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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf 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..122ae7d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65382 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65382) diff --git a/old/65382-0.txt b/old/65382-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 332cf4d..0000000 --- a/old/65382-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7860 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Crimson West, by Alex. Philip - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Crimson West - -Author: Alex. Philip - -Release Date: May 19, 2021 [eBook #65382] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Distributed Proofreaders - Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON WEST *** - - - - - - [Cover Illustration] - - - - - =THE CRIMSON WEST= - - =BY= - =ALEX. PHILIP= - - =There in the East we dreamed our dreams of the things we hoped to - do,= - =And here in the West, the crimson West, the dreams of the East come - true.= - - =—_Donald Malloch_= - - THOMAS ALLEN, PUBLISHER, TORONTO - - - - - PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY PURNELL AND SONS - PAULTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND - - To - - Those Fortunates Who First Saw The Light Of Day In This Glorious - Country, And With Whom Rests The Future Prosperity Of The Land - of Their Birth—THE NATIVE SONS OF CANADA—This Book is - respectfully dedicated - - - - - THE CRIMSON WEST - - - - - CHAPTER I - - -Jangling his keys on their big ring, the sheriff led John McLean down -several steps, then through a long, narrow hall to the rear of the jail. -From a distant corridor came the sound of a raucous voice attempting to -sing one of the popular ragtimes of the day. - -“Some fellow’s still got a ‘hang-over,’” observed the sheriff as he -paused before a cell, consulted a number, then searched for the key. As -the door swung open a sleepy voice was raised in mock solemnity. - -“What ho, varlet! Why dost thou open the dungeon door? Has the king -granted a reprieve?” His eyes blinking, the inmate stepped into the -bright light of the hall. A dull red suffused his pale face as he saw -the tall figure behind the sheriff. - -“Hello, Dad! Nice morning,” he smiled in a weak attempt at joviality, -but the smile faded as he sensed a change in his father. - -“My son arrested in a low gambling den!” the father said bitterly. -“Donald, you have disgraced the family name. Your drinking carousals and -gambling can have but one end. I have been too easy with you. For your -own good I’m going to turn you loose. Until such time as you can return -to me rid of your bad habits, and have proven yourself a man, you are -not a son of mine. I—I’m done with you.” - -Donald’s father turned abruptly on his heel and strode swiftly down the -passage. It had been a tremendous test of his will power to make this -short speech, and to resist the almost overmastering desire to take his -boy in his arms. - -The young man stood with mouth agape, a stupefied look in his eyes, and -stared after the retreating form of his parent. The sheriff broke the -silence. “We’ll go upstairs, Don!” - -On the upper floor the desk sergeant handed the released prisoner his -watch and money, taken from him, as is the custom, the night before. The -sheriff motioned to a seat. - -“Sit down. I want to talk with you.” - -Donald listlessly obeyed. - -“Sorry, boy, but I had to do it,” the sheriff said in a kindly voice. - -“It’s all right, Jim. There’s no hard feelings.” - -“What are you going to do?” - -“I don’t know,” Donald admitted dully. - -“How much money have you got?” - -Donald stood up and drew from his pocket a few crumpled bills and some -loose change, then threw out his arms in an eloquent gesture. As he -stood with the slanting rays of a late December sun shining on his black -hair, he presented a wonderful specimen of man. Six feet in height, of a -deceptive slenderness, his rather tight-fitting grey suit set off the -graceful lines of a supple body. His shoulders were wide, with the -gentle slope that denotes agility as well as strength. His fine white -skin and long black lashes would have given his features an effeminate -touch but for the manly mould of his face, with its square jaw, broad -forehead, and deep, wide-set eyes. - -The sheriff’s appraising eyes glowed with admiration as they rested on -the young man. To the casual eye Donald appeared of slight build, but -his old friend knew of the steel-like muscles of those arms and the -strength of the long, straight legs. - -The mind of the older man flashed back to a football game in Donald’s -High School days, with the State championship at stake. Donald had been -sent into the game at the eleventh hour, and with defeat staring the -home team in the face he had torn through the opposing lines like a -madman for agonizing gains until his dark head flashed across the line -to victory. - -Donald came embarrassedly to his feet. - -“Well, I guess I’ll be moving.” - -“Here, boy, take this,” the sheriff said awkwardly, thrusting a roll of -bills into Donald’s hand. - -The young man’s face flushed. “It’s awfully good of you, Jim, but I——” - -“It’s all right, Don,” interrupted the older man, summoning a smile. -“I’m just giving you a loan.” - -Donald looked at him soberly. “I’ll pay you back when—I—I—earn it.” - -His face very serious, the sheriff placed a hand on Donald’s shoulder. - -“Now, listen, Don. Your father and I talked here in the office for an -hour before he bailed you out, and we agreed that the best thing was to -let you go on your own. No, I am not going to give you a lecture, for -you are not wholly to blame. Having a rich father is not the best thing -for a young fellow, but because you got fired out of college should not -make a husky boy like you lose his grip. You just step out and buck the -line like you do in football and you’ll sure make a touchdown.” He -gripped Donald’s hand. “Good-bye and good luck, Donnie!” he added -feelingly. - -Donald crossed the street to the Hancock House and sank moodily to a -chair in the corner of the lobby. His confinement in the jail and the -preceding festivities had robbed him of a night’s rest, and he suddenly -realized that he was very tired and sleepy. Forgetting the change in his -circumstances, he engaged an expensive room on the first floor and -immediately went to bed. - -Upon awakening Donald switched on the light and lay for awhile trying to -adjust himself to this new situation. Serious meditation, however, -brought him no nearer a solution of his problem. A cold bath, followed -by a brisk rub down and clean linen, removed all the remaining traces of -his night of wild revelry. - -The news of John McLean’s break with his son spread rapidly through the -small New England city. On his way to the desk to order his baggage to -be sent to the dock Donald was beset by several friends who were loud in -voicing their sympathy. Extricating himself as quickly as possible, he -made his way to the elevator. Quick steps sounded behind him, and, -turning, he looked into the smiling face of his boxing instructor, Spike -Ryan. - -“Hello, Kid, how they comin’?” grinned Spike. - -“Come upstairs with me, Spike.” - -Once inside the room, Donald turned to his visitor. “If you start any of -this sympathy stuff I’ll hand you that famous ‘one-two’ punch you taught -me.” - -“Sympathy be damned,” chuckled Spike. “Dis is your lucky day. I come -here to congratulate you, to give you de glad hand.” - -“Why all the joy? Most of my friends seem to think it is my funeral.” - -“Say, Donnie,” Spike said earnestly, “I bin watchin’ ya pretty close for -de past year, an’ ya sure bin ridin’ for a fall. Another year of de way -ya bin hittin’ her up an’ y’d have taken de count of ten an’ be sittin’ -wid de stew-bums. Ya bin fightin’ an exhibition wid life wid soft -twelve-ounce gloves, an’ de both of ya fightin’ under wraps an’ pullin’ -y’r punches. From now on de fight will be on de square an’ to a finish -wid bare knuckles. De guy in de other corner will hand ya some awful -jolts, an’ y’ll have to do some pretty fast work wid y’r dukes an’ pins -to keep away from de slumber swat. But, Donnie, ya got de goods in ya. -Nearly four years in an engineerin’ course in de college gives ya a -better start than most of us guys. I’m backin’ ya to win.” - -He seized Donald’s hand, and his battered face filled with tenderness as -he looked up at his friend. “Good luck, boy. Keep a stiff upper lip, an’ -don’t forget that old John Barleycorn’s a bum second.” At the door he -turned: “How ya fixed for kale, Donnie?” - -“You get out!” smiled Donald. - -Spike grinned as though pleased at the rebuff, and closed the door. - -For some time after Spike’s departure Donald sat lost in meditation. The -philosophy of the ex-pugilist, presented in the vernacular of the -prize-ring, had affected him deeply. “Ya bin fightin’ an exhibition wid -life, but from now on de fight is on de square,” Spike had said. True -enough, he thought, life had been soft and easy with him. But now it was -going to be “on de square.” His strong mouth set in a straight line, and -involuntarily he squared his shoulders. - -Donald left the hotel by the side door to avoid meeting several friends -who had gathered in the lobby. He had an hour to wait for the sailing of -the boat for Bangor. Unconsciously he walked towards the hill. An -overwhelming sense of loneliness swept over him as he stood before his -home, looming huge and white in the bright starlight of the winter -night. - -At the first sound of his master’s step on the pavement a big collie dog -rushed forth and flung itself bodily on the young man, whimpering in -sheer joy. Standing on hindlegs with paws on his chest, he tried to lick -Donald’s face. The noise was apparently heard within the house, for a -shade was raised and Donald’s mother peered out into the night. -Silencing the dog’s joyous whines as best he could, Donald crouched low -behind the hedge until the blind was lowered. - -“Good-bye, old pal,” Donald whispered, his arms about the collie’s -shaggy neck. The dog turned slowly and unwillingly toward the house. - -In the meantime, within the house, John McLean and his wife were -discussing the possible result of the father’s seeming severity. - -“Donald is a great trial to us now, John,” said the mother, “but we must -not forget the happiness he has brought us in the past.” She gazed long -and lovingly at a photograph of her son as a child; then, with head -bowed, her lips moved in silent prayer. - -Upon his arrival at the wharf Donald found his baggage, destroyed the -pass he had been in the habit of using, as his father was owner of the -steamboat line, and bought a ticket to Bangor. - -Reaching Bangor, he chose less expensive quarters than was his custom, -locating at the Penobscot, on Exchange Street. In no mood for sleep, he -decided to take a stroll. Outside an all-night restaurant was a long -string of cars, and from within came the sound of happy laughter. - -A feeling of loneliness, coupled with a slight hunger induced him to -enter. A big man sitting at the counter, attacking vigorously a T-bone -steak, was the centre of interest, as evidenced by the cluster of -taxi-drivers and other night-lunchers about him. He wore a wide-brimmed -hat, high leather boots, corduroy trousers, a blue flannel shirt, and a -red-mackinaw coat hung on the wall behind him. Blond, sun-washed hair -stood up from his head aggressively, and his steely blue eyes were set -in a face tanned a brick red. - -“Yes, sir,” spoke the blond giant between mouthfuls, “she’s a he-man’s -country, she is. None of your bum chow that I used to git here in these -Eastern loggin’ camps, sow-belly and beans three times a day, and -workin’ for forty dollars a month from daylight until dark. No, siree! -Me for the Coast with its four bucks a day. And talk about grub! Say, -there ain’t any hotel that puts up better scoffins than we git in the -loggin’ camps in good old B.C.” - -He looked around at his audience and, convinced that they were -interested, he continued: “Yes, sir! British Columbia for mine. Say! -What’d you think of three fir logs that makes a carload? Of cedars ten -feet through? Of alders that you can’t git your arms round? Some -different than them toothpicks you got out there,” jerking his thumb -contemptuously toward the Penobscot River. “And minerals,” he went on, -“the mountains are filled with ’em—miles and miles that ain’t never bin -prospected. Prospectors comin’ in every day with new strikes. And talk -about fish! I seen the fish so thick they choked the rivers; you could -darn near walk on their backs. That’s the country, fellers. That’s the -place for men with git-up-and-git.” He finished his repast with a gulp -of coffee, fished a sack of tobacco and brown paper from his pocket, and -rolled a cigarette. “A brand new country,” he ran on, his eyes shining -with enthusiasm, “that ain’t half explored yet, and richer’n a pail of -cream. How much do I owe you, boy?” he asked as he drew out a wad of -bank-notes, peeled a bill from the outside of the fat roll and threw it -carelessly on the counter. - -“Keep the change,” he said with a lordly air, then swaggered through the -door. Several of the taxi-drivers followed, loudly importuning him to -ride. - -Donald finished his lunch and sat for a time smoking. - -“That guy was a nut to flash his poke in front of that gang,” observed -the waiter. “Guess he’s big enough to take care of himself,” he added. - -As Donald stepped out of the restaurant he saw the big man across the -street with four of his former audience. From the shadow of a doorway he -saw the party enter a ramshackle building, after hearing one of them -promise to get the Westerner a drink in spite of prohibition. Donald -decided to walk by the place, and was startled by the sound of crashing -glass and indications of a struggle. - -“You will, will you?” he heard the unmistakable voice of the big -Westerner. - -With a bound Donald was at the door. He found the Westerner badly -battered, but holding three men at bay. The fourth lay in a crumpled -heap in the corner. - -Only one of the men noticed Donald’s entrance. He was a big, burly -brute, with the swarthy features of the Southern European, and he came -straight for the intruder, crouching low. Donald’s left hand caught him -on the eye, and as his head flew back Donald crossed viciously with his -right. The blow landed with an impact that sounded like a cleaver -sinking into a meat block, and the man dropped as though shot. - -A rat-faced man, standing near a side door with a bottle in his hand, -shouted a warning as Donald sprang to the Westerner’s assistance. Both -men turned their heads. The ham-like fist of the big blond giant struck -the larger of the two men such a terrific blow on the side of the head -that the recipient whirled completely around and sank dazedly to the -floor. - -“Duck!” yelled Donald, as he saw the little man’s arm go back. The -Westerner dropped, and not a second too soon. The bottle whizzed over -his head, bringing a shower of plaster from the wall where it struck. -With a curse the big man turned, but the bottle-thrower had disappeared -through the side door. The remaining thug, a tall, cadaverous looking -youth, took one wild look around, then bolted through the front door. - -The Westerner, gasping and rather pale, seized Donald’s hand in his huge -paw. “Pardner, you saved me from a hell of a lickin’! ’Bout two minutes -more and. . . .” - -“Grab your coat and hat and we’ll get out of here before the police -come,” interrupted Donald. - -They went through the alley to Hammond Street, then down Exchange -Street. - -“Better come up to my room and have those cuts attended to,” suggested -Donald. - -The Westerner touched gingerly the rapidly swelling lump over his ear. -“You know,” he observed, “those fellers never intended to start a -rough-house. The little dip was pretty slick, but I caught him with his -hand in my pocket, and when they saw that they had a fight on their -hands, they tried to lay me out with a billy. Should have seen the funny -look on that little rat’s face when he lammed me with that loaded stick -and I didn’t go down. Guess this old bean of mine must run pretty heavy -to bone,” he finished with a chuckle. He looked at Donald curiously. -“You sure handed it to that big dago quick. How did you horn in on the -row anyway?” - -Donald told of being in the lunch-room when he had displayed his money, -and of the waiter’s subsequent remarks. - -“Huh!” snorted the big man disgustedly, “guess I need a guardeen.” - -With the assistance of the obliging night-clerk, who furnished -antiseptic and court-plaster, they patched the hurts of the much-bruised -Westerner. - -When the clerk left the room the big man turned to Donald. “My name’s -Jack Gillis. What’s yours?” - -“Donald McLean.” - -“Damn good name,” he averred, looking Donald over critically. - -“I bin visitin’ my old home in Nova Scotia,” he ran on. “Come down here -to visit my sister. I’m gittin’ homesick for the Pacific Slope, and I’m -goin’ to hit for B.C. to-morrow mornin’.” - -“I’m on my way to Vancouver,” said Donald. - -The effect of this statement on Gillis was electric. “Do you belong in -B.C.?” he questioned excitedly. - -Donald told him how his glowing description of that land of promise had -induced him to go West, and that this would be his first visit to the -Coast. - -“Well,” observed Gillis, “if I’ve been the means of addin’ a man like -you to the population of B.C., then Jack Gillis has done some good.” - -“That’s a real compliment,” smiled Donald. - -“I’m goin’ on the mornin’ train,” remarked Gillis. “I’d like to have you -travel with me.” - -Donald nodded. - -Gillis rose with an embarrassed air. “Here I am talkin’ ’bout you and I -travellin’ together. I guess you’re one of them tourist fellers, and I -don’t suppose you want to go along with a roughneck like me.” - -Donald liked this big, bluff Westerner, with his honest face and simple -manner. He reached in his pocket and took out the money the sheriff had -given him. - -“You see that? Well, before this money is gone I’ll have to find a job. -And it’s borrowed money, too.” - -Gillis studied him carefully. “Well, you got my goat in a way, but there -is one thing I do know, and that is that you ain’t no slicker. I’m ’bout -twice your age, and I knows a good face when I sees it. I’ll meet you -to-morrow mornin’ at the station. I’m goin’ to start callin’ you Donald -right now. And what’s more, Jack Gillis is your friend from now until -hell freezes over. Good-night, Donald.” - - - - - CHAPTER II - - -Two days later Donald and the Westerner boarded a C.P.R. train in -Montreal for the West. They were no sooner comfortably seated in their -section of a tourist sleeper than they began rushing westward through -the winter evening. - -The days that followed were full of interest to Donald. The train roared -West, running on time like a clock. They tore through towns and farming -settlements and plunged into forests and hills in the northern part of -Ontario. The hills dwindled when they reached Manitoba, and in Alberta -Donald felt as if he were sailing over a vast sea of land. - -“We’ll see them old Rocky Mount’ns pretty soon,” said Gillis happily. -“You’ll like B.C., Donald. And after you bin there awhile all hell won’t -pry you loose. I know, ’cause I broke away from her twice, but I always -drift back. I ain’t got the eddication to tell you the funny feelin’ I -have when I’m comin’ back to her. When I see them big mount’ns loomin’ -up I feel sort of scrumptious inside, like I wanted to smile at -everybody, and I have a hard time to keep from lettin’ out a yell.” - -“Your power of expression needs no apology,” laughed Donald. - -“Forgot to tell you that I ain’t goin’ right through to the Coast. The -Company I work for has a mill at Revelstoke that needs fixin’ up. The -job’ll probably last ’till spring. You better stay off with me, ’cause -you’ll find things on the Coast pretty quiet this winter.” - -Gillis had played the part of host from the start, and Donald knew that -if he accepted the invitation to stop off at the interior town, Gillis -would insist on treating him as his guest. He felt that his new friend -could not afford to practise this lavish generosity. - -Donald shook his head regretfully. “I think I’ll go through to -Vancouver.” - -Gillis arose with visible reluctance as the train drew into Revelstoke. -“Well, I got to leave you, pardner.” - -Donald had developed a sincere friendship for the man. There was a great -deal of tenderness beneath the rough exterior of this Western logger. - -“I’m pretty lucky in finding a friend like you,” Donald said feelingly -as they shook hands. - -“That’s all right, my boy,” Gillis replied awkwardly. “I like you, and -I’ll sure look you up when I hit the Coast. So-long.” - -The sun was shining brightly as the train rushed along the edge of -Burrard Inlet toward Vancouver. The lawns were a bright green, and the -breeze blowing in the car-window was soft and balmy. Across the Inlet, -that sparkled in the sunlight, were huge mountain-peaks, their tops -covered with snow. The homecoming passengers were smiling happily, while -a look of eager interest shone on the faces of those who were strangers -to the Coast. - -Donald paused for a moment on the corner of Granville Street while the -cosmopolitan crowd flowed past him. Stolid-faced Klootchmen, dressed in -flamboyant colours, with baskets of clams on their backs, rubbed -shoulders with the haughty, turbanned Hindu. The little brown-faced Jap -darted here and there amongst the crowd. A Chinaman came swiftly around -the corner of an alley, moving with a peculiar trot, a pole across his -shoulders, from each end of which dangled a basket filled with fish and -vegetables. Another Chinaman, with a face of true Oriental -impassiveness, riding a bicycle down the street, a clay pipe jutting -from his mouth, was extremely incongruous. The wide, well-paved streets -and the city’s general air of modernity were impressive. In common with -many other Easterners, Donald had pictured Vancouver as a rough Western -town. - -Donald engaged an inexpensive room and at once began a search for -employment. Many of the mining and logging camps were closed for the -winter, and work was scarce. He applied to all the engineering firms in -the city, but their answers were invariably the same: “Nothing doing -until spring.” - -Days passed, and as late winter merged into spring there was a stir -throughout the city. Men who had spent the winter in idleness were -“going out” again. Loggers in their characteristic blanket shirts -hanging loose outside their trousers, could be seen on all sides saying -good-bye to their friends. - -One morning Donald counted his rapidly dwindling cash and found that he -would have barely enough to tide him over the week-end. - -With all his assets in the way of clothes and jewelry in a pawnshop, he -could not stave off the inevitable, and there came a day when he had not -even the price of a meal. Too proud to ask for a loan, he went without -breakfast and lunch. - -At the logger’s employment agency he was told the same old story: “Only -men of experience wanted. But,” the agent added hopefully, “men are -going to be scarce this summer, and they will be taking on everything -before long.” Donald made the rounds of the engineering firms where he -had applied for a position, but without success. Force of habit led him -back to the employment agency, where he sank disconsolately to a bench. - -A diminutive man with blond hair, bright blue eyes under shaggy brows, -and his head set at a cocky angle, entered briskly and approached the -wicket. “S’y, do you know where I can find an ’eavyweight that can box a -bit?” he said to the agent. - -“How about those two I sent you yesterday, Andy?” - -The one addressed as Andy made a gesture of disgust. “Those two -blighters were as ’eavy as cows. They didn’t know their right ’and from -their left. I don’t want any ’uman punchin’ bags, I want a man that ’as -a little speed. Blime me, if I was in Austrylia I could get a ’arf a -dozen in ’arf a minute.” - -“I’m your man,” said Donald stepping forward. - -The small man turned. The keen eyes under the bushy, light-coloured -eyebrows studied Donald carefully. “Can you box?” - -“I can.” - -“Good! Come with me.” - -Donald followed the sturdy little Australian. For a few blocks they -walked in silence. - -“’Ad your dinner?” queried the Australian. - -“No.” - -“We’ll ’ave a bite in ’ere.” - -They turned into “Old Joe’s” restaurant. - -“Sounds good to me,” observed Donald with a pleased smile. - -“Been missin’ a few meals, ’ave you? Order what you want,” said the -Australian, as they sat down to a table. - -“I’ll warn you that I’m hungry,” cautioned Donald. - -“’Op to it, me lad; about all we get in this blinkin’ world is what we -eat. What’s your name?” - -“Donald McLean.” - -“Mine’s Andy Pettray.” - -Then Andy delivered himself of the following information: “I’m the -manager of Bill Hagin, the Austrylian ’eavyweight. We are to fight -Slugger Garrieau, the Canadian champion, in about two weeks. The Slugger -is well named, as ’e is an ’eavy ’itter and it tykes a good boxer to -beat ’im. I want an ’eavy man that can speed Bill up a bit, and I’ve -’unted this town over, but I can’t find one. Now, if you can deliver the -goods, you will be worth three dollars a day and your eats. What do you -s’y?” - -“I say ‘yes,’” was the decided answer. - -Andy dug into his pocket. “’Ere’s three dollars to bind the bargain.” - -“Better wait until I earn it,” suggested Donald. - -“That’s all right, me lad; you’ll be needin’ it to eat on. I ain’t -worryin’. - -“Come to the gymnasium at the corner of Robson and Granville at two -o’clock to-morrow,” advised Andy as they stepped outside. - -“I’ll be there, and I want to thank you for your kindness.” - -“Forget it,” smiled Andy. “I’ve been flat many a time myself.” - -“Half-an-hour ago I was broke and hungry,” mused Donald, “and now I am -well fed and have three dollars in my pocket. Great old world this.” He -chuckled happily as he swung down sun-splashed Cordova Street with a -buoyant stride. - -The next day, dressed in light clothing and a pair of running-shoes, -Donald went around Stanley Park. Wishing to condition himself, he ran -the greater part of the way. - -Spring comes early in Vancouver as compared with the East. In January -the buds are bursting in Stanley Park. The balmy sea air, scented with -earthy odours from the deep woods, seemed to Donald to possess magic -properties. The blood sang in his veins. Overhead, big white seagulls -screamed and soared; squirrels retreated in chattering fright as he -raced down the road, and over all was the sound of the booming surf. The -wind rushed past his ears, and he shouted aloud from sheer exuberance of -spirits and the joy of living. - -Donald covered the distance from English Bay to Granville Street at a -jogging trot. The air of the gymnasium seemed close after being in the -open. The big Australian fighter was in the ring with one of his -sparring partners. The slap of gloves was like music to Donald’s ears. - -“Just in time,” welcomed Andy as he led him to the dressing-room, where -he quickly shifted to fighting togs and then walked over to the ring. - -A crowd of boxing-fans sat by the ringside watching the big fellow work -out. Donald’s entrance caused a stir. His lithe, muscular body was the -attraction of all eyes. - -“’Op in,” commanded Andy. - -While an attendant was putting on his gloves, Donald studied the big man -he was to help train. He would weigh at least two hundred pounds. His -shoulders were enormously broad and square, and the muscles of his arms -stood out in knobs and bunches. His face was a pasty colour, as though -his training had been done inside. His jaw was square and strong, his -eyes a mild blue, and his nose looked as though it had stopped many a -solid punch. “Strong but slow,” Donald decided. - -When Andy introduced him Hagin merely grunted. To the fighter Donald was -simply one more punching-bag. - -Donald turned to Andy. “What do you want me to do?” he asked. - -“Oh, knock the blighter out of the ring,” rejoined Andy, with just a -touch of sarcasm. - -“Do you mean that?” queried Donald quickly. - -Andy nodded. - -Hagin came to the centre of the ring, assuming an awkward crouch, his -arms wound about his face. Donald circled him warily. The big man -feinted with his left. Donald danced within range, and the Australian -let loose a terrific right swing that would have felled an ox. Donald -side-stepped, jabbed his left twice to his opponent’s face, and his -right missed Hagin’s jaw by the fraction of an inch. A surprised look -came over the big man’s face. A murmur of applause came from the -audience. - -“Strike me pink! What a left ’and!” ejaculated Andy. Hagin scowled and -tried to bring the fighting to close quarters, but was easily avoided by -his lighter opponent. - -Donald now took the aggressive. His left found weak spots in the big -man’s defence, and repeatedly he sent in stinging jabs that drove his -adversary’s head back with a snap. Try as he might, Hagin could not get -away from that whizzing left. It is a bitter pill to be bested by one’s -sparring partner. So far the Australian had been given a boxing lesson. -He forced Donald into a corner and made for him savagely. Donald ducked -under the flail-like swings, and shot a left upper-cut to Hagin’s jaw. -The latter staggered weakly to the ropes. Donald was after him like a -flash. Just then he saw Andy gesticulating wildly and shaking his head. -Hagin lunged forward and Donald fell into a clinch. The gong rang. - -“What’s the trouble, Andy?” asked Donald as he reached his corner. - -“Strike me lucky!” whispered Andy hoarsely, “you’re punchin’ me -meal-ticket. You’re makin’ a blinkin’ boob out of me ’eavyweight.” - -“You told me to knock him out of the ring,” reminded Donald. - -“Sure I did. But ’ow the ’ell did I know that you were a blinkin’ -cyclone? Strike me blind, a left ’and like that I ’aven’t seen since I -’andled Young Griffo.” - -“What shall I do the next round?” - -“Tyke a punch and go down—’urt your ’and—anything to quit. But for -’eaven’s sake don’t mess up me ’eavyweight any more! If the public ever -’ears of this our big fight is all off!” - -In the next round Donald dropped to the floor as they broke from a -clinch in the centre of the ring. He rose to one knee, holding his hand -and making a wry face. - -“Too bad,” sympathized Andy as he ordered him to the dressing-room. - -As Donald stepped from the ring he was intercepted by a curly-haired -youth whose brown eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “By golly, I want to -know you. My name’s Douglas Rennie. My, but that was a wonderfully fast -exhibition you gave us!” he ejaculated, gazing at Donald with -undisguised admiration. - -Donald flushed. “I appeared fast,” he explained modestly, “as I was -against a very slow opponent. I know nothing of Garrieau, but he won’t -have to be very clever to beat the Australian.” - -“Garrieau is fast and carries a knockout in either hand.” - -“I’m sorry for Andy’s man if that is the case, as any king of a left -will beat Hagin. Come to the dressing-room,” invited Donald. - -A moment later Andy entered and sank dejectedly to a locker seat. - -“You look rather blue, Andy,” observed Donald. - -“I am. All ’ell’s a poppin’,” admitted Andy. - -“What’s wrong?” - -“I’ve lost me ’eavyweight. ’E’s quit.” - -“Why?” - -“Said I framed on ’im by sending you in this afternoon. Said I ’urt ’is -pride.” - -“Pride!” echoed Douglas sarcastically. “You’ve been treating him too -well. I never thought much of him as a fighter. You’re too good a -trainer to be wasting your time on third-raters.” - -“Maybe you are right,” conceded Andy, “but look what a blinkin’ mess I’m -in now! ’Ere I am in the ’ole three hundred bones for training expenses, -and I’ve put up a forfeit with the promoters for appearance. I’ll lose -the ’ole lot.” He threw out his arms with an air of resignation and sank -back in his seat. - -Little Andy presented a pitiful figure as he sat hunched in the -corner—his jaunty manner gone; his blond head, usually held at a saucy -angle, sunk on his chest. Gloom, deep, impenetrable gloom, enveloped -this bright spirit from the Antipodes. - -Donald knew now that for all Andy’s munificent manner of yesterday, the -three dollars to “eat on” and the sorely needed dinner he had bought had -come from a generous heart, but a depleted purse. Here was his -benefactor in trouble. How could he help him? He crossed the room, sat -down beside Andy, and placed his hand on the little man’s arm. - -“Andy, take me on. I’ll fight Garrieau for you.” - -Andy came to his feet with a jump and seized Donald by the shoulders. -“If you’ll do that, me lad, I’ll be your pal for life. Strike me pink, -did you ’ear that? I’ve got a real fighter at last! ’Ooray!” The little -fellow was in ecstasies. “We’ll clean Garrieau up,” he went on -excitedly, “and then I’ll tyke you to the Stytes, and then to Austrylia, -and. . . .” - -“Hold on,” interrupted Donald laughingly, “looks like you intend making -a professional pug out of me. I’m doing this to help you, Andy, and,” -flushing in spite of himself, “I’m broke.” - -Andy glanced over Donald’s tall figure with a professional eye. “You -’ave a week to get fit, and ’as you ’aven’t ’ardly any weight to tyke -off, you should be top ’ole in that time.” - -“May I work out with you?” asked Douglas eagerly. - -“Glad to have you,” replied Donald. - -A few minutes later the young men stepped to the street. Douglas seemed -loth to go. - -“Will you come to my home for dinner?” he invited. - -Donald hesitated. It seemed ages since he had entered a private house. -He glanced down at his only suit, which was rather seedy, then looked -up, to find the usually roguish eyes of his companion fixed upon him -seriously. - -“Thanks, old man. I hope I may have the pleasure at some time, but I -can’t do it now.” - -“You said you were broke,” began Douglas, hesitatingly, “can—I——” - -“No, no, I’ll see you to-morrow,” interrupted Donald, turning abruptly -and walking swiftly down Granville Street. - -Douglas stood watching him until he disappeared. “A mighty good sport,” -he said softly. - -Fresh from his exercises and shower, his cheeks red, his dark eyes -shining with the clear glow of health, his step springy and free, Donald -was a picture of rugged health and strength. But for all this apparent -outward brightness, inwardly he felt rebellious. Douglas’s invitation -had brought a great longing for the comforts of his past life. Why -should he assume the rôle of a pugilist to eke out an existence? Why -wear shabby clothes and even know the pangs of hunger? Was it necessary? -He had but to wire his father that he was destitute and plenty of money -would be forthcoming. - -A big steak at “Old Joe’s” furnished him a hearty meal. As he selected -the money from his meagre supply of cash to pay his check, Old Joe bent -his grizzled head forward. “Are ye gittin’ short, son?” he asked. “Don’t -go hungry; come in any time.” - -“Thanks, Joe.” - -Donald was in a dark mood. He heard the sound of happy laughter coming -from a saloon on the corner. There behind those swinging doors was -momentary recess from worldly cares. He stood in the door of the -restaurant and looked across the Inlet at the twin peaks, known as the -“Lions,” which guard the entrance to Vancouver’s harbour. The sun was -setting in a mass of fleecy clouds; the clouds became a luminous gauze, -and a golden splendour spread over the water. The mountains were -suffused in violet, while the snow-fields took on a faint stain of rose. -Donald’s face glowed as he watched. - -“Some country!” he breathed. He turned to catch a friendly smile from -Old Joe as he worked over his range. “And some people!” he added -fervently. - -Once more he turned to the mountains. The glow had vanished and the -Lions stood in bold relief against the clear sky. The massive -snow-capped peaks seemed to impart a new strength to his being. “I’ll -not quit. I’m going to make good,” he said grimly. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - -While on his daily run around Stanley Park the next afternoon Donald was -attracted by a horse and rider standing on Prospect Point. The rider was -interested in a huge white liner ploughing her way through the Narrows, -bucking a head tide. The horse, a noble animal, with full mane and tail, -was restive, rocking and prancing in his eagerness to be off. - -When Donald lifted his eyes to the rider he saw a beautiful, haughty -face with skin of a milky whiteness, a heavy mass of dark brown hair, -neatly coiffed under a trim riding hat, and a pair of wonderful brown -eyes that suddenly grew cold. - -A shower of dirt and pebbles stung Donald’s face as the horse was swung -about as though on a pivot and with its rider was off like the wind. - -“A thoroughbred,” he exclaimed, as he watched the rider until she turned -a corner in the drive. “Two of them! And she thinks I am a low-down -masher,” he added ruefully. - -That afternoon he went through fifteen rounds of boxing, finishing -strong and fresh to tackle pulleys and punching-bag. - -Andy was joyful. “It will never go twenty rounds, me lad. That straight -left of yours alone would stop ’im in ’arf that time.” - -“This is my last day of road-work,” remarked Donald to his friend on -Friday afternoon, as he slipped on his running-shoes. - -As he and Douglas neared Prospect Point Donald’s thoughts turned to the -girl of yesterday. “She was haughty as a princess.” Unwittingly he had -spoken his musings aloud. - -“What’s that?” queried his companion. - -“I was talking to myself,” laughed Donald. - -“Bad sign! You are either in love or old age has overtaken you. Too -bad!” Douglas wagged his head sadly. - -“I may as well tell you,” confided Donald; “I saw a Greek goddess -mounted on an Arabian charger here yesterday.” - -Douglas threw out his hands tragically. “Donald, my poor friend! I am -afraid that I hit you too hard in that last round,” he said in a voice -of mock compassion. - -Donald stopped short. “Look!” he cried, pointing excitedly, “there she -is!” - -The girl sat gracefully erect on the big horse, gazing down at the -rushing tide. - -“I’ll be jiggered!” exclaimed Douglas. - -“Don’t blame you, but isn’t she a peach?” said Donald admiringly. - -Douglas burst out laughing. “Do you know who that is?” he asked with a -peculiar inflection. - -“I told you—a Greek goddess, mount——” - -“That’s my sister Janet,” interrupted Douglas. - -Donald’s mouth opened. He stared at his friend. “Your _what_?” he -exploded. - -“Oh, I forgot! Poor fellow!” said Douglas, solicitously, as his face -assumed a mournful expression. “I’ll certainly have to pull my punches -hereafter.” He leaned toward Donald and placed his lips close to his -ear. “S-i-s-t-e-r,” he spelled slowly. “Does the old bean grasp it?” - -“Cut the comedy,” growled Donald as he jerked Douglas to the side of the -road out of sight of the equestrienne. “Good heavens! Your sister!” he -groaned, “and she thinks I am a masher.” - -“Why should she think that of you?” - -Donald told him of yesterday’s occurrence. - -“This is great!” chuckled Douglas. “Come and meet my sister, Donald. -I’ll tell her that you can’t help flirting, and that will fix things up -all right. I’ll call her.” He grinned facetiously. - -“Don’t you dare! You——” Donald warned. - -Douglas avoided Donald’s wild clutch, ran to the centre of the road and -waved his arm. - -“Oh, Janet!” he shouted. - -Donald shook an angry fist at his tormentor and sprang to the shelter of -the trees. There was a thud of hoofs, a spattering of gravel, and the -sound of creaking leather. - -“What in the world are you doing here in that dress, Doug?” asked Janet. - -“Janet,” said her brother in a low, mysterious voice, “I’ve got the -fellow that tried to flirt with you yesterday; he’s in there.” He -pointed to the bush. “The poor fellow is a confirmed flirt; has it in -its worst form. I beg of you, Sister, be lenient, be merciful. He thinks -you are a Greek goddess.” He tapped his forehead significantly. - -Donald cursed the irrepressible youth’s sense of humour. If he could -have reached the humorist at that moment he would have pitched him into -the Inlet without compunction. - -Janet eyed her brother with disapproval. “What are you talking about, -Doug? Have you taken leave of your senses entirely?” - -“I will bring forth the erring knight for you to censure,” rejoined her -brother, bowing low in exaggerated deference. “Ho!” he shouted, “leave -thy woodsy bower, Sir Don, the goddess awaits thee.” - -Seething inwardly, Donald tried to appear dignified as he stepped to the -road, but the attempt was a dismal failure. How could one approach -anything like dignity when dressed in a pair of running trunks, a torn -and frayed jersey, socks turned down over a pair of dirty tennis shoes, -and without hat or coat? All this added to the fact that he faced a -battery of two big brown eyes, possessed by a lovely girl immaculately -dressed, who thought him a masher. The greatest actor in the world would -fail to register dignity under such conditions. He had a confused -remembrance of a jumble of words that went for a formal introduction. He -felt his face hot, and knew he was blushing furiously, which did not add -to his composure. - -The girl looked down curiously, but not without interest, at the -embarrassed young man. - -Donald finally mustered courage to glance up at the face above him. The -deep brown eyes regarding him held just a trace of humour. The full red -lips were parted to show a flash of white, even teeth. - -“It is a pleasure to meet you even under such inauspicious -circumstances,” stammered Donald. He turned to glare at the grinning -cause of his discomfiture. “I would suggest, Miss Rennie, that you have -a doctor waiting at your home, as I intend to commit mayhem on the -person of your brother as soon as you have gone.” - -Janet laughed. “I will go now to give you the chance.” With a playful -flick of her whip toward Douglas, she was off like an arrow. - -Donald turned to his friend. “I hope that you are satisfied now that you -have made an ass out of me.” - -“Quite happy, old dear. I didn’t find it a hard job.” - -Donald laughed. “I’ll race you to the gym.” - -As the bout was to take place on Monday, this was to be the last day of -training. The fans who had flocked to see Donald in his work-outs -admitted that he had wonderful speed, but would be unable to stay the -twenty rounds with the formidable Garrieau. The verdict of the knowing -ones was that it would take more than a snappy left hand to lift the -laurels from the champion who possessed the virtue of the terrible -punch. - -To the boxer training is a trying ordeal. The daily grind of road-work, -bag-punching, rope-skipping and pulley work becomes monotonous. The -nerves become frayed, and if the weight has to be materially reduced the -boxer develops a bad temper and is anything but a cheerful companion. - -As Donald prepared for bed that night he thought with relief that the -morrow would be a day of rest. “I’ll be glad when it’s over,” he mused. -His meditations were interrupted by a rapping on the door. In answer to -his invitation to come in, the door opened and a small man of -unprepossessing appearance entered. - -The visitor was indeed a most repulsive man, of uncertain age, and with -skin of a sickly yellow. One eye was sightless, which he ascribed to an -accident during a football game. Those familiar with his shady past -averred that it was caused by the vigorous application of an adversary’s -thumb during a bar-room brawl. - -“I’m Garrieau’s manager,” he said importantly. - -“What do you want?” demanded Donald shortly. - -“Now, see here, Kid. We’ve got a dead cinch to cop de change. It’s dis -way. Youse is a amachoor widout a chance in de woild to beat de Slugger. -Get me? Well, dere ain’t a bit of sense of de Slugger beatin’ you up for -nuttin’, so we frames de bout. De heavy bettin’ will be on de Slugger, -so we fixes it for de Slugger to take de big flop. Get me? We let’s it -go ’till about de tent’ round, so’s to give de fans a run for dere -money. We gets all de money dat we can beg, borrow and steal and puts it -on you to win. We puts up a slam-bang fight. You can take de drop a -couple of times, and den down goes de Slugger. De fans will just eat it -up. De tent’ round will find you stannin’ toe to toe, den de last minute -you sends home de fake sleep-punch. De boobs will t’ink it’s on de -square. Den in a mont’ we gets a return fight, and we pulls off de -‘grudge stuff’ and we packs de house. Of course, we have to win den, and -all our money will be placed on de Slugger. Dat means dat we cop de -change twice. Get me?” His ugly lips parted in what he intended as an -ingratiating smile. “You come up to de club to-morrow and we rehearses -de whole t’ing. Get me?” - -Donald’s face turned pale with rage. “I ‘get you,’ you damned little -rat!” he rasped. Seizing the surprised Pursell by the collar, he jerked -him to his feet, dragged him to the door, and threw him out with such -force that he struck the wall with a thump and fell in a heap on the -floor. - -Pursell rose with a snarl that showed his yellow teeth. A look of -bestial hate shot from the one gleaming orb. “We’ll kill you Monday, -you——” The air was filled with the vilest objurgations. - -Closing the door, Donald walked to the windows and opened them wide, as -though to rid the room of the air his visitor had breathed. “I never -dreamed there was so much rottenness in the shape of a human being,” he -said disgustedly. - -At the same hour, at the other side of the city, Douglas was also -entertaining a visitor, but of a very different type. He had just -entered his room when he heard his sister’s voice. - -“May I come in a minute, Doug?” Janet came to the point quickly. “Who is -this Mr. McLean who was with you to-day?” - -“Oh, that was—er—Donald McLean,” he answered evasively. - -“You know what I mean. Who is he? What is he? Where does he come from?” - -“I’ll look him up in Bradstreet’s.” - -“Do be serious, Doug.” - -“Is it a serious matter, Sis?” - -“I think he is interesting,” she replied hesitatingly. - -“So do I. I liked him the first time I saw him,” said Douglas warmly. - -“Well, you haven’t answered my questions yet,” persisted Janet. - -For all his fluency of speech Douglas was for the moment nonplussed. -“Let’s see—er—what was the first question?” He was sparring for time. - -“Don’t quibble, Doug. Where did you meet him?” - -“I met him a long time ago, through an intimate friend by the name of -Pettray. McLean is his partner. Firm name McLean and Pettray.” - -“What is their business?” - -“Oh—er—glove business.” - -There was an interval of silence. “I’m not a bad little liar,” thought -Douglas. “I wonder if she’s finished.” He yawned strenuously and -stretched his arms. “My! I’m sleepy,” he said. - -Janet rose slowly and moved toward the door. “Are you going to ask him -out some time?” she inquired. - -“Sure thing!” - -At the door she turned. “Will you let me know when he is coming?” - -“Yes, dear.” - -“Good-night, Doug.” - -“Good-night, Sis.” - -Douglas stood for a while staring into nothingness. “I don’t blame her,” -he said aloud. “I don’t know anything about him, but I’ll bet he is a -real man.” - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - -The arena and the grand-stand were packed, the S.R.O. sign having been -hung out at two o’clock. The cosmopolitan crowd sat in solid ranks, tier -upon tier, from the select ringside seats to the topmost rail. Judges, -lawyers, doctors and bankers sat with labourers, miners, loggers, -bartenders, and bootblacks. Men of the underworld sat side by side with -men that make and administer our laws. There was a sprinkling of Japs, -Chinamen and negroes. The turbanned Hindu made bright splotches of -colour here and there in the vast sea of faces. Of class distinction -there was none; all welded as one in the love of the boxing game. - -The preliminaries were over, and the vast crowd had settled in their -seats. Suddenly there was a stir, a craning of necks. Down the aisle on -the west side of the arena came Donald, followed by Andy and the two -seconds, the latter carrying buckets, sponges, towels and bottles. -Donald wore a dark-coloured bathrobe thrown over his shoulders. There -was a murmur of applause that swelled to a tumult as he clambered -through the ropes. He seemed cool as Andy piloted him to his corner, but -as he sat down and stretched out his long legs, he appeared ill at ease. - -Although the crowd had given him a handsome welcome, prophecies were -shouted down from the top seats that he would not last very long with -the formidable champion. Donald was palpably nervous, as evidenced in -the quick turning of his head and the shuffling of his feet. He looked -slight and frail as he leaned forward in his chair, the black bathrobe -accentuating the paleness of his face. A feeling of friendlessness came -over him as he gazed at the huge, strange crowd who were loudly -predicting his defeat. - -A well-known judge, wearing glasses and a big black hat, turned to his -companion. “It’s a hanged shame, Tom, to match that slim boy with a -brute like Garrieau.” - -The one addressed was one of the City’s leading dentists and an ardent -boxing fan. “Don’t you believe it, Bill,” he returned. “Just wait until -you see this boy strip.” - -“Here he comes!” - -A roar of applause greeted the champion as he came down the east aisle -bowing right and left in answer to their plaudits. His dark, massive -body seemed fairly to shine as he leaped to the ring with easy grace and -stripped off his robe. He stood in his corner with hands on the ropes, -shuffling his feet in the resin, still smiling and glancing about the -arena. Evidently he loved the limelight. - -In appearance the champion very much resembled the ape. His bullet-like -head was close cropped. The small piggish eyes were deep set under -overhanging, beetling brows, and the nose was flat like a negro’s. His -lips were thick, with a repulsive twist that gave his face a sinister -look. His massive jaw was purposely left unshaved to rasp the tender -skin of his opponent’s shoulders in the clinches. His enormous -barrel-shaped chest was covered with a thick growth of hair. His -shoulders were broad and his disproportionately long arms, heavily -muscled, terminated in two thick ham-like hands. He gazed confidently -across at Donald’s corner. - -A pasteboard box containing the gloves was tossed to the centre of the -ring. There was a stir as the announcer pushed his way through the -ropes. Andy crossed the ring to examine the champion’s hands for tape -and to test thoroughly the new gloves for any trace of sewed in shot or -lotion that would cause the eyes to smart. One of Garrieau’s seconds was -making a similar examination in Donald’s corner. - -A big man in a wide-brimmed hat, with a mackinaw coat over his arm, came -walking down the steps of the arena. The look of astonishment on his -face gradually gave place to one of joy. He ran to the ringside. - -“Donald!” he shouted joyously, as he sprang through the ropes. With a -thrill of pleasure Donald held out his hand to Jack Gillis. The big -man’s face was beaming. “Just got in,” he said. “Bin lookin’ all over -town for you! I come to the fight and—holy mackerel!—here you are one -of the fighters!” - -Andy noted the glad look in Donald’s eyes and he spoke sharply to -Donald’s seconds, who were for ordering the boisterous visitor out of -the ring. The word “pyschology” was foreign to Andy, but he knew that -Donald’s mind had for a moment drifted away from the fight. Donald was -surprised to see Douglas greet Gillis warmly as the big man left the -ring. - -“I have two good friends in the audience, anyway,” whispered Donald to -himself. - -Andy leaned over him, talking in a low voice, giving him comfort and -advice. “E’ll try right along, Donnie, to get your goat by cursing and -using vile language, but don’t listen to ’im, and don’t lose your -temper. ’E fights with ’is chin tucked in the ’ollow of ’is left -shoulder and ’is neck muscles rigid. It’s mighty ’ard to land on ’is jaw -with a right. Now the first round,” Andy went on, “you just jab ’im -light with your left; don’t ’it ’ard, just a good snappy punch. ’E’ll -think you ’ave no sting in it, and the next round ’e’ll get careless and -let you ’it ’im so’s to get in a punch. Of course, if you see a good -opening, let fly with all you ’ave, but ’e won’t open up until ’e tries -you out a bit. Watch the dirty blighter in the clinches; ’e’ll foul you -if ’e gets a chance. Another thing: this is to be twenty rounds, so tyke -your time. Now is everything clear to you, Donnie?” - -“Yes, Andy.” - -Andy patted Donald’s bare shoulder affectionately. - -The contestants stood in their corners as they were introduced. The -referee beckoned them to the centre of the ring for instructions. As -Donald slipped the enveloping bathrobe from his shoulders and stepped -forward, a murmur of admiration swelled from the crowd. His lean loins -and broad shoulders showed to advantage in the bright light. The long, -flowing muscles rippled under his skin when he moved, like those of a -panther. Loud applause came from all over the arena. Garrieau, thinking -the ovation was for himself, turned and ducked his head with a motion -that was intended for a bow. - -A rough voice near the top shouted: “Aw! that wasn’t for you, you big -stiff!” - -The judge and the dentist turned and looked at each other. The eyes of -the latter seemed to say, “I told you so.” The judge smiled and nodded. - -A fat man, who could not have been more than thirty-five years of age, -yet with rolls of fat at his waist-line, a bulbous nose and florid face, -bit savagely on a big cigar. “By gad!” he ejaculated, “that man is -perfect.” There was a look of admiration and envy in his red-rimmed -eyes. Thus do men admire the strong, well-kept body of the athlete, even -though their own physical self has degenerated to mere paste. - -“Two to one that Garrieau wins inside of ten rounds!” shouted a voice. -Douglas covered the bet at once. - -“Now, men,” instructed the referee briskly, “this is to be for twenty -rounds. You are to fight clean breaks. You can hit with one arm free, -but you cannot hold with one and hit with the other. When I say ‘Break’ -I want you to break at once and step back. Do you understand fully? -Good! To your corners.” - -Donald glanced at his friends, who sat with their eyes upon him. He felt -Andy’s hand upon him gently stroking his arm, yet he could not suppress -the trembling in his limbs. - -“Everything’s all right, Donnie,” whispered Andy softly. - -The gong rang. - -Garrieau assumed the crouch Andy had predicted, his chin resting in the -hollow of his shoulder, his eyes seeming to retreat into his skull under -the overhanging brows. This was the champion’s famous “fighting face.” - -“Pretty boy, ain’t yer?” he scoffed. “I’m goin’ to knock dose pretty -teet’ down yer throat, you——” he cursed. - -Donald snapped a light left to the ugly face and danced out of range. -The champion’s thick lips parted in a fiendish grin. “My, mamma’s nice -boy has a terrible punch!” he derided. - -Donald continued his dazzling footwork, keeping the champion in pursuit -and contending himself with occasional left-hand jabs that kept his -opponent’s head rocking. He shot glances at intervals to his corner for -instructions from Andy, who nodded his head in approval of his tactics. - -The round finished in the challenger’s favour by a wide margin on -points. The champion had not landed a single effective blow during the -round. - -The action of the first round caused Donald to forget his nervousness. -Andy crowded between his knees and gently massaged his body, all the -while speaking words of commendation and counsel. - -“Now that you find that you can reach ’im easily with your left, watch -me for signals. If I see that ’e’s openin’ up, I’ll give you the sign to -shoot your left with all you ’ave. If he swings again with ’is left, try -for ’is bread basket. You understand me, Donnie?” - -“Easiest thing I’ve picked yet,” chuckled the champion as he came to his -corner. - -“He may be stalling,” cautioned his evil-faced manager. - -“Huh!” grunted the champion. “I can take all he has in dat left and -never feel it. I’m goin’ to open up on him de last part of de next -round.” - -The gong rang for the second round. - -Donald caught a glimpse of Pursell’s face as he crouched in the opposite -corner. Such a look of vicious hate shot from his one gleaming eye that -Donald shivered. - -The rough element began to boo Donald for his running tactics. Some fans -feel that they are cheated out of the price of admission unless they can -witness the spectacle of two boxers slugging toe to toe until one goes -down. Science counts for nothing with this small minority. - -“Whadda ya think this is, a marathon?” they shouted. - -“Powder-puff punch!” derided another. - -Garrieau suddenly tore in, letting loose a terrific right that would -have stopped the bout right then if it had landed. From a clinch Donald -looked to his corner. Andy went through the pantomime of shooting a -straight left. Donald nodded. - -“Powder-puff punch!” again shouted the disgruntled fan. - -“Did ya hear that?” hissed Garrieau, twisting his mouth into an apish -grin. “Yo can’t hit hard enough to break an egg. I’m goin’ to fix dose -teet’ for you now.” He leered brutally as he tore after Donald, -disdainful of the belittled left. - -Donald stopped abruptly in his flight and shot a lightning left across -to his pursuer’s jaw. The champion saw it coming, but too late to block -it. He threw his body into reverse, robbing the blow of a great deal of -its force; yet enough was left to send him reeling back to the ropes, -his head whirling and his knees wobbly. With a roar the spectators came -to their feet as one man. The gong saved Garrieau. - -The crowd gave Donald a deafening ovation as he walked to his corner. He -looked for his friends and saw Douglas and Gillis locked in an embrace -and dancing madly in the narrow aisle. - -“Pretty near got ’im that time, Donnie!” cried Andy gleefully. “If you -can get ’im to lift ’is jaw off ’is shoulder, send in your right.” -Andy’s hands were shaking with excitement, while Donald was cool and -collected. - -“Let me go after him, Andy,” he begged; “I can whip him at his own -game.” - -“No, no!” admonished Andy, “keep on as you are. Don’t try to swap -punches with ’im!” - -Garrieau’s seconds were working over him feverishly. Pursell leaned over -the heavily-breathing champion, his evil face sick with apprehension. - -“What’d I tell yer?” he exclaimed. “They’ve stuck a ringer in on us; dat -feller ain’t no amachoor! If he beats ya we’re both bums! Foul him dis -round, for de——” he finished with a savage oath. - -At the beginning of the third round Garrieau charged his elusive -adversary like a mad bull. Donald easily side-stepped him and he plunged -into the ropes. As he rebounded, Donald landed a left and danced safely -away without reprisal. - -“You can do pretty footwork,” snarled the champion with a look of Simian -ferocity, “but I’ll get you yet, you——” There followed a burst of wild -cursing. He tried to rush Donald to the ropes, feinted for the wind, and -let loose a powerful right for the jaw. Paying no attention to the -feint, Donald ducked the blow and, countering, shot his left to his -opponent’s mid-section. The champion grunted aloud, fell into a clinch, -and hung on grimly. The referee pried them apart. Again the crowd came -to their feet to shout in a frenzy of excitement. - -Garrieau fell into a clinch, then wrestled about until he placed his -opponent between himself and the referee. He loosed his right in a -terrific upper-cut that missed, but his left smashed with fearful force -to Donald’s groin—the most brutal foul that can be delivered. The -referee did not see the blow. - -Donald’s nerves quivered with agony. A wave of torment and the awful -nausea that follows such a blow swept through him. His face writhing -with anguish, his gloved hands clutching his groin, he crashed forward -on his face. His body twitched for a moment, then lay still. - -The crowd came to their feet and many moved toward the exits. Another -victim, they thought, to the champion’s terrible punch. A number at the -ringside, who had witnessed the foul blow, stood upon their seats and -screamed denunciations at the referee. - -The referee stood with one hand on Garrieau’s massive chest. The latter -was lustfully straining forward while the fatal seconds were tolled off. - -The roar of the crowd came to Donald’s ears like the dash of waves on a -distant shore. At the count of five his body stirred. At the count of -eight, his jaw sagging, his face distorted, he struggled to his knees. -He saw Andy’s agonised face as through a fog and heard his desperate cry -of appeal. - -“Up, Donnie! Up!” - -At the count of nine Donald’s benumbed muscles answered the call of his -brain. With tremendous effort he staggered to his feet and wound his -arms about his face. The crowd yelled themselves hoarse in tribute to -his courage. - -Garrieau was upon him with a growl like a wild beast. Donald stood in -the centre of the ring reeling drunkenly. Garrieau shot a terrific right -for Donald’s wind that struck his weakly protecting elbows. The impact -carried him to the ropes, and he fell forward to his knees. Again the -referee’s arm rose and fell as he counted the seconds. Again Donald -tottered to his feet to meet a fusilade of short-arm jolts that pierced -his guard and sent him staggering. - -The gong rang. With body swaying unsteadily and legs wavering, Donald -walked to his corner and sank down heavily. What a blessed relief to lie -and relax! His head felt leaden and there was a ringing in his ears. - -His seconds worked over him in furious haste. Andy knew all the tricks -of resuscitation: the upward sweep of hand on the midriff that brings -the big nerve centre to life; the quick raising of the chest that brings -air to the remote corners of the lungs. With a sudden choking in his -throat, the little Australian realized that this boy was very dear to -him. A prayer on his lips, his hands trembling, but sure and deft, he -strove to restore the shattered nerves. - -The colour came slowly to Donald’s cheeks and the haze cleared away as -the cold water was showered upon him. He felt his strength returning. A -long deep breath and he was himself again. Youth and his fine body had -saved him. He looked across the ring at Garrieau, whose vulture-like -manager was leaning over him with an exultant look on his face. This -brute had deliberately fouled him. A cold and terrible rage swept -through every fibre of Donald’s being. He had demeaned himself by -entering the prize-ring. This was bad enough; but to _lose_ the -battle!—_Never!_ He looked for his friends. Their faces, he saw, were -tense and full of misery. - -“Andy, I’m going after him,” he declared in a hard voice. - -Andy was about to remonstrate, but he caught a flash of the hard light -in Donald’s eyes, and the words died on his lips. He hesitated. Maybe he -should have let Donald take the aggressive from the start. - -“Are you strong enough, Donnie?” - -Donald’s eyes held a dull glow. “Yes!” he gritted. - -Andy patted his arm as the gong rang. “Give ’im ’ell, Donnie!” And then -added reverently: “May God give ’im strength.” - -Donald shot from his corner as though thrown from a catapult to meet -Garrieau before he was fairly out of his chair. The spectators held -their breath. Was this the man who a minute before had walked staggering -and beaten to his chair? When the referee pried the fighters apart after -a fierce mix-up in the champion’s corner, a puffed eye and a bloody face -showed that Garrieau had absorbed severe punishment. Donald was -everywhere, dancing in for a fierce rally and out again, always without -a return. - -The arena fairly rocked to the cheers of the crowd as Donald stood in -the centre of the ring and exchanged punches with the champion. Head to -head they stood while Donald’s arms worked with such lightning speed -that the champion’s blows were smothered. And, marvel of marvels, the -champion was giving ground. The pursued had become pursuer. The tide had -turned. With his arms wound about his face the champion retreated. As he -assayed a lead, Donald’s fist smote his face before he could again cover -up. Following relentlessly, Donald penetrated his opponent’s guard with -rights and lefts until the champion’s face was a smear of red. - -A bedlam of sound came from the audience as they stood on their seats -and roared their admiration for the challenger’s wonderful exhibition. -Andy, his face set, his eyes bulging clung to the corner of the ring. - -Garrieau drove heavily at his elusive foe and missed. The impetus swung -him to one side. For an instant his chin was without the protecting -shelter of his shoulder. With a bewilderingly swift move Donald stepped -forward, pivoted on his toes, and with the full weight of his powerful -young body behind it, he whipped his right to the champion’s unprotected -jaw. Plop! Garrieau fell upon his face and sprawled like a baboon on the -floor. Donald walked to his corner, thrust his gloved hands towards -Andy, who stood as though paralyzed, and said; “Take them off, Andy.” -His voice was audible throughout the arena. The referee rushed to -Donald’s side and raised his arm aloft in token of victory. - -With a roar the crowd came to its senses to realize that the fight was -over. Pandemonium broke loose. A struggling mass of humanity surged into -the ring. Every man wanted to shake hands with the new champion. -Garrieau, the possessor of the “punch” they had so much admired, was -forgotten. The king is dead—long live the king! Such is life, -especially in the boxing game! - - - - - CHAPTER V - - -With much difficulty Donald and his friends forced their way through the -cheering throng to the dressing-room. Weak and tired, Donald lay on a -cot, while his handlers gently massaged his sore body. Andy moved to the -cot and stood looking down on his protégé. - -Donald opened his eyes. “Hello, Andy, he smiled weakly. - -“Hello, Donnie,” said Andy huskily, as he patted Donald’s dark head. - -Donald’s hand stole out to meet the warm clasp of his friend. - -“Some little fight,” said Andy, summoning a smile. - -“Not bad,” agreed Donald. - -Gillis pulled his hat brim down over his eyes to hide his emotion. “I’ve -a good mind to go out and give that brute another lickin’,” he growled. - -One of the promoters thrust his head through the door. “Come and get -your dough!” he shouted. - -“Strike me lucky!” returned Andy, “those words ’ave a pleasant sound.” -He picked up a small handbag and left the room. In a few moments he -returned, his face beaming. He tapped the satchel. “Chuck full,” he said -happily. - -At the gymnasium they gathered in Andy’s room, and for the first time -Donald told them of the attempted “frame-up” proposed by Garrieau’s -manager. Douglas strode across the room and gripped Donald’s hand. Not a -word was uttered by anyone, but the silence was more eloquent than -speech. - -They were all in a happy mood after the prolonged strain of the day. -Andy was in particularly high spirits. “Gentlemen,” he began -grandiloquently, “I ’ave before me on the tyble ’ere a most wonderful -little ’andbag. All it ’ad in it this morning was a dirty collar and a -shirt stud. Now,” making a dramatic gesture, “it’s the bloomin’ ’orn of -plenty!” He turned the satchel upside down and a mass of bills, coins -and cheques fell upon the table. - -“’Ere, Gillis,” cried Andy, as he selected a bill, “will you go out and -get some champagne, and when you goes in the bar buy a drink for the -’ouse. Bring ginger ale for Donnie; ’is manager’ll drink ’is share of -the wine.” - -Andy sorted the money into piles and sat quietly counting for a few -minutes. “Fifteen thousand and a few odd dollars,” he announced. - -“What!” ejaculated Donald. He was astounded. He had given the size of -the purse little thought. “I had no idea it would be so much,” he said -in a surprised tone. - -“Oh, the boxin’ gyme is a great gyme,” said Andy. - -“Yes,” remarked Douglas, “but after seeing that bout to-day I’m going to -take up tiddly-winks instead; it’s not so rough.” - -When the big man returned with the wine Donald turned to Douglas. “It -seems that you and Gillis are old friends.” - -“Why, yes, Jack’s been one of Dad’s right-hand men for—how long, Jack?” - -“About ten years,” replied Gillis. - -“And I’m equally interested to know how you and Jack know each other so -well,” said Douglas curiously. - -“I met Donald on the train comin’ out,” answered Gillis quickly. - -“Come on, boys,” cried Andy, “we’ll drink to the new champ—to Donnie’s -health.” Andy held his glass aloft. “Boys, I can’t make much of a -speech, as I ’ave only ’ad one drink. Stand up while we drink to our -Donnie. I knows that ’e’s goin’ to leave me, and that ’e’s goin’ to give -up the boxin’ gyme. I knows that ’e isn’t in the ’abit of mixin’ with -the likes o’ me. I knows that I’m lucky to be blackin’ the boots o’ a -man like ’im. But when I knows that ’e went into this fight to ’elp a -poor little bloke like me out of an ’ole, I’m proud, boys, I’m proud! -I’ve seen many a fight, and I’ve seen many a gyme man. But strike me -blind if Donnie didn’t this day teach me something about sheer grit. -When ’e came stumblin’ to me at the end of that—that third -round—I—I——” He stopped. “You know what ’appened,” he continued in a -husky voice. “I ask nothin’ better’n to ’ave ’im for me pal. ’Ere’s to -the gymest man that ever stepped in shoe-leather! ’Ere’s to ’im!” Andy -turned away quickly to light a cigarette. His eyes were moist. The room -was silent. - -Donald was deeply moved by his little friend’s show of feeling. Douglas -broke the silence. “You got back to the Coast just in time, Jack.” - -“How’s that?” - -“Dad has started on the biggest job that he’s tackled yet. - -“What is it?” - -“Do you remember the big tract of timber that he bought in the Cheakamus -Valley?” - -“Yes, he bought on my advice,” answered Gillis. - -“Well, he’s going to run a railroad in and build sawmills, and saw the -logs right on the spot instead of shipping them to the Coast.” - -“Good!” said Gillis heartily. “There’s a wonderful stand of timber in -that valley.” - -“But here’s the best part of it,” Douglas went on eagerly; “Dad’s going -to send you in to cruise the timber around Summit Lake, and I’m to go -with you. It’s a wonderful country. I was up there last summer.” He -turned to Donald. “Will you go with us?” - -“I’ll be glad to,” assented Donald. - -“Good!” cried Douglas. “It will be fine camping with you and Jack.” - -Little Andy sat patiently listening to this lively conversation, in -which he had been completely ignored. He could contain himself no -longer. - -“I s’y,” he blurted, “am I such a blinkin’ dwarf that you’ve forgotten -that I’m in this ’ere crowd? Isn’t me ’ead above the tyble? Where the -’ell do I get off on this ’ere bloomin’ picnic, I asks you?” - -One look into the Australian’s seriously comic face with its heavy blond -eyebrows wagging up and down set Douglas into paroxysms of laughter. -“Andy,” he declared, “I’m going to take you along, even if we have to -mark you ‘excess baggage.’ Can you cook?” - -“Can I cook?” repeated Andy. “’E asks me can I cook! That’s me first -name; that’s me profession. I’ve cooked on sailing ships, steamboats, in -camps, in the Army, an’ I did thirty days in Sydney jail, and blime me -if they didn’t make me ’ead cook. I was so good they wanted me to sty.” - -“You’re hired, Andy,” said Douglas decidedly. “But isn’t it going to be -pretty tough to quit the boxing game for cooking?” - -“Seein’ as you ’ave asked me I’ll say that it’s a blinkin’ sight better -than quittin’ it for tiddledy-winks!” - -Douglas came to his feet. “I want you to meet Dad, Donald, and we’ll -find out when we are to start.” - -Andy patted his stomach contemplatively. “Well, with this ’ere champagne -under me belt, I think I’ll start in ’ere and ’ave a drink and a fight -in every bar from ’ere to Cordova Street. About meetin’ you, Donnie,” he -added scratching his head reflectively, “the way I feel right now I -think by to-morrow morning you’ll find me in the bridal-chamber of the -Vancouver Hotel.” Saying which with straightened shoulders, his head set -at a characteristic angle, he swaggered down the street and with a wave -of his hand disappeared within the swinging doors of the first saloon. -In his present mood Andy envied no millionaire. - -“You’ll like Dad,” said Douglas, as they ran up the steps of the big -office building. “He’s rather severe looking and pretty straight-laced, -but the face he wears in the office isn’t the face he wears at home.” He -finished with a laugh. - -Robert Rennie was the sole owner of the Rennie Construction and Logging -Company, one of the largest organizations of its kind on the Coast. He -now rose from his chair and came around the desk, all the while studying -Donald’s face, which bore unmistakable traces of the afternoon’s fight. - -“Dad, this is Donald McLean, whom I told you about last night. I don’t -want to take up much of your time; just wanted you to meet Donald and -find out when we can start on the trip to the mountains.” - -“Now that Gillis is here to go with you, you can go any time; the sooner -the better, as we expect to have the railroad to the summit in a few -weeks,” responded his father, his eyes still on Donald. - -“Thanks, Dad,” said Douglas. “We can be ready to-morrow and leave the -next day.” - -“Douglas, will you please go to Bowser’s office and get some papers he -promised to have ready to-day?” asked Robert Rennie. - -Donald moved toward the door with Douglas. - -“Sit down, Mr. McLean, and wait until Douglas comes back,” invited -Robert Rennie politely, as he pushed a chair toward Donald. He then -closed the door of the outer office, where a girl sat pounding a -typewriter. - -When the older man turned his face was set in a broad smile and he -crossed the room to seize the hand of his astonished visitor in a hearty -grip. “Man! man!” he exclaimed, as he pumped Donald’s hand vigorously, -“that was a great fight to-day! When you got Garrieau with your left in -the second round and that d—— gong rang, I—I—heavens, but I was -excited!” He was gazing at Donald with admiration glowing in his eyes. - -“You—you were there!” gasped Donald. - -Robert Rennie chuckled. “Top row—nigger heaven! When that brute fouled -you I think I could have shot him!” - -“Mr. Rennie, I’m not a professional fighter, I—I——” - -“Tut! tut!” interrupted the enthusiastic fan, “I can see that. By gad! -that last round was a whirlwind. That right you landed on his jaw—I got -so excited that I fell down between the seats and skinned my shins.” He -rubbed his leg ruefully. “I never saw such speed as you showed in that -last. . . .” - -Here footsteps sounded outside, Robert Rennie moved quickly to his -chair, adjusted his glasses and assumed a serious expression. “Not a -word to Doug,” he whispered. - -“Bowser says that he told you he’d have the papers to-morrow,” informed -Douglas. - -“Very well,” answered his father. - -Donald turned as he was leaving the room and saw Robert Rennie close one -eye in a wise wink. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - -At the breakfast table the next morning Douglas was talking happily of -their departure for Summit Lake. - -“You’ll have to hustle the work of timber cruising,” his father -admonished. “There won’t be any time for play, as we expect to have the -road finished in a few weeks.” - -“Don’t worry, Dad. This is my first real job, and I am going to make -good,” declared Douglas stoutly. - -“I hope so, Douglas. As you know, I want you to work your way up on your -own merits. I’m not going to show any favouritism. We are going to put -in a larger mill at Cheakamus, and one at Summit Lake, so there will be -good opportunities for advancement for you and McLean if you show the -right spirit. - -“Is Mr. McLean going with you?” interposed Janet in a casual tone. - -“Yes.” - -“How can he leave his business for so long?” - -“He’s not actively engaged in business just at present,” explained -Douglas glibly. - -“You might ask him out to dinner to-night. I am having a few friends in -for the evening.” - -“You bet I will.” - -Donald accepted Janet’s invitation with alacrity. Living within the four -bare walls of a room and eating in restaurants had long since palled on -his taste. - -“Formal or informal?” he asked. - -Douglas made a deprecatory gesture. “Formal, very formal. You don’t know -Janet or you wouldn’t ask that question. My sister is a stickler for -ceremony. How are you off for ‘soup and fish’?” - -“I have the necessaries,” smiled Donald. - -Donald spent more than the usual time in dressing. He stood before the -small mirror and surveyed himself with a critical eye. “Pretty soft for -you,” he apostrophized himself, “eating in ten-cent restaurants one day -and dining in a millionaire’s home the next, and on the invitation of -the most beautiful girl you have ever met.” - -Douglas called for him with his car and whisked him to the palatial -Rennie residence on Shaughnessy Heights. The imposing evidence of wealth -was written in bold headlines on the whole street of beautiful homes. - -Mrs. Rennie met them at the door and greeted Donald warmly. He could not -repress a start as he noted her likeness to Janet, and when she spoke -her voice held the same deep tone as her daughter’s. She led him to a -large room flanked by two enormous bays that looked out on the Avenue. -There was a spaciousness in all the rooms, a rare combination of beauty -and good taste in the furnishings, that were luxurious without being -ornate. Robert Rennie came forward and gave him a cheery welcome. Donald -heard Janet’s voice behind him and turned to gaze on a vision of -loveliness. - -Janet had dressed for the occasion with unusual care. A dark red evening -gown of a filmy material showed to advantage the delicate contour of her -form and the graceful curve of her snow-white shoulders and neck. Her -lovely hair was wound in shining coils and held with a comb that -sparkled with small but brilliant diamonds. Her long dark lashes -drooped, and she flushed slightly as she met Donald’s look of -undisguised admiration. - -Mrs. Rennie was an excellent hostess. Her cultured and charming -personality put Donald quite at ease. It seemed ages since he had worn a -dress-suit and been entertained in a home of luxury and refinement. -After the coarse fare of noisy restaurants which had been his, the -excellent food, the rich linen, the home-like atmosphere and the subdued -voices now gave him a pleasant thrill. - -The conversation during dinner was on various subjects. At times it -swung perilously near to matters pertaining to Donald’s personal -affairs. On such occasions Douglas adroitly shifted it to other -channels. - -Janet studied Donald covertly. His perfect poise, his air of refinement -and his evident lack of self-consciousness impressed her. “He is -cultured and well-bred,” she thought as she noted his well-shaped head, -his powerful shoulders and his clean-cut profile. - -Near the finish of dinner, while waiting for coffee to be served, there -came a lull in the conversation which was finally broken by Janet. “Doug -tells me that you are engaged in the glove business, Mr. McLean,” she -stated. - -Donald shot a quick glance at Douglas, but his friend’s face was hidden -in his handkerchief to smother a sudden attack of coughing. In spite of -Donald’s great effort at self-control, he felt a warm flush rise in his -cheeks. What had Douglas divulged? Did his sister know of his -participation in a boxing-match? He looked at Douglas appealingly. It -was evident that he would receive no aid from that quarter, as that -young man’s only assistance was a prolonged coughing that effectually -drowned immediate conversation, but would have to stop sooner or later -for lack of breath. - -At this crucial moment Robert Rennie came to his assistance. “I would -like Mr. McLean to witness a sunset from our roof,” he said as he rose -from the table. “Let us have our coffee served there. The light will be -gone if we wait longer.” - -As they ascended the stairs Donald gave his host a grateful look, which -Mr. Rennie returned understandingly. That moment cemented an instant -friendship in Donald’s heart for this broad-minded Western millionaire. - -From the eminence of the tiny roof garden the City, sliced with streets, -lay at their feet. To the north the mountains were invested with a -mystic blue haze, through which towered the snow-clad peaks. To the west -lay the curving white sands of English Bay, and beyond, in the clear air -of the long British Columbia twilight, they could see the strong -mountainous profile of Vancouver Island. - -“The topography of our City,” explained Robert Rennie, “lying between -Burrard Inlet and False Creek, is very much like that of New York on -Manhattan Island. The narrows are deep enough for the largest ship -afloat, and the Inlet—a veritable inland sea—has unlimited room for -docks. - -“The name ‘Narrows’ seems a feeble word for such a magnificent spot,” -observed Donald. - -“Quite true,” admitted Robert Rennie. “It was only yesterday that one of -our public-spirited citizens suggested the name ‘Lions’ Gate’.” - -“Oh, Dad, that would be lovely!” exclaimed Janet, her eyes shining. “The -‘Lions’ Gate,’ with the two watchful Lions looking down on all who -enter. The name is most fitting.” - -“Yes,” concurred Douglas, “Canada being one of the Lion’s whelps, what -more appropriate name than ‘Lions’ Gate,’ the western gateway to the -British Empire?” - -“The Creator was wonderfully kind to us in His allotment of mountains,” -said Janet’s father; “mountains that are not only valuable for their -scenic beauty, but for their mineral-filled rocks and forest-clad sides. -Our bays, inlets and streams are filled with fish, and our climate is so -mild on the Coast that man can live in comfort amid congenial -surroundings the year round. - -“Here we have the last of the Great West,” continued Mr. Rennie. “With -nearly four hundred thousand miles of territory, a coast line seven -thousand miles in length, our population for the entire Province is less -than one of the Coast cities to the south of us. Here in this vast -untouched hinterland,” swinging his arm to the north and east, “lies a -potential wealth that will support millions, a wealth that is awaiting -the magic touch of capital and settlers—capital to provide railways; -farmers to till the rich valley; miners to unlock the vast hoards of -gold and copper; and loggers to fell the virgin forests. Some day—and -that day is not far distant—all this will come to pass, and you young -folks will see a railroad from Vancouver to the Behring Sea.” The -speaker’s face was flushed and his eyes were glowing. “Who knows,” he -finished dreamily, “but what the railroad I am building will be a link -in the Alaskan road of the future?” - -“Here is a family,” thought Donald, “all native-born, who have a deep -and abiding faith in the destiny of the land of their birth.” - -Addressing Mr. Rennie, he said: “If the love that you and yours have for -this Province is typical of the average citizen, I see no need to fear -for the future of your country.” - -“Thank you,” the older man replied gravely. “Our population is made up -of people from all parts of the world, as our native-born are few. A -cosmopolite is more or less indifferent to the future of the country in -which he resides. ‘Get the money’ is unfortunately the slogan of many of -our business men, who make no attempt to build for the future. Until -such time as there is ingrained in the hearts of our citizens a true -love for our Province; until such time as our cities and towns forget -petty bickerings and jealousies and work together and harmoniously, -then—and only then—will British Columbia become what Nature intended, -the crowning jewel of the British Empire.” - -Janet’s guests arrived in groups of two and three until about twenty of -Vancouver’s younger set were scattered about the large rooms. In -introducing Donald to her friends Janet felt a warm glow of satisfaction -as she saw the many glances of keen interest directed toward her -stranger guest. - -A slender girl with elaborately coiffed golden hair, looking like a -white butterfly, fluttered to Janet’s side and shook a reproving finger -in her face. “’Fess up now, Janet,” she pouted; “how long have you been -hiding this handsome man? Who is this Prince Charming?” - -“Curiosity killed the cat,” was Janet’s evasive reply. - -Donald had no penchant for social functions, but this lively party was a -grateful respite from a whole winter of lonely evenings, and he entered -into the spirit of the occasion wholeheartedly. - -A game of whist and then the big rooms were cleared and they danced -until a late hour. At Donald’s request Janet sang for them. Her rich -contralto voice seemed to fill the room and set the air pulsing with -sweet harmony. She sang a song of love and passion that seemed to bear -Donald into another world. As he turned the final sheet and the last -liquid note travelled through the rooms he roused himself as though from -a spell. That voice! How strangely it affected him! He looked down to -find Janet’s dark eyes fixed on his. - -“Will you please sing again?” he implored. - -“The same?” she questioned softly. - -He nodded. Donald’s gaze travelled from the flying white fingers to the -lovely face of the singer. As their eyes met Janet’s face flushed -slightly, and at the finish of the verse she changed quickly to a -rollicking song of the sea. “All join in,” she called merrily over her -shoulder. - -After Janet’s other guests had departed Donald, Douglas and Janet sat -for an hour chatting by the large fireplace. - -“May I go with you as far as Squamish to-morrow?” asked Janet. - -“Certainly, Sis.” - -“And when the railroad is through I will visit you,” she added. - -Douglas looked at her curiously. Janet abhorred roughing it. Riding -around Stanley Park and an occasional game of tennis comprised the -extent of her outdoor activities. Douglas glanced at the clock and came -quickly to his feet. “I’d better hustle you home, Donald,” he said, “as -we have to be up early.” - -The tinted shade of the hall light lent a soft radiance to the dark -beauty of Janet’s face and gave to her eyes a deep and languorous glow. - -“I have enjoyed every moment. Thank you so much,” Donald said earnestly. - -“I’m glad,” she answered in a quiet voice. - -He took her hand and held it in a strong pressure. “I’ll see you in the -morning?” - -“Yes,” she murmured softly. - -The door closed gently and Janet heard him run down the steps to the -whirring motor. She stood immovable until the sound of the car died in -the distance, then walked meditatively to the fireplace, sank to a big -chair and stared dreamily into the dying embers. Idly she reached for -the evening paper and spread it on her knees. - -“Such dignity and poise! He is wonderful!” she whispered aloud. “I must -ask Douglas more about him.” - -She lowered her eyes to the paper, then came slowly to her feet, a look -of blank amazement on her face. Smiling up at her was the face of the -man of whom she had been dreaming. - - “Canadian Champion - - “New Canadian champion, whose spectacular defeat of Garrieau - stamps him as a master of fistiana and places him in line to - meet the world’s top-notchers.” - -A pugilist! And she had proudly introduced him to her friends! Why -hadn’t Douglas told her? She threw herself into a chair and gave herself -over to a period of gloomy contemplation. - -Whistling softly, Douglas shut off the hall lights and entered the room. -“Not in bed yet? You’d better——” he broke off suddenly as she turned -cold eyes upon him. - -“Why didn’t you tell me that your friend is a pugilist?” she demanded as -she thrust the offending sheet in Douglas’s hand. “In the glove -business!” she went on sarcastically. “That may be your idea of a joke, -but I don’t see anything funny about it.” And without waiting for an -answer she flung herself angrily from the room. - -Douglas lighted a cigarette, which he smoked with short angry puffs as -he walked the floor. He kicked viciously at an inoffensive footstool and -sent it hurtling across the room. “Damn!” Then throwing the half-smoked -cigarette in the fireplace, he switched off the light and sought his -bed. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - -In spite of the late hour of his retiring, Donald was up early and was -the first of the party to reach the dock. Gillis and Andy arrived soon -after, the latter staggering manfully under his heavy pack, a rifle -swinging loosely in his hand. - -Donald stepped forward as Douglas appeared. His face fell as he saw that -he was alone. “Isn’t your sister coming?” he asked. - -Douglas avoided Donald’s direct gaze. He leaned over to fumble -needlessly with the straps of his duffle-bags. “She’s peeved; saw your -photograph in last night’s paper.” - -“I’m sorry,” said Donald, obviously distressed. - -“Janet makes me tired,” said Douglas irritably. “What if you did fight -Garrieau? What difference does it make?” - -“Your sister’s view-point is different,” answered Donald gloomily. “You -must be curious to know more about me, Doug, yet you have never asked -any questions.” - -“I have often wondered,” admitted Douglas; “but if you wished me to know -you would tell me. I don’t give a hang who you are or what you are. You -suit me.” - -“Thanks, Doug.” - -The shrill blast of the steamer’s whistle smote their ears. - -“’Ere, you blighters!” shouted Andy from the top deck, “are you goin’ on -this blinkin’ picnic?” - -The lines were cast off, the water boiled under the steamer’s stern. -They backed slowly from the dock, swung about and headed for the -Narrows. The scores of screaming gulls that accompanied them hovered -over the deck, their keen eyes on the lookout for any bits of waste food -that should fall in the steamer’s wake. Boats plied in and out, every -kind of craft from small fishing-boat to ocean liner. - -A bright sun, beaming with all the warmth and splendour of full morning, -bathed inlet and mountain in a wide shower of gold. A strong westerly -wind bucked an outgoing tide, the foam of tossing wave crests flashing -white in the sunlight. The tumbling combers hissed and crashed against -the sturdy bow of the boat, causing her to pitch jerkily. The salt -breeze whipped a glow into the faces of the party gathered near the -pilot-house and strummed noisily through the masts and superstructure. A -yacht-like passenger steamer from Victoria, painted a pure white, swept -past them, a smother of foam at her bow. A rakishly-built tug trudged -cityward with a huge raft of logs in tow, a pillar of inky smoke -streaming over her bow. - -As they passed the sheer wall of Prospect Point, Donald’s thought -reverted to his first meeting with Janet. Douglas, who had been studying -the shore through binoculars, passed the glasses to Donald and pointed -to the bluff. At first he saw nothing of special interest and turned to -glance at Douglas inquiringly. - -“Janet,” smiled Douglas. - -Sure enough, he now saw a horse and rider on the highest point etched in -miniature against the dark green woods. Douglas waved a handkerchief, -and Donald caught a flutter of white from the dizzy promontory. His mind -was filled with conjectures. Why was she there? Had she still a kindly -feeling for him despite last night’s exposure? - -Janet could not herself have explained her reason for being there. She -was up early, stole quietly to the stable, saddled her horse and rode to -the Park. Riding steadily all the morning, she had battled with herself, -had summoned all her courage to resist the spell this strange young man -held over her, only to find that her will was impotent. - -As she now waved her handkerchief she strained her eyes in a vain effort -to single out Donald’s tall form. Suddenly a feeling of shame for her -weakness came over her. “Can’t you forget him?” she asked herself -irritably. “A prize-fighter!” Whirling her horse about she galloped -swiftly toward the City. - - * * * * * - -The Rennie C. & L. Co. were already operating trains to Cheakamus, -twelve miles from the Coast. An engine with two coaches was waiting to -convey the passengers—chiefly labourers carrying blankets—to “the end -of steel.” - -At Cheakamus the atmosphere was tense with activity. Engines shunted -back and forth; the scream of a big circular saw came from a mill that -was turning huge fir logs into ties; mule-skinners shouted as they -backed their heavy wagons to the platform to be loaded with supplies. At -both sides of the track were huge piles of ties, lumber and rails. The -newly-arrived labourers hoisted their packs to their backs and set off -up the road. - -It was plain that this settlement was not built for permanency; it was a -typical mushroom town. The rough board buildings still retained the -colour of green lumber. Heaps of tin cans, piles of waste lumber, and -the various parts of broken wagons littered the ground. The -picturesqueness that Donald had expected to find in this wilderness camp -was lacking, but he was vastly thrilled by the stupendous power -exhibited in the combined forces of men and machinery. - -From up the line came the roar of a terrific blast that made the ground -tremble and sent rumbling echoes through the valley. A whole train-load -of logs were dumped into the millpond with a crash that sent the water -in a hissing wave that struck the opposite shore and exploded in a -seething mass of dirty white foam. The air seemed charged with a dynamic -energy which caused the blood to tingle in the veins. - -In the yard of a stable a number of horses lay on the ground or stood -weakly with drooping heads. - -“Horse hospital,” informed Gillis, to Donald’s inquiry. - -Donald moved to the fence, his heart filled with pity. Two men, one -carrying a rifle, entered the enclosure and walked to the side of a -handsome big Clydesdale that stood on slayed legs, his head lowered and -his eyes filled with mute agony. One foreleg was terribly swollen, and a -long, livid wound showed on one powerful hip. - -“Sorry, Pete, but Doc. sez he’s got to go,” said the man with the rifle -regretfully, as he slipped a halter over the stricken animal’s head. - -The man addressed as Pete patted the horse’s head affectionately. “I bin -drivin’ old Bob for about six years, Bill. We knows each other like a -book.” He pressed his face roughly to the horse’s muzzle. “Don’t we, old -pal?” he finished in a muffled tone. - -Pulling and coaxing they urged the doomed animal through the gate. - -“You needn’t go, Pete,” said the man with the gun. - -His companion stopped near Donald and stood staring after the painfully -limping animal. Nearing the woods the horse stopped short, lifted his -head high on his arched neck, and sent out a clarion call that was -answered by weak nickers from his mates within the corral. - -A few men glanced up casually, then turned to their tasks. Work went on -as usual. The mill clattered, drivers shouted, engine bells -clanged—only a horse that was no more useful being led to his death. An -everyday occurrence in a construction camp. - -For a short interval the noble animal held his majestic pose, then, -swaying awkwardly, he disappeared from view. At the sharp crack of the -rifle the man by Donald’s side winced as though the bullet had seared -his own flesh. Brushing the sleeve of his coarse mackinaw shirt hastily -across his eyes, he muttered a curse, then turned and ran with stumbling -steps to his waiting team, mounted the seat and clucked gently to his -four horses. The big animals strained against their collars. The huge -load moved slowly at first, then, gathering momentum, rolled swiftly up -the road. - -Gillis brought five cayuses to the rear of the station, and in a few -minutes his practised hands loaded two of them with their luggage. - -The small cavalcade moved up the dusty road in a single file, with -Douglas in the lead. They overtook and met numbers of freight wagons, -going in and out, the drivers shouting greetings to each other in -foreign tongues. They passed the track-laying machine, which was -throwing the heavy rails about as if they were matches in giant hands. -Guards stopped them without the zone of flying débris while giant blasts -rent the air as if some titanic monster had torn the earth asunder. Huge -rocks soared above the trees, then crashed to the ground with sickening -thuds, while small pebbles spattered about them. - -Through the trees they saw a cloud of steam and smoke. The air was -shrill with incessant quick steam-whistles as a huge steam-shovel -growled and tore like a ravenous monster at the gravelled hillside. Four -men bearing a stretcher came slowly down the trail. A man on horseback, -wearing riding-breeches and leather leggings, rode in their wake. - -“How are you, Doctor Paul?” greeted Douglas. “Is it a serious accident?” - -“Tree fell on him. Broke both legs, and he is hurt internally—won’t -live,” answered the doctor in a low voice. - -Donald glimpsed the face of the sufferer showing ashen through a stubby -beard. Bloody bandages framed two crimson-stained lips, from which -issued gurgling groans of agony. They moved on in silence for a few -moments. - -“When people ride in trains,” observed Gillis “there ain’t one in a -thousand that knows what it costs in sufferin’ and lives to make it so’s -they can ride in comfort.” - -By mid-afternoon they came to the vanguard of the army of workers, the -men who were clearing the right-of-way. At intervals they could hear the -long-drawn cry of the choppers as the top of a giant tree shivered and -then with a great rending crash fell to earth with a resounding roar. -Here they came to the end of the new road, and with a feeling of relief -they plunged into the cool shadow of the virgin woods. After the great -clamour, the forest, through which the trail wandered deviously, seemed -steeped in primal calm. The roar of the blasts no longer came in -definite crashes, but was smothered by the distance to a muffled rumble. - -A rider jogging down the trail reined in his horse and shouted a cheery -greeting in true Western style. He was a clean-limbed, alert young man, -with a frank smile, and seemed elastic with the sword-keen health of -outdoors. He swung easily from the saddle and introduced himself. - -“My name is Wilkinson. I am the District Ranger. It’s getting a bit dry -in spots, so I want you to be careful about your fires.” - -When Douglas told him the object of their trip to Summit Lake the Ranger -smiled apologetically. - -“My warning was unnecessary, then. I took you for a party of campers. -I’m following the construction work, so will probably see you again -before long.” - -He mounted his cayuse, waved his hand in farewell, then galloped down -the trail. - -The narrow path wound around the boles of enormous trees towering high -above them, some of the tallest being nearly two hundred feet in height. -Gillis appraised them with a critical eye. He was thinking of them as -logs, calculated in terms of board feet, but over Donald their beauty -and nobility cast a strange spell. How long had these monarchs enjoyed -the repose so soon to be broken by puny man? Probably some of them were -good-sized trees when Columbus discovered America. - -The solemnity of the forest was at times broken by the sharp -“ka-a-a-a-a-h” of startled deer as they caught their scent, or the -sudden hum of wings as big blue-grouse shot up from their path. Once the -horses pricked their ears and snorted in fear as a bear crashed his way -through the deep woods. - -As daylight abandoned the forest and twilight made eerie shadows on the -dusky trail, they swung to an open space on the banks of the roaring -Cheakamus River, and made camp for the night. - -At daybreak they began the upward climb, and by noon felt the buoyancy -of the air in the higher altitude. They crossed rushing streams and -skirted the shores of small lakes on whose waters rested flocks of ducks -in gregarious raft-like formations. The cayuses with their enormous -packs showed signs of fatigue, and Gillis called frequent halts as the -trail grew gradually steeper. - -“We are nearly there,” cried Douglas eagerly. - -A few minutes later they topped a heavily-wooded hill and swung in to a -narrow path on their right. There was no need to guide the horses, as -they knew that here were rest and food for them. - -There was a sudden quickening along the line. Donald’s horse broke into -a run, with Andy’s close behind, the latter holding to the rear of his -saddle and making a wry face. - -“I wish I knew ’ow to keep this ’ere blinkin’ saddle from comin’ up and -hittin’ me in the seat,” said Andy querulously. - -Donald reined in his eager horse as they emerged from the woods and an -enchanting scene burst on his view. - -“This blinkin’ ’orse is. . . .” Andy stopped as his gaze followed -Donald’s. Both sat spell-bound, and the others joined them quietly. - -The panorama spread before them was singularly wild and impressive. -Below them stretched a lake of emerald hue, rippled here and there by -occasional cat’s-paws, but for the most part, placid enough to reflect -the shores with mirror-like clearness. To their right lay an open -valley, through which ran a crystal clear mountain stream, its banks -fringed with willow, alder and cottonwood, with frequent splashes of the -early blooming labrador tea. A rustic bridge of logs crossed the rushing -stream to a cluster of well-built log cabins that were fenced in by a -palisade of cedar posts. Inside the enclosure a patch of freshly -ploughed soil stood out rich and dark against the carpet of green. - -Under an azure sky, dotted with fleecy clouds, a brilliantly white -sky-line of ice-covered mountains, whose peaks flashed in the setting -sun, circled this beautiful mountain valley. - -From below were wafted the odours of an awakening earth. The sweet -perfume of the newly-opened and sticky buds of the balm-of-gilead, the -delicious aroma of the spruce and pine, the heavy, sweet smell of the -water plants and the white orchis; all this fragrance was borne on the -crisp, sparkling mountain air. Involuntarily the travellers filled their -lungs with this life-giving atmosphere. - -A beautiful gold-eye drake and his drab-coloured mate swam along the -shore in search of a safe place to nest. From the centre of the lake a -loon sent out its weird cry, echoing and re-echoing from the wooded -hills like wild, demoniacal laughter. A quick rush of wings overhead, -then a mallard duck struck the water with a loud splash and immediately -set up a sustained quacking until answered by a more gentle note from -the reeds, whence emerged a hen-mallard. The two met amid a great -bobbing of heads. Gabbling in an undertone they swam down the lake -together. - -The elusive hooting of male blue-grouse came from the tree-tops of the -rocky slopes. A willow grouse moved from a clump of bushes with a -haughty step to show her finery by ruffling the feathers of her neck and -spreading her fan-like tail. There was a sharp “plop” as a rainbow trout -curved gracefully on the surface to leave a widening circle of ripples -on the calm water. All through this sun-washed valley was the soft -murmur of a land at peace—at peace because unspoiled by man. - -Donald drew a long breath. - -“Strike me pink!” breathed Andy in an awed tone. - -“Holy mackerel! but ain’t she a pretty spot?” came excitedly from -Gillis. - -As they rumbled across the bridge a man came to the door of the log -cabin, ran swiftly to the fence and swung the gate open. With a hand -held to his brow to shade his eyes from the slanting rays of the setting -sun, he peered up at the horsemen. His eyes lighted up as he recognized -Douglas. - -“Hello, ol’ timer!” he shouted cheerily. - -John Hillier filled the dual rôle of trapper and road-house keeper. His -fantastic dress of deerskin, the six-shooter slung at his hip, and the -big sombrero that topped his shaggy grey head gave him almost a sinister -appearance. - -Old John’s face was savage and wild, but his bristly moustache hid a -mouth as tender as a woman’s. Great shaggy brows beetling out over his -grey mountaineer eyes could not conceal the softness that crept into -them so often. His gentle eyes seemed out of place in that homely, -battle-scarred face. It was like finding a touch of romance in a -treatise on trigonometry. - -He was known under several sobriquets: “Trapper” John, “Coffee” John, -and “Mahogany” John. “Coffee” John for the excellence of his brew of -that beverage, and of which he drank enormous quantities. His call to -meals: “Come and throw your feet under the mahogany,” supplied the -reason for the cognomen of “Mahogany” John. - -With the assistance of their host they unsaddled the tired horses and -turned them into the pasture, where they rolled luxuriously on their -backs for a moment, and then started feeding hungrily on the rich -clover. - -A wind shook the tree-tops and turned the surface of the lake dark with -ripples. High in air, streaming dark clouds scudded swiftly by. - -“Got here jest in time,” said the old trapper, as he looked up at the -sky. “It’s a goin’ to rain. Come inside.” - -John had served as cook in a cowboy camp in Texas. He never overlooked -an opportunity to make ostentatious display of his skill in the culinary -art. - -“Jest set my bread this mornin’,” he explained, “so I’ll hev’ ter make a -bannock.” - -Taking a tin pan from the shelf, he threw it the full length of the room -to the table. He tossed the cooking utensils about like a practised -juggler. Soon the bannock swelled to the rim of the frying-pan, the -edges showing brown and crisp. He lifted the heavy dish from the stove, -and with a dexterous twist of his wrist threw the bannock to the ceiling -and caught it neatly in the centre of the pan as it came down. He dipped -a half dozen trout in the yolk of eggs, rolled them in flour, then -tossed them with apparent carelessness, but with deadly aim, one at a -time, to the sizzling pan. From a shelf he took two glass jars and -turned their contents into an earthenware dish on the stove. Immediately -the room was filled with an aroma that caused the newcomers to sniff -hungrily. - -“Mr. Hillier,” began Andy, “what. . . .” - -“Mr. Hillier! Hell! My name’s John,” exploded the trapper. - -“I was goin’ to ask you what kind o’ meat that is that smells so good,” -grinned Andy. - -“Muskrat.” - -“What?” - -“Muskrat,” repeated their host, turning to the astonished Australian. -“Did ye ever eat any?” - -“No,” returned Andy weakly, “I don’t care much for meat anyway.” - -“They’re darn good eatin’,” affirmed the trapper. “Reason folks won’t -try ’em is because they think that they are a rat. Their right name is -musquash, and they live on vegetable food only. Did any of you fellers -ever see ‘Diamond Back Terrapin’ on a bill-of-fare in restaurants?” - -“I have, many times,” answered Donald. - -“Well, ’bout half the time when the waiter hands ye what ye think is -turtle he’s givin’ you musquash,” stated the trapper as he speared a -cube of butter with a long fork and shot it accurately to the debated -dish. - -Andy laughed outright. “Strike me fair, John, you’ve got anythin’ I ever -see beat a block for slingin’ grub.” - -John was pleased. “Oh, I’m fair to middlin’ good,” he admitted. - -John served the dinner in the pots and pans in which the food had been -cooked, and piled the table with enough to serve a dozen men. “Like to -see lots of grub in sight,” smiled the old trapper. He placed a big -steaming coffeepot in the centre of the table, and then sent out his -original dinner-call. “Throw your feet under the mahogany!” he roared. - -The party needed no second call. The mountain air had given them wolfish -appetites and they made huge inroads on the trapper’s well-cooked -dinner. With the exception of Andy, they ate and enjoyed the musquash; -the meat being fine-grained and tender. John was visibly disappointed by -Andy’s refusal to try this delicacy. - -“Try it, ol’ timer,” he insisted, as he pushed the steaming pan across -the table. - -Andy made a wry face. “Don’t feel jest hungry to-night,” he mumbled. - -Dinner finished, Donald pushed back his chair and lighted a cigarette. -“John, that was a dandy meal, and your coffee sure is a nectar fit for -the gods.” - -The trapper was justly proud of his cooking. Donald’s praise brought a -deeper tinge of colour to his bronzed face. He refilled the tin cups and -they sat quietly smoking and sipping the fragrant coffee. - -After the day in the open and the excellent meal it was pleasant to sit -in the genial warmth of the cabin while the storm which had been -gathering broke overhead and the incessant patter of rain sounded on the -roof. - -Between Andy and John there sprang up a comradeship based on the -peculiar brotherhood which often exists between small men. Each found in -the other traits that amused him. - -“Comical little duck,” was John’s opinion of Andy. - -“Strike me pink! He’s the funniest old geezer that I ever saw in me -life,” Andy confided to Donald. - -Together they washed the dishes and tidied up the room. When they had -finished Andy dragged in his duffle-bag, rummaged through the contents, -and produced a flask of rum. The trapper’s face brightened. - -“I brought this for medicinal purposes,” stated Andy. “How are you -feelin’, John?” - -The mirth wrinkles around the trapper’s eyes deepened. “My misery is -purty bad to-night, ol’ timer.” - -Andy poured liberally into a tin cup. The pungent odour of rum filled -the room. Old John sniffed the contents. “Whuff!” he yowled, “good -licker!” - -The old trapper, standing in the centre of the room, presented a figure -wild and strange. His coat of buckskin was open at the throat to expose -a hairy chest. His mane-like mass of wiry hair stood straight out and -shook with every movement of his body. A veritable wild man of the woods -he looked as he grasped the cup and held it up to his admiring gaze. - -The storm had reached the height of its fury. The wind roared and moaned -like a famished wild thing denied its kill. Occasionally a venturesome -gust would find its way down the chimney to send thin puffs of smoke to -linger in the air and fill the cabin with the sweet perfume of the -burning alder. - -“Give us a toast, John,” begged Andy. - -The trapper raised his cup on high: - - “I’m the trapper of the mount’n top, - A ring-tail-snorter an’ a dead-sure shot. - I’m wild, I’m woolly an’ full o’ fleas, - I’ve never bin’ curried below the knees, - I live on the fruit o’ the prickly pear, - An’ I play in the brush with the grizzly bear.” - -“Here’s hopin’ ye’ll never see the back o’ yer neck,” he added. Then -placing the cup to his lips he drained the contents with one great gulp. -John’s jaws were well-nigh toothless, and as the fiery liquor scorched -his throat his leathery cheeks folded and unfolded like the pleats of an -accordion. - -“Wow!” he yelped, “she’s sure got a kick.” - -The humorous toast and the trapper’s facial contortions sent Andy into -paroxysms of laughter. - -“Strike me blind!” he gasped, as he held his sides. “I never——” His -eyes rested again on the trapper’s convulsed features. Speech failed him -and he sank writhing to a chair. - -When finally they climbed the ladder to their bunks the rain had ceased -and a brilliant moon flooded the valley with a white light. - -Donald awakened as the first grey streaks of dawn brightened the dusty -windows of the loft. The air was suddenly filled with the sweet song of -birds. Wild-fowl quacked and splashed in the waters of the lake. The -aroma of coffee and frying bacon and the pungent odour of wood smoke was -wafted strongly from below. - -Suddenly the trapper’s shaggy head protruded through the opening at the -top of the ladder. “Get out o’ the hay an’ let the sun shine on ye!” he -boomed. - -“Now, let’s get busy,” said Gillis, when breakfast was over. “The first -thing to do is to find a good spot to pitch our tent.” - -“You’ll find a deserted cabin at t’other end o’ the lake that’ll be a -whole lot more comfortable nor a tent,” informed the trapper. - -The cabin of cedar logs proved to be in good repair and the location -excellent. - -“A couple of days’ work,” observed Gillis, “an’ I can fix her up so’s -we’ll be as snug as a bug in a rug.” - -John had spent the forenoon in baking. Cakes, pies, doughnuts and -cookies were placed at regular intervals on the shelves in platters and -tins tipped at an angle to make the display more effective. It was an -exhibit of pastry that any housewife might envy. The unstinted praise of -his guests was like music to the trapper’s ears. - -For dessert they had a savoury mince-pie, steaming hot from the oven. -Andy waxed most eloquent in his praise of this culinary delight. - -“Have another piece, ol’ timer,” insisted John, his face beaming. - -“You bet I will,” was Andy’s quick response as he transferred a big -slice to his plate. - -“Like it, do ye?” asked John. - -“U-m-m,” mumbled Andy as he devoured the last crumb and settled back -with a sigh of content. - -John’s wrinkled old face spread into a wide grin. From his lips came a -cackling laugh. - -“What’s the joke?” queried Andy. - -“I thought I’d get that muskrat into ye somehow,” chortled the trapper. - -“Well, it’s not so durned bad, after all,” philosophized Andy. - -On the third day after their arrival they moved to the cabin at the head -of the lake. There followed days of arduous toil, days spent in -“blazing” lines through almost impassable swales, up steep hillsides and -through canyons. Days of strenuous exercise in the stimulating air, when -the bright sunshine tanned their faces to a deep brown, brought the glow -of perfect health to their eyes, and gave to their muscles the -resiliency and strength of steel springs. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - -One calm Sunday morning Donald paddled across the lake to try the fly at -the mouth of the small creek which flowed past the trapper’s cabin. The -clear water was as smooth as glass and the trout refused to be lured -from the depths. After casting steadily for fifteen minutes without a -rise, he sat down to enjoy a smoke. Sounds from afar came with -surprising clearness through the quiet air. Andy was splitting wood -outside the cabin door, and the sound of his axe and the words of his -song brought a medley of returning echoes. Loons gabbled, wild ducks of -many varieties shifted their positions with a whistling rush of wings. -The “chee-ry, chee-ry” of a flock of chickadees sounded from a copse of -willows on the creek bank. The warmth of the morning gave promise of a -hot day when the sun should reach the zenith. A breath of cool air -rippled the lake’s surface, bringing with it the faint rumble of a -waterfall high up the mountain-side. Donald paddled to the shore, -crossed the rustic bridge to where the trapper was working in his -garden, and sat down on a convenient stump. - -“Good morning, John.” - -“Mornin’, ol’ timer.” - -“John, is there a waterfall on the big creek?” - -“Yes, I’ve heard ’em, an’ I’ve seen ’em from the ridge, but I ain’t ever -bin close to ’em.” - -“Do you think there would be any fish at the foot of the falls?” - -“Couldn’t say, ol’ timer. It ain’t never bin fished.” - -To the disciples of Isaac Walton the expression “never been fished” -brings an incomparable thrill. To cast a fly on virgin waters is the -acme of bliss to an angler. Donald unjointed his rod, slung his basket -over a shoulder and started toward the trail. - -“Ye better let me fix ye up a lunch to take along,” the trapper shouted -after him. - -“Good suggestion,” admitted Donald as he retraced his steps. - -Fried eggs placed between slices of snow-white bread, fresh doughnuts, -cake and cheese were quickly prepared by the deft hands of the old -trapper, and Donald was again on his way. - -He tried to follow the stream, but the sides were so precipitous that he -was forced to climb to the ridge or “hog-back.” Here he found the -walking excellent, as there was no under-brush and the ground was -covered with a soft moss. - -At intervals through the park-like pines he caught the glint of running -water in the gorge below. The air was warm, but the gentle zephyrs -wafted from the glacial stream brought a coolness that was almost chill. -The sound of the falls became louder as he climbed higher, increasing to -a trembling roar as he came to the edge of a boulder-strewn precipice. -Here there met his gaze a tumbling cascade of water, falling from a -cliff to an iridescent pool sixty feet below. - -Donald scrambled and slid to the lower level, only to find that he would -have to walk down stream and wade up in order to get within reach of the -pool. By leaping from rock to rock he managed to reach a flat ledge near -the side that allowed him perfect freedom for casting. The spray reached -him in the form of a fine mist that felt grateful after his exertions. A -shaft of brilliant sunshine, looking like a searchlight where it -penetrated the heavy mist, was reflected and refracted to form a rainbow -that shone resplendently against the dark wall of the canyon. On each -side rose a sheer wall of rock, with here and there a small fir or -spruce clinging to fissures where sufficient earth had accumulated to -give it nourishment. At the point where the cataract struck the pool -there was a mass of heaving, foaming water that spread in ever lessening -waves to become gentle ripples lapping softly on the shores. - -The little birds known as waterousels, or dippers, were in their -element. Standing on the rocks around which the turbulent waters roared, -they bobbed and curtsied, then flew in under the waterfall to their -nests in the damp niches of the rocks. Far overhead, like a speck in the -azure sky, a bald eagle careened and soared. Over all was the thunder of -the cataract drumming in Donald’s ears and giving to the earth a gentle -tremor. - -He began eagerly to joint his rod, attach leader and flies, and unfold -his landing-net. “There,” he said, when he had completed the task, “I’ll -just throw that in to soak while I have a smoke.” - -He cast carelessly, laid the rod down and reached for a cigarette. -“B-r-r-r-r,” the reel shrilled madly. He made a wild clutch for the rod, -retrieving it just as the tip entered the water. A big rainbow trout -leaped into the air with a flash of prismatic colours, and made that -graceful curve that is so pleasing to the fisherman’s eye. The -five-ounce rod bent double as he checked the trout’s rush. Then the line -slackened as the fish turned and came toward him with incredible speed. -He reeled frantically to take in the slack line. Once more the gamey -trout turned and the line was singing with the strain. Suddenly it went -straight down and in the pellucid depths he could see it lying near the -bottom with tail and fins moving listlessly. Slowly he reeled in the -line, bringing the fish nearer and nearer. With landing-net extended -Donald leaned forward; but with a quick flirt of its tail the trout shot -to the surface, sending a shower of spray in his face. Then, leaping and -dashing—the reel singing merrily—it crossed the pool with renewed -energy. Unexpectedly the whirr of the reel ceased and the rod was nearly -jerked from Donald’s hands—a detested “back lash.” In other words, the -line had tangled at the reel. The slender rod was bent nearly to a -circle. - -“It won’t stand it,” muttered Donald in a fever of excitement. He -lowered the tip slowly to relieve the strain on the rod, all the while -working desperately to free the tangle. Snap! The fish with a tremendous -tug parted the leader, and with one last triumphant leap to flaunt its -brilliant colours, it disappeared. - -It is universally understood among the angling fraternity that when a -fish is lost under such conditions the Recording Angel turns her head. - -In an hour the cold spray from the glacial water had dampened Donald’s -clothing and benumbed his fingers. The basket by then being nearly full, -and his wrist lame from casting and playing the fish, he decided to -quit. As he climbed the ridge the air above felt like a breath from an -oven in contrast to the atmosphere of the canyon. - -Through a tall, stately grove of pines Donald descried an open glade -whence came the sound of running water. He walked through the dark -aisles of towering trees, his feet making no sound on the thick carpet -of soft needles. Pushed aside a growth of low deciduous trees that -fringed this open passage in the woods, he gazed upon a scene that held -him entranced. At some time in the earth’s remote history moving ice had -gouged out this tiny valley and left a rich deposit of glacial silt. A -small mountain stream cascaded from a moss-covered cliff to fall from -ledge to ledge and flash crystal clear and sparkling through the vividly -green grass and bright flowers which formed the carpet of the valley -floor. The brilliant columbine, interspersed with the yellow marigold -and dandelion, made bright splotches of colour. Wild roses hung in -masses in the border of low green shrubs. The white rein orchis grew in -rank profusion everywhere, filling the air with its delicate perfume. -Ferns and cotton grass grew to the very edge of the limpid brook that -prattled musically over the moss-covered stones. A rabbit with her young -nibbled at the tender grass roots at the far side of the creek. -Humming-birds buzzed back and forth and a bluejay—the Paul Pry of the -woods—peered curiously down at the interloper, with its head moving -from side to side and its beady eyes shining. Then with a startled -shriek it flew across the glade—like a streak of blue in the -sunshine—to hold excited colloquy with its mate. A willow grouse sailed -from a cliff above to land with a great preening of feathers and move -with a peculiar gliding run to the shelter of a stand of salal bushes. - -Near the centre of the field was a “fairy ring” of mushrooms about -twelve feet across. The beginning of these rings may be a single -mushroom which drops its spores in a circle about its base. The next -season a smaller ring of mushrooms drops a larger ring of spores, and so -the circle expands year by year, exactly as the ripple spread out on the -surface of a pond when a stone is cast into the water. - -Some fairy rings have been estimated to be six hundred years old. Legend -informs us that these rings are magic circles within which elves and -other nimble fairy folk hold their revels at midnight. There is another -superstition that the rings mark the spots where bolts of lightning have -struck the ground. - -“A fairy-land!” breathed Donald as he stepped into the open. - -It was warm, but now and again a breeze, that had swept between -snow-capped peaks, dropped down into the valley and made the pines sway -and the willow and alder leaves coolly rustle. At the time of these -visitations Donald threw back his head and drew in deep breaths of the -flower-scented breeze. - -Making his way to the foot of the tiny falls, Donald seated himself on a -soft bed of moss and proceeded to eat his lunch. Two birds, of the -species known as “camp-robbers” or “whiskey-jacks,” dropped ghost-like -from nowhere and eyed him reproachfully. He threw them a crust of bread. -There was a shrill cry like that of a hawk, that sent the feathered -visitors in terror to the safety of the trees, and a flash of blue -landed on the bread. With a chuckle, almost human a bluejay flew to the -top of a spruce to enjoy his meal at leisure. - -Donald’s happy laugh rang throughout the sylvan glade and was re-echoed -mockingly from the cliffs. The camp-robbers emerged from their retreat -looking rather crestfallen. They took no chances with the crust thrown -to them the second time. Each seized a generous portion and retreated -hastily. - -Donald selected a soft spot in the shade of a small grove of cedars, -stretched himself at full length on his back, and lighted a cigarette. -The sound of murmuring waters, the rustle of leaves, the gentle sighing -of the pines, and the fragrant, balmy air that fanned his face held a -soporific influence. He watched a fleecy cloud floating far above the -tree-tops in the ethereal blue. A long-tailed wren, of the white throat -and white eye lines sang joyously from a tree nearby. - -Donald’s eyes closed slowly, and in a moment he was in a doze. As though -in a dream he felt something brush his face and he shook his head. An -instant later the tip of a cedar bough fell fairly on his face. He -brushed quickly with his hand as though to dislodge a fly. A larger -branch fell with a gentle swish to land on his nose. This time he opened -his eyes and plucked the branch from his face, noticing as he did so -that it was freshly broken. “Odd,” he thought, and lay with eyes half -closed to detect the cause of this singular occurrence. - -Near the top of the four small cedars under which he lay there seemed to -be a nest-like thickness. There was a movement in the tops of the trees, -and Donald’s amazed eyes saw a little brown hand steal forth holding a -cedar tip. Then a small childish face appeared, surrounded by a mass of -lovely golden hair. The face was one of sheer, exquisite blonde beauty, -marked by a pair of wide, roguish blue eyes, as blue as pansies, a small -pensive mouth that formed a cupid’s bow, and an impudent little nose -dotted with freckles. As the slender hand loosed the branch, Donald’s -astonished eyes looked up directly into the blue ones looking down on -him so full of mischief. There was a startled gasp and the golden head -disappeared amid a great swaying of branches. - -Donald came slowly to his feet, rubbing his eyes. Was this a fantastic -dream, or had he actually seen a child’s face? He looked at the branches -on the ground, and again his eyes sought the tree-tops. He could now see -that some sort of big nest was built within the tops of the four small -cedars. - -“Hello,” he ventured. - -A slight rustling of the branches followed, but no answer. - -“Hello, wood-nymph!” - -Still no answer, but a low silvery laugh was proof that the occupant of -the nest was not a wraith. - -“If you are a fairy,” he persisted, “won’t you come down and give me a -Terpsichorean exhibition in the fairy ring on the floor of your -enchanted glade?” - -“I am a dryad,” came the dulcet tone of a childish voice, “and a dryad’s -life is bound up in her tree. I cannot leave my arboreal bower until the -hour of midnight. - -“We’ll see about that,” laughed Donald as he seized the slender cedars -and rocked them violently. - -A scream of simulated fear came from the tree-tops. “Stop!” the voice -cried, “I’ll come down.” - -A tiny moccasined foot felt its way to a limb, and a slight figure clad -in men’s overalls and a brown cotton shirt, stood erect with downcast -eyes. - -“Jump,” invited Donald, as he stood with arms outstretched; “fairies -don’t weigh much.” - -The “dryad” shook her head bashfully, then with a quick, bird-like -motion sprang straight out into the air, her golden hair streaming and -flashing in the sunshine. She landed gracefully on her moccasined feet -and went bounding across the valley, leaping the creek with the ease and -grace of an antelope, and, without turning her head, disappeared in the -dark forest aisles. - -Donald’s black eyes remained fixed on the spot where the fairy-like -vision vanished from view. His whole attitude registered astonishment. -He was completely mystified by the appearance of a girl in this remote -wilderness. - -He climbed the trees for a glimpse of the golden-haired fairy’s bower. A -rope was tied around the tops of the four cedars, with interlacings of -cord between. This rope pocket was filled with pine boughs, and these -covered with ferns and moss. A cord that led to a nearby spruce was, he -decided, used to impart a swinging motion to this strange maiden’s cosy -retreat. - -In the centre of this cosy nest lay a copy of “Tennyson’s Poems” and a -book on “Bird Life.” As Donald leaned closer a gentle breeze fluttered -the leaves of the book of poems. - -“Fairy hands turned to the right page,” he mused aloud as he read these -lines from “Maud.” - - “My bird with the shining head. - My own dove with the tender eye. . . . - Shine out, little head, sunning over with curls, - To the flowers, and be their sun.” - -“A corner of dreamland,” murmured Donald. - -A stronger breeze swept down the valley, causing the nest to rock with -gentle undulations. “A novel idea,” he thought, “and what a restful spot -to sleep and dream!” - -Donald was tempted to finish his nap in the vacated dryad’s nest, but -put the thought aside as being almost a sacrilege. He descended to the -ground, picked up his basket and started down the mountain. As he neared -the lake he saw the trapper with Douglas and Andy sitting outside the -cabin door. - -“Any luck, ol’ timer?” - -Donald lifted the lid of the basket. - -“Whew!” ejaculated the trapper. “Them’s wallopers, ain’t they?” - -“John,” queried Donald as he sat down on the grass, “did you ever see a -dryad?” - -“A what?” - -“A dryad.” - -The trapper’s wrinkled face puckered. “Yeh,” he answered quizzically, “I -seen lots of them fellers in Vancouver one time after I’d bin drinkin’ -for a week.” - -Donald told of his meeting with the strange child of the forest. “Who is -she, John?” he asked. - -“That was little Connie Wainwright. She an’ her father live in a little -valley t’other side of that bluff,” pointing up the mountain. “She’s a -great kid, too. She has a hoss that’s named after a hoss that had wings. -I forgit the name she calls him.” The trapper pondered for a moment. - -“Pegasus,” prompted Donald. - -“That’s it. She rides that hoss like a Texas Ranger, an’ she’s a crack -shot with the rifle. Funny thing, though, she ain’t ever shot anything -to my knowledge ’cept a cougar that tried to get her pet deer. Her -father’s jest the same, he won’t kill nothin’ an’ they’ve got all the -birds ’round their cabin as tame as chickens. They are always studyin’ -birds, flowers, an’ animals. He’s an Englishman of eddication, an’ he’s -eddicated the kid, too. Was the ‘Breed’ with her?” - -“No. Who is the Breed?” - -“He’s a half-breed Indian with a lame leg. He came over the trail ’bout -two years ago. Got one look at that shiny haired kid an’ thought she was -an angel, I guess, an’ has been hantin’ her ever since. He built hisself -a cabin up there. Works for Wainwright in the summer an’ traps in the -winter. He follers that kid ’round like a dog follers its master.” - -Donald was interested. - -“I must call on them.” - -“He’ll be glad to see ye, as ye can talk his lingo. His langwidge is too -high-falutin’ for me. He sometimes comes to ask me ’bout the habits of -animals, but I got a sneakin’ notion that he knows more ’bout it than I -do.” - -That evening Donald and Andy visited the recluse. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - -The trail to Wainwright’s cabin was a mere path that followed the -vagaries of a small mountain stream which at times flowed with a -tranquil murmur, then suddenly plunged over ledges and shattered itself -into creamy foam on the worn rocks below. - -Out of breath from the steep climb, Donald and Andy sat down as they -reached the bluff. Everywhere was the song of birds and the whispering -of gentle zephyrs laden with the fragrance of the forest. - -“Whit, whit, whit, ch’ wee-e-e-e,” sounded the shrill hunting call of an -osprey, or “fish-hawk,” as he wheeled over the lake, then made his -spectacular plunge and rose on high with a fish gripped in his long, -powerful talons. Donald watched him carry it to his mate, who was -standing guard over a big nest in the top of a dead pine. Again the male -bird dropped like a bolt, struck the water with a loud splash, and -disappeared below the surface for a few seconds, then rose to scatter -spray in his struggles to lift himself clear of the water. - -A bald eagle, from the vantage point of a tall fir, took instant note of -the successful fisherman, and with a majestic swoop flew under the -smaller bird. Higher and higher rose the osprey, the eagle relentlessly -pursuing, until at last the intimidated bird released its hold on the -prize. With a scream of triumph the eagle seized the glistening, -wriggling fish in mid-air and bore it away. - -From the woods in their rear came the lilt of a song mingled with the -thud of flying hoofs, and around a tangle of low spruce came a piebald -cayuse at full gallop. On his bare back the girl of the woods was -standing with arms outstretched, pirouetting on her moccasined toes like -a dancing dervish. Her heavy hair streaming about her face and -shoulders, she seemed even more an elf than when poised for flight on -the edge of her fairy nest. As she neared the bluff she settled to her -seat and seized the reins. - -Donald came to his feet. For a moment it seemed as if he were to be -passed unnoticed. He ran to the trail and waved his arm with a welcoming -shout. This brought him a flash of startled blue eyes, then the cayuse -with a snort of fear went straight up into the air, spinning high on his -hindlegs. A sharp word of command and a quick twist of the nut-brown -hands caused the frightened beast to half turn and lower his forelegs -gently to the ground. As he stepped to the cayuse’s head Donald noted -the lean and sinewed flanks of the animal, the strong muscled shoulders, -and the slender but powerful limbs. He stroked the shiny neck and -Pegasus made answer to such advances by rubbing his moist nose against -Donald’s shoulder. - -“Nothing mythical about this steed,” observed Donald, gently prodding -the bunched muscles on the horse’s chest. “And,” he added jestingly, “I -do not see the golden bridle presented by the goddess to Bellerophon -while he slept.” - -A subtle flicker danced momentarily in the corners of the blue orbs of -the rider. “I have clipped his wings, so I have no need of the magic -bridle,” she said smilingly. - -The voice was gentle and mellow. The pronunciation, clear and perfect, -held a trace of English accent that was pleasing to Donald’s ears. One -could not look upon Connie without thinking of flowers, birds and -sunshine. Constant exercise had turned her muscles into cords of steel; -mountain air and sunshine had darkened her face and hands to a deep -bronze and brought to her cheeks a warm glow that showed richly through -the coat of tan. - -Connie looked on this stranger as a being infinitely beyond her ken, a -part of a world of which she had no knowledge. His tall, well-knit body, -his shining black hair, dark flashing eyes, his fine clothes and his -deep resonant voice were a source of wonder and admiration to this girl, -whose knowledge of men was limited to a few lone trappers and Indians. -She was suddenly disconcerted and felt like running away. - -“I was on my way to call on you. Is your father home?” - -Surprised at her own boldness, Connie slipped lightly to the ground and -stood beside him. - -“Yes,” she rejoined awkwardly, “he is. I’ll go with you.” - -Donald spoke again, with a playful smile that caused the girl to flush -with a mixture of pleasure and confusion. “I thought when I saw you -poised on Pegasus’s back that a close inspection would disclose a pair -of transparent, gauzy wings, but,” peering at her shoulders, “evidently -the rider is clipped as well.” - -As they walked up the path, Andy following, it seemed to Connie that -they were strolling through the fields of Elysium. - -At first glance Donald saw that Wainwright’s log cabins had been built -by a rank novice. The walls were rakishly askew, the corners out of -plumb, and the joints showed big gaps filled with moss. The rough -construction of the dissimilar, rambling cluster of houses served to -enhance rather than mar the wild grandeur of this oasis on the rocky -mountain-side. - -Into this valley poured a mountain stream which had gouged out for -itself a canyon, through which its waters swept and tumbled, as green as -jade in the sunlight, like emerald in the shadow, and snowy white in the -roaring rapids. On the other side, the towering profiles of the cliffs -were edged with stunted growths of pine and spruce, while here and there -were soft patches of green moss clinging to the damp places. - -The few acres wrested from the wilderness were rich with a green carpet -of clover and timothy, and in a pasture at the corner a sleek Jersey cow -was feeding diligently. In the same enclosure a deer nibbled delicately -at the tender shoots. A flock of pure white ducks, in single file, -waddled down the hill and plunged with a subdued quacking into a small -pond. Within a yard enclosed by a fence of split cedar the lusty crow of -a rooster sounded above the cackling of his family. - -The low walls of the main cabin were festooned with a mass of wild -creepers in which the wild honeysuckle predominated. Wild flowers, each -species separate, were growing in neat round plots bordered with -carefully arranged stones. Scores of birds flitted through the low -bushes, rested on fences and roofs, or hopped unafraid through the -grass. Siskins and finches there were, in gold or olive; blue jays and -their cousins, the camp-robbers; bluebirds; sparrows singing sweetly; -waxwings “zeeping” through the garden; warblers gurgling softly; -scolding grey flycatchers and numerous other species unknown to Donald. - -A camp-robber flew to Connie’s outstretched arm. From the capacious -pocket of her overalls she brought a crust of bread, at which the bird -pecked hungrily. Another bird lighted on the brim of Andy’s wide hat. -The little man attempted to peer up at it without moving his head, and -the effort set his bushy eyebrows dancing. “Get off there, you -blighter!” he growled. “I don’t want any bloomin’ trimmin’s on me ’ead -gear.” - -It was the first time Andy had spoken. Connie turned to him, her eyes -wide with curiosity. His droll face, the strange dialect and the lively -eyebrows caused a flock of dimples to chase each other about her pretty -lips. - -Connie’s father and the Breed, working in the vegetable garden below, -glanced up and, seeing the strangers, laid down their tools and came up -the hill, the Breed moving jerkily on his crippled limb. - -Raleigh Wainwright was a man of rather striking appearance. He was -slender, grey-haired, clean chiselled, and carried himself with a -military bearing. There was a certain fineness in the slight figure, a -symmetry of design, that suggested that indefinable something which is -the hall-mark of good breeding. He had a way of carrying his well-shaped -head that accentuated this aristocratic air. His grey eyes met Donald’s -with a level gaze as they shook hands. - -After a cursory glance, Joe Pardon, the Breed, settled himself on a seat -against the wall of the cabin and rolled a cigarette. His face was -swarthy and sombre; coarse black hair topped his head. In repose his -features wore the impassive expression of the Indian, but when he -smiled—which rarely happened—he showed the French strain in his blood -and became almost handsome. He was of a sturdier build than the average -Siwash Indian, and as he leaned against the logs, with muscular arms -folded across his powerful chest, one would have thought him the -embodiment of all that is strong and virile in man, until the eyes -rested on the pitifully malformed leg, shrunken to one-half its normal -size. - -“Won’t you come inside?” asked Wainwright politely. - -“Thank you,” answered Donald, “but if you don’t mind I’d rather look at -your flower garden.” - -It was quite evident that their host was pleased by this statement. “You -are interested in flowers?” he questioned eagerly. - -“I am,” admitted Donald, “but unfortunately I don’t know much about -them.” - -The dignified Englishman proved to be not only an intelligent, but a -most willing teacher. From plot to plot they went, the botanist glad to -talk on his hobby to an attentive audience. He gave the names of the -plants, their mode of germination, growth, nature and uses. For -half-an-hour his quiet voice went on until the lengthening shadows -deepened. As they moved toward the cabin, the Breed passed them carrying -a pail brimming with milk, at which Andy gazed with longing eyes. - -“We always have a light lunch in the evening; won’t you stay?” begged -their host. - -Andy nodded his blond head vigorously in a silent signal to Donald for -acceptance, and acceptance was instantly forthcoming. - -The interior of the log cabin was rough in the extreme, but scrupulously -clean, with chairs, tables and beds that had never issued from a -furniture factory. The window-curtains were made of flour and sugar -sacks, on which the names of the manufacturers could still be -deciphered. On one wall were two bunks, set one above the other, on -which were spread heavy Hudson Bay blankets. No sheets were in evidence, -and the pillows were rough sacks stuffed with moss. The lower bunk -showed the feminine touch in its drapery of cheap blue print, a pathetic -attempt to brighten the coarse surroundings. Behind a small stove in the -corner hung an array of cooking utensils, spotlessly clean, but of -inferior quality. The one and only table, placed conveniently near the -stove, was as white as a ship’s deck from constant scouring. - -In direct antithesis to this seeming poverty, one end of the cabin was -literally filled with books. These richly-bound volumes looked -incongruous in conjunction with the rough tables, the uncomfortable -chairs and the rude beds. Donald’s eyes roved over the books, arranged -on the shelves standing and crosswise. Most of them were in English, but -many were in German, French and Italian; some in what appeared to be -Arabic, perhaps Sanskrit; and dozens were on botany, ornithology and -natural history. - -“A bookworm,” mused Donald, “a bookworm, and at the expense of his -personal comfort.” He felt ashamed of his unwarranted criticism of their -kind host. - -“I built this cabin all alone,” informed Wainwright proudly. - -Donald’s eyes rested on the speaker. Wainwright wore a shooting-jacket -and riding-breeches of excellent cut and of rare material, but now worn -threadbare and neatly patched. Donald knew that those rents had been -mended by a woman’s hands. Wainwright’s æsthetic face was impressive. -The marks of toil could not hide the delicacy of his thin hands with -their long, tapering fingers. The hands of a dreamer or poet, thought -Donald, not the hands to wield an axe. A quick admiration for this man’s -gameness filled his heart. “A good job,” he lied, as he surveyed the -sagging roof and bulging walls. - -“As good an authority as Hillier told me that it was excellent work,” -stated their host rather boastfully. - -“Bless old John’s heart!” thought Donald fervently. - -It was plain that Connie had anticipated their staying for lunch, as the -table was set—with tin plates and cups—for four. She drew a pan of hot -rolls from the tiny oven, and, her face a deep red from the heat and her -exertions, she sat down to the table, using a canned goods box as a -seat. Donald noticed that the two chairs had been given up to the -guests, and he arose at once to offer his seat. Andy, not to be outdone -in gallantry, successfully prevailed on Connie to make the change. - -“Bit shorter ever day,” he grinned as he sank to the box. At this Connie -lowered her head, her shoulders shaking with merriment. - -Wainwright’s manner was that of the owner of a baronial estate -entertaining guests under the most luxurious surroundings. His cheeks -were flushed, and he seemed filled with a boyish happiness. “It no doubt -will seem incomprehensible to you,” he remarked with a smile, “when I -say that, with the exception of John Hillier, you are the first white -men to break bread with me under this roof. We are quite a distance from -the Pemberton trail, and therefore come in contact with but few -travellers.” - -Little wonder, Donald thought, at their host’s nervous gaiety and the -child’s distress. What turn of Fate had caused this scholar to seek a -home in so lonely a spot? Misanthropes fled to the wilderness to escape -their fellow-men, but their welcome was proof that Wainwright was not of -that class. Why, then, had he voluntarily become an anchorite? Was he -obsessed by his hobby to such an extent that he had ostracized himself -to carry on the study of Nature? Was he a criminal hiding from justice? -Donald put the latter thought aside quickly. The Englishman’s delicate -features, with wide forehead, clear eyes, and tender, sensitive mouth, -were not the features of a man of criminal tendencies. At times, when in -repose, Wainwright’s face held a deep and brooding sadness. Some tragedy -had entered his life, Donald decided; some great calamity, that had -seared his very soul, had driven him to the life of a recluse. - -Connie strove to appear at ease, but without success. Hoping to relieve -her embarrassment, Donald spoke to her. Although she ventured an upward -glance, his voice seemed only to heighten her confusion. - -Mr. Wainwright resumed the discussion of the wild flowers of British -Columbia. With his head held sidewise, Andy listened intently to the -flow of conversation. When their host used Latin words Andy’s face would -assume a bewildered expression. With eyebrows raised inquiringly and a -humorous smile playing about his lips, he would turn to Connie and -slowly shake his head. - -This odd little man, with his blithesome manner and the whimsical gleam -in his blue eyes, was extremely amusing to Connie, and it was with -difficulty that she controlled her mirth. - -“I s’y,” observed Andy deferentially, “I’d like to learn about these -flowers and things; but, strike me ’andsome, the big words you use, and -some of them in the bohunk langwidge, puts more’n ’arf of it over me -bloomin’ ’ead.” - -Wainwright’s laugh had a pleasant ring. “I’ll do my best to help you, -Mr. Pettray. You’ll find books here,” pointing to the shelves, “that -will be of greater assistance.” - -The keen mountain air made itself felt through the poorly chinked walls -of the cabin, and the company moved their chairs nearer to the warmth of -the crackling fire. Donald offered their host a cigar, which was -accepted and smoked with evident relish. - -“Start me at the beginnin’; put me in the kindergarten, where my size -belongs,” chuckled Andy. - -Wainwright leaned back in the rough chair, puffing luxuriously at his -cigar, sending wreaths of fragrant smoke about his head. “I hardly know -where to begin,” he said meditatively. - -The room suddenly grew dark, and they heard the soft sighing of the wind -in the branches of the trees nearby. These signs were precursors of one -of the mountain showers so common in the coast Range of the Province. A -moment later there came the intermittent patter of big raindrops on the -roof, gradually increasing until it became a strumming roar that -debarred conversation. - -Connie lighted a candle, and using the neck of an empty vinegar bottle -as a candlestick, she placed it on the table, then took a seat outside -the radius of the dim light. - -The door opened to admit the Breed. As he entered a rush of sweet -rain-washed air, laden with the odour of fragrant buds, filled the room. -Shaking a shower of glistening raindrops from his wide sombrero, the -Breed hobbled silently on moccasined feet to a seat in the corner. - -The pelting rain dwindled to a drizzle, then stopped as abruptly as it -had begun. - -For an hour Wainwright gave a disquisition of the value of plant life to -mankind. Selecting two books from the shelves, he placed them on the -table before Andy. “You will find no difficulty in understanding these -volumes, as they are written for the novice. You will also find that -there is no pursuit more conducive to health and happiness than the -study of plants. It keeps one largely in the open air, and promotes pure -and helpful thinking. For this reason parents should lead the minds of -their children to the study of plant life.” - -During her father’s discourse Connie’s eyes scarcely left Donald’s face. -The Breed from the darkness of the corner noticed her rapt interest in -the tall stranger, and his dusky eyes glittered with jealousy. He limped -to the doorway, and, as he turned, Donald could not repress a start as -he caught the malignant look of hate which shot from the half-breed’s -glowing eyes. - -“Constance, dear, will you play for us?” asked her father. - -She moved obediently to her bunk, and from the floor beneath she drew -out a much worn violin case. - -The mellow radiance from the candle and the ever-changing lights from -the open draft of the small stove cast long, wavering shadows within the -cabin. From without came the wailing of the wind, the creaking of the -trees, and the steady drip of water from the eaves. - -As the bow touched the strings Connie forgot her shyness. The violin -drifted into a melody as light as a bird singing through the trees, now -joyous, anon sobbing in a deep rhythm of eerie sadness. As she played -her body swayed, almost imperceptibly, as a blossoming tree sways under -a soft spring breeze. - -As the last note ascended and faded on the throbbing air, Connie’s -embarrassment returned. At Donald’s words of praise a scarlet flush dyed -her cheeks. She returned the instrument to its case, and, with eyes -downcast, resumed her seat in the darkened corner. Wainwright’s eyes -held a look of deep tenderness as he thanked her in a voice that was -like a caress. - -As they said good-night Donald saw that their host’s face was again -shrouded in deep melancholy. The light of a waning moon threw ghost-like -shadows as they stumbled down the narrow trail through the aromatic -woods. Save for the drip of water, a brooding hush hung over the forest. -The trail was soft with needles, on which their feet made only a -softened beating. In the nave of huge conifers the solemnity of the -forest made speech seem almost irreverent. - -Near the centre of the tunnel-like trail, where the shadows deepened, -Donald stopped short with every sense alert. Without knowing why, he -suddenly felt a quick sense of danger. A dark form rose in front of them -and slunk into the woods. - -“The blinkin’ Indian,” whispered Andy. - -In passing the spot where the Breed had disappeared, Donald had an -uncanny feeling that the burning eyes of Connie’s devoted guardian were -fixed on him and he felt a crinkly chill creep up his spine. It was with -a feeling of relief that they emerged from the obscurity of the timber -and caught the friendly gleam of light from their cabin window on the -lake-shore far below. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - -The following day their work brought Donald and his companions to the -top of the falls near Connie’s fairy nest. The melting snows from above -had swelled the water until it filled the narrow gorge to the brim. - -As Donald viewed the thundering river he was impressed by the potential -power in the mighty surge of water that flung itself in a cascade of -foam to the rocks below. “Good place for a dam!” he shouted to Gillis, -as he pointed to the narrow canyon and then to the slanting walls that -formed a natural basin. - -That night, while Andy pursued his studies on flowers, Donald covered -several sheets of notepaper with drawings and figures. He became so -deeply engrossed in his work that he sat up long after the others had -gone to bed. At breakfast he placed the result of his night’s work near -Gillis’s plate. “Jack, I believe we could put in an electric mill that -would be successful,” he said earnestly. - -Gillis studied the papers carefully, then passed them to Douglas. “Might -be done,” he said non-committally. “I don’t know nothin’ ’bout -electricity; do you?” - -“I’ve had a little experience,” admitted Donald modestly. - -Douglas, who had been poring over the drawings, spoke emphatically. -“I’ll bet Dad would be interested in this. I’ve heard him say that all -mills would be electrically driven sometime. He’s up-to-date—always -willing to listen to new ideas.” - -“But old ‘Moss-back’ ain’t,” growled Gillis. - -“Who’s old ‘Moss-back’?” - -“One of the office men by name of Renwick. He’s one of them -narrow-’tween-the-eyes, psalm-singin’ old has-beens that sez ‘tut tut’ -every time he hears a logger say ‘damn.’ His health is poor, so they’re -goin’ to send him up here to take charge of this mill. Thanks be, I’m -goin’ to have charge in the woods, so I won’t have nothin’ to do with -him.” - -They discussed the matter during the day, and that evening they again -visited the falls. From the trapper Donald learned that the supply of -water was unfailing. Owing to the natural formation, the cost of -building the dam would be small. Donald’s friends became as enthusiastic -as himself. - -“We’ll be finished to-morrow night, Douglas,” announced Gillis that -evening. “If you and Donald want to, you can go to town and put this -proposition up to your father.” - -The lines of steel were creeping north slowly but surely. As they left -the cabin to start for the Coast, the first faint boom of a blast was -brought to their ears by the southern breeze. Ten miles south of the -lake they came to steel and rode to Squamish in the cab of a locomotive, -reaching Vancouver that night. - -Douglas informed Donald over the ’phone the next morning that his father -would give him a hearing at two o’clock that afternoon. - -As Donald thought of the impending meeting he experienced certain inward -qualms. He felt that Renwick would oppose him, and wondered if Robert -Rennie would consider him conceited and forward in suggesting such a -radical innovation. - -At the appointed hour Donald and Douglas entered the office of the R. C. -& L. Co. Robert Rennie greeted Donald with a friendly smile and motioned -to chairs near the desk. “You have some papers with you, I presume,” he -said. - -Donald placed the rough plans on the desk before him. For five minutes -Robert Rennie studied them quietly while Donald fidgeted. Without -comment, he leaned back in his chair for a moment, apparently in deep -thought. Presently he pressed a button at the side of his desk. - -“Send Renwick, Bolton and King here,” he said to the boy who answered -the bell. - -As the men entered the room Donald had no difficulty in recognizing -Renwick from Gillis’s description. Robert Rennie rose to introduce -Donald, then spoke in quick, flashing sentences, that went straight to -the heart of things, as he spread the plans on the table before them. - -As Donald had anticipated, Renwick, after a short scrutiny of the -papers, objected strenuously, his chief objection being the initial -cost, together with the fact that experience had demonstrated that only -small mills had proved a success when electrically driven. Bolton was of -the same opinion, but he admitted that if the supply of timber were -sufficient to keep the mill in operation for years, the initial cost -would be offset by the economy of operation. - -King, the company’s chief engineer, vouchsafed no opinion, but sat with -Donald’s plans before him, copying the figures in his note-book. - -Robert Rennie glanced at Donald expectantly. - -Donald spoke of the lessened cost of operation in an electrically-driven -mill by the reduction of the number of millwrights, oilers and helpers, -the lower insurance rates, the saving on line-shafting, belts and oil, -of the advantage in speed over a steam-mill, etc. As he warmed to the -subject he came to his feet and leaned over the desk. - -“As you gentlemen know, the greatest enemy of the mill-owner is fire. -With a steam-mill of the size you are to build, with donkey engines and -locomotives operated by steam, you will have a battery of smokestacks -that will be an hourly menace during the summer months in the dry air at -that altitude. Electrify your mill and donkey engines and you will -reduce the fire hazard by seventy-five per cent. I don’t ask you to -accept my opinion. I advise you to investigate thoroughly before -deciding. An electric mill with the enormous power available would be a -credit, not only to this company, but to the Province as well.” - -Robert Rennie’s brain functioned with a clear-cut precision. He would -listen to the advice of his experts with an attentive ear, and his -decision was usually made before the last one had ceased talking. - -While Donald was talking Robert Rennie sat forward in his chair with a -look of almost strained attention. As Donald finished he swung quickly -to his chief engineer. “King, to-morrow you go to Summit Lake. Furnish a -full report. If your figures correspond with McLean’s we will install an -electric plant. Bolton, get quotations at once on electrical equipment. -That’s all,” he finished tersely. - -He turned to the two young men as the door closed. “Beginning with the -first of next month, McLean, if you so wish, you will act as assistant -manager at the Summit Lake Mill. And you,” he turned to Douglas, “will -occupy a similar position at the Cheakamus plant.” He rang for his -stenographer, who entered at once. - -Donald muttered an embarrassed thanks, and as he passed through the door -he heard Robert Rennie’s voice in rapid dictation. - -They spent the remainder of the afternoon buying supplies from the list -which Andy had furnished them. There were numerous delicacies in the -items of foodstuffs that brought exclamations of surprise from Douglas. -“There is everything here to serve a banquet; even tablecloths and -napkins. What is the little beggar up to now, I wonder?” he said -laughingly. - -“His birthday,” explained Donald. “He is going to invite the Wainwrights -and John Hillier. And besides,” he added, “I think he wants to show the -old trapper that he can do a little fancy cooking himself.” - -Janet Rennie could not interpret the inner urge that prompted her to -arise at an early hour the next morning to drive her brother to the -wharf. It rather bewildered her—made her ashamed of herself that she -could not put Donald from her mind entirely. “Why can’t you forget him?” -she asked herself in protest for the thousandth time. As the boat pulled -away from the dock she waved an adieu and, with a troubled look in her -eyes, swung her car cityward. - -For two days after their return to the mountains, their little cabin was -a hive of industry. Andy banished his fellow-lodgers to the outdoors at -every opportunity while he performed mysterious rites over the small -stove. “I’ll show that juggling old pirate what a real meal is like,” he -chuckled to himself. - -Their guest arrived late in the afternoon and sat outside in the warm -sun while Andy busied himself behind the closed door. - -Old John’s face shone from the vigorous application of soap and towel. -His sole change in attire for the occasion was a clean buckskin coat -from the breast pocket of which protruded the corner of a red silk -handkerchief. - -Connie’s abundant golden hair had been carefully brushed, and hung over -her shoulders in glistening, billowy waves that reached to her -waist-line. She seated herself a short distance from the party and took -no part in the conversation. This was her first social affair and she -felt ill at ease. Donald’s repeated attempts to break her reserve were -answered in monosyllables. - -The door opened to disclose a remarkable figure framed in the entrance. -Andy stood before them in the most ridiculous make-up of a butler. An -old black coat of Gillis’s, cut off at the sides to form a -“claw-hammer,” hung loosely over his narrow shoulders; side-whiskers of -tree moss were stuck to his cheeks, and his face was as stolid as a -graven image. - -“Dinner is now being served in the main dining-’all, me lord,” he -intoned slowly. - -They applauded Andy’s effort heartily, and as they laughingly entered -the cabin a scene met their eyes that was remarkably incongruous amid -such drab surroundings. - -A snow-white cloth covered the rough board table. A huge turkey, with -bulging breast browned to a crispness, graced the centre of the board. -Oysters in the shell, celery, salads, several kinds of vegetables, pies, -cookies and fancy cheeses were in tempting abundance; and in a place of -honour near the turkey reposed Andy’s birthday cake, its frosted surface -covered with tiny candles. - -Connie’s blue eyes opened wide with wonder. “Oh, Dad!” she cried -joyously, “it’s just like stories, isn’t it?” - -John tossed his hat to the floor in the corner. “You can deliver the -goods, ol’ timer, sure enough,” he commended in a tone of respect. - -It was an odd party that gathered in the log hut in the wilderness to -celebrate Andy’s birthday—a wilderness whose silence was soon to be -broken by the crash of trees and the clang of steel. A late blast, so -near that the cabin trembled, caused the old trapper to shiver slightly. - -“Trains will soon be running through your backyard, John,” observed -Douglas. - -The old man shook his head sadly. “Yes,” he concurred, “an’ I’ll hev’ to -be hittin’ the trail agin before long.” - -Andy’s banquet proceeded merrily, and when the last course was finished -Donald took a bundle from the shelf and placed it in Connie’s hands. -“Something I brought from town for you,” he smiled. - -Connie’s colour heightened. “For me?” she asked incredulously. - -“Yes, some reading matter.” - -“Thank you,” she murmured softly, as her quick fingers unwrapped the -package. She cried aloud with delight as half a dozen novels and as many -magazines were disclosed to view. - -“And here, Andy, is a present for you,” said Donald as he dragged a box -from the corner; “something to assist in passing away the time -pleasantly.” - -Andy’s joy knew no bounds when, opening the box, a superb Victrola was -disclosed to view. - -Suddenly the sweet strains of a full orchestra playing the “Barcarolle” -filled the room. Connie was enraptured. She stood with bowed head and -closed eyes, her hands pressed to her throbbing breast, as the music -stirred her emotional soul to its depths. She sighed deeply and her -cheeks were wet with tears as she moved to the machine when the music -ceased. - -They all sang the chorus to the “Old Oaken Bucket,” “Suwannee River” and -“Annie Laurie.” Connie’s embarrassment had vanished and her clear voice -rang in sweet harmony with the deeper tones of the men. - -At the conclusion of “Home Sweet Home,” old John Hillier blew his nose -vigorously and surreptitiously dabbed the big red handkerchief to his -eyes. - -The words of “A Dream,” sung in an impassioned tenor voice, came with -surprising distinctness: - - “I dreamed thou wert living, my darling, my darling, - I dreamed that I pressed thee once more to my breast. - Thy soft perfumed tresses and gentle caresses - Thrilled me and stilled me and lulled me to rest.” - -Donald saw that Wainwright was deeply moved. His throat was working -convulsively, and he seemed to have difficulty in lighting his pipe. His -shaking hands were cupped over his pipe-bowl in an attempt to hide his -emotion. His face was pale and tears brimmed his clear grey eyes. - -“Come on, John, let’s ’it up a jig!” cried Andy as he capered across the -room and pulled the trapper to his feet. To the lilt of the “Irish -Washerwoman” the odd pair smacked the floor with their feet, whirled in -giddy circles, and whooped like wild men. They linked arms and spun like -a top until John’s moccasined foot trod on Andy’s long coat and brought -them to the floor in a heap. - -The comedy helped Wainwright to regain his composure, and sent Connie -into screams of happy laughter. - -“I’ve had a most wonderful evening, Andy,” said Connie gratefully as -they were leaving. “The most wonderful in my life,” she added softly. - -“By the way, Mr. Pettray,” spoke Mr. Wainwright from the doorway, “how -are you progressing with your studies?” - -“Not ’arf bad,” answered Andy. “I ’ave learned about the sepals, calyx, -corolla, pistil, filament, anther, pollen, style and stigma.” As he -rattled off these words he glanced at Gillis and Douglas. He had been -longing for this chance to air his newly-acquired knowledge. - -“Fine,” complimented Wainwright smilingly. “You are having no -difficulty, then?” - -Andy wrinkled his brows. “I ’ave found it a bit difficult,” he began -importantly; “just a bit, you know, to classify the flowers as to -whether they are oxillary, confulate, peduncular, polyandrous, -gynandrous, zygomorphic——” - -“Holy mackerel!” roared Gillis, as he clapped his hands over his ears. -“Stop him, somebody!” - -Douglas caught Andy by the coat-tail and dragged him from the door. -Connie’s cheerful laughter drifted back to them through the darkness. - -The Breed crossed the outer edge of light thrown from the doorway and -limped to the trail. Wherever Connie went her argus-eyed guardian -flitted in the background. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - -In the construction of the railroad to Summit Lake the speed and -efficiency of the R. C. & L. Co’s organization excelled any past effort. - -The land-clearing outfit arrived the evening after Andy’s party and -began work on that portion of the right-of-way that skirted the west -shore of the lake. Like a swath of destruction, the ground became -covered with the litter and wreckage of blasted trees—noble trees that -had stood for centuries like silent sentinels guarding the limpid blue -lake lapping gently at their feet. - -For two days Connie had been no nearer than the bluff. Seated astride -her horse, she now gazed in startled awe on the invasion of her loved -valley. On the third day, drawn by a horrible fascination, she ventured -timidly into the valley and watched with wide eyes the advance of the -pygmy army, who, with such tiny tools as the axe and saw, crashed to -earth mammoth trees that seemed as enduring as the mountains on which -they stood. - -The steam-shovel roared and crashed in the distance as it ploughed deep -gashes in the green hillside, men shouted, heavy wagons banged over the -rough road, and fearful blasts shook the air. Through all this tumult -the men worked in a frenzy of haste. - -A giant fir—a veritable king of the forest, towering in regal glory -high above its mates—stood near the water’s edge. Around the massive -bole of this tree Connie had played since her earliest recollection. She -had endowed this half-god with a living personality, to whom she had -confided all her childish fancies and aspirations. The corrugated bark -bore numerous bits of nursery rhymes, and her name was etched deep with -a sharp knife in several places. With a lump in her throat she saw the -“fallers” move to the foot of this great tree and gaze aloft with -appraising eyes. Then sinewy arms sent shining axes through the thick -bark to form the “scarf,” which to Connie appeared as a gaping white -wound on the dark grey trunk. - -As the cross-cut saw with its rasping clang ate its way slowly through -the tough fibre of the great titan, Connie made inarticulate sounds in -her throat and for a moment covered her eyes. As the wedge was applied, -a great shudder passed through the tree. Connie held her breath. The -tower of dark branches at the top nodded as if in fond farewell. There -was a pause, then with a rending and tearing crash it fell to earth with -a thunder of sound that filled the valley with a wild tumult of echoes. -A whistle blew shrilly, and the men picked up their coats and walked -toward their camp. - -For a short space Connie stood motionless. Then, with a last long look -at the fallen monarch, she sighed deeply and turned to the trail. - -That night at dusk she came again. Donald came upon her as she crouched, -a forlorn figure, by the prostrate tree. Pointing to her fallen friend, -whose top was torn and splintered, she told Donald in halting sentences -of the day’s disaster. As he noted the grave face and trembling lips, he -wondered at the depth of feeling in one so young. His soft words of -sympathy brought unseen tears to her eyes, and she dared not trust her -voice in answer. He spoke to her cheerily on other subjects, but could -not shake her melancholy mood. - -Even the night calm was ravaged by the thunder of blasts. A lurid wall -of flame shot high in the air as a rocky portion of the shoreline was -rent asunder, and huge boulders plunged into the calm lake, sending up -pyramids of water to break in noisy waves on the shore. - -Donald enjoyed the unusual experience of witnessing the construction of -a railroad, but he understood now why the old trapper had wagged his -grey head sadly when he heard the clamour of striving men and machinery -creeping up from the south. - -The night work had ceased, and a welcome silence settled over the -shattered forest. Lambent stars sparkled and twinkled in the high, clear -air, with colours that changed from orange to blue and back again. The -eastern sky brightened, the glow gradually spread through the heavens, -then the moon came slowly over the towering snow-peaks, flooding the -valley with light. The fallen tree took on a ghost-like appearance in -the moon’s radiance. - -Then an uncanny thing happened. Suddenly from a clear sky, without a -moment’s warning, a dark and ominous cloud obscured the moon’s light. -Connie came quickly to her feet and gazed with startled eyes at this -strange phenomenon. The air took on a sudden chill. A quick, strong wind -swept up the hill. From the swaying tree-tops there came a moaning like -a wailing requiem for the dead—so much like the human voice that Donald -shivered. - -To Donald the darkening moon and the sighing trees were a coincidence, -but to this child of nature, who had been reared in loneliness where -rivers roared and mountains loomed, and who understood so intimately the -wild things of the forest, it was a manifestation of sorrow by the God -of Nature. With her breast heaving tumultuously, she leaned against the -mammoth tree and pressed her cheek to its rough bark. “I’m sorry! I’m -sorry!” she whispered brokenly. - -As if in answer to her words of compassion, the veil suddenly lifted -from the moon and the wind ceased. Donald shook himself. “Rather weird,” -he said, with a quick, nervous laugh. He turned to find that he was -alone. - - * * * * * - -Events moved swiftly that week. - -King’s report was favourable to Donald’s plan, and word came that -electrical equipment for the Summit Mill had been ordered. - -At Donald’s invitation Connie came to the station to witness the arrival -of the first train. As the awesome black monster, with whistle screaming -and bell clanging, roared through the rock cut at the south end of the -lake and bore down upon them, Connie gasped in wonder. As the train came -to a hissing stop she shrank against the walls of the building, a -startled look in her eyes. She flushed at the men’s hearty laughter. - -The train was loaded with working-men, who with their bundles of -blankets overflowed the small platform. A kitchen-car and a sleeping-car -were shunted to the side-track which would be their home until the -erection of the big dining-hall. - -Donald was given charge of constructing the dam, Gillis started the -lumbering operations, while Douglas moved to the Cheakamus Mill. Andy -was to be boss of the kitchen staff, and was kept busy overseeing the -work of interior construction. - -A portable mill was fast at work turning out timbers for the big plant, -and carpenters and millwrights worked night and day. An American expert -came with the machinery to superintend the installation. - -With the new task set for him there descended on Donald a deep sense of -responsibility. Unlike the others, he worked no regular hours. A feeling -of gratitude toward Robert Rennie for the confidence displayed in him -kept him at top speed; his energy and resource seemed inexhaustible. -From the time his alarm clock—that harsh, brutal little destroyer of -sleep—shrilled its call at daylight until darkness filled the valley, -he stuck to his task. - -One week earlier than the time allotted he reported the dam as finished. - - * * * * * - -Robert Rennie came with Renwick and King for a short trip of inspection, -and as he was leaving he spoke a kindly word in commendation of Donald’s -work. - -The Summit Mill was to be modern in every respect, lighted with -electricity and provided with modern plumbing and hot shower-baths. The -white steel beds of the dormitory were clothed in clean white sheets and -pillow-cases. There was no analogy in this perfection to the ordinary -logging-camp. - -For hours Donald followed the expert through the mill, while the latter -explained and tested the different motors. - -Once a week Robert Rennie came to the mill, taking a keen interest in -all phases of its construction, and invariably he went away with a -pleased smile on his face. - -“Never saw the old man so worked up,” commented Gillis. “Guess he’d like -to come up here and run her himself.” - -Renwick was still sceptical. For no apparent reason he had taken a -dislike to Donald. “It’s just ’cause you and I are such good friends,” -explained Gillis. “Me and him get on like a couple of strange -bull-dogs.” - -When the huge three-storied mill, with its dry kiln, lumber skids, -conveyor shed and railroad spurs, was ready for operation, and each -machine had been tested, Robert Rennie arrived with other officials of -the Company. Next morning Donald’s heart thumped as the mill’s big -whistle sent out its first call to work and the men filed eagerly to -their posts. - -The logs were sprayed with huge water-jets as they came up the -chain-haul to clean them of gravel and débris. The electric “nigger” -spun them about and threw them into place with a thud that shook the -mill. Then in a wild crescendo of sound there rose the harsh chorus of -saws: the singing howl of the cut-off, the strident, slurring sound of -the gang-saws, and the staccato snarl of the trimmer. - -Smiling and rubbing his hands, Robert Rennie walked through the mill. -“Running like a greased pig,” shouted Gillis above the clamour. The -owner of the R. C. & L. Co. so far forgot his decorum as to slap the -astonished Gillis heartily on the back. - -Donald noticed an ever-increasing irritability on the part of the -logging foreman during the next week. The ertswhile jocular Gillis -became sulky and morose. Donald got an inkling as to the cause of his -friend’s gloom when he heard Gillis in conversation with Andy. - -“What the ’ell’s the matter, you big lunkus? You’re like a bear with a -sore foot,” complained Andy. - -“If my gang don’t get here pretty soon, and I have to put up with this -crowd of bohunks much longer, I won’t be fit to live with,” growled -Gillis. - -Gillis’s gang of “redshirts” were known the length and breadth of -British Columbia. Employers bid high for their services, but for many -years they had stuck loyally with Gillis and the R. C. & L. Co. At -present they were employed by the Company in one of their camps up the -coast, but, at Gillis’s earnest request, Robert Rennie had promised to -send them to Summit Lake. - -Gillis’s “redshirts” had the well-earned reputation of being the wildest -crew of lumber-jacks west of the Rockies. “They’re wild, all right,” -Gillis had admitted; “a swearin’, drinkin’, fightin’ gang of roughnecks. -But holy mackerel! How them boys can log!” - -That night Gillis confided his troubles to Donald. “I don’t know what in -tarnation’s to become of loggin’ in years to come if things keep on as -they are now,” he began in a despondent tone. “It used to be that when -you sent down town for loggers you got loggers. But now,” with a gesture -of disgust, “you git a lot of silk-stockin’d, mandolin-playin’, -gum-chewin’, smooth-haired guys, or else a bunch of snuff-chewin’, -garlic-smellin’, macaroni-eatin’ bohunks, whose names sound like a war -in Central Europe.” - -Sighing reminiscently, he continued: “I often wonder if it’s because I’m -gittin’ old; but, you know, when I look back on the days, when we logged -with bull teams, it seems to me that the men at that time _liked_ to -work. I can still see the old timers in their whiskers, and their big -black hats and flannel shirts, as they sailed out on the old _Comox_ or -the _Cassiar_.” He shook his head sadly. “Ah! there was only one kind of -logger in them days.” - -Seeing that Donald was interested, he went on: “Yes, there’s two kinds -of loggers nowadays, Donnie, the ‘single-breasted’ and the -‘double-breasted.’ And there’s a hell of a lot of difference between the -two. The ‘single-breasted’ logger is a man that don’t speak anythin’ but -English, an’ he don’t belong to the ‘I won’t works’ neither. He knows -loggin’ from A to Z; don’t mind sleepin’ in a bunk, and always carries -his own blankets. If he borrows a ten-spot off you, as soon as he earns -it he comes lookin’ for you, slips you the money, grabs you by the hand, -and lookin’ you straight in the eye, says: ‘Thanks, friend, come and -have a drink.’ At night, when he is through work, he’ll smoke his pipe, -grind his axe, talk about the next day’s work with the boss, read the -paper and go to bed. In the mornin’ he’ll swallow a big load of prunes -and ham and eggs and go to work a-singin’. - -“But this ‘double-breaster’,” he snorted disgustedly, “he’s a mixture of -a taxi-driver, bartender and soap-box orator, and just because he lives -in B.C., he thinks he is a logger. He knows the difference between a -fallin’ saw and a bucket’s saw, and that just about lets him out. If he -borrows a dollar off you, the minute the bill slips out of your hand you -can see a look in his eye that says, ‘You’re hooked.’ And the devil of -it is that he won’t cross to the other side of the street when he sees -you comin’, but he’ll walk right up to you a-smilin’ and ask you for -another buck. - -“When he gets through at night he cleans his finger-nails and picks on a -mandolin while he tells how many Janes is stuck on him in Vancouver; -gives an opinion that the shower-bath was not hot enough, and how we -sufferin’ workers should rise against the capitalists. He’ll kick at the -breakfast table because there is only oranges and no grape-fruit. When -he goes in the woods he’ll throw a few tools away so’s to help the cause -of the workers. - -“Workers!” he exploded, as he came to his feet and walked the floor, -“we’ve got too many ‘double-breasteds’ and ‘hunks’ in this camp right -now, Donnie. A hunk will work if you show him a pick and shovel, but -these other guys are trouble-breeders. Did you see that big brute that -came in to-day?” - -Donald remembered seeing an enormous man with narrow, piggish eyes, in -the crowd of men sent by the employment agency. - -“That’s ol’ Hand. He’s a bad egg. I s’pose I’d ought to fire him, but -he’s a good logger, and they are mighty scarce ’round these diggin’s.” -He yawned sleepily. “Got to fix a ‘spar-tree’ for a ‘high-lead’ -to-morrow, so I better hit the hay.” - -Preparing the “spar-tree” for “high-lead,” or “sky-line” rigging, is the -most spectacular and thrilling performance in the logging industry. A -standing tree is trimmed of top and branches, then strengthened with -guys. With the pull coming from this altitude, the advantage over the -straight ground pull is enormous as logs are lifted high in air over all -impedimenta. The men who do this hazardous work are known as -“high-riggers.” - -Next morning, a man with a short-handled axe, wearing a wide belt to -pass around the treetrunk, and a pair of lineman’s spurs, slowly climbed -a big fir. As he ascended he trimmed the trunk clear of limbs. Quite a -crowd gathered, among them the trapper, with his rifle on his arm. - -“I ain’t got a ‘high-rigger’ in the outfit,” growled Gillis. “This -feller agreed to trim her, but he says he never chopped the top off one, -so I guess we’ll dynamite her.” - -The explosive, with a detonating cap, was tied around the top of the -tree and wires strung to the ground. For some reason the batteries would -not act, and Gillis chafed under the delay. - -“I kin set her off for ye,” said the old trapper. - -Gillis turned to him. “How?” - -The trapper tapped his gun. “Put a piece of paper on the cap so’ I kin -see her and I’ll pop it.” - -“That’s a new one on me,” laughed Gillis. - -He sent the man aloft to place a square piece of pasteboard on the cap. -The men moved back from the foot of the tree, and Gillis gave the signal -that all was clear. The old man sprang briskly to the top of a stump, -tipped his big hat to the back of his head, and raised his rifle slowly. -For an instant the long barrel wavered slightly, then steadied. The -report of the rifle was drowned by a splintering crash. The -heavily-branched top lifted, then came hurtling through the air to -strike the ground a mass of wreckage. For a moment the big spar swayed -drunkenly from the shock, then stood stark and rigid. Deprived of its -fronds of green, it appeared a ghastly relic of its former self. - -That afternoon, as they waited the arrival of the train, Gillis talked -again of his “redshirts.” “White men, every one of them,” he declared -proudly, “and every one of them with a nickname that is known all over -the Coast. Ye just ought to see my two ‘high-riggers,’ ‘Hoop-la’ -McKenzie and ‘Blackie’ Anderson. ‘Blackie’ is as black as an Indian, and -‘Hoop-la’ got his name from standing on the top of a spar-tree, after he -cuts her off, wavin’ his hat and yellin’ ‘Hoop-la’. - -“I got five Jack McDonalds in the gang. Their names are ‘Sly’ Jack, -‘Fightin’ Jack, ‘Check-Book’ Jack, ‘Johnnie-On-The-Spot,’ and ‘Crazy’ -Jack. An’ if they had all bin named ‘Crazy’ Jack it wouldn’t bin no -mistake,” he finished with a laugh. - -The train rumbled to the station and the usual crowd of workers came -pouring from the cars, while a crowd stood waiting to board the train. -It was the same every day—men coming and men going. - -Gillis uttered the glad cry, “Here they are!” - -A big, ostentatious man, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, stepped -to the platform. His dress was truly colourful and striking—wide hat, -high boots, a vivid scarlet shirt, with a cloth belt of the same bright -hue tied at the side, the ends dangling loosely. - -“Get out of the way, hunkies, and make room for a logger!” he roared, as -he elbowed his way through a crowd of scattering foreigners behind him, -a line of men clad in the same brilliant attire. - -“Hello, Hoop-la! you ornery ol’ skate!” bellowed Gillis. - -The big man turned. “Here he is fellers!” he shouted. - -In a moment Gillis was surrounded by this picturesque crew, howling -tumultuous greetings. - -“Hello, ol’ hoss!” - -“Hello, you son-of-a-gun!” - -“How the hell are ye?” - -Donald was subjected to crushing hand-clasps as he was introduced to -each and every one of this crowd of husky loggers. - -As Donald studied them he did not wonder at Gillis’s pride in these men. -With the exception of Blackie, there was none under six feet in height, -and they carried themselves with a loose swing that was almost a -swagger. Many of them were well past middle age, some quite grey about -the temples. They were all filled with the sparkling health of the great -outdoors, their skins the colour of mahogany. - -“Where’s the bunk-house?” asked Blackie. - -“We don’t call them bunk-houses any more, we have dormitories,” -corrected Gillis as he nudged Donald slyly. - -“A what?” questioned the puzzled Blackie. - -“Dormitories,” repeated Gillis. - -Blackie glowered at his boss. “What are you runnin’, a ladies’ -seminary?” he questioned sarcastically. - -“And another thing, you don’t need your blankets. Company furnishes -’em,” informed Gillis. - -“Well, I’ll tell you one thing right now,” declared ‘Crazy’ Jack, “I -ain’t goin’ to sleep in a pair of blankets that forty smelly bohunks has -wrapped themselves in. What kind of a joint you brought us to, Jack?” - -“What I want to tell you fellers,” said Gillis, ignoring ‘Crazy’ Jack’s -remarks, “is this: I want you to stay all summer. None of this running -to town to get your teeth fixed, or a new suit, see the ball game, or to -meet your sister who’s comin’ out from the East, and all that old bunk. -We got more orders——” - -“Can that chatter,” interrupted ‘Fighting’ Jack with a wide grin. “We’re -all goin’ to town on Dominion Day, ain’t we, boys?” - -“You bet!” they roared as one. - -Gillis shrugged his shoulders resignedly. “Thought you fellers was -gettin’ old enough to have a little sense,” he said. - -“Too much kick in us yet, Jack,” demurred Blackie. - -“Where is this door-mee-tory, Jack?” asked Hoop-la. - -Gillis pointed to the long building, and the boisterous crowd moved -noisily up the hill. The men dropped their packs to the ground outside -the door, and, shouldering each other, peered in. The long rows of white -beds stood immaculate against the walls, and two white-coated flunkeys -were sweeping the glossy varnished floor. - -“This ain’t the right place,” growled Hoop-la, “this is the hospital. -They must expect to kill about a hundred men every day. Hi! Jack! Come -here. Where’s the bunk-room?” he asked as Gillis approached. - -“That’s it.” - -“That!” - -“Sure.” - -“Say! what you givin’ us? I wouldn’t dare sit down on one of them beds; -’fraid of dirty’n it.” - -The others gathered round. - -“Jack, can we put up a log shack for ourselves?” asked Blackie. - -“You sure can,” responded Gillis tolerantly. - -“All right, we’ll sleep in this morgue ’till we get a decent place,” -said Blackie. - -He poked his head in the door just as Andy, clad in white coat, entered -by the rear. - -“Say, nurse,” shouted Blackie, “get ready for twenty-two cases of -delirium tremens!” - -“That’s easy,” was Andy’s quick retort; “I’ve ’ad more than that by -myself.” His eyebrows lifted in quick surprise as he saw the brilliant -shirts. - -“When does the blinkin’ circus start?” he grinned. - -That evening in their explorations Blackie and Hoop-la found the log -shack on the lake-shore. - -“Say, Jack, can me and Hoop-la have that cabin down there?” - -“You bet you can, Blackie. You and Hoop-la can have anythin’ round -here,” replied Gillis heartily. - -Blackie had turned to go, but on hearing this broad statement he stopped -quickly. “Say, Jack, me and Hoop-la came away from Vancouver owin’ a -little money—an’ I promised to send——” - -“Ye’ve got me when the gittin’ is good,” interrupted Gillis. “How much -do you want?” - -“Let me see,” reflected Blackie, “I owe for my room in town; and I owe -at Old Joe’s, and—and——” - -“How much? Spit it out, I can stand the shock,” commanded Gillis. - -“’Bout a hundred, Jack.” - -“Whew!” whistled Gillis as he reached for his purse. - -With Donald’s assistance the hundred dollars was found and Blackie ran -joyously down the hill. - -“Little devil!” smiled Gillis as he gazed after him. “Good-hearted a -feller as ever lived,” he added feelingly, “but he can’t take one drink -without goin’ crazy.” - -The “redshirts” had been up in the woods looking over the logging -operations, and they now came swinging down the hill, their bright -shirts flashing in the sun. They were loggers, “every inch of them,” as -Gillis had said. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - -Andy’s study of nature proved to be no idle whim, and Gillis had long -since ceased teasing him. All his leisure moments were spent in scouring -the hills and meadows for specimens, and regularly every Sunday -afternoon he ascended the hill to Wainwright’s cabin with his collection -for the learned Englishman’s inspection. - -On this afternoon, Wainwright, being in one of his solitary moods, had -wandered up the mountain, and Andy found Connie busily engaged in -spading the earth in search of worms, which she tossed to the swarm of -birds that hopped on the ground and filled the air about her. - -Scolding the bold camp-robbers that ventured dangerously near the shovel -blade, she scattered the soil, then laughed joyously as the birds with a -great flutter of wings pounced on the fat worms. - -Andy threw himself luxuriously on the green sward. This beautiful spot -was a diversion from the hot kitchen, a veritable haven of rest. The -gentle murmur of the bees among the flowers, the soft, subdued -twittering of the birds, the rustle of the leaves, and the laughing of -the water, all combined to make one sweet monotone of sound that lulled -him into drowsiness. - -Connie sat down near him, the birds all about her. - -“’Ow do you get them so tame, Connie?” - -“They know that I love them,” she replied simply. - -“I can’t get anything but the camp-robbers to come near me,” said Andy. - -“It takes time and patience, Andy. As soon as the birds are assured that -you mean them no harm, they are eager to be your friends. You’ll -remember, Dad told you that without plants man could not live,” she went -on. “It is equally true that if all the birds should perish, man would -soon follow. And, still more wonderful, if we had no insects man could -not survive.” - -Andy came to a sitting posture. “Do you mean to s’y that we would die if -we ’ad no insects?” he asked incredulously. - -“Surely, Andy, you haven’t forgotten what Dad told you last Sunday about -the insects carrying the pollen from flower to flower,” reproved Connie. - -“I ’ave it now!” cried Andy, after a few moments of reflection. “If we -’ad no insects to carry the pollen the plants couldn’t live. And if the -birds were all gone ther’d be so many insects that they’d eat up every -blinkin’ thing the farmers raised, and we’d starve to death.” - -Connie nodded. - -“Strike me ’andsome if it ain’t wonderful!” said Andy in an awed voice. - -Connie explained very simply to Andy the benefits derived by mankind -from the various birds. Her discourse proved so interesting to him that -he paid little heed to the time until the sun, disappearing behind the -trees, warned him that it was time to return to his duties. Regretfully -he arose and turned to the trail, Connie walking by his side. A -goldfinch, rich in his summer plumage of bright yellow, black and white, -hung swaying like a dainty sprite on a slender stem near the path. From -its bulging little throat came a rippling, bubbling song like a -miniature torrent of ecstasy. - -“Dear, dear, dearie,” he called sweetly. - -“Oh, you darling!” cried Connie as she clasped her hands in rapture. -“I’ve been trying to find their nest for several days, Andy, but the -little dears have hidden it too well.” - -She made soft clucking sounds as she moved nearer to the beautiful bird. -The goldfinch fluttered close to her side to perch like a yellow flower -on the top of a tall thistle, perked its pretty head and looked up at -her with bright shining eyes. - -“Dear, dear, dearie,” it sang again, then flew with characteristic wavy -motion to a clump of willows, twittering sweetly as if calling Connie to -follow. - -“I ’ave to ’urry ’ome,” said Andy as he looked at his watch. He glanced -back at a turn in the trail to see Connie pressing the willows gently -aside in her search for the goldfinch’s nest. - -“Strike me pink! but she is a wonderful girl,” soliloquized Andy. “The -’andsomest and the brainiest kid I ever saw in me life. If I was thirty -years younger, two feet ’igher, and ’arf decent to look at, I’d fall -’ead over ’eels in love with ’er.” - -He smiled broadly at these ridiculous reflections, but there was a -tender light in his bright blue eyes. A swarthy foreign labourer, moving -aimlessly up the trail, merely grunted in reply to Andy’s cheerful -salutation. - -“One of Gillis’s beloved bohunks,” chuckled Andy. - -A moment later he stopped suddenly. Connie was up there alone. For a -short interval he hesitated, then resumed his downward journey. “She’d -shoot ’is blinkin’ ’ead off if ’e tried to ’arm ’er,” he decided. - -Just then he heard Connie’s voice raised in a quick cry of anger. Andy -jumped as though subjected to a galvanic shock. He turned in mid-air and -before he struck the ground his short legs were going through the motion -of running. The picture of Connie struggling in the arms of the burly -foreigner made him fairly fly. - -“I’m coming, Connie!” he shouted as he tore up the hill. - -Donald and Gillis, sitting near the bluff enjoying a smoke came to their -feet as they heard a faint shout from above. For an interval they -listened intently, but hearing no further sound they resumed their -seats. Andy slackened his pace as he came to the clearing and saw that -Connie was unharmed. She was standing near the labourer with her head -bowed over an object held in her hand. - -“What’s wrong, Connie?” panted Andy. - -“Andy, look!” she choked, “it’s the mother bird. I had just found her -nest—here it is.” She parted the bushes to disclose a compact, cosy, -cup-like structure of fine grass and moss placed in a crotch of the -tree. In the centre lay four downy fledglings whose tiny mouths gaped -wide to receive the expected bit of food from the mother’s bill. “Oh, -Andy, if she dies the little ones won’t live,” said Connie in a voice -filled with pity. - -Andy took the wounded bird from her hand. “’Ow did it ’appen, Connie?” -he asked tenderly. - -Connie was as open and unaffected as the wild birds of the forest. She -was as capable of hating as she was of loving. Her eyes were laughing -eyes, and the soul that looked out of them a merry soul, but she had a -temper, and under sufficient provocation her blue eyes could take on a -dangerous glow. - -She now turned like an enraged lioness on the foreigner. “He killed it -with a stick!” she cried furiously. “You brute, you cowardly -brute. . . .” In her rage her voice became incoherent. With hands -clenched and with breath coming in short gasps, she moved nearer to the -object of her hatred. In her hysterical anger her voice rose almost to a -scream. - -“You cur, if I were a man I’d—I’d lick you!” - -The cry came to Donald’s ears, and he was off up the trail like a deer. - -“Something wrong, Jack!” he shouted. - -“Go ahead, I’ll follow,” responded Gillis. - -Andy looked down on the mother goldfinch as it lay in his hand. He felt -the quick throbbing of its heart grow fainter and fainter. One wing was -broken and its white breast was stained with blood. The bird’s head -drooped lower, and a film settled over its bright eyes. The beautiful -wings stretched rigidly, and it gasped convulsively, sending a tiny -stain of crimson from its mouth that felt warm on his palm. - -Andy’s face became colourless. His hand shook violently as he placed the -dead bird tenderly on the ground. “Connie dear,” he said, in a voice -that trembled, “I ain’t a whole man, but ’ere’s where you see ’arf a man -goin’ into battle to give all he’s got.” - -He removed his coat and threw it from him. Through a rage-mist Andy saw -the grinning foreigner throw up his arms in an absurdly unscientific -posture of defence. Like a mad cat, Andy launched himself straight at -his husky opponent. The grin was wiped from the big man’s face by Andy’s -compact fist, as it smacked resonantly on the end of his thick nose with -a snap like that of a whip, and with a skilled force that brought blood. - -Andy’s years of training boxers now stood him in good stead. He well -knew that a small man would stand little chance in long range fighting, -and he kept well inside the larger man’s wild swings. With his blond -head tucked against his adversary’s body, his fists worked like pistons; -he kept sending short jolts to the body that brought heavy grunts every -time they landed. - -Connie was delirious with excitement. - -“Hit him, Andy! Hit him! Good! Good!” - -And then she groaned as the big man’s hand found Andy’s throat and flung -him to the ground. Little Andy was up immediately, but stepped into a -swinging fist that caught him over the eye and sent him sprawling. -Undaunted, he came to his feet, waited warily for an opening, and again -sprang under the big man’s guard. - -Andy’s fist shot up in a ripping upper-cut that was judged to a nicety, -catching his opponent on the point of his chin with force enough to send -him rocking on his heels, and before he could recover himself the same -fist, accompanied by its mate, beat a tattoo on his solar plexus. - -In desperation the bewildered man wound his arms about the little -Australian and lifted him high in air. Like a game bulldog Andy hung on. -Though his feet were off the ground, he clung to the big man’s body like -a leech. - -Again the big hands felt for Andy’s throat, and he was flung six feet to -strike with a thump that shook every bone in his body. Connie cried out -in fear as he narrowly avoided a brutal blow aimed at his head. - -Andy’s sense of British fair play had received a rude shock. “As -Methusalem said,” he panted, as he came to his feet, “when in Bohunkia -do as the Bohunks do.” - -“Take that, Spaghetti!” he shouted, as he kicked the foreigner viciously -on the shin. While the latter leaned over in pain, Andy shot a -well-directed upper-cut to his face. The big man sat down, a dazed look -in his eyes. - -Breathless, Donald arrived on the scene, with Gillis puffing in the -rear. - -Breathing heavily, Andy’s adversary came to his feet, picked up his hat, -and with arms wound about his head beat a hasty retreat. Andy was after -him like a hornet, sending stinging blows through his vulnerable guard. -Donald and Gillis stood with mouths agape to see Andy administering a -sound thrashing to a man twice his size. Right to the edge of the woods -he relentlessly pursued his fleeing enemy. - -Andy’s head was held at its usual cocky angle, and he assumed a swagger -as he retraced his steps, but his short legs wobbled and he sank dizzily -to a stump. - -“I brought ’is blinkin’ meat-’ouse down, Connie,” he gasped. - -“Oh, Andy, you’re a darling!” she cried, throwing her arms impulsively -around the little man’s neck, and touching her lips to his cheek. - -Andy’s florid face took on a deeper magenta, and he blinked hard to hide -certain signs of emotion. He afterwards admitted to Donald that he was -no “sweet sixteen,” and that it was the first time that he had ever been -kissed in his “bloomin’” life. - -Connie wet her handkerchief in the cold water of the creek and bathed -his face with tender care. - -She showed Donald and Gillis the nest with the motherless birds, doomed -to die a premature death by this act of wanton cruelty, and pointed to -the tiny bird on the ground, for whose untimely end Andy had taken a -well deserved and summary vengeance. Connie choked as the lovely male -bird flew to a stalk of goldenrod near its dead mate and sent out its -throaty warble. - -“Dear, dear, dearie,” sang the goldfinch in a plaintive, questioning -note. - -Andy presented a pitiful figure with an eye closed, his lips swollen, -and his face bruised, but the indomitable spirit of him shone from his -one bright orb. - -“You darned little buzz-saw!” said Gillis tenderly. - -Donald slapped his little friend on the back, his eyes shining with -admiration. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - -Renwick announced that Robert Rennie’s daughter and a party of girl -friends were to visit Summit Lake the following week, and carpenters -were set to work erecting cottages for their accommodation. - -A few days before her arrival Donald was both surprised and pleased to -receive a cordial letter from her in which she said that she was looking -forward with pleasure to the coming holiday, and that she would deeply -appreciate anything he might do for the entertainment of her friends. - -As always, her father spared no expense in providing for the comfort and -pleasure of his daughter. That week a car containing a motor-boat, -canoes and six saddle-horses was run in on a side-track at the mill. - -Connie learned of the coming event through Donald as she was watching -with keen interest the unloading of the spirited animals. - -“You will enjoy yourself next week, Connie,” he said gaily. “Miss Rennie -is coming with friends. We’ll have rides, picnics and dancing.” - -A few minutes later Connie joined Andy, who sat on the steps of the -kitchen door enjoying a breath of fresh air. - -“Is Miss Rennie rich, Andy?” - -“An ’ole barrel o’ dough.” - -“Is—is she beautiful?” - -“I’ve ’eard so, Connie.” - -A short pause ensued while she searched the pockets of her overalls and -produced several neatly folded papers. She extracted one, pressed it -smooth, then passed it to Andy. - -“Does Miss Rennie dress like that?” - -It was a photograph of an actress dressed for the street, taken from one -of the magazines that Donald had given her. - -“I think so, Connie.” - -“Oh! She must be wonderful, then!” said Connie earnestly. - -She moved closer to Andy, unfolded another page, and spread it on her -knee. - -Andy bent his blond head close to the one of gold. A startled look -crossed his features and his brows bobbed up and down. It was a -full-page advertisement of ladies’ lingerie. The highly coloured -illustration of a lady, partially dressed, achieved its object of -arresting the eye, while the remainder of the space was occupied by -articles of apparel similar to those adorning the lady’s graceful form. - -Andy coughed. “Er—yes, Connie.” - -Connie raised her eyebrows incredulously. - -“All at one time?” - -“Sure—sure,” mumbled Andy. - -Connie stared. “Why, there must be nearly a dozen pieces. How is this -fastened?” she questioned as she pointed with a slender brown finger to -one of the engravings. - -Andy took a quick glance. “Buttons.” - -“And this?” - -“Buttons,” replied Andy, gripping the bowl of his pipe and sending out -clouds of smoke. - -“And this?” - -“Strike me blind, what a ’ell of an ’ole,” thought Andy. - -“Buttons,” he responded desperately without looking at the paper. - -Connie raised her head. “Oh no, I don’t think so, Andy; that must slip -on,” she objected. - -Andy made a pretence of studying the article in question. - -“Yes, yes, sure! That’s right! that’s right!” he conceded quickly. - -Andy’s pipe was now sending out billows of acrid smoke. Connie coughed -and moved beyond the smoke screen. Much to Andy’s relief, she sat for a -moment silently studying the advertisement. When she raised her golden -head there was a look of wistful yearning in her blue eyes. - -“Oh, Andy,” she said dreamily, “it must be lovely to feel those soft -silky things next your skin.” - -“I’m—I’m sorry, Connie,” stuttered Andy, “but I ’ave a roast in the -oven—I——” - -“Just a minute, Andy,” she pleaded, “there is something else I want to -ask you.” She sorted the papers for a moment. - -“God ’elp me, what will it be now?” thought Andy, as he braced himself -for the next question. - -“Andy, what is a camisole?” - -A look of profound relief crossed the little Australian’s face. - -“A camisole,” he explained with an air of wisdom, “is a fish. It’s -a——” - -He was interrupted by Connie’s peal of laughter. “Oh, Andy,” she cried, -“you’re a funny man!” She turned and ran laughing down the hill. - -“Strike me lucky!” exclaimed Andy as he mopped his brow. “It’s enough to -make a blighter’s ’eart bleed. The poor motherless kid comin’ to a bloke -like me to ask such questions.” - -He watched Connie as she slowly ascended the trail, still studying the -magazine pages. - -“But ’ow the ’ell can I ’elp ’er?” - -He pondered deeply for a moment, but, seemingly unable to answer the -question, shook his head sadly and turned to his duties. - - * * * * * - -Fortunately for Janet’s peace of mind, none of her friends had -recognized in the photograph of the new champion of Canada the handsome -young man they had met at her home. They were puzzled by her decision to -spend a holiday in the wilds until she casually mentioned that Mr. -McLean was arranging for their entertainment, and she accepted with a -smile the sly teasing that followed. - -The party arrived by special train a day earlier than originally -planned, and as Janet stepped to the platform Donald was for a moment -disconcerted by the warmth of her greeting and the softness in her eyes -as they rested on him. - -That afternoon Connie came riding down the hill holding in her hand an -enormous bouquet of Alpine flowers. She leaped from her horse and ran -blithely around the corner of the big building. Andy, dressed in white -coat and hat, came smilingly forward to meet her. - -“Andy, here are some rare flowers Dad sent for——” She ceased speaking -abruptly as Donald, leading Janet and her friends from a tour of the -kitchen, came through the door. - -Donald’s face lighted with a glad smile as he saw Connie. - -“Miss Rennie, I want you to meet Miss Wainwright.” - -Connie’s face burned with embarrassment as all eyes turned toward her, -and the mass of wild flowers held crushed to her breast quivered as -though shaken by a breeze. She glanced about her quickly, strongly -tempted to flee the spot. - -For a moment the society belle and the girl of the mountains eyed each -other silently. Janet stared at Connie as if she were some strange -creature unclassified by science. Connie for the first time was gazing -on a stylishly-clad member of her own sex. Janet’s dress of white silk -shimmered in the sunshine, and her broad-brimmed white hat, with lining -of pale rose, gave to her beautiful face a ruddy glow. - -Connie’s eyes roved in admiring awe from the neat high-heeled shoes to -the silken hose and skirt, and then to the flowered hat set jauntily on -thick shining coils of dark hair. - -There was a certain dewy freshness, a native frankness, about the girl -of the woods that made Janet appear artificial. Their eyes met, and -Connie’s lips parted in a timid smile, revealing two rows of perfect -milk-white teeth and forming two tiny dimples in her brown cheeks. Her -lonely heart longed for the friendship of this wonderful girl, but the -smile quickly faded when she saw that Janet’s eyes remained cold and -appraising. - -Janet scrutinized Connie’s faded blue overalls and coarse cotton shirt, -which, even though loose and ill-fitting, could not conceal the graceful -lines of the childish figure. Confused by the cold reception, her eyes -wide and misty with a hint of pain, Connie turned quickly away. - -Moving with the easy grace and freedom that an empress might envy, -Connie walked to the side of her cayuse, and with characteristic -bird-like motion sprang to his back. Her moccasined feet struck his -sides, and with ears flattened Pegasus leaped forward with a speed that -sent Connie’s hair streaming. His spurning hoofs sent a cloud of dust in -their faces, then horse and rider went tearing down the hill. - -Janet stood staring after the flying rider, a look of blank astonishment -on her face. - -Connie’s visits to the mill ceased, but from the highest point on the -bluff she watched the merry-makers with keen interest as, dressed in -natty riding costumes, they rode their stylish horses, disported -themselves in bathing-suits on the sandy beach, paddled the lake in -light, graceful canoes, or chugged about in the shiny white motor-boat. -For two evenings she sat with a feeling of dreary lonesomeness while -Donald and Janet floated on the placid lake in one of the tiny canoes, -their subdued voices and gentle laughter coming up faintly from below. - -During the evenings she spent with Donald, Janet was assailed by -fleeting emotions in which she tried to define her attitude toward him. -She felt that the time was not far distant when some definition would be -necessary. In a number of artful ways she had tried, but without -success, to lead him to talk of himself. When she put a direct question -she saw the lines about his mouth tighten, and his reply carried a tone -of such unmistakable rebuke that her face reddened and the subject was -instantly dropped. - -On the night before Janet’s departure a dance was arranged, to which the -clerical staff of the Cheakamus Mill was invited. Gillis promised a -special feature on the programme in the form of an old-fashioned -square-dance with his “redshirts” as the performers. - -All that day the skies drizzled continuously; lake and mountain were -hidden under a heavy mist. The inclement weather did not dampen the -ardour of the merry crowd, who, in slickers and oilskins of every -description, gathered flowers and trees to decorate the big dining-room -that was to be used as a dance-hall. - -That night, lights gleamed from every window of the big room, which had -undergone a sudden transformation. The walls were one mass of wild -flowers, and on the beams overhead small cedars and jackpines stood -upright in rows, adding a pungent odour to the air, already burdened -with the sweet smell of wild flowers. The music of the phonograph flowed -out of the open door to vibrate softly through the dripping trees. - -Connie learned of the dance, and after dark she slipped quietly down -into the valley. She crouched by the open window, heedless of the rain -dripping from the eaves, her eyes glued upon the enchanting scene -within. She saw Donald and Janet gliding across the floor, and she -marvelled at the grace of their movements. The hum of talk, the constant -ripple of feminine laughter, the rustle of silken skirts, were all -foreign to Connie. She felt a touch of intense and utter loneliness, -like a stranger in a strange land. - -Janet seemed to have thrown aside her cloak of reserve; she brimmed over -with an unwonted gaiety, but at times her big brown eyes held a troubled -look as they rested on Donald. - -Gillis’s “redshirts” filed in to give an exhibition of old-fashioned -dancing. Half the men wore handkerchiefs tied about their arms to -indicate that they were impersonating ladies. Blackie played the violin, -while “Fightin’” Jack’s roaring voice did the “callin’ off.” Gillis -informed the company that Blackie “didn’t know a note of music from a -post-hole.” But what he lacked in technical knowledge was made up in the -immense volume of sound he produced from the instrument, and the speed -he set for the whirling dancers to follow soon had them dripping with -perspiration. There were shouts of Homeric laughter, big feet thumped -the floor as they girated through the intricate steps of the quadrille, -and above all sounded the hoarse voice of “Fightin’” Jack in the -colourful jargon of “callin’ off.” - - “Birdie jump out and Jackie jump in; - Jackie jump out and give Birdie a swing. - All the men left; back to pardner; - And grand right and left. - Chickadee right and pack-rat left. - Meet your pardners and all chaw hay. - Gents sashay and put on style, - Re-sashay with a little more style, - Little more style, gents, little more style.” - -At the finish the girls loudly applauded the efforts of this picturesque -crew, and after a short breathing spell they again took the floor and -danced until sheer exhaustion forced them to quit. Mopping their -dripping faces with big red bandannas, they trooped boisterously -outside. - -Near midnight the rain ceased, and as Donald walked with Janet to her -cabin the moon came suddenly from behind a dark wall of clouds to set -the lake sparkling under its soft light. - -“Too wonderful a night to sleep,” said Janet softly. - -“Shall we walk to the lake?” asked Donald. - -She nodded assent. - -They stood near the edge of the lake in the light of the moon and looked -across at the towering snow-fields etched against the star-spangled sky. -There were lights still shining from the big room they had just vacated, -and the night-watchman’s lantern bobbed jerkily as he made his rounds. -Across the lake the light from the trapper’s cabin shone on the calm -surface of the water. The faint, weird call of a loon wafted to their -ears was echoed and re-echoed in soft cadences from the surrounding -hills. A faint breath of wind came out of the rain-washed forest, laden -with the sweet perfume of earth and flowers, and caressed their faces -like loving fingers. Donald took a deep breath that seemed more like a -sigh. - -“Isn’t it beautiful?” He indicated with a sweep of his arm the lake, the -wooded hills and the glittering glaciers lifting their heads high to the -sparkling firmament. He turned to find his companion standing with -downcast eyes. - -“Don’t you like it?” he asked, a trifle resentfully. - -Janet raised her head slowly. The limpid depths of the big brown eyes -were soft and languorous in the half-light; the full red lips were dewy -and tremulous; the peaceful light of the moon shone upon her radiant -upturned face, giving it an ethereal glow. - -“It is wonderful,” she breathed. - -Involuntarily he moved closer. What was this inner urge? -Love—feeling—emotion, or, it might be, passion? - -Laughter and voices came from the trail above. Douglas with several of -the visiting party emerged into the white light of the moon. Douglas -called his sister’s name and Janet and Donald moved up the hill to join -them. - -After the sound of their footsteps died in the distance there was a -rustle in the bushes near the path as a slender, childish figure, clad -in blue overalls and cotton shirt, glided into the soft moonlight. She -stood leaning forward with the grace of some wild thing, her heavy hair -flowing about her shoulders. The big blue eyes that usually were filled -with light and happiness were now dark with passion, and two small brown -fists were pressed against a wildly-heaving breast. Tears welled from -the blue eyes and rolled slowly down her cheeks. Her breath came in -gasps. - -“I hate you! Oh, how I hate you!” She stamped her tiny moccasined foot -passionately, then turned and ran blindly along the dark forest trail. - -An owl flew like a ghostly wraith to a thick growth of firs. The -startled cheep of a flying-squirrel turned to a cry of terror, quickly -silenced by the powerful beak of the owl as it made its kill. A -song-sparrow, with her downy brood cuddled to her warm breast, heard the -death-cry, and her eyes grew round with terror. - -A mallard duck, sleeping quietly on the lake, emitted a terrified quack -as it was drawn below the surface. A moment later the water was -disturbed as a mink arose, with its sharp teeth fastened in the duck’s -throat, and moved through widening ripples toward the land. - -The quick “plop” of a startled muskrat sounded sharply on the night air -as the Breed rose slowly from a spot not far from where Connie had lain -in hiding. He stood with arms folded, the stolid look of the Indian on -his face, and stared toward the spot where Connie had disappeared. A -look of ineffable sadness was in his sombre eyes. Thus he stood as -immovable as a statue for an interval. Then a long-drawn sigh escaped -him. “She loves him,” he said in a dead voice. - -He walked to the shore, his distorted limb causing him to sway -grotesquely in the moonlight. He drew a skilfully concealed dugout from -the bushes and launched it gently. His paddle spurned the water -noiselessly, and in a moment he was lost in a bright patch of reflected -moonlight. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - -A week before Dominion Day men began applying for leave of absence until -the exodus depleted the crew to such an extent that it was deemed -advisable to shut down for a week. Donald turned to Gillis as he saw the -whole crew of “redshirts” pile tumultuously on the train. - -“How often do the men quit like this?” he asked rather irritably. - -“Every holiday,” replied Gillis. - -Donald pondered a moment. - -“That means that we may lose a week for Labour Day.” - -“Very likely.” - -“Jack, do you think we could keep them here if we held some sort of -celebration at the lake?” - -“I believe we could,” responded Gillis warmly. - -“We’ll do it then,” declared Donald. “We’ve so many orders ahead that -this lay-off may force us to run a night crew.” - -“Did you spend all your dough, Blackie?” asked Gillis when the -“redshirts” arrived back from town. - -“Me and Hoop-la spent about two hundred bucks, but we had three hundred -dollars’ worth o’ fun. We ain’t got enough money to buy a humminbird a -pair o’ leggin’s, but we sure had a helluva good time, so we ain’t -worryin’.” - -“S’pose you bought them new boots?” inquired Gillis. - -Blackie forced a laugh. “Goin’ to git them next time, Jack,” he -continued, moving closer to his big boss; “say, Jack, you know that I -send twenty dollars to my mother back east ev’ry month. I—I——” - -“All right, Blackie,” said Gillis gently, “I’ll advance it to you.” - -“Thanks, Jack, you’re a good pal,” commended Blackie in a relieved tone. - -Donald and Gillis walked down the hill to inspect the logs in the boom, -and as they walked Gillis indulged in some pointed observations. “You -know, Donnie, that these loggers are game guys to come back after -spendin’ all their money and say: ‘We had a good time, so we ain’t -worryin’.’ The man ain’t human that won’t worry after spendin’ in a few -days the money it’s taken him six months to earn swingin’ an axe an’ -draggin’ a saw. Still, they hide their remorse under a grin and tell of -what a good time they’ve had. So many people think that loggers spend -all their money for booze. ’Tain’t so. That gang of mine give away about -half their money to bums around town. I have seen Blackie give away -twenty bucks at a time.” - -As they passed the high-rigger’s little cabin, Gillis poked his head -through the door. Blackie was absorbed in the task of sewing a patch on -a pair of worn boots. A mournful wind blew querulously around the cabin. - -“Say, Blackie, do you know what that wind is saying?” - -Blackie grunted a negative. - -“Here’s what it’s a sayin’,” said Gillis as he puckered his lips: -“O-o-o-o-h! W-h-e-e-r-r-e-e has your summer wages gone! O-o-o-h! -W-h-e-r-r-e-e has your summer——” - -Gillis dodged back as a boot came whizzing past his head. - - * * * * * - -Midsummer brought an epidemic of labour disturbances throughout the -Province. A radical labour organization seized on a time when work was -plentiful and labour scarce to spread their insidious propaganda through -the camps. Railroad construction in the interior had been seriously -interfered with, and in many cases there had been violence and -bloodshed. - -Two agitators arrived at the Summit Mill, and the next day several of -the men—including Hand and Blackie—did not appear when the whistle -blew. Gillis found them in Blackie’s cabin in a half-drunken condition. -That afternoon Renwick ordered the two strangers off the premises and -discharged Hand. - -Hoop-la begged successfully for lenience toward his erring pal. “You -know how booze affects Blackie, Jack,” he pleaded. - -Donald became aware of a changed bearing on the part of many of the men. -Sullenness had fallen upon them; discontent manifested itself, as well -as insubordination. That afternoon spikes driven in the logs wreaked -havoc with the saws and forced a partial shut-down. - -A committee of four men waited on Renwick and presented an ultimatum. -They demanded a heavy increase in wages, or they would call for an -immediate cessation of work on the part of the men they represented. -Renwick promptly refused. In fifteen minutes every man in the mill -except the clerical staff, the mechanics and the engineer, walked out. -In the woods only Gillis’s “redshirts” remained at work. - -The strikers moved up the track and made camp on a point of land on the -lake-shore. That night the door of the commissary was prised from its -hinges and a quantity of food stolen, and the night-watchman put out a -fire of incendiary origin. - -Renwick, while returning from the power-house, was shot at twice from -ambush. He wired his resignation to Robert Rennie, and in terrified -haste packed his belongings and left on the next train. An hour later -the agent brought Donald a telegram: - - “Donald McLean, - “Summit Mill. - - “You are promoted to position vacated by Renwick. Refuse - strikers’ demands. Ship at Squamish Oriental order white pine. - Utmost importance lumber loaded within week. Use every means in - power to keep plant operating. - - “Robert Rennie.” - -He passed the message to Gillis. The big man turned and grasped Donald’s -hand in congratulation. - -“We’ll get that order out on time or bust,” declared Gillis grimly. - -Donald distributed firearms among his loyal men, and one-half the crew -patrolled the plant while the others slept. - -Donald had been up the greater part of the night, and at Gillis’s -earnest request he went to his cabin near midnight. As the door closed -behind him, Connie, with her rifle resting in the hollow of her arm, -rose silently from behind a tree in the darkness of the hillside and -flitted noiselessly on moccasined feet from stump to stump. Unseen she -reached the corner of Donald’s cabin, where she sank to the ground with -the soft, slow grace of a nestling bird. - -The Cheakamus Mill, robbed of man-power, was forced to cease operations. -At the Summit Mill work went on with such speed as in the situation -Donald was able to induce in the men, who were on edge. To him it seemed -that they were working on top of a powder mine that might go off at any -moment. He discovered in himself a faculty to handle men and to raise -them to a fever pitch of enthusiasm—not that the B.C. logger is a hard -man to lift to the fighting point. His fight against great odds had -gained the sympathy of the loyal—a sympathy and respect that money -could not buy. Gillis’s gang, with the exception of “Blackie,” remained -fervently faithful. - -Toiling in the hot sun, nearly blinded by sweat, singing lustily, this -gallant crew worked their twelve hours without a murmur of complaint. -Donald lived on the job, ate on the job, and all day long he drove his -men even as he drove himself. His rest consisted of such fitful snatches -of sleep as he could steal between his rounds of the night guards. - -The first move of the strikers was not of open violence. The haul-back -on two of the donkeys broke without apparent reason; one of the big saws -had been tampered with; Wilkinson reported two fires of incendiary -origin, and also that an attempt to dynamite the power-house had been -frustrated. - -On the third morning Hand, at the head of a mob of fifty men, made a -swift descent on the lumbering operations. It might have been successful -if Donald had not expected something of this kind and set efficient -watch. - -The invaders came down the track in a solid body, armed with cant-dog -handles, pick-axes and clubs, and thirsting for battle. At Donald’s -quick shout of warning his men dropped their tools and came on the run -to form in a compact body behind him. - -“Don’t use your guns unless you have to,” he warned, as he noticed -several of them flash their revolvers. - -Donald climbed quickly to the top of a large stump. In his left hand he -held a stick of dynamite with fuse attached; in his right he held a -match close to the dangling fuse. “Men,” he cried in a determined tone, -“if you move forward one step I will throw this.” - -“To hell mit him!” shouted Hand. “He don’t dare do it. Rush him.” - -But the mob did not obey their leader’s rash command. Donald’s pale face -and burning black eyes were sufficient evidence that he made no idle -threat. Donald saw the big hand of his foreman stealing to the butt of -the heavy Colts that hung at his side. “Keep cool, Jack,” he begged; -“don’t start anything.” - -For days Gillis had been without sleep. He turned bloodshot eyes on -Donald. “By G——! I would like to take a crack at Hand,” he said in a -voice thick with rage. - -The hostile crowd did not advance; neither did they leave. Scattered in -groups, they lay or sat on the hillside to shout occasionally words of -derision at Donald’s faithful crew. - -Donald’s nerves were on edge. At any moment there might be a pitched -battle with loss of lives. He studied the faces of the strikers to see -how many were from his crew, and was surprised to recognize fully forty -of his men. He saw “Blackie” in the rear of the crowd of strikers. When -his eyes met Donald’s he turned away shamefacedly. All the men from his -camp refused to meet his gaze squarely. “Those men are ready to come -back right now,” he said to Gillis. “Hand has bullied them into this. -Don’t you think so?” - -“I don’t know,” answered Gillis. “I never thought Blackie would go back -on me. I’ll wring his d——d neck when I catch him in town!” he added -bitterly. - -Donald heard a slight movement behind him, and turned to see Connie -standing with her rifle in the crook of her arm. - -“Good heavens! Connie, you shouldn’t be here!” he exclaimed. - -Connie’s face bore traces of weariness and sleeplessness. For three -nights she had stolen softly away from her cabin on the hillside to lie -hidden outside that of Donald. By night she had kept up a weary vigil, -ever on the alert; in the forenoon she had lain behind a stump on the -hill with eyes on Donald’s tall figure whenever he came in sight, her -rifle ready for instant action. Hand did not know that death had nearly -claimed him when he stepped forward to urge his men to charge. At that -crucial moment Connie’s rifle was aimed at his heart. - -“Get away from here at once, Connie!” said Donald, firmly, but kindly. - -Connie lowered her eyes to her moccasined foot, that was weaving -patterns in the dry soil, and shook her small head obstinately. - -“Why do you wish to stay?” he asked. - -She patted the stock of her rifle. “I—I want to help you.” - -Donald looked down at the weary little figure. He stepped down from the -stump, keeping a wary eye on the belligerent strikers, and came to her -side. “Connie,” he said softly, “you are a dear, brave little girl, but -you must get away from this place, as there may be serious trouble. -Please, Connie,” he entreated, reaching out a hand to stroke her shining -hair. - -Connie’s face paled quickly, and she shrank from the caress. Her slender -body trembled at his touch, and his display of tenderness brought a -sudden rush of tears to her eyes. But she made no move to leave the -scene. - -Finding that he could not shake Connie’s determination to stay, Donald -returned to the vantage point of the stump. “Jack,” he said, turning to -his big foreman, “I am going to make one last appeal to these men. If I -am any judge of human nature about half of them, if they can save their -faces, will welcome the chance to go back to work. They are being -dominated by Hand.” - -Gillis shrugged his shoulders. “Do what you think best,” he said. - -Donald passed the dynamite to Gillis and stepped forward with his arms -extended, palms upward. The crowd moved uneasily. Hand came slowly to -his feet, his small eyes narrowed with suspicion. - -“What’s up?” he growled. - -“Men,” Donald began in a high clear voice, “I would like to convince you -that you will gain nothing by your present tactics. Bloodshed will -surely ensue. I have orders to refuse your exorbitant demands. -Personally, I have no choice in the matter; there is no other course for -me to pursue. In spite of your interference we will continue working -with the few men who have remained loyal. I will ask for police -protection only as a last resort. I appeal particularly to the men who -worked for me here at this camp. Is there one of you who can truthfully -say that you were not accorded fair treatment? Is there one of you who -will not admit that the general equipment for your comfort is unequalled -in any camp in British Columbia? You are making a mistake, men,” he went -on in a pleading tone, “a mistake you will be sorry for later, for you -will be blacklisted in every camp in the country. Go back to work, and I -promise you there will be no mark against you. That’s all.” - -Donald walked back to Connie’s side. The men had not interrupted him -once. - -Hand turned to the wavering crowd. “To hell mit him and all -capitalists!” he snarled. He turned to shake a huge fist at Donald. - -“You treaten us, do you? You d——” The epithet that came from his -coarse lips was one that would cause any decent man to see red. - -Donald stiffened. His face turned livid. “You dirty cur!” he flamed. -“Don’t you know that there is a lady present? You apologize to this -little girl or I will whip you within an inch of your life!” His voice -trembled with passion. - -“Lady,” scoffed Hand, “vat you call a lady? She moost be nice lady, -runnin’ in de woods wit’ you ev’ry Sunday.” - -A murderous look shot from Donald’s dark eyes. A terrible rage possessed -him, a rage that made his blood feel hot in his veins and gave him the -unnatural strength of a madman. A dull red flamed in Connie’s tanned -cheeks. She sat down and covered her hot face with her hands. - -Andy now came running from the cook-house, dressed in white cap and -apron, his rifle trailing at his side. “What’s goin’ on, Donnie?” he -questioned. - -Donald did not answer. Gillis spoke to Andy in an undertone. - -“My God, Donnie, ’e’s twice your size! Don’t fight ’im!” implored Andy. - -“I’ll kill him!” rasped Donald. - -Gillis seized his arm. “Let me fix the d—— skunk; he’s nearer my -size.” - -“No, this is my affair!” shaking himself from the grasp. - -The sound of a paddle came from below, and the trapper sprang from his -dugout and came swiftly up the hill. As Andy briefly explained the -situation the old man’s grey eyes narrowed to mere slits beneath the -shaggy brows. - -“Ah!” he breathed. “Me and ‘Betsey’,” patting his six-shooter, “we likes -to shoot up bohunks. We shoots them in the heel so’s to save their -clothes.” His mouth was set in a grim smile, a smile that was belied by -the steely look in his deep-set eyes. He seated himself on a log and -placed his gun on his knees. - -Donald had by this divested himself of coat and shirt and now stepped -forward dressed in light cotton trousers, a sleeveless undershirt and -moccasins. “Hand,” he said in a steady voice, “this is between you and -me. See to it that your men do not interfere; I will vouch for mine.” - -The big foreigner was rubbing his big hands as though in pleased -anticipation. “I suppose you know how we iss goin’ to fight? Everything -goes, you know.” His grin was fiendish. - -Donald knew what was meant. There were to be no rules of combat; no time -duration; no referee; no rounds, and woe to the man who should go down. -It was to be a battle as of primeval man. It might result in terrible -injury and mutilation. He sickened at the thought. - -Hand stripped to the waist. Connie’s eyes rested on the mighty frame of -this huge blond; the bunched and rippling muscles, the great chest -covered with a mat of thick hair, and the enormous limbs. Her glance -then turned and roved to the man who was to fight for her honour. -Donald’s eyes were like burning coals. His face had regained its colour, -but was contorted with a passion that made him seem unnatural. Yet he -appeared a mere stripling in comparison to his burly antagonist. - -For a moment Connie became a primitive woman. She felt as though she -could rend and tear. Her eyes darted blue lightnings of wrath toward the -man who had insulted her, and her small hands clinched in impotent fury. -Her nails cut into her palms as she exercised every ounce of -self-control to keep from screaming aloud. Donald was fighting for her. -She caught her breath in a quick stab. Her heart was beating with -alternate throbs of joy and fear. A sudden fit of trembling seized her, -and her head felt light and giddy. - -Hand’s reputation as a rough and tumble fighter was well known -throughout the Province. It was his proud boast that he never had been -whipped. He advanced now, a sinister leer on his face. Andy ran to -Donald’s side. - -“Box ’im, Donnie,” he whispered. “Don’t let ’im get ’old on you.” - -“You goin’ to vip me? De dude goin’ to vip me? Ach!” scoffed Hand in -guttural accents. - -He came slowly forward with arms spread wide, his thick fingers working -convulsively. Donald leaned slightly forward and waited. As he neared -him, Hand tore in, sure of himself in the rough and tumble. Donald -side-stepped the big man’s first rush and shot his left to his face. He -was not properly set for the blow, but it stung Hand to madness. - -“Ach!” he grunted, “stand and fight you d—— coward!” - -He came on, his arms swinging wildly. Leaping aside, Donald’s heel -struck a stump, and before he could regain his footing the giant’s arms -were around him in a bone-crushing grasp. His hands were clasped at -Donald’s waist, and the big head was pressed suffocatingly against his -throat. Donald was forced slowly backward to strike the ground with a -thud, the big man on top. - -“Now I got you!” panted Hand as he released his hold on Donald’s waist -and aimed a blow at his face. With a quick movement the under man turned -face down. Hand struck him viciously as he lay prostrate under him. - -Connie’s eyes were wide with horror, and a muffled scream escaped her -lips as the blow fell. - -With a quick, convulsive movement of his lithe body Donald threw Hand -from his back and sprang to his feet. Whirling quickly as the foreigner -came toward him, he sent in a volley of blows to his opponent’s face. -Hand staggered, but did not fall. His lips were cut and bleeding: his -nose was broken; and he spat out several broken teeth. Any one of the -blows landed was sufficient to send an ordinary man down for the count, -but still the gargantuan giant came on. - -In and out Donald flashed, his arms moving like steel pistons. Hand -could not keep away from the punishing left hand of his lighter -opponent. Men not trained in the science of boxing have no punishing -power in their left hand, but depend solely on their right. Such was the -case with Hand. His style did not vary for a moment. With head lowered -between his powerful shoulders, he would bore in, swinging wildly in the -hope of landing a lucky punch, or striving to get a hold on his -adversary. Donald’s hand kept beating a tattoo on his rock-like jaw, but -still Hand came forward, slowly and relentlessly as a steam-roller. - -Crowding Donald back to the line of tense spectators, Hand rushed him -into the scattering crowd and seized him in a rib-cracking embrace. -Donald broke the hold, but not before the brute had butted him over the -eye. With the blow Donald’s senses reeled and the blood gushed from a -wide gash on his brow. A blow from the foreigner’s big fist then caught -him over the heart and sent him staggering to his knees. With a curse -the big man came after him. - -Andy shouted hysterical words of advice. - -Donald came slowly to his feet and mechanically side-stepped as Hand -came stumbling toward him. Donald evaded him until his head cleared, and -then summoned his remaining strength into one mighty blow that landed -flush on his opponent’s midriff. The blond beast came to his knees with -a dull grunt. - -“Go after him!” yelled excited voices from the crowd. - -Donald stepped forward with fist drawn back to strike the kneeling man, -but his arm fell to his side and he shook his head. “Get up!” he -commanded hoarsely. - -Even the strikers gasped their appreciation of this honourable act. A -murmur of applause came from both sides. The foreigner shook his shaggy -blond head and came uncertainly to his feet and the sanguinary battle -went on. Both men were tired. Hand’s breath was coming in short, choking -gasps from his tortured lungs, and his face was one smear of blood. -Donald’s left eye was closed; his lips were split, and the gash over his -eye had covered his body with blood. His arms were tired from pounding -the iron jaw of his adversary. The big logger’s strength was waning; the -pounding administered by Donald was beginning to tell. But Donald was -too weak to avoid his rushes. In a clinch Hand again butted him with his -head. - -Blackie, his eyes blazing, leaped forward with a peavy handle in his -hand. “You fight fair, d—— you, or I’ll brain you!” he shouted. One of -the strikers attempted to wrest the peavy handle from his hands. Blackie -felled him with a blow of his fist. It looked for one tense moment as if -there would be a general mêlée. There came sullen mutterings from the -crowd of strikers. - -“Back!” John Hiller’s voice rang out sharp and clear. “I’ll kill the -first man that interferes!” The eyes shining over the long-barrelled -Colt held a dangerous glint. The men who had moved to the centre backed -away hurriedly. - -Back and forth the combatants struggled, neither gaining any decided -advantage, each trying to land a blow that would end the battle. -Reeling, gasping, striking, falling to their knees from sheer weakness, -the men fought on under a burning noonday sun. - -No knight of old ever fought more nobly for a fair lady’s honour than -did Donald McLean that day by the lake-shore. His undershirt was torn to -tatters, showing his white skin blotched with welts and bruises. He was -losing his sense of distance. Swinging wildly with his left, his wrist -struck Hand’s adamantine jaw and the onlookers saw his face writhe in -pain as the arm fell helplessly to his side. - -“’E’s broken ’is ’and,” groaned Andy. - -“Oh, stop it, Andy, please stop it!” sobbed Connie, her arms held out in -entreaty. - -Donald’s face turned a sickly grey, and as the well-nigh sightless -foreigner staggered weakly toward him, he with a strength born of agony -whipped his right to his opponent’s sagging jaw. The big man faltered, -sank slowly to hands and knees, then stretched at full length, his face -pressing the soil, quivered and lay still. No sound came from the crowd. -The thing had been too stupendous for immediate shouting or applause. -Donald stood for an instant swaying uncertainly, then turned to stumble -toward his cabin. - -Blackie sprang to the top of a stump and swung his hat in the air. -“Three cheers for our boss!” he yelled wildly. - -A roaring cheer came from the crowd with a right good will. - -“Boys, let’s go back to work!” shouted Blackie. - -“We’re with you, Blackie!” they answered. - -Gillis reached Donald’s side as he tottered into the cabin and caught -him in his arms as he collapsed into unconsciousness. The big man picked -him up tenderly and placed him on the bed. - -“Get some ’ot water and towels and telephone for Dr. Paul,” commanded -Andy tersely. - -As Gillis left to fill Andy’s commission, Connie fell on her knees by -the bedside and wept with wild and passionate violence. “Oh, Donald! -Donald!” she sobbed, “you fought for me. I love you! I love you! Oh, -Andy,” turning her streaming eyes to the little man, “he won’t die, will -he? Tell me he won’t die!” Her trembling fingers were smoothing Donald’s -dark hair, and she kissed his battered face tenderly, all the while -calling his name hysterically. - -With tears in his eyes and a heart full of sympathy, little Andy looked -down on the recumbent form of his unconscious friend. “’E’s all right, -Connie. ’E’ll be all right in a few days,” he answered her in a choking -voice. - -Donald stirred as Andy applied the water, and his one good eye opened -slowly. “Did I win?” he questioned weakly. - -“You bet your blinkin’ life you did.” - -When Donald’s gaze rested on Connie his face twisted into a wry smile. -He reached for her hand and held it in a firm pressure. “Good little -sport,” he whispered through split lips. - -Connie felt as though her heart would burst. Scorching tears ran down -her face, and it was with the utmost difficulty that she controlled the -suffocating sobs that filled her throat. - -The sound of the big mill whistle smote their ears in a wild medley of -short, sharp blasts, quite unlike the decorous tone that summoned and -dismissed the men. - -“What’s that?” asked Donald, attempting to sit up. - -“The engineer is celebrating, Donnie. The men ’ave returned to work. The -strike is broken.” - -“Ah!” sighed Donald happily as he fell back on the pillows. - -The distant hum of a gas-car gradually increased to a series of staccato -explosions, then died out suddenly. They heard the light rumble of -wheels as it drew to a stop at the station below. There was the sound of -quick footsteps on the board sidewalk and the door opened to admit Dr. -Paul. He crossed the room and took Donald’s hand. “Is it true,” he asked -incredulously, “that you whipped Ole Hand?” - -“Strike me pink if ’e didn’t,” Andy vouchsafed. - -“I have patched up Hand’s victim’s many times,” the doctor stated, “but -this is the first time that I have attended his victor, and I can assure -you that it’s a pleasure.” He removed his coat and rolled up his -sleeves. “I’ll look you over,” he added, then glanced significantly at -Connie, who rose and left the room. - -“A couple of cracked ribs, a fractured ulna, and a few hundred bruises,” -was the doctor’s verdict a few minutes later. - -The physician’s deft hands soon bandaged the broken ribs and set the -bone of the forearm. - -“I’ll go and patch up the fallen bully. I hope he’s worse still,” he -chuckled as he left the room. - -Andy stepped to the door and called in Connie. - -“Don’t look so frightened, Connie,” smiled Donald. “I don’t feel half as -bad as I look.” - -“I’ll have to go now,” she said in a voice choked with emotion. - -Andy accompanied her outside the door. “’Ave a bite to eat, Connie?” he -invited. - -Connie shook her head. Now that the excitement was over, the strain of -the emotion she had experienced showed in the dark shadows under her -eyes and in the droop of her slight shoulders. “Andy,” she began, as she -placed a small hand on his arm, “you—you won’t say anything -what—what—I——” - -A flood of rose dyed her tanned cheeks and her blue eyes fell in -embarrassment. Andy patted her shoulder reassuringly. - -“I’ll never s’y a blinkin’ word, Connie; an oyster’s got nothin’ on me.” - -Connie, visibly relieved, picked up her gun and started up the hill. -Andy watched the pathetic little figure until she disappeared in the -woods. For a moment he stood staring into nothingness, then, shaking his -head sadly, he entered the cabin. - -“She’s a little brick, Andy,” Donald spoke weakly from his bed. - -Andy glared at him. “Brick!” he repeated sarcastically. “Is that all? -You big, bone-’eaded, blinkin’ boob!” He slammed the door as he went out -to give emphasis to the remark. - -“What the devil does he mean?” puzzled Donald. He turned painfully to -his side, yawned equally as painfully, then fell into a sound sleep. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - -On the third day of Donald’s convalescence he was able to leave his -cabin. With his arm in a sling, his face patched with plaster, he made -the rounds of the mill. - -The men welcomed him with eager nods and smiles, many coming forward to -shake his hand in silent respect. The big plant was now going at full -blast. Belts flapped, logs thudded, planers snored loudly, and the great -saw ripped shrilly through the big logs in a raising crescendo of sound. - -Down at the siding an engine bumped noisily into a long string of -flat-cars piled high with lumber. With arms akimbo, his wet undershirt -clinging to his powerful torso, the mop of blond hair hanging damp on -his brow, Gillis stood surveying the heavily-laden cars with an air of -complacency. The lumber handlers sat about in positions of weariness, -mopping their hot faces. - -Gillis smiled cheerfully as Donald approached. - -“Good news for you, Donnie,” he said. - -“What is it, Jack?” - -“Last load for the big steamer,” replied Gillis, as he pointed at the -moving train. - -“We’re on time, then,” cried Donald gladly. - -“One day ahead,” corrected Gillis. - -The engineer came to the cab window as the engine passed, and pantomimed -his congratulations by shaking hands with himself. The train gathered -speed, and as the caboose rattled by, the conductor came to the rear -platform. - -“Good work, boys!” he shouted. - -They stood watching the train until it struck the down grade and -disappeared through the cut. - -“Well, that’s over,” observed Gillis, as he sat down heavily and wiped -the sweat from his face. He looked tired and worn, but the light of -victory shone in his eyes. - -“If it hadn’t been for you, Jack,” said Donald earnestly, “we would not -have got that order away on time. You look all in; you’d better have a -good sleep.” - -The big man’s eyes brightened at Donald’s praise. - -“You don’t look like you’d bin to a Sunday-school picnic,” replied -Gillis with a chuckle. - -As Donald walked up the hill the whistle blew for the noon-hour, and the -men trooped past on their way to the dining-room. Blackie left the ranks -and walked shamefacedly to Donald’s side. - -“I’m sorry for the part I took in the strike, boss, I——” - -“It’s all right, Blackie,” interrupted Donald, “you more than made up -for it. We’ll forget all about that.” - -Blackie’s face wore a relieved look as Donald gave his hand a friendly -grip. - -Meals in logging camps are eaten in silence and with a fixity of -purpose. It is a business to be finished with as hurriedly as possible. -From the time the men are seated until the chairs are pushed back, the -clatter of dishes and an occasional “pass the butter” are the only -sounds. - -As Donald moved to his place at the table the men arose and clapped -their hands. Someone called for a cheer, but Donald laughingly held up -his hand. - -“Men, I can’t find words to tell you how much I appreciate your good -work. Your long hours of labour enabled the Company to get an important -order away on time, thereby saving their prestige in a big Eastern -market. You will receive double pay for every hour you worked during the -week.” - -A low murmur of applause followed this welcome announcement. - -After lunch, feeling the need of exercise, Donald made his way slowly -down the hill. The severe mauling and the days in bed had weakened him -to such an extent that he was forced to take frequent rests. As he -turned a curve in the trail, Hand and the man with whom Andy had fought -crawled stealthily from the bush, looked furtively about them, then -followed Donald down the hill. He reached the open glade by the fairy -nest to find Connie seated by the rippling stream, her chin resting in -cupped hands, and staring dreamily into the flashing water. - -“Ah!” he cried gaily, “I have caught my little dryad at her orisons.” - -At the sound of his voice Connie sprang to her feet, her heart racing -madly. Hearing a sound behind him, Donald turned to find the eyes of the -Breed fixed on him in a malignant glare that chilled him to the marrow. -For a short interval the dusky orbs of the Indian held his as though -with a hypnotic power. - -“Whew!” he ejaculated, as the Breed hobbled down the trail, “your -guardian sure does give me an awful look. Why does he hate me, Connie?” - -“Joe has peculiar ways,” she parried. - -“What were you dreaming about, Connie?” he asked interestedly. - -A gay light danced momentarily in her shining eyes, and the red lips -curved in a smile; “I was dreaming I was rich,” she archly confessed. - -“An old, old dream,” smiled Donald as he stretched himself painfully on -the moss. - -Connie sat down near him. - -As always, this spot gave Donald a restful feeling. The gentle zephyrs -wafted from the woods about them were somnolently delicious and the -sparkling glacial stream that rippled through the glade sang its clear, -sweet song. He closed his eyes wearily. - -The proximity of the man she loved, lying there with his arm in a -splint, his handsome face still bearing the marks of the blows he had -suffered in her defence, thrilled Connie to the depths of her warm, -impulsive heart. An almost overmastering desire to touch his hair -possessed her. - -“What would you do if you were rich, Connie?” he queried drowsily. - -Connie sank back in the delicious moss and clasped her hands behind her -golden head. “I’d buy a big trunk—one of that kind with the bulgy -top—and I’d fill it with silks, satins, brocades, velvets and all kinds -of soft frilly things. Then I’d unpack it slowly one by one and hang -them up all around the room and sit down and look at them. I’d buy a -great, big stone house in London, and I’d walk down the wide marble -stairs, trailing a long rustling silk gown, and I’d raise my lorgnette -to my eyes and say, ‘James, have the carriage at the door in -half-an-hour.’ I’d have a country place in Scotland, with hundreds of -dogs and horses, thousands of birds, and acres of flowers.” - -She paused for a moment. - -“I’d take Dad and Peggy with me everywhere I’d go,” she went on softly, -“and I’d buy Dad millions of books, and for Peggy I’d buy a solid -gold-mounted bridle, and lots of warm blankets for winter instead of -those old sacks. I’d buy lots of good things to eat, and lots of good -clothes for all the poor kiddies in the world.” - -She looked up at the hills. “And six months out of every year,” she -continued, “I’d live right here in these mountains and come every day -and sit beside—beside—this stream.” - -She raised herself slowly and looked down at Donald as he lay with -closed eyes. Leaning forward until her golden curls almost brushed his -dark hair, her eyes rested on a purple bruise on his brow. “And,” she -finished fiercely, “I’d kill every man like Ole Hand.” - -Donald laughed sleepily. - -“Connie, you are a dear little girl,” he said tenderly. - -The endearing tone held a paternal ring, and Connie bit her lip in -vexation. - -“I’d like to have you and your father go with me to Vancouver some day. -Will you go?” - -For a moment Connie was silent. “When—when my dreams come true,” she -responded with an embarrassed smile. - -Then he told her of the city and its ways and the things people did. She -listened, not with amazement, but with a contented smile, as though what -he told her was a confirmation of her dreams. But when he told her of -the grand opera, the music, the costumes and the singing, her grey eyes -wide with longing, she sighed deeply. - -Donald’s voice trailed to a drowsy close; his chest rose and fell -regularly, his features relaxed. He felt as though he were floating, -exquisitely floating, on a sea of fleecy clouds that was bearing him -softly away. A delicious langour enthralled him—an enchantment drowsy -and dim. He felt himself drifting, drifting . . . He was asleep. - -The willows at the lower end of the meadow were pushed cautiously aside, -and Hand’s head appeared in the opening. For two days he had lain hidden -awaiting an opportunity to waylay Donald. The day after the fight he had -boarded the train for the Coast, but had slipped from the car at the -station below. - -His face—unprepossessing at its best—was now a horrible sight. The -thick lips were swollen and cracked, the eyes discoloured and puffed, -and the broken teeth bared in a snarl as he saw Donald lying by the -stream. Every hour since the fight Hand’s hatred for Donald had grown -blacker. He would show him that he, Ole Hand, deserved his reputation as -a fighter. He would hold this crippled man helpless while he showered -blows on his unprotected face, make him cry out for mercy on bended -knees; perhaps kill him. His hatred grew hotter and deeper as he watched -him lying peacefully beside the girl who had been the cause of the fight -in which he had been ignominiously whipped. - -Connie sat gazing intently down on the sleeper. A sudden thought seized -her, bringing a warm flush to her cheeks. Why not? No one would ever -know. Would she dare? She glanced timorously about her, then leaned -slowly over, her curls falling about her face, and touched her soft lips -to Donald’s cheek. - -A bluejay screamed derisively. Connie came to her feet, her face -crimson. Donald stirred, opened his eyes, and painfully raised himself. - -“I’m sorry, Connie,” he apologized, “it was very rude of me to go to -sleep.” - -A moment later he walked down the hill. Connie accompanied him a short -distance, then turned up a steep path, and from a high, rocky ridge she -watched his retreating figure as he turned toward the dam. - -A huge bucket on a cable, that had been used during construction for -carrying men and material across the roaring chasm below the falls, -still hung above the boiling waters. - -For Donald there was a certain thrill, a keen exhilaration, in swinging -in mid-air in this crude conveyance. He stepped into the bucket and with -his one good arm pulled it along the rusty cable. - -The Breed, hidden near the trail, saw Donald as he walked toward the -dam. The venomous look in his eyes gave place to one of strained -interest as he saw the two men skulking menacingly after the -unsuspecting man. With a feeling of malignant exultation, as he sensed -disaster to the man he hated, he hobbled to the trail and furtively -followed. - -From the heights above Connie saw the sneaking figures as they crouched -low against the edge of the dark spruces and at once divined their -murderous object. For an instant she was paralyzed with terror. Her lips -refused to move and her limbs grew numb. - -The men moved cautiously as they approached their intended victim, -fearing that he might be armed. As Hand saw Donald suspended over the -river a look of fiendish elation crossed his features. Here was a chance -to dispose of his enemy with no trace of the crime. He tore a fire-axe -from the wall of the tool-house and ran to the swaying cable. - -The Breed heard Connie’s piercing scream of terror above the sound of -crashing waters. He glanced up to see her silhouetted against the blue -sky, her arms waving frantically. - -“Joe! Joe! Stop them! Stop them!” - -Screaming again, she plunged straight down the hillside in a mad race to -reach the scene of action. Running like a deer, stumbling and falling, -her breath coming in short gasps, she ran wildly on. Snarls of the -thorny crab-apple tore at her, devil’s-club lacerated her face and -hands, but she felt no pain. “O God,” she prayed aloud, “help me save -him! Help me save him!” - -Donald’s face blanched at the sound of the axe as it bit into the heavy -wire cable. He looked down at the jagged rocks and seething waters -below. Then with closed eyes and a prayer on his lips he tore in mad -frenzy at the rope. Desperately he tugged with both hands, although the -pain from his broken wrist sent a wave of torment up his arm that -sickened him. - -No man can measure the speed of thought in a crisis; even the sluggish -brain of the Breed functioned rapidly. Connie was not for him. Her -happiness was bound up in the man working feverishly at the haul-back. -There was not one chance in a million that he would gain the safety of -the cliff before the strands parted to plunge him to eternity. As he -heard the crashing of Connie’s slender body as she tore down the hill, a -softness crept into his eyes. With a speed incredible in one with his -pitiful deformity, he ran in a series of bounding steps to the edge of -the bluff. The noise of tumbling waters drowned the sound of his -approach. Just as Hand raised his axe for the final blow, the muscular -arms of the Breed were flung about him. Emitting a startled curse, the -big man turned and with a twist of his powerful shoulders flung his -dusky assailant to the ground. As he rose Hand swung viciously at him -with the axe. - -With a quick movement the Breed dodged, and the weapon flashed over his -head, flew from the big man’s hands, and struck his confederate, a -glancing blow on the shoulder that brought from him a howl of pain. -Again the Breed’s arms closed about his adversary’s waist. Mad with the -pain in his shoulder, the foreigner drew a long, keen knife, circled -warily about the two wrestling men until he found an opening, then -plunged the knife to the hilt in the Breed’s left side. The stricken man -slithered from his opponent’s arms and fell a crumpled heap to the -ground. - -Sick and giddy, Donald stumbled from the bucket, seized the axe and -advanced weakly toward Hand. Hand’s accomplice, taking one look at the -prostrate body, turned and fled terror-stricken to the woods. Hand -hesitated for a moment, then followed heavily after. - -At this moment, Connie, with clothes torn and hair dishevelled, broke -from the woods, and with a cry of pity flung herself to the ground by -the Breed’s side and placed his head on her lap. The eyes of the wounded -man flickered slowly open. He tried to speak, but a strong convulsion -shook his frame from head to foot and he writhed in desperate agony. - -Connie’s face as she lifted it to Donald was drawn with grief. “Get me -some water, please,” she said brokenly. - -The dying man’s lips moved. Connie leaned closer. - -“I—I—love you,” he whispered faintly, “I—saved him—for you.” - -A ghastly pallor spread over his features and his lips were widely -parted in a struggle for breath. Again his lips moved in a fluttering -whisper. “Connie—will—you—kiss me?” - -As Connie pressed her tear-wet face to his the pain-contorted features -relaxed in a smile of wonderful peace and his eyes closed. - -When Donald returned Connie’s head was bowed and she was weeping softly. - -“How is he, Connie?” he questioned gently. - -“He’s dead.” - -Donald removed his hat and knelt with bowed head. - -“He died for me,” he choked. - -“And for me,” she whispered inaudibly. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - -Lest we tire of monotony, Nature gives us a change of colour for each of -the flowering seasons. Flowers of every hue may be found through the -different months. Pink for May, red for June, blue and pink for July, -and during August royal robes of gold and purple clothe the hills and -valleys. - -The last week of August brought to Summit Lake a pageantry of colour -that the Coast region is denied owing to the persistent rains that -retard the ripening of the leaf. The deciduous trees were already -withdrawing their life-giving fluid from the leaves to store it in their -roots until spring. The willow, vine maple, birch and alder along the -creeks and lake-shore held touches of autumnal colouring; while on the -hills the yellowed leaves of the cottonwood were brilliant in their -setting of sober dark green conifers. - -A gaudy red were the vine maples, but there was a leafy beauty greater -than theirs. The flowering dogwood blazed from every nook and cranny. -The ripening of the dogwood gives to its leaves a flame that burns with -a fierce glow; a glow that further ripening deepens until its crimson -flush becomes the loveliest hue of the British Columbia woods. - -The fireweed, or willow herb, that in July gives to the open spaces a -gorgeous tint of bluey pink, were now loosing a flock of seeds to float -away like tiny parachutes. Each small bit of fluff held a minute germ of -life that would build a plant as large as its parent when, dropped by -the friendly wind, it reaches a fertile spot. The stately cottonwood -were sending out a life-fluff as tiny as that from the smaller plants. -Thistles, cat-tails and asters hurried to join the silken clouds until -the air was misty with these germ balloons, seeking their winter’s rest. -The red elderberry and its magenta neighbour, the thimble berry, with -its truculent Scotch cap, gave to the woods a material flame. - -A curious timidity had come over the birds; not only were they quiet, -but they were no longer to be found in their usual haunts. In some -retired spot they were moulting. While the weather was at its best, and -food was the most plentiful, they were dressing themselves in a new set -of feathers for their long flight to the south. The tops of the tall -pines were filled with sweet twitterings, of flutterings out and in, -wing trails and quick short flights. A flock of waxwings had gathered -for the migration. They would not leave for some time yet, but the -change had come. Birds from the north had arrived, creeping south by -easy stages, taking plenty of time in their journey—the freest -creatures that live, staying or going as they feel inclined. - -Wild berries, dead ripe, hung on lush drooping branches. - -A soft “prut-prut-kwit-kwit” came from the leader of a covey of willow -grouse that were feeding on the tiny fruit of a crab-apple tree. The -call was answered by a shyer note from one of the young birds, who -probably was being taught the scale. - -The summer had been one of exceptional dryness. For weeks there had been -no rain, and a blazing hot sun had poured its fiery rays from a -cloudless sky. The heavy mountain dews could not penetrate the close -standing timber, and the carpet of needles and moss became dry as -tinder. A pall of smoke, from fires raging on the Coast, hung over lake -and mountain. - -For Wilkinson and his men these were anxious days. They covered the -section between the mill and Squamish twice a day; scanning the -hillsides and valleys, ever watchful, ever on the alert; pleading and -exhorting the settlers and loggers to greater vigilance, and all the -while praying fervently for rain. - -Donald had posted a notice that any employee found smoking in the woods -would be immediately dismissed. Logging creates a vast amount of débris, -or “slash,” as it is known to the men of the woods. With the assistance -of the Forestry men, Donald’s crew had piled enormous heaps of slash on -the hillside, awaiting a favourable opportunity to burn. These menacing -piles of brush, extending along the main road for a quarter of a mile, -were a constant source of danger. Every precaution, therefore, was -taken. The spaces between the mounds of brush were raked clean, the road -was patrolled day and night, and pails filled with water were placed at -regular intervals. Special notices stating the great danger of fire, and -warning not to smoke in this area, were posted conspicuously on tree and -stump. - -The mill at Cheakamus had closed. Sparks from the donkey engines had -threatened the extinction of both plant and timber. - -Donald with Wilkinson stood surveying the piles of dangerous waste. “If -a fire starts and we can get to it at once, we will be all O.K.” said -Wilkinson, “but if it ever gets away from us here,” pointing down the -road, “no human agency can stop it.” - -They made the rounds of the patrol to satisfy themselves that the -watchmen were attending to their duties. Leaving the main road, they -scrambled through the tangled masses of tree-tops to ascertain how far -distant the slash had been removed from the standing timber. Suddenly a -tiny wisp of smoke was seen to drift from behind a fir tree at the edge -of the clearing. Without comment, both men broke into a run. - -Aroused by the crashing footsteps, a young man, who had been lying -stretched lazily on the soft moss, came quickly to his feet, a cigarette -held in his fingers. His companion, also smoking, lay with his back -against the bole of a tree a few feet distant. Fishing-rods, creeks, -landing-nets and the remains of a lunch lay scattered on the ground. - -“Don’t you know better than to smoke here?” blazed Wilkinson. - -The fisherman brazenly replaced the cigarette between his lips. -Wilkinson’s arm shot forward like a flash to pluck the offending weed -from the mouth of the astonished youth. “I wish we had a law to prevent -smoking in the woods. I would take great pleasure in arresting you,” he -growled savagely as he pinched the fire from the cigarette and ground it -under his heel. - -Unnoticed by the Forest Ranger, the second man removed his cigarette -furtively and with a flirt of his hand threw it behind him as he rose to -his feet. - -“You are too damned officious! You have no authority to prevent us -smoking,” he said angrily, as with clenched fists he advanced -belligerently. - -Wilkinson was near the breaking point. The weeks of worry, the long -hours of arduous toil, and the lack of sleep had frayed his nerves. -“Damn you!” he flared, “if it’s a fight you want——” He broke off -suddenly, his eyes wide and staring. “My God! look!” he shouted. A flare -of flame shot from the spot where the cigarette had fallen. A breeze -rustled through the trees to fan the flame to a drumming roar as a pile -of slash caught fire. The Red Terror was loosed. - -“The alarm!” cried Wilkinson. - -“Fire!” shouted Donald as he stumbled to the road. - -“Fire!” repeated the nearest patrolman. - -“Fire!” rang the cry down the line until the call reached the mill, and -every whistle was loosed in a screaming bedlam of sound to blanch the -cheeks of these hardy men, who knew the awful terror of this -devastating, devouring, fiery scourge that blasts the wilderness with -smoke and ashes and takes its toll of both man and beast. Men dropped -their tools and ran to answer the call. - -The trapper’s dugout shot swiftly across the lake. - -Connie lay reading in the shade of her cabin. She came to her feet at -the whistle’s first call for help. A moment later, seated astride her -cayuse, she was galloping down the hill. - -Every man, regardless of position, answers the call to fight fire. When -a forest fire is raging the forest ranger is an absolute sovereign. He -can call the lawyer from his desk or the labourer from the ditch, but -seldom does he need to exercise this power, as every good citizen is -willing to help stay the deadly scourge. Meanwhile the fire was leaping -from heap to heap of the powder-like slash to cross the road and sweep -up the hill with incredible speed. With a throbbing roar it hissed to -the tree-tops and rushed up the mountain. Stifling smoke enveloped the -fire-fighters. Showers of burning bark pelted them from above. - -“To the mill!” Wilkinson shouted; “we can do nothing here.” - -The men at the mill filed silently to their stations, and the big hoses -poured torrents of water on roof and wall. Big jets curved up the hill -to drench the dry, hot earth. - -In short, quick sentences Wilkinson outlined his plans. - -“We will try to stop it on the north at the river, on the south with -fire-breaks, and at the track on the east by back-firing. On the west we -have to let the fire take its course until it burns itself out on the -cliff above.” His voice rose in sharp command as he sent the men to -their posts. Donald with twenty men under him was set to work digging a -fire-break on the south side. A “fire-break” is made by spading up the -leaf-mould and humus down to the mineral soil and raking all inflammable -material back from each side. - -The fire was advancing rapidly and the heat was terrific. Choking and -gasping in the stinging resinous smoke, the men strove in frenzy of -haste to complete the fire-break before the flames should reach them. - -A deer with a fawn at her heels came bounding in terror through the -screen of smoke. Grouse and song-birds made a common escape from a -common enemy feared by all. Rabbits, wild-eyed, scuttled in fear; -squirrels and chipmunks joined in the hurried flight. Many of these -smaller birds and animals would be flanked and lost. - -Connie, proud that she could be of assistance, dashed back and forth -carrying messages for Wilkinson to the different fronts. - -From up the mountain-side came a drumming roar and the rending crash of -trees as the fire undermined their roots. Sparks from burning tree-tops -crossed the fire-break and started other fires. To combat these, water -had to be carried up the steep hillside in pails. Andy was among those -delegated to this arduous task. For hours he staggered from stream to -hill and back again with a brimming pail in either hand. Scorched by sun -and fire, the perspiration streaming down his face and stinging his -eyes, the little hero stuck gamely to his task. - -“I ’ired on this ’ere job as a cook,” he grumbled, “not as a blinkin’ -water-spout. Strike me pink, if the water I’ve carried to-day was -sprinkled in ’ell the devil’d be out of a job. Oh, well,” he added -resignedly as he filled his pails and turned to again ascend the hill, -“as Methusalem said, ‘Every little bit ’elps!’ These two buckets myke -exactly four million, two ’undred and six gallons that I’ve carried this -d’y.” At this instant his foot caught in a root to send him sprawling on -his face rolling down the mossy hillside, the pails clattering after. He -lay where he had fallen, flat on his back, with arms outstretched. -“There,” he soliloquized, “_that_ was the wisp of straw that broke the -elephant’s back. To ’ell with the fire. Let the blighter burn.” - -Wilkinson came wearily down the hill. His face was blackened and -blistered, his hat gone, and his shirt a network from holes burned -through the cloth by flying sparks. He sprawled on all fours by the -stream, drank sparingly, then plunged his face in the cooling waters. - -“’Ello, Wilkie!” shouted Andy, “’ow would you like to ’ave a cold bottle -of beer?” - -Wilkinson seized a stone threateningly and glared at his tormentor. “Men -have been killed for less,” he growled huskily. - -“I s’y, Wilkie,” grinned Andy, “these Forestry jobs are a snap. Do you -’ave the nerve to collect a salary?” - -The district ranger was too tired for speech. His swollen face puckered -in a smile and he passed on up the hill, and Andy came stiffly to his -feet and resumed his never-ending task. - -Connie brought reports that the fire was being held on the north and -east. The fire-break on the south held, but spot-fires were kept in -check only by the almost superhuman efforts of the fire-fighters. - -Forest fires reach the peak of their intensity while the sun is hottest. -With darkness the wind subsides, and, especially in the mountains the -heavy dews are a never-failing help. - -The sun, showing blood-red through the smoke, now sank behind the hills -and a blessed coolness filled the air. The fire smouldered along the -fire-breaks, but the dreaded sparks were not flying. The trembling roar -diminished to a steady crackling where fallen trees were being steadily -consumed. - -The fire-fighters, their shoulders drooping, and wavering from sheer -weakness, plodded down the hill for well-earned food and rest. - -“You’ll have to be at it again at daylight,” said Wilkinson grimly. They -nodded a tired assent. Wilkinson and Donald with twelve men patrolled -the fire area throughout the night. - -The next morning broke sullenly in a dull haze. As the first streaks of -light heralded the coming of the new day, the fire-fighters again took -up their posts. Men from the other mill arrived, and another day of -battle with the fire demon was begun. An attempt was made to check it on -the west front, high up the mountain-side, where the fire had crept -through in the night to a small level plateau. At ten o’clock the wind -came suddenly, and with it the fire broke through on the south-west -corner with a deafening roar and rushed through a stand of dead trees -with ever-increasing speed. - -Donald shouted a quick cry of warning to the men who were in danger of -being cut off by this break. They came on the double quick, just in -time, as a lurid wall of flame shot up the hill over the path they had -traversed. - -“Are the men all out?” questioned Donald. - -“Andy isn’t here!” said one of the men excitedly. - -Donald seized the speaker’s arm. “Was Andy with you?” - -The man nodded. - -Donald’s face set in grim lines. Whirling quickly, he ran straight -toward the line of fire. With a bound Connie was on her horse and after -him at a swift trot. As he neared the screen of smoke, Pegasus changed -his gait to that of a mad runaway, and with the small rider lying prone -on his bare back disappeared from view. - -At this spot the fire had spent its fury in the first mad rush, but a -heavy smoke welled up from the charred ground. Terror possessed the -horse, but the calm voice of his mistress urged him on. Crimson embers -showered about her. Scorching heat fanned her face as if the doors of a -blast furnace had been opened. A blazing branch fell with a rushing -sound, barely missing the horse’s head. Sharp reports from the tree-tops -made the plucky cayuse shy in a panic of fear. - -Filled with apprehension, the crowd of fire-fighters stared with tense -anxiety into the drifting smoke. Then a glad cheer burst from them as -horse and rider emerged: Andy clinging to Connie’s stirrup, and Donald -swaying drunkenly in the rear. Ready hands held water to Andy’s parched -lips and bathed his hot face as he lay panting on the ground. He sat up -with an effort and looked about him. “Where’s Connie?” he asked. But -Connie had stolen quietly from the scene. - -By mid-afternoon the main body of the fire was apparently under control, -but the persistent spot-fires kept the entire crew engaged. A huge -cottonwood, standing just within the fire-breaks, was the chief -offender. Sparks from its lofty blazing top were floated by the breeze -to land on the dry ground, starting innumerable fires. - -“That tree will have to come down or we will be fighting spot-fires -indefinitely,” said Wilkinson. - -Silence fell. Everyone of those lumber-jacks knew the danger attached to -the falling of a rotten, blazing tree. In sound timber the skilled -“faller” can cut the scarf and drive the falling-wedge to lay the tree -within six inches of the desired spot. With a hollow tree the task is -much more difficult, as in the soft, decayed pulp the wedge may not -provide sufficient leverage to swing the enormous weight, and the tree -may crash from any angle. - -Men working at the butt of a burning tree, too, are exposed to the fall -of branches. Even a small bough, hurtling from the dizzy height of -lordly cottonwood or fir, will break a man’s limbs. - -Wilkinson picked up a falling saw. “Who will go with me?” he called. - -Gillis stepped forward with wedge and hammer. - -“Nothin’ doin’,” said little Blackie; “Wilkinson here has a wife and -kid, an’ Jack has brains enough to be our boss. Me and Hoop-la ain’t got -neither, we’re just a coupla roughnecks. Whadda you say, Hoop-la?” - -“Ye betcha,” came vigorously from Blackie’s pal. - -Two men were sent with them to assist in clearing a space at the foot of -the big snag. A few minutes later the twang of the cross-cut, mingled -with Blackie’s happy song, sounded above the crackling of the fire. - -Wilkinson pointed to the southern sky, where heavy nimbus clouds were -massing. “At last! The blessed rain is coming!” he cried in a voice of -thankfulness. - -A stronger gust swept through the valley to send a surge of flame from -the giant cottonwood’s topmost branches. There was a sharp cry of -warning as a limb broke off with a splinter-crash and came roaring to -the ground, sending up a swirl of dust. A strangled cry of pain, -animal-like in its intensity, cut the air. - -“Blackie’s hit,” screamed Hoop-la. - -Blackie lay on his face, his clothing afire, pinned down by the -shattered limb. With a heave of powerful shoulders Hoop-la flung the -crushing weight aside, and his big hands quickly smothered the fire in -the clothing of his fallen comrade. Gently he raised the stricken man in -his arms and bore him beyond the range of fire. - -“Blackie! Oh, Blackie! are you all right?” he questioned fearfully as he -looked down at the quiet face that held the grey pallor of death. - -“Call the doctor and bring a stretcher,” sharply ordered Wilkinson. - -Men hurried to do his bidding. When the stretcher bearers leaned to lift -the inanimate body, Hoop-la fiercely interfered. “Let him alone,” he -said savagely. Stooping, he picked up the light form and bore it down -the hill to their bed in the rough log shack. Donald forced a few drops -of brandy through the dying man’s colourless lips. Blackie stirred -feebly. His eyes flickered open and he smiled as he recognized Hoop-la. - -“Give me your hand,” he whispered faintly; “I’m runnin’ my last -high-lead, old pal. I guess God’ll be good to us roughnecks.” He gasped -painfully. The irregular breathing ceased; his eyes became fixed and -glassy; his jaw sagged. - -Hoop-la sat motionless, the hand of his dead friend held in his warm -clasp. Slowly his head dropped forward and his big frame shook with dry -racking sobs. Doctor Paul came in hurriedly. In answer to the look of -interrogation in Donald’s eyes, he shook his head sadly. - -Donald and Wilkinson tiptoed softly to the door. They were unashamed of -the tears that made furrows down their blackened cheeks. Sick at heart, -utterly overcome by this tragedy, Wilkinson sank dejectedly to a seat -outside the cabin door and covered his face with his hands. - -There came a sudden patter of raindrops that drummed on the roof of the -cabin. Wilkinson stood erect with arms stretched wide. “Rain!” he cried. -“The merciful rain! Thank heaven!” He stood with face upturned for an -interval, enjoying the pelting downpour, then turned to look in the -cabin door, a deep and brooding sadness in his bloodshot eyes. - -“Donald,” he said gently, “the newspaper account of this fire will -mention the fact that ‘a logger was killed.’ A logger!—yes—men like -Blackie are the backbone of this country, the salt of the earth. Will -people ever learn?” he continued, in a voice vibrant with deep emotion. -He pointed to the barkless skeletons of trees blackened and charred and -branchless save for the gibbet-like limbs stuck out from the naked -trunks. “Think of it! All this—the sniffing out of a valuable life—a -verdant hillside changed to a charnel-house of dead trees and blackened -stumps on bare rocks—the loss of thousands of dollars worth of valuable -timber—all this caused by the careless dropping of a lighted -cigarette!” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - -Donald’s announcement that Labour Day would be celebrated at the Lake -was received with good-natured approval by the men of the camp, who -spoke of the coming event as the “dry” holiday. The rain, which had -brought such blessed relief to the hearts of the guardians of the -forest, had cleansed the air of the last vestige of haze that had -overhung the valley for the past month. - -The morning of the holiday dawned auspiciously. The hot days of August -had given place to the mellow sunshine of Indian summer. Through the -crystal clear atmosphere the mountains seemed much nearer, standing out -sharply against the blue sky. Near the top there had been a fresh fall -of snow that had covered the bare ice of the glaciers like a white -mantle. The brilliant rays of the September sun were reflected from this -virgin covering with a brilliancy that was dazzling to the eye. - -Janet arrived for the occasion, bringing with her a score of her -friends. All through the previous day the trail from the north had -brought strings of cayuses from the Indian Reserve, their dusky riders -gaily bedecked in holiday attire. “_Klahowya, tillicum!_” they shouted, -their coffee-coloured faces lighting up with a grin that betokened a -gala day spirit. Their tents dotted the lake-shore, their camp fires -glowing cheerfully throughout the night. - -The sports committee had arranged a varied list of events. A rowing race -between the two camps; a sack race, free for all; a baseball game -between the whites and the Indians; a sawing race in which two “buckers” -from each camp would participate; a hundred-yard dash; a log-rolling -contest between a man from the State of Maine and a citizen of New -Brunswick. But these were mere preliminaries to the real event of the -day, the much advertised horse-race. The men from the other camps, -arrayed in their “Sunday clothes” made their appearance early in the -day. - -Each camp brought its quota of sandwiches and cakes, but the brunt of -the work fell on Andy and his assistants, who piled tier upon tier of -sandwiches on the long tables under the willows by the lake-shore. The -lemonade was in half-barrels at each end of the tables, with a “help -yourself” sign attached. - -Old Klootchmen, with stolid, sombre faces, etched deep with -cross-hatching of wrinkles, walked through the throng laden with baskets -they were trying to sell. “Mika tika basket,” quavered their aged voices -as they held forth their wares. - -About eleven o’clock Mr. Wainwright appeared alone. - -“Where’s Connie?” asked Donald. - -“As you are aware, Mr. McLean, Connie is very shy. I could not induce -her to accompany me.” - -“That will never do,” said Donald quickly. “I am going after her.” - -“I am afraid that your trip will avail you nothing,” smiled Wainwright -in his absent-minded way. - -Donald borrowed a cayuse and set off up the trail. He hitched the horse -at the edge of the clearing and proceeded on foot down the path, his -shoes making no sound on the soft dark earth. As he turned a clump of -alders and came in view of the cabin he stopped short, arrested by a -sight that evidently elicited his amused interest. - -Connie stood outside the door before a small mirror hung on the rough -log walls of the house. She was attempting to place her heavy hair in a -knob at the top of her head. A page cut from a magazine was tacked to a -log near the mirror. She studied the photograph carefully, then returned -to the attack with renewed vigour. But she could not get it to suit her. -She tried and tried, but the heavy shining coils would elude her slender -fingers and fall in a golden cascade over her slight shoulders. Her -efforts to reach a satisfactory result brought her to the verge of -tears. She stamped her little foot impetuously. At last she got it -arranged in a fair semblance to that of the envied actress. The effect -was so startling that Donald fairly gasped. The child of the moment -before was transformed, as if by a fairy’s wand, to a woman of wondrous -grace and beauty. - -Connie perked her head saucily, then half smiled to show her small -milk-white teeth; apparently she was pleased with the reflection she saw -in the glass. From the clothes-line she took a flour sack that had been -split open and washed to be used for drying dishes. Draping this from -her waist-line, she pinned it securely. Assuming a haughty pose, she -walked past the mirror with a sinuous, undulating movement. The little -artist was so perfect in her mimicry that Donald’s lips involuntarily -formed the word “Janet.” Twice she passed before the tiny mirror with a -regal step, her head turning with its characteristic bird-like motion to -catch the reflection. - -Gradually the queenly pose slipped from her. She stopped abruptly, -throwing out her arms with a forlorn gesture. Her golden head fell -forward. Two big tears welled from her blue eyes and ran down the small -freckled nose. Her small hands plucked convulsively at her faded blue -overalls. A sob like a stab [of] pain shook her slender body. One arm -came up slowly to cover her tear-wet face as she threw herself face -forward on the grass. Her slender shoulders were shaking with such an -agony of weeping that Donald’s throat felt constricted and his eyes grew -suddenly dim. - -Her spotted cayuse, grazing nearby, raised his head at the sound of -Connie’s hysterical sobbing and moved to the small figure of his -mistress. With ears bent forward and a look of bewilderment in his soft -eyes, he nuzzled her neck with his velvety nose. The sobbing continued, -but her brown hand came up to pat his head lovingly. - -Donald tiptoed softly back to the trail. He stood for some time with his -hand on the saddle, his head bowed in deep thought. “Poor little kid,” -he said gently, then whistling a lively tune, he slowly retraced his -steps to the cabin. He entered the clearing just in time to see Connie -as she disappeared in the timber across the field. He did not want her -to know that he was aware of her flight, so he knocked loudly on the -door and shouted her name. A raven croaked derisively from the top of a -dead tree. The pony raised his head to eye him silently. Connie’s pet -deer came around the corner of the barn, a look of gentle questioning in -her beautiful big eyes. - -Donald rode slowly back to camp. Connie’s distress had touched his -heart; her heart-breaking sobs were still ringing in his ears. “It is -not that Wainwright does not love his daughter,” mused Donald. “It must -be that he is very poor. - -“Don’t see how I can help,” his thoughts ran on. “One can’t very well -suggest to a father that he buy clothes for his child.” - -Andy rang the lunch-bell, and there was a wild but good-natured scramble -for the tables. - -A long table had been arranged in the big dining-room for the officials -and Janet’s party to which Donald had invited Mr. Wainwright. - -“Did you find Connie?” queried Wainwright. - -“No,” lied Donald, “I couldn’t find her.” - -Janet’s friends were having a merry time. There was laughter, jesting -and gay repartee from all sides. Douglas was in his element, his quips -and brilliant sallies keeping the diners in a continual uproar. - -As Donald glanced around the big table at the laughing faces of the gay -party, he tried to visualize Connie dressed as one of these -fashionably-clad girls who represented Vancouver’s “younger set.” The -vision he conjured caused him to smile dreamily. - -Janet had manœuvred to secure a seat beside Donald. In spite of all her -artful contriving, she had been unable to have more than a few words -with her father’s busy general superintendent since her arrival. She -noticed the dreamy smile on his face and wondered what could be the -cause. - -“You seem rather distraught,” she said with an arch smile, her dark eyes -fixed on his face. “Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” - -“Oh yes,” he replied absently. - -“You were gone for some time this morning,” she stated. - -“Yes,” he concurred, “I went up to bring Connie.” - -“Oh!” - -Janet’s fine eyebrows lifted slightly, and she looked at Donald with a -curious intentness. “Why didn’t she come?” - -“She wasn’t home.” - -Her woman’s intuition long ago had told her that the “wood-sprite”—as -Donald called Connie—was madly in love with him. As she looked at him -now and noticed his pre-occupied air, a pang of jealousy shot through -her heart like an arrow. Was it possible that he had begun to realise -that the wild girl of the woods was not a child, and that a love for her -had been kindled in his heart? The thought made her feel faint and she -tried to put it from her mind. - -Lunch was finished now and they were walking back to the lake. Douglas -invited the party to take a trip around the lake in a motor-boat, to -which they assented gleefully. - -Janet hesitated as Donald turned away with Wainwright. “Aren’t you -coming, Mr. McLean?” she called. - -Donald turned and shook his head. “I may be needed here,” he said -briefly. - -Janet flushed to the roots of her dark hair and bit her lip in anger. -She was not used to being thwarted in her desires. - -Donald and Wainwright seated themselves on a bench under the willows and -lighted cigarettes. Donald was ill at ease. The sound of Connie’s tragic -sobbing was ringing in his ears. He could see her little figure writhing -on the ground in a tempest of grief that had torn at his heart-strings. -He sprang involuntarily to his feet and began pacing the ground with -quick, nervous strides. Wainwright glanced up at him interrogatively. - -“You seem worried,” he volunteered. - -“I am,” Donald admitted briefly. - -“Can I assist you in any way?” - -Donald was in a welter of indecision. How should he broach this delicate -subject? Although poor as the proverbial church-mouse, Connie’s father -had the pride of Lucifer. There was natural dignity in his bearing, a -certain aloofness in his manner, that in no way interfered with his -unfailing courtesy, but had always precluded exchange of intimacies. He -had resided in this wilderness for many years, but none could say that -they had any more knowledge of his affairs at this moment than on the -day of his arrival. - -Donald decided to take the plunge. He sat down on the bench beside -Connie’s father and related the scene he had witnessed that morning—of -Connie’s preening before the mirror with the magazine page pinned to the -logs; of the struggle with her hair; of the flour sack, and of the -piteous sobbing of the heart-broken child. - -Wainwright’s face flushed painfully. There was a look of poignant -suffering in his grave eyes. Of all the races in the world, the -English—especially of the better class—fight most stoically to hide -their distress. - -Wainwright leaned forward, his throat working convulsively as he -struggled to regain composure. - -“I hope you do not consider me presumptuous,” said Donald, a note of -anxiety in his tone. - -Wainwright’s hand reached forth to clasp Donald’s firmly. “No, I do not -doubt your sincerity. An inordinate sense of pride has kept me in my -present circumstances. This circumstance you have related has brought me -to a realization that it is a selfish pride, as it has denied Connie the -privileges to which she is entitled. There is nothing I can say,” he -went on in bitter self-condemnation, “that can even partially condone or -palliate my stupidity. I should have known that she would require proper -clothing now that she is grown up. As a matter of fact”—he paused, his -distress acute—“my finances are at a very low ebb.” - -“How old is Connie?” asked Donald, hoping to relieve Wainwright’s -embarrassment. - -“Nineteen.” - -Donald’s head came up with a jerk. “What!” he almost shouted. - -“She is nineteen,” Wainwright reiterated, a peculiar expression in his -eyes as he noticed Donald’s bewilderment. - -“Nineteen!” Donald re-echoed, a bemused look on his face. “Great Scot! -This is a surprise. I thought of Connie as being not more than fourteen -or fifteen.” - -“Connie’s healthful outdoor life has tended to keep her young, and her -mode of dressing enchances the youthful effect,” said her father as he -sat down wearily, a far-away look in his eyes. “Her mother,” he went on -softly, a tremor in his voice, “was just like her; at the age of -twenty-five she looked almost a child.” He turned to Donald. “No doubt -you have wondered why I buried myself in this wilderness?” - -Donald nodded. At this moment they were interrupted by members of the -Sports Committee, who wanted Donald’s advice on a matter pertaining to -the afternoon’s programme. - -It was evident to Donald as he withdrew that Wainwright had been about -to disclose his past history, a history which had been locked in his -heart these many years. - -At three o’clock the crowd began drifting toward the race-course. The -centre of the valley had been cleared of under-brush, and the long grass -burned under the watchful eye of the fire-ranger. A small creek and a -few swampy places had been “corduroyed” with cedar poles and then -covered with soil. A judges’ stand, with a few hastily erected seats for -Janet’s party, stood near the finishing point. The horse-race, as has -been said, was to be the feature event of the day. The crowd surged -happily from the lake-shore to line up in orderly ranks about the oval. - -The brilliant and diversified colours of the Klootchmen’s skirts and -head-gear showed in bright contrast to the drab wearing apparel of the -white men. The Siwash Indians were dressed in nondescript clothing as to -trousers and coat, but one and all wore side-brimmed cowboy hats and -displayed silk handkerchiefs of gorgeous hues, knotted at the throat to -drape their shoulders carelessly. - -Three husky farmers’ sons from Pemberton rode to the starting-line amid -hearty hand-clapping and shouting from their friends. A swarthy-skinned -rider, mounted on a spirited black cayuse, came prancing through the -crowd. He lifted his hat and smiled in acknowledgment of the plaudits of -the spectators. This was Joe Lafonte, the half-breed who had won first -prize at the Lillooet races for the past two seasons. - -The wise ones averred that Paul John, of the Indian contingent, would -give him a hard race. Paul John’s cayuse was young, but the previous -year he had run the half-breed’s horse a close second. Money was being -placed on all sides, particularly by the Indians, who are inveterate -gamblers. Amid an excited babble in Chinook, nine Indian riders came -laughing and shouting, with much waving of hats, to prance about and -display their horsemanship before the admiring crowd. - -Donald, with Andy, Gillis and Wainwright, stood leaning over the edge of -the judges’ stand watching the animated scene below. - -At this moment there was an agitation at the far end of the oval, where -the crowd opened to admit a horse and rider that came tearing down the -course like the wind. - -“Look!” Donald shouted excitedly as he seized Wainwright’s arm. “It’s -Connie!” - -Down the course, riding like a spirit of the woods, came the girl, her -golden hair blowing about her face, sitting astride her mettlesome horse -and riding as if the wilderness belonged to her alone. - -Pegasus was not used to crowds. With arched neck and quivering flanks he -reared on his hindlegs to poise an instant, then leaped forward like a -rabbit. Connie sat on the bare back of her adored cayuse as though a -part of the animal, her slender body moving in gentle undulations in -perfect co-ordination with the movements of the horse. She was hard set -to keep from running over the other riders, who sat with mouths agape. - -Connie was unknown to the greater part of the crowd. To them this -child-like equestrienne, with her mass of shining hair, appeared as an -apparition. Her firm little hands soon checked her turbulent mount, who -stood trembling with nervousness. The crowd gave her a rousing welcome -as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment. - -“Who is she? Where does she come from?” they shouted. - -Connie kept her eyes fixed on the ground. She was outwardly calm and -serene; inwardly she was as nervous as her fretting cayuse, and did not -dare raise her flushed face to meet the battery of eyes around her. - -Donald turned to Wainwright. “Are you going to let her run? Is it safe -for her to enter a race with all those men?” - -“I couldn’t stop her now, and besides,” he added with a touch of pride, -“she can hold her own with any of them.” - -The old trapper made his way to Donald’s side. His leathery old face, -with its multitudinous wrinkles, wore a perturbed expression. “That -feller Lafonte is cultus. He’s full of dirty tricks; ’tain’t safe for -Connie to ride.” - -Donald turned anxiously to Wainwright. - -Connie’s father shook his head. “I am afraid it is too late now.” Then -in a lower voice he added: “You must know the reason for her entering -this race.” - -Donald looked puzzled for an instant. Suddenly it dawned on him. “The -purse?” - -Wainwright nodded. “It would break her heart if I forbade her to ride, -now that she has gone this far. She must have decided suddenly, as she -never mentioned it to me.” - -The Rennie Company had put up a purse of two hundred and fifty dollars. -There was to be a collection taken after the race to add to this purse. - -The horses trotted down the course. Connie’s was rearing and prancing, -and it was with difficulty that she managed to get him to join the -others. She leaned forward to whisper words of quieting in his twitching -ears. Down the course they came. They were in nice alignment as they -passed the judges’ stand. - -“Go!” - -Connie on her spotted cayuse showed as a bright splash of colour in the -midst of her darker competitors. - -Lafonte’s dark face lighted with a savage gleam as he swung his horse to -the inside or “pole.” - -Running neck and neck with him was his hated rival, Paul John, leaning -low on his horse’s neck and shouting unintelligibly in Chinook. Connie -was with the stragglers five lengths in the rear. This was new to -Pegasus, and he was bewildered by the crowding horses about him. As they -turned the corner of the course, Lafonte’s horse stumbled, and before he -righted Paul John had slipped into the lead. Cursing wildly, Lafonte -settled himself in the saddle, his horse’s head at the flank of his -rival. - -Hundreds of times Pegasus had travelled this field with Connie clinging -to his back, slowing up for shrubs and trees and making sudden bursts of -speed in the open. That had been vastly different to being surrounded by -running horses and listening to the wild cries of their riders and the -roaring of the excited crowd. - -At the moment Lafonte lost the point of vantage to his rival, Connie -leaned forward and emitted a peculiar clucking sound, at the same time -striking her moccasined feet into the horse’s sides. Pegasus’s ears -twitched back at the sound of the voice he loved. “Now I know what you -want,” he seemed to say, as his beautiful neck stretched out and his -hoofs spurned the ground. His graceful body lowered until it appeared to -the spectators as though he were just skimming the earth. He moved with -a springy stride, the muscles of his sinewy frame working with a sliding -movement beneath the glossy skin. Gradually he drew away from the horses -travelling with him. Foot by foot he crawled up on the leaders. - -The party in the judges’ stand came to their feet to shout approval. The -girls were cheering wildly for Connie as she crept nearer the front. - -Donald was leaning forward with flushed face, his eyes glued to the -spotted cayuse, a deep admiration in his heart for the intrepid little -rider. - -Little Andy jumped on the rail. “Strike me pink!” he yelled, “look at -that ’oss run!” His eyes were bright with excitement. “A ’undred dollars -on the spotted ’oss!” he shouted hysterically. - -“I’ll take you,” said a voice. - -“’Ere you are, mate; let’s make ’er two ’undred. I’m for me ’ome girl. -She saved me blinkin’ life, God bless ’er!” - -As they neared one of the corduroy bridges Connie was neck and neck with -Lafonte. The latter glanced up as Pegasus came opposite. The roar of the -crowd came dimly to Connie’s ears above the swish of air and the rumble -of hoofs as they struck the culvert. An evil look crossed the -half-breed’s face. He swung his horse sharply to the right. Connie’s -horse floundered. Struggling to right himself, he fell off the bridge -and landed with a dull thud on the soft ground below. The forward motion -of the cayuse had stopped so suddenly that Connie was thrown like a -projectile to a clump of bushes fifteen feet distant. - -For an instant the big crowd was paralyzed. Then there went up a great -groan of horror. The old trapper came to his feet, his eyes flaming, a -hectic flush on his cheeks. Like a flash his hand flew to his -six-shooter, and the long-barrelled Colt was trained on Lafonte. As he -pulled the trigger Douglas struck his arm and the bullet sped harmlessly -over the horseman’s head. - -“My God!” - -The words whistled through the set teeth of big Jack Gillis. “Let me get -at him!” he cried hoarsely, as, pale of face, he struggled through the -crowd. He would have thrown himself in front of the oncoming rider if -strong hands had not clutched and held him. Connie’s father fell back a -step as if struck a sudden blow, his eyes wide and staring. Andy’s head -fell forward, and he groaned aloud. Janet covered her face with her -hands and sat down weakly. - -Donald leaned from the judges’ stand, his face pale as death. A vision -of Connie’s broken body came before his eyes. “Oh, God!” he cried aloud -in a voice vibrant with pain. He covered his eyes as though in dread of -looking at the spot where she had fallen. - -A shout came from the crowd—then a cheer that seemed to rock the hills. -“Look! look!” they shouted. - -Donald’s heart was beating tumultuously. Could he believe his eyes? -Connie was standing upright. She appeared to sway slightly; then, like a -flash, she was at her horse’s head. - -Trembling and snorting, Pegasus came to his feet. With a bound she was -on his back and seized the reins. Pegasus reared like a stag and was off -down the course at the tail end of the race. - -As Connie passed the judges’ stand she was well up with the tail-riders -and gaining steadily. Her face was pale and tense. A smear of red showed -on her arm, and a little stream of blood trickled down her forehead from -the wound invisible in the thickness of her hair. - -The crowd became suddenly quiet as Connie thundered past—a silent -tribute to her glorious pluck. But as she crept toward her original -position they roared their applause. Pegasus was showing an endurance -and speed that had never been equalled in all of that district. As they -turned to come down the home-stretch Connie was a good fifty yards -behind the leaders. Lafonte’s wiry cayuse was again in the lead by a few -feet. - -The shock and strain were beginning to tell on Connie. She leaned -forward and in a broken, trembling voice she cried: “Oh, Peggy! Win, -Peggy! Please! Please! I don’t want to lose! I’ve got to win! Go! Go!” -She was sobbing hysterically now, and her small hands were patting the -horse’s neck. - -Pegasus had never heard that tone of supplication in the sweet voice of -his mistress before. Nobly he responded to the call. She felt his body -lower under her as he set himself to the herculean task of overcoming -his rival’s enormous lead. - -Lafonte was using the whip. Paul John, hanging so persistently to his -flank, angered him. They thundered across the corduroy, and at the sound -of Pegasus’s hoofs on the cedar poles Lafonte turned to glance behind. A -look of astonishment crossed his face as he saw the golden-haired rider -so close. With a curse he struck his horse a brutal blow that caused the -animal to lose its stride momentarily and fall back in line with Paul -John. - -Slowly, but surely, Connie’s spotted cayuse was closing the gap between -himself and the two leaders, sweeping along at a terrific pace, his body -and limbs moving with the rhythmic grace of a thoroughbred. Connie was -leaning so low that the heavy white mane of her horse was brushing her -face. Her hair was streaming in the wind like fine-spun gold. The party -in the judges’ stand rushed to the railing, leaned anxiously forward to -get a glimpse of the running horses as they turned the corner, and -cheered lustily as the three riders thundered over the small bridge and -came toward the finishing line. Connie was at Lafonte’s flank now. - -Pegasus’s remarkable speed fanned the spectators’ excitement to a fever -heat. Andy had done so much shouting that his voice was reduced to a -whisper. Standing on the top rail, his arms waving, he was shouting -huskily, “Come on, Connie! Come on, Connie!” - -Donald’s dark eyes were glowing as he watched the slender figure -clinging to the flying horse’s bare back. “What a pity if she loses,” he -said under his breath. Leaping to the rail, he joined in the shouts of -encouragement to the straining Pegasus. - -With one hundred yards to go, Connie uttered one last appeal to her -flying steed. Above the drumming of hoofs the spectators heard her voice -ring in passionate entreaty. “Now, Peg! Now! Go! Go!” - -With nostrils distended, his breath coming in choking gasps, his eyes -bulging, and the voice of his adored mistress ringing in his ears, the -gallant animal with a burst of speed that made the onlookers marvel, -ranged himself alongside his labouring rivals. - -Ten yards from the finish—five yards—they were neck and neck. Then, -summoning his last ounce of strength, Pegasus leaped forward as though -he would annihilate time and distance. With eyes nearly blinded with -dirt, tears and the roaring air, Connie saw Pegasus hurl himself past -the winning post—a winner by half a length! - -The ear-splitting roar that went up from the race-mad crowd must have -caused the marmots on the slides near the distant glaciers to seek their -holes in terror. A flock of mallard ducks, which had floated peacefully -near the centre of the placid lake throughout the day’s commotion, rose -with frightened cries to seek a more secluded spot in which to finish -their afternoon’s siesta. - -The crowd had seemingly gone mad. The atmosphere pulsated with a wild -tumult of sound. Hats were thrown in air and throats were strained with -shouting. - -Donald found himself with his arms about Andy, dancing and cheering in a -frenzy of joy. - -Connie made no attempt to check her cayuse’s onward flight. She was in -no mood to listen to the kudos of the admiring crowd; she wanted only to -get away from the scene as quickly as possible. The movement toward the -centre gave her the opportunity she desired, and she urged the weary -cayuse through an opening on her left. Many hands were reached up to -congratulate her, but she pushed her way through to the trail. - -At the sound of hoof-beats behind her she turned to see Lafonte urging -his tired mount toward the Pemberton trail and looking back -apprehensively over his shoulder. - -Several men were running after him, shaking their fists and uttering -loud imprecations. A man leaped from behind a jack-pine to land in the -path in front of the half-breed, lunged for the reins, missed, then -caught the stirrup. Lafonte struck the man a blow with his heavy whip -that loosened his hold and felled him to the ground. - -Connie saw Gillis break from the crowd, jump to the saddle of a cayuse -and start after the fleeing man just as the latter disappeared in the -woods. Gillis waved his hand to her and vanished in pursuit. She urged -Pegasus to the shelter of the timber as she saw her father and Donald -running toward her. - -The strenuous race and the spectacular fall had left both horse and -rider in a badly shaken condition. Connie’s body was bruised and sore, -and her head ached horribly. The cayuse’s strained muscles were -stiffening, he was limping badly, and his head drooped wearily as he -dragged his tired limbs up the steep trail. - -At the barn door Connie dismounted stiffly, removed the horse’s bridle, -then threw her arms passionately around his neck and stroked his -symmetrical head with soft caresses. “I’m so sorry, Peggy darling,” she -said in a choking voice. - -The horse nipped her shoulder in a weak attempt at playfulness, as if to -signify that he quite understood. - -Connie’s eyes brightened at a sudden thought. “Peggy dear,” she -whispered softly as she nestled her cheek against his soft mane, “do you -know that I can have some nice clothes now? Lots and lots of nice -things. I am going to buy you a blanket—a nice thick one for -winter—and some ribbons for your mane. And you, Peggy”—with a flood of -tenderness in her voice—“you won all this for me.” - -She was crooning sweet nothings in his ear that only Pegasus could -understand when her father appeared, breathless from running, his face -grey and anxious. - -“Are you all right, Constance darling?” - -Connie stepped forward. She was pale and weak, but her colourless lips -tried to form a smile. - -“Yes, Daddy dear—I’m—all—ri——” Her voice trailed to a whisper and -the blue eyes closed as darkness fell upon her like a cloud. Swaying -uncertainly for an instant, she fell like a broken flower into her -father’s outstretched arms. For the first time in her life Connie had -fainted. She lay like a child in his trembling arms, her upturned face -wearing the pallor of death. - -With a prayer on his lips and an agony of fear in his heart, her father -carried her to the cabin and tenderly stretched the bruised little body -on the coarse blankets of her bunk. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - -At the race-course the crowd eddied excitedly about the judges’ stand, -or stood in groups talking of the wonderful performance of the spotted -cayuse that had made the erstwhile champion appear a mere tyro. - -Gillis came riding slowly from the woods and was hailed by questioning -shouts from a score of throats. - -“Did you get him?” - -A bloody handkerchief was wrapped around the big man’s hand, and a livid -welt showed on his forehead. He smiled grimly as he dismounted, “I got -the d——d skunk,” he answered savagely. - -He turned to a group of Indians. “You fellers’d better look out for him -when you go along; his eyesight’s kinda bad.” - -Donald came to the front of the judges’ stand and held up his hand for -silence. Gradually the hum of voices died away and the crowd turned to -face him. - -“As you know, we are to take up a collection to add to the Company’s -purse. The gentleman below,” pointing down at Andy, “will hold the hat. -We have witnessed an exhibition of matchless skill and pluck. Give as -you feel.” - -The crowd cheered lustily. Then, jostling each other good-naturedly like -a lot of school-boys, they formed in a long queue. - -Andy started the contribution by giving his whole roll of bills. Money -showered upon him until he was forced to call for another hat. - -“Fightin’” Jack came to Donald in great perturbation. “Say! Our gang’s -all stony broke. Can we sign a due-bill?” - -Donald called the time-keeper. - -“Make her out for twenty bucks for each of us,” said “Fightin’” Jack. - -Andy’s spirits soared as the pile rose higher. - -“God bless ’er little ’eart,” he murmured, “she can ’ave an ’ole -shipload of them blinkin’ camisole things.” - -An hour later, as Donald climbed the hill to deliver the prize, he met -Doctor Paul. - -“How is she, Doctor?” - -“She’s had a nasty shaking up, but there are no bones broken. She will -have to remain in bed for a week or so.” - -Wainwright saw Donald coming and stepped outside the door to meet him. -“She’s sleeping,” he said in a low tone. He looked questioningly at -Donald as the latter passed him the package of money. - -“The prize money,” Donald explained. - -Wainwright peeped at the contents and his face lit up with pleased -astonishment. “I understood that the purse was to be a small one!” - -When Donald told him of the collection, Wainwright’s face flushed hotly. -“Is that the custom?” he questioned sharply. - -Donald nodded. - -Wainwright paced nervously with hands clasped behind his back. “Pardon -my abrupt manner,” he said contritely, “I am a bit out of sorts to-day.” - -Every evening Donald called at the Wainwright home, bringing little -delicacies carefully prepared by Andy. Once he spoke to Connie from -outside the door, and her answering voice gave him an odd thrill. He -pondered over this as he made his way down the hill. He was struck by a -sudden thought. His face broke into a smile and he shrugged his -shoulders. “Nonsense,” he said aloud. - -Janet remained several days after her friends had returned to the city. -She had tried in vain to restore the familiar relations which formerly -existed between herself and Donald. His evening visits to the cabin on -the mountain deprived her of his company, and she, half-jestingly, -reproved him for his inattention to her. With spirits depressed and a -despondent look in her dark eyes, Janet returned to Vancouver. - -One evening Wainwright gave Donald a letter to post, addressed to a big -departmental store in Vancouver. A few days later there arrived numerous -bundles and boxes, including a big trunk. Donald with the assistance of -Gillis’s crew carried them up the hill. - -“I’ve brought your big trunk with the ‘bulgy top,’ Miss Wainwright,” he -called. - -Connie sat up in her bunk so quickly that her head bumped the boards -above. “Miss Wainwright” he had called her! Her eyes glowed in the dusky -half-light. “Thank you so much,” she replied. - -The next day Wainwright informed Donald that Connie was up and would see -him. - -“Just a minute, Dad,” she cried as she heard them approaching. - -Feverishly she rushed to the small mirror to glance at her reflection. -With nervous hands she fluffed the hair about her ears and smoothed -imaginary wrinkles from the collar of her dress. Then she sat down -gravely and arranged her skirts about her. - -“Come in,” she called. - -Donald followed Wainwright, his heart-beats peculiarly accelerated. For -an instant he could not distinguish objects in the dim interior. Then -his eyes rested on Connie, sitting demurely in the corner. She wore a -gingham dress of blue, with white collar and cuffs. A dark belt was -fastened snugly at her slender waist. Tiny high-heeled shoes peeped from -below the hem of her skirt. Her beautiful hair hung down her back in a -huge braid that fastened at the nape of her slim, round neck with a -narrow black bow. She rose and crossed the room to meet him, her high -heels making her lithe little body appear much taller. There was -something fragile about her beauty, some of the colour gone from her -cheeks, and just a hint of shadows under her eyes. - -Donald held out his hand. “Good evening, I’m glad to see that you are -better,” he said awkwardly. - -A slender, warm hand crept timidly into his, and his fingers closed on -it gently as on a flower. He stared down at her, thrilled by her -loveliness. She raised her eyes with their bewilderingly long lashes -slowly to his face. With a sudden leaping of his heart, Donald realized -that he was in love. - -They talked desultorily while Connie sat timidly on the edge of the -uncomfortable chair. She could not feel at ease in the high, narrow -shoes and the enveloping skirts. And as she essayed to cross the rough -floor with an assumed air of ease, her ankle turned and she would have -fallen had not Donald caught her in his arms. - -As he raised her to her feet she blushed furiously, and he fancied he -could feel the warm beating of her heart. With an embarrassed apology, -she slipped from him, crossed to the table and lighted a candle. And -presently he took his leave, Wainwright walking with him down the -darkening trail. - -Wainwright was in one of his brooding moods. For a few minutes he was -silent. As they neared the bluff he spoke. - -“After witnessing my daughter’s distress the morning of the race I am -afraid that you feel harshly toward me for allowing her to be placed in -such a humiliating position. You have been exceedingly kind to us; -therefore, I feel that I should relate the circumstances which have -placed me in my present position. As I told you that day, I have allowed -my pride to withhold from my daughter her inherited rights. I will be as -brief as possible. - -“My father, who took great pride in the family name, planned a political -career for me even from the day of my birth. By natural taste and -temperament I was quite unfitted for public life. I must have been a -great trial to him, as from early boyhood I evinced a great love for the -study of botany and ornithology. He would go into a red rage when he -found me in the garden studying flowers under a microscope or stalking -birds in the shrubbery. - -“At college I was not a success, either socially or in my class. Always -of a retiring nature, I did not enter social life or college sports, and -the course of study set for me by my father bored me extremely. - -“During my third year at college I met Connie’s mother. Until that time -no woman had entered my life, although my father had hinted his plans -for my marriage as soon as I had finished my course. - -“To me any flower shop, however small, acted as a magnet. One day I -stood gazing in the window of a tiny florist’s shop on the Strand. A -girl was kneeling among the flowers, and as she lifted her head our eyes -met. She was like a golden lily. Her hair was like Connie’s hair, and -the blue of her eyes was the blue of the pansies she held in her hand. -And her name was Constance.” - -He paused for an instant. - -“Her father, who had been a rector in a small parish in the south of -England, died just previous to our meeting, leaving his motherless child -without kith or kin. Lest I weary you I may say briefly that we were -married. My father would not even grant me an interview, but wrote to me -saying that marrying as I had done had barred me forever from his door. -I did not care. I was happy—completely, supremely happy. I sold a small -estate bequeathed to me by my mother, and we set out for British -Columbia. - -“Ah!” he breathed softly, “that voyage! We could not afford it, but we -travelled first-class—it was our honeymoon and we were young. We had -never been to sea before, and the novelty of it all wove a spell about -us. As we walked the deck we talked joyously of our wonderful future in -the mysterious Great West. - -“Our first year in Vancouver was one of blessed content. There is no -love that could be greater than ours. Clerical work was scarce, so I -took any job that offered. I would come home black with coal-dust or -white with lime, and my wife would cry out merrily as she threw herself -into my arms. We turned our hardships into jests.” - -A smile of infinite tenderness played about his eyes as memory recalled -the golden days with the woman he loved. - -“The next winter I was taken grievously ill. I lay helplessly on my back -while my tender wife tramped from house to house teaching painting and -music. Day after day through all kinds of weather she made her daily -rounds to keep us in the bare necessities of life, and pay the doctor’s -bills.” - -Wainwright’s voice sank and almost failed him for a moment. Recovering -himself, he resumed his story. - -“She would come home at night, tired and worn, to fall asleep in a chair -by my bedside, while I raved in a fever. She went without food to buy -dainties for me. She never lost her cheery smile—but it killed her! She -died giving birth to—to—Constance.” - -Tears rose to his eyes, and for a moment he covered them with his hand. -With a great effort he continued. - -“I became embittered, changed completely out of any semblance to my -former self. I cursed my father. I cursed the world. I would have -welcomed death, but as I looked down at the tiny mite by my dead wife’s -side, I knew that I must fight to live. - -“A short time after, I received from my father a letter in which he -asked my forgiveness. I was unfitted to make my own way in the world, -yet my father had turned me brutally away. My wife had died from -overwork and lack of food. I wrote to him in a black rage a letter that -must have scorched his soul. - -“For four years I eked out a miserable existence in the City. My health -broke down again, and my doctor warned me that I must get to a higher -altitude. I learned of this place, turned everything into cash, and came -here, bringing Connie with me. - -“My sole income has been derived from writing articles on Nature for the -newspapers and magazines. Several times my father has advertised in the -newspapers, asking me to return. I read of his death two weeks ago. For -Constance’s sake, I am going to start for England to-morrow.” - -Wainwright’s head drooped listlessly as he concluded his story. All -energy, all strength of bearing, seemed to have gone from him. The -bitter remembrances he had voiced had brought a look of mental anguish -to his face. He stood staring mutely before him. - -Donald’s heart ached for this man, whose great love for his wife was as -passionate at this moment as when she was living. “How he loved her!” he -thought. - -When Wainwright spoke again his voice was spiritless. “You are the first -person to whom I have spoken of my past; even Constance does not know.” -As he turned to leave Donald gripped his hand in silence, but with a -pressure eloquent of heart-felt sympathy. - -Andy had noticed Donald’s increasing interest in Connie and had wisely -refrained from accompanying him on his nightly visits. On this -particular night Donald came into the kitchen whistling a lively air, -his face wreathed in smiles. He slapped Andy heartily on the back as he -asked him for a lunch. His gaiety was so pronounced that Andy studied -him closely. - -“You look ’appy, Donnie,” he remarked. - -“I am, Andy; I’m the happiest man in the world.” - -He finished eating, then sat staring dreamily at the smoke of his -cigarette as it circled about his head. Andy discoursed lightly on -various subjects, but Donald did not seem to hear him. After he left -Andy heard him singing merrily in his cabin. - -“Strike me pink, but I do ’ope Donnie has waked up! What a pair, what a -pair!” he said to himself. - -In the morning Donald rode north on the gas-car to the scene of logging -operations near the upper lake. He left orders with the men to bring -Wainwright’s baggage to the station. What Connie’s absence would mean -was brought forcibly to him as he met the trapper leading Pegasus and -her pet deer down the trail to his cabin. - -Two hours later Connie and her father stood on the station platform. -Connie was dressed in an inexpensive blue suit, and wore a neat blue hat -with a jaunty feather. Her golden hair was piled high in loops and coils -that held a sheen of brightness like the shine of metal where the sun -touched it. She appeared mystified and confused as the time for the -train to pull out drew near. Andy, standing by her side, cursed softly -as he saw her looking toward the mill, a look of poignant disappointment -in her eyes. - -“Donald ’ad to go up the line, Connie; guess something ’as ’appened,” he -mumbled. - -At that moment Donald was heaping opprobrium on a recalcitrant gas-car -that had died on his hands. - -The conductor called “All aboard!” Connie turned to Andy. “Good-bye, -Andy,” she said sweetly, her eyes swimming with tears. - -Andy took her gloved hand. “Good-bye, Connie,” he returned, attempting a -brave smile. “When are you coming back?” - -“Maybe never.” She choked as she stumbled up the car steps. - -As the train started to move Connie came to the rear platform. A small, -pathetic figure she seemed to Andy as she strained her eyes toward the -north in a vain hope that she would see Donald. Andy stood in the centre -of the track waving his hat until the flutter of Connie’s little -handkerchief vanished around a curve. - -As the train roared through the cut, the last view of her loved valley -flashed before her eyes. Her face strangely white, she clung to the -brass rail and gazed with tearful eyes at the only home she had ever -known. - -As they passed the trapper’s cabin, the noise of the rushing train sent -Pegasus galloping madly about the pasture. With flying hoofs that tore -up the sod he circled around the field, then came to the fence and with -his beautiful head held high on the arched neck he looked with startled -eyes at the speeding train. - -With a gesture intensely eloquent, Connie flung out her arms. “Good-bye, -Peggy! Good-bye!” She found her way to a seat and covered her face with -her hands. - - * * * * * - -Donald flung himself from the gas-car before it had ceased moving. -“Train gone, Andy?” he shouted. - -Andy stood with arms folded. “Gone?” he yelled, “of course it’s gone. -Why in ’ell wasn’t you ’ere?” - -“I had to go up the line to look over some logs, and the car broke -down,” replied Donald bitterly. - -“Of course,” said Andy with withering sarcasm, “the timber couldn’t ’ave -waited another day.” - -“Andy,” asked Donald excitedly, ignoring the remark, “did Connie leave -you her address?” - -“Why the ’ell should she give me ’er address? ’Aven’t you ’er address?” -was Andy’s unaccommodating reply. - -“No, I haven’t, I know that they are going to England, and that is all.” - -Donald sat down dejectedly. - -Andy’s face softened. “Do you like Connie?” he queried. - -“Like her? I love her!” - -“In that case I don’t see ’ow she didn’t let you know where to find -’er,” puzzled Andy. - -“She doesn’t know that I care for her,” said Donald gloomily. - -Andy’s mouth opened. He seized Donald by the shoulder. “Do you mean to -tell me that you let that girl get away from you without letting ’er -know that you wanted ’er?” he demanded incredulously. “Strike me -’andsome,” blazed Andy, “of all the blinkin’ mutts in this ’ere -world—you—you——” Speech failed him for a moment. “You let that dear -little girl go away broken-’earted. . . .” - -“Andy,” interrupted Donald eagerly, “do you think Connie cares for me?” - -For a moment, as he looked into his friend’s face, Andy was tempted to -tell him of the scene after his fight with Hand. But the promise to -Connie sealed his lips. - -“’Ow the ’ell should I know?” he mumbled. “But,” he added with fine -sarcasm, “if bone was ten cents a cubic foot you’d be a -multi-millionaire, you blinkin’ pie-eyed nincompoop—you—you——” He -clapped a tragic hand to his brow. “You give me a ’eadache,” and -muttering to himself, he trudged up the hill. - -The next day Donald went to Vancouver. He scanned the registers in -hotels, inquired at docks and depots, but no trace of the Wainwrights -could he find. He walked the streets with a forlorn hope that he might -meet them. The hearts of many slender golden-haired girls were set -fluttering that day as a tall, handsome young man subjected them to -close scrutiny. - -Two days later he returned to the lake. That night he switched off the -light and sat by the open window looking out on a night of stars, with a -new moon making a ghostly light on the lake. An owl’s mournful hoot was -answered by the uncanny cry of a heron. The faint sighing sound of -streams in distant gorges became a haunting chorus to this duet. He -thought of Connie’s cabin up the mountain, now cold and dark. How he -would miss her! What an idiot he had been not to have known long ago -that he loved her. He knew now that he had loved her from the first. -Dear little Connie! - -Donald walked the floor until midnight. Once in bed, he tossed -restlessly until the early morning, then fell into a fitful sleep in -which he dreamed of a small, winsome face and big blue eyes surrounded -by a wealth of golden hair. - -September with its days of mellow sunshine passed. October brought heavy -hoar frosts that covered the earth with a robe of diamonds, and formed -ice in the small pools and marshes. Winter comes early in the mountains. -In mid-winter the valleys between the peaks of the Coast Range will have -five feet of snow when, a few hundred feet below, where the warm waters -of the Pacific lap the gentle slopes, the grass is green and there is -none of the chilly whiteness that mantles the towering hills above. - -There came a day in November when the air held a solemn stillness. The -firs and pines pointed straight to the sky without a quiver in their -branches. The brown earth seemed to say, “I am ready.” The cry of the -loon in it had a dreary sound, a note which seemed to say that winter -was coming. Squirrels working in the tops of big pines increased their -efforts. The cones, nipped off by their sharp teeth fell pattering to -the ground, to be garnered by these busy little workers and secreted in -their nests in hollow trees. The bear of the hillsides ate the frozen -berry or the pulp of rotten log to cleanse its stomach before starting -its long winter sleep in windfall or cave. Thus does Nature give to the -wild things of the forest an instinct unknown to man. - -The rush of wings sounded high in air as wild ducks passed in swift -flight on their yearly pilgrimage to the south. Occasionally a flock -would lower in gradually narrowing circles to land with a splash in the -restful waters of the lake, then to stretch tired wings, the while -bobbing their heads and quacking contentedly. Flocks of geese passed in -wedge-shaped formation, their honking coming faintly from a dizzy -height. A flock of Arctic swans, skimming so low that the crisp rustle -of their wings could be heard, landed in the centre of the lake with a -great commotion. There with their beautiful necks proudly arched they -floated like white ghosts throughout the night. The red and yellow -leaves, like gaudy curtains draped the deciduous trees. The wild -crab-apple and high-bush cranberry hung frozen on the naked branches. -The sun was surrounded by a ring and shone weakly through a misty haze. -The unmistakable breath of the north wind was in the air. - -Old John took his traps down from the loft and oiled them. A patch was -found needed on a worn moccasin, and new laces were inserted in his -snowshoes. “Winter’s comin’, ol’ timer, and we’re goin’ to have a heavy -fall of snow,” he mused to himself. For two days Nature gave warning, -then on the second night the storm came. - -A roaring wind came bellowing from the north, lashing the waters of the -lake to foam, tearing at Donald’s cabin with the strength of invisible -giant hands, and howling through the forest with shrieking wails. Gust -came upon gust with increasing strength, and in the short lulls could be -heard the swish of the sleety snow against the windows. - -The big trees creaked as they swayed in the gale, and with a loud groan, -as if in mortal pain, a huge forest monarch, as its roots gave way, fell -crushing down the smaller trees to smite the earth with a resounding -crash. - -The wind went down through the night, but the snow fell steadily. When -Donald opened his door next morning he looked out on a new world. The -wizardry of frost and snow had given the earth a blanket of white that -was eye-blinding in its brilliancy under the bright morning sun. The -keen frost had locked the lake tight under a coating of clear ice. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - -With a fond hope that he would receive word of the Wainwrights, Donald -eagerly awaited the coming of each mail; but after a month of -disappointment he became less sanguine, and threw himself desperately -into work in a vain attempt to allay his heartache. - -During the long winter the mill continued operations in spite of heavy -snows, the roads being kept open by the continual traffic. - -Janet came twice with gay parties to enjoy the ski-ing and snowshoeing. -She found that she loved Donald, and decided that any uncertainty as to -his past was as nothing when weighed against her need of him. Bitterly -she reproached herself for allowing her pride to estrange him from her, -and with all the arts of a beautiful and cultured woman she sought to -regain the power she once held over him. - -On one occasion, when Janet mentioned his “wood-sprite,” she saw a rapt -look in his eyes and caught her breath sharply. The very thought of -losing him stabbed her like a knife-thrust. - -With the coming of March a change came over the earth. Winter shivered -and reluctantly loosed his hold. Gentle showers and warm winds from the -south honeycombed the ice on the lake; snowdrifts faded away, and the -frost-bound soil gave forth earthy odours to replace the keen smell of -the snow. - -One morning a song-sparrow under Donald’s window sent out its sweet -“chip-chip-che-char-che-wiss-wiss,” and from the top of a swaying alder -a wren carolled his joy of living in full-throated tones that said that -spring was here. Stirred by the warmth and cleaving buds, the frogs came -from the mud, where they had lain dormant all winter, and with swelling -throats and bulging cheeks sent out their cheerful “k’tun, k’chunk.” - -Mists covered the lake, and in an open spot near the mouth of the creek -a flock of ducks disported themselves happily. The sun grew higher with -every dawn, gaining strength each day until its warming energy spread -the beauty of colour and fragrance over all. - -One afternoon, when the air pulsated with the song of birds, and -newly-opened buds burdened the atmosphere with perfume, Donald walked up -the hill to Wainwright’s cabin. - -Scores of birds, returned from their yearly pilgrimage to the south, -flitted about the deserted buildings, but there was no golden-haired -girl with a welcoming smile to greet them. Rivulets from the melting -snows had gouged channels in the once neatly kept plots of wild flowers, -and the roof of one of the smaller huts had fallen in. - -Donald pushed open the door of the main building and entered. The air -felt chill and dank. He experienced a quick depression of spirits, and -his heart ached as he surveyed the gloomy interior. He shivered as a -pack-rat scuttled across the floor and disappeared under Connie’s bunk. -With a heavy heart he returned to the bright sunshine, sat down, and -gave himself over to a period of melancholy retrospection. - -His mind went back to his first meeting with Connie, then on through the -many thrilling episodes of the summer. She belonged to high mountains, -to deep forest glades, to companionship with the birds, flowers and -trees of God’s wild outdoors. She would never be content with the bad -air and the cramped conventions of cities. He suddenly remembered the -words she had used that day by the stream near her nest in the cedars. -He seemed to hear her sweet, hesitating voice with its pleasant English -accent. - -“And,” she had said, “six months out of every year I’d come right here -and live in these mountains.” - -“She’ll come back,” he said aloud. The thought cheered him. “She’ll come -back,” he repeated to Andy that night. - -“I ’ope so, Donnie.” - -A week later, Robert Rennie, accompanied by his daughter, arrived at -Summit Lake. The owner was in high spirits. “I am pleased with the -excellent work you are doing here,” he said, as he placed a hand in -friendly fashion on Donald’s arm. “The mill is a success—a huge -success—and I know who deserves the greater share of the credit!” He -smiled up at Donald. “Next week,” he went on, “an event of importance to -the lumber industry takes place. The Government is to entertain a party -of Eastern lumbermen. I will admit that I was proud when the chief -forester called at my office to tell me that this mill had been selected -as the most modern and efficient in the Province, and requested -permission to bring the Government’s guests here. - -“They are to stay here a few days, but you will not be inconvenienced, -as the train will be equipped with dining and sleeping-cars, loaned for -the occasion by the C.P.R. I will come with them, but I am leaving it to -you to arrange for their entertainment and to see that everything is in -tip-top shape for their arrival.” - -As Robert Rennie was leaving the next morning he turned to Donald. “By -the way,” he said casually, “I have decided to add a yearly bonus to -your salary, based on the profits of this mill. I have made it -retroactive from the time you took charge.” Before Donald had time to -express his thanks his employer swung aboard the train. - -Expressing a desire to be at the lake on the arrival of the excursion, -Janet remained. - -On the day set for the visit of the Eastern capitalists the sun rose in -radiant promise of a typical June day. The leaves were now fully -matured, and the willows and maples rustled under the soft, warm winds. -All the valley was clothed in a verdant, quivering, gently pulsating -life. - -The long train drew slowly into the depot. Its occupants poured out -until the small platform was filled to overcrowding. Robert Rennie, -accompanied by a slender man dressed in a tweed suit and cap, pushed his -way through the crowd to Donald’s side. - -Donald greeted his employer, then glanced casually at Mr. Rennie’s -companion. His eyes widened. “Mr. Wainwright!” he gasped. - -Wainwright laughed happily as he wrung Donald’s hand. - -“Is—is Con—Miss Wainwright with you?” stuttered Donald. - -Then he saw her. - -Connie had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. She stood quietly on -the steps for a moment, then slipped gracefully to the platform, Connie -herself could not have imagined how changed she was. From coiffure to -dainty French heels she was dressed as if fresh from the hands of an -expert Parisian costumer. So dazzling was she that she positively took -Donald’s breath away. It seemed to him that she had grown like a magic -rose, all at once from a tiny bud to a full blossom. No fault could be -found with the perfect oval of her face, or with the delicate white rose -skin, from which every trace of tan had gone. The long lashes that -fringed her big blue eyes had turned a shade darker than the curling -waves of her abundant golden hair. - -Andy, whose small form had been hidden in the rear, moved bashfully -forward, fumbling the wide hat held in his hand. “’Ello, Connie,” he -blurted, his lips parted in a wide smile of welcome. - -Instantly Connie forgot her assumed dignity and became her warm, -impulsive little self. With a glad cry she flung her arms about Andy’s -neck and kissed him. - -“Strike me pink!” breathed Andy, as his hand stole up to touch the spot -where Connie’s lips had brushed his cheek. - -Connie turned to face the lake. “Oh, Dad!” she cried in ecstasy, “isn’t -it good to be back here again?” She stretched her arms toward the -ice-clad peaks. A gentle breeze swept down the wooded slope to fan her -face as though in welcome. The blood surged beneath her smooth white -skin and went singing through every vein. “Ah!” she sighed happily, as -she inhaled a deep breath of air laden with the odour of pine from the -hills she loved. Donald, gazing at her hungrily, saw tears brimming -under her long lashes. - -From the far end of the train a tall, grey-haired man assisted a slender -sweet-faced woman to the ground, and then walked towards the station. As -they stepped to the platform the woman’s eyes rested on Donald, who -stood with his back to her. Instantly she became rooted to the spot, -eyes wide, one hand fluttering toward her heart. With the supreme, -wondrous mother-love shining in her eyes, she held out her arms. - -“Donald!” she cried passionately, “Donald!” - -Donald whirled at the sound of the loved voice calling his name. His -heart throbbed wildly, his throat felt constricted and his face paled -under stress of strong emotion. - -“Mother!” - -His arms were around his mother, yearning, tender, hungry, after these -long months of separation. Her face upturned to his was white and drawn, -but her eyes shone with hallowed joy. He felt his hand gripped in his -father’s strong fingers, and saw his eyes shining with tears. John -McLean patted his boy’s dark head with a shaking hand. - -“Donnie! My boy, Donnie!” - -For some time Donald was oblivious to all save the great happiness of -meeting his parents. His mother’s embrace almost unmanned him, and it -was with difficulty that he kept back the sobs that tightened his -throat. - -He led his parents to the other end of the platform and introduced them -to his friends. - -Robert Rennie’s comments were simply gasps and a reiterated, “Well! -Well!” - -Andy offered his usual contribution. “Strike me pink!” he said. - -Connie’s eyes were filled with soft eagerness as she greeted Donald’s -mother. The glow in Donald’s face as he spoke to Connie was poignantly -significant of his deep love for her. But Connie, to his consternation -and dismay, met his ardent glances with a look of cold indifference. - -Since Connie’s arrival Janet’s features held a look of disquietude, but -she acknowledged the introduction to Donald’s parents with a radiant -smile. - -A moment later, Connie, with skirts held high, was running down the -railroad track. - -“Going after her horse,” smiled Wainwright in answer to Donald’s -question. - -“Will you have dinner with us?” invited Donald. - -“Yes, thank you,” responded Wainwright. “We will sleep in the car -to-night,” he continued, “but Constance insists that we must return to -the old home as soon as possible. She has been busy drawing plans for a -chalet she intends building on the bluff.” - -Connie returned with the old trapper, the latter leading Pegasus. - -At dinner Connie showed no signs of her former shyness. She was as -self-possessed, calm and perfectly poised as a goddess. A glad light -filled her eyes as Gillis and his crew of “redshirts” filed into the big -dining-room. She sprang to her feet and greeted them joyfully, shaking -hands with each and everyone. - -“I’m so glad to see you, Jack,” she smiled. - -The big logger took her tiny hand in his. “We’re sure glad to have you -with us agin, Connie.” - -“May I bring Andy in to dine with us, Mr. McLean?” she asked as she came -back to the table. - -Donald nodded assent. She ran gleefully to the kitchen, and a moment -later the loggers grinned broadly as she came through the door leading -the protesting cook by the arm. - -“Now,” she said as Andy sat down, “we’re all here.” She looked about her -and clasped her hands rapturously. “It seems as though I had been gone -for years. And oh, it is so nice to be home again!” She sank to a chair -between Andy and the trapper. “Do you remember, Andy, when you were -dressed as a butler and danced with John at your party?” She threw back -her golden head and her silvery laughter filled the room. - -Janet was unhappy from the moment of Connie’s arrival. She had caught -the look of adoration in Donald’s eyes as Connie stepped to the station -platform. Standing there then she had quite definitely abandoned any -hope of winning him. And Janet had been so sure that once she had held a -place in his heart. A great depression, a great weariness of spirit, -settled upon her. - -That evening, as Donald walked with his parents by the lake-shore, he -turned to his father. “Dad,” he said anxiously, “do you think I have -made good? Will you forgive me for—for——” - -John McLean’s eyes grew suddenly misty. “Donnie,” he began gently, “Mr. -Rennie has told us all about you. And no man could speak more highly of -another.” He drew a newspaper from his pocket. “Haven’t you seen this?” - -It was Vancouver’s morning paper, with a full-page devoted to the visit -of the Eastern lumbermen. There were several photographs of the Summit -Mill and one of Donald. The paper spoke of him as “the able young -engineer whose modern ideas and energy had given to British Columbia a -logging plant and mill that were a credit to the Province.” - -Donald saw the proud light in his father’s eyes, and his heart was -filled with a great peace. - -The next day carpenters and material arrived for the construction of -Wainwright’s new home. That afternoon Connie, clad in fashionable riding -habit, came to the mill office with her foreman to place an order for -lumber. Pegasus in silver-mounted bridle and English saddle was proudly -restive. With neck arched he curvetted and rocked while Connie sat on -his back with that complete lack of self-consciousness that is the -heritage of a born horsewoman. Before leaving she rode up the hill among -the toiling workers, her irresistible smile bringing an answering grin -from the “redshirts,” who doffed their big hats and shouted a joyous -greeting. - -All day pack-horses and men struggled up the hill, staggering under the -weight of building material. But although Donald strained his eyes for a -glimpse of the golden-haired rider, he saw her no more that day. - -As dusk fell over lake and mountain, Donald returned from Wainwright’s -cabin. Andy glanced up expectantly as his friend appeared, but quickly -averted his face as he saw the look of settled melancholy shrouding -Donald’s features. Donald sank disconsolately to a seat outside the -kitchen door. He had found Wainwright alone and wondered if Connie had -purposely absented herself. Her treatment of him since her return -puzzled him sorely and had filled him with a great despondency. As he -rose and walked toward his cabin, Andy gazed after the retreating -figure, eyes filled with compassion, then turned to speak to one of his -helpers in such an irritable tone that the flunkey’s mouth opened in -astonishment. - -For three evenings it was the same. Donald failed to find Connie at -home; nor did she come to the mill. He regretfully decided that it was -no coincidence, but that she was deliberately avoiding him. - -On a Sunday afternoon Andy saw Donald gaze yearningly toward the bluff, -then turn up the trail leading to the dam. - -At Donald’s request Gillis had diverted logging operations to circle the -little oasis in the heavy timber, so that Connie’s sylvan glade still -held its primeval charm and beauty. - -Donald stood for a moment gazing reflectively into the white foam at the -foot of the tiny cataract, then threw himself on the soft bed of moss -and closed his eyes. But this time the fairy spot did not bring the -usual delicious languor to his harassed spirit. Birds sang as sweetly; -flowers filled the air with the same odour; the wind sighed as softly -through the tree-tops, and the small brook still sang its rippling song. -The rapid tattoo of a woodpecker’s bill on a hollow tree jarred his -nerves and he tossed restlessly. - -A cedar tip floated through the air. Blown by the wind, it fluttered in -circles, then landed gently on the hands lying on his chest. His eyes -opened, then, with trembling limbs he came to his feet. - -Connie, clad in faded overalls and cotton shirt, stood on the edge of -the “nest.” Her breast was heaving, her loosened golden hair flying in -the wind. The softness in her blue eyes made Donald gasp, and his heart -thumped as though it were in his throat. - -“Connie!” he cried huskily, “I love you, dear! Don’t you care for me -even a little?” - -She sprang lightly to the ground and came toward him, her arms -outstretched. Tears of joy coursed down her cheeks. “Oh, Donald, Donald, -you big stupid!” she sobbed, “I have been waiting here for you every -day. I—I have loved you always.” - -With a shock of incredible rapture Donald gathered her in his strong -arms, where she cuddled like a weeping child. He kissed her red lips, -her eyes, hair and throbbing throat. “My little Connie,” he said, in a -voice vibrant with feeling, “do you really love me?” He pressed his -cheek to hers and felt the flutter of her long lashes as she pressed the -softness of her own closer. The quick, exquisite indrawing of her -sobbing breath were lovely answering things, and he thrilled to hear her -whisper: “Yes, Donald! Yes, Donald!” - -Andy came walking meditatively up the path, his hands clasped behind -him, his blond head bowed in deep thought. Not finding Donald at the -dam, he walked up the hill to enter the meadow just as Donald clasped -Connie in his arms. For an instant the little Australian stood rigid, -his eyes bulging, then retreated hastily to the shelter of the trees. -Anyone seeing Andy at that moment would have thought him suddenly gone -mad. He whirled about in a wild dance, hugging himself in an ecstasy of -joy. Ceasing his mad gyrations, he dashed his hand across his eyes and -bolted like a runaway down the hill. - -Gillis and his “redshirts” sat sunning themselves on the steps of the -dining-room. They sprang to their feet as Andy came tearing down the -hill. Breathlessly Andy told them of the scene he had witnessed. “We’ll -give them a blinkin’ good reception when they come down,” he panted. He -issued several sharp orders and the men scurried happily to execute his -commands. - -The train that was to carry the excursionists to the Coast was being -made up on the siding. While they were awaiting this, the visitors -watched with curious interest the mysterious preparations being made by -the loggers. - -At this moment, hand in hand, Donald and Connie turned the corner of the -building. As they did so they came to a sudden halt and stared at the -odd scene before them. The men stood in two orderly rows. The ground -between was carpeted with wild flowers, and each logger held a mass of -blooms in his hand. At the far end of this lane of men stood Andy, a -wide smile on his droll face. Connie lowered her eyes in confusion. -Donald shook his fist at Andy. “You little beggar! You are responsible -for this.” - -Andy chuckled. “Come on, Donnie, be a sport,” he coaxed. - -With flushed faces Donald and Connie walked down the aisle, while the -men pelted them with flowers. The crowd of visitors clapped their hands -in appreciation of this beautiful scene. As they neared the end of the -gauntlet, Andy sprang to a stump. - -“Three cheers for the ’appy couple!” he yelled. A roar of cheering -followed. “A tiger!” shouted Andy. And again the air trembled to the -hoarse shout of brawny throats. - -Donald led Connie straight to his mother. “Mother,” he said bashfully, -“meet your future daughter.” - -Quick tears came to his mother’s eyes as Donald made this announcement. -“My dear,” she said tenderly, as her arms folded about Connie, “you are -all love and tenderness.” - -The train’s whistle screeched its warning and the crowd moved down to -the station. - -“Will you be coming home to us soon, Donnie?” asked his father as he was -leaving. Donald looked down at Connie. - -“We’ll visit you on our honeymoon, Dad,” responded Donald happily. He -swept his arm toward the mountains. “I could never leave this. The spell -of the Great West has entered my blood.” - -Janet had spent the afternoon paddling idly on the lake. When she -received the news of Donald’s engagement she concealed the ache in her -heart by an outward air of indifference. The pretence of a headache -enabled her to keep in her cabin and she did not appear for dinner. She -wanted to be alone with her thoughts. - -When the shadows lengthened, Donald and Connie moved slowly along the -path toward the bluff. As they turned a curve in the trail Janet came to -the window of her cabin and stood watching them until they disappeared -from sight. - -Andy, sitting a few feet distant with his back against a tree, noted the -look of despondency on Janet’s face. He came to his feet and walked -slowly toward the kitchen. “As Methusalem said through ’is whiskers, ‘’e -who ’olds ’is ’ead too ’igh will ’t ’is blinkin’ toe.’” - -As the lovers were about to turn up the mountain trail, the trapper -emerged from the woods with his old pack-horse. The cayuse was piled -high with luggage. - -“Where are you going, John?” queried Donald. - -“I’m hittin’ the trail, ol’ timer.” - -“I hope you are not leaving us,” said Connie. - -“Yes, I’m quittin’ the country.” - -“Why?” questioned Donald. - -“Gittin’ too thickly settled. I feel that I ain’t got room to breathe. -I’m goin’ way back into the Cariboo somewhere so’s I kin be by myself.” - -The race of mediæval hermits is not dead. The spirit that led the first -pioneers into the forest guides others there to-day. There are men whose -souls long for a place untamed, who yearn to breathe the wild free air. -They want a home straight from the hands of the Creator, unspoiled by -man. They may be trappers, who brave cold and hardships to clothe milady -in warm furs; they may be prospectors, who search out the hidden gold -for others to use. Whatever they may be, these hardy men blaze the trail -for others to follow. - -When Donald told the trapper of the coming wedding the old man’s eyes -softened. “I’m glad. It’s jest right. I hoped you two would git -married.” He shook hands gravely, then clucked to his horse. - -“Good-bye, Connie! Good-bye, ol’ timer! God bless ye!” he shouted over -his shoulder. - -Donald and Connie stood watching the patient old figure as he trudged -behind his cayuse. At a turn of the trail he stopped and for a long -interval gazed back at the log cabin by the stream, which had been his -home for so many years. He waved his hand in farewell, then horse and -man disappeared from view. - -When Donald and Connie reached the bluff the sun had sunk in the crimson -west, leaving a rich afterglow that spread across the horizon from west -to east, the rich colours merging by slow degrees into that pure -pearl-grey which makes the long and lovely twilight of the British -Columbia mountains. Down on the lake mists were gathering, but in the -upper sky and on the glaciers a vivid orange glow still lingered. The -trees stood stiff and motionless in the quiet air. From afar, subdued -but clear, came the hoot of a blue-grouse, and from mountain gorges came -the faint sighing sound of distant waterfalls. Sweet and pungent odours -of wild flowers came from the woods about them. A star of silver -brilliancy sparkled suddenly out in the sky over the massive snow-clad -peaks. - -“Venus,” whispered Connie. - -Donald’s gaze swept from the camp, nestled at their feet, to the -darkening heavens, to the star of love, then down to the girl by his -side. - -There are moments in the lives of all men—regardless of creed or -religion—when they feel the nearness of God. Such a moment came to -Donald. He uttered no sound, yet his soul was crying out its great -thankfulness. - -Connie sensed his feeling. She bowed her head, her eyes misty with joy -and gratitude. “Oh, God,” she murmured softly, “we thank Thee for Thy -many blessings.” - - THE END - - - - - TRANSCRIBER NOTES - -Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple -spellings occur, majority use has been employed. - -Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors -occur. - -A cover was created for this eBook and is placed in the public domain. - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON WEST *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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Philip</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Crimson West</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Alex. Philip</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 19, 2021 [eBook #65382]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Al Haines, Cindy Beyer & the online Project Gutenberg team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON WEST ***</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:350px;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:5em;'> <!-- rend=';bold;' --> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:2em;font-weight:bold;'>THE CRIMSON WEST</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-weight:bold;'><span style='font-size:smaller'>BY</span></p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>ALEX. PHILIP</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<div class='blockquote70percent'> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';bold;' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<div class='stanza-inner'> -<p class='line0' style='font-weight:bold;'>There in the East we dreamed our dreams of the things we hoped to do,</p> -<p class='line0' style='font-weight:bold;'>And here in the West, the crimson West, the dreams of the East come true.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;font-weight:bold;'>—<span class='it'>Donald Malloch</span></p> -</div> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -</div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:5em;font-weight:bold;'>THOMAS ALLEN, PUBLISHER, TORONTO</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:5em;'> <!-- rend=';fs:.7em;' --> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.7em;'>PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY PURNELL AND SONS</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.7em;'>PAULTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>To</p> - -<div class='blockquote70percent'> - -<p class='noindent'>Those Fortunates Who First Saw The -Light Of Day In This Glorious Country, -And With Whom Rests The Future -Prosperity Of The Land of Their Birth—THE -NATIVE SONS OF CANADA—This -Book is respectfully dedicated</p> - -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:bold;'>THE CRIMSON WEST</p> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER I</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Jangling</span> his keys on their big ring, the sheriff -led John McLean down several steps, then -through a long, narrow hall to the rear of the -jail. From a distant corridor came the sound -of a raucous voice attempting to sing one of the -popular ragtimes of the day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some fellow’s still got a ‘hang-over,’ ” observed -the sheriff as he paused before a cell, -consulted a number, then searched for the key. -As the door swung open a sleepy voice was raised -in mock solemnity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What ho, varlet! Why dost thou open the -dungeon door? Has the king granted a reprieve?” -His eyes blinking, the inmate stepped -into the bright light of the hall. A dull red -suffused his pale face as he saw the tall figure -behind the sheriff.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Dad! Nice morning,” he smiled in -a weak attempt at joviality, but the smile faded -as he sensed a change in his father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My son arrested in a low gambling den!” -the father said bitterly. “Donald, you have -disgraced the family name. Your drinking carousals -and gambling can have but one end. -I have been too easy with you. For your own -good I’m going to turn you loose. Until such -time as you can return to me rid of your bad -habits, and have proven yourself a man, you are -not a son of mine. I—I’m done with you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s father turned abruptly on his heel -and strode swiftly down the passage. It had -been a tremendous test of his will power to -make this short speech, and to resist the almost -overmastering desire to take his boy in his arms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The young man stood with mouth agape, a -stupefied look in his eyes, and stared after the -retreating form of his parent. The sheriff -broke the silence. “We’ll go upstairs, Don!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the upper floor the desk sergeant handed -the released prisoner his watch and money, taken -from him, as is the custom, the night before. -The sheriff motioned to a seat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sit down. I want to talk with you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald listlessly obeyed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sorry, boy, but I had to do it,” the sheriff -said in a kindly voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s all right, Jim. There’s no hard feelings.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are you going to do?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know,” Donald admitted dully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How much money have you got?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stood up and drew from his pocket -a few crumpled bills and some loose change, -then threw out his arms in an eloquent gesture. -As he stood with the slanting rays of a late -December sun shining on his black hair, he presented -a wonderful specimen of man. Six feet -in height, of a deceptive slenderness, his rather -tight-fitting grey suit set off the graceful lines of -a supple body. His shoulders were wide, with -the gentle slope that denotes agility as well as -strength. His fine white skin and long black -lashes would have given his features an effeminate -touch but for the manly mould of his face, -with its square jaw, broad forehead, and deep, -wide-set eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sheriff’s appraising eyes glowed with -admiration as they rested on the young man. -To the casual eye Donald appeared of slight -build, but his old friend knew of the steel-like -muscles of those arms and the strength of the -long, straight legs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The mind of the older man flashed back to a -football game in Donald’s High School days, -with the State championship at stake. Donald -had been sent into the game at the eleventh -hour, and with defeat staring the home team in -the face he had torn through the opposing lines -like a madman for agonizing gains until his dark -head flashed across the line to victory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald came embarrassedly to his feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I guess I’ll be moving.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here, boy, take this,” the sheriff said awkwardly, -thrusting a roll of bills into Donald’s -hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The young man’s face flushed. “It’s awfully -good of you, Jim, but I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s all right, Don,” interrupted the older -man, summoning a smile. “I’m just giving you -a loan.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald looked at him soberly. “I’ll pay you -back when—I—I—earn it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His face very serious, the sheriff placed a hand -on Donald’s shoulder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, listen, Don. Your father and I talked -here in the office for an hour before he bailed -you out, and we agreed that the best thing was -to let you go on your own. No, I am not going -to give you a lecture, for you are not wholly to -blame. Having a rich father is not the best -thing for a young fellow, but because you got -fired out of college should not make a husky -boy like you lose his grip. You just step out -and buck the line like you do in football and -you’ll sure make a touchdown.” He gripped -Donald’s hand. “Good-bye and good luck, -Donnie!” he added feelingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald crossed the street to the Hancock -House and sank moodily to a chair in the corner -of the lobby. His confinement in the jail and -the preceding festivities had robbed him of a -night’s rest, and he suddenly realized that he -was very tired and sleepy. Forgetting the change -in his circumstances, he engaged an expensive -room on the first floor and immediately went to -bed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon awakening Donald switched on the -light and lay for awhile trying to adjust himself -to this new situation. Serious meditation, however, -brought him no nearer a solution of his -problem. A cold bath, followed by a brisk rub -down and clean linen, removed all the remaining -traces of his night of wild revelry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The news of John McLean’s break with his -son spread rapidly through the small New England -city. On his way to the desk to order his -baggage to be sent to the dock Donald was -beset by several friends who were loud in voicing -their sympathy. Extricating himself as quickly -as possible, he made his way to the elevator. -Quick steps sounded behind him, and, turning, -he looked into the smiling face of his boxing -instructor, Spike Ryan.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Kid, how they comin’?” grinned -Spike.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come upstairs with me, Spike.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once inside the room, Donald turned to his -visitor. “If you start any of this sympathy -stuff I’ll hand you that famous ‘one-two’ punch -you taught me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sympathy be damned,” chuckled Spike. -“Dis is your lucky day. I come here to congratulate -you, to give you de glad hand.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why all the joy? Most of my friends seem -to think it is my funeral.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say, Donnie,” Spike said earnestly, “I bin -watchin’ ya pretty close for de past year, an’ -ya sure bin ridin’ for a fall. Another year of de -way ya bin hittin’ her up an’ y’d have taken de -count of ten an’ be sittin’ wid de stew-bums. -Ya bin fightin’ an exhibition wid life wid soft -twelve-ounce gloves, an’ de both of ya fightin’ -under wraps an’ pullin’ y’r punches. From -now on de fight will be on de square an’ to a -finish wid bare knuckles. De guy in de other -corner will hand ya some awful jolts, an’ y’ll -have to do some pretty fast work wid y’r dukes -an’ pins to keep away from de slumber swat. -But, Donnie, ya got de goods in ya. Nearly -four years in an engineerin’ course in de college -gives ya a better start than most of us guys. I’m -backin’ ya to win.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He seized Donald’s hand, and his battered -face filled with tenderness as he looked up -at his friend. “Good luck, boy. Keep a -stiff upper lip, an’ don’t forget that old -John Barleycorn’s a bum second.” At the -door he turned: “How ya fixed for kale, -Donnie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You get out!” smiled Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Spike grinned as though pleased at the rebuff, -and closed the door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For some time after Spike’s departure Donald -sat lost in meditation. The philosophy of the -ex-pugilist, presented in the vernacular of the -prize-ring, had affected him deeply. “Ya bin -fightin’ an exhibition wid life, but from now on -de fight is on de square,” Spike had said. True -enough, he thought, life had been soft and easy -with him. But now it was going to be “on de -square.” His strong mouth set in a straight -line, and involuntarily he squared his shoulders.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald left the hotel by the side door to -avoid meeting several friends who had gathered -in the lobby. He had an hour to wait for the -sailing of the boat for Bangor. Unconsciously -he walked towards the hill. An overwhelming -sense of loneliness swept over him as he stood -before his home, looming huge and white in the -bright starlight of the winter night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the first sound of his master’s step on the -pavement a big collie dog rushed forth and flung -itself bodily on the young man, whimpering in -sheer joy. Standing on hindlegs with paws on -his chest, he tried to lick Donald’s face. The -noise was apparently heard within the house, -for a shade was raised and Donald’s mother -peered out into the night. Silencing the dog’s -joyous whines as best he could, Donald crouched -low behind the hedge until the blind was lowered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, old pal,” Donald whispered, his -arms about the collie’s shaggy neck. The -dog turned slowly and unwillingly toward the -house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the meantime, within the house, John -McLean and his wife were discussing the possible -result of the father’s seeming severity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald is a great trial to us now, John,” -said the mother, “but we must not forget the -happiness he has brought us in the past.” She -gazed long and lovingly at a photograph of her -son as a child; then, with head bowed, her lips -moved in silent prayer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon his arrival at the wharf Donald found -his baggage, destroyed the pass he had been in -the habit of using, as his father was owner of the -steamboat line, and bought a ticket to Bangor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Reaching Bangor, he chose less expensive -quarters than was his custom, locating at the -Penobscot, on Exchange Street. In no mood for -sleep, he decided to take a stroll. Outside an -all-night restaurant was a long string of cars, -and from within came the sound of happy -laughter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A feeling of loneliness, coupled with a slight -hunger induced him to enter. A big man sitting -at the counter, attacking vigorously a T-bone -steak, was the centre of interest, as evidenced by -the cluster of taxi-drivers and other night-lunchers -about him. He wore a wide-brimmed -hat, high leather boots, corduroy trousers, a blue -flannel shirt, and a red-mackinaw coat hung on the -wall behind him. Blond, sun-washed hair stood -up from his head aggressively, and his steely -blue eyes were set in a face tanned a brick red.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, sir,” spoke the blond giant between -mouthfuls, “she’s a he-man’s country, she is. -None of your bum chow that I used to git here -in these Eastern loggin’ camps, sow-belly and -beans three times a day, and workin’ for forty -dollars a month from daylight until dark. No, -siree! Me for the Coast with its four bucks a -day. And talk about grub! Say, there ain’t -any hotel that puts up better scoffins than we git -in the loggin’ camps in good old B.C.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He looked around at his audience and, -convinced that they were interested, he continued: -“Yes, sir! British Columbia for mine. -Say! What’d you think of three fir logs that -makes a carload? Of cedars ten feet through? -Of alders that you can’t git your arms round? -Some different than them toothpicks you got -out there,” jerking his thumb contemptuously -toward the Penobscot River. “And minerals,” -he went on, “the mountains are filled with -’em—miles and miles that ain’t never bin prospected. -Prospectors comin’ in every day with -new strikes. And talk about fish! I seen the -fish so thick they choked the rivers; you could -darn near walk on their backs. That’s the -country, fellers. That’s the place for men with -git-up-and-git.” He finished his repast with a -gulp of coffee, fished a sack of tobacco and brown -paper from his pocket, and rolled a cigarette. -“A brand new country,” he ran on, his eyes -shining with enthusiasm, “that ain’t half explored -yet, and richer’n a pail of cream. How -much do I owe you, boy?” he asked as he drew -out a wad of bank-notes, peeled a bill from the -outside of the fat roll and threw it carelessly -on the counter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Keep the change,” he said with a lordly -air, then swaggered through the door. Several -of the taxi-drivers followed, loudly importuning -him to ride.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald finished his lunch and sat for a time -smoking.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That guy was a nut to flash his poke in -front of that gang,” observed the waiter. -“Guess he’s big enough to take care of himself,” -he added.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald stepped out of the restaurant he -saw the big man across the street with four of his -former audience. From the shadow of a doorway -he saw the party enter a ramshackle building, -after hearing one of them promise to get the -Westerner a drink in spite of prohibition. -Donald decided to walk by the place, and was -startled by the sound of crashing glass and -indications of a struggle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will, will you?” he heard the unmistakable -voice of the big Westerner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a bound Donald was at the door. He -found the Westerner badly battered, but holding -three men at bay. The fourth lay in a crumpled -heap in the corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Only one of the men noticed Donald’s entrance. -He was a big, burly brute, with the -swarthy features of the Southern European, -and he came straight for the intruder, crouching -low. Donald’s left hand caught him on the -eye, and as his head flew back Donald crossed -viciously with his right. The blow landed with -an impact that sounded like a cleaver sinking -into a meat block, and the man dropped as though -shot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A rat-faced man, standing near a side door -with a bottle in his hand, shouted a warning as -Donald sprang to the Westerner’s assistance. -Both men turned their heads. The ham-like -fist of the big blond giant struck the larger of -the two men such a terrific blow on the side of -the head that the recipient whirled completely -around and sank dazedly to the floor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Duck!” yelled Donald, as he saw the little -man’s arm go back. The Westerner dropped, -and not a second too soon. The bottle whizzed -over his head, bringing a shower of plaster from -the wall where it struck. With a curse the -big man turned, but the bottle-thrower had -disappeared through the side door. The remaining -thug, a tall, cadaverous looking youth, -took one wild look around, then bolted through -the front door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Westerner, gasping and rather pale, seized -Donald’s hand in his huge paw. “Pardner, -you saved me from a hell of a lickin’! ’Bout -two minutes more and. . . .”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Grab your coat and hat and we’ll get out -of here before the police come,” interrupted -Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went through the alley to Hammond -Street, then down Exchange Street.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Better come up to my room and have those -cuts attended to,” suggested Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Westerner touched gingerly the rapidly -swelling lump over his ear. “You know,” he -observed, “those fellers never intended to start -a rough-house. The little dip was pretty slick, -but I caught him with his hand in my pocket, -and when they saw that they had a fight on their -hands, they tried to lay me out with a billy. -Should have seen the funny look on that little -rat’s face when he lammed me with that loaded -stick and I didn’t go down. Guess this old bean -of mine must run pretty heavy to bone,” he -finished with a chuckle. He looked at Donald -curiously. “You sure handed it to that big -dago quick. How did you horn in on the row -anyway?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald told of being in the lunch-room when -he had displayed his money, and of the waiter’s -subsequent remarks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Huh!” snorted the big man disgustedly, -“guess I need a guardeen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the assistance of the obliging night-clerk, -who furnished antiseptic and court-plaster, -they patched the hurts of the much-bruised -Westerner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the clerk left the room the big man -turned to Donald. “My name’s Jack Gillis. -What’s yours?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald McLean.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Damn good name,” he averred, looking -Donald over critically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I bin visitin’ my old home in Nova Scotia,” -he ran on. “Come down here to visit my -sister. I’m gittin’ homesick for the Pacific -Slope, and I’m goin’ to hit for B.C. to-morrow -mornin’.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m on my way to Vancouver,” said Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The effect of this statement on Gillis was -electric. “Do you belong in B.C.?” he questioned -excitedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald told him how his glowing description -of that land of promise had induced him to go -West, and that this would be his first visit to -the Coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well,” observed Gillis, “if I’ve been the -means of addin’ a man like you to the population -of B.C., then Jack Gillis has done some -good.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s a real compliment,” smiled Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m goin’ on the mornin’ train,” remarked -Gillis. “I’d like to have you travel with me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis rose with an embarrassed air. “Here -I am talkin’ ’bout you and I travellin’ together. -I guess you’re one of them tourist fellers, and I -don’t suppose you want to go along with a roughneck -like me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald liked this big, bluff Westerner, with -his honest face and simple manner. He reached -in his pocket and took out the money the sheriff -had given him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You see that? Well, before this money is -gone I’ll have to find a job. And it’s borrowed -money, too.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis studied him carefully. “Well, you got -my goat in a way, but there is one thing I do -know, and that is that you ain’t no slicker. I’m -’bout twice your age, and I knows a good face -when I sees it. I’ll meet you to-morrow mornin’ -at the station. I’m goin’ to start callin’ you -Donald right now. And what’s more, Jack -Gillis is your friend from now until hell freezes -over. Good-night, Donald.”</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER II</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Two</span> days later Donald and the Westerner -boarded a C.P.R. train in Montreal for the West. -They were no sooner comfortably seated in their -section of a tourist sleeper than they began -rushing westward through the winter evening.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The days that followed were full of interest -to Donald. The train roared West, running on -time like a clock. They tore through towns and -farming settlements and plunged into forests -and hills in the northern part of Ontario. The -hills dwindled when they reached Manitoba, -and in Alberta Donald felt as if he were sailing -over a vast sea of land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll see them old Rocky Mount’ns pretty -soon,” said Gillis happily. “You’ll like B.C., -Donald. And after you bin there awhile all -hell won’t pry you loose. I know, ’cause I -broke away from her twice, but I always drift -back. I ain’t got the eddication to tell you the -funny feelin’ I have when I’m comin’ back to -her. When I see them big mount’ns loomin’ -up I feel sort of scrumptious inside, like I -wanted to smile at everybody, and I have a hard -time to keep from lettin’ out a yell.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Your power of expression needs no apology,” -laughed Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Forgot to tell you that I ain’t goin’ right -through to the Coast. The Company I work -for has a mill at Revelstoke that needs fixin’ up. -The job’ll probably last ’till spring. You better -stay off with me, ’cause you’ll find things on the -Coast pretty quiet this winter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis had played the part of host from the -start, and Donald knew that if he accepted the -invitation to stop off at the interior town, Gillis -would insist on treating him as his guest. He -felt that his new friend could not afford to -practise this lavish generosity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald shook his head regretfully. “I think -I’ll go through to Vancouver.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis arose with visible reluctance as the -train drew into Revelstoke. “Well, I got to -leave you, pardner.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald had developed a sincere friendship for -the man. There was a great deal of tenderness -beneath the rough exterior of this Western -logger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m pretty lucky in finding a friend like -you,” Donald said feelingly as they shook hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s all right, my boy,” Gillis replied -awkwardly. “I like you, and I’ll sure look you -up when I hit the Coast. So-long.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun was shining brightly as the train -rushed along the edge of Burrard Inlet toward -Vancouver. The lawns were a bright green, and -the breeze blowing in the car-window was soft -and balmy. Across the Inlet, that sparkled in -the sunlight, were huge mountain-peaks, their -tops covered with snow. The homecoming -passengers were smiling happily, while a look of -eager interest shone on the faces of those who -were strangers to the Coast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald paused for a moment on the corner -of Granville Street while the cosmopolitan -crowd flowed past him. Stolid-faced Klootchmen, -dressed in flamboyant colours, with baskets -of clams on their backs, rubbed shoulders with -the haughty, turbanned Hindu. The little -brown-faced Jap darted here and there amongst -the crowd. A Chinaman came swiftly around -the corner of an alley, moving with a peculiar -trot, a pole across his shoulders, from each end -of which dangled a basket filled with fish and -vegetables. Another Chinaman, with a face of -true Oriental impassiveness, riding a bicycle -down the street, a clay pipe jutting from his -mouth, was extremely incongruous. The wide, -well-paved streets and the city’s general air of -modernity were impressive. In common with -many other Easterners, Donald had pictured -Vancouver as a rough Western town.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald engaged an inexpensive room and at -once began a search for employment. Many of -the mining and logging camps were closed for -the winter, and work was scarce. He applied -to all the engineering firms in the city, but their -answers were invariably the same: “Nothing -doing until spring.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Days passed, and as late winter merged into -spring there was a stir throughout the city. -Men who had spent the winter in idleness were -“going out” again. Loggers in their characteristic -blanket shirts hanging loose outside -their trousers, could be seen on all sides saying -good-bye to their friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One morning Donald counted his rapidly -dwindling cash and found that he would have -barely enough to tide him over the week-end.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With all his assets in the way of clothes and -jewelry in a pawnshop, he could not stave off -the inevitable, and there came a day when he -had not even the price of a meal. Too proud to -ask for a loan, he went without breakfast and -lunch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the logger’s employment agency he was -told the same old story: “Only men of experience -wanted. But,” the agent added hopefully, -“men are going to be scarce this summer, and -they will be taking on everything before long.” -Donald made the rounds of the engineering -firms where he had applied for a position, but -without success. Force of habit led him back -to the employment agency, where he sank disconsolately -to a bench.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A diminutive man with blond hair, bright -blue eyes under shaggy brows, and his head set -at a cocky angle, entered briskly and approached -the wicket. “S’y, do you know where I can -find an ’eavyweight that can box a bit?” he -said to the agent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How about those two I sent you yesterday, -Andy?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The one addressed as Andy made a gesture of -disgust. “Those two blighters were as ’eavy -as cows. They didn’t know their right ’and -from their left. I don’t want any ’uman punchin’ -bags, I want a man that ’as a little speed. -Blime me, if I was in Austrylia I could get a ’arf -a dozen in ’arf a minute.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m your man,” said Donald stepping forward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The small man turned. The keen eyes under -the bushy, light-coloured eyebrows studied -Donald carefully. “Can you box?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good! Come with me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald followed the sturdy little Australian. -For a few blocks they walked in silence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ad your dinner?” queried the Australian.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll ’ave a bite in ’ere.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They turned into “Old Joe’s” restaurant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sounds good to me,” observed Donald with -a pleased smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Been missin’ a few meals, ’ave you? Order -what you want,” said the Australian, as they sat -down to a table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll warn you that I’m hungry,” cautioned -Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Op to it, me lad; about all we get in this -blinkin’ world is what we eat. What’s your -name?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald McLean.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mine’s Andy Pettray.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Andy delivered himself of the following -information: “I’m the manager of Bill Hagin, -the Austrylian ’eavyweight. We are to fight -Slugger Garrieau, the Canadian champion, in -about two weeks. The Slugger is well named, -as ’e is an ’eavy ’itter and it tykes a good boxer -to beat ’im. I want an ’eavy man that can speed -Bill up a bit, and I’ve ’unted this town over, -but I can’t find one. Now, if you can deliver -the goods, you will be worth three dollars a -day and your eats. What do you s’y?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I say ‘yes,’ ” was the decided answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy dug into his pocket. “ ’Ere’s three -dollars to bind the bargain.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Better wait until I earn it,” suggested Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s all right, me lad; you’ll be needin’ it -to eat on. I ain’t worryin’.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come to the gymnasium at the corner of -Robson and Granville at two o’clock to-morrow,” -advised Andy as they stepped outside.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll be there, and I want to thank you for -your kindness.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Forget it,” smiled Andy. “I’ve been flat -many a time myself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Half-an-hour ago I was broke and hungry,” -mused Donald, “and now I am well fed and -have three dollars in my pocket. Great old -world this.” He chuckled happily as he swung -down sun-splashed Cordova Street with a -buoyant stride.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day, dressed in light clothing and -a pair of running-shoes, Donald went around -Stanley Park. Wishing to condition himself, -he ran the greater part of the way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Spring comes early in Vancouver as compared -with the East. In January the buds are bursting -in Stanley Park. The balmy sea air, scented -with earthy odours from the deep woods, seemed -to Donald to possess magic properties. The -blood sang in his veins. Overhead, big white -seagulls screamed and soared; squirrels retreated -in chattering fright as he raced down the road, -and over all was the sound of the booming surf. -The wind rushed past his ears, and he shouted -aloud from sheer exuberance of spirits and the -joy of living.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald covered the distance from English -Bay to Granville Street at a jogging trot. The -air of the gymnasium seemed close after being -in the open. The big Australian fighter was -in the ring with one of his sparring partners. -The slap of gloves was like music to Donald’s -ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just in time,” welcomed Andy as he led -him to the dressing-room, where he quickly -shifted to fighting togs and then walked over to -the ring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A crowd of boxing-fans sat by the ringside -watching the big fellow work out. Donald’s -entrance caused a stir. His lithe, muscular -body was the attraction of all eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Op in,” commanded Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While an attendant was putting on his gloves, -Donald studied the big man he was to help -train. He would weigh at least two hundred -pounds. His shoulders were enormously broad -and square, and the muscles of his arms stood -out in knobs and bunches. His face was a -pasty colour, as though his training had been -done inside. His jaw was square and strong, -his eyes a mild blue, and his nose looked as -though it had stopped many a solid punch. -“Strong but slow,” Donald decided.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Andy introduced him Hagin merely -grunted. To the fighter Donald was simply -one more punching-bag.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned to Andy. “What do you -want me to do?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, knock the blighter out of the ring,” -rejoined Andy, with just a touch of sarcasm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you mean that?” queried Donald -quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hagin came to the centre of the ring, assuming -an awkward crouch, his arms wound about his -face. Donald circled him warily. The big -man feinted with his left. Donald danced -within range, and the Australian let loose a -terrific right swing that would have felled an -ox. Donald side-stepped, jabbed his left twice -to his opponent’s face, and his right missed -Hagin’s jaw by the fraction of an inch. A -surprised look came over the big man’s face. -A murmur of applause came from the audience.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink! What a left ’and!” ejaculated -Andy. Hagin scowled and tried to bring -the fighting to close quarters, but was easily -avoided by his lighter opponent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald now took the aggressive. His left -found weak spots in the big man’s defence, and -repeatedly he sent in stinging jabs that drove -his adversary’s head back with a snap. Try -as he might, Hagin could not get away from that -whizzing left. It is a bitter pill to be bested -by one’s sparring partner. So far the Australian -had been given a boxing lesson. He forced -Donald into a corner and made for him savagely. -Donald ducked under the flail-like swings, and -shot a left upper-cut to Hagin’s jaw. The -latter staggered weakly to the ropes. Donald -was after him like a flash. Just then he saw -Andy gesticulating wildly and shaking his head. -Hagin lunged forward and Donald fell into a -clinch. The gong rang.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the trouble, Andy?” asked Donald -as he reached his corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me lucky!” whispered Andy hoarsely, -“you’re punchin’ me meal-ticket. You’re -makin’ a blinkin’ boob out of me ’eavyweight.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You told me to knock him out of the ring,” -reminded Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sure I did. But ’ow the ’ell did I know -that you were a blinkin’ cyclone? Strike me -blind, a left ’and like that I ’aven’t seen since I -’andled Young Griffo.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What shall I do the next round?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tyke a punch and go down—’urt your -’and—anything to quit. But for ’eaven’s sake -don’t mess up me ’eavyweight any more! If -the public ever ’ears of this our big fight is all -off!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the next round Donald dropped to the -floor as they broke from a clinch in the centre -of the ring. He rose to one knee, holding his -hand and making a wry face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too bad,” sympathized Andy as he ordered -him to the dressing-room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald stepped from the ring he was -intercepted by a curly-haired youth whose brown -eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “By golly, I want -to know you. My name’s Douglas Rennie. -My, but that was a wonderfully fast exhibition -you gave us!” he ejaculated, gazing at Donald -with undisguised admiration.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald flushed. “I appeared fast,” he -explained modestly, “as I was against a very -slow opponent. I know nothing of Garrieau, -but he won’t have to be very clever to beat the -Australian.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Garrieau is fast and carries a knockout in -either hand.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry for Andy’s man if that is the case, -as any king of a left will beat Hagin. Come to -the dressing-room,” invited Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later Andy entered and sank -dejectedly to a locker seat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You look rather blue, Andy,” observed -Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am. All ’ell’s a poppin’,” admitted Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s wrong?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve lost me ’eavyweight. ’E’s quit.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Said I framed on ’im by sending you in this -afternoon. Said I ’urt ’is pride.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pride!” echoed Douglas sarcastically. -“You’ve been treating him too well. I never -thought much of him as a fighter. You’re too -good a trainer to be wasting your time on third-raters.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe you are right,” conceded Andy, -“but look what a blinkin’ mess I’m in now! -’Ere I am in the ’ole three hundred bones for -training expenses, and I’ve put up a forfeit -with the promoters for appearance. I’ll lose -the ’ole lot.” He threw out his arms with an -air of resignation and sank back in his seat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Little Andy presented a pitiful figure as he sat -hunched in the corner—his jaunty manner gone; -his blond head, usually held at a saucy angle, -sunk on his chest. Gloom, deep, impenetrable -gloom, enveloped this bright spirit from the -Antipodes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald knew now that for all Andy’s munificent -manner of yesterday, the three dollars to -“eat on” and the sorely needed dinner he had -bought had come from a generous heart, but a -depleted purse. Here was his benefactor in -trouble. How could he help him? He crossed -the room, sat down beside Andy, and placed his -hand on the little man’s arm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy, take me on. I’ll fight Garrieau for -you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy came to his feet with a jump and seized -Donald by the shoulders. “If you’ll do that, me -lad, I’ll be your pal for life. Strike me pink, -did you ’ear that? I’ve got a real fighter at -last! ’Ooray!” The little fellow was in ecstasies. -“We’ll clean Garrieau up,” he went on -excitedly, “and then I’ll tyke you to the Stytes, -and then to Austrylia, and. . . .”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hold on,” interrupted Donald laughingly, -“looks like you intend making a professional -pug out of me. I’m doing this to help you, -Andy, and,” flushing in spite of himself, “I’m -broke.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy glanced over Donald’s tall figure with a -professional eye. “You ’ave a week to get fit, -and ’as you ’aven’t ’ardly any weight to tyke off, -you should be top ’ole in that time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I work out with you?” asked Douglas -eagerly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Glad to have you,” replied Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few minutes later the young men stepped -to the street. Douglas seemed loth to go.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will you come to my home for dinner?” -he invited.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald hesitated. It seemed ages since he -had entered a private house. He glanced down -at his only suit, which was rather seedy, then -looked up, to find the usually roguish eyes of his -companion fixed upon him seriously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks, old man. I hope I may have the -pleasure at some time, but I can’t do it now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You said you were broke,” began Douglas, -hesitatingly, “can—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, no, I’ll see you to-morrow,” interrupted -Donald, turning abruptly and walking swiftly -down Granville Street.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas stood watching him until he disappeared. -“A mighty good sport,” he said softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Fresh from his exercises and shower, his -cheeks red, his dark eyes shining with the clear -glow of health, his step springy and free, Donald -was a picture of rugged health and strength. -But for all this apparent outward brightness, -inwardly he felt rebellious. Douglas’s invitation -had brought a great longing for the comforts -of his past life. Why should he assume the rôle -of a pugilist to eke out an existence? Why -wear shabby clothes and even know the pangs -of hunger? Was it necessary? He had but to -wire his father that he was destitute and plenty -of money would be forthcoming.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A big steak at “Old Joe’s” furnished him a -hearty meal. As he selected the money from -his meagre supply of cash to pay his check, Old -Joe bent his grizzled head forward. “Are ye -gittin’ short, son?” he asked. “Don’t go hungry; -come in any time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks, Joe.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was in a dark mood. He heard the -sound of happy laughter coming from a saloon -on the corner. There behind those swinging -doors was momentary recess from worldly cares. -He stood in the door of the restaurant and -looked across the Inlet at the twin peaks, known -as the “Lions,” which guard the entrance to -Vancouver’s harbour. The sun was setting in -a mass of fleecy clouds; the clouds became a -luminous gauze, and a golden splendour spread -over the water. The mountains were suffused -in violet, while the snow-fields took on a faint -stain of rose. Donald’s face glowed as he -watched.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some country!” he breathed. He turned -to catch a friendly smile from Old Joe as he -worked over his range. “And some people!” -he added fervently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once more he turned to the mountains. -The glow had vanished and the Lions stood in -bold relief against the clear sky. The massive -snow-capped peaks seemed to impart a new -strength to his being. “I’ll not quit. I’m -going to make good,” he said grimly.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER III</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>While</span> on his daily run around Stanley Park -the next afternoon Donald was attracted by a -horse and rider standing on Prospect Point. -The rider was interested in a huge white liner -ploughing her way through the Narrows, bucking -a head tide. The horse, a noble animal, with -full mane and tail, was restive, rocking and -prancing in his eagerness to be off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald lifted his eyes to the rider he -saw a beautiful, haughty face with skin of a -milky whiteness, a heavy mass of dark brown -hair, neatly coiffed under a trim riding hat, and -a pair of wonderful brown eyes that suddenly -grew cold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A shower of dirt and pebbles stung Donald’s -face as the horse was swung about as though on a -pivot and with its rider was off like the wind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A thoroughbred,” he exclaimed, as he -watched the rider until she turned a corner in -the drive. “Two of them! And she thinks I -am a low-down masher,” he added ruefully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That afternoon he went through fifteen rounds -of boxing, finishing strong and fresh to tackle -pulleys and punching-bag.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy was joyful. “It will never go twenty -rounds, me lad. That straight left of yours -alone would stop ’im in ’arf that time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is my last day of road-work,” remarked -Donald to his friend on Friday afternoon, as he -slipped on his running-shoes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he and Douglas neared Prospect Point -Donald’s thoughts turned to the girl of yesterday. -“She was haughty as a princess.” Unwittingly -he had spoken his musings aloud.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s that?” queried his companion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was talking to myself,” laughed Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bad sign! You are either in love or old -age has overtaken you. Too bad!” Douglas -wagged his head sadly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I may as well tell you,” confided Donald; “I -saw a Greek goddess mounted on an Arabian -charger here yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas threw out his hands tragically. -“Donald, my poor friend! I am afraid that I -hit you too hard in that last round,” he said in a -voice of mock compassion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stopped short. “Look!” he cried, -pointing excitedly, “there she is!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The girl sat gracefully erect on the big horse, -gazing down at the rushing tide.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll be jiggered!” exclaimed Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t blame you, but isn’t she a peach?” -said Donald admiringly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas burst out laughing. “Do you know -who that is?” he asked with a peculiar inflection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I told you—a Greek goddess, mount——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s my sister Janet,” interrupted Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s mouth opened. He stared at his -friend. “Your <span class='it'>what</span>?” he exploded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I forgot! Poor fellow!” said Douglas, -solicitously, as his face assumed a mournful -expression. “I’ll certainly have to pull my -punches hereafter.” He leaned toward Donald -and placed his lips close to his ear. “S-i-s-t-e-r,” -he spelled slowly. “Does the old bean grasp -it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Cut the comedy,” growled Donald as he -jerked Douglas to the side of the road out of -sight of the equestrienne. “Good heavens! -Your sister!” he groaned, “and she thinks I am -a masher.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why should she think that of you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald told him of yesterday’s occurrence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is great!” chuckled Douglas. “Come -and meet my sister, Donald. I’ll tell her that -you can’t help flirting, and that will fix things -up all right. I’ll call her.” He grinned -facetiously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you dare! You——” Donald warned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas avoided Donald’s wild clutch, ran -to the centre of the road and waved his -arm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Janet!” he shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald shook an angry fist at his tormentor -and sprang to the shelter of the trees. There -was a thud of hoofs, a spattering of gravel, and -the sound of creaking leather.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What in the world are you doing here in -that dress, Doug?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Janet,” said her brother in a low, mysterious -voice, “I’ve got the fellow that tried to flirt -with you yesterday; he’s in there.” He pointed -to the bush. “The poor fellow is a confirmed -flirt; has it in its worst form. I beg of you, -Sister, be lenient, be merciful. He thinks you -are a Greek goddess.” He tapped his forehead -significantly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald cursed the irrepressible youth’s sense -of humour. If he could have reached the -humorist at that moment he would have -pitched him into the Inlet without compunction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet eyed her brother with disapproval. -“What are you talking about, Doug? Have you -taken leave of your senses entirely?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I will bring forth the erring knight for you -to censure,” rejoined her brother, bowing low -in exaggerated deference. “Ho!” he shouted, -“leave thy woodsy bower, Sir Don, the goddess -awaits thee.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seething inwardly, Donald tried to appear -dignified as he stepped to the road, but the -attempt was a dismal failure. How could one -approach anything like dignity when dressed -in a pair of running trunks, a torn and frayed -jersey, socks turned down over a pair of dirty -tennis shoes, and without hat or coat? All -this added to the fact that he faced a battery of -two big brown eyes, possessed by a lovely girl -immaculately dressed, who thought him a -masher. The greatest actor in the world would -fail to register dignity under such conditions. -He had a confused remembrance of a jumble of -words that went for a formal introduction. He -felt his face hot, and knew he was blushing -furiously, which did not add to his composure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The girl looked down curiously, but not -without interest, at the embarrassed young -man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald finally mustered courage to glance up -at the face above him. The deep brown eyes -regarding him held just a trace of humour. -The full red lips were parted to show a flash of -white, even teeth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is a pleasure to meet you even under such -inauspicious circumstances,” stammered Donald. -He turned to glare at the grinning cause of his -discomfiture. “I would suggest, Miss Rennie, -that you have a doctor waiting at your home, -as I intend to commit mayhem on the person -of your brother as soon as you have gone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet laughed. “I will go now to give you -the chance.” With a playful flick of her whip -toward Douglas, she was off like an arrow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned to his friend. “I hope that -you are satisfied now that you have made an -ass out of me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Quite happy, old dear. I didn’t find it a -hard job.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald laughed. “I’ll race you to the gym.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the bout was to take place on Monday, this -was to be the last day of training. The fans who -had flocked to see Donald in his work-outs -admitted that he had wonderful speed, but -would be unable to stay the twenty rounds with -the formidable Garrieau. The verdict of the -knowing ones was that it would take more than -a snappy left hand to lift the laurels from the -champion who possessed the virtue of the terrible -punch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the boxer training is a trying ordeal. -The daily grind of road-work, bag-punching, -rope-skipping and pulley work becomes monotonous. -The nerves become frayed, and if the -weight has to be materially reduced the boxer -develops a bad temper and is anything but a -cheerful companion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald prepared for bed that night he -thought with relief that the morrow would be a -day of rest. “I’ll be glad when it’s over,” he -mused. His meditations were interrupted by a -rapping on the door. In answer to his invitation -to come in, the door opened and a small man of -unprepossessing appearance entered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The visitor was indeed a most repulsive man, -of uncertain age, and with skin of a sickly yellow. -One eye was sightless, which he ascribed to an -accident during a football game. Those familiar -with his shady past averred that it was -caused by the vigorous application of an adversary’s -thumb during a bar-room brawl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m Garrieau’s manager,” he said importantly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What do you want?” demanded Donald -shortly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, see here, Kid. We’ve got a dead -cinch to cop de change. It’s dis way. Youse -is a amachoor widout a chance in de woild to -beat de Slugger. Get me? Well, dere ain’t a -bit of sense of de Slugger beatin’ you up for -nuttin’, so we frames de bout. De heavy bettin’ -will be on de Slugger, so we fixes it for de Slugger -to take de big flop. Get me? We let’s it -go ’till about de tent’ round, so’s to give de fans -a run for dere money. We gets all de money -dat we can beg, borrow and steal and puts it on -you to win. We puts up a slam-bang fight. -You can take de drop a couple of times, and -den down goes de Slugger. De fans will just -eat it up. De tent’ round will find you stannin’ -toe to toe, den de last minute you sends home -de fake sleep-punch. De boobs will t’ink it’s -on de square. Den in a mont’ we gets a return -fight, and we pulls off de ‘grudge stuff’ and -we packs de house. Of course, we have to win -den, and all our money will be placed on de -Slugger. Dat means dat we cop de change -twice. Get me?” His ugly lips parted in -what he intended as an ingratiating smile. -“You come up to de club to-morrow and we -rehearses de whole t’ing. Get me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s face turned pale with rage. “I ‘get -you,’ you damned little rat!” he rasped. Seizing -the surprised Pursell by the collar, he jerked -him to his feet, dragged him to the door, and -threw him out with such force that he struck -the wall with a thump and fell in a heap on the -floor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pursell rose with a snarl that showed his -yellow teeth. A look of bestial hate shot from -the one gleaming orb. “We’ll kill you Monday, -you——” The air was filled with the vilest -objurgations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Closing the door, Donald walked to the windows -and opened them wide, as though to rid -the room of the air his visitor had breathed. -“I never dreamed there was so much rottenness -in the shape of a human being,” he said disgustedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the same hour, at the other side of the -city, Douglas was also entertaining a visitor, -but of a very different type. He had just -entered his room when he heard his sister’s -voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I come in a minute, Doug?” Janet -came to the point quickly. “Who is this Mr. -McLean who was with you to-day?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, that was—er—Donald McLean,” he -answered evasively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You know what I mean. Who is he? -What is he? Where does he come from?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll look him up in Bradstreet’s.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do be serious, Doug.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is it a serious matter, Sis?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think he is interesting,” she replied -hesitatingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So do I. I liked him the first time I saw -him,” said Douglas warmly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, you haven’t answered my questions -yet,” persisted Janet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For all his fluency of speech Douglas was for -the moment nonplussed. “Let’s see—er—what -was the first question?” He was sparring for -time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t quibble, Doug. Where did you meet -him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I met him a long time ago, through -an intimate friend by the name of Pettray. -McLean is his partner. Firm name McLean -and Pettray.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is their business?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh—er—glove business.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was an interval of silence. “I’m not -a bad little liar,” thought Douglas. “I wonder -if she’s finished.” He yawned strenuously and -stretched his arms. “My! I’m sleepy,” he -said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet rose slowly and moved toward the door. -“Are you going to ask him out some time?” -she inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sure thing!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the door she turned. “Will you let me -know when he is coming?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, dear.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-night, Doug.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-night, Sis.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas stood for a while staring into nothingness. -“I don’t blame her,” he said aloud. “I -don’t know anything about him, but I’ll bet he -is a real man.”</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER IV</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> arena and the grand-stand were packed, -the S.R.O. sign having been hung out at two -o’clock. The cosmopolitan crowd sat in solid -ranks, tier upon tier, from the select ringside -seats to the topmost rail. Judges, lawyers, -doctors and bankers sat with labourers, miners, -loggers, bartenders, and bootblacks. Men of -the underworld sat side by side with men that -make and administer our laws. There was a -sprinkling of Japs, Chinamen and negroes. -The turbanned Hindu made bright splotches of -colour here and there in the vast sea of faces. -Of class distinction there was none; all welded -as one in the love of the boxing game.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The preliminaries were over, and the vast -crowd had settled in their seats. Suddenly there -was a stir, a craning of necks. Down the aisle -on the west side of the arena came Donald, -followed by Andy and the two seconds, the -latter carrying buckets, sponges, towels and -bottles. Donald wore a dark-coloured bathrobe -thrown over his shoulders. There was a murmur -of applause that swelled to a tumult as he clambered -through the ropes. He seemed cool as -Andy piloted him to his corner, but as he sat -down and stretched out his long legs, he appeared -ill at ease.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Although the crowd had given him a handsome -welcome, prophecies were shouted down -from the top seats that he would not last very -long with the formidable champion. Donald -was palpably nervous, as evidenced in the quick -turning of his head and the shuffling of his feet. -He looked slight and frail as he leaned forward -in his chair, the black bathrobe accentuating the -paleness of his face. A feeling of friendlessness -came over him as he gazed at the huge, strange -crowd who were loudly predicting his defeat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A well-known judge, wearing glasses and a -big black hat, turned to his companion. “It’s -a hanged shame, Tom, to match that slim boy -with a brute like Garrieau.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The one addressed was one of the City’s -leading dentists and an ardent boxing fan. -“Don’t you believe it, Bill,” he returned. “Just -wait until you see this boy strip.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here he comes!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A roar of applause greeted the champion as -he came down the east aisle bowing right and -left in answer to their plaudits. His dark, -massive body seemed fairly to shine as he leaped -to the ring with easy grace and stripped off his -robe. He stood in his corner with hands on -the ropes, shuffling his feet in the resin, still -smiling and glancing about the arena. Evidently -he loved the limelight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In appearance the champion very much resembled -the ape. His bullet-like head was close -cropped. The small piggish eyes were deep -set under overhanging, beetling brows, and the -nose was flat like a negro’s. His lips were -thick, with a repulsive twist that gave his face -a sinister look. His massive jaw was purposely -left unshaved to rasp the tender skin of his -opponent’s shoulders in the clinches. His -enormous barrel-shaped chest was covered with -a thick growth of hair. His shoulders were -broad and his disproportionately long arms, -heavily muscled, terminated in two thick ham-like -hands. He gazed confidently across at -Donald’s corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A pasteboard box containing the gloves was -tossed to the centre of the ring. There was a -stir as the announcer pushed his way through -the ropes. Andy crossed the ring to examine -the champion’s hands for tape and to test -thoroughly the new gloves for any trace of -sewed in shot or lotion that would cause the -eyes to smart. One of Garrieau’s seconds -was making a similar examination in Donald’s -corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A big man in a wide-brimmed hat, with a -mackinaw coat over his arm, came walking down -the steps of the arena. The look of astonishment -on his face gradually gave place to one of -joy. He ran to the ringside.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald!” he shouted joyously, as he sprang -through the ropes. With a thrill of pleasure -Donald held out his hand to Jack Gillis. The -big man’s face was beaming. “Just got in,” -he said. “Bin lookin’ all over town for you! -I come to the fight and—holy mackerel!—here -you are one of the fighters!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy noted the glad look in Donald’s eyes -and he spoke sharply to Donald’s seconds, who -were for ordering the boisterous visitor out of -the ring. The word “pyschology” was foreign -to Andy, but he knew that Donald’s mind had -for a moment drifted away from the fight. -Donald was surprised to see Douglas greet -Gillis warmly as the big man left the ring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have two good friends in the audience, -anyway,” whispered Donald to himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy leaned over him, talking in a low voice, -giving him comfort and advice. “E’ll try right -along, Donnie, to get your goat by cursing and -using vile language, but don’t listen to ’im, and -don’t lose your temper. ’E fights with ’is chin -tucked in the ’ollow of ’is left shoulder and ’is -neck muscles rigid. It’s mighty ’ard to land -on ’is jaw with a right. Now the first round,” -Andy went on, “you just jab ’im light with your -left; don’t ’it ’ard, just a good snappy punch. -’E’ll think you ’ave no sting in it, and the next -round ’e’ll get careless and let you ’it ’im so’s -to get in a punch. Of course, if you see a good -opening, let fly with all you ’ave, but ’e won’t -open up until ’e tries you out a bit. Watch the -dirty blighter in the clinches; ’e’ll foul you if -’e gets a chance. Another thing: this is to be -twenty rounds, so tyke your time. Now is -everything clear to you, Donnie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, Andy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy patted Donald’s bare shoulder affectionately.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The contestants stood in their corners as they -were introduced. The referee beckoned them -to the centre of the ring for instructions. As -Donald slipped the enveloping bathrobe from -his shoulders and stepped forward, a murmur of -admiration swelled from the crowd. His lean -loins and broad shoulders showed to advantage -in the bright light. The long, flowing muscles -rippled under his skin when he moved, like -those of a panther. Loud applause came from -all over the arena. Garrieau, thinking the -ovation was for himself, turned and ducked his -head with a motion that was intended for a bow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A rough voice near the top shouted: “Aw! -that wasn’t for you, you big stiff!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The judge and the dentist turned and looked -at each other. The eyes of the latter seemed to -say, “I told you so.” The judge smiled and -nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A fat man, who could not have been more than -thirty-five years of age, yet with rolls of fat at -his waist-line, a bulbous nose and florid face, -bit savagely on a big cigar. “By gad!” he -ejaculated, “that man is perfect.” There was a -look of admiration and envy in his red-rimmed -eyes. Thus do men admire the strong, well-kept -body of the athlete, even though their -own physical self has degenerated to mere -paste.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Two to one that Garrieau wins inside of -ten rounds!” shouted a voice. Douglas covered -the bet at once.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, men,” instructed the referee briskly, -“this is to be for twenty rounds. You are to -fight clean breaks. You can hit with one arm -free, but you cannot hold with one and hit -with the other. When I say ‘Break’ I want you -to break at once and step back. Do you understand -fully? Good! To your corners.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald glanced at his friends, who sat with -their eyes upon him. He felt Andy’s hand upon -him gently stroking his arm, yet he could not -suppress the trembling in his limbs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Everything’s all right, Donnie,” whispered -Andy softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The gong rang.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau assumed the crouch Andy had -predicted, his chin resting in the hollow of his -shoulder, his eyes seeming to retreat into his -skull under the overhanging brows. This was -the champion’s famous “fighting face.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pretty boy, ain’t yer?” he scoffed. “I’m -goin’ to knock dose pretty teet’ down yer throat, -you——” he cursed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald snapped a light left to the ugly face -and danced out of range. The champion’s -thick lips parted in a fiendish grin. “My, -mamma’s nice boy has a terrible punch!” he -derided.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald continued his dazzling footwork, -keeping the champion in pursuit and contending -himself with occasional left-hand jabs that kept -his opponent’s head rocking. He shot glances -at intervals to his corner for instructions from -Andy, who nodded his head in approval of his -tactics.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The round finished in the challenger’s favour -by a wide margin on points. The champion -had not landed a single effective blow during -the round.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The action of the first round caused Donald -to forget his nervousness. Andy crowded between -his knees and gently massaged his body, all the -while speaking words of commendation and -counsel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now that you find that you can reach ’im -easily with your left, watch me for signals. -If I see that ’e’s openin’ up, I’ll give you the -sign to shoot your left with all you ’ave. If he -swings again with ’is left, try for ’is bread -basket. You understand me, Donnie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Easiest thing I’ve picked yet,” chuckled the -champion as he came to his corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He may be stalling,” cautioned his evil-faced -manager.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Huh!” grunted the champion. “I can -take all he has in dat left and never feel it. I’m -goin’ to open up on him de last part of de next -round.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The gong rang for the second round.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald caught a glimpse of Pursell’s face as -he crouched in the opposite corner. Such a look -of vicious hate shot from his one gleaming eye -that Donald shivered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The rough element began to boo Donald for -his running tactics. Some fans feel that they are -cheated out of the price of admission unless they -can witness the spectacle of two boxers slugging -toe to toe until one goes down. Science counts -for nothing with this small minority.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whadda ya think this is, a marathon?” -they shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Powder-puff punch!” derided another.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau suddenly tore in, letting loose a -terrific right that would have stopped the bout -right then if it had landed. From a clinch -Donald looked to his corner. Andy went -through the pantomime of shooting a straight -left. Donald nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Powder-puff punch!” again shouted the disgruntled -fan.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Did ya hear that?” hissed Garrieau, twisting -his mouth into an apish grin. “Yo can’t hit -hard enough to break an egg. I’m goin’ to -fix dose teet’ for you now.” He leered brutally -as he tore after Donald, disdainful of the belittled -left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stopped abruptly in his flight and shot -a lightning left across to his pursuer’s jaw. -The champion saw it coming, but too late to -block it. He threw his body into reverse, -robbing the blow of a great deal of its force; -yet enough was left to send him reeling back to -the ropes, his head whirling and his knees -wobbly. With a roar the spectators came to -their feet as one man. The gong saved Garrieau.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The crowd gave Donald a deafening ovation -as he walked to his corner. He looked for his -friends and saw Douglas and Gillis locked in -an embrace and dancing madly in the narrow -aisle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pretty near got ’im that time, Donnie!” -cried Andy gleefully. “If you can get ’im to -lift ’is jaw off ’is shoulder, send in your right.” -Andy’s hands were shaking with excitement, -while Donald was cool and collected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me go after him, Andy,” he begged; -“I can whip him at his own game.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, no!” admonished Andy, “keep on -as you are. Don’t try to swap punches with -’im!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau’s seconds were working over him -feverishly. Pursell leaned over the heavily-breathing -champion, his evil face sick with -apprehension.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’d I tell yer?” he exclaimed. “They’ve -stuck a ringer in on us; dat feller ain’t no -amachoor! If he beats ya we’re both bums! -Foul him dis round, for de——” he finished -with a savage oath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the beginning of the third round Garrieau -charged his elusive adversary like a mad bull. -Donald easily side-stepped him and he plunged -into the ropes. As he rebounded, Donald -landed a left and danced safely away without -reprisal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You can do pretty footwork,” snarled the -champion with a look of Simian ferocity, “but -I’ll get you yet, you——” There followed a -burst of wild cursing. He tried to rush Donald -to the ropes, feinted for the wind, and let loose -a powerful right for the jaw. Paying no attention -to the feint, Donald ducked the blow and, -countering, shot his left to his opponent’s mid-section. -The champion grunted aloud, fell -into a clinch, and hung on grimly. The referee -pried them apart. Again the crowd came to -their feet to shout in a frenzy of excitement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau fell into a clinch, then wrestled about -until he placed his opponent between himself -and the referee. He loosed his right in a terrific -upper-cut that missed, but his left smashed with -fearful force to Donald’s groin—the most brutal -foul that can be delivered. The referee did not -see the blow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s nerves quivered with agony. A -wave of torment and the awful nausea that -follows such a blow swept through him. His -face writhing with anguish, his gloved hands -clutching his groin, he crashed forward on his -face. His body twitched for a moment, then -lay still.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The crowd came to their feet and many moved -toward the exits. Another victim, they thought, -to the champion’s terrible punch. A number -at the ringside, who had witnessed the foul -blow, stood upon their seats and screamed -denunciations at the referee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The referee stood with one hand on Garrieau’s -massive chest. The latter was lustfully straining -forward while the fatal seconds were tolled off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The roar of the crowd came to Donald’s ears -like the dash of waves on a distant shore. At -the count of five his body stirred. At the count -of eight, his jaw sagging, his face distorted, he -struggled to his knees. He saw Andy’s agonised -face as through a fog and heard his desperate -cry of appeal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Up, Donnie! Up!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the count of nine Donald’s benumbed -muscles answered the call of his brain. With -tremendous effort he staggered to his feet and -wound his arms about his face. The crowd -yelled themselves hoarse in tribute to his -courage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau was upon him with a growl like a -wild beast. Donald stood in the centre of the -ring reeling drunkenly. Garrieau shot a terrific -right for Donald’s wind that struck his weakly -protecting elbows. The impact carried him to -the ropes, and he fell forward to his knees. -Again the referee’s arm rose and fell as he -counted the seconds. Again Donald tottered -to his feet to meet a fusilade of short-arm jolts -that pierced his guard and sent him staggering.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The gong rang. With body swaying unsteadily -and legs wavering, Donald walked to his corner -and sank down heavily. What a blessed relief -to lie and relax! His head felt leaden and there -was a ringing in his ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His seconds worked over him in furious haste. -Andy knew all the tricks of resuscitation: the -upward sweep of hand on the midriff that -brings the big nerve centre to life; the quick -raising of the chest that brings air to the remote -corners of the lungs. With a sudden choking -in his throat, the little Australian realized that -this boy was very dear to him. A prayer on his -lips, his hands trembling, but sure and deft, -he strove to restore the shattered nerves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The colour came slowly to Donald’s cheeks -and the haze cleared away as the cold water was -showered upon him. He felt his strength -returning. A long deep breath and he was -himself again. Youth and his fine body had -saved him. He looked across the ring at -Garrieau, whose vulture-like manager was leaning -over him with an exultant look on his face. This -brute had deliberately fouled him. A cold and -terrible rage swept through every fibre of -Donald’s being. He had demeaned himself by -entering the prize-ring. This was bad enough; -but to <span class='it'>lose</span> the battle!—<span class='it'>Never!</span> He looked for -his friends. Their faces, he saw, were tense and -full of misery.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy, I’m going after him,” he declared -in a hard voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy was about to remonstrate, but he -caught a flash of the hard light in Donald’s eyes, -and the words died on his lips. He hesitated. -Maybe he should have let Donald take the -aggressive from the start.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you strong enough, Donnie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s eyes held a dull glow. “Yes!” -he gritted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy patted his arm as the gong rang. “Give -’im ’ell, Donnie!” And then added reverently: -“May God give ’im strength.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald shot from his corner as though thrown -from a catapult to meet Garrieau before he was -fairly out of his chair. The spectators held their -breath. Was this the man who a minute before -had walked staggering and beaten to his chair? -When the referee pried the fighters apart after a -fierce mix-up in the champion’s corner, a puffed -eye and a bloody face showed that Garrieau had -absorbed severe punishment. Donald was everywhere, -dancing in for a fierce rally and out -again, always without a return.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The arena fairly rocked to the cheers of the -crowd as Donald stood in the centre of the ring -and exchanged punches with the champion. -Head to head they stood while Donald’s arms -worked with such lightning speed that the -champion’s blows were smothered. And, marvel -of marvels, the champion was giving ground. -The pursued had become pursuer. The tide had -turned. With his arms wound about his face the -champion retreated. As he assayed a lead, -Donald’s fist smote his face before he could again -cover up. Following relentlessly, Donald penetrated -his opponent’s guard with rights and lefts -until the champion’s face was a smear of red.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bedlam of sound came from the audience as -they stood on their seats and roared their -admiration for the challenger’s wonderful exhibition. -Andy, his face set, his eyes bulging -clung to the corner of the ring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Garrieau drove heavily at his elusive foe and -missed. The impetus swung him to one side. -For an instant his chin was without the protecting -shelter of his shoulder. With a bewilderingly -swift move Donald stepped forward, pivoted on -his toes, and with the full weight of his powerful -young body behind it, he whipped his right to -the champion’s unprotected jaw. Plop! Garrieau -fell upon his face and sprawled like a baboon -on the floor. Donald walked to his corner, -thrust his gloved hands towards Andy, who stood -as though paralyzed, and said; “Take them off, -Andy.” His voice was audible throughout the -arena. The referee rushed to Donald’s side -and raised his arm aloft in token of victory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a roar the crowd came to its senses to -realize that the fight was over. Pandemonium -broke loose. A struggling mass of humanity -surged into the ring. Every man wanted to shake -hands with the new champion. Garrieau, the -possessor of the “punch” they had so much -admired, was forgotten. The king is dead—long -live the king! Such is life, especially in the -boxing game!</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER V</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>With</span> much difficulty Donald and his friends -forced their way through the cheering throng to -the dressing-room. Weak and tired, Donald lay -on a cot, while his handlers gently massaged his -sore body. Andy moved to the cot and stood -looking down on his protégé.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald opened his eyes. “Hello, Andy, he -smiled weakly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Donnie,” said Andy huskily, as he -patted Donald’s dark head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s hand stole out to meet the warm -clasp of his friend.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some little fight,” said Andy, summoning a -smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not bad,” agreed Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis pulled his hat brim down over his eyes -to hide his emotion. “I’ve a good mind to go -out and give that brute another lickin’,” he -growled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the promoters thrust his head through -the door. “Come and get your dough!” he -shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me lucky!” returned Andy, “those -words ’ave a pleasant sound.” He picked up a -small handbag and left the room. In a few -moments he returned, his face beaming. He -tapped the satchel. “Chuck full,” he said -happily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the gymnasium they gathered in Andy’s -room, and for the first time Donald told them -of the attempted “frame-up” proposed by -Garrieau’s manager. Douglas strode across the -room and gripped Donald’s hand. Not a word -was uttered by anyone, but the silence was more -eloquent than speech.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were all in a happy mood after the -prolonged strain of the day. Andy was in particularly -high spirits. “Gentlemen,” he began -grandiloquently, “I ’ave before me on the tyble -’ere a most wonderful little ’andbag. All it ’ad -in it this morning was a dirty collar and a shirt -stud. Now,” making a dramatic gesture, “it’s -the bloomin’ ’orn of plenty!” He turned the -satchel upside down and a mass of bills, coins -and cheques fell upon the table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ere, Gillis,” cried Andy, as he selected a -bill, “will you go out and get some champagne, -and when you goes in the bar buy a -drink for the ’ouse. Bring ginger ale for -Donnie; ’is manager’ll drink ’is share of the -wine.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy sorted the money into piles and sat -quietly counting for a few minutes. “Fifteen -thousand and a few odd dollars,” he announced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What!” ejaculated Donald. He was astounded. -He had given the size of the purse -little thought. “I had no idea it would be so -much,” he said in a surprised tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, the boxin’ gyme is a great gyme,” said -Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” remarked Douglas, “but after seeing -that bout to-day I’m going to take up tiddly-winks -instead; it’s not so rough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the big man returned with the wine -Donald turned to Douglas. “It seems that you -and Gillis are old friends.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, yes, Jack’s been one of Dad’s right-hand -men for—how long, Jack?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About ten years,” replied Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And I’m equally interested to know how you -and Jack know each other so well,” said Douglas -curiously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I met Donald on the train comin’ out,” -answered Gillis quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come on, boys,” cried Andy, “we’ll drink -to the new champ—to Donnie’s health.” Andy -held his glass aloft. “Boys, I can’t make much -of a speech, as I ’ave only ’ad one drink. Stand -up while we drink to our Donnie. I knows that -’e’s goin’ to leave me, and that ’e’s goin’ to give -up the boxin’ gyme. I knows that ’e isn’t in -the ’abit of mixin’ with the likes o’ me. I knows -that I’m lucky to be blackin’ the boots o’ a man -like ’im. But when I knows that ’e went into -this fight to ’elp a poor little bloke like me out -of an ’ole, I’m proud, boys, I’m proud! I’ve -seen many a fight, and I’ve seen many a gyme -man. But strike me blind if Donnie didn’t -this day teach me something about sheer grit. -When ’e came stumblin’ to me at the end of -that—that third round—I—I——” He stopped. -“You know what ’appened,” he continued in a -husky voice. “I ask nothin’ better’n to ’ave -’im for me pal. ’Ere’s to the gymest man that -ever stepped in shoe-leather! ’Ere’s to ’im!” -Andy turned away quickly to light a cigarette. -His eyes were moist. The room was silent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was deeply moved by his little friend’s -show of feeling. Douglas broke the silence. -“You got back to the Coast just in time, -Jack.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How’s that?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dad has started on the biggest job that he’s -tackled yet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you remember the big tract of timber -that he bought in the Cheakamus Valley?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, he bought on my advice,” answered -Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, he’s going to run a railroad in and -build sawmills, and saw the logs right on the -spot instead of shipping them to the Coast.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” said Gillis heartily. “There’s a -wonderful stand of timber in that valley.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But here’s the best part of it,” Douglas went -on eagerly; “Dad’s going to send you in to -cruise the timber around Summit Lake, and I’m -to go with you. It’s a wonderful country. I -was up there last summer.” He turned to -Donald. “Will you go with us?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll be glad to,” assented Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” cried Douglas. “It will be fine -camping with you and Jack.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Little Andy sat patiently listening to this lively -conversation, in which he had been completely -ignored. He could contain himself no longer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I s’y,” he blurted, “am I such a blinkin’ -dwarf that you’ve forgotten that I’m in this ’ere -crowd? Isn’t me ’ead above the tyble? Where -the ’ell do I get off on this ’ere bloomin’ picnic, -I asks you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One look into the Australian’s seriously comic -face with its heavy blond eyebrows wagging up -and down set Douglas into paroxysms of laughter. -“Andy,” he declared, “I’m going to take you -along, even if we have to mark you ‘excess baggage.’ -Can you cook?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can I cook?” repeated Andy. “ ’E asks me -can I cook! That’s me first name; that’s me -profession. I’ve cooked on sailing ships, steamboats, -in camps, in the Army, an’ I did thirty -days in Sydney jail, and blime me if they didn’t -make me ’ead cook. I was so good they wanted -me to sty.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’re hired, Andy,” said Douglas decidedly. -“But isn’t it going to be pretty tough to quit -the boxing game for cooking?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Seein’ as you ’ave asked me I’ll say that it’s -a blinkin’ sight better than quittin’ it for tiddledy-winks!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas came to his feet. “I want you to -meet Dad, Donald, and we’ll find out when we -are to start.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy patted his stomach contemplatively. -“Well, with this ’ere champagne under me belt, -I think I’ll start in ’ere and ’ave a drink and a -fight in every bar from ’ere to Cordova Street. -About meetin’ you, Donnie,” he added scratching -his head reflectively, “the way I feel right now -I think by to-morrow morning you’ll find me -in the bridal-chamber of the Vancouver Hotel.” -Saying which with straightened shoulders, his -head set at a characteristic angle, he swaggered -down the street and with a wave of his hand -disappeared within the swinging doors of the -first saloon. In his present mood Andy envied -no millionaire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll like Dad,” said Douglas, as they ran -up the steps of the big office building. “He’s -rather severe looking and pretty straight-laced, -but the face he wears in the office isn’t the face -he wears at home.” He finished with a laugh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie was the sole owner of the -Rennie Construction and Logging Company, -one of the largest organizations of its kind on -the Coast. He now rose from his chair and -came around the desk, all the while studying -Donald’s face, which bore unmistakable traces -of the afternoon’s fight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dad, this is Donald McLean, whom I told -you about last night. I don’t want to take up -much of your time; just wanted you to meet -Donald and find out when we can start on the -trip to the mountains.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now that Gillis is here to go with you, you -can go any time; the sooner the better, as we -expect to have the railroad to the summit in a -few weeks,” responded his father, his eyes still -on Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks, Dad,” said Douglas. “We can be -ready to-morrow and leave the next day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Douglas, will you please go to Bowser’s office -and get some papers he promised to have ready -to-day?” asked Robert Rennie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald moved toward the door with Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sit down, Mr. McLean, and wait until -Douglas comes back,” invited Robert Rennie -politely, as he pushed a chair toward Donald. -He then closed the door of the outer office, where -a girl sat pounding a typewriter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the older man turned his face was set -in a broad smile and he crossed the room to -seize the hand of his astonished visitor in a -hearty grip. “Man! man!” he exclaimed, as -he pumped Donald’s hand vigorously, “that -was a great fight to-day! When you got -Garrieau with your left in the second round -and that d—— gong rang, I—I—heavens, but -I was excited!” He was gazing at Donald with -admiration glowing in his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You—you were there!” gasped Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie chuckled. “Top row—nigger -heaven! When that brute fouled you I think -I could have shot him!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Rennie, I’m not a professional fighter, -I—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tut! tut!” interrupted the enthusiastic fan, -“I can see that. By gad! that last round was a -whirlwind. That right you landed on his jaw—I -got so excited that I fell down between the seats -and skinned my shins.” He rubbed his leg -ruefully. “I never saw such speed as you showed -in that last. . . .”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here footsteps sounded outside, Robert Rennie -moved quickly to his chair, adjusted his glasses -and assumed a serious expression. “Not a -word to Doug,” he whispered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bowser says that he told you he’d have the -papers to-morrow,” informed Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very well,” answered his father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned as he was leaving the room -and saw Robert Rennie close one eye in a wise -wink.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER VI</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>At</span> the breakfast table the next morning -Douglas was talking happily of their departure -for Summit Lake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll have to hustle the work of timber -cruising,” his father admonished. “There won’t -be any time for play, as we expect to have the -road finished in a few weeks.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry, Dad. This is my first real job, -and I am going to make good,” declared Douglas -stoutly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope so, Douglas. As you know, I want -you to work your way up on your own merits. -I’m not going to show any favouritism. We are -going to put in a larger mill at Cheakamus, and -one at Summit Lake, so there will be good -opportunities for advancement for you and -McLean if you show the right spirit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is Mr. McLean going with you?” interposed -Janet in a casual tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How can he leave his business for so -long?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s not actively engaged in business just at -present,” explained Douglas glibly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You might ask him out to dinner to-night. -I am having a few friends in for the evening.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You bet I will.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald accepted Janet’s invitation with alacrity. -Living within the four bare walls of a room and -eating in restaurants had long since palled on his -taste.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Formal or informal?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas made a deprecatory gesture. “Formal, -very formal. You don’t know Janet or you -wouldn’t ask that question. My sister is a -stickler for ceremony. How are you off for -‘soup and fish’?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have the necessaries,” smiled Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald spent more than the usual time in -dressing. He stood before the small mirror -and surveyed himself with a critical eye. “Pretty -soft for you,” he apostrophized himself, “eating -in ten-cent restaurants one day and dining in a -millionaire’s home the next, and on the invitation -of the most beautiful girl you have ever met.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas called for him with his car and -whisked him to the palatial Rennie residence -on Shaughnessy Heights. The imposing evidence -of wealth was written in bold headlines on -the whole street of beautiful homes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Rennie met them at the door and greeted -Donald warmly. He could not repress a start -as he noted her likeness to Janet, and when she -spoke her voice held the same deep tone as her -daughter’s. She led him to a large room flanked -by two enormous bays that looked out on the -Avenue. There was a spaciousness in all the -rooms, a rare combination of beauty and good -taste in the furnishings, that were luxurious -without being ornate. Robert Rennie came -forward and gave him a cheery welcome. Donald -heard Janet’s voice behind him and turned to -gaze on a vision of loveliness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet had dressed for the occasion with unusual -care. A dark red evening gown of a filmy material -showed to advantage the delicate contour of her -form and the graceful curve of her snow-white -shoulders and neck. Her lovely hair was wound -in shining coils and held with a comb that -sparkled with small but brilliant diamonds. -Her long dark lashes drooped, and she flushed -slightly as she met Donald’s look of undisguised -admiration.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Rennie was an excellent hostess. Her -cultured and charming personality put Donald -quite at ease. It seemed ages since he had worn -a dress-suit and been entertained in a home of -luxury and refinement. After the coarse fare -of noisy restaurants which had been his, the -excellent food, the rich linen, the home-like -atmosphere and the subdued voices now gave -him a pleasant thrill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The conversation during dinner was on various -subjects. At times it swung perilously near to -matters pertaining to Donald’s personal affairs. -On such occasions Douglas adroitly shifted it -to other channels.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet studied Donald covertly. His perfect -poise, his air of refinement and his evident lack -of self-consciousness impressed her. “He is -cultured and well-bred,” she thought as she noted -his well-shaped head, his powerful shoulders and -his clean-cut profile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near the finish of dinner, while waiting for -coffee to be served, there came a lull in the -conversation which was finally broken by Janet. -“Doug tells me that you are engaged in the glove -business, Mr. McLean,” she stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald shot a quick glance at Douglas, but -his friend’s face was hidden in his handkerchief -to smother a sudden attack of coughing. In spite -of Donald’s great effort at self-control, he felt -a warm flush rise in his cheeks. What had -Douglas divulged? Did his sister know of his -participation in a boxing-match? He looked -at Douglas appealingly. It was evident that he -would receive no aid from that quarter, as that -young man’s only assistance was a prolonged -coughing that effectually drowned immediate -conversation, but would have to stop sooner or -later for lack of breath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this crucial moment Robert Rennie came -to his assistance. “I would like Mr. McLean -to witness a sunset from our roof,” he said as he -rose from the table. “Let us have our coffee -served there. The light will be gone if we wait -longer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they ascended the stairs Donald gave his -host a grateful look, which Mr. Rennie returned -understandingly. That moment cemented an -instant friendship in Donald’s heart for this -broad-minded Western millionaire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the eminence of the tiny roof garden -the City, sliced with streets, lay at their feet. To -the north the mountains were invested with a -mystic blue haze, through which towered the -snow-clad peaks. To the west lay the curving -white sands of English Bay, and beyond, in the -clear air of the long British Columbia twilight, -they could see the strong mountainous profile -of Vancouver Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The topography of our City,” explained -Robert Rennie, “lying between Burrard Inlet and -False Creek, is very much like that of New York -on Manhattan Island. The narrows are deep -enough for the largest ship afloat, and the Inlet—a -veritable inland sea—has unlimited room for -docks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The name ‘Narrows’ seems a feeble word for -such a magnificent spot,” observed Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Quite true,” admitted Robert Rennie. “It -was only yesterday that one of our public-spirited -citizens suggested the name ‘Lions’ -Gate’.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Dad, that would be lovely!” exclaimed -Janet, her eyes shining. “The ‘Lions’ Gate,’ -with the two watchful Lions looking down on -all who enter. The name is most fitting.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” concurred Douglas, “Canada being one -of the Lion’s whelps, what more appropriate name -than ‘Lions’ Gate,’ the western gateway to the -British Empire?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Creator was wonderfully kind to us in -His allotment of mountains,” said Janet’s father; -“mountains that are not only valuable for their -scenic beauty, but for their mineral-filled rocks -and forest-clad sides. Our bays, inlets and -streams are filled with fish, and our climate is so -mild on the Coast that man can live in comfort -amid congenial surroundings the year round.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here we have the last of the Great West,” -continued Mr. Rennie. “With nearly four -hundred thousand miles of territory, a coast line -seven thousand miles in length, our population -for the entire Province is less than one of the -Coast cities to the south of us. Here in this vast -untouched hinterland,” swinging his arm to the -north and east, “lies a potential wealth that -will support millions, a wealth that is awaiting -the magic touch of capital and settlers—capital -to provide railways; farmers to till the rich valley; -miners to unlock the vast hoards of gold and copper; -and loggers to fell the virgin forests. Some -day—and that day is not far distant—all this will -come to pass, and you young folks will see a -railroad from Vancouver to the Behring Sea.” -The speaker’s face was flushed and his eyes were -glowing. “Who knows,” he finished dreamily, -“but what the railroad I am building will be a -link in the Alaskan road of the future?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here is a family,” thought Donald, “all -native-born, who have a deep and abiding faith -in the destiny of the land of their birth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Addressing Mr. Rennie, he said: “If the love -that you and yours have for this Province is -typical of the average citizen, I see no need to -fear for the future of your country.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you,” the older man replied gravely. -“Our population is made up of people from all -parts of the world, as our native-born are few. -A cosmopolite is more or less indifferent to the -future of the country in which he resides. ‘Get -the money’ is unfortunately the slogan of many -of our business men, who make no attempt to -build for the future. Until such time as there -is ingrained in the hearts of our citizens a true -love for our Province; until such time as our -cities and towns forget petty bickerings and -jealousies and work together and harmoniously, -then—and only then—will British Columbia -become what Nature intended, the crowning -jewel of the British Empire.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet’s guests arrived in groups of two and -three until about twenty of Vancouver’s younger -set were scattered about the large rooms. In -introducing Donald to her friends Janet felt a -warm glow of satisfaction as she saw the many -glances of keen interest directed toward her -stranger guest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A slender girl with elaborately coiffed golden -hair, looking like a white butterfly, fluttered to -Janet’s side and shook a reproving finger in her -face. “ ’Fess up now, Janet,” she pouted; “how -long have you been hiding this handsome man? -Who is this Prince Charming?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Curiosity killed the cat,” was Janet’s evasive -reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald had no penchant for social functions, -but this lively party was a grateful respite from -a whole winter of lonely evenings, and he -entered into the spirit of the occasion wholeheartedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A game of whist and then the big rooms were -cleared and they danced until a late hour. At -Donald’s request Janet sang for them. Her -rich contralto voice seemed to fill the room and -set the air pulsing with sweet harmony. She -sang a song of love and passion that seemed to -bear Donald into another world. As he turned -the final sheet and the last liquid note travelled -through the rooms he roused himself as though -from a spell. That voice! How strangely it -affected him! He looked down to find Janet’s -dark eyes fixed on his.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will you please sing again?” he implored.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The same?” she questioned softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He nodded. Donald’s gaze travelled from the -flying white fingers to the lovely face of the -singer. As their eyes met Janet’s face flushed -slightly, and at the finish of the verse she changed -quickly to a rollicking song of the sea. “All -join in,” she called merrily over her shoulder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After Janet’s other guests had departed Donald, -Douglas and Janet sat for an hour chatting by -the large fireplace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I go with you as far as Squamish -to-morrow?” asked Janet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Certainly, Sis.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And when the railroad is through I will -visit you,” she added.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas looked at her curiously. Janet -abhorred roughing it. Riding around Stanley -Park and an occasional game of tennis comprised -the extent of her outdoor activities. -Douglas glanced at the clock and came quickly -to his feet. “I’d better hustle you home, -Donald,” he said, “as we have to be up -early.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The tinted shade of the hall light lent a soft -radiance to the dark beauty of Janet’s face and -gave to her eyes a deep and languorous glow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have enjoyed every moment. Thank you -so much,” Donald said earnestly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad,” she answered in a quiet voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He took her hand and held it in a strong -pressure. “I’ll see you in the morning?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” she murmured softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The door closed gently and Janet heard him -run down the steps to the whirring motor. She -stood immovable until the sound of the car died -in the distance, then walked meditatively to the -fireplace, sank to a big chair and stared dreamily -into the dying embers. Idly she reached for the -evening paper and spread it on her knees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Such dignity and poise! He is wonderful!” -she whispered aloud. “I must ask Douglas -more about him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She lowered her eyes to the paper, then came -slowly to her feet, a look of blank amazement on -her face. Smiling up at her was the face of -the man of whom she had been dreaming.</p> - -<div class='blockquote-right95percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-bottom:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Canadian Champion</span></p> - -<p class='pindent'>“New Canadian champion, whose spectacular -defeat of Garrieau stamps him as a -master of fistiana and places him in line to -meet the world’s top-notchers.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>A pugilist! And she had proudly introduced -him to her friends! Why hadn’t Douglas told -her? She threw herself into a chair and gave -herself over to a period of gloomy contemplation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Whistling softly, Douglas shut off the hall -lights and entered the room. “Not in bed -yet? You’d better——” he broke off suddenly -as she turned cold eyes upon him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why didn’t you tell me that your friend is -a pugilist?” she demanded as she thrust the -offending sheet in Douglas’s hand. “In the -glove business!” she went on sarcastically. -“That may be your idea of a joke, but I don’t -see anything funny about it.” And without -waiting for an answer she flung herself angrily -from the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas lighted a cigarette, which he smoked -with short angry puffs as he walked the floor. -He kicked viciously at an inoffensive footstool -and sent it hurtling across the room. “Damn!” -Then throwing the half-smoked cigarette in the -fireplace, he switched off the light and sought -his bed.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER VII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>In</span> spite of the late hour of his retiring, Donald -was up early and was the first of the party to -reach the dock. Gillis and Andy arrived soon -after, the latter staggering manfully under his -heavy pack, a rifle swinging loosely in his hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stepped forward as Douglas appeared. -His face fell as he saw that he was alone. “Isn’t -your sister coming?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas avoided Donald’s direct gaze. He -leaned over to fumble needlessly with the straps -of his duffle-bags. “She’s peeved; saw your -photograph in last night’s paper.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry,” said Donald, obviously distressed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Janet makes me tired,” said Douglas irritably. -“What if you did fight Garrieau? What -difference does it make?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Your sister’s view-point is different,” answered -Donald gloomily. “You must be curious -to know more about me, Doug, yet you have -never asked any questions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have often wondered,” admitted Douglas; -“but if you wished me to know you would tell -me. I don’t give a hang who you are or what -you are. You suit me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks, Doug.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The shrill blast of the steamer’s whistle smote -their ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ere, you blighters!” shouted Andy from -the top deck, “are you goin’ on this blinkin’ -picnic?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lines were cast off, the water boiled under -the steamer’s stern. They backed slowly from -the dock, swung about and headed for the -Narrows. The scores of screaming gulls that -accompanied them hovered over the deck, their -keen eyes on the lookout for any bits of waste -food that should fall in the steamer’s wake. -Boats plied in and out, every kind of craft from -small fishing-boat to ocean liner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bright sun, beaming with all the warmth -and splendour of full morning, bathed inlet and -mountain in a wide shower of gold. A strong -westerly wind bucked an outgoing tide, the foam -of tossing wave crests flashing white in the -sunlight. The tumbling combers hissed and -crashed against the sturdy bow of the boat, -causing her to pitch jerkily. The salt breeze -whipped a glow into the faces of the party -gathered near the pilot-house and strummed -noisily through the masts and superstructure. -A yacht-like passenger steamer from Victoria, -painted a pure white, swept past them, a smother -of foam at her bow. A rakishly-built tug -trudged cityward with a huge raft of logs in -tow, a pillar of inky smoke streaming over her -bow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they passed the sheer wall of Prospect -Point, Donald’s thought reverted to his first -meeting with Janet. Douglas, who had been -studying the shore through binoculars, passed -the glasses to Donald and pointed to the bluff. -At first he saw nothing of special interest and -turned to glance at Douglas inquiringly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Janet,” smiled Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sure enough, he now saw a horse and rider -on the highest point etched in miniature against -the dark green woods. Douglas waved a handkerchief, -and Donald caught a flutter of white -from the dizzy promontory. His mind was -filled with conjectures. Why was she there? -Had she still a kindly feeling for him despite -last night’s exposure?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet could not herself have explained her -reason for being there. She was up early, stole -quietly to the stable, saddled her horse and rode -to the Park. Riding steadily all the morning, -she had battled with herself, had summoned all -her courage to resist the spell this strange young -man held over her, only to find that her will was -impotent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As she now waved her handkerchief she -strained her eyes in a vain effort to single out -Donald’s tall form. Suddenly a feeling of -shame for her weakness came over her. “Can’t -you forget him?” she asked herself irritably. -“A prize-fighter!” Whirling her horse about -she galloped swiftly toward the City.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>The Rennie C. & L. Co. were already operating -trains to Cheakamus, twelve miles from the -Coast. An engine with two coaches was waiting -to convey the passengers—chiefly labourers -carrying blankets—to “the end of steel.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Cheakamus the atmosphere was tense with -activity. Engines shunted back and forth; the -scream of a big circular saw came from a mill -that was turning huge fir logs into ties; mule-skinners -shouted as they backed their heavy -wagons to the platform to be loaded with supplies. -At both sides of the track were huge -piles of ties, lumber and rails. The newly-arrived -labourers hoisted their packs to their -backs and set off up the road.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was plain that this settlement was not built -for permanency; it was a typical mushroom town. -The rough board buildings still retained the -colour of green lumber. Heaps of tin cans, -piles of waste lumber, and the various parts of -broken wagons littered the ground. The picturesqueness -that Donald had expected to find -in this wilderness camp was lacking, but he was -vastly thrilled by the stupendous power exhibited -in the combined forces of men and machinery.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From up the line came the roar of a terrific -blast that made the ground tremble and sent -rumbling echoes through the valley. A whole -train-load of logs were dumped into the millpond -with a crash that sent the water in a hissing -wave that struck the opposite shore and exploded -in a seething mass of dirty white foam. The air -seemed charged with a dynamic energy which -caused the blood to tingle in the veins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the yard of a stable a number of horses lay on -the ground or stood weakly with drooping heads.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Horse hospital,” informed Gillis, to Donald’s -inquiry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald moved to the fence, his heart filled -with pity. Two men, one carrying a rifle, -entered the enclosure and walked to the side of a -handsome big Clydesdale that stood on slayed legs, -his head lowered and his eyes filled with mute -agony. One foreleg was terribly swollen, and a -long, livid wound showed on one powerful hip.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sorry, Pete, but Doc. sez he’s got to go,” -said the man with the rifle regretfully, as he -slipped a halter over the stricken animal’s head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man addressed as Pete patted the horse’s -head affectionately. “I bin drivin’ old Bob -for about six years, Bill. We knows each other -like a book.” He pressed his face roughly to -the horse’s muzzle. “Don’t we, old pal?” -he finished in a muffled tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pulling and coaxing they urged the doomed -animal through the gate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You needn’t go, Pete,” said the man with the -gun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His companion stopped near Donald and stood -staring after the painfully limping animal. -Nearing the woods the horse stopped short, -lifted his head high on his arched neck, and -sent out a clarion call that was answered by -weak nickers from his mates within the corral.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few men glanced up casually, then turned -to their tasks. Work went on as usual. The -mill clattered, drivers shouted, engine bells -clanged—only a horse that was no more useful -being led to his death. An everyday occurrence -in a construction camp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a short interval the noble animal held his -majestic pose, then, swaying awkwardly, he -disappeared from view. At the sharp crack of -the rifle the man by Donald’s side winced as -though the bullet had seared his own flesh. -Brushing the sleeve of his coarse mackinaw -shirt hastily across his eyes, he muttered a curse, -then turned and ran with stumbling steps -to his waiting team, mounted the seat and -clucked gently to his four horses. The big -animals strained against their collars. The -huge load moved slowly at first, then, gathering -momentum, rolled swiftly up the road.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis brought five cayuses to the rear of the -station, and in a few minutes his practised hands -loaded two of them with their luggage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The small cavalcade moved up the dusty -road in a single file, with Douglas in the lead. -They overtook and met numbers of freight -wagons, going in and out, the drivers shouting -greetings to each other in foreign tongues. -They passed the track-laying machine, which -was throwing the heavy rails about as if they -were matches in giant hands. Guards stopped -them without the zone of flying débris while -giant blasts rent the air as if some titanic monster -had torn the earth asunder. Huge rocks soared -above the trees, then crashed to the ground -with sickening thuds, while small pebbles spattered -about them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Through the trees they saw a cloud of steam -and smoke. The air was shrill with incessant -quick steam-whistles as a huge steam-shovel -growled and tore like a ravenous monster at the -gravelled hillside. Four men bearing a stretcher -came slowly down the trail. A man on horseback, -wearing riding-breeches and leather leggings, -rode in their wake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How are you, Doctor Paul?” greeted -Douglas. “Is it a serious accident?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tree fell on him. Broke both legs, and he -is hurt internally—won’t live,” answered the -doctor in a low voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald glimpsed the face of the sufferer -showing ashen through a stubby beard. Bloody -bandages framed two crimson-stained lips, from -which issued gurgling groans of agony. They -moved on in silence for a few moments.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When people ride in trains,” observed Gillis -“there ain’t one in a thousand that knows -what it costs in sufferin’ and lives to make it -so’s they can ride in comfort.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By mid-afternoon they came to the vanguard -of the army of workers, the men who were -clearing the right-of-way. At intervals they -could hear the long-drawn cry of the choppers -as the top of a giant tree shivered and then with a -great rending crash fell to earth with a resounding -roar. Here they came to the end of the new -road, and with a feeling of relief they plunged -into the cool shadow of the virgin woods. After -the great clamour, the forest, through which -the trail wandered deviously, seemed steeped in -primal calm. The roar of the blasts no longer -came in definite crashes, but was smothered by -the distance to a muffled rumble.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A rider jogging down the trail reined in his -horse and shouted a cheery greeting in true -Western style. He was a clean-limbed, alert -young man, with a frank smile, and seemed -elastic with the sword-keen health of outdoors. -He swung easily from the saddle and introduced -himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My name is Wilkinson. I am the District -Ranger. It’s getting a bit dry in spots, so I -want you to be careful about your fires.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Douglas told him the object of their trip -to Summit Lake the Ranger smiled apologetically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My warning was unnecessary, then. I took -you for a party of campers. I’m following -the construction work, so will probably see you -again before long.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He mounted his cayuse, waved his hand in -farewell, then galloped down the trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The narrow path wound around the boles of -enormous trees towering high above them, some -of the tallest being nearly two hundred feet in -height. Gillis appraised them with a critical -eye. He was thinking of them as logs, calculated -in terms of board feet, but over Donald their -beauty and nobility cast a strange spell. How -long had these monarchs enjoyed the repose so -soon to be broken by puny man? Probably -some of them were good-sized trees when -Columbus discovered America.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The solemnity of the forest was at times -broken by the sharp “ka-a-a-a-a-h” of startled -deer as they caught their scent, or the sudden -hum of wings as big blue-grouse shot up from -their path. Once the horses pricked their ears -and snorted in fear as a bear crashed his way -through the deep woods.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As daylight abandoned the forest and twilight -made eerie shadows on the dusky trail, they swung -to an open space on the banks of the roaring -Cheakamus River, and made camp for the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At daybreak they began the upward climb, -and by noon felt the buoyancy of the air in the -higher altitude. They crossed rushing streams -and skirted the shores of small lakes on whose -waters rested flocks of ducks in gregarious -raft-like formations. The cayuses with their -enormous packs showed signs of fatigue, and -Gillis called frequent halts as the trail grew -gradually steeper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are nearly there,” cried Douglas eagerly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few minutes later they topped a heavily-wooded -hill and swung in to a narrow path on -their right. There was no need to guide the -horses, as they knew that here were rest and -food for them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a sudden quickening along the -line. Donald’s horse broke into a run, with -Andy’s close behind, the latter holding to the rear -of his saddle and making a wry face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wish I knew ’ow to keep this ’ere blinkin’ -saddle from comin’ up and hittin’ me in the seat,” -said Andy querulously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald reined in his eager horse as they -emerged from the woods and an enchanting -scene burst on his view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This blinkin’ ’orse is. . . .” Andy stopped -as his gaze followed Donald’s. Both sat -spell-bound, and the others joined them quietly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The panorama spread before them was singularly -wild and impressive. Below them stretched -a lake of emerald hue, rippled here and there -by occasional cat’s-paws, but for the most part, -placid enough to reflect the shores with mirror-like -clearness. To their right lay an open valley, -through which ran a crystal clear mountain -stream, its banks fringed with willow, alder and -cottonwood, with frequent splashes of the early -blooming labrador tea. A rustic bridge of logs -crossed the rushing stream to a cluster of well-built -log cabins that were fenced in by a palisade -of cedar posts. Inside the enclosure a patch -of freshly ploughed soil stood out rich and dark -against the carpet of green.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Under an azure sky, dotted with fleecy clouds, -a brilliantly white sky-line of ice-covered mountains, -whose peaks flashed in the setting sun, -circled this beautiful mountain valley.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From below were wafted the odours of an -awakening earth. The sweet perfume of the -newly-opened and sticky buds of the balm-of-gilead, -the delicious aroma of the spruce and pine, -the heavy, sweet smell of the water plants and -the white orchis; all this fragrance was borne on -the crisp, sparkling mountain air. Involuntarily -the travellers filled their lungs with this -life-giving atmosphere.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A beautiful gold-eye drake and his drab-coloured -mate swam along the shore in search -of a safe place to nest. From the centre of the -lake a loon sent out its weird cry, echoing and -re-echoing from the wooded hills like wild, -demoniacal laughter. A quick rush of wings -overhead, then a mallard duck struck the water -with a loud splash and immediately set up a -sustained quacking until answered by a more -gentle note from the reeds, whence emerged a -hen-mallard. The two met amid a great bobbing -of heads. Gabbling in an undertone -they swam down the lake together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The elusive hooting of male blue-grouse came -from the tree-tops of the rocky slopes. A -willow grouse moved from a clump of bushes -with a haughty step to show her finery by -ruffling the feathers of her neck and spreading -her fan-like tail. There was a sharp “plop” -as a rainbow trout curved gracefully on the -surface to leave a widening circle of ripples on -the calm water. All through this sun-washed -valley was the soft murmur of a land at peace—at -peace because unspoiled by man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald drew a long breath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink!” breathed Andy in an awed -tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Holy mackerel! but ain’t she a pretty -spot?” came excitedly from Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they rumbled across the bridge a man -came to the door of the log cabin, ran swiftly -to the fence and swung the gate open. With -a hand held to his brow to shade his eyes from -the slanting rays of the setting sun, he peered -up at the horsemen. His eyes lighted up as he -recognized Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, ol’ timer!” he shouted cheerily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John Hillier filled the dual rôle of trapper and -road-house keeper. His fantastic dress of deerskin, -the six-shooter slung at his hip, and the -big sombrero that topped his shaggy grey head -gave him almost a sinister appearance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Old John’s face was savage and wild, but his -bristly moustache hid a mouth as tender as a -woman’s. Great shaggy brows beetling out over -his grey mountaineer eyes could not conceal -the softness that crept into them so often. -His gentle eyes seemed out of place in that -homely, battle-scarred face. It was like finding -a touch of romance in a treatise on trigonometry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was known under several sobriquets: -“Trapper” John, “Coffee” John, and “Mahogany” -John. “Coffee” John for the excellence -of his brew of that beverage, and of which he -drank enormous quantities. His call to meals: -“Come and throw your feet under the mahogany,” -supplied the reason for the cognomen of -“Mahogany” John.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the assistance of their host they unsaddled -the tired horses and turned them into the pasture, -where they rolled luxuriously on their backs -for a moment, and then started feeding hungrily -on the rich clover.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A wind shook the tree-tops and turned the -surface of the lake dark with ripples. High -in air, streaming dark clouds scudded swiftly -by.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Got here jest in time,” said the old trapper, -as he looked up at the sky. “It’s a goin’ to -rain. Come inside.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John had served as cook in a cowboy camp -in Texas. He never overlooked an opportunity -to make ostentatious display of his skill in the -culinary art.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jest set my bread this mornin’,” he explained, -“so I’ll hev’ ter make a bannock.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Taking a tin pan from the shelf, he threw it -the full length of the room to the table. He -tossed the cooking utensils about like a practised -juggler. Soon the bannock swelled to the rim -of the frying-pan, the edges showing brown and -crisp. He lifted the heavy dish from the stove, -and with a dexterous twist of his wrist threw the -bannock to the ceiling and caught it neatly in -the centre of the pan as it came down. He -dipped a half dozen trout in the yolk of eggs, -rolled them in flour, then tossed them with -apparent carelessness, but with deadly aim, one -at a time, to the sizzling pan. From a shelf he -took two glass jars and turned their contents into -an earthenware dish on the stove. Immediately -the room was filled with an aroma that caused -the newcomers to sniff hungrily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Hillier,” began Andy, “what. . . .”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Hillier! Hell! My name’s John,” -exploded the trapper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was goin’ to ask you what kind o’ meat -that is that smells so good,” grinned Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Muskrat.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Muskrat,” repeated their host, turning to the -astonished Australian. “Did ye ever eat any?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” returned Andy weakly, “I don’t care -much for meat anyway.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re darn good eatin’,” affirmed the -trapper. “Reason folks won’t try ’em is because -they think that they are a rat. Their -right name is musquash, and they live on vegetable -food only. Did any of you fellers ever see -‘Diamond Back Terrapin’ on a bill-of-fare in -restaurants?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have, many times,” answered Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, ’bout half the time when the waiter -hands ye what ye think is turtle he’s givin’ you -musquash,” stated the trapper as he speared a -cube of butter with a long fork and shot it -accurately to the debated dish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy laughed outright. “Strike me fair, -John, you’ve got anythin’ I ever see beat a block -for slingin’ grub.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John was pleased. “Oh, I’m fair to middlin’ -good,” he admitted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John served the dinner in the pots and pans -in which the food had been cooked, and piled -the table with enough to serve a dozen men. -“Like to see lots of grub in sight,” smiled the -old trapper. He placed a big steaming coffeepot -in the centre of the table, and then sent out -his original dinner-call. “Throw your feet -under the mahogany!” he roared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party needed no second call. The mountain -air had given them wolfish appetites and they -made huge inroads on the trapper’s well-cooked -dinner. With the exception of Andy, they ate -and enjoyed the musquash; the meat being fine-grained -and tender. John was visibly disappointed -by Andy’s refusal to try this delicacy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Try it, ol’ timer,” he insisted, as he pushed -the steaming pan across the table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy made a wry face. “Don’t feel jest -hungry to-night,” he mumbled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dinner finished, Donald pushed back his -chair and lighted a cigarette. “John, that was -a dandy meal, and your coffee sure is a nectar -fit for the gods.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trapper was justly proud of his cooking. -Donald’s praise brought a deeper tinge of colour -to his bronzed face. He refilled the tin cups -and they sat quietly smoking and sipping the -fragrant coffee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the day in the open and the excellent -meal it was pleasant to sit in the genial warmth -of the cabin while the storm which had been -gathering broke overhead and the incessant -patter of rain sounded on the roof.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Between Andy and John there sprang up a -comradeship based on the peculiar brotherhood -which often exists between small men. Each -found in the other traits that amused him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Comical little duck,” was John’s opinion of -Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink! He’s the funniest old -geezer that I ever saw in me life,” Andy confided -to Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Together they washed the dishes and tidied -up the room. When they had finished Andy -dragged in his duffle-bag, rummaged through -the contents, and produced a flask of rum. The -trapper’s face brightened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I brought this for medicinal purposes,” -stated Andy. “How are you feelin’, John?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The mirth wrinkles around the trapper’s eyes -deepened. “My misery is purty bad to-night, -ol’ timer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy poured liberally into a tin cup. The -pungent odour of rum filled the room. Old -John sniffed the contents. “Whuff!” he -yowled, “good licker!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old trapper, standing in the centre of the -room, presented a figure wild and strange. His -coat of buckskin was open at the throat to expose -a hairy chest. His mane-like mass of wiry hair -stood straight out and shook with every movement -of his body. A veritable wild man of the -woods he looked as he grasped the cup and held -it up to his admiring gaze.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The storm had reached the height of its fury. -The wind roared and moaned like a famished -wild thing denied its kill. Occasionally a venturesome -gust would find its way down the -chimney to send thin puffs of smoke to linger in -the air and fill the cabin with the sweet perfume -of the burning alder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Give us a toast, John,” begged Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trapper raised his cup on high:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I’m the trapper of the mount’n top,</p> -<p class='line0'>A ring-tail-snorter an’ a dead-sure shot.</p> -<p class='line0'>I’m wild, I’m woolly an’ full o’ fleas,</p> -<p class='line0'>I’ve never bin’ curried below the knees,</p> -<p class='line0'>I live on the fruit o’ the prickly pear,</p> -<p class='line0'>An’ I play in the brush with the grizzly bear.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here’s hopin’ ye’ll never see the back o’ yer -neck,” he added. Then placing the cup to his -lips he drained the contents with one great gulp. -John’s jaws were well-nigh toothless, and as the -fiery liquor scorched his throat his leathery cheeks -folded and unfolded like the pleats of an accordion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wow!” he yelped, “she’s sure got a kick.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The humorous toast and the trapper’s facial -contortions sent Andy into paroxysms of laughter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me blind!” he gasped, as he held his -sides. “I never——” His eyes rested again -on the trapper’s convulsed features. Speech -failed him and he sank writhing to a chair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When finally they climbed the ladder to their -bunks the rain had ceased and a brilliant moon -flooded the valley with a white light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald awakened as the first grey streaks of -dawn brightened the dusty windows of the loft. -The air was suddenly filled with the sweet song -of birds. Wild-fowl quacked and splashed in -the waters of the lake. The aroma of coffee and -frying bacon and the pungent odour of wood -smoke was wafted strongly from below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly the trapper’s shaggy head protruded -through the opening at the top of the ladder. -“Get out o’ the hay an’ let the sun shine on -ye!” he boomed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, let’s get busy,” said Gillis, when -breakfast was over. “The first thing to do is -to find a good spot to pitch our tent.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll find a deserted cabin at t’other end -o’ the lake that’ll be a whole lot more comfortable -nor a tent,” informed the trapper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The cabin of cedar logs proved to be in good -repair and the location excellent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A couple of days’ work,” observed Gillis, -“an’ I can fix her up so’s we’ll be as snug as a -bug in a rug.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John had spent the forenoon in baking. -Cakes, pies, doughnuts and cookies were placed -at regular intervals on the shelves in platters -and tins tipped at an angle to make the display -more effective. It was an exhibit of pastry that -any housewife might envy. The unstinted -praise of his guests was like music to the trapper’s -ears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For dessert they had a savoury mince-pie, -steaming hot from the oven. Andy waxed most -eloquent in his praise of this culinary delight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have another piece, ol’ timer,” insisted John, -his face beaming.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You bet I will,” was Andy’s quick response -as he transferred a big slice to his plate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Like it, do ye?” asked John.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“U-m-m,” mumbled Andy as he devoured the -last crumb and settled back with a sigh of content.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John’s wrinkled old face spread into a wide -grin. From his lips came a cackling laugh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the joke?” queried Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought I’d get that muskrat into ye somehow,” -chortled the trapper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, it’s not so durned bad, after all,” -philosophized Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the third day after their arrival they moved -to the cabin at the head of the lake. There -followed days of arduous toil, days spent in -“blazing” lines through almost impassable -swales, up steep hillsides and through canyons. -Days of strenuous exercise in the stimulating -air, when the bright sunshine tanned their faces -to a deep brown, brought the glow of perfect -health to their eyes, and gave to their muscles -the resiliency and strength of steel springs.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER VIII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>One</span> calm Sunday morning Donald paddled -across the lake to try the fly at the mouth of -the small creek which flowed past the trapper’s -cabin. The clear water was as smooth as glass -and the trout refused to be lured from the depths. -After casting steadily for fifteen minutes without -a rise, he sat down to enjoy a smoke. Sounds -from afar came with surprising clearness through -the quiet air. Andy was splitting wood outside -the cabin door, and the sound of his axe and -the words of his song brought a medley of -returning echoes. Loons gabbled, wild ducks of -many varieties shifted their positions with a -whistling rush of wings. The “chee-ry, chee-ry” -of a flock of chickadees sounded from a copse of -willows on the creek bank. The warmth of the -morning gave promise of a hot day when the -sun should reach the zenith. A breath of cool -air rippled the lake’s surface, bringing with it -the faint rumble of a waterfall high up the -mountain-side. Donald paddled to the shore, -crossed the rustic bridge to where the trapper -was working in his garden, and sat down on a -convenient stump.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good morning, John.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mornin’, ol’ timer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“John, is there a waterfall on the big creek?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I’ve heard ’em, an’ I’ve seen ’em from -the ridge, but I ain’t ever bin close to ’em.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think there would be any fish at the -foot of the falls?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Couldn’t say, ol’ timer. It ain’t never bin -fished.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To the disciples of Isaac Walton the expression -“never been fished” brings an incomparable -thrill. To cast a fly on virgin waters is -the acme of bliss to an angler. Donald unjointed -his rod, slung his basket over a shoulder -and started toward the trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ye better let me fix ye up a lunch to take -along,” the trapper shouted after him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good suggestion,” admitted Donald as he -retraced his steps.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Fried eggs placed between slices of snow-white -bread, fresh doughnuts, cake and cheese were -quickly prepared by the deft hands of the old -trapper, and Donald was again on his way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He tried to follow the stream, but the sides -were so precipitous that he was forced to climb -to the ridge or “hog-back.” Here he found the -walking excellent, as there was no under-brush -and the ground was covered with a soft moss.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At intervals through the park-like pines he -caught the glint of running water in the gorge -below. The air was warm, but the gentle -zephyrs wafted from the glacial stream brought -a coolness that was almost chill. The sound of -the falls became louder as he climbed higher, -increasing to a trembling roar as he came to -the edge of a boulder-strewn precipice. Here -there met his gaze a tumbling cascade of water, -falling from a cliff to an iridescent pool sixty -feet below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald scrambled and slid to the lower level, -only to find that he would have to walk down -stream and wade up in order to get within reach -of the pool. By leaping from rock to rock he -managed to reach a flat ledge near the side that -allowed him perfect freedom for casting. The -spray reached him in the form of a fine mist -that felt grateful after his exertions. A shaft -of brilliant sunshine, looking like a searchlight -where it penetrated the heavy mist, was reflected -and refracted to form a rainbow that shone -resplendently against the dark wall of the canyon. -On each side rose a sheer wall of rock, with -here and there a small fir or spruce clinging to -fissures where sufficient earth had accumulated -to give it nourishment. At the point where the -cataract struck the pool there was a mass of -heaving, foaming water that spread in ever -lessening waves to become gentle ripples lapping -softly on the shores.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The little birds known as waterousels, or -dippers, were in their element. Standing on -the rocks around which the turbulent waters -roared, they bobbed and curtsied, then flew in -under the waterfall to their nests in the damp -niches of the rocks. Far overhead, like a speck -in the azure sky, a bald eagle careened and -soared. Over all was the thunder of the cataract -drumming in Donald’s ears and giving to -the earth a gentle tremor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He began eagerly to joint his rod, attach -leader and flies, and unfold his landing-net. -“There,” he said, when he had completed the -task, “I’ll just throw that in to soak while I -have a smoke.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He cast carelessly, laid the rod down and -reached for a cigarette. “B-r-r-r-r,” the reel -shrilled madly. He made a wild clutch for the -rod, retrieving it just as the tip entered the water. -A big rainbow trout leaped into the air with a -flash of prismatic colours, and made that graceful -curve that is so pleasing to the fisherman’s eye. -The five-ounce rod bent double as he checked -the trout’s rush. Then the line slackened as the -fish turned and came toward him with incredible -speed. He reeled frantically to take in the -slack line. Once more the gamey trout turned -and the line was singing with the strain. Suddenly -it went straight down and in the pellucid -depths he could see it lying near the bottom with -tail and fins moving listlessly. Slowly he reeled -in the line, bringing the fish nearer and nearer. -With landing-net extended Donald leaned forward; -but with a quick flirt of its tail the trout -shot to the surface, sending a shower of spray in -his face. Then, leaping and dashing—the reel -singing merrily—it crossed the pool with renewed -energy. Unexpectedly the whirr of the reel -ceased and the rod was nearly jerked from -Donald’s hands—a detested “back lash.” In -other words, the line had tangled at the reel. -The slender rod was bent nearly to a circle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It won’t stand it,” muttered Donald in a -fever of excitement. He lowered the tip slowly -to relieve the strain on the rod, all the while -working desperately to free the tangle. Snap! -The fish with a tremendous tug parted the -leader, and with one last triumphant leap to -flaunt its brilliant colours, it disappeared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is universally understood among the angling -fraternity that when a fish is lost under such -conditions the Recording Angel turns her head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In an hour the cold spray from the glacial -water had dampened Donald’s clothing and -benumbed his fingers. The basket by then -being nearly full, and his wrist lame from casting -and playing the fish, he decided to quit. As he -climbed the ridge the air above felt like a breath -from an oven in contrast to the atmosphere of -the canyon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Through a tall, stately grove of pines Donald -descried an open glade whence came the sound -of running water. He walked through the dark -aisles of towering trees, his feet making no sound -on the thick carpet of soft needles. Pushed aside -a growth of low deciduous trees that fringed -this open passage in the woods, he gazed upon -a scene that held him entranced. At some time -in the earth’s remote history moving ice had -gouged out this tiny valley and left a rich deposit -of glacial silt. A small mountain stream cascaded -from a moss-covered cliff to fall from ledge to -ledge and flash crystal clear and sparkling through -the vividly green grass and bright flowers which -formed the carpet of the valley floor. The -brilliant columbine, interspersed with the yellow -marigold and dandelion, made bright splotches -of colour. Wild roses hung in masses in the -border of low green shrubs. The white rein -orchis grew in rank profusion everywhere, filling -the air with its delicate perfume. Ferns and -cotton grass grew to the very edge of the limpid -brook that prattled musically over the moss-covered -stones. A rabbit with her young nibbled -at the tender grass roots at the far side of the -creek. Humming-birds buzzed back and forth -and a bluejay—the Paul Pry of the woods—peered -curiously down at the interloper, with -its head moving from side to side and its beady -eyes shining. Then with a startled shriek it -flew across the glade—like a streak of blue in the -sunshine—to hold excited colloquy with its -mate. A willow grouse sailed from a cliff above -to land with a great preening of feathers and move -with a peculiar gliding run to the shelter of a -stand of salal bushes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near the centre of the field was a “fairy ring” -of mushrooms about twelve feet across. The -beginning of these rings may be a single mushroom -which drops its spores in a circle about its -base. The next season a smaller ring of mushrooms -drops a larger ring of spores, and so the -circle expands year by year, exactly as the ripple -spread out on the surface of a pond when a stone -is cast into the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some fairy rings have been estimated to be six -hundred years old. Legend informs us that -these rings are magic circles within which elves -and other nimble fairy folk hold their revels at -midnight. There is another superstition that -the rings mark the spots where bolts of lightning -have struck the ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A fairy-land!” breathed Donald as he stepped -into the open.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was warm, but now and again a breeze, that -had swept between snow-capped peaks, dropped -down into the valley and made the pines sway -and the willow and alder leaves coolly rustle. -At the time of these visitations Donald threw back -his head and drew in deep breaths of the flower-scented -breeze.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Making his way to the foot of the tiny falls, -Donald seated himself on a soft bed of moss and -proceeded to eat his lunch. Two birds, of the -species known as “camp-robbers” or “whiskey-jacks,” -dropped ghost-like from nowhere and -eyed him reproachfully. He threw them a crust -of bread. There was a shrill cry like that of a -hawk, that sent the feathered visitors in terror -to the safety of the trees, and a flash of blue -landed on the bread. With a chuckle, almost -human a bluejay flew to the top of a spruce to -enjoy his meal at leisure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s happy laugh rang throughout the -sylvan glade and was re-echoed mockingly from -the cliffs. The camp-robbers emerged from -their retreat looking rather crestfallen. They -took no chances with the crust thrown to them -the second time. Each seized a generous portion -and retreated hastily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald selected a soft spot in the shade of a -small grove of cedars, stretched himself at full -length on his back, and lighted a cigarette. The -sound of murmuring waters, the rustle of leaves, -the gentle sighing of the pines, and the fragrant, -balmy air that fanned his face held a soporific -influence. He watched a fleecy cloud floating -far above the tree-tops in the ethereal blue. A -long-tailed wren, of the white throat and white -eye lines sang joyously from a tree nearby.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s eyes closed slowly, and in a moment -he was in a doze. As though in a dream he felt -something brush his face and he shook his head. -An instant later the tip of a cedar bough fell -fairly on his face. He brushed quickly with his -hand as though to dislodge a fly. A larger branch -fell with a gentle swish to land on his nose. This -time he opened his eyes and plucked the branch -from his face, noticing as he did so that it was -freshly broken. “Odd,” he thought, and lay -with eyes half closed to detect the cause of this -singular occurrence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near the top of the four small cedars under -which he lay there seemed to be a nest-like -thickness. There was a movement in the tops of -the trees, and Donald’s amazed eyes saw a little -brown hand steal forth holding a cedar tip. -Then a small childish face appeared, surrounded -by a mass of lovely golden hair. The face was -one of sheer, exquisite blonde beauty, marked -by a pair of wide, roguish blue eyes, as blue -as pansies, a small pensive mouth that formed -a cupid’s bow, and an impudent little nose dotted -with freckles. As the slender hand loosed the -branch, Donald’s astonished eyes looked up -directly into the blue ones looking down on him -so full of mischief. There was a startled gasp -and the golden head disappeared amid a great -swaying of branches.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald came slowly to his feet, rubbing his -eyes. Was this a fantastic dream, or had he -actually seen a child’s face? He looked at the -branches on the ground, and again his eyes -sought the tree-tops. He could now see that -some sort of big nest was built within the tops of -the four small cedars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello,” he ventured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A slight rustling of the branches followed, but -no answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, wood-nymph!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Still no answer, but a low silvery laugh was proof -that the occupant of the nest was not a wraith.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you are a fairy,” he persisted, “won’t -you come down and give me a Terpsichorean -exhibition in the fairy ring on the floor of your -enchanted glade?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am a dryad,” came the dulcet tone of a -childish voice, “and a dryad’s life is bound up in -her tree. I cannot leave my arboreal bower -until the hour of midnight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll see about that,” laughed Donald as he -seized the slender cedars and rocked them violently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A scream of simulated fear came from the tree-tops. -“Stop!” the voice cried, “I’ll come down.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A tiny moccasined foot felt its way to a limb, -and a slight figure clad in men’s overalls and a -brown cotton shirt, stood erect with downcast eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jump,” invited Donald, as he stood with -arms outstretched; “fairies don’t weigh much.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The “dryad” shook her head bashfully, then -with a quick, bird-like motion sprang straight out -into the air, her golden hair streaming and flashing -in the sunshine. She landed gracefully on her -moccasined feet and went bounding across the -valley, leaping the creek with the ease and grace -of an antelope, and, without turning her head, -disappeared in the dark forest aisles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s black eyes remained fixed on the spot -where the fairy-like vision vanished from view. -His whole attitude registered astonishment. He -was completely mystified by the appearance of a -girl in this remote wilderness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He climbed the trees for a glimpse of the -golden-haired fairy’s bower. A rope was tied -around the tops of the four cedars, with interlacings -of cord between. This rope pocket was -filled with pine boughs, and these covered with -ferns and moss. A cord that led to a nearby -spruce was, he decided, used to impart a swinging -motion to this strange maiden’s cosy retreat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the centre of this cosy nest lay a copy of -“Tennyson’s Poems” and a book on “Bird -Life.” As Donald leaned closer a gentle breeze -fluttered the leaves of the book of poems.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fairy hands turned to the right page,” he -mused aloud as he read these lines from “Maud.”</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“My bird with the shining head.</p> -<p class='line0'>My own dove with the tender eye. . . .</p> -<p class='line0'>Shine out, little head, sunning over with curls,</p> -<p class='line0'>To the flowers, and be their sun.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>“A corner of dreamland,” murmured Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A stronger breeze swept down the valley, -causing the nest to rock with gentle undulations. -“A novel idea,” he thought, “and what a restful -spot to sleep and dream!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was tempted to finish his nap in the -vacated dryad’s nest, but put the thought aside -as being almost a sacrilege. He descended to the -ground, picked up his basket and started down -the mountain. As he neared the lake he saw the -trapper with Douglas and Andy sitting outside -the cabin door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Any luck, ol’ timer?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald lifted the lid of the basket.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” ejaculated the trapper. “Them’s -wallopers, ain’t they?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“John,” queried Donald as he sat down on the -grass, “did you ever see a dryad?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A what?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A dryad.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trapper’s wrinkled face puckered. “Yeh,” -he answered quizzically, “I seen lots of them -fellers in Vancouver one time after I’d bin drinkin’ -for a week.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald told of his meeting with the strange child -of the forest. “Who is she, John?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That was little Connie Wainwright. She an’ -her father live in a little valley t’other side of -that bluff,” pointing up the mountain. “She’s -a great kid, too. She has a hoss that’s named -after a hoss that had wings. I forgit the name she -calls him.” The trapper pondered for a moment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pegasus,” prompted Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s it. She rides that hoss like a Texas -Ranger, an’ she’s a crack shot with the rifle. -Funny thing, though, she ain’t ever shot anything -to my knowledge ’cept a cougar that tried -to get her pet deer. Her father’s jest the same, -he won’t kill nothin’ an’ they’ve got all the birds -’round their cabin as tame as chickens. They -are always studyin’ birds, flowers, an’ animals. -He’s an Englishman of eddication, an’ he’s -eddicated the kid, too. Was the ‘Breed’ with -her?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. Who is the Breed?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s a half-breed Indian with a lame leg. -He came over the trail ’bout two years ago. Got -one look at that shiny haired kid an’ thought she -was an angel, I guess, an’ has been hantin’ her -ever since. He built hisself a cabin up there. -Works for Wainwright in the summer an’ traps -in the winter. He follers that kid ’round like a -dog follers its master.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was interested.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I must call on them.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’ll be glad to see ye, as ye can talk his -lingo. His langwidge is too high-falutin’ for me. -He sometimes comes to ask me ’bout the habits -of animals, but I got a sneakin’ notion that he -knows more ’bout it than I do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That evening Donald and Andy visited the -recluse.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER IX</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> trail to Wainwright’s cabin was a mere -path that followed the vagaries of a small mountain -stream which at times flowed with a tranquil -murmur, then suddenly plunged over ledges and -shattered itself into creamy foam on the worn -rocks below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Out of breath from the steep climb, Donald -and Andy sat down as they reached the bluff. -Everywhere was the song of birds and the -whispering of gentle zephyrs laden with the -fragrance of the forest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whit, whit, whit, ch’ wee-e-e-e,” sounded -the shrill hunting call of an osprey, or “fish-hawk,” -as he wheeled over the lake, then made -his spectacular plunge and rose on high with a -fish gripped in his long, powerful talons. Donald -watched him carry it to his mate, who was -standing guard over a big nest in the top of a -dead pine. Again the male bird dropped like -a bolt, struck the water with a loud splash, and -disappeared below the surface for a few seconds, -then rose to scatter spray in his struggles to lift -himself clear of the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bald eagle, from the vantage point of a tall -fir, took instant note of the successful fisherman, -and with a majestic swoop flew under the smaller -bird. Higher and higher rose the osprey, the eagle -relentlessly pursuing, until at last the intimidated -bird released its hold on the prize. With a scream -of triumph the eagle seized the glistening, wriggling -fish in mid-air and bore it away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the woods in their rear came the lilt of -a song mingled with the thud of flying hoofs, -and around a tangle of low spruce came a piebald -cayuse at full gallop. On his bare back the -girl of the woods was standing with arms outstretched, -pirouetting on her moccasined toes like -a dancing dervish. Her heavy hair streaming -about her face and shoulders, she seemed even -more an elf than when poised for flight on the -edge of her fairy nest. As she neared the bluff -she settled to her seat and seized the reins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald came to his feet. For a moment it -seemed as if he were to be passed unnoticed. -He ran to the trail and waved his arm with a -welcoming shout. This brought him a flash of -startled blue eyes, then the cayuse with a snort -of fear went straight up into the air, spinning -high on his hindlegs. A sharp word of command -and a quick twist of the nut-brown hands -caused the frightened beast to half turn and -lower his forelegs gently to the ground. As he -stepped to the cayuse’s head Donald noted the -lean and sinewed flanks of the animal, the strong -muscled shoulders, and the slender but powerful -limbs. He stroked the shiny neck and Pegasus -made answer to such advances by rubbing his -moist nose against Donald’s shoulder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nothing mythical about this steed,” observed -Donald, gently prodding the bunched muscles on -the horse’s chest. “And,” he added jestingly, -“I do not see the golden bridle presented by the -goddess to Bellerophon while he slept.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A subtle flicker danced momentarily in the -corners of the blue orbs of the rider. “I have -clipped his wings, so I have no need of the -magic bridle,” she said smilingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The voice was gentle and mellow. The pronunciation, -clear and perfect, held a trace of English -accent that was pleasing to Donald’s ears. One -could not look upon Connie without thinking of -flowers, birds and sunshine. Constant exercise had -turned her muscles into cords of steel; mountain -air and sunshine had darkened her face and hands -to a deep bronze and brought to her cheeks a warm -glow that showed richly through the coat of tan.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie looked on this stranger as a being -infinitely beyond her ken, a part of a world of -which she had no knowledge. His tall, well-knit -body, his shining black hair, dark flashing -eyes, his fine clothes and his deep resonant voice -were a source of wonder and admiration to this -girl, whose knowledge of men was limited to a -few lone trappers and Indians. She was suddenly -disconcerted and felt like running away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was on my way to call on you. Is your -father home?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Surprised at her own boldness, Connie slipped -lightly to the ground and stood beside him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” she rejoined awkwardly, “he is. I’ll -go with you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald spoke again, with a playful smile that -caused the girl to flush with a mixture of pleasure -and confusion. “I thought when I saw you -poised on Pegasus’s back that a close inspection -would disclose a pair of transparent, gauzy wings, -but,” peering at her shoulders, “evidently the -rider is clipped as well.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they walked up the path, Andy following, -it seemed to Connie that they were strolling -through the fields of Elysium.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At first glance Donald saw that Wainwright’s -log cabins had been built by a rank novice. The -walls were rakishly askew, the corners out of -plumb, and the joints showed big gaps filled -with moss. The rough construction of the -dissimilar, rambling cluster of houses served to -enhance rather than mar the wild grandeur of -this oasis on the rocky mountain-side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Into this valley poured a mountain stream -which had gouged out for itself a canyon, through -which its waters swept and tumbled, as green -as jade in the sunlight, like emerald in the -shadow, and snowy white in the roaring rapids. -On the other side, the towering profiles of the -cliffs were edged with stunted growths of pine and -spruce, while here and there were soft patches -of green moss clinging to the damp places.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The few acres wrested from the wilderness -were rich with a green carpet of clover and -timothy, and in a pasture at the corner a sleek -Jersey cow was feeding diligently. In the same -enclosure a deer nibbled delicately at the tender -shoots. A flock of pure white ducks, in single -file, waddled down the hill and plunged with a -subdued quacking into a small pond. Within -a yard enclosed by a fence of split cedar the -lusty crow of a rooster sounded above the cackling -of his family.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The low walls of the main cabin were festooned -with a mass of wild creepers in which the -wild honeysuckle predominated. Wild flowers, -each species separate, were growing in neat -round plots bordered with carefully arranged -stones. Scores of birds flitted through the low -bushes, rested on fences and roofs, or hopped -unafraid through the grass. Siskins and finches -there were, in gold or olive; blue jays and their -cousins, the camp-robbers; bluebirds; sparrows -singing sweetly; waxwings “zeeping” through -the garden; warblers gurgling softly; scolding -grey flycatchers and numerous other species -unknown to Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A camp-robber flew to Connie’s outstretched -arm. From the capacious pocket of her overalls -she brought a crust of bread, at which the bird -pecked hungrily. Another bird lighted on the -brim of Andy’s wide hat. The little man attempted -to peer up at it without moving his -head, and the effort set his bushy eyebrows -dancing. “Get off there, you blighter!” he -growled. “I don’t want any bloomin’ trimmin’s -on me ’ead gear.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was the first time Andy had spoken. Connie -turned to him, her eyes wide with curiosity. -His droll face, the strange dialect and the lively -eyebrows caused a flock of dimples to chase each -other about her pretty lips.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s father and the Breed, working in the -vegetable garden below, glanced up and, seeing -the strangers, laid down their tools and came up -the hill, the Breed moving jerkily on his crippled -limb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Raleigh Wainwright was a man of rather -striking appearance. He was slender, grey-haired, -clean chiselled, and carried himself with -a military bearing. There was a certain fineness -in the slight figure, a symmetry of design, that -suggested that indefinable something which is -the hall-mark of good breeding. He had a way -of carrying his well-shaped head that accentuated -this aristocratic air. His grey eyes met -Donald’s with a level gaze as they shook hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a cursory glance, Joe Pardon, the Breed, -settled himself on a seat against the wall of the -cabin and rolled a cigarette. His face was -swarthy and sombre; coarse black hair topped -his head. In repose his features wore the -impassive expression of the Indian, but when he -smiled—which rarely happened—he showed the -French strain in his blood and became almost -handsome. He was of a sturdier build than the -average Siwash Indian, and as he leaned against -the logs, with muscular arms folded across his -powerful chest, one would have thought him -the embodiment of all that is strong and virile -in man, until the eyes rested on the pitifully malformed -leg, shrunken to one-half its normal size.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Won’t you come inside?” asked Wainwright -politely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you,” answered Donald, “but if you -don’t mind I’d rather look at your flower garden.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was quite evident that their host was -pleased by this statement. “You are interested -in flowers?” he questioned eagerly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am,” admitted Donald, “but unfortunately -I don’t know much about them.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dignified Englishman proved to be not -only an intelligent, but a most willing teacher. -From plot to plot they went, the botanist glad -to talk on his hobby to an attentive audience. -He gave the names of the plants, their mode of -germination, growth, nature and uses. For -half-an-hour his quiet voice went on until the -lengthening shadows deepened. As they moved -toward the cabin, the Breed passed them carrying -a pail brimming with milk, at which Andy gazed -with longing eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We always have a light lunch in the evening; -won’t you stay?” begged their host.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy nodded his blond head vigorously in a -silent signal to Donald for acceptance, and -acceptance was instantly forthcoming.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The interior of the log cabin was rough in the -extreme, but scrupulously clean, with chairs, -tables and beds that had never issued from a -furniture factory. The window-curtains were -made of flour and sugar sacks, on which the -names of the manufacturers could still be -deciphered. On one wall were two bunks, -set one above the other, on which were spread -heavy Hudson Bay blankets. No sheets were -in evidence, and the pillows were rough sacks -stuffed with moss. The lower bunk showed -the feminine touch in its drapery of cheap -blue print, a pathetic attempt to brighten the -coarse surroundings. Behind a small stove -in the corner hung an array of cooking utensils, -spotlessly clean, but of inferior quality. The one -and only table, placed conveniently near the -stove, was as white as a ship’s deck from constant -scouring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In direct antithesis to this seeming poverty, -one end of the cabin was literally filled with -books. These richly-bound volumes looked incongruous -in conjunction with the rough tables, -the uncomfortable chairs and the rude beds. -Donald’s eyes roved over the books, arranged -on the shelves standing and crosswise. Most of -them were in English, but many were in German, -French and Italian; some in what appeared to -be Arabic, perhaps Sanskrit; and dozens were -on botany, ornithology and natural history.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A bookworm,” mused Donald, “a bookworm, -and at the expense of his personal comfort.” -He felt ashamed of his unwarranted -criticism of their kind host.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I built this cabin all alone,” informed -Wainwright proudly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s eyes rested on the speaker. Wainwright -wore a shooting-jacket and riding-breeches -of excellent cut and of rare material, -but now worn threadbare and neatly patched. -Donald knew that those rents had been mended -by a woman’s hands. Wainwright’s æsthetic -face was impressive. The marks of toil could -not hide the delicacy of his thin hands with their -long, tapering fingers. The hands of a dreamer -or poet, thought Donald, not the hands to wield -an axe. A quick admiration for this man’s gameness -filled his heart. “A good job,” he lied, as -he surveyed the sagging roof and bulging walls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As good an authority as Hillier told me that -it was excellent work,” stated their host rather -boastfully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless old John’s heart!” thought Donald -fervently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was plain that Connie had anticipated their -staying for lunch, as the table was set—with -tin plates and cups—for four. She drew a pan -of hot rolls from the tiny oven, and, her face a -deep red from the heat and her exertions, she -sat down to the table, using a canned goods box -as a seat. Donald noticed that the two chairs -had been given up to the guests, and he arose -at once to offer his seat. Andy, not to be outdone -in gallantry, successfully prevailed on -Connie to make the change.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bit shorter ever day,” he grinned as he sank -to the box. At this Connie lowered her head, -her shoulders shaking with merriment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s manner was that of the owner -of a baronial estate entertaining guests under the -most luxurious surroundings. His cheeks were -flushed, and he seemed filled with a boyish -happiness. “It no doubt will seem incomprehensible -to you,” he remarked with a smile, -“when I say that, with the exception of John -Hillier, you are the first white men to break -bread with me under this roof. We are quite a -distance from the Pemberton trail, and therefore -come in contact with but few travellers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Little wonder, Donald thought, at their host’s -nervous gaiety and the child’s distress. What -turn of Fate had caused this scholar to seek a -home in so lonely a spot? Misanthropes fled -to the wilderness to escape their fellow-men, -but their welcome was proof that Wainwright -was not of that class. Why, then, had he -voluntarily become an anchorite? Was he -obsessed by his hobby to such an extent that he -had ostracized himself to carry on the study of -Nature? Was he a criminal hiding from justice? -Donald put the latter thought aside quickly. -The Englishman’s delicate features, with wide -forehead, clear eyes, and tender, sensitive mouth, -were not the features of a man of criminal -tendencies. At times, when in repose, Wainwright’s -face held a deep and brooding sadness. -Some tragedy had entered his life, Donald -decided; some great calamity, that had seared -his very soul, had driven him to the life of a -recluse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie strove to appear at ease, but without -success. Hoping to relieve her embarrassment, -Donald spoke to her. Although she ventured -an upward glance, his voice seemed only to -heighten her confusion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Wainwright resumed the discussion of -the wild flowers of British Columbia. With his -head held sidewise, Andy listened intently -to the flow of conversation. When their host -used Latin words Andy’s face would assume -a bewildered expression. With eyebrows raised -inquiringly and a humorous smile playing about -his lips, he would turn to Connie and slowly -shake his head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This odd little man, with his blithesome -manner and the whimsical gleam in his blue -eyes, was extremely amusing to Connie, and it -was with difficulty that she controlled her mirth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I s’y,” observed Andy deferentially, “I’d -like to learn about these flowers and things; -but, strike me ’andsome, the big words you use, -and some of them in the bohunk langwidge, -puts more’n ’arf of it over me bloomin’ ’ead.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s laugh had a pleasant ring. -“I’ll do my best to help you, Mr. Pettray. -You’ll find books here,” pointing to the shelves, -“that will be of greater assistance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The keen mountain air made itself felt -through the poorly chinked walls of the cabin, -and the company moved their chairs nearer to -the warmth of the crackling fire. Donald -offered their host a cigar, which was accepted and -smoked with evident relish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Start me at the beginnin’; put me in the -kindergarten, where my size belongs,” chuckled -Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright leaned back in the rough chair, -puffing luxuriously at his cigar, sending wreaths -of fragrant smoke about his head. “I hardly -know where to begin,” he said meditatively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The room suddenly grew dark, and they -heard the soft sighing of the wind in the branches -of the trees nearby. These signs were precursors -of one of the mountain showers so common in the -coast Range of the Province. A moment later -there came the intermittent patter of big raindrops -on the roof, gradually increasing until it became -a strumming roar that debarred conversation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie lighted a candle, and using the neck -of an empty vinegar bottle as a candlestick, she -placed it on the table, then took a seat outside -the radius of the dim light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The door opened to admit the Breed. As he -entered a rush of sweet rain-washed air, laden -with the odour of fragrant buds, filled the room. -Shaking a shower of glistening raindrops from -his wide sombrero, the Breed hobbled silently on -moccasined feet to a seat in the corner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The pelting rain dwindled to a drizzle, then -stopped as abruptly as it had begun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For an hour Wainwright gave a disquisition -of the value of plant life to mankind. Selecting -two books from the shelves, he placed them on -the table before Andy. “You will find no -difficulty in understanding these volumes, as -they are written for the novice. You will also -find that there is no pursuit more conducive -to health and happiness than the study of plants. -It keeps one largely in the open air, and promotes -pure and helpful thinking. For this reason -parents should lead the minds of their children -to the study of plant life.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During her father’s discourse Connie’s eyes -scarcely left Donald’s face. The Breed from the -darkness of the corner noticed her rapt interest -in the tall stranger, and his dusky eyes glittered -with jealousy. He limped to the doorway, -and, as he turned, Donald could not repress a -start as he caught the malignant look of hate -which shot from the half-breed’s glowing eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Constance, dear, will you play for us?” -asked her father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She moved obediently to her bunk, and from -the floor beneath she drew out a much worn -violin case.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The mellow radiance from the candle and the -ever-changing lights from the open draft of the -small stove cast long, wavering shadows within -the cabin. From without came the wailing of -the wind, the creaking of the trees, and the -steady drip of water from the eaves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the bow touched the strings Connie forgot -her shyness. The violin drifted into a melody -as light as a bird singing through the trees, -now joyous, anon sobbing in a deep rhythm of -eerie sadness. As she played her body swayed, -almost imperceptibly, as a blossoming tree -sways under a soft spring breeze.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the last note ascended and faded on the -throbbing air, Connie’s embarrassment returned. -At Donald’s words of praise a scarlet flush dyed -her cheeks. She returned the instrument to its -case, and, with eyes downcast, resumed her seat -in the darkened corner. Wainwright’s eyes held -a look of deep tenderness as he thanked her in a -voice that was like a caress.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they said good-night Donald saw that their -host’s face was again shrouded in deep melancholy. -The light of a waning moon threw ghost-like -shadows as they stumbled down the narrow -trail through the aromatic woods. Save for -the drip of water, a brooding hush hung over the -forest. The trail was soft with needles, on which -their feet made only a softened beating. In -the nave of huge conifers the solemnity of the -forest made speech seem almost irreverent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near the centre of the tunnel-like trail, where -the shadows deepened, Donald stopped short -with every sense alert. Without knowing why, -he suddenly felt a quick sense of danger. A -dark form rose in front of them and slunk into -the woods.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The blinkin’ Indian,” whispered Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In passing the spot where the Breed had disappeared, -Donald had an uncanny feeling that -the burning eyes of Connie’s devoted guardian -were fixed on him and he felt a crinkly chill -creep up his spine. It was with a feeling of -relief that they emerged from the obscurity of -the timber and caught the friendly gleam of -light from their cabin window on the lake-shore -far below.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER X</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> following day their work brought Donald -and his companions to the top of the falls near -Connie’s fairy nest. The melting snows from -above had swelled the water until it filled the -narrow gorge to the brim.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald viewed the thundering river he -was impressed by the potential power in the -mighty surge of water that flung itself in a -cascade of foam to the rocks below. “Good -place for a dam!” he shouted to Gillis, as he -pointed to the narrow canyon and then to the -slanting walls that formed a natural basin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night, while Andy pursued his studies -on flowers, Donald covered several sheets of -notepaper with drawings and figures. He became -so deeply engrossed in his work that he -sat up long after the others had gone to bed. -At breakfast he placed the result of his night’s -work near Gillis’s plate. “Jack, I believe we -could put in an electric mill that would be -successful,” he said earnestly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis studied the papers carefully, then passed -them to Douglas. “Might be done,” he said -non-committally. “I don’t know nothin’ ’bout -electricity; do you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve had a little experience,” admitted -Donald modestly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas, who had been poring over the -drawings, spoke emphatically. “I’ll bet Dad -would be interested in this. I’ve heard him say -that all mills would be electrically driven sometime. -He’s up-to-date—always willing to listen -to new ideas.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But old ‘Moss-back’ ain’t,” growled Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who’s old ‘Moss-back’?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One of the office men by name of Renwick. -He’s one of them narrow-’tween-the-eyes, psalm-singin’ -old has-beens that sez ‘tut tut’ every -time he hears a logger say ‘damn.’ His health -is poor, so they’re goin’ to send him up here to -take charge of this mill. Thanks be, I’m goin’ -to have charge in the woods, so I won’t have -nothin’ to do with him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They discussed the matter during the day, and -that evening they again visited the falls. From the -trapper Donald learned that the supply of water -was unfailing. Owing to the natural formation, the -cost of building the dam would be small. Donald’s -friends became as enthusiastic as himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be finished to-morrow night, Douglas,” -announced Gillis that evening. “If you and -Donald want to, you can go to town and put -this proposition up to your father.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lines of steel were creeping north slowly -but surely. As they left the cabin to start for -the Coast, the first faint boom of a blast was -brought to their ears by the southern breeze. -Ten miles south of the lake they came to steel -and rode to Squamish in the cab of a locomotive, -reaching Vancouver that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas informed Donald over the ’phone -the next morning that his father would give him -a hearing at two o’clock that afternoon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald thought of the impending meeting -he experienced certain inward qualms. He felt -that Renwick would oppose him, and wondered -if Robert Rennie would consider him conceited -and forward in suggesting such a radical innovation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the appointed hour Donald and Douglas -entered the office of the R. C. & L. Co. Robert -Rennie greeted Donald with a friendly smile and -motioned to chairs near the desk. “You have -some papers with you, I presume,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald placed the rough plans on the desk -before him. For five minutes Robert Rennie -studied them quietly while Donald fidgeted. -Without comment, he leaned back in his chair -for a moment, apparently in deep thought. -Presently he pressed a button at the side of his -desk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Send Renwick, Bolton and King here,” he -said to the boy who answered the bell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the men entered the room Donald had no -difficulty in recognizing Renwick from Gillis’s -description. Robert Rennie rose to introduce -Donald, then spoke in quick, flashing sentences, -that went straight to the heart of things, as he -spread the plans on the table before them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald had anticipated, Renwick, after a -short scrutiny of the papers, objected strenuously, -his chief objection being the initial cost, -together with the fact that experience had -demonstrated that only small mills had proved -a success when electrically driven. Bolton was -of the same opinion, but he admitted that if the -supply of timber were sufficient to keep the mill -in operation for years, the initial cost would be -offset by the economy of operation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>King, the company’s chief engineer, vouchsafed -no opinion, but sat with Donald’s plans -before him, copying the figures in his note-book.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie glanced at Donald expectantly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald spoke of the lessened cost of operation -in an electrically-driven mill by the reduction of -the number of millwrights, oilers and helpers, -the lower insurance rates, the saving on line-shafting, -belts and oil, of the advantage in speed -over a steam-mill, etc. As he warmed to the subject -he came to his feet and leaned over the desk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you gentlemen know, the greatest enemy -of the mill-owner is fire. With a steam-mill of -the size you are to build, with donkey engines -and locomotives operated by steam, you will -have a battery of smokestacks that will be an -hourly menace during the summer months in -the dry air at that altitude. Electrify your mill -and donkey engines and you will reduce the -fire hazard by seventy-five per cent. I don’t -ask you to accept my opinion. I advise you -to investigate thoroughly before deciding. An -electric mill with the enormous power available -would be a credit, not only to this company, but -to the Province as well.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie’s brain functioned with a clear-cut -precision. He would listen to the advice of -his experts with an attentive ear, and his decision -was usually made before the last one had ceased -talking.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While Donald was talking Robert Rennie sat -forward in his chair with a look of almost strained -attention. As Donald finished he swung quickly -to his chief engineer. “King, to-morrow you -go to Summit Lake. Furnish a full report. If -your figures correspond with McLean’s we will -install an electric plant. Bolton, get quotations -at once on electrical equipment. That’s all,” he -finished tersely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned to the two young men as the door -closed. “Beginning with the first of next month, -McLean, if you so wish, you will act as assistant -manager at the Summit Lake Mill. And you,” -he turned to Douglas, “will occupy a similar -position at the Cheakamus plant.” He rang for -his stenographer, who entered at once.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald muttered an embarrassed thanks, and -as he passed through the door he heard Robert -Rennie’s voice in rapid dictation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They spent the remainder of the afternoon -buying supplies from the list which Andy had -furnished them. There were numerous delicacies -in the items of foodstuffs that brought -exclamations of surprise from Douglas. “There -is everything here to serve a banquet; even -tablecloths and napkins. What is the little beggar -up to now, I wonder?” he said laughingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“His birthday,” explained Donald. “He is -going to invite the Wainwrights and John Hillier. -And besides,” he added, “I think he wants to -show the old trapper that he can do a little -fancy cooking himself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet Rennie could not interpret the inner -urge that prompted her to arise at an early hour -the next morning to drive her brother to the -wharf. It rather bewildered her—made her -ashamed of herself that she could not put Donald -from her mind entirely. “Why can’t you forget -him?” she asked herself in protest for the -thousandth time. As the boat pulled away from -the dock she waved an adieu and, with a troubled -look in her eyes, swung her car cityward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For two days after their return to the mountains, -their little cabin was a hive of industry. -Andy banished his fellow-lodgers to the outdoors -at every opportunity while he performed -mysterious rites over the small stove. “I’ll -show that juggling old pirate what a real meal is -like,” he chuckled to himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Their guest arrived late in the afternoon and -sat outside in the warm sun while Andy busied -himself behind the closed door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Old John’s face shone from the vigorous -application of soap and towel. His sole change -in attire for the occasion was a clean buckskin -coat from the breast pocket of which protruded -the corner of a red silk handkerchief.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s abundant golden hair had been -carefully brushed, and hung over her shoulders -in glistening, billowy waves that reached to -her waist-line. She seated herself a short distance -from the party and took no part in the -conversation. This was her first social affair -and she felt ill at ease. Donald’s repeated -attempts to break her reserve were answered -in monosyllables.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The door opened to disclose a remarkable -figure framed in the entrance. Andy stood -before them in the most ridiculous make-up of -a butler. An old black coat of Gillis’s, cut off -at the sides to form a “claw-hammer,” hung -loosely over his narrow shoulders; side-whiskers -of tree moss were stuck to his cheeks, and his -face was as stolid as a graven image.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dinner is now being served in the main -dining-’all, me lord,” he intoned slowly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They applauded Andy’s effort heartily, and -as they laughingly entered the cabin a scene met -their eyes that was remarkably incongruous -amid such drab surroundings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A snow-white cloth covered the rough board -table. A huge turkey, with bulging breast -browned to a crispness, graced the centre of the -board. Oysters in the shell, celery, salads, -several kinds of vegetables, pies, cookies and -fancy cheeses were in tempting abundance; and -in a place of honour near the turkey reposed -Andy’s birthday cake, its frosted surface covered -with tiny candles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s blue eyes opened wide with wonder. -“Oh, Dad!” she cried joyously, “it’s just like -stories, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John tossed his hat to the floor in the corner. -“You can deliver the goods, ol’ timer, sure -enough,” he commended in a tone of respect.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was an odd party that gathered in the log hut -in the wilderness to celebrate Andy’s birthday—a -wilderness whose silence was soon to be broken -by the crash of trees and the clang of steel. A -late blast, so near that the cabin trembled, -caused the old trapper to shiver slightly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Trains will soon be running through your -backyard, John,” observed Douglas.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old man shook his head sadly. “Yes,” -he concurred, “an’ I’ll hev’ to be hittin’ the trail -agin before long.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s banquet proceeded merrily, and when -the last course was finished Donald took a -bundle from the shelf and placed it in Connie’s -hands. “Something I brought from town for -you,” he smiled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s colour heightened. “For me?” she -asked incredulously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, some reading matter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank you,” she murmured softly, as her -quick fingers unwrapped the package. She cried -aloud with delight as half a dozen novels and as -many magazines were disclosed to view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And here, Andy, is a present for you,” said -Donald as he dragged a box from the corner; -“something to assist in passing away the time -pleasantly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s joy knew no bounds when, opening -the box, a superb Victrola was disclosed to -view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly the sweet strains of a full orchestra -playing the “Barcarolle” filled the room. Connie -was enraptured. She stood with bowed -head and closed eyes, her hands pressed to her -throbbing breast, as the music stirred her -emotional soul to its depths. She sighed deeply -and her cheeks were wet with tears as she moved -to the machine when the music ceased.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They all sang the chorus to the “Old Oaken -Bucket,” “Suwannee River” and “Annie Laurie.” -Connie’s embarrassment had vanished and her -clear voice rang in sweet harmony with the -deeper tones of the men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the conclusion of “Home Sweet Home,” -old John Hillier blew his nose vigorously and -surreptitiously dabbed the big red handkerchief -to his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The words of “A Dream,” sung in an impassioned -tenor voice, came with surprising distinctness:</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“I dreamed thou wert living, my darling, my darling,</p> -<p class='line0'>  I dreamed that I pressed thee once more to my breast.</p> -<p class='line0'>Thy soft perfumed tresses and gentle caresses</p> -<p class='line0'>  Thrilled me and stilled me and lulled me to rest.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald saw that Wainwright was deeply -moved. His throat was working convulsively, and -he seemed to have difficulty in lighting his pipe. -His shaking hands were cupped over his pipe-bowl -in an attempt to hide his emotion. His face -was pale and tears brimmed his clear grey eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come on, John, let’s ’it up a jig!” cried Andy -as he capered across the room and pulled the -trapper to his feet. To the lilt of the “Irish -Washerwoman” the odd pair smacked the floor -with their feet, whirled in giddy circles, and -whooped like wild men. They linked arms -and spun like a top until John’s moccasined foot -trod on Andy’s long coat and brought them to -the floor in a heap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The comedy helped Wainwright to regain his -composure, and sent Connie into screams of -happy laughter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve had a most wonderful evening, Andy,” -said Connie gratefully as they were leaving. -“The most wonderful in my life,” she added -softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By the way, Mr. Pettray,” spoke Mr. -Wainwright from the doorway, “how are you -progressing with your studies?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not ’arf bad,” answered Andy. “I ’ave -learned about the sepals, calyx, corolla, pistil, -filament, anther, pollen, style and stigma.” -As he rattled off these words he glanced at -Gillis and Douglas. He had been longing for -this chance to air his newly-acquired knowledge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fine,” complimented Wainwright smilingly. -“You are having no difficulty, then?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy wrinkled his brows. “I ’ave found it a -bit difficult,” he began importantly; “just a -bit, you know, to classify the flowers as to whether -they are oxillary, confulate, peduncular, polyandrous, -gynandrous, zygomorphic——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Holy mackerel!” roared Gillis, as he clapped -his hands over his ears. “Stop him, somebody!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Douglas caught Andy by the coat-tail and -dragged him from the door. Connie’s cheerful -laughter drifted back to them through the -darkness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Breed crossed the outer edge of light -thrown from the doorway and limped to the -trail. Wherever Connie went her argus-eyed -guardian flitted in the background.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XI</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>In</span> the construction of the railroad to -Summit Lake the speed and efficiency of the -R. C. & L. Co’s organization excelled any past -effort.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The land-clearing outfit arrived the evening -after Andy’s party and began work on that -portion of the right-of-way that skirted the west -shore of the lake. Like a swath of destruction, -the ground became covered with the litter and -wreckage of blasted trees—noble trees that had -stood for centuries like silent sentinels guarding -the limpid blue lake lapping gently at their feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For two days Connie had been no nearer than -the bluff. Seated astride her horse, she now -gazed in startled awe on the invasion of her -loved valley. On the third day, drawn by a -horrible fascination, she ventured timidly into -the valley and watched with wide eyes the -advance of the pygmy army, who, with such -tiny tools as the axe and saw, crashed to earth -mammoth trees that seemed as enduring as the -mountains on which they stood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The steam-shovel roared and crashed in the -distance as it ploughed deep gashes in the green -hillside, men shouted, heavy wagons banged -over the rough road, and fearful blasts shook the -air. Through all this tumult the men worked -in a frenzy of haste.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A giant fir—a veritable king of the forest, -towering in regal glory high above its mates—stood -near the water’s edge. Around the massive -bole of this tree Connie had played since her -earliest recollection. She had endowed this -half-god with a living personality, to whom she -had confided all her childish fancies and aspirations. -The corrugated bark bore numerous -bits of nursery rhymes, and her name was etched -deep with a sharp knife in several places. With -a lump in her throat she saw the “fallers” -move to the foot of this great tree and gaze aloft -with appraising eyes. Then sinewy arms sent -shining axes through the thick bark to form the -“scarf,” which to Connie appeared as a gaping -white wound on the dark grey trunk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the cross-cut saw with its rasping clang -ate its way slowly through the tough fibre of -the great titan, Connie made inarticulate sounds -in her throat and for a moment covered her -eyes. As the wedge was applied, a great -shudder passed through the tree. Connie held -her breath. The tower of dark branches at the -top nodded as if in fond farewell. There -was a pause, then with a rending and tearing -crash it fell to earth with a thunder of sound that -filled the valley with a wild tumult of echoes. -A whistle blew shrilly, and the men picked up -their coats and walked toward their camp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a short space Connie stood motionless. -Then, with a last long look at the fallen monarch, -she sighed deeply and turned to the trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night at dusk she came again. Donald -came upon her as she crouched, a forlorn figure, -by the prostrate tree. Pointing to her fallen -friend, whose top was torn and splintered, she -told Donald in halting sentences of the day’s -disaster. As he noted the grave face and trembling -lips, he wondered at the depth of feeling in one -so young. His soft words of sympathy brought -unseen tears to her eyes, and she dared not trust -her voice in answer. He spoke to her cheerily -on other subjects, but could not shake her -melancholy mood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even the night calm was ravaged by the -thunder of blasts. A lurid wall of flame shot -high in the air as a rocky portion of the shoreline -was rent asunder, and huge boulders -plunged into the calm lake, sending up pyramids -of water to break in noisy waves on the shore.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald enjoyed the unusual experience of -witnessing the construction of a railroad, but -he understood now why the old trapper had -wagged his grey head sadly when he heard the -clamour of striving men and machinery creeping -up from the south.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The night work had ceased, and a welcome -silence settled over the shattered forest. -Lambent stars sparkled and twinkled in the high, -clear air, with colours that changed from orange -to blue and back again. The eastern sky -brightened, the glow gradually spread through -the heavens, then the moon came slowly over -the towering snow-peaks, flooding the valley -with light. The fallen tree took on a ghost-like -appearance in the moon’s radiance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then an uncanny thing happened. Suddenly -from a clear sky, without a moment’s -warning, a dark and ominous cloud obscured -the moon’s light. Connie came quickly to her -feet and gazed with startled eyes at this strange -phenomenon. The air took on a sudden chill. -A quick, strong wind swept up the hill. From -the swaying tree-tops there came a moaning -like a wailing requiem for the dead—so -much like the human voice that Donald -shivered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To Donald the darkening moon and the -sighing trees were a coincidence, but to this -child of nature, who had been reared in loneliness -where rivers roared and mountains loomed, -and who understood so intimately the wild -things of the forest, it was a manifestation of -sorrow by the God of Nature. With her -breast heaving tumultuously, she leaned against -the mammoth tree and pressed her cheek to its -rough bark. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she -whispered brokenly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As if in answer to her words of compassion, -the veil suddenly lifted from the moon and the -wind ceased. Donald shook himself. “Rather -weird,” he said, with a quick, nervous laugh. -He turned to find that he was alone.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Events moved swiftly that week.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>King’s report was favourable to Donald’s -plan, and word came that electrical equipment -for the Summit Mill had been ordered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Donald’s invitation Connie came to the -station to witness the arrival of the first train. -As the awesome black monster, with whistle -screaming and bell clanging, roared through the -rock cut at the south end of the lake and bore -down upon them, Connie gasped in wonder. -As the train came to a hissing stop she shrank -against the walls of the building, a startled look -in her eyes. She flushed at the men’s hearty -laughter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The train was loaded with working-men, who -with their bundles of blankets overflowed the -small platform. A kitchen-car and a sleeping-car -were shunted to the side-track which would -be their home until the erection of the big -dining-hall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was given charge of constructing the -dam, Gillis started the lumbering operations, -while Douglas moved to the Cheakamus Mill. -Andy was to be boss of the kitchen staff, and -was kept busy overseeing the work of interior -construction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A portable mill was fast at work turning out -timbers for the big plant, and carpenters and -millwrights worked night and day. An -American expert came with the machinery to -superintend the installation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the new task set for him there descended -on Donald a deep sense of responsibility. -Unlike the others, he worked no regular hours. -A feeling of gratitude toward Robert Rennie -for the confidence displayed in him kept him -at top speed; his energy and resource seemed -inexhaustible. From the time his alarm clock—that -harsh, brutal little destroyer of sleep—shrilled -its call at daylight until darkness filled -the valley, he stuck to his task.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One week earlier than the time allotted he -reported the dam as finished.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie came with Renwick and King -for a short trip of inspection, and as he was -leaving he spoke a kindly word in commendation -of Donald’s work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Summit Mill was to be modern in every -respect, lighted with electricity and provided -with modern plumbing and hot shower-baths. -The white steel beds of the dormitory were -clothed in clean white sheets and pillow-cases. -There was no analogy in this perfection to the -ordinary logging-camp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For hours Donald followed the expert through -the mill, while the latter explained and tested -the different motors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once a week Robert Rennie came to the mill, -taking a keen interest in all phases of its construction, -and invariably he went away with a -pleased smile on his face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Never saw the old man so worked up,” -commented Gillis. “Guess he’d like to come -up here and run her himself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Renwick was still sceptical. For no apparent -reason he had taken a dislike to Donald. “It’s -just ’cause you and I are such good friends,” -explained Gillis. “Me and him get on like a -couple of strange bull-dogs.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the huge three-storied mill, with its dry -kiln, lumber skids, conveyor shed and railroad -spurs, was ready for operation, and each machine -had been tested, Robert Rennie arrived with -other officials of the Company. Next morning -Donald’s heart thumped as the mill’s big whistle -sent out its first call to work and the men filed -eagerly to their posts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The logs were sprayed with huge water-jets as -they came up the chain-haul to clean them of -gravel and débris. The electric “nigger” spun -them about and threw them into place with a -thud that shook the mill. Then in a wild crescendo -of sound there rose the harsh chorus of -saws: the singing howl of the cut-off, the strident, -slurring sound of the gang-saws, and the staccato -snarl of the trimmer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Smiling and rubbing his hands, Robert Rennie -walked through the mill. “Running like a -greased pig,” shouted Gillis above the clamour. -The owner of the R. C. & L. Co. so far forgot -his decorum as to slap the astonished Gillis -heartily on the back.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald noticed an ever-increasing irritability -on the part of the logging foreman during the -next week. The ertswhile jocular Gillis became -sulky and morose. Donald got an inkling as to -the cause of his friend’s gloom when he heard -Gillis in conversation with Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What the ’ell’s the matter, you big lunkus? -You’re like a bear with a sore foot,” complained -Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If my gang don’t get here pretty soon, and -I have to put up with this crowd of bohunks -much longer, I won’t be fit to live with,” growled -Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis’s gang of “redshirts” were known the -length and breadth of British Columbia. -Employers bid high for their services, but for -many years they had stuck loyally with Gillis -and the R. C. & L. Co. At present they were -employed by the Company in one of their camps -up the coast, but, at Gillis’s earnest request, -Robert Rennie had promised to send them to -Summit Lake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis’s “redshirts” had the well-earned reputation -of being the wildest crew of lumber-jacks -west of the Rockies. “They’re wild, all right,” -Gillis had admitted; “a swearin’, drinkin’, -fightin’ gang of roughnecks. But holy mackerel! -How them boys can log!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night Gillis confided his troubles to -Donald. “I don’t know what in tarnation’s to -become of loggin’ in years to come if things keep -on as they are now,” he began in a despondent -tone. “It used to be that when you sent down -town for loggers you got loggers. But now,” -with a gesture of disgust, “you git a lot of -silk-stockin’d, mandolin-playin’, gum-chewin’, -smooth-haired guys, or else a bunch of snuff-chewin’, -garlic-smellin’, macaroni-eatin’ bohunks, -whose names sound like a war in Central -Europe.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sighing reminiscently, he continued: “I often -wonder if it’s because I’m gittin’ old; but, you -know, when I look back on the days, when -we logged with bull teams, it seems to me that -the men at that time <span class='it'>liked</span> to work. I can still -see the old timers in their whiskers, and their -big black hats and flannel shirts, as they sailed -out on the old <span class='it'>Comox</span> or the <span class='it'>Cassiar</span>.” He shook -his head sadly. “Ah! there was only one kind -of logger in them days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seeing that Donald was interested, he went -on: “Yes, there’s two kinds of loggers nowadays, -Donnie, the ‘single-breasted’ and the ‘double-breasted.’ -And there’s a hell of a lot of difference -between the two. The ‘single-breasted’ -logger is a man that don’t speak anythin’ but -English, an’ he don’t belong to the ‘I won’t -works’ neither. He knows loggin’ from A to -Z; don’t mind sleepin’ in a bunk, and always -carries his own blankets. If he borrows a ten-spot -off you, as soon as he earns it he comes -lookin’ for you, slips you the money, grabs you -by the hand, and lookin’ you straight in the eye, -says: ‘Thanks, friend, come and have a drink.’ -At night, when he is through work, he’ll smoke -his pipe, grind his axe, talk about the next day’s -work with the boss, read the paper and go to -bed. In the mornin’ he’ll swallow a big load of -prunes and ham and eggs and go to work -a-singin’.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But this ‘double-breaster’,” he snorted disgustedly, -“he’s a mixture of a taxi-driver, bartender -and soap-box orator, and just because he -lives in B.C., he thinks he is a logger. He -knows the difference between a fallin’ saw and -a bucket’s saw, and that just about lets him out. -If he borrows a dollar off you, the minute the -bill slips out of your hand you can see a look in -his eye that says, ‘You’re hooked.’ And the -devil of it is that he won’t cross to the other side -of the street when he sees you comin’, but he’ll -walk right up to you a-smilin’ and ask you for -another buck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When he gets through at night he cleans his -finger-nails and picks on a mandolin while he -tells how many Janes is stuck on him in Vancouver; -gives an opinion that the shower-bath -was not hot enough, and how we sufferin’ -workers should rise against the capitalists. He’ll -kick at the breakfast table because there is only -oranges and no grape-fruit. When he goes in -the woods he’ll throw a few tools away so’s to -help the cause of the workers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Workers!” he exploded, as he came to his -feet and walked the floor, “we’ve got too many -‘double-breasteds’ and ‘hunks’ in this camp -right now, Donnie. A hunk will work if you -show him a pick and shovel, but these other -guys are trouble-breeders. Did you see that -big brute that came in to-day?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald remembered seeing an enormous man -with narrow, piggish eyes, in the crowd of men -sent by the employment agency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s ol’ Hand. He’s a bad egg. I s’pose -I’d ought to fire him, but he’s a good logger, -and they are mighty scarce ’round these diggin’s.” -He yawned sleepily. “Got to fix a ‘spar-tree’ -for a ‘high-lead’ to-morrow, so I better hit the -hay.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Preparing the “spar-tree” for “high-lead,” or -“sky-line” rigging, is the most spectacular and -thrilling performance in the logging industry. -A standing tree is trimmed of top and branches, -then strengthened with guys. With the pull -coming from this altitude, the advantage over -the straight ground pull is enormous as logs are -lifted high in air over all impedimenta. The -men who do this hazardous work are known as -“high-riggers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Next morning, a man with a short-handled -axe, wearing a wide belt to pass around the treetrunk, -and a pair of lineman’s spurs, slowly -climbed a big fir. As he ascended he trimmed -the trunk clear of limbs. Quite a crowd -gathered, among them the trapper, with his -rifle on his arm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ain’t got a ‘high-rigger’ in the outfit,” -growled Gillis. “This feller agreed to trim her, -but he says he never chopped the top off one, -so I guess we’ll dynamite her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The explosive, with a detonating cap, was tied -around the top of the tree and wires strung to -the ground. For some reason the batteries -would not act, and Gillis chafed under the -delay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I kin set her off for ye,” said the old trapper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis turned to him. “How?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trapper tapped his gun. “Put a piece -of paper on the cap so’ I kin see her and I’ll -pop it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s a new one on me,” laughed Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He sent the man aloft to place a square piece -of pasteboard on the cap. The men moved -back from the foot of the tree, and Gillis gave -the signal that all was clear. The old man -sprang briskly to the top of a stump, tipped his -big hat to the back of his head, and raised his -rifle slowly. For an instant the long barrel -wavered slightly, then steadied. The report of -the rifle was drowned by a splintering crash. -The heavily-branched top lifted, then came -hurtling through the air to strike the ground a -mass of wreckage. For a moment the big spar -swayed drunkenly from the shock, then stood -stark and rigid. Deprived of its fronds of green, -it appeared a ghastly relic of its former self.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That afternoon, as they waited the arrival of -the train, Gillis talked again of his “redshirts.” -“White men, every one of them,” he declared -proudly, “and every one of them with a nickname -that is known all over the Coast. Ye just -ought to see my two ‘high-riggers,’ ‘Hoop-la’ -McKenzie and ‘Blackie’ Anderson. ‘Blackie’ is -as black as an Indian, and ‘Hoop-la’ got his -name from standing on the top of a spar-tree, -after he cuts her off, wavin’ his hat and yellin’ -‘Hoop-la’.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I got five Jack McDonalds in the gang. -Their names are ‘Sly’ Jack, ‘Fightin’ Jack, -‘Check-Book’ Jack, ‘Johnnie-On-The-Spot,’ -and ‘Crazy’ Jack. An’ if they had all bin named -‘Crazy’ Jack it wouldn’t bin no mistake,” he -finished with a laugh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The train rumbled to the station and the -usual crowd of workers came pouring from the -cars, while a crowd stood waiting to board the -train. It was the same every day—men coming -and men going.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis uttered the glad cry, “Here they are!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A big, ostentatious man, with broad shoulders -and narrow hips, stepped to the platform. His -dress was truly colourful and striking—wide hat, -high boots, a vivid scarlet shirt, with a cloth belt -of the same bright hue tied at the side, the ends -dangling loosely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Get out of the way, hunkies, and make room -for a logger!” he roared, as he elbowed his way -through a crowd of scattering foreigners behind -him, a line of men clad in the same brilliant attire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Hoop-la! you ornery ol’ skate!” -bellowed Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big man turned. “Here he is fellers!” -he shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a moment Gillis was surrounded by this -picturesque crew, howling tumultuous greetings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, ol’ hoss!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hello, you son-of-a-gun!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How the hell are ye?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was subjected to crushing hand-clasps -as he was introduced to each and every -one of this crowd of husky loggers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald studied them he did not wonder -at Gillis’s pride in these men. With the exception -of Blackie, there was none under six feet in -height, and they carried themselves with a loose -swing that was almost a swagger. Many of them -were well past middle age, some quite grey -about the temples. They were all filled with -the sparkling health of the great outdoors, their -skins the colour of mahogany.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where’s the bunk-house?” asked Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We don’t call them bunk-houses any more, -we have dormitories,” corrected Gillis as he -nudged Donald slyly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A what?” questioned the puzzled Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dormitories,” repeated Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie glowered at his boss. “What are you -runnin’, a ladies’ seminary?” he questioned -sarcastically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And another thing, you don’t need your -blankets. Company furnishes ’em,” informed -Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I’ll tell you one thing right now,” -declared ‘Crazy’ Jack, “I ain’t goin’ to sleep in a -pair of blankets that forty smelly bohunks has -wrapped themselves in. What kind of a joint -you brought us to, Jack?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What I want to tell you fellers,” said Gillis, -ignoring ‘Crazy’ Jack’s remarks, “is this: I want -you to stay all summer. None of this running -to town to get your teeth fixed, or a new suit, -see the ball game, or to meet your sister who’s -comin’ out from the East, and all that old bunk. -We got more orders——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can that chatter,” interrupted ‘Fighting’ -Jack with a wide grin. “We’re all goin’ to -town on Dominion Day, ain’t we, boys?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You bet!” they roared as one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis shrugged his shoulders resignedly. -“Thought you fellers was gettin’ old enough -to have a little sense,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too much kick in us yet, Jack,” demurred -Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where is this door-mee-tory, Jack?” asked -Hoop-la.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis pointed to the long building, and the -boisterous crowd moved noisily up the hill. -The men dropped their packs to the ground -outside the door, and, shouldering each other, -peered in. The long rows of white beds stood -immaculate against the walls, and two white-coated -flunkeys were sweeping the glossy varnished -floor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This ain’t the right place,” growled Hoop-la, -“this is the hospital. They must expect to kill -about a hundred men every day. Hi! Jack! -Come here. Where’s the bunk-room?” he -asked as Gillis approached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sure.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say! what you givin’ us? I wouldn’t dare -sit down on one of them beds; ’fraid of dirty’n -it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The others gathered round.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jack, can we put up a log shack for ourselves?” -asked Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You sure can,” responded Gillis tolerantly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All right, we’ll sleep in this morgue ’till -we get a decent place,” said Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He poked his head in the door just as Andy, -clad in white coat, entered by the rear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say, nurse,” shouted Blackie, “get ready for -twenty-two cases of delirium tremens!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s easy,” was Andy’s quick retort; -“I’ve ’ad more than that by myself.” His -eyebrows lifted in quick surprise as he saw the -brilliant shirts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When does the blinkin’ circus start?” he -grinned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That evening in their explorations Blackie and -Hoop-la found the log shack on the lake-shore.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say, Jack, can me and Hoop-la have that -cabin down there?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You bet you can, Blackie. You and Hoop-la -can have anythin’ round here,” replied Gillis -heartily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie had turned to go, but on hearing this -broad statement he stopped quickly. “Say, -Jack, me and Hoop-la came away from Vancouver -owin’ a little money—an’ I promised to -send——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ye’ve got me when the gittin’ is good,” -interrupted Gillis. “How much do you want?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me see,” reflected Blackie, “I owe for -my room in town; and I owe at Old Joe’s, and—and——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How much? Spit it out, I can stand the -shock,” commanded Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Bout a hundred, Jack.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” whistled Gillis as he reached for -his purse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With Donald’s assistance the hundred dollars -was found and Blackie ran joyously down the -hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Little devil!” smiled Gillis as he gazed -after him. “Good-hearted a feller as ever -lived,” he added feelingly, “but he can’t take -one drink without goin’ crazy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The “redshirts” had been up in the woods -looking over the logging operations, and they -now came swinging down the hill, their bright -shirts flashing in the sun. They were loggers, -“every inch of them,” as Gillis had said.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Andy’s</span> study of nature proved to be no -idle whim, and Gillis had long since ceased -teasing him. All his leisure moments were -spent in scouring the hills and meadows for -specimens, and regularly every Sunday afternoon -he ascended the hill to Wainwright’s cabin with -his collection for the learned Englishman’s -inspection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On this afternoon, Wainwright, being in one -of his solitary moods, had wandered up the -mountain, and Andy found Connie busily engaged -in spading the earth in search of worms, -which she tossed to the swarm of birds that -hopped on the ground and filled the air about her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Scolding the bold camp-robbers that ventured -dangerously near the shovel blade, she scattered -the soil, then laughed joyously as the birds with -a great flutter of wings pounced on the fat worms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy threw himself luxuriously on the green -sward. This beautiful spot was a diversion -from the hot kitchen, a veritable haven of rest. -The gentle murmur of the bees among the -flowers, the soft, subdued twittering of the birds, -the rustle of the leaves, and the laughing of the -water, all combined to make one sweet monotone -of sound that lulled him into drowsiness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sat down near him, the birds all about -her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ow do you get them so tame, Connie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They know that I love them,” she replied -simply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can’t get anything but the camp-robbers -to come near me,” said Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It takes time and patience, Andy. As soon -as the birds are assured that you mean them no -harm, they are eager to be your friends. You’ll -remember, Dad told you that without plants -man could not live,” she went on. “It is -equally true that if all the birds should perish, -man would soon follow. And, still more wonderful, -if we had no insects man could not survive.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy came to a sitting posture. “Do you -mean to s’y that we would die if we ’ad no -insects?” he asked incredulously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Surely, Andy, you haven’t forgotten what -Dad told you last Sunday about the insects -carrying the pollen from flower to flower,” -reproved Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ’ave it now!” cried Andy, after a few -moments of reflection. “If we ’ad no insects -to carry the pollen the plants couldn’t live. -And if the birds were all gone ther’d be so many -insects that they’d eat up every blinkin’ thing -the farmers raised, and we’d starve to death.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me ’andsome if it ain’t wonderful!” -said Andy in an awed voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie explained very simply to Andy the -benefits derived by mankind from the various -birds. Her discourse proved so interesting to -him that he paid little heed to the time until the -sun, disappearing behind the trees, warned him -that it was time to return to his duties. Regretfully -he arose and turned to the trail, Connie -walking by his side. A goldfinch, rich in his -summer plumage of bright yellow, black and -white, hung swaying like a dainty sprite on a -slender stem near the path. From its bulging -little throat came a rippling, bubbling song like a -miniature torrent of ecstasy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear, dear, dearie,” he called sweetly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, you darling!” cried Connie as she clasped -her hands in rapture. “I’ve been trying to find -their nest for several days, Andy, but the little -dears have hidden it too well.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She made soft clucking sounds as she moved -nearer to the beautiful bird. The goldfinch fluttered -close to her side to perch like a yellow flower -on the top of a tall thistle, perked its pretty head -and looked up at her with bright shining eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear, dear, dearie,” it sang again, then flew -with characteristic wavy motion to a clump of -willows, twittering sweetly as if calling Connie -to follow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ’ave to ’urry ’ome,” said Andy as he looked -at his watch. He glanced back at a turn in the -trail to see Connie pressing the willows gently -aside in her search for the goldfinch’s nest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink! but she is a wonderful girl,” -soliloquized Andy. “The ’andsomest and the -brainiest kid I ever saw in me life. If I was -thirty years younger, two feet ’igher, and ’arf -decent to look at, I’d fall ’ead over ’eels in love -with ’er.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He smiled broadly at these ridiculous reflections, -but there was a tender light in his bright -blue eyes. A swarthy foreign labourer, moving -aimlessly up the trail, merely grunted in reply -to Andy’s cheerful salutation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One of Gillis’s beloved bohunks,” chuckled -Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later he stopped suddenly. Connie -was up there alone. For a short interval he -hesitated, then resumed his downward journey. -“She’d shoot ’is blinkin’ ’ead off if ’e tried to -’arm ’er,” he decided.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Just then he heard Connie’s voice raised in a -quick cry of anger. Andy jumped as though -subjected to a galvanic shock. He turned in -mid-air and before he struck the ground his -short legs were going through the motion of -running. The picture of Connie struggling in -the arms of the burly foreigner made him fairly -fly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m coming, Connie!” he shouted as he -tore up the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald and Gillis, sitting near the bluff -enjoying a smoke came to their feet as they -heard a faint shout from above. For an interval -they listened intently, but hearing no further -sound they resumed their seats. Andy slackened -his pace as he came to the clearing and saw that -Connie was unharmed. She was standing near -the labourer with her head bowed over an object -held in her hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s wrong, Connie?” panted Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy, look!” she choked, “it’s the mother -bird. I had just found her nest—here it is.” -She parted the bushes to disclose a compact, -cosy, cup-like structure of fine grass and moss -placed in a crotch of the tree. In the centre -lay four downy fledglings whose tiny mouths -gaped wide to receive the expected bit of food -from the mother’s bill. “Oh, Andy, if she dies -the little ones won’t live,” said Connie in a voice -filled with pity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy took the wounded bird from her hand. -“ ’Ow did it ’appen, Connie?” he asked -tenderly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie was as open and unaffected as the -wild birds of the forest. She was as capable of -hating as she was of loving. Her eyes were -laughing eyes, and the soul that looked out of -them a merry soul, but she had a temper, and -under sufficient provocation her blue eyes could -take on a dangerous glow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She now turned like an enraged lioness on the -foreigner. “He killed it with a stick!” she -cried furiously. “You brute, you cowardly -brute. . . .” In her rage her voice became -incoherent. With hands clenched and with -breath coming in short gasps, she moved nearer -to the object of her hatred. In her hysterical -anger her voice rose almost to a scream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You cur, if I were a man I’d—I’d lick you!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The cry came to Donald’s ears, and he was off -up the trail like a deer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Something wrong, Jack!” he shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go ahead, I’ll follow,” responded Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy looked down on the mother goldfinch as it -lay in his hand. He felt the quick throbbing of its -heart grow fainter and fainter. One wing was -broken and its white breast was stained with -blood. The bird’s head drooped lower, and a -film settled over its bright eyes. The beautiful -wings stretched rigidly, and it gasped convulsively, -sending a tiny stain of crimson from its -mouth that felt warm on his palm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s face became colourless. His hand -shook violently as he placed the dead bird -tenderly on the ground. “Connie dear,” he -said, in a voice that trembled, “I ain’t a whole -man, but ’ere’s where you see ’arf a man goin’ -into battle to give all he’s got.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He removed his coat and threw it from -him. Through a rage-mist Andy saw the grinning -foreigner throw up his arms in an absurdly -unscientific posture of defence. Like a mad cat, -Andy launched himself straight at his husky -opponent. The grin was wiped from the big -man’s face by Andy’s compact fist, as it smacked -resonantly on the end of his thick nose with a snap -like that of a whip, and with a skilled force that -brought blood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s years of training boxers now stood -him in good stead. He well knew that a small -man would stand little chance in long range -fighting, and he kept well inside the larger man’s -wild swings. With his blond head tucked -against his adversary’s body, his fists worked like -pistons; he kept sending short jolts to the body -that brought heavy grunts every time they -landed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie was delirious with excitement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hit him, Andy! Hit him! Good! Good!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And then she groaned as the big man’s hand -found Andy’s throat and flung him to the ground. -Little Andy was up immediately, but stepped -into a swinging fist that caught him over the eye -and sent him sprawling. Undaunted, he came -to his feet, waited warily for an opening, and -again sprang under the big man’s guard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s fist shot up in a ripping upper-cut -that was judged to a nicety, catching his opponent -on the point of his chin with force enough to send -him rocking on his heels, and before he could -recover himself the same fist, accompanied by -its mate, beat a tattoo on his solar plexus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In desperation the bewildered man wound his -arms about the little Australian and lifted him -high in air. Like a game bulldog Andy hung on. -Though his feet were off the ground, he clung -to the big man’s body like a leech.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again the big hands felt for Andy’s throat, -and he was flung six feet to strike with a thump -that shook every bone in his body. Connie -cried out in fear as he narrowly avoided a brutal -blow aimed at his head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s sense of British fair play had received -a rude shock. “As Methusalem said,” he -panted, as he came to his feet, “when in -Bohunkia do as the Bohunks do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Take that, Spaghetti!” he shouted, as he -kicked the foreigner viciously on the shin. -While the latter leaned over in pain, Andy shot -a well-directed upper-cut to his face. The big -man sat down, a dazed look in his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Breathless, Donald arrived on the scene, with -Gillis puffing in the rear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Breathing heavily, Andy’s adversary came -to his feet, picked up his hat, and with arms -wound about his head beat a hasty retreat. -Andy was after him like a hornet, sending -stinging blows through his vulnerable guard. -Donald and Gillis stood with mouths agape to -see Andy administering a sound thrashing to a -man twice his size. Right to the edge of the -woods he relentlessly pursued his fleeing enemy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s head was held at its usual cocky angle, -and he assumed a swagger as he retraced his -steps, but his short legs wobbled and he sank -dizzily to a stump.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I brought ’is blinkin’ meat-’ouse down, -Connie,” he gasped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Andy, you’re a darling!” she cried, -throwing her arms impulsively around the little -man’s neck, and touching her lips to his cheek.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s florid face took on a deeper magenta, -and he blinked hard to hide certain signs of -emotion. He afterwards admitted to Donald -that he was no “sweet sixteen,” and that it -was the first time that he had ever been kissed -in his “bloomin’ ” life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie wet her handkerchief in the cold -water of the creek and bathed his face with -tender care.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She showed Donald and Gillis the nest with -the motherless birds, doomed to die a premature -death by this act of wanton cruelty, and pointed -to the tiny bird on the ground, for whose untimely -end Andy had taken a well deserved and summary -vengeance. Connie choked as the lovely -male bird flew to a stalk of goldenrod near its -dead mate and sent out its throaty warble.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dear, dear, dearie,” sang the goldfinch in a -plaintive, questioning note.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy presented a pitiful figure with an eye -closed, his lips swollen, and his face bruised, -but the indomitable spirit of him shone from his -one bright orb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You darned little buzz-saw!” said Gillis -tenderly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald slapped his little friend on the back, -his eyes shining with admiration.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XIII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Renwick</span> announced that Robert Rennie’s -daughter and a party of girl friends were to -visit Summit Lake the following week, and -carpenters were set to work erecting cottages -for their accommodation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few days before her arrival Donald was both -surprised and pleased to receive a cordial letter -from her in which she said that she was looking -forward with pleasure to the coming holiday, -and that she would deeply appreciate anything -he might do for the entertainment of her friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As always, her father spared no expense in -providing for the comfort and pleasure of his -daughter. That week a car containing a motor-boat, -canoes and six saddle-horses was run in -on a side-track at the mill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie learned of the coming event through -Donald as she was watching with keen interest -the unloading of the spirited animals.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will enjoy yourself next week, Connie,” -he said gaily. “Miss Rennie is coming with -friends. We’ll have rides, picnics and dancing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few minutes later Connie joined Andy, who -sat on the steps of the kitchen door enjoying a -breath of fresh air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is Miss Rennie rich, Andy?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An ’ole barrel o’ dough.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is—is she beautiful?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve ’eard so, Connie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A short pause ensued while she searched the -pockets of her overalls and produced several -neatly folded papers. She extracted one, -pressed it smooth, then passed it to Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Does Miss Rennie dress like that?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a photograph of an actress dressed for -the street, taken from one of the magazines that -Donald had given her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think so, Connie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh! She must be wonderful, then!” said -Connie earnestly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She moved closer to Andy, unfolded another -page, and spread it on her knee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy bent his blond head close to the one -of gold. A startled look crossed his features -and his brows bobbed up and down. It was a -full-page advertisement of ladies’ lingerie. The -highly coloured illustration of a lady, partially -dressed, achieved its object of arresting the eye, -while the remainder of the space was occupied -by articles of apparel similar to those adorning -the lady’s graceful form.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy coughed. “Er—yes, Connie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie raised her eyebrows incredulously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All at one time?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sure—sure,” mumbled Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie stared. “Why, there must be nearly -a dozen pieces. How is this fastened?” she -questioned as she pointed with a slender brown -finger to one of the engravings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy took a quick glance. “Buttons.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Buttons,” replied Andy, gripping the bowl -of his pipe and sending out clouds of smoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me blind, what a ’ell of an ’ole,” -thought Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Buttons,” he responded desperately without -looking at the paper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie raised her head. “Oh no, I don’t -think so, Andy; that must slip on,” she objected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy made a pretence of studying the article -in question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, yes, sure! That’s right! that’s right!” -he conceded quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s pipe was now sending out billows of -acrid smoke. Connie coughed and moved beyond -the smoke screen. Much to Andy’s relief, -she sat for a moment silently studying the advertisement. -When she raised her golden head there -was a look of wistful yearning in her blue eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Andy,” she said dreamily, “it must be -lovely to feel those soft silky things next your -skin.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m—I’m sorry, Connie,” stuttered Andy, -“but I ’ave a roast in the oven—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a minute, Andy,” she pleaded, “there -is something else I want to ask you.” She sorted -the papers for a moment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“God ’elp me, what will it be now?” thought -Andy, as he braced himself for the next question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy, what is a camisole?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A look of profound relief crossed the little -Australian’s face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A camisole,” he explained with an air of -wisdom, “is a fish. It’s a——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was interrupted by Connie’s peal of -laughter. “Oh, Andy,” she cried, “you’re a -funny man!” She turned and ran laughing -down the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me lucky!” exclaimed Andy as he -mopped his brow. “It’s enough to make a -blighter’s ’eart bleed. The poor motherless kid -comin’ to a bloke like me to ask such questions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He watched Connie as she slowly ascended -the trail, still studying the magazine pages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But ’ow the ’ell can I ’elp ’er?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He pondered deeply for a moment, but, -seemingly unable to answer the question, shook -his head sadly and turned to his duties.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Fortunately for Janet’s peace of mind, none -of her friends had recognized in the photograph -of the new champion of Canada the handsome -young man they had met at her home. They -were puzzled by her decision to spend a holiday -in the wilds until she casually mentioned that -Mr. McLean was arranging for their entertainment, -and she accepted with a smile the sly -teasing that followed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party arrived by special train a day earlier -than originally planned, and as Janet stepped to -the platform Donald was for a moment disconcerted -by the warmth of her greeting and the -softness in her eyes as they rested on him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That afternoon Connie came riding down the -hill holding in her hand an enormous bouquet -of Alpine flowers. She leaped from her horse -and ran blithely around the corner of the big -building. Andy, dressed in white coat and hat, -came smilingly forward to meet her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy, here are some rare flowers Dad sent -for——” She ceased speaking abruptly as -Donald, leading Janet and her friends from a -tour of the kitchen, came through the door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s face lighted with a glad smile as he -saw Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Miss Rennie, I want you to meet Miss -Wainwright.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s face burned with embarrassment as -all eyes turned toward her, and the mass of wild -flowers held crushed to her breast quivered as -though shaken by a breeze. She glanced about -her quickly, strongly tempted to flee the -spot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment the society belle and the girl -of the mountains eyed each other silently. Janet -stared at Connie as if she were some strange -creature unclassified by science. Connie for the -first time was gazing on a stylishly-clad member -of her own sex. Janet’s dress of white silk -shimmered in the sunshine, and her broad-brimmed -white hat, with lining of pale rose, -gave to her beautiful face a ruddy glow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s eyes roved in admiring awe from the -neat high-heeled shoes to the silken hose and -skirt, and then to the flowered hat set jauntily -on thick shining coils of dark hair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a certain dewy freshness, a native -frankness, about the girl of the woods that made -Janet appear artificial. Their eyes met, and -Connie’s lips parted in a timid smile, revealing -two rows of perfect milk-white teeth and forming -two tiny dimples in her brown cheeks. Her -lonely heart longed for the friendship of this -wonderful girl, but the smile quickly faded when -she saw that Janet’s eyes remained cold and -appraising.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet scrutinized Connie’s faded blue overalls -and coarse cotton shirt, which, even though -loose and ill-fitting, could not conceal the graceful -lines of the childish figure. Confused by -the cold reception, her eyes wide and misty -with a hint of pain, Connie turned quickly -away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Moving with the easy grace and freedom that -an empress might envy, Connie walked to the -side of her cayuse, and with characteristic bird-like -motion sprang to his back. Her moccasined -feet struck his sides, and with ears flattened -Pegasus leaped forward with a speed that sent -Connie’s hair streaming. His spurning hoofs -sent a cloud of dust in their faces, then horse -and rider went tearing down the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet stood staring after the flying rider, a -look of blank astonishment on her face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s visits to the mill ceased, but from -the highest point on the bluff she watched the -merry-makers with keen interest as, dressed in -natty riding costumes, they rode their stylish -horses, disported themselves in bathing-suits on -the sandy beach, paddled the lake in light, -graceful canoes, or chugged about in the shiny -white motor-boat. For two evenings she sat -with a feeling of dreary lonesomeness while -Donald and Janet floated on the placid lake in -one of the tiny canoes, their subdued voices and -gentle laughter coming up faintly from below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the evenings she spent with Donald, -Janet was assailed by fleeting emotions in which -she tried to define her attitude toward him. She -felt that the time was not far distant when some -definition would be necessary. In a number of -artful ways she had tried, but without success, -to lead him to talk of himself. When she put -a direct question she saw the lines about his -mouth tighten, and his reply carried a tone of -such unmistakable rebuke that her face reddened -and the subject was instantly dropped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the night before Janet’s departure a dance -was arranged, to which the clerical staff of the -Cheakamus Mill was invited. Gillis promised -a special feature on the programme in the form -of an old-fashioned square-dance with his “redshirts” -as the performers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day the skies drizzled continuously; -lake and mountain were hidden under a heavy -mist. The inclement weather did not dampen -the ardour of the merry crowd, who, in slickers -and oilskins of every description, gathered flowers -and trees to decorate the big dining-room that -was to be used as a dance-hall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That night, lights gleamed from every window -of the big room, which had undergone a sudden -transformation. The walls were one mass of -wild flowers, and on the beams overhead small -cedars and jackpines stood upright in rows, -adding a pungent odour to the air, already burdened -with the sweet smell of wild flowers. The -music of the phonograph flowed out of the open -door to vibrate softly through the dripping trees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie learned of the dance, and after dark -she slipped quietly down into the valley. She -crouched by the open window, heedless of the -rain dripping from the eaves, her eyes glued -upon the enchanting scene within. She saw -Donald and Janet gliding across the floor, and -she marvelled at the grace of their movements. -The hum of talk, the constant ripple of feminine -laughter, the rustle of silken skirts, were all -foreign to Connie. She felt a touch of intense -and utter loneliness, like a stranger in a strange -land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet seemed to have thrown aside her cloak -of reserve; she brimmed over with an unwonted -gaiety, but at times her big brown eyes held a -troubled look as they rested on Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis’s “redshirts” filed in to give an exhibition -of old-fashioned dancing. Half the men -wore handkerchiefs tied about their arms to -indicate that they were impersonating ladies. -Blackie played the violin, while “Fightin’ ” Jack’s -roaring voice did the “callin’ off.” Gillis informed -the company that Blackie “didn’t know -a note of music from a post-hole.” But what -he lacked in technical knowledge was made up -in the immense volume of sound he produced -from the instrument, and the speed he set for -the whirling dancers to follow soon had them -dripping with perspiration. There were shouts -of Homeric laughter, big feet thumped the floor -as they girated through the intricate steps of -the quadrille, and above all sounded the hoarse -voice of “Fightin’ ” Jack in the colourful jargon -of “callin’ off.”</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Birdie jump out and Jackie jump in;</p> -<p class='line0'>Jackie jump out and give Birdie a swing.</p> -<p class='line0'>All the men left; back to pardner;</p> -<p class='line0'>And grand right and left.</p> -<p class='line0'>Chickadee right and pack-rat left.</p> -<p class='line0'>Meet your pardners and all chaw hay.</p> -<p class='line0'>Gents sashay and put on style,</p> -<p class='line0'>Re-sashay with a little more style,</p> -<p class='line0'>Little more style, gents, little more style.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>At the finish the girls loudly applauded the -efforts of this picturesque crew, and after a -short breathing spell they again took the floor -and danced until sheer exhaustion forced them -to quit. Mopping their dripping faces with big -red bandannas, they trooped boisterously outside.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Near midnight the rain ceased, and as Donald -walked with Janet to her cabin the moon came -suddenly from behind a dark wall of clouds to -set the lake sparkling under its soft light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too wonderful a night to sleep,” said Janet -softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shall we walk to the lake?” asked Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She nodded assent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They stood near the edge of the lake in the -light of the moon and looked across at the towering -snow-fields etched against the star-spangled -sky. There were lights still shining from the -big room they had just vacated, and the night-watchman’s -lantern bobbed jerkily as he made -his rounds. Across the lake the light from the -trapper’s cabin shone on the calm surface of the -water. The faint, weird call of a loon wafted -to their ears was echoed and re-echoed in soft -cadences from the surrounding hills. A faint -breath of wind came out of the rain-washed -forest, laden with the sweet perfume of earth -and flowers, and caressed their faces like loving -fingers. Donald took a deep breath that seemed -more like a sigh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Isn’t it beautiful?” He indicated with a -sweep of his arm the lake, the wooded hills and -the glittering glaciers lifting their heads high -to the sparkling firmament. He turned to find -his companion standing with downcast eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you like it?” he asked, a trifle resentfully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet raised her head slowly. The limpid -depths of the big brown eyes were soft and -languorous in the half-light; the full red lips -were dewy and tremulous; the peaceful light -of the moon shone upon her radiant upturned -face, giving it an ethereal glow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is wonderful,” she breathed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Involuntarily he moved closer. What was -this inner urge? Love—feeling—emotion, or, -it might be, passion?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Laughter and voices came from the trail above. -Douglas with several of the visiting party -emerged into the white light of the moon. -Douglas called his sister’s name and Janet and -Donald moved up the hill to join them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the sound of their footsteps died in the -distance there was a rustle in the bushes near -the path as a slender, childish figure, clad in -blue overalls and cotton shirt, glided into the -soft moonlight. She stood leaning forward -with the grace of some wild thing, her heavy hair -flowing about her shoulders. The big blue eyes -that usually were filled with light and happiness -were now dark with passion, and two small -brown fists were pressed against a wildly-heaving -breast. Tears welled from the blue -eyes and rolled slowly down her cheeks. Her -breath came in gasps.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hate you! Oh, how I hate you!” She -stamped her tiny moccasined foot passionately, -then turned and ran blindly along the dark -forest trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An owl flew like a ghostly wraith to a thick -growth of firs. The startled cheep of a flying-squirrel -turned to a cry of terror, quickly -silenced by the powerful beak of the owl as it -made its kill. A song-sparrow, with her downy -brood cuddled to her warm breast, heard the -death-cry, and her eyes grew round with terror.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A mallard duck, sleeping quietly on the lake, -emitted a terrified quack as it was drawn below -the surface. A moment later the water was -disturbed as a mink arose, with its sharp teeth -fastened in the duck’s throat, and moved through -widening ripples toward the land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The quick “plop” of a startled muskrat -sounded sharply on the night air as the Breed -rose slowly from a spot not far from where -Connie had lain in hiding. He stood with -arms folded, the stolid look of the Indian on his -face, and stared toward the spot where Connie -had disappeared. A look of ineffable sadness -was in his sombre eyes. Thus he stood as -immovable as a statue for an interval. Then a -long-drawn sigh escaped him. “She loves -him,” he said in a dead voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He walked to the shore, his distorted limb -causing him to sway grotesquely in the moonlight. -He drew a skilfully concealed dugout -from the bushes and launched it gently. His -paddle spurned the water noiselessly, and in a -moment he was lost in a bright patch of reflected -moonlight.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XIV</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>A week</span> before Dominion Day men began -applying for leave of absence until the exodus -depleted the crew to such an extent that it was -deemed advisable to shut down for a week. -Donald turned to Gillis as he saw the whole -crew of “redshirts” pile tumultuously on the -train.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How often do the men quit like this?” he -asked rather irritably.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Every holiday,” replied Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald pondered a moment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That means that we may lose a week for -Labour Day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very likely.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Jack, do you think we could keep them here -if we held some sort of celebration at the lake?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I believe we could,” responded Gillis -warmly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll do it then,” declared Donald. “We’ve -so many orders ahead that this lay-off may force -us to run a night crew.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Did you spend all your dough, Blackie?” -asked Gillis when the “redshirts” arrived -back from town.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Me and Hoop-la spent about two hundred -bucks, but we had three hundred dollars’ -worth o’ fun. We ain’t got enough money to -buy a humminbird a pair o’ leggin’s, but we -sure had a helluva good time, so we ain’t -worryin’.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“S’pose you bought them new boots?” -inquired Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie forced a laugh. “Goin’ to git them -next time, Jack,” he continued, moving closer -to his big boss; “say, Jack, you know that I -send twenty dollars to my mother back east -ev’ry month. I—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All right, Blackie,” said Gillis gently, “I’ll -advance it to you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks, Jack, you’re a good pal,” commended -Blackie in a relieved tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald and Gillis walked down the hill to inspect -the logs in the boom, and as they walked Gillis -indulged in some pointed observations. “You -know, Donnie, that these loggers are game guys -to come back after spendin’ all their money and -say: ‘We had a good time, so we ain’t worryin’.’ -The man ain’t human that won’t worry after -spendin’ in a few days the money it’s taken him -six months to earn swingin’ an axe an’ draggin’ -a saw. Still, they hide their remorse under a -grin and tell of what a good time they’ve had. -So many people think that loggers spend all -their money for booze. ’Tain’t so. That gang -of mine give away about half their money to -bums around town. I have seen Blackie give -away twenty bucks at a time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they passed the high-rigger’s little cabin, -Gillis poked his head through the door. Blackie -was absorbed in the task of sewing a patch on -a pair of worn boots. A mournful wind blew -querulously around the cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Say, Blackie, do you know what that wind -is saying?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie grunted a negative.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here’s what it’s a sayin’,” said Gillis as he -puckered his lips: “O-o-o-o-h! W-h-e-e-r-r-e-e -has your summer wages gone! O-o-o-h! -W-h-e-r-r-e-e has your summer——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis dodged back as a boot came whizzing -past his head.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Midsummer brought an epidemic of labour -disturbances throughout the Province. A radical -labour organization seized on a time when -work was plentiful and labour scarce to spread -their insidious propaganda through the camps. -Railroad construction in the interior had been -seriously interfered with, and in many cases -there had been violence and bloodshed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two agitators arrived at the Summit Mill, and -the next day several of the men—including -Hand and Blackie—did not appear when the -whistle blew. Gillis found them in Blackie’s -cabin in a half-drunken condition. That afternoon -Renwick ordered the two strangers off the -premises and discharged Hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hoop-la begged successfully for lenience toward -his erring pal. “You know how booze -affects Blackie, Jack,” he pleaded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald became aware of a changed bearing -on the part of many of the men. Sullenness -had fallen upon them; discontent manifested -itself, as well as insubordination. That afternoon -spikes driven in the logs wreaked havoc -with the saws and forced a partial shut-down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A committee of four men waited on Renwick -and presented an ultimatum. They demanded -a heavy increase in wages, or they would call for -an immediate cessation of work on the part of -the men they represented. Renwick promptly -refused. In fifteen minutes every man in the -mill except the clerical staff, the mechanics and -the engineer, walked out. In the woods only -Gillis’s “redshirts” remained at work.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The strikers moved up the track and made -camp on a point of land on the lake-shore. That -night the door of the commissary was prised -from its hinges and a quantity of food stolen, -and the night-watchman put out a fire of incendiary -origin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Renwick, while returning from the power-house, -was shot at twice from ambush. He -wired his resignation to Robert Rennie, and in -terrified haste packed his belongings and left on -the next train. An hour later the agent brought -Donald a telegram:</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:2em;'>“<span class='sc'>Donald McLean</span>,</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“Summit Mill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are promoted to position vacated by -Renwick. Refuse strikers’ demands. Ship -at Squamish Oriental order white pine. Utmost -importance lumber loaded within week. -Use every means in power to keep plant -operating.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Robert Rennie.</span>”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>He passed the message to Gillis. The big -man turned and grasped Donald’s hand in -congratulation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll get that order out on time or bust,” -declared Gillis grimly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald distributed firearms among his loyal -men, and one-half the crew patrolled the plant -while the others slept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald had been up the greater part of the -night, and at Gillis’s earnest request he went to -his cabin near midnight. As the door closed -behind him, Connie, with her rifle resting in -the hollow of her arm, rose silently from behind -a tree in the darkness of the hillside and flitted -noiselessly on moccasined feet from stump to -stump. Unseen she reached the corner of -Donald’s cabin, where she sank to the ground -with the soft, slow grace of a nestling bird.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Cheakamus Mill, robbed of man-power, -was forced to cease operations. At the Summit -Mill work went on with such speed as in the -situation Donald was able to induce in the men, -who were on edge. To him it seemed that they -were working on top of a powder mine that -might go off at any moment. He discovered in -himself a faculty to handle men and to raise -them to a fever pitch of enthusiasm—not that -the B.C. logger is a hard man to lift to the -fighting point. His fight against great odds had -gained the sympathy of the loyal—a sympathy -and respect that money could not buy. Gillis’s -gang, with the exception of “Blackie,” remained -fervently faithful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Toiling in the hot sun, nearly blinded by -sweat, singing lustily, this gallant crew worked -their twelve hours without a murmur of complaint. -Donald lived on the job, ate on the job, -and all day long he drove his men even as he -drove himself. His rest consisted of such fitful -snatches of sleep as he could steal between his -rounds of the night guards.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first move of the strikers was not of open -violence. The haul-back on two of the donkeys -broke without apparent reason; one of the big -saws had been tampered with; Wilkinson reported -two fires of incendiary origin, and also -that an attempt to dynamite the power-house -had been frustrated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the third morning Hand, at the head of -a mob of fifty men, made a swift descent on -the lumbering operations. It might have been -successful if Donald had not expected something -of this kind and set efficient watch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The invaders came down the track in a solid -body, armed with cant-dog handles, pick-axes -and clubs, and thirsting for battle. At Donald’s -quick shout of warning his men dropped their -tools and came on the run to form in a compact -body behind him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t use your guns unless you have to,” -he warned, as he noticed several of them flash -their revolvers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald climbed quickly to the top of a large -stump. In his left hand he held a stick of -dynamite with fuse attached; in his right he -held a match close to the dangling fuse. “Men,” -he cried in a determined tone, “if you move -forward one step I will throw this.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To hell mit him!” shouted Hand. “He -don’t dare do it. Rush him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the mob did not obey their leader’s rash -command. Donald’s pale face and burning -black eyes were sufficient evidence that he -made no idle threat. Donald saw the big -hand of his foreman stealing to the butt of -the heavy Colts that hung at his side. “Keep -cool, Jack,” he begged; “don’t start anything.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For days Gillis had been without sleep. He -turned bloodshot eyes on Donald. “By G——! -I would like to take a crack at Hand,” he said in -a voice thick with rage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The hostile crowd did not advance; neither -did they leave. Scattered in groups, they -lay or sat on the hillside to shout occasionally -words of derision at Donald’s faithful -crew.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s nerves were on edge. At any -moment there might be a pitched battle with -loss of lives. He studied the faces of the strikers -to see how many were from his crew, and was -surprised to recognize fully forty of his men. -He saw “Blackie” in the rear of the crowd of -strikers. When his eyes met Donald’s he turned -away shamefacedly. All the men from his camp -refused to meet his gaze squarely. “Those men -are ready to come back right now,” he said to -Gillis. “Hand has bullied them into this. -Don’t you think so?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know,” answered Gillis. “I never -thought Blackie would go back on me. I’ll -wring his d——d neck when I catch him in -town!” he added bitterly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald heard a slight movement behind him, -and turned to see Connie standing with her rifle -in the crook of her arm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good heavens! Connie, you shouldn’t be -here!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s face bore traces of weariness and -sleeplessness. For three nights she had stolen -softly away from her cabin on the hillside to lie -hidden outside that of Donald. By night she -had kept up a weary vigil, ever on the alert; in -the forenoon she had lain behind a stump on -the hill with eyes on Donald’s tall figure whenever -he came in sight, her rifle ready for instant -action. Hand did not know that death had -nearly claimed him when he stepped forward to -urge his men to charge. At that crucial moment -Connie’s rifle was aimed at his heart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Get away from here at once, Connie!” said -Donald, firmly, but kindly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie lowered her eyes to her moccasined -foot, that was weaving patterns in the dry soil, -and shook her small head obstinately.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why do you wish to stay?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She patted the stock of her rifle. “I—I want -to help you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald looked down at the weary little -figure. He stepped down from the stump, -keeping a wary eye on the belligerent strikers, -and came to her side. “Connie,” he said -softly, “you are a dear, brave little girl, but you -must get away from this place, as there may be -serious trouble. Please, Connie,” he entreated, -reaching out a hand to stroke her shining hair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s face paled quickly, and she shrank -from the caress. Her slender body trembled -at his touch, and his display of tenderness -brought a sudden rush of tears to her eyes. -But she made no move to leave the scene.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Finding that he could not shake Connie’s -determination to stay, Donald returned to the -vantage point of the stump. “Jack,” he said, -turning to his big foreman, “I am going to -make one last appeal to these men. If I am -any judge of human nature about half of them, -if they can save their faces, will welcome the -chance to go back to work. They are being -dominated by Hand.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis shrugged his shoulders. “Do what -you think best,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald passed the dynamite to Gillis and -stepped forward with his arms extended, palms -upward. The crowd moved uneasily. Hand -came slowly to his feet, his small eyes narrowed -with suspicion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s up?” he growled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Men,” Donald began in a high clear voice, -“I would like to convince you that you will -gain nothing by your present tactics. Bloodshed -will surely ensue. I have orders to refuse -your exorbitant demands. Personally, I have -no choice in the matter; there is no other course -for me to pursue. In spite of your interference -we will continue working with the few men -who have remained loyal. I will ask for police -protection only as a last resort. I appeal -particularly to the men who worked for me here -at this camp. Is there one of you who can -truthfully say that you were not accorded fair -treatment? Is there one of you who will not -admit that the general equipment for your -comfort is unequalled in any camp in British -Columbia? You are making a mistake, men,” -he went on in a pleading tone, “a mistake you -will be sorry for later, for you will be blacklisted -in every camp in the country. Go back -to work, and I promise you there will be no mark -against you. That’s all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald walked back to Connie’s side. The -men had not interrupted him once.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hand turned to the wavering crowd. “To -hell mit him and all capitalists!” he snarled. -He turned to shake a huge fist at Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You treaten us, do you? You d——” The -epithet that came from his coarse lips was one -that would cause any decent man to see red.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stiffened. His face turned livid. “You -dirty cur!” he flamed. “Don’t you know that -there is a lady present? You apologize to this -little girl or I will whip you within an inch of -your life!” His voice trembled with passion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lady,” scoffed Hand, “vat you call a -lady? She moost be nice lady, runnin’ in de -woods wit’ you ev’ry Sunday.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A murderous look shot from Donald’s dark -eyes. A terrible rage possessed him, a rage -that made his blood feel hot in his veins and -gave him the unnatural strength of a madman. -A dull red flamed in Connie’s tanned cheeks. -She sat down and covered her hot face with her -hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy now came running from the cook-house, -dressed in white cap and apron, his -rifle trailing at his side. “What’s goin’ on, -Donnie?” he questioned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald did not answer. Gillis spoke to Andy -in an undertone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My God, Donnie, ’e’s twice your size! -Don’t fight ’im!” implored Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll kill him!” rasped Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis seized his arm. “Let me fix the -d—— skunk; he’s nearer my size.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, this is my affair!” shaking himself -from the grasp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sound of a paddle came from below, -and the trapper sprang from his dugout and came -swiftly up the hill. As Andy briefly explained -the situation the old man’s grey eyes narrowed -to mere slits beneath the shaggy brows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah!” he breathed. “Me and ‘Betsey’,” -patting his six-shooter, “we likes to shoot up -bohunks. We shoots them in the heel so’s to -save their clothes.” His mouth was set in a grim -smile, a smile that was belied by the steely look -in his deep-set eyes. He seated himself on a log -and placed his gun on his knees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald had by this divested himself of coat -and shirt and now stepped forward dressed in -light cotton trousers, a sleeveless undershirt -and moccasins. “Hand,” he said in a steady -voice, “this is between you and me. See to it -that your men do not interfere; I will vouch for -mine.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big foreigner was rubbing his big hands -as though in pleased anticipation. “I suppose -you know how we iss goin’ to fight? Everything -goes, you know.” His grin was fiendish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald knew what was meant. There were -to be no rules of combat; no time duration; no -referee; no rounds, and woe to the man who -should go down. It was to be a battle as of -primeval man. It might result in terrible injury -and mutilation. He sickened at the thought.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hand stripped to the waist. Connie’s eyes -rested on the mighty frame of this huge blond; -the bunched and rippling muscles, the great -chest covered with a mat of thick hair, and -the enormous limbs. Her glance then turned -and roved to the man who was to fight for -her honour. Donald’s eyes were like burning -coals. His face had regained its colour, but was -contorted with a passion that made him seem -unnatural. Yet he appeared a mere stripling -in comparison to his burly antagonist.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment Connie became a primitive -woman. She felt as though she could rend and -tear. Her eyes darted blue lightnings of wrath -toward the man who had insulted her, and -her small hands clinched in impotent fury. Her -nails cut into her palms as she exercised every -ounce of self-control to keep from screaming -aloud. Donald was fighting for her. She caught -her breath in a quick stab. Her heart was -beating with alternate throbs of joy and fear. -A sudden fit of trembling seized her, and her -head felt light and giddy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hand’s reputation as a rough and tumble -fighter was well known throughout the Province. -It was his proud boast that he never had been -whipped. He advanced now, a sinister leer on -his face. Andy ran to Donald’s side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Box ’im, Donnie,” he whispered. “Don’t -let ’im get ’old on you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You goin’ to vip me? De dude goin’ to -vip me? Ach!” scoffed Hand in guttural -accents.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He came slowly forward with arms spread wide, -his thick fingers working convulsively. Donald -leaned slightly forward and waited. As he -neared him, Hand tore in, sure of himself in the -rough and tumble. Donald side-stepped the big -man’s first rush and shot his left to his face. He -was not properly set for the blow, but it stung -Hand to madness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ach!” he grunted, “stand and fight you -d—— coward!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He came on, his arms swinging wildly. -Leaping aside, Donald’s heel struck a stump, -and before he could regain his footing the -giant’s arms were around him in a bone-crushing -grasp. His hands were clasped at Donald’s -waist, and the big head was pressed suffocatingly -against his throat. Donald was forced slowly -backward to strike the ground with a thud, the -big man on top.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now I got you!” panted Hand as he released -his hold on Donald’s waist and aimed a blow at -his face. With a quick movement the under -man turned face down. Hand struck him -viciously as he lay prostrate under him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s eyes were wide with horror, and a -muffled scream escaped her lips as the blow fell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a quick, convulsive movement of his -lithe body Donald threw Hand from his back -and sprang to his feet. Whirling quickly as the -foreigner came toward him, he sent in a volley -of blows to his opponent’s face. Hand staggered, -but did not fall. His lips were cut and bleeding: -his nose was broken; and he spat out several -broken teeth. Any one of the blows landed was -sufficient to send an ordinary man down for the -count, but still the gargantuan giant came on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In and out Donald flashed, his arms moving -like steel pistons. Hand could not keep away -from the punishing left hand of his lighter -opponent. Men not trained in the science -of boxing have no punishing power in their -left hand, but depend solely on their right. -Such was the case with Hand. His style did -not vary for a moment. With head lowered -between his powerful shoulders, he would bore -in, swinging wildly in the hope of landing a -lucky punch, or striving to get a hold on his -adversary. Donald’s hand kept beating a tattoo -on his rock-like jaw, but still Hand came forward, -slowly and relentlessly as a steam-roller.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Crowding Donald back to the line of tense -spectators, Hand rushed him into the scattering -crowd and seized him in a rib-cracking -embrace. Donald broke the hold, but not -before the brute had butted him over the eye. -With the blow Donald’s senses reeled and the -blood gushed from a wide gash on his brow. -A blow from the foreigner’s big fist then caught -him over the heart and sent him staggering to his -knees. With a curse the big man came after him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy shouted hysterical words of advice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald came slowly to his feet and mechanically -side-stepped as Hand came stumbling -toward him. Donald evaded him until his head -cleared, and then summoned his remaining -strength into one mighty blow that landed flush -on his opponent’s midriff. The blond beast -came to his knees with a dull grunt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go after him!” yelled excited voices from -the crowd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stepped forward with fist drawn back -to strike the kneeling man, but his arm fell to -his side and he shook his head. “Get up!” -he commanded hoarsely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Even the strikers gasped their appreciation -of this honourable act. A murmur of applause -came from both sides. The foreigner shook -his shaggy blond head and came uncertainly -to his feet and the sanguinary battle went on. -Both men were tired. Hand’s breath was -coming in short, choking gasps from his tortured -lungs, and his face was one smear of blood. -Donald’s left eye was closed; his lips were -split, and the gash over his eye had covered his -body with blood. His arms were tired from -pounding the iron jaw of his adversary. The -big logger’s strength was waning; the pounding -administered by Donald was beginning to tell. -But Donald was too weak to avoid his rushes. -In a clinch Hand again butted him with his -head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie, his eyes blazing, leaped forward with -a peavy handle in his hand. “You fight fair, -d—— you, or I’ll brain you!” he shouted. -One of the strikers attempted to wrest the peavy -handle from his hands. Blackie felled him with -a blow of his fist. It looked for one tense -moment as if there would be a general mêlée. -There came sullen mutterings from the crowd of -strikers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Back!” John Hiller’s voice rang out sharp -and clear. “I’ll kill the first man that interferes!” -The eyes shining over the long-barrelled -Colt held a dangerous glint. The men -who had moved to the centre backed away -hurriedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Back and forth the combatants struggled, -neither gaining any decided advantage, each -trying to land a blow that would end the battle. -Reeling, gasping, striking, falling to their knees -from sheer weakness, the men fought on under a -burning noonday sun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No knight of old ever fought more nobly for -a fair lady’s honour than did Donald McLean -that day by the lake-shore. His undershirt -was torn to tatters, showing his white skin -blotched with welts and bruises. He was losing -his sense of distance. Swinging wildly with his -left, his wrist struck Hand’s adamantine jaw -and the onlookers saw his face writhe in pain -as the arm fell helplessly to his side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’E’s broken ’is ’and,” groaned Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, stop it, Andy, please stop it!” sobbed -Connie, her arms held out in entreaty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s face turned a sickly grey, and as -the well-nigh sightless foreigner staggered -weakly toward him, he with a strength born of -agony whipped his right to his opponent’s -sagging jaw. The big man faltered, sank slowly -to hands and knees, then stretched at full length, -his face pressing the soil, quivered and lay still. -No sound came from the crowd. The thing -had been too stupendous for immediate shouting -or applause. Donald stood for an instant -swaying uncertainly, then turned to stumble -toward his cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie sprang to the top of a stump and swung -his hat in the air. “Three cheers for our boss!” -he yelled wildly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A roaring cheer came from the crowd with a -right good will.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Boys, let’s go back to work!” shouted -Blackie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re with you, Blackie!” they answered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis reached Donald’s side as he tottered -into the cabin and caught him in his arms as he -collapsed into unconsciousness. The big man -picked him up tenderly and placed him on the -bed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Get some ’ot water and towels and telephone -for Dr. Paul,” commanded Andy tersely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Gillis left to fill Andy’s commission, Connie -fell on her knees by the bedside and wept with -wild and passionate violence. “Oh, Donald! -Donald!” she sobbed, “you fought for me. -I love you! I love you! Oh, Andy,” turning -her streaming eyes to the little man, “he won’t -die, will he? Tell me he won’t die!” Her -trembling fingers were smoothing Donald’s dark -hair, and she kissed his battered face tenderly, -all the while calling his name hysterically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With tears in his eyes and a heart full of -sympathy, little Andy looked down on the -recumbent form of his unconscious friend. -“ ’E’s all right, Connie. ’E’ll be all right in a -few days,” he answered her in a choking voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stirred as Andy applied the water, -and his one good eye opened slowly. “Did I -win?” he questioned weakly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You bet your blinkin’ life you did.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald’s gaze rested on Connie his -face twisted into a wry smile. He reached for -her hand and held it in a firm pressure. “Good -little sport,” he whispered through split lips.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie felt as though her heart would burst. -Scorching tears ran down her face, and it was -with the utmost difficulty that she controlled -the suffocating sobs that filled her throat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sound of the big mill whistle smote their -ears in a wild medley of short, sharp blasts, -quite unlike the decorous tone that summoned -and dismissed the men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s that?” asked Donald, attempting to -sit up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The engineer is celebrating, Donnie. The men -’ave returned to work. The strike is broken.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah!” sighed Donald happily as he fell -back on the pillows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The distant hum of a gas-car gradually -increased to a series of staccato explosions, then -died out suddenly. They heard the light rumble -of wheels as it drew to a stop at the station below. -There was the sound of quick footsteps on the -board sidewalk and the door opened to admit Dr. -Paul. He crossed the room and took Donald’s -hand. “Is it true,” he asked incredulously, -“that you whipped Ole Hand?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink if ’e didn’t,” Andy vouchsafed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I have patched up Hand’s victim’s many -times,” the doctor stated, “but this is the first -time that I have attended his victor, and I can -assure you that it’s a pleasure.” He removed his -coat and rolled up his sleeves. “I’ll look you -over,” he added, then glanced significantly at -Connie, who rose and left the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A couple of cracked ribs, a fractured ulna, and -a few hundred bruises,” was the doctor’s verdict -a few minutes later.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The physician’s deft hands soon bandaged -the broken ribs and set the bone of the forearm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll go and patch up the fallen bully. I hope -he’s worse still,” he chuckled as he left the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy stepped to the door and called in -Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t look so frightened, Connie,” smiled -Donald. “I don’t feel half as bad as I look.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll have to go now,” she said in a voice -choked with emotion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy accompanied her outside the door. -“ ’Ave a bite to eat, Connie?” he invited.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie shook her head. Now that the excitement -was over, the strain of the emotion she had -experienced showed in the dark shadows under -her eyes and in the droop of her slight shoulders. -“Andy,” she began, as she placed a small hand -on his arm, “you—you won’t say anything what—what—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A flood of rose dyed her tanned cheeks and -her blue eyes fell in embarrassment. Andy -patted her shoulder reassuringly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll never s’y a blinkin’ word, Connie; -an oyster’s got nothin’ on me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie, visibly relieved, picked up her gun -and started up the hill. Andy watched the -pathetic little figure until she disappeared in the -woods. For a moment he stood staring into -nothingness, then, shaking his head sadly, he -entered the cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She’s a little brick, Andy,” Donald spoke -weakly from his bed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy glared at him. “Brick!” he repeated -sarcastically. “Is that all? You big, bone-’eaded, -blinkin’ boob!” He slammed the door -as he went out to give emphasis to the remark.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What the devil does he mean?” puzzled -Donald. He turned painfully to his side, yawned -equally as painfully, then fell into a sound -sleep.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XV</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>On</span> the third day of Donald’s convalescence he -was able to leave his cabin. With his arm in a -sling, his face patched with plaster, he made -the rounds of the mill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The men welcomed him with eager nods and -smiles, many coming forward to shake his hand -in silent respect. The big plant was now going -at full blast. Belts flapped, logs thudded, planers -snored loudly, and the great saw ripped shrilly -through the big logs in a raising crescendo of -sound.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Down at the siding an engine bumped noisily -into a long string of flat-cars piled high with -lumber. With arms akimbo, his wet undershirt -clinging to his powerful torso, the mop of -blond hair hanging damp on his brow, Gillis -stood surveying the heavily-laden cars with an -air of complacency. The lumber handlers sat -about in positions of weariness, mopping their -hot faces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis smiled cheerfully as Donald approached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good news for you, Donnie,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it, Jack?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Last load for the big steamer,” replied -Gillis, as he pointed at the moving train.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re on time, then,” cried Donald gladly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One day ahead,” corrected Gillis.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The engineer came to the cab window as the -engine passed, and pantomimed his congratulations -by shaking hands with himself. The train -gathered speed, and as the caboose rattled by, -the conductor came to the rear platform.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good work, boys!” he shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They stood watching the train until it struck -the down grade and disappeared through the -cut.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, that’s over,” observed Gillis, as he sat -down heavily and wiped the sweat from his face. -He looked tired and worn, but the light of victory -shone in his eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If it hadn’t been for you, Jack,” said Donald -earnestly, “we would not have got that order -away on time. You look all in; you’d better -have a good sleep.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big man’s eyes brightened at Donald’s -praise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You don’t look like you’d bin to a Sunday-school -picnic,” replied Gillis with a chuckle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald walked up the hill the whistle blew -for the noon-hour, and the men trooped past on -their way to the dining-room. Blackie left the -ranks and walked shamefacedly to Donald’s -side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry for the part I took in the strike, -boss, I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s all right, Blackie,” interrupted Donald, -“you more than made up for it. We’ll forget -all about that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie’s face wore a relieved look as Donald -gave his hand a friendly grip.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meals in logging camps are eaten in silence -and with a fixity of purpose. It is a business to -be finished with as hurriedly as possible. From -the time the men are seated until the chairs are -pushed back, the clatter of dishes and an occasional -“pass the butter” are the only sounds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald moved to his place at the table the -men arose and clapped their hands. Someone -called for a cheer, but Donald laughingly held -up his hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Men, I can’t find words to tell you how much -I appreciate your good work. Your long hours -of labour enabled the Company to get an important -order away on time, thereby saving their -prestige in a big Eastern market. You will -receive double pay for every hour you worked -during the week.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A low murmur of applause followed this -welcome announcement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After lunch, feeling the need of exercise, -Donald made his way slowly down the hill. The -severe mauling and the days in bed had weakened -him to such an extent that he was forced to take -frequent rests. As he turned a curve in the -trail, Hand and the man with whom Andy had -fought crawled stealthily from the bush, looked -furtively about them, then followed Donald down -the hill. He reached the open glade by the -fairy nest to find Connie seated by the rippling -stream, her chin resting in cupped hands, and -staring dreamily into the flashing water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah!” he cried gaily, “I have caught my -little dryad at her orisons.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the sound of his voice Connie sprang to -her feet, her heart racing madly. Hearing a -sound behind him, Donald turned to find the -eyes of the Breed fixed on him in a malignant -glare that chilled him to the marrow. For a -short interval the dusky orbs of the Indian held -his as though with a hypnotic power.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” he ejaculated, as the Breed hobbled -down the trail, “your guardian sure does give -me an awful look. Why does he hate me, -Connie?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Joe has peculiar ways,” she parried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What were you dreaming about, Connie?” -he asked interestedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gay light danced momentarily in her shining -eyes, and the red lips curved in a smile; “I was -dreaming I was rich,” she archly confessed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An old, old dream,” smiled Donald as he -stretched himself painfully on the moss.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sat down near him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As always, this spot gave Donald a restful -feeling. The gentle zephyrs wafted from the -woods about them were somnolently delicious -and the sparkling glacial stream that rippled -through the glade sang its clear, sweet song. -He closed his eyes wearily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The proximity of the man she loved, lying -there with his arm in a splint, his handsome face -still bearing the marks of the blows he had -suffered in her defence, thrilled Connie to the -depths of her warm, impulsive heart. An -almost overmastering desire to touch his hair -possessed her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What would you do if you were rich, -Connie?” he queried drowsily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sank back in the delicious moss and -clasped her hands behind her golden head. “I’d -buy a big trunk—one of that kind with the -bulgy top—and I’d fill it with silks, satins, -brocades, velvets and all kinds of soft frilly -things. Then I’d unpack it slowly one by one -and hang them up all around the room and sit -down and look at them. I’d buy a great, big -stone house in London, and I’d walk down the -wide marble stairs, trailing a long rustling silk -gown, and I’d raise my lorgnette to my eyes and -say, ‘James, have the carriage at the door in half-an-hour.’ -I’d have a country place in Scotland, -with hundreds of dogs and horses, thousands of -birds, and acres of flowers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She paused for a moment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’d take Dad and Peggy with me everywhere -I’d go,” she went on softly, “and I’d buy Dad -millions of books, and for Peggy I’d buy a solid -gold-mounted bridle, and lots of warm blankets -for winter instead of those old sacks. I’d buy -lots of good things to eat, and lots of good -clothes for all the poor kiddies in the world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She looked up at the hills. “And six months -out of every year,” she continued, “I’d live right -here in these mountains and come every day and -sit beside—beside—this stream.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She raised herself slowly and looked down at -Donald as he lay with closed eyes. Leaning -forward until her golden curls almost brushed -his dark hair, her eyes rested on a purple bruise -on his brow. “And,” she finished fiercely, “I’d -kill every man like Ole Hand.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald laughed sleepily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Connie, you are a dear little girl,” he said -tenderly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The endearing tone held a paternal ring, and -Connie bit her lip in vexation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’d like to have you and your father go with -me to Vancouver some day. Will you go?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment Connie was silent. “When—when -my dreams come true,” she responded -with an embarrassed smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then he told her of the city and its ways and -the things people did. She listened, not with -amazement, but with a contented smile, as -though what he told her was a confirmation of -her dreams. But when he told her of the grand -opera, the music, the costumes and the singing, -her grey eyes wide with longing, she sighed -deeply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s voice trailed to a drowsy close; his -chest rose and fell regularly, his features relaxed. -He felt as though he were floating, exquisitely -floating, on a sea of fleecy clouds that was bearing -him softly away. A delicious langour enthralled -him—an enchantment drowsy and dim. He felt -himself drifting, drifting . . . He was asleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The willows at the lower end of the meadow -were pushed cautiously aside, and Hand’s head -appeared in the opening. For two days he had -lain hidden awaiting an opportunity to waylay -Donald. The day after the fight he had boarded -the train for the Coast, but had slipped from the -car at the station below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His face—unprepossessing at its best—was -now a horrible sight. The thick lips were swollen -and cracked, the eyes discoloured and puffed, -and the broken teeth bared in a snarl as he saw -Donald lying by the stream. Every hour since -the fight Hand’s hatred for Donald had grown -blacker. He would show him that he, Ole -Hand, deserved his reputation as a fighter. He -would hold this crippled man helpless while he -showered blows on his unprotected face, make -him cry out for mercy on bended knees; perhaps -kill him. His hatred grew hotter and deeper as -he watched him lying peacefully beside the girl -who had been the cause of the fight in which he -had been ignominiously whipped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sat gazing intently down on the -sleeper. A sudden thought seized her, bringing -a warm flush to her cheeks. Why not? No -one would ever know. Would she dare? She -glanced timorously about her, then leaned -slowly over, her curls falling about her -face, and touched her soft lips to Donald’s -cheek.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bluejay screamed derisively. Connie came -to her feet, her face crimson. Donald stirred, -opened his eyes, and painfully raised himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry, Connie,” he apologized, “it -was very rude of me to go to sleep.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later he walked down the hill. -Connie accompanied him a short distance, then -turned up a steep path, and from a high, rocky -ridge she watched his retreating figure as he -turned toward the dam.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A huge bucket on a cable, that had been used -during construction for carrying men and -material across the roaring chasm below the -falls, still hung above the boiling waters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For Donald there was a certain thrill, a keen -exhilaration, in swinging in mid-air in this -crude conveyance. He stepped into the bucket -and with his one good arm pulled it along the -rusty cable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Breed, hidden near the trail, saw Donald -as he walked toward the dam. The venomous -look in his eyes gave place to one of strained -interest as he saw the two men skulking menacingly -after the unsuspecting man. With a -feeling of malignant exultation, as he sensed -disaster to the man he hated, he hobbled to the -trail and furtively followed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the heights above Connie saw the -sneaking figures as they crouched low against -the edge of the dark spruces and at once divined -their murderous object. For an instant she was -paralyzed with terror. Her lips refused to -move and her limbs grew numb.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The men moved cautiously as they approached -their intended victim, fearing that he might be -armed. As Hand saw Donald suspended over -the river a look of fiendish elation crossed his -features. Here was a chance to dispose of his -enemy with no trace of the crime. He tore -a fire-axe from the wall of the tool-house and -ran to the swaying cable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Breed heard Connie’s piercing scream of -terror above the sound of crashing waters. -He glanced up to see her silhouetted against the -blue sky, her arms waving frantically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Joe! Joe! Stop them! Stop them!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Screaming again, she plunged straight down -the hillside in a mad race to reach the scene of -action. Running like a deer, stumbling and -falling, her breath coming in short gasps, she -ran wildly on. Snarls of the thorny crab-apple -tore at her, devil’s-club lacerated her face -and hands, but she felt no pain. “O God,” -she prayed aloud, “help me save him! Help -me save him!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s face blanched at the sound of the -axe as it bit into the heavy wire cable. He -looked down at the jagged rocks and seething -waters below. Then with closed eyes and a -prayer on his lips he tore in mad frenzy at the -rope. Desperately he tugged with both hands, -although the pain from his broken wrist sent a -wave of torment up his arm that sickened him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No man can measure the speed of thought in -a crisis; even the sluggish brain of the Breed -functioned rapidly. Connie was not for him. -Her happiness was bound up in the man working -feverishly at the haul-back. There was not -one chance in a million that he would gain the -safety of the cliff before the strands parted to -plunge him to eternity. As he heard the crashing -of Connie’s slender body as she tore down the -hill, a softness crept into his eyes. With a speed -incredible in one with his pitiful deformity, he -ran in a series of bounding steps to the edge of -the bluff. The noise of tumbling waters -drowned the sound of his approach. Just as -Hand raised his axe for the final blow, the -muscular arms of the Breed were flung about -him. Emitting a startled curse, the big man -turned and with a twist of his powerful shoulders -flung his dusky assailant to the ground. As -he rose Hand swung viciously at him with -the axe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a quick movement the Breed dodged, -and the weapon flashed over his head, flew from -the big man’s hands, and struck his confederate, -a glancing blow on the shoulder that brought -from him a howl of pain. Again the Breed’s -arms closed about his adversary’s waist. Mad -with the pain in his shoulder, the foreigner drew -a long, keen knife, circled warily about the -two wrestling men until he found an opening, -then plunged the knife to the hilt in the Breed’s -left side. The stricken man slithered from his -opponent’s arms and fell a crumpled heap to the -ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sick and giddy, Donald stumbled from the -bucket, seized the axe and advanced weakly -toward Hand. Hand’s accomplice, taking one -look at the prostrate body, turned and fled -terror-stricken to the woods. Hand hesitated -for a moment, then followed heavily after.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this moment, Connie, with clothes torn and -hair dishevelled, broke from the woods, and -with a cry of pity flung herself to the ground -by the Breed’s side and placed his head on her -lap. The eyes of the wounded man flickered -slowly open. He tried to speak, but a strong -convulsion shook his frame from head to foot -and he writhed in desperate agony.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s face as she lifted it to Donald was -drawn with grief. “Get me some water, please,” -she said brokenly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dying man’s lips moved. Connie leaned -closer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I—I—love you,” he whispered faintly, “I—saved -him—for you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A ghastly pallor spread over his features and -his lips were widely parted in a struggle for -breath. Again his lips moved in a fluttering -whisper. “Connie—will—you—kiss me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Connie pressed her tear-wet face to his -the pain-contorted features relaxed in a smile -of wonderful peace and his eyes closed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald returned Connie’s head was -bowed and she was weeping softly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How is he, Connie?” he questioned gently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s dead.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald removed his hat and knelt with -bowed head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He died for me,” he choked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And for me,” she whispered inaudibly.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XVI</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Lest</span> we tire of monotony, Nature gives us a -change of colour for each of the flowering -seasons. Flowers of every hue may be found -through the different months. Pink for May, -red for June, blue and pink for July, and during -August royal robes of gold and purple clothe -the hills and valleys.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The last week of August brought to Summit -Lake a pageantry of colour that the Coast -region is denied owing to the persistent rains -that retard the ripening of the leaf. The deciduous -trees were already withdrawing their life-giving -fluid from the leaves to store it in their -roots until spring. The willow, vine maple, -birch and alder along the creeks and lake-shore -held touches of autumnal colouring; while on -the hills the yellowed leaves of the cottonwood -were brilliant in their setting of sober dark -green conifers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gaudy red were the vine maples, but there -was a leafy beauty greater than theirs. The -flowering dogwood blazed from every nook and -cranny. The ripening of the dogwood gives to -its leaves a flame that burns with a fierce glow; -a glow that further ripening deepens until -its crimson flush becomes the loveliest hue of -the British Columbia woods.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fireweed, or willow herb, that in July -gives to the open spaces a gorgeous tint of bluey -pink, were now loosing a flock of seeds to float -away like tiny parachutes. Each small bit of -fluff held a minute germ of life that would build -a plant as large as its parent when, dropped by -the friendly wind, it reaches a fertile spot. The -stately cottonwood were sending out a life-fluff -as tiny as that from the smaller plants. Thistles, -cat-tails and asters hurried to join the silken -clouds until the air was misty with these germ -balloons, seeking their winter’s rest. The red -elderberry and its magenta neighbour, the thimble -berry, with its truculent Scotch cap, gave to the -woods a material flame.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A curious timidity had come over the birds; -not only were they quiet, but they were no longer -to be found in their usual haunts. In some -retired spot they were moulting. While the -weather was at its best, and food was the most -plentiful, they were dressing themselves in a new -set of feathers for their long flight to the south. -The tops of the tall pines were filled with sweet -twitterings, of flutterings out and in, wing -trails and quick short flights. A flock of waxwings -had gathered for the migration. They -would not leave for some time yet, but the change -had come. Birds from the north had arrived, -creeping south by easy stages, taking plenty of -time in their journey—the freest creatures that -live, staying or going as they feel inclined.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wild berries, dead ripe, hung on lush drooping -branches.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A soft “prut-prut-kwit-kwit” came from the -leader of a covey of willow grouse that were -feeding on the tiny fruit of a crab-apple tree. -The call was answered by a shyer note from one -of the young birds, who probably was being -taught the scale.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The summer had been one of exceptional -dryness. For weeks there had been no rain, -and a blazing hot sun had poured its fiery rays -from a cloudless sky. The heavy mountain dews -could not penetrate the close standing timber, -and the carpet of needles and moss became dry -as tinder. A pall of smoke, from fires raging -on the Coast, hung over lake and mountain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For Wilkinson and his men these were anxious -days. They covered the section between the -mill and Squamish twice a day; scanning the -hillsides and valleys, ever watchful, ever on the -alert; pleading and exhorting the settlers and -loggers to greater vigilance, and all the while -praying fervently for rain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald had posted a notice that any employee -found smoking in the woods would be immediately -dismissed. Logging creates a vast -amount of débris, or “slash,” as it is known to -the men of the woods. With the assistance of -the Forestry men, Donald’s crew had piled -enormous heaps of slash on the hillside, awaiting -a favourable opportunity to burn. These menacing -piles of brush, extending along the main -road for a quarter of a mile, were a constant -source of danger. Every precaution, therefore, -was taken. The spaces between the mounds -of brush were raked clean, the road was patrolled -day and night, and pails filled with water were -placed at regular intervals. Special notices -stating the great danger of fire, and warning not -to smoke in this area, were posted conspicuously -on tree and stump.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The mill at Cheakamus had closed. Sparks -from the donkey engines had threatened the -extinction of both plant and timber.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald with Wilkinson stood surveying the -piles of dangerous waste. “If a fire starts and -we can get to it at once, we will be all O.K.” -said Wilkinson, “but if it ever gets away from -us here,” pointing down the road, “no human -agency can stop it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They made the rounds of the patrol to satisfy -themselves that the watchmen were attending to -their duties. Leaving the main road, they -scrambled through the tangled masses of tree-tops -to ascertain how far distant the slash -had been removed from the standing timber. -Suddenly a tiny wisp of smoke was seen to drift -from behind a fir tree at the edge of the clearing. -Without comment, both men broke into a run.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Aroused by the crashing footsteps, a young -man, who had been lying stretched lazily on the -soft moss, came quickly to his feet, a cigarette -held in his fingers. His companion, also smoking, -lay with his back against the bole of a tree a few -feet distant. Fishing-rods, creeks, landing-nets -and the remains of a lunch lay scattered on the -ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you know better than to smoke here?” -blazed Wilkinson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fisherman brazenly replaced the cigarette -between his lips. Wilkinson’s arm shot forward -like a flash to pluck the offending weed from -the mouth of the astonished youth. “I wish -we had a law to prevent smoking in the woods. -I would take great pleasure in arresting you,” -he growled savagely as he pinched the fire from -the cigarette and ground it under his heel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Unnoticed by the Forest Ranger, the second -man removed his cigarette furtively and with a -flirt of his hand threw it behind him as he rose -to his feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are too damned officious! You have no -authority to prevent us smoking,” he said angrily, -as with clenched fists he advanced belligerently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilkinson was near the breaking point. The -weeks of worry, the long hours of arduous toil, -and the lack of sleep had frayed his nerves. -“Damn you!” he flared, “if it’s a fight you -want——” He broke off suddenly, his eyes -wide and staring. “My God! look!” he -shouted. A flare of flame shot from the spot -where the cigarette had fallen. A breeze rustled -through the trees to fan the flame to a drumming -roar as a pile of slash caught fire. The Red -Terror was loosed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The alarm!” cried Wilkinson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fire!” shouted Donald as he stumbled to -the road.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fire!” repeated the nearest patrolman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fire!” rang the cry down the line until the -call reached the mill, and every whistle was -loosed in a screaming bedlam of sound to blanch -the cheeks of these hardy men, who knew the -awful terror of this devastating, devouring, fiery -scourge that blasts the wilderness with smoke -and ashes and takes its toll of both man and -beast. Men dropped their tools and ran to -answer the call.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The trapper’s dugout shot swiftly across the -lake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie lay reading in the shade of her cabin. -She came to her feet at the whistle’s first call -for help. A moment later, seated astride her -cayuse, she was galloping down the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Every man, regardless of position, answers the -call to fight fire. When a forest fire is raging -the forest ranger is an absolute sovereign. He -can call the lawyer from his desk or the labourer -from the ditch, but seldom does he need to -exercise this power, as every good citizen is -willing to help stay the deadly scourge. Meanwhile -the fire was leaping from heap to heap of -the powder-like slash to cross the road and -sweep up the hill with incredible speed. With -a throbbing roar it hissed to the tree-tops and -rushed up the mountain. Stifling smoke enveloped -the fire-fighters. Showers of burning -bark pelted them from above.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To the mill!” Wilkinson shouted; “we can -do nothing here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The men at the mill filed silently to their -stations, and the big hoses poured torrents of -water on roof and wall. Big jets curved up the -hill to drench the dry, hot earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In short, quick sentences Wilkinson outlined -his plans.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We will try to stop it on the north at the -river, on the south with fire-breaks, and at the -track on the east by back-firing. On the west -we have to let the fire take its course until it -burns itself out on the cliff above.” His voice -rose in sharp command as he sent the men to -their posts. Donald with twenty men under -him was set to work digging a fire-break on the -south side. A “fire-break” is made by spading -up the leaf-mould and humus down to the -mineral soil and raking all inflammable material -back from each side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fire was advancing rapidly and the heat -was terrific. Choking and gasping in the stinging -resinous smoke, the men strove in frenzy of -haste to complete the fire-break before the flames -should reach them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A deer with a fawn at her heels came bounding -in terror through the screen of smoke. Grouse -and song-birds made a common escape from a -common enemy feared by all. Rabbits, wild-eyed, -scuttled in fear; squirrels and chipmunks -joined in the hurried flight. Many of these -smaller birds and animals would be flanked and -lost.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie, proud that she could be of assistance, -dashed back and forth carrying messages for -Wilkinson to the different fronts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From up the mountain-side came a drumming -roar and the rending crash of trees as the fire -undermined their roots. Sparks from burning -tree-tops crossed the fire-break and started other -fires. To combat these, water had to be carried -up the steep hillside in pails. Andy was among -those delegated to this arduous task. For hours -he staggered from stream to hill and back again -with a brimming pail in either hand. Scorched -by sun and fire, the perspiration streaming down -his face and stinging his eyes, the little hero -stuck gamely to his task.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ’ired on this ’ere job as a cook,” he grumbled, -“not as a blinkin’ water-spout. Strike -me pink, if the water I’ve carried to-day was -sprinkled in ’ell the devil’d be out of a job. Oh, -well,” he added resignedly as he filled his pails -and turned to again ascend the hill, “as Methusalem -said, ‘Every little bit ’elps!’ These two -buckets myke exactly four million, two ’undred -and six gallons that I’ve carried this d’y.” At -this instant his foot caught in a root to send him -sprawling on his face rolling down the mossy -hillside, the pails clattering after. He lay where -he had fallen, flat on his back, with arms outstretched. -“There,” he soliloquized, “<span class='it'>that</span> was -the wisp of straw that broke the elephant’s back. -To ’ell with the fire. Let the blighter burn.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilkinson came wearily down the hill. His -face was blackened and blistered, his hat gone, -and his shirt a network from holes burned -through the cloth by flying sparks. He sprawled -on all fours by the stream, drank sparingly, then -plunged his face in the cooling waters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ello, Wilkie!” shouted Andy, “ ’ow would -you like to ’ave a cold bottle of beer?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilkinson seized a stone threateningly and -glared at his tormentor. “Men have been -killed for less,” he growled huskily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I s’y, Wilkie,” grinned Andy, “these Forestry -jobs are a snap. Do you ’ave the nerve to -collect a salary?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The district ranger was too tired for speech. -His swollen face puckered in a smile and he -passed on up the hill, and Andy came stiffly to -his feet and resumed his never-ending task.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie brought reports that the fire was -being held on the north and east. The fire-break -on the south held, but spot-fires were kept -in check only by the almost superhuman efforts -of the fire-fighters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Forest fires reach the peak of their intensity -while the sun is hottest. With darkness the -wind subsides, and, especially in the mountains -the heavy dews are a never-failing help.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun, showing blood-red through the -smoke, now sank behind the hills and a blessed -coolness filled the air. The fire smouldered -along the fire-breaks, but the dreaded sparks -were not flying. The trembling roar diminished -to a steady crackling where fallen trees were -being steadily consumed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fire-fighters, their shoulders drooping, -and wavering from sheer weakness, plodded -down the hill for well-earned food and rest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll have to be at it again at daylight,” -said Wilkinson grimly. They nodded a tired -assent. Wilkinson and Donald with twelve men -patrolled the fire area throughout the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next morning broke sullenly in a dull -haze. As the first streaks of light heralded the -coming of the new day, the fire-fighters again -took up their posts. Men from the other mill -arrived, and another day of battle with the fire -demon was begun. An attempt was made to -check it on the west front, high up the mountain-side, -where the fire had crept through in the -night to a small level plateau. At ten o’clock -the wind came suddenly, and with it the fire -broke through on the south-west corner with a -deafening roar and rushed through a stand of -dead trees with ever-increasing speed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald shouted a quick cry of warning to the -men who were in danger of being cut off by -this break. They came on the double quick, -just in time, as a lurid wall of flame shot up the -hill over the path they had traversed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are the men all out?” questioned Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy isn’t here!” said one of the men -excitedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald seized the speaker’s arm. “Was -Andy with you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s face set in grim lines. Whirling -quickly, he ran straight toward the line of fire. -With a bound Connie was on her horse and after -him at a swift trot. As he neared the screen of -smoke, Pegasus changed his gait to that of a -mad runaway, and with the small rider lying -prone on his bare back disappeared from view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this spot the fire had spent its fury in the -first mad rush, but a heavy smoke welled up -from the charred ground. Terror possessed the -horse, but the calm voice of his mistress urged -him on. Crimson embers showered about her. -Scorching heat fanned her face as if the doors -of a blast furnace had been opened. A blazing -branch fell with a rushing sound, barely missing -the horse’s head. Sharp reports from the tree-tops -made the plucky cayuse shy in a panic of -fear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Filled with apprehension, the crowd of fire-fighters -stared with tense anxiety into the drifting -smoke. Then a glad cheer burst from them as -horse and rider emerged: Andy clinging to -Connie’s stirrup, and Donald swaying drunkenly -in the rear. Ready hands held water to Andy’s -parched lips and bathed his hot face as he lay -panting on the ground. He sat up with an -effort and looked about him. “Where’s Connie?” -he asked. But Connie had stolen quietly from -the scene.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By mid-afternoon the main body of the fire -was apparently under control, but the persistent -spot-fires kept the entire crew engaged. A huge -cottonwood, standing just within the fire-breaks, -was the chief offender. Sparks from its lofty -blazing top were floated by the breeze to land -on the dry ground, starting innumerable fires.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That tree will have to come down or we -will be fighting spot-fires indefinitely,” said -Wilkinson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Silence fell. Everyone of those lumber-jacks -knew the danger attached to the falling of a -rotten, blazing tree. In sound timber the skilled -“faller” can cut the scarf and drive the falling-wedge -to lay the tree within six inches of the -desired spot. With a hollow tree the task is -much more difficult, as in the soft, decayed pulp -the wedge may not provide sufficient leverage to -swing the enormous weight, and the tree may -crash from any angle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Men working at the butt of a burning tree, -too, are exposed to the fall of branches. Even -a small bough, hurtling from the dizzy height of -lordly cottonwood or fir, will break a man’s limbs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilkinson picked up a falling saw. “Who -will go with me?” he called.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis stepped forward with wedge and -hammer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nothin’ doin’,” said little Blackie; “Wilkinson -here has a wife and kid, an’ Jack has -brains enough to be our boss. Me and Hoop-la -ain’t got neither, we’re just a coupla roughnecks. -Whadda you say, Hoop-la?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ye betcha,” came vigorously from Blackie’s -pal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two men were sent with them to assist in -clearing a space at the foot of the big snag. A -few minutes later the twang of the cross-cut, -mingled with Blackie’s happy song, sounded -above the crackling of the fire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilkinson pointed to the southern sky, where -heavy nimbus clouds were massing. “At last! -The blessed rain is coming!” he cried in a -voice of thankfulness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A stronger gust swept through the valley -to send a surge of flame from the giant cottonwood’s -topmost branches. There was a sharp -cry of warning as a limb broke off with a splinter-crash -and came roaring to the ground, sending -up a swirl of dust. A strangled cry of pain, -animal-like in its intensity, cut the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Blackie’s hit,” screamed Hoop-la.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Blackie lay on his face, his clothing afire, -pinned down by the shattered limb. With a -heave of powerful shoulders Hoop-la flung the -crushing weight aside, and his big hands quickly -smothered the fire in the clothing of his fallen -comrade. Gently he raised the stricken man -in his arms and bore him beyond the range of -fire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Blackie! Oh, Blackie! are you all right?” -he questioned fearfully as he looked down at the -quiet face that held the grey pallor of death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Call the doctor and bring a stretcher,” -sharply ordered Wilkinson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Men hurried to do his bidding. When the -stretcher bearers leaned to lift the inanimate -body, Hoop-la fiercely interfered. “Let him -alone,” he said savagely. Stooping, he picked -up the light form and bore it down the hill to -their bed in the rough log shack. Donald -forced a few drops of brandy through the dying -man’s colourless lips. Blackie stirred feebly. -His eyes flickered open and he smiled as he -recognized Hoop-la.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Give me your hand,” he whispered faintly; -“I’m runnin’ my last high-lead, old pal. I -guess God’ll be good to us roughnecks.” He -gasped painfully. The irregular breathing -ceased; his eyes became fixed and glassy; his -jaw sagged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hoop-la sat motionless, the hand of his dead -friend held in his warm clasp. Slowly his head -dropped forward and his big frame shook with -dry racking sobs. Doctor Paul came in hurriedly. -In answer to the look of interrogation -in Donald’s eyes, he shook his head sadly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald and Wilkinson tiptoed softly to the -door. They were unashamed of the tears that -made furrows down their blackened cheeks. -Sick at heart, utterly overcome by this tragedy, -Wilkinson sank dejectedly to a seat outside -the cabin door and covered his face with his -hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There came a sudden patter of raindrops that -drummed on the roof of the cabin. Wilkinson -stood erect with arms stretched wide. “Rain!” -he cried. “The merciful rain! Thank -heaven!” He stood with face upturned for an -interval, enjoying the pelting downpour, then -turned to look in the cabin door, a deep and -brooding sadness in his bloodshot eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald,” he said gently, “the newspaper -account of this fire will mention the fact that ‘a -logger was killed.’ A logger!—yes—men like -Blackie are the backbone of this country, the -salt of the earth. Will people ever learn?” -he continued, in a voice vibrant with deep -emotion. He pointed to the barkless skeletons -of trees blackened and charred and branchless -save for the gibbet-like limbs stuck out from the -naked trunks. “Think of it! All this—the -sniffing out of a valuable life—a verdant hillside -changed to a charnel-house of dead trees and -blackened stumps on bare rocks—the loss of -thousands of dollars worth of valuable timber—all -this caused by the careless dropping of a -lighted cigarette!”</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XVII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Donald’s</span> announcement that Labour Day -would be celebrated at the Lake was received with -good-natured approval by the men of the camp, -who spoke of the coming event as the “dry” -holiday. The rain, which had brought such -blessed relief to the hearts of the guardians of the -forest, had cleansed the air of the last vestige -of haze that had overhung the valley for the past -month.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The morning of the holiday dawned auspiciously. -The hot days of August had given -place to the mellow sunshine of Indian summer. -Through the crystal clear atmosphere the mountains -seemed much nearer, standing out sharply -against the blue sky. Near the top there had -been a fresh fall of snow that had covered the -bare ice of the glaciers like a white mantle. -The brilliant rays of the September sun were -reflected from this virgin covering with a brilliancy -that was dazzling to the eye.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet arrived for the occasion, bringing with -her a score of her friends. All through the -previous day the trail from the north had brought -strings of cayuses from the Indian Reserve, -their dusky riders gaily bedecked in holiday attire. -“<span class='it'>Klahowya, tillicum!</span>” they shouted, their coffee-coloured -faces lighting up with a grin that -betokened a gala day spirit. Their tents dotted -the lake-shore, their camp fires glowing cheerfully -throughout the night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sports committee had arranged a varied list -of events. A rowing race between the two camps; -a sack race, free for all; a baseball game between -the whites and the Indians; a sawing race in -which two “buckers” from each camp would -participate; a hundred-yard dash; a log-rolling -contest between a man from the State of Maine -and a citizen of New Brunswick. But these were -mere preliminaries to the real event of the day, -the much advertised horse-race. The men from -the other camps, arrayed in their “Sunday -clothes” made their appearance early in the day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Each camp brought its quota of sandwiches and -cakes, but the brunt of the work fell on Andy and -his assistants, who piled tier upon tier of sandwiches -on the long tables under the willows by the -lake-shore. The lemonade was in half-barrels -at each end of the tables, with a “help yourself” -sign attached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Old Klootchmen, with stolid, sombre faces, -etched deep with cross-hatching of wrinkles, -walked through the throng laden with baskets -they were trying to sell. “Mika tika basket,” -quavered their aged voices as they held forth -their wares.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About eleven o’clock Mr. Wainwright appeared -alone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where’s Connie?” asked Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you are aware, Mr. McLean, Connie is -very shy. I could not induce her to accompany -me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That will never do,” said Donald quickly. -“I am going after her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am afraid that your trip will avail you -nothing,” smiled Wainwright in his absent-minded -way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald borrowed a cayuse and set off up the -trail. He hitched the horse at the edge of the -clearing and proceeded on foot down the path, his -shoes making no sound on the soft dark earth. -As he turned a clump of alders and came in view -of the cabin he stopped short, arrested by a sight -that evidently elicited his amused interest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie stood outside the door before a small -mirror hung on the rough log walls of the house. -She was attempting to place her heavy hair in a -knob at the top of her head. A page cut from -a magazine was tacked to a log near the mirror. -She studied the photograph carefully, then -returned to the attack with renewed vigour. But -she could not get it to suit her. She tried and -tried, but the heavy shining coils would elude -her slender fingers and fall in a golden cascade -over her slight shoulders. Her efforts to reach a -satisfactory result brought her to the verge of -tears. She stamped her little foot impetuously. -At last she got it arranged in a fair semblance to -that of the envied actress. The effect was so -startling that Donald fairly gasped. The child -of the moment before was transformed, as if by a -fairy’s wand, to a woman of wondrous grace -and beauty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie perked her head saucily, then half -smiled to show her small milk-white teeth; -apparently she was pleased with the reflection -she saw in the glass. From the clothes-line -she took a flour sack that had been split open and -washed to be used for drying dishes. Draping -this from her waist-line, she pinned it securely. -Assuming a haughty pose, she walked past the -mirror with a sinuous, undulating movement. -The little artist was so perfect in her mimicry -that Donald’s lips involuntarily formed the word -“Janet.” Twice she passed before the tiny -mirror with a regal step, her head turning with -its characteristic bird-like motion to catch the -reflection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gradually the queenly pose slipped from her. -She stopped abruptly, throwing out her arms -with a forlorn gesture. Her golden head fell -forward. Two big tears welled from her blue -eyes and ran down the small freckled nose. -Her small hands plucked convulsively at her -faded blue overalls. A sob like a stab [of] pain -shook her slender body. One arm came up -slowly to cover her tear-wet face as she threw -herself face forward on the grass. Her slender -shoulders were shaking with such an agony of -weeping that Donald’s throat felt constricted -and his eyes grew suddenly dim.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her spotted cayuse, grazing nearby, raised -his head at the sound of Connie’s hysterical -sobbing and moved to the small figure of his -mistress. With ears bent forward and a look -of bewilderment in his soft eyes, he nuzzled her -neck with his velvety nose. The sobbing continued, -but her brown hand came up to pat his -head lovingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald tiptoed softly back to the trail. He -stood for some time with his hand on the saddle, -his head bowed in deep thought. “Poor little -kid,” he said gently, then whistling a lively -tune, he slowly retraced his steps to the cabin. -He entered the clearing just in time to see Connie -as she disappeared in the timber across the field. -He did not want her to know that he was aware -of her flight, so he knocked loudly on the door -and shouted her name. A raven croaked -derisively from the top of a dead tree. The -pony raised his head to eye him silently. -Connie’s pet deer came around the corner of the -barn, a look of gentle questioning in her beautiful -big eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald rode slowly back to camp. Connie’s -distress had touched his heart; her heart-breaking -sobs were still ringing in his ears. “It is not -that Wainwright does not love his daughter,” -mused Donald. “It must be that he is very poor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t see how I can help,” his thoughts -ran on. “One can’t very well suggest to a -father that he buy clothes for his child.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy rang the lunch-bell, and there was a -wild but good-natured scramble for the tables.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A long table had been arranged in the big -dining-room for the officials and Janet’s party -to which Donald had invited Mr. Wainwright.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Did you find Connie?” queried Wainwright.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” lied Donald, “I couldn’t find her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet’s friends were having a merry time. -There was laughter, jesting and gay repartee -from all sides. Douglas was in his element, -his quips and brilliant sallies keeping the diners -in a continual uproar.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Donald glanced around the big table at -the laughing faces of the gay party, he tried -to visualize Connie dressed as one of these -fashionably-clad girls who represented Vancouver’s -“younger set.” The vision he conjured -caused him to smile dreamily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet had manœuvred to secure a seat beside -Donald. In spite of all her artful contriving, -she had been unable to have more than a few -words with her father’s busy general superintendent -since her arrival. She noticed the -dreamy smile on his face and wondered what -could be the cause.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You seem rather distraught,” she said with -an arch smile, her dark eyes fixed on his face. -“Aren’t you enjoying yourself?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh yes,” he replied absently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You were gone for some time this morning,” -she stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” he concurred, “I went up to bring -Connie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet’s fine eyebrows lifted slightly, and she -looked at Donald with a curious intentness. -“Why didn’t she come?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She wasn’t home.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her woman’s intuition long ago had told her -that the “wood-sprite”—as Donald called Connie—was -madly in love with him. As she looked -at him now and noticed his pre-occupied air, -a pang of jealousy shot through her heart like an -arrow. Was it possible that he had begun to -realise that the wild girl of the woods was not a -child, and that a love for her had been kindled -in his heart? The thought made her feel faint -and she tried to put it from her mind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lunch was finished now and they were walking -back to the lake. Douglas invited the party -to take a trip around the lake in a motor-boat, -to which they assented gleefully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet hesitated as Donald turned away with -Wainwright. “Aren’t you coming, Mr. McLean?” -she called.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned and shook his head. “I may -be needed here,” he said briefly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet flushed to the roots of her dark hair and -bit her lip in anger. She was not used to being -thwarted in her desires.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald and Wainwright seated themselves -on a bench under the willows and lighted cigarettes. -Donald was ill at ease. The sound of -Connie’s tragic sobbing was ringing in his ears. -He could see her little figure writhing on the -ground in a tempest of grief that had torn at his -heart-strings. He sprang involuntarily to his -feet and began pacing the ground with quick, -nervous strides. Wainwright glanced up at -him interrogatively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You seem worried,” he volunteered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am,” Donald admitted briefly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can I assist you in any way?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was in a welter of indecision. How -should he broach this delicate subject? Although -poor as the proverbial church-mouse, Connie’s -father had the pride of Lucifer. There was -natural dignity in his bearing, a certain aloofness -in his manner, that in no way interfered -with his unfailing courtesy, but had always -precluded exchange of intimacies. He had -resided in this wilderness for many years, but -none could say that they had any more knowledge -of his affairs at this moment than on the day -of his arrival.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald decided to take the plunge. He sat -down on the bench beside Connie’s father and -related the scene he had witnessed that morning—of -Connie’s preening before the mirror with the -magazine page pinned to the logs; of the struggle -with her hair; of the flour sack, and of the -piteous sobbing of the heart-broken child.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s face flushed painfully. There -was a look of poignant suffering in his grave eyes. -Of all the races in the world, the English—especially -of the better class—fight most stoically -to hide their distress.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright leaned forward, his throat working -convulsively as he struggled to regain composure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope you do not consider me presumptuous,” -said Donald, a note of anxiety in his tone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s hand reached forth to clasp -Donald’s firmly. “No, I do not doubt your -sincerity. An inordinate sense of pride has -kept me in my present circumstances. This -circumstance you have related has brought me to -a realization that it is a selfish pride, as it has -denied Connie the privileges to which she is -entitled. There is nothing I can say,” he went -on in bitter self-condemnation, “that can even -partially condone or palliate my stupidity. I -should have known that she would require -proper clothing now that she is grown up. As -a matter of fact”—he paused, his distress acute—“my -finances are at a very low ebb.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How old is Connie?” asked Donald, hoping -to relieve Wainwright’s embarrassment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nineteen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s head came up with a jerk. “What!” -he almost shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She is nineteen,” Wainwright reiterated, -a peculiar expression in his eyes as he noticed -Donald’s bewilderment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nineteen!” Donald re-echoed, a bemused -look on his face. “Great Scot! This is a -surprise. I thought of Connie as being not -more than fourteen or fifteen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Connie’s healthful outdoor life has tended -to keep her young, and her mode of dressing -enchances the youthful effect,” said her father -as he sat down wearily, a far-away look in his -eyes. “Her mother,” he went on softly, a tremor -in his voice, “was just like her; at the age of -twenty-five she looked almost a child.” He -turned to Donald. “No doubt you have -wondered why I buried myself in this wilderness?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald nodded. At this moment they were -interrupted by members of the Sports Committee, -who wanted Donald’s advice on a matter -pertaining to the afternoon’s programme.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was evident to Donald as he withdrew that -Wainwright had been about to disclose his past -history, a history which had been locked in his -heart these many years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At three o’clock the crowd began drifting -toward the race-course. The centre of the -valley had been cleared of under-brush, and the -long grass burned under the watchful eye of -the fire-ranger. A small creek and a few -swampy places had been “corduroyed” with -cedar poles and then covered with soil. A -judges’ stand, with a few hastily erected seats -for Janet’s party, stood near the finishing point. -The horse-race, as has been said, was to be the -feature event of the day. The crowd surged -happily from the lake-shore to line up in orderly -ranks about the oval.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The brilliant and diversified colours of the -Klootchmen’s skirts and head-gear showed in -bright contrast to the drab wearing apparel -of the white men. The Siwash Indians were -dressed in nondescript clothing as to trousers -and coat, but one and all wore side-brimmed -cowboy hats and displayed silk handkerchiefs of -gorgeous hues, knotted at the throat to drape -their shoulders carelessly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Three husky farmers’ sons from Pemberton -rode to the starting-line amid hearty hand-clapping -and shouting from their friends. A -swarthy-skinned rider, mounted on a spirited -black cayuse, came prancing through the crowd. -He lifted his hat and smiled in acknowledgment -of the plaudits of the spectators. This was -Joe Lafonte, the half-breed who had won first -prize at the Lillooet races for the past two seasons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The wise ones averred that Paul John, of the -Indian contingent, would give him a hard race. -Paul John’s cayuse was young, but the previous -year he had run the half-breed’s horse a close -second. Money was being placed on all sides, -particularly by the Indians, who are inveterate -gamblers. Amid an excited babble in Chinook, -nine Indian riders came laughing and shouting, -with much waving of hats, to prance about and -display their horsemanship before the admiring -crowd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald, with Andy, Gillis and Wainwright, -stood leaning over the edge of the judges’ stand -watching the animated scene below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this moment there was an agitation at the -far end of the oval, where the crowd opened to -admit a horse and rider that came tearing down -the course like the wind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look!” Donald shouted excitedly as he -seized Wainwright’s arm. “It’s Connie!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Down the course, riding like a spirit of the -woods, came the girl, her golden hair blowing about -her face, sitting astride her mettlesome horse and -riding as if the wilderness belonged to her alone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pegasus was not used to crowds. With -arched neck and quivering flanks he reared on -his hindlegs to poise an instant, then leaped -forward like a rabbit. Connie sat on the bare -back of her adored cayuse as though a part of -the animal, her slender body moving in gentle -undulations in perfect co-ordination with the -movements of the horse. She was hard set -to keep from running over the other riders, -who sat with mouths agape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie was unknown to the greater part of the -crowd. To them this child-like equestrienne, -with her mass of shining hair, appeared as an -apparition. Her firm little hands soon checked -her turbulent mount, who stood trembling with -nervousness. The crowd gave her a rousing -welcome as soon as they had recovered from -their astonishment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who is she? Where does she come from?” -they shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie kept her eyes fixed on the ground. -She was outwardly calm and serene; inwardly -she was as nervous as her fretting cayuse, and -did not dare raise her flushed face to meet the -battery of eyes around her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned to Wainwright. “Are you -going to let her run? Is it safe for her to enter -a race with all those men?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I couldn’t stop her now, and besides,” he -added with a touch of pride, “she can hold -her own with any of them.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old trapper made his way to Donald’s -side. His leathery old face, with its multitudinous -wrinkles, wore a perturbed expression. -“That feller Lafonte is cultus. He’s full of -dirty tricks; ’tain’t safe for Connie to ride.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald turned anxiously to Wainwright.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s father shook his head. “I am afraid -it is too late now.” Then in a lower voice he -added: “You must know the reason for her -entering this race.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald looked puzzled for an instant. Suddenly -it dawned on him. “The purse?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright nodded. “It would break her -heart if I forbade her to ride, now that she has -gone this far. She must have decided suddenly, -as she never mentioned it to me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Rennie Company had put up a purse of -two hundred and fifty dollars. There was to be a -collection taken after the race to add to this purse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The horses trotted down the course. Connie’s -was rearing and prancing, and it was with difficulty -that she managed to get him to join the -others. She leaned forward to whisper words of -quieting in his twitching ears. Down the course -they came. They were in nice alignment as they -passed the judges’ stand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie on her spotted cayuse showed as a -bright splash of colour in the midst of her darker -competitors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lafonte’s dark face lighted with a savage gleam -as he swung his horse to the inside or “pole.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Running neck and neck with him was his -hated rival, Paul John, leaning low on his horse’s -neck and shouting unintelligibly in Chinook. -Connie was with the stragglers five lengths in -the rear. This was new to Pegasus, and he was -bewildered by the crowding horses about him. -As they turned the corner of the course, Lafonte’s -horse stumbled, and before he righted Paul John -had slipped into the lead. Cursing wildly, -Lafonte settled himself in the saddle, his horse’s -head at the flank of his rival.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hundreds of times Pegasus had travelled this -field with Connie clinging to his back, slowing -up for shrubs and trees and making sudden -bursts of speed in the open. That had been -vastly different to being surrounded by running -horses and listening to the wild cries of their -riders and the roaring of the excited crowd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the moment Lafonte lost the point of vantage -to his rival, Connie leaned forward and -emitted a peculiar clucking sound, at the same -time striking her moccasined feet into the -horse’s sides. Pegasus’s ears twitched back at -the sound of the voice he loved. “Now I know -what you want,” he seemed to say, as his beautiful -neck stretched out and his hoofs spurned the -ground. His graceful body lowered until it -appeared to the spectators as though he were just -skimming the earth. He moved with a springy -stride, the muscles of his sinewy frame working -with a sliding movement beneath the glossy skin. -Gradually he drew away from the horses travelling -with him. Foot by foot he crawled up on -the leaders.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The party in the judges’ stand came to their -feet to shout approval. The girls were cheering -wildly for Connie as she crept nearer the front.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald was leaning forward with flushed face, -his eyes glued to the spotted cayuse, a deep -admiration in his heart for the intrepid little rider.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Little Andy jumped on the rail. “Strike me -pink!” he yelled, “look at that ’oss run!” His eyes -were bright with excitement. “A ’undred dollars -on the spotted ’oss!” he shouted hysterically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll take you,” said a voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ere you are, mate; let’s make ’er two -’undred. I’m for me ’ome girl. She saved me -blinkin’ life, God bless ’er!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they neared one of the corduroy bridges -Connie was neck and neck with Lafonte. The -latter glanced up as Pegasus came opposite. The -roar of the crowd came dimly to Connie’s ears -above the swish of air and the rumble of hoofs -as they struck the culvert. An evil look crossed -the half-breed’s face. He swung his horse -sharply to the right. Connie’s horse floundered. -Struggling to right himself, he fell off the bridge -and landed with a dull thud on the soft ground -below. The forward motion of the cayuse had -stopped so suddenly that Connie was thrown -like a projectile to a clump of bushes fifteen feet -distant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For an instant the big crowd was paralyzed. -Then there went up a great groan of horror. -The old trapper came to his feet, his eyes flaming, -a hectic flush on his cheeks. Like a flash his -hand flew to his six-shooter, and the long-barrelled -Colt was trained on Lafonte. As he -pulled the trigger Douglas struck his arm and the -bullet sped harmlessly over the horseman’s head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My God!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The words whistled through the set teeth of -big Jack Gillis. “Let me get at him!” he cried -hoarsely, as, pale of face, he struggled through -the crowd. He would have thrown himself in -front of the oncoming rider if strong hands had -not clutched and held him. Connie’s father fell -back a step as if struck a sudden blow, his eyes -wide and staring. Andy’s head fell forward, -and he groaned aloud. Janet covered her face -with her hands and sat down weakly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald leaned from the judges’ stand, his face -pale as death. A vision of Connie’s broken body -came before his eyes. “Oh, God!” he cried -aloud in a voice vibrant with pain. He covered -his eyes as though in dread of looking at the -spot where she had fallen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A shout came from the crowd—then a cheer -that seemed to rock the hills. “Look! look!” -they shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s heart was beating tumultuously. -Could he believe his eyes? Connie was standing -upright. She appeared to sway slightly; then, -like a flash, she was at her horse’s head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Trembling and snorting, Pegasus came to his -feet. With a bound she was on his back and -seized the reins. Pegasus reared like a stag and -was off down the course at the tail end of the -race.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Connie passed the judges’ stand she was -well up with the tail-riders and gaining steadily. -Her face was pale and tense. A smear of red -showed on her arm, and a little stream of blood -trickled down her forehead from the wound -invisible in the thickness of her hair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The crowd became suddenly quiet as Connie -thundered past—a silent tribute to her glorious -pluck. But as she crept toward her original -position they roared their applause. Pegasus -was showing an endurance and speed that had -never been equalled in all of that district. As -they turned to come down the home-stretch -Connie was a good fifty yards behind the leaders. -Lafonte’s wiry cayuse was again in the lead by -a few feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The shock and strain were beginning to tell -on Connie. She leaned forward and in a broken, -trembling voice she cried: “Oh, Peggy! Win, -Peggy! Please! Please! I don’t want to lose! -I’ve got to win! Go! Go!” She was sobbing -hysterically now, and her small hands were -patting the horse’s neck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pegasus had never heard that tone of supplication -in the sweet voice of his mistress before. -Nobly he responded to the call. She felt his -body lower under her as he set himself to the -herculean task of overcoming his rival’s enormous -lead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lafonte was using the whip. Paul John, -hanging so persistently to his flank, angered him. -They thundered across the corduroy, and at the -sound of Pegasus’s hoofs on the cedar poles -Lafonte turned to glance behind. A look of -astonishment crossed his face as he saw the -golden-haired rider so close. With a curse he -struck his horse a brutal blow that caused the -animal to lose its stride momentarily and fall -back in line with Paul John.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Slowly, but surely, Connie’s spotted cayuse -was closing the gap between himself and the two -leaders, sweeping along at a terrific pace, his -body and limbs moving with the rhythmic grace -of a thoroughbred. Connie was leaning so low -that the heavy white mane of her horse was -brushing her face. Her hair was streaming in -the wind like fine-spun gold. The party in the -judges’ stand rushed to the railing, leaned -anxiously forward to get a glimpse of the running -horses as they turned the corner, and -cheered lustily as the three riders thundered over -the small bridge and came toward the finishing -line. Connie was at Lafonte’s flank now.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pegasus’s remarkable speed fanned the spectators’ -excitement to a fever heat. Andy had -done so much shouting that his voice was -reduced to a whisper. Standing on the top rail, -his arms waving, he was shouting huskily, “Come -on, Connie! Come on, Connie!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s dark eyes were glowing as he watched -the slender figure clinging to the flying horse’s -bare back. “What a pity if she loses,” he said -under his breath. Leaping to the rail, he joined -in the shouts of encouragement to the straining -Pegasus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With one hundred yards to go, Connie uttered -one last appeal to her flying steed. Above the -drumming of hoofs the spectators heard her -voice ring in passionate entreaty. “Now, Peg! -Now! Go! Go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With nostrils distended, his breath coming in -choking gasps, his eyes bulging, and the voice of -his adored mistress ringing in his ears, the -gallant animal with a burst of speed that made -the onlookers marvel, ranged himself alongside -his labouring rivals.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ten yards from the finish—five yards—they -were neck and neck. Then, summoning his -last ounce of strength, Pegasus leaped forward -as though he would annihilate time and distance. -With eyes nearly blinded with dirt, tears and -the roaring air, Connie saw Pegasus hurl himself -past the winning post—a winner by half a length!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ear-splitting roar that went up from the -race-mad crowd must have caused the marmots -on the slides near the distant glaciers to seek -their holes in terror. A flock of mallard ducks, -which had floated peacefully near the centre of -the placid lake throughout the day’s commotion, -rose with frightened cries to seek a more secluded -spot in which to finish their afternoon’s siesta.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The crowd had seemingly gone mad. The -atmosphere pulsated with a wild tumult of sound. -Hats were thrown in air and throats were -strained with shouting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald found himself with his arms about -Andy, dancing and cheering in a frenzy of joy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie made no attempt to check her cayuse’s -onward flight. She was in no mood to listen to -the kudos of the admiring crowd; she wanted -only to get away from the scene as quickly as -possible. The movement toward the centre -gave her the opportunity she desired, and she -urged the weary cayuse through an opening on -her left. Many hands were reached up to -congratulate her, but she pushed her way through -to the trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the sound of hoof-beats behind her she -turned to see Lafonte urging his tired mount -toward the Pemberton trail and looking back -apprehensively over his shoulder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Several men were running after him, shaking -their fists and uttering loud imprecations. A -man leaped from behind a jack-pine to land in -the path in front of the half-breed, lunged for -the reins, missed, then caught the stirrup. -Lafonte struck the man a blow with his heavy -whip that loosened his hold and felled him to the -ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie saw Gillis break from the crowd, jump -to the saddle of a cayuse and start after the -fleeing man just as the latter disappeared in the -woods. Gillis waved his hand to her and vanished -in pursuit. She urged Pegasus to the -shelter of the timber as she saw her father and -Donald running toward her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The strenuous race and the spectacular fall -had left both horse and rider in a badly shaken -condition. Connie’s body was bruised and sore, -and her head ached horribly. The cayuse’s -strained muscles were stiffening, he was limping -badly, and his head drooped wearily as he -dragged his tired limbs up the steep trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the barn door Connie dismounted stiffly, -removed the horse’s bridle, then threw her arms -passionately around his neck and stroked his -symmetrical head with soft caresses. “I’m so -sorry, Peggy darling,” she said in a choking voice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The horse nipped her shoulder in a weak -attempt at playfulness, as if to signify that he -quite understood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s eyes brightened at a sudden thought. -“Peggy dear,” she whispered softly as she -nestled her cheek against his soft mane, “do you -know that I can have some nice clothes now? -Lots and lots of nice things. I am going to buy -you a blanket—a nice thick one for winter—and -some ribbons for your mane. And you, Peggy”—with -a flood of tenderness in her voice—“you -won all this for me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She was crooning sweet nothings in his ear -that only Pegasus could understand when her -father appeared, breathless from running, his -face grey and anxious.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you all right, Constance darling?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie stepped forward. She was pale and -weak, but her colourless lips tried to form a smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, Daddy dear—I’m—all—ri——” Her -voice trailed to a whisper and the blue eyes -closed as darkness fell upon her like a cloud. -Swaying uncertainly for an instant, she fell -like a broken flower into her father’s outstretched -arms. For the first time in her life Connie had -fainted. She lay like a child in his trembling -arms, her upturned face wearing the pallor of -death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a prayer on his lips and an agony of fear -in his heart, her father carried her to the cabin -and tenderly stretched the bruised little body -on the coarse blankets of her bunk.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XVIII</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>At</span> the race-course the crowd eddied excitedly -about the judges’ stand, or stood in groups -talking of the wonderful performance of the -spotted cayuse that had made the erstwhile -champion appear a mere tyro.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis came riding slowly from the woods and -was hailed by questioning shouts from a score -of throats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Did you get him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A bloody handkerchief was wrapped around -the big man’s hand, and a livid welt showed on -his forehead. He smiled grimly as he dismounted, -“I got the d——d skunk,” he answered savagely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned to a group of Indians. “You -fellers’d better look out for him when you go -along; his eyesight’s kinda bad.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald came to the front of the judges’ stand -and held up his hand for silence. Gradually -the hum of voices died away and the crowd turned -to face him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you know, we are to take up a collection -to add to the Company’s purse. The gentleman -below,” pointing down at Andy, “will hold the -hat. We have witnessed an exhibition of matchless -skill and pluck. Give as you feel.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The crowd cheered lustily. Then, jostling -each other good-naturedly like a lot of school-boys, -they formed in a long queue.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy started the contribution by giving his -whole roll of bills. Money showered upon him -until he was forced to call for another hat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fightin’ ” Jack came to Donald in great -perturbation. “Say! Our gang’s all stony -broke. Can we sign a due-bill?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald called the time-keeper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Make her out for twenty bucks for each of -us,” said “Fightin’ ” Jack.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s spirits soared as the pile rose higher.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“God bless ’er little ’eart,” he murmured, -“she can ’ave an ’ole shipload of them blinkin’ -camisole things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An hour later, as Donald climbed the hill to -deliver the prize, he met Doctor Paul.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How is she, Doctor?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She’s had a nasty shaking up, but there are no -bones broken. She will have to remain in bed -for a week or so.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright saw Donald coming and stepped -outside the door to meet him. “She’s sleeping,” -he said in a low tone. He looked questioningly -at Donald as the latter passed him the package -of money.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The prize money,” Donald explained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright peeped at the contents and his -face lit up with pleased astonishment. “I -understood that the purse was to be a small -one!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald told him of the collection, -Wainwright’s face flushed hotly. “Is that the -custom?” he questioned sharply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald nodded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright paced nervously with hands -clasped behind his back. “Pardon my abrupt -manner,” he said contritely, “I am a bit out of -sorts to-day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Every evening Donald called at the Wainwright -home, bringing little delicacies carefully prepared -by Andy. Once he spoke to Connie from -outside the door, and her answering voice gave -him an odd thrill. He pondered over this as -he made his way down the hill. He was struck -by a sudden thought. His face broke into a -smile and he shrugged his shoulders. “Nonsense,” -he said aloud.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet remained several days after her friends -had returned to the city. She had tried in vain -to restore the familiar relations which formerly -existed between herself and Donald. His -evening visits to the cabin on the mountain -deprived her of his company, and she, half-jestingly, -reproved him for his inattention to her. -With spirits depressed and a despondent look -in her dark eyes, Janet returned to Vancouver.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One evening Wainwright gave Donald a letter -to post, addressed to a big departmental store -in Vancouver. A few days later there arrived -numerous bundles and boxes, including a big -trunk. Donald with the assistance of Gillis’s -crew carried them up the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve brought your big trunk with the -‘bulgy top,’ Miss Wainwright,” he called.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sat up in her bunk so quickly that -her head bumped the boards above. “Miss -Wainwright” he had called her! Her eyes -glowed in the dusky half-light. “Thank you -so much,” she replied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day Wainwright informed Donald -that Connie was up and would see him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a minute, Dad,” she cried as she -heard them approaching.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Feverishly she rushed to the small mirror to -glance at her reflection. With nervous hands -she fluffed the hair about her ears and smoothed -imaginary wrinkles from the collar of her dress. -Then she sat down gravely and arranged her -skirts about her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come in,” she called.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald followed Wainwright, his heart-beats -peculiarly accelerated. For an instant he could -not distinguish objects in the dim interior. -Then his eyes rested on Connie, sitting demurely -in the corner. She wore a gingham dress of -blue, with white collar and cuffs. A dark belt -was fastened snugly at her slender waist. Tiny -high-heeled shoes peeped from below the hem -of her skirt. Her beautiful hair hung down her -back in a huge braid that fastened at the nape -of her slim, round neck with a narrow black bow. -She rose and crossed the room to meet him, -her high heels making her lithe little body -appear much taller. There was something -fragile about her beauty, some of the colour gone -from her cheeks, and just a hint of shadows -under her eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald held out his hand. “Good evening, -I’m glad to see that you are better,” he said -awkwardly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A slender, warm hand crept timidly into his, -and his fingers closed on it gently as on a flower. -He stared down at her, thrilled by her loveliness. -She raised her eyes with their bewilderingly long -lashes slowly to his face. With a sudden leaping -of his heart, Donald realized that he was in love.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They talked desultorily while Connie sat -timidly on the edge of the uncomfortable chair. -She could not feel at ease in the high, narrow -shoes and the enveloping skirts. And as she -essayed to cross the rough floor with an assumed -air of ease, her ankle turned and she would have -fallen had not Donald caught her in his arms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he raised her to her feet she blushed -furiously, and he fancied he could feel the warm -beating of her heart. With an embarrassed -apology, she slipped from him, crossed to the -table and lighted a candle. And presently -he took his leave, Wainwright walking with him -down the darkening trail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright was in one of his brooding moods. -For a few minutes he was silent. As they -neared the bluff he spoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After witnessing my daughter’s distress the -morning of the race I am afraid that you feel -harshly toward me for allowing her to be placed -in such a humiliating position. You have been -exceedingly kind to us; therefore, I feel that I -should relate the circumstances which have -placed me in my present position. As I told -you that day, I have allowed my pride to withhold -from my daughter her inherited rights. -I will be as brief as possible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My father, who took great pride in the -family name, planned a political career for me -even from the day of my birth. By natural -taste and temperament I was quite unfitted for -public life. I must have been a great trial to -him, as from early boyhood I evinced a great -love for the study of botany and ornithology. -He would go into a red rage when he found me -in the garden studying flowers under a microscope -or stalking birds in the shrubbery.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At college I was not a success, either socially -or in my class. Always of a retiring nature, I -did not enter social life or college sports, and the -course of study set for me by my father bored -me extremely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“During my third year at college I met -Connie’s mother. Until that time no woman -had entered my life, although my father had -hinted his plans for my marriage as soon as I -had finished my course.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To me any flower shop, however small, -acted as a magnet. One day I stood gazing in -the window of a tiny florist’s shop on the Strand. -A girl was kneeling among the flowers, and as she -lifted her head our eyes met. She was like a -golden lily. Her hair was like Connie’s hair, -and the blue of her eyes was the blue of the -pansies she held in her hand. And her name -was Constance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He paused for an instant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Her father, who had been a rector in a small -parish in the south of England, died just previous -to our meeting, leaving his motherless child -without kith or kin. Lest I weary you I may say -briefly that we were married. My father would -not even grant me an interview, but wrote to me -saying that marrying as I had done had barred -me forever from his door. I did not care. I -was happy—completely, supremely happy. I -sold a small estate bequeathed to me by my -mother, and we set out for British Columbia.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ah!” he breathed softly, “that voyage! -We could not afford it, but we travelled first-class—it -was our honeymoon and we were young. -We had never been to sea before, and the novelty -of it all wove a spell about us. As we walked the -deck we talked joyously of our wonderful future -in the mysterious Great West.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our first year in Vancouver was one of -blessed content. There is no love that could be -greater than ours. Clerical work was scarce, -so I took any job that offered. I would come -home black with coal-dust or white with lime, -and my wife would cry out merrily as she -threw herself into my arms. We turned our -hardships into jests.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A smile of infinite tenderness played about his -eyes as memory recalled the golden days with -the woman he loved.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The next winter I was taken grievously ill. -I lay helplessly on my back while my tender wife -tramped from house to house teaching painting -and music. Day after day through all kinds of -weather she made her daily rounds to keep us -in the bare necessities of life, and pay the doctor’s -bills.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s voice sank and almost failed him -for a moment. Recovering himself, he resumed -his story.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She would come home at night, tired and -worn, to fall asleep in a chair by my bedside, -while I raved in a fever. She went without food -to buy dainties for me. She never lost her -cheery smile—but it killed her! She died giving -birth to—to—Constance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tears rose to his eyes, and for a moment he -covered them with his hand. With a great effort -he continued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I became embittered, changed completely out -of any semblance to my former self. I cursed -my father. I cursed the world. I would -have welcomed death, but as I looked down at -the tiny mite by my dead wife’s side, I knew that -I must fight to live.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A short time after, I received from my father -a letter in which he asked my forgiveness. I -was unfitted to make my own way in the world, -yet my father had turned me brutally away. -My wife had died from overwork and lack of -food. I wrote to him in a black rage a letter -that must have scorched his soul.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For four years I eked out a miserable existence -in the City. My health broke down again, and -my doctor warned me that I must get to a higher -altitude. I learned of this place, turned everything -into cash, and came here, bringing Connie -with me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My sole income has been derived from -writing articles on Nature for the newspapers and -magazines. Several times my father has advertised -in the newspapers, asking me to return. I -read of his death two weeks ago. For Constance’s -sake, I am going to start for England to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright’s head drooped listlessly as he -concluded his story. All energy, all strength of -bearing, seemed to have gone from him. The -bitter remembrances he had voiced had brought -a look of mental anguish to his face. He stood -staring mutely before him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s heart ached for this man, whose -great love for his wife was as passionate at this -moment as when she was living. “How he -loved her!” he thought.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Wainwright spoke again his voice was -spiritless. “You are the first person to whom I -have spoken of my past; even Constance does not -know.” As he turned to leave Donald gripped -his hand in silence, but with a pressure eloquent -of heart-felt sympathy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy had noticed Donald’s increasing interest -in Connie and had wisely refrained from accompanying -him on his nightly visits. On this -particular night Donald came into the kitchen -whistling a lively air, his face wreathed in smiles. -He slapped Andy heartily on the back as he -asked him for a lunch. His gaiety was so pronounced -that Andy studied him closely.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You look ’appy, Donnie,” he remarked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am, Andy; I’m the happiest man in the -world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He finished eating, then sat staring dreamily at -the smoke of his cigarette as it circled about his -head. Andy discoursed lightly on various subjects, -but Donald did not seem to hear him. After he -left Andy heard him singing merrily in his cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink, but I do ’ope Donnie has -waked up! What a pair, what a pair!” he said -to himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the morning Donald rode north on the gas-car -to the scene of logging operations near the -upper lake. He left orders with the men to -bring Wainwright’s baggage to the station. -What Connie’s absence would mean was brought -forcibly to him as he met the trapper leading -Pegasus and her pet deer down the trail to his -cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two hours later Connie and her father stood -on the station platform. Connie was dressed in -an inexpensive blue suit, and wore a neat blue hat -with a jaunty feather. Her golden hair was -piled high in loops and coils that held a sheen of -brightness like the shine of metal where the sun -touched it. She appeared mystified and confused -as the time for the train to pull out drew -near. Andy, standing by her side, cursed softly -as he saw her looking toward the mill, a look of -poignant disappointment in her eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald ’ad to go up the line, Connie; guess -something ’as ’appened,” he mumbled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At that moment Donald was heaping opprobrium -on a recalcitrant gas-car that had died -on his hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The conductor called “All aboard!” Connie -turned to Andy. “Good-bye, Andy,” she said -sweetly, her eyes swimming with tears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy took her gloved hand. “Good-bye, -Connie,” he returned, attempting a brave smile. -“When are you coming back?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe never.” She choked as she stumbled -up the car steps.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the train started to move Connie came to -the rear platform. A small, pathetic figure -she seemed to Andy as she strained her eyes -toward the north in a vain hope that she would -see Donald. Andy stood in the centre of the -track waving his hat until the flutter of Connie’s -little handkerchief vanished around a curve.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the train roared through the cut, the last -view of her loved valley flashed before her eyes. -Her face strangely white, she clung to the brass -rail and gazed with tearful eyes at the only home -she had ever known.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they passed the trapper’s cabin, the noise -of the rushing train sent Pegasus galloping -madly about the pasture. With flying hoofs -that tore up the sod he circled around the field, -then came to the fence and with his beautiful -head held high on the arched neck he looked with -startled eyes at the speeding train.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a gesture intensely eloquent, Connie -flung out her arms. “Good-bye, Peggy! Good-bye!” -She found her way to a seat and covered -her face with her hands.</p> - -<hr class='tbk'/> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald flung himself from the gas-car before -it had ceased moving. “Train gone, Andy?” he -shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy stood with arms folded. “Gone?” he -yelled, “of course it’s gone. Why in ’ell -wasn’t you ’ere?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I had to go up the line to look over some logs, -and the car broke down,” replied Donald bitterly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course,” said Andy with withering sarcasm, -“the timber couldn’t ’ave waited another day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy,” asked Donald excitedly, ignoring the -remark, “did Connie leave you her address?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why the ’ell should she give me ’er address? -’Aven’t you ’er address?” was Andy’s unaccommodating -reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, I haven’t, I know that they are going to -England, and that is all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald sat down dejectedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s face softened. “Do you like Connie?” -he queried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Like her? I love her!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In that case I don’t see ’ow she didn’t let -you know where to find ’er,” puzzled Andy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She doesn’t know that I care for her,” said -Donald gloomily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy’s mouth opened. He seized Donald by -the shoulder. “Do you mean to tell me that -you let that girl get away from you without -letting ’er know that you wanted ’er?” he -demanded incredulously. “Strike me ’andsome,” -blazed Andy, “of all the blinkin’ mutts -in this ’ere world—you—you——” Speech -failed him for a moment. “You let that dear -little girl go away broken-’earted. . . .”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Andy,” interrupted Donald eagerly, “do -you think Connie cares for me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment, as he looked into his friend’s -face, Andy was tempted to tell him of the scene -after his fight with Hand. But the promise to -Connie sealed his lips.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ’Ow the ’ell should I know?” he mumbled. -“But,” he added with fine sarcasm, “if bone -was ten cents a cubic foot you’d be a multi-millionaire, -you blinkin’ pie-eyed nincompoop—you—you——” -He clapped a tragic hand -to his brow. “You give me a ’eadache,” and -muttering to himself, he trudged up the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day Donald went to Vancouver. -He scanned the registers in hotels, inquired at -docks and depots, but no trace of the Wainwrights -could he find. He walked the streets -with a forlorn hope that he might meet them. -The hearts of many slender golden-haired girls -were set fluttering that day as a tall, handsome -young man subjected them to close scrutiny.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two days later he returned to the lake. That -night he switched off the light and sat by the -open window looking out on a night of stars, -with a new moon making a ghostly light on the -lake. An owl’s mournful hoot was answered by -the uncanny cry of a heron. The faint sighing -sound of streams in distant gorges became a -haunting chorus to this duet. He thought of -Connie’s cabin up the mountain, now cold -and dark. How he would miss her! What an -idiot he had been not to have known long ago -that he loved her. He knew now that he had -loved her from the first. Dear little Connie!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald walked the floor until midnight. -Once in bed, he tossed restlessly until the -early morning, then fell into a fitful sleep in -which he dreamed of a small, winsome face and big -blue eyes surrounded by a wealth of golden hair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>September with its days of mellow sunshine -passed. October brought heavy hoar frosts -that covered the earth with a robe of diamonds, -and formed ice in the small pools and marshes. -Winter comes early in the mountains. In -mid-winter the valleys between the peaks of the -Coast Range will have five feet of snow when, -a few hundred feet below, where the warm waters -of the Pacific lap the gentle slopes, the grass -is green and there is none of the chilly whiteness -that mantles the towering hills above.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There came a day in November when the air -held a solemn stillness. The firs and pines -pointed straight to the sky without a quiver in -their branches. The brown earth seemed to -say, “I am ready.” The cry of the loon in it -had a dreary sound, a note which seemed to say -that winter was coming. Squirrels working in -the tops of big pines increased their efforts. -The cones, nipped off by their sharp teeth fell -pattering to the ground, to be garnered by these -busy little workers and secreted in their nests in -hollow trees. The bear of the hillsides ate the -frozen berry or the pulp of rotten log to cleanse -its stomach before starting its long winter -sleep in windfall or cave. Thus does Nature -give to the wild things of the forest an instinct -unknown to man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The rush of wings sounded high in air as wild -ducks passed in swift flight on their yearly -pilgrimage to the south. Occasionally a flock -would lower in gradually narrowing circles to -land with a splash in the restful waters of the -lake, then to stretch tired wings, the while -bobbing their heads and quacking contentedly. -Flocks of geese passed in wedge-shaped formation, -their honking coming faintly from a -dizzy height. A flock of Arctic swans, skimming -so low that the crisp rustle of their wings could -be heard, landed in the centre of the lake with a -great commotion. There with their beautiful -necks proudly arched they floated like white -ghosts throughout the night. The red and -yellow leaves, like gaudy curtains draped the -deciduous trees. The wild crab-apple and high-bush -cranberry hung frozen on the naked -branches. The sun was surrounded by a ring -and shone weakly through a misty haze. The -unmistakable breath of the north wind was in -the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Old John took his traps down from the loft -and oiled them. A patch was found needed -on a worn moccasin, and new laces were inserted -in his snowshoes. “Winter’s comin’, ol’ timer, -and we’re goin’ to have a heavy fall of snow,” -he mused to himself. For two days Nature gave -warning, then on the second night the storm came.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A roaring wind came bellowing from the -north, lashing the waters of the lake to foam, -tearing at Donald’s cabin with the strength of -invisible giant hands, and howling through the -forest with shrieking wails. Gust came upon -gust with increasing strength, and in the short -lulls could be heard the swish of the sleety snow -against the windows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big trees creaked as they swayed in the -gale, and with a loud groan, as if in mortal pain, -a huge forest monarch, as its roots gave way, -fell crushing down the smaller trees to smite the -earth with a resounding crash.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The wind went down through the night, but -the snow fell steadily. When Donald opened -his door next morning he looked out on a new -world. The wizardry of frost and snow had -given the earth a blanket of white that was -eye-blinding in its brilliancy under the bright -morning sun. The keen frost had locked the -lake tight under a coating of clear ice.</p> - -<div><h1>CHAPTER XIX</h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>With</span> a fond hope that he would receive word -of the Wainwrights, Donald eagerly awaited -the coming of each mail; but after a month of -disappointment he became less sanguine, and -threw himself desperately into work in a vain -attempt to allay his heartache.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the long winter the mill continued -operations in spite of heavy snows, the roads -being kept open by the continual traffic.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet came twice with gay parties to enjoy -the ski-ing and snowshoeing. She found that -she loved Donald, and decided that any uncertainty -as to his past was as nothing when -weighed against her need of him. Bitterly she -reproached herself for allowing her pride to -estrange him from her, and with all the arts of -a beautiful and cultured woman she sought to -regain the power she once held over him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On one occasion, when Janet mentioned his -“wood-sprite,” she saw a rapt look in his eyes -and caught her breath sharply. The very -thought of losing him stabbed her like a knife-thrust.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the coming of March a change came over -the earth. Winter shivered and reluctantly -loosed his hold. Gentle showers and warm -winds from the south honeycombed the ice -on the lake; snowdrifts faded away, and the -frost-bound soil gave forth earthy odours to -replace the keen smell of the snow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One morning a song-sparrow under Donald’s -window sent out its sweet “chip-chip-che-char-che-wiss-wiss,” -and from the top of a -swaying alder a wren carolled his joy of living -in full-throated tones that said that spring was -here. Stirred by the warmth and cleaving -buds, the frogs came from the mud, where they -had lain dormant all winter, and with swelling -throats and bulging cheeks sent out their cheerful -“k’tun, k’chunk.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mists covered the lake, and in an open spot -near the mouth of the creek a flock of ducks -disported themselves happily. The sun grew -higher with every dawn, gaining strength each -day until its warming energy spread the beauty -of colour and fragrance over all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One afternoon, when the air pulsated with the -song of birds, and newly-opened buds burdened -the atmosphere with perfume, Donald walked -up the hill to Wainwright’s cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Scores of birds, returned from their yearly -pilgrimage to the south, flitted about the -deserted buildings, but there was no golden-haired -girl with a welcoming smile to greet -them. Rivulets from the melting snows had -gouged channels in the once neatly kept plots -of wild flowers, and the roof of one of the smaller -huts had fallen in.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald pushed open the door of the main -building and entered. The air felt chill and -dank. He experienced a quick depression of -spirits, and his heart ached as he surveyed the -gloomy interior. He shivered as a pack-rat -scuttled across the floor and disappeared under -Connie’s bunk. With a heavy heart he returned -to the bright sunshine, sat down, and gave himself -over to a period of melancholy retrospection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His mind went back to his first meeting with -Connie, then on through the many thrilling -episodes of the summer. She belonged to high -mountains, to deep forest glades, to companionship -with the birds, flowers and trees of -God’s wild outdoors. She would never be -content with the bad air and the cramped conventions -of cities. He suddenly remembered -the words she had used that day by the stream -near her nest in the cedars. He seemed to -hear her sweet, hesitating voice with its pleasant -English accent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And,” she had said, “six months out of -every year I’d come right here and live in these -mountains.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She’ll come back,” he said aloud. The -thought cheered him. “She’ll come back,” -he repeated to Andy that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ’ope so, Donnie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A week later, Robert Rennie, accompanied by -his daughter, arrived at Summit Lake. The -owner was in high spirits. “I am pleased with -the excellent work you are doing here,” he said, -as he placed a hand in friendly fashion on -Donald’s arm. “The mill is a success—a huge -success—and I know who deserves the greater -share of the credit!” He smiled up at Donald. -“Next week,” he went on, “an event of importance -to the lumber industry takes place. The -Government is to entertain a party of Eastern -lumbermen. I will admit that I was proud when -the chief forester called at my office to tell me -that this mill had been selected as the most -modern and efficient in the Province, and -requested permission to bring the Government’s -guests here.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They are to stay here a few days, but you -will not be inconvenienced, as the train will -be equipped with dining and sleeping-cars, -loaned for the occasion by the C.P.R. I will -come with them, but I am leaving it to you to -arrange for their entertainment and to see that -everything is in tip-top shape for their arrival.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Robert Rennie was leaving the next morning -he turned to Donald. “By the way,” he -said casually, “I have decided to add a yearly -bonus to your salary, based on the profits of this -mill. I have made it retroactive from the time -you took charge.” Before Donald had time to -express his thanks his employer swung aboard -the train.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Expressing a desire to be at the lake on the -arrival of the excursion, Janet remained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the day set for the visit of the Eastern -capitalists the sun rose in radiant promise of a -typical June day. The leaves were now fully -matured, and the willows and maples rustled -under the soft, warm winds. All the valley was -clothed in a verdant, quivering, gently pulsating -life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The long train drew slowly into the depot. -Its occupants poured out until the small platform -was filled to overcrowding. Robert Rennie, -accompanied by a slender man dressed in a -tweed suit and cap, pushed his way through the -crowd to Donald’s side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald greeted his employer, then glanced -casually at Mr. Rennie’s companion. His eyes -widened. “Mr. Wainwright!” he gasped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wainwright laughed happily as he wrung -Donald’s hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is—is Con—Miss Wainwright with you?” -stuttered Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then he saw her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie had rehearsed this moment a thousand -times. She stood quietly on the steps for a -moment, then slipped gracefully to the platform, -Connie herself could not have imagined how -changed she was. From coiffure to dainty -French heels she was dressed as if fresh from -the hands of an expert Parisian costumer. So -dazzling was she that she positively took Donald’s -breath away. It seemed to him that she had -grown like a magic rose, all at once from a tiny -bud to a full blossom. No fault could be found -with the perfect oval of her face, or with the -delicate white rose skin, from which every trace -of tan had gone. The long lashes that fringed -her big blue eyes had turned a shade darker than -the curling waves of her abundant golden hair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy, whose small form had been hidden in -the rear, moved bashfully forward, fumbling the -wide hat held in his hand. “ ’Ello, Connie,” he -blurted, his lips parted in a wide smile of -welcome.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly Connie forgot her assumed dignity -and became her warm, impulsive little self. With -a glad cry she flung her arms about Andy’s neck -and kissed him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Strike me pink!” breathed Andy, as his -hand stole up to touch the spot where Connie’s -lips had brushed his cheek.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie turned to face the lake. “Oh, Dad!” -she cried in ecstasy, “isn’t it good to be back -here again?” She stretched her arms toward -the ice-clad peaks. A gentle breeze swept down -the wooded slope to fan her face as though in -welcome. The blood surged beneath her smooth -white skin and went singing through every vein. -“Ah!” she sighed happily, as she inhaled a deep -breath of air laden with the odour of pine from -the hills she loved. Donald, gazing at her -hungrily, saw tears brimming under her long -lashes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the far end of the train a tall, grey-haired -man assisted a slender sweet-faced woman to the -ground, and then walked towards the station. -As they stepped to the platform the woman’s -eyes rested on Donald, who stood with his back -to her. Instantly she became rooted to the -spot, eyes wide, one hand fluttering toward her -heart. With the supreme, wondrous mother-love -shining in her eyes, she held out her arms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donald!” she cried passionately, “Donald!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald whirled at the sound of the loved voice -calling his name. His heart throbbed wildly, -his throat felt constricted and his face paled -under stress of strong emotion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mother!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His arms were around his mother, yearning, -tender, hungry, after these long months of -separation. Her face upturned to his was white -and drawn, but her eyes shone with hallowed -joy. He felt his hand gripped in his father’s -strong fingers, and saw his eyes shining with tears. -John McLean patted his boy’s dark head with a -shaking hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Donnie! My boy, Donnie!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For some time Donald was oblivious to all -save the great happiness of meeting his parents. -His mother’s embrace almost unmanned him, -and it was with difficulty that he kept back the -sobs that tightened his throat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He led his parents to the other end of the -platform and introduced them to his friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Robert Rennie’s comments were simply gasps -and a reiterated, “Well! Well!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy offered his usual contribution. “Strike -me pink!” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie’s eyes were filled with soft eagerness as -she greeted Donald’s mother. The glow in -Donald’s face as he spoke to Connie was poignantly -significant of his deep love for her. But -Connie, to his consternation and dismay, met his -ardent glances with a look of cold indifference.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since Connie’s arrival Janet’s features held a -look of disquietude, but she acknowledged the -introduction to Donald’s parents with a radiant -smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later, Connie, with skirts held high, -was running down the railroad track.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going after her horse,” smiled Wainwright -in answer to Donald’s question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will you have dinner with us?” invited -Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, thank you,” responded Wainwright. -“We will sleep in the car to-night,” he continued, -“but Constance insists that we must return to -the old home as soon as possible. She has been -busy drawing plans for a chalet she intends -building on the bluff.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie returned with the old trapper, the -latter leading Pegasus.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At dinner Connie showed no signs of her -former shyness. She was as self-possessed, -calm and perfectly poised as a goddess. A glad -light filled her eyes as Gillis and his crew of -“redshirts” filed into the big dining-room. -She sprang to her feet and greeted them joyfully, -shaking hands with each and everyone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m so glad to see you, Jack,” she smiled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big logger took her tiny hand in his. -“We’re sure glad to have you with us agin, -Connie.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“May I bring Andy in to dine with us, Mr. -McLean?” she asked as she came back to the -table.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald nodded assent. She ran gleefully to -the kitchen, and a moment later the loggers -grinned broadly as she came through the door -leading the protesting cook by the arm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now,” she said as Andy sat down, “we’re all -here.” She looked about her and clasped her -hands rapturously. “It seems as though I had -been gone for years. And oh, it is so nice to -be home again!” She sank to a chair between -Andy and the trapper. “Do you remember, -Andy, when you were dressed as a butler and -danced with John at your party?” She threw -back her golden head and her silvery laughter -filled the room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet was unhappy from the moment of -Connie’s arrival. She had caught the look of -adoration in Donald’s eyes as Connie stepped to -the station platform. Standing there then she -had quite definitely abandoned any hope of -winning him. And Janet had been so sure that -once she had held a place in his heart. A great -depression, a great weariness of spirit, settled -upon her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That evening, as Donald walked with his -parents by the lake-shore, he turned to his -father. “Dad,” he said anxiously, “do you -think I have made good? Will you forgive me -for—for——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John McLean’s eyes grew suddenly misty. -“Donnie,” he began gently, “Mr. Rennie has -told us all about you. And no man could speak -more highly of another.” He drew a newspaper -from his pocket. “Haven’t you seen this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was Vancouver’s morning paper, with a full-page -devoted to the visit of the Eastern lumbermen. -There were several photographs of the -Summit Mill and one of Donald. The paper -spoke of him as “the able young engineer whose -modern ideas and energy had given to British -Columbia a logging plant and mill that were a -credit to the Province.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald saw the proud light in his father’s -eyes, and his heart was filled with a great peace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next day carpenters and material arrived -for the construction of Wainwright’s new home. -That afternoon Connie, clad in fashionable -riding habit, came to the mill office with her -foreman to place an order for lumber. Pegasus -in silver-mounted bridle and English saddle was -proudly restive. With neck arched he curvetted -and rocked while Connie sat on his back with -that complete lack of self-consciousness that is -the heritage of a born horsewoman. Before -leaving she rode up the hill among the toiling -workers, her irresistible smile bringing an -answering grin from the “redshirts,” who doffed -their big hats and shouted a joyous greeting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All day pack-horses and men struggled up the -hill, staggering under the weight of building -material. But although Donald strained his -eyes for a glimpse of the golden-haired rider, he -saw her no more that day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As dusk fell over lake and mountain, Donald -returned from Wainwright’s cabin. Andy -glanced up expectantly as his friend appeared, -but quickly averted his face as he saw the look -of settled melancholy shrouding Donald’s features. -Donald sank disconsolately to a seat -outside the kitchen door. He had found Wainwright -alone and wondered if Connie had -purposely absented herself. Her treatment of -him since her return puzzled him sorely and -had filled him with a great despondency. As -he rose and walked toward his cabin, Andy -gazed after the retreating figure, eyes filled with -compassion, then turned to speak to one of his -helpers in such an irritable tone that the flunkey’s -mouth opened in astonishment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For three evenings it was the same. Donald -failed to find Connie at home; nor did she come -to the mill. He regretfully decided that it was -no coincidence, but that she was deliberately -avoiding him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On a Sunday afternoon Andy saw Donald -gaze yearningly toward the bluff, then turn up -the trail leading to the dam.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At Donald’s request Gillis had diverted logging -operations to circle the little oasis in the heavy -timber, so that Connie’s sylvan glade still held -its primeval charm and beauty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald stood for a moment gazing reflectively -into the white foam at the foot of the tiny cataract, -then threw himself on the soft bed of moss -and closed his eyes. But this time the fairy spot -did not bring the usual delicious languor to his -harassed spirit. Birds sang as sweetly; flowers -filled the air with the same odour; the wind -sighed as softly through the tree-tops, and the -small brook still sang its rippling song. The -rapid tattoo of a woodpecker’s bill on a hollow -tree jarred his nerves and he tossed restlessly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A cedar tip floated through the air. Blown by -the wind, it fluttered in circles, then landed gently -on the hands lying on his chest. His eyes opened, -then, with trembling limbs he came to his feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie, clad in faded overalls and cotton -shirt, stood on the edge of the “nest.” Her -breast was heaving, her loosened golden hair -flying in the wind. The softness in her blue -eyes made Donald gasp, and his heart thumped -as though it were in his throat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Connie!” he cried huskily, “I love you, dear! -Don’t you care for me even a little?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She sprang lightly to the ground and came -toward him, her arms outstretched. Tears of -joy coursed down her cheeks. “Oh, Donald, -Donald, you big stupid!” she sobbed, “I have -been waiting here for you every day. I—I have -loved you always.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a shock of incredible rapture Donald -gathered her in his strong arms, where she -cuddled like a weeping child. He kissed her -red lips, her eyes, hair and throbbing throat. -“My little Connie,” he said, in a voice vibrant -with feeling, “do you really love me?” He -pressed his cheek to hers and felt the flutter of -her long lashes as she pressed the softness of -her own closer. The quick, exquisite indrawing -of her sobbing breath were lovely answering -things, and he thrilled to hear her whisper: -“Yes, Donald! Yes, Donald!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy came walking meditatively up the path, -his hands clasped behind him, his blond head -bowed in deep thought. Not finding Donald -at the dam, he walked up the hill to enter the -meadow just as Donald clasped Connie in his -arms. For an instant the little Australian stood -rigid, his eyes bulging, then retreated hastily to -the shelter of the trees. Anyone seeing Andy -at that moment would have thought him suddenly -gone mad. He whirled about in a wild -dance, hugging himself in an ecstasy of joy. -Ceasing his mad gyrations, he dashed his hand -across his eyes and bolted like a runaway down -the hill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gillis and his “redshirts” sat sunning themselves -on the steps of the dining-room. They -sprang to their feet as Andy came tearing down -the hill. Breathlessly Andy told them of the -scene he had witnessed. “We’ll give them a -blinkin’ good reception when they come down,” -he panted. He issued several sharp orders -and the men scurried happily to execute his -commands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The train that was to carry the excursionists to -the Coast was being made up on the siding. -While they were awaiting this, the visitors -watched with curious interest the mysterious -preparations being made by the loggers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this moment, hand in hand, Donald and -Connie turned the corner of the building. -As they did so they came to a sudden halt and -stared at the odd scene before them. The -men stood in two orderly rows. The ground -between was carpeted with wild flowers, and -each logger held a mass of blooms in his hand. -At the far end of this lane of men stood Andy, -a wide smile on his droll face. Connie lowered -her eyes in confusion. Donald shook his fist -at Andy. “You little beggar! You are responsible -for this.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy chuckled. “Come on, Donnie, be a -sport,” he coaxed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With flushed faces Donald and Connie walked -down the aisle, while the men pelted them with -flowers. The crowd of visitors clapped their -hands in appreciation of this beautiful scene. -As they neared the end of the gauntlet, Andy -sprang to a stump.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Three cheers for the ’appy couple!” he -yelled. A roar of cheering followed. “A -tiger!” shouted Andy. And again the air -trembled to the hoarse shout of brawny -throats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald led Connie straight to his mother. -“Mother,” he said bashfully, “meet your -future daughter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Quick tears came to his mother’s eyes as -Donald made this announcement. “My dear,” -she said tenderly, as her arms folded about -Connie, “you are all love and tenderness.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The train’s whistle screeched its warning -and the crowd moved down to the station.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will you be coming home to us soon, -Donnie?” asked his father as he was leaving. -Donald looked down at Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll visit you on our honeymoon, Dad,” -responded Donald happily. He swept his arm -toward the mountains. “I could never leave -this. The spell of the Great West has entered -my blood.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Janet had spent the afternoon paddling idly -on the lake. When she received the news of -Donald’s engagement she concealed the ache -in her heart by an outward air of indifference. -The pretence of a headache enabled her to -keep in her cabin and she did not appear for -dinner. She wanted to be alone with her -thoughts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the shadows lengthened, Donald and -Connie moved slowly along the path toward the -bluff. As they turned a curve in the trail -Janet came to the window of her cabin and stood -watching them until they disappeared from -sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Andy, sitting a few feet distant with his back -against a tree, noted the look of despondency -on Janet’s face. He came to his feet and walked -slowly toward the kitchen. “As Methusalem -said through ’is whiskers, ‘ ’e who ’olds ’is -’ead too ’igh will ’t ’is blinkin’ toe.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the lovers were about to turn up the -mountain trail, the trapper emerged from the -woods with his old pack-horse. The cayuse was -piled high with luggage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where are you going, John?” queried -Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m hittin’ the trail, ol’ timer.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope you are not leaving us,” said Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I’m quittin’ the country.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why?” questioned Donald.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Gittin’ too thickly settled. I feel that I ain’t -got room to breathe. I’m goin’ way back into -the Cariboo somewhere so’s I kin be by myself.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The race of mediæval hermits is not dead. -The spirit that led the first pioneers into the -forest guides others there to-day. There are -men whose souls long for a place untamed, who -yearn to breathe the wild free air. They want -a home straight from the hands of the Creator, -unspoiled by man. They may be trappers, who -brave cold and hardships to clothe milady in -warm furs; they may be prospectors, who search -out the hidden gold for others to use. Whatever -they may be, these hardy men blaze the -trail for others to follow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald told the trapper of the coming -wedding the old man’s eyes softened. “I’m -glad. It’s jest right. I hoped you two would -git married.” He shook hands gravely, then -clucked to his horse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, Connie! Good-bye, ol’ timer! -God bless ye!” he shouted over his shoulder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald and Connie stood watching the patient -old figure as he trudged behind his cayuse. At -a turn of the trail he stopped and for a long -interval gazed back at the log cabin by the -stream, which had been his home for so many -years. He waved his hand in farewell, then -horse and man disappeared from view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Donald and Connie reached the bluff -the sun had sunk in the crimson west, leaving a -rich afterglow that spread across the horizon -from west to east, the rich colours merging by -slow degrees into that pure pearl-grey which -makes the long and lovely twilight of the British -Columbia mountains. Down on the lake mists -were gathering, but in the upper sky and on the -glaciers a vivid orange glow still lingered. The -trees stood stiff and motionless in the quiet air. -From afar, subdued but clear, came the hoot of -a blue-grouse, and from mountain gorges came -the faint sighing sound of distant waterfalls. -Sweet and pungent odours of wild flowers came -from the woods about them. A star of silver -brilliancy sparkled suddenly out in the sky over -the massive snow-clad peaks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Venus,” whispered Connie.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Donald’s gaze swept from the camp, nestled -at their feet, to the darkening heavens, to the -star of love, then down to the girl by his side.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are moments in the lives of all men—regardless -of creed or religion—when they feel -the nearness of God. Such a moment came to -Donald. He uttered no sound, yet his soul was -crying out its great thankfulness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Connie sensed his feeling. She bowed her -head, her eyes misty with joy and gratitude. -“Oh, God,” she murmured softly, “we thank -Thee for Thy many blessings.”</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:.8em;'>THE END</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:.5em;font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A cover was created for this eBook and is placed in the -public domain.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRIMSON WEST ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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