, because I +want to borrow a quantity of truck, but we'll talk about this again. Do +you know where Stannard is?"</p> + +<p>"Stannard and his daughter are at the hotel," Jardine replied and looked +at Jimmy rather hard. "Maybe he feels he ought to stay until the police +have settled who shot warden Douglas."</p> + +<p>"But Stannard had nothing to do with it," Jimmy replied.</p> + +<p>"He was leader o' your party and, in a way, accountable. Maybe ye ken +Okanagan started for the bush soon after ye went?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know," said Jimmy with some surprise. "Bob claimed he hadn't a +gun and I think he had not. Sometimes I'm puzzled, but I really think +the unlucky shot was mine."</p> + +<p>"The packers allood it was yours, although they werena sure how many +shots they heard. Can ye locate the others' stands?"</p> + +<p>"I tried, afterwards. In the evenings when we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> camped in the woods I +speculated about the accident," said Jimmy, and pulling out a few small +objects arranged them to indicate the spots the sportsmen had occupied. +"If you will imagine the table's the clearing, Bob posted us something +like this. Well, I expect the warden was going straight for my stand +behind the stump."</p> + +<p>"Ye're thinking aboot the bullet mark in front," said Jardine. "The +packers telt me aboot it. Did ye see the other mark?"</p> + +<p>"I did not," said Jimmy with a shiver. "When we carried Douglas to the +house I'd had enough. But I don't see where you lead."</p> + +<p>"If the mark at the back was at the middle, he was going straight for +you. Weel, I'll take a smoke——"</p> + +<p>He knitted his brows and for some minutes quietly studied Jimmy's plan +of the clearing. Then he said, "It's no' as plain as it looks, but the +packers reckoned two o' the police who went in with the doctor were +pretty good bushmen. We dinna ken what they think. Anyhow, ye're going +to sleep and ought to go to bed."</p> + +<p>Jimmy went and Jardine resumed his study. Margaret left him alone. In +Scotland her father was a poacher; in the Canadian woods his rifle +supplied the ranch with meat. One could trust his judgment about +shooting. By and by he looked up.</p> + +<p>"If Jimmy has fixed their stands right, it's possible he shot Douglas +and he reckons he did so. That's something; but he has a kind o' notion +he heard an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>other shot. Weel, the lad's a tenderfoot. Maybe he was +excited and did not hold straight."</p> + +<p>"<i>Bob</i> would not get excited and he can hit a jumping deer," said +Margaret.</p> + +<p>Jardine nodded meaningly. "I've thought aboot Bob! The warden was after +him and he lit oot. There's the puzzle for the police; three o' the +party quit!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Deering went because he is Jimmy's friend," said Margaret.</p> + +<p>"Just that! Ye can trust the big fellow," Jardine agreed. "Then, if he +was where Jimmy puts him, he didna shoot. Stannard stopped and it looks +as if he had nothing to do wi' it; but I dinna ken. Stannard's no' a man +ye can reckon up, and a line from his stand would cut the warden's +track."</p> + +<p>"But the bullet mark——"</p> + +<p>Jardine smiled. "Jimmy, and maybe the trooper lad, would think that +fixed it, but he didna look where the bullet <i>cam' oot</i>. I wonder if +Stannard looked."</p> + +<p>"Bob is accountable," said Margaret obstinately.</p> + +<p>"Verra weel. Bob's in the rocks. Are ye for tracking the man?"</p> + +<p>"By and by he must come down for food. When he does come down we'll try +to find him."</p> + +<p>"Bob's a good bushman," Jardine remarked. "I alloo the police will not +hit his trail, but maybe he will not bother to watch out for us——" He +stopped and gave Margaret a thoughtful look when he resumed:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> "Bob would +reckon to find out who shot Douglas is no' our job."</p> + +<p>"The job is ours," said Margaret quietly, but Jardine thought the blood +came to her skin. She, however, got up and when she had put out the +plates for breakfast went to bed.</p> + +<p>In the morning Jardine gave Jimmy boots and clothes, and two days +afterwards loaded him with all the supplies he would carry. After +breakfast Jimmy strapped on his pack, but when he was ready to go he +hesitated. The loghouse was warm and home-like, and for two days he had +rested and enjoyed Margaret's society. Now he must plunge into the +wilds, he frowned. The snow was creeping down the rocks and a cold wind +wailed in the dark pine-tops. Then Jimmy turned to his hosts and forced +a smile.</p> + +<p>"You have given me all I needed; I knew you would see me out."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Jardine. "In the bush, your friends' job is to see ye +oot."</p> + +<p>"You are useful friends," Jimmy replied with a touch of emotion. "All +the same, I feel I ought not to bother you; I ought to start for the +railroad and give myself up to the police. If Douglas was hurt by my +carelessness, I ought to pay."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't go yet," said Margaret firmly. "You don't altogether know +the carelessness was yours, and perhaps it was not. Somehow I think we +will find out."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Jimmy, "if you do find out the shot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> wasn't mine—— But I +doubt and the doubt weighs on me."</p> + +<p>Margaret smiled and gave him her hand. "Brace up and trust your luck! +Stop in the mountains until we send for you. Perhaps we will send for +you sooner than you think."</p> + +<p>Jimmy went down the path and joined the waiting Indian. He was +comforted, and when he plunged into the woods his moodiness was gone. +Margaret went back into the house and Jardine said in a thoughtful +voice, "Ye kind o' engaged ye'd send for the lad; but until ye satisfy +the police he's no' their man, he canna come back."</p> + +<p>"That is so. The thing is rather obvious," Margaret agreed and smiled. +"However, since I did engage to send for Jimmy, I must try to make +good."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX<br /> +<span class="smalltext">BOB'S DENIAL</span></h2> + + +<p>Not long after Jimmy's visit to Kelshope, Margaret one evening rode up +the trail from the station. Her cayuse carried a load of groceries, but +when she set off her object was not altogether to bring home supplies. +Wakening before daybreak, she imagined she heard the fence-rails rattle +at the corner farthest from the house. Sometimes a deer jumped the +fence, and when Margaret got up she went to the spot. She saw no tracks, +but some time afterwards found a footmark where the trail left the +clearing. The mark was fresh and she thought it was not made by her +father's boot.</p> + +<p>Margaret said nothing to Jardine. Had a stranger come down the valley, +he would have kept the smooth path, because in the dark the belt of +slashing that generally surrounds a forest ranch is an awkward obstacle. +Moreover, to account for a stranger's coming from the mountains was +hard. Had Jimmy returned, he would have stopped at the house; but Bob +would not and Margaret had undertaken to find Bob.</p> + +<p>When the Vancouver train rolled into the station nobody got on board, +but a police trooper came from the agent's office, and going along the +line, looked into the cars. Margaret had not remarked him before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> the +train stopped and thought his curiosity ominous. If Bob had stolen past +the ranch, he, however, had not tried to get on board and was hiding +somewhere about. Margaret was puzzled and resolved to stop at the hotel +and see Stannard. She admitted that her resolve was perhaps not logical, +because if Stannard knew more about the shooting than others, he would +not enlighten her. All the same, she meant to see him.</p> + +<p>Getting down where the wagon road went round to the front of the hotel, +she tied her horse to a tree and took a path across the hill. The trees +were thick, but the moon was bright and in places its beams pierced the +wood. In front and some distance above her, she saw illuminated windows +at the top of the hotel; then the terrace wall cut the reflection from +the drawing-room and rotunda. The high wall was in the gloom, but at the +bottom pools of silver light broke the dark shadow of the trees. +Margaret knew the steps to the terrace. Had she gone to the front door, +she must have waited at the office until a page brought Stannard, and +she thought she would sooner find him in the rotunda before he knew she +was about.</p> + +<p>She heard music in the drawing-room and somebody on the terrace talking, +but the wall was high and when the music stopped all was quiet. In the +woods one lifts one's feet with mechanical caution and Margaret was a +rancher's daughter. Her advance was noiseless, but at a bend of the path +she stopped.</p> + +<p>A few yards off, a man stood under a tree. His back was to Margaret, but +the dark object across his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> shoulder was a slung rifle and she thought +she knew him. Stannard leaned against a trunk opposite. He wore dinner +dress and a loose light coat. He was in the moonlight, and when he shook +his head Margaret thought his smile ironical. The other's pose was stiff +and his fist was clenched. Margaret put her hand in the pocket of her +deerskin coat and then moved a branch. The man turned and his hand went +to his rifle. Margaret heard the sling rattle.</p> + +<p>"You don't want your gun, Bob; I know you. Besides, I've got a pistol," +she said.</p> + +<p>Bob swore softly and Stannard lifted his hat.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you rather theatrical, Miss Jardine? I imagined gun pulling was +out of date."</p> + +<p>"Bob's theatrical; but he's <i>slow</i>," Margaret rejoined, and although her +heart beat her voice was steady. "I haven't yet pulled my gun."</p> + +<p>"It looks as if you had better leave yours alone," Stannard remarked to +Bob.</p> + +<p>Bob's face got very dark, but Stannard smiled.</p> + +<p>"Did you want to see me or the other, Miss Jardine?"</p> + +<p>"I want to see Bob first, but you may remain," said Margaret and gave +Bob a searching glance. "Who shot warden Douglas?"</p> + +<p>"I did not, anyhow," Bob replied fiercely. "I hadn't a gun and when I'd +fixed the others I put out my lamp. I'd no use for using the pit-light. +The fool plan was Deering's."</p> + +<p>"All the same, you quit!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>"I sure quit. Somebody shot Douglas and the police knew he'd got a pick +on me. They'd got to put the shooting on one of the gang."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's important the police knew you had a pick on Douglas," +Stannard remarked.</p> + +<p>"For all that, I didn't use my gun," Bob rejoined.</p> + +<p>Margaret pondered. As a rule, Bob was marked by a rather sinister +quietness, but now he talked with something like passion. He had stepped +forward and a moonbeam touched his face. Margaret thought he knew, but +he did not move out of the light. Somehow she felt she must believe his +statement. Then Stannard turned to her.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's strange, but I rather think he speaks the truth."</p> + +<p>"If you did not use your gun, who did shoot Douglas?" Margaret resumed, +looking at Bob. "I want to know. A trooper's watching the station, and +if I shout, the hotel clerk will call him on the 'phone."</p> + +<p>Bob's passion vanished and Margaret thought his calm ominous.</p> + +<p>"That's another thing! Looks as if Jimmy plugged the fellow. He sort of +allowed he done it and he started for the rocks."</p> + +<p>"I imagine Bob doesn't know," said Stannard. "Before you arrived he +implied that I was accountable and demanded a hundred dollars. In fact, +when he didn't get the sum he was much annoyed."</p> + +<p>"I was mad all right," Bob agreed. "My flour and tea's gone, and I can't +hire up about the settlements,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> but if I'd a hundred dollars, I'd try to +make the coast." He looked hard at Stannard and resumed: "Are you going +to help me get off?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said Stannard in a careless voice. "I am not as rich as +you think, and to give you money would be rash, particularly when Miss +Jardine is about."</p> + +<p>Margaret pulled out her wallet. "I can give you ten dollars, Bob; but I +can shout to the people at the hotel. You know Mr. Leyland did not shoot +Douglas."</p> + +<p>"I sure don't know," said Bob and gave Margaret a haughty glance. "Put +up your wad; I've no use for your money. If you like, shout for them to +'phone the police."</p> + +<p>For a moment or two Margaret hesitated. She was persuaded Bob himself +was not accountable, but she thought this was all she would know. She +was hurt and humiliated, for now she had found Bob she had not helped +Jimmy much.</p> + +<p>"Shall I shout?" she asked Stannard.</p> + +<p>"To choose is your part. I rather think Dillon is on the terrace and two +or three athletic young sportsmen are at the hotel, but unless you are +willing to use your gun, I doubt if Bob would wait until the others +arrive. Then, although I don't know where Jimmy is, perhaps for the +police to search the neighborhood would have some drawbacks."</p> + +<p>Margaret turned to Bob. "Get off! If you come back, I'll send the +troopers after you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>Bob went, and when he vanished in the gloom Stannard laughed. "I expect +your arrival disturbed the fellow. At the beginning, he tried to force +me to give him my wallet; then he took another line and hinted that +Leyland was the guilty man. Well, he has gone. Will you come back with +me and talk to Laura?"</p> + +<p>Margaret noted that he was not curious about her object for stopping at +the hotel, but she said, "I wanted to see you. What do you know about +the accident?"</p> + +<p>"I really don't know much, although I am persuaded accident is the +proper word. Jimmy thought the unlucky shot was his and when he resolved +to go off I agreed."</p> + +<p>"But you knew what the police would think about his running away!"</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Stannard coolly. "All the same, Jimmy was with me +when I killed the big-horn, and when Douglas found us at the old ranch +we were using pit-lights. One of our party shot him, and since we were +again poaching, it hardly looked as if the shot were accidental. Jimmy +is young and when he saw the risk he ran he was afraid. I thought he did +run some risk, but, if he could cheat the police for a time, we might +find a clue to the puzzle."</p> + +<p>Margaret remarked his frankness. Although she thought he did not know +Jimmy had stopped at the ranch, his arguments were the arguments Jimmy +stated he had used. Moreover, she admitted the arguments carried some +weight.</p> + +<p>"We have not yet found a clue," she said drearily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> "Still, if the +warden gets better—— Do you know where he is?"</p> + +<p>For a moment or two Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "We can get no +news about Douglas, and perhaps we ought not to expect much from his +narrative. When you use a pit-lamp your hat-brim shades your face, and I +imagine all Douglas saw was the light. Yet the police's reserve is +strange."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they know something we do not," said Margaret. "Well, my father +is waiting and I must not stop."</p> + +<p>She went off and Stannard went up the steps to the hotel. In a corner of +the veranda Dillon talked to Laura, and Stannard remarked the smile she +gave the young man. Stannard knitted his brows and did not stop. In some +respects, the marriage would be good, but it was not the marriage he had +wanted Laura to make. All the same, Jimmy was obviously satisfied with +the bush girl and Stannard thought she loved him. Well, he had done with +Jimmy.</p> + +<p>When Margaret got down at the ranch she went to the kitchen and sat by +the fire. For a time she said nothing and Jardine quietly smoked his +pipe. Then she looked up with a frown.</p> + +<p>"I found Bob," she said. "He was talking to Mr. Stannard outside the +hotel."</p> + +<p>"In the trees, I'm thinking! Did he tell ye much?"</p> + +<p>"He declared when they used the pit-lights he had not a gun and somehow +I think he hadn't."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>"Maybe!" said Jardine, with some dryness. "Was it all ye got?"</p> + +<p>"That was all. I'm not as clever as I thought. Bob wanted Mr. Stannard +to give him a hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Jardine. "Weel, I expect ye see——"</p> + +<p>"Stannard <i>laughed</i>. It was plain he was not at all afraid of Bob."</p> + +<p>"Stannard's no' a fool," Jardine remarked.</p> + +<p>"I thought his carelessness sincere. Besides, Bob soon afterwards +implied that Jimmy hit Douglas. I imagine Bob really doesn't know who +did use his gun."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Jardine agreed. "My notion is, Jimmy had better keep +the woods. In the meantime, I've no use for Bob's hanging round the +ranch."</p> + +<p>"Bob will not bother us; I don't think he'll bother Mr. Stannard again," +said Margaret and got some sewing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DEERING'S EXCURSION</span></h2> + + +<p>Rain beat the bark roof and heavy drops splashed on the floor. Sometimes +a gust of wind swept the window opening and smoke blew about, but on the +whole the shack was dry and warm. Jimmy thought they had made a good +job, and sitting by the fire, he tranquilly smoked his pipe. The Indian, +opposite him, plaited a snare; Deering studied a card problem in an old +newspaper.</p> + +<p>"The game's pretty good, but I soon got on to it," he said. "When you +locate the bower—— Come across and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks," said Jimmy, smiling. "To know where the bower is, is +useful, but sometimes you don't know and a ten-spot knocks you out. +Things are like that. Anyhow I've not much use for cards."</p> + +<p>"You were keen. I reckon your keenness cost you something!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. "That is so; but I really think I wanted to satisfy my +curiosity. I wanted the thrills others seemed to get, and I experimented +with cards and two or three expensive sports. Now I feel I'd sooner +build a shack than win a pot of money on a first-class race. The strange +thing is, when I was at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> cotton mill and Dick wanted me to study the +machinery, I was bored."</p> + +<p>"I expect he tried to force you," Deering remarked. "When one is young +one doesn't study the things others think one ought——" He frowned and +jerked his head. "Another blamed big drop on the back of my neck!"</p> + +<p>"When the rain stops I'll mend the roof," said Jimmy. "The shack's a +pretty good shack and two or three slabs of bark will cure the leak. +Then I must get some green clay and flat stones for the chimney."</p> + +<p>"You talk as if you meant to remain in the rocks!"</p> + +<p>"It looks as if I might have to stay for some time."</p> + +<p>Deering shook his head. "In a proper cold snap you want double windows, +but we have got a hole. Then I've not much use for a blanket door. When +the frost begins we have got to quit."</p> + +<p>"But where can we go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet; I have thought about your ranch. Jardine stated the +police had searched it, and I reckon they won't come back. However, +we'll talk about this again. I think Miss Jardine gave you a needle and +thread?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy said Margaret had done so and inquired why Deering wanted the +thread.</p> + +<p>"We can't get out and I guess I'll sew my clothes for you. In the +morning I'm going to use Jardine's."</p> + +<p>"But why——" Jimmy began.</p> + +<p>Deering indicated his torn shooting-jacket, ragged knickerbockers, and +soil-stained puttees.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>"I must start for Vancouver, to look up a fellow who has got some money +of mine. Then I want to find out if the police have cured Douglas and +what they are doing. If I wore my clothes, people would speculate about +the dead-broke sporting guy."</p> + +<p>"Jardine's clothes are not very good; I've worn them for some time in +the bush. Then I expect you'll find them tight."</p> + +<p>"They're a rancher's clothes and I don't mind looking like a bushman. In +fact, until I make Vancouver, the part will go all right."</p> + +<p>Jimmy knitted his brows. Perhaps he had thought too much for himself, +but he owned he did not want Deering to leave him.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "I mustn't grumble. But will you be long?"</p> + +<p>"When I've fixed my business and found out something useful I'll come +right back," Deering replied and threading the needle began to sew. "I +was raised in the bush and the small homesteaders are a pretty frugal +lot. They don't throw away their old clothes."</p> + +<p>"When you reach the settlements, won't you run some risk?" Jimmy +inquired.</p> + +<p>"I expect the risk will not be altogether mine. So far as I know, the +police are not looking for me. The trouble is, I might put them on your +track; but so long as I'm steering for the coast this needn't bother us. +I don't want them to hit my trail when I'm coming back. Well, I'm pretty +big to hide, but if they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> after me, they'll watch out for a city +sport, not a bushman."</p> + +<p>In the morning Deering started, and after a strenuous journey reached a +small station some distance from the hotel. He did not buy his ticket +from the agent; the conductor would supply him, and when the long train +rolled in he got aboard. The porter was making up the second-class +berths and when Deering got his he went to bed. So far, his luck was +good, but after he had slept for five or six hours he began to doubt.</p> + +<p>A savage jolt threw him against the curtain, and the thin material tore +from the rings. Deering went through, but came down like a cat on the +floor. The brakes jarred and startled passengers ran about. For the most +part, they did not wear their proper clothes, but when Deering went to +bed he wore all his and he pushed through a group that blocked the +vestibule. The train stopped and from the platform he saw a leaping +pillar of flame and reflections on rocks and trees. The white beam from +the locomotive headlamp melted in the strong illumination, and moving +figures cut the dark background. The picture was distinct and vivid like +a scene from a film, until a cloud of steam rolled across the light and +all was blurred.</p> + +<p>Deering heard hammers and the clang of rails. A construction gang was +obviously at work and he imagined a trestle had broken or perhaps +another train had jumped the track. When he waited at the station,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> he +had not tried to hide himself; to do so was risky, since he imagined the +police had warned the agent to study the passengers. If the agent had +remarked him, the delay would be awkward and he wondered whether the +telegraph wires were broken.</p> + +<p>Jumping down, he went along the track and stopped in the strong light a +blast-lamp threw across a gap. The road-bed was gone and a great bank of +stones and snow rested on the hillside. Bent rails slanted into the hole +and a broken telegraph pole hung by the tangled wires. Shovels rattled +and a gang of men threw down soil and stones. Deering stopped one.</p> + +<p>"How long is it since the land-slide cut the track?"</p> + +<p>"About two hours since we got the call."</p> + +<p>"Then, they rushed you up pretty quick. I expect you got the call by +wire?"</p> + +<p>The other indicated the broken post. "Wires went when the track went. +The section man came for us on a trolley; we're grading for a new bridge +a few miles down the line."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to be long filling her up?"</p> + +<p>"Three or four hours, I reckon. The boys are loading up the gravel +train. But if the boss spots me talking, I'll get fired."</p> + +<p>Deering pondered. If the agent had been warned to look out for him, the +fellow had had time to telegraph before the wires broke, and the police +could arrange to watch the stations or put a trooper on board the train. +Deering did not think they had a warrant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> for his arrest, but they would +try to use him in order to get on Jimmy's track. There was not much use +in leaving the train, because he would be spotted when he boarded +another. He resolved to go back to his berth and soon after he did so he +went to sleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning the train started. Deering got a good breakfast at a meal +station and afterwards occupied a corner of a smoking compartment. Sleep +and food had refreshed him and his mood was cheerful. He admitted he was +perhaps ridiculous, but he had begun to enjoy his excursion; Deering was +marked by a vein of rather boyish humor and to cheat the police amused +him. By and by he speculated about his object for going after Jimmy when +the warden was shot.</p> + +<p>Jimmy had plunged into the gully sooner than let him go, but perhaps +this did not account for all. Stannard had urged Jimmy to push for the +plains, although Stannard ought to know the lad could not cross the +mountains. Then he had indicated a line over the neck and Deering had +stopped Jimmy at the top of a pitch that dropped to a horrible crevasse. +The thing was strange and sinister, but Jimmy trusted Stannard. Deering +did not. He was intrigued, and felt he ought to see Jimmy out.</p> + +<p>After a time a police trooper came from the vestibule and stopped for a +moment at the door of the smoking compartment. His glance rested +carelessly on Deering, and then he went through into the car. At the +next station the policeman got down and went to the office.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> When the +train started Deering did not see him get on board, but people moved +about and the end cars were behind the water tank.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, when he leaned back, half asleep, in his corner, the +trooper came in again. Deering did not move, but his eyes were not +altogether shut and he saw the fellow's glance was keen and fixed. In a +moment or two the trooper turned his head, and going into the vestibule, +did not shut the door quietly. Deering's curiosity was satisfied; the +police knew he was on board.</p> + +<p>Lighting his pipe, he looked out of the window. The train was speeding +down the lower Fraser valley. Orchards, fields with white snake-fences, +and wooden homesteads rolled by. The sun was near the hilltops and the +shadows of the pines were long. When they reached Vancouver it would be +dark and the trooper's duties would be undertaken by the municipal +police. The Royal North-West had nothing to do with the +British-Columbian cities; their business was in the wilds.</p> + +<p>Deering pulled out his watch. A short distance from Vancouver they would +stop at a junction where a line for Washington State branched off, but +his business was not in Washington.</p> + +<p>Fast steamers sailed from Vancouver for the ports on Puget Sound, and +since the police would expect him to go on board, he thought he saw a +plan. Some time after dark he went to the platform in front of the car. +A half-moon shone between slow-moving clouds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> and he saw vague hills and +sparkling water. Then the lights of anchored steamers began to twinkle +and sawmill chimney stacks cut the sky. Lights in rows and clusters +marked the front of a low hill, the cars rolled along the waterside, and +presently stacks of lumber blocked the view. Then the whistle screamed, +the brakes jarred, and the passengers began to push out from the +vestibule.</p> + +<p>Deering jumped down and looked about. Freight cars occupied the tracks +and the dazzling beam from a locomotive's headlamp touched piles of +goods and hurrying people. Round the tall electric standards were pools +of light, but smoke and steam blew about the wharf and where the strong +illumination was cut off all was dark. Bells tolled, wheels rattled, and +the clang of the steamer's winches pierced the din. Her double row of +passenger decks towered above the wharf, and Deering joined the crowd at +the slanted gangway. He was willing for the city police to see him board +the steamer.</p> + +<p>At the top of the gangway a steward indicated the way to the +second-class deck, but Deering pushed by and went to the saloon. Since +he was playing a bush rancher's part, the police would expect him to +travel second class, and he must for a few minutes put them off his +track. As soon as the luggage was on board, the boat would start.</p> + +<p>For the most part, the people were on deck, and the spacious saloon was +quiet. Deering thought he did not look like a first-class passenger. His +hair was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> long, his hat was battered, and Jardine's rather ragged +clothes were tight on his big body. Searching the room with a keen +glance, he stopped, for a group of three people occupied a seat at the +other end. He wondered whether he ought to steal off, but Dillon jumped +up.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Deering!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Laura started and her companion turned. Deering imagined the lady was +Mrs. Dillon and he crossed the floor. Dillon's surprise was obvious, but +he gave Deering his hand.</p> + +<p>"We have been bothered about you for some time and it looks as if you +had got up against it. But where's Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>"Jimmy's at the shack we built in the rocks. What about the warden?"</p> + +<p>"We can get no news. I imagine the police are hiding the fellow."</p> + +<p>"Why did you leave Jimmy?" Laura interrupted, and Deering saw she did +not altogether trust him. "Has he food and proper clothes? If he is in +trouble, we must try to help."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Dillon. "If Jimmy wants me, I'll get off the boat."</p> + +<p>"Jimmy's clothes are worse than mine, but he doesn't particularly want +your help. I pulled out because I must transact some business, and I've +pretty good grounds to imagine the police are on my track."</p> + +<p>"I expect we'll sail in a few minutes," said Dillon. "Do you think the +police know you got on board?"</p> + +<p>Deering glanced at the others. He thought Laura<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> imagined he had meant +to join them and she was not yet satisfied. Mrs. Dillon was frankly +annoyed.</p> + +<p>"So long as they don't know I got off again, it's not important," he +replied.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to get off?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Deering and turned to Laura with a twinkle. "The trick +is not remarkably fresh, but since the police reckon I'm bound for the +United States, it ought to work. You see, Jimmy's my friend, and when +I've put across my business I'm going back."</p> + +<p>Laura gave him her hand. "I didn't know—I wish you luck! When you think +we can help, you must send us a letter."</p> + +<p>The whistle blew, a bell rang, and people began to enter the saloon.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said Deering and crossed the floor.</p> + +<p>He went along an alley and through the second-class saloon to the deck +in front. The steamer's bows were in the gloom and a number of +wharf-hands hurried down a plank. Deering joined the row and followed +the men to a cargo shed. The shed was dark, but the sliding doors on the +other side were open and he crawled under a freight car and crossed the +track. A minute or two afterwards he stopped. So far as he could see, +nobody but a few train-hands were about; the steamer had swung away from +the wharf and was steering for the Narrows. Deering laughed and went up +the hill behind the water-front.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DEERING TAKES COUNSEL</span></h2> + + +<p>A Canadian hotel is something of an inexpensive club. People who sleep +elsewhere come for meals, and a number come to smoke and talk. In +Western towns their manners and clothes are marked by sharp contrasts, +but so long as they observe a few primitive rules, nobody inquires if +they are customers of the house.</p> + +<p>In consequence, when Deering stopped in front of an ambitious building +he was not at all embarrassed. The noise he heard indicated that the +rotunda was occupied, but while some of its occupants were, no doubt, +important citizens, he expected to find lumbermen and miners from the +bush whose clothes were like his. Pushing round the revolving doors, he +went in, waited until he saw the clerk was engaged, and then went +upstairs. A noisy electric elevator was running, but Deering thought he +would not bother the boy.</p> + +<p>On the second landing he opened a door. An electric lamp threw a strong +light about the room, and a gentleman leaned back in a hardwood chair +and rested his feet on the ornamental radiator. He was dressed like a +prosperous citizen, and he gave Deering a keen glance.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said. "Have you been in the woods?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like that!" said Deering. "I want a razor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> and a bath; then I +want a suit of clothes, the biggest standard size. I doubt if the clerk +and bell-boys saw a bushman come up, but if they did so, I'd sooner they +didn't see him come down."</p> + +<p>"I can fix you," said the other, smiling. "All the same, I expect you +must get a barber to finish the job."</p> + +<p>When Deering used a glass he admitted that his friend's remark was +justified, but so long as he looked like a wild man from the woods, to +recline, wrapped in a white sheet, in a barber's front window had +obvious drawbacks. As a rule, a North American barber carries on his +occupation as publicly as possible. He got a bath, and when he returned +to his friend's room Neilson gave him a cigar and they began to talk.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Neilson, "I can get the money for you and will soon +fix up the other matters. I have sent for some clothes and booked your +room. But you look as if you'd hit some adventures in the woods, and I'd +rather like to know——"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you noted something in the newspapers about a game-warden's +getting shot?"</p> + +<p>"The <i>Colonist</i> printed a short paragraph; I imagined the police edited +the story. Old man Salter knows his job, although the shooting was on +the Royal North-West's ground. Anyhow, the tale left you to guess. But +were you in it?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Deering, dryly. "I'll tell you——"</p> + +<p>When he finished his narrative, Neilson knitted his brows. He was +frankly an adventurer, but he had his code and Deering trusted the +fellow. Moreover, Neil<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>son knew men, and particularly men who lived by +exploiting others' weaknesses.</p> + +<p>"I'm not a hunter. We'll cut out the shooting and concentrate on the +gang," he said. "I want to get Stannard right. His occupation's ours?"</p> + +<p>"Something like ours," Deering agreed. "We play a straight game, because +we know a straight game pays; I've spotted Stannard using a crook's +cheap trick. But he doesn't bet high at cards. His line's financing +extravagant young suckers."</p> + +<p>"Then, he's rich?"</p> + +<p>"I think not. Not long since he wanted money. My notion is, he's got a +partner in the Old Country who supplies him. Stannard's something of a +highbrow and a smart clubman. He has qualities—— I rather like the +fellow, although I know him."</p> + +<p>"What about the girl? Does Stannard use her?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said Deering. "Miss Laura's straight; I doubt if she +really knows her father's occupation. Maybe she's ambitious and +calculating, but she's not his sort."</p> + +<p>"Is Leyland much in Stannard's debt?"</p> + +<p>"Stannard's an expensive friend; but I guess he wanted Jimmy for Laura +and didn't take all he might. Still I expect Jimmy owes a useful sum, +and Laura's going to marry Dillon."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Neilson, "perhaps that's important! I reckon Stannard has got +Leyland insured?"</p> + +<p>Deering nodded. He saw where Neilson's remarks led and on the whole +agreed. He had given the fellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> his confidence because he wanted to see +the arguments another would use.</p> + +<p>"Well," resumed Neilson, "what about Dillon and your guide?"</p> + +<p>"Dillon was not in the woods. I don't know much about the guide. Bob's a +queer fellow and is not all white. Then he has a pick on Jimmy. I reckon +he took a shine to the rancher's daughter who is now Jimmy's girl."</p> + +<p>"Jealousy bites hard, and I wouldn't trust a breed," Neilson remarked. +"Well, perhaps we have got Bob's object; let's study Stannard's. +Leyland's wanting the ranch girl wasn't in his plan, and when he knew +Miss Stannard meant to marry Dillon he'd make another. Leyland owes him +much, can't pay yet, and is insured. Let it go in the meantime, and +weigh another thing. Leyland doesn't altogether know if he shot the +warden, but if he did shoot him, he thought him a deer. All the same, he +pulled out! Is the boy a fool? Is his nerve weak?"</p> + +<p>"Jimmy's clean grit," said Deering. "Still he is a boy."</p> + +<p>"Then it's possible he got rattled. Suppose when he was rattled an older +man he trusted put it up to him that he ought to light out? The kid +wouldn't ponder; he'd start."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Deering. "Stannard did talk like that."</p> + +<p>Neilson shrugged meaningly. "Very well! I'm through with my argument. If +we could find warden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> Douglas, he might tell us something useful. I'll +try."</p> + +<p>Deering thought the plan good. Neilson was a gambler, but his word went; +in fact, Deering imagined it sometimes went with the police. Neilson +knew the half-world, and now that he had undertaken an awkward job +strange helpers would be put to work.</p> + +<p>When he had lighted a fresh cigar he resumed: "I don't see <i>your</i> object +for hiding in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes I'm romantic; you don't know me yet," Deering said, and +laughed. "Jimmy's my pal; when I came near getting a fall that would +have knocked me out, he held me up. Then I was born a bushman and the +bush calls. I like it in the woods and I'm keen about the detective +game——" He stopped and went on in a thoughtful voice: "The strange +thing is, when Jimmy went over the rocks, Stannard went after him. Snow +and stones were coming down, but he stayed with the kid."</p> + +<p>"That was when it looked as if Miss Stannard would marry your pal!" said +Neilson meaningly. "Well, I wouldn't bother about the police. <i>Watch out +for Stannard——</i>"</p> + +<p>Somebody knocked at the door and Neilson, getting up, came back with a +parcel.</p> + +<p>"Your clothes," he said.</p> + +<p>Deering put on the clothes and packed up Jardine's to be thrown into the +harbor. For a few days he stopped at the hotel, and then Neilson +admitted that his inquiries about Douglas had not carried him far.</p> + +<p>"We know where he is and he's very sick, but that's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> all," he said. "The +police mean to use him and he can't be got at."</p> + +<p>"Then, I'll start for the woods," said Deering. "The trouble is to hit +the proper line. It's possible the police are willing to leave me alone, +but I mustn't help them get on to Jimmy."</p> + +<p>In the morning he started for New Westminster, although this was not the +line to the mountains. At Westminster he vanished in the meadows along +the Fraser, and after a time turned north into the woods. In order to +rejoin Jimmy, he must follow the great river gorge, and at Mission he +risked getting on board the cars. Nobody bothered him, and at length he +labored one evening up the rugged valley in which was the shack. He had +bought a skin coat and carried a heavy pack, but he was not warm. The +sky was dark and threatening, the ground was hard, and a bitter wind +shook the tops of the stiff pines. Deering thought snow was coming and +pushed on as fast as possible, until he saw a gleam of light.</p> + +<p>A big fire threw a cheerful glow about the shack and Jimmy occupied a +pile of branches by the snapping logs. He had pulled a blanket over his +shoulders, but when he heard Deering's step he jumped up. Deering +dropped his load, straightened his back and looked about.</p> + +<p>"Where's the Indian?"</p> + +<p>"He's gone," said Jimmy. "I expect he had enough. In fact, I'd begun to +feel I'd had enough, and when I heard your step my relief was pretty +keen."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>"Oh, well," said Deering. "Let's get supper and then we'll talk."</p> + +<p>When he had satisfied his appetite he narrated his adventures and his +meeting Laura and Dillon.</p> + +<p>"If you want Frank, he's your man and he might be useful," he remarked. +"Then I reckon Miss Laura's willing for him to help. Your friends are +good."</p> + +<p>"That is so," said Jimmy, looking at Deering hard. "My friends are +better than I deserve. But what about Douglas? Did you find out much?"</p> + +<p>Deering admitted that he did not, but when he talked about Neilson he +used some caution. Since Jimmy trusted Stannard, there was no use in +trying to warn him; some time he would get enlightenment.</p> + +<p>"On the whole, I think the police knew I was at Vancouver," he said. +"Their plan was to hit my trail when I started back. I don't expect they +did so, but it's possible. Anyhow, now the Indian's gone, and a cold +snap threatens, we have got to quit. My plan's to start for your ranch."</p> + +<p>"The ranch is not far from the railroad."</p> + +<p>"Its being near the track has some advantages. Since the police searched +the spot, I guess they're satisfied. Then we want food, and packing +supplies for a long distance is a strenuous job. The Indian could move a +useful load, but to carry fifty pounds across rocks and fallen trees +makes me tired."</p> + +<p>"A rifle, a blanket, and twenty pounds is my load," said Jimmy and +resumed in a thoughtful voice: "Yet I started for the plains——"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>Deering used some control and let Jimmy's remark go.</p> + +<p>"You could not have made it," he said quietly. "But what about our +jumping off?"</p> + +<p>"We'll talk about it again," Jimmy replied. "I suppose we must go, but +now you're back, I don't want to bother. You brace me up. Until I heard +your step, I felt down and out."</p> + +<p>He threw fresh wood on the fire, and soon afterwards they went to sleep. +Jimmy's sleep was broken, and when he woke at daybreak he shivered. He +did not want to get up, but he must fetch water. The kettle handle stung +his skin, the pools on the creek were frozen, and he saw the snow had +moved five or six hundred feet down the rocks. Rose-pink light touched +the high peaks and hoar frost sparkled on the pines, but the stern +beauty of the wilds was daunting. Jimmy wanted the deep valleys up which +the soft Chinook blew.</p> + +<p>When he went back, Deering was occupied at the fire. He looked up and +remarked with a twinkle: "The cold is pretty fierce. If we're going to +stay, you'll want a skin coat and another blanket."</p> + +<p>"When we have got breakfast we'll start for the ranch," Jimmy replied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">MARGARET TAKES A PLUNGE</span></h2> + + +<p>For a time Jimmy was not disturbed at the ranch. On the high rocks the +frost was keen, but in the deep valley a gentle wind from the Pacific +melted the snow. Jimmy dared not order sawed lumber, but Jardine got him +a door and windows and the house was warm. Sometimes he went shooting +and sometimes he went to Kelshope. Jardine was friendly, but when the +rancher had gone to look after his stock Jimmy was resigned. To sit by +the fire and talk to Margaret was a delightful occupation.</p> + +<p>At the beginning he had remarked her beauty, but now he knew beauty was +not all her charm. Margaret was clever; she saw his point of view, and +when she did not agree her argument was logical and keen. Then she was +proud and fearless, and he sensed in her something primitive. Margaret +was his sort and sprang from stock like his. Yet he felt her physical +charm. Her eyes were sea-blue, and in the firelight her hair was like +red California gold. She had a bushman's balance, and her unconscious +pose was Greek. Although she was frank, with something of a great lady's +frankness, Jimmy soon knew her fastidious.</p> + +<p>But for his part in the shooting accident, his satisfaction would have +been complete. It looked as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> the police had resolved to leave him +alone, and Deering had made one or two excursions to the cities, but +Jimmy doubted. He knew the Royal North-West do not forget. Moreover, +somebody shot Douglas, and on the whole he thought he had done so. +Sometimes he wondered whether he ought to go to Kelshope, but all the +same he went.</p> + +<p>When Deering was at Calgary, Margaret one afternoon rode home from the +station as fast as possible. At the ranch she took down the load of +groceries but left the horse tied to a post. Jardine was by the fire and +had pulled off his boot. In the morning he had cut his foot with his ax. +He gave Margaret a keen glance and saw she had ridden fast.</p> + +<p>"Weel?" he said. "Is something bothering ye?"</p> + +<p>"Two troopers and their horses came in on the freight train. I expect +they're looking for Mr. Leyland."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Jardine. "Somebody has given the lad away."</p> + +<p>"Bob," said Margaret and her eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p>Jardine knitted his brows. "Maybe, but I dinna ken; Bob hasna been +around for long. Did the troopers saddle up?"</p> + +<p>"When I left, they were cinching on their camp truck. I thought they'd +soon start. Mr. Leyland can't come down the valley and Deering's not +with him. Where is he to go?"</p> + +<p>"If he could make Green Lake, Peter would put him on the Mission +trail."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>"He cannot make Green Lake," Margaret rejoined. "He doesn't know the +bench country and must start in the dark."</p> + +<p>"Jimmy must start soon. If he stays, the troopers will get him," Jardine +agreed, and indicated his cut foot. "Somebody must warn the lad, but I +canna gang."</p> + +<p>Margaret tried to brace up, for she had not reckoned on her father's +lameness. The strange thing was, Jardine had walked some distance to +round up his cattle. She must, however, weigh this again. Speed was +important and Jimmy was her friend; in fact, she had begun to think him +her lover.</p> + +<p>"You could ride the cayuse and carry the packs. If Mr. Leyland was not +loaded he could make a good pace."</p> + +<p>"The cayuse wouldna carry a weight like mine across the bench belt and +Green Lake's a two-days' hike. I canna walk; I doubt if I could get on +my boot," Jardine replied, and added with philosophical resignation: +"It's a pity o' the lad! I expect the police are noo on the ranch trail, +but I dinna see how we can help."</p> + +<p>Margaret clenched her hands. Somebody must warn Jimmy and her father +declared he could not. She looked at him hard and knew he could not be +moved. He gave her an apologetic glance and began to fill his pipe, as +if the thing was done with. Yet it was not done with. Margaret saw, +rather vaguely because she refused to think about it, all her going to +warn Jimmy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> implied, since if her help was to be useful, she must go +with him to Green Lake. For a few moments she hesitated, but she was +generous and her pluck was good. Then she turned to Jardine, who had +begun to smoke.</p> + +<p>"The police shall not get Mr. Leyland. I will go."</p> + +<p>"Verra weel," said Jardine. "If ye mean to gang, ye had better start. +Ye'll need to take some food; I'll get the saddle bag."</p> + +<p>He crossed the floor and Margaret remarked that for a few steps he went +lightly, as if his foot did not hurt. Then he limped, and when he got to +the door he stopped and leaned against the post. All the same, it was +not important and Margaret began to pack some food and clothes. Ten +minutes afterwards, she untied the horse and gave Jardine her hand.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," she said in a quiet voice. "I don't know when I shall get +back."</p> + +<p>Jardine held the stirrup, she seized the bridle, set her mouth and +started the horse. When she vanished in the woods Jardine went back to +the house, rested his foot on a chair, and knitted his brows. He saw he +ran some risk, but he knew his daughter and thought he knew Jimmy. Jimmy +was a white man; Jardine, so to speak, bet all he had on that.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards, Jimmy, cooking his supper, heard a horse's feet +and went to the door. He smiled, because he thought he knew the horse; +but Margaret was obviously riding fast and snapping branches indicated +that she had cut out a bend of the trail. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> she got down her color +was high and the horse's coat was white.</p> + +<p>"Roll up your blanket and put the sling on your rifle," she said. "Then +I'll help you pack some food."</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied her with surprise. Her look was resolute, but he got a +hint of embarrassment. Then he saw a light.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he said. "The police are on my track?"</p> + +<p>"Two troopers are riding up the valley. They may stop at Kelshope for a +few minutes. Where do you keep your groceries!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy opened a box, and Margaret picked out a number of articles. "Now +make a pack, because you must start at once for my cousin's at Green +Lake. I expect Peter will help you south."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know the trail, and it will soon be dark."</p> + +<p>"Make your pack! The police will arrive in a few minutes," Margaret +rejoined impatiently and turned her head. "There is not a trail. I am +going with you."</p> + +<p>"No!" said Jimmy with some embarrassment. "You're kind, of course, but +you ought to see—— If you start me off, I expect I can find my way."</p> + +<p>Margaret turned and fronted him. The blood came to her skin and her look +was strained.</p> + +<p>"You can't find the way and I can't go back. The police know I'm not at +the ranch, and if I start for home, I'll meet them in the valley. But we +mustn't talk. We must get off."</p> + +<p>Jimmy leaned against the table and frowned. Al<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>though his heart beat, he +hesitated. He knew Margaret's pluck and he loved her, but she must not +pay for her rash generosity. One must think for the girl one loved.</p> + +<p>"Suppose the police do know you warned me? It's awkward, but perhaps +that's all. Anyhow, I'll go down and meet them. Since I expect I shot +warden Douglas, I must bear the consequences."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you are obstinate!" Margaret exclaimed and used Stannard's +argument. "It looks as if one of your party meant to shoot Douglas and +the police have not caught the man. They must catch somebody and they'll +try to fix the shooting on you. To join the chain-gang would be +horrible."</p> + +<p>"The thing has not much charm," Jimmy agreed and was rather surprised by +his coolness, but he was cool. "I don't know much about the police code, +but I rather think they'd stop at——"</p> + +<p>He heard a noise and Margaret turned.</p> + +<p>"I put up the rails," she said in a sharp voice.</p> + +<p>Jimmy went to the window and saw a mounted policeman pull down the +slip-rails at the fence and ride through the gap. Then he heard a quick +step and looked round. Margaret had got his rifle. The butt was at her +shoulder and the barrel rested against the doorpost. Jimmy saw her face +in profile; her mouth was set tight, her glance was fixed and hard. He +jumped for the door, but struck a chair and the collision stopped him. +The rifle jerked and a little smoke floated about the girl.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>When Jimmy reached the door he saw the policeman's horse stumble. The +trooper leaned back, tried to pull his foot from the stirrup, and fell +with the animal. Jimmy thought it rolled on him, but after a few moments +he crawled away from its hoofs. The horse was quiet and the man got up. +His movements were awkward and he looked dully at the house.</p> + +<p>Margaret pushed Jimmy back and put the rifle to her shoulder. A sharp +report rolled across the clearing, twigs fell from a quivering pine +branch, and the trooper vanished in the woods. Jimmy's hands shook, but +his relief was keen.</p> + +<p>"I expect his rifle's in the bucket under the horse and the horse is +dead," Margaret remarked. "I was forced to shoot."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Jimmy hoarsely. "I thought you had hit the man!"</p> + +<p>Margaret's pose was stiff, as if she braced herself, but she smiled.</p> + +<p>"He knows I shoot straight. Until his partner comes and helps him get +his rifle, he'll stop in the woods."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps the other's not far off."</p> + +<p>"He's at the ranch," said Margaret "He'd stop to see if you were about +and try to find out something from father. Father would keep him as long +as possible——" She stopped and turning her head resumed: "But the +first fellow knows a woman shot his horse. When I put up the rifle, he +was riding for the door."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>"I expect that is so," said Jimmy. "After all, you must go to your +cousin's. Let's start!"</p> + +<p>Margaret said nothing. When Jimmy brought her horse she got up and he +ran by her stirrup. For a time she went up the valley, and then turning +back obliquely through thin timber, pushed up a steep hill. Near the top +she stopped and Jimmy got his breath and looked down across the trees. +Dusk was falling and all was very quiet. Gloom had invaded the clearing, +but he saw a small dark object he knew was the policeman's horse. A thin +plume of smoke went up from his house; his fire was burning, and he +wondered when it would burn again. For a few moments he was moved by a +strange melancholy, and then his heart beat.</p> + +<p>"I hate to go away. If you were not with me, I think I'd stay and risk +it all," he said. "I was happy at the ranch; in fact, I soon began to +see I hadn't known real happiness before. At the beginning I was +puzzled, but now I can account for it. You were at Kelshope——"</p> + +<p>"Not long since you didn't want me to go with you," Margaret remarked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some awkwardness, "you hadn't yet shot the +policeman's horse."</p> + +<p>Margaret said nothing and he seized the bridle, pulled 'round the +cayuse, and forced her to look down.</p> + +<p>"Will you marry me at the Mission, Margaret?"</p> + +<p>She met his glance and hers was proud. "I think not, Jimmy. You are a +white man and mean to take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> the proper line. But I will not marry you +because I stopped the trooper."</p> + +<p>Jimmy threw back his head and she liked his frank, scornful laugh. "Now, +you're altogether ridiculous! Your stopping the fellow does not account +for my wanting to marry you. Soon after I got to work at the ranch I +knew I loved you, but I went to the mountains with Stannard and the +trouble began. So long as the police were hunting for me I dared not +urge you."</p> + +<p>"But now you urge me? It looks as if your scruples had vanished!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy let go the bridle and bent his head. "I suppose it does look like +that. All the same, I love you."</p> + +<p>Margaret leaned down and touched him gently. "You keep your rules, and +your rules are good. Perhaps it's strange, but I think a woman will +break conventions where a man will not. Still, you see, I'm proud——"</p> + +<p>"You are very hard," Jimmy rejoined. "Yet you ran some risk to warn me. +I know your pluck, but if you had not loved me, I think you'd have +stayed at Kelshope."</p> + +<p>"We'll let it go," said Margaret in a quiet voice. "There's another +thing; ranching is a game for you, but it's my proper work. Yours is at +the cotton mill. You're rich and your wife must be clever and +cultivated."</p> + +<p>"I haven't known a girl with talents, grace and beauty like yours," +Jimmy declared. "Then I'm not rich yet, the police are on my track, and +I may soon be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> a prisoner——" He looked up and added in a dreary voice: +"I admit it's not much of an argument for your marrying me."</p> + +<p>Margaret smiled "Perhaps you were not logical, but we'll talk about it +again, when we get to Green Lake. You mustn't talk now. I don't know if +the trooper would stop long at the ranch, and we must cross the hill +before the moon is up."</p> + +<p>She started her horse and they pushed on. An hour afterwards the moon +rose from behind a broken range, and silver light touched the stiff dark +pines. The high peaks sparkled; a glacier glimmered in the rocks, and +the mists curling up from the valley were faintly luminous. Jimmy smelt +sweet resinous smells and heard a distant river throb. The landscape was +strangely beautiful, but its beauty was austere. All was keen, and cold, +and bracing, and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's bridle, thought her charm +was the charm of the stern and quiet North.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV<br /> +<span class="smalltext">JIMMY RESIGNS HIMSELF</span></h2> + + +<p>The morning was calm and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's horse, turned his +head. Faint, sweet notes stole across the rocks and he knew the distant +chime of cow-bells. As a rule, the elfin music moved him. Where the +cow-bells rang, cornfields and orchards advanced up the valleys and man +drove back the forest, but Jimmy's satisfaction was blunted. For two +days Margaret and he had pushed through the quiet woods. In the cold +evenings they had talked by the snapping fire, but now the romantic +journey was near its end.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes Margaret stopped the horse. In front, dark pines +rolled up the hill and the long rows of ragged tops looked like the +waves of an advancing tide that broke against the rocks. Across the +valley, the sun touched the snow, and at the bottom of a broken slope a +lake sparkled. Jimmy saw its surface rippled, for a Chinook wind blew +and the frost was gone. Near the end of the lake a plume of smoke +streaked the trees.</p> + +<p>"Green Lake ranch!" said Margaret.</p> + +<p>For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. When they reached the valley he +thought the strange charm he had felt in the mountains would vanish; it +was too fine and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> elusive for him to recapture. Until they started for +Green Lake, he had not known Margaret. Cleverer than himself at +woodcraft, she had a man's strength and pluck. She did not grumble; she +was frank and not embarrassed. Yet a womanly gentleness marked her, and +she did not think for herself. Although her touch was light, Jimmy had +felt her control and took the line she meant him to take. In the +meantime they were not lovers, but partners in romantic adventure.</p> + +<p>"For your sake, I'm glad we'll soon reach your cousin's house," he said. +"I don't know if I'm glad for mine."</p> + +<p>Margaret smiled but gently shook her head. "You must play up, Jimmy!"</p> + +<p>"I have played up. Perhaps it's strange, but in the woods to be content +because we were pals was not hard. Now we'll soon reach your cousin's, +I'm not content, and one is forced to think——"</p> + +<p>"For a time you must think about beating the police; that's all," said +Margaret firmly.</p> + +<p>"It is not all," Jimmy declared. "When we went up the hill in the +evening, I asked you to marry me and you promised——"</p> + +<p>"I promised we would talk about it," said Margaret. "Before you start +from Peter's we will do so; but since you must start soon, we'll go on."</p> + +<p>Jimmy saw he could not move her, and they went down the hill. At the +ranch fence a man met them and took them to the house. When they went in +a woman got up, kissed Margaret, and gave Jimmy a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> smile. So far as he +could see, Mrs. Jardine and her husband did not think it strange he had +arrived with Margaret, and he was somewhat comforted, although he noted +that Margaret's color rose. Margaret knew her relations. They were +primitive, honest folk, and took it for granted Jimmy was her lover.</p> + +<p>"Sit right down. Dinner will soon be ready," said Peter Jardine. "How's +the old man? Give us your news."</p> + +<p>Jimmy narrated his and Margaret's adventures and, until he stopped, his +hosts said nothing. It did not look as if they were disturbed, but they +were bush folk and the bush is quiet. For all that, Jimmy felt they +owned themselves Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to +help him out.</p> + +<p>"The trapper's old shack is the spot for you," Peter remarked. "After +dinner we'll start. Margaret must stay with us."</p> + +<p>Margaret agreed, but Jimmy objected.</p> + +<p>"Margaret is going with me to the Mission. The police will soon arrive."</p> + +<p>"I reckon they don't know her, and they don't know how many womenfolk +I've got. When she puts on Sadie's clothes, she'll look as if she +belonged to the ranch. Maybe the police haven't found your trail; but we +mustn't bet on that."</p> + +<p>Margaret went off with Sadie and Jimmy speculated about their talk. By +and by he turned to his host.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to marry your cousin when she is willing."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>"Sure," said Peter. "You reckoned to get married at the Mission?"</p> + +<p>"That is so. So far, Margaret refuses."</p> + +<p>Peter knitted his brows. "Sometimes I don't see what Sadie gets after +and I sure can't calculate Margaret's notion. Women beat me. All the +same, it's plain she thinks you a white man, and Margaret's not a fool. +Now we'll let it go. Say, did you plug the warden?"</p> + +<p>"It looks like that," Jimmy replied. "However, if I did hit the fellow, +I didn't know I was shooting at a man."</p> + +<p>"Very well! You can't get down the main track to the coast, because the +police will reckon on your going there and watch the stations. I'd make +for the plains and then shove south for Montana."</p> + +<p>"That was Stannard's plan."</p> + +<p>Peter smiled scornfully. "You were to cross the rocks and carry your +grub and camping truck? Shucks! An old-time prospector might make it; +you could not. You've got to lie up at the trapper's shack until we look +about. Maybe we can fix it to ship you out of the mountains on board a +construction train that sometimes runs down to a station on the Calgary +side. Well, let's make our packs and catch the horse."</p> + +<p>They got to work and after the horse was caught, Peter turned back to +the house, but Jimmy stopped. "I must talk to Margaret for a few +minutes," he said.</p> + +<p>Margaret came out to him. Her look was quiet but he knew her resolute.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>"When dinner's over, Peter and I must start," he said. "You refused to +go to the Mission. I want to know what this implies."</p> + +<p>Margaret gave him a level glance. "Isn't it plain, Jimmy? You know my +father, and now you have met my relations. They are not your sort."</p> + +<p>"So far as I know, they're a remarkably good sort," Jimmy rejoined. +"Besides, in a way, I am their sort. My grandfather was a mill hand; my +father borrowed a small sum, and started with cheap machinery to spin +cotton at a little old-fashioned mill. He was frugal and laborious; in +fact, he prospered because he had your bushman's qualities. I have +loafed and squandered, but after a time I felt I'd had enough and began +to see I'd inherited something from the people who made Leyland's go. +Then, if we must talk about our relations, you don't know my uncle Dick. +Well, I've stated something like this before, but it's my reply to your +argument."</p> + +<p>"But you mean to go back to Lancashire, and when you marry your wife +ought——"</p> + +<p>"To begin with, I doubt if the police will allow me to go back. Then, if +I can't get you, I don't want a wife!"</p> + +<p>"Yet, not very long since, it looked as if you might be satisfied with +Miss Stannard."</p> + +<p>The blood came to Jimmy's skin, and to conquer his embarrassment was +hard.</p> + +<p>"I don't think you're kind. Well, I'm young and, until I met Stannard, I +was very raw. All I knew was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> the cotton mill, and I expect Laura +carried me away. But I was not altogether a fool; Laura Stannard is a +charming girl. The obstacle was, she saw I was not the man for her. Then +I did not know you."</p> + +<p>Margaret smiled, but her smile was gentle. "Perhaps I was not kind. +You're stanch and my experiment was shabby."</p> + +<p>"Your remark was justified. Anyhow, it's not important. If I can cheat +the police and get back to Lancashire, will you marry me, Margaret?"</p> + +<p>For a few moments Margaret was quiet. Then she said in a steady voice: +"Your cheating the police would not persuade me; in fact, somehow I +think they will find out you had nothing to do with the warden's getting +shot. The obstacle's not there. You are young, Jimmy, and you admitted +you were carried away."</p> + +<p>"One cannot carry you away," Jimmy rejoined.</p> + +<p>"I must think for you and for myself," said Margaret and Jimmy's heart +beat, because he saw her calm was forced. "Suppose your trustees did not +approve your marrying a girl from the bush?"</p> + +<p>"Dick Leyland might not approve; his habit's to be nasty, but mine's not +to bother about Dick. Sir Jim is head of the house and he's human. I +can't picture his not being altogether satisfied with you."</p> + +<p>"But you don't know!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy pondered. Margaret's firmness baffled him, but, from her point of +view, he saw she took the proper line. All the same, it cost her +something; she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> highly strung, her color came and went, and her +tight mouth was significant. The trouble was, he dared not urge her very +hard. In the meantime, he must hide from the police and might be sent to +the chain-gang.</p> + +<p>"I want you, my dear," he said. "I'm selfish. If you marry me, I run no +risk, but you may run some. My drawbacks are rather numerous, +particularly just now."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Margaret. "When you come back from the mountains, I +may perhaps agree. But your relations must approve and I don't yet +engage——"</p> + +<p>Jimmy advanced, but she stepped back and stopped him. Then he turned and +saw Mrs. Jardine wave to them from the stoop.</p> + +<p>Dinner was a melancholy function, and Jimmy thought his hosts disturbed. +They were Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to help, +but he pictured Mrs. Jardine's weighing the risk. Then he was bothered +about Margaret, for Peter's confidence that his wife could bluff the +police if they arrived before he returned did not banish his doubts.</p> + +<p>At length Mrs. Jardine got up and Peter and Jimmy went to load the +horse. By and by the rancher ran back for some tobacco and Jimmy moodily +fastened the pack-rope. Stooping by the horse, he thought he heard a +step, but did not look up, and a few moments afterwards he felt a hand +on his shoulder. Then an arm went around his neck and Margaret turned +his head and kissed him. He tried to seize her, but she slipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> away +and stopped a yard or two off. Jimmy thrilled and his eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p>"Now I know when I come back you won't refuse me."</p> + +<p>"You don't know; I don't know," Margaret replied in a trembling voice. +"All the same, I love you, and you're going away——"</p> + +<p>Peter and Mrs. Jardine came out. The rancher seized the bridle and +called to the horse. Jimmy lifted his battered hat and they started +across the clearing.</p> + +<p>Three days afterwards, they stopped at a small stone hut, built against +the bottom of a great rock. On one side dark pines rolled up to the +walls, and a hundred yards off one could hardly see the pile of stones +was a building. Yet the small room was rudely furnished and the earth +floor was dry. They cut some wood, made a fire, and cooked food, and +after the meal lighted their pipes.</p> + +<p>"You have got an ax and a rifle, but if you run out of grub, Graham, the +section-hand on the railroad will put me wise," said Peter. "Tom's a +white man and his post's not far from the spot we crossed the line. The +trapper who lived here is dead and I reckon nobody but Tom and me knows +about the shack."</p> + +<p>"I expect I've got all I want, but I'm bothered about Margaret."</p> + +<p>"You don't want to bother. In the meantime, Margaret's my wife's sister +from Calgary. That's good enough for the police, and anyhow the Royal +North-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>West aren't city patrolmen. They reckon they're highbrow frontier +cavalry and I guess the trooper won't allow a girl held him up. You'll +stay put, until we see if we can ship you out with the construction boys +to the Calgary side. If that plan won't go, we'll push across the range +for the big park valley and try to run you south. I think that's all; +but if you want to send a letter to your friends, Graham will mail it +for you."</p> + +<p>After a time Peter knocked out his pipe and Jimmy went with him to the +door. When the rancher vanished in the woods and all was quiet Jimmy +leaned against the post and gave himself to gloomy thought.</p> + +<p>It began to get dark. The snow-veined rocks melted in the mist and the +pines were vague and black. In the distance a timber wolf howled and the +long mournful note emphasized the dreariness. In the rocks where Jimmy +hid at the beginning he had Deering's society and at the ranch he had +Margaret's and Jardine's. Now he was altogether alone in the savage +wilds. Going back to the fire, he threw on fresh wood, and although he +was not keen about smoking, lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE CALL</span></h2> + + +<p>Jimmy fastened his skin coat, and going to the door of the section-man's +hut, looked up the track. The railroad and an angry river occupied the +bottom of the gorge, but the water was low and a rapid throbbed on a +dull note. Jimmy knew its slack beat was ominous; the frost had stopped +the streams that not long since leaped out from the glaciers.</p> + +<p>He shivered, for the cold was keen and the coat he had got at Green Lake +was old. Besides, he was tired; he had started before daybreak from his +shack, but when he reached the railroad the moon was on the rocks. In +the shadow, the snow that streaked the mountain-side was blue; across +the gorge broken crags shone like polished steel and the small pines +growing in the cracks sparkled with frost. Not far off, a dark hole in a +slanted white bank indicated the mouth of a snow shed, but Jimmy knew +the stones and snow had come down the hill.</p> + +<p>When he looked up, his view on one side was cut by the top of a +precipice; it was like looking up from a deep pit. Farther along the +gorge, the rocks got indistinct and melted in the moon's pale +reflections. No track but the railroad pierced the mountains, although +the wide chain was broken by narrow valleys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> running north and south. +Jimmy had come up the line from the valley he occupied, and by another +some distance off one could reach Green Lake. The nearest station was +twelve miles away, at the end of Graham's section.</p> + +<p>Jimmy had arrived half an hour since, but had not found Graham, although +his stove was burning. Peter Jardine had stated he could trust the man, +who had begun to clear a ranch at Green Lake but had stopped when his +money was gone. In the mountains, ranching is a slow and laborious job, +and men whose means are small are forced at times to follow another +occupation.</p> + +<p>By and by a lantern twinkled at the mouth of the snow shed and a man +came up the track.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said. "I've got some news and wondered if you'd blow in, but +I wanted to take a look at the rock-cut before the freight comes +through. Did you make supper?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy said he had cooked some flapjacks, although he felt he ought to +wait until his host arrived.</p> + +<p>"Shucks!" remarked Graham. "Jardine's my neighbor and he allows you're +his friend. But the cold's fierce. Let's get in."</p> + +<p>They sat down by the stove and for a minute or two Jimmy was content to +warm himself and smoke. At the shack he had no light but the fire and +the long evenings were dreary. All the same, he was disturbed and with +something of an effort he said, "Well?"</p> + +<p>"Two troopers got off the west-bound at the depot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> and my partner, +Tellson, allowed they brought a lot of truck. Looks as if they meant to +stop around and search the neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Jimmy. "I expect they know I'm about! Did they bring their +horses?"</p> + +<p>"Tellson saw no horses. If the boys were going to Green Lake, they could +ride. Besides, the other outfit went there not long since."</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. He knew the police had not bothered Margaret and he must +think for himself. The troopers not bringing their horses was ominous, +since it indicated that they were going to push into the mountains. The +valley in which he hid did not open to the track; to reach it one must +climb a mountain spur, but he imagined the police meant to climb. If +they found the mouth of the valley, they might reach the shack before he +knew, and if he got away, he must take the snowy rocks.</p> + +<p>"I expect Jardine hasn't yet arranged to send me out on board a train?" +he said.</p> + +<p>"Peter was trying to fix it; he had to wait until he met a construction +boss he knows; but he can't fix it now. The police will stop the gangs +and tally up the boys."</p> + +<p>"If they come down the line, to find out where I am won't take them +long."</p> + +<p>"Your chances don't look very good," Graham agreed. "If you could cross +the range to the park valley, you might get away south, but I doubt if +you could make it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>Jimmy said nothing. He imagined Deering stated the range had been +climbed by some city members of the Canadian Alpine Club; but they, no +doubt, took packers to carry supplies and went when the snow-line was +high. For a lonely man to venture on the icy rocks was ridiculous. After +a few minutes Graham pulled out his watch.</p> + +<p>"The freight's making good time and when she's gone I must go up the +track to the piece the boys underpinned," he said. "I reckon I'll be +away an hour and you had better go to bed."</p> + +<p>Jimmy heard a rumble and went with Graham to the door. To watch the +great train come down the gorge would for a few minutes banish his +gloomy thoughts. Up the track, a streak of silver light touched the +rocks and trees. The speeding beam got brighter, and by and by dazzling +radiance flooded the gorge. The ground began to shake, harsh, clanging +echoes rolled across the rocks; one heard the big cars jolt and the roar +of wheels. Then black smoke swirled about the hut and the beam was gone. +In the dark, the banging cars rushed by, a blaze touched the snow shed +and went out, and the turmoil died away.</p> + +<p>Graham picked up his lantern and Jimmy went back to the stove. Lighting +his pipe, he pulled out Stannard's map and began to ponder. It was +obvious he must not stay long at the trapper's shack. Since the police +watched the neighborhood, he could not get food, and when they found the +way to the valley he would be driven back into the mountains. In fact, +he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> felt he ought to try for freedom now before his line of retreat was +cut, but he was tired and did not see where he could go.</p> + +<p>There was no use in stealing off along the track, because the station +agents were, no doubt, warned to look out for him. If he started before +daybreak, he might perhaps reach the trail to Green Lake, but Peter had +already run some risk for him and Margaret was at her cousin's. To go to +Green Lake would put the police on her track.</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied Stannard's map. Across the mountains behind the shack, the +park valley ran southeast and from its other end one could perhaps reach +the plains and the United States. Graham had stated Jimmy could not +cross the range, but Graham was not a mountaineer. Stannard was a +mountaineer and could get supplies and packers. Then Stannard was his +friend and perhaps owed him something.</p> + +<p>The adventure was daunting, but Jimmy resolved to try it. He must for a +few days risk stopping at the shack, and pulling out a blank-book, he +wrote a note. Graham would send the note and Stannard would, no doubt, +start soon after it arrived. Then Jimmy thought he ought to let Margaret +know his plans and he wrote another note. Putting the envelopes on a +shelf, he got into Graham's bunk.</p> + +<p>When Jimmy's note arrived at the hotel Stannard was at dinner. For the +most part, the guests had gone, but Mrs. Dillon had returned with Frank +and Laura, and a young man had joined the party. Stevens be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>longed to +the Canadian Alpine Club, and knowing about Stannard's exploits, had +cultivated his society.</p> + +<p>Stannard took the soiled envelope from the page and noted it had not a +stamp.</p> + +<p>"Who brought the letter?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A freight brakesman gave it to our porter at the station."</p> + +<p>Stannard put down the envelope and resumed his dinner, but Laura said, +"The hand is Jimmy's. Aren't you curious?"</p> + +<p>"I am curious, anyhow," Dillon declared, and Mrs. Dillon looked up, for +she knew something about Jimmy's adventures.</p> + +<p>"If you want to read your letter, do so," she said to Stannard.</p> + +<p>Stannard opened the envelope and Laura remarked his thoughtful look. She +took the note from him and after a moment or two gave it Dillon.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible for Jimmy to get across?" Dillon asked.</p> + +<p>"I frankly don't know," said Stannard and turned to Stevens. "A young +friend of ours wants to try a rather bold exploit; he thinks he can +cross the Cedar Range and I could help. In summer, I wouldn't hesitate. +To venture on the snow-fields now is another thing."</p> + +<p>Stevens's eyes sparkled. He was young and enthusiastic, and to climb +with a mountaineer like Stannard was something to talk about.</p> + +<p>"Although I haven't long joined the club, sir, I went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> with Gordon when +he explored the Cascades from Rawden. If you go, I'd like to join you."</p> + +<p>"I don't yet know if I'll go or not," said Stannard and resumed his +dinner.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dillon touched Laura. She was a large and rather quiet lady and not +marked by much refinement, but she was kind and sometimes firm.</p> + +<p>"I want to see that note," she said.</p> + +<p>Laura looked at Stannard and gave her the note.</p> + +<p>"The poor young man. He's surely up against it!" she exclaimed. "I like +Jimmy. If I was a mountain clubman, I'd feel I'd got a call."</p> + +<p>Stannard said nothing and Laura was quiet. She was disturbed about +Jimmy, but she knew her father. Besides, she thought Stevens curious. By +and by she looked at Dillon, who began to talk about something else.</p> + +<p>When dinner was over Mrs. Dillon joined another lady and Stannard went +off. Laura and Dillon remained at the table and Stevens saw they did not +want his society. He went away and Laura asked: "Do you think Jimmy can +escape?"</p> + +<p>"If he stops at his hut, I expect the police will get him," Dillon +replied.</p> + +<p>Laura frowned and looked about. The table was decorated by flowers from +the coast, and the electric light was reflected by good china and glass. +In the background were polished hardwood panels and carved pillars. The +spacious room was warm; all struck a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> note of luxurious refinement, but +Laura thought about Jimmy, cut off from his supplies, in the snow.</p> + +<p>Had Jimmy gone back to Lancashire, she admitted she might have married +him. He had refused and for a time his obstinacy had hurt, but she was +not revengeful and, since she had rather weighed his advantages than +loved him, she could let it go. She liked Jimmy and was moved by a +gentle sentimental tenderness.</p> + +<p>"Are you willing to help Jimmy, Frank?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, of course! I thought you knew I mean to help," Dillon declared. +"Perhaps I was jealous about Jimmy, but now I'm sorry for him. All the +same, your father puzzles me. He's not keen."</p> + +<p>"I expect he knows the risk," said Laura thoughtfully, for Stannard's +hesitation was obvious. "Since he must lead the party, he feels he ought +not to be rash. Then if Jimmy got away across the mountains, I expect +the police would make you all accountable."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, the job is awkward, although I expect we could put it over. +Suppose we look for Mr. Stannard?"</p> + +<p>Stannard was in the rotunda, and when Laura and Dillon advanced he +smiled.</p> + +<p>"You are young and romantic, but I am not. When one gets old one uses +caution."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if I am romantic, but I think Mrs. Dillon did not exaggerate," +Laura rejoined. "Jimmy is our friend and trusts us. His note is a call."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes deafness is not a drawback. I own I'd sooner not hear the +call."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>"But you mean to go?"</p> + +<p>"It looks as if I might be forced. Frank's resolve is rather obvious," +said Stannard with a resigned shrug.</p> + +<p>Dillon gave him a keen glance. Somehow he felt Stannard did mean to go, +but wanted to be forced. Frank thought it strange.</p> + +<p>"I feel we ought to help, and now Deering is not about, nobody but you +can lead us."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "Very well, but if +we are going, we must start soon. We want packers to carry food and a +tent as far as possible, and I'd like a good mountaineer to help on the +rocks. The hotel guides are gone, but I expect the clerk knows where to +find them."</p> + +<p>"Grant lives at Calgary."</p> + +<p>"I think the fellow I want's at Revelstoke and he could get the train +that arrives in the morning," said Stannard, and pulled out his watch. +"We can send a night-letter and needn't use economy. I'll telephone the +station agent and give him the message."</p> + +<p>Frank knew Grant of Calgary was a good mountaineer, but he said nothing +and Stannard gave Laura a smile.</p> + +<p>"I expect you are satisfied."</p> + +<p>"You're as noble as I thought," said Laura. "I knew why you hesitated +and it wasn't for yourself. But I knew you would go."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DEERING TAKES THE TRAIL</span></h2> + + +<p>Stannard was marked by a superficial languidness. Strangers thought him +careless and his humorous tranquillity had charm. For all that, when +speed was important he moved fast and after he telephoned to the station +he got to work. He packed rucksacks for his companions, got ropes and +ice-axes, and arranged with the hotel cook to put up a supply of food. +Then he sent a messenger for two or three half-breeds who carried loads +for fishing parties. Stevens helped and admitted that Stannard knew his +job. All he did was carefully thought about.</p> + +<p>After some time Dillon joined them and Stannard said, "It's awkward, but +Willmer at Revelstoke is engaged. However, he states he can send us a +useful man and we are to meet him at the station. He'll come by the +train in the morning and we'll get on board. We ought to reach the +railroad hut Jimmy talks about by dark and if the night is clear we'll +push on."</p> + +<p>"If the police are about the station where we get off, they may stop +us."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," Stannard agreed. "Still they don't know our object and +we must persuade them we are mountaineering tourists. Boast about your +climbing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> and the Canadian Alpine Club; Stevens knows their exploits. +All the same, I imagine the police are in the mountains. Well, your sack +is packed, and when you have got your snow-spectacles and the grease for +your skin, we'll stop for a smoke."</p> + +<p>In the morning the half-breed packers arrived and soon afterwards all +were ready to start. The hotel servants and three or four guests came to +see them go, but when the others strapped on their loads Stannard joined +Laura on the steps.</p> + +<p>"Well, we are going to Jimmy's help," he said with a smile. "Frank is +very keen, but as far as possible I'll try to see he does nothing rash. +To know your marriage is fixed is some comfort."</p> + +<p>Laura looked up quickly. Although Stannard's smile was kind, she was +vaguely disturbed.</p> + +<p>"When Frank wanted the wedding soon I thought you agreed rather easily. +I was satisfied to stay with you for some time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Stannard. "I'm afraid I haven't carried out my duties. +I'm a careless fellow and feel my daughter does not owe me much. +Although you have grown up beautiful and attractive, Nature and your +aunts are accountable. Then, you see, I'm getting old, and +mountaineering is my hobby. Sometimes one slips on an icy rock—"</p> + +<p>"You mustn't talk like that; it hurts," said Laura with a touch of +emotion. "You gave me all I asked for; you have always indulged me. Then +I urged you to go, and now I feel I ought not to urge. To be gen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>erous +in my way costs one nothing. I shall not venture on the rocks; I send +you."</p> + +<p>Stannard laughed, but Laura, studying him, was moved. Her father was +handsome and wore the stamp of high cultivation. Although he was not +young, he carried himself like an athlete. She knew his strength and +pluck and his gentleness to her. Now she thought him fine and +chivalrous.</p> + +<p>"You follow your heart," he said and kissed her. Then he pulled out his +watch. "But I must not be selfish and Frank is waiting."</p> + +<p>Dillon advanced and Stannard resumed: "Youth is romantic and sometimes +exaggerates. Laura imagines her generosity and yours accounts for my +starting on our adventure. Well, perhaps I'm slow and cautious, but now +and then one recaptures a touch of one's boyish rashness. However, I +mustn't philosophize. We must get off in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"I'll join you on the trail," said Dillon, who remarked that Stannard +implied that he hesitated to go. Stannard had said something like that +before, as if he wanted others to note that the plan was not his. All +the same, it was not important, and Dillon took Laura's hand.</p> + +<p>Five minutes afterwards the party started. The packers carried the heavy +loads, the others the ice-axes, and Stevens and Stannard wore round +their shoulders coils of Alpine rope. Where the trail turned they +stopped for a moment and waved their hats, and then vanished in the +trees.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>Some time afterwards Laura saw a plume of black smoke roll across the +pines and stole off to her room. She did not want Mrs. Dillon's comfort. +Her father and her lover had started for the rocks, and if they paid for +their rashness, she was accountable.</p> + +<p>In the morning she got a jar, for a sergeant of the Royal North-West +Police arrived at the hotel. He was polite but firm, and Laura saw she +must brace up. Mrs. Dillon had gone with her to the rotunda and to know +she had her help was some comfort.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stannard started for the mountains yesterday," the sergeant +remarked. "He took a quantity of camp truck and two of your friends. +Where did he go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't altogether know his line," Laura replied. "When you climb high +mountains you cannot make fixed plans. Much depends on the snow."</p> + +<p>"Well, I expect Mr. Stannard stated where he meant to start?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," said Mrs. Dillon. "He'd get off at the Green River +depot."</p> + +<p>The sergeant remarked her frankness, but thought she saw some frankness +was indicated, because for him to find out where the party had got off +was not hard.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Mr. Stannard's object? Our clubmen go for the rocks in +summer. His starting now was strange."</p> + +<p>Laura lifted her head and her look was proud. She thought she could play +up and the fellow must not imagine Stannard had gone to Jimmy's help.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>"My father is not a Canadian clubman. He's a famous Alpine mountaineer +and can go where others cannot."</p> + +<p>"Our boys are pretty smart," said the sergeant, smiling. "But are all +Mr. Stannard's party expert mountaineers? Mr. Stevens, for example? And +Mr. Frank Dillon?"</p> + +<p>"My son," said Mrs. Dillon, who saw the other had talked to the hotel +clerk. "Frank knows something about the rocks and belongs to a club that +explores the Olympian range. We're Americans."</p> + +<p>The sergeant bowed politely, but she resumed: "Mr. Stannard's English, +all the lot are tourists and I sure can't see what the Canadian police +have to do with their going off to climb your rocks. You're not going to +draw strangers to the country if you bother them like that."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes the police's duty is awkward," said the sergeant in an +apologetic voice.</p> + +<p>"The police have not much grounds to inquire about my father's +excursion," Laura remarked haughtily. "When he killed the big-horn he +did not know he poached on a game reserve, but he paid the fine and it +is done with."</p> + +<p>The sergeant saw her eyes sparkled and she was not playing a part. She +did not know all he knew, and he must not enlighten her.</p> + +<p>"Not long since Mr. Stannard went shooting with the pit-light, which is +not allowed, and the game-warden was shot."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>"My father did not shoot the warden; he stayed and helped the police."</p> + +<p>"Three of his party pulled out," the sergeant rejoined. "Maybe Mr. +Leyland could put us wise about the shooting and we reckoned Mr. +Stannard knows where he is."</p> + +<p>"Then you must wait for his return. If you found his track, I don't +suppose you could follow him on the rocks."</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, you're resolved not to help us hit his track?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know his track," Laura replied.</p> + +<p>The sergeant went off. He had talked to the hotel clerk, and although he +had not found out much from Laura, he had found out something. The girl +was persuaded Stannard had gone to help Leyland, and the sergeant +thought his plan really was to help the young fellow get away. In fact, +the sergeant thought he saw Stannard's object for doing so.</p> + +<p>Laura, however, was disturbed. She was anxious for Jimmy and knew the +risks Stannard ran in the mountains, but she imagined she had baffled +the sergeant and she resigned herself to wait for news.</p> + +<p>When the next train for the coast rolled across the pass Deering was on +board a first-class car. He was dressed like a city sportsman, but his +clothes were thick and his shooting jacket was lined with sheepskin, for +Deering knew the wilds. When he went to Vancouver his movements +interested the police, but at Calgary they left him alone, and nothing +indicated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> that they now bothered where he went. Deering thought it +strange, unless they knew something he did not.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, he was occupied by another subject. Although he meant +to see Jimmy out, he had frankly no use for hiding much longer at the +ranch. Jimmy must be smuggled across the boundary to the United States +and Deering weighed a plan.</p> + +<p>When he got down at the station he meant to push on for Jardine's, but +Kelshope was some distance off and he resolved to stop at the hotel. He +had been for some time at Calgary and Stannard would perhaps know if +Jimmy was all right. The clerk sent for Laura and by and by she came +down. She gave Deering a cold glance, but he had long known her +antagonism.</p> + +<p>"You cannot see my father. He and Frank are in the mountains," she said.</p> + +<p>Deering knitted his brows. When winter had begun one did not start for +the rocks for nothing.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if the police have found out Jimmy was at his ranch."</p> + +<p>"Then, Jimmy was at the ranch? We didn't know; he did not come to see +us. I expect you stopped him!"</p> + +<p>"You don't trust me, Miss Laura. Still you ought to see Jimmy dared not +come to the hotel."</p> + +<p>"I did not think you a proper friend for Jimmy and Frank."</p> + +<p>Deering smiled. He knew he was a better friend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> of Jimmy's than +Stannard, but he said, "Oh, well; perhaps it's not important. Anyhow, +Jimmy trusts me, and I mustn't let him down. You imply he's not at the +ranch?"</p> + +<p>Laura told him about Jimmy's note, and he inquired about Stannard's +plans. When she had satisfied his curiosity his look was thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Stannard will send back the packers at the bottom of the rocks," he +remarked. "Has he got a guide?"</p> + +<p>"He could not engage the guide he wanted. Another man about whom I don't +think he knew much was sent."</p> + +<p>"Your father needs a useful man. Jimmy's steady on an awkward pitch, but +sometimes he's rash. The others are raw boys. It looks as if I've got to +hit the trail."</p> + +<p>"Frank is not a boy, and my father is a famous climber," Laura rejoined. +"If he cannot cross the mountains, do you think it's possible for you? +Then you ought to have started before. The police have followed Jimmy +for some time and I think another party set off yesterday."</p> + +<p>Deering thought to embarrass him gave her some satisfaction, but he +smiled.</p> + +<p>"I know you're not my friend, Miss Laura, and I must try to be resigned. +All the same, unless you put me wise, it may be awkward for Jimmy. What +about the last lot of police?"</p> + +<p>She told him and he bowed. "Thank you! I'll get off."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>"But the sergeant is in front of you and there is not a train."</p> + +<p>"The police are pretty smart, but I've known them bluffed," Deering +remarked. "Then the station agent and another fellow talked about a +construction train's going up the line. I've traveled on board a +calaboose before."</p> + +<p>Laura hesitated, and then gave him her hand. "After all, I think you +want to help, and if you agree to leave Frank alone—"</p> + +<p>"I rather think you don't know your power," Deering rejoined with a +twinkle. "Frank is well guarded from all my wiles. In fact, I'm willing +to give you best."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Laura, "perhaps I was not just."</p> + +<p>He went off and Laura mused. She had not liked Deering. He was a gambler +and exploited the extravagance of rich young men. Yet Frank trusted the +fellow and she began to doubt if her antagonism were altogether +warranted. For one thing, Deering was stanch, and his pluck was rather +fine. Her father had started with a well-equipped party; Deering went +alone, and when he got to Green Lake must baffle the police. Then she +liked his humorous politeness. He knew she doubted him, but he was not +revengeful. On the whole, she thought when she gave him her hand she +took the proper line.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">DEERING'S PROGRESS</span></h2> + + +<p>Soon after Deering started from the hotel he met Jardine. Deering knew +the shrewd Canadian Scots and thought the rancher a man to trust. +Moreover he had not yet got all the light he wanted. Jardine was on foot +and Deering said, "Hello! It's a long hike to Kelshope. Where's your +horse?"</p> + +<p>"Margaret's got the cayuse at Green Lake. D'ye no' ken?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know," said Deering. "But you're coming from the station. When +do they expect the construction train?"</p> + +<p>"She stopped doon the track for the boys to fix some rails. The operator +was grumbling because she'd no' get through till dark and he'd got to +block the line for the Kamloops freight."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Deering, "since I want to get on board the calaboose, +perhaps her stopping in the dark is not a drawback. But what about Miss +Margaret's going to Green Lake?"</p> + +<p>Jardine looked at him rather hard. "I alloo ye're Mr. Leyland's friend?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing!" said Deering. "Jimmy reckons you his friend. Well, I want +to know how he got away."</p> + +<p>Jardine told him and Deering pondered. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> undertaken an awkward +job, and since he saw some obstacles, he resolved to give the rancher +his confidence. Among the trees the frost was not keen and the sun was +on the road. Deering indicated a spruce log and pulled out some cigars.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we take a smoke and talk," he said, and when Jardine lighted a +cigar resumed: "Won't Miss Margaret's shooting the fellow's horse make +trouble for her?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon not," said Jardine, who had heard the trooper's statement, and +when he got a note from Margaret remarked that the narratives did not +agree. "I'm thinking the boys dinna mean to pit it on Margaret and the +trooper's no' altogether prood."</p> + +<p>"It's possible. But why didn't <i>you</i> put Jimmy wise?"</p> + +<p>"I'd cut my foot chopping, a day or two before."</p> + +<p>Deering rather doubted if Jardine's cutting his foot accounted for all, +but he said, "Let's talk straight! I suppose Miss Margaret is going to +marry Leyland?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe, but I dinna ken. Jimmy wanted to marry her."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Deering. "I'll tell you all I know."</p> + +<p>He narrated his interview with Laura and Stannard's going to Jimmy's +help. Jardine's look got thoughtful and sometimes he frowned. When +Deering stopped he said, "Ye dinna trust Stannard! Ye'd sooner Jimmy +hadna gone across the rocks wi' him?"</p> + +<p>"I would sooner he had not," Deering agreed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> "Jimmy trusts Stannard, +the others are tenderfoots, and I understand they have not a first-class +guide."</p> + +<p>"The man they've got is no' a mountain guide ava; Gillane's a packer on +the Government surveys. But I dinna see much light yet. Jimmy owes +Stannard a guid sum."</p> + +<p>"Leyland insured his life in Stannard's favor and Stannard wants money. +Well, I'm going up the line with the construction gang to follow the +party's trail."</p> + +<p>Jardine got up and his look was very grim. "Just that! I'll join ye."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said Deering. "Your part's to go to Green River depot +afterwards and watch out. I expect you're a good bushman, but this is a +job for a first-class mountaineer. Besides, you cut your foot!"</p> + +<p>Jardine gave him a keen glance, but Deering resumed. "You see, I must +hit up the pace and can't boost you along. Can I hire a young man, a +prospector if possible, at Green River?"</p> + +<p>The other's arguments did not move him and by and by Jardine resigned +himself to stay behind.</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking my nephew, Peter, is the man ye want. Whiles he goes to +the depot for his groceries and mail. The storekeeper will ken if he's +aboot. Ye can tell Peter I sent ye to him."</p> + +<p>After a few minutes Deering went off, but he went slowly and did not +keep the road to the station. Joining the line two or three miles down +the valley, he found a track-grader's tool hut and went in and smoked. +The hut was cold, but Deering's fur coat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> was thick and good. When dusk +began to fall he walked along the track and stopped three or four +hundred yards from the station.</p> + +<p>By and by a light twinkled like a star in the gloom of the woods. A +steady throb rolled up the valley, and presently Deering distinguished a +locomotive's measured snorts and the rumble of wheels. The star was now +a dazzling moon, and its reflections picked out, far in advance, +glittering rails and frost-spangled trees. When the locomotive was level +with Deering he began to run up the line, and soon after the train +stopped he got behind the last car.</p> + +<p>He knew the company's rules, but he knew something about train-gangs, +and he had ready a few dollar bills. Although the station agent did not +see him get on board, when the train rolled up the track he occupied a +box in front of the calaboose stove. The men gave him supper, and when +he had drained a can of strong coffee he pulled out some cards and +showed how an expert puzzled his antagonists.</p> + +<p>Cold draughts swept the rocking calaboose, the stove roared, and one +smelt locomotive smoke. Labored snorts echoed in the rocks, couplings +rang, and when the train sped across a bridge the roll of wheels drowned +Deering's voice. Deering smiled and waited for the noise to stop. He had +undertaken a daunting job and was bothered about Jimmy, but in the +meantime he owed something to his hosts and he played up. Although +Deering had some drawbacks, his rule was to play up.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>A number of the men had long studied cards and could bluff on a poor +hand. Three or four won regularly some part of their companions' wages, +but they knew a master's touch and for a time Deering held the group. +Then he lighted his pipe and began to talk about something else. He +found out that the train ran between a gravel pit and Green River. The +men were filling up a trestle and cutting out an awkward curve.</p> + +<p>"Have they got a hotel at the settlement?" Deering inquired.</p> + +<p>"They've no use for a hotel at Green River. Sometimes a rancher comes in +for his mail and a survey party jumps off. I guess that's all. You can +stop at the post office. The man who keeps it runs a small store."</p> + +<p>"Nothing much doing yet," Deering remarked. "Do the mounted policemen +come to the settlement?"</p> + +<p>A big shovel-man laughed. "They're getting busy around Green River. Two +lots came in not long since and a trooper's there now, but he won't +bother you. Looks as if he was sent to watch out for somebody who wanted +to <i>get on</i> the train."</p> + +<p>"Then, you reckon they're after somebody in the rocks?" said Deering +carelessly.</p> + +<p>"That's so," another agreed. "I wouldn't bet much on the fellow's +chance! When we ran up with the last load, a police outfit was starting +for the range. Three or four troopers and a pack-horse. They'd loaded up +some truck."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>"Oh, well," said Deering. "The Royal North-West are smart boys, but I've +known them beat. However, I've been for some time on the road and think +I'll go to bed. Can somebody give me a bunk?"</p> + +<p>They gave him a bunk, and for an hour or two he slept; he knew it might +be long before he slept warm again. When he awoke the locomotive bell +was tolling and the roll of wheels was getting slack. The calaboose was +very cold, and Deering, jumping from his bunk, went to the open door.</p> + +<p>In front a fire burned by a water tank and the beam from the headlamp +flickered across a small clearing and touched a wooden house. Farther +off, a big blast-lamp threw up a pillar of flame. The light tossed and +for a few moments all was shadowy. Then the strong illumination leaped +up again, and Deering saw a man who carried a short rifle walk along the +line. He knew the Royal North-West uniform.</p> + +<p>Deering picked up his fur coat and hesitated. In the mountains one must +wear proper clothes and the coat was good, but unless he could cheat the +trooper he might not reach the mountains. He touched the man who had +given him the bunk.</p> + +<p>"I'll trade my coat and cap for yours."</p> + +<p>The fellow's skin coat and cap were old, and he looked at Deering with +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to trade? A track-grader doesn't buy Revillon furs."</p> + +<p>Deering indicated the trooper. "The policeman might calculate something +like that, but I expect he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> knows you belong to the gang. You are going +to dump some rails and for half an hour I want a job."</p> + +<p>"Now I get you!" said the other.</p> + +<p>He pulled off his shabby coat, and when the train stopped and Deering +jumped down nothing distinguished him from the construction gang. +Climbing on to a flat car, he joined the men who threw down the rails, +and presently saw the trooper stop the fellow who wore his coat and cap. +He did not know how the railroad man accounted for his wearing good +furs, but he was obviously a track-grader and after a few moments the +trooper let him go. Then the train rolled up the line and Deering stayed +with the men who moved the rails.</p> + +<p>By and by the trooper walked past the gang, glanced at the men +carelessly, and, turning back, vanished in the gloom. Deering thought +him satisfied nobody but the track-graders was about, and soon +afterwards he started for the house. So far, he had trusted his luck, +but he wanted help and must get food. Moreover, he must not excite the +storekeeper's curiosity.</p> + +<p>A clump of pines cut the illumination up the track. Sometimes when the +blast-lamp's flame leaped up, bright reflections touched the house, but +for the most part, the ground in front was dark. When Deering was near +the door, a man came out and stopped for a few moments. Deering thought +him a rancher and when he went down the steps met him at the bottom.</p> + +<p>"Can I buy some flour and groceries?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"You might," said the other and looked at Deering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> as if he thought the +inquiry strange. "Why do you want groceries? Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>Deering saw something must be risked and when a risk must be run he did +not hesitate.</p> + +<p>"If I can find the trail, I'm going up the valley. Peter Jardine has a +ranch at the lake, I think?"</p> + +<p>"That's so," said the other. "I'm Peter Jardine!"</p> + +<p>Deering laughed. His luck had not turned and when the reflections from +the blast-lamp touched the rancher's face he thought he had got the +proper man.</p> + +<p>"Then, as soon as you can get me some groceries, I'll start for the +rocks. Your uncle sent me along and stated you would help. You see, I'm +Jimmy Leyland's partner and Miss Margaret's friend."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Peter, "you're Deering? Well, the police are after Jimmy. For +some days two troopers hunted for his tracks and then a sergeant and +another came in on the train and started off as if they knew where he +was. In the meantime, a sports outfit hit the trail, but I didn't meet +up with them. I made the station in the afternoon and didn't know what I +ought to do. In fact, when you came along, I was wondering if I'd pull +out for the ranch."</p> + +<p>"You're coming with me. I don't want to boast, but I'm a mountain +clubman and on the rocks I reckon I can beat the police."</p> + +<p>"But Jimmy's friends got off in front of the troopers."</p> + +<p>"There's the trouble; they're not all his friends," Deering rejoined. +"On the whole, I'd sooner the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> police got him than he crossed the range +with the other lot. But we'll talk about this again. When can you +start?"</p> + +<p>"I can start as soon as my horse is loaded up, but we have got to bluff +the policeman. He mustn't see us take the mountain trail. Well, I've +pork and flour and groceries. Have you got all you want?"</p> + +<p>"I want a Hudson's Bay blanket and a pack-rope," said Deering and gave +Peter a roll of bills. "Then you had better buy a frying-pan and +grub-hoe."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Go ahead up the trail across the clearing and wait for me by +the creek," said Peter and returned to the store.</p> + +<p>After a time he rejoined Deering and tied his loaded horse to a branch.</p> + +<p>"The storekeeper knows I hit the Green Lake trail, and we don't want the +cayuse. When we have sorted out the truck we need, he'll make the ranch +all right. Light the lantern and we'll fix our packs."</p> + +<p>Deering lighted the lantern and after a few minutes strapped a bag of +food on his back. He pushed his folded blanket through the straps, gave +Peter the rope, and picked up the grub-hoe, a Canadian digging tool very +like a mountaineer's ice-ax. Then they put out the light, let the horse +go, and went back quietly to the railroad. Nobody was about, and +stealing across the line, they plunged into the gloom.</p> + +<p>"My luck's good," said Deering. "When I think about all we're up +against, I sure want it good."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">A DISSOLVING PICTURE</span></h2> + + +<p>After a time Deering stopped and looked about. The stones on the river +bank were large and sharp, the night was dark, and his load embarrassed +him. In the distance, he saw a small red fire; a dim light marked the +post office, and the reflections from the blast-lamp quivered behind the +trees. Deering got his breath and braced up.</p> + +<p>Born in the bush, he had known poverty and stern physical toil. He was a +good mountaineer, but he admitted that his two hundred pounds was +something of a load to carry across icy rocks. Then he had, for the most +part, lived extravagantly at fashionable hotels, and his big muscles +were soft; but this was not all. The distant lights stood for human +society and civilization. Deering was very human and fought against an +atavistic shrinking from the dark and loneliness. Moreover, he knew the +wilds. For all that, he meant to conquer his shrinking.</p> + +<p>He admitted that he was perhaps a romantic sentimentalist and his +adventure did not harmonize with his occupation. Sometimes, however, one +was not logical and not long since he would have plunged down the rocks +but for Jimmy's pluck. Besides he saw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> Stannard had used him to entangle +the lad. Deering had his rude code, but Stannard had none. He was cold +and calculating, and Deering thought he meant to carry out the plan he +tried before when he sent Jimmy over the neck. Although Deering did not +like the job, he meant to baffle him.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, all was quiet but for the turmoil of the river a few +yards off. Dark pines occupied the narrow level belt by the track, and +on the other side vague blurred rocks went up. Thin mist drifted about, +and the line, running downhill, melted into the gloom. The trooper was +at the station and Deering imagined nobody was about.</p> + +<p>"The stones are sharp and slippery," he said. "We'll take the track and +push on for the section-hut."</p> + +<p>They got on the line, but did not progress fast. The gravel ballast was +large and hurt their feet; the ties were not evenly spaced. Sometimes +Deering stepped on the timber and sometimes on the loose stones. Then +numerous ravines pierced the rocks, and although the construction gangs +had begun to fill up the chasms, for the most part wooden trestles +spanned the gaps. To cross an open-work trestle in the dark is awkward, +and when Deering balanced on a narrow tie and looked for the next, he +sweated and breathed hard. On one trestle he stopped. Sixty feet below +him, he saw the foam of an angry torrent; the next tie was some distance +off, and the wood sparkled with frost.</p> + +<p>In a sense, his adventure was ridiculous. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> he used the railroad he +went on board a first-class car and checked his baggage. Now he stumbled +over the ballast and carried on his back all he could not go without. In +the meantime, however, he must cross the trestle, and he trusted his +luck and jumped.</p> + +<p>He got across and after three or four hours they reached the +section-shack. Graham was in bed, but he got up and told them all they +wanted to know. Three policemen with an Indian and a pack-horse had come +down the track and Graham imagined they had found the entrance to +Jimmy's valley. He reckoned they would send back the Indian and the +horse when they took the rocks, but the fellow had not yet returned. +Peter was puzzled about the Indian.</p> + +<p>"They didn't hire him up at the station," he remarked. "Looks as if +they'd fixed it for him to meet them."</p> + +<p>"It looks as if they'd made their plans and their plans were pretty +good," said Deering. "However, since they've got a loaded horse, they +can't shove on fast. How long was the other outfit in front?"</p> + +<p>Graham told him and for a few moments Deering pondered. Then he said, +"It's awkward! Stannard knows where Jimmy is, and he'll hit up the pace. +I reckon the police don't know and must look for his tracks. If we +hustle, we'll run up against the gang."</p> + +<p>The difficulty was obvious and Peter frowned.</p> + +<p>"We might get by their camp in the dark. We'd see the fire."</p> + +<p>"I doubt," Deering rejoined. "If the boys make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> fire, they'll make it +where the light is hid. They don't want to put Jimmy wise."</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Peter. "What is your plan?"</p> + +<p>Deering laughed, a noisy laugh, for now he had started, his hesitation +vanished.</p> + +<p>"We'll trust our luck and shove ahead. In the morning we'll get up the +rocks and look about. I've brought my glasses. Let's get going."</p> + +<p>Graham gave them directions and when they climbed a steep hill they +found the valley. The ground was broken and in places covered by tangled +brush, but they made progress and at daybreak labored across the snow to +the top of a spur. Deering sat on his pack and used his prismatic +glasses.</p> + +<p>Gray cloud floated about the mountain slopes, but the high peaks were +sharp and began to shine in the rising sun. Some were rose-pink and some +were yellow; the hollows between their broken tops were gray and blue. A +map of the mountains occupied a wall of the hotel rotunda, and Deering, +using his glasses, imagined it roughly accurate.</p> + +<p>"I expect the blue gap is the head of the valley," he remarked and when +Peter nodded resumed: "We'll allow Stannard joined Jimmy ahead of the +police and took him along. We have got to hit their line and this is not +as hard as it looks. They can't steer for the shoulder of the big peak; +the rocks won't go and I see an ugly ice-fall on the glacier. I reckon +I'd head back, obliquely, for the <i>col</i>, up the long <i>arrête</i>."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>"I don't use no <i>habitant</i> French," Peter observed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well. Our clubmen have begun to use the tourists' talk," said +Deering and gave Peter the glasses. "Anyway, you see the ridge that runs +up to the neck?"</p> + +<p>Peter studied the ridge. He had hunted mountain sheep and imagined sun +and frost had worn the rocks to something like a knife-edge. In places, +sharp pinnacles broke the top, and he thought it significant that for +the most part the snow did not lie. The shadow behind the top, no doubt, +marked a great precipitous gulf, but the farther end of the ridge +touched a white hollow between two peaks. If one could get across, one +might find a glacier going down the other side.</p> + +<p>"I reckon your friends couldn't make it between sun-up and dark," he +said. "Anyhow, the police would see them on the rocks."</p> + +<p>"Stannard might hit a line a few yards below the top, but I imagine the +clouds will soon roll up. Give me the glasses. I want to locate a gully +that goes for some distance up the ridge."</p> + +<p>Peter saw his object. The long ridge ran back obliquely from farther up +the valley and to get up by the line Deering marked would cut out the +corner. Moreover Peter imagined the police had reached Jimmy's hut, and +if they found the tracks of Stannard's party, they would climb the ridge +from the other end. In consequence, Deering's going up the gully would +put him in front.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll start. When we noon we'll be nearer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> and if the mist's +not thick, you can look for the line you want."</p> + +<p>They went down the hill, and by and by the cloud rolled up the slope, +and rocks and peaks were lost in gloom. Then Deering began to get tired, +for although there was no snow at the bottom of the valley, the ground +was rough. After an hour or two he pushed into the timber and stopped.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it's risky, but I've got to eat and take a rest," he said. "The +trees are pretty thick, and if the smoke goes up, the hill's a good +background."</p> + +<p>They cooked some food and then sat by the fire. Not far off the belt of +trees was broken, and presently Deering saw the cloud had got thin and +begun to roll back, up the mountains. Vague rocks pierced the vapor and +grew distinct; the mist trailed away from battered trees and slanted +fields of snow. For a time it clung about the high dark precipices, and +then one saw the snow-packed gullies seam the crags like marble veins. A +faint light pierced the vapor, and the broken top of the ridge began to +cut the background.</p> + +<p>Deering pulled out his glasses and went to the opening in the wood. The +light was getting stronger, but he did not think the cloud would +altogether melt and he must search the rocks while search was possible. +By and by a beam touched the ridge and the snow glimmered like pale gold +against blue shadow. Above the shadow were broken peaks, but the belt of +dark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> blue indicated a gap and Deering, noting the strong color, thought +the gap profound.</p> + +<p>The landscape, lighted by the unsteady beam, was strangely beautiful. +The pale illumination did not travel far and the rocks outside its reach +owed something of their mysterious grandeur to the contrast. Deering, +however, was not romantic and thought he saw a line, across a steep, +white slope and up a buttress, to the ridge. If he could get up, he +would cut Stannard's track and imagined he would not be much behind the +party.</p> + +<p>He concentrated on the ridge. The slope along the top was not even but +went up, rather like a terraced walk. Rocky buttresses supported the +terraces, and, for the most part, the stones were free from snow; +Deering knew this indicated a very steep pitch. One buttress was marked +by a broad white band, and when he rubbed the glasses he thought he saw +on the snow a small object he had not remarked before. The object moved, +and calling Peter, he gave him the glasses.</p> + +<p>"What's that? A cinnamon?"</p> + +<p>"The bears have come down," said Peter. "The big-horn have gone for the +low benches. I guess the thing's a man."</p> + +<p>Deering agreed and waited. Perhaps it was strange, but of all the +animals, civilized man alone was willing to front the cold on the +daunting heights. The ridge, outlined against a vague background of +majestic peaks, looked as remote as another world. To imagine flesh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> and +blood could reach it was hard, but Deering meant to try and knew +Stannard's calculating steadiness. If one went carefully, studying the +obstacles, and using the ax and rope—</p> + +<p>"It's a man all right. I see another," said Jardine and gave Deering the +glasses. Deering saw three men. They advanced very slowly, and he +pictured their cutting steps before they moved. One crossed the +snow-belt and vanished. When he was anchored in the rocks he would +steady his companions. Deering knew it was Stannard, for Stannard would +not trust a poor guide at a spot like that. The others, perhaps, were +Dillon and Stevens. Then he saw two more; Gillane, the packer, and +Jimmy. Anyhow, Stannard had started with three companions and now he had +four. Deering knew all he wanted to know.</p> + +<p>He watched the party, strung out at even distances, move across the +white band; and then the figures melted. They had not reached the other +side, but when he rubbed his glasses they were gone. The peaks in the +background vanished, the ridge got indistinct, and the black pines on +the lower snow-fields faded, as if a curtain were drawn across the +picture.</p> + +<p>Deering shut his glasses and went for his pack. The mist was not thick +and he knew his line to the buttress.</p> + +<p>"Put out the fire and let's get off," he said.</p> + +<p>"You can't cross the ridge in the dark and the cold's going to be +fierce," Peter remarked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>"That is so. I doubt if Stannard can make the neck, but if he gets +there, he must wait for morning. Maybe we'll find a hole in the rocks."</p> + +<p>Peter said nothing. He had engaged to go where the other went and must +try to make good, although the road was daunting. In thick timber, a +bushman can front biting cold; but on the high, icy rocks one could not +make camp and light a fire. If their luck were very good, they might +find a hole behind a stone, in which they must wait for daybreak and try +not to freeze.</p> + +<p>He put out the fire and when they went through the wood pondered +gloomily. To reach the neck would cost them much; but to get there was +not all. They must get down on the other side, and, for the most part, +the mountain tops were tremendous precipices. Peter rather thought the +neck opened on a glacier, but sometimes a glacier is broken by awkward +ice-falls.</p> + +<p>All the same, Peter set his mouth and pushed ahead. In the valley, he +could hit up the pace for Deering, but he imagined to follow the big +fellow on the rocks was another thing. When a bushman took the rocks he +went to shoot big-horn and bear. The mountain clubmen studied climbing +as one studies the ball-game.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX<br /> +<span class="smalltext">HELD UP</span></h2> + + +<p>A few pale stars were in the sky and the moon was over a vague, gray +peak. Deering shivered, beat his numbed hands, and looked about. The +frost was keen and he had not thought he could sleep, but when he looked +about before the stars were bright and the moon was not above the peak. +In front, the buttress cut the sky, and although the rocks were +indistinct, he saw the belt of snow Stannard had crossed. Since Stannard +had got his party up the buttress, Deering imagined he could get up; but +the rocks were awkward.</p> + +<p>Deering wore the railroad man's skin coat and a thick Hudson's Bay +blanket. For climbing their weight was an embarrassment, but he would +sooner carry the load than freeze. Although he lay with his shoulders +against Jardine, he was numb, and the outside of the blanket sparkled +with frost. A tilted slab partly covered them, but the gravel in the +hole was frozen and Deering's hip-joint hurt. The worst trouble was, +when he was very cold his brain got dull and he hated to use effort. Yet +effort was needed, for day had begun to break and he must cross the neck +by dark. To stop another night on the high rocks was unthinkable and he +knew his luck might turn. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> thick snow fell or a strong wind blew, he +and Peter would stay on the rocks for good.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Jimmy was in front, and Deering thought Jimmy ran a daunting +risk. He ought to get up and start, but he shrank from the frost, and +for a minute or two he weighed his grounds for doubting Stannard. Jimmy +owed Stannard a large sum and had insured his life. If he went over a +precipice, the company would pay Stannard. Deering admitted the argument +looked ridiculous; Stannard was highly cultivated, rather extravagant +than greedy, and not at all the man to plan a revolting crime. Yet he +had not engaged a proper guide and his companions were trustful young +fellows whom he could mislead. Moreover, he had gone down into a +snow-swept gully to help Leyland and knew this would weigh. Stannard had +then expected Jimmy to marry Laura.</p> + +<p>Deering pushed Peter, who woke up and grumbled. Deering open his pack +awkwardly and pulled out a bannock and some canned meat.</p> + +<p>"Day is breaking. When you have had your breakfast we must start."</p> + +<p>"Unless I get a hot drink, I've not much use for breakfast," Peter +replied. "When do you reckon we'll get down to the timber? When I camp I +like a fire."</p> + +<p>"Depends on our luck," said Deering, dryly. "I doubt if you'll make a +fire to-night."</p> + +<p>"If I wasn't a fool, I'd go right back. Stannard's most a day's hike +ahead. Then if the police have hit his trail, they're not far behind +us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>"We cut out some ground and on the rocks two men go faster than five. +Stannard must find a line for his gang and us. Then I expect he'll be +held up for a time at the neck. I don't know where the police are."</p> + +<p>Peter ate the bannock and put on his pack. "Well, let's get going!"</p> + +<p>The light was not yet good. Their muscles were stiff, physical fatigue +reacted on their nervous strength, and at the belt of snow they stopped. +The belt was perhaps ten yards across and occupied a channel in the +rocks. The surface was smooth and hard, and Deering imagined if one +slipped one would not stop until one reached the valley. A row of small +holes, however, indicated that Stannard's party had gone across and up +the dark, forbidding buttress on the other side. Deering frankly shrank +from the labor and risk of crossing, but he dared not turn back.</p> + +<p>"Where the boys have gone we mustn't stop," he said. "Tie on the rope +and give me the grub-hoe."</p> + +<p>Peter gave him the hoe. The blade was curved, like a carpenter's adze, +and at its head was a short pick. The tool, although rather heavy, was a +good ice-ax. In soft snow, one can kick holes, but the snow was hard and +Deering doubted if the notches Stannard had cut would carry him. He used +the pick, balancing in a hole while he chipped out the next, and when +they got across he sent Peter in front. Their hands were numb and where +the snow had melted veins of ice filled the cracks in the rocks. The +hold was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> bad and Peter stopped at the bottom of a slab Deering had +remarked when he sent him in front.</p> + +<p>"I sure don't know how we're going to get up."</p> + +<p>"Stannard got up," said Deering and looked about.</p> + +<p>Thirty feet below him the belt of snow pierced the rocks. It looked +nearly perpendicular and the snow-field at its foot was horribly steep. +In the shadow, the surface was gray and dark patches marked where rocks +pushed through. A very long way down, across a sharp but broken line, +the color was blue, and Deering thought the line the top of a precipice. +He turned and looked up. The slab was upright and about ten feet high; +he could not see a crack or knob, but he noted two or three fresh +scratches.</p> + +<p>"Lean against the rock and spread your arms," he said, and when Peter +did so climbed up his back.</p> + +<p>Standing on the other's shoulders, he could reach the top of the slab. +The top was nearly flat and went back for some distance, but the snow +was hard. Deering dared not trust his numbed hands and he tried the +pick. The blade got hold, but he could not see farther than the handle. +If he had caught a small lump of ice that would not support him, the +rope would pull Jardine off the rock. All the same, something must be +risked.</p> + +<p>"Brace up good," he said and trusted the pick.</p> + +<p>The tool held and he got his chest on the top, but now the blade was +near his body, his reach was short and when he used his hand his stiff +fingers slipped across the snow. It was obvious he must move the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> pick, +but the tool was his main support and the effort to push it forward +might send him down. Still, if he could get three or four inches higher, +he might, perhaps, balance on the edge.</p> + +<p>His boots got no grip on the smooth slab, but when he used his knee his +clothes stuck to the stone. When his waist was nearly level with the top +he pulled out the pick and moved it forward. For a moment or two the +blade came back and he began to go down; then it held and after a stern +effort he was up. The rock above the ledge was broken, and throwing the +rope across a knob, he helped Peter.</p> + +<p>Half an hour afterwards, they reached the ridge behind the buttress. +Deering's hands were bleeding and he was not cold. His skin was wet and +he breathed by labored gasps. In front, the ridge went up, unevenly, to +the neck. The narrow, broken top, for the most part, was supported by +precipitous rocks. One must use caution and could not go fast, but after +a time a snow cornice began on one side. The top, leveled by the wind, +was smooth, and, so far as it rested on the stone, was firm. As a rule, +a snow cornice is widest above, and Deering knew if he crossed the line +where it overhung its base he might break through, but the marks in +front indicated where Stannard had gone.</p> + +<p>Stannard knew much about snow cornices and Deering wondered whether he +could not have found some grounds for throwing off the rope and letting +Jimmy venture on the dangerous overhang. He had obviously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> not done so; +moreover he had brought his companions up the buttress. If Deering +himself had meant to let somebody fall, he thought he would have tried +at the awkward slab. In fact, he admitted that to picture Stannard's +weighing a plan like that was theatrically extravagant. Yet he knew +Stannard, who was not the man people thought. He was very clever and if +he plotted to get rid of Jimmy, he would not do so soon after he had +taken him into the mountains. He would wait until he had nearly carried +out his job and was bringing his party down from the rocks. Anyhow, +Deering's business was to overtake the party. To wonder whether he +exaggerated Jimmy's danger would not help.</p> + +<p>For a time he made good progress along the cornice, and in the afternoon +he reached the neck. At the end of the ridge Stannard's tracks forked. +One row of footmarks crossed a steep snow-bank running up a peak; the +other went along the hollow neck.</p> + +<p>"All the outfit went up the neck and then two or three turned back," +Peter remarked after examining the trampled snow.</p> + +<p>Deering nodded. "Stannard sent them back and pushed ahead with Gillane +to look for a line down the other side. When we get across we'll see +what he was up against."</p> + +<p>At the end of the neck they stopped and Deering frowned. He had been +longer than he thought and a pale illumination behind a peak indicated +that the sun was low. In the valley below, he saw a frozen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> lake and a +dark, winding band he knew was timber on a river bank. He had food, and +if he could reach the trees he need not bother about the frost. A +Canadian grub-hoe, made for cutting roots, is a useful tool, and he +could build a wall of bark and branches, light a fire and brew hot tea. +The trouble was, to get down to the friendly pines.</p> + +<p>In front of him, a snow-field sloped to a spot at which two uneven, +converging rows of dark rocks ought to have met. The rocks were the tops +of precipices, but the point of their intersection was cut out, and a +glacier began at the gap. Deering could see for a short distance down +the glacier, until it plunged across the top of a steeper pitch, and +when he used his glasses he noted its surface was crumpled, as if it +broke in angry waves. In fact, it was rather like a rapid suddenly +frozen at the top of a fall. Deering knew it was an ice-fall and the +waves were giant blocks. The rocks at the side were very steep and +veined by snow.</p> + +<p>"Nothing's doing there!" he remarked. "I don't see Stannard, but he +won't find a useful line. Let's look for the boys."</p> + +<p>They turned and, following the tracks along the neck, after some time +went round a buttress that broke the front of the range. On the other +side three people occupied a little hollow in the rock. One got up +awkwardly.</p> + +<p>"It's Peter!" he shouted. "Why, Deering, you grand old sport!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>Deering gave Jimmy his hand and noted that his look was strained and his +face was pinched.</p> + +<p>"Miss Laura put me on your track and Mr. Jardine wanted to come along," +he said and studied the others, who did not get up.</p> + +<p>"They've had enough," said Jimmy. "We were two nights on the rocks and +the cold was keen. Stannard's gone to see if we can get down the +glacier, but I don't think he's hopeful. Anyhow, let's go back into our +hole. When you wriggle down under a blanket, it's a little warmer than +outside."</p> + +<p>Deering joined the others. A jambed stone partly covered the hole, and +the boys' packs, fur coats and blankets kept them from freezing, but he +saw their pluck was nearly gone.</p> + +<p>"What about the police?" he asked, when he had lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p>"We don't know where they are," Jimmy replied. "Stannard brought us up +the ridge, but from my shack you see another way up at the head of the +valley. I went over to study the ground and thought the climb harder +than it looks. All the same, I imagine the police have tried it. Of +course, when they got to the snow they wouldn't find our tracks, but +they know we're in the mountains—"</p> + +<p>"Then, they're south of us?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy nodded. "On this side of the range; they'd reckon on our pushing +south and expect to cut us off. Now you see why Stannard's keen about +getting down the glacier!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>"We can't get down; the ice-fall won't go," said Stevens moodily. "I +doubt if I could get down a ladder. My notion is, Stannard knows his +plan's a forlorn hope and Gillane is badly rattled."</p> + +<p>"The fellow's a common packer; Stannard ought not to have hired him," +Dillon agreed. "Still we couldn't wait and when the Revelstoke man sent +Gillane we were forced to start. Anyhow, I'd trust Stannard where I +wouldn't trust a guide."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't hit a useful line yet," Stevens rejoined. "We're held up, and +I doubt if we can stand for another night in the frost."</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to go back and risk the police," said Jimmy. "Still, we +couldn't start until daybreak and would be forced to camp again on the +ridge. The valley's not far off; if we can make it."</p> + +<p>"We must wait for Stannard's report," said Deering soothingly. "When I +was at the hotel the clerk gave me a letter for you."</p> + +<p>Jimmy beat his numbed hands and opened the envelope. Then he laughed, a +dreary laugh.</p> + +<p>"In a way, the thing's a joke! Leyland's has something to do with a +Japanese cotton mill and Sir Jim writes from Tokio. He's going to +England by Vancouver and sails on board the first C.P.R. boat. He means +to stop for a few days and look me up—" Jimmy studied the postmark and +resumed: "I expect he's at Vancouver now."</p> + +<p>"Your luck is certainly bad," Deering remarked in a sympathetic voice.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>"Jim's the head of the house; Dick owns him boss," Jimmy went on. "His +letter's kind, and if he'd arrived before, when I was making good, I +might have got his support. I wanted to persuade him I was not a +careless fool; but when he gets to know my recent exploits—"</p> + +<p>Deering imagined Jimmy had wanted his uncle to agree about his marrying +Margaret. Since Sir James was a sober business man, the lad had not much +grounds to hope he would approve his nephew's romantic adventures.</p> + +<p>"After all, I rather think we'll cheat the police," he said. "They don't +know where we are and when we make the valley we'll hit up the pace. +I've friends who'll help you across the frontier and you can sail for +England from New York."</p> + +<p>"The drawback is, we can't make the valley. Stannard can't lead us +down," Stevens interrupted gloomily.</p> + +<p>Deering looked up. "We'll know soon. I hear steps."</p> + +<p>Stannard came round the corner, saw Deering, and stopped, rather +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Hello! We did not expect you. Were you at the hotel? Have you got some +news?"</p> + +<p>"I was at the hotel," Deering replied. "The morning before I got there a +police sergeant arrived. I understand he was curious about your +excursion."</p> + +<p>Stannard's glance was keen and Deering thought him disturbed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>"You imply the fellow knew I'd gone to join Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Laura imagined something like that. But what about the glacier?"</p> + +<p>Stannard hesitated and knitted his brows. "I think we'll risk it in the +morning. You see, if we pushed along the range, we might meet the +police. Besides, we must get down to the timber soon."</p> + +<p>"You sure can't get down," remarked Gillane, the packer, who had +followed Stannard.</p> + +<p>"We'll try," said Stannard, and turning to the others, forced a smile. +"Well, I want some food and Frank might light the spirit lamp. You must +brace up for another night on the mountain, but we're lucky because we +have got a corner where we shan't freeze."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXX" id="XXX"></a>XXX<br /> +<span class="smalltext">THE GULLY</span></h2> + + +<p>Day broke drearily. The sky was dark and snow clouds rolled about the +peaks. In the hollow behind the rock Stannard's party crowded round the +spirit lamp. One could get no warmth, but in the snowy wilds the small +blue flame and steaming kettle called. Moreover, each would soon receive +a measured draught of strong hot tea.</p> + +<p>All were numb and their faces were pinched. Stevens was frankly +despondent, and when Dillon broke his hard bannock his stiff hands +shook. Gillane was apathetic, but when Stannard measured out the tea he +joked and Deering laughed. To laugh cost the big man something, but he +knew he must. Stern effort was needed and human effort does not +altogether depend on muscular strength. The packer's mood was daunting +and it was obvious they would not get much help from him.</p> + +<p>Jimmy was quiet. He must concentrate on holding out and could not force +a laugh. He admitted he had not pluck like Stannard's. Stannard was +indomitable, and now his gay carelessness was very fine. Although he was +the oldest of the party and his face was haggard, he joked and his jokes +were good.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> When the meal was over he got up and beat his hands.</p> + +<p>"We must get down before dark and I think I know a line," he said. "If +our luck is good, we'll camp in the trees by a splendid fire."</p> + +<p>To start was hard, but they got off and the snow was firm. The steep +slope below the neck was smooth and for a time they made progress. Jimmy +remarked the thickening snow cloud and knew Stannard thought it ominous, +for he pushed on as fast as possible. So far, one could use some speed; +the obstacles were in front.</p> + +<p>The snow-field stopped at the top of a chain of precipices. The rocks +were broken by the deep gap through which the glacier went, but Jimmy +noted smaller breaks he thought were gullies filled by snow. He could +not see the front of the precipices, but he pictured their falling for +six or seven hundred feet. At the bottom, no doubt, were steep spurs and +long ridges, across which one might reach the trees rolling up from the +valley. The precipice was the main obstacle, but Jimmy did not think the +rocks were perpendicular. Anyhow, the glacier was not, and if one could +cross the ice-falls, it would carry them down. The trouble was, the +cloud was getting thick.</p> + +<p>After a time, they stopped at the head of the glacier, and Stannard, +Jimmy and Deering climbed to a shelf that commanded the ice-fall. Mist +rolled about, but for some distance one saw the broad white belt curve +down between the rocks. Then Jimmy saw the fall and set his mouth. The +snowy ice was piled in tre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>mendous blocks and split by yawning cracks. +It looked as if the cracks went to the bottom, and one imagined others, +hidden by fresh snow. Stannard turned to Deering, who shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The boys can't make it; I doubt if you can. Nothing's doing!"</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Stannard. "I marked a gully about two miles south. I +don't know if you'll like it, but we must get down."</p> + +<p>Deering pulled out his watch. "You have got to hustle. The boys can't +stand for another night on the mountain."</p> + +<p>When they rejoined the others, it looked as if his remark was justified. +Gillane declared if they could not cross the ice-fall they must stop and +freeze; Stevens owned he was exhausted and doubted if he could reach the +gully. Jimmy would sooner have risked the fall, since he was persuaded +the other line would not carry them down, but if Stannard thought the +line might go, he was willing to try it.</p> + +<p>They fronted the laborious climb to the snow-field, and soon after they +got there mist blew across the slope. The party was now drawn out in a +straggling row and by and by Deering stopped and looked about. He knew +two or three were behind him, but he saw nobody.</p> + +<p>"Where are the boys?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Peter said he had not seen Stevens and Dillon for some time, but they +were no doubt pushing along and the party's track was plain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>"I'm going back," said Deering. "Watch out for Jimmy."</p> + +<p>He plunged into the mist and presently found Stevens sitting in the +snow. Dillon was with the lad and when Deering arrived urged him to get +up. Stevens dully refused and said there was no use in the others +bothering; he could go no farther. Deering pulled him up and shoved him +along.</p> + +<p>"You're going to the gully, anyhow," he shouted with a jolly laugh. +"When we get you there, you can sit down and slide."</p> + +<p>Dillon helped and some time afterwards they came up with Peter.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jimmy?" Deering asked in a sharp voice.</p> + +<p>"Stannard reckoned he was near the spot he'd marked. He took a rope, and +Gillane and Jimmy went along. They allowed I must stop to watch out for +you."</p> + +<p>"You let Jimmy go!"</p> + +<p>"Sure I did," said Peter, with sullen quietness. "I reckon you needn't +bother about Jimmy. Something's bitten you. Stannard's all right. If he +can't help us, we have got to freeze."</p> + +<p>Deering said nothing. Stannard's charm was strong, and cold and fatigue +had dulled Peter's brain. There was no use in arguing and he followed +the others' track. He could not see much, for the mist was thick. The +ground got steeper and rocks pierced the snow. It looked as if he were +near the top of the precipice, but so long as the marks in front were +plain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> he need not hesitate. After a few minutes he saw Gillane. The +packer leaned against a massy block, round which he had thrown the rope; +the end was over the top of the rocks.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said Deering. "What's your job?"</p> + +<p>"I'm standing by to steady Mr. Stannard. Top of the gully's blocked, and +he calculated to get in by a traverse across the front. There's a kind +of ledge, but we didn't see a good anchor hold."</p> + +<p>Deering remarked that the fellow's grasp was slack and a single turn of +the rope was round the stone. If a heavy strain came on the end, he +thought the rope would run and Gillane would not have time to throw on +another loop. Cold and fatigue had made him careless.</p> + +<p>"Get a good hold and stiffen up," said Deering. "I'm going after +Stannard."</p> + +<p>The rocks were not as steep as he had thought and the ledge was wide +enough to carry him, but a yard or two in front it turned a corner. +Although the mist was puzzling, Deering thought it melted. In the +meantime, he must reach the corner. Sometimes Jimmy was rash, and if +Stannard allowed him to run a risk he ought not to run, nobody would +know.</p> + +<p>When Deering got to the corner, the mist rolled off the mountain top. He +saw a tremendous slope of rock, pierced by a narrow white hollow. For +four or five hundred feet the gully went down and gradually melted in a +fresh wave of mist. Deering noted the sharpness of the pitch and then +fixed his glance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> on Stannard, who leaned back against the rock. Jimmy, +holding on by Stannard's shoulder, was trying to get past on the outside +of the ledge.</p> + +<p>Deering stopped and his heart beat. The others did not see him and he +dared not shout, but if Stannard moved, it was obvious Jimmy would fall. +Stannard did not move, and Jimmy, crossing in front of him, stopped and +looked down.</p> + +<p>"The stretch is awkward and you can't steady me," he said. "Still I +think I could reach the slab and slide into the gully. Before we bring +the others, perhaps I ought to try."</p> + +<p>"You have a longer reach than mine and you are younger," Stannard +replied.</p> + +<p>Deering could not see the slab, but he imagined Stannard had noted +something about it that Jimmy had not. Now Jimmy fronted the other way, +Stannard's hand was at his waist and Deering thought he loosed the knot +on the rope.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Jimmy," he said in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>Jimmy stopped. Stannard turned, and although his look was cool Deering +thought his coolness forced. He leaned against the rock, but Deering saw +his hands were occupied behind his back.</p> + +<p>"I thought you went for Stevens," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"The kid wasn't far back," Deering replied and laughed. "Gillane's +rattled and half frozen. I reckon he might let you go, but my two +hundred pounds is a pretty good anchor. Slip off the rope and I'll help +Jimmy; he won't pull me off."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>Stannard awkwardly pulled out the knot, and Deering, who had thought to +see the rope fall, was baffled. For all that, he knew Stannard's +cleverness and imagined the fellow knew he had experimented.</p> + +<p>"I'm going in front of you," he resumed. "Wait until I tie on, Jimmy. +You can't trust the slab."</p> + +<p>When he had tied on he braced himself against the rock. Jimmy vanished +across the edge and the rope got tight. After a few minutes he came up.</p> + +<p>"So far as I can see, we can get down by cutting steps, but I couldn't +see very far," he said. "Your tip about the slab was useful, Deering. +The top was rotten and a lump came off. I was lucky because I put on the +rope."</p> + +<p>"On the rocks caution pays," Deering remarked. "Well, let's get up and +go for the others. Cutting steps for four or five hundred feet is a +pretty long job."</p> + +<p>They went back along the ledge, but Deering felt slack and his big hands +shook. He had borne some strain and rather thought that had he arrived a +few moments later Jimmy, and perhaps Gillane, would have gone down the +rocks. Yet he did not know. In fact, he admitted that he might not +altogether know.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXXI" id="XXXI"></a>XXXI<br /> +<span class="smalltext">STANNARD'S LINE</span></h2> + + +<p>A wave of mist rolled across the rocks, but the vapor was faintly +luminous, as if a light shone through. Deering, Stannard, Jardine and +Jimmy waited on the steep bank above the ledge; Gillane had gone back +for the others. When he arrived the party would start.</p> + +<p>Deering knew the venture was rash and the labor heavy. They would use +two ropes and the leader must kick and cut steps in the snow; the others +behind would then occupy the holes and hold him up until he cut another +lot. Cutting steps, however, soon tired one's arms, and when the leader +was exhausted to pull him up and tie on a fresh man might be dangerous. +Then nobody knew what was at the bottom and the gully might break off on +the front of an icy cliff.</p> + +<p>All the same, some rashness was justified. Nothing indicated that the +mist would altogether roll away, and in two or three hours it would be +dark. If they stopped for another night on the high rocks, all would +freeze; an effort to reach the timber and camp by a fire was, so to +speak, their forlorn hope. Besides, Stannard was persuaded they could +get down, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> Deering admitted his judgment was good. By and by +Stannard gave him a careless glance.</p> + +<p>"I'll lead on the first rope and take Gillane and Stevens. Jimmy and the +others will go with you."</p> + +<p>Deering wondered. He was resolved Jimmy should use his rope, but +Stannard's proposing it was significant. If Stannard knew why he had +joined them on the ledge, it looked as if he were resigned to let Jimmy +go. Then Stannard pulled out his watch.</p> + +<p>"We must get off. Shout for Gillane. Your voice carries well."</p> + +<p>Deering shouted and fixed his glance on the slope behind the group. +After a few minutes, two or three indistinct objects loomed in the mist.</p> + +<p>"The boys are coming," he said, and resumed in a puzzled voice: "Gillane +went for Stevens and Dillon; but I see <i>four</i>."</p> + +<p>"There are four," said Jimmy, and Deering's mouth got tight.</p> + +<p>He thought the first man did not belong to Stannard's party, and now he +saw two others behind the advancing group.</p> + +<p>"The police!" said Stannard, and shrugged resignedly.</p> + +<p>Jimmy turned. His face was pinched and his pose was slack, but his look +was calm.</p> + +<p>"You have played up nobly, but we're beaten and I've had enough. In +fact, to know I'm beaten is rather a relief."</p> + +<p>Deering nodded gloomily. There was no use in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> trying to get away; the +Royal North-West are empowered to shoot, and, as a rule, shoot straight. +He waited and noted mechanically that Stannard was a few yards nearer +the top of the rocks. By and by a police sergeant stopped opposite the +group.</p> + +<p>"We have got you! Don't move until you get my orders," he said, and +signing a trooper, indicated Gillane's party. "Hold that lot off!"</p> + +<p>"We are not looking for trouble and the boys won't bother you," said +Deering. "What's your business?"</p> + +<p>He turned and glanced at Stannard, who said nothing. The mist was +getting thin and Deering thought his look strained. Gillane had stopped +behind the police, and the sergeant advanced, pulling at his belt.</p> + +<p>"I have a warrant, but my hands are frozen and I can't get inside my +coat."</p> + +<p>"You can show us the warrant later," said Jimmy. "I'm James Leyland, the +man you want."</p> + +<p>"We <i>don't want you</i>," the sergeant replied.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's legs shook and he sat down in the snow. After the long strain, +his relief was poignant and reacted on his exhausted body. He gave the +sergeant a dull, puzzled look.</p> + +<p>"Then whom do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Harvey Stannard," said the other, and Stannard turned.</p> + +<p>His figure cut the misty background and he carried himself as if he were +not disturbed. In fact, Jimmy imagined he had expected something like +this.</p> + +<p>"I am Stannard. Why do you want me?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>"When I can loose my belt I'll read you the warrant. The charge is +killing game-warden Douglas."</p> + +<p>"Then Douglas is dead?" said Stannard in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>"He died four or five days since," the sergeant replied.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Stannard, and braced himself. "Well, I have nothing to state. +I reserve my defense——"</p> + +<p>"Stop him!" shouted the sergeant, and leaped across the snow.</p> + +<p>Stannard stepped back, stumbled on the steep bank and vanished.</p> + +<p>For a moment Jimmy, numbed by horror, wondered whether his imagination +had cheated him. Then he saw Stannard was really gone and he ran for the +ledge. The others joined him, but Stannard was not on the ledge. Two or +three hundred feet below a dark object rolled down a long slab and at +the bottom plunged into a gulf where the gray mist tossed.</p> + +<p>"He's gone," Deering remarked to the sergeant. "Perhaps you'll find him +when the snow melts."</p> + +<p>They went back to the spot where they had left their packs and ropes. +For a time all were quiet, and then the sergeant said to Deering: "He +beat me, but I don't get it yet. I didn't reckon on his going over; he +stated he reserved his defense."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he was rash," Deering remarked in a thoughtful voice. "In the +meantime, however, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> must let it go and think about getting down to +the bush. How did you find us?"</p> + +<p>"We went for a neck behind Mr. Leyland's shack. When we saw no tracks we +pushed along the main range. We reckoned you'd gone by the long ridge +and we might cut your trail. We were three nights in the rocks and are +all played out."</p> + +<p>"Then you had better join us. We are going to try Stannard's line down +the gully. I don't engage to make the woods, but I don't see another +plan."</p> + +<p>The sergeant hesitated. "Stannard hit the line?"</p> + +<p>"He declared the line would go," said Deering quietly. "Perhaps you have +not much grounds to trust him, but he was a great mountaineer."</p> + +<p>Jimmy turned and threw Deering the end of the rope.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk!" he said to the sergeant. "If you mean to join us, tie on. +We must start."</p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards, they crossed the shelf. Deering led, and +Jimmy, going first on the second rope, rather doubted if they would +reach the trees. In summer the long straight crack was obviously the +mountain's rubbish shoot and its sides were ground smooth by rolling +stones; now it was packed by hard, firm snow. To slip would mean a +savage <i>glissade</i>, and then perhaps a plunge——</p> + +<p>Much depended on the leader's nerve. Reaching down, held by the rope, he +must chip out holes; and then, when the man behind him occupied the +notches,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> move a foot or two and cut another. Sometimes Deering used his +boots and sometimes the ice-pick; but, for the most part, when his party +had gone across, the holes were broken and Jimmy was forced to cut. The +labor was exhausting and by and by Deering owned he had had enough. The +trouble was to help him back and put another in his place, but Gillane +got into the loop and brought them down some distance. Then he stopped +and for a few minutes all lay in the snow. Mist hid the bottom of the +gully and none dared hope their labor would be lightened much when they +got there. For all they knew they were painfully crawling down to the +top of a precipice. In fact nobody was willing to brace up for the +effort to change the leaders.</p> + +<p>After a time Jimmy turned his head. The mist was lifting. It went up in +torn shreds and the bottom of the gully began to get distinct. Where the +dark trough ran out from the rocks a smooth snow-field went down. The +vapor steadily rolled off the slope, until Jimmy saw a vague, dark belt +he thought was timber. His heart beat and he got back his pluck.</p> + +<p>"Stannard hit the proper line," he said. "We'll pitch camp in the +woods."</p> + +<p>Dillon took Gillane's post, the sergeant took Jimmy's, and they pushed +on. By and by the mist rolled down and hid the pitches below, but, now +all knew where they went, the gloom vanished and slack muscles were +braced. For all that, when they reached<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> the snow-field Deering looked +to the west and frowned.</p> + +<p>"The light's going and the trees are a long way off," he said. "Mush +along, boys. You have got to get there!"</p> + +<p>In places the snow was loose and to get forward was hard. Jimmy pushed +Stevens for some distance and they were forced to stop for a young +police trooper. On some pitches the snow was hard and slippery, and +rocks with icy tops broke the surface. Dark crept up from the valley and +the trees were behind the ground in front. Yet from the daunting gully +they had looked down across the vast white slope and the picture that +melted like the mist led them on. Ahead were rest and food and warmth. +At length, two or three hours after dark, Dillon stumbled and rolled in +the snow.</p> + +<p>"Watch out for the juniper I ran up against," he shouted. "Keep going! +This trail's for the woods!"</p> + +<p>Half an hour afterwards Jimmy threw off his pack and leaned against a +spruce. The ground was steep and stony, but rows of small trunks cut the +glimmering snow. All round was fuel and one could build a shelter and +eat hot food. He thrilled and the blood came to his frozen skin. They +had run daunting risks and borne all flesh and blood could bear, but the +strain was done with. They had made it!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXXII" id="XXXII"></a>XXXII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">BY THE CAMP-FIRE</span></h2> + + +<p>In the timber the cold was not very keen and the tired men braced +themselves for the effort to pitch camp. Peter and the sergeant took +control and soon a big fire burned behind a wall of branches. Against +the wall twigs and thin branches were packed for beds. Where the bushman +can find fuel and material for building he does not bother about the +frost, and in winter the Royal North-West patrols sleep by their +camp-fires far out on the snowy wilds.</p> + +<p>A trooper fried pork and doughy bannocks, Deering brewed a kettle of +strong tea, and when all had eaten like famished animals the men, for +the most part, went to sleep. For a time, however, Deering, the +sergeant, and Jimmy sat by the fire and smoked.</p> + +<p>On the mountains, they were absorbed by the stern physical effort, and +concentrated mechanically on getting down. Animal instinct urged them +forward, but now the risk of freezing was gone, they began to think like +men. The sergeant and Jimmy were puzzled and imagined they might get +some light from Deering. Jimmy's brows were knit and when he looked +about he frowned. Although he was warm and the hot tea had revived him, +he felt his brain was dull.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>Sparks leaped up from the fire; smoke tossed about the camp. One heard +the wind in the pine-tops and the trunks reflected gleams of flickering +light. The mist had blown away, and Jimmy saw far off a dim white ridge +cut the sky. Then he turned his head and shivered, for he knew +Stannard's broken body was somewhere in the rocks and perhaps nobody +would find the spot. Stannard was his friend, a cultivated gentleman and +a famous mountaineer; but he had slipped and gone down the precipice +like a raw tourist. Moreover, although it looked as if he had killed the +game warden, he had said nothing. In fact, it looked as if he were +willing for Jimmy to pay. Yet Jimmy was not persuaded; for Stannard to +use treachery like that was unthinkable.</p> + +<p>"You're satisfied I'm not accountable for the shooting accident?" he +said to the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"I guess my chiefs are satisfied. Our orders were to leave you alone."</p> + +<p>For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. He had carried a heavy load and now +the load was gone. He could urge Margaret to marry him and get on with +his ranching. Perhaps, if she agreed, he might go back to Lancashire, +but he must not yet dwell on this.</p> + +<p>"When did your officers find out I had nothing to do with it?" he +resumed.</p> + +<p>"Not long since; the day before warden Douglas died. All the time he was +at the hospital we waited for his statement, but got nothing. Although +I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> seen men shot, Douglas puzzled me and I reckon he puzzled the +doctors. Sometimes he was sensible, but he didn't talk, and when we +asked him about the shooting he looked at us as if he'd plumb forgot. +Then, one day, it all came back and he gave us his story."</p> + +<p>"The night was dark and Douglas could not see much," Deering remarked. +"I expect you had something to go on that helped you fill out his +statement."</p> + +<p>The sergeant smiled. "The trooper who measured up the distances and made +a plan of the clearing was a surveyor's clerk. Then Douglas was shot in +the center of his chest, but the mark at the back was to one side. +Besides, we had got Mr. Leyland's hired man; Miss Jardine put us on his +track. He sure doesn't like Mr. Leyland but his tale was useful."</p> + +<p>"In fact, if Mr. Leyland had not pulled out, you would not have bothered +him?"</p> + +<p>"I expect that is so. When Stannard sent Mr. Leyland off, he reckoned to +give us a useful clue. Our duty was to try the clue."</p> + +<p>Jimmy looked up sharply, but Deering said, "Stannard's plan was good, +but your officers are not fools. Then another thing is obvious; if you +had tried very hard, you might have hit Mr. Leyland's trail before."</p> + +<p>"It's possible," the sergeant agreed with a touch of dryness. "Maybe the +bosses were after Stannard. But I don't get it all yet. Stannard was not +a fool. I guess he knew we couldn't put it on him that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> meant to +shoot Douglas. Since he was using the pit-light, he'd have gone to the +pen, but I guess he could have stood for all he got. Yet when he saw he +was corralled, he stepped back off the rocks!"</p> + +<p>"Stannard was an English highbrow. A year or two in a penitentiary would +have knocked him out. Perhaps this accounts for it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said the sergeant, "I guess we'll let it go. For three +nights I've shivered on the rocks and I want to sleep."</p> + +<p>He lay down on the branches and Jimmy waited. The smoke was gone, the +fire was clear, and red reflections played about the quiet figures at +the bottom of the rude wall. After a time Jimmy thought all slept and he +turned to Deering.</p> + +<p>"I don't know if the sergeant was satisfied, but I am not. You imply +that when Stannard stepped back he knew where he went?"</p> + +<p>Deering pondered. He saw Jimmy was disturbed and puzzled, but he doubted +if there was much use in enlightening him. Stannard was gone. Jimmy had +trusted the fellow and had already got a nasty knock. Yet if he had +begun to see a light, Deering did not mean to cheat him. He was not +Stannard's champion.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "it certainly looks like that."</p> + +<p>"But why? The sergeant thinks they would not have tried Stannard for +shooting with intent to kill; he declares Stannard could have stood for +all he got."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>"I expect that is so. Sometimes, however, people are not logical. For +example, when you thought you had shot Douglas, you pulled out."</p> + +<p>"I ought to have stayed. Now I think about it, Stannard rather persuaded +me to go," Jimmy agreed and looked at Deering hard. "When you recently +found out Stannard had gone to my help, why did you go after him?"</p> + +<p>"For one thing, I knew he had not got a proper guide. I thought the job +a man's job, and Stevens and Dillon are boys."</p> + +<p>"Somehow I feel that's not all," said Jimmy and for a moment or two was +very quiet. Then he resumed: "When Stannard and I were on the ledge you +were at the corner. I was going to jump on the slab, but you shouted."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes you're rash. When you jump on a rock, you want to know the +rock is sound."</p> + +<p>"The slab was not sound," said Jimmy in a hoarse voice. "Still I was on +the rope and Stannard knew, if I went down, I might pull him off the +ledge——"</p> + +<p>He stopped and Deering saw he did not want to solve the puzzle. "It's +done with and you're a stanch friend," he resumed. "Well, I'm very +tired."</p> + +<p>Deering gave him a sympathetic nod, and pulling his blanket round him, +got down on a pile of twigs. Jimmy sat with his back against a log and +looked into the gloom behind the black pine-tops. High up on the lonely +rocks a rotten slab dropped to the gully, and, but for Deering's +stanchness, he might have taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> an awful plunge. In the meantime, the +cold was keen, his body was exhausted and his brain was dull. He did not +know much and did not want to know all. The thing was done with and he +resolved to let it go. By and by he got down on the twigs by Deering, +stretched his legs to the fire and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning after breakfast the sergeant lighted his pipe and stopped +the troopers, who had begun to roll up their packs.</p> + +<p>"We won't break camp yet, boys," he said and turned to Deering. "Mr. +Stevens can't stand for a long hike and my orders were to bring Stannard +back."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes the police orders do not go," said Deering dryly. "Until the +snow melts nobody will bring Stannard back. He has cheated you."</p> + +<p>"I've got to try and want your help."</p> + +<p>"You can reckon on mine," said Dillon and looked at Jimmy. "Laura must +be satisfied——"</p> + +<p>"That is so; I'm going to stay," said Jimmy; and when Deering agreed, +the sergeant ordered a trooper and Gillane to start for the railroad.</p> + +<p>He stated he must send a report, and Jimmy and Dillon gave the packer +some telegrams. The men set off and soon afterwards the others, leaving +Stevens to watch the fire, began to climb the long steep ridge behind +the camp.</p> + +<p>The effort cost them much. All were slack and tired and knew their labor +would not be rewarded. Yet for some hours they struggled across the +snow-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>fields and searched the rocks with the glasses. In the afternoon +they went back, and lying about the fire, talked and smoked.</p> + +<p>At daybreak they started again and reached higher ground. The day was +bright and the rocks and gullies were distinct, but when the sun sank +behind the range, they had found nothing. All the same, Jimmy saw that +when Stannard resolved to try the gully his judgment was strangely good. +There was not another line down the rocks and nowhere but at the bottom +could the party have reached a slope leading to the trees. At length +Deering gave the sergeant his glasses.</p> + +<p>"Nothing's on the big gravel bank and we can't get up the cliff," he +said. "I have had enough and I expect you are satisfied. Maybe you'll +find Stannard after the thaw, but when he stepped off the rocks I think +he went for good."</p> + +<p>"I've tried," said the sergeant. "Let's get down. At sun-up we'll pull +out for the railroad."</p> + +<p>They went back, but after supper nobody talked much. Somehow the camp +was gloomy and Jimmy fought against a vague sense of horror. To know +they would take the trail in the morning was some relief.</p> + +<p>At daybreak they broke camp and started downhill. All were glad to go, +but when they reached the valley Jimmy stopped and looked up at the +distant white streak in the rocks. Now he was on level ground, to +picture his crawling down the awful gully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> was hard, and at the top was +the snow-bank where Stannard vanished.</p> + +<p>Jimmy shivered, but after a few moments turned and ran to join the +others. He was young, the sun was on the mountains and the doubts and +horror he had known melted like the dark. The thing was done with, the +load he had carried was gone, and he was free.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was strange, but he began to perceive that the freedom he +thought he enjoyed with Stannard was an illusion. Stannard's light touch +was very firm and he had led Jimmy where he did not mean to go. Laura, +not knowing all she did, had helped him to resist, and when he knew +Margaret, Stannard's control was broken. It looked as if Stannard had +not meant to let him go; but Jimmy refused to speculate about the +other's plans.</p> + +<p>At length, so to speak, he was his own man. He had paid for his +extravagance and extravagance had lost its charm. Now he knew no +obstacle to his marrying Margaret, and if she were willing, he resolved +to resume his proper job at the cotton mill. When he thought about it +his heart beat, but Margaret was not yet persuaded, and unless she knew +his relations approved, to persuade her might be hard. Well, Sir James +was at Vancouver; in fact, he was perhaps at the hotel, and Jimmy was +keen to meet him.</p> + +<p>Progress, however, was slow. Broken trees and rocks from the mountain +blocked the way, fresh snow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> had fallen, and Stevens was lame. He had +slept with his wet boots on and his foot was frostbitten. Then Dillon +was slack and moody. His fatigue was not gone, and if Gillane had sent +the telegrams, when the party reached the settlement Laura would be +waiting. Dillon shrank from enlightening her and Jimmy sympathized.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="newchapter"><a name="XXXIII" id="XXXIII"></a>XXXIII<br /> +<span class="smalltext">SIR JAMES APPROVES</span></h2> + + +<p>The sun was low but the light was good, and Jimmy's party, crossing a +hillside, saw a long plume of smoke. The smoke moved and when it melted +the rumble of a distant freight train rolled up the valley. After a +time, they saw telegraph posts, a break in the rocks, and two or three +small houses. Then their fatigue vanished and all went fast, but Jimmy +was sorry for Dillon, whose mouth was tight. Jimmy thought Laura waited +at the railroad and Frank must tell her Stannard would not come back. +Moreover, she must soon know Stannard had shot the game warden and was +willing for Jimmy to pay. When they reached the bottom of the hill he +stopped Dillon.</p> + +<p>"I expect Laura has got a cruel knock, but perhaps we can save her some +extra pain. If you take the line you think will hurt her least, I'll +play up, and you can trust Deering."</p> + +<p>Dillon said nothing, but gave Jimmy a grateful look. Half an hour +afterwards they pushed through a belt of trees and saw a party waiting +by the railroad. It was obvious the telegrams had arrived. Although the +people were some distance off, Jimmy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> picked out Margaret, who stood by +a man he did not think was Jardine; the bush ranchers did not wear furs +like his. By and by he distinguished Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Jardine, +Graham, the section hand, and a police trooper, but they were not +important and he speculated about the stranger, until, when the track +was not far off, he saw a light. Margaret's companion was Sir James +Leyland.</p> + +<p>Jimmy frowned. His uncle's arrival was awkward, for he had rather hoped +to work on Margaret's emotion and carry her away. In fact, he had +wondered whether to take her boldly in his arms might not be a useful +plan. Now the plan would not work; although when he stopped in front of +Margaret he saw she was moved. The blood came to her skin and her glance +was very kind. She wore an old fur cap and a soft deerskin jacket; in +fact, her clothes were a rancher's daughter's clothes, but somehow she +was marked by a touch of dignity. She gave Jimmy her hand and he turned +to his uncle.</p> + +<p>"You know Miss Jardine, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It looks like that," Sir James replied with a smile. "Since you are my +nephew, I felt I ought to know your friends. Then Miss Jardine was kind, +and seeing my curiosity, helped to throw some light upon your romantic +adventures."</p> + +<p>Jimmy gave Margaret a grateful look and laughed. "I expect you were +puzzled, sir?"</p> + +<p>"To some extent, I was puzzled," Sir James agreed. "I'm a sober and +perhaps old-fashioned business man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> The golden days when I was young +and rash are gone, but one recaptures a reflection of their vanished +charm."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Jimmy, "I knew you were human! No days were golden for Uncle +Dick. I expect you know we jarred?"</p> + +<p>"Dick indicated something like that, but he has a number of useful +qualities. Perhaps they're inherited qualities, because I think one or +two are yours. For example, I went to see your ranch. You have made good +progress, on sound business lines, although chopping trees is obviously +a strenuous job."</p> + +<p>"Do you know much about ranching?" Jimmy inquired.</p> + +<p>"I do not. Miss Jardine thought I ought to see the ranch and her father +enlightened me."</p> + +<p>Margaret blushed and Sir James smiled. "Friends are useful, Jimmy, so +long as one's friends are good; but we mustn't philosophize. They are +cooking some food for you at the post office and the station agent has +agreed to stop the Vancouver express. He imagines the train will arrive +before very long."</p> + +<p>They went to the post office and soon afterwards the train rolled down +the gorge. Jimmy helped Margaret up the steps, gave Peter his awkward +thanks, and jumped on board. By and by the cars sped past a small stone +hut and he wondered whether he was the man who had not long since stolen +down at night to meet the section hand.</p> + +<p>When they reached the hotel the guests Jimmy had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> known were gone, and a +lonely stranger occupied a room. The clerk stated they would shut down +for the winter as soon as the party went, but dinner would be served as +usual in the big dining-room.</p> + +<p>Jimmy, refreshed by a hot bath, dressed with luxurious satisfaction. To +wear clean, dry clothes and know others would cook his food was +something new. When he went downstairs Sir James was in the rotunda.</p> + +<p>"Now you are the fashionable young fellow I expected to meet," he +remarked with a twinkle. "You see, Dick drew your portrait."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "I expect I bothered Dick and perhaps he was a +better friend than I thought. All the same, I hope to persuade you the +portrait was something of a caricature."</p> + +<p>Sir James gave him a thoughtful glance. "It is possible. When you came +down the hill at Green River, carrying your heavy pack, your mouth tight +and your eyes fixed, I knew my nephew. Sometimes when the cheap mill +engine stopped and your father put down his pen and took off his coat he +looked like that. Well, it's long since and I have got a title I did not +particularly want; but after all we are new arrivals and the primitive +vein is not yet run out——" He stopped and resumed: "Mrs. Dillon is in +the drawing-room, but we must wait for Miss Jardine. She and her father +are my guests."</p> + +<p>"You are kind, but I thought them my guests, sir!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>Sir James smiled. "You are rather dull, Jimmy. After all, I am the head +of your house."</p> + +<p>They went to the dining-room and at the door Jimmy stopped. Margaret and +Jardine crossed the belt of polished wood between the pillars, but now +Margaret was not dressed like a bush girl. The deerskin jacket was gone, +her clothes were fashionable and her skin shone against the fine +dark-colored material. Yet she was marked by the grace and balance one +gets in the woods, and Jimmy thought her step like a mountain deer's. +Then he saw his uncle studied him and he crossed the floor.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dillon, Frank and Deering came in, but although Sir James was an +urbane host sometimes the talk got slack. Laura had not come down and +another occupied Stannard's chair.</p> + +<p>The stranger Jimmy had remarked dined alone some distance off, but when +Mrs. Dillon got up he joined the group.</p> + +<p>"You agreed to give me an interview," he said to Sir James.</p> + +<p>"That is so," Sir James replied. "You wanted to see my nephew, I think, +and since we may talk about Stannard, I would like Mr. Deering to join +us."</p> + +<p>They went to the rotunda and the stranger pulled out some documents. He +was old and rather fat, but his clothes were fastidiously neat and his +glance was keen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>"You know I'm Mayson, and my London address is on my card," he said. +"The card does not state my occupation, but I lend money."</p> + +<p>"I imagined something like that," said Sir James. "Stannard was your +partner?"</p> + +<p>"He was my agent. Stannard belonged to exclusive sporting clubs I could +not join; but perhaps this is not important. I understand you are +satisfied he is dead?"</p> + +<p>Deering nodded. "Nothing made of flesh and blood could stand for his +plunge down the rocks."</p> + +<p>"Since he was a famous mountaineer, I expect you thought his +carelessness strange."</p> + +<p>"I have some grounds to think you could account for it," said Deering +dryly.</p> + +<p>"We will talk about this again," said Mayson and turned to Sir James. +"Mr. Leyland owes me a large sum; I have brought his notes."</p> + +<p>Sir James studied the documents and gave them to Jimmy, who admitted the +account was accurate.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Sir James. "My nephew meets his bills. The interest is +high, but he must pay for his extravagance. Before I write you a check, +I want to see your agreement with Stannard and would like some +particulars."</p> + +<p>Mayson gave him a document, and when Jimmy stated that he knew +Stannard's hand, resumed: "Stannard joined me some years since, at a +time when he was awkwardly embarrassed. The combine had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> advantages. +Stannard had qualities I had not; his friends were fashionable sporting +people. For all that, he was bankrupt and I supplied him with money."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Sir James. "Still, perhaps Stannard's agreeing to tout +for you was strange. My nephew thought him a fastidious gentleman. +There's another thing: since he was willing to exploit his friends, did +you not imagine he might cheat you?"</p> + +<p>Mayson smiled. "Stannard dared not cheat me, and perhaps I can give Mr. +Deering the light he wants. I knew something about Stannard that, had +others known, would have broken him. When we made our agreement, he +declared the person he had injured was recently dead and the risk he ran +was gone. Perhaps he was sincere, but sometimes I doubt. Not long since, +when he began to keep back sums I ought to have got, I made inquiries +and found out that another knew. In fact, it looked as if Stannard were +buying the fellow's silence with my money. Had he been frank, I might +have broken the extortioner, but he was not frank. I think he knew he +had deceived me about the agreement and was afraid. Anyhow, he tried to +meet the demands, until——"</p> + +<p>"I think I see," said Deering. "You do not yet know all Stannard's plans +and now they're not important. I expect we can take it for granted that +he imagined the demands could not long be met. Then he saw the police +had found out his part in the shooting accident and he went down the +rocks."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>"It looks like that," Mayson agreed.</p> + +<p>Deering turned to Jimmy. Jimmy's look was stern and his brows were knit. +Deering thought he saw a light, but he said nothing and Sir James got +up.</p> + +<p>"If you will go with me to the office, Mr. Mayson, I will write you a +check."</p> + +<p>They went off and soon afterwards Dillon joined Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"Laura wants to see you," he said in a disturbed voice. "She knows +Stannard shot Douglas, and it's now obvious he meant you to pay; but I +rather think that's not all. She talks about her not being justified in +marrying me. The thing's ridiculous; if Stannard was a crook, she's not +accountable, but my arguments don't carry much weight. Perhaps you can +help. You agreed to play up."</p> + +<p>"I'll try," said Jimmy, and went to the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Nobody but Laura was about and her forlorn look moved him. Her face was +pinched and all her color was gone, but she gave Jimmy a level glance.</p> + +<p>"You know I'm sorry," he said, and taking her cold hand, resumed with +some embarrassment: "Frank's my friend and you were very kind. Not long +since I thought——"</p> + +<p>"You thought you were my lover?" said Laura in a quiet voice. "You were +lucky because you were not, but had you agreed to go back to the cotton +mill, I might have married you. Now you know my shabbiness."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>"I know nothing like that," Jimmy declared. "I do, however, know I owe +you much. You were the first to warn me where my extravagance led. Now I +want to help——"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Laura, "you are generous! I was willing to cheat you and it's +plain my father was not your friend."</p> + +<p>Jimmy studied her and thought her afraid. In fact, he began to see why +she had sent for him. Laura was keen; she knew something, but he +imagined she did not know all. Anyhow, he was not going to enlighten +her.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't exaggerate the importance of the shooting accident," he +said. "I and Mr. Stannard used our rifles. The night was dark and I +imagined I had hit the warden. I expect Mr. Stannard had no grounds to +think the unlucky shot was his. Until recently, the police believed the +shot was mine."</p> + +<p>Laura was quiet for a few moments, and then with an effort looked up.</p> + +<p>"My father knew the rocks; he was a famous mountaineer. Yet when the +police sergeant ordered him to stop he went down the bank——"</p> + +<p>"After all, his carelessness was not very strange," Jimmy replied. "Mr. +Stannard was leader and had borne a heavy strain; in fact, we were all +exhausted and our nerve was gone. Then the police came out of the mist, +the sergeant shouted, and Mr. Stannard knew they claimed he had shot the +warden. He was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> startled and, so to speak, mechanically stepped +back——"</p> + +<p>He stopped, for although his object was good, he knew Laura's +cleverness. He did not know if he had altogether banished her doubts, +but she gave him a grateful look.</p> + +<p>"Frank is your friend," she said in a quiet voice. "He wants me to marry +him. Are you satisfied I ought not to refuse?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course I'm satisfied," Jimmy declared. "You had nothing to do +with the shooting accident; you were my friend before Frank was. I hope +we're friends for good. To refuse to marry Frank is ridiculous. Since +I'm persuaded, you ought not to doubt."</p> + +<p>Laura gave him her hand.</p> + +<p>"You are stanch, Jimmy, but I'm tired," she said, and let him go.</p> + +<p>In the hall Jimmy met Sir James, who said, "I am going for a quiet +smoke. Will you join me?"</p> + +<p>"Not for a time, sir. Since I arrived I've been strenuously occupied +doing things I ought. Now I'm going to do something I want to do."</p> + +<p>"For example?" Sir James inquired.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to talk to Margaret. I hope to persuade her to marry me."</p> + +<p>"When I suggested our taking a smoke, my object was to inquire about +your friendship for Miss Jardine. After all, I am your trustee."</p> + +<p>"I hope you approve my plan, sir," Jimmy rejoined.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>"You know where to stop," Sir James remarked with a twinkle. "Perhaps my +approval carries more weight than you think; because had I not approved, +Miss Jardine would not have agreed."</p> + +<p>"Then you have talked to her about it?" said Jimmy with keen surprise.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; Miss Jardine is not dull. I soon saw she understood my +importance, but did not mean to use her charm. Her friendliness was +marked by some reserve. In fact, it was plain she acknowledged my +business was to judge if she were the girl for you and she would not +persuade me. Well, I liked her pride, and although we did not talk about +it, I rather think she knew I did approve."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Jimmy with a grateful look.</p> + +<p>Sir James put his hand on Jimmy's arm.</p> + +<p>"When I started from Bombay I was bothered about you. Dick had found out +something about Stannard and he imagined that Miss Stannard was his +accomplice."</p> + +<p>"Miss Stannard didn't know Stannard's occupation. She is not accountable +for her father."</p> + +<p>"That is so," Sir James agreed. "I think Miss Stannard a charming girl, +but she was not the girl for you. Leylands are manufacturers and your +job is to control a big industry; Miss Stannard's is to cultivate her +social talents and amuse herself. Margaret Jardine, however, is our +sort. She's stanch and sincere; you know her pluck and all she risked +for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> you. You want a wife like that, and I wish you luck!"</p> + +<p>Jimmy found Margaret in the drawing-room. Mrs. Dillon had gone off with +Laura, and Jimmy advanced resolutely.</p> + +<p>"At Green Lake I asked you to marry me and you refused. Yet you knew I +loved you and perhaps I had some grounds to think——"</p> + +<p>The blood came to Margaret's skin. "I did know, Jimmy; but to marry you +because I stopped the trooper was another thing."</p> + +<p>"Now you're ridiculous! All the same, in some respects your refusal was +justified. My drawbacks were plain. For all you knew, I was an +extravagant wastrel, and the police were on my track. Since I mustn't +urge you, I was forced to be resigned."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes you are rather dull," Margaret remarked and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not forced to try for resignation now. I was something of an +extravagant fool, but the police will leave me alone."</p> + +<p>"The police were not the obstacle," said Margaret in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>Jimmy laughed. "It looks like that; the trooper who tried to catch us +did not bother you long. If Sir James was the obstacle, he's, so to +speak, removed. You have conquered him and he declared a few minutes +since you were the girl for me. He's a kind old fellow. Don't you think +you ought to indulge him?"</p> + +<p>He reached down and took her hands. "I want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> you, Margaret. My +extravagance is done with. I'm going back to undertake my proper job and +I need your help."</p> + +<p>"Then I must try to help," said Margaret, and Jimmy took her in his +arms.</p> + + +<p class="theend">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<p class="center bigtext"><i>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</i></p> + +<ul class="booktitles"> +<li>Northwest!</li> +<li>The Man from the Wilds</li> +<li>Kit Musgrave's Luck</li> +<li>Lister's Great Adventure</li> +<li>The Wilderness Mine</li> +<li>Wyndham's Pal</li> +<li>Partners of the Out-Trail</li> +<li>The Buccaneer Farmer</li> +<li>The Lure of the North</li> +<li>The Girl from Keller's</li> +<li>Carmen's Messenger</li> +<li>Johnstone of the Border</li> +<li>The Coast of Adventure</li> +<li>Harding of Allenwood</li> +<li>The Secret of the Reef</li> +<li>For the Allison Honor</li> +<li>The Intriguers</li> +<li>Prescott of Saskatchewan</li> +<li>Ranching for Sylvia</li> +<li>The Long Portage</li> +<li>A Prairie Courtship</li> +<li>Sydney Carteret, Rancher</li> +<li>The Greater Power</li> +<li>Thrice Armed</li> +<li>Lorimer of the Northwest</li> +<li>Delilah of the Snows</li> +<li>For Jacinta</li> +<li>Winston of the Prairie</li> +<li>The Dust of Conflict</li> +<li>The Cattle Baron's Daughter</li> +</ul> + + + +<hr class="wide" /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected.</p> + +<p>In Chapter III, a period was changed to a question mark after "do you +think your folks would give me supper".</p> + +<p>In Chapter IV, "The oldtime bush-man has no use for game-wardens" was +changed to "The old-time bushman has no use for game-wardens".</p> + +<p>In Chapter IX, "her leggings were fringed deer-skin" was changed to "her +leggings were fringed deerskin".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XII, "Sometimes he heard cowbells" was changed to "Sometimes +he heard cow-bells".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XV, "struck the door-post" was changed to "struck the +doorpost".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XIX, a single quotation mark (') was changed to a double +quotation mark (") before "My notion is".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXV, "the snow that streaked the mountainside" was changed to +"the snow that streaked the mountain-side".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXXI, "when they reached the snowfield" was changed to "when +they reached the snow-field".</p> + +<p>In Chapter XXXII, "One heard the wind in the pinetops" was changed to +"One heard the wind in the pine-tops".</p> + +<p>Also, the list of other novels by Harold Bindloss was moved from the +front of the book to the back.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + +***** This file should be named 38069-h.htm or 38069-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/0/6/38069/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/38069-h/images/cover.jpg b/38069-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..652d8b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/38069-h/images/logo.png b/38069-h/images/logo.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8a801f --- /dev/null +++ b/38069-h/images/logo.png diff --git a/38069.txt b/38069.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9d6ccf --- /dev/null +++ b/38069.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9256 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Northwest! + +Author: Harold Bindloss + +Release Date: November 20, 2011 [EBook #38069] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +NORTHWEST! + +By HAROLD BINDLOSS + +Author of "THE MAN FROM THE WILDS," "LISTER'S GREAT ADVENTURE," +"WYNDHAM'S PAL," "PARTNERS OF THE OUT-TRAIL," "THE LURE OF THE NORTH," +ETC. + +[Illustration] + + NEW YORK + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + PUBLISHERS + + Copyright, 1922, by + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + +PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND UNDER THE TITLE "THE MOUNTAINEERS" + +_All Rights Reserved_ + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I JIMMY SIGNS A NOTE 1 + II JIMMY'S APOLOGY 9 + III THE CAYUSE PONY 19 + IV KELSHOPE RANCH 29 + V JIMMY HOLDS FAST 38 + VI DEERING OWNS A DEBT 47 + VII AN INSURABLE INTEREST 56 + VIII JIMMY GETS TO WORK 67 + IX THE QUIET WOODS 78 + X LAURA'S REFUSAL 87 + XI THE GAME RESERVE 98 + XII STANNARD FRONTS A CRISIS 108 + XIII THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD 117 + XIV A SHOT IN THE DARK 126 + XV TROOPER SIMPSON'S PRISONERS 135 + XVI THE NECK 144 + XVII DILLON MEDITATES 152 + XVIII THE CARTRIDGE BELT 162 + XIX USEFUL FRIENDS 171 + XX BOB'S DENIAL 182 + XXI DEERING'S EXCURSION 190 + XXII DEERING TAKES COUNSEL 200 + XXIII MARGARET TAKES A PLUNGE 208 + XXIV JIMMY RESIGNS HIMSELF 218 + XXV THE CALL 227 + XXVI DEERING TAKES THE TRAIL 236 + XXVII DEERING'S PROGRESS 245 + XXVIII A DISSOLVING PICTURE 254 + XXIX HELD UP 263 + XXX THE GULLY 274 + XXXI STANNARD'S LINE 281 + XXXII BY THE CAMP-FIRE 288 + XXXIII SIR JAMES APPROVES 297 + + + + +NORTHWEST! + + + + +I + +JIMMY SIGNS A NOTE + + +The small room at the Canadian hotel was hot and smelt of cigar-smoke +and liquor. Stannard put down his cards, shrugged resignedly, and opened +the window. Deering smiled and pulled a pile of paper money across the +table. He was strongly built and belonged to a mountaineering club, but +he was fat and his American dinner jacket looked uncomfortably tight. + +Deering's habit was to smile, and Jimmy Leyland had liked his knowing +twinkle. Somehow it hinted that you could not cheat Deering, but if you +were his friend you could trust him, and he would see you out. Now, +however, Jimmy thought he grinned. Jimmy had reckoned on winning the +pool, but Deering had picked up the money he imagined was his. + +Jackson wiped a spot of liquor from his white shirt and gave the boy a +sympathetic glance. Jackson was thin, dark-skinned and grave, and +although he did not talk much about himself, Jimmy understood he was +rather an important gentleman in Carolina. Stannard had indicated +something like this. Stannard and Jimmy were frankly English, but Jimmy +was young and the other's hair was touched by white. + +Yet Stannard was athletic, and at Parisian clubs and Swiss hotels men +talked about his fencing and his exploits on the rocks. He was not a big +man, but now his thin jacket was open, the moulding of his chest and the +curve to his black silk belt were Greek. All the same, one rather got a +sense of cultivation than strength; Stannard looked thoroughbred, and +Jimmy was proud he was his friend. + +Jimmy was not cultivated. He was a careless, frank and muscular English +lad, but he was not altogether raw, because he knew London and Paris and +had for some time enjoyed Stannard's society. His manufacturing +relations in Lancashire thought him an extravagant fool, and perhaps had +grounds for doing so, for since Jimmy had broken their firm control his +prudence was not marked. + +"I must brace up. Let's stop for a few minutes," he said and went to the +window. + +The room was on the second floor, and the window opening on top of the +veranda, commanded the valley. Across the terrace in front of the hotel, +dark pines rolled down to the river, and the water sparkled in the moon. +On the other side a belt of mist floated about the mountain slope and +dark rocks went up and melted in the snow. The broken white line ran far +North and was lost in the distance. One smelt the sweet resinous scents +the soft Chinook wind blew across the wilderness. + +Jimmy's glance rested on the river and the vague blue-white field of ice +from which the green flood sprang. Now the electric elevators had +stopped, the angry current's measured throb rolled across the pines. But +for this, all was very quiet, and the other windows opening on the +veranda were blank. Jimmy remembered the hotel manager himself had some +time since firmly put out the billiard-room lights, when Jimmy was about +ten dollars up at pool. He had afterwards won a much larger sum at +cards, but his luck had begun to turn. + +By and by Stannard came out and jumped on the high top rail. The light +from the window touched his face, and his profile, cutting against the +dark, was good and firmly lined. His balance on the narrow rail was like +a boy's. + +"If you carried my weight, you wouldn't get up like that. Two hundred +pounds wants some moving," Deering remarked with a noisy laugh. + +"I've known you move about an icy slope pretty fast," said Stannard, and +taking his hands from the rail, pulled out his watch. "Two o'clock!" he +resumed and gave Jimmy a smile. "I rather think you ought to go to bed. +You have not got Deering's steadiness and still are a few dollars up. To +stop when your luck is good is a useful plan." + +"My legs are steadier than my head," Deering rejoined. "When I played +the ten-spot Jimmy saw my game. Cost me five dollars. I reckon I ought +to go to bed!" + +Jimmy frowned. He was persuaded he was sober, and although Stannard was +a very good sort, sometimes his fatherly admonition jarred. Then he had +won a good sum from Stannard and must not be shabby. The strange thing +was he could not remember how much he had won. + +"To stop as soon as my luck turns is not my plan," he said. "I feel I +owe you a chance to get your own back." + +"Oh, well! If you feel like that, we had better go on; but your +fastidiousness may cost you something," Stannard remarked, and Deering +hit Jimmy's back. + +"You're a sport; I like you! Play up and play straight's your rule." + +Jimmy was flattered, although he doubted Deering's soberness. He did +play straight, and when he won he did not go off with a walletful of his +friends' money. All the same, Jackson's bored look annoyed him, since it +rather indicated that he was willing to indulge Jimmy than that he noted +his scrupulous fairness. Jimmy resolved to banish the fellow's languor, +and when they went back to the card table demanded that they put up the +stakes. Jackson agreed resignedly, and they resumed the game. + +The room got hotter and the cigar-smoke was thick. Sometimes Stannard +went to the ice-pail and mixed a cooling drink. Jimmy meant to use +caution, but his luck had turned, and excitement parched his mouth. By +and by Stannard, who was dealing, stopped. + +"Your play is wild, Jimmy," he remarked. "I think you have had enough." + +Jimmy turned to the others. His face was red and his gesture boyishly +theatrical. + +"I play for sport, not for dollars. I don't want your money, and now +you're getting something back, we'll put up the bets again." + +"Then, since your wad is nearly gone, somebody must keep the score," +said Jackson, and Stannard pulled out his note-book. + +Jimmy took another drink and tried to brace up. His luck, like his roll +of bills, was obviously gone, but when he was winning the others had not +stopped, and he did not want them, so to speak, to let him off. When he +lost he could pay. But this was not important, and he must concentrate +on his cards. The cards got worse and as a rule the ace he thought one +antagonist had was played by another. At length Stannard pushed back his +chair from the table. + +"Three o'clock and I have had enough," he said, and turned to Jimmy. "Do +you know how much you are down?" + +Jimmy did not know, but he imagined the sum was large, and when Stannard +began to reckon he went to the window. Day was breaking and mist rolled +about the pines. The snow was gray and the high rocks were blurred and +dark. Jimmy heard the river and the wind in the trees. The cold braced +him and he vaguely felt the landscape's austerity. His head was getting +steadier, and perhaps it was the contrast, but when he turned and looked +about the room he was conscious of something like disgust. Stannard, +occupied with his pencil, knitted his brows, and now his graceful +carelessness was not marked; Jimmy thought his look hard and +calculating. Yet Stannard was his friend and model. He admitted he was +highly strung and perhaps his imagination cheated him. + +He was not cheated about the others. Now a reaction from the excitement +had begun, he saw Deering and Jackson as he had not seen them before. +Deering's grin was sottish, the fellow was grossly fat, and he fixed his +greedy glance on Stannard's note-book. Jackson, standing behind +Stannard, studied the calculations, as if he meant to satisfy himself +the sum was correct. Jimmy thought them impatient to know their share +and their keenness annoyed him. Then Stannard put up his book. + +"It looks as if your resolve to play up was rash," he remarked and +stated the sum Jimmy owed. "Can you meet the reckoning?" + +"You know I'm broke. You're my banker and must fix it for me." + +Stannard nodded. "Very well! What about your bet in the billiard-room?" + +"Nothing about it. I made the stroke." + +Deering grinned indulgently, and when Jackson shrugged, Jimmy's face got +red. + +"If they're not satisfied, give them the lot; I don't dispute about +things like that," he said haughtily. "Write an acknowledgment for all I +owe and I'll sign the note." + +Stannard wrote and tore the leaf from his note-book, but he now used a +fountain pen. Jimmy took the pen, signed the acknowledgment and went +off. When he had gone Deering looked at Stannard and laughed. + +"Your touch is light, but if the boy begins to feel your hand he'll +kick. Anyhow, I'll take my wad." + +Stannard gave him a roll of paper money and turned to Jackson. + +"I'll take mine," said Jackson. "In the morning I pull out." + +"You stated you meant to stop for a time." + +"There's nothing in the game for me, and I don't see what Deering +expects to get," said Jackson in a languid voice. "I doubt if you'll +keep him long; the boys in his home section, on the coast, reckon he +puts up a square deal. Anyhow, you can't have my help." + +Stannard gave him a searching glance and Deering straightened his big +body. Jackson's glance was quietly scornful. + +"A hundred dollars is a useful sum, but my mark's higher, and I play +with men. Maybe I'll meet up with some rich tourists at the Banff +hotels," he resumed, and giving the others a careless nod, went off. + +"A queer fellow, but sometimes his mood is nasty," said Deering. "I +felt I'd like to throw him over the rails." + +"As a rule, his sort carry a gun," Stannard remarked. + +Deering wiped some liquor from the table, picked up Jimmy's glass, which +was on the floor, and put away the cards. + +"In the morning you had better give the China boy two dollars," he said +in a meaning voice, and when he went to the door Stannard put out the +light. + + + + +II + +JIMMY'S APOLOGY + + +In the morning Jimmy leaned, rather moodily, against the terrace wall. +There was no garden, for the hotel occupied a narrow shelf on the +hillside, and from the terrace one looked down on the tops of dusky +pines. The building was new, and so far the guests were not numerous, +but the manager claimed that when the charm of the neighborhood was +known, summer tourists and mountaineers would have no use for Banff. + +Perhaps his hopefulness was justified, for all round the hotel primeval +forest met untrodden snow, and at the head of the valley a glacier +dropped to a calm green lake. A few miles south was a small +flag-station, and sometimes one heard a heavy freight train rumble in +the woods. When the distant noise died away all was very quiet but for +the throb of falling water. + +Jimmy had not enjoyed his breakfast, and when he lighted a cigarette the +tobacco did not taste good. He admitted that he had been carried away, +and now he was cool he reflected that his rashness had cost him a large +sum and he had given Stannard another note. He was young, and had for a +year or two indulged his youthful craving for excitement, but he began +to doubt if he could keep it up. After all, he had inherited more than +he knew from his sternly business-like and rather parsimonious +ancestors. Although the Leyland cotton mills were now famous in +Lancashire, Jimmy's grandfather had earned day wages at the spinning +frame. + +Jimmy felt dull and thought a day on the rocks would brace him up. Since +his object for the Canadian excursion was to shoot a mountain-sheep and +climb a peak in the Rockies, he ought to get into trim. Stannard could +play cards all night and start fresh in the morning on an adventure that +tried one's nerve and muscle, but Jimmy admitted he could not. When he +loafed about hotel rotundas and consumed iced drinks he got soft. + +After a time, Laura Stannard crossed the veranda and went along the +terrace. Her white dress was fashionable and she wore a big white hat. +Her hair and eyes were black, her figure was gracefully slender, and her +carriage was good. Jimmy thought her strangely attractive, but did not +altogether know if she was his friend, and admitted that he was not +Laura's sort. It was not that she was proud. Something about her +indicated that her proper background was an old-fashioned English +country house; Jimmy felt his was a Lancashire cotton mill. Laura did +not live with Stannard, but she joined him and Jimmy in Switzerland not +long before they started for Canada. Stannard was jealous about his +daughter and had indicated that his friends were not necessarily hers. +Jimmy had grounds to think Stannard's caution justified. + +For a minute or two Jimmy left the girl alone. He imagined if Laura were +willing to talk to him she would let him know. She went to the end of +the terrace, and then turning opposite a bench, looked up and smiled. +Jimmy advanced and when he joined her leaned against the low wall. Laura +studied him quietly and he got embarrassed. Somehow he felt she +disapproved; he imagined he did not altogether look as if he had got up +after a night's refreshing sleep. + +"You got breakfast early," she remarked. + +"That is so," Jimmy agreed. "A fellow at my table argues about our +slowness in the Old Country and sometimes one would sooner be quiet. +Then I thought I'd go off and see if I could reach the ice-fall on the +glacier; after the sun gets hot the snow is treacherous. Anyhow, you +have come down as soon as me." + +"I mean to go on the lake and try to catch a trout." + +"Then, I hope you'll let me come. You'll want somebody to row the boat +and use the landing-net." + +"The hotel guide will row and I doubt if we'll need the landing-net," +Laura replied and gave him a level glance. "Besides, I shall return for +lunch and I rather think you ought to go for a long climb. When I came +out, you looked moody and slack." + +Jimmy colored. Although he was embarrassed, to know Laura had bothered +to remark his moodiness was flattering; the strange thing was, when she +crossed the veranda he had not thought she saw him. Jimmy was raw, but +not altogether a fool. He knew Laura did not mean him to go with her to +the lake. + +"Oh, well," he said. "When one loafs about, one does get slack." + +"You are young and ought not to loaf." + +"I imagine I'm a little older than you," Jimmy rejoined with a twinkle. + +Laura let it go. As a rule, she did not take the obvious line, and +although she knew much Jimmy did not, she said, "Are you old enough to +play cards with Jackson and Deering?" + +"One must pay for all one gets, and, in a sense, I get much from men +like that," Jimmy replied. "There's something one likes about Jackson, +and Deering's a very good sort." + +"Are you ambitious to be Deering's sort?" Laura asked. + +Jimmy pondered. It was obvious she knew the men were Stannard's friends, +and she, no doubt, knew Stannard was a keen gambler. The ground was +awkward and he must use some caution. + +"Mr. Stannard's my model," he said. + +Laura's glance was inscrutable. Since her mother died she had not lived +with Stannard and he puzzled her. Sometimes she was disturbed about him, +and sometimes she was jarred. When she joined him for a few weeks he was +kind, but he did not ask for her confidence and did not give her his. + +"It looks as if my father's attraction for you was strong," she said +thoughtfully. + +"That is so," Jimmy declared with a touch of enthusiasm Laura saw was +sincere. "Mr. Stannard has all the qualities I'd like to cultivate. My +habit, so to speak, is to shove along laboriously; he gets where he +wants without an effort. On the trains and steamers he gets for nothing +things another couldn't buy, and at the hotel the waiters serve him +first. People trust him and are keen about his society. He's urbane and +polished, but when you go with him on the rocks you note his steely +pluck. When I'm stuck and daunted he smiles, and somehow I get up the +awkward slab. Besides, he stands for much I wanted but couldn't get +until he helped." + +"What did you want?" + +"Excitement, adventure, and the friendship of clever people; something +like that," said Jimmy awkwardly. "To begin with, I'd better tell you +about my life in Lancashire, but I expect you're bored----" + +Laura was not bored; in fact, her curiosity was excited. Stannard's +young friends were numerous, but when he opened his London flat to them +she stopped with her aunts. Now she wondered whether it was important he +had allowed her to join his Canadian excursion. + +"I am not at all bored," she said. + +"Very well. My father died long since and I went to my uncle's house. +I'd like to draw Ardshaw for you, but I cannot. Inside, it's overcrowded +by clumsy Victorian furniture; outside is a desolation of industrial +ugliness. Smoky fields, fenced by old colliery ropes, a black canal, and +coalpit winding towers. I went to school on board a steam tram, along a +road bordered all the way by miners' cottages." + +"The picture's not attractive," Laura remarked. "Was your uncle +satisfied with his house?" + +Jimmy smiled. "I think he was altogether satisfied. The Leylands are a +utilitarian lot, and rather like ugliness. Our interests are business, +and religion of a stern Puritanical sort. From my relations' point of +view, grace and beauty are snares. Besides, Dick Leyland got Ardshaw +cheap and I expect this accounts for much. When he went there the +Leyland mills were small; my grandfather had not long started on his +lucky speculation." + +"But after a time you went away to school--a public school?" + +"I did not. I imagined it was obvious," said Jimmy with a touch of +dryness. "I went to the mill office and sat under a gas-lamp, writing +entries in the stock-books, from nine o'clock until six. Dick Leyland +had no use for university cultivation and my aunt was persuaded Oxford +was a haunt of profligates. Well, because I was forced, I held out until +I was twenty-one. Then I'd had enough and I went to London." + +"Were your relations willing for you to go?" + +"They were not at all willing, but I inherit a third-part of the Leyland +mills. For all that, unless my trustees approve, I cannot, for another +two or three years, use control, and the sum I may spend is fixed. +Well, perhaps you can picture my launching out in town. I had no rules +to go by; I wore the stamp of the cotton mill and a second-class school. +For five years I'd earned a small clerk's pay, and now, by contrast, I +was rich." + +Laura could picture it. The boy's reaction from his uncle's firm and +parsimonious guardianship was natural, and she studied him with fresh +curiosity. He was tall but rather loosely built, and his look was +apologetic, as if he had not yet got a man's strength and confidence. +One noted the stamp of the cotton mill. As a rule Jimmy was generous and +extravagant; but sometimes he was strangely business-like. + +"Were you satisfied with your experiment?" she asked. + +"I expect you're tired. If you were not kind, you'd have sent me off." + +"Not at all," said Laura. "I like to study people, and your story has a +human touch. In a way, it's the revolt of youth." + +"Oh, well; I expect one does not often get all one thinks to get. I +wanted the cultivation Oxford might have given me; I wanted to know +people of your sort, who don't bother about business, but hunt and fish +and shoot. Well, I can throw a dry-fly and hold a gun straight; but +after all I'm Jimmy Leyland, from the mills in Lancashire." + +Laura liked his honesty, but his voice was now not apologetic. She +rather thought it proud. + +"You met my father in Switzerland?" she said. + +"At Chamonix, about a year ago. When I met Mr. Stannard my luck was +good. I'd got into the wrong lot; they used me and laughed. Well, your +father showed me where I was going and sent the others off. Perhaps you +know how he does things like that? He's urban, but very firm. Anyhow, +the others went and I've had numerous grounds to trust Mr. Stannard +since." + +Jimmy lighted a cigarette. Perhaps he ought to go, but Laura's interest +was flattering and she had not allowed him to talk like this before. In +fact, he rather wondered why she had done so. In the meantime Laura +pondered his artless narrative. His liking her father was not strange, +for Stannard's charm was strong, but Laura imagined to enjoy his society +cost his young friends something. Perhaps it had cost Jimmy something, +for he had stated that one must pay for all one got. He was obviously +willing to pay, but Laura was puzzled. If his uncle's portrait was +accurate, she imagined the sum Jimmy was allowed to spend was not large. + +"One ought to have an object and know where one means to go," she +remarked. "When you look ahead, are you satisfied?" + +"In the meantime, I'll let Mr. Stannard indicate the way," said Jimmy +with a smile. "On the whole, I expect Dick Leyland would sooner I didn't +meddle at the office, but after a year or two I'll probably go back. +You see, Dick has no children and Jim's not married. To carry on +Leyland's is my job." + +"Who is Jim?" + +"Sir James Leyland, knight. In Lancashire we have not much use for +titles; the head of the house is Jim and I'm Jimmy. Perhaps the +diminutive is important." + +"But suppose your uncles did not approve your carrying on the house?" + +"Then, I imagine they could, for a time, force me to leave the mills +alone. However, although Dick is very like a machine, I've some grounds +to think Jim human. All the same, I hardly know him. He's at Bombay; the +house transacts much business in India. But I must have bored you and +you haven't got breakfast. I suppose you really won't let me row the +boat?" + +Laura pondered. Her curiosity was not altogether satisfied and she now +was willing for Jimmy to join her on the lake. Yet she had refused, and +after his frank statement, she had better not agree. + +"I have engaged the hotel guide, Miss Grant is going, and the boat is +small," she said. "Besides, when one means to catch trout one must +concentrate." + +Jimmy went off and Laura knitted her brows. She knew Jimmy's habit was +not to boast, and if she had understood him properly, he would by and by +control the fortunes of the famous manufacturing house. Her father's +plan was rather obvious, and the blood came to Laura's skin. She knew +something about poverty and admitted that when she married her marriage +must be good, but she was not an adventuress. Yet Jimmy was rather a +handsome fellow and had some attractive qualities. + + + + +III + +THE CAYUSE PONY + + +The afternoon was hot, the little wineberry bushes were soft, and Jimmy +lay in a big hemlock's shade. A few yards in front, a falling pine had +broken the row of straight red trunks, and in the gap shining snow peaks +cut the serene sky. Below, the trees rolled down the hillside, and at +the bottom a river sparkled. Rivers, however, were numerous, the bush on +the hill-bench Jimmy had crossed was thick, and he frankly did not know +where he had come down. If the hotel was in the valley, he need not +bother, but he doubted, and was not keen about climbing another mountain +spur. In the meantime, he smoked his pipe and mused. + +He owed Stannard rather a large sum. They went about to shooting parties +at country houses and lodges by Scottish salmon rivers. Visiting with +Stannard's sporting friends was expensive and he allowed Jimmy to bear +the cost. Jimmy was willing and made Stannard his banker; now and then +they reckoned up and Jimmy gave him an acknowledgment for the debt. +Although Stannard stated he was poor, his habits were extravagant and +somehow he got money. + +Yet Jimmy did not think Stannard exploited him. He had found his advice +good and Stannard had saved him from some awkward entanglements. In +fact, Stannard was his friend, and although his friendship was perhaps +expensive, in a year or two Jimmy would be rich. Since his parsimonious +uncle had not let him go to a university, his spending a good sum was +justified, and to go about with Stannard was a liberal education. +Perhaps, for a careless young fellow, Jimmy's argument was strangely +commercial, but he was the son of a keen and frugal business man. + +Then he began to muse about Laura. Her beauty and refinement attracted +him, but he imagined Laura knew his drawbacks, and to imagine Stannard +had planned for him to marry her was ridiculous. Stannard was not like +that, and when Laura was with him saw that Jimmy did not get much of her +society. In fact, had she not come down for breakfast before the other +guests, Jimmy imagined he would not have enjoyed a confidential talk +with her. All the same, to loaf in the shade and dwell on Laura's charm +was soothing. + +In the meantime, he was hungry, and he had not bothered to carry his +lunch. When he got breakfast he had not much appetite. Since morning he +had scrambled about the rocks, and he thought the hotel was some +distance off. Getting up with something of an effort, he plunged down +hill through the underbrush. At the bottom he stopped and frowned. He +ought not to have lost his breath, but he had done so and his heart +beat. It looked as if he must cut out strong cigars and iced liquor. + +A few yards off a trail went up the valley and slanted sunbeams crossed +the narrow opening. Jimmy thought he heard a horse's feet and resolved +to wait and ask about the hotel. He was in the shade, but for a short +distance the spot commanded the trail. + +The beat of horse's feet got louder and a girl rode out from the gap in +the dark pine branches. A sunbeam touched her and her hair, and the +steel buckle in her soft felt hat shone. She rode astride and wore +fringed leggings and a jacket of soft deerskin. Her figure was graceful +and she swung easily with the horse's stride. Her hair was like gold and +her eyes were deep blue. Jimmy afterwards thought it strange he noted so +much, but she, so to speak, sprang from the gloom like a picture on a +film, and the picture held him. + +He did not know if the girl was beautiful, but in the tangled woods her +charm was keen. Her dress harmonized with the moss on the tall red +trunks, and the ripening fern. Something primitive and strong marked her +easy, confident pose. The horse, an Indian _cayuse_, tossed its head and +glanced about nervously, as if its habit was to scent danger in the +bush. Jimmy sprang from primitive stock and he knew, half instinctively, +the girl's type was his. He must, however, inquire about the hotel, and +he pushed through the raspberries by the trail. + +The horse, startled by the noise, stopped and tried to turn. The girl +pulled the bridle and braced herself back. The cayuse jumped like a cat, +plunged forward, and feeling the bit, bucked savagely. Jimmy wondered +how long the girl would stick to the saddle, but after a moment or two +the cayuse started for the bush. Jimmy thought he knew the trick, for +when a cayuse cannot buck off its rider it goes for a tree, and if one +keeps one's foot in the stirrup, one risks a broken leg. He jumped for +its head and seized the links at the bit. + +The girl ordered him to let go, but he did not. He had frightened her +horse and must not allow the savage brute to jamb her against a tree. +Its ears were pressed back and he saw its teeth, but so long as he stuck +to the bit, it could not seize his hand. Then it went round in a +semi-circle, the link twisted and pinched his fingers, and he knew he +could not hold on. The animal's head went up, Jimmy got a heavy blow and +fell across the trail. A few moments afterwards he heard a beat of +hoofs, some distance off, and knew the cayuse was gone. The girl, +breathing rather hard, leaned against a trunk. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked. + +"I don't know yet," Jimmy gasped. "I'll find out when I get up." + +He got up and forced a smile. "Anyhow, nothing's broken. Are you hurt?" + +"No," she said. "I'm not hurt, but I'm angry. When you butted in I +couldn't use the bridle." + +"I'm sorry; I wanted to help. However, it looks as if your horse had run +away. Have you far to go?" + +"The ranch is three miles off." + +"How far's the hotel?" + +"If you go by the trail, about eight miles. Perhaps four miles, if you +cross the range." + +Jimmy studied the thick timber and the steep rocky slopes. Pushing +through tangled underbrush has drawbacks, particularly where +devil's-club thorns are numerous. Besides, he had got a nasty knock and +his leg began to hurt. Then he noted a cotton flour bag with straps +attached lying in the trail. + +"I think I won't cross the range. I suppose that bag is yours?" + +"It is mine. They put our groceries off the train. I reckon the bag +weighs about forty pounds. I carried the thing on the front of the +saddle; but when you----" + +Jimmy nodded. "When I butted in you were forced to let it go! Well, +since I frightened your horse, I ought to carry your bag. If I take it +to the ranch, do you think your folks would give me supper?" + +"It's possible. Can you carry the bag?" + +"I'll try," said Jimmy. "Have you some grounds to doubt?" + +"Packing a load over a rough trail is not as easy as it looks," the girl +rejoined with a twinkle. "Then I expect you're a tourist tenderfoot." + +Jimmy liked her smile and he liked her voice. Her Western accent was not +marked and her glance was frank. He thought, if he had not meddled, she +would have mastered the frightened horse; her strength and pluck were +obvious. In the meantime his leg hurt and he could not examine the +injury. + +"I am a tourist," he agreed. "Since I'm going to your house, perhaps I +ought to state that I'm Jimmy Leyland, from Lancashire in the Old +Country." + +"I am Margaret Jardine." + +"Then you're a Scot?" + +"My father is a Scot," said Margaret. "I'm Canadian." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "I've heard something like that before and begin to +see what it implies. Well, it looks as if you were an independent lot. +Is one allowed to state that in the Old Country we are rather proud of +you?" + +"Since I'd like to make Kelshope before dark, perhaps you had better get +going," Margaret remarked. + +Jimmy picked up the bag and fastened the deerskin straps, by which it +hung from his shoulders like a rucksack. They started, and for a time he +kept up with Margaret, but he did not talk. The pack was heavy, he had +not had much breakfast and had gone without his lunch. Besides, his leg +was getting very sore. At length he stopped and began to loose the +straps. + +"Do you mind if I take a smoke?" he asked. + +Margaret looked at him rather hard, but said she did not mind, and +Jimmy, indicating a cedar log, pulled out his cigarette case. + +"Do you smoke?" + +"I do not. In the bush, we haven't yet copied the girls at the hotels." + +"Now I think about it, the girls who smoked at the Montreal hotel were +not numerous," Jimmy remarked. "When I went to the fishing lodge in +Scotland, all smoked, but then Stannard's friends are very much +up-to-date. The strange thing is, we're thought antiquated in the Old +Country----" + +He stopped and tried to brace up. What he wanted to state eluded him. He +felt cold and the pines across the trail got indistinct. + +"You see, in some of our circles we rather feel our duty is to be +modern," he resumed with an effort. "I think you're not like that. +Canada's a new country, but, in a way, one feels you're really older +than we are. We have got artificial; you are flesh and blood----" + +"Don't talk!" said Margaret firmly, but Jimmy thought her voice was +faint, and for a few moments the tall pines melted altogether. + +When he looked up Margaret asked: "Have you got a tobacco pouch?" + +Jimmy gave her the pouch and she went off. He was puzzled and rather +annoyed, but somehow he could not get on his feet. By and by Margaret +came back, carrying the pouch opened like a double cup. Jimmy drank some +water and the numbness began to go. + +"You're very kind. I expect I'm ridiculous," he said. + +"I was not kind. I let you carry the pack, although the cayuse knocked +you down." + +"Perhaps the knock accounts for something," Jimmy remarked in a languid +voice. + +He had got a nasty knock, but he imagined Stannard's cigars and +Deering's iced drinks were really accountable. In the meantime, he noted +that Margaret was wiping his tobacco pouch. + +"You mustn't bother," he resumed. "Give me the thing." + +"But when it's wet you cannot put in the tobacco." + +"I thought you threw away the stuff. I can get another lot at the +hotel." + +Margaret brushed the tobacco from a flake of bark, and filled the pouch. + +"In the woods, one doesn't throw away expensive tobacco." + +"Thanks!" said Jimmy. "Some time since, I lived with people like you." + +"Poor and frugal people?" + +"No," said Jimmy, with a twinkle. "Dick and his wife were rather rich. +In fact, in England, I think you begin to use economy when you get rich. +Anyhow, it's not important, and you needn't bother about me. As a rule, +philosophizing doesn't knock me out. The cayuse kicked pretty hard. +Well, suppose we start?" + +He got up and when Margaret tried to take the pack he pulled it away. + +"The job's mine. I undertook to carry the load." + +"But you're tired, and I think you're lame." + +"We won't dispute," said Jimmy. "You oughtn't to dispute. Perhaps it's +strange, but one feels your word ought to go." + +"It looks as if my word did not go." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "when you command people, you have got to use +some caution. Much depends on whom you command, and in Lancashire we're +an obstinate lot. Anyhow, I'll take the bag." + +He pushed his arms through the straps and Margaret said nothing. She +might have taken the bag from him, but to use force was not dignified +and she knew to let her carry the load would jar. When they set off she +noted that his face was rather white and his step was not even. He had +obviously got a nasty kick, but his pluck was good. + +The sun went down behind the woods, the pines got dim and sweet resinous +scents floated about the trail. The hum of insects came out of the +shadow, and Jimmy was forced to rub the mosquitoes from his neck. To put +up his hands was awkward, for the ground was uneven, and he must balance +his load. He could not talk, the important thing was to reach the ranch +before it got dark, and setting his mouth, he pushed ahead. + +At length Margaret stopped at a fence, and when she began to pull down +the rails Jimmy leaned against a post. The rails were rudely split, and +the zig-zag fence was locked by crossed supports and not fastened by +nails. On the other side, where timothy grass and oats had grown, was +stubble, dotted by tall stumps and fern. A belt of chopped trees +surrounded the clearing, and behind the tangled belt the forest rose +like a dark wall. An indistinct log house and barns occupied the other +end. An owl swooped noiselessly across the fence, and Jimmy heard the +distant howl of a timber wolf. + +"Kelshope ranch," said Margaret. "The path goes to the house. I must put +up the rails." + +Jimmy went through the gap. Perhaps it was soothing quietness, but he +felt he liked Kelshope and his curiosity was excited. He knew the big +Canadian hotels, the pullmans and observation-cars. So far, money had +supplied him, as in London, with much that made life smooth. Now he was +to see something of the Canada in which man must labor for all he gets. +The strange thing was, he felt this was the Canada he really ought to +know. + + + + +IV + +KELSHOPE RANCH + + +Breakfast was over at Kelshope ranch and Jimmy occupied a log at the +edge of the clearing. Although his muscles were sore, he felt strangely +fresh and somehow satisfied. At the hotel, as a rule, he had not felt +like that. His leg hurt, but his host had doctored the cut with some +American liniment, and Jimmy was content to rest in the shade and look +about. He thought he saw the whole process of clearing a ranch. + +In the background, was virgin forest; pine, spruce and hemlock, locking +their dark branches. Then one noted the _slashing_, where chopped trees +had fallen in tangled rows, and an inner belt of ashes and blackened +stumps. Other stumps, surrounded by fern, checkered the oblong of +cultivated soil, and the dew sparkled on the short oat stubble. The oats +were not grown for milling; the heads were small and Jardine cut the +crop for hay. The garden-lot and house occupied a gentle slope. The +walls were built of logs, notched and crossed at the corners; cedar +shingles, split by hand on the spot, covered the roof. Behind the house, +one saw fruit trees and log barns. Nothing was factory-made, and Jimmy +thought all indicated strenuous labor. + +A yard or two off, Jardine rubbed his double-bitted axe with a small +round hone. He wore a gray shirt, overalls and long boots, and his skin +was very brown. He was not a big man, but he looked hard and muscular +and his glance was keen. + +"Ye need to get the edge good. It pays to keep her sharp," he said and +tried the blade with his thumb. + +"I expect that is so," Jimmy agreed. "Did you, yourself, clear the +ranch?" + +"I chopped every tree, burned the slashing, and put up the house and +barns. Noo I'm getting things in trim and run a small bunch of stock." + +Jimmy thought it a tremendous undertaking; the logs stacked ready to +burn were two or three feet across the butt. + +"How long were you occupied?" he asked. + +"Twelve years," said Jardine, rather drily. "When the country doon the +Fraser began to open up I sold my other ranch, bought two or three +building lots in a new town, and started for the bush. I liked this +location and I stopped." + +"But can you get your stuff to a market?" + +"Cows can walk, but when ye clear a bush ranch ye dinna bother much +about selling truck. Ye sit tight until the Government cuts a wagon +trail, or maybe a railroad's built, and the settlements spring up." + +"And then you expect to sell for a good price all the stuff you grow?" + +Jardine smiled. "Then I expect to sell the ranch and push on again. The +old-time bushman has no use for game-wardens, city sports, +store-keepers and real-estate boomers----" + +He stopped and his look got scornful. Jimmy found out afterwards that +the pioneer hates the business man and Jardine sprang from Scottish +Border stock. Perhaps he had inherited his pride and independence from +salmon-poaching ancestors. What he wanted he labored for; to traffic was +not his plan. + +"Weel," he resumed, "I'd better get busy. After dinner I'll drive ye to +the hotel." + +He went off, and although Jimmy had expected to lunch at the hotel he +was satisfied to wait. He mused about his host. Jardine was not young, +but he carried himself well and Jimmy had known young men who did not +move like him; then the ranch indicated his talent for labor. Yet +muscular strength was obviously not all one needed; to front and remove +daunting obstacles, one must have pluck and imagination. The job was a +man's job, but, in a sense, the qualities it demanded were primitive, +and Jimmy began to see why the ranch attracted him. His grandfather had +labored in another's mill; the house of Leyland's was founded on +stubborn effort and stern frugality. + +Jimmy began to wonder where Jardine fed his cattle, because he saw none +in the clearing, but by and by a distant clash of bells rolled across +the trees. Jimmy had heard the noise before; when he went to sleep and +again at daybreak, a faint, elusive chime had broken the quietness that +brooded over Kelshope ranch. It was the clash of cow-bells, ringing as +the stock pushed through the underbrush. When he heard a sharper note +he got up and, for his leg hurt, went cautiously into the woods. + +By and by he stopped in the tall fern. Not far off Margaret, holding out +a bunch of corn, occupied the middle of an opening in which little red +wineberries grew. Her pose was graceful, she did not wear a hat, and the +sun was on her hair. Her neck was very white, and then her skin was +delicate pink that deepened to brown. Her dress was dull blue and the +yellow corn forced up the soft color. + +"Oh, Bright; oh, Buck!" she called, and Jimmy thought her voice musical +like the chiming bells. + +Where the sunbeams pierced the shade long horns gleamed, the bells rang +louder, and a big brown ox looked out, fixed its quiet eyes on the girl, +and vanished noiselessly. Margaret did not move at all. She was still as +the trees in the background, and Jimmy approved her quietness. He got a +hint of balance, strength and calm. + +"Oh, Bright!" she called, and a brawny red-and-white animal pushed out +from the fern, shook its massive head, and advanced to smell the corn. + +Jimmy now saw Margaret carried a rope in her other hand, but she let the +ox eat the corn and stroked its white forehead before she threw the rope +round its horns. Although she was very quick, her movements were gentle +and the animal stood still. Then she looked up and smiled. + +"You can come out, Mr. Leyland." + +"You knew I was in the fern?" + +"Sure," said Margaret. "I was born in the woods. All the same, you were +quiet. I reckon you can be quiet. In the bush, that's something." + +"You imply that I was quiet, for a tenderfoot?" + +"Why, yes," Margaret agreed, smiling. "As a rule, a man from the cities +can't keep still. He must talk and move about. You didn't feel you ought +to come and help?" + +Jimmy wondered whether she knew he had wanted to study her, but thought +she did not. Anyhow, he was satisfied she, so to speak, had not posed +for him. + +"Not at all," he said. "I saw you knew your job, and I reflected that +the ox did not know me. But shall I hold him until you catch the other?" + +"Buck will follow his mate," Margaret replied, and when they started a +cow-bell clashed and Buck stole out of the shade. + +Jimmy thought stole the proper word. He had expected to hear branches +crack and underbrush rustle, but the powerful oxen moved almost silently +through the wood. + +"Now I see why you give them bells," he remarked. "But doesn't the +jangling bother the animals?" + +"They like the bells. At night I think they toss their heads to hear the +chime. Then they know the bells are useful. Sometimes when all is quiet +the cattle scatter, but when the timber wolves are about or a cinnamon +bear comes down the rocks the herd rolls up. Bush cattle are clever. Now +Bright feels the rope, he's resigned to go to work." + +"You know the woods. Have you always lived at a ranch?" + +"For a time I was at Toronto," Margaret replied. "When I was needed at +Kelshope, I came back." + +Jimmy felt she baffled him. Margaret had not stated her occupation at +Toronto, but he had remarked that her English was better than the +English one used at the cotton mills. After all, he was not entitled to +satisfy his curiosity. + +"One can understand Mr. Jardine's needing you," he said. "I expect a +bush rancher is forced to hustle." + +"A bush rancher must hustle all the time," Margaret agreed. "Still, work +one likes goes easily. Have you tried?" + +"I have tried work I did not like and admit I've had enough," Jimmy +said, and laughed. "When I started for Canada, my notion was I'd be +content to play about." + +Margaret nodded. "We know your sort. You are not, like our tourists, +merchants and manufacturers. You have no use for business. All you think +about is sport, and your sport's extravagant. You stop at our big +hotels, and when you go off to hunt and fish you hire a gang of packers +to carry your camp truck." + +"I doubt if I really am that sort," Jimmy rejoined. "After all, my +people are pretty keen business men, and I begin to see that to +cultivate the habits of the other lot is harder than I thought. In +fact, I rather think I'd like to own a ranch." + +"For a game?" said Margaret and laughed, a frank laugh. "You must cut it +out, Mr. Leyland. One can't play at ranching, and you don't know all the +bushman is up against." + +"It's possible," Jimmy admitted. "Well, I expect I am a loafer, but I +did not altogether joke about the ranch. The strange thing is, after a +time loafing gets monotonous." + +Margaret stopped him. "I must get busy and you ought not to walk about. +Sit down in the shade and I'll give you the _Colonist_." + +Jimmy sat down, but declared he did not want the newspaper. He thought +he would study ranching, particularly Margaret's part of the job. She +put a heavy wooden yoke on the oxen's necks, fastened a rope to the +hook, and drove the animals to a belt of burned slashing where big +charred logs lay about. Jardine hitched the rope to a log and the team +hauled it slowly to a pile. Jimmy wondered how two people would get the +heavy trunk on top, but when Margaret led the oxen round the pile and +urged them ahead, the log went up in a loop of the rope. For all that, +Jardine was forced to use a handspike and Jimmy saw that to build a +log-pile demanded strength and skill. + +Resting in the shade, he felt the picture's quiet charm. The oxen's +movements were slow and rhythmical; Jardine's muscular figure, bent, got +tense, and relaxed; the girl, finely posed, guided the plodding +animals. Behind were stiff, dark branches and rows of straight red +trunks. A woodpecker tapped a hollow tree, and in the distance cow-bells +chimed. The dominant note was effort, but the effort was smooth and +measured. One felt that all went as it ought to go, and Jimmy thought +about the big shining flywheel that spun with a steady throb at the +Leyland cotton mill. Then his head began to nod and his eyes shut, and +when he looked up Margaret called him to dinner. + +After dinner Jardine got out his Clover-leaf wagon and drove Jimmy to +the hotel. When they arrived Jimmy took him to his room on the first +floor, and meeting Stannard on the stairs, was rather moved to note his +relief. Stannard declared that he and some others had searched the woods +since daybreak and were about to start for the ranch. By and by Deering +joined them and made an iced drink. Jardine, with tranquil enjoyment, +drained his long glass, and lighting a cigar, began to talk about +hunting in the bush. His clothes were old and his hat was battered, but +his calm was marked and Jimmy thought he studied the others with quiet +curiosity. After a time they went off, and Jardine gave Jimmy a +thoughtful smile. + +"Your friends are polite and Mr. Deering can mix a drink better than a +bar-keep." + +"Is that all?" Jimmy inquired. + +Jardine's eyes twinkled. "Weel, if I was wanting somebody to see me out, +maybe I'd trust the big fellow." + +Jimmy thought his remark strange. Stannard was a cultivated gentleman +and Deering was frankly a gambler. Yet Jimmy had grounds to imagine the +old rancher was not a fool. He was puzzled and rather annoyed, but +Jardine said he must not stay and Jimmy let him go. + + + + +V + +JIMMY HOLDS FAST + + +The sun had sunk behind the range, and the sky was green. In places the +high white peaks were touched by fading pink; the snow that rolled down +to the timber-line was blue. Mist floated about the pines by the river, +but did not reach the hotel terrace, and the evening was warm. Looking +down at the dark valley, one got a sense of space and height. + +At the end of the terrace, a small table carried a coffee service, and +Laura occupied a basket chair. She smoked a cigarette and her look was +thoughtful. Jimmy, sitting opposite, liked her fashionable dinner dress. +He had met Laura in Switzerland, but he felt as if he had not known her +until she went with Stannard to the Canadian hotel. In fact, he imagined +she had very recently begun to allow him to know her. Stannard had gone +off a few minutes since, and Deering was playing pool with a young +American. + +"Since you came back from the ranch I've thought you preoccupied," Laura +remarked. + +"I expect you thought me dull," said Jimmy with an apologetic smile. +"Well, for some days I've been pondering things, and I'm not much used +to the exercise. In a way, you're accountable. You inquired not long +since if I knew where I went?" + +"Then you got some illumination at the ranch?" + +"You're keen. I got disturbed." + +"Does to stop at a ranch disturb one?" Laura asked in a careless voice. + +"I expect it depends on your temperament," Jimmy replied and knitted his +brows. "Kelshope is a model ranch; you feel all goes as it ought to go. +When you leave things alone, they don't go like that. At Jardine's you +get a sense of plan and effort. The old fellow and his daughter are +keenly occupied, and their occupation, so to speak, is fruitful. The +trouble is, mine is not." + +Laura saw that when he, some time since, apologized for his loafing, her +remarks had carried weight. Jimmy had begun to ponder where he went, and +she wondered whether he would see he ought to return to the cotton mill. +Still she did not mean to talk about this. + +"You stopped Miss Jardine's horse?" she said. + +"I did not stop the horse. I tried, but that's another thing. If I had +not meddled, I expect Miss Jardine would have conquered the nervous +brute and I would not have got a nasty kick." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "Sometimes to meddle is rash, but your object +was good." + +Then Stannard came to the veranda steps and looked about the terrace. + +"Hello, Jimmy! Deering has beaten Frank and we must arrange about our +excursion to-morrow." + +Jimmy frowned and hesitated. When he had talked to Laura before, +Stannard had called him away, but he thought she did not mean him to +stay and he went off. When he had gone Laura mused. + +She knew Stannard was jealous for her. He did not allow her to join him +when his young friends were about, and she did not want to do so. For +the most part she lived with her mother's relations, who did not approve +of Stannard and were not satisfied about her going to Canada. + +To some extent Laura imagined their doubts were justified. She knew +Stannard had squandered much of her mother's fortune, and now that her +trustees guarded the small sum she had inherited, he was poor. Yet he +belonged to good clubs and went to race meeting and shooting parties. It +looked as if sport and gambling paid, and Laura saw what this implied. +Yet her father was kind and when she was with him he indulged her. + +She had remarked his calling Jimmy away. As a rule, his touch was very +light, and she wondered whether he had meant to incite the young fellow +by a hint of disapproval; but perhaps it was not his object and she +speculated about Jimmy. He was now not the raw lad she had known in +Switzerland, although he was losing something that at the beginning had +attracted her. She thought he ought not to stay with Stannard and +particularly with Deering, and she had tried to indicate the proper line +for him to take. Well, suppose he resolved to go back to Lancashire? +Laura knew her charm and imagined, if she were willing, she might go +with Jimmy. Although he could not yet use his fortune, he was rich, and +after a time would control the famous manufacturing house. Besides, he +was marked by some qualities she liked. Laura got up with an impatient +shrug, and blushed. She would not think about it yet. She was poor, but +she was not an adventuress. + +In the morning, Stannard, Deering and Jimmy started for the rocks. Their +object was to follow the range and look for a line to the top of a peak +they meant to climb another day. They lunched on the mountain, and in +the afternoon stopped at the side of a gully that ran down to the +glacier. The back of the gully was smooth, and the pitch was steep, but +hardly steep enough to bother an athletic man. In places, banks of small +gravel rested, although it looked as if a disturbing foot would send +down the stones. + +Some distance above the spot, the top of another pitch cut a background +of broken rocks, streaked by veins of snow. The sun was on the rocks and +some shone like polished steel, but the gully was in shadow and Jimmy +had felt the gloom daunting. Deering pulled out his cigar-case. His face +was red, his shirt was open and his sunburned neck was like a bull's. + +"My load's two hundred pounds, and we have shoved along pretty fast +since lunch," he said. "Anyhow, I'm going to stop and take a smoke." + +"To lean against a slippery rock won't rest you much," Stannard +remarked. "We'll get on to the shelf at the top of the slab." + +"Then, somebody's got to boost me up," Deering declared, and when +Stannard went to help, put his boot on the other's head and crushed his +soft hat down to his ears. + +Next moment he was on the shelf and shouted with laughter. Sometimes +Deering's humor was boyishly rude, but his friends were not cheated, and +Jimmy thought the big man keen and resolute. Stannard went up lightly, +as if it did not bother him. He was cool and, by contrast with Deering, +looked fastidiously refined. Jimmy imagined he had an object for leaving +the gully. Stannard knew the mountains; in fact, he knew all a sporting +gentleman ought to know and Jimmy was satisfied with his guide. + +"Since you reckon we ought to get from under, why'd you fix on this line +down?" Deering inquired. + +"The line's good, but we were longer than I thought, and the sun has +been for some time on the snow." + +"Sure," said Deering. "The blamed trough looks like a rubbish shoot." + +Jimmy had trusted Stannard's judgment, but now he saw a light; for one +thing, the back of the gully was smooth. The mountain fronted rather +north of west, and so long as the frost at the summit held, the party +did not run much risk, but when the thaw began snow and broken rocks +might roll down. When Deering had nearly smoked his cigar he looked up. + +"Something's coming!" + +Jimmy heard a rumble and a crash. A big stone leaped down the gully, +struck a rock and vanished. A bank of gravel began to slip away, and +then a gray and white mass swept across the top of the pitch. Snow and +stones poured down tumultuously, and when the avalanche was gone +confused echoes rolled about the rocks. + +"That fixes it," said Deering. "I'm going the other way. Had we shoved +along a little faster, we might have made it, but I was soft, and +couldn't hit up the pace." He laughed his boisterous laugh and resumed: +"The trouble is, I played cards with Jimmy when I ought to have gone to +bed. Well, since we didn't bring a rope, what are you going to do about +it?" + +"If we can reach the top, I think we can get down along the edge," +Stannard replied. + +After something of a struggle, they got up, and for a time to follow the +top of the gully was not hard. Then they stopped on an awkward pitch +where a big bulging stone, jambed in a crack, cut their view. + +"I'll try the stone, but perhaps you had better traverse out across the +face and look for another line," Deering said to Stannard. + +Jimmy went with Deering, and when they reached the stone saw a broken +shelf three or four yards below. On one side, the rocks dropped straight +to the gully; in front, the slope beyond the shelf was steep. For a few +moments Deering studied the ground. + +"A rope would be useful, but if we can reach the shelf, we ought to get +down," he said. "I'll try to make it. Lie across the stone and give me +your hands." + +Jimmy nodded. At an awkward spot the second man helps the leader, who +afterwards steadies him. The rock was rough and a small knob and the +deep crack promised some support. Still, caution was indicated, because +the shelf, on which one must drop, was inclined and narrow. Jimmy lay +across the stone and Deering, slipping over the edge, seized his hands. +He was a big fellow and Jimmy thought the stone moved, but he heard +Deering's boots scrape the rock and the strain on his arms was less. + +Then he heard another noise, and snow and rocks and a broken pine rolled +down the gully. The avalanche vanished, the uproar sank, and Deering +gasped, "Hold fast!" + +The load on Jimmy's arms got insupportable. He imagined the noise had +startled Deering and his foot had slipped from the knob. It looked as if +he must hold the fellow until he found the crack. Jimmy meant to try, +although the stone rocked, and he knew he could not long bear the +horrible strain. If Deering fell, he would not stop at the shelf; he +might not stop for three or four hundred feet. Jimmy set his mouth and +tried to brace his knees against the rock. The stone was moving, and if +it moved much, Deering would pull him over. Yet in a moment or two +Deering might get his boot in the crack, and to let him fall was +unthinkable. + +Jimmy held on until Deering shouted and let go. He had obviously found +some support, and Jimmy tried to get back, but could not. His chest was +across the edge, and the stone rocked. He was slipping off, and saw, +half-consciously, that since he must fall, he must not fall down the +rock front. Pushing himself from the edge, he plunged into the gully, +struck the rock some way down, and knew no more. Deering, on the shelf, +saw him reach the bottom, roll for a distance and stop. He lay face +downwards, with his arms spread out. + +A few moments afterwards Stannard reached the spot and looked down. +Deering's big chest heaved, his mouth was slack, and his face was white. +When he indicated Jimmy his hand shook. + +"I pulled him over," he said in a hoarse voice. + +Stannard gave him a keen, rather scornful glance. "Traverse across the +front for about twenty yards and you'll see a good line down. When you +get down, start for the hotel and bring the two guides, our rope, a +blanket and two poles. Send somebody to telegraph for a doctor." + +"Not at all! I'm going to Jimmy. I pulled the kid over." + +Stannard frowned. "You are going to the hotel. For one thing, I doubt if +you could reach Jimmy; you're badly jarred and your nerve's gone. Then, +unless you get help, we can't carry Jimmy out." + +"You mustn't leave him in the gully," Deering rejoined. "Suppose a fresh +lot of stones comes along?" + +"Go for help," said Stannard, pulling out his watch. "Come back up the +gully. If you have a flask, give it to me. I'm going down." + +"But if there's another snow-slide, you and Jimmy will get smashed. +Besides, the job is mine." + +"The snow and stones come down the middle and they'll stop by and by. +Don't talk. Start!" + +Deering hesitated. He was big and muscular, but he admitted that on the +rocks Stannard was the better man. Moreover, to know he was accountable +for Jimmy's plunge had shaken him, and he saw Stannard was very cool. + +"Take the flask," he said and went off at a reckless speed. + + + + +VI + +DEERING OWNS A DEBT + + +Jimmy saw a pale star, and veins of snow streaking high shadowy rocks. +He thought when he looked up not long before, the sun was on the +mountain, but perhaps it was not. His brain was dull and he was numbed +by cold. He shivered and shut his eyes, but after a few minutes he smelt +cigar-smoke and looked about again. Although it was getting dark, he saw +somebody sitting in the gloom at the bottom of the rocks. + +"Where's Deering?" he asked. "Did I let him go?" + +"You did not. Take a drink," the other replied and pushed a flask into +Jimmy's hand. + +Jimmy drank, gasped, and tried to get up, but found he could not move. + +"Where is Deering?" he insisted. + +"I expect he's crossing the glacier with the guides from the hotel," +said the man, who took the flask from him, and Jimmy knew Stannard's +voice. + +"Then where am I?" + +"You are in the gully. You held on to Deering until he got support for +his foot. Then you slipped off the big stone. Something like that, +anyhow. Do you feel pain at any particular spot?" + +"I don't know if one spot hurts worse than another. All hurt; I doubt if +I can get up." + +"You mustn't try," said Stannard firmly. "When Deering arrives we'll +help you up." + +Jimmy pondered. Since the evening was very cold, he thought it strange +Stannard had pulled off his coat. Then he saw somebody had put over him +a coat that was not his. + +"Why have you given me your clothes?" he asked. + +"For one thing, I didn't fall about forty feet." + +"If I had fallen forty feet, I'd have got smashed. It's obvious!" + +"Perhaps you hit the side of the gully and rolled down, but it's not +important. When one gets a jolt like yours the shock's as bad as the +local injury. Are you cold?" + +"I'm horribly cold, but although I heard stones not long since I don't +think I got hit." + +"The stones run down the middle and I pulled you against the rock." + +"You're a good sort," Jimmy remarked. "Deering's a good sort. To know +he's not hurt is some relief." + +Stannard said nothing and Jimmy asked for a cigarette. Stannard gave him +a cigarette and a light, but after a few moments he let it drop. + +"The tobacco's not good," he said, dully, and began to muse. + +He was strangely slack and his body was numb. Perhaps to feel no local +pain was ominous; he knew a man who fell on the rocks and had not +afterwards used his legs. To be wheeled about for all one's life was +horrible. When a doctor arrived he would know his luck, and in the +meantime he dared not dwell on things like that. He studied the rocks. +Stannard had obviously come down by the slanting crack; Jimmy thought he +himself could not have done so. Then Stannard, risking his getting hit +by rebounding stones, had remained with him for some hours. When Jimmy +helped Deering the sun shone, and now the stars were out. The gully was +high on the mountain and after the sun went the cold was keen, but +Stannard had given him his coat. Stannard was like that. + +"I expect you sent Deering to the hotel?" Jimmy resumed after a time. + +"Yes; I was firm. Deering wanted to go down to you; but I doubted if he +could get down and the important thing was to fetch help. You must be +moved as soon as possible." + +Jimmy nodded; Deering was the man he had thought. All the same, +Stannard's was the finer type. Jimmy had long known his pluck, but he +had other qualities. When one must front a crisis he was cool; he saw +and carried out the proper plan. But Jimmy's brain was very dull, and +Stannard's figure melted and the rocks got indistinct. + +After a time, he heard a noise. A shout echoed in the gully, nailed +boots rattled on stones and it looked as if men were coming up. Deering, +breathless and gasping, arrived before the others and motioned to +Stannard. + +"Not much grounds to be disturbed, I think," said Stannard in a quiet +voice. "He was talking sensibly not long since." + +Deering came to Jimmy and touched his arm. "You're not broke up, +partner? You haven't got it against me that I pulled you off the rocks?" + +"Certainly not! I slipped off," Jimmy declared. "Anyhow, you're my +friend." + +"Sure thing," said Deering quietly. "Take a drink of hot soup. We'll +soon pack you out." He put a vacuum flask in Jimmy's hand and turned to +the others. "Let's get busy, boys." + +Jimmy did not know much about their journey down the gully and across +the glacier, but at length he was vaguely conscious of bright lights and +the tramp of feet along an echoing passage. People gently moved him +about; he felt he was in a soft, warm bed, and with languid satisfaction +he went to sleep. + +When the others saw Jimmy was asleep they went off quietly, but at the +end of the passage Deering stopped Stannard. + +"Let's get a drink," he said. "For four or five hours I've hustled some +and I need a pick-me-up." + +Stannard gave him a keen glance. Deering had hustled. To carry Jimmy +down the rocks and across the glacier, in the dark, was a strenuous +undertaking, and where strength was needed the big man had nobly used +his. Yet Stannard imagined the strain that had bothered him was not +physical. + +"Oh, well," he said, "I'll go to the bar with you. Waiting for you in +the gully was not a soothing job." + +"You knew I'd get back," Deering rejoined. "If I'd had to haul out the +cook and bell-boys I'd have brought help." + +"I didn't know how long you'd be and speed was important." + +"You're a blamed cool fellow," Deering remarked. "If you had not taken +control, I expect we'd have jolted Jimmy off the stretcher, and maybe +have gone through the snow-bridge the guide didn't spot. Then you stayed +with him, pulled him out of the way of the snow-slides, and kept him +warm. I expect you saved his life." + +"To some extent, perhaps that is so," Stannard agreed. "That somebody +must pull Jimmy against the rock was obvious. All the same, I knew the +stones wouldn't bother us after it got cold." + +Deering was puzzled. Stannard's habit was not to boast, but it looked as +if he were willing to admit he had saved Jimmy's life. Deering +speculated about his object. + +"Well," he said, "I own I was badly rattled. You see, if the kid had not +held fast, I'd have gone right down the rock face and don't know where +I'd have stopped. Perhaps it's strange, but I remembered I'd got five +hundred dollars of his and the thing bothered me. To know I'd played a +straight game didn't comfort me much." + +"You're a sentimentalist," Stannard rejoined with a smile. "I don't know +that a crooked game was indicated. But let's get our drinks." + +They went to the bar and when Deering picked up his glass he said, "Good +luck to the kid and a quick recovery!" He drained the glass and looked +at Stannard hard. "When Jimmy needs a help out, I'm his man." + +Stannard said nothing, but lighted a cigarette. + +In the morning a young doctor arrived from Calgary and was some time in +Jimmy's room. + +"I reckon your luck was pretty good," he remarked. "After three or four +days you can get up and go about--" He paused and added meaningly: "But +you want to go slow." + +Jimmy's face was white, but the blood came to his skin. + +"I'd begun to think something like that," he said in a languid voice. + +The doctor nodded. "Since you could stand for the knock you got, your +body's pretty sound, but I get a hint of strain and the cure's moral. +You want to cut out hard drinks, strong cigars, and playing cards all +night." + +"Do the symptoms indicate that I do play cards all night?" + +"I own I was helped by inquiries about your habits," said the doctor, +smiling. "If you like a game, try pool, with boys like yourself, and bet +fifty cents. I don't know about your bank-roll, but your heart and +nerve won't stand for hundred-dollar pots when your antagonists are +men." + +"One antagonist risked his life to save mine," Jimmy declared, with an +angry flush, for he thought he saw where the other's remarks led. + +"I understand that is so," the doctor agreed. "My job's not to talk +about your friends, but to give you good advice. Cut out unhealthy +excitement and go steady. If you like it, go up on the rocks. +Mountaineering's dangerous, but sometimes one runs worse risks." + +He went off and by and by Deering came in. + +"The doctor allows you are making pretty good progress. The man who +means to put you out must use a gun," he said with a jolly laugh. +"Anyhow, we were bothered and when we got the bulletin we rushed the bar +for drinks." + +"My friends are stanch." + +"Oh, shucks!" said Deering. "You're the sort whose friends are stanch. +Say, your holding on until I pulled you over was great!" + +"You didn't pull me over. The stone rocked and I came off." + +"One mustn't dispute with a sick man," Deering remarked. "All the same I +want to state I owe you much, and I pay my debts. I'd like you to get +that." + +Jimmy smiled. "If it's some comfort, I'm willing to be your creditor. I +know you'd meet my bill." + +"Sure thing," said Deering, who did not smile. "When you send your bill +along, I'll try to make good. That's all; I guess we'll let it go." + +"Very well. I don't see how you were able to stick to the slab." + +"My foot slipped from the knob, but for a few moments you held me up, +and bracing my knee against the stone, I swung across for the crack. +Then I was on the shelf and you went over my head. That's all I knew, +until Stannard joined me and took control." + +"He sent you off?" + +Deering nodded. "I wasn't keen to go, but he saw help was wanted, and he +thought about wiring for a doctor. When I got back with the boys, our +plan was to rush you down to the hotel, but it wasn't Stannard's. I +allow we were rattled; he was cool. We must go slow and not jolt you; at +awkward spots somebody must look for the smoothest line. Crossing the +glacier, he went ahead with the lantern and located a soft snow-bridge +the guide was going to cross." + +"Stannard is like that," said Jimmy. "His coolness is very fine." + +Deering agreed, but Jimmy thought he hesitated before he resumed: "In +some ways, the fellow's the standard type of highbrow Englishman. He's +urbane and won't dispute; he smiles and lets you down. He wears the +proper clothes and uses the proper talk. If you're his friend, he's +charming; but that's not all the man. Stannard doesn't plunge; he +calculates. He knows just where he wants to go and gets there. I guess +if I was an obstacle, I'd pull out of his way. The man's fine, like +tempered steel, and about as hard-- Well, the doctor stated you wanted +quiet and I'll quit talking." + +He went away and Jimmy mused. Deering talked much, but Jimmy imagined he +sometimes had an object. Although he frankly approved Stannard, Jimmy +felt he struck a warning note. Since Jimmy owed much to Stannard's +coolness, he was rather annoyed; but the talk had tired him and he went +to sleep. + + + + +VII + +AN INSURABLE INTEREST + + +The sun was hot and Jimmy loafed in an easy chair at the shady end of +the terrace. Laura occupied a chair opposite; the small table between +them carried some new books, and flowers and fruit from the Pacific +coast. In the background, a shining white peak cut the serene sky. + +Three or four young men and women were on the veranda steps not far off. +A few minutes since they had bantered Jimmy, but when Laura arrived they +went. Jimmy rather thought she had meant them to go and he gave her a +smile. + +"I expect you have inherited some of Mr. Stannard's talents," he +remarked. + +"For example?" + +Jimmy indicated the rather noisy group. "It looks as if you knew my head +ached and I couldn't stand for Stevens' jokes. When you joined me he and +his friends went off. Your father arranges things like that, without +much obvious effort." + +"I knew the doctor stated you must not be bothered," Laura admitted. +"Besides, I engaged to go fishing with Stevens and some others, and +before I get back expect I'll have enough." + +"Is Dillon going?" + +"Frank planned the excursion," said Laura and Jimmy was satisfied. + +Dillon was a young American whom Jimmy rather liked, but to think Laura +liked Frank annoyed him. Now, however, she had admitted that his society +had not much charm. + +"Anyhow, you're very kind," he remarked, and indicated the fruit and +flowers. "These things don't grow in the mountains." + +"The station is not far off and to send a telegram is not much bother." + +"To send up things from Vancouver is expensive." + +"Sometimes you talk like a cotton manufacturer," Laura rejoined. + +Jimmy colored but gave her a steady glance. "It's possible. My people +are manufacturers; my grandfather was a workman. Not long since, I meant +to cultivate out all that marked me as belonging to the cotton mill. Now +I don't know-- Perhaps I inherited something useful from my grandfather; +but in the meantime it's not important. You _are_ kind." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "You were moody and the doctor declared you had +got a very nasty jolt." + +"I was thoughtful. To some extent you're accountable. When one is forced +to loaf one has time to ponder, and when you inquired if I knew where I +went--" + +He stopped, for a guide, carrying fishing rods and landing nets, went +down the steps and Stannard came out of the hotel. + +"Your party's waiting for you," Stannard remarked to Laura, who got up +and gave Jimmy a smile. + +"Get well and then ponder," she said and joined the others. + +Jimmy frowned. The others, of course, ought not to wait for Laura, but +Stannard had sent her off like that before. All the same, he was her +father and Jimmy owned he must not dispute his rule. When the party had +gone, Stannard sat down opposite Jimmy and lighted a cigarette. + +"I'm glad to note you make good progress." + +"In a day or two I'll go about as usual. In fact, if the others go +fishing to-morrow, I'll try to join them. I think I could reach the +lake." + +"Some caution's necessary," Stannard remarked. "You got a very nasty +shake and ran worse risks than you knew. When you stopped in the bank of +gravel your luck was remarkably good; I did not expect you to stop until +you reached the glacier. Then, had I not had a thick coat that helped to +keep you warm, you might not have survived the shock. Afterwards much +depended on Deering's speed and his getting men who knew the rocks. +Indeed, when we started I hardly thought we could carry you down in +useful time." + +Jimmy was puzzled, because he did not think Stannard meant to imply that +his help was important. The risk Jimmy had run, however, was obvious, +and Stannard's talking about it led him to dwell on something he had +recently weighed. + +"Since I was forced to stay in bed I've tried to reckon up and find out +where I am," he said. "You are my banker. How does the account stand?" + +"I imagine Laura's advice was good; wait until you get better," Stannard +said carelessly. + +"When I start to go about, I'll be occupied by something else. How much +do I owe?" + +For a few minutes Stannard studied his note-book, and when he replied +Jimmy set his mouth. He knew he had been extravagant, but his +extravagance was worse than he had thought. + +"Until I get my inheritance, it's impossible for me to pay you," he said +with some embarrassment. "I, so to speak, have pawned my allowance for a +long time in advance." + +"Something like that is obvious." + +"Very well! What am I going to do about it?" + +"My plan was to wait until you did get your inheritance; but I see some +disadvantages," said Stannard in a thoughtful voice. + +"The trouble is, I might not inherit," Jimmy agreed. "One must front +things, and climbing's a risky hobby. We mean to shoot a mountain sheep +and I understand the big-horn keep the high rocks. Then we have +undertaken to get up a very awkward peak. Well, suppose I did not come +back?" + +"You don't expect a fresh accident! Haven't you had enough? However, if +your gloomy forebodings were justified, I expect your relations would +meet my claim." + +"After all, mountaineering accidents are numerous, and you don't know +Dick Leyland. You have got a bundle of acknowledgments, but the notes +are not stamped and Dick hates gambling. It's possible he'd dispute my +debts and he's a remarkably keen business man." + +"If that is so, it might be awkward," Stannard agreed. "But what about +the other trustee?" + +"Sir James is in India; I expect he'd support Dick. During their +lifetime my share is a third of the house's profit, but, unless they're +satisfied, I cannot for some time use much control. In fact, they have +power to fix my allowance." + +Stannard's look was thoughtful, as if he had not known; but since Laura +knew, Jimmy wondered why she had not enlightened her father. + +"Very well," said Stannard. "My plan might not work. Have you another?" + +The other plan was obvious. Jimmy was surprised because Stannard did not +see it. + +"You trusted me and I mustn't let you down," he said with a friendly +smile. "If we insure my life, you'll guard against all risk." + +"My interest is insurable--" Stannard remarked and stopped. Then he +resumed in a careless voice: "Your caution's ridiculous, but if you are +resolved, I suppose I must agree. In order to satisfy you, we'll look up +an insurance office at Vancouver." + +Somehow Jimmy was jarred. Stannard's remark about his insurable interest +indicated that he had weighed the plan before, and Jimmy thought his +pause significant. Then, although he had agreed as if he wanted to +indulge Jimmy, his agreement was prompt. For all that, the plan was +Jimmy's and Stannard's approval was justified. + +Then Deering came along the terrace and said to Stannard, "Hello! I +thought you had gone to write some letters, and Jimmy's look is +strangely sober. Have you been weighing something important?" + +The glance Stannard gave Jimmy was careless, but Jimmy thought he meant +Deering was not to know. + +"Sometimes Jimmy's rash, but sometimes he's keener than one thinks. +Anyhow, he's obstinate and we were disputing about a suggestion of his I +did not at first approve. I wrote the letters I meant to write. Sit down +and take a smoke." + +Deering sat down and they talked about the peaks they had planned to +climb. + +A week or two afterwards, Stannard and Jimmy went to Vancouver, and when +he had seen the insurance company's doctor Jimmy walked about the +streets. He liked Vancouver. When one fronted an opening in the rows of +ambitious office blocks, one saw the broad Inlet and anchored ships. +Across the shining water, mountains rolled back to the snow in the +North; on the other side, streets of new wooden houses pushed out to +meet the dark pine forest. The city's surroundings were beautiful, but +Jimmy felt that beauty was not its peculiar charm. + +At Montreal, for example, one got a hint of cultivation, and to some +extent of leisure, built on long-established prosperity. Notre Dame was +rather like Notre Dame at Paris and St. James's was a glorious +cathedral. Quiet green squares checkered the city, and the streets at +the bottom of the mountain were bordered by fine shade trees. Vancouver +was frankly raw and new; one felt it had not yet reached its proper +growth. All was bustle and keen activity; the clang of locomotive bells +and the rattle of steamboat winches echoed about the streets. Huge +sawmills and stacks of lumber occupied the water-front. Giant trunks +carried electric wires across the high roofs, and, until Jimmy saw the +firs in Stanley Park, he had not thought logs like that grew. + +Then he thought the citizens typically Western. Their look was keen and +optimistic; they pushed and jostled along the sidewalks. Jimmy saw an +opera house and numerous pool-rooms, but in the daytime nobody seemed to +loaf. All struck a throbbing note of strenuous business. Jimmy studied +the wharfs and mills and railroad yard, but for the most part he stopped +opposite the land-agents' windows. + +The large maps of freshly-opened country called. Up there in the wilds, +hard men drove back the forest and broke virgin soil. Their job was a +man's job and Jimmy pictured the struggle. He had loafed and indulged +his youthful love for pleasure, but the satisfaction he had got was +gone. After all, he had inherited some constructive talent, and he +vaguely realized that his business was to build and not to squander. +Then Laura and the doctor had worked on him. Laura had bidden him study +where he went; the other hinted that he went too fast. + +At one office he saw a map of the country behind the hotel and he picked +out the valley in which was Kelshope ranch. There was not another +homestead for some distance and a notice stated that the land was cheap. +Jimmy pondered for a few minutes and then went in. + +The agent stated his willingness to supply land of whatever sort Jimmy +needed, but he thought, for an ambitious young man, the proper +investment was a city building lot. In fact, he had a number of useful +lots on a first-class frontage. Jimmy studied the map and remarked that +the town had not got there yet. The agent declared the town would get +there soon, and to wait until the streets were graded and prices went up +was a fool's plan. Jimmy stated he would not speculate; if the price +were suitable, he might buy land in the Kelshope valley on the other +map. + +The agent said the valley was not altogether in his hands. Kelshope was +in Alberta, but for a split commission he could negotiate a sale with +the Calgary broker. If one bought a block and paid a small deposit, he +imagined a good sum might stand on mortgage. Jimmy replied that he would +think about it and went off. It was not for nothing he had studied +business methods at the Leyland mill. + +In the evening he and Stannard occupied a bench in the hotel rotunda. +Cigar-smoke floated about the pillars; the revolving glass doors went +steadily round, and noisy groups pushed in and out, but Stannard had got +a quiet corner and by and by Jimmy asked: "Have you agreed with the +insurance office?" + +"They have not sent the agreement. I expect to get it." + +"Then, I'd like you to go back in the morning and insure for a larger +sum. I'll give you a note for five hundred pounds." + +"I haven't five hundred pounds," said Stannard with surprise. "Why do +you want the sum?" + +"I'm going to buy a ranch near Jardine's," Jimmy replied. "The agent +wants a deposit and I must buy tools. Can you help?" + +Stannard looked at him hard and hesitated, but he saw Jimmy was +resolved. + +"I might get the money in three or four weeks. It will cost you +something." + +"That's understood," Jimmy agreed. "I don't, of course, expect the sum +for which you'll hold my note. Will you get to work?" + +"I rather think your plan ridiculous." + +"You thought another plan of mine ridiculous, but you helped me carry it +out," Jimmy said quietly. + +Stannard looked up with a frown, for Deering crossed the floor. + +"I've trailed you!" he shouted. "There's not much use in your stealing +off." + +"I didn't know you had business to transact in Vancouver," Stannard +rejoined. + +"Dillon had some business and brought me along," said Deering with a +noisy laugh. "Looks as if my job was to guide adventurous youth." + +Jimmy smiled, for he imagined the young men Deering guided paid +expensive fees. He did not know if Deering's occupation was altogether +gambling, but he did gamble and his habit was to win. Yet Jimmy liked +the fellow. + +"Jimmy's mood is rashly adventurous; he wants to buy a ranch," Stannard +resumed. "I understand he has interviewed a plausible land-agent." + +"All land-agents are plausible," said Deering. "Tell us about the +speculation, Jimmy." + +Jimmy did so. Stannard's ironical amusement had hurt, and he tried to +justify his experiment. + +"Looks like a joke; but I don't know," said Deering. "If you can stand +for holding down a bush block until the neighborhood develops, you ought +to sell for a good price. All the same, the job is dreary. Have you got +the money?" + +"I was trying to persuade Stannard to finance me. He doesn't approve, +but thinks he could get the sum." + +"That plan's expensive," Deering observed. "What deposit does the agent +want?" + +Jimmy told him and he pondered. Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed by Deering's meddling. Moreover, Jimmy thought Deering knew. +After a few moments Deering looked up. + +"If you mean to buy the block, I'll lend you the deposit and you can pay +me current interest. I expect the agent will take a long-date mortgage +for the rest, but you ought to ask your trustees in England for the +money." + +"Have you got the sum?" Stannard inquired. + +"Sure," said Deering, with a jolly laugh. "Dillon and I met up with two +or three sporting lumber men who have just put over a big deal. My luck +was pretty good, and I'd have stuffed my wallet had not a sort of +Puritan vigilante blown in. He got after the hotel boss, who stated his +was not a red light house." + +Jimmy studied the others, and although Stannard smiled, was somehow +conscious of a puzzling antagonism. On the whole, he liked Deering's +plan; he did not think Dick Leyland would agree, but Sir Jim might do +so. + +"Thank you, but Stannard's my banker," he replied. "All the same, in the +morning I'll write to my trustees." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "If you want the money, I'm your man. But +let's get a drink." + + + + +VIII + +JIMMY GETS TO WORK + + +On the evening Jimmy returned from Vancouver he went to the dining-room +as soon as the bell rang and waited by Stannard's table. The table +occupied a corner by a window, and commanded the room and a noble view +of rocks and distant snow. Other guests had wanted the corner, but +Stannard had got it for his party. Although he was not rich, Stannard's +habit was to get things like that. + +The room was spacious and paneled with cedar and maple. Slender wooden +pillars supported the decorated beams, the tables were furnished with +good china and nickel. The windows were open and the keen smell of the +pines floated in. + +After a few moments Jimmy heard Deering's laugh and Stannard's party +crossed the floor. Frank Dillon talked to Laura, whom Jimmy had not seen +since he returned; Frank was rather a handsome, athletic young fellow. +Laura wore a fashionable black dinner dress and her skin, by contrast, +was very white. Her movements were languidly graceful, and Jimmy got a +sense of high cultivation. He was young and to know he belonged to +Laura's party flattered him. Yet he was half embarrassed, because he +waited for other guests and did not know if Laura would like his +friends. When she gave Jimmy her hand Stannard indicated two extra +chairs. + +"Hallo!" he said. "I must see the head waiter. This table's ours." + +"Two friends of mine are coming," Jimmy replied and turned to Laura +apologetically. "Perhaps I ought to have told you, but I wrote to +Jardine from Vancouver and when I returned and got his letter you were +not about." + +"Was it not Miss Jardine you helped when her horse ran away?" + +"I doubt if I did help much, but after the horse knocked me down I went +to the homestead and Jardine was kind. Now I want to talk to him; he's a +good rancher." + +"Then, ranching really interests you?" + +"Jimmy has bought a ranch and I'm going to stay with him," said Deering +with a noisy laugh. "Perhaps to hunt and live the simple life will help +me keep down my weight." + +Laura gave Jimmy a keen glance and he thought she frowned. "You a +rancher? It's ridiculous! But Deering likes to joke." + +"It is not at all a joke," Deering rejoined. "Jimmy has bought a ranch, +and Stannard and I disputed who should lend him the money. As a rule, +one's friends don't dispute about that sort of privilege; but one trusts +Jimmy. Perhaps his trusting you accounts for it." + +"I suppose Miss Jardine comes with her father?" Laura remarked. + +Jimmy agreed and looked at Stannard, who had picked up the bill of fare. + +"We must wait for your friends," he said carelessly, but Jimmy thought +him annoyed. + +Then Jimmy turned and saw Margaret and Jardine. The rancher's clothes +were obviously bought at a small settlement store, but his figure was +good and his glance was keen and cool; somehow Jimmy imagined him +ironically amused. Margaret's blue dress was not fashionable, but she +carried herself like an Indian and was marked by something of the +Indian's calm. In the sunset, her hair was red, her eyes were blue, and +her skin was brown. When Jimmy advanced to meet her she gave him a frank +smile. He presented her to Laura and noted Dillon's admiring glance. + +Stannard called a waiter and when dinner was served began to talk. Laura +supported him, but Jimmy rather thought her support too obvious. This +was strange, because Laura was clever and knew where to stop. Now it +looked as if she did not. The Jardines were his friends, but nothing +indicated that for them to dine at a fashionable hotel was embarrassing. +He imagined Margaret studied Laura, and sometimes Laura's glance rested +on the other for a moment and was gone. When Deering had satisfied his +appetite, however, he firmly took the lead and Jimmy let him do so. +Sometimes Deering's humor was rude, but it was kind. + +When they went to the terrace others joined them and soon a party +surrounded Stannard's table. After a time the people moved their chairs +about and Jimmy saw Jardine was with Deering and Dillon had joined +Margaret. He fancied Laura had remarked this, but she lighted a +cigarette and gave him a friendly smile. + +"Your friends don't want you just now. When you started for Vancouver, I +think you ought to have told me about your ranching experiment." + +"I didn't know," said Jimmy in an apologetic voice. "I saw a map in a +land-agent's window and something called. I hesitated for a few minutes +and then went in." + +"Then, you didn't go to Vancouver in order to buy a ranch?" + +"Not at all--" said Jimmy and stopped, because he did not want to state +why he did go. "Of course, it looks like a rash plunge," he resumed. +"Still I doubt if it really is rash and I imagined you would approve." + +Laura smiled. "I don't know much about ranching." + +"Not long ago you declared I ought to have an occupation." + +"Then, you felt you must get to work because I thought you ought?" said +Laura and gave Jimmy a gentle glance. + +Jimmy's heart beat, but he knitted his brows. He was sincere and Laura +was not altogether accountable for his resolve. + +"Well," he said in a thoughtful voice, "I was getting slack and loafing +along the easy way, until you pulled me up. I owe you much for that. You +forced me to ponder and I began to see loafing was dangerous. One must +have an object and I looked about--" + +He stopped, with some embarrassment, and Laura saw he was moved. Jimmy +did owe her something, for she had meddled at a moment when he was +vaguely dissatisfied and looking for a lead. At the beginning, she was +not selfish; she wanted him to stop and ponder, but he had started off +again and was not going where she wanted him to go. + +"You imply you have found an object?" she remarked. "After all, one's +object ought to be worth while, and to chop trees on a ranch will not +carry you far. Perhaps your proper occupation is at the cotton mill." + +"I think not; anyhow, not yet. Until I'm twenty-five, Dick Leyland has +control. Dick is a good mill manager, but his school is the old school. +He holds down our work-people and they grumble; the machinery's crowded +and some is not safe; the operatives have not the space and light that +makes work easier. Then the office is dark and cold. One can't persuade +Dick that harshness and parsimony no longer pay. Well, when I go back I +must have power to put things straight. The house is famous, my father +built its fortune, and after all I'm its head." + +Laura mused. She was poor, and hating poverty, had begun to weigh +Jimmy's advantages. To marry the head of the famous house was a sound +ambition, and she thought if she used her charm, Jimmy would marry her. +He was young and in some respects argued like a boy; Laura was young, +but she argued like a calculating woman. Yet she hesitated. + +"But you have some power," she said and smiled. "Besides, you're +obstinate." + +"It's possible. All the same, I haven't tried my power and don't trust +myself. Dick and I would jar, and when I couldn't move him I expect I'd +get savage and turn down the job. When I have done some useful work, for +example, cleared a ranch, got confidence and know my strength, I'll go +back and try to take my proper part." + +"Does one get the qualities you feel you want at a bush ranch?" + +"Jardine has got a number. At Kelshope all is properly planned and +stubbornly carried out. His labor's rewarded, and the important thing +is, he is satisfied. I'm not, and I admit I haven't much ground to be +satisfied." + +"Oh, well," said Laura. "In a few days we start on our excursion to +Puget Sound. I think you agreed to join us." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. He wanted to join the party, but saw some +obstacles. + +"We talked about it. If I agreed, of course, I'll go." + +"Because you agreed?" + +"Not altogether. I'd like to go." + +"Then why do you hesitate? We want you to join us." + +"For one thing, I really don't think I did agree. Anyhow, you'll have +Dillon. His home's on Puget Sound and I expect he's going." + +"Frank is rather a good sort, but sometimes he bores one," Laura +remarked carelessly. "Besides, after a time he's going to some friends +in Colorado." + +Jimmy's heart beat. Although he was not yet Laura's lover, her charm was +strong. Still he ought to get to work, and if he went to Puget Sound +with Laura, he might not afterwards bother about the ranch. Well, +perhaps the ranch was not important; if he wanted, he could, no doubt, +sell the land. + +The clash of a locomotive bell, softened by the distance, echoed across +the bush. A freight train had started from the water tank for the long +climb to the pass and Jimmy felt the faint notes carried a message. +Canada was a land of bells. At Montreal the locomotive bells rang all +night; their tolling rolled across wide belts of wheat, and broke the +silence that broods over the rocks. When all was quiet in the bush, the +cow-bells rang sweet chimes. Perhaps Jimmy was romantic, but he felt the +bells stood for useful effort, and now they called. The strange thing +was, he thought he heard pine branches crack and Margaret's voice. "Oh, +Buck! Oh, Bright!" + +"I'm sorry, but I can't go," he said. "I have bought the ranch and must +get to work." + +Laura gave him a keen glance and got a jar. He frowned and his mouth +was tight. She had thought she could move Jimmy, but now she doubted, +and because she was proud she dared not try. + +"Oh, well," she said, "we have talked for some time, and Deering has +left Jardine." + +She sent Jimmy off and looked about. Dillon talked to Margaret, and +although Laura imagined a smile would detach him from the group, she did +not smile. After all, if Frank joined her, Jimmy might occupy the chair +he left. Laura crossed the terrace and joined a young Canadian. + +Jimmy sat down by the rancher and inquired: "Do you know the land I +bought?" + +"The soil is pretty good, but the timber's thick and until ye work oot +the turpentine, ye'll no' get much crop. Ye'll need to chop and burn off +the trees, grub the stumps, and then plow for oats and timothy. For some +years, the oats will no' grow milling heads; ye cut them for hay." + +"Looks like a long job. Suppose I wanted to sell the block after a +time?" + +"It depends," said Jardine dryly. "Ye might get your money back." + +"You imply it depends on the labor one uses?" Jimmy remarked. "Well, I +know nothing about chopping and I haven't pulled a crosscut saw. Do you +think I can make good?" + +Jardine looked about the terrace and his eyes twinkled. He noted the +men's dinner jackets and the women's fashionable clothes. People talked +and laughed and smoked. + +"I'm thinking your friends would not make good. Ye canna play at +ranching." + +"My object's not to play," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "Anyhow, before +you start to work you must get proper tools. Suppose you tell me what I +need?" + +Jardine did so and added: "Proper tools and stock are a sound +investment, but ye canna get them cheap. Can ye put up the money?" + +"I must borrow some," Jimmy admitted, and thought Jardine studied +Stannard, who talked to two or three young men not far off. + +"Then, maybe ye had better borrow from Mr. Deering." + +Jardine had said something like this before, but Jimmy let it go and the +rancher indicated Margaret. Dillon leaned against a post opposite the +girl and a group of young men and women occupied the surrounding chairs. +A touch of color had come to Margaret's skin; her look was alert and +happy. Jimmy had known her undertake a man's job at the ranch, but on +the hotel veranda she was not at all exotic. + +"I must thank ye, Mr. Leyland. Sometimes it's lonesome at the ranch," +Jardine remarked. + +Jimmy said he hoped his guests would stay for some days, but Jardine +refused. + +"At Kelshope work's aye waiting and we'll start the morn. If ye come +back wi' us, we'll look ower the block ye bought, and I might advise ye +aboot layin' 't oot. In the meantime, we'll reckon up the tools and +stock ye'll need--" + +They began to talk about the ranch, and Stannard joined Laura, who sent +off her companion. + +"What do you think about Jimmy's experiment?" Stannard asked. + +Laura studied him. On the whole, his look was careless, but she doubted. + +"I don't know. Do you think him rash?" + +Stannard shrugged. "My notion is, the thing's a rather expensive +caprice, but after all, Jimmy's rich. He's easily moved and perhaps his +bush friends have persuaded him." + +"It's possible," Laura agreed. "All the same, Jimmy's keen. He really +means to ranch." + +"You have some grounds to know him keen?" + +Laura's grounds were good and she wondered whether Stannard knew. Her +father was clever and she saw his look was thoughtful. + +"For one thing, he declares he cannot go with us to Puget Sound," she +said. + +"You imply he would sooner start for the bush with the Jardines?" +Stannard suggested with a smile. + +"After all, it's not important, and I expect Jimmy will go where he +wants," said Laura, and went up the veranda steps. + +She thought she had baffled Stannard, but she was hurt. At the +beginning, she knew her advice to Jimmy was good. When he was going the +wrong way she had stopped him. Now, however, it looked as if her power +was gone. She could see herself Jimmy's guide in Lancashire, but to +guide him in the lonely bush was another thing. + + + + +IX + +THE QUIET WOODS + + +A warm Chinook wind, blowing from the Pacific, carried the smell of the +pines. The dark branches tossed and a languid murmur, like distant surf, +rolled up the valley. Jimmy had pulled off his coat and his gray +workman's shirt was open at the neck, for he liked to feel the breeze on +his hot skin. He was splitting cedar for roof shingles, but had stopped +in order to sharpen his ax. Since he had not yet cut his leg, he thought +his luck was good. + +A few maples, beginning to turn crimson, broke the rows of somber pines. +In the foreground were chopped trunks, blackened by fire, ashes and +white chips. A tent and a half-built house of notched logs occupied the +middle of the small clearing. In the background, one saw high rocks, +streaked at their dark tops by snow. Some of the snow was fresh, and +Jimmy imagined the speed he had used was justified. Yet, so long as the +Chinook blew, gentle Indian summer would brood over the valley. + +Jimmy's skin was brown, his mouth was firm, and his look alert. His +hands were blistered and his back was sore, but this was not important. +He could now pull a big saw through gummy logs and, as a rule, drive the +shining ax-head where he wanted it to go. A belt held his overalls +tight at his waist; when he tilted back his head to get his breath his +balance and pose were good. + +A plume of aromatic smoke floated across the clearing and Okanagan Bob +squatted by the fire. Bob's hair was black and straight and his eyes +were narrow. His crouching pose was significant, because a white man +sits. Bob's skin was white, but it looked as if some Indian blood ran in +his veins. He was an accurate shot and a clever fisherman. Now he fried +trout for breakfast and Jimmy wondered whether he would leave the fish +long enough in the pan. As a rule, Bob did not cook things much. + +"Somebody's coming," he remarked and began to eat. "Take your fish when +you want. I've got to pull out." + +For a minute or two Jimmy heard nothing, and then a faint beat of +horse's feet stole across the woods. The noise got louder and by and by +Margaret rode into the clearing. When Jimmy jumped for his jacket she +smiled and the nervous cayuse plunged. In the bush, all goes quietly and +abrupt movement means danger. + +Margaret rode astride. Her dress was dull yellow and her leggings were +fringed deerskin. At the hotel, Jimmy had approved her blue clothes, +but he thought he liked her better in the bush. Somehow she harmonized +with the straight trunks. It was not that she was finely built and +beautiful; one got a hint of primitive calm and strength. + +"Shall I hold the bridle?" Jimmy asked. + +"I think not," said Margaret and soothed the horse. "Another time when +you took the bridle I was forced to walk home and you got a kick." + +"On the whole, I think my luck was good," Jimmy rejoined. "When I went +to Kelshope, things, so to speak, began to move." + +Margaret got down, took a pack from the saddle, and tied the horse to a +tree. Bob got up from the fire, seized his rifle, and looked at +Margaret. + +"I'm going to get a deer," he said and vanished in the wood. The +underbrush was thick, but they did not hear him go. + +"When I was at the station the agent gave me your mail and some +groceries," said Margaret. "My father allowed you were busy, and I'd +better take the truck along." + +Jimmy said, "Thank you," and gave her a thoughtful look. Margaret's +voice was cultivated, but she talked like a bush girl. At the hotel she +had not. + +"I didn't order a fruit pie and a number of bannocks," he said when he +opened the pack. + +"Oh, well, I was baking, and I reckoned if Bob was cook, you wouldn't +get much dessert. But have you eaten yet?" + +Jimmy said he imagined breakfast was ready and Margaret went to the +fire, glanced at the half-raw trout, and threw a black, doughy cake from +a plate. + +"A white man _cooks_ his food," she said meaningly. "Take a smoke while +I fix something fit to eat." + +Jimmy pushed two or three letters into his pocket and sat down on a +cedar log. If Margaret meant to cook his breakfast, he imagined she +would do so and he was satisfied to watch her. For one thing, she knew +her job, and Jimmy liked to see all done properly. She did not bother +him for things; she seemed to know where they were. After a time, she +put the trout and some thin light cakes on a slab of bark, and Jimmy +remarked that the fish were an appetizing golden brown. + +"I expect you have not got breakfast, and I'll bring you a plate," he +said. + +"At a bush ranch the woman gets the plates." + +"There's not much use in pretending the bush rules are yours," Jimmy +rejoined. "Anyhow, I'll bring you all you want." + +"Wash the plate, please," said Margaret. "I'd sooner you did not rub it +with the towel." + +Jimmy laughed. "You take things for granted. I'm not a complete bushman +yet." + +He cleaned the plates and knives, and Margaret studied him. Something of +his carelessness and the hint of indulgence she had noted were gone. His +face had got thin and his frank glance was steady. Although he laughed, +his laugh was quiet. The bush was hardening him, and when she looked +about she saw the progress he had made was good. Well, she knew Jimmy +was not a loafer; after the cayuse kicked his leg he carried her heavy +pack to the ranch. + +"Now we can get to work," he said. + +Margaret allowed him to put a trout and some hot flapjacks on her plate. + +"After all, I like it when people bring me things," she remarked. "At +Kelshope, when one wants a thing one goes for it. I reckon your friends +ring a bell." + +"Perhaps both plans have some drawbacks. Still I don't see why you +bother to indicate that you do not ring bells." + +"It looks as if you're pretty keen," said Margaret. + +"Keener than you thought? Well, not long since I'd have admitted I was +something of a fool. Anyhow, I rather think you know the Canadian +cities." + +"At Toronto I stopped at a cheap boarding-house. They rang bells for +you. If you were not in right on time for meals, you went without. You +didn't ask for the _menu_; you took what the waitress brought. Now you +ought to be satisfied. I'm not curious about your job in the Old +Country." + +"I'm not at all reserved," Jimmy rejoined. "I occupied a desk at a +cotton mill office, and wrote up lists of goods in a big book, until I +couldn't stand for it. Then I quit." + +Margaret weighed his statement and imagined he had used some reserve. +For a clerk at a cotton mill to tour about Canada with rich people was +strange. + +"You talk about the Old Country, although you stated you were altogether +Canadian," Jimmy resumed. + +"My father's a Scot. He came from the Border." + +"Your name indicates it. The Jardines and two or three other clans +ruled the Western Border, but were themselves a stubborn, unruly lot. +Your ancestors were famous. I know their haunts in Annandale." + +"I reckon my father was a poacher," Margaret observed. + +Jimmy laughed. "It's possible the others were something like that. +Anyhow, their main occupation was to drive off English cattle, but we +won't bother--" + +He stopped and mused. Sometimes, when he was at the cotton mill, he had +gone for a holiday to the bleak Scottish moors. The country was +romantic, but rather bleak than beautiful, and he had thought a touch of +the old Mosstroopers' spirit marked their descendants. The men were big +and their Scottish soberness hid a vein of reckless humor. They were +keen sportsmen and bold poachers. When one studied them, one noted their +stubbornness and something Jimmy thought was quiet pride. Margaret had +got the puzzling quality; one marked her calm level glance and her +rather haughty carriage. Although she was a bush rancher's daughter, +Jimmy did not think he exaggerated much. + +"Your house is going up and you have cleared some ground," she said. "It +looks as if you had not slouched." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy modestly, "your father reckoned I must push ahead +before the frost began; but if we have made some progress, I imagine Bob +is mainly accountable." + +"Do you like Okanagan?" + +"I don't know," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. "He stays with his +job, and puts it over, but he doesn't talk. Unless he's chopping and you +hear his ax, you don't know where he is. He _steals_ about. In fact, the +fellow puzzles me. What's his proper business?" + +"Bob's a trapper. To get valuable skins you must go far North, but the +black bear are pretty numerous and sometimes a cinnamon comes down the +rocks. Then tourists give a good price for a big-horn's head. I reckon +Bob's wad was getting big, until the politicians resolved to see the +game laws were carried out. Now you must buy a license before you shoot +large animals, and you may only shoot one or two. Then reserves are +fixed where you may not shoot at all. The belt across the range is a +reserve and the game-warden made some trouble for Bob. Perhaps this +accounts for his hiring up with you." + +"Do you like the fellow?" + +Margaret hesitated. She did not like Bob, but she did not mean to +enlighten Jimmy. Sometimes Bob came to Kelshope and when he fixed his +strange glance on her she got disturbed. + +"Well," she said, "if I wanted a loghouse put up or the timber wolves +cleared off, I'd send for Okanagan; but I'd stop there. He's not the +sort I'd want for a friend." + +"You imply, if you were a rancher, you wouldn't want him for a friend?" + +Margaret's eyes twinkled. "Why, of course, I implied something like +that." + +"But Bob goes to Kelshope, and Mr. Jardine suggested my hiring him." + +"My father's a bushman," said Margaret, rather dryly. "His habit's not +to get stung; but we'll let it go. What about your chickens?" + +Jimmy had sent for some poultry, and so long as Margaret was willing to +stop, he was satisfied to talk about his flock. Sometimes the bush was +lonely and to sit opposite Margaret had charm. She banished the +loneliness and gave his rude fireside a homely touch. By and by, +however, she got up. + +"I have stopped some time and you ought to get busy." + +She would not take his help to mount. She seized the bridle, stroked the +cayuse, and was in the saddle. The horse plunged into the fern, Margaret +waved her hand and vanished, but for a few minutes Jimmy smoked and +pondered. + +He thought Margaret harmonized with the quiet, austere woods, but +although she talked like a bush girl, he wondered whether she had not +done so in order to baffle him. Anyhow, he hoped she would come back and +cook his breakfast another time. He could not see Laura Stannard beating +up dough for flapjacks by his fire. Laura's proper background was an +English drawing-room. She had grace and charm, and on the hotel terrace +Jimmy was keen about her society. Then Laura was a good sort and he +owed her much; the strange thing was, although she had stated he ought +to follow a useful occupation, she did not approve his ranching +experiment. In fact, she had urged him to go back to the cotton mill. +Jimmy admitted he was rather hurt because she was willing for him to go. +Now, however, her picture began to get indistinct. The bush called and +Laura did not harmonize with the woods. + +Then Jimmy remembered Margaret had brought him some letters and when he +pulled out an envelope with an Indian stamp, his look was anxious. Sir +James, however, stated that his London agents would send a check on a +Canadian bank, and when Jimmy wanted to stock his ranch his bills would +be met. Sir James remarked that to buy cattle was better than to bet on +horses that did not win, and chopping trees was not, by contrast with +some other amusements, very expensive. Moreover, if Jimmy got tired, he +could sell the ranch. He added that he was presently going to Japan and +afterwards to England by the Canadian Pacific line. When he crossed +Canada, he would stop and look his nephew up. + +Jimmy liked his uncle's rather dry humor, and admitted that some of his +remarks were justified, for when Jimmy went to the races his luck was +bad, but he put the letter in his pocket and picked up his ax. For some +time he had talked and smoked and, unless he hustled, the shingles he +wanted would not be split by dark. + + + + +X + +LAURA'S REFUSAL + + +Smoke rolled about the clearing and dry branches snapped in the flames. +A keen wind fanned the blaze and in places the fire leaped up the trees +and resinous needles fell in sparkling showers. Okanagan Bob went about +with a coal-oil can, and Jimmy drove the red oxen that hauled loads of +brush. Jimmy's face was black, his hand was burned, and his shirt was +marked by dark-edged holes, but his mood was buoyant. The fire had got +firm hold and advanced steadily across the belt of chopped trunks and +branches bushmen call the _slashing_. When it burned out Jimmy thought +only half-consumed logs would be left. A good _burn_ ought to save him +much labor. + +Perhaps his keenness was strange. To clear a ranch is a long and arduous +job that he was not forced to undertake; but he was keen. His +occupation, so to speak, had got hold of him. Moreover he felt, rather +vaguely, it was a test of his endurance and pluck. Since he left the +cotton mill he had loafed and squandered; now he had got a man's job, +and when the job was carried out he would know himself a man. + +By and by he stopped the oxen in front of the house. A few yards off +Deering notched the end of a log. He wore long boots, overall trousers +and a torn shirt. His face was red, but his big body followed the sweep +of the ax with a measured swing and the shining blade went deep into the +log. Deering had arrived a few days before to arrange about a hunting +excursion. + +"You have put up a fresh log since I came along. You chop like a +bushman," Jimmy remarked. + +"Two logs," said Deering and dropped his ax. "I reckon I am a bushman. +Anyhow I was born at a small Ontario ranch, and hired up at another in +Michigan." + +Jimmy was surprised. Although Deering was not at all like Stannard, his +habits were extravagant and nothing indicated that he had engaged in +bodily labor. He saw Jimmy's surprise and laughed. + +"For a few minutes I'll cool off and take a smoke," he resumed. +"Chopping's a healthy occupation, but I soon had enough. I was out for +money and wasn't satisfied to earn two-and-a-half a day. Then in Canada, +and I reckon in Michigan, you don't get two generations to stay on the +land. You clear a ranch, but your son weighs all you're up against and +resolves to quit. He reckons keeping store at a settlement is a softer +job." + +"Did you keep a store?" + +"I ran a pool room. After a time, a women's reform guild got busy and +the town reeve hinted I'd better get out." + +Jimmy laughed. He liked Deering's frankness, but he said, "I suppose +Dillon left Stannard at Puget Sound? He talked about going to Colorado." + +"When we had stopped a week or two at the Dillon house, Frank reckoned +he'd come back with us," Deering replied with some dryness. "Frank has +not bought a ranch, but he's steadying up and I imagine Miss Laura has +got after him. Anyhow, he's cut out cards and bets with me. Looks as if +Miss Laura had some talent for steering young men into the proper +track." + +The blood came to Jimmy's skin, but Deering's humorous twinkle did not +account for all. Jimmy did not like to think about Laura's steering +Dillon; he felt Laura was his guide and not the other's. + +"If you go back to the hotel in the afternoon, I'll come along," he +said. "Perhaps I ought to see Stannard about our hunting trip." + +"He stated he wanted to see you," Deering replied with a careless nod +and resumed his chopping. + +When the fire had burned out they started for the hotel, but they +arrived after dinner and Laura was engaged with other guests. In the +morning she went off to the lake with Dillon and one or two more whom +Jimmy did not know, and since she did not suggest his joining the party, +he loafed about the hotel. It looked as if she was satisfied with +Dillon's society and did not want his. + +Jimmy was hurt, and sitting on the terrace, he smoked and pondered. From +the beginning he had felt Laura's charm, although he had not thought +himself her lover; for one thing, he knew his drawbacks. Yet Laura +liked Dillon, whose drawbacks were as obvious as his. Somehow Jimmy had +taken it for granted he had a particular claim to her friendship, but if +the friendship must be shared with Frank its charm was gone. + +After an hour or two his resolution began to harden. Perhaps his asking +Laura to marry him was not as ridiculous as he had thought. At all +events, he would take the plunge. She knew he had stopped loafing and +started on a fresh line, and his having done so because she urged it was +a useful argument. Jimmy admitted he did not see Laura helping at the +ranch, but this was not important. So long as she engaged to marry him +when he made good, he would be resigned. If she hesitated, he must try +to indicate something like that. + +In the evening Laura returned from the lake, but for some time after +dinner she was engaged with her party and left Jimmy alone. Jimmy did +not join the group, for the suspense bothered him and the others' light +banter jarred. He thought it strange, but he felt he had nothing to do +with the careless people whose society Laura enjoyed. When he had talked +to Laura he was going back to the quiet woods. + +At length Laura came along the terrace and Jimmy braced himself. She +wore a black dinner dress and when a beam from the window touched her +Jimmy thought her skin shone like the snow on the rocks. Then she turned +her head and looked back. The tranquil movement was strangely graceful, +but Jimmy frowned. Dillon had obviously meant to go with Laura, and +although she motioned him back Jimmy knew she smiled. He fetched a chair +and leaned against the terrace wall. + +"Well, Jimmy," she said in a careless voice, "you don't look very +bright." + +"It's possible. You haven't talked to me for five minutes since I +arrived." + +"I was on the terrace. Had you wanted to join us, you could have done +so." + +"If you had wanted me, I expect you'd have indicated it." + +"Sometimes you're rather keen," Laura remarked. "Still sometimes you are +obstinate. I have known you do things I would sooner you did not." + +"I expect I'm dull, for I don't know if you imply that my obstinacy +would not have annoyed you. Anyhow, I left the ranch because I wanted to +see you. I didn't want to stand about with the others and laugh at their +poor jokes. They're a slack and careless lot." + +Laura looked up. Jimmy's mouth was firm and she thought him highly +strung. He was thin and hard and his pose was good. In fact, she felt he +was not altogether the raw lad she had known. + +"Not long since, you rather cultivated people like that and tried to use +their rules," she said. "I think you made some progress." + +"Oh, well, I own I was a fool and I owe you something because you helped +me see my folly. To take the proper line at a ball and a dinner party, +to shoot straight and play a useful game at cards is perhaps a sound +ambition, but I begin to doubt if it's worth the effort it costs. In the +woods, one gets another ambition." + +Laura smiled. "You're impulsive. When one indicates the way for you to +go, you go much faster than one thinks, but we won't philosophize. Did +it not cost you something to leave your ranch?" + +"I wanted to see you," said Jimmy in a quiet voice. "I'd better state my +object, because in a minute or two I expect your friends will come +along--" + +Laura thought not. The end of the terrace was not lighted. She and Jimmy +were in the gloom and the others were not very dull. + +"Well?" she said. + +"I wanted to ask if you will marry me?" + +For a few moments Laura said nothing and Jimmy noted that her pose was +very quiet. Then she looked up. + +"You are very young, Jimmy." + +"I'm not younger than you. Besides, I don't see what my youth has to do +with it." + +"Your youth is a drawback," said Laura thoughtfully. "You will inherit a +large fortune, but I am poor, and if I married you, your trustees would +imagine I, and my father, had planned to capture you." + +"Now you are ridiculous!" Jimmy declared. "You have talent, beauty, and +cultivation: I'm raw and know nothing but the cotton mill. You ought to +see, if I can persuade you, the gain is altogether mine." + +Laura gently shook her head. "I don't see it, Jimmy, and others would +not." + +"Dick Leyland might grumble," Jimmy admitted with a frown. "For all +that, he has nothing to do with my marrying, and Sir Jim is another +type. He'd fall in love with you--" + +He stopped and Laura pondered. She must make a good marriage and the +marriage Jimmy urged was good, but she saw some obstacles. For one +thing, she did not love Jimmy. Ambition called, but she calculated. If +he would take the line she thought he ought to take, she might agree. + +"If you were at the cotton mill and claimed your proper post, all would +be easier," she said. "Your uncles could not then dispute your right to +marry whom you liked." + +Jimmy's laugh was scornful. "My uncles control my fortune for a year or +two; that's all. However, if you hesitate, I won't urge you to marry me +yet. If you engage to do so when I get my inheritance, I'll be +satisfied." + +The blood came to Laura's skin. Jimmy's keenness was not remarkable, but +she knew his sincerity and she forced a smile. + +"You are philosophical." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some embarrassment, "I feel I ought not to +urge you now. I wanted to know you belonged to me, and then I needn't +bother when I'm at the ranch-- The trouble is, if I waited, somebody +might carry you off. So long as you agree--" + +Laura's look got rather hard. When she wanted him to go back to England +she was not altogether selfish. Although she did not love him, she liked +Jimmy, and felt he ought not to stay in Canada with Stannard and +Deering. + +"Then, you mean to go on at the ranch?" she said. + +"Of course. You declare I'm young. I feel I must take a useful job and, +so to speak, make good. Besides, I can't go back to Lancashire to be +ruled by Uncle Dick. When I take my inheritance, it will be another +thing. Then, when you own a ranch, there's something about the woods +that calls. You get keen; to plan and work is not a bother." + +"But is the reward for your labor worth while?" + +"In money, the reward is not worth while; but that's not important. +Somehow I know Dick Leyland is not carrying on the house's business as +it ought to be carried on. We are getting rich, but we cannot much +longer use his old-fashioned parsimonious rules. Jim's at Bombay, and +there's no use in my making plans for Dick to oppose. You see, I have +nothing to go upon. For five years I was a clerk, like our other clerks; +afterwards I was a careless slacker, and Dick would sternly put me down. +But I've stated something like this before. You ought to see--" + +Laura saw he had some grounds for his resolve to remain. Still she did +not see herself helping at the ranch and to wait, for perhaps three or +four years, while he carried out his rash experiment was not her plan. +She imagined his trustees would not approve his marrying her and they +controlled his fortune and were clever business men. Yet had she loved +Jimmy, she might have agreed. In the meantime, he studied her with keen +suspense, and getting up, she gave him a quiet resolute look. + +"You must let me go," she said. "I like you, Jimmy, but I am not the +girl for you." + +Jimmy tried to brace himself and advanced as if he meant to touch her, +but she stopped him. + +"I ought not to return to Lancashire yet; but if that's the obstacle, +I'll start when you like," he said, in rather a hoarse voice. + +Laura was moved. In fact, she was moved to generosity. Now she had +conquered, the strange thing was, she knew she must not use her triumph. +Although Jimmy was beaten, she admitted his firmness at the beginning +was justified, and she thought he would after a time repent. + +"I see some other obstacles," she replied. "Since you are satisfied that +your proper job is in Canada, you must carry it out. There is no use in +talking, Jimmy. I am not at all the girl for you." + +Her resolution was obvious, and Jimmy stepped back. Laura gave him a +friendly smile and went off. Jimmy frowned, for although he had doubted +if he could persuade her, he had got a nasty knock. At the other end of +the terrace Stannard joined Laura and indicated Jimmy. + +"Well?" he said. + +"Jimmy wanted me to marry him. I refused." + +"Ah," said Stannard. "I suppose you had some grounds for your refusal?" + +"I imagine he does not love me," Laura replied in a quiet voice. + +Stannard studied her. Her color was rather high, but she was calm. In +some respects, she was like her mother and not like him. Stannard was +satisfied it was so. + +"Yet he asked you to marry him!" + +"Perhaps I am attractive; but now I think about it, he did not urge me +much. For all that, Jimmy is a good sort." + +For a few moments Stannard said nothing. Laura imagined he had meant her +to marry Jimmy and her refusal bothered him. Yet his look rather +indicated resignation than anger. She really did not know her father, +but he was kind. + +"Jimmy is a good sort," he remarked. "He has some other advantages." + +"His advantages are obvious; he's sincere and frank and generous," Laura +agreed with a touch of emotion. "Had he not been like that, I might have +risked it." + +Stannard shrugged. "Perhaps you're not altogether logical; but it's done +with." + +"I'm sorry, father," said Laura in a gentle voice and went up the steps. + +Stannard stopped and his look was sternly thoughtful. He was an +adventurer and his scruples were not numerous, but he had not used his +daughter's beauty as he might have used it. Now he knew he ran some +risks and, for her sake, he had wanted her to marry Jimmy. Well, she had +refused, and Jimmy owed him much, but for some time could not pay. +Stannard lighted a cigar and knitted his brows. + + + + +XI + +THE GAME RESERVE + + +At the end of the small open glade the pack-horses dragged about their +ropes. A short distance in front, the thick timber stopped and a +mountain spur went up to the dim white peaks. The sun had gone and the +sky was calm and green. One heard a river brawl and a faint wind in the +trees. Deering lay in the pine needles and rubbed his neck. + +"The mosquitoes are fierce. Throw some green stuff on the fire and make +a smoke," he said. "I don't want to get up." + +Jimmy, sitting on a log, pushed green branches into the flames, and then +turned his head and looked about. Two Indians were cutting poles and +putting up a tent. In the gaps between the trunks the gloom got deep, +and although the sharp top of the spur was distinct, Jimmy only saw a +few small pines and junipers. Stannard and Okanagan Bob, who had gone up +in the afternoon to look for a line to the high rocks, were not coming +yet. The horses could not go farther and in the morning the hunting +party would leave them behind. + +"They recently let me join a highbrow mountain club; but when I start +for the rocks I hesitate," Deering resumed. "To boost two hundred pounds +up crags and glaciers is a strenuous job, and I allow I'd sooner +Stannard had brought the hotel guides. When I camp I like two blankets +and a square meal. A good guide can carry a lot of useful truck." + +"Their charges are high and Okanagan claims he knows the big-horn's +haunts." + +"Somehow I reckon Bob knows too much," Deering rejoined. "Well, I allow +to let you break your neck wouldn't pay Stannard." + +"In one sense, it wouldn't cost him much," said Jimmy, with a laugh. +"You see, I insured my life in his favor some time since." + +"Ah," said Deering, thoughtfully. "That was when he took you down to +Vancouver?" + +"I went down. The plan was mine. After I fell into the gully, I saw +Stannard ran some risk." + +Deering grinned. "I like you, Jimmy! You're sure an honest kid." Then +his glance got keen and he resumed: "Say, are you going to marry Laura?" + +"Miss Stannard refused to marry me," Jimmy replied in a quiet voice. +"But we were talking about the insurance. I rather urged Stannard--" + +"Exactly! Stannard's a highbrow Englishman," said Deering, but somehow +Jimmy thought his remark ironical. "Well, you urged, and since Stannard +is not rich, he agreed? Perhaps the strange thing is, he was able to +lend you a pretty good sum. Do you know where he gets the money?" + +"I don't know. It's not important." + +"Oh, well! You have insured your life and Miss Laura has refused you! +She's a charming girl, but since I don't see her helping you run a bush +ranch, perhaps her refusal was justified. However, I think somebody's +coming down the ridge." + +Not long afterwards Stannard and Bob reached the camp and Stannard said, +"We have found a line and we'll start at daybreak. Bob now declares he +expects a reward for each good head we get." + +"You can promise him his bonus. If we shoot a big-horn, we're lucky; the +tourist sports have scared them back to the North," Deering remarked. + +They got supper and went to bed. The spruce twigs were soft and the +Hudson's Bay blankets were warm, but for a time Jimmy did not sleep. The +tent door was hooked back and the night was not dark. He saw the smoke +go up and the mist creep about the trunks. Sometimes a horse broke a +branch and sometimes the river's turmoil got louder, but this was all +and Jimmy missed the cow-bells that chimed at Kelshope ranch. + +Perhaps it was strange, but Laura's refusal had not hurt him very much. +In fact, he began to feel that so long as she did not marry Dillon he +would be resigned. Now Jimmy came to think about it, Deering's hint that +she attracted Frank to some extent accounted for his resolve to marry +Laura. Anyhow, Laura was his friend, and Stannard had used tact. He was +quietly sympathetic and soon banished Jimmy's embarrassment. Then the +noise of the river got indistinct and Jimmy thought he heard cow-bells +ring. Branches cracked and somebody called, "Oh, Buck! Oh, Bright!" + +At daybreak Bob sent off two Indians to wait for the party at another +spot. He and an Indian carried heavy loads, but all carried as much as +possible, because Bob declared the party was rather large for good +hunting and refused to take another man. When they stopped at noon +Deering's face was very red and Jimmy was satisfied to lie in the stones +while Bob brewed some tea. + +After lunch they pushed through a belt of timber. The trees were small, +but some had fallen and blocked the way. Others, broken by the wind, had +not reached the ground and the locked branches held up the slanted +trunks. Where the underbrush below was thick, one must crawl along the +logs. + +On the other side of the timber an avalanche had swept the slope, +carrying down soil and stones, and the party was forced to cross steep +rock slabs. Jimmy carried a rifle, a blanket, and a small bag of flour +and admitted that he had got enough. To pitch camp at sunset behind a +few half-dead spruce was a keen relief. + +They had not a tent and the cold was keen, but where one can find wood +one can build a shelter. Supper was soon cooked and when they had +satisfied their appetite all were glad to lie about the fire. Some +distance above them, untrodden snow, touched with faint pink by the +sunset, glimmered against the green sky. Below, rocks and gravel went +down to the forest, across which blue mist rolled. Sometimes a belt of +vapor melted and one saw a vast dim gulf and a winding line that was a +river. The austere landscape rather braced than daunted Jimmy. He knew +the Swiss rocks and the high snows called. + +Two days afterwards Jimmy, one afternoon, got his first shot at a +mountain-sheep. Until the big-horn moved, it looked like a small gray +stone, but it did move and when it vanished they studied the ground. +There was no use in trying a direct approach, but the rocky slope was +broken and Bob imagined they could climb a gully and come down near the +animal farther on. They must, however, take their loads, because he had +not yet found a spot to pitch camp. + +To climb the gully, embarrassed by a heavy pack, and a rifle, was hard, +and for some time afterwards they crawled across the top of a big +buttress. When they reached another gully the sun was gone, but Bob +thought they would find the sheep not far from the bottom. He said two +might go, and when they had spun a coin Stannard and Jimmy took off +their packs. + +The gully was very steep and they used some caution. Near the bottom +Jimmy slipped and might have gone down had not Stannard steadied him. +Bob, carrying the glasses, went a short distance in front. At the bottom +he got behind a stone and presently waved his hand. + +When Jimmy reached the spot he saw a horseshoe slope of rock and gravel +that fell sharply for five or six hundred feet and then stopped, as if +at the edge of a precipice. He thought if the big-horn went down there, +they must let it go. Then Bob touched his arm and indicated a spot level +with them, but some distance off. Something moved and Jimmy, taking the +glasses, saw it was a sheep. + +"Your shot. Use a full sight; it's farther than you think," said +Stannard in a low voice, and when Jimmy had pulled up the slide he +rested the rifle barrel on the rock. + +His arm was on the stone; he knew he ought to hold straight, but the +shot was long and the hole in the telescopic sight was small. Perhaps he +was too keen, for although Stannard had got a noble head, he himself had +not yet fired a shot, but when he began to pull the trigger his hand +shook. He stopped and drew his breath, and the sheep moved. + +"He's going," said Bob, and Jimmy crooked his finger. + +The rifle jerked. In the distance, a small shower of dust leaped up and +the sheep jumped on a stone. In a moment it would vanish and Jimmy +savagely snapped out the cartridge. Then he saw a pale flash and knew +the report of Stannard's English rifle. The sheep plunged from the +stone, struck the ground, and began to roll down the incline. Its speed +got faster and Jimmy thought it went down like a ball. In a few moments +it would reach the top of the precipice, and if it plunged across they +would not find its broken body. Then it struck a rock and stopped, so +far as one could see, a few yards from the edge. Stannard gave Bob his +rifle and picked up the glasses. + +"A fine head! Call Deering, Jimmy. I think we can get down." + +Jimmy thought not, but he shouted and Deering arrived and studied the +ground. + +"Looks awkward, but perhaps we can make it." + +"You have got to make it! You don't want to leave a sheep like that +about," said Bob. + +Stannard gave him a keen glance, but Deering said, "Let's try; I've +brought the rope. If you'll lead, Stannard, I'll tie on at the top. +We'll leave Jimmy." + +"Since I missed my shot, I ought to go," Jimmy objected. + +"My weight's a useful anchor and you're not up to Stannard's form," +Deering rejoined and they put on the rope. + +They started and Jimmy lighted his pipe. He had wanted the noble head +and Stannard had got another, but Jimmy was not jealous. Although +Stannard had hardly had a moment before the sheep went off, he had +seized the moment to shoot and hit. In the meantime, however, the others +were getting down the slope and Jimmy used the glasses. + +The job was awkward. Sometimes the stones ran down and Stannard +hesitated; Deering stopped and braced himself, ready to hold up his +companions. Bob was at the middle of the rope and, so far as one could +see, was satisfied to follow Stannard. They reached the sheep, and Bob +got on his knees by the animal. His knife shone and after a few minutes +he gave Stannard the head. + +Then it looked as if they disputed, but Bob got up and began to drag the +sheep to the edge. Jimmy was puzzled, for stones were plunging down and +it was plain the fellow ran some risk. One could not see his object for +resolving to get rid of the headless body. After a minute or two he +pushed the sheep over the edge and the party began to climb the slope. + +They got to the top, and going up the gully, after a time found a corner +in the rocks and pitched camp. Bob and the Indian had carried up a small +quantity of wood and when they cooked supper Stannard remarked: "I +expect you're satisfied nobody in the valley could see our fire?" + +"Nobody's in the valley, anyhow," said Bob. + +"Then, my seeing smoke was strange," Stannard rejoined. + +"But suppose somebody had camped in the trees? Why shouldn't the fellow +see our fire?" Jimmy inquired. + +"Perhaps Bob will enlighten you," said Stannard coolly. + +"Ah," said Deering, "he didn't mean to leave the sheep around, and +although I didn't get his object for pushing the body off the rocks, I +reckon it went down a thousand feet into the timber--" He stopped and +looking hard at Bob resumed: "What was your object?" + +Bob's dark face was inscrutable. + +"I saw smoke. When we got busy, I calculated the game-warden had located +at the other end of the range." + +"You greedy swine!" said Stannard, and Deering began to laugh. + +"Jimmy doesn't get it! Well, Bob meant to earn his bonus, and since he +took us shooting on a government game reserve, I admit his nerve is +pretty good. Anyhow, I won't grumble because I haven't killed a +big-horn. Stannard's may cost him two or three hundred dollars." + +"Why did you play us this shabby trick, Bob?" Jimmy asked in a stern +voice. + +Bob gave him a rather strange look. + +"I sure wanted the bonus and the reserve is new. I allowed I'd beat the +warden and you wouldn't know. He got after me another time and I had to +quit and leave a pile of skins." + +"You wanted to get even?" Deering remarked and turned to Stannard. "What +are you going to do about it? In a way, the thing's a joke, but our +duty's obvious. We ought to give up the heads and take Bob along to the +police." + +Stannard said nothing, but Jimmy imagined he did not mean to give up the +heads. Bob's calm was not at all disturbed. + +"Shucks!" he said. "You're pretty big, Mr. Deering, but I reckon the +city man who could take me where I didn't want to go isn't born. Why, +you can't get off the mountains unless I help you fix camp and pack +your truck!" + +"I don't like packing a heavy load," Deering admitted. "We'll talk about +it again, and in the meantime you had better take the frying-pan from +the fire. I hate my bannocks burned." + + + + +XII + +STANNARD FRONTS A CRISIS + + +At Kelshope ranch fodder was scarce and so long as the underbrush was +green Jardine let his cattle roam about. The plan had some drawbacks, +and Jardine, needing his plow oxen one afternoon, was forced to search +the tangled woods. Sometimes he heard cow-bells, but when he reached the +spot the animals were gone. A plow ox is cunning and in thick timber +moves much faster than a man. + +Jardine, however, was obstinate and for an hour or two he pushed across +soft muskegs and through tangled brushwood. When at length he stopped he +saw he had torn his new overalls and broken an old long boot. Besides, +he hated to be baffled and since he could not catch the oxen he could +not move some logs. + +When he got near the ranch he stopped. Somebody was quietly moving about +the house, as if he wanted to find out who was at home, and Jardine, +advancing noiselessly, saw it was Bob. He admitted he had expected +something like that, for Bob's habits were not altogether a white man's. +Jardine imagined he did not know Margaret had gone to the railroad. + +Had he found his team, he might have given Bob supper and sent him off +before Margaret arrived, but he had not found the team and Bob's +creeping about the house annoyed him. In the Old Country Jardine was a +poacher, but he sprang from good Scottish stock and he hated to think +Bob bothered Margaret. Moving out of the shadow, he went up the path. + +He did not make a noise, but Bob turned, and Jardine thought had the +fellow been altogether a white man he would have started. Bob did not +start. His look was calm, like an Indian's, and his pose was quiet. + +"Hello!" he said. "I reckoned you'd gone after your plow team." + +"Ye didna reckon I'd come back just yet!" + +Bob smiled, but his eyes got narrower and his mouth went straight. He +was a big man and carried himself like an athlete. + +"Well," he said, "I allowed Miss Margaret was around and I'd wait a +while." + +Jardine wondered whether Bob meant to annoy him. As a rule the fellow +was not frank and now his frankness was insolent. + +"If ye come another time, ye'll come when I'm aboot. What have ye in yon +pack?" + +"Berries," said Bob, opening a cotton flour bag. "I reckoned Miss +Margaret wanted some. Then I brought a pelt; looked the sort of thing to +go round her winter cap." + +In the woods, the Indians dry the large yellow raspberries and Bob had +brought a quantity to the ranch before. Now he pulled out a small dark +skin that Jardine imagined was worth fifty dollars. The value of the +present was significant. + +"Ye can tak' them back. We have a' the berries we want." + +"Anyhow, I guess Miss Margaret would like the skin." + +"She would not. Margaret has nae use for ony pelts ye bring." + +For a few moments Bob was quiet. Then he said, "Sometimes I blew in for +supper and you let me stay and smoke. When you put up the barn, you sent +for me to help you raise the logs. The English tenderfoot hadn't located +in the valley then." + +The blood came to Jardine's skin. To some extent Bob's rejoinder was +justified; but Jardine had not until recently imagined Margaret +accounted for the fellow's coming to the ranch. + +"When we put up the barn ye got stan'ard pay. I allow ye're a useful man +to handle logs, but I'm no' hiring help the noo." + +"You reckoned me your hired man?" said Bob in an ominously quiet voice. +"That was all the use you had for me?" + +"Just that!" Jardine agreed. "Margaret has nae use for ye ava'." + +"Then, if you reckon you're going to get my highbrow English boss for +her, you're surely not very bright. His sort don't marry--" + +"Tak' your pack and quit," said Jardine sternly. "Get off the ranch, ye +blasted half-breed!" + +Bob was very quiet, but his pose was alert and somehow like a hunting +animal's. Perhaps instinctively, he felt for his knife. Jardine's ax +leaned against a neighboring post. If he jumped, he could reach the +tool, but he did not move. For a moment or two they waited, and then Bob +picked up the flour bag and went down the path. Jardine went to the +kitchen and lighted his pipe. Bob was gone, and Jardine hardly thought +he would come back, but he was not altogether satisfied he had taken the +proper line. Indian blood ran in Bob's veins; an Indian waits long and +does not forget. For all that, Jardine did not see himself warning +Leyland and enlightening Margaret. + +A week afterwards, Stannard one evening occupied a chair at his table on +the terrace. He had returned from the mountains with two good big-horn +heads and nothing indicated that the game-warden knew the party had +poached on the reserve. Stannard, however, was not thinking about the +hunting excursion. The English mail had arrived and sometimes he studied +a letter and sometimes looked moodily about. + +Laura, Dillon, and two or three young men were on the steps that went +down to the woods. Laura wore her black dinner dress and Stannard +thought she had not another that so harmonized with her beauty. Dillon +obviously felt her charm. He was next to Laura, and since it looked as +if the others were ready to dispute his claim to the spot, Stannard +imagined Frank would not have occupied it unless Laura meant him to +remain. + +After a time Stannard pushed the letter into his pocket and gave +himself to gloomy thought, until Deering came along the terrace and +asked him for a match. + +"You look as if you were bothered," Deering remarked. + +"Sometimes one is bothered when one's mail arrives." + +"That is so," said Deering, with a sympathetic nod. "Opening your mail +is like dipping in a lucky bag; your luck's not always good. I got some +bills in my lot." + +"I got a demand for a sum I cannot pay. I expect you haven't two +thousand dollars you don't particularly need?" + +Deering laughed. "Search me! All I've got above five hundred dollars you +can have for keeps. Looks as if you must put the fellow off." + +"He's obstinate and unless I can satisfy him it might be awkward for +me." + +"Then, you had better try Dillon. The kid's rich and sometimes +generous," Deering remarked. "In a sense, he's mine, but since you're up +against it, I'll lend him to you." + +He went off and Stannard frowned. For him to be fastidious was +ridiculous, but Deering's frankness jarred. Still he needed a large sum, +and although he could borrow for Jimmy, he could not borrow for himself; +the fellow who supplied him was a keen business man. Stannard lived +extravagantly, but the money he used was not his, and unless he +justified the speculation supplies would stop. So far, the speculation +had paid and he owned he ought not to be embarrassed. The trouble was, +he squandered all he got. + +He weighed Deering's plan. Dillon's father was rich and indulged the +lad. Stannard had stopped at his ambitious house on Puget Sound, and +imagined the old lumber man approved Laura. In fact, the drawback to +Deering's plan was there. Stannard had not bothered much about Laura and +was willing for his wife's relations to undertake his duty, but he did +not mean to put an obstacle in her way. She must make a good marriage; +after all, her aunts were poor. + +By and by the group on the steps broke up and Laura came to Stannard's +table. He noted that her eyes sparkled and her color was rather high. It +looked as if she had triumphed over another girl; Stannard admitted the +others were attractive, but none had Laura's charm. + +"You have soon forgotten Jimmy," he remarked. + +"No," said Laura, "I have not forgotten Jimmy. Although I did not want +him for a lover, he's my friend. But he really was not my lover. That +accounts for much." + +"Yet I imagine, if he had been persuaded to go back to the cotton +mill--" + +Laura blushed, but she gave Stannard a steady look. "I liked Jimmy, +Father, and I was not altogether selfish. I felt he ought to go back." + +"To lead a young man where he ought to go is rather an attractive part," +Stannard remarked. "Jimmy wanted to marry you. What about Frank +Dillon?" + +"Ah," said Laura. "Frank is not as rash as Jimmy! Jimmy doesn't ponder. +He plunges ahead." + +"You imply that Frank uses caution." + +"Oh, well," said Laura, smiling, "perhaps I use some reserve." + +Stannard thought her voice was gentle, and turning his head, he studied +Dillon. The young fellow stood at the top of the steps as if he wanted +to follow Laura, but waited for her to indicate that he might. Stannard +reflected with dry amusement that Laura kept her lovers in firm control. +Frank was rather a handsome fellow and Stannard knew him sincere and +generous. Perhaps it was strange, but a number of the young men he +admitted to his circle were a pretty good type. Although Stannard was +not bothered by scruples, he was fastidious. + +"But I want to know-- It's important," he said. "Suppose Frank is as +rash as Jimmy? Will you refuse him?" + +Laura blushed, but after a moment or two she looked up and fronted her +father. + +"Why is it important for you to know?" + +Stannard hesitated. He had not used his daughter for an innocent +accomplice, and had she married Jimmy he would have tried to free the +lad from his entanglements. Now, if she loved Frank, he must not +embarrass her. + +"Well," he said, "I rather think I must give you my confidence. I need +money and it's possible Frank would help." + +"Oh, Father, you mustn't use Frank's money!" Laura exclaimed and, since +her disturbance was obvious, Stannard's curiosity was satisfied. "He's +your friend and trusts you," she resumed. "I think you ought to force +Deering to leave him alone." + +For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Laura loved Frank; at all events +she was willing to marry him, and it looked as if she knew more about +her father than he had thought. Well, Laura was not a fool. + +"Sometimes your tact is rather marked," he said. "I wonder whether you +really think Deering a worse friend for Frank than me? However, we'll +let it go. If you marry the young fellow, he, of course, ought not to be +my creditor." + +Laura gave him a grateful look and when she replied her voice was +apologetic. "Perhaps I wasn't justified, but I felt I was forced-- I +mean, I didn't want you to bother Frank, and one cannot trust Deering." + +"I imagine I see," Stannard rejoined. "Well, perhaps Deering's a better +sort than you think. He stated, rather generously, that he would lend me +Frank, but if it's some comfort, I'll engage not to bother the young +fellow." + +"You're a dear!" said Laura with a touch of emotion. + +Stannard shrugged. "I have not carried out my duty and you do not owe me +much, but after all it was for your sake I sent you to your aunts. +Since your father was a bad model, I hoped your mother's sisters would +help you to grow up like her. Well, since I long neglected you, I must +not now put an obstacle in your way." + +"You are kind," said Laura. "Perhaps I'm cold and calculating. I know my +shabbiness, but I did not love Jimmy and I think I do love Frank." + +She touched Stannard's arm gently and went into the hotel. A few moments +afterwards, Dillon crossed the terrace and went up the steps. Stannard +smiled, but by and by threw away his cigar and knitted his brows. He +thought he need not bother about Laura, but he saw no plan for meeting +his importunate creditor's demands. + + + + +XIII + +THE DESERTED HOMESTEAD + + +Stannard and a party from the hotel were in the mountains, and Laura and +Mrs. Dillon one morning occupied a bench on the terrace. Mrs. Dillon had +arrived a few days since, and when Stannard returned Laura was going +back with her to Puget Sound. Dillon, sitting on the steps, tranquilly +smoked a cigarette. Laura had engaged to marry him and he had refused to +join Stannard's rather ambitious excursion to a snow peak that had +recently interested the Canadian Alpine Club. So far as Dillon knew, +nobody had yet got up the mountain, and if its exploration occupied +Stannard and Jimmy for some time, he would be resigned. Jimmy was his +friend, but on the whole Frank would sooner he was not about. + +"Two strangers went into the clerk's office some time since," Laura said +presently. "One wore a sort of cavalry uniform. Do you know who they +are?" + +"One's a subaltern officer of the Royal North-West Mounted Police," +Dillon replied. "I expect the other's a small boss in the Canada +forestry department, or something like that. Perhaps a careless tourist +has started a bush fire." + +"They are coming out," said Laura, and added with surprise: "I think +they want to see us." + +The men crossed the terrace and the young officer gave Laura an +envelope. + +"I understand you are Miss Stannard and this is your father's." + +Laura nodded agreement and studied the envelope. The address was +Stannard's and at the top was printed, _Sports service. Taxidermy._ + +"Perhaps you had better open the envelope," the officer resumed. + +Laura did so and pulled out a bill. "To preserving and mounting two +big-horn heads-- To packing for shipment--" + +The other man took the bill. He was a big brown-skinned fellow and his +steady quiet glance indicated that he knew the woods. + +"Sure!" he said. "The charge for packing is pretty steep; but when you +mean to beat the export-prohibition-- Well, I guess this fixes it!" + +"What has Mr. Stannard's bill to do with you?" Laura asked in a haughty +voice. + +"To begin with, he can't ship those heads out of Canada. Then it looks +as if he killed the big-horn on a government game reserve." + +"Your statement's ridiculous," said Laura angrily. "My father is an +English sportsman, not a poacher." + +"Anyhow, he killed two mountain sheep not long since." + +"You cannot force Miss Stannard to admit it," Dillon interrupted. + +"Not at all," the young officer agreed politely. "Still I think some +frankness might pay. My companion is warden Douglas, from the reserve, +and the game laws are strict, but it's possible some allowance would be +made for tourists who did not know the rules. If Miss Stannard does +reply, it might help." + +"Very well," said Laura. "My father and a party went shooting and he +brought back two big-horn heads, but I'm satisfied he did not know he +trespassed on a game reserve." + +"His partners were Leyland and Deering," warden Douglas remarked. "I +expect they took a guide, although they didn't hire up the men at the +hotel." + +"Mr. Leyland's man, Okanagan, went." + +Douglas looked at the officer and smiled meaningly. "Now I get it! I +reckon Bob _played_ them fellers." + +"Mr. Stannard is again in the mountains?" the officer said to Laura. "I +don't urge you to reply, but although my duty's to find out all I can, I +don't think your frankness will hurt your father." + +Laura said Stannard had gone to climb a famous peak and admitted that he +had taken Okanagan. + +"They'll hit the range near the head of the reserve and a hefty gang +could get down the Wolf Creek gulch," Douglas observed. "Looks as if Bob +had gone back for another lot! I guess an English sport would put up +fifty dollars for a good head." + +"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said the officer. "The department will claim +the heads and perhaps demand a fine, but the sum will depend upon Mr. +Stannard's statements. This, however, is not my business." + +He bowed and went off, but he stopped Douglas on the veranda. + +"If you want to go after the party, I'll give you trooper Simpson." + +"I'm going after Okanagan and I mean to get him," said Douglas grimly. +"I reckon he fooled the tourists, but they've got to pay the fine. Can't +you give me a bushman trooper? Okanagan's a tough proposition and he +doesn't like me." + +The officer said he had not another man and must go off to make +inquiries about a forest fire. He sent for his horse and the group on +the terrace saw him ride down the trail. + +"I'm sorry for Father and know he'll hate to give up the heads; but I +think the men were satisfied Jimmy's helper cheated him," Laura +remarked. + +A few days afterwards, Stannard's party stopped one evening at a small, +empty homestead. Thin forest surrounded the clearing, but on one side +the trees were burned and the bare rampikes shone in the sun. In places +the crooked fence had fallen down, tall fern grew among the stumps, and +willows had run across the cultivated ground. For all that, the loghouse +was good, and since the horses could not go much farther, Stannard +resolved to use the ranch for a supply depot. On the rocks the climbing +party could not carry heavy loads. + +When the sun got low they sat on the veranda and smoked. They did not +talk much, and Jimmy felt the brooding calm was melancholy. Somebody, +perhaps with high hope, had cleared the ground the forest now was +taking back. Labor and patience had gone for nothing; the grass was +already smothered by young trees. It looked as if the wilderness +triumphed over human effort. + +"How long do you think its owner was chopping out the ranch? And why did +he let it go?" Jimmy asked. + +"I reckon nine or ten years," Deering replied. "Maybe he speculated on +somebody's starting a sawmill or a mine. Maybe the block carried a +mortgage and he pulled out to earn the interest. As a rule, the small +homesteader takes any job he can get, and when his wallet's full comes +back to chop, but a railroad construction gang's the usual stunt and +some don't come back. I expect the fellow was blown up by dynamite or a +rock fell on him. Anyhow, when you hit a deserted ranch, the owner's +story is something like that. Canada's not the get-rich country land +boomers state." + +Then Deering turned to Stannard. "Did you find a good line to the ridge +from which we reckon to make the peak?" + +"I found a line I think will go. You follow the ridge until a big +buttress breaks the top some distance above the snow level. A _col_ goes +down to a glacier and one might get across to another ridge that would +help us up the peak. Still I doubt if our map's accurate, and my notion +is to climb the buttress." + +Deering took the map. "Good maps of the back country are not numerous, +but if the _col_'s where you locate it, I reckon the old-time miners +shoved up the glacier when they came in from the plains. Some made the +Caribou diggings from Alberta long before the railroad was built." + +"Their road was rough," said Stannard and lighted his pipe. + +He was not keen to talk. For one thing, he was tired, and he did not yet +know where to get the sum he needed. The sum, however, must be got. So +long as he belonged to one or two good clubs and visited at fashionable +country houses, the allowance on which he lived would be paid; but if he +did not satisfy his creditor he must give up his clubs and would not be +wanted at shooting parties. + +By and by Deering turned to Bob, who was cleaning a rifle. + +"We have guns. Have you got a pit-light?" + +Bob grinned. "You can't use a pit-light. Some cranks at Ottawa allow +they're going to carry out the law." + +"It depends," said Deering dryly. "I wouldn't go still-hunting if I +thought a game-warden was about, but we oughtn't to run up against a +warden in this neighborhood. Anyhow, I see the deer come down to feed on +the fresh brush, and some venison would help out our salt pork. Say, +have you got a light?" + +"I've got one," Bob admitted. "We brought some candles, and I guess I +could cut two or three shields from a meat can." + +"Then you can get to work," said Deering, and turned to the others. "The +sport's pretty good. You hook a small miner's lamp in your hat and pull +out the brim, but you can use a candle and a bit of tin. Since the +lamp's above the tin shield, the deer can't see you. They see a light +some distance from the ground and, if you're quiet, they come up to find +out what it's doing there. When their eyes reflect the beam, you shoot." + +"I don't suppose we'd run much risk, but a still-hunt is poaching and I +doubt if it's worth the bother," Stannard replied carelessly. + +"When you start poaching, you don't know where to stop. Not long since +we shot two big-horn on a game reserve," said Deering with a laugh. "The +strange thing is, although I quit ranching for the cities, I want to get +back and play in the woods. Give me an ax and a gun and I'm a boy again. +Say, let's try the still-hunt!" + +The others agreed and after supper the party waited for dark. The green +sky faded and the trees were very black. Then their saw-edged tops got +indistinct and gray mist floated about the clearing in belts that +sometimes melted and sometimes got thick. The resinous smell of the +pines was keen and all was very quiet but for the turmoil of the river. +An owl swooped by the house, shrieked mournfully, and vanished in the +gloom. + +At length Jimmy fixed his candle in a rude tin shield, felt that his +rifle magazine was full, and waited for Bob to take the others to their +posts. So long as they went away from him, all he saw was a faint +glimmer, but sometimes one turned at an obstacle and a small bright +flame shone in the mist. It looked as if the light floated without +support and Jimmy could picture its exciting the deer's curiosity. One +could not use a pit-lamp in the tangled bush, but the clearing was some +distance across and the deer came to feed on the tender undergrowth that +had sprung up since the trees were chopped. + +After a time Bob returned, but now Jimmy must go to his post he admitted +he would sooner go to bed. He was tired and still-hunting with a light +was forbidden; besides, they had not long since poached on a game +reserve. Had not Deering bothered them, Jimmy thought Stannard would not +have gone, but in the woods Deering's mood was a boy's. The packers and +the horses were in a barn some distance back among the trees, and they +had not got a light at the house. Somehow the quiet and gloom were +daunting, but to hesitate was ridiculous and Jimmy went off with Bob. + +In North America, trees are not cut off at the ground level and the +clearing was dotted by tall stumps. Fern grew about the roots, and +tangled vines and young willows occupied the open spaces. At a boggy +patch the grass was high, and a ditch went up the middle and into the +bush. The ditch was deep and Jimmy knew something about the labor it had +cost. To see useful effort thrown away disturbed him and he speculated +about the lonely rancher's stubborn fight. The man was gone; perhaps he +knew himself beaten before he went, and the forest reclaimed the +clearing. + +They crossed the ditch and Bob stationed Jimmy behind a big stump at the +edge of the trees. He said quietness was important, and if Jimmy left +his post and did not take his light, he might get shot. Moreover, he +must not shoot unless he saw a deer's eyes shine; he must wait until he +thought the animal near enough and then aim between the two bright +spots. He might soon get a shot, but he might wait until daybreak and +see nothing. + +Then Bob went off and Jimmy was sorry he could not light his pipe. The +night was cold and waiting behind the stump soon got dreary. Sometimes +the mist was thick and sometimes it melted, but one could not see across +the clearing and nothing indicated that the others were about. Jimmy did +not know their posts; he imagined Bob had put them where they would not +see each other's lights. He wondered whether the deer would soon arrive. +If he did not see one before his candle burned out, he would lie down at +the bottom of the stump and go to sleep. + + + + +XIV + +A SHOT IN THE DARK + + +Jimmy imagined he did for a few minutes go to sleep, because he did not +know when the noise began. Branches cracked as if a deer pushed through +the brush a short distance off. Jimmy was not excited; in fact, he was +cold and dull, and he used some effort to wake up. + +The noise stopped and then began again. It now looked as if a large +animal plunged across the clearing. Jimmy did not think a deer went +through the brush like that, but for a moment he saw a luminous spot in +the dark. Something reflected the beam from his candle and he threw the +rifle to his shoulder. + +His hand shook and he tried to steady the barrel. He felt a jerk and was +dully conscious of the report. As a rule, when one concentrates on a +moving target one does not hear the gun; the strange thing was Jimmy +imagined he heard his a second before the trigger yielded. + +The deer did not stop and he pumped in another cartridge. He heard +nothing, but red sparks leaped from the rifle and then all was dark. A +heavy object rolled in the young willows and somebody shouted. Lights +tossed and it looked as if people ran about. + +Jimmy shouted to warn the others and left the stump. When he jumped +across the ditch his candle went out, and on the other side his foot +struck something soft. Stooping down, he felt about and then got up and +gasped. His heart beat, for he knew the object he had touched was not a +deer. + +After a moment or two Stannard joined him and took a miner's lamp from +his hat. Jimmy shivered, for the light touched a man who lay in the +willows. His arms were thrown out, and as much of his face as Jimmy saw +was very white. The other side was buried in the wet grass. + +"Is he dead?" Jimmy gasped. + +"Not yet, I think," said Stannard, and Deering, running up, pushed him +back and got on his knees. + +Using some effort, he lifted the man's head and partly turned him over. +The others saw a few drops of blood about a very small hole in the +breast of his deerskin jacket. + +"A blamed awkward spot!" Deering remarked and gave Jimmy a sympathetic +glance. "Your luck's surely bad, but get hold. We must carry him to the +house." + +Stannard got down; he was cooler than Jimmy, but they heard an angry +shout, and Deering jumped for the lamp. When he ran forward the others +saw a young police-trooper crawl from the ditch. Stopping on the bank, +he looked down into the mud, and Bob, a few yards off, studied him with +a grim smile. Jimmy remarked that Okanagan had not a rifle. + +"If you try to get your blasted gun, I'll sock my knife to you," said +Bob. "Shove on in front and stop where the light is." + +The trooper advanced awkwardly. His Stetson hat was gone and his head +was cut. When he saw the man on the ground he stopped. + +"You've killed him," he said. "Put up your hands! You're my prisoners!" + +Bob laughed. + +"Cut it out! That talk may go at Regina; we've no use for it in the +bush." + +"An order from the Royal North-West goes everywhere. Quit fooling with +that knife. My duty is--" + +"Oh, shucks!" said Bob, and turned to the others. "The kid fell on his +head and is rattled bad." + +"He's hurt; give him a drink, Stannard," said Deering. "We must help the +other fellow. Lift his feet; I'll watch out for his head. Get hold, +Bob." + +They carried the man to the house. When they put him down he did not +move, but Jimmy thought he breathed. Deering pushed a folded coat under +his neck and held Stannard's flask to his mouth. His lips were tight and +the liquor ran down his skin. + +"A bad job!" said Deering, who opened the man's jacket. "All the same, +his heart has not stopped." + +The packers from the barn were now pushing about the door and he +beckoned one. + +"Take the best horse and start for the hotel. Get the clerk to wire for +a doctor and bring him along as quick as you can make it." + +The packer went off and Deering asked the policeman: "Who's your pal?" + +"He's Douglas, the game-warden. Looks as if you'd killed him." + +"He's not dead yet," Deering rejoined, and pulled out some cigarettes. +"He may die. I don't know, but we'll give him all the chances we can. In +the meantime, take a smoke and tell us what you were doing at the +clearing." + +The trooper lighted a cigarette and leaned against the wall. Somebody +had fixed two candles on the logs and the light touched the faces of the +group. All were quiet but Deering, and Jimmy noted with surprise that +Stannard let him take control. Stannard's look was very thoughtful; +Bob's was keen and grim. The trooper had obviously got a nasty knock. At +the door the packers were half seen in the gloom, but Jimmy felt the +unconscious man on the boards, so to speak, dominated the picture. +Although Jimmy himself was highly strung he was cool. + +"My officer sent me to help the warden round you up for poaching on the +reserve," said the trooper. "When we hit the clearing we saw you were +out with the pit-light and Douglas reckoned we'd get Okanagan first; the +rest of you were tourists and wouldn't bother us. Douglas calculated +Okanagan knew the best stand for a shot and would go right there. His +plan was to steal up and get him. I was to watch out and butt in when I +was wanted." + +"It didn't go like that!" Bob remarked. "When you saw me by the ditch +had I a gun?" + +"So far as I could see you had not. You began to pull your knife." + +Stannard motioned Bob to be quiet and the other resumed: "I heard +Douglas shout and I got on a move. In the dark, I ran up against a +stump, pitched over, and went into the ditch. I heard a shot--" + +"You heard _one_ shot?" said Deering. + +"I don't know--I'd hit my head and was trying to find my rifle. Well, I +guess that's all!" + +"I shot twice," said Jimmy, in a quiet voice. "I don't think Bob used a +gun. All the same, when I pulled the trigger I imagined I heard another +report; but perhaps it was my rifle. I really don't know." + +"The number of shots is important," Stannard observed. + +Deering looked up sharply. "To find out is the police's job. Ours is not +to help." + +"We ought to help," Jimmy rejoined. "I thought a deer was coming; I had +no object for shooting the warden, but if my bullet hit him, the police +must not blame Bob." He turned to the others. "How many shots did you +hear?" + +Perhaps it was strange, but nobody knew. A packer thought he heard three +shots, although he admitted he might have been cheated because the +reports echoed in the woods. After a few moments they let it go and +Deering glanced at the man on the floor. + +"Maybe he knows. I doubt if he will tell!" + +The trooper advanced awkwardly. "Give me a light. I'm going across the +clearing; I want to see your stands." + +For the most part, the others went with him. Their curiosity was keen +and it looked as if nobody reflected that the lad was their antagonist. +In fact, since they carried in the warden, all antagonism had vanished. +Jimmy, however, remained behind. He was on the floor and did not want to +get up. After the strain, he was bothered by a dull reaction and felt +slack. By and by Stannard returned and sat down on the boards. + +"Well?" said Jimmy. "Have you found out much?" + +"The trooper found your two cartridges and the posts Bob gave us. You +were at a big stump, Bob a short distance on your left, although he +declares he had not a gun. My stand was on your other side. The warden's +track across the brush was plain. He was going nearly straight for the +stump and the bullet mark is at the middle of his chest." + +"It looks as if I shot him," Jimmy said and shivered. + +"Then you must brace up and think about the consequences!" + +"Somehow I don't want to bother about this yet. Besides, it's plain I +thought I aimed at a deer." + +"I doubt," Stannard remarked, with some dryness. "For one thing, the +police know we killed the big-horn on the reserve, and since we took Bob +again, to state he cheated us would not help. The fellow's a notorious +poacher, and when the warden arrived he found us using the pit-light, +which the game laws don't allow. On the whole, I think the police have +grounds to claim Douglas was not shot by accident." + +"But he may get better." + +"It's possible; I think that's all. But suppose he does get better? Do +you imagine his narrative would clear you?" + +Jimmy pondered. Until Stannard began to argue, all he had thought about +was that he had shot the warden, but now he weighed the consequences. He +was young and freedom was good. Moreover, he had seen men, chained by +the leg to a heavy iron ball, engaged making a road. A warden with a +shot-gun superintended their labor, and Jimmy had thought the indignity +horrible. He could not see himself grading roads, perhaps for all his +life, with a gang like that. + +"What must I do about it?" he asked. + +"I'd put up some food and start for the rocks. Take a rifle and the +Indian packer, and try to get down the east side of the range by the +neck below the buttress. Then you might perhaps push across to the +foothills and the plains. The police will, no doubt, reckon on your +going west for the Pacific coast, and, if you tried, would stop you. As +far as Revelstoke, the railroad follows the only break in the mountains, +and orders will be telegraphed to watch the stations. No; I think you +must steer for the Alberta plains." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. If he could reach the coast, he might get into +the United States or on board a ship, but he must cross British +Columbia and, for the most part, the province was a rugged, mountainous +wilderness. The northern railroads were not yet built; the settlements +were along the C. P. R. track and the lake steamboat routes. He dared +not use the railroad; but when he thought about the rocks and broken +mountains he must cross to reach the plains he shrank. + +"I could not carry the food I'd need," he said. + +"You have a rifle, and must take the packer. So long as deer and grouse +are in the woods, an Indian will not starve," Stannard replied and gave +Jimmy his wallet. "Offer the fellow a large sum and he'll see you out. +But you must start!" + +"Thank you; I'll risk it," said Jimmy, and giving Stannard his hand, +went off. + +Not long afterwards the others returned and Deering looked about the +room. + +"Where's Jimmy?" he asked. + +"He went out a few minutes since," Stannard replied in a careless voice +and Deering turned to the trooper. + +"Somebody must watch Douglas, but you're knocked out and Mr. Stannard +and I will undertake the job until sun-up. It's obvious our interest is +to keep him alive." + +The lad agreed. His head was cut and he had not found his rifle. To +imagine he could control a party of athletic men was ridiculous, and +since they were friendly he must be resigned. + +Not long before daybreak Deering woke up and looked about. Bob's +pit-lamp, hanging from a beam, gave a dim light. + +"Hello! Jimmy's not back!" + +Stannard looked at the others and thought them asleep. Motioning to +Deering to follow, he went to the door. He had pulled off his boots and +Deering trod like a cat. + +"Jimmy will not come back. He started for the plains, across the neck." + +"You sent the kid across the hardest country in Alberta?" + +"I don't know that I did send him; but we'll let it go. Jimmy's a +mountaineer and he took the Indian." + +"Shucks!" said Deering. "The Indian's a coast Siwash and not much use on +the rocks. Jimmy's an English tenderfoot and has no _Chinook_. He can't +talk to the Indian. I doubt if he's got a compass or a map." + +"He has my map and I imagine an Indian does not need a compass," +Stannard rejoined. "At all events, I didn't see another plan." + +Deering looked at him hard. "Well, perhaps Jimmy's lucky because I was +born and raised in the bush. Fix up a plausible tale for the policeman. +When he wakes I'll be hitting Jimmy's trail." + +He turned and his bulky figure melted in the dark. Stannard knew he was +going to the barn to get food, and for a few moments knitted his brows. +Then he shrugged philosophically and went back to the house. + + + + +XV + +TROOPER SIMPSON'S PRISONERS + + +Day broke drearily across the clearing. Mist rolled about the dark pines +and when the wind got stronger the dark branches tossed. The loghouse +was cold and trooper Simpson, turning over on the hard boards, shivered. +Then he remarked that although the pit-lamp had gone out the room was +not dark and he was dully conscious that he had slept longer than he +ought. After a few moments, his glance rested on an object covered by +blankets at the other end of the room and he got up with a jerk. + +His head hurt and he was dizzy. He now remembered that he had run +against a stump and fallen into the ditch; but he must brace up and with +something of an effort he crossed the floor. So far as he could see, the +warden's eyes were shut and his face was pinched. All the same, Simpson +thought he breathed and when he touched him his skin was not cold. + +"Hello!" he said, and Stannard, sitting by Douglas, turned. + +"He's very sick," Simpson resumed. "What are we going to do about it?" + +"We must try to keep him warm and when he can swallow give him a little +weak liquor and perhaps some hot soup. I expect that's all, but I have +sent for a doctor." + +"I see you have given him good blankets," said Simpson, who looked +about. "Leyland's not back; you allowed he had gone out for a few +minutes. Then where's the big man?" + +"I stated Leyland went out a few minutes before Deering inquired for +him," Stannard said dryly. "Some time after Leyland went, Deering +started for the bush." + +"Then, I've got stung! You knew I'd lost my rifle and you helped my +prisoners get off!" + +Stannard smiled. "To talk about your prisoners is ridiculous; I imagine +we are rather your hosts. I am not a policeman, and when my friends +resolved to leave the camp I had no grounds to meddle. However, if it +will give you some satisfaction, I'll lend you a rifle." + +"I'm going to get mine," said Simpson and started across the clearing. + +He came back before long, carrying a wet rifle. His clothes were muddy +and his mouth was tight. + +"I found her in two or three minutes, but when I was in the ditch last +night I felt all about." + +"To find an object in the dark is awkward," Stannard remarked. + +Simpson gave him an angry glance. "The magazine's broke and the +ejector's jambed. I don't see how she got broke. I didn't hit the stump +with my gun; I hit it with my head." + +"The thing is rather obvious. The cut ought to satisfy your officer," +said Stannard soothingly. + +"If you hadn't let your partners go, I wouldn't have had to satisfy my +officer. Now I sure don't see where I am." + +"The situation is embarrassing," Stannard agreed. "My friends have been +gone some time and are pretty good mountaineers; it's possible they +could go where you could not. Then, if you went after Deering and +Leyland, I might go off another way. I don't want to persuade you, but +perhaps you ought to stop and take care of Douglas." + +Simpson frowned and put down his damaged rifle. + +"Looks as if you had got me beat and I've no use for talking. Now the +light's good, I'll take a proper look at your party's tracks." + +Stannard let him go and soon afterwards Bob came in. Sitting down on the +boards, he struck a pungent sulphur match and lighted his pipe. +Stannard's glance got hard. He knew the Western hired man's +independence, but he thought Bob truculent. + +"The warden's very ill and your tobacco's rank," he said. + +"He's sick all right. I doubt if he'll get better," Bob agreed in a +meaning voice, although he did not put away his pipe. + +For a few moments Stannard pondered. To baffle the young trooper had +rather amused him, but to dispute with Bob was another thing. + +"If Douglas does not get better, it will be awkward," Stannard said. + +"It will sure be awkward for Mr. Leyland." + +"Or for you!" + +"Shucks! You know I was sort of superintending and hadn't a gun." + +"I don't know," said Stannard. "You stated you had not a gun. In the +meantime, I imagine Simpson is measuring distances and fixing angles, or +something like that. I can't judge if he knows his job; perhaps you +can." + +Bob's glance was a little keener. "Huh!" he said scornfully, "the kid's +from the cities and can't read tracks. All the same, somebody shot +Douglas, and if the police can't fix it on Leyland, they'll get after +me." + +"I don't see where I can help. For one thing, Mr. Leyland is my friend. +Then all I can state is, I didn't see you carry a gun. On the whole, I +don't think the police have much grounds to bother you." + +"Well, I don't take no chances; the police would sooner I was for it. +They can't claim Leyland meant to kill the warden, but they might claim +I did. Gimme a hundred dollars and I'll quit." + +Stannard smiled. "I have not got ten dollars; I gave Jimmy my wallet. +He's your employer." + +"Then, if I run up against Mr. Leyland, I'll know he carries a wad and I +guess I can persuade him to see me out," said Bob. "Now I'm going to +take all the grub I want. So long!" + +He went off and Stannard shrugged; but a few moments afterwards he +rested his back against the wall and shut his eyes, as if he were tired. +By and by Simpson returned and met Bob near the door. Bob carried a big +pack, a cartridge belt, and a rifle. + +"Hello!" said Simpson. "Another for the woods? Well, you got to drop +that pack. You're not going." + +"You make me tired. _My_ gun's not broke," Bob rejoined and shoved the +muzzle against Simpson's chest. "Get inside, sonny. Get in quick!" + +The Royal North-West Police do not enlist slack-nerved men and Simpson's +pluck was good. For all that, he was lightly built and was hurt, while +Bob was big and muscular. When Simpson seized the rifle barrel Bob +pushed hard on the butt. The trooper staggered back, struck the +doorpost, and plunged into the house. Bob laughed. + +"Your job's to help cure your partner. Maybe he knows who shot him," he +remarked, and started across the clearing. + +Simpson leaned against the wall and gasped. When he got his breath he +turned to Stannard savagely. "Where's your rifle?" + +"In the corner behind you," Stannard replied, and Simpson, seizing the +rifle, jerked open the breech. + +"My cartridge shells won't fit." + +"It's possible," said Stannard. "I didn't engage to lend you ammunition, +but if you go to the barn, you'll find a brown valise. Bring me the +valise and I may find you a box of cartridges." + +"Do you reckon Bob is going to wait until I get all fixed?" + +"That's another thing," said Stannard pleasantly. + +Simpson put down the rifle. "In about a minute the fellow'll hit the +timber and his sort don't leave much trail. Then you have not pulled out +yet." + +"You imagine if you went after Bob and did not find him, you might not +find me when you came back?" + +"That's so," Simpson agreed. "Not long since I reckoned I'd got the +gang. Now you're all that's left. The packers don't count." + +"Oh, well," said Stannard, smiling. "I'll agree to remain. I expect to +pay a fine for poaching, although I didn't know I was on the reserve. +Since I'm resigned, it doesn't look as if my friends had an object for +shooting Douglas. You see, I killed the big-horn." + +"All the same, three have lit out." + +"There's the puzzle; the warden was hit by one bullet. I own I don't see +much light; but I think you sketched the clearing." + +Simpson pulled out a note-book and Stannard remarked that the plan of +the ground was carefully drawn. He thought the spots the sportsmen had +occupied were accurately marked; distances and the lines of the warden's +and Simpson's advance were indicated. + +"The thing's like a map," he said. "How did you fix the positions?" + +"I carry a compass and can step off a measurement nearly right. At +Regina they teach us to study tracks, but I was at a surveyor's office +before I joined up." + +"Then, you are a surveyor?" said Stannard with keen interest, for he saw +the accuracy of the plan was important. + +Simpson smiled. "Surveying's a close profession. I was a clerk, but I +copied plans and sometimes the boss took me out to help pull the +measuring chain. Well, I guess that plan will stand!" + +When Stannard gave back the book his look was thoughtful, but he said, +"Until the doctor arrives, we must concentrate on keeping Douglas alive. +To begin with, we'll get the packers to make a branch bed and light a +fire." + +Douglas lived, but, so far as the others could see, this was all. He +hardly moved and he did not talk, but sometimes at night his skin got +hot and he raved in a faint broken voice. A packer shot some willow +grouse and they made broth, and Stannard put away the party's small +stock of liquor and canned delicacies for his use. Sometimes he +swallowed a little food, but for the most part he lay like a log in +blank unconsciousness. + +Simpson, Stannard, and a packer watched, and before long Stannard knew +the trooper was his man. He had qualities that attracted trustful youth +and used his talent cleverly. For all that, when the doctor and an +officer of the mounted police arrived, Stannard's look was worn and +Simpson's relief was keen. The officer sent Stannard from the room, but +ordered him to wait at the barn. + +After some time Simpson came to the barn and Stannard, returning to the +house, saw the officer's brows were knit. The doctor put some +instruments into a case and then turned his head and looked at his +companion. Stannard imagined they had not heard his step and for the +moment had forgotten about him. + +"He was obviously hit in front. The bullet mark's near the middle of his +body and indicates he was going for the man who shot him," the officer +remarked. + +"The wound at the back does not altogether support your argument," the +doctor replied. "It is not at the middle, and the fellow is lucky +because it is not. The mark's, so to speak, obliquely behind the other." + +"The mark where a bullet leaves the body is generally larger?" + +"To reckon on its being larger is a pretty safe rule," the doctor +agreed. + +Stannard's interest was keen, but the officer saw him and looked at the +doctor, who signed to Stannard to advance. + +"I imagine you have used some thought for the sick man," he said. "Sit +down; I want to know--" + +In a few minutes Stannard satisfied his curiosity, and the officer then +took him to another room. He used reserve, but he was polite, and +Stannard thought he had examined Simpson and the trooper's narrative had +carried some weight. + +"The doctor states Douglas must not be moved," the officer presently +remarked. "In the morning, I must start for the railroad and you will go +with me. I'll try to make things as easy as I can, but if you tried to +get away, you would run some risk. The Royal North-West have powers the +Government does not give municipal police." + +"Had I wanted to get away, I would have gone some time since," Stannard +replied. + +The other nodded. "Simpson admits your help was worth much. Well, you +will certainly be made accountable for poaching, but this may satisfy my +chiefs--I don't know yet. I expect there's no use in my trying to get +some light about your friends' plans?" + +"There is not much use," Stannard agreed. "For one thing, my friends did +not altogether enlighten me." + +"Very well," said the officer, smiling. "So long as you do not go off +the ranch, you can go where you like. After breakfast in the morning we +start for the railroad." + + + + +XVI + +THE NECK + + +Mist floated about the rocks and the evening was dark. To push on was +rash, but Jimmy hoped he might get down to the trees below the +snow-line. Anyhow, he must if possible get off the broken crest of the +range. Since noon until the sun went west and shadow crept across the +mountain, he and the Indian had crouched behind a shelf and watched snow +and stones plunge to the valley. Now all was quiet and the snow was +firm, but the mist was puzzling and Jimmy could not see where he went. +All he knew was, he followed the neck to lower ground. + +Jimmy was tired. In the wilds, if one can shoot straight, fresh meat may +sometimes be got, but one must carry a rifle, flour, and groceries. +Moreover, he now felt the reaction after the strain, and the journey on +which he had started daunted him. He must push across a wilderness of +high rocks and snow. In the mountains one cannot travel fast, and when +he reached the plains the distance to the American frontier was long. He +dared not stop at the settlements and, until he crossed the boundary, +must camp in the grass, although the days got short and the nights were +cold. + +The Indian, heavily loaded, went a few yards in front, but he came from +the warm coast and his part was to supply them with game and fish. Jimmy +got some comfort from reflecting that he himself knew the Swiss rocks, +because he rather thought all mountains whose tops were above the +snow-line, so to speak, approximated to a type. + +Frost split their ragged pinnacles and great blocks plunged down. +Avalanches ground their shoulders to precipitous slopes, from which +battered crags stuck out. As a rule, the top of the long ridges was +narrow, like a rough saw-edge, but sometimes a bulging snow-cornice +followed the crest. Where the snow-fields dropped to a hollow, a glacier +generally went down in flowing curves. One could follow a glacier, but +at some places the surface wrinkled and broke in tremendous cracks. + +By and by the Indian stopped and Jimmy looked about. The neck had got +very steep and the mist was thick. The pitch at the top of the glacier +is awkward and Jimmy knitted his brows. If he balanced properly, pushed +off, and trailed his rifle butt, he would go down like a toboggan; the +trouble was, he might go over a perpendicular fall and into the +_bergschrund_ crack. To climb down and slip meant a furious plunge like +the other, and if there was not a _bergschrund_, he might hit a rock. +Yet, if he meant to go east, he must get down, and for a few minutes he +sat moodily in the snow. + +The strange thing was, Stannard had told him to try the neck. Stannard +knew much about rocks and glaciers, but perhaps he had not explored +far. Then, to some extent, Jimmy had started because Stannard urged him. +Now he thought about it, to run away was to admit his guilt. Stannard +ought to have seen this, but obviously had not. All, however, had got a +nasty jolt, and when one was jolted one was not logical. In the +meantime, he must concentrate on getting down. + +By and by he heard a shout and steps. Flat lumps of snow like plates +rolled down and Jimmy thrilled. Somebody was coming and he thought he +knew Deering's voice. Then an indistinct object pierced the mist, slid +for some distance and stopped. + +"Hello, Jimmy! You haven't got far ahead," Deering shouted, and his +strong voice echoed in the rocks. + +Jimmy was moved and comforted. Deering looked very big and his +heartiness was bracing. + +"I was forced to stop at the buttress in the afternoon." + +"Sure," said Deering. "I reckoned on your getting held up. I was on the +ridge and shoved right along, but I'm going to stop for a few minutes +now. Get off the snow; we'll sit on my pack." + +"What about the warden?" Jimmy asked. + +"When I started he wasn't conscious. Shock collapse, I guess, but you +could hear his breath and a little color was coming to his skin. On the +whole, I think if they get a doctor quick he'll pull Douglas through. +The trouble is, we won't know-- But we'll talk about this again. The +ground ahead is blamed steep. Looks as if we might hit an awkward +_schrund_ at the top of the glacier. Anyhow, we'll wait a bit. I think +the moon's coming out." + +Jimmy agreed. He knew that where a snow-field comes down nearly +perpendicularly to a glacier one generally finds a tremendous crack. By +and by the mist rolled off and a small dim moon came out. Deering got up +and when he strapped on his pack they started down the slope. They used +caution and after a time Deering stopped. + +The mist was thinner and one could see for a short distance. Black and +white rock bordered the narrowing neck, and in front the snow fell away, +plunging down rather like a frozen wave. Shreds of mist floated up from +the cloud that filled the valley, and Jimmy, looking down on the vapor's +level top, got a sense of profound depth. All the same, the mist did not +interest him much. Fifty yards off, an uneven dark streak marked the +bottom of the snowy wave. The streak was broad; its opposite edge +sparkled in the moon and then melted into shadow that got deeper until +it was black. Jimmy studied the yawning gap and shivered. Had Deering +not arrived and the moon shone out, he thought he would have gone across +the edge. + +"I've no use for fooling around a _schrund_ in the mist and we can't +wait for daybreak," Deering remarked. "We must get back and make the +timber line on the other side before we freeze." + +Jimmy doubted if he could get back and shrank from the effort. He +thought the buttress five or six hundred feet above him, and for a +fresh, athletic man to get up in an hour was good climbing. But he was +not fresh; his body was exhausted and he had borne a heavy nervous +strain. All the same, to wait in the snow for daybreak was unthinkable. + +They fronted the long climb and Jimmy, breathing hard and sometimes +stumbling, made slow progress. He doubted if he could have got up the +steepest pitch had not Deering helped him, and at another the Indian +took his pack. They reached the top, and Deering studied the white slope +that went down the other side. The moon had gone and thick cloud rolled +about the heights. + +"This lot peters out in a gravel bank near the snow-line. I guess we'll +slide it," he said and vanished in the mist. + +Jimmy braced his legs, pushed off and let himself go. In Switzerland he +had studied the _glissade_, but when one carries a heavy load to balance +on a precipitous slope is difficult. It looked as if Deering could not +balance, because after a few moments Jimmy shot past an object that +rolled in the snow. Then he himself lost control, his pack pulled him +over, and he went head-foremost down hill. When he stopped the pitch was +easier, and looking back he saw a belt of cloud three or four hundred +feet above. He had gone through the cloud and when he turned his head he +saw dark forest roll up from the valley in front. For all that, the +highest trees were some distance off. + +By and by the Indian and Deering arrived and soon afterwards the snow +got thin. Stones covered the mountain-side and now and then a bank their +feet disturbed slipped away and carried them down. At length, Deering, +smashing through some juniper scrub, seized a small dead pine, and when +Jimmy, breathless and rather battered, arrived, declared they had gone +far enough. They had got fuel and water ran in the stones. + +Half an hour afterwards, Jimmy sat down on thin branches in a hollow +behind a rock. In front a fire snapped and the rock kept off the wind. +The smell of coffee floated about the camp and the Indian was occupied +with a frying-pan. + +When Jimmy had satisfied his appetite he lighted his pipe. He was warm +and the daunting sense of loneliness had gone. By and by Deering began +to talk. + +"When Stannard stated you had pulled out for the foothills I thought I'd +better come along. He talked about your shoving across for the boundary, +but I doubted if you could make it. Perhaps an Alpine Club party, +starting from a base camp, with packers to relay supplies, could cross +the rocks, but when your outfit's a little flour and a slab of pork it +sure can't be done. My notion is, we'll get back from the railroad, +pitch camp in a snug valley and hunt." + +"But you have no grounds to hide from the police." + +"I'm pretty keen on hunting and I like it in the mountains," Deering +replied with a laugh. "To start with horses and packers is expensive, +but our hunting won't cost much. Then I'd a sort of notion I ought to +see you out. We'll let it go at that. For a time the police will watch +the railroad, but they'll get tired." + +"You're a very good sort," Jimmy declared and resumed: "The Royal +North-West boast they have never let a man they really wanted get away." + +"Police talk!" said Deering. "Reckon it up. They put two troopers to +watch a hundred miles of wilderness. In broken, timbered country a horse +can't go and a man can hardly shove along. I allow the boys are smart, +but they can't do more than's possible for flesh and blood. When we've +put them off our track we'll fix up a scheme." + +"Now I think about it, I don't know if I ought to have run away. +Stannard rather persuaded me to start." + +"Perhaps he was justified. The forestry department bosses can't allow +their wardens to be shot. Then you belong to a gang that had killed +big-horn on a reserve and engaged a notorious poacher for guide. When +Douglas was shot he was getting after your man. On the whole, I reckon +I'd have pulled out. But I don't see why Stannard suggested your going +for the plains. He ought to know you couldn't make it." + +"He didn't know," Jimmy declared. + +"Very well! I reckon he knew you could not get down the neck. Anyhow, he +knew the ground; he was up on the range." + +Jimmy was vaguely disturbed. Deering's remarks indicated that he was not +satisfied and he thought the fellow studied him. + +"Stannard reached the neck, but it's obvious he did not go far enough to +see the ice-fall." + +"I didn't see the ice-fall, but I expected to get up against something +of the sort. Stannard's a famous climber." + +"After all, we might have got down." + +"It's possible," Deering agreed with some dryness. "If we'd had two good +fresh men, a proper rope and ice-picks, I might have tried, after +sun-up. But we hadn't got the proper truck, and I own I wasn't fresh." + +"I was exhausted," said Jimmy. "Still an exploit we thought daunting +might not daunt Stannard. I expect that accounts for it." + +Deering gave him a keen glance and smiled. + +"Oh, well; he's sure a good man on the rocks." + +Jimmy knocked out his pipe. So long as he had persuaded Deering that +Stannard had not carelessly allowed him to run a risk he was content. He +did not want to dispute about it. He liked Deering and to see him across +the fire was some comfort. Deering had not Stannard's qualities, but +Jimmy began to see he himself was rather Deering's sort than the +other's. Then in the mountains cultivation had not the importance it +had, for example, at an English country house. Jimmy liked Deering's raw +human force, his big muscular body, and his rather noisy laugh. Anyhow, +Deering had joined him and meant to see him out. He put away his pipe, +pulled up his thick blue blanket and went to sleep. + + + + +XVII + +DILLON MEDITATES + + +When Stannard reached the settlements he was again examined by the +police. He knew where frankness paid and was frank, but he owed +something to trooper Simpson's narrative and something to his personal +charm. A magistrate ordered him to pay a rather heavy fine and give up +the big-horn heads, and then let him go, but Stannard doubted if the +police were altogether satisfied. The officer who examined him was +remarkably keen. + +On the evening Stannard returned to the hotel, Laura and Dillon occupied +chairs at the table on the terrace. Electric lights burned on the +veranda, for the days got short, but the sunset was not altogether gone. +Dillon saw Laura's face in profile against the fading reflections. She +looked away from him to the north, where pines and rocks and snow were +all deep, soft blue. Her arm was on the table, her body was partly +turned, and Dillon thought her strangely beautiful. All the same, he +wanted her to look round. + +"You are quiet," he remarked. + +"I'm thinking about Jimmy in the wilds. Do you mind?" + +"Not at all," Dillon declared. "When Jimmy was around the hotel, I had +no use for the fellow; now he's in the mountains, I'm bothered about +him. Somehow one likes Jimmy, and if I knew how I could help, I'd +start." + +Laura turned her head and gave him a curious glance. + +"Why do you like Jimmy? He's English and you're frankly American." + +"That is so. To begin with, I've no pick on Jimmy because he loved you; +if he had not loved you, I'd have known his blood wasn't red. Then, +although he's English, in a sense he's our type. He's sincere; we are +sincere, you know, and perhaps, from your point of view, we don't use +much reserve. You can move us and when we're moved we talk and get busy. +Well, Jimmy's like that; he's marked by something generously human, but +I doubt if he got it at London clubs. Maybe it's his inheritance from +the folks who built the cotton mill." + +Laura said nothing. She doubted if Frank's willingness to state his +grounds for liking Jimmy altogether accounted for his rather unusual +effort. Indeed, she imagined he labored to get a light on a subject that +puzzled him. + +"Well," he resumed, "to know Deering went after Jimmy is some comfort. +If Jimmy gets up against it in the rocks, Deering will see him through." + +"Your trust in Deering is remarkable!" + +"He's a white man," said Dillon with a smile. "To be his friend cost me +high, but now I've cut out bets and cards, I'd sooner he'd got my money +than another. You see, I got something back. The fellow's big." + +Laura was annoyed. She wanted to feel Deering was her antagonist and had +exploited Frank's trust. The trouble was, she could not altogether do +so, but she dared not admit that Stannard shared his guilt and perhaps +his reward. To chastise Deering, so to speak, exculpated her father. + +"He is certainly muscular, and rather gross," she remarked. + +"He's flesh and blood. I doubt if you quite get us yet. In the West, we +haven't cultivated out rude emotions; we like a fellow who plunges at an +obstacle, sweats and laughs, and sometimes gets mad. We're up against +savage Nature and our job is a man's first job, to satisfy human needs. +Well, you know my father; he's a pretty good Western type. When he +started in, his food was frugal and his clothes were overalls. Now he's +moving forests, and architects come to study the office block he built; +but if things go wrong in the woods, his superintendents know he can use +their talk and handle a cant-pole. His power springs from the primitive +streak." + +"We'll let it go," said Laura, and indicated the long rows of pines +melting into the gloom. "Dark now comes soon." + +"Before long the frost will come and in the mountains the cold is pretty +fierce. On Puget Sound the soft Chinook blows and the white Olympians +stand between you and the winds from the Rockies. The old man's keen +for me to bring you back. What about our starting?" + +Laura blushed, for she had agreed to marry Dillon soon, but she said, +"My father cannot go yet. So long as Jimmy is in the mountains and the +warden cannot tell his story, I think he will remain in Canada. Perhaps +he ought to remain." + +"Oh, well; you can reckon on Mr. Stannard's taking the proper line," +Dillon agreed rather moodily. "You feel the thing's mechanical. Mr. +Stannard is like that." + +"Mechanical?" said Laura, lifting her brows. + +"His taking the proper line's mechanical. He doesn't bother about it. In +the West, his correctness is somehow exotic." + +"If my father is exotic, I expect I am exotic." + +"Sure! You are like a bird of paradise or a flower from the tropics. We +are a rude lot of hustlers and your grace and beauty carry us away." + +"You're romantic, but sometimes you're rather nice," Laura remarked with +a smile. "All the same, if my father resolves to remain in Canada, it is +not a mechanical resolve but because he feels he ought." + +"I expect that is so," Dillon agreed, and lighted a cigarette. + +He thought Stannard ought to stay, and since he meant to do so, to doubt +him was not logical; yet Dillon did doubt. For one thing, the fellow was +Jimmy's friend, but when Jimmy started for the rocks Deering, not the +other, went after him. Then Stannard's narrative was puzzling. Jimmy had +run away and his going indicated that he was accountable for the +warden's getting shot. If Jimmy imagined he had shot at a deer, he ought +to have stayed. Moreover, Bob had run away, and if he had hit the +warden, it was obvious that Jimmy had not. Stannard's tale was not +plausible, and since Stannard was clever Dillon imagined he had not told +all he knew. + +But Dillon began to see his vague antagonism had another foundation. He +was frankly Western and Stannard's type was new, although some people in +down-East cities cultivated his qualities. On the Pacific slope, men +were highly-strung, optimistic, and rather boyishly keen. They plunged +into big risky undertakings, sweated, and fought. In fact, where Nature +was not yet conquered, their part was protagonist. Dillon owned that he +himself was loafing, but he had not loafed long and would soon return to +his proper occupation. + +Stannard had not an occupation and Dillon thought the grounds for his +distrust were there. Moreover, he had not a bank-roll, although he lived +extravagantly and indulged his fastidiousness. His habit was to strike +exactly the proper note, but sometimes its monotonous accuracy jarred. +Fastidious cultivation was for women. Yet Stannard was not at all +womanly; Dillon began to sense in him a hard, calculating vein. For all +that, he must not exaggerate, and Laura was not like her father. + +"You could of course join my folk, although Mr. Stannard would sooner +wait," he said. + +"I think not. My father planned the excursion to the mountains and led +the party. Until people are satisfied about the shooting accident, I +must not go to your house." + +"Now you are ridiculous!" Dillon declared. + +"All the same, I will not go," said Laura firmly. + +"Then, I'm going to stay with you. I'd like to stay, but if Jimmy wants +me, I'm his man." + +"I don't expect Jimmy will need you. Father imagines he's a long way off +and will soon reach the plains," said Laura and began to talk about +something else. + +Jimmy was not steering for the plains; he had, in fact, known for some +time that he could not get there. The morning after Deering joined him +was calm and cold. The sun touched the high rocks and in places a pine +branch sparkled with dew, but a thousand feet below the camp the mist +was like a level floor. One could not see the valley, and the turmoil of +a river came up with a faint hoarse throb as if from a long way off. +Jimmy's fatigue and gloom were gone; he felt fresh and to see Deering +fry pork was comforting. He got a rather frugal breakfast and lighted +his pipe. + +"What are our plans for to-day?" he asked. + +"We must try to get a deer. Fresh venison's most as tough as rawhide, +but, if you put the roasted meat in a bag with salt, after a week or two +you can eat the stuff. How many cartridges have you got?" + +"Six," said Jimmy and Deering smiled. + +"You started for the plains with six shells! Well, I've got a box of +twenty-five, but somebody has taken out ten or twelve. Looks as if we +want to shoot straight. The pork won't hold up long." + +"Where do we go when we have got a deer?" + +"I reckon we'll go north," said Deering thoughtfully. "They talk about +new railroads, but so far the only line of communication between the +Rockies and the sea is the C. P. R. track. The settlements follow the +line, and when you pull out of the narrow belt you're in the wilderness. +The police will, no doubt, reckon on your trying to make Vancouver. +We'll stop in the wilds and let them watch the railroad until they get +tired." + +"But if they find I haven't gone to Vancouver, won't they try the bush?" + +"Look at Stannard's map," said Deering, with a smile. "Note the row of +ranges and valleys running north and south. But the big ridges and +furrows are not even; they're broken by high bench country and cut up by +cross-spurs. Pretty awkward ground to search for two fellows' tracks! +Our trouble's not to hide, but to get supplies. All the food they use in +British Columbia comes in by the C. P. R." + +Jimmy studied the map and agreed. Moreover, he was young and the wilds +called. To plunge into the great desolation was something of an +adventure and Deering claimed to know the bush. + +"What about your hired man? Did you trust the fellow?" Deering resumed. + +"I had no grounds to doubt him," Jimmy replied in a thoughtful voice. +"Bob was rather inscrutable and didn't attract me, but he could chop and +this was all I wanted." + +"So far as you can calculate, he hadn't a pick on you?" + +"Not at all. I think he was satisfied with his pay, and since I +generally let him plan the work we did not dispute. All the same, +sometimes I imagined he gave me a queer moody look." + +"Do you think he was, in any sense, Stannard's man?" + +"Certainly not," said Jimmy, with some surprise. "Anyhow, I don't see--" + +"I don't see," Deering admitted. "I'm looking for a light, but don't get +much yet. Well, when you have smoked your pipe we'll hit the trail." + +They got off a few minutes afterwards, and at noon reached the bottom of +the hill. A high spur blocked the valley behind them, and the echoes of +small avalanches rolled across the rocks. Deering declared the sliding +snow would cover their tracks at the neck, but their line was to some +extent obvious, and until they could break it, they must push on as fast +as possible. + +To push on fast was hard. Fallen trees and tangled brush blocked the +gaps in the rows of trunks, but by and by Jimmy, looking through an +opening, saw the woods shine with reflected light. The trees were like +silver trees; they sparkled as if touched by frost, and for a few +moments Jimmy was puzzled. Then he said, "Rampikes?" + +Deering nodded. "A big burn! I expect it has cleared some ground for +us." + +A short distance farther on, the brushwood vanished. Underfoot was a +soft carpet of ashes from which the trunks rose like columns. Their +branches were gone and the smooth, round logs reflected the light. For a +time to get free from entangling vines and thorns was a relief, but the +ash was soft and when one disturbed it, went up in clouds. The black +dust stuck to Jimmy's hot skin and he labored across the clogging stuff. +Then the desolation began to react on him. The birds were gone and the +feathery ash was not broken by the tracks of animals. It was obvious +they would not find a deer. All was dead, and but for the noise of +falling water the silence was daunting. At length Jimmy stopped and +leaned against a trunk. + +"Come off!" said Deering. "Sit down, if you like, although I'd sooner +keep on my feet. You don't want to lean against a rampike." + +Jimmy was tired and sat in the ashes. + +"How do the fires start?" he asked. + +"It's puzzling. The forestry people claim they're not spontaneous," +Deering replied. "Around the settlements, a fire sometimes starts from a +burned slashing and the police get after the homesteader. All the same, +you hit _brules_ in country the Indians and prospectors leave alone. +Anyhow, I guess we're lucky because there's not much wind, and while our +luck is good we'll push along." + +They set off and some time afterwards the roar of an avalanche broke the +brooding calm. The noise swelled and rolled about the valley, as if +great rocks were coming down, and then Jimmy heard a near, sharp crash. +He jumped mechanically, and looking back, saw a pillar of dust float up +like smoke from a blasting shot. In the dust, a big rampike slanted, +broke, and plunged. Another went and Deering pushed Jimmy. + +"We'll pull out!" he shouted and they began to run. + +When Jimmy stopped to get his breath the echoes had died away and all +was quiet, but he felt he had had enough of the burned forest. After +studying the rocks and gravel on the hillside he turned to Deering. + +"You talked about breaking our line, and I expect we could get over the +spur in front," he said. "Let's try." + + + + +XVIII + +THE CARTRIDGE BELT + + +Jimmy's clothes were torn and he was bothered about his boots. He rather +thought clothes and boots that would long bear the strain of a journey +across the rocks were not made. At all events, one could not buy them at +a Canadian settlement store. Then the things were wet and the morning +was cold. + +For all that, he must not grumble. The deer did not like the heavy dew +and their habit was to come out on the rocks and get the sun. The Indian +thought he had found a spot they haunted, and after breakfast led the +others across a small tableland. By and by he stopped and Jimmy got down +in the fern. In front, the timber was thin and a short distance off was +a smooth rock. Jimmy saw the rock and the trees on the other side, but +for a few moments this was all. A deer's soft color harmonizes with +stones and trunks, and, when its outline is broken, to distinguish the +animal is hard. + +The Indian frowned and signed, and Jimmy imagined the small patch of +light color cutting a pine trunk was a head. For one thing, it moved, +and the crooked line below it looked like a leg. Jimmy did not see the +deer's back, but the top of the leg indicated where its shoulder was, +and he rested his rifle on a branch. He got the sights where he wanted, +braced his muscles, held his breath, and steadily pulled the trigger. + +The deer jumped and a thin streak of smoke floated in front of Jimmy's +eyes. The animal was not on the rock, but after a moment or two he saw +it rise from a thicket and go over some tangled branches a man's height +from the ground. Yet he thought the leap awkward and the deer came down +in the fern before it ought. His heart beat and he waited for another +shot, until he saw Deering a few yards off and remembered that their +cartridges were not numerous. Deering's body was firmly poised, his head +was bent forward and he balanced his rifle half-way to his shoulder as +if it were a gun. Jimmy knew he could use it like a gun. + +When the deer broke from the fern at the edge of the tableland Jimmy did +not shoot. The animal's leap carried it across a clump of tall +raspberries, but it would vanish in a moment and the brush in front was +thick. Deering's rifle jerked, and the graceful body, carried by its +speed, plunged into the brush. Jimmy heard a crash and the deer was +gone. He thought it had gone over a rock and putting down his rifle he +ran. + +A minute or two afterwards he stopped at the top of a precipitous slope. +A stream, however, cut the mountain-side, and in places small trees were +rooted in the stones. A hundred feet below, the deer lay on a shelf by a +waterfall. + +"I think I can reach it," said Jimmy, and went cautiously down. + +They needed the venison, but when he had got down a short distance he +knew he was rash, for it looked as if the rocks on the other side of the +waterfall were perpendicular. Then, although he might perhaps reach the +shelf, to carry the deer back was another thing. + +Using the small trees for support, he got to a slab above the shelf. The +slab was wet and dotted by greasy moss, but a few cracks and small +stones broke its surface and Jimmy trusted his luck. When he came down +the ground shook and he saw the shelf was not, as he imagined, a solid +block but two or three large stones embedded in boggy soil. At one end +the cascade had scooped out a small basin and the deer's hind quarters +were in the pool. Jimmy seized its fore legs, and bracing his feet +against a stone, began to pull. He pulled hard, but although he felt he +moved, the deer did not. Then his foot went down, and letting go the +animal, he threw himself back. + +The deer rolled over and vanished. Water splashed, and Jimmy saw the +stones plunge down the face of the cliff. For a moment or two he was +rather angry than alarmed. They wanted the meat but the deer was gone. +Then he saw he ran some risk of going down the cliff and he began to +study the ground. Scratches on the stone indicated how he had reached +the spot, but he had let himself go because the shelf was in front. The +pitch was very steep and the rock was mossy. Not far off a small tree +grew in a crack, but he could not reach the trunk and rather thought to +try would send him over the precipice. + +He heard a shout and nailed boots rattled. Deering was coming down, +although he was not yet in Jimmy's line of view. After a time, Jimmy, +lying against the rock, turned his head and saw Deering had got hold of +the tree. + +"I'm anchored," said Deering. "Can you reach my hand?" + +The effort was risky, but Jimmy tried and Deering seized his wrist. +Deering pulled him up for a foot or two, and then stopped and gasped. + +"Jamb yourself against the slab; I've got to let go." + +Jimmy's boots slipped on the smooth stone and his hands were wet; he +could not get a proper hold and the moss was slimy under his knees. +Spreading out his arms, he let himself go slack and trusted his limp +body would not slip back. He could not now see Deering and did not know +what he did. After a moment or two he felt him seize his cartridge belt. + +"Use your knees. When I lift grab the tree." + +The cartridge belt got tight and Jimmy, using its support, reached the +trunk. His jacket felt slack, as if something were gone, but this was +not important and he heard Deering's labored breath. + +"Thanks!" he said, rather dully. "We have lost the deer." + +"We have used two shells," said Deering. "Let's get up." + +They got up, and at the top Jimmy put his hand to his waist. + +"Hello! Where's my belt?" + +"Now I think about it, when I held you up I felt something give. I +guess the buckle was pulling out. Well, we ought to see the brown +leather." + +They did not see it and Jimmy said, "All the cartridges I had are gone. +How many have you got?" + +"Twelve," said Deering, rather grimly. "Anyhow, I'm not going down +again." + +Jimmy nodded. He thought the belt had gone over the cliff. + +"I brought about six pounds of pork from the camp." + +"My load's flour, desiccated fruit, and a few cans of meat. Looks as if +we had got to eat salmon." + +"In the Old Country, one doesn't grumble about eating salmon," Jimmy +remarked. + +"Oh, well," said Deering, "I was raised in the bush and am not +fastidious, but if we can't get salmon, I'll be resigned. The trouble +is, since food's short we can't push back too far from the settlements. +Well, we must try to hit a creek." + +In the evening they came down to a small river and pitched camp on the +bank. The Indian cut and trimmed a straight fir branch, but left a fork +at the thinner end. Then he pulled out two cleverly-carved bone barbs, +which he fitted on the forks and fastened by sinews to the staff. + +"You could carry the business part of his outfit in your pocket," +Deering remarked. "I expect his folks have used barbs like that for a +thousand years. An Indian's tools are standardized, but when he thinks +them good enough he stops. All the same, I reckon he gets most as far +as a man can get alone. He's an artist, but we beat him by cooperating +to make machines. Anyhow, the fellow doesn't want you. Take a smoke and +let him spear a fish." + +Jimmy lighted his pipe and looked about. A few yards off, the current +splashed against the stones. The water was green, and the line of +driftwood and dead leaves on the bank indicated that the frost was +stopping the muddy streams from the glaciers. Some distance down the +river, the Indian balanced on a rock in a pool at the tail of a rapid. +For a time he did not move and Jimmy thought his quietness statuesque. +The fellow was like the herons he had studied with his glasses by a pool +on the Scottish border. Then his body bent and the spear went down. The +thrust and recovery were strangely quick and Jimmy rather doubted if the +man had moved. + +"It looks as if he missed his stroke," he said. + +"He's using a fir branch. An Indian spear is beautifully modeled," +Deering replied. + +A few minutes afterwards, the Indian bent backwards and a shining object +struck the bank. Coming to the fire, he put down the fish and Jimmy's +appetite was blunted. The salmon was lean and battered. Its color was +dull and its tail was broken. Rows of scales were rubbed off; the fins +were worn from the supporting ribs. + +"I'm not as hungry as I was. Are all like that?" he said. + +"It depends on when you get them," Deering replied. "A June steelhead, +fresh from the sea, is pretty good, but a salmon that has pushed through +to head waters in the fall is another thing. When you think about it, +the salmons' journey inland is remarkable. They bore against the autumn +floods when the melted snow comes down; they force tremendous rapids, +whirlpools, and roaring falls. Where the water's calm in the valleys, +eagles and fish-hawks harry them, and the mink hunts them in the +shallows. But they can't be stopped; they follow Nature's urge and shove +on across all obstacles for the distant gravel banks. Then they spawn, +where they were hatched, and the bears eat their spent carcasses. The +trouble is, I'm not a bear, but I've got to eat salmon." + +When the Indian had fried two or three thick steaks, Jimmy sympathized +with Deering. The flesh was soft and its taste was rank. For all that, +he thought if he had not seen the salmon he might have had a better +appetite. At the hotel he had eaten because his food tempted him; now he +ate because he must. By and by he threw down his tin plate. + +"I've had enough. If we can find a deer, we must risk another cartridge. +We have got twelve." + +"You can't reckon on getting a deer for every shot, and although, as a +rule, the deer are pretty numerous about the small clearings, in some +belts of back country you can't find one. I expect they're attracted by +the crops. In fact, the wild animals and large birds aren't much afraid +of the ranchers; they quit when the automobiles and city sports arrive." + +"But if we stop in the neighborhood of a settlement, the police may get +on our trail," Jimmy rejoined. + +"The police are smart and I allow they're obstinate. All the same, to +search the rocks from Banff to Revelstoke is a big job. You can give +yourself away by two things, shooting and smoke, but we can fix the +smoke and we're not going to shoot much. As soon as we hit a proper +spot, we'll build a shack." + +"By and by our supplies will run out." + +"That is so," Deering agreed. "In the meantime, we're baffling the +police. Just now I expect they're busy looking for our tracks, but they +have got other jobs and can't keep it up. Well, when we think they're +forced to quit, we'll find a plan----" + +He stopped and the Indian turned his head. A faint, hoarse bark came +from the distance and echoed across the valley. Jimmy jumped up and +looked about. The light was going and the pines were blurred. + +"A dog?" he said. + +"A timber wolf," said Deering. "He's not alone. I hear another." + +A howl, pitched on a high mournful note, pierced the gloom and Jimmy +shivered. The noise was strangely dreary. + +"Will the wolves bother us?" + +"I think not," said Deering and talked in Chinook to the Indian, who +nodded. "The fellow agrees," he resumed. "In North Ontario we watch out +for wolves when the snow is on the ground, but as a rule in British +Columbia they leave the ranchers alone. Sometimes they take a sheep; I +reckon that's all. The trouble is, they kill deer, and when the wolves +start hunting the deer pull out." + +Jimmy got down on his blanket by the fire. He felt the wilds were +daunting and to see the flame leap about the branches was some comfort. +Now and then a wolf howled in the distance, but by and by all was quiet +and he went to sleep. + + + + +XIX + +USEFUL FRIENDS + + +Breakfast was over and, although Jimmy would have liked another bannock, +he got up and strapped on his pack. Deering needed the bannock, for +flour was running out. A fire burned on the stone hearth and the little +shack in a corner of the rocks was warm. Jimmy did not want to leave it, +but he knew he must, and the Indian waited for him to start. + +They had not killed a deer and although they had shot two or three blue +grouse a blue grouse is not large. Sometimes one can knock down a little +willow grouse with a stick, but the willow grouse had recently vanished +and the Indian had caught nothing in his snares. In fact, it looked as +if all the birds and animals had gone south. Jimmy had eaten salmon +until he loathed the battered fish, but the salmon had begun to die. + +"Your load's not big," said Deering, "Have you put up all the food you +need?" + +"I've got all the food I'm going to take," Jimmy rejoined. "I can load +up at Kelshope, but you must wait until I get back." + +"Oh, well; but since I know the bush and might make better time, you +ought to let me go." + +"You're obstinate," said Jimmy. "I know Jardine and we want his help." + +"That is so," said Deering and gave him his hand. "Anyhow, you have got +the Indian and I expect he'll hit the shortest line. I wish you luck." + +Jimmy pulled up his pack and set off. Speed was important, for he +imagined he had left Deering a larger supply of food than the other +knew. Since he was going to Kelshope, he could get fresh supplies, but +Deering could not. Yet if he was longer than he calculated, it would be +awkward. Jimmy felt lonely and rather daunted. The shack was small and +rude, but the bark walls kept out the wind and in the cold evenings he +had liked to sit by the snapping fire. + +Now the trackless wilderness was in front, and he must get across before +his food was gone. He did get across, but he imagined the Indian's +inherited talents accounted for his doing so. Jimmy himself did not know +much about the journey. When he thought about it afterwards, he dully +pictured the fatigue and strain, the sharpening pinch of hunger and the +stern effort to push on. + +At length they came down the rocks one morning and saw his clearing in +the distance. Jimmy gave the Indian all the food he had, and telling him +to camp at the ranch, started for Jardine's. He was hungry and for a day +or two his side had hurt. Sometimes he was faint, and when he crossed a +stony belt he stumbled awkwardly. For all that, in the evening he +reached the split-rail fence at Kelshope. + +Jimmy knew how one pulled out the bars, but they baffled him and he +knocked down the crossed supports. In front of the house he stopped, for +a flickering light shone from the window and he saw Margaret sewing by +the fire. His broken boots and torn clothes embarrassed him, but he +braced up and went to the door. + +Margaret put down her sewing and her look was rather strained. Jimmy +leaned against the table and gave her an apologetic smile. His hair was +long, his beard had begun to grow and his face was pinched. His ragged +clothes looked slack and although he had given the Indian his blanket, +his shoulders were bent from weariness. + +"Oh, Mr. Leyland!" Margaret exclaimed in a pitiful voice. + +"To my friends, I'm Jimmy," he rejoined. "To know you and your father +are my friends is some comfort, because I'm going to use your +friendship. Besides, I rather think I don't look like Mr. Leyland." + +Margaret's voice was gentle and she said, "Very well, Jimmy! But where +have you come from?" + +"I started, about a week since, from our bark shack across the range, +but I don't know much about it. The Indian's at my ranch and can hold +out until the morning. I want to borrow some cartridges and food." + +"Why of course!" said Margaret and indicated a chair. "I'll get supper +ready. Father's at the depot, but we won't wait for him." + +Jimmy got into the chair; for he imagined he did not sit down +gracefully. The deerskin was soft and his head went back against the +rail. Now he was not forced to keep going, he knew he was very tired. +Margaret began to move about and by and by he asked: "Can't I help?" + +Margaret looked up with a smile. "No, Jimmy. I have not much use for the +help you could give." + +Jimmy was satisfied to rest. He was dull, but he liked to see Margaret +break up the fire and carry about the plates. She was very graceful and +he knew her sympathetic, but this was not all. After the lonely bush, +the ranch kitchen, lighted by the snapping flames, was like home. When +supper was ready it cost him something of an effort to pull around his +chair, and then for a time he tried to conquer his savage appetite. When +one was opposite an attractive girl one did not eat like a wolf. +Margaret knew the bush and smiled. + +"Isn't the food good? I really think I can cook." + +"My notion is, the best hotel cook in Canada could not serve a supper +like yours." + +"Very well," said Margaret "If you are polite, you will annoy me. What +did you eat in the bush?" + +"Salmon! When I see a river, I want to go the other way." + +"Oh!" said Margaret "You ate salmon now?" + +"When they began to float up on the stones, we stopped," Jimmy replied. + +Margaret was moved. She knew the trackless bush sometimes was cruel and +all who felt its lure did not return. Sometimes one, crossing a creek, +lost a load of food, and sometimes one's rifle jambed. Then, if the +march to the settlements were long, one starved. Jimmy had not starved, +but he was worn and thin. + +"The coffee's very good; may I have some more?" he resumed. "We used +green tea, because it's light and goes far; but I mustn't bother you +about our housekeeping. Do you know if the police have brought back the +game warden?" + +"They arrived some time since and put Douglas on the cars. A doctor went +with him----" + +"Then he's alive?" said Jimmy, with keen relief. + +"He was badly hurt, but that is all I know," Margaret replied. "Nobody +was allowed to see him----" She stopped and resumed with some +hesitation: "Mr. Stannard's packers stated----" + +Jimmy gave her a steady glance. "It looks as if I shot Douglas; in the +dark, I thought him a deer. You did not imagine I meant to hurt the +man?" + +"I know you did not," said Margaret in a quiet voice. + +"Very well. I must tell you all I know, but I'll wait until your father +arrives. Perhaps he'll see a fresh light. Sometimes I'm puzzled----" + +"You mustn't bother to talk," said Margaret. "Turn your chair to the +fire and take a smoke." + +Jimmy pulled out his tobacco pouch and frowned. Margaret saw the pouch +was flat and took a plug of tobacco from a shelf. + +"Wait a moment; don't get up," she said and began to cut the plug. + +For a few moments Jimmy watched her with dull satisfaction. She cut the +tobacco in thin, even slices; Jimmy had remarked before that all +Margaret did was properly done. Although it was nearly dark, she had not +got a light, and red and yellow reflections from the logs played about +the room. Sometimes her eyes and hair shone and her face stood out +against a background of shadow. Jimmy thought the picture charming and +when it melted he waited for the flames to leap again, but by and by it +got indistinct. + +"Give me your pouch," said Margaret and he tried to push it across. + +The pouch fell from the table and his pipe went down. His head leaned to +one side and found the chair rail, and he knew nothing more. + +Margaret heard his sigh and was quiet. Now sleep smoothed out the marks +of strain and fatigue, Jimmy's look was boyishly calm. He moved her to +pity, but he moved her to trust. Margaret was not a raw, romantic girl; +she knew the Canadian cities and she had studied men. If Jimmy had, +indeed, shot the agent, a strange blunder accounted for his doing so, +but Margaret doubted. She had some grounds to think the shot another's. +Then she got up quietly and carried off the plates. + +Some time afterwards Jardine came in and, seeing Jimmy, stopped and +turned to Margaret. It was typical that he said nothing, but his glance +was keen. Margaret smiled and in a low voice narrated all she knew. +Jardine nodded, and sitting down, waited until Jimmy's head slipped from +the chair rail and the jerk woke him up. He looked about as if he were +puzzled, and then said, "Hello, Mr. Jardine! I didn't understand your +sitting opposite me. I expect I was asleep." + +"Sure thing," Jardine agreed with a twinkle. "We have sortit the bit +back room for ye and ye had better go to bed." + +"I'm not going yet," said Jimmy. "I want a smoke, but my tobacco's run +out." + +Margaret gave him his pouch and he smiled, "The tobacco's yours, sir. +Miss Jardine is very kind. Well, I reckoned on her kindness, because I +want to borrow a quantity of truck, but we'll talk about this again. Do +you know where Stannard is?" + +"Stannard and his daughter are at the hotel," Jardine replied and looked +at Jimmy rather hard. "Maybe he feels he ought to stay until the police +have settled who shot warden Douglas." + +"But Stannard had nothing to do with it," Jimmy replied. + +"He was leader o' your party and, in a way, accountable. Maybe ye ken +Okanagan started for the bush soon after ye went?" + +"I didn't know," said Jimmy with some surprise. "Bob claimed he hadn't a +gun and I think he had not. Sometimes I'm puzzled, but I really think +the unlucky shot was mine." + +"The packers allood it was yours, although they werena sure how many +shots they heard. Can ye locate the others' stands?" + +"I tried, afterwards. In the evenings when we camped in the woods I +speculated about the accident," said Jimmy, and pulling out a few small +objects arranged them to indicate the spots the sportsmen had occupied. +"If you will imagine the table's the clearing, Bob posted us something +like this. Well, I expect the warden was going straight for my stand +behind the stump." + +"Ye're thinking aboot the bullet mark in front," said Jardine. "The +packers telt me aboot it. Did ye see the other mark?" + +"I did not," said Jimmy with a shiver. "When we carried Douglas to the +house I'd had enough. But I don't see where you lead." + +"If the mark at the back was at the middle, he was going straight for +you. Weel, I'll take a smoke----" + +He knitted his brows and for some minutes quietly studied Jimmy's plan +of the clearing. Then he said, "It's no' as plain as it looks, but the +packers reckoned two o' the police who went in with the doctor were +pretty good bushmen. We dinna ken what they think. Anyhow, ye're going +to sleep and ought to go to bed." + +Jimmy went and Jardine resumed his study. Margaret left him alone. In +Scotland her father was a poacher; in the Canadian woods his rifle +supplied the ranch with meat. One could trust his judgment about +shooting. By and by he looked up. + +"If Jimmy has fixed their stands right, it's possible he shot Douglas +and he reckons he did so. That's something; but he has a kind o' notion +he heard another shot. Weel, the lad's a tenderfoot. Maybe he was +excited and did not hold straight." + +"_Bob_ would not get excited and he can hit a jumping deer," said +Margaret. + +Jardine nodded meaningly. "I've thought aboot Bob! The warden was after +him and he lit oot. There's the puzzle for the police; three o' the +party quit!" + +"Mr. Deering went because he is Jimmy's friend," said Margaret. + +"Just that! Ye can trust the big fellow," Jardine agreed. "Then, if he +was where Jimmy puts him, he didna shoot. Stannard stopped and it looks +as if he had nothing to do wi' it; but I dinna ken. Stannard's no' a man +ye can reckon up, and a line from his stand would cut the warden's +track." + +"But the bullet mark----" + +Jardine smiled. "Jimmy, and maybe the trooper lad, would think that +fixed it, but he didna look where the bullet _cam' oot_. I wonder if +Stannard looked." + +"Bob is accountable," said Margaret obstinately. + +"Verra weel. Bob's in the rocks. Are ye for tracking the man?" + +"By and by he must come down for food. When he does come down we'll try +to find him." + +"Bob's a good bushman," Jardine remarked. "I alloo the police will not +hit his trail, but maybe he will not bother to watch out for us----" He +stopped and gave Margaret a thoughtful look when he resumed: "Bob would +reckon to find out who shot Douglas is no' our job." + +"The job is ours," said Margaret quietly, but Jardine thought the blood +came to her skin. She, however, got up and when she had put out the +plates for breakfast went to bed. + +In the morning Jardine gave Jimmy boots and clothes, and two days +afterwards loaded him with all the supplies he would carry. After +breakfast Jimmy strapped on his pack, but when he was ready to go he +hesitated. The loghouse was warm and home-like, and for two days he had +rested and enjoyed Margaret's society. Now he must plunge into the +wilds, he frowned. The snow was creeping down the rocks and a cold wind +wailed in the dark pine-tops. Then Jimmy turned to his hosts and forced +a smile. + +"You have given me all I needed; I knew you would see me out." + +"Sure thing," said Jardine. "In the bush, your friends' job is to see ye +oot." + +"You are useful friends," Jimmy replied with a touch of emotion. "All +the same, I feel I ought not to bother you; I ought to start for the +railroad and give myself up to the police. If Douglas was hurt by my +carelessness, I ought to pay." + +"You mustn't go yet," said Margaret firmly. "You don't altogether know +the carelessness was yours, and perhaps it was not. Somehow I think we +will find out." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "if you do find out the shot wasn't mine---- But I +doubt and the doubt weighs on me." + +Margaret smiled and gave him her hand. "Brace up and trust your luck! +Stop in the mountains until we send for you. Perhaps we will send for +you sooner than you think." + +Jimmy went down the path and joined the waiting Indian. He was +comforted, and when he plunged into the woods his moodiness was gone. +Margaret went back into the house and Jardine said in a thoughtful +voice, "Ye kind o' engaged ye'd send for the lad; but until ye satisfy +the police he's no' their man, he canna come back." + +"That is so. The thing is rather obvious," Margaret agreed and smiled. +"However, since I did engage to send for Jimmy, I must try to make +good." + + + + +XX + +BOB'S DENIAL + + +Not long after Jimmy's visit to Kelshope, Margaret one evening rode up +the trail from the station. Her cayuse carried a load of groceries, but +when she set off her object was not altogether to bring home supplies. +Wakening before daybreak, she imagined she heard the fence-rails rattle +at the corner farthest from the house. Sometimes a deer jumped the +fence, and when Margaret got up she went to the spot. She saw no tracks, +but some time afterwards found a footmark where the trail left the +clearing. The mark was fresh and she thought it was not made by her +father's boot. + +Margaret said nothing to Jardine. Had a stranger come down the valley, +he would have kept the smooth path, because in the dark the belt of +slashing that generally surrounds a forest ranch is an awkward obstacle. +Moreover, to account for a stranger's coming from the mountains was +hard. Had Jimmy returned, he would have stopped at the house; but Bob +would not and Margaret had undertaken to find Bob. + +When the Vancouver train rolled into the station nobody got on board, +but a police trooper came from the agent's office, and going along the +line, looked into the cars. Margaret had not remarked him before the +train stopped and thought his curiosity ominous. If Bob had stolen past +the ranch, he, however, had not tried to get on board and was hiding +somewhere about. Margaret was puzzled and resolved to stop at the hotel +and see Stannard. She admitted that her resolve was perhaps not logical, +because if Stannard knew more about the shooting than others, he would +not enlighten her. All the same, she meant to see him. + +Getting down where the wagon road went round to the front of the hotel, +she tied her horse to a tree and took a path across the hill. The trees +were thick, but the moon was bright and in places its beams pierced the +wood. In front and some distance above her, she saw illuminated windows +at the top of the hotel; then the terrace wall cut the reflection from +the drawing-room and rotunda. The high wall was in the gloom, but at the +bottom pools of silver light broke the dark shadow of the trees. +Margaret knew the steps to the terrace. Had she gone to the front door, +she must have waited at the office until a page brought Stannard, and +she thought she would sooner find him in the rotunda before he knew she +was about. + +She heard music in the drawing-room and somebody on the terrace talking, +but the wall was high and when the music stopped all was quiet. In the +woods one lifts one's feet with mechanical caution and Margaret was a +rancher's daughter. Her advance was noiseless, but at a bend of the path +she stopped. + +A few yards off, a man stood under a tree. His back was to Margaret, but +the dark object across his shoulder was a slung rifle and she thought +she knew him. Stannard leaned against a trunk opposite. He wore dinner +dress and a loose light coat. He was in the moonlight, and when he shook +his head Margaret thought his smile ironical. The other's pose was stiff +and his fist was clenched. Margaret put her hand in the pocket of her +deerskin coat and then moved a branch. The man turned and his hand went +to his rifle. Margaret heard the sling rattle. + +"You don't want your gun, Bob; I know you. Besides, I've got a pistol," +she said. + +Bob swore softly and Stannard lifted his hat. + +"Aren't you rather theatrical, Miss Jardine? I imagined gun pulling was +out of date." + +"Bob's theatrical; but he's _slow_," Margaret rejoined, and although her +heart beat her voice was steady. "I haven't yet pulled my gun." + +"It looks as if you had better leave yours alone," Stannard remarked to +Bob. + +Bob's face got very dark, but Stannard smiled. + +"Did you want to see me or the other, Miss Jardine?" + +"I want to see Bob first, but you may remain," said Margaret and gave +Bob a searching glance. "Who shot warden Douglas?" + +"I did not, anyhow," Bob replied fiercely. "I hadn't a gun and when I'd +fixed the others I put out my lamp. I'd no use for using the pit-light. +The fool plan was Deering's." + +"All the same, you quit!" + +"I sure quit. Somebody shot Douglas and the police knew he'd got a pick +on me. They'd got to put the shooting on one of the gang." + +"Perhaps it's important the police knew you had a pick on Douglas," +Stannard remarked. + +"For all that, I didn't use my gun," Bob rejoined. + +Margaret pondered. As a rule, Bob was marked by a rather sinister +quietness, but now he talked with something like passion. He had stepped +forward and a moonbeam touched his face. Margaret thought he knew, but +he did not move out of the light. Somehow she felt she must believe his +statement. Then Stannard turned to her. + +"Perhaps it's strange, but I rather think he speaks the truth." + +"If you did not use your gun, who did shoot Douglas?" Margaret resumed, +looking at Bob. "I want to know. A trooper's watching the station, and +if I shout, the hotel clerk will call him on the 'phone." + +Bob's passion vanished and Margaret thought his calm ominous. + +"That's another thing! Looks as if Jimmy plugged the fellow. He sort of +allowed he done it and he started for the rocks." + +"I imagine Bob doesn't know," said Stannard. "Before you arrived he +implied that I was accountable and demanded a hundred dollars. In fact, +when he didn't get the sum he was much annoyed." + +"I was mad all right," Bob agreed. "My flour and tea's gone, and I can't +hire up about the settlements, but if I'd a hundred dollars, I'd try to +make the coast." He looked hard at Stannard and resumed: "Are you going +to help me get off?" + +"Certainly not," said Stannard in a careless voice. "I am not as rich as +you think, and to give you money would be rash, particularly when Miss +Jardine is about." + +Margaret pulled out her wallet. "I can give you ten dollars, Bob; but I +can shout to the people at the hotel. You know Mr. Leyland did not shoot +Douglas." + +"I sure don't know," said Bob and gave Margaret a haughty glance. "Put +up your wad; I've no use for your money. If you like, shout for them to +'phone the police." + +For a moment or two Margaret hesitated. She was persuaded Bob himself +was not accountable, but she thought this was all she would know. She +was hurt and humiliated, for now she had found Bob she had not helped +Jimmy much. + +"Shall I shout?" she asked Stannard. + +"To choose is your part. I rather think Dillon is on the terrace and two +or three athletic young sportsmen are at the hotel, but unless you are +willing to use your gun, I doubt if Bob would wait until the others +arrive. Then, although I don't know where Jimmy is, perhaps for the +police to search the neighborhood would have some drawbacks." + +Margaret turned to Bob. "Get off! If you come back, I'll send the +troopers after you." + +Bob went, and when he vanished in the gloom Stannard laughed. "I expect +your arrival disturbed the fellow. At the beginning, he tried to force +me to give him my wallet; then he took another line and hinted that +Leyland was the guilty man. Well, he has gone. Will you come back with +me and talk to Laura?" + +Margaret noted that he was not curious about her object for stopping at +the hotel, but she said, "I wanted to see you. What do you know about +the accident?" + +"I really don't know much, although I am persuaded accident is the +proper word. Jimmy thought the unlucky shot was his and when he resolved +to go off I agreed." + +"But you knew what the police would think about his running away!" + +"That is so," said Stannard coolly. "All the same, Jimmy was with me +when I killed the big-horn, and when Douglas found us at the old ranch +we were using pit-lights. One of our party shot him, and since we were +again poaching, it hardly looked as if the shot were accidental. Jimmy +is young and when he saw the risk he ran he was afraid. I thought he did +run some risk, but, if he could cheat the police for a time, we might +find a clue to the puzzle." + +Margaret remarked his frankness. Although she thought he did not know +Jimmy had stopped at the ranch, his arguments were the arguments Jimmy +stated he had used. Moreover, she admitted the arguments carried some +weight. + +"We have not yet found a clue," she said drearily. "Still, if the +warden gets better---- Do you know where he is?" + +For a moment or two Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "We can get no +news about Douglas, and perhaps we ought not to expect much from his +narrative. When you use a pit-lamp your hat-brim shades your face, and I +imagine all Douglas saw was the light. Yet the police's reserve is +strange." + +"Perhaps they know something we do not," said Margaret. "Well, my father +is waiting and I must not stop." + +She went off and Stannard went up the steps to the hotel. In a corner of +the veranda Dillon talked to Laura, and Stannard remarked the smile she +gave the young man. Stannard knitted his brows and did not stop. In some +respects, the marriage would be good, but it was not the marriage he had +wanted Laura to make. All the same, Jimmy was obviously satisfied with +the bush girl and Stannard thought she loved him. Well, he had done with +Jimmy. + +When Margaret got down at the ranch she went to the kitchen and sat by +the fire. For a time she said nothing and Jardine quietly smoked his +pipe. Then she looked up with a frown. + +"I found Bob," she said. "He was talking to Mr. Stannard outside the +hotel." + +"In the trees, I'm thinking! Did he tell ye much?" + +"He declared when they used the pit-lights he had not a gun and somehow +I think he hadn't." + +"Maybe!" said Jardine, with some dryness. "Was it all ye got?" + +"That was all. I'm not as clever as I thought. Bob wanted Mr. Stannard +to give him a hundred dollars." + +"Ah!" said Jardine. "Weel, I expect ye see----" + +"Stannard _laughed_. It was plain he was not at all afraid of Bob." + +"Stannard's no' a fool," Jardine remarked. + +"I thought his carelessness sincere. Besides, Bob soon afterwards +implied that Jimmy hit Douglas. I imagine Bob really doesn't know who +did use his gun." + +"It's possible," Jardine agreed. "My notion is, Jimmy had better keep +the woods. In the meantime, I've no use for Bob's hanging round the +ranch." + +"Bob will not bother us; I don't think he'll bother Mr. Stannard again," +said Margaret and got some sewing. + + + + +XXI + +DEERING'S EXCURSION + + +Rain beat the bark roof and heavy drops splashed on the floor. Sometimes +a gust of wind swept the window opening and smoke blew about, but on the +whole the shack was dry and warm. Jimmy thought they had made a good +job, and sitting by the fire, he tranquilly smoked his pipe. The Indian, +opposite him, plaited a snare; Deering studied a card problem in an old +newspaper. + +"The game's pretty good, but I soon got on to it," he said. "When you +locate the bower---- Come across and I'll show you." + +"No, thanks," said Jimmy, smiling. "To know where the bower is, is +useful, but sometimes you don't know and a ten-spot knocks you out. +Things are like that. Anyhow I've not much use for cards." + +"You were keen. I reckon your keenness cost you something!" + +Jimmy nodded. "That is so; but I really think I wanted to satisfy my +curiosity. I wanted the thrills others seemed to get, and I experimented +with cards and two or three expensive sports. Now I feel I'd sooner +build a shack than win a pot of money on a first-class race. The strange +thing is, when I was at the cotton mill and Dick wanted me to study the +machinery, I was bored." + +"I expect he tried to force you," Deering remarked. "When one is young +one doesn't study the things others think one ought----" He frowned and +jerked his head. "Another blamed big drop on the back of my neck!" + +"When the rain stops I'll mend the roof," said Jimmy. "The shack's a +pretty good shack and two or three slabs of bark will cure the leak. +Then I must get some green clay and flat stones for the chimney." + +"You talk as if you meant to remain in the rocks!" + +"It looks as if I might have to stay for some time." + +Deering shook his head. "In a proper cold snap you want double windows, +but we have got a hole. Then I've not much use for a blanket door. When +the frost begins we have got to quit." + +"But where can we go?" + +"I don't know yet; I have thought about your ranch. Jardine stated the +police had searched it, and I reckon they won't come back. However, +we'll talk about this again. I think Miss Jardine gave you a needle and +thread?" + +Jimmy said Margaret had done so and inquired why Deering wanted the +thread. + +"We can't get out and I guess I'll sew my clothes for you. In the +morning I'm going to use Jardine's." + +"But why----" Jimmy began. + +Deering indicated his torn shooting-jacket, ragged knickerbockers, and +soil-stained puttees. + +"I must start for Vancouver, to look up a fellow who has got some money +of mine. Then I want to find out if the police have cured Douglas and +what they are doing. If I wore my clothes, people would speculate about +the dead-broke sporting guy." + +"Jardine's clothes are not very good; I've worn them for some time in +the bush. Then I expect you'll find them tight." + +"They're a rancher's clothes and I don't mind looking like a bushman. In +fact, until I make Vancouver, the part will go all right." + +Jimmy knitted his brows. Perhaps he had thought too much for himself, +but he owned he did not want Deering to leave him. + +"Well," he said, "I mustn't grumble. But will you be long?" + +"When I've fixed my business and found out something useful I'll come +right back," Deering replied and threading the needle began to sew. "I +was raised in the bush and the small homesteaders are a pretty frugal +lot. They don't throw away their old clothes." + +"When you reach the settlements, won't you run some risk?" Jimmy +inquired. + +"I expect the risk will not be altogether mine. So far as I know, the +police are not looking for me. The trouble is, I might put them on your +track; but so long as I'm steering for the coast this needn't bother us. +I don't want them to hit my trail when I'm coming back. Well, I'm pretty +big to hide, but if they are after me, they'll watch out for a city +sport, not a bushman." + +In the morning Deering started, and after a strenuous journey reached a +small station some distance from the hotel. He did not buy his ticket +from the agent; the conductor would supply him, and when the long train +rolled in he got aboard. The porter was making up the second-class +berths and when Deering got his he went to bed. So far, his luck was +good, but after he had slept for five or six hours he began to doubt. + +A savage jolt threw him against the curtain, and the thin material tore +from the rings. Deering went through, but came down like a cat on the +floor. The brakes jarred and startled passengers ran about. For the most +part, they did not wear their proper clothes, but when Deering went to +bed he wore all his and he pushed through a group that blocked the +vestibule. The train stopped and from the platform he saw a leaping +pillar of flame and reflections on rocks and trees. The white beam from +the locomotive headlamp melted in the strong illumination, and moving +figures cut the dark background. The picture was distinct and vivid like +a scene from a film, until a cloud of steam rolled across the light and +all was blurred. + +Deering heard hammers and the clang of rails. A construction gang was +obviously at work and he imagined a trestle had broken or perhaps +another train had jumped the track. When he waited at the station, he +had not tried to hide himself; to do so was risky, since he imagined the +police had warned the agent to study the passengers. If the agent had +remarked him, the delay would be awkward and he wondered whether the +telegraph wires were broken. + +Jumping down, he went along the track and stopped in the strong light a +blast-lamp threw across a gap. The road-bed was gone and a great bank of +stones and snow rested on the hillside. Bent rails slanted into the hole +and a broken telegraph pole hung by the tangled wires. Shovels rattled +and a gang of men threw down soil and stones. Deering stopped one. + +"How long is it since the land-slide cut the track?" + +"About two hours since we got the call." + +"Then, they rushed you up pretty quick. I expect you got the call by +wire?" + +The other indicated the broken post. "Wires went when the track went. +The section man came for us on a trolley; we're grading for a new bridge +a few miles down the line." + +"Are you going to be long filling her up?" + +"Three or four hours, I reckon. The boys are loading up the gravel +train. But if the boss spots me talking, I'll get fired." + +Deering pondered. If the agent had been warned to look out for him, the +fellow had had time to telegraph before the wires broke, and the police +could arrange to watch the stations or put a trooper on board the train. +Deering did not think they had a warrant for his arrest, but they would +try to use him in order to get on Jimmy's track. There was not much use +in leaving the train, because he would be spotted when he boarded +another. He resolved to go back to his berth and soon after he did so he +went to sleep. + +In the morning the train started. Deering got a good breakfast at a meal +station and afterwards occupied a corner of a smoking compartment. Sleep +and food had refreshed him and his mood was cheerful. He admitted he was +perhaps ridiculous, but he had begun to enjoy his excursion; Deering was +marked by a vein of rather boyish humor and to cheat the police amused +him. By and by he speculated about his object for going after Jimmy when +the warden was shot. + +Jimmy had plunged into the gully sooner than let him go, but perhaps +this did not account for all. Stannard had urged Jimmy to push for the +plains, although Stannard ought to know the lad could not cross the +mountains. Then he had indicated a line over the neck and Deering had +stopped Jimmy at the top of a pitch that dropped to a horrible crevasse. +The thing was strange and sinister, but Jimmy trusted Stannard. Deering +did not. He was intrigued, and felt he ought to see Jimmy out. + +After a time a police trooper came from the vestibule and stopped for a +moment at the door of the smoking compartment. His glance rested +carelessly on Deering, and then he went through into the car. At the +next station the policeman got down and went to the office. When the +train started Deering did not see him get on board, but people moved +about and the end cars were behind the water tank. + +In the afternoon, when he leaned back, half asleep, in his corner, the +trooper came in again. Deering did not move, but his eyes were not +altogether shut and he saw the fellow's glance was keen and fixed. In a +moment or two the trooper turned his head, and going into the vestibule, +did not shut the door quietly. Deering's curiosity was satisfied; the +police knew he was on board. + +Lighting his pipe, he looked out of the window. The train was speeding +down the lower Fraser valley. Orchards, fields with white snake-fences, +and wooden homesteads rolled by. The sun was near the hilltops and the +shadows of the pines were long. When they reached Vancouver it would be +dark and the trooper's duties would be undertaken by the municipal +police. The Royal North-West had nothing to do with the +British-Columbian cities; their business was in the wilds. + +Deering pulled out his watch. A short distance from Vancouver they would +stop at a junction where a line for Washington State branched off, but +his business was not in Washington. + +Fast steamers sailed from Vancouver for the ports on Puget Sound, and +since the police would expect him to go on board, he thought he saw a +plan. Some time after dark he went to the platform in front of the car. +A half-moon shone between slow-moving clouds and he saw vague hills and +sparkling water. Then the lights of anchored steamers began to twinkle +and sawmill chimney stacks cut the sky. Lights in rows and clusters +marked the front of a low hill, the cars rolled along the waterside, and +presently stacks of lumber blocked the view. Then the whistle screamed, +the brakes jarred, and the passengers began to push out from the +vestibule. + +Deering jumped down and looked about. Freight cars occupied the tracks +and the dazzling beam from a locomotive's headlamp touched piles of +goods and hurrying people. Round the tall electric standards were pools +of light, but smoke and steam blew about the wharf and where the strong +illumination was cut off all was dark. Bells tolled, wheels rattled, and +the clang of the steamer's winches pierced the din. Her double row of +passenger decks towered above the wharf, and Deering joined the crowd at +the slanted gangway. He was willing for the city police to see him board +the steamer. + +At the top of the gangway a steward indicated the way to the +second-class deck, but Deering pushed by and went to the saloon. Since +he was playing a bush rancher's part, the police would expect him to +travel second class, and he must for a few minutes put them off his +track. As soon as the luggage was on board, the boat would start. + +For the most part, the people were on deck, and the spacious saloon was +quiet. Deering thought he did not look like a first-class passenger. His +hair was long, his hat was battered, and Jardine's rather ragged +clothes were tight on his big body. Searching the room with a keen +glance, he stopped, for a group of three people occupied a seat at the +other end. He wondered whether he ought to steal off, but Dillon jumped +up. + +"Why, it's Deering!" he exclaimed. + +Laura started and her companion turned. Deering imagined the lady was +Mrs. Dillon and he crossed the floor. Dillon's surprise was obvious, but +he gave Deering his hand. + +"We have been bothered about you for some time and it looks as if you +had got up against it. But where's Jimmy?" + +"Jimmy's at the shack we built in the rocks. What about the warden?" + +"We can get no news. I imagine the police are hiding the fellow." + +"Why did you leave Jimmy?" Laura interrupted, and Deering saw she did +not altogether trust him. "Has he food and proper clothes? If he is in +trouble, we must try to help." + +"That is so," said Dillon. "If Jimmy wants me, I'll get off the boat." + +"Jimmy's clothes are worse than mine, but he doesn't particularly want +your help. I pulled out because I must transact some business, and I've +pretty good grounds to imagine the police are on my track." + +"I expect we'll sail in a few minutes," said Dillon. "Do you think the +police know you got on board?" + +Deering glanced at the others. He thought Laura imagined he had meant +to join them and she was not yet satisfied. Mrs. Dillon was frankly +annoyed. + +"So long as they don't know I got off again, it's not important," he +replied. + +"Are you going to get off?" + +"Certainly," said Deering and turned to Laura with a twinkle. "The trick +is not remarkably fresh, but since the police reckon I'm bound for the +United States, it ought to work. You see, Jimmy's my friend, and when +I've put across my business I'm going back." + +Laura gave him her hand. "I didn't know--I wish you luck! When you think +we can help, you must send us a letter." + +The whistle blew, a bell rang, and people began to enter the saloon. + +"Thank you, Miss Stannard," said Deering and crossed the floor. + +He went along an alley and through the second-class saloon to the deck +in front. The steamer's bows were in the gloom and a number of +wharf-hands hurried down a plank. Deering joined the row and followed +the men to a cargo shed. The shed was dark, but the sliding doors on the +other side were open and he crawled under a freight car and crossed the +track. A minute or two afterwards he stopped. So far as he could see, +nobody but a few train-hands were about; the steamer had swung away from +the wharf and was steering for the Narrows. Deering laughed and went up +the hill behind the water-front. + + + + +XXII + +DEERING TAKES COUNSEL + + +A Canadian hotel is something of an inexpensive club. People who sleep +elsewhere come for meals, and a number come to smoke and talk. In +Western towns their manners and clothes are marked by sharp contrasts, +but so long as they observe a few primitive rules, nobody inquires if +they are customers of the house. + +In consequence, when Deering stopped in front of an ambitious building +he was not at all embarrassed. The noise he heard indicated that the +rotunda was occupied, but while some of its occupants were, no doubt, +important citizens, he expected to find lumbermen and miners from the +bush whose clothes were like his. Pushing round the revolving doors, he +went in, waited until he saw the clerk was engaged, and then went +upstairs. A noisy electric elevator was running, but Deering thought he +would not bother the boy. + +On the second landing he opened a door. An electric lamp threw a strong +light about the room, and a gentleman leaned back in a hardwood chair +and rested his feet on the ornamental radiator. He was dressed like a +prosperous citizen, and he gave Deering a keen glance. + +"Hello!" he said. "Have you been in the woods?" + +"Looks like that!" said Deering. "I want a razor and a bath; then I +want a suit of clothes, the biggest standard size. I doubt if the clerk +and bell-boys saw a bushman come up, but if they did so, I'd sooner they +didn't see him come down." + +"I can fix you," said the other, smiling. "All the same, I expect you +must get a barber to finish the job." + +When Deering used a glass he admitted that his friend's remark was +justified, but so long as he looked like a wild man from the woods, to +recline, wrapped in a white sheet, in a barber's front window had +obvious drawbacks. As a rule, a North American barber carries on his +occupation as publicly as possible. He got a bath, and when he returned +to his friend's room Neilson gave him a cigar and they began to talk. + +"Very well," said Neilson, "I can get the money for you and will soon +fix up the other matters. I have sent for some clothes and booked your +room. But you look as if you'd hit some adventures in the woods, and I'd +rather like to know----" + +"Perhaps you noted something in the newspapers about a game-warden's +getting shot?" + +"The _Colonist_ printed a short paragraph; I imagined the police edited +the story. Old man Salter knows his job, although the shooting was on +the Royal North-West's ground. Anyhow, the tale left you to guess. But +were you in it?" + +"Sure thing," said Deering, dryly. "I'll tell you----" + +When he finished his narrative, Neilson knitted his brows. He was +frankly an adventurer, but he had his code and Deering trusted the +fellow. Moreover, Neilson knew men, and particularly men who lived by +exploiting others' weaknesses. + +"I'm not a hunter. We'll cut out the shooting and concentrate on the +gang," he said. "I want to get Stannard right. His occupation's ours?" + +"Something like ours," Deering agreed. "We play a straight game, because +we know a straight game pays; I've spotted Stannard using a crook's +cheap trick. But he doesn't bet high at cards. His line's financing +extravagant young suckers." + +"Then, he's rich?" + +"I think not. Not long since he wanted money. My notion is, he's got a +partner in the Old Country who supplies him. Stannard's something of a +highbrow and a smart clubman. He has qualities---- I rather like the +fellow, although I know him." + +"What about the girl? Does Stannard use her?" + +"Not at all," said Deering. "Miss Laura's straight; I doubt if she +really knows her father's occupation. Maybe she's ambitious and +calculating, but she's not his sort." + +"Is Leyland much in Stannard's debt?" + +"Stannard's an expensive friend; but I guess he wanted Jimmy for Laura +and didn't take all he might. Still I expect Jimmy owes a useful sum, +and Laura's going to marry Dillon." + +"Ah," said Neilson, "perhaps that's important! I reckon Stannard has got +Leyland insured?" + +Deering nodded. He saw where Neilson's remarks led and on the whole +agreed. He had given the fellow his confidence because he wanted to see +the arguments another would use. + +"Well," resumed Neilson, "what about Dillon and your guide?" + +"Dillon was not in the woods. I don't know much about the guide. Bob's a +queer fellow and is not all white. Then he has a pick on Jimmy. I reckon +he took a shine to the rancher's daughter who is now Jimmy's girl." + +"Jealousy bites hard, and I wouldn't trust a breed," Neilson remarked. +"Well, perhaps we have got Bob's object; let's study Stannard's. +Leyland's wanting the ranch girl wasn't in his plan, and when he knew +Miss Stannard meant to marry Dillon he'd make another. Leyland owes him +much, can't pay yet, and is insured. Let it go in the meantime, and +weigh another thing. Leyland doesn't altogether know if he shot the +warden, but if he did shoot him, he thought him a deer. All the same, he +pulled out! Is the boy a fool? Is his nerve weak?" + +"Jimmy's clean grit," said Deering. "Still he is a boy." + +"Then it's possible he got rattled. Suppose when he was rattled an older +man he trusted put it up to him that he ought to light out? The kid +wouldn't ponder; he'd start." + +"That is so," said Deering. "Stannard did talk like that." + +Neilson shrugged meaningly. "Very well! I'm through with my argument. If +we could find warden Douglas, he might tell us something useful. I'll +try." + +Deering thought the plan good. Neilson was a gambler, but his word went; +in fact, Deering imagined it sometimes went with the police. Neilson +knew the half-world, and now that he had undertaken an awkward job +strange helpers would be put to work. + +When he had lighted a fresh cigar he resumed: "I don't see _your_ object +for hiding in the woods." + +"Sometimes I'm romantic; you don't know me yet," Deering said, and +laughed. "Jimmy's my pal; when I came near getting a fall that would +have knocked me out, he held me up. Then I was born a bushman and the +bush calls. I like it in the woods and I'm keen about the detective +game----" He stopped and went on in a thoughtful voice: "The strange +thing is, when Jimmy went over the rocks, Stannard went after him. Snow +and stones were coming down, but he stayed with the kid." + +"That was when it looked as if Miss Stannard would marry your pal!" said +Neilson meaningly. "Well, I wouldn't bother about the police. _Watch out +for Stannard----_" + +Somebody knocked at the door and Neilson, getting up, came back with a +parcel. + +"Your clothes," he said. + +Deering put on the clothes and packed up Jardine's to be thrown into the +harbor. For a few days he stopped at the hotel, and then Neilson +admitted that his inquiries about Douglas had not carried him far. + +"We know where he is and he's very sick, but that's all," he said. "The +police mean to use him and he can't be got at." + +"Then, I'll start for the woods," said Deering. "The trouble is to hit +the proper line. It's possible the police are willing to leave me alone, +but I mustn't help them get on to Jimmy." + +In the morning he started for New Westminster, although this was not the +line to the mountains. At Westminster he vanished in the meadows along +the Fraser, and after a time turned north into the woods. In order to +rejoin Jimmy, he must follow the great river gorge, and at Mission he +risked getting on board the cars. Nobody bothered him, and at length he +labored one evening up the rugged valley in which was the shack. He had +bought a skin coat and carried a heavy pack, but he was not warm. The +sky was dark and threatening, the ground was hard, and a bitter wind +shook the tops of the stiff pines. Deering thought snow was coming and +pushed on as fast as possible, until he saw a gleam of light. + +A big fire threw a cheerful glow about the shack and Jimmy occupied a +pile of branches by the snapping logs. He had pulled a blanket over his +shoulders, but when he heard Deering's step he jumped up. Deering +dropped his load, straightened his back and looked about. + +"Where's the Indian?" + +"He's gone," said Jimmy. "I expect he had enough. In fact, I'd begun to +feel I'd had enough, and when I heard your step my relief was pretty +keen." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "Let's get supper and then we'll talk." + +When he had satisfied his appetite he narrated his adventures and his +meeting Laura and Dillon. + +"If you want Frank, he's your man and he might be useful," he remarked. +"Then I reckon Miss Laura's willing for him to help. Your friends are +good." + +"That is so," said Jimmy, looking at Deering hard. "My friends are +better than I deserve. But what about Douglas? Did you find out much?" + +Deering admitted that he did not, but when he talked about Neilson he +used some caution. Since Jimmy trusted Stannard, there was no use in +trying to warn him; some time he would get enlightenment. + +"On the whole, I think the police knew I was at Vancouver," he said. +"Their plan was to hit my trail when I started back. I don't expect they +did so, but it's possible. Anyhow, now the Indian's gone, and a cold +snap threatens, we have got to quit. My plan's to start for your ranch." + +"The ranch is not far from the railroad." + +"Its being near the track has some advantages. Since the police searched +the spot, I guess they're satisfied. Then we want food, and packing +supplies for a long distance is a strenuous job. The Indian could move a +useful load, but to carry fifty pounds across rocks and fallen trees +makes me tired." + +"A rifle, a blanket, and twenty pounds is my load," said Jimmy and +resumed in a thoughtful voice: "Yet I started for the plains----" + +Deering used some control and let Jimmy's remark go. + +"You could not have made it," he said quietly. "But what about our +jumping off?" + +"We'll talk about it again," Jimmy replied. "I suppose we must go, but +now you're back, I don't want to bother. You brace me up. Until I heard +your step, I felt down and out." + +He threw fresh wood on the fire, and soon afterwards they went to sleep. +Jimmy's sleep was broken, and when he woke at daybreak he shivered. He +did not want to get up, but he must fetch water. The kettle handle stung +his skin, the pools on the creek were frozen, and he saw the snow had +moved five or six hundred feet down the rocks. Rose-pink light touched +the high peaks and hoar frost sparkled on the pines, but the stern +beauty of the wilds was daunting. Jimmy wanted the deep valleys up which +the soft Chinook blew. + +When he went back, Deering was occupied at the fire. He looked up and +remarked with a twinkle: "The cold is pretty fierce. If we're going to +stay, you'll want a skin coat and another blanket." + +"When we have got breakfast we'll start for the ranch," Jimmy replied. + + + + +XXIII + +MARGARET TAKES A PLUNGE + + +For a time Jimmy was not disturbed at the ranch. On the high rocks the +frost was keen, but in the deep valley a gentle wind from the Pacific +melted the snow. Jimmy dared not order sawed lumber, but Jardine got him +a door and windows and the house was warm. Sometimes he went shooting +and sometimes he went to Kelshope. Jardine was friendly, but when the +rancher had gone to look after his stock Jimmy was resigned. To sit by +the fire and talk to Margaret was a delightful occupation. + +At the beginning he had remarked her beauty, but now he knew beauty was +not all her charm. Margaret was clever; she saw his point of view, and +when she did not agree her argument was logical and keen. Then she was +proud and fearless, and he sensed in her something primitive. Margaret +was his sort and sprang from stock like his. Yet he felt her physical +charm. Her eyes were sea-blue, and in the firelight her hair was like +red California gold. She had a bushman's balance, and her unconscious +pose was Greek. Although she was frank, with something of a great lady's +frankness, Jimmy soon knew her fastidious. + +But for his part in the shooting accident, his satisfaction would have +been complete. It looked as if the police had resolved to leave him +alone, and Deering had made one or two excursions to the cities, but +Jimmy doubted. He knew the Royal North-West do not forget. Moreover, +somebody shot Douglas, and on the whole he thought he had done so. +Sometimes he wondered whether he ought to go to Kelshope, but all the +same he went. + +When Deering was at Calgary, Margaret one afternoon rode home from the +station as fast as possible. At the ranch she took down the load of +groceries but left the horse tied to a post. Jardine was by the fire and +had pulled off his boot. In the morning he had cut his foot with his ax. +He gave Margaret a keen glance and saw she had ridden fast. + +"Weel?" he said. "Is something bothering ye?" + +"Two troopers and their horses came in on the freight train. I expect +they're looking for Mr. Leyland." + +"Ah," said Jardine. "Somebody has given the lad away." + +"Bob," said Margaret and her eyes sparkled. + +Jardine knitted his brows. "Maybe, but I dinna ken; Bob hasna been +around for long. Did the troopers saddle up?" + +"When I left, they were cinching on their camp truck. I thought they'd +soon start. Mr. Leyland can't come down the valley and Deering's not +with him. Where is he to go?" + +"If he could make Green Lake, Peter would put him on the Mission +trail." + +"He cannot make Green Lake," Margaret rejoined. "He doesn't know the +bench country and must start in the dark." + +"Jimmy must start soon. If he stays, the troopers will get him," Jardine +agreed, and indicated his cut foot. "Somebody must warn the lad, but I +canna gang." + +Margaret tried to brace up, for she had not reckoned on her father's +lameness. The strange thing was, Jardine had walked some distance to +round up his cattle. She must, however, weigh this again. Speed was +important and Jimmy was her friend; in fact, she had begun to think him +her lover. + +"You could ride the cayuse and carry the packs. If Mr. Leyland was not +loaded he could make a good pace." + +"The cayuse wouldna carry a weight like mine across the bench belt and +Green Lake's a two-days' hike. I canna walk; I doubt if I could get on +my boot," Jardine replied, and added with philosophical resignation: +"It's a pity o' the lad! I expect the police are noo on the ranch trail, +but I dinna see how we can help." + +Margaret clenched her hands. Somebody must warn Jimmy and her father +declared he could not. She looked at him hard and knew he could not be +moved. He gave her an apologetic glance and began to fill his pipe, as +if the thing was done with. Yet it was not done with. Margaret saw, +rather vaguely because she refused to think about it, all her going to +warn Jimmy implied, since if her help was to be useful, she must go +with him to Green Lake. For a few moments she hesitated, but she was +generous and her pluck was good. Then she turned to Jardine, who had +begun to smoke. + +"The police shall not get Mr. Leyland. I will go." + +"Verra weel," said Jardine. "If ye mean to gang, ye had better start. +Ye'll need to take some food; I'll get the saddle bag." + +He crossed the floor and Margaret remarked that for a few steps he went +lightly, as if his foot did not hurt. Then he limped, and when he got to +the door he stopped and leaned against the post. All the same, it was +not important and Margaret began to pack some food and clothes. Ten +minutes afterwards, she untied the horse and gave Jardine her hand. + +"Good-bye," she said in a quiet voice. "I don't know when I shall get +back." + +Jardine held the stirrup, she seized the bridle, set her mouth and +started the horse. When she vanished in the woods Jardine went back to +the house, rested his foot on a chair, and knitted his brows. He saw he +ran some risk, but he knew his daughter and thought he knew Jimmy. Jimmy +was a white man; Jardine, so to speak, bet all he had on that. + +Some time afterwards, Jimmy, cooking his supper, heard a horse's feet +and went to the door. He smiled, because he thought he knew the horse; +but Margaret was obviously riding fast and snapping branches indicated +that she had cut out a bend of the trail. When she got down her color +was high and the horse's coat was white. + +"Roll up your blanket and put the sling on your rifle," she said. "Then +I'll help you pack some food." + +Jimmy studied her with surprise. Her look was resolute, but he got a +hint of embarrassment. Then he saw a light. + +"Ah!" he said. "The police are on my track?" + +"Two troopers are riding up the valley. They may stop at Kelshope for a +few minutes. Where do you keep your groceries!" + +Jimmy opened a box, and Margaret picked out a number of articles. "Now +make a pack, because you must start at once for my cousin's at Green +Lake. I expect Peter will help you south." + +"But I don't know the trail, and it will soon be dark." + +"Make your pack! The police will arrive in a few minutes," Margaret +rejoined impatiently and turned her head. "There is not a trail. I am +going with you." + +"No!" said Jimmy with some embarrassment. "You're kind, of course, but +you ought to see---- If you start me off, I expect I can find my way." + +Margaret turned and fronted him. The blood came to her skin and her look +was strained. + +"You can't find the way and I can't go back. The police know I'm not at +the ranch, and if I start for home, I'll meet them in the valley. But we +mustn't talk. We must get off." + +Jimmy leaned against the table and frowned. Although his heart beat, he +hesitated. He knew Margaret's pluck and he loved her, but she must not +pay for her rash generosity. One must think for the girl one loved. + +"Suppose the police do know you warned me? It's awkward, but perhaps +that's all. Anyhow, I'll go down and meet them. Since I expect I shot +warden Douglas, I must bear the consequences." + +"Oh, but you are obstinate!" Margaret exclaimed and used Stannard's +argument. "It looks as if one of your party meant to shoot Douglas and +the police have not caught the man. They must catch somebody and they'll +try to fix the shooting on you. To join the chain-gang would be +horrible." + +"The thing has not much charm," Jimmy agreed and was rather surprised by +his coolness, but he was cool. "I don't know much about the police code, +but I rather think they'd stop at----" + +He heard a noise and Margaret turned. + +"I put up the rails," she said in a sharp voice. + +Jimmy went to the window and saw a mounted policeman pull down the +slip-rails at the fence and ride through the gap. Then he heard a quick +step and looked round. Margaret had got his rifle. The butt was at her +shoulder and the barrel rested against the doorpost. Jimmy saw her face +in profile; her mouth was set tight, her glance was fixed and hard. He +jumped for the door, but struck a chair and the collision stopped him. +The rifle jerked and a little smoke floated about the girl. + +When Jimmy reached the door he saw the policeman's horse stumble. The +trooper leaned back, tried to pull his foot from the stirrup, and fell +with the animal. Jimmy thought it rolled on him, but after a few moments +he crawled away from its hoofs. The horse was quiet and the man got up. +His movements were awkward and he looked dully at the house. + +Margaret pushed Jimmy back and put the rifle to her shoulder. A sharp +report rolled across the clearing, twigs fell from a quivering pine +branch, and the trooper vanished in the woods. Jimmy's hands shook, but +his relief was keen. + +"I expect his rifle's in the bucket under the horse and the horse is +dead," Margaret remarked. "I was forced to shoot." + +"Ah!" said Jimmy hoarsely. "I thought you had hit the man!" + +Margaret's pose was stiff, as if she braced herself, but she smiled. + +"He knows I shoot straight. Until his partner comes and helps him get +his rifle, he'll stop in the woods." + +"But perhaps the other's not far off." + +"He's at the ranch," said Margaret "He'd stop to see if you were about +and try to find out something from father. Father would keep him as long +as possible----" She stopped and turning her head resumed: "But the +first fellow knows a woman shot his horse. When I put up the rifle, he +was riding for the door." + +"I expect that is so," said Jimmy. "After all, you must go to your +cousin's. Let's start!" + +Margaret said nothing. When Jimmy brought her horse she got up and he +ran by her stirrup. For a time she went up the valley, and then turning +back obliquely through thin timber, pushed up a steep hill. Near the top +she stopped and Jimmy got his breath and looked down across the trees. +Dusk was falling and all was very quiet. Gloom had invaded the clearing, +but he saw a small dark object he knew was the policeman's horse. A thin +plume of smoke went up from his house; his fire was burning, and he +wondered when it would burn again. For a few moments he was moved by a +strange melancholy, and then his heart beat. + +"I hate to go away. If you were not with me, I think I'd stay and risk +it all," he said. "I was happy at the ranch; in fact, I soon began to +see I hadn't known real happiness before. At the beginning I was +puzzled, but now I can account for it. You were at Kelshope----" + +"Not long since you didn't want me to go with you," Margaret remarked. + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy with some awkwardness, "you hadn't yet shot the +policeman's horse." + +Margaret said nothing and he seized the bridle, pulled 'round the +cayuse, and forced her to look down. + +"Will you marry me at the Mission, Margaret?" + +She met his glance and hers was proud. "I think not, Jimmy. You are a +white man and mean to take the proper line. But I will not marry you +because I stopped the trooper." + +Jimmy threw back his head and she liked his frank, scornful laugh. "Now, +you're altogether ridiculous! Your stopping the fellow does not account +for my wanting to marry you. Soon after I got to work at the ranch I +knew I loved you, but I went to the mountains with Stannard and the +trouble began. So long as the police were hunting for me I dared not +urge you." + +"But now you urge me? It looks as if your scruples had vanished!" + +Jimmy let go the bridle and bent his head. "I suppose it does look like +that. All the same, I love you." + +Margaret leaned down and touched him gently. "You keep your rules, and +your rules are good. Perhaps it's strange, but I think a woman will +break conventions where a man will not. Still, you see, I'm proud----" + +"You are very hard," Jimmy rejoined. "Yet you ran some risk to warn me. +I know your pluck, but if you had not loved me, I think you'd have +stayed at Kelshope." + +"We'll let it go," said Margaret in a quiet voice. "There's another +thing; ranching is a game for you, but it's my proper work. Yours is at +the cotton mill. You're rich and your wife must be clever and +cultivated." + +"I haven't known a girl with talents, grace and beauty like yours," +Jimmy declared. "Then I'm not rich yet, the police are on my track, and +I may soon be a prisoner----" He looked up and added in a dreary voice: +"I admit it's not much of an argument for your marrying me." + +Margaret smiled "Perhaps you were not logical, but we'll talk about it +again, when we get to Green Lake. You mustn't talk now. I don't know if +the trooper would stop long at the ranch, and we must cross the hill +before the moon is up." + +She started her horse and they pushed on. An hour afterwards the moon +rose from behind a broken range, and silver light touched the stiff dark +pines. The high peaks sparkled; a glacier glimmered in the rocks, and +the mists curling up from the valley were faintly luminous. Jimmy smelt +sweet resinous smells and heard a distant river throb. The landscape was +strangely beautiful, but its beauty was austere. All was keen, and cold, +and bracing, and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's bridle, thought her charm +was the charm of the stern and quiet North. + + + + +XXIV + +JIMMY RESIGNS HIMSELF + + +The morning was calm and Jimmy, walking by Margaret's horse, turned his +head. Faint, sweet notes stole across the rocks and he knew the distant +chime of cow-bells. As a rule, the elfin music moved him. Where the +cow-bells rang, cornfields and orchards advanced up the valleys and man +drove back the forest, but Jimmy's satisfaction was blunted. For two +days Margaret and he had pushed through the quiet woods. In the cold +evenings they had talked by the snapping fire, but now the romantic +journey was near its end. + +After a few minutes Margaret stopped the horse. In front, dark pines +rolled up the hill and the long rows of ragged tops looked like the +waves of an advancing tide that broke against the rocks. Across the +valley, the sun touched the snow, and at the bottom of a broken slope a +lake sparkled. Jimmy saw its surface rippled, for a Chinook wind blew +and the frost was gone. Near the end of the lake a plume of smoke +streaked the trees. + +"Green Lake ranch!" said Margaret. + +For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. When they reached the valley he +thought the strange charm he had felt in the mountains would vanish; it +was too fine and elusive for him to recapture. Until they started for +Green Lake, he had not known Margaret. Cleverer than himself at +woodcraft, she had a man's strength and pluck. She did not grumble; she +was frank and not embarrassed. Yet a womanly gentleness marked her, and +she did not think for herself. Although her touch was light, Jimmy had +felt her control and took the line she meant him to take. In the +meantime they were not lovers, but partners in romantic adventure. + +"For your sake, I'm glad we'll soon reach your cousin's house," he said. +"I don't know if I'm glad for mine." + +Margaret smiled but gently shook her head. "You must play up, Jimmy!" + +"I have played up. Perhaps it's strange, but in the woods to be content +because we were pals was not hard. Now we'll soon reach your cousin's, +I'm not content, and one is forced to think----" + +"For a time you must think about beating the police; that's all," said +Margaret firmly. + +"It is not all," Jimmy declared. "When we went up the hill in the +evening, I asked you to marry me and you promised----" + +"I promised we would talk about it," said Margaret. "Before you start +from Peter's we will do so; but since you must start soon, we'll go on." + +Jimmy saw he could not move her, and they went down the hill. At the +ranch fence a man met them and took them to the house. When they went in +a woman got up, kissed Margaret, and gave Jimmy a smile. So far as he +could see, Mrs. Jardine and her husband did not think it strange he had +arrived with Margaret, and he was somewhat comforted, although he noted +that Margaret's color rose. Margaret knew her relations. They were +primitive, honest folk, and took it for granted Jimmy was her lover. + +"Sit right down. Dinner will soon be ready," said Peter Jardine. "How's +the old man? Give us your news." + +Jimmy narrated his and Margaret's adventures and, until he stopped, his +hosts said nothing. It did not look as if they were disturbed, but they +were bush folk and the bush is quiet. For all that, Jimmy felt they +owned themselves Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to +help him out. + +"The trapper's old shack is the spot for you," Peter remarked. "After +dinner we'll start. Margaret must stay with us." + +Margaret agreed, but Jimmy objected. + +"Margaret is going with me to the Mission. The police will soon arrive." + +"I reckon they don't know her, and they don't know how many womenfolk +I've got. When she puts on Sadie's clothes, she'll look as if she +belonged to the ranch. Maybe the police haven't found your trail; but we +mustn't bet on that." + +Margaret went off with Sadie and Jimmy speculated about their talk. By +and by he turned to his host. + +"I'm going to marry your cousin when she is willing." + +"Sure," said Peter. "You reckoned to get married at the Mission?" + +"That is so. So far, Margaret refuses." + +Peter knitted his brows. "Sometimes I don't see what Sadie gets after +and I sure can't calculate Margaret's notion. Women beat me. All the +same, it's plain she thinks you a white man, and Margaret's not a fool. +Now we'll let it go. Say, did you plug the warden?" + +"It looks like that," Jimmy replied. "However, if I did hit the fellow, +I didn't know I was shooting at a man." + +"Very well! You can't get down the main track to the coast, because the +police will reckon on your going there and watch the stations. I'd make +for the plains and then shove south for Montana." + +"That was Stannard's plan." + +Peter smiled scornfully. "You were to cross the rocks and carry your +grub and camping truck? Shucks! An old-time prospector might make it; +you could not. You've got to lie up at the trapper's shack until we look +about. Maybe we can fix it to ship you out of the mountains on board a +construction train that sometimes runs down to a station on the Calgary +side. Well, let's make our packs and catch the horse." + +They got to work and after the horse was caught, Peter turned back to +the house, but Jimmy stopped. "I must talk to Margaret for a few +minutes," he said. + +Margaret came out to him. Her look was quiet but he knew her resolute. + +"When dinner's over, Peter and I must start," he said. "You refused to +go to the Mission. I want to know what this implies." + +Margaret gave him a level glance. "Isn't it plain, Jimmy? You know my +father, and now you have met my relations. They are not your sort." + +"So far as I know, they're a remarkably good sort," Jimmy rejoined. +"Besides, in a way, I am their sort. My grandfather was a mill hand; my +father borrowed a small sum, and started with cheap machinery to spin +cotton at a little old-fashioned mill. He was frugal and laborious; in +fact, he prospered because he had your bushman's qualities. I have +loafed and squandered, but after a time I felt I'd had enough and began +to see I'd inherited something from the people who made Leyland's go. +Then, if we must talk about our relations, you don't know my uncle Dick. +Well, I've stated something like this before, but it's my reply to your +argument." + +"But you mean to go back to Lancashire, and when you marry your wife +ought----" + +"To begin with, I doubt if the police will allow me to go back. Then, if +I can't get you, I don't want a wife!" + +"Yet, not very long since, it looked as if you might be satisfied with +Miss Stannard." + +The blood came to Jimmy's skin, and to conquer his embarrassment was +hard. + +"I don't think you're kind. Well, I'm young and, until I met Stannard, I +was very raw. All I knew was the cotton mill, and I expect Laura +carried me away. But I was not altogether a fool; Laura Stannard is a +charming girl. The obstacle was, she saw I was not the man for her. Then +I did not know you." + +Margaret smiled, but her smile was gentle. "Perhaps I was not kind. +You're stanch and my experiment was shabby." + +"Your remark was justified. Anyhow, it's not important. If I can cheat +the police and get back to Lancashire, will you marry me, Margaret?" + +For a few moments Margaret was quiet. Then she said in a steady voice: +"Your cheating the police would not persuade me; in fact, somehow I +think they will find out you had nothing to do with the warden's getting +shot. The obstacle's not there. You are young, Jimmy, and you admitted +you were carried away." + +"One cannot carry you away," Jimmy rejoined. + +"I must think for you and for myself," said Margaret and Jimmy's heart +beat, because he saw her calm was forced. "Suppose your trustees did not +approve your marrying a girl from the bush?" + +"Dick Leyland might not approve; his habit's to be nasty, but mine's not +to bother about Dick. Sir Jim is head of the house and he's human. I +can't picture his not being altogether satisfied with you." + +"But you don't know!" + +Jimmy pondered. Margaret's firmness baffled him, but, from her point of +view, he saw she took the proper line. All the same, it cost her +something; she was highly strung, her color came and went, and her +tight mouth was significant. The trouble was, he dared not urge her very +hard. In the meantime, he must hide from the police and might be sent to +the chain-gang. + +"I want you, my dear," he said. "I'm selfish. If you marry me, I run no +risk, but you may run some. My drawbacks are rather numerous, +particularly just now." + +"Very well," said Margaret. "When you come back from the mountains, I +may perhaps agree. But your relations must approve and I don't yet +engage----" + +Jimmy advanced, but she stepped back and stopped him. Then he turned and +saw Mrs. Jardine wave to them from the stoop. + +Dinner was a melancholy function, and Jimmy thought his hosts disturbed. +They were Margaret's relations and for her sake were willing to help, +but he pictured Mrs. Jardine's weighing the risk. Then he was bothered +about Margaret, for Peter's confidence that his wife could bluff the +police if they arrived before he returned did not banish his doubts. + +At length Mrs. Jardine got up and Peter and Jimmy went to load the +horse. By and by the rancher ran back for some tobacco and Jimmy moodily +fastened the pack-rope. Stooping by the horse, he thought he heard a +step, but did not look up, and a few moments afterwards he felt a hand +on his shoulder. Then an arm went around his neck and Margaret turned +his head and kissed him. He tried to seize her, but she slipped away +and stopped a yard or two off. Jimmy thrilled and his eyes sparkled. + +"Now I know when I come back you won't refuse me." + +"You don't know; I don't know," Margaret replied in a trembling voice. +"All the same, I love you, and you're going away----" + +Peter and Mrs. Jardine came out. The rancher seized the bridle and +called to the horse. Jimmy lifted his battered hat and they started +across the clearing. + +Three days afterwards, they stopped at a small stone hut, built against +the bottom of a great rock. On one side dark pines rolled up to the +walls, and a hundred yards off one could hardly see the pile of stones +was a building. Yet the small room was rudely furnished and the earth +floor was dry. They cut some wood, made a fire, and cooked food, and +after the meal lighted their pipes. + +"You have got an ax and a rifle, but if you run out of grub, Graham, the +section-hand on the railroad will put me wise," said Peter. "Tom's a +white man and his post's not far from the spot we crossed the line. The +trapper who lived here is dead and I reckon nobody but Tom and me knows +about the shack." + +"I expect I've got all I want, but I'm bothered about Margaret." + +"You don't want to bother. In the meantime, Margaret's my wife's sister +from Calgary. That's good enough for the police, and anyhow the Royal +North-West aren't city patrolmen. They reckon they're highbrow frontier +cavalry and I guess the trooper won't allow a girl held him up. You'll +stay put, until we see if we can ship you out with the construction boys +to the Calgary side. If that plan won't go, we'll push across the range +for the big park valley and try to run you south. I think that's all; +but if you want to send a letter to your friends, Graham will mail it +for you." + +After a time Peter knocked out his pipe and Jimmy went with him to the +door. When the rancher vanished in the woods and all was quiet Jimmy +leaned against the post and gave himself to gloomy thought. + +It began to get dark. The snow-veined rocks melted in the mist and the +pines were vague and black. In the distance a timber wolf howled and the +long mournful note emphasized the dreariness. In the rocks where Jimmy +hid at the beginning he had Deering's society and at the ranch he had +Margaret's and Jardine's. Now he was altogether alone in the savage +wilds. Going back to the fire, he threw on fresh wood, and although he +was not keen about smoking, lighted his pipe. + + + + +XXV + +THE CALL + + +Jimmy fastened his skin coat, and going to the door of the section-man's +hut, looked up the track. The railroad and an angry river occupied the +bottom of the gorge, but the water was low and a rapid throbbed on a +dull note. Jimmy knew its slack beat was ominous; the frost had stopped +the streams that not long since leaped out from the glaciers. + +He shivered, for the cold was keen and the coat he had got at Green Lake +was old. Besides, he was tired; he had started before daybreak from his +shack, but when he reached the railroad the moon was on the rocks. In +the shadow, the snow that streaked the mountain-side was blue; across +the gorge broken crags shone like polished steel and the small pines +growing in the cracks sparkled with frost. Not far off, a dark hole in a +slanted white bank indicated the mouth of a snow shed, but Jimmy knew +the stones and snow had come down the hill. + +When he looked up, his view on one side was cut by the top of a +precipice; it was like looking up from a deep pit. Farther along the +gorge, the rocks got indistinct and melted in the moon's pale +reflections. No track but the railroad pierced the mountains, although +the wide chain was broken by narrow valleys running north and south. +Jimmy had come up the line from the valley he occupied, and by another +some distance off one could reach Green Lake. The nearest station was +twelve miles away, at the end of Graham's section. + +Jimmy had arrived half an hour since, but had not found Graham, although +his stove was burning. Peter Jardine had stated he could trust the man, +who had begun to clear a ranch at Green Lake but had stopped when his +money was gone. In the mountains, ranching is a slow and laborious job, +and men whose means are small are forced at times to follow another +occupation. + +By and by a lantern twinkled at the mouth of the snow shed and a man +came up the track. + +"Hello!" he said. "I've got some news and wondered if you'd blow in, but +I wanted to take a look at the rock-cut before the freight comes +through. Did you make supper?" + +Jimmy said he had cooked some flapjacks, although he felt he ought to +wait until his host arrived. + +"Shucks!" remarked Graham. "Jardine's my neighbor and he allows you're +his friend. But the cold's fierce. Let's get in." + +They sat down by the stove and for a minute or two Jimmy was content to +warm himself and smoke. At the shack he had no light but the fire and +the long evenings were dreary. All the same, he was disturbed and with +something of an effort he said, "Well?" + +"Two troopers got off the west-bound at the depot and my partner, +Tellson, allowed they brought a lot of truck. Looks as if they meant to +stop around and search the neighborhood." + +"Ah!" said Jimmy. "I expect they know I'm about! Did they bring their +horses?" + +"Tellson saw no horses. If the boys were going to Green Lake, they could +ride. Besides, the other outfit went there not long since." + +Jimmy nodded. He knew the police had not bothered Margaret and he must +think for himself. The troopers not bringing their horses was ominous, +since it indicated that they were going to push into the mountains. The +valley in which he hid did not open to the track; to reach it one must +climb a mountain spur, but he imagined the police meant to climb. If +they found the mouth of the valley, they might reach the shack before he +knew, and if he got away, he must take the snowy rocks. + +"I expect Jardine hasn't yet arranged to send me out on board a train?" +he said. + +"Peter was trying to fix it; he had to wait until he met a construction +boss he knows; but he can't fix it now. The police will stop the gangs +and tally up the boys." + +"If they come down the line, to find out where I am won't take them +long." + +"Your chances don't look very good," Graham agreed. "If you could cross +the range to the park valley, you might get away south, but I doubt if +you could make it." + +Jimmy said nothing. He imagined Deering stated the range had been +climbed by some city members of the Canadian Alpine Club; but they, no +doubt, took packers to carry supplies and went when the snow-line was +high. For a lonely man to venture on the icy rocks was ridiculous. After +a few minutes Graham pulled out his watch. + +"The freight's making good time and when she's gone I must go up the +track to the piece the boys underpinned," he said. "I reckon I'll be +away an hour and you had better go to bed." + +Jimmy heard a rumble and went with Graham to the door. To watch the +great train come down the gorge would for a few minutes banish his +gloomy thoughts. Up the track, a streak of silver light touched the +rocks and trees. The speeding beam got brighter, and by and by dazzling +radiance flooded the gorge. The ground began to shake, harsh, clanging +echoes rolled across the rocks; one heard the big cars jolt and the roar +of wheels. Then black smoke swirled about the hut and the beam was gone. +In the dark, the banging cars rushed by, a blaze touched the snow shed +and went out, and the turmoil died away. + +Graham picked up his lantern and Jimmy went back to the stove. Lighting +his pipe, he pulled out Stannard's map and began to ponder. It was +obvious he must not stay long at the trapper's shack. Since the police +watched the neighborhood, he could not get food, and when they found the +way to the valley he would be driven back into the mountains. In fact, +he felt he ought to try for freedom now before his line of retreat was +cut, but he was tired and did not see where he could go. + +There was no use in stealing off along the track, because the station +agents were, no doubt, warned to look out for him. If he started before +daybreak, he might perhaps reach the trail to Green Lake, but Peter had +already run some risk for him and Margaret was at her cousin's. To go to +Green Lake would put the police on her track. + +Jimmy studied Stannard's map. Across the mountains behind the shack, the +park valley ran southeast and from its other end one could perhaps reach +the plains and the United States. Graham had stated Jimmy could not +cross the range, but Graham was not a mountaineer. Stannard was a +mountaineer and could get supplies and packers. Then Stannard was his +friend and perhaps owed him something. + +The adventure was daunting, but Jimmy resolved to try it. He must for a +few days risk stopping at the shack, and pulling out a blank-book, he +wrote a note. Graham would send the note and Stannard would, no doubt, +start soon after it arrived. Then Jimmy thought he ought to let Margaret +know his plans and he wrote another note. Putting the envelopes on a +shelf, he got into Graham's bunk. + +When Jimmy's note arrived at the hotel Stannard was at dinner. For the +most part, the guests had gone, but Mrs. Dillon had returned with Frank +and Laura, and a young man had joined the party. Stevens belonged to +the Canadian Alpine Club, and knowing about Stannard's exploits, had +cultivated his society. + +Stannard took the soiled envelope from the page and noted it had not a +stamp. + +"Who brought the letter?" he asked. + +"A freight brakesman gave it to our porter at the station." + +Stannard put down the envelope and resumed his dinner, but Laura said, +"The hand is Jimmy's. Aren't you curious?" + +"I am curious, anyhow," Dillon declared, and Mrs. Dillon looked up, for +she knew something about Jimmy's adventures. + +"If you want to read your letter, do so," she said to Stannard. + +Stannard opened the envelope and Laura remarked his thoughtful look. She +took the note from him and after a moment or two gave it Dillon. + +"Is it possible for Jimmy to get across?" Dillon asked. + +"I frankly don't know," said Stannard and turned to Stevens. "A young +friend of ours wants to try a rather bold exploit; he thinks he can +cross the Cedar Range and I could help. In summer, I wouldn't hesitate. +To venture on the snow-fields now is another thing." + +Stevens's eyes sparkled. He was young and enthusiastic, and to climb +with a mountaineer like Stannard was something to talk about. + +"Although I haven't long joined the club, sir, I went with Gordon when +he explored the Cascades from Rawden. If you go, I'd like to join you." + +"I don't yet know if I'll go or not," said Stannard and resumed his +dinner. + +Mrs. Dillon touched Laura. She was a large and rather quiet lady and not +marked by much refinement, but she was kind and sometimes firm. + +"I want to see that note," she said. + +Laura looked at Stannard and gave her the note. + +"The poor young man. He's surely up against it!" she exclaimed. "I like +Jimmy. If I was a mountain clubman, I'd feel I'd got a call." + +Stannard said nothing and Laura was quiet. She was disturbed about +Jimmy, but she knew her father. Besides, she thought Stevens curious. By +and by she looked at Dillon, who began to talk about something else. + +When dinner was over Mrs. Dillon joined another lady and Stannard went +off. Laura and Dillon remained at the table and Stevens saw they did not +want his society. He went away and Laura asked: "Do you think Jimmy can +escape?" + +"If he stops at his hut, I expect the police will get him," Dillon +replied. + +Laura frowned and looked about. The table was decorated by flowers from +the coast, and the electric light was reflected by good china and glass. +In the background were polished hardwood panels and carved pillars. The +spacious room was warm; all struck a note of luxurious refinement, but +Laura thought about Jimmy, cut off from his supplies, in the snow. + +Had Jimmy gone back to Lancashire, she admitted she might have married +him. He had refused and for a time his obstinacy had hurt, but she was +not revengeful and, since she had rather weighed his advantages than +loved him, she could let it go. She liked Jimmy and was moved by a +gentle sentimental tenderness. + +"Are you willing to help Jimmy, Frank?" she asked. + +"Why, of course! I thought you knew I mean to help," Dillon declared. +"Perhaps I was jealous about Jimmy, but now I'm sorry for him. All the +same, your father puzzles me. He's not keen." + +"I expect he knows the risk," said Laura thoughtfully, for Stannard's +hesitation was obvious. "Since he must lead the party, he feels he ought +not to be rash. Then if Jimmy got away across the mountains, I expect +the police would make you all accountable." + +"Oh, well, the job is awkward, although I expect we could put it over. +Suppose we look for Mr. Stannard?" + +Stannard was in the rotunda, and when Laura and Dillon advanced he +smiled. + +"You are young and romantic, but I am not. When one gets old one uses +caution." + +"I doubt if I am romantic, but I think Mrs. Dillon did not exaggerate," +Laura rejoined. "Jimmy is our friend and trusts us. His note is a call." + +"Sometimes deafness is not a drawback. I own I'd sooner not hear the +call." + +"But you mean to go?" + +"It looks as if I might be forced. Frank's resolve is rather obvious," +said Stannard with a resigned shrug. + +Dillon gave him a keen glance. Somehow he felt Stannard did mean to go, +but wanted to be forced. Frank thought it strange. + +"I feel we ought to help, and now Deering is not about, nobody but you +can lead us." + +For a few moments Stannard was quiet. Then he said, "Very well, but if +we are going, we must start soon. We want packers to carry food and a +tent as far as possible, and I'd like a good mountaineer to help on the +rocks. The hotel guides are gone, but I expect the clerk knows where to +find them." + +"Grant lives at Calgary." + +"I think the fellow I want's at Revelstoke and he could get the train +that arrives in the morning," said Stannard, and pulled out his watch. +"We can send a night-letter and needn't use economy. I'll telephone the +station agent and give him the message." + +Frank knew Grant of Calgary was a good mountaineer, but he said nothing +and Stannard gave Laura a smile. + +"I expect you are satisfied." + +"You're as noble as I thought," said Laura. "I knew why you hesitated +and it wasn't for yourself. But I knew you would go." + + + + +XXVI + +DEERING TAKES THE TRAIL + + +Stannard was marked by a superficial languidness. Strangers thought him +careless and his humorous tranquillity had charm. For all that, when +speed was important he moved fast and after he telephoned to the station +he got to work. He packed rucksacks for his companions, got ropes and +ice-axes, and arranged with the hotel cook to put up a supply of food. +Then he sent a messenger for two or three half-breeds who carried loads +for fishing parties. Stevens helped and admitted that Stannard knew his +job. All he did was carefully thought about. + +After some time Dillon joined them and Stannard said, "It's awkward, but +Willmer at Revelstoke is engaged. However, he states he can send us a +useful man and we are to meet him at the station. He'll come by the +train in the morning and we'll get on board. We ought to reach the +railroad hut Jimmy talks about by dark and if the night is clear we'll +push on." + +"If the police are about the station where we get off, they may stop +us." + +"It's possible," Stannard agreed. "Still they don't know our object and +we must persuade them we are mountaineering tourists. Boast about your +climbing and the Canadian Alpine Club; Stevens knows their exploits. +All the same, I imagine the police are in the mountains. Well, your sack +is packed, and when you have got your snow-spectacles and the grease for +your skin, we'll stop for a smoke." + +In the morning the half-breed packers arrived and soon afterwards all +were ready to start. The hotel servants and three or four guests came to +see them go, but when the others strapped on their loads Stannard joined +Laura on the steps. + +"Well, we are going to Jimmy's help," he said with a smile. "Frank is +very keen, but as far as possible I'll try to see he does nothing rash. +To know your marriage is fixed is some comfort." + +Laura looked up quickly. Although Stannard's smile was kind, she was +vaguely disturbed. + +"When Frank wanted the wedding soon I thought you agreed rather easily. +I was satisfied to stay with you for some time." + +"Oh, well," said Stannard. "I'm afraid I haven't carried out my duties. +I'm a careless fellow and feel my daughter does not owe me much. +Although you have grown up beautiful and attractive, Nature and your +aunts are accountable. Then, you see, I'm getting old, and +mountaineering is my hobby. Sometimes one slips on an icy rock--" + +"You mustn't talk like that; it hurts," said Laura with a touch of +emotion. "You gave me all I asked for; you have always indulged me. Then +I urged you to go, and now I feel I ought not to urge. To be generous +in my way costs one nothing. I shall not venture on the rocks; I send +you." + +Stannard laughed, but Laura, studying him, was moved. Her father was +handsome and wore the stamp of high cultivation. Although he was not +young, he carried himself like an athlete. She knew his strength and +pluck and his gentleness to her. Now she thought him fine and +chivalrous. + +"You follow your heart," he said and kissed her. Then he pulled out his +watch. "But I must not be selfish and Frank is waiting." + +Dillon advanced and Stannard resumed: "Youth is romantic and sometimes +exaggerates. Laura imagines her generosity and yours accounts for my +starting on our adventure. Well, perhaps I'm slow and cautious, but now +and then one recaptures a touch of one's boyish rashness. However, I +mustn't philosophize. We must get off in a few minutes." + +"I'll join you on the trail," said Dillon, who remarked that Stannard +implied that he hesitated to go. Stannard had said something like that +before, as if he wanted others to note that the plan was not his. All +the same, it was not important, and Dillon took Laura's hand. + +Five minutes afterwards the party started. The packers carried the heavy +loads, the others the ice-axes, and Stevens and Stannard wore round +their shoulders coils of Alpine rope. Where the trail turned they +stopped for a moment and waved their hats, and then vanished in the +trees. + +Some time afterwards Laura saw a plume of black smoke roll across the +pines and stole off to her room. She did not want Mrs. Dillon's comfort. +Her father and her lover had started for the rocks, and if they paid for +their rashness, she was accountable. + +In the morning she got a jar, for a sergeant of the Royal North-West +Police arrived at the hotel. He was polite but firm, and Laura saw she +must brace up. Mrs. Dillon had gone with her to the rotunda and to know +she had her help was some comfort. + +"Mr. Stannard started for the mountains yesterday," the sergeant +remarked. "He took a quantity of camp truck and two of your friends. +Where did he go?" + +"I don't altogether know his line," Laura replied. "When you climb high +mountains you cannot make fixed plans. Much depends on the snow." + +"Well, I expect Mr. Stannard stated where he meant to start?" + +"Why, of course," said Mrs. Dillon. "He'd get off at the Green River +depot." + +The sergeant remarked her frankness, but thought she saw some frankness +was indicated, because for him to find out where the party had got off +was not hard. + +"Do you know Mr. Stannard's object? Our clubmen go for the rocks in +summer. His starting now was strange." + +Laura lifted her head and her look was proud. She thought she could play +up and the fellow must not imagine Stannard had gone to Jimmy's help. + +"My father is not a Canadian clubman. He's a famous Alpine mountaineer +and can go where others cannot." + +"Our boys are pretty smart," said the sergeant, smiling. "But are all +Mr. Stannard's party expert mountaineers? Mr. Stevens, for example? And +Mr. Frank Dillon?" + +"My son," said Mrs. Dillon, who saw the other had talked to the hotel +clerk. "Frank knows something about the rocks and belongs to a club that +explores the Olympian range. We're Americans." + +The sergeant bowed politely, but she resumed: "Mr. Stannard's English, +all the lot are tourists and I sure can't see what the Canadian police +have to do with their going off to climb your rocks. You're not going to +draw strangers to the country if you bother them like that." + +"Sometimes the police's duty is awkward," said the sergeant in an +apologetic voice. + +"The police have not much grounds to inquire about my father's +excursion," Laura remarked haughtily. "When he killed the big-horn he +did not know he poached on a game reserve, but he paid the fine and it +is done with." + +The sergeant saw her eyes sparkled and she was not playing a part. She +did not know all he knew, and he must not enlighten her. + +"Not long since Mr. Stannard went shooting with the pit-light, which is +not allowed, and the game-warden was shot." + +"My father did not shoot the warden; he stayed and helped the police." + +"Three of his party pulled out," the sergeant rejoined. "Maybe Mr. +Leyland could put us wise about the shooting and we reckoned Mr. +Stannard knows where he is." + +"Then you must wait for his return. If you found his track, I don't +suppose you could follow him on the rocks." + +"In the meantime, you're resolved not to help us hit his track?" + +"I don't know his track," Laura replied. + +The sergeant went off. He had talked to the hotel clerk, and although he +had not found out much from Laura, he had found out something. The girl +was persuaded Stannard had gone to help Leyland, and the sergeant +thought his plan really was to help the young fellow get away. In fact, +the sergeant thought he saw Stannard's object for doing so. + +Laura, however, was disturbed. She was anxious for Jimmy and knew the +risks Stannard ran in the mountains, but she imagined she had baffled +the sergeant and she resigned herself to wait for news. + +When the next train for the coast rolled across the pass Deering was on +board a first-class car. He was dressed like a city sportsman, but his +clothes were thick and his shooting jacket was lined with sheepskin, for +Deering knew the wilds. When he went to Vancouver his movements +interested the police, but at Calgary they left him alone, and nothing +indicated that they now bothered where he went. Deering thought it +strange, unless they knew something he did not. + +In the meantime, he was occupied by another subject. Although he meant +to see Jimmy out, he had frankly no use for hiding much longer at the +ranch. Jimmy must be smuggled across the boundary to the United States +and Deering weighed a plan. + +When he got down at the station he meant to push on for Jardine's, but +Kelshope was some distance off and he resolved to stop at the hotel. He +had been for some time at Calgary and Stannard would perhaps know if +Jimmy was all right. The clerk sent for Laura and by and by she came +down. She gave Deering a cold glance, but he had long known her +antagonism. + +"You cannot see my father. He and Frank are in the mountains," she said. + +Deering knitted his brows. When winter had begun one did not start for +the rocks for nothing. + +"It looks as if the police have found out Jimmy was at his ranch." + +"Then, Jimmy was at the ranch? We didn't know; he did not come to see +us. I expect you stopped him!" + +"You don't trust me, Miss Laura. Still you ought to see Jimmy dared not +come to the hotel." + +"I did not think you a proper friend for Jimmy and Frank." + +Deering smiled. He knew he was a better friend of Jimmy's than +Stannard, but he said, "Oh, well; perhaps it's not important. Anyhow, +Jimmy trusts me, and I mustn't let him down. You imply he's not at the +ranch?" + +Laura told him about Jimmy's note, and he inquired about Stannard's +plans. When she had satisfied his curiosity his look was thoughtful. + +"Stannard will send back the packers at the bottom of the rocks," he +remarked. "Has he got a guide?" + +"He could not engage the guide he wanted. Another man about whom I don't +think he knew much was sent." + +"Your father needs a useful man. Jimmy's steady on an awkward pitch, but +sometimes he's rash. The others are raw boys. It looks as if I've got to +hit the trail." + +"Frank is not a boy, and my father is a famous climber," Laura rejoined. +"If he cannot cross the mountains, do you think it's possible for you? +Then you ought to have started before. The police have followed Jimmy +for some time and I think another party set off yesterday." + +Deering thought to embarrass him gave her some satisfaction, but he +smiled. + +"I know you're not my friend, Miss Laura, and I must try to be resigned. +All the same, unless you put me wise, it may be awkward for Jimmy. What +about the last lot of police?" + +She told him and he bowed. "Thank you! I'll get off." + +"But the sergeant is in front of you and there is not a train." + +"The police are pretty smart, but I've known them bluffed," Deering +remarked. "Then the station agent and another fellow talked about a +construction train's going up the line. I've traveled on board a +calaboose before." + +Laura hesitated, and then gave him her hand. "After all, I think you +want to help, and if you agree to leave Frank alone--" + +"I rather think you don't know your power," Deering rejoined with a +twinkle. "Frank is well guarded from all my wiles. In fact, I'm willing +to give you best." + +"Oh, well," said Laura, "perhaps I was not just." + +He went off and Laura mused. She had not liked Deering. He was a gambler +and exploited the extravagance of rich young men. Yet Frank trusted the +fellow and she began to doubt if her antagonism were altogether +warranted. For one thing, Deering was stanch, and his pluck was rather +fine. Her father had started with a well-equipped party; Deering went +alone, and when he got to Green Lake must baffle the police. Then she +liked his humorous politeness. He knew she doubted him, but he was not +revengeful. On the whole, she thought when she gave him her hand she +took the proper line. + + + + +XXVII + +DEERING'S PROGRESS + + +Soon after Deering started from the hotel he met Jardine. Deering knew +the shrewd Canadian Scots and thought the rancher a man to trust. +Moreover he had not yet got all the light he wanted. Jardine was on foot +and Deering said, "Hello! It's a long hike to Kelshope. Where's your +horse?" + +"Margaret's got the cayuse at Green Lake. D'ye no' ken?" + +"I didn't know," said Deering. "But you're coming from the station. When +do they expect the construction train?" + +"She stopped doon the track for the boys to fix some rails. The operator +was grumbling because she'd no' get through till dark and he'd got to +block the line for the Kamloops freight." + +"Oh, well," said Deering, "since I want to get on board the calaboose, +perhaps her stopping in the dark is not a drawback. But what about Miss +Margaret's going to Green Lake?" + +Jardine looked at him rather hard. "I alloo ye're Mr. Leyland's friend?" + +"Sure thing!" said Deering. "Jimmy reckons you his friend. Well, I want +to know how he got away." + +Jardine told him and Deering pondered. He had undertaken an awkward +job, and since he saw some obstacles, he resolved to give the rancher +his confidence. Among the trees the frost was not keen and the sun was +on the road. Deering indicated a spruce log and pulled out some cigars. + +"Suppose we take a smoke and talk," he said, and when Jardine lighted a +cigar resumed: "Won't Miss Margaret's shooting the fellow's horse make +trouble for her?" + +"I reckon not," said Jardine, who had heard the trooper's statement, and +when he got a note from Margaret remarked that the narratives did not +agree. "I'm thinking the boys dinna mean to pit it on Margaret and the +trooper's no' altogether prood." + +"It's possible. But why didn't _you_ put Jimmy wise?" + +"I'd cut my foot chopping, a day or two before." + +Deering rather doubted if Jardine's cutting his foot accounted for all, +but he said, "Let's talk straight! I suppose Miss Margaret is going to +marry Leyland?" + +"Maybe, but I dinna ken. Jimmy wanted to marry her." + +"Very well," said Deering. "I'll tell you all I know." + +He narrated his interview with Laura and Stannard's going to Jimmy's +help. Jardine's look got thoughtful and sometimes he frowned. When +Deering stopped he said, "Ye dinna trust Stannard! Ye'd sooner Jimmy +hadna gone across the rocks wi' him?" + +"I would sooner he had not," Deering agreed. "Jimmy trusts Stannard, +the others are tenderfoots, and I understand they have not a first-class +guide." + +"The man they've got is no' a mountain guide ava; Gillane's a packer on +the Government surveys. But I dinna see much light yet. Jimmy owes +Stannard a guid sum." + +"Leyland insured his life in Stannard's favor and Stannard wants money. +Well, I'm going up the line with the construction gang to follow the +party's trail." + +Jardine got up and his look was very grim. "Just that! I'll join ye." + +"Not at all," said Deering. "Your part's to go to Green River depot +afterwards and watch out. I expect you're a good bushman, but this is a +job for a first-class mountaineer. Besides, you cut your foot!" + +Jardine gave him a keen glance, but Deering resumed. "You see, I must +hit up the pace and can't boost you along. Can I hire a young man, a +prospector if possible, at Green River?" + +The other's arguments did not move him and by and by Jardine resigned +himself to stay behind. + +"I'm thinking my nephew, Peter, is the man ye want. Whiles he goes to +the depot for his groceries and mail. The storekeeper will ken if he's +aboot. Ye can tell Peter I sent ye to him." + +After a few minutes Deering went off, but he went slowly and did not +keep the road to the station. Joining the line two or three miles down +the valley, he found a track-grader's tool hut and went in and smoked. +The hut was cold, but Deering's fur coat was thick and good. When dusk +began to fall he walked along the track and stopped three or four +hundred yards from the station. + +By and by a light twinkled like a star in the gloom of the woods. A +steady throb rolled up the valley, and presently Deering distinguished a +locomotive's measured snorts and the rumble of wheels. The star was now +a dazzling moon, and its reflections picked out, far in advance, +glittering rails and frost-spangled trees. When the locomotive was level +with Deering he began to run up the line, and soon after the train +stopped he got behind the last car. + +He knew the company's rules, but he knew something about train-gangs, +and he had ready a few dollar bills. Although the station agent did not +see him get on board, when the train rolled up the track he occupied a +box in front of the calaboose stove. The men gave him supper, and when +he had drained a can of strong coffee he pulled out some cards and +showed how an expert puzzled his antagonists. + +Cold draughts swept the rocking calaboose, the stove roared, and one +smelt locomotive smoke. Labored snorts echoed in the rocks, couplings +rang, and when the train sped across a bridge the roll of wheels drowned +Deering's voice. Deering smiled and waited for the noise to stop. He had +undertaken a daunting job and was bothered about Jimmy, but in the +meantime he owed something to his hosts and he played up. Although +Deering had some drawbacks, his rule was to play up. + +A number of the men had long studied cards and could bluff on a poor +hand. Three or four won regularly some part of their companions' wages, +but they knew a master's touch and for a time Deering held the group. +Then he lighted his pipe and began to talk about something else. He +found out that the train ran between a gravel pit and Green River. The +men were filling up a trestle and cutting out an awkward curve. + +"Have they got a hotel at the settlement?" Deering inquired. + +"They've no use for a hotel at Green River. Sometimes a rancher comes in +for his mail and a survey party jumps off. I guess that's all. You can +stop at the post office. The man who keeps it runs a small store." + +"Nothing much doing yet," Deering remarked. "Do the mounted policemen +come to the settlement?" + +A big shovel-man laughed. "They're getting busy around Green River. Two +lots came in not long since and a trooper's there now, but he won't +bother you. Looks as if he was sent to watch out for somebody who wanted +to _get on_ the train." + +"Then, you reckon they're after somebody in the rocks?" said Deering +carelessly. + +"That's so," another agreed. "I wouldn't bet much on the fellow's +chance! When we ran up with the last load, a police outfit was starting +for the range. Three or four troopers and a pack-horse. They'd loaded up +some truck." + +"Oh, well," said Deering. "The Royal North-West are smart boys, but I've +known them beat. However, I've been for some time on the road and think +I'll go to bed. Can somebody give me a bunk?" + +They gave him a bunk, and for an hour or two he slept; he knew it might +be long before he slept warm again. When he awoke the locomotive bell +was tolling and the roll of wheels was getting slack. The calaboose was +very cold, and Deering, jumping from his bunk, went to the open door. + +In front a fire burned by a water tank and the beam from the headlamp +flickered across a small clearing and touched a wooden house. Farther +off, a big blast-lamp threw up a pillar of flame. The light tossed and +for a few moments all was shadowy. Then the strong illumination leaped +up again, and Deering saw a man who carried a short rifle walk along the +line. He knew the Royal North-West uniform. + +Deering picked up his fur coat and hesitated. In the mountains one must +wear proper clothes and the coat was good, but unless he could cheat the +trooper he might not reach the mountains. He touched the man who had +given him the bunk. + +"I'll trade my coat and cap for yours." + +The fellow's skin coat and cap were old, and he looked at Deering with +surprise. + +"Why do you want to trade? A track-grader doesn't buy Revillon furs." + +Deering indicated the trooper. "The policeman might calculate something +like that, but I expect he knows you belong to the gang. You are going +to dump some rails and for half an hour I want a job." + +"Now I get you!" said the other. + +He pulled off his shabby coat, and when the train stopped and Deering +jumped down nothing distinguished him from the construction gang. +Climbing on to a flat car, he joined the men who threw down the rails, +and presently saw the trooper stop the fellow who wore his coat and cap. +He did not know how the railroad man accounted for his wearing good +furs, but he was obviously a track-grader and after a few moments the +trooper let him go. Then the train rolled up the line and Deering stayed +with the men who moved the rails. + +By and by the trooper walked past the gang, glanced at the men +carelessly, and, turning back, vanished in the gloom. Deering thought +him satisfied nobody but the track-graders was about, and soon +afterwards he started for the house. So far, he had trusted his luck, +but he wanted help and must get food. Moreover, he must not excite the +storekeeper's curiosity. + +A clump of pines cut the illumination up the track. Sometimes when the +blast-lamp's flame leaped up, bright reflections touched the house, but +for the most part, the ground in front was dark. When Deering was near +the door, a man came out and stopped for a few moments. Deering thought +him a rancher and when he went down the steps met him at the bottom. + +"Can I buy some flour and groceries?" he asked. + +"You might," said the other and looked at Deering as if he thought the +inquiry strange. "Why do you want groceries? Where are you going?" + +Deering saw something must be risked and when a risk must be run he did +not hesitate. + +"If I can find the trail, I'm going up the valley. Peter Jardine has a +ranch at the lake, I think?" + +"That's so," said the other. "I'm Peter Jardine!" + +Deering laughed. His luck had not turned and when the reflections from +the blast-lamp touched the rancher's face he thought he had got the +proper man. + +"Then, as soon as you can get me some groceries, I'll start for the +rocks. Your uncle sent me along and stated you would help. You see, I'm +Jimmy Leyland's partner and Miss Margaret's friend." + +"Ah," said Peter, "you're Deering? Well, the police are after Jimmy. For +some days two troopers hunted for his tracks and then a sergeant and +another came in on the train and started off as if they knew where he +was. In the meantime, a sports outfit hit the trail, but I didn't meet +up with them. I made the station in the afternoon and didn't know what I +ought to do. In fact, when you came along, I was wondering if I'd pull +out for the ranch." + +"You're coming with me. I don't want to boast, but I'm a mountain +clubman and on the rocks I reckon I can beat the police." + +"But Jimmy's friends got off in front of the troopers." + +"There's the trouble; they're not all his friends," Deering rejoined. +"On the whole, I'd sooner the police got him than he crossed the range +with the other lot. But we'll talk about this again. When can you +start?" + +"I can start as soon as my horse is loaded up, but we have got to bluff +the policeman. He mustn't see us take the mountain trail. Well, I've +pork and flour and groceries. Have you got all you want?" + +"I want a Hudson's Bay blanket and a pack-rope," said Deering and gave +Peter a roll of bills. "Then you had better buy a frying-pan and +grub-hoe." + +"Very well. Go ahead up the trail across the clearing and wait for me by +the creek," said Peter and returned to the store. + +After a time he rejoined Deering and tied his loaded horse to a branch. + +"The storekeeper knows I hit the Green Lake trail, and we don't want the +cayuse. When we have sorted out the truck we need, he'll make the ranch +all right. Light the lantern and we'll fix our packs." + +Deering lighted the lantern and after a few minutes strapped a bag of +food on his back. He pushed his folded blanket through the straps, gave +Peter the rope, and picked up the grub-hoe, a Canadian digging tool very +like a mountaineer's ice-ax. Then they put out the light, let the horse +go, and went back quietly to the railroad. Nobody was about, and +stealing across the line, they plunged into the gloom. + +"My luck's good," said Deering. "When I think about all we're up +against, I sure want it good." + + + + +XXVIII + +A DISSOLVING PICTURE + + +After a time Deering stopped and looked about. The stones on the river +bank were large and sharp, the night was dark, and his load embarrassed +him. In the distance, he saw a small red fire; a dim light marked the +post office, and the reflections from the blast-lamp quivered behind the +trees. Deering got his breath and braced up. + +Born in the bush, he had known poverty and stern physical toil. He was a +good mountaineer, but he admitted that his two hundred pounds was +something of a load to carry across icy rocks. Then he had, for the most +part, lived extravagantly at fashionable hotels, and his big muscles +were soft; but this was not all. The distant lights stood for human +society and civilization. Deering was very human and fought against an +atavistic shrinking from the dark and loneliness. Moreover, he knew the +wilds. For all that, he meant to conquer his shrinking. + +He admitted that he was perhaps a romantic sentimentalist and his +adventure did not harmonize with his occupation. Sometimes, however, one +was not logical and not long since he would have plunged down the rocks +but for Jimmy's pluck. Besides he saw Stannard had used him to entangle +the lad. Deering had his rude code, but Stannard had none. He was cold +and calculating, and Deering thought he meant to carry out the plan he +tried before when he sent Jimmy over the neck. Although Deering did not +like the job, he meant to baffle him. + +In the meantime, all was quiet but for the turmoil of the river a few +yards off. Dark pines occupied the narrow level belt by the track, and +on the other side vague blurred rocks went up. Thin mist drifted about, +and the line, running downhill, melted into the gloom. The trooper was +at the station and Deering imagined nobody was about. + +"The stones are sharp and slippery," he said. "We'll take the track and +push on for the section-hut." + +They got on the line, but did not progress fast. The gravel ballast was +large and hurt their feet; the ties were not evenly spaced. Sometimes +Deering stepped on the timber and sometimes on the loose stones. Then +numerous ravines pierced the rocks, and although the construction gangs +had begun to fill up the chasms, for the most part wooden trestles +spanned the gaps. To cross an open-work trestle in the dark is awkward, +and when Deering balanced on a narrow tie and looked for the next, he +sweated and breathed hard. On one trestle he stopped. Sixty feet below +him, he saw the foam of an angry torrent; the next tie was some distance +off, and the wood sparkled with frost. + +In a sense, his adventure was ridiculous. When he used the railroad he +went on board a first-class car and checked his baggage. Now he stumbled +over the ballast and carried on his back all he could not go without. In +the meantime, however, he must cross the trestle, and he trusted his +luck and jumped. + +He got across and after three or four hours they reached the +section-shack. Graham was in bed, but he got up and told them all they +wanted to know. Three policemen with an Indian and a pack-horse had come +down the track and Graham imagined they had found the entrance to +Jimmy's valley. He reckoned they would send back the Indian and the +horse when they took the rocks, but the fellow had not yet returned. +Peter was puzzled about the Indian. + +"They didn't hire him up at the station," he remarked. "Looks as if +they'd fixed it for him to meet them." + +"It looks as if they'd made their plans and their plans were pretty +good," said Deering. "However, since they've got a loaded horse, they +can't shove on fast. How long was the other outfit in front?" + +Graham told him and for a few moments Deering pondered. Then he said, +"It's awkward! Stannard knows where Jimmy is, and he'll hit up the pace. +I reckon the police don't know and must look for his tracks. If we +hustle, we'll run up against the gang." + +The difficulty was obvious and Peter frowned. + +"We might get by their camp in the dark. We'd see the fire." + +"I doubt," Deering rejoined. "If the boys make a fire, they'll make it +where the light is hid. They don't want to put Jimmy wise." + +"Well?" said Peter. "What is your plan?" + +Deering laughed, a noisy laugh, for now he had started, his hesitation +vanished. + +"We'll trust our luck and shove ahead. In the morning we'll get up the +rocks and look about. I've brought my glasses. Let's get going." + +Graham gave them directions and when they climbed a steep hill they +found the valley. The ground was broken and in places covered by tangled +brush, but they made progress and at daybreak labored across the snow to +the top of a spur. Deering sat on his pack and used his prismatic +glasses. + +Gray cloud floated about the mountain slopes, but the high peaks were +sharp and began to shine in the rising sun. Some were rose-pink and some +were yellow; the hollows between their broken tops were gray and blue. A +map of the mountains occupied a wall of the hotel rotunda, and Deering, +using his glasses, imagined it roughly accurate. + +"I expect the blue gap is the head of the valley," he remarked and when +Peter nodded resumed: "We'll allow Stannard joined Jimmy ahead of the +police and took him along. We have got to hit their line and this is not +as hard as it looks. They can't steer for the shoulder of the big peak; +the rocks won't go and I see an ugly ice-fall on the glacier. I reckon +I'd head back, obliquely, for the _col_, up the long _arrete_." + +"I don't use no _habitant_ French," Peter observed. + +"Oh, well. Our clubmen have begun to use the tourists' talk," said +Deering and gave Peter the glasses. "Anyway, you see the ridge that runs +up to the neck?" + +Peter studied the ridge. He had hunted mountain sheep and imagined sun +and frost had worn the rocks to something like a knife-edge. In places, +sharp pinnacles broke the top, and he thought it significant that for +the most part the snow did not lie. The shadow behind the top, no doubt, +marked a great precipitous gulf, but the farther end of the ridge +touched a white hollow between two peaks. If one could get across, one +might find a glacier going down the other side. + +"I reckon your friends couldn't make it between sun-up and dark," he +said. "Anyhow, the police would see them on the rocks." + +"Stannard might hit a line a few yards below the top, but I imagine the +clouds will soon roll up. Give me the glasses. I want to locate a gully +that goes for some distance up the ridge." + +Peter saw his object. The long ridge ran back obliquely from farther up +the valley and to get up by the line Deering marked would cut out the +corner. Moreover Peter imagined the police had reached Jimmy's hut, and +if they found the tracks of Stannard's party, they would climb the ridge +from the other end. In consequence, Deering's going up the gully would +put him in front. + +"I guess we'll start. When we noon we'll be nearer, and if the mist's +not thick, you can look for the line you want." + +They went down the hill, and by and by the cloud rolled up the slope, +and rocks and peaks were lost in gloom. Then Deering began to get tired, +for although there was no snow at the bottom of the valley, the ground +was rough. After an hour or two he pushed into the timber and stopped. + +"Perhaps it's risky, but I've got to eat and take a rest," he said. "The +trees are pretty thick, and if the smoke goes up, the hill's a good +background." + +They cooked some food and then sat by the fire. Not far off the belt of +trees was broken, and presently Deering saw the cloud had got thin and +begun to roll back, up the mountains. Vague rocks pierced the vapor and +grew distinct; the mist trailed away from battered trees and slanted +fields of snow. For a time it clung about the high dark precipices, and +then one saw the snow-packed gullies seam the crags like marble veins. A +faint light pierced the vapor, and the broken top of the ridge began to +cut the background. + +Deering pulled out his glasses and went to the opening in the wood. The +light was getting stronger, but he did not think the cloud would +altogether melt and he must search the rocks while search was possible. +By and by a beam touched the ridge and the snow glimmered like pale gold +against blue shadow. Above the shadow were broken peaks, but the belt of +dark blue indicated a gap and Deering, noting the strong color, thought +the gap profound. + +The landscape, lighted by the unsteady beam, was strangely beautiful. +The pale illumination did not travel far and the rocks outside its reach +owed something of their mysterious grandeur to the contrast. Deering, +however, was not romantic and thought he saw a line, across a steep, +white slope and up a buttress, to the ridge. If he could get up, he +would cut Stannard's track and imagined he would not be much behind the +party. + +He concentrated on the ridge. The slope along the top was not even but +went up, rather like a terraced walk. Rocky buttresses supported the +terraces, and, for the most part, the stones were free from snow; +Deering knew this indicated a very steep pitch. One buttress was marked +by a broad white band, and when he rubbed the glasses he thought he saw +on the snow a small object he had not remarked before. The object moved, +and calling Peter, he gave him the glasses. + +"What's that? A cinnamon?" + +"The bears have come down," said Peter. "The big-horn have gone for the +low benches. I guess the thing's a man." + +Deering agreed and waited. Perhaps it was strange, but of all the +animals, civilized man alone was willing to front the cold on the +daunting heights. The ridge, outlined against a vague background of +majestic peaks, looked as remote as another world. To imagine flesh and +blood could reach it was hard, but Deering meant to try and knew +Stannard's calculating steadiness. If one went carefully, studying the +obstacles, and using the ax and rope-- + +"It's a man all right. I see another," said Jardine and gave Deering the +glasses. Deering saw three men. They advanced very slowly, and he +pictured their cutting steps before they moved. One crossed the +snow-belt and vanished. When he was anchored in the rocks he would +steady his companions. Deering knew it was Stannard, for Stannard would +not trust a poor guide at a spot like that. The others, perhaps, were +Dillon and Stevens. Then he saw two more; Gillane, the packer, and +Jimmy. Anyhow, Stannard had started with three companions and now he had +four. Deering knew all he wanted to know. + +He watched the party, strung out at even distances, move across the +white band; and then the figures melted. They had not reached the other +side, but when he rubbed his glasses they were gone. The peaks in the +background vanished, the ridge got indistinct, and the black pines on +the lower snow-fields faded, as if a curtain were drawn across the +picture. + +Deering shut his glasses and went for his pack. The mist was not thick +and he knew his line to the buttress. + +"Put out the fire and let's get off," he said. + +"You can't cross the ridge in the dark and the cold's going to be +fierce," Peter remarked. + +"That is so. I doubt if Stannard can make the neck, but if he gets +there, he must wait for morning. Maybe we'll find a hole in the rocks." + +Peter said nothing. He had engaged to go where the other went and must +try to make good, although the road was daunting. In thick timber, a +bushman can front biting cold; but on the high, icy rocks one could not +make camp and light a fire. If their luck were very good, they might +find a hole behind a stone, in which they must wait for daybreak and try +not to freeze. + +He put out the fire and when they went through the wood pondered +gloomily. To reach the neck would cost them much; but to get there was +not all. They must get down on the other side, and, for the most part, +the mountain tops were tremendous precipices. Peter rather thought the +neck opened on a glacier, but sometimes a glacier is broken by awkward +ice-falls. + +All the same, Peter set his mouth and pushed ahead. In the valley, he +could hit up the pace for Deering, but he imagined to follow the big +fellow on the rocks was another thing. When a bushman took the rocks he +went to shoot big-horn and bear. The mountain clubmen studied climbing +as one studies the ball-game. + + + + +XXIX + +HELD UP + + +A few pale stars were in the sky and the moon was over a vague, gray +peak. Deering shivered, beat his numbed hands, and looked about. The +frost was keen and he had not thought he could sleep, but when he looked +about before the stars were bright and the moon was not above the peak. +In front, the buttress cut the sky, and although the rocks were +indistinct, he saw the belt of snow Stannard had crossed. Since Stannard +had got his party up the buttress, Deering imagined he could get up; but +the rocks were awkward. + +Deering wore the railroad man's skin coat and a thick Hudson's Bay +blanket. For climbing their weight was an embarrassment, but he would +sooner carry the load than freeze. Although he lay with his shoulders +against Jardine, he was numb, and the outside of the blanket sparkled +with frost. A tilted slab partly covered them, but the gravel in the +hole was frozen and Deering's hip-joint hurt. The worst trouble was, +when he was very cold his brain got dull and he hated to use effort. Yet +effort was needed, for day had begun to break and he must cross the neck +by dark. To stop another night on the high rocks was unthinkable and he +knew his luck might turn. If thick snow fell or a strong wind blew, he +and Peter would stay on the rocks for good. + +Moreover, Jimmy was in front, and Deering thought Jimmy ran a daunting +risk. He ought to get up and start, but he shrank from the frost, and +for a minute or two he weighed his grounds for doubting Stannard. Jimmy +owed Stannard a large sum and had insured his life. If he went over a +precipice, the company would pay Stannard. Deering admitted the argument +looked ridiculous; Stannard was highly cultivated, rather extravagant +than greedy, and not at all the man to plan a revolting crime. Yet he +had not engaged a proper guide and his companions were trustful young +fellows whom he could mislead. Moreover, he had gone down into a +snow-swept gully to help Leyland and knew this would weigh. Stannard had +then expected Jimmy to marry Laura. + +Deering pushed Peter, who woke up and grumbled. Deering open his pack +awkwardly and pulled out a bannock and some canned meat. + +"Day is breaking. When you have had your breakfast we must start." + +"Unless I get a hot drink, I've not much use for breakfast," Peter +replied. "When do you reckon we'll get down to the timber? When I camp I +like a fire." + +"Depends on our luck," said Deering, dryly. "I doubt if you'll make a +fire to-night." + +"If I wasn't a fool, I'd go right back. Stannard's most a day's hike +ahead. Then if the police have hit his trail, they're not far behind +us." + +"We cut out some ground and on the rocks two men go faster than five. +Stannard must find a line for his gang and us. Then I expect he'll be +held up for a time at the neck. I don't know where the police are." + +Peter ate the bannock and put on his pack. "Well, let's get going!" + +The light was not yet good. Their muscles were stiff, physical fatigue +reacted on their nervous strength, and at the belt of snow they stopped. +The belt was perhaps ten yards across and occupied a channel in the +rocks. The surface was smooth and hard, and Deering imagined if one +slipped one would not stop until one reached the valley. A row of small +holes, however, indicated that Stannard's party had gone across and up +the dark, forbidding buttress on the other side. Deering frankly shrank +from the labor and risk of crossing, but he dared not turn back. + +"Where the boys have gone we mustn't stop," he said. "Tie on the rope +and give me the grub-hoe." + +Peter gave him the hoe. The blade was curved, like a carpenter's adze, +and at its head was a short pick. The tool, although rather heavy, was a +good ice-ax. In soft snow, one can kick holes, but the snow was hard and +Deering doubted if the notches Stannard had cut would carry him. He used +the pick, balancing in a hole while he chipped out the next, and when +they got across he sent Peter in front. Their hands were numb and where +the snow had melted veins of ice filled the cracks in the rocks. The +hold was bad and Peter stopped at the bottom of a slab Deering had +remarked when he sent him in front. + +"I sure don't know how we're going to get up." + +"Stannard got up," said Deering and looked about. + +Thirty feet below him the belt of snow pierced the rocks. It looked +nearly perpendicular and the snow-field at its foot was horribly steep. +In the shadow, the surface was gray and dark patches marked where rocks +pushed through. A very long way down, across a sharp but broken line, +the color was blue, and Deering thought the line the top of a precipice. +He turned and looked up. The slab was upright and about ten feet high; +he could not see a crack or knob, but he noted two or three fresh +scratches. + +"Lean against the rock and spread your arms," he said, and when Peter +did so climbed up his back. + +Standing on the other's shoulders, he could reach the top of the slab. +The top was nearly flat and went back for some distance, but the snow +was hard. Deering dared not trust his numbed hands and he tried the +pick. The blade got hold, but he could not see farther than the handle. +If he had caught a small lump of ice that would not support him, the +rope would pull Jardine off the rock. All the same, something must be +risked. + +"Brace up good," he said and trusted the pick. + +The tool held and he got his chest on the top, but now the blade was +near his body, his reach was short and when he used his hand his stiff +fingers slipped across the snow. It was obvious he must move the pick, +but the tool was his main support and the effort to push it forward +might send him down. Still, if he could get three or four inches higher, +he might, perhaps, balance on the edge. + +His boots got no grip on the smooth slab, but when he used his knee his +clothes stuck to the stone. When his waist was nearly level with the top +he pulled out the pick and moved it forward. For a moment or two the +blade came back and he began to go down; then it held and after a stern +effort he was up. The rock above the ledge was broken, and throwing the +rope across a knob, he helped Peter. + +Half an hour afterwards, they reached the ridge behind the buttress. +Deering's hands were bleeding and he was not cold. His skin was wet and +he breathed by labored gasps. In front, the ridge went up, unevenly, to +the neck. The narrow, broken top, for the most part, was supported by +precipitous rocks. One must use caution and could not go fast, but after +a time a snow cornice began on one side. The top, leveled by the wind, +was smooth, and, so far as it rested on the stone, was firm. As a rule, +a snow cornice is widest above, and Deering knew if he crossed the line +where it overhung its base he might break through, but the marks in +front indicated where Stannard had gone. + +Stannard knew much about snow cornices and Deering wondered whether he +could not have found some grounds for throwing off the rope and letting +Jimmy venture on the dangerous overhang. He had obviously not done so; +moreover he had brought his companions up the buttress. If Deering +himself had meant to let somebody fall, he thought he would have tried +at the awkward slab. In fact, he admitted that to picture Stannard's +weighing a plan like that was theatrically extravagant. Yet he knew +Stannard, who was not the man people thought. He was very clever and if +he plotted to get rid of Jimmy, he would not do so soon after he had +taken him into the mountains. He would wait until he had nearly carried +out his job and was bringing his party down from the rocks. Anyhow, +Deering's business was to overtake the party. To wonder whether he +exaggerated Jimmy's danger would not help. + +For a time he made good progress along the cornice, and in the afternoon +he reached the neck. At the end of the ridge Stannard's tracks forked. +One row of footmarks crossed a steep snow-bank running up a peak; the +other went along the hollow neck. + +"All the outfit went up the neck and then two or three turned back," +Peter remarked after examining the trampled snow. + +Deering nodded. "Stannard sent them back and pushed ahead with Gillane +to look for a line down the other side. When we get across we'll see +what he was up against." + +At the end of the neck they stopped and Deering frowned. He had been +longer than he thought and a pale illumination behind a peak indicated +that the sun was low. In the valley below, he saw a frozen lake and a +dark, winding band he knew was timber on a river bank. He had food, and +if he could reach the trees he need not bother about the frost. A +Canadian grub-hoe, made for cutting roots, is a useful tool, and he +could build a wall of bark and branches, light a fire and brew hot tea. +The trouble was, to get down to the friendly pines. + +In front of him, a snow-field sloped to a spot at which two uneven, +converging rows of dark rocks ought to have met. The rocks were the tops +of precipices, but the point of their intersection was cut out, and a +glacier began at the gap. Deering could see for a short distance down +the glacier, until it plunged across the top of a steeper pitch, and +when he used his glasses he noted its surface was crumpled, as if it +broke in angry waves. In fact, it was rather like a rapid suddenly +frozen at the top of a fall. Deering knew it was an ice-fall and the +waves were giant blocks. The rocks at the side were very steep and +veined by snow. + +"Nothing's doing there!" he remarked. "I don't see Stannard, but he +won't find a useful line. Let's look for the boys." + +They turned and, following the tracks along the neck, after some time +went round a buttress that broke the front of the range. On the other +side three people occupied a little hollow in the rock. One got up +awkwardly. + +"It's Peter!" he shouted. "Why, Deering, you grand old sport!" + +Deering gave Jimmy his hand and noted that his look was strained and his +face was pinched. + +"Miss Laura put me on your track and Mr. Jardine wanted to come along," +he said and studied the others, who did not get up. + +"They've had enough," said Jimmy. "We were two nights on the rocks and +the cold was keen. Stannard's gone to see if we can get down the +glacier, but I don't think he's hopeful. Anyhow, let's go back into our +hole. When you wriggle down under a blanket, it's a little warmer than +outside." + +Deering joined the others. A jambed stone partly covered the hole, and +the boys' packs, fur coats and blankets kept them from freezing, but he +saw their pluck was nearly gone. + +"What about the police?" he asked, when he had lighted his pipe. + +"We don't know where they are," Jimmy replied. "Stannard brought us up +the ridge, but from my shack you see another way up at the head of the +valley. I went over to study the ground and thought the climb harder +than it looks. All the same, I imagine the police have tried it. Of +course, when they got to the snow they wouldn't find our tracks, but +they know we're in the mountains--" + +"Then, they're south of us?" + +Jimmy nodded. "On this side of the range; they'd reckon on our pushing +south and expect to cut us off. Now you see why Stannard's keen about +getting down the glacier!" + +"We can't get down; the ice-fall won't go," said Stevens moodily. "I +doubt if I could get down a ladder. My notion is, Stannard knows his +plan's a forlorn hope and Gillane is badly rattled." + +"The fellow's a common packer; Stannard ought not to have hired him," +Dillon agreed. "Still we couldn't wait and when the Revelstoke man sent +Gillane we were forced to start. Anyhow, I'd trust Stannard where I +wouldn't trust a guide." + +"He hasn't hit a useful line yet," Stevens rejoined. "We're held up, and +I doubt if we can stand for another night in the frost." + +"I'm willing to go back and risk the police," said Jimmy. "Still, we +couldn't start until daybreak and would be forced to camp again on the +ridge. The valley's not far off; if we can make it." + +"We must wait for Stannard's report," said Deering soothingly. "When I +was at the hotel the clerk gave me a letter for you." + +Jimmy beat his numbed hands and opened the envelope. Then he laughed, a +dreary laugh. + +"In a way, the thing's a joke! Leyland's has something to do with a +Japanese cotton mill and Sir Jim writes from Tokio. He's going to +England by Vancouver and sails on board the first C.P.R. boat. He means +to stop for a few days and look me up--" Jimmy studied the postmark and +resumed: "I expect he's at Vancouver now." + +"Your luck is certainly bad," Deering remarked in a sympathetic voice. + +"Jim's the head of the house; Dick owns him boss," Jimmy went on. "His +letter's kind, and if he'd arrived before, when I was making good, I +might have got his support. I wanted to persuade him I was not a +careless fool; but when he gets to know my recent exploits--" + +Deering imagined Jimmy had wanted his uncle to agree about his marrying +Margaret. Since Sir James was a sober business man, the lad had not much +grounds to hope he would approve his nephew's romantic adventures. + +"After all, I rather think we'll cheat the police," he said. "They don't +know where we are and when we make the valley we'll hit up the pace. +I've friends who'll help you across the frontier and you can sail for +England from New York." + +"The drawback is, we can't make the valley. Stannard can't lead us +down," Stevens interrupted gloomily. + +Deering looked up. "We'll know soon. I hear steps." + +Stannard came round the corner, saw Deering, and stopped, rather +quickly. + +"Hello! We did not expect you. Were you at the hotel? Have you got some +news?" + +"I was at the hotel," Deering replied. "The morning before I got there a +police sergeant arrived. I understand he was curious about your +excursion." + +Stannard's glance was keen and Deering thought him disturbed. + +"You imply the fellow knew I'd gone to join Jimmy?" + +"Miss Laura imagined something like that. But what about the glacier?" + +Stannard hesitated and knitted his brows. "I think we'll risk it in the +morning. You see, if we pushed along the range, we might meet the +police. Besides, we must get down to the timber soon." + +"You sure can't get down," remarked Gillane, the packer, who had +followed Stannard. + +"We'll try," said Stannard, and turning to the others, forced a smile. +"Well, I want some food and Frank might light the spirit lamp. You must +brace up for another night on the mountain, but we're lucky because we +have got a corner where we shan't freeze." + + + + +XXX + +THE GULLY + + +Day broke drearily. The sky was dark and snow clouds rolled about the +peaks. In the hollow behind the rock Stannard's party crowded round the +spirit lamp. One could get no warmth, but in the snowy wilds the small +blue flame and steaming kettle called. Moreover, each would soon receive +a measured draught of strong hot tea. + +All were numb and their faces were pinched. Stevens was frankly +despondent, and when Dillon broke his hard bannock his stiff hands +shook. Gillane was apathetic, but when Stannard measured out the tea he +joked and Deering laughed. To laugh cost the big man something, but he +knew he must. Stern effort was needed and human effort does not +altogether depend on muscular strength. The packer's mood was daunting +and it was obvious they would not get much help from him. + +Jimmy was quiet. He must concentrate on holding out and could not force +a laugh. He admitted he had not pluck like Stannard's. Stannard was +indomitable, and now his gay carelessness was very fine. Although he was +the oldest of the party and his face was haggard, he joked and his jokes +were good. When the meal was over he got up and beat his hands. + +"We must get down before dark and I think I know a line," he said. "If +our luck is good, we'll camp in the trees by a splendid fire." + +To start was hard, but they got off and the snow was firm. The steep +slope below the neck was smooth and for a time they made progress. Jimmy +remarked the thickening snow cloud and knew Stannard thought it ominous, +for he pushed on as fast as possible. So far, one could use some speed; +the obstacles were in front. + +The snow-field stopped at the top of a chain of precipices. The rocks +were broken by the deep gap through which the glacier went, but Jimmy +noted smaller breaks he thought were gullies filled by snow. He could +not see the front of the precipices, but he pictured their falling for +six or seven hundred feet. At the bottom, no doubt, were steep spurs and +long ridges, across which one might reach the trees rolling up from the +valley. The precipice was the main obstacle, but Jimmy did not think the +rocks were perpendicular. Anyhow, the glacier was not, and if one could +cross the ice-falls, it would carry them down. The trouble was, the +cloud was getting thick. + +After a time, they stopped at the head of the glacier, and Stannard, +Jimmy and Deering climbed to a shelf that commanded the ice-fall. Mist +rolled about, but for some distance one saw the broad white belt curve +down between the rocks. Then Jimmy saw the fall and set his mouth. The +snowy ice was piled in tremendous blocks and split by yawning cracks. +It looked as if the cracks went to the bottom, and one imagined others, +hidden by fresh snow. Stannard turned to Deering, who shook his head. + +"The boys can't make it; I doubt if you can. Nothing's doing!" + +"Very well," said Stannard. "I marked a gully about two miles south. I +don't know if you'll like it, but we must get down." + +Deering pulled out his watch. "You have got to hustle. The boys can't +stand for another night on the mountain." + +When they rejoined the others, it looked as if his remark was justified. +Gillane declared if they could not cross the ice-fall they must stop and +freeze; Stevens owned he was exhausted and doubted if he could reach the +gully. Jimmy would sooner have risked the fall, since he was persuaded +the other line would not carry them down, but if Stannard thought the +line might go, he was willing to try it. + +They fronted the laborious climb to the snow-field, and soon after they +got there mist blew across the slope. The party was now drawn out in a +straggling row and by and by Deering stopped and looked about. He knew +two or three were behind him, but he saw nobody. + +"Where are the boys?" he shouted. + +Peter said he had not seen Stevens and Dillon for some time, but they +were no doubt pushing along and the party's track was plain. + +"I'm going back," said Deering. "Watch out for Jimmy." + +He plunged into the mist and presently found Stevens sitting in the +snow. Dillon was with the lad and when Deering arrived urged him to get +up. Stevens dully refused and said there was no use in the others +bothering; he could go no farther. Deering pulled him up and shoved him +along. + +"You're going to the gully, anyhow," he shouted with a jolly laugh. +"When we get you there, you can sit down and slide." + +Dillon helped and some time afterwards they came up with Peter. + +"Where's Jimmy?" Deering asked in a sharp voice. + +"Stannard reckoned he was near the spot he'd marked. He took a rope, and +Gillane and Jimmy went along. They allowed I must stop to watch out for +you." + +"You let Jimmy go!" + +"Sure I did," said Peter, with sullen quietness. "I reckon you needn't +bother about Jimmy. Something's bitten you. Stannard's all right. If he +can't help us, we have got to freeze." + +Deering said nothing. Stannard's charm was strong, and cold and fatigue +had dulled Peter's brain. There was no use in arguing and he followed +the others' track. He could not see much, for the mist was thick. The +ground got steeper and rocks pierced the snow. It looked as if he were +near the top of the precipice, but so long as the marks in front were +plain he need not hesitate. After a few minutes he saw Gillane. The +packer leaned against a massy block, round which he had thrown the rope; +the end was over the top of the rocks. + +"Hello!" said Deering. "What's your job?" + +"I'm standing by to steady Mr. Stannard. Top of the gully's blocked, and +he calculated to get in by a traverse across the front. There's a kind +of ledge, but we didn't see a good anchor hold." + +Deering remarked that the fellow's grasp was slack and a single turn of +the rope was round the stone. If a heavy strain came on the end, he +thought the rope would run and Gillane would not have time to throw on +another loop. Cold and fatigue had made him careless. + +"Get a good hold and stiffen up," said Deering. "I'm going after +Stannard." + +The rocks were not as steep as he had thought and the ledge was wide +enough to carry him, but a yard or two in front it turned a corner. +Although the mist was puzzling, Deering thought it melted. In the +meantime, he must reach the corner. Sometimes Jimmy was rash, and if +Stannard allowed him to run a risk he ought not to run, nobody would +know. + +When Deering got to the corner, the mist rolled off the mountain top. He +saw a tremendous slope of rock, pierced by a narrow white hollow. For +four or five hundred feet the gully went down and gradually melted in a +fresh wave of mist. Deering noted the sharpness of the pitch and then +fixed his glance on Stannard, who leaned back against the rock. Jimmy, +holding on by Stannard's shoulder, was trying to get past on the outside +of the ledge. + +Deering stopped and his heart beat. The others did not see him and he +dared not shout, but if Stannard moved, it was obvious Jimmy would fall. +Stannard did not move, and Jimmy, crossing in front of him, stopped and +looked down. + +"The stretch is awkward and you can't steady me," he said. "Still I +think I could reach the slab and slide into the gully. Before we bring +the others, perhaps I ought to try." + +"You have a longer reach than mine and you are younger," Stannard +replied. + +Deering could not see the slab, but he imagined Stannard had noted +something about it that Jimmy had not. Now Jimmy fronted the other way, +Stannard's hand was at his waist and Deering thought he loosed the knot +on the rope. + +"Hold on, Jimmy," he said in a quiet voice. + +Jimmy stopped. Stannard turned, and although his look was cool Deering +thought his coolness forced. He leaned against the rock, but Deering saw +his hands were occupied behind his back. + +"I thought you went for Stevens," he remarked. + +"The kid wasn't far back," Deering replied and laughed. "Gillane's +rattled and half frozen. I reckon he might let you go, but my two +hundred pounds is a pretty good anchor. Slip off the rope and I'll help +Jimmy; he won't pull me off." + +Stannard awkwardly pulled out the knot, and Deering, who had thought to +see the rope fall, was baffled. For all that, he knew Stannard's +cleverness and imagined the fellow knew he had experimented. + +"I'm going in front of you," he resumed. "Wait until I tie on, Jimmy. +You can't trust the slab." + +When he had tied on he braced himself against the rock. Jimmy vanished +across the edge and the rope got tight. After a few minutes he came up. + +"So far as I can see, we can get down by cutting steps, but I couldn't +see very far," he said. "Your tip about the slab was useful, Deering. +The top was rotten and a lump came off. I was lucky because I put on the +rope." + +"On the rocks caution pays," Deering remarked. "Well, let's get up and +go for the others. Cutting steps for four or five hundred feet is a +pretty long job." + +They went back along the ledge, but Deering felt slack and his big hands +shook. He had borne some strain and rather thought that had he arrived a +few moments later Jimmy, and perhaps Gillane, would have gone down the +rocks. Yet he did not know. In fact, he admitted that he might not +altogether know. + + + + +XXXI + +STANNARD'S LINE + + +A wave of mist rolled across the rocks, but the vapor was faintly +luminous, as if a light shone through. Deering, Stannard, Jardine and +Jimmy waited on the steep bank above the ledge; Gillane had gone back +for the others. When he arrived the party would start. + +Deering knew the venture was rash and the labor heavy. They would use +two ropes and the leader must kick and cut steps in the snow; the others +behind would then occupy the holes and hold him up until he cut another +lot. Cutting steps, however, soon tired one's arms, and when the leader +was exhausted to pull him up and tie on a fresh man might be dangerous. +Then nobody knew what was at the bottom and the gully might break off on +the front of an icy cliff. + +All the same, some rashness was justified. Nothing indicated that the +mist would altogether roll away, and in two or three hours it would be +dark. If they stopped for another night on the high rocks, all would +freeze; an effort to reach the timber and camp by a fire was, so to +speak, their forlorn hope. Besides, Stannard was persuaded they could +get down, and Deering admitted his judgment was good. By and by +Stannard gave him a careless glance. + +"I'll lead on the first rope and take Gillane and Stevens. Jimmy and the +others will go with you." + +Deering wondered. He was resolved Jimmy should use his rope, but +Stannard's proposing it was significant. If Stannard knew why he had +joined them on the ledge, it looked as if he were resigned to let Jimmy +go. Then Stannard pulled out his watch. + +"We must get off. Shout for Gillane. Your voice carries well." + +Deering shouted and fixed his glance on the slope behind the group. +After a few minutes, two or three indistinct objects loomed in the mist. + +"The boys are coming," he said, and resumed in a puzzled voice: "Gillane +went for Stevens and Dillon; but I see _four_." + +"There are four," said Jimmy, and Deering's mouth got tight. + +He thought the first man did not belong to Stannard's party, and now he +saw two others behind the advancing group. + +"The police!" said Stannard, and shrugged resignedly. + +Jimmy turned. His face was pinched and his pose was slack, but his look +was calm. + +"You have played up nobly, but we're beaten and I've had enough. In +fact, to know I'm beaten is rather a relief." + +Deering nodded gloomily. There was no use in trying to get away; the +Royal North-West are empowered to shoot, and, as a rule, shoot straight. +He waited and noted mechanically that Stannard was a few yards nearer +the top of the rocks. By and by a police sergeant stopped opposite the +group. + +"We have got you! Don't move until you get my orders," he said, and +signing a trooper, indicated Gillane's party. "Hold that lot off!" + +"We are not looking for trouble and the boys won't bother you," said +Deering. "What's your business?" + +He turned and glanced at Stannard, who said nothing. The mist was +getting thin and Deering thought his look strained. Gillane had stopped +behind the police, and the sergeant advanced, pulling at his belt. + +"I have a warrant, but my hands are frozen and I can't get inside my +coat." + +"You can show us the warrant later," said Jimmy. "I'm James Leyland, the +man you want." + +"We _don't want you_," the sergeant replied. + +Jimmy's legs shook and he sat down in the snow. After the long strain, +his relief was poignant and reacted on his exhausted body. He gave the +sergeant a dull, puzzled look. + +"Then whom do you want?" + +"Harvey Stannard," said the other, and Stannard turned. + +His figure cut the misty background and he carried himself as if he were +not disturbed. In fact, Jimmy imagined he had expected something like +this. + +"I am Stannard. Why do you want me?" + +"When I can loose my belt I'll read you the warrant. The charge is +killing game-warden Douglas." + +"Then Douglas is dead?" said Stannard in a quiet voice. + +"He died four or five days since," the sergeant replied. + +"Ah!" said Stannard, and braced himself. "Well, I have nothing to state. +I reserve my defense----" + +"Stop him!" shouted the sergeant, and leaped across the snow. + +Stannard stepped back, stumbled on the steep bank and vanished. + +For a moment Jimmy, numbed by horror, wondered whether his imagination +had cheated him. Then he saw Stannard was really gone and he ran for the +ledge. The others joined him, but Stannard was not on the ledge. Two or +three hundred feet below a dark object rolled down a long slab and at +the bottom plunged into a gulf where the gray mist tossed. + +"He's gone," Deering remarked to the sergeant. "Perhaps you'll find him +when the snow melts." + +They went back to the spot where they had left their packs and ropes. +For a time all were quiet, and then the sergeant said to Deering: "He +beat me, but I don't get it yet. I didn't reckon on his going over; he +stated he reserved his defense." + +"Perhaps he was rash," Deering remarked in a thoughtful voice. "In the +meantime, however, we must let it go and think about getting down to +the bush. How did you find us?" + +"We went for a neck behind Mr. Leyland's shack. When we saw no tracks we +pushed along the main range. We reckoned you'd gone by the long ridge +and we might cut your trail. We were three nights in the rocks and are +all played out." + +"Then you had better join us. We are going to try Stannard's line down +the gully. I don't engage to make the woods, but I don't see another +plan." + +The sergeant hesitated. "Stannard hit the line?" + +"He declared the line would go," said Deering quietly. "Perhaps you have +not much grounds to trust him, but he was a great mountaineer." + +Jimmy turned and threw Deering the end of the rope. + +"Don't talk!" he said to the sergeant. "If you mean to join us, tie on. +We must start." + +A few minutes afterwards, they crossed the shelf. Deering led, and +Jimmy, going first on the second rope, rather doubted if they would +reach the trees. In summer the long straight crack was obviously the +mountain's rubbish shoot and its sides were ground smooth by rolling +stones; now it was packed by hard, firm snow. To slip would mean a +savage _glissade_, and then perhaps a plunge---- + +Much depended on the leader's nerve. Reaching down, held by the rope, he +must chip out holes; and then, when the man behind him occupied the +notches, move a foot or two and cut another. Sometimes Deering used his +boots and sometimes the ice-pick; but, for the most part, when his party +had gone across, the holes were broken and Jimmy was forced to cut. The +labor was exhausting and by and by Deering owned he had had enough. The +trouble was to help him back and put another in his place, but Gillane +got into the loop and brought them down some distance. Then he stopped +and for a few minutes all lay in the snow. Mist hid the bottom of the +gully and none dared hope their labor would be lightened much when they +got there. For all they knew they were painfully crawling down to the +top of a precipice. In fact nobody was willing to brace up for the +effort to change the leaders. + +After a time Jimmy turned his head. The mist was lifting. It went up in +torn shreds and the bottom of the gully began to get distinct. Where the +dark trough ran out from the rocks a smooth snow-field went down. The +vapor steadily rolled off the slope, until Jimmy saw a vague, dark belt +he thought was timber. His heart beat and he got back his pluck. + +"Stannard hit the proper line," he said. "We'll pitch camp in the +woods." + +Dillon took Gillane's post, the sergeant took Jimmy's, and they pushed +on. By and by the mist rolled down and hid the pitches below, but, now +all knew where they went, the gloom vanished and slack muscles were +braced. For all that, when they reached the snow-field Deering looked +to the west and frowned. + +"The light's going and the trees are a long way off," he said. "Mush +along, boys. You have got to get there!" + +In places the snow was loose and to get forward was hard. Jimmy pushed +Stevens for some distance and they were forced to stop for a young +police trooper. On some pitches the snow was hard and slippery, and +rocks with icy tops broke the surface. Dark crept up from the valley and +the trees were behind the ground in front. Yet from the daunting gully +they had looked down across the vast white slope and the picture that +melted like the mist led them on. Ahead were rest and food and warmth. +At length, two or three hours after dark, Dillon stumbled and rolled in +the snow. + +"Watch out for the juniper I ran up against," he shouted. "Keep going! +This trail's for the woods!" + +Half an hour afterwards Jimmy threw off his pack and leaned against a +spruce. The ground was steep and stony, but rows of small trunks cut the +glimmering snow. All round was fuel and one could build a shelter and +eat hot food. He thrilled and the blood came to his frozen skin. They +had run daunting risks and borne all flesh and blood could bear, but the +strain was done with. They had made it! + + + + +XXXII + +BY THE CAMP-FIRE + + +In the timber the cold was not very keen and the tired men braced +themselves for the effort to pitch camp. Peter and the sergeant took +control and soon a big fire burned behind a wall of branches. Against +the wall twigs and thin branches were packed for beds. Where the bushman +can find fuel and material for building he does not bother about the +frost, and in winter the Royal North-West patrols sleep by their +camp-fires far out on the snowy wilds. + +A trooper fried pork and doughy bannocks, Deering brewed a kettle of +strong tea, and when all had eaten like famished animals the men, for +the most part, went to sleep. For a time, however, Deering, the +sergeant, and Jimmy sat by the fire and smoked. + +On the mountains, they were absorbed by the stern physical effort, and +concentrated mechanically on getting down. Animal instinct urged them +forward, but now the risk of freezing was gone, they began to think like +men. The sergeant and Jimmy were puzzled and imagined they might get +some light from Deering. Jimmy's brows were knit and when he looked +about he frowned. Although he was warm and the hot tea had revived him, +he felt his brain was dull. + +Sparks leaped up from the fire; smoke tossed about the camp. One heard +the wind in the pine-tops and the trunks reflected gleams of flickering +light. The mist had blown away, and Jimmy saw far off a dim white ridge +cut the sky. Then he turned his head and shivered, for he knew +Stannard's broken body was somewhere in the rocks and perhaps nobody +would find the spot. Stannard was his friend, a cultivated gentleman and +a famous mountaineer; but he had slipped and gone down the precipice +like a raw tourist. Moreover, although it looked as if he had killed the +game warden, he had said nothing. In fact, it looked as if he were +willing for Jimmy to pay. Yet Jimmy was not persuaded; for Stannard to +use treachery like that was unthinkable. + +"You're satisfied I'm not accountable for the shooting accident?" he +said to the sergeant. + +"I guess my chiefs are satisfied. Our orders were to leave you alone." + +For a few moments Jimmy was quiet. He had carried a heavy load and now +the load was gone. He could urge Margaret to marry him and get on with +his ranching. Perhaps, if she agreed, he might go back to Lancashire, +but he must not yet dwell on this. + +"When did your officers find out I had nothing to do with it?" he +resumed. + +"Not long since; the day before warden Douglas died. All the time he was +at the hospital we waited for his statement, but got nothing. Although +I've seen men shot, Douglas puzzled me and I reckon he puzzled the +doctors. Sometimes he was sensible, but he didn't talk, and when we +asked him about the shooting he looked at us as if he'd plumb forgot. +Then, one day, it all came back and he gave us his story." + +"The night was dark and Douglas could not see much," Deering remarked. +"I expect you had something to go on that helped you fill out his +statement." + +The sergeant smiled. "The trooper who measured up the distances and made +a plan of the clearing was a surveyor's clerk. Then Douglas was shot in +the center of his chest, but the mark at the back was to one side. +Besides, we had got Mr. Leyland's hired man; Miss Jardine put us on his +track. He sure doesn't like Mr. Leyland but his tale was useful." + +"In fact, if Mr. Leyland had not pulled out, you would not have bothered +him?" + +"I expect that is so. When Stannard sent Mr. Leyland off, he reckoned to +give us a useful clue. Our duty was to try the clue." + +Jimmy looked up sharply, but Deering said, "Stannard's plan was good, +but your officers are not fools. Then another thing is obvious; if you +had tried very hard, you might have hit Mr. Leyland's trail before." + +"It's possible," the sergeant agreed with a touch of dryness. "Maybe the +bosses were after Stannard. But I don't get it all yet. Stannard was not +a fool. I guess he knew we couldn't put it on him that he meant to +shoot Douglas. Since he was using the pit-light, he'd have gone to the +pen, but I guess he could have stood for all he got. Yet when he saw he +was corralled, he stepped back off the rocks!" + +"Stannard was an English highbrow. A year or two in a penitentiary would +have knocked him out. Perhaps this accounts for it." + +"Oh, well," said the sergeant, "I guess we'll let it go. For three +nights I've shivered on the rocks and I want to sleep." + +He lay down on the branches and Jimmy waited. The smoke was gone, the +fire was clear, and red reflections played about the quiet figures at +the bottom of the rude wall. After a time Jimmy thought all slept and he +turned to Deering. + +"I don't know if the sergeant was satisfied, but I am not. You imply +that when Stannard stepped back he knew where he went?" + +Deering pondered. He saw Jimmy was disturbed and puzzled, but he doubted +if there was much use in enlightening him. Stannard was gone. Jimmy had +trusted the fellow and had already got a nasty knock. Yet if he had +begun to see a light, Deering did not mean to cheat him. He was not +Stannard's champion. + +"Well," he said, "it certainly looks like that." + +"But why? The sergeant thinks they would not have tried Stannard for +shooting with intent to kill; he declares Stannard could have stood for +all he got." + +"I expect that is so. Sometimes, however, people are not logical. For +example, when you thought you had shot Douglas, you pulled out." + +"I ought to have stayed. Now I think about it, Stannard rather persuaded +me to go," Jimmy agreed and looked at Deering hard. "When you recently +found out Stannard had gone to my help, why did you go after him?" + +"For one thing, I knew he had not got a proper guide. I thought the job +a man's job, and Stevens and Dillon are boys." + +"Somehow I feel that's not all," said Jimmy and for a moment or two was +very quiet. Then he resumed: "When Stannard and I were on the ledge you +were at the corner. I was going to jump on the slab, but you shouted." + +"Sometimes you're rash. When you jump on a rock, you want to know the +rock is sound." + +"The slab was not sound," said Jimmy in a hoarse voice. "Still I was on +the rope and Stannard knew, if I went down, I might pull him off the +ledge----" + +He stopped and Deering saw he did not want to solve the puzzle. "It's +done with and you're a stanch friend," he resumed. "Well, I'm very +tired." + +Deering gave him a sympathetic nod, and pulling his blanket round him, +got down on a pile of twigs. Jimmy sat with his back against a log and +looked into the gloom behind the black pine-tops. High up on the lonely +rocks a rotten slab dropped to the gully, and, but for Deering's +stanchness, he might have taken an awful plunge. In the meantime, the +cold was keen, his body was exhausted and his brain was dull. He did not +know much and did not want to know all. The thing was done with and he +resolved to let it go. By and by he got down on the twigs by Deering, +stretched his legs to the fire and went to sleep. + +In the morning after breakfast the sergeant lighted his pipe and stopped +the troopers, who had begun to roll up their packs. + +"We won't break camp yet, boys," he said and turned to Deering. "Mr. +Stevens can't stand for a long hike and my orders were to bring Stannard +back." + +"Sometimes the police orders do not go," said Deering dryly. "Until the +snow melts nobody will bring Stannard back. He has cheated you." + +"I've got to try and want your help." + +"You can reckon on mine," said Dillon and looked at Jimmy. "Laura must +be satisfied----" + +"That is so; I'm going to stay," said Jimmy; and when Deering agreed, +the sergeant ordered a trooper and Gillane to start for the railroad. + +He stated he must send a report, and Jimmy and Dillon gave the packer +some telegrams. The men set off and soon afterwards the others, leaving +Stevens to watch the fire, began to climb the long steep ridge behind +the camp. + +The effort cost them much. All were slack and tired and knew their labor +would not be rewarded. Yet for some hours they struggled across the +snow-fields and searched the rocks with the glasses. In the afternoon +they went back, and lying about the fire, talked and smoked. + +At daybreak they started again and reached higher ground. The day was +bright and the rocks and gullies were distinct, but when the sun sank +behind the range, they had found nothing. All the same, Jimmy saw that +when Stannard resolved to try the gully his judgment was strangely good. +There was not another line down the rocks and nowhere but at the bottom +could the party have reached a slope leading to the trees. At length +Deering gave the sergeant his glasses. + +"Nothing's on the big gravel bank and we can't get up the cliff," he +said. "I have had enough and I expect you are satisfied. Maybe you'll +find Stannard after the thaw, but when he stepped off the rocks I think +he went for good." + +"I've tried," said the sergeant. "Let's get down. At sun-up we'll pull +out for the railroad." + +They went back, but after supper nobody talked much. Somehow the camp +was gloomy and Jimmy fought against a vague sense of horror. To know +they would take the trail in the morning was some relief. + +At daybreak they broke camp and started downhill. All were glad to go, +but when they reached the valley Jimmy stopped and looked up at the +distant white streak in the rocks. Now he was on level ground, to +picture his crawling down the awful gully was hard, and at the top was +the snow-bank where Stannard vanished. + +Jimmy shivered, but after a few moments turned and ran to join the +others. He was young, the sun was on the mountains and the doubts and +horror he had known melted like the dark. The thing was done with, the +load he had carried was gone, and he was free. + +Perhaps it was strange, but he began to perceive that the freedom he +thought he enjoyed with Stannard was an illusion. Stannard's light touch +was very firm and he had led Jimmy where he did not mean to go. Laura, +not knowing all she did, had helped him to resist, and when he knew +Margaret, Stannard's control was broken. It looked as if Stannard had +not meant to let him go; but Jimmy refused to speculate about the +other's plans. + +At length, so to speak, he was his own man. He had paid for his +extravagance and extravagance had lost its charm. Now he knew no +obstacle to his marrying Margaret, and if she were willing, he resolved +to resume his proper job at the cotton mill. When he thought about it +his heart beat, but Margaret was not yet persuaded, and unless she knew +his relations approved, to persuade her might be hard. Well, Sir James +was at Vancouver; in fact, he was perhaps at the hotel, and Jimmy was +keen to meet him. + +Progress, however, was slow. Broken trees and rocks from the mountain +blocked the way, fresh snow had fallen, and Stevens was lame. He had +slept with his wet boots on and his foot was frostbitten. Then Dillon +was slack and moody. His fatigue was not gone, and if Gillane had sent +the telegrams, when the party reached the settlement Laura would be +waiting. Dillon shrank from enlightening her and Jimmy sympathized. + + + + +XXXIII + +SIR JAMES APPROVES + + +The sun was low but the light was good, and Jimmy's party, crossing a +hillside, saw a long plume of smoke. The smoke moved and when it melted +the rumble of a distant freight train rolled up the valley. After a +time, they saw telegraph posts, a break in the rocks, and two or three +small houses. Then their fatigue vanished and all went fast, but Jimmy +was sorry for Dillon, whose mouth was tight. Jimmy thought Laura waited +at the railroad and Frank must tell her Stannard would not come back. +Moreover, she must soon know Stannard had shot the game warden and was +willing for Jimmy to pay. When they reached the bottom of the hill he +stopped Dillon. + +"I expect Laura has got a cruel knock, but perhaps we can save her some +extra pain. If you take the line you think will hurt her least, I'll +play up, and you can trust Deering." + +Dillon said nothing, but gave Jimmy a grateful look. Half an hour +afterwards they pushed through a belt of trees and saw a party waiting +by the railroad. It was obvious the telegrams had arrived. Although the +people were some distance off, Jimmy picked out Margaret, who stood by +a man he did not think was Jardine; the bush ranchers did not wear furs +like his. By and by he distinguished Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Jardine, +Graham, the section hand, and a police trooper, but they were not +important and he speculated about the stranger, until, when the track +was not far off, he saw a light. Margaret's companion was Sir James +Leyland. + +Jimmy frowned. His uncle's arrival was awkward, for he had rather hoped +to work on Margaret's emotion and carry her away. In fact, he had +wondered whether to take her boldly in his arms might not be a useful +plan. Now the plan would not work; although when he stopped in front of +Margaret he saw she was moved. The blood came to her skin and her glance +was very kind. She wore an old fur cap and a soft deerskin jacket; in +fact, her clothes were a rancher's daughter's clothes, but somehow she +was marked by a touch of dignity. She gave Jimmy her hand and he turned +to his uncle. + +"You know Miss Jardine, sir?" + +"It looks like that," Sir James replied with a smile. "Since you are my +nephew, I felt I ought to know your friends. Then Miss Jardine was kind, +and seeing my curiosity, helped to throw some light upon your romantic +adventures." + +Jimmy gave Margaret a grateful look and laughed. "I expect you were +puzzled, sir?" + +"To some extent, I was puzzled," Sir James agreed. "I'm a sober and +perhaps old-fashioned business man. The golden days when I was young +and rash are gone, but one recaptures a reflection of their vanished +charm." + +"Ah," said Jimmy, "I knew you were human! No days were golden for Uncle +Dick. I expect you know we jarred?" + +"Dick indicated something like that, but he has a number of useful +qualities. Perhaps they're inherited qualities, because I think one or +two are yours. For example, I went to see your ranch. You have made good +progress, on sound business lines, although chopping trees is obviously +a strenuous job." + +"Do you know much about ranching?" Jimmy inquired. + +"I do not. Miss Jardine thought I ought to see the ranch and her father +enlightened me." + +Margaret blushed and Sir James smiled. "Friends are useful, Jimmy, so +long as one's friends are good; but we mustn't philosophize. They are +cooking some food for you at the post office and the station agent has +agreed to stop the Vancouver express. He imagines the train will arrive +before very long." + +They went to the post office and soon afterwards the train rolled down +the gorge. Jimmy helped Margaret up the steps, gave Peter his awkward +thanks, and jumped on board. By and by the cars sped past a small stone +hut and he wondered whether he was the man who had not long since stolen +down at night to meet the section hand. + +When they reached the hotel the guests Jimmy had known were gone, and a +lonely stranger occupied a room. The clerk stated they would shut down +for the winter as soon as the party went, but dinner would be served as +usual in the big dining-room. + +Jimmy, refreshed by a hot bath, dressed with luxurious satisfaction. To +wear clean, dry clothes and know others would cook his food was +something new. When he went downstairs Sir James was in the rotunda. + +"Now you are the fashionable young fellow I expected to meet," he +remarked with a twinkle. "You see, Dick drew your portrait." + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "I expect I bothered Dick and perhaps he was a +better friend than I thought. All the same, I hope to persuade you the +portrait was something of a caricature." + +Sir James gave him a thoughtful glance. "It is possible. When you came +down the hill at Green River, carrying your heavy pack, your mouth tight +and your eyes fixed, I knew my nephew. Sometimes when the cheap mill +engine stopped and your father put down his pen and took off his coat he +looked like that. Well, it's long since and I have got a title I did not +particularly want; but after all we are new arrivals and the primitive +vein is not yet run out----" He stopped and resumed: "Mrs. Dillon is in +the drawing-room, but we must wait for Miss Jardine. She and her father +are my guests." + +"You are kind, but I thought them my guests, sir!" + +Sir James smiled. "You are rather dull, Jimmy. After all, I am the head +of your house." + +They went to the dining-room and at the door Jimmy stopped. Margaret and +Jardine crossed the belt of polished wood between the pillars, but now +Margaret was not dressed like a bush girl. The deerskin jacket was gone, +her clothes were fashionable and her skin shone against the fine +dark-colored material. Yet she was marked by the grace and balance one +gets in the woods, and Jimmy thought her step like a mountain deer's. +Then he saw his uncle studied him and he crossed the floor. + +Mrs. Dillon, Frank and Deering came in, but although Sir James was an +urbane host sometimes the talk got slack. Laura had not come down and +another occupied Stannard's chair. + +The stranger Jimmy had remarked dined alone some distance off, but when +Mrs. Dillon got up he joined the group. + +"You agreed to give me an interview," he said to Sir James. + +"That is so," Sir James replied. "You wanted to see my nephew, I think, +and since we may talk about Stannard, I would like Mr. Deering to join +us." + +They went to the rotunda and the stranger pulled out some documents. He +was old and rather fat, but his clothes were fastidiously neat and his +glance was keen. + +"You know I'm Mayson, and my London address is on my card," he said. +"The card does not state my occupation, but I lend money." + +"I imagined something like that," said Sir James. "Stannard was your +partner?" + +"He was my agent. Stannard belonged to exclusive sporting clubs I could +not join; but perhaps this is not important. I understand you are +satisfied he is dead?" + +Deering nodded. "Nothing made of flesh and blood could stand for his +plunge down the rocks." + +"Since he was a famous mountaineer, I expect you thought his +carelessness strange." + +"I have some grounds to think you could account for it," said Deering +dryly. + +"We will talk about this again," said Mayson and turned to Sir James. +"Mr. Leyland owes me a large sum; I have brought his notes." + +Sir James studied the documents and gave them to Jimmy, who admitted the +account was accurate. + +"Very well," said Sir James. "My nephew meets his bills. The interest is +high, but he must pay for his extravagance. Before I write you a check, +I want to see your agreement with Stannard and would like some +particulars." + +Mayson gave him a document, and when Jimmy stated that he knew +Stannard's hand, resumed: "Stannard joined me some years since, at a +time when he was awkwardly embarrassed. The combine had advantages. +Stannard had qualities I had not; his friends were fashionable sporting +people. For all that, he was bankrupt and I supplied him with money." + +"Exactly," said Sir James. "Still, perhaps Stannard's agreeing to tout +for you was strange. My nephew thought him a fastidious gentleman. +There's another thing: since he was willing to exploit his friends, did +you not imagine he might cheat you?" + +Mayson smiled. "Stannard dared not cheat me, and perhaps I can give Mr. +Deering the light he wants. I knew something about Stannard that, had +others known, would have broken him. When we made our agreement, he +declared the person he had injured was recently dead and the risk he ran +was gone. Perhaps he was sincere, but sometimes I doubt. Not long since, +when he began to keep back sums I ought to have got, I made inquiries +and found out that another knew. In fact, it looked as if Stannard were +buying the fellow's silence with my money. Had he been frank, I might +have broken the extortioner, but he was not frank. I think he knew he +had deceived me about the agreement and was afraid. Anyhow, he tried to +meet the demands, until----" + +"I think I see," said Deering. "You do not yet know all Stannard's plans +and now they're not important. I expect we can take it for granted that +he imagined the demands could not long be met. Then he saw the police +had found out his part in the shooting accident and he went down the +rocks." + +"It looks like that," Mayson agreed. + +Deering turned to Jimmy. Jimmy's look was stern and his brows were knit. +Deering thought he saw a light, but he said nothing and Sir James got +up. + +"If you will go with me to the office, Mr. Mayson, I will write you a +check." + +They went off and soon afterwards Dillon joined Jimmy. + +"Laura wants to see you," he said in a disturbed voice. "She knows +Stannard shot Douglas, and it's now obvious he meant you to pay; but I +rather think that's not all. She talks about her not being justified in +marrying me. The thing's ridiculous; if Stannard was a crook, she's not +accountable, but my arguments don't carry much weight. Perhaps you can +help. You agreed to play up." + +"I'll try," said Jimmy, and went to the drawing-room. + +Nobody but Laura was about and her forlorn look moved him. Her face was +pinched and all her color was gone, but she gave Jimmy a level glance. + +"You know I'm sorry," he said, and taking her cold hand, resumed with +some embarrassment: "Frank's my friend and you were very kind. Not long +since I thought----" + +"You thought you were my lover?" said Laura in a quiet voice. "You were +lucky because you were not, but had you agreed to go back to the cotton +mill, I might have married you. Now you know my shabbiness." + +"I know nothing like that," Jimmy declared. "I do, however, know I owe +you much. You were the first to warn me where my extravagance led. Now I +want to help----" + +"Ah," said Laura, "you are generous! I was willing to cheat you and it's +plain my father was not your friend." + +Jimmy studied her and thought her afraid. In fact, he began to see why +she had sent for him. Laura was keen; she knew something, but he +imagined she did not know all. Anyhow, he was not going to enlighten +her. + +"You mustn't exaggerate the importance of the shooting accident," he +said. "I and Mr. Stannard used our rifles. The night was dark and I +imagined I had hit the warden. I expect Mr. Stannard had no grounds to +think the unlucky shot was his. Until recently, the police believed the +shot was mine." + +Laura was quiet for a few moments, and then with an effort looked up. + +"My father knew the rocks; he was a famous mountaineer. Yet when the +police sergeant ordered him to stop he went down the bank----" + +"After all, his carelessness was not very strange," Jimmy replied. "Mr. +Stannard was leader and had borne a heavy strain; in fact, we were all +exhausted and our nerve was gone. Then the police came out of the mist, +the sergeant shouted, and Mr. Stannard knew they claimed he had shot the +warden. He was startled and, so to speak, mechanically stepped +back----" + +He stopped, for although his object was good, he knew Laura's +cleverness. He did not know if he had altogether banished her doubts, +but she gave him a grateful look. + +"Frank is your friend," she said in a quiet voice. "He wants me to marry +him. Are you satisfied I ought not to refuse?" + +"Why, of course I'm satisfied," Jimmy declared. "You had nothing to do +with the shooting accident; you were my friend before Frank was. I hope +we're friends for good. To refuse to marry Frank is ridiculous. Since +I'm persuaded, you ought not to doubt." + +Laura gave him her hand. + +"You are stanch, Jimmy, but I'm tired," she said, and let him go. + +In the hall Jimmy met Sir James, who said, "I am going for a quiet +smoke. Will you join me?" + +"Not for a time, sir. Since I arrived I've been strenuously occupied +doing things I ought. Now I'm going to do something I want to do." + +"For example?" Sir James inquired. + +"I'm going to talk to Margaret. I hope to persuade her to marry me." + +"When I suggested our taking a smoke, my object was to inquire about +your friendship for Miss Jardine. After all, I am your trustee." + +"I hope you approve my plan, sir," Jimmy rejoined. + +"You know where to stop," Sir James remarked with a twinkle. "Perhaps my +approval carries more weight than you think; because had I not approved, +Miss Jardine would not have agreed." + +"Then you have talked to her about it?" said Jimmy with keen surprise. + +"Not at all; Miss Jardine is not dull. I soon saw she understood my +importance, but did not mean to use her charm. Her friendliness was +marked by some reserve. In fact, it was plain she acknowledged my +business was to judge if she were the girl for you and she would not +persuade me. Well, I liked her pride, and although we did not talk about +it, I rather think she knew I did approve." + +"Thank you, sir," said Jimmy with a grateful look. + +Sir James put his hand on Jimmy's arm. + +"When I started from Bombay I was bothered about you. Dick had found out +something about Stannard and he imagined that Miss Stannard was his +accomplice." + +"Miss Stannard didn't know Stannard's occupation. She is not accountable +for her father." + +"That is so," Sir James agreed. "I think Miss Stannard a charming girl, +but she was not the girl for you. Leylands are manufacturers and your +job is to control a big industry; Miss Stannard's is to cultivate her +social talents and amuse herself. Margaret Jardine, however, is our +sort. She's stanch and sincere; you know her pluck and all she risked +for you. You want a wife like that, and I wish you luck!" + +Jimmy found Margaret in the drawing-room. Mrs. Dillon had gone off with +Laura, and Jimmy advanced resolutely. + +"At Green Lake I asked you to marry me and you refused. Yet you knew I +loved you and perhaps I had some grounds to think----" + +The blood came to Margaret's skin. "I did know, Jimmy; but to marry you +because I stopped the trooper was another thing." + +"Now you're ridiculous! All the same, in some respects your refusal was +justified. My drawbacks were plain. For all you knew, I was an +extravagant wastrel, and the police were on my track. Since I mustn't +urge you, I was forced to be resigned." + +"Sometimes you are rather dull," Margaret remarked and smiled. + +"Well, I'm not forced to try for resignation now. I was something of an +extravagant fool, but the police will leave me alone." + +"The police were not the obstacle," said Margaret in a quiet voice. + +Jimmy laughed. "It looks like that; the trooper who tried to catch us +did not bother you long. If Sir James was the obstacle, he's, so to +speak, removed. You have conquered him and he declared a few minutes +since you were the girl for me. He's a kind old fellow. Don't you think +you ought to indulge him?" + +He reached down and took her hands. "I want you, Margaret. My +extravagance is done with. I'm going back to undertake my proper job and +I need your help." + +"Then I must try to help," said Margaret, and Jimmy took her in his +arms. + + +THE END. + + + + +_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ + +NORTHWEST! +THE MAN FROM THE WILDS +KIT MUSGRAVE'S LUCK +LISTER'S GREAT ADVENTURE +THE WILDERNESS MINE +WYNDHAM'S PAL +PARTNERS OF THE OUT-TRAIL +THE BUCCANEER FARMER +THE LURE OF THE NORTH +THE GIRL FROM KELLER'S +CARMEN'S MESSENGER +JOHNSTONE OF THE BORDER +THE COAST OF ADVENTURE +HARDING OF ALLENWOOD +THE SECRET OF THE REEF +FOR THE ALLISON HONOR +THE INTRIGUERS +PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN +RANCHING FOR SYLVIA +THE LONG PORTAGE +A PRAIRIE COURTSHIP +SYDNEY CARTERET, RANCHER +THE GREATER POWER +THRICE ARMED +LORIMER OF THE NORTHWEST +DELILAH OF THE SNOWS +FOR JACINTA +WINSTON OF THE PRAIRIE +THE DUST OF CONFLICT +THE CATTLE BARON'S DAUGHTER + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the +original text have been corrected. + +In Chapter III, a period was changed to a question mark after "do you +think your folks would give me supper". + +In Chapter IV, "The oldtime bush-man has no use for game-wardens" was +changed to "The old-time bushman has no use for game-wardens". + +In Chapter IX, "her leggings were fringed deer-skin" was changed to "her +leggings were fringed deerskin". + +In Chapter XII, "Sometimes he heard cowbells" was changed to "Sometimes +he heard cow-bells". + +In Chapter XV, "struck the door-post" was changed to "struck the +doorpost". + +In Chapter XIX, a single quotation mark (') was changed to a double +quotation mark (") before "My notion is". + +In Chapter XXV, "the snow that streaked the mountainside" was changed to +"the snow that streaked the mountain-side". + +In Chapter XXXI, "when they reached the snowfield" was changed to "when +they reached the snow-field". + +In Chapter XXXII, "One heard the wind in the pinetops" was changed to +"One heard the wind in the pine-tops". + +Also, the list of other novels by Harold Bindloss was moved from the +front of the book to the back. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northwest!, by Harold Bindloss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHWEST! *** + +***** This file should be named 38069.txt or 38069.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/0/6/38069/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/38069.zip b/38069.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..50d06f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/38069.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1edad76 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #38069 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38069) |
