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LANCASTER ^v'-'-i. 1 AUTHOR OF 'So,:s Men," " The Spur," " The Altar Stairs " etc. HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TOEONTO en j_a^a L I TO MY GOOD CANADIAN FRIENDS, DR. HELEN MACMURCHY AND MISS MARJORY MACMURCHY, I DEDICATE THIS, WITH MEMORIES AND HOPES. G. B. L 9 •':t. ^rr. -1 a 4..a , CONTENTS CHAPTER I. TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS " CHAPTER II. WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL " PAGE I K\OW WPIAT I'm at CHAPTER III. grange's andree " CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. WE generally don't CHAPTER VI. THE YOUNG GOD FREY " - CHAPTER VII. THE RETURN OF OGILVIE " ON THE ATHABASKA " CHAPTER VIII. YOU UNDERSTAND " CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. THE FORCE ISN't A NURSERY " - CHAPTER XT. iL m'aime, je VOUS DIS " 22 75 91 III 135 158 204 L0^3 CHAPTER XII. ' THE THIEF ON THE LEFT " - CHAPTER XIII. I WANT THE WEST AGAIN " - PAGE 222 CHAPTER XIV. ON THE LONG TRAIL CHAPTER XV. ' THE BARREN GROUNDS " CHAPTER XVI. THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE " BLV THAT can't BE CHAPTER XVII. CHAPTER XVIII. THE EPITOME OF LIFE " THE LONE PATROL YOU MEAN TO DO IT CHAPTER XIX. CHAPTER XX. CHAPTER XXI. THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE " CHAPTER XXII. WHAT ETERNAL CHILDREN WE ARE " ■ 239 278 294 304 320 337 352 368 381 CHAPTER I. "TWO WHO WERE P'^IENDS." Over the firred hill-top. behind the squat freighter's shack the wind came, shouting strongly. It clattered the stiff saskatoon bushes, and thrust at the young poplars untU they ran m yellow waves along the crest, and leapt down on the river with a bullying roar that drove the water into startled foam All across the sky the clouds were reefing, tall as churches to the westward where the sun lay. like a blot of red paint, on clouds Uvid as bruised flesh There was a moan in the air ; an uneasiness, as though Nature was afraid not knowing why. Down the grey line of the river a loon flew, low and swift. It cried out turning Its bold black head left and right; and the ha?sh uneaXl? sound struck a note of warning to the man who shot round the cotton-wood promontory with the long, tireless, white- man paddle-stroke. He swung the canoe-nose for the shore by the shack and halted, gripping the bunch-grass with a strong hand and glancing left and right with bold, keen eyes even as the loon had done. ^ Up-stream the cut-banks veered in, rough rock and tall earth-faces seamed with forest. Across the river where the spruces stood, black-shouldered against the west the wind was stringing wild harmonies such as the seamen know and in the clearing the yellowed grass sighed and shuddered' over-ripe for the scythe. "^ucicu, bv^^t^^"" ^°°^I'^ ^* *^^ '^^'^' ^""Sing his eyes back, step by step oyer the grass to the water-lip. Then he came ashore, hauhng his canoe after him, and stood upright to fill ^ FiFl-. ?^n^^^ '"^^ ^" *^^^ the clumsily-hidden grass- trail had to tell, and all that was meant by the clumsily-hSden nose of that canoe in the brush-pile. This was a trap S the keen-eyed man as a trap. It explained a little more • is th?^"^^•'.°.^""•^ ^ *^^^* '"^^^ t° th^ sun-blistered lips scarred wHh ' l'^^ ""der the curve of a well-shaped hand scarred with rough work. This was the end of the long. ^■0 I o^ a 8 THE LAW-BRINGERS clearing. The man smiltd acaTn i ^ ?i^ ^^"^ °^ ^^'^ under a rnoccasined heel eLdh^r/^"""^-^^'^ "^^tch out for sharp work, and walked str-^» f^ -' '"^° ^^'^ ^^^^^^^^^ the spniigy. al^rt ste^ that teJl ^ « .°h" 'Y? ^^^ '^°°^ ^^'^ shoulders the pale khak o hi tunic h.di^/Y^/ ^" ^^« blurr; one of the black h./ffi .."^^ ^^^^^ to a dirty marked him as a unit o the KovanVn'?H ,J°"^^- badges, which of Canada out hunting was^i,^^^,^'^^-^^^^ Counted Police looked as though .t hfd beenTS"f; """^ ""^ ^^^*^«" ^^^ bed for these many weeks pa^t ^ '^°'''^^ °^^^" ^han his drS^up":.tT"ert'Tu't tValk ^1"°^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^ody plucking at him petulantlv and ho ^^^'/^J ^^^^ "^^ ^^^d c earing until the^ grass see ed In.TT^ ^^°°^^"S: ^"^^ the blood from his steady feet And h^v'^^ ^^^^ ^" ^P^^^s of and those eyeless wi/dou^ the m.'n ^'"""^ l^^J '^'^^S^^g door long was waiting him at last InW'T, ^' ^'^'^ ^""^ed so man was down as Reg No ^L d ^^ ^^"^ ^^^^^ the one other as Samuel MoonL hnffh 5°'^^ ^^"°t, R.L.. and the of murder. But no^Sg^^t-fc^a^J-'^d on two charges name, any more than they caHed nli i5^°°'''^' ^^ ^^^ fi^st although there were manT who n.^i 1"'"°^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^nd. approbation for botn ^ ^"^ *^^ ^^"^^ terms of dis- th^gl^a^riXr'rvSl^^^^^^^^^^^ 5° the roving men crystal-dear before hL^^ UoonilT^^^^^^ one loaded with e-ctr^ h^J. , ^^^ ^ duck-gun only • Moonias beheyed tS £xck t^hint^' u^'i ^^^^" to kickm^g.' sleep, would go in swS and .f '""iJl" ^^^ "°"^^ ^^^ore for him unready." Becau:e"ese ?^^^^^^^ *« ^^tch for a close shot. One in the f^r. "^t^ ^°°"'^' ^°"^d wait open, most likely. He AUt frv? . ^'"^ P^'^^^ the door Chance would hLe fo takf ca/e o^ ??^-'^l?' ^^°"^ the window. I it was the door-!l DLHeaot th^.^J'^r.^^" *^^^- ^^t flung stone, splintering the crazv H- ^^'^.^^^'^^ ^^et hke a bearing down'^beneath the wood Mo ""^ '*^*'"" ^^S^' ^"d The exploding charge blew IturfofTT.^^l^' duck-gun. on the earth floor the two men chncLd '^ ?^ ^^' ^°°^' ^^d mg; with the net of de^h^haken n . i^""!^^' ^""^^' ^weat- and that unhealthy red of th^ ^ . '"^^ ^° '^*^^ them, bladed knife and reyolyer-barrel '"* '^"""^^^ °^^^ ^^de- The half-breed was brutally strong ; but that finer, superber TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS' brought the Im^d^uf r. und jSi""!"','"" °''"' '"'^'''^ Ti;e„ Dick arose ,ig,t!y;broath1S°b„1„l'r' *"^'^ ^' '"'• tl.ougrit'r;,otIann??;''?o'i?sistthoT"^';>'' '='"'• •■ A"d Ko, not at all B„t i ,i^ iS , '-™' ' ''"n * blame vou possibililierof that wf„dowThr",'°T '■°' ^<"='"8 "»» "^"'^U^ Get up." Window, though I guessed you wouldn't. tuS^edrLshed^^" *"' '^-"•b-ed's pockets, nodded, and on' y™;"'he'Lt?°:„d''th: worVVT^"'' "^"^ -'"^ «-« think we can do with ,on,,^i t '"■°'"' *'"> » V^wn. •■ I fcr time nigh" and ,.M.P' ^'""T'"' ^ haven't had anv why you maie-\j'e'i''adLneTbJd°"b/'4r'''' """^- ^hat . ■"^be. Get right over intottuorn"; ■• '" '"'"' '"''S"™*' that'^ntll °ae%;tanTe'o?"fh'™^^'' ".T" '''^''^^^^y - heritage. Whistlin- ,nfH„ n "°^' ''''''' *'"* was his a pile of oreed-slcks h^' t^e H T''"'','" "''''' '°°ked like hold of them with both hand, n f ""^,"."'' *'"1°". 'aid therl andTrried him?ut"Jnto the t*^" T" "'» '^^ "uddled were al, the low sun s:nrt^rgh"tl';e'^;;;uf "' '''' "''-" trau L-SckTrlggeTS otr t7^'"- .."f '^*=^ '^^ ^ -' arms and bare held M Iton M "'"■*'' "''"■■' ^'"^ '"= '°°S Shock Of coarse hair wit" suXneye^^htte;'"^'* °"' °' "' satisScrn"""- '^^ ^''^^^ -'^ "- ^'-k ofSs tongue was pure em'otVX '' ■"rTtav.^e e^ *° '='' '''"<=''^'^'" ^"^^ Dick un- you I imagine o'u'™SpS,X t^l^"? '^^'^^ the Sergeant from Grey Wolf by his strioes R„t ^^.f^^-^^V histeT-tt^^dtrel^-/^^^^^^^ tt^rofchar^ S--t&i?-^^^^^^^^^ STf,-^ that sickened his Smo yTthfa dlra,^ *» - ^^en* of thyme voice saying words that din „S. ^ Yi ^ '° ^ S"'' ^ sobbing that yetVre fulfo Tamest A cfuen:^^*'' "*""= ^"^ eyes as he stared down on the stillfo^Ii?,^ "?""' '"'° ""« "pper hp and the weh-set jaw and thro™ *''' *°" "^P^ be here';°rSdno •r'^.Tn'lf r P^^^."' "^^^ -"<>■'■* led, and not you ? " '' y°" didn't-was it she who fp-n I £3^ 3 10 THE LAW-BRINGERS , ( The face gave no answer. The red rays slid off it. leaving It ashen. And then Dick took in his hands the body of this man whose heart he once had known and tended it skilfully • binding the forearm that was broken just below the elbow' and strapping as best he might the flesh that a dead snag iil the river had ripped open. " Spilt out of his canoe, of course," he sai'^\ " You have a clean sheet there, Moonias. Unless— did you bring him m ? " JO The breed grunted. He seemed to feel no hate towards Dick, no interest in the man whom he had salvaged from the river. " Aha," he said. " But him no gun. No use him." Dick's brief smile had a httle bitter twist to it. '' We are not all so frank regarding the reasons for our actions, my friend," he said, lightly. " Now, if " And then Tempest op-ned his eyes wide knd wondering as a child s, and looked up at the man above him. He seemed like one m a wakmg dream, who hears the ghosts of other years light-heeled ahr-xc his head. -n'\^^^ ^^"^ ^^ °^-^®^ ^^^ across the Barren Lands to-night, Dick, ' he said " I saw a wolverine white as a leper iust now." ^ •' The rowel of memory touched him. He sat up with his brown sensitive face hardening, and the other looked at him through the mask of amused indifference which hid him when he cared to hide. For a lie lay between these two • high as a woman's yellow head, and unstable as the young love they both had given her. Tempest asked questions, and Dick answered civilly, according to his station. Then he turned his back on Tempest, and walked to the door, k Aing out The sun was dead on the Hvid bowl of the sky and the pale river where the wind blew. His love for the yellow-haired woman had been dead long since. But his love for this man who had trodden the outer trails of the north with him was quick yet ; how quick he had not known until he felt the shivering beat of Tempest's heart under his hand just now. Later, he brought food from his car.oe ; lit the rusty broken stove, and spread his thin waterproof mattress and his blanket for Tempest. This was bare duty only because of that extra stripe on Tempest's sleeve. Then, using still the language of passers-by, they lay down ; Tempest in rest- less pain by the stove, and Dick on the threshold, with cheek on arm and his revolver pushed like the nose of a dog into his palm. And beyond their sleeping bodies stretched that great land which had fashioned and hardened them ; which had known the tread of their moccasins alon?^ fhp forf><=t-+r-qiio K^n+on asphalt-smooth by the passing of many generations, and had t, leaving ly of this skilfully ; le elbow, i snag in iTou have ring him towards from the for our ondering e seemed ler years to-night, per just with his 1 at him im when ligh as a >ve they id Dick ; turned ing out. the pale .v-haired his man aim was felt the low. 3 rusty, ess and because ing still in rest- h cheek into his it great I known beaten ,nd had 'TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS;* n heard their voices call each other across rivers that had never parted them as the after years had done In the morning Dick found a sturgeon-head scow in the reeds and he went to Tempest, suggesting with colou^ess aboard. ^^^^'^^^^^^^ °^ ^^^^^ing her up riter with Tempes? ''She has probably got loose from Pitcher Portage," he said Moonias has ripped the side out of his canL and you ve lost yours. We could freight all we have left on the SCOW. Tempest nodded consent. He walked and moved with the crisp strength Dick knew of old. and his eyes were vital foi-elooking. despite the pain in them. He was dreamer still .' dreaming mightily, as he had once dreamed with Dick in iof fh °^^'P/'^ mornings of life, that the other man would not think of now. But sudden memory of them roughened ?h.f H ^h'^^^'T ^ ^^?^" ^' ^^ fitted his breast to thf strap that clipped him from shoulder to arm-pit, even as, two yards wf ^l?^ f^ ^^^^ ^°^-"^^' ^ similar strap clipped MoonS fhp l!!, \' ^''S ^T ^^^ fi^^t fallen apart at the touch o the yellow-haired girl a desperation of pain had driven Dick mto more evil than the strait clean work of these latter days would wipe out of his face again. Then he sickened of it sickened of what the town-cradled men and women ecu d give him. And then, because he had denied all law and all gods in his madness of soul, he chose to fit the yoke of the Law to his neck, and to take his oath to it in the name of God. And after that he did his penance daily For the Wild was the only mistress who could ever hold Dick s soul for long, and the Wild had whistled him back to her so many tn cs of late. Whistled him back in the lonl ar sharp-smelling sedges where the wild duck fly south fn thin, black broken hues, and the red sun sets alone "n the sileiice: whistled him back where Lake Athabaska anS the horTzon "^'^ roll their stately deep-sea harmonies below to meet Cl'.'' ^l "^T ^'^^^' ^"^^"^ ^^'^ J^^sam north nromlS ^nH fi^ "^ ^u ^^e snow-tang savours the air with its promise, and the caribou hft their heads, winding man and the keen wolf-cry drifts over the stilling l^nd. To-ckv ^whJn^i'?''^'"/'- ^!f t-pulling whistle was silent, lo day, when he leaned m the traces as canal-horses lean shtTfe^oTMoo -"gi\track irregularly, with thrhumped brla hless f.n H° '^' befon him. All the sun of these last Dreathless fall days was cast down into the thin gut of the wrr^-bi'^ui'^ofi? ^%;i^-"tir'^^^. T!^ ^r- -^'^ ^°"^^- that bnng 1.10.1 tc::^:t^tl^ end It danced in the clearings hke a thing ahvf. Thrsmell I Q^s 12 THE LAW-BRINGERS of heat was abroad on the earHi ■" cKn m the tang of spruce amllack ne ^' '^'^^ ""'"'^ ^^^^"^"s grass that seeded where a bum hnd "? ^"^ '^"^^^ ^^ the the rouing weed above t?.ewate?-h?ean7i''' ^f^' ^^'^^ ^^ ing m the dry breath of foreThres thntr^ strangely mtoxicat- tumbled hills to westward ^ "^^^^ ^'^^^ ^^ the blue on'^SLZrtZ',' a^nT4 s^J^aT ^'^ f ^^^^ °^ «- ^-t as eaeh tangled loop of river wTs ' i"^?''" *° ^^^^ ^^^th. breast of forest slid by. nTwastoLh^^?' ^^^ ^'-^^I^ bold needs must be ; brown and wirv f /' ^^'"'"^ °^ the north months of cano^-worlThad s?ac74d h i". , 'P^''" ^'"^ «^« ^0"g he knew, and Moonias settin<^in.l. .^^g-muscles more than of a half-breed nursed o'^tnveVberni^;;^^^ ^" ^^^ «^-"^-th of pumshment. But if MnnniZ' '"^'''^ "^.^'^^^S nistrument the man who trod the thwart of .i'^^'k, P""^^^^™ent to ])ick. left a wake hke a liLr ^^fheV'^'For'f '"'^^ ^^"" ^^^^^^^ and What Might Have Been and un ^r^'^^f ^^^^^'^^^ Was. lerked into life a-^in ,t, ' ^^^^t Couldn't Be He care, and tLiriLtCtlTas'fsiratfuf"'^ ''^^, ^"™^' -"» And Tempest, breastin" th„ . fu^"'' ""Pleasant tliinK man we've got on the traH Ynu r -l' ^""^ ^"^ ^^'^ the best has sensed it. He if go till he sd'^ /"^ ^T °^ ^* °"^« ^^ knows his worth andf?? , dead— and after. And he What's the rttw^ith^U^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ? Oh.ll^ anything at all. He takes h?c, n ''",^'' ^'^'■^^' women- he's completely indiLfenfti^p.^ shrnt"' We"^- ^^^^^' ^^ the lone patrol work we can -inH hS™ u ^^""^ ^^^'^^ all imagine he has been pretty eSerH i'"?^^ ^^ ^^- ^ «ho"W his^time." . P "^ effectively through the mill in " Gentleman, of course ? " "" th^n™ "flS o?E;^iTandta?tr"'- Z' ^"^5' break out ° MS^\:^!V"i£ ^" - ""- ■ '" "" "^ as ha stoofi,U\ot"l?'^r4m^T'=^'/-'^ -* -'™t friend. "^ '^^ the man who had been his (1 resinous sty in the ■ ; evil in intoxicat- f the blue the heat he earth, ach bold the north the long lore than strength 5trument to Dick. 'W which at Was. Be. He ied with nt thing ? hours, J which rning a 3n. )udence has the :he best once he ^nd he 1, well ; )men — • 3S, and lira all should nill in 1 ■' the ? with udson 2 drift k out ie the silent mhis ' TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS ' 13 He had known Dick with rnfi,^,. , . days of their raw boyhood and ado^.?'"^^ '^^^^^^^ ^" *h« he had known of the inner f.^.n-^'i^^' ^"^ ^^^^ then good-looking boy who flashed - ^'^1 "^' ^'^' ^""^^^-^^s. to a bla^e of temPer An inner f "7^^'^ ^T ^^^^ indifference penetrate, for alUhe rtal love twT ^^^"^^^ "^^^^ in the light of later knoJZJ 7 ^°'^ ^^"^^ other., Now. had held'' that fa ?ness a ham;d J'f ,7°"dered if Dick It for the embryo of Suture fp ^"^.^^^--^f^^id, knowing was to make him ° ^'^^ ' ^^^ ^^mg which the worid niSsTtZit'ir^^^^ tunic in the scow to Dick slack hips and^lad ow Vtri^^^^^^^^ underheel ; where branches whTppedtherf ""^^ '^P^'y banksbrokeundertheirh;,nHc ^J 1. ^^^ ^^^^^' and cut- hip-high in the sLwThed wat^r fhfr' '^^ '^"^^ ^^^ ^^em and uncomplaining. S-breeds li^e this" We^"^^"' ''''f them and for thtr'thT'rolrinrttrS 1^^^^'%'°^^^ and the jovial talk and lin.ri.-*-^ ^^^teis at the Landmgs " usually s;,ffers in the hnes" ^He s'notr/eH'r ,t ""^"^ ™^" quarter-hour rest every forty minnf.. , "'^'"' ^""^ *^^ g.ve his over-strained m'^usSirto stiffen' "° """•' *"" has been one's friend needful with the man who "The ?ortL4t'gotg t:TraTher': ,*"" '°-"«" ■" "^ said. Dick looked at^im through half sW^'*""* '°^ "'"= •'^>'-" on his lips was unpleasant H»„t J^' '^'"^ ">e smile any man-least of all to Temp" t '"■"* *° ='"°" '' *» said ^vely" ''°* '"' "f'" ^P'"' '" the North-West," he tlnS"'rrShriS^%J,nh?'et?r Kr"h"f* "^ '" "» SiVd'Xthe^ '^S-^ -^^^^^^^ " E-xactly/'le safdqtett .'? kno"' T" ^'''^^ ^'°'y- enough." H^ietiy. 1 know when we have had his'4-;?^^?i^j^,^;^^"^^^ T T'' °^ ^^' ^"^"^ had got into cold feet." '^'' ^"^^^ ^"^S^-*^ n^en call that knowledge thf low bTniran^^tl ^I'^s^uT'^^'T' '-'^^' ^^-^^^ poplars and t-il! r^-T ^^^^J/ down m shade of the vn^n^ were not contem^t^^s'^^-ttv""" ^"^ ^^« dark boireyef a right to be angry whin Sr? t 1 ^''^'^' ^^ ^ "^^n has c^ ^rywhen forced into contact with [a better -i-ft-d-aL^ 14 THE LAW-BRINGERS man than himself. Dick had been a drunkard of Life all his days Ho had wronged men and fought with them ; he had loved women and wasted the wine of his heritage and « htfl. fn Jk""^ ^"^'i°y ^^ *^" ^°^^^ °f *h^«« things he found ifL . *^1 remembrance. But Tempest was thi same fiSe gallant sou of earlier years ; still chmbing his way upward with eyes ht and hair blown back by the wind of the hSts' He had governed himself in wisdom while Dick's tempe; had governed him as a fool; and the difference lay s^^rk th. Hfft ^'^T'"' ^^^^ ^°^ ^°^ ^" "^^^ t« understand^ But the httle canker of cynical laughter which hved in Dick^s heart came to his aid. ^ ''For though it might frighten him to live with mv memories it would certainly bore me to death to live w^h his. he said ; and got up and went down the bank a^ain hJXTT' *? ?" '°"^ g"""^^^ ^'y «f the breed On^the beach he found Tempest standing in the traces with Moonias a thicker bulk before him. and he halted, smihng for i^he s\ir" '^°'^' ^' '' ''"""^ *^''" ^' ^^^^^^"y ^^^«°« " W?f '"*?■ *^! '^^'^ ^""^ P°^^'" said Tempest quietly We re wasting daylight." ^ n^^cuy. -^ Get out of that strap," said Dick in sudden roughness h.-;°betwr t^eVeT * '''''" ^^^ ^^^ ^^P^^ lookS .rZ ^°"''"^- °'' "" ^"""^ ^•'^'^' "^y "^a"'" he said. " But when you come m contact with your superiors you'll do them the L^tT/nlT'"^^'"?^ '^^* ^^^y ^^« y°"^ superiors Now get mto that scow — sharp." ■^'•uw. He fitted the belt to his waist, for the broken arm was T.T'\ T' "ii! ^''^''' ^'"^ *^«d forward to take Tp The K u : ^ ^^^ '1u^^ ^""^^^ ^^^°^® him Moonias bowed his black bullet head with the groan of a bull. Dick flung himself over the thwart and laid hands on the idle sweep f and behind knot7H''"l?"' I* Tempest's moral reproof stood the uneasy knowledge tL he was not obeying the superior officer onW but the superior man. ^' The hour dropped through brief twilight into dark. Sharo bush-scents moved on the quickening chill of the air. Stars opened wide and calm over the forest, laying reflections as calm on the river until the scow burst them^into a myriad meteors Back m the trails a brown bear swung his clumsy way and a red dog-fox flicked hke a passing thought. That tense silence which is the essence oi sound strengthened as the forest-life waked and walked. In the dusk the cfasCg ^l I-^° ""^^ °" *^^ ^^"^ "^^^ked their way. In the scow the third man trod the treadmill sten fn fh^ c^L-.,. T3„t fu^Z bodies were hid from each other even as their" hearts were S! Life all his m ; he had ge ; and if :s he found ; same fine ly upward, he heights. £'s temper lay stark ind. But in Dick's with my live with aiik again . On the h. Moonias Ily reason : quietly. 3ughness. it looked But when them the s. Now, arm was 3 up the lis black self over I behind ; uneasy ;er only, Sharp . Stars tions as myriad clumsy . That ?thened rashing le scow -it their jre hid. 'TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS' 15 Past a snake-fence and a clearing three Indian dogs came racmg, pallid blurrs Hke strayed souls on the dark. A wSS mans voice roared at them, and a white-man tread came down to the nver over the level-laid swathes of hay. And then Dick heard Randal of Pitcher's Portage calling • Give us a holt there. My-is that you? Sergeant? Well lin't it ? •• ' '°°'' ^'"^ "P *° *^^ ^^^^^- Turnin' colcl; The scow felt the new vigour of the pull and made a sauatter mg. snuffling haste through the water. Round the bend Randal'* home-hghts swung m sight, and to Tempest, heavily staggering over the beaten trai , came the visioS of what homStf mean to a man in this land of the last West. For these are very truly the homo-lights of Canada; of the mother who fn?n t""i?- ^f ' ^^\^°"^ ^^^"^ *^^ East to the We^and takes ihl nT H ? *^°l' ^^° "°"^" ^° ^'' f^°"^ the outer seas. By the naked frame-house on the ocean of prairie she sits waiting^ ofV^ T T '^"^ °^ r"°^ P^^^ i^ the Rockies ; at The Zr o the Indian tepee in the forest ; at the white tent in the white silence of the Barren Lands. And night by night thev come acr"sV?he'blo'°" ^°-.' • ^^"^ -^h'the t^real of Sd m^n across the blowmg prairie-grass, stepping sure-foot among It .T""^ fJ^TS^^.*^" '^"^^^' brushing quick feet tCugh the fallen gold of the forest-trails, kickin| powdered dust lr snow as powder-dry before them out where the trees fail and the winds stand up and scream at the silence and the tent-ropes squeal to the strain. They come home : to sleep, and to tell of the day's lessons m the knowledge of men who have learnt first-hand n tWs caU Ufe TrST ^r' ;;T^^y °^ beginnings which we call i.ite. And she sits and listens, the mother • heartpnina SSeThe^'r.^^^f '^ '""r^ *^^ edgesTun'de^rJttdrg" t W ^tTlk W - '"' *^^ ?^^^* ^^"^ the big lonely places do their talking giving comfort to the gallant courage that could not win out, and boisterous laughter to the daring EioadTfo't^"r'"PP;^ themselves nakedShat tLy Ly buy broadcloth and joy of the gambler Chance. ^ ^ Hc.it^"'^^'? 1*?°^ ^^'"^^ ^^th his heart watching those home- &ia" nut in?n'T ""1^^ "?' *^^ ^^^^^^^ unloadedTnd ivioomas put into a large shed with a lock and a running door linemen k?n''^f?i -^f "^"^ ^^^^'" ^^^^ ^^^^dal. ^"The tWs^ection^ Cn ^^^^.^^r^ber into it when they was layin' ims section. Come right along to the shack." ^ Uyer the door-sill Dick trod on something soft that gave Sa^i^lJ^rCl^ -^'5^1"P 'tP-ed itselAn Man K " Vn„™ - " if ' ^,", "y^ ™'' round, pursed moiith. suddenly bloodshot'''''^ ^'^' ^""^ '^^ ^^^^'' ^5"' «» z6 THE LAW-BRINGERS " Mine I What d'ver take mp fnr p t^ u , tepee acrost the clearU TW're i f ^f ^°"^' *° ^^^^ here, the httle beasts-lfke they was fl£'"^ ^k ''^^^^^' ^« it down, an' let it crawl home '' ^^es-or bugs. Chuck theXrrch^e'd ^ir:^^^^T ^" ^ f -^ "- -^^^ band ofhght. then foIlte^dTnrthe sha^k ^'^'^ '^"^"^^ ^"^^ the^tlSrbla^r^tre^t^^^^^^^^ '• ^-. besides boots, team-narness, gun 'axes Tndo.h ^°^ ^^'^ '^^ b^^^^' was a telephone battery in the nArfh ^J^^^^^ecessaries, there which Randal had servS the ^ne T ^"^ ^ ^o^^ter behind the window. Outside were sLpf^P J""""'"^ ^^^* ""^er forest and plain, of riveTa'dTndy ?aT4' "b^vo ^.Tt"^ glowing, noisy towns, where men Wh""?" ^.^^0^^ lay big. bing with vivid life and R?n^.i\ 7 ' ^"^"iing and throb- steel key of the iaLry Through h^ ^'^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^"^^ his hne-section from fallen trees and s-'' ^ ^"^^"^ ^""^"^ Through spring and fall and umLrhrwouS\^' ?.^^^^^ selhng tinned foods and cereals miH .if ^^ *^^^^ ' hne-camps, and taking and transmits n."^'^^-^""^ *° ^^^ the on-goinr work And in k1 u^ messages concerning Indian bab es c?awl into h s shacT'"^ I' .^'"''^^^ half-breed the simple behef that^t w^f r^ ' '"''^ ^'^ team-harness in Besides,^he chewed fg^ertdeXf';^^^ ^"f ^^""^ °"^ ^^--• generally stopped to talk ^ ' ^""^ P^^'^^^ freighters and tct^^heS^^^^^^^^^^^ the meal of beans been, ^h^entrnplt^^^ love that hal out of the talk and out of the smudL nf r ,!! f'^"^' dropping coal-oil lamp. Randal sat full the gleam o'fT '\' ^"'^ m slow content He w^q mv^ • ^^^^^ of it, chewing strength, and hke fco? n h's fndiTren.^". '''''' ""^"^^' until Dick chanced on the one rnn<^f "^^ t° ""^'^ subjects morbidly rabid. He sat ud thrn«f T""^ "^^""^ ^^^^^1 ^as . " WhJ hves in tVe tep^eeT'' te ^saJr"?'^^^^^^ in a tepee but a Injun an' his squaw ? An' J^^° ?'^''" ^^^^ but a heathen Russian Jew an' 4 squaw "T? "^fl ^'^' '^^^" stubby hand where the f hnrnK T^^' "^^ ^""S out a dottei: •' What right or call >^. blackened by the pipe- in this land ? '^he said ''fjl^"'^ T "^^ ^"^^hen foreigners They're rotten some but I know Vn^' ""'^ ""i"^^ °^^ ^r^^^. wi' them. But I'll have no H.^?' "^ ""^ "^^y- ^ ^^n deal gotten a squaw for wTfe an' ^^^' "^'^ ^ P"''^^" ^'^ ^^^^'^ hisself. wLt do wrt^nt w?' ^""f «' P-Poo^es nasty as What do we want wi' Wm"? » ^''^^ '" ""^ country? 'TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS 17 •'We must colonise," said Dick derisively Randal sat back with a grunt. " ^^^y* " Colonise be Whaf fr^J^ ^^ the ahen for ? Why Trn^t En.l^n7' Z^"". *° "°^°"^^^ ^i' own ? By all accounts she'f^otK T^'"" "' "^^^^ ^^ ^er many in that London o' hers ^Wh "''? T"^^" °^ °^°^^ ^^^ u^L' why arn't we wal^ln' on^e?p"" ' '^' '^"^^^' *^^"^ ^° he^^t'^°^^ "^'' ^^^-^^^ remembrance of some men whom '' WhaVo' "^r^r^T^'^' ^^ ^''^^^^'^'■ reckon what they'U do if a m?n w, ^ ^^°°^- ^°" ^^^ the Lord A'mightv couWn't ri?r *' °i ''"""^^ ^^e^i- But gotten a squ^rto^wSe ^\Va, Ir °'' ^ ^"^'^^^ Jew-what's my axe last week an'' I tn^l h T"" ^''°'^ there-he took had the woman an' kids ttotM^^'/^^ '\^^'i ^^^''' ^' was goin' to eat the whole bunch f H J''." t' '^^^^^^ ^ handle his sort, an' I don't wanf' -p ^V ^"""^ ^°^ *« door; solemnly. reflectLw nt. ^^"^^^spat out of the ''Giyemethei^;no'mrow^'b?^^^ a rite. ; Does he m-treat the^sqTaw"? '' d'emt^ed ^cT' Randal shrugged his shSulders ' '. w? T°'"^''' nat'ral." he said. ' Dick laughTd''''^^^^^^^ '^"" ?^ ^'^ «f o-r own breed."V future is tfng to'^bf" t'::id"^^.'B''^^^"^'^^^ °^ ^^-- crawhng baby with the hiihrSTK "^ ^^ "^^^'^ ^^ t^^at • be you or me. If he ha?luck bt """'k^"^ ?" ^°^'* ^^^^^ either of us. Where are vo'^3 ""f^u^^.^ ^^"^^ ^^^ than Randal ? " ^''^ y^"" ^^'^^^ *« bed us down to-night, " Sergeant can have the bunk— I rpchn-n i.^'o i now, ain't he ? An' von pItT o ^^^kon he s asleep right and tins. It ceased wfti, tt!! .^ ■ "^"^^^ °' ^P™' bottles andDickcrLTtSfl'ott^TiTer" °'' " '°°' ^°■"^"^^^^• leftttebSofyo?'"' "'^ ~"'^*''''" ''^ -d. "Randal hiss's? didToitS'"^' °P^°' ""' '^^ Srey lines round "Thanks." he said. hee^fwS?o'hS'co"nrpulSTh''t,*T^'^ ^''^P - I'- lay still. But he did nnt S„ 'c'= """"''^'^ °^ >=■■ ^im and t.e..f-d^-eti=-t^:lS/s^-^^^^^^^ ■*>*. i8 THE LAW-BRINGERS had gone. Dick watched with wide eves who,.^ u ing ping' ThVrw tail; ot^i[:^;^^,x:c''%^t't'''- the resistance in each quit:l*rrfe;anZ"h^1^^^^^^^^^^ And to each man the Voices of the Darlc were soeakinl =Zi each man was .nterpreting as lonehness had tlug?t fe do trail, where one pair o£ feet shall teeadwfhth.T "l" '°"/ plunge of reality'ihey innoculate S man tSelitabteCon fn^rth'erw^a^si^^'Th^tsV''"* "- -<^ - "ss Dick stirred in his blankets with a bitten off ar^o„ ^u asff'rZrt^ptre^ "'^^ ^^^S^i ^I^ and pineLd7o^at"«ck1°ca,Mt 'r r rnntU tir"^H^ soul turned in him and answered ThecZ J.^ 5° u'"'' MrwVs;"u\rm?n;^f,^^^^^^^^^^^ day when he should be so tracked down himsdf ® ° ^^ He writhed on his bed like a man underX knife B„t h. tta A°n/''thf ■ b"^ ''"<' """S^-^ Tempest ^^ deeply'fo tnat And then, because it was imoossihlp +ha+ -r ^ f should forgive and come to him, TempSlpoke * ^"^^''' stov?? rm cSd°' "°"" ^°" ^""^ =°»^ """'^ ""od in that h^.^li'^Ti^* "? """* ""n* ""t '°'' « in silence. When he came Thanks awfully, Dick," he said. eyXf^nktd^ rhim^tictS?^ '»^»i^^^^^^^^^^ t^SXKet^^c^l^S-^-^" Xep^'eSp-^S,^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bo you stiU think I'm a liar ? " ^ ' 'L, here, beyond own and out. )ve the point- Somewhere ig to its kiU. 3, with senses the pull and ng it sternly, peaking, and tit him to do. len who walk or the warm )attle-song — )wn the long deep lancet- ible lesson — ready hands ?roan. The lell of warm s of tamarac itil the wild ) made him nor woman £ it — many others day y he should •king to the e. But he deeply for t Tempest )od in that ■Ti he came the shack t on again d at Dick tt the red he could it uneven 'TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS' ^9 But I will take your word now if you 1 " I — don't know, give it." " Why ? " The quiet word brought the blood drumming to Dick's "^tdon'^LT^T^^'^^ ^° ^^^ ^^d winking e^ "^' an- I^t^e^tXtt^y'oT' -'^"^^ ' ^^^ ^-^'"- ^er- ^^ But she loved you. And you loved her." Not so much as I did you, Dick " That silence lasted Ion;?. So Jnnnr fh^^f +i, j and the yellow tongue bdow it Z.VJ^f u • ""^^ ^^^ '^"* Tempest spoke, ha/nervously ^''^ *° ^^^^P^^' ^hen '' ihT'' Dkk'.^ fn°^ ^'^^ f °"* y^"' Di^k." he said. An .-' Uicks tone was hghtlv cvniral " wr^ with dkwn lips and :;VsaTght° '" '^"^ '""""^ "^ ^'^ The httle down-shde of the hanH foW f >i ^ J^^ spoke sharply. ^"""^ ^''^^ ^^^ ^^st. Tempest said."^ n^an has never done all he can do till he's dead." he Physically Dick knew that. The men of i„-o i • ^ i. ., assents th'at he touU Loner beVood°"Hr"'",'r/^^™'y be anything of the kind. Why should h. ,"^"°-'1"'t ^""ner IS an individual he noi^r.. j -S . ' Inasmuch as man that, and yet I eirn mv iS'" k"^"'", "^hts. I recognise The whole system o? ^L^ S^- ^"^ ""'"'-"ng the contlary. and it is only th?dfvi^, h " ^ P°=<=-=»n iUogical pose, totake it seriously." '^ '"'"°""' °« *-^^S'' which enablls us " Seriously ! M^'' GnH ! " t ^ • . blazing eyes! " Vou can... ^^.^^P^^^ turned on him with and yetU ^^^^^ '^Ji^X^]^^^ ^ 20 THE LAW-BRINGERS I !! I ! f I whole chaos of the world's history certain ethical ricrhfc ^.. been evolving, slowly and painfullv w ?h fhl ?^ , ^ ^^""^ of a soul's b.?thpangLnd the actSi sweat of tJo'od Ti^l have evolved because man. as a race, canno do without tle:7 They have sprung from the iiesh and blood of our pro Jenitor^ even as we have ; but because they come from the S^? race they are too stropc- for us Wp 7n'^ k r!u °^ °^ ^ rj. -A 5rt:r£« £ •«£?"=■ there is no imagination left about those thLs The soi7 sweat of the whole of mankind has gone to the ft.r- ^^f.K position there. We know whnfi^ ! I clearing of the and to our poster^y. W^know wTatTf^*" °"' ^T^*°" for us-we fellows who are doing thV clean?n,^y,^t 'I '! "" «"7h' T ^°r '^ «°"S tVleLthScTr^"^'' "''^* •• Whv we'di'tM"" *°°'';^"8gested Diek amiably, the worid wTnts more Wet''' '"'"?■■ '^'''■^ ^°°«=''>i"S legend that circled S - n„ " "«'' '^^ '=°'''d read the to^ay Stt you know what theV/h.''"^ "*'''' '?"° P'°'^^^ legitiLte rigV aparrfr"m the Lwt' "^^ '""° ^ P^'^°°^' His tone brought the blood stingiugly to Tempest's face law of the Dresenf Hav which tri- - — ^° '^'''^ ^"^ legitimate right'to 5o\hat.'' " '''''' ^'"''^ """^ P"''°^^^' ■^., 1 rights have ictual agony lood. They ithout them, r progenitors :he loins of a k them now. gainst them. 'St of men — . The soul- earing of the ir ancestors ires of us on ings unique ! future of a ke us again. a regiment, he strength pohcing the ti of all the le last West ) define and y we won't ng of them. done — not And it is to say what miably. something .'s work in id all lands, s to trouble the work." 5ut it," he )llar-badge. Id read the lan profess s personal, t's face. 1 the faitii. mind any r personal, 'TWO WHO WERE FRIENDS' n Dick looked at him in slow amusement. You haven't changed much," he said. " You never wo^uld remember that there are so many ways for a man to go nn^fn^i?^^-^?/^!t,*^/ P"^ °^ blankets on the floor, and went dawi The" strf ^* ''T^ t*^ ^^^^"^ ^«"^«« ^o meet the in Z hnih nf 1 "^^"V.^^^- ^^^ *^" t^^^s were folded close in the hush of sleep. The tread of the coming years oassed laSitfurwa ?fnri' °' *h//-— y-rs thatVouTd see he of wSo^ P n f ^^^^^'.°^ ^^"^^^ ""^°"' to lie in the hands t^7ev^ W^nM ^.r''^ ^t the thin strip of pallor that was the tepee Would they go to the coarse hands of such as sons hZt'l'i^^^'' ■ S^ ^°"^^ the firm, nervous hands of sons bom to such men as Tempest take them ? And when he bv the rTrl!?;'? • ^^^ ^^^?? I' represented were swept away wnrdfhTf I > ^'?u' "^^"^^ Tempest's gathering- call be the word that knit up the centuries ? ° ° "^ ''"'' qulrvoic^Tnw T?'^ *°.'°""^ ** ^^^^ i^ his brain : a resolve ' ' ^'^^* ^^^^ inexorable, unbreakable '' Quit yon like men. Be strong » " win^ ^J"^;""*^ ^"^*^^ ^^^^y °"t of the heavy timber. The TnS shtitr "Tl'^' P^"^-*^^^^ suddenly.^ They swayed worH W ' ur^ ^t'' "^y"^^ little needles chattering into wordless speech like that of frightened monkeys. ^ wha?th?vt '^^ ^^ *^!, '^"^ ^^"^th on his forehead, heard wfiat they said , over and over again, with chuckles of laughter. Ihere are— so many ways-for a man— to go rotten." CHAPTER II. !l t! " WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL." that slid back from it Lto the forest rw !, ''^^^^^^^^ *'^"^ was flanked by the frame bnt rZ i ?^ ^?^ °^ *^« ^^^eet end by the Roman r^Thniv^^^ °^ England ; the other reason'^of Grey wSlf- hfst^^^^^^^^ ^". ^.''"^^" ^^^ *he ;a:t^"?he^i.^r^^^^^^ g'rterieltt'f^^Ts w"of -'^i^t^d^^^ -d du^^nd found in the holes and b?okL cord'uroi nf H "^'l^ l^' '"'""^ the idle wind take it forward ^Zi^l^""^ *^^ '*^^^*' ^^^ ^^t North- West Mounted Po^^^^ \illV^^u^7%'^' ""^ *^^ ^^y^^ short to the river, where i"ul^^6%'\XeZt''''^'''''''', It Zi: *' ™"f.°' '"^ *^°=t '■^d touched the forest ^Xt tne trees were yielding ud f IipiV i,--.roo ^^ ^ • • ^^^V ' ^"^^ that turned r/sset af Zy dried andfen"''C^ blood-gouts "5t?n*T''"'"'''' ■" th^'"yearlvdeSI;. ''"'"« *" ^^^^ wi?rt^«§°"."^' '''"'« ''*«™= on Grey Wolf ■ v.T, - ,-,, witn the soft under-beat of moccasined feet aW V^. i* '^ riS-1o t'Sy-rt-Xfe ^^^^ with a flash Twwte tee"h SdrfeiTf"'"^ Wack-haired. ^Jndian-wcr. beit aboufthrb'rlX"' In^H t^^fo-^T^^^i that shone on ,ue .slouch hat and the moccassins that w^Je 'WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL' 23 3 river-edge ; n-wood and ''aguer trails of the street d ; the other .^een lay the trapper ; of e yearly in to the loose the caribou n across all fifty years d dust and 1 the smells eet, and let t the Royal :heir white- little log- U and fling of Grange's mk dipped '. Beyond est, so that )lood-gouts I the grey ; hart; f- J rig tlie piank- ■ laughter, nuggetty, el and the -ck-haired, adkerchief ^- cii things that were bound with yellow thongs to the ankle. They moved with the swinging,' tread born of the snow-shoe ; they sparred in noisy horse-play, laughing like children, shrilly and often and in the Hudson Bay Store they drove the two young Ontario clerks to the thin edge of idiocy with their quick- pattered demands in the Cree and Slavi and the Chipcwvan French of the outer places. For they were half-breeds all, from the handsome youth with clear features and haughty head-carriage down through the llat-nosed, slant-eyed Japanese-type to the Indian throw- back, with his black hair, lank either side the raised cheek- bones, and his chin-tuft turning grey. They were the men of the backwoods whose stamping-grounds' lay with those oi the Indian. They were the men of the trapping-trails, of the silences ; the strong men who pitted their flesh and spirit against the white might of the land that bred them • who wrested their right to live from her or yielded her their hves at the call of the river brules, or the breaking ice or the thin far threads of trail in the forest. By the river-ba'^k lay the reason which had brought them to Grey Wolf ; a long line of scows stretched, each behind each with noses up ; broad-hulled and brown and oily-smellin'^ as whales. An hour back the spaces under the wide high seats and over the broken decking had been bared of the great square packages of pelts, the year's yield of Hudson Bay furs from the North, tracked by the dark-faced breeds up three hundred miles and over of rapid and river and lake That sweating journey's end came with Grey Wolf, and the long tin Hudson Bay sheds were shut fast on the warm close-pressed greasy bales that waited the freighter's wagons and the railroad rattle and the deep-sea ships beyond all. At the window of the little dark office through the Store end. Leigh, the Hudson Bay factor, was busy. For these short hundred of men had a season's work behind them rated at something like thirty dollars a month, with board and moccasins added. Round the window they shouldered each other, good-natured, grinning and awkward ; reaching hard, rough hands for the dirty bills that made half their pay, and for the order which gave the rest in trade at the counters. Then they surged back to Hotchkiss and Lampard swamping their substance in such things as the hght, coarse tobacco which filled every pipe, and fine-tooth-combs, and scents and blue and red and purple satin ribbons. Tommy Joseph had a place of worship on the counter, with legs swing- ing and hat thrust back from the broad, grinning face. For lommy Joseph had brought in a silver-fox skin from the spnng hunt before he went North, and the hundred-dollar worth Qf It lay i^ his thick hands now. Beyond the door 24 THE lAW-BRINGERS ' Florestine she laike vous .v^tournez, Tommy " he said sh 'nilgTa'e^ ^'' °^ ''^ ^°"^^^^ ^^^^ ^^-P-^ delance^n"^' "S'pose you donnez moi de perfume— dat stinky-stuff" ;; Me fjnk F'or^Snt sh^'^lLf yrter:?ot;'r' L said Bien," said Two-youn^-men shru^mno- ™t^'i ^\^^^f man^he not say tW. „elbe. Vrtfn'^f i„ Jir'?e\' and "hr/idP*S ?'' ™^" °' tobacco-smoke andbilge^ater bank^oTw^W^^^^^^^^^^ ='>™"-^ -- *-4 uplhe "Slicker ! Are Ducane come in yet ? " The white Loy looked down with eyes that were startlin^lxr SThe"en'd'.= '^l^J^; ^^ «"'^'>^<^ ^^^ whSle^lS^J Were you speaking to me ? " ^^ What d yer think ? " he said savagely. I Jeslw y°" ^^^^'" explained Slicker blandly. " But wSer^° "^^ ^°^ ""^ "^"^" ™"S- I^'« Warrine^-H. G C.SS the street and sho^ut tU^u^^h trmoh^^jf^^^^ d ^^^ " Ducane ! Any feller seed Ducane ? " bhcker ! ^^The boy's whistle broke sharply. Then his brown face lit some™ o;."™P"''" ""' '^'^- " These fellows will be going thlv!'^„"„rtf4'^.H ■?.7'^" "''"u '^■■'' '°' ^'-^ ™°"th= -d Seen Du^l ^^ "" "' "'"'' *"'>' '^''^''-'e «>ey pull out again. ^o half-breed y that fades :d, rolling a and stuffing y." he said, fiance on his tinky-stuff," n a gaudy, beaucoup." d the bottle was setting lowly. y," he said. Florestine's e scow yet, red his way r. Here a 3ilge-water, ting up the startlingly le through classed as y. " But er— H. G. le up the leard him round the 'n face lit be going tiths, and 'ut again. 'WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL' 25 Slicker's cousin happened to be married to Ducane But this was no matter of pride to SUcker. " Why should all the world reckon I carry Ducane around in my pocket ? " he demanded. " I'm sick of the name of the brute. Robison was asking for him iust now " " Slicke- ! " & j . "Now, what in the nation " Slicker wheeled and looked mto the eyes of Ducane's young wife. " You're the third man to-day who has asked me where Ducane is " he srid. " And I don't know. I don't know. I don't '-" " But I never asked you." " But you were just going to. You can't monkey with me, Jennifer." -^ Jennifer laughed, glancing at Tempest where the light struck on him from the broad-brimmed Stetson hat down the straight-run body to the light spurred boots. " He told me to bring the rig over for him this afternoon " she explained. " I left it in the Hudson Bay yard But 'if he is in there " She nodded towards the hotel with her small, delicate face troubled, and Slicker patted her shoulder. Ducane was J.P. for the district, but men had no occasion to honour him therefore. '' I'll go hunt him out for you, honey. It's no placn for vou 1 11 get him." ^ He loped over the dusty road and in through the doors where a cluster of breeds showed black as bees on the comb Tempest turned, keeping step with Jennifer, past the barracks where blew the flag that spoke the law of the English to the solitudes, and round the little post-office, into the Hudson Bay yard. He knew Ducane as it was his business to know men, and ne knew small good of him. The man had that big blustering way of mind and body which so many women mistake for manliness and so many men do not mistake for soniething else ; and since he had brought his month-old wife to Grey Wolf three short weeks ago Ducane had not im- proved to any noticeable extent. Jennifer patted the pony ; cuddled it, and kissed its nose mvesting each movement with that quaint and delicate charm which made men forget her lack of beauty and remember her. Ihen she laughed up into Tempest's grave eyes. " Come back to supper. I'll make you som she said. " Sorry." Tempest did not smile. " I fancy I'm needed nere to-night. Too many trackers about. Why no— I don t imagine there'll be trouble. But I must be "on deck. Ihe other men are away." " Your arm is just out of the sling. If any of them " you some corn-cake," 26 THE LAW-BRINGERS 1 I f^ "^"^ *• Besides, that's what I'm here for " w« laughed now. " I am not scared." he said ' ^^ Well, of course— a man never is," she said. ^^"^Pest had put Ducane sick with fear once alreadv AnH he.expected to do it again. He gave place'to'^Shctr ^i^th " Honey," Shcker slid an arm through Tennifpr'^: " v„ n, vouV° ''* *"?,'^"™ y°l home. Ducanf will be fati-busTne" ' you know. He won't be back to supper, and he sent you Ws Slicker's imagination was responsible for this last H:= boy- face was hard about the jaw'! and, in the vernacular he put Tempest wsse" with a flicker of his left eve lid T™ ! unh,tched the halter and stowed it under the Jea'fn sillT"' louslv ■'1?.°'^ °' ^x?"' ■'^"^''"■■' '^''"^'" ^^M Jennifer ?remu- sayX'rfhoSM ■'""'^ ""^^ ^° "^'^ '''^ h"'^' "-'- He ch;;;.s^,'''rut^sfstc';''ran'r^;^^^^^^^^ stet^sctrb^,*S~S^^^^^^^^^^ '"Th^knttrd'tr b^ T "' ''><^'*^«y"tore-cXr''^' arain Th '™"'^,*« bar-door gaped to let him in and closed Nrfih p .'"If ^" """ ^P^^^h '^^e to him full oHhe worM • ^°^ •*° ?° "^° °* " *°='de " the North- West" the world, and kmgdoms and captains may fail and parhament^ o^rr-m\^°ro tfhat^o-rw^r ^'^ '^ ^ ^^ "^ -- u;yeta^dronhe"DlS;eu«^^^^^^^ sjej^^tr^:^^^^^^^^^^^ famihar to Tempest as the smell of the river-wetted clothe, and the moose-skin moccasins ; of whiskev and W«? and the strong, light, coarse tobacco ^' ^ ^'^^'^ "^^"' He crossed to the counter that ran up the north ^ir^^ r.f 4-i. big bare room, and spoke to the bar-ten^der ^" °^ ^^' ^^ Have you seen Mr. Ducane anywhere, Jimmy ? " Why—he s up to the balcony wi' Robison Sem^^nf I^.guess they're talkin' some, they've tnt°"for'"S Tempest leaned over the bar, for." He eady. And flicker with 5. " You'll ■ — business, ent you his last. His aacular, he Tempest silence, ifer tremu- Qeals. He d Tempest ker swung where the !n he went right blot ide-walks, lothes. ind closed uU of the est is the irliaments 'hich feed ng record lan whom man who 1 taime," 3ed scow le Indian iar words 5, were as d clothes ted men, ie of the Sergeant, drinks 'WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL' 27 " Not had any trouble yet, have you ? " he said with dropped " Not a mite." Jimmy screwed his eyes up, looking round the barn-bare place, where the dark breeds dozed half-fallen on the benches or smoked stolidly with spittoons between their moccasmed feet, or talked in twos and threes with the picturesque hand-movements which often make half the noddeV^ "^^'' "^^^ ^^^^ ^"^^^ ^""""^ *^^ Indians. Jimmy '' Pretty as a Sunday-school," he said. " We'll hkelv have a few muzzy to-night. You wouldn't want to be hard on them. Sergeant They're as good a bunch of boys as any along the river. ^ -^ "Don't let them get too gay. then." said Tempest, and went through the mner door and up the wide uncarpeted staircase, seeking Ducane. f^^^^j- Grange's Hotel was the only one in Grey Wolf The only one " inside "—which is to say, north of latitude fifty-six-- aJong these water-ways. It carried the distinction of its position, and of not much else just now ; and Tempest, turning along the upper landing, looked on the bare rooms and tumbled beds with an indifference bred of familiarity. They were for the men of the trail, these places ; surveyors, prospectors going through to the ore-beds of the north ; traders on their home- way to another five years " inside " ; the men of the Treaty Party perhaps, or those who took the long patrol with the Judge who happened to pass Grey Wolf in his yearly round. But they were for men only. Few women travelled that trail which men s feet lound difficult at times, and those who passed It were chiefly of the pioneer class ; brave-eyed hard-handed women, trekking with their home and their children and their husbands into the loneliness, and sleeping at night with the tent-peak and the stars above them The ring of Tempest's spurred feet along the balcony jerked Ducane out of his stooping, muttering talk with Rob'"- son. He flung himself back in the creaking chair and bawled man Ifimsdf ^'■^''*'"^ "^^'^^^ Tempest knew to be false as the "Hillo, Sergeant, hillo. We were just talking about you ; ^ saying you'll want to keep the lead sounding to-night, ^^ "; I don't expect any trouble," said Tempest, sitting down. They are good boys all right. And drunkenness is one of drinke°n'' ''''' "^ ^''^- ^* ''^^°™ ^"'^' "^°^^ ^^^^ ^he thJ^nntn^-i'''"'"'!?'''^'''' "^'"'"^^ enough, but Ducaue shicd from felt wLr. h^^- T^^'Pf 1 ^^^ ^ ^^y «^ ^^^^^"g his personality felt where he went, and there was much in Ducane's life which 28 IV i 'k THE LAW-BRINGERS and he had aU the %nLaTL?„ltr„t,n''o„^l ^^^^^^^^ , " Never thought such as you'd sav as th^r. sms, Sergeant." he remarked an^ tJ : ^^ ^^^ ^^nest his pipe. remarj^ed, and Tempest smiled, lighting " That is a social problem. I suddosp "Rnf t, •. to a question of degrees o ev'l^we mus^ ^,-7. '"•'* ^°"^"' fancy Ducane will agree with me that TX ^/'^"™^nate. I very often do less harm. moraHy and soiaJJv '.IJ ^''''^ "^^^ sober white-man " ^ socially, than many a cas^urs^^LSfdat^^ 'f'^^^^- tempest's of a man's mind to trouble'ihe water's"" '''"^^^' ^"^° *^^ --" stick'^LLri^ss^H,^^^^^^^^ "'• W?c:n?tTn^f ^ ^-^ Tempest, or you'd be out of a job But in t.7 ""f '' '^^"*^' men sm and worse men talk about if tS l?^ "^^'^^ ^^^ taste of it on the tongue and vet. r../" -J^.^l^ *^^* ^"^« ^he skin. Not going are • ^,7%^'^.''^'''^ about some lindL'rboSnerrtTnrP^^^^^ *^"-^ - Of rrnl^^n^oriaTe^^r^^^^^^ L" ^ sm^aH rysterious way launched into vernacular tech n.r.rfT-\^^''^^^ ^'^o- He to idly. He was thfnklng ^f Se rt'oTef V'T^^^ ''''^^'^ young wife. ^ ^^ucane at present, and of Ducane's He supped with Ducane later in f>,« k- j- • clerks from the trading^offiSs a w h.i^K^^'^'i'^'P^^"" ^^"^® of men more passed and mssed .1 ^^^f-breeds, and a score joked with Grange's .St^^^^^^^^^ watched, shyly or^oldfy a;coX. to^^^T-^^"^^^' ^"^ White serving U who b^oreThr.l^L^of^^^^^^^^^^^ .^th^^ inT^'pllr^fTh^'dtami^f^^^^^ T^ -^ ^^^^^ to stand the huge silent scows emptLltiasfT'J^ '^' '''''' '"^y cbse-pressed furs. Behind' were thl men who ^""'^^^^^d. them up. foot bv foot h.r +>,o i i ^f ^^° ^^^ warped trails of the North anS wh Jwo 'iH "^ ''^' "^^^^^^^^^ water- among the winter woodfwirh the li4^^^^^^^ feet sounding along evervTerve .ni "il ^^Tl °* moccasined It was part of th? rSe-Hke 1 'nH^^n'^!.'^^"^"^ ^^^d- and all else, and it meant a ^ hl% l' 1 "^ "^'""th, and sleep. these things mean \o the most o^is' Bitt toV° '!' ^* ^^ thmg of the wonder of the need for % nii 1 tempest some- he snnkP wifh-vt tMrni-. f- - * ^" ^^"^^ restlesslv npri had'fcllowed him out ' '° '''' "^"" ^'^°^^ '^^^'^^^ f°°tst~ep3 *i- 3- Robison as an ape, "rage of an was honest 'd, lighting ^n it comes minate. I breed may m many a Tempest's to the well the same ter saints, cases bad t like the 'S on their elling me rious way ilso. He t listened Ducane's Lce where i a score le tables, ^ife. and the two on them to stand :reet lay warmed, warped 1 water- m again xasined ig land. i sleep, id it as t some- 'v, and 3tstep3 ' WE fALL EXERT OUR PULL ' 29 " I'm going home, Grange. You'll know where to send if I'm wanted." Grange giggled. He was a little nervous man with a great love of his many children, and of Moosta, his half-breed wife. " Sure. Sergeant, sure. But I reckon we ain't got much hot stuff ter-night, barrin' Robison." He jerked his head towards the bar. " They're on'y singin'," he said. " My how that Pierre Dupuis kin drive the chune." ' Tempest knew what make of men comes of French-Indian blood. He knew of the occasional cast-back to the vices of each ; of the irresponsible temper flung to fury from laughter before the white man can take heed ; of the frank, childish nature, which brings men to heel like eager dogs before the voice of authority. He nodded. " Well, don't forget to let me know," he said, and went down to the lonely barracks with the deep-throated swing of the song weUing up to the stars above him, and all the soft purrmg murmur of wooden dwelhngs settling into the hush of sleep after the day's heat sounding through the clearing. Two hours later he found that Grange had not forgotten when young Forbes, a green English boy in Revillon's Store] burst m on him with gasping breath and starting eyes "Pile out— quick. Sergeant," he said. " Ducane and Robison are killing each other." Tempest distanced the boy back up the silent street and over the Happing boards that made a following rattle hke musketry in the hills. He thrust between the half-b-eeds who clustered thick round the door, and saw the two men who struggled breast to breast, knee to knee ; the white face hvid with fury and fear, the dark face like a bursting plum. Ihe quarrel had been born in a flash, and the end of it was hkely to be as swift ; for Robison had his knife out as Tempest jumped forward with his hthe finish of movement, and gripped each man by a shoulder. " That's enough," he said, and his voice carried through the noise. " Quit ! Sharp ! " ^ The men were blind and deaf with the wrath that held them. Ducane wrenched away Robison 's knife with a quick wrist turn, and then Tempest's face was thrust in his with eyes blazing like the flash before the bullet. " Quit ! " he said only. But the threat behind the word drove terror into Ducane. He fell away, dropping the knife, and Tempest flung himself on Robison. Ihe breed was too big and too heavy for him • but he would not have called for as^i^^-an^^ whin he did If a sudden demon of mischief had not lit the idea in his brain. Kobison was a malignant hater, and there was no man in Grey Wolf would have cared to bring himself under the 30 THE LAW-BRINGERS 11 M f [I 4 harrow of that hate undesirpfl Th«„ .4- i i. , on Tempest's call. AnS when it came ft h ff ^^"^' ^'^^'^^^ who did not look for it ^'^ *^^ ^"^y man barracks, and into the little ceH wiih?£ down to the on the whitewashed wall TheJf Tempest shurn"? S"^'^"^ proving crowd, who had followed ^e^ttfedhV. ^ where a top hook was burst off, "and look d at Ducane ""'""' You d best sit down and eet vour hr^ntv, - i? • , want to hear some reasons why lou shouldn't ? "^''^' ■ "J alongside Robison." ^ ^ shouldn t be m right The heavy red flooded Ducane's skin " I'm ifkeTv 7,^° y°"^JPeaking to," he said. or a tepee up or down river wnn'ti,;llr '''' *'^'^"^ ^ ^''ack We are ulchinrtlZtrrJJ^Tthe^Z"'''''^'' ''''''''' ^ Wolf." respect the white man in Grey His level words bit hke serDpnt^j' Hffio +^ ^ ca-40 h. feet unsteadn,"S,r.roTlrHu^S| wad " of a year's work erp th™ ?,!! 3 * lu }° '''°" ■" *>= was custom; andTmoest Sit'' t *'*''*!?" ^*5^'"- Such shorn lamb in so Ira^rhonTsSy foSd""^'"' *'^' '""'' '° '"^^ ne??L7:tf L'ir™^- xto™^^^^^^^ "* r'T» of It came three eveninos T-,to, T, %?" ™'^' ^he frmge on tlie bob-tailed civuse t„f 't "ir J™?''''' "^e home, and found the little'^XmerTrom f "' T't^ ^P'^'"' noisily into the stub-end oTwhar A n S ^""""TS ''"^'""S °" ■ BufS' T^i"^' ^"""-t ad^ d'tTa'^lr ""^^ he s^d' '°"The; cSuftrl^rtr *' T'''^' ^"^-^ ^ ^ closing so unusually eir?yths yea '' ?WM ""■"'"■ '" ^'"^'^ ^Jhe brawny Scorchmal. iaS? re^ a^S t^e^thi " Listen till I tell ve " he said " t ^ bring her, but Harris i^orel^fufdna. 'iZtL'tt^f^^f m -k, waiting ■ only man ere." 'ho helped own to the ng grating ut the ap- unic-collar ne. said. " I e in right awls with re a shack e a week ? in Grey Ducane ilustering i prevent- id before ank and or two, w in the fi- Such nd to the irt-room 3n, hour ert until ^e fringe e home. Gopher, backing 3n were se. :kay } " 3r she's back." ver the daured 1 com- •WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL' 31 pany, ye see, an' I waur bound tae gie him the lie." His heavy shouldere shook with his rumbhng laugh. " Every dommed pund o' freight I tracked over those rapids in York boats," he said. " An' I go back by trail. The ' Northland Ilower' IS sleepin' in that backwater for her winter bed an' 1 thought more than aince she'd be sleepin' on the rapids' It waur sure enough close skatin'. But the fairies was wi' us." He ht his pipe, and jerked the match overboard. " Ha' ye heard tell that Tom Saunders is tae pu' out East for good ? " he said. " What div ye mak' o' that, now ? " " Cold feet, perhaps. Marriage, perhaps. But he'll break his neck breaking horses some day before long." " The wildest o' us slack oop when we mairry," remarked j\Iack, y. " 'Cept Ducane. I hear things about him. Things as you don't hear, ye ken. In the nature o' hfe ye have to go around wi' your ridin'-lights up." Tempest dropped his whip lightly across Gopher's crest. " Come in and have a smoke up this evening, Mackay " he said only. But Mackay winked long and slowly after the cloud of dust. " And do ye think that Ducane will hold any course straight enough for you or me to catch him on it, Sergeant ? " he said In his office at the barracks Tempest opened his mail ; read a part, and then sat still for long, very long, until the notices and memorandums, and the few photographs on the opposite wall were a blur, and Foley, the old red-bearded cook, came in with the lamp. Tempest roused himself, and his eyes were strange as the eyes of a man who has been seeing what he did not think to see again. " Is Baxter in ? " he said. " Send him to me, then." There was dislocation and promotion of which to speak to Baxter. Then he leaned forward and grasped the man's hand. I congratulate you— Sergeant," he said, and smiled. \ou should have had this step last year, for you've deserved It long enough." He looked away. " Your marching-orders come with it " he said. " But they've managed a good leave foryouhrst." '^ Baxter's rough hands shook a little where he knuckled them down on the table-edge, and his rough voice was not quite steady. He was Canadian born, even as his fatheu were, and he served his land simply and directly with all his simple powers. ^ •l^i ' 'i^^ ^^^^' ^"^ *^^ weight of his soul seemed to hghten with the breath. " I guess I can drive that horse. Sergeant. An i uon t mind tellm' you now— there's a little girl— she's waitin SIX years-I guess maybe if they put me south she won t want to wait no longer ! " 32 THE LAW-BRINGERS I fgjm i ill TW w^'^'^'^'yP'''^^''*? Where? Not Herschel > •■ ^^Then. before fempesf. face, his own sagged aud grew oul^^^^iht^fS^C'^.tSeyTs' "* "^°™- ^■'■^ '~''«^ saneTnTwh"ol;i?om%^h?=srcM„rti:*t'l".f V ,"^ ''^'^ -"» s --Ls tai H«IB°?- black cup of the sky TemLsf h.H ri.°'''l^ wheel, and had come^;om ru£:ned bT. ?"' '"'^ ^' '^^' sai7 '- RrT'n'l* *^' '^'" ^* I^ead-quarters if you like " he i: f ^r^ ^""""^ ^^ ^^ sho^t of men. We alwavs are " Baxter nodded ; cleared liis throat ; cleared it l^T Sixteen years I've been in the Force "he safd " a ^ never a word against me. Sergeant '' ' '^''^' ^^ I beg your pardon." Holds'™ "°™"'=^ *°'"' ^^'■^•^^ '"^^ ™^1s, and Ba^^ter change of seasons." ' ^""""'S ^ travel and leave her again l^nlrtn't ft """^ ''"'^ "S" now-an" ■• Nn ■• ;f f.5 T «>uWn t take a woman up there ? •' there ■■' ^"^ ^"^'^'''- " Y°" """n't take a woman up loo!:f:;;^'t"t°hFhL?te.!:rftr. r" r ^^s-- "■> child was lauffhin^ T-'.,^ ™'"^°" ""^^'s an unseen silenceTndSStood:7a?f^3t^^'"^^'''^ ^'•°^'='' " "'^ and^L"^ '^•I-gtelTcan'^SS; Mted, and added, grim North have done^'J^UeTmLX/nfe"-- ""^^'^^' ^"' *"« have beU'nrexSssesto vour ?^ 7""°'* ^''"'^ y™' There You'll get aWwril T,^ 'V"' >'°" '° ^^t o™'. Baxter. ™„ L r'^. ^'""f "'="■ There are two more in tho H»i-a-hm-nt ^nte^tter:-' " " ""^°" ^'^" ^""^ °' the w£a& d^^j 'WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL 33 lim sharply; Herschel ? " d aud grew and looked ie had come St, lonehest, it offers her ctic Ocean ; ar through ; s and walk eights chase )ss the great :ick at that LS a younger • teach him jirl waiting u hke," he Iways are." a:ain. id. " And md Baxter isn't it ? " ;ravel and sr, and his now — an' 3 ? " ivoman up gain. He an unseen id in his ded, grim 3l an' the u. There r, Baxter. ;achnient, lers don't Baxter looked at him. " As man to man ? " he said. " It gets hold of one ? That having dark at daylight, as you may say— and seeing nothing half the time but those Esquimaux with their long tails traihn' —and letters once a year. And the knowing, maybe for months at a time, that there's nothin' between you and your God— nothing white, but the two-three men with you and the snow. It gets hold of one ? As man to man, Sergeant ? " " It does, " said Tempest quietly. ' ' And yet you can stand it, Baxter." " If you say so, Sergeant. You've got all your senses right enough. But— I don't know. I don't know." " You do know," said Tempest, and his voice rang suddenly. " There won't be more asked of you than a man can stand. And you are a man." " I should hope so. Well," he shook himself. " Let her roll into it," he said. " When do I go out ? " "On the York boats— Barney's gang, to-morrow. The new man is riding up now." " Quick work. But, of course— with the ice coming an' all Who's the new man. Sergeant ? Been this way before ? " " He has been all over. But he comes from Macleod. He has lately been promoted Corporal, and his name," Tempest's voice altered slightly—" his name is Heriot: R. L Heriot." '■ That'll be Dick Heriot, I guess. Can ride most things that have two sides to 'em, folk say. I've heard o' him." Tempest had heard of him also, although it was not neces- sary to say so. For two days he hid the trouble in his eyes • but when he met Dick the shadow was lifted. " What are we going to do ? " he said. " We have always run together before. Are you strong enough to obey me Dick ? " " If you're strong enough to make me ! " said Dick, and laughed. '• By , I'll make you," said Tempest. " But it's a poor look-out for the Force if I've got to make you, old man." Dick moved restlessly. The pull of this man was on him again, and he knew that he would resist more than he gave to It all the days of his life. For the good which he could see and reverence was greater than the good which he wanted to do. " I guess you'll whittle me into my hole," he said. " But I m hard wood. I'll break your knives." "I don't want to wliittle you," said Tempest, staring out With his head between his hands. " Aren't you man enough to do it for yourself ? " Dick laughed and walked to the window. 34 TIIK LAW ItKINdltKS I "":^:r:',:'^r:;;;,!\t;:;::A:';;;:ii,, £HH "'■'■ l-V «.„l, „»,My,,v,.„ „l,l „„. I u v..n l..,l ;,' " ■"■"'" '"■' •■'«"' !Mi.'v^iuivu;;:;.''rl;..,,',''''' "","'" "'•"•'"«••"■ I'M'.'." 1... .s„„i, ■' ■' '""" '" '■'" y"" pm™,i ■■II'n n,.l lir: |.,li,.|H whi.li l,„„l.l,. ,1 m:m" ,-,i,r liir n' :;'X;i'^-:;;i,:;ir:;;tr ;::::;;' ^-;;:!:^■^r-F' '? .v...."»;,";,',:i^',.:,,i':;;',:,;,".',"« -.i„ ..„. ...t „.„„ „i[ -;'Tip;,;:'i::;'i;:;L::;.:'i,,!;'i::;-^ ^ ..,..„«,. '/uUwI.i.sllnl.sollly lH>lwtv.i.sl,nl tcvll, '"'- '"'usH 1 , s . ' ^ '";"";>",--"-• A ,„an doesn't withth.f I •■•.. ' • •'^'""<^^' ^vas in (lu> wiiulow-soit >"•.■' si:;;;';: i.r,-,'; ,':.:;■;,':"'''■•'• "■^~ "" -" ■'" '■•"' «' "-'-' »ith •'«:!»' i..u,:;;",,':',!i ,',;;,'';;;,r''' ^'-'^ ^"''- ■■ " ■""■^' i"^- -■ yon .V the only one .u tl,o In.Vu h ' " ' ^--^I^^^^^^'^ly when ; iHKcM- duK-klcvi witli his mouth full — t . one on to you, honoy.- he said. ' But wo can't If Hliih-sidnd. ; «'> i(H place. I'vti nm up ill make; iii<> rst." CO clianf^'cd. you prctctKl M.ti ">^ -' °' -e who needed " Maybe a girl who can see her back-hair in a T,or,^ i to ttl ^„„';rsL'hasn-t'r?as^o;*fo-^lo'^^lferrtX-s'^^^^^^^^^^ poss,b e by the race if she can teach them to P„thdrc?othi on to the right parts of themselves and to blow tMr nose? eM^rS-^p r -S.-C thired-s^B^S hkrit'"tnd-i!^.." '°" "^"* °" ^°" knees'totm^Te; hil'^?""*, ""^"^ nervously. Would Slicker's tongue carrv wa" ;akinr'''°" ""''' ' ''"* ^'"^"'''^ 'ar'e teSpS sai'd^°' Th^"'l'* '^"e'wer to make fun of everything " she a^r?;^s^rxiS.tnatrnta:K^^^^^ Do. 1 reckon it would be well to get alf that stuff out of :ing with that 311 know what have got into t back to the le bare earth, len he looked ing that ever lowed in the ! the land of an beheve — getting into 'd and noble the English 2d children I ith their old ce the law ! ) that awful nen such as less, just so who needed L hand-glass look at life : the Mission 5's done her heir clothes their noses, d be befote coffin if he 3r anything Is wouldn't 'em. They 'ngue carry are temper thing," she 2 the true, St a htrle. write some jtuff out of A ' WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL ' 37 your system right away. And then put 'em in the stove sprilT^'' ""'^'^^'^ '""''^ ^'^ ^'"^ "^^ ^ ki«^" about to * ''\o"— you— you animal!" she cried. "Come off mv table this instant I Stop eating my berries ! DoTt sit th^re with your hair all over your head, staring like that An J t: theTbot: ! ?"^ ^°"^ '''' °" "^y -^P^^ ' Theyr^ mud^up tim'e^this nfT''^'?T'^'':.'''^"^"'"^ ^"*° ^^^^"^ ^°^ the first ^.^ants^ji^itmo^reTennif"?^^ nt tTht^UtnTvlr-^ -^ ^^^^^^^ '' You're not fit to live, Shcker." she said. " Go awav [; TnHL^."T H^'; S"' 1,^"'^ ^° ^t °^ °"^ doorstep I r^^a^n Ant^LttlZo'^^^--' '-' ?or'yourTck:rmrow^; mJd^?r^ackTo1h.^T'.f''"n%^^V'*^' ^' ^^ '^'""^'^ down the " Von -n ? ''^^- ^ ^'^" Jennifer glanced up at Tempest surely^"in^^dTrel"tr' ^ "°"'* ^°" ' " ^^^ ^^^^^ " HanV^m plelsed^''^''" '^''^ ^'""P"'*^ absently. "I shall be very He watched her as she drew the wool throuRh Slicker's sork^ and that SKeleton behind Ducane's door seemed to take sh. n!: beheri: thr-' ?r ''T r^^ wouid^riftti: 5':; gfr Deiicvc m the true wonderful beauty of Life ? " Or wis ;; You don't beheve what Slicker says, do you ? " she asked Shvt /~r^'y sweeping statement is tru3 and untrue Shcker has heard so much of what he calls hot air talked aboT; goer?o'Th7oth:r "iT^^ "^'^-^^ '''' ^^^^ ^-V^^natlX vonLS if^heTare. ^"°"'"''' -'^^ ^^^^•" ^^« hesitated take '"Men "etrou.w' a warning plain enough for her to tionalities and^lVil^O" °^ \^°' °^ "°"^^^- na^ure Thev do ,m^ " 1u- "" ^"""^ ^^^"^ ^^ ^^'^ ^^"-^ in human go. the peTspTct1°eru„r fow^^^thS'?™^'- ^"^^ '^^^■'"■' >wni. i|i>iis:?pw5- Ir^SI**^ 38 THE LAW-BRINGERS softly '"■' ''™ ^"5' °' *■'» "B'y '"-es,- said Jennifer I ^TPf' '°°''*'' °"' °" the placid lake where a m„r,l» „f Life was not'a novel It i^Usto?;' aid itt'^H^"" 4" "'^' us to make this history of the W«r Yon Sl;''''l ?" i"* your share. And you Se not goin^ To finJ it easy " ^ '° '"' dTl':^L^^. ^^-^ '^"- ^*^' --^ 'oosT/in her lap. she Sd "'^" oH '''If " l^^= "^ *1'^ ''dge of somethins " , But this IS a man's life— for men T rnn'f ^^ .li.- m.t-ariything that makes a dSer"™e." "" ' '^° ^^'^'"8 Rettme awav from +v.o4- t-i • ^'-'^^"any. ihere is no f^rtjnr'^SiZonreveSronlLrof^-nfL^eJN^ olt^^^olf^^;:--^?^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I°don-t'j'J"l^'' '"""'■ -^ "«\ttog\o^an^^^^^^^^ Jon'^?quKor;\l°t?tT.?'^ '■'^"'"^'- I^=P-ia%^wheil man who serves others B^t T r,„ t 1? '^ ?a°gerous in a what your influence mavh. S I'" ''°" '""* '^ ""'= °' porti^r^s, and jusTthos^k^nd of pfc ur'ran^'u^tTbtts of ^'!!f to be a Civilizing fnfluence: MrDTcLe •"'^"" ^°" "^ ^^-^ . Jennifer laughed and pouted 'WE ALL EXERT OUR PULL said Jennifer re a couple of and sky. you said that is each one of ive got to do iy." ^ m her lap. f something," at you know : do anything ied." apest slowly. I guess you do anything a star splits Y other atom There is no it. We all 3s. You do. dusk, telling »ull and was warm lights it," she said, en away in a y^body. I — ially when I le over and I likely say igerous in a t a little of n dull silk i bits of old ;heir houses 'u are going ," she said. our naked- Don 't ever 39 strip it off. And don't let any man you come in contact with strip It off m your presence. That is going to be one of your great responsibilities." ^ " I— I wonder if I want it," said Jennifer. " You needn't be afraid of it," said Tempest gently " But the most Ignorant of us daily take on ourselves responsibilities that the gods would j ib at. We do it because we are i-norant of course. And that is naturally the very last reason we -i ve for our mistakes-for it is the only one that is going to save us. He laughed, and stood up. " I have been uncivilized enough to give you advice," he said. " But you've no time to get back on me now. There's Ducane " " Where ? Where ? I don't see " Then, as Tempest flung up the window, the swift running beat of an Indrm cayuse came to her along the frozen track toward the house She flashed round at Tempest with sudden crisp hfe in each inch of her. "It is ; it is," she cried. " But I never heard— oh Harry ! " Ducane s^vung round the house-corner; dropped from the high-cantled saddle, and tlirust his head through the window Hallo, Jenny," he said, and slid a careless arm round her shoulders That you. Sergeant? Well, you're wanted down at the Portage right away. Some white fool— EuE^lish- man named Lucas— smashed his mate's head in Oh he's got it, sure enough. Best pile after him, I guess. Whv- VllheV' ^^^' ^^''''^ ■ ^^ ^""^ °'''' °^ ^'°'''' ^"^-^ '""^^ responsible, Jennifer shivered in the grasp of his big arm. ;; You— you say it as if it was nothing," she whispered. Lucas won t find it nothing once the Sergeant has him by the neck, I promise you. Coming out this way. Tempest ? Well— stand aside, Jenny." ^ Tempest slid a leg out and followed it where the pony stood lour-square with drooped head and smoking flanks ''It saves time," he said. " Come down to the canoe witn me, Ducane. i want some particulars of this " He smiled, saluting Jennifer. " Don't think of it again," he said. I apologise— for Lucas." Jennifer watched the two swing down the narrow trail, and she pressed her hands together over her breast. One of the ugly things had come suddenly, bald and hideous. And it W rZ ^"^b^"d who had brought it, uncaring. She shut aisgust. Then Tempest's voice came to her memory " I Huran n^;fe!"'"""'""^^^^^ ^ ^-d deal of thJbrute kn^'^^M^'l*!!''^ ^" P^'^"^ • S^^^ k"^^^ «^^t She did not know. He had come into her life hke a wild, vivid storm ; im-A- 3 (It 40 THE LAW-BRINGERS h^f kTsirC^ ^-,-,*- strange world of blew away alf hefshytxcuses unt^^ ^°^'^^ *^^* ring on her finjr anH h^= A-^ ^^^""^ "^^^ ^ "^^ Plain Ltr for ~H S-^^^^^^^^ girl ^ButTv'' ^'""T'l'; ^' r^^: . " ^"^ "°t fit for you, little kill. £,ut, Dy , 1 11 make it fit now I've ^ot r^p^on " and coarse thoimhtc ihl^ ^^"^pest. Harry had coarse words her. Harry waf-hewn. ""^ ^?^'' *"°"^^"^ *° ^ide from " Tern . '^Vt^T ^^ Ducane callmg after her : jeni.^ ! Hi, Jenny ! I want you." ige world of 3 words that a new plain 1 about her ad come on whirling still e 2ips as he r you, little 3ason." he had not >f this great th his loud Now, even uted words ie contrast •arse words hide from ly things ; allowances ^ bhnding the hither- CHAPTER III. " I KxNOW WHAT I'm at." " Payatuk," said Dick. " Go carefully. Tell him we don't want to scare him, Phillipe." ^ ^ '' iLVi^ll^ S'^^' '"" l'^ ^'^y-" interpreted the breed. Ihat is lund of him. Explain that I earn mv dollar ten a day by waiting until he's ready to speak. Bi^^nSrnate Phillipe interpreted in low rapid gutturals. And in the httle barrack-room where Tempest held his courts Kickinf Horse pure-bred Cree Indian, stood motionless and hunched in hfs 11-fitting store clothes. But the eyes in the copper dark h.^ZFT^lu'^^s^^y'"''^ t^'^ glass door showed more Indians huddled 1.1 their fur coats and caps. For winter had desceXri zero's 7?"''"^ Wolf thrusting the thermometerbefow layer that^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^'^"^ ^" '''' ^^^^ ^^^^ a thick whit^ ^ayer that shone in the sun like a wedding-cake baked for a At the bar of inquiry within Kicking Horse moved solemnlv • bringing from under his coat the old flutterSg hand wSe leaves hJT' ^"^ "luscles ran corded like ffbres on ratted leaves. He began to speak; usin^ his tonfmn in-t)^ u,^ weaymg his story on the p/cturesque sign-Euage wWcl imX"'"P"^^^ ^^ °- ^^y -t-pret^a teleStrSon eedd^r'^lf ff- ^'''^!!,^n ^ates many suns since. Dey go to- " When was that ? " - tIv?® studied the swaying hand-movements. dav Hi^T! ^""^ ^^ '""' P^^^t- Pasasun ver' happy dat day. Him haf much trink-good tiink-make him ^wa?k ♦gyifcTs^r!^ ■'■■» a'i.'=*r 42 THE LAW-BRINGERS punishable offence throughout all the T^Tfi^ .v" .-^""^'^'^ '" ^ rogation of other India n^wi . North- West, the inter- himself being in a stte of f /^^^"^^"y followed, Pasasun essentials. ^ ^"'^^ °^ '"^^'"^^ uncertainty regarding •'iTwist"s\i^„T;SL';^ nv ^^^^^ ^^^^• Dick half-suppressed fhP T ^ I"^" ^[if him " late. Kicking Horse Jeahsed '^"i\^^^^°"- But it was too tion of import to tWsmin In fh. i?" was presenting informa- who sat vvith unknow^ Sstrum. n^"^? brass-buttoned tunic little black bottles ISdsmalT^i fJ^'i?' ^^°^* ^^^ ^^ conscience was clear, but he d d n^l'^ ^^^? '^''^'- ^^^ things and that spear-eved man m^^hf''°'^i7^^* -^^^'^ ^^^^^ did know that there was an ^Z- ^ui ™^^^ ^^ ^t- And he hands fluttered to ?over agallT^ ^ ''" '"''^^^ Pasasun's. His Dir:m:tt;d'rgi'^^^^^^^^^ ^r- that this stream had^rTdry^for all W^' ?.' ^'tf *°^^ ^^°^ fragments of information eleam^d ifi *^«ie. But because the hnk^adly he cW onT. tl! tret's tLT' ''"^ ^^^"^^^^ ^^^^ What was the name of the white man ? " - K,vv''''''..'^"'' ^' ^^ ^^^d expected ' ,, Kicking Horse him not know." ^^ -Uoes he live in Grey Wolf ? " " Him not know Corp'ral " '■ Ktli^XTZ^^o^'^^ ^— -irink last night ? " Not von dam t'inrr " vr^ ^ ^ , , Indian's consciousness ^'' HiS no? ^i."^ ^'^'^^'' ^"^« ^^^ pefore, Corp'ral." ^ "°^ ^"^^ ^ ^t him tell you Dkk pushed his chair back. shufHe'ourhf added -'"^I wo^M^^- "^^^'^^^^ ^''^^^ Horse with your serenity, my friend^^ ^ ' "''''^ *° ^" ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ pa^e^s^^n^feTt^tor^vlf^^^^^^^^^ a sheaf of Sudden suspicion had corne to hfrn'S ^S^"^^^/ ^ho^ght. Illumination on something which ^., I ^^^^^.^^^^^r was an Wolf lately, and he Imited wW t"^ ^"^"^ distracting Grey pamphlets and reports wtth h^^^^^ ^^'"^ through official he neared his eoal^ ^Tic' n^.^^^J f^^^. ^^^^mg more eager as h- here, and ' also his'^S^o^ ---^^-^^^^elpg s of a snake- •I KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 43 honesty which would never occur to Tempest. Bv wav of his grea intuition and powers of deduction he wound a tortuous course through the papers until his mind fastened at last w°th a leap on the clue he sought for. He looked up with his Ives narrowed and dark and rather puzzled. Then he shrugg^ed his shoulders with a slight laugh. ''"luggea ''Why, of course ; who is better fitted to deceive law and justice than the man who holds the scales," he said '' But Mr^DuTane' ' "^ '"'^ '''^' ^' ''""' ''' '' ^^ ^^^ ^^^ '^' «^«. He picked up the notes on Kicking Horse's evidence anH the paper which had led to his condusion? took them into Tempes 's office, and stood attentive while Tempest rerd?he little information vouchsafed by the Indian. Dick watched him Idly. Tempest had developed considerably since the old days He vvas a fine-looking fellow, with that br^oad untanned forehead where the bright hair hfted vigorously, and those ht introspective eyes of the dreamer, and the firm jaw of the man who can do. It was the face of one who was not hkelv to run to wreck on his passions as Dick had done himself ^ Tempest looked up at last, laying aside the official t^ne! said ''^'' ^^^ '^^'^^ ""^^ '^ ^'^^^y *o be." he tone'''''''ltTr)ucane''''" "'' '" '^'' °' "^^^^^^^ '^ ^^^^'^ J.P.''H:i^ige^i:LT''''" ''^^-'^"^ ^^' ^^ ^« ^^^*-* nil^n"'^ ^'^^ ^u""^^ ^^^P^^ "^y deductions immensely. It is a so Ducane who with Robison's assistance, is doing the dirty work for that bogus company which is seUing lite that Tut r b^:^lndia!r ^:^^-'' -^^^^ - exammaU^^t^ That bogus company had been giving Grey Wolf much sio°n^1 linf thaf " '"^ "°".l" ^^^'^°"^' "? '^ tYke poke's' sion ot land that never was there, and of Indian Reserve which no one could sell. Some had given all thev h^d for fh! httle bits of worthless paper which theVhad broug^^^^^^^ in ?heTf -^th wrath or tears. Tempest had had a woman in the office yesterday, and he did not forget it But tMs assertion staggered him. ^ ^ ^^^^ said^LSy' "^"^' ^° ^°" "^^^^ ^"^^ ^^ insinuation ? " he tribel'ii'theNo?th"''p?*^°"- -^^^^'^^ '^ ''^^^'^ *« ^^^^ the inuesinme^orth. Pasasun is a connection of his Robison maT' Buf t "ev' -^S' ^"" ^'^^^-^^ ' ^^-^^ ^^^ the betTer are they frieS \"'%Z'^°''^ "" 'V^ '^"^^ '^'^^^^ ^^^^^^«- Why toLther \ltl ^. 7 f ^ "^^""^'"^ ^°"^^ underhand game together. I have heard of more than one breed selling Robi- ■i«. # 44 THE LAW-BRINGERS knows he hasn't a cent to foend i v,' '' ^°' ^^^ *^' ^°^^^ bogus company. Where' do^y g^t'^P^'p'ron. ^[^"^ '^^ cents down in Virginia and KVnfn^i5 V ^^°"^ *^^^ ^"^o- who are hooked by the pro^nect,?.^' """^ ^^^^ ^° England. Ducane and Robison conciS: Td send'o%"'l ^^"^Phlets which to the bogus company/^ ^^""^ °"*' ^°^ ^ consideration. ;; This is only deduction, you know." Everything is deduction orieinallv n^ this official report showing? th^i rST ^i .° ^^^ remember wyan have taken scrijlate V p T knr '"'' ^'"'^^ ""'^^ ^hip- at once. How does tho r^ "" ^ '"'^^ °"e sold aga n that they are bfeeds ' If rX?'"' ' ' "^^^'^^oner know coloured Indian to take o^h fhTi """^ P^'^^^de a light- know that this is occasionally done haWnd'^'^V"^ "'^ breed privileges, and his serin in nA i ?'''^ ^'" Set his Then he sells it to Robison ^hFchmeaT^ '^' Government, pays for it with the commSons^n nt 1"!' ^"^ ^"^^"« company." v.""nissions on his work for the bogus " wS'hTs' afftV^'^l^^'^^^^^ "^ ^^^ hand, he sS '' '" ''^^ *° ^° -^th Pasasun's drunkenness ? " cuZnS' t'o ?t°'^D°uc:n? t^uld '°" ^"^ ^^ ^^ -^ ac- Kobison and his rdatTons so^i? """^'^^rily need to treat " This is a very heavy cramenf^PT^^^^y' ^^ ^°"r««-" that you are right. bIsMcs Ducfn. i' ^ '^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ink and he only brought ffve 2lIo?. Tn M^t'^^'y ^^^ P^"nits. get much Lm cVnge of S^^^^ with him. And he can't honest." ^ ' Grange would speak of it. He's them, and received msWe byXl °e aTd" oTh ° ""^^ ""'''"' supposed to have them. W^e .t^t^t ^1^0^°' .noX"!l' l™:rbi™ec:t°;a?'^'^^^ ^"°-''- '- -ta'n men of substance and charact/r I T'.T' ^'^^^^ "^^ ™ri°"S by law, it holds loophoS or evasion ■ t''' ^" ?""«^ <"='''"<=<' m his chair. s lor evasion. Tempest swung sharp •' Do we know that much ? " he said Tem7esTsttnid.""So' '°S ^/"T™' ™«' "» ' " " I wonder what sort nf ^^ ^"^ ^"^^^ outlines. t.ver since I camf^ a ^^^ r ._.,," . ^"^^ • your common-„„s-e in ^S;^'^':^^ T S.Tn§ :he money ? II the world From the n the inno- In England, hlets which nsideration, remember near Chip- sold again >ner know e a light- 1 — and we nil get his 'vernment. id Ducane the bogus enness ? " niore ac- to treat course." fily think permits, he can't it. He's permits ■ ordered • are not >ificially, r certain various defined ig sharp I me ? " he said e using ire's no •I KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 45 use in drawing too tight a rein, and we'd never get any infor- mation with every man's hand against us " He found himself being led into excuses, and he stODoed m anger. ^^ '• Do you remember your oath ? " asked Tempest. I believe you have turned out rather funnier than you promised to be." observed Dick approvingly. " Never mind that. Do you ? " " I remember subscribing my fervid appreciation to several things which no man keeps or is expected to keep " "You'll keep them while you're under me, or I'll have you discharged I don't intend that there shall be any scum in the Force if I can help it." ^ •• You are over-valuing your powers, I think," said Dick • but his mockery was gone, even while Tempest looked at him' remembering Molson's assertion that this nSian was indifferent to punishment and wondering what lever can move a will when shame is broken. nJii'f ^^'t^^ ^u^ ?^"'^"^ ^''^ ^"'^ "P the brown skin, and Dick turned his shoulder, walking through the room. Tempest guessed then with a swift gladness. This man was ^not mdifferont to the opinion of the man who had been his friend He spoke again, less sternly. And in the end Dick submitted" rather from amused indifference than conviction. But Tempest had learnt something from that short contest ^^ You know more about this business than I do." he said 1 empower you to work it up." su?denl "^^^ ^^""'"^ ^^^ ''°°"' ^'^^ ^^""^ ^°'^- ^® stopped 'I You old devil," he said; and Tempest smiled. r.n J?K ""^ ^°* the executive faculty more developed at short range than anyone I know," he said. Dick walked again. But his face was changing. His eves brightened slowly. Then he began to laugh with a soft purring note hke a big cat, and his steps were soft as those of a cat. agaim'''' ^'^^ ""^ "" ^'^^ ^'""""^ ' " ^^ '^^^' ^"^ ^^^^P^^^ ^^"g^^^ " As free asjs compatible with your uniform. Go on axid do your damndest." ' And then, quite suddenly, he remembered Jennifer Dick's next words trod on his thought. " Ducane has a wife, hasn't he ? " limblwir" '""^ ^""P''' '!''■=">'■ ^"^ ^''^ »^" w» '' Why haven't I seen her ? " ;; I suppose this first cold snap has kept her at home." lake me over to see her to-morrow." 46 THE LAVV-BRINGERS I ;; Give me your word you won't " It's always'-cTsle'r to^^gefaTa Jan^hro^'l! .' "^°* ^^ '<^- Tempest looked at th^ ^Lt ?w *^^°"&^^ his women-folk." was a dangerous uZ ri ^ 'brought mto the passage. It and there wis I sna;k of "^^^ ^^^^lessly alive and alluring Tempest sici ^ ^ °^ ''^^"^^^^^ ^" ^^ "^^ that turned ;; You're a brute. Dick." he said. here^^SeTaf&ke?e1 \^. ^^^ ^' ^"-^ ^^ °^ guess that case is worth while BnfT ^ /''°"^^' ^^^-I '"•'"miJ'd^^^^^^- Itwm'i^ea^dtl'oaTmV^^^ ^°^^°^^^^ ^^ What do you purpose doing with her ? " " You7enH V"'^' ?' '^^"^^^ What else ? " she has talked fo?'^"^"^ ""'' suffer-when she knows what " Well " D' L- They are one-half the human race nnH ft^ ^® ^^'^• for most of the mistakes it makes ^h. 1 ^ ^"f accountable ;; They don't get off cheaper •'~*^' ^'^' '''^'''''' ' " twentylf?rTauV%'ucTn"^- ^ f* *^° ^^^^^-^^ ^ay be be ve^ glad to get r^d of him " ""rr' ^",^ ^^^'" P^^blbly talk aboSt your work mea^^. n.o T' ^^^^^^^y. " Is your all hot-air ? ^' he d^manSld ^ ^°'' '° ^^^^ *^^« ^"ything I kniw whtt^'i'rJ^att.^^^^^ ^" ^^ ^^^^^ -th Mrs. Ducane. Q^tTcCiyTe^TtL?!:^^^^^^^^^^^ 'IV'' ^^^ ^-^• all time. Canada was cSlU X? ^^"^ '^^^''^ ^^ "^^de for the type which nature 'fetemalv S""^ "^*^°° ^^^ ^^"^"^ ' And the individual the s^npr^fl^ bmlding anew was calhng. powdered to dust to feedft^tfnP.H°H^' ^T*' °°^ ^' ^^^^' ^^ there big and dark with th^ red iLhf '' J* T' *^" ^^^ ' ^nd of man whom NatuTe rhnn/ V^^*.°'' ^'^ ^^^^' ^^s the kind for her. He^poL s^owi^ '^ '° ^^^'^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^inds of laws I'll take you— if necessary " r)ick came near. His eyes were curious ifitwer:t7esL°;;'''htfaid"^ me-yourseif-your own wife Tempes^^ ^^gleTsinTtS Juttf^'^ '^^^ *^^ ^^--'" -i^l •^We^an hfvf :^^ T-""' '^' ^°°"^ whistling. th.t s .h,- wc are so precious sure that there is'a hdl" " ""^ Lnt her for. omen-folk." the light of >assage. It id alluring, hat turned ane out of jh, and — I ■ postmark lows what 1 gesture. he said. ^countable 2S ! " r may be probably " Is your anything Ducane. lis hand, made for i calling ; 3 calling, ever, be 'W ; and the kind of laws vn wife ;," said •n.uu •I KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 47 Tempest sat in the half-dark room for verv lon^ th;. of the present to tear us up in the machineA- of Jhe futoe ' tiiere oe SUCH divers and nice comolexitif^.! in ^„- u • ^ which would fuse aU this^uddle o«efh a^^a^rit'toouSout ^^ssxrori^^tiTi^''^,^^^^^^^^^^ Tempest never asked himself if there was a meaning w. isit^fp~Wir.f^*''^'' ^I'^* ^°^"" y°" ^^" Yourself-what Wi^" is XZS7 ^ffi ':4' ':;'. ^etn-^? ^^l ESH --frStt-SnTver^^a^f tha^Th. t .^"""^ '° ^^^ "'^^y times with the knowledge that the secret was not for the dwellers on the earth m^^ worMf irhi.T '"^^"' "^^^ ^^^ -^^ -d the fl^fh^f ttole ear^L.' L sVa?hteLd Tn'^^^^^ ''^'T ^^ ^^°PP^^ ^-^'o on the t^y^^^S^tened m his chair, closing his hand slowly need""^',4tlot l^t.^^ S^^'V^- '^^ne^^VZ we Delong to each other, and we can't make the whole 48 THE LAW-BRINGERS f I MHi until we find it. And yet we eternallv inoi, ;<■ « ^ ^ understandings." eternally lock it out from our His eyes were wide, unseein^j : the eve«? of fh- ^-^ dreams realities ; of the man\Vho loo'Ls Tnto hislo^' TH° ntensity of that inner search whitened hi^f;,rf T ■ ^^^ into lines. At last he stood im Th„ « V f,' '^^^wing it him in those raref hclgMs no iCn J But h ""ll^.T^^^ ^^^^ step further. By whatever rnvs^PHnn? ^ ^^u *^^^" °"« Life is hid from man by whrtrvermvstr^^^^ '^' ''i''^ °^ stumble to it at last, it is there to be found T ""^^^ ^^. "^^^ God who has hidden it, but man l^mself ' ^"'""'^ '' '' "°^ to justify ourselves-and You " ''^ ^*"«* ^ tnit It F"^^^" i''^ 5'°'"' °' ™"tine fell on him aeain H. halted a nfome''nVfw?epi„^' hXMTu„Tft™&^''H" ''^ been there since Dick came «nH ?k ? ^*- ^^ ^^d not at him from every come? ' Sn ntl'Tl ' P^^^^^^^^ty rose neat sausage of rohed clothes at the hl^ ,^'\^"?^' ^^*^ '^^ cap. his hllf-cleaned rifle anfa torn i'f^^'^^ His black oilskin kit sprawled on the^^^^^^^^ ^^^ °i^- straps, an unrolled puttee mocSa fd iT^ '\f '' ^^^^^ rowel strewed Kennedy's bed co'nd^sf,^^^ Kennedy was away. And Sck'rr^ofW^ ^''^'^'''S: that KelrdTLdtlularr" S ?S do '°* ?1 ^''^ *^'*-- ;sssi^Hisss:: spinning world. A half-shut eve on 7h!^ . ' *° ^^^'^^^ ^ >ut from our Ireamer who s soul. The , drawing it would hold d taken one le secret of ^ays he may -use it is not ip his loins. :hat secret ; again. He airs to give pty. but he ^e had not >nality rose k, with its IT coat and d with oil. underwear > from it in ills, leather h a broken >ving that /erywhere. crookedly nt of past i sketches, k brought val. t Tempest beadwork )d-stained catch a e, looking '^o heads ; 1 her lips seeking so, which e rimless different flail him KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 49 setting out the granite bowTs and cup^in wWch dS"/"!"? s*;iea2?n^r^^^^^^^^^^^ he ,£ .rti^el-VplaTe: t^^.T. ^^ o'" ='-■■ bloom.n' plates yer bloomin' self" ^ ^'^''^'' i'"^' soWy""""' "^'*^'' "■= "-' -°- w'tb interest. Dick spoke "I promised to take my next skefrh ^* Grange's. That new waitress sPPmnH / ^^^ ^^^^ *» struck on you, Foley " ^'"'^'^^^^ ^^^"^""^ ^te a good deal ove?tie'iio'n'^ "^'"P^^^ ^"""^^' He heard Foley shuffle I'll o^p'en^hel^o?^^^^'" '^ '^'^ ^-«-"y- " Off wi' yer. An icy breatti rushed in to nrovs it x his own room. Dick's knowled^7^f !v ?■"?==' t""ed into humanity might not be liSh hnfL *" '°™^ ""^^^ moved were occLionlily dLbSiy'^LTinX""'' "^"^ ^^^^ "^V gavo"h*'UmanTrgict'^'' ''"^'''='^°' "^ d°- ^-pest and I want you aloSg with C to take Omi^."''.'' '''"°''' if necessary." ''^ ^^^^ *- ^ara s depositions Dick had had his own ideas for that day ^. We were gomg oyer to Ducane's," hfobiected Inat can waif n'T-r^.^^ • \ , "-"Jjectea. take some grub and-v^u r^.^T^^^^ ^°°'t- You'd best know." Th'en. ten minutes S wh7nl°H '!f^ ^" ^^^"^^' ^^ ^ up to the door, he added ''DeVT *^^ ^^^^or's rig swLg himself into the rTwherl th« T^;""".'!;' '*"■ ^"d tucked quarters and ears laid back '^ ^^ '^^''"''^ "'*>> '"""ed AndTh°e^:'aste'pC;:ent"lwftrtT^^^^ ^^^ ""''-ed. he turned his eoUar'^up a"n™.\c S- t ."'f " '""^^-^ ^P""?' brittle-ieelin? as P-la^ ^ hun cuttin' lumber tu liniM T i,„ ?, ""*• ^ct machinery enough wid him OH, r : ."^"^Sorra, he has himintulLowi5airt'l"tuhim5or^"'''''^'' "''"' "'" ^= '^' of c,flo?oform Sr^he a*:*" "" '^''™^°-^- ^'^ ^P"' «■= odour a wSermXf fro'm"b!:,-^"'",°'«='™ "^^^^ over, sekctcd underarm ^^^^iro^e?,ti„«■L^7''■ '"' '"'^' '* ^^"'' so hfcIn^valk ofi'twd^"'" *° P."" ^' •*--' »-" *" ^'ap= •• Just tell lim "Lra rm E- 'Z ?'■ '^'"»^'" '^^ =^'^- Corp'ral, dear." ^ ' ™ ''y'" '" »■*■» Piece, THE LAW-BRINGERS stooped again to O'Hara ' ^™ sputtering, and " Be easy, O'Hara " he <;aiH " w- :„ ^ you." ' ^^^' "® ^s not going to touch "mardutrman?.^^.^'""-'''^^ One shudder ran through O'Ham Thlr; I J^eded blaze of wrath. ^ "^^^^ ^^ t)urst into a ^■'J^^^^ ^" *^^* want wid cuttin' me ud thin ? wi.o4. ••PafbtuT'le^dW"^"™"^""' ^"^""S into range. ?v!^„T,",* ,"" '='<="'■ °* 'he giant's long arm. said. '■ Stead? ^ ■»»■"=.'■ "^ had to trS's?m"?tog " ' °"'^ P^^sional instinct. He ba;k^'xlfa"tfd°."^'&'°Setm;"^°-'' .^''f"^ "^"PP^" I^be t,r„i„. .e sow, '^.^t^^^^ "ZL^J^ Ch^be^aurme't It wiStflted'", """ comprehensive. De other matter Th?„ V i f ."^^fe^nce to his diploma and him ouTfofa celt's" Son O-H^att,^? "^ ''"h\™ that there was no time for civimfes He^ Z^'^'^ J^ ^^"il.'S™^"""e^"^ over the clamr^y^e, ''^'' ^""^• Now^.rfeV:>r^att;;rS'h-npn'^f -- «- ^"^ ''• and his eyes grew dark ^ "^'^ '^'^^^ ^"^^elf, p|rraf b^^ciTrii- ' ^Xn^^aSr "'-'°-" '•^ ^-p^^- riolv Powfirs Hr>n'+ rri"!-" if +- j- - ^ . . , t iliaxic it tU me. man h*> lairi " l».r« sins enough of my own." ' ^- ^ ^® It h .1; ! i the sponge, lan with the on the bunk, ations which ■ tickled him the amazed ittering, and ing to touch voice. And leeded. 3urst into a lin ? What wly mother, v^ry neck of into range. ninute," he stinct. He ra dropped How shud ives afther nsive. De ploma and vs and ran earned him ack softly, e about it. ;k followed -e with its ister's feet ning down d himself, 5 gasped. d. "I've 'I KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 53 Ask '• f ror,^""'." ''?? ^'"^'^ ^""""y ^an absolution " de ChoiLfux.'' ^°^^ ^^^^^ °^ -^^ - ^^deous farce _,.. a ^raste'^' '"^^^"* '^' ^^"* ^ praste-why didn't he sind had Iny" rdSon''' *° ''^P^^' ' ^"PP°^« ^^ didn't know you what^dflefen-e ^"^^^^^^ ^--^ ,;/ -;t see amusement to you. I'm listening " ^ ' " '* ^ ^"^^ >i^' ffiLtsr;ar ^'■^ -'■ «- - "'= which were all O'Hara had Lpn .k?^ !, ^^^^' ^*"P^^ things the lie from me. An^ who wud Jv^'nf Tl'"'^ ^^r-giye him Dick was interested now ^ '^ "* ""^^ "°* ^« " ;; Where has she been ? " he said. worrd on the lips ov ye Corn'ral ^f T^?"* ^'""^ "^® the ?u™r'."^S:rt^* '- 0'HarUiuSebaJl.r^givT?hf^: fo^Ha^SUL- ^^^^^^^^^ to ,ua,«, stup^J,;!';:™ S?^— ;„-".^^ ^C: •; and feu into the coming darL to one who n5^H°'?f "^ ^^°^« home through to the labo'ur that was h.f to do '" '""^ ''"^' ""^ ^^^^ *""^'d it Svd^:ssitj;;i:s^ii;s^sv^ ^s? ^*^^^^' p^^^^-^ knife to the snake-fence and^ff ^Ih^^*'' ?^ ^^"^ ^^^^h hit Kc lence and cut and dragged the harness clear fl 54 THE LAW-BRINGERS ■ il of the dead horse, while the sun turned all iho ,vnef« «f pink and ddicate umber that steeled to col M^^^^^^^ rigid air numbed his nose to the edge of fmst hi^^' """h ^^Z ed uJr ■''''' ^""'V'^ ^^^ rubbfdVat dTng;';l%:"' He led the hvmer remamder of O'f-rTm'c- +<>,,. i i Y, ** ,'^y- "6 had worn awav the ed£?cs fhnt r.T S' ^^f^"^^ familiarity of ft waTa"Se%™'dr„ tol'" T,°"h "'''.?;^'^ "■-" raised h.mself to smel "thorand h"wl I'd bS't «^e';nar' fence a coyote barked in answer. Then far acrnt t h^ . dnfled their shadows, one by one shnk^y,f ?f . " "f ^' blood The single howl of a^™If Vang tetl ^out'^fZ S. "'¥he'' s"o^ti?^ei=rsM!"'^''r-'^''^'" ^"" ^^ indifferent to thJse S sewed herand'?°';^K' I"" .°^'" " treading, keen-eyed men of the back-trail met ifer Lreast to teeth and her breath that kills ^ ^^^^^ ha?j;w^oi?r ^I'll^or^^^^^^^^^ J^^^^^^dii^cs^wTerTrt^yi^rSIr bowed heads cowled wfth white v ^"^ i'^^ '^"^^^ ^^^^h ■ .-V. m.o.. dropped down and the Lights went home to the m te of snow to lue, and the )ite, and left r away. He lie dog slunk Then he lit :icting in the »rse and sled and started r drive into he tragedies ! familiarity iched in his dge burring t the moon ke from the to a spirit- n flags and every wave Dick's feet t the snake- i the waste, nt, seeking out of the ive, under- her own ; her hand ; ower, with ired fought the soft- , breast to em, kissed 3m to love larp white tched him 1 slid back 2 man who •seek over the black lem into a Lutes with led frozen r, thinner, ne to the 'I KNOW WHAT I'M AT' 55 wa^tmg bergs, and the life that moved in the forest was stealthy The world was dark yet when the pale line of the frozen lake rose like a ghost by the trail-side. A pair of nrowHnS Indian dogs, hungry as their race has beenthrCgh m^^^emoT able ages, loped alongside with raised bristles smeXtTh^ dog at Dick s feet. It swore defiance back until Dick kicked I- I 'I CHAPTER IV. " grange's andree." On the next morning Dick went to churrh t^ . , solemnity of his late cont rf wifi; ^i 1^ * ^^ ^^^^ "^^ the that O'Hara lay in 'Roman Cafhn?*^' if °' !^^ knowledge his head and fe^t, that disturbed hS'^^^^^^ "^'W*^ ^* and breakfasted and given in the wriffS^ If ^^ ^^^ '^^P* that day's work to xlmpes he looked fm^^^^ concerning wmdow and heard the En^hS. rh? u u?J^ .^^^ bunk-room girl go by with a long coft^ wart ''?'^'". 7"§^' ^"^ «^^ ^ red hair that gleamel on'celr h^rtr And D^'.^^Pf!; himself mto his outer clothes »n^ f^F' ^ ? ^'""^ ^"^^^^ flutter of a woman's dress was Ilw..l f a ""^S ^f ' ^°^ ^he and his mind had no^f^rl^tten t^^^' ^^^ *^^* ^^^^ ^^^ him. Sled th,, a,te3ted to his' rtet l^: tr^^.TAnZl""' '^°'^" sch?o? ?exronX'l^in^rb- 1,' f^^^^^ ^^^^Y' hot length down thTaisIe inH ! ^^^^^^ stove-funnel ran its drifted In for warmth!^ ' the va.mnts L°' ^'""^-'^ ^"^ churches. The preacher wa. a "^^ff"^^"*' /^^ ^^ continental English Mission on the othir side Tc?: w^ ,f ^"r. '^°"^ '^^ English boy in Revillons p^aved ?hT 1^°^^ ' .^^^^es. the scattered here and there alonVfhf^ , v^''™^"^""^ ^^ and. score traders' wives and femflS ^V^^^^^-^^^' were the half: VVolf could spare t"Gro?"undayT"^' "^^^ ^" ^^^^ ^-y ent^rn'cf ^^at^se^hL^^^^^^^^ T\^f'^^ --^^ by his of the world went very dee? H. .? ""^ ^'^^"^ ^^^* ^^^ ^^^^^^n in the long fur coat and ^hpn^lf^^ '^^^ ^^^^^ the girl which followed Bu{ under ws t'Jf^ '^^^ *° '^' P^^^^^ coils of hair and the lobe of thp .i^tn ^^ T^ "°*^"§^ ^^^ ^hick The artistic temperament wis stronl '^i'^'^''-'^^ to the head, twisted his life L?^he mSht hnT ^"^ " ^^ ^^^ ^^^ Now that power w7s parSfdere^c Ifke' aTl "'^S '^'^^^• emotions roused by it were sharn v.f /i^^^^* ^"^ ^^^ of the girl's head arresred Jm ^ ^ ' ^"^ ^^' ^^^^^^ P^^^^ It was the end of that struggle begun more than a month •GRANGE'S ANDREE' was not the * knowledge ith lights at le had slept concerning bunk-room and saw a nd copper- >ick rushed • Foi the 2w for him, the broken ig Sunday, nel ran its ■elicts had ontinental from the orbes, the m ; and, s the half- ;hat Grey ed by his le rehgion ^d the girl le prayer the thick the head. e had not rk there. But the ity poise a month / back which had brought Jennifer to church this dav qi,« k a not come before because that .shprr^T. / , ^- ^he had shocked her out oilu^hexnllrl^^^^^^ had things natural and ?rue were dilrt^^^^ ^°' t.^^^^ ^" kissed her with ah the ^rh^Hitf ^'' ^"^ ^""^^^ ^^' ^"d the woman in her all fho cf,.;^i ^'*""?^ '•^^•t night , and all to make allowances even 1.t' "^^i"? L°^^ ^^ ^'' «t^°^« broken wordrs^'d ^n hk ifn ^^^P^^^ had said. Ducane's They pIacedyrtusTan^\'nrtU';L'e" Si?^^ n^^^"^^' was a whole ^on n >arer the hr^.ZtL ^ u ^^^^^^^ • Ducane of that influence of hers of whTch T.m-'^'>.'^^^' ' ^""^ ^"'^"'^ beginning dimly to know it ^ '* ^^^ '^°^'''' ^^ ^^^ with'b^oth'lS: ?rLrh?ndi'"^^'i' '' ft ^"PP^"^ ^^^ -^^^^ you're right af far away What's the m^f? ''^t '^^'s"°^ '^ZIT ^y— youJnowTi:l:;ou%Tn?yoJ^^^^ ' eyes'^f m:r ^Vn'dreV' knew him^or what^e^was in the for her Ze fo^ht st'exT^'th 'f^A^^' T^ Y"^ ^^^^* ' ^^^ "«^d head in the roueh wonH n. ' ^°' ^^T"' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^d her bravely, to him and for hST" ^"tt °5''"^ ^""^" steadfastly, one day comeTo Ws full .i^ '"^ *^!, ^"'^'^ *^'^^ ^"^^"^ "^ig^tt clean jSwen ^^"'^ ^"^ '^^"^ "P^^^t by his own haSonfum tnl 'SS ?^t d 'i?" '^" °" *^^ ^-^^-^ quaint old hymn begTnnSg: '' "°^'' '^"^^^>^ ^" ^^^ "We are but little children weak. Nor born to any high estate . . ." 58 THE LAW-BRINGERS I thoughts, jerking her into acute knowledge of it A man's voice : young, by the verve of it, and yet trained A ^Se oSw17°.r n^"^"°' Tempest's, and lot the husky tones oi Ogilvie, the Oxford man who was drinkintr himself to d/pS; on a remittance. It was not Slicker. It ?ould not be-anS then Jennifer \s mind sprang to the solution. It was that nevv man at the barracks of whom Ducane had toTd her half herTtirfhnt'' '",T ''^'^"^^- Th^ confession had burn"d" ioncT e bv That'virit'^^'''- V°"' ^.^"""^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^e concrete Dy that virile voice, her whole nature roused to defiance and to an oversweeping desire to see him face to th^" Wn^!^ *\'^ hymn the impulse pulled at her; and with !nnf 1 ? J^'^ ^"'"^^' ^^ t^^O"Sh seeking a wrap on the scat-back, and caught Dick's eyes full. There was interest and bold amusement and cynical understanding i^hem and she swung back instantly, with the red leaping up he^'face Dick flipped open a stray Cree hymn-book; ancf stoopiS decorously through the following prayer, made the first sketch " ^iX'tZT^t^xr^ ^^- -^'^ ^- ^^-"-2 wij 'i^^^f^-^^^- ^z^t^ white ways swiftly, and Dick halted to walk with the wife th.t DiH^f Ti?''^^ ^^''°^- I* ^^^ ^«" knownTthe F^rce that Dick had his reasons for all he did ; but Mrs Leiffh d^d not guess at the reason for this civihty, even whe„ he put it mto words on the steps of her own verlndah ^ * '^ siIeLoTnf\ll'%T ^^^,^°^" by a clean-swept path to the side-door of the Store, where two freighters, slow-movin- vet dominant with that quiet self-possession of the men of the trail concluded a bargain with Leigh. Their roueh doS sunk round snufhng Leigh's high moccasins and woouln stockings, and Dick watched them as he spoke Mr« rTV S! ^'"^ "°* ^^^P^^§^ *^ack of the people around Mrs Leigh. Where was she from-that girl in church S the Cenci eyes and the Titian hair ? " ^ " Do you think she's as wonderful as all that ? " said Mrs never seen her ! Why-she's Mrs. Ducane from over the " ^^I^- — r" ^^^^ stared with dropped iaw He had hppn ,-.. it. A man's I. A gentle- sky tones of self to death not be — and ras that new d her, half- had burned man made s roused to lim, face to r; and with i^rap on the vas interest 1 them, and ip her face, d, stooping first sketch that he was east-pocket down the th the wife I the Force . Leigh did n he put it )ath to the noving yet nen of the ough dogs id woollen )le around, lurch with ' said Mrs. nonth and over the 5 had been ; not even e medium outside." ink. Rut out now. GRANGE'S ANDREE' 59 and Slicker with her. He is like a pair of brothers to her that boy is." Slicker brought the sleigh round the corner of the stables • saw Dick and bellowed a greeting before Jennifer could silence hull. Dick came down with long strides, and sLood by the sleigh, and the change in the man startled Jennifer The bold interest was gone, and the contemptuous understanding In voice and manner Dick carried now all the courteous charni of the elder days. And he was good to look at ; better than she had thought. " Dick," said Slicker, with his vigorous thrust-back of conventions. " My cousin's been under the weather lately Well, honey, you've looked like it, sure enough. And I guess it would be the decent thing for you and Tempest to come right along and cheer her up. Don't you want to ask him Jennifer ? " The understanding in Dick's grave smile pleased Jennifer this time. Slicker's got tact, hasn't he, Mrs. Ducane ? " he said " But Tempest talked of bringing me over some dav I'd be glad to take him your message that you could see us tliis afternoon." The subtle flattery ; the eager ring in the voice ; Jennifer's dread of a long afternoon of Slicker's questions swayed her She gave the invitation with more warmth than she knew and Dick looked after her as the sleigh drew out of the yard Shcker's round whistle piped up in the pathetic old Indian song : "The sun shines bright on pretty Red-wing; " and Dick, with the dazzle of Jennifer's hair yet in his eyes drew his hps in. For he knew the end of that song. ' " I was right in calling those Cenci eyes," he said. " She has a way of looking as though she had to look and was afraid of what she might show." Jennifer asked one question as the sleigh flew over the level lake. " What is he like— that Mr. Heriot ? " she asked. Slicker was young enough to believe that, being on the verge of manhood, he knew all that there was to know of men. " Why, he's a real good sort," he said. " You'll hke'him honey." ' That afternoon Tempest learned some more concerning Dick, and it frightened him. For he read the cold-blooded purpose behind that courteous gallantry which had been Dick's heritage even at school. He saw Jennifer lav^h and flush and brighten as talk of pi-tures and music went "round Illumined by the light wit which Dick knew so well how to 6o THE LAW-BRINGERS 1 H i the chance that Ducane'svonLf"^^^ ^^^ '^o* foreseen trap than that laid fo? the^betrlval o?Vf ^* ^^^^ ^^*° ^ ^^^P^^ of Ducane ? It was tl at thpn? t Ducane. The betrayal sitting bluff and reavHy^-ovfaiaLin.f'^r'' !f °?^^^ ^* ^"^^^^ He looked at Jennifer down on^wl^°'^-^'""^*^ P°rti^^^^ open fire laughing as shTquarre led ^^^f.^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^e toast-making ; and he lookpH /f "n- i ] Shcker over her with one foot over his knee .n^^i^^ ^[^^ ^ ^^*«« ^P^rt, contemplation shut doL on h" jeln u ^^"^ ""^ ^^'°^^^^ had known that look we"l, once Dkk'.T If t' ^^"^P^«* was on the trail again • here S'nn. ^ sleuth-hound mind where that little laugh'inf wifew^^. 1'.°"^^ ^°"^^ ' ^^re. He stood up with the Duk5. % *° ^^'^^ *^^ husband not seemed hLThat 4fo^re no! ".?/? ^^ *^'°^*- I* had his'own control by givSg [t i'nto Di^.S^''^ ^^.^^^ P"* ^* °"t«ide had said of Dick ? ^ ^ ^*° ^'^^ '• ^hat was it Molson i^xTmpTsi^t'JPfo'i"^^^^^^^ ^^ ^- ---^ it." it again v^ith one oTll'th^VoT '^' °'^ ^"^^ ^^ ^"-^ that when he got Dick alonrh. ^i f ^^"^^^ ^"^ he knew The horror If the ?hin^^ Jf T"^^ ^f^ *° ^^ ^t- on Jennifer, and t^to^^st^ ^°^^ ^^^ ^^ closed from thi-p^ortge fe^Te wUrr ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ can stay if you'll keep him Til wa^k^;^ Y^^' ^'' ' ^''^ ste^-an'd^^^^^^^^^^^^ 4ind^: S£i?£ j^^^^^^^ raw grey that awful m^tery of the toT^^^ struggling to pick the loS ofS^ ' hr J^ 1"^''-"^"^^ ^^^h of trying to see through it ' ^^'""^ ^'*^ ^^^ ^^^^ strain witlSclITg^eyS :nrclear''^ ^'°^^ ^°^ ^ ^« ^^-^h. woman and cafried her ?oId for hPr^%?T*°.°^ ^ half-breed trail tc her shack. And then nnl "".k^ '^^ *"™^d "P ^ side- forest and the patt;r of the blowW ? ^^^ "^'"^ "^^^^ ^^ the filled up the infinite desola^^^^^^^ ^'°'^° !P°^ ^long the trail to his very soul • lifelis d.vif r 5^' .^^"^P^^t felt tired lying flat before him There r.*^"^' "^-^^ ^'' ^^^^^ ^^^d could look into hisTyes and !ivfv''° ?u^ '" ^" ^he earth who standing. No oie to whlf ^ - sympathy of under- himtosithemanhestTlHo^-^^'^"^ ^^^t it meant to of the law t" - "^.stnl loved degrading the law in fK^ ^.^ law. I., ^rooa alone in this infinitely lonely 1,2;?^! 'GRANGE'S ANDREE; 6i Alone with his six-fold weekly reoorts • «7,+i, t-u u ^ complained when their pigs^we?rstr'avTH ^tJ'T'^^ ^^° men who complainedwhen theirj^Jc ^ '7'*^ ^^® ^^ite stood aloneall thedayrof hish e wihthr '^?^'^ ^^*°- «« settlement of Httle sordid Ste;s th. . ^^I? " ^f ^'°^'' *^^ order which he carried on Ws own hnH '"l^estion of law and him there was no wffe to ' a^fh.^ u^^'^ ^^ ^^^^- ^^^r bright with her presence n^l^ i ..? "^^^^ ^°^^^ suddenly a man tip-toes orunshorfee?^ "\'°° '", *^^ Foley's lamp to call ?o him. ' °° ^^^^^'^ight other than These are some of the nrirpc! «rh,vi, ^ ment of Empire and unt^f thf.T^ -^^^ ^^^ ^°^ *^^^ ^"^ther- that he was paying them Now h' T'""/"'^ ^^^ ^^^" P^°"d bowing his shoulders f^r thr.? .^'°^ °^ ^^^^ depression seemedSofoulthetLW^^or^a^nd^^^^^^^^^^ sin of Dick's . he'^saw h\V?ut:fng::?rifnnVA't '^^t"" '''' ^^^^^ °^ trail hfe and liis hear? unhesUaW t"i^^^ "^^° ^''' ''^ht and his long easy Indian C and '3^^^^^^^^ ^^^"" '^^ ""^'^ '''' and nearly as hthe in her lon^ Ir rn^l ^' ?^ "^^^^er ermine with the ear-pieces ^ °^^ ^""^ ^^^ ^^^^^ fur cap loote'lips irsnfffit"!^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^-/ ^ddie-head and strange wild breaSthnfhio''^f^?' ^^^ ^^"^'■' -- the why and where SdVowan^^^^^^ '°'f1' ^°^ ^^^^ ^^^w the moose propped stifflv Z^^ ^ ?S^' ^^"^th of Tempest ^•keachild. TKriflf/' r^^^^ little complaining cries L.e two looked at TemDLTw^f^^^^^ °T ^^^ "°"S^ ^^^^t. and forest-born. t£ jrl w^A. n'^^j^! '^}^^ ^"^ soft eyes of the in curls round the ^lllollflT'^ 1*'^'$*- ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^sped the faint, uneradiSble stan^n nf^^^^^ anS^^ePs^SLTt';;^^,- ?P^^^^^^^^ '" - .now. have men look at herLifl had nSti,?' ""^ ™* "^^^ *» looked as Tempest looked now ^""""^ *''°'' "''° yon f ■' ^""'^ '^''"•" ^= ^^'<1 ^"d moved forward. " Who are "I am Grange's Andree," she said. tho4l.t°firtoT;e"alTf'o'lara-?'"Pn*' '"' ^'^"^ '-''' ■>"' Whipped oif her^mitten °swe^? ^„rn*Uti"??- J'^^ «"i iuuoea vitjorouslv nfTi»t^^^„.(.' 1. , ~ '-"i^aiUi ux biiow, and on her facf rdtr" IrX«\httr Wm."'° ^°'°" "'^^-S 62 THE LAW-BRINGERS ii I cfiff^'^fl'^'^^V f ° explained. And then Tempest took her stiffened hand between his and brought hfe back to it with an hm^h^fh^^V^^ ^'r ,*° 'u"f ^^"S such a rollicking care-free laugh that Tempest laughed too, unknowing why any more than he knew of the Indian taint in her or of the wild drop that called to sky and wind and was never content with the cartn. " Bo' soir, M'sieu," she cried suddenly ; pulled free, whistled the moose in the high bell-note that would call him later from til'"'? ^n the forest and iled down the track hke the wind she had pretended to be. And Tempest went home with that awakenctl look yet in his eyes. Andree corralled the moose in the hotel-lot ; fed it with green branches sliced down from spruce and cedar, and flung herself on the hard-wood sofa in the corner of the httle back eating-room at Grange's. She thrust her cap back, idly watching Grange's half-breed wife roll her fat bulk to the kitchen and back with plates of smoking meat, with hot biscuits and with babies of various ages and sexes which she set about as indifierently as she set the plates of meat. Thev lay or sat according to their size, staring on their small world r.V.h °^^ ?^ ''^'^'"^ ^""^ '■^"^^^ ^^^^s • a^^d suddenly Andree reached her long arms, swung a child up by its clothes and held It close, croonmg over it. " Mou bcbe," she said. " Ah, mon bebe " It took no interest in her kisses, and presently she tired of n^f 1 ?"^' It roll back on the iloor where it lay screlming until Its mother stopped its mouth with a shred of moosemeat! An ,: .f°K^°'''' P'^ety you no mak' marree down in Calgary. Andree, she expostulated. ^ ^' nf'^h^l^-^}''°^^VT^^^ ^^^ ^^*' ^^^^^y- good-humoured face ; at the high cheek-bones and the twinkhng beady eyes, and the black coarse hair sleeked down behind the ears. This woman :^i£tzt^ ''-' ' '^"^ ''-' '-'' ^^^^^- ^-^ -^ ^^^?-t '.'. J^o.you like to be married, Moosta ? " she said calmly ^ ^"""^ ^"^ ^''^^' °"° '''''" '''°'^ ^°'* '"'''" ^^^^ ^^osta hofi-^rllL I ^'H? *r ,^°y i"^"^' ^^^"^ one-and three boy better than two." Andree drew basin and spoon to her and began her meal. " Mais-one man all the time » ''she said and hfted her shoulders. * ^^^^' Moosta pulled the last baby into her capacious lap. Mebbe you no hear dey mak' burree O'Hara to-dav " she said. '-'"j'. " What ? " The word was sharp as a box on thp f-ir- Tf fi^-.^i^ a the gentle Moosta. " "" ^^ ^^^^^^^'^ pest took her to it with an :ing care- free hy any more he wild (^rop :ent with the free, whistled m later fron:i ike the wind me with that fed it with ir, and flung e Uttle back back, idly bulk to the t. with hot DS which she neat. They small world enly Andree hes and held she tired of 7 screaming moosemeat. in Calgary, oured face ; res, and the- rhis woman nor disgust 'GRANGE'S ANDREE' id Moosta three boy to her and " she said, ip. a to-day," t fluttered 63 •■ It was s;pose he dead." she explained apolo-eticallv ing a song of the lumber-camps ^'"'' ''^''''^■ "Derrier chez nous, ya-t-un ctang, tn roulant ma boule Trois beaux canards s'en bout baignant En roulant ma boule. ^ ' Rouh, roulant, ma boule rou " • -Rouli, roulant; ma boule roulant. iin roulant ma boule roulant. t^n . . . roulant ma boule.' " toSed Sce'^S^fis'itolt"]^ ^' ^"^'^^'^ ""^^t him ; "'t17 ^tnfi^I"'^ ^" '"s ^y^^ ^h°' fl^e- ^.r. °''^" ™« screamed. "Shut nr. 1 -ri O'Hara any more. He is imne iv , ^ 1 J''"° "^ "o* We no speak of death It fs stuoiJ'' r'^f k™'. f''' 5-^- hate you, Moosta." -i- 's stupid. C est abomraable. I with'a'Sngted gTgg,r °°' ^°" '""P" =*"'•■■ ^^'i'i Grange Sh^tallce^^blclTo the teE: f ^'"^ Y'''^ indifferently. Presently she clanceH ,,„ fu !, "'' "'™* ™ ^"'h l^-- soup, of her e/es befofeTemuLess " -"<'---"'^' '»k gou. ou^t room^" Ve LTdTher'^S? L^h"^" ^* *^"= '" "■= ^'-g- Moostatpoke"' "" ""*= crossed ' troubled glances. Then AnteT™- ^°" °° '"'^ ^■PO^'^ dey go oS rude wit you, '■ Sure." Grange caught the suggestion eagerly. •• You 64 THE LAW-BRINGERS ii ill sn:nlVrX^lT^^^^^^ '"^'"''y- -^ the two were • -^^.tf ' "I^i'^" ^°°^t^ ^^^ the last baby on her knees oreoar. mg It for the moss-bag in which generations of her fo;e?Xr; had grown their tall, shapely limbs. Andree brought her glowmg face to the baby's level ; chuckhng and cooing vWth f ^* kI *^t ''^^"^ ^^"^^ t^^glcd the curls over he? Tves and dabbed at the laughing lipl Grange, smoking his pSe acrid tobacco in his seat by the stove, watched the two women m tolerant pride as their broken words came to him My petit daughter." crowed Moosta. " Ah netanis • newaspasooowasis." ' "^'^^"is , vivid^^onf ^ ""''li^^^ ^T ^' "^°ss-bag yet." struck in Andree's vivid tones. See her toes curl like the young fern-shoots " She stropped to kiss the soft, brown. Lall tbTngs And then Robison fol owed his knock into the room and looked tXra 1 h?; h""' "'i "i ^°°^t"'^ t^^^^' ^-d h^ had known something thntr^.^H ^^'"^ '"*° ^' ^^'^ ^' ^^ ^^^^ed came something that made him great and noble for the moment mV' r^' ^^^ '^^^P ' ^°^ t^°"gh a man needs love to make him human, he is often most inhuman when he loves You rustle around out o' that. Andree." he said '' f guess^you am't forgot you was wantin' to play cards w' me an' •• What'll Ogilvie do if I don't play with him ? " asked the girl, and pressed her hps again to the baby flesh! .' WK^'^^^n^ " ^^^^ injured." said Robison dryly. What will you do ? " ^ ^ "I You are wantin to play wi' me." said Robison. He spoke quietly, but again there was that suggestion of primitive force. The primitive in her answered toftTt once She pushed back her crisping hair and stood up. ' Charhe ?^'^ '" '"'" '^' '^^'^' " ^°^ ^"^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ drawer. ,-.Jt^^^'iEP'^T'" ^""'^ Grange, and tipped his chair back and Wh for'n^'l""'' °P'"A ; ^"° ^^^^«'" ^^ said. -' GoSd nough tor a love-game, Andree " F,S'^ ^T"^ ^'°"' *^^ ^°°^- K^ was yet enough of the fo; w^i?fArd;e'Lif;tn:;i^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ -^^^ ^ -- p^^y and ^unf ; J°" 'h°° ^"""l.^ P^^y ^°' *^^ d°"a^s." said Andree, CharhP Oh T' "^f ^-'^ *^' *^^^"- " Pil^ i^' boys. Here Charhe— Oh. I m playing with yon ^h ? Damn ! " biie took the tone of those about her unconsciously and t ses pertickler _.\m he two were :nees, prepar- er forefathers brought her I cooing with ver her eyes king his pale e two women m. ^h, netanis ; kin Andree's fern-shoots." hings. And and looked 3 had known looked came he moment, eeds love to en he loves, e said. " I Is wi' me an' " asked the 'GRANGE'S ANDREE' iggestion of ) it at once. hat drawer, r back and d. " Good •ugh of the tragedy to a man play aid Andree, )ys. Here, !" iously and looked at Robison repulsed. The third time she forehead and red eyes ISwerL X °he buffi"' '"..^''^S'' land. Ogilvie took thp hinV IL k* j ''""'''<> of his own Hands off, Andree " hp sain " t '""^^ »c up. this back." He rubb:d wl fot star /gThef '"yV""'' ■■ Go d: th'ebar"' °*''^"-" '''" ^"^^'^ indifferently. Grange went out, and Robison stooped to ths mrl a j- Z\^t^' "^^""^ M-t^ "ooned" a ^^^^ '^^^ ^^ voi;e''?hookrth'7eeTng°"'.' In^e^*'^?"' ^'"'^ h*^ ™>Sh now.?" reeling. Andree. you're carin' for me Prn^/l'^^^^'^C ^^^ ^^^'^^d fo'-ward to him 1 not know what it mMnc " ^v,^ u- ,' understand. I cannot W"' ^^" ^^^^P^^^^. " I cannot Again that look quivered over the coarse earthv fan* •• l^Pfr^^^t^^Z^^-^^^'t said. ^ But^al, a woman's desire to'touch beyondtr reach was in " Suppose I no can help doin? fhaf ? " cv.^ ^ i ^ breed's face blackened to s^uddenVnger '^'^' ^^^ *^" But\";;^ee'^°a^e no'answeV^ H ^ ^''" ^^ ^^^^ ^'^°^-«y- wide wild-anim!uea? aSn Fnr ^^' ^^^^^^^6 taking on the who had looked at he?l^s no m?n I'^fl *^^^^"^ °^ tempest She did not know thP inL ? ^" ^^"^ ^°°^^^ ^^ her before. Sitting in 4 offil ttou^h llVTT.'^ ' ^"^ tempest did thought of Andree as a man th I'^'S^?."'' ^' ^"^^ that he desires to make Ws wife ^n?.^\°^*^^ Y^"^^^ ^^om he face was changing It wore^nt .h ' knowledge of this his sees home befo?e him Than ThT.f^^ '^'^'''^ °^ ^ "^^° ^^o the gleam of a stLu^the heights ^^^^^ '''^' '°"°^' Tempe^sS ma^^^ Hetrs't'lfV" ^^^^ — -^V ^iTp^^J^Kp^^^^^^^^^^^^ an/;;^^;-eS^----^ 66 THE LAW-BRINGERS ^ I ^ M li • 1 l!i Ml Besides, he said, and looked on the inchoate wall- smudge that was maps and memoranda only, " I think it is taken out of my hands, somehow." He got up, treading the room with his light virile step But the dreamer-hght in his eyes was not the same. He had given his love to an intangible thing ; to the great West that w-as and would be. An hour had made it concrete in the shape of a woman ; but he did not think how much would be lost or won through it. And he had forgotten the word of a great one of the earth, " No man can serve two masters." Dick's step passed in the passage, and Tempest opened the door with his mind closed like a steel trap on the present moment of duty. ''Come in here a minute," he said. Then, facing the other in the lamplight, he added, " Don't you think you can get through by fighting a man in the open ? " Dick looked at him curiously. "Does she mean more to you than another woman ? " he said. Tempest stared. And, suddenly and very vividly it burst on him how far, how marvellously far, he had travelled since he last saw Jennifer. He laughed, exultantly, as becomes a man who had just discovered for himself something that is very new and hidden, and very sweet. " No," he said. " But don't you understand, you owl ? 1 can t eat a man's bread and betray him." " Oh ! " The short laugh held contempt. " Well I can • especially when the man is Ducane." He sat down, crossing his arms on the chair-back. " In an album r* "^Irs. Ducane's I found two photographs of our wonderful ' , which I had seen before— in one of those prospectuses that old man from lennessee showed us last week," he said, " You don't mean that ! " ''I mean it very certainly. Ducane is the man at this end of the string." Tempest walked through the room in agitation. " Even so, I hate to have you do it this way," he said "My dear fellow, with a good object in view it is allowable to stretch a point occasionally. I don't pretend to be very moral or very nice in my methods, or very honest, you know. But I have never shirked settling day yet, and if this matter puts rne in a corner I hope 1 won't shirk it then. But I intend that it shall put Ducane in the corner instead. He won't S! ZT^nF'^^^^y, "^^^^ ^^ S^^^ ■t^^^e' either. I have a notion that he 11 cry. "Dick, I can't allow tliis. It is degrading our work to do it this way, ' It is only when we cease to recognise degradation that it ichoate wall- ' I think it is ile step. But me. He had 3at West that e in the shape would be lost Drd of a great :rs." 5t opened the I the present ing the other you can get roman ? " he idly, it burst avelled since as becomes thing that is I, you owl ? A^ell, I can ; wn, crossing rs. Ducane's which I had d man from at this end 3 said. is allowable to be very , you know, this matter Jut I intend He won't /e a notion work to do tion that it 'GRANGE'S ANDREE' becomes comnlete Vr», rv,^ . but you Will K JeZZ\lT^^l^'f^ ^°" ^^^^' ^-P-t. and I am going to take it. TWs easel, h"^^^ ""l ^ ^'^^ ^^nd li I pull it off . " . xnis case is big enough to make me •' f couTnor",r'^""°"^f°^that ? " You^r^h^,^ ltv7th\°Ta;.tt1hTr-°^r^^ ~- perhaps the best record for the kind '? ^^ ? 1^^ ^°^^« and don't care about touching WhaJ tho./°'f ^^^* ^°^« ™«n ladies and doddering old men arpV? T'"^""^" ^^^ maiden which has corralled them T can', = ^"^ ?°''* ^^'^ company am going to do. And y^u w'll lealTm ^^' I ^"°^ ^^^t I not my master in this " ^^ "^^ *° ^^ it. You are inf erir rad 11!^--^^ V^^ .^^ ^he amused whtped^^^. -- was onrUTnrhVrKt^: he saTd." '^^^ ^'^"^^^ --^ than I ever thought you would " '; Possibly." Dick stood up stretrhfn. 1,- . It was one of that sex whkh vn, o 1 ^'' '*^°"- ^^bs. fastidious about who was ^^300^^ ,-f^^^ «° extremely may remember. Oh I don???il l "" ^^^ ^^^^ place, as you my fun, as I said. And I am^oTn" .''f ^^ ^""^^^ ^ hkve C also as I said." ^"^ ^°^"S ^^ ^^ke this thing through^ He lay awake Ion? thaf n,'o->,+ l^new. They were nit many ^^^^^^^ T-^ ^^^^s as he whole complicated matter H.iL^^ ^''^ difficulty of the nothing of ?t. That'w'a^sure '^And Sh.^' 1^""^^^^ k^- Their mnocence would helD him', -nr? i""^®"" ^"^^ nothing stood Ducane. The maXrSrinJ-H-l'^'^^y ^^ ""^^^^ through, but he was also ^ .1 !f ^"^ dishonourable riffht ^itle of. The man kett clearTth; h^'^^^f " ^^ ^^^^ "ery man, and any overtures had SL . ^a^^cks and the police- Now D^.j, dJcided Zry^an^c^^erTj'^^^^^^^ U ^L^t^^ental nature more coSV.i^tf ^^^^^ ^^ow the I would be easy to touch him tS^Ind^girV^" ^"^'^^"^ '^''■ of consequences. He went to « 1 1 ^"^^ick was never afraid smile on his lips which G?eywiK^u°" ^^* ^th the twitching with suspicion. ^ ^°^^ ^^^ already come to regard at the barracks was warm thJn, -I * tunber-lined mess room o-I lamps and tho red Tlo„ fro,?^ l,''"'l''"8W«th the coa" pf&treai^^;!?aiS3rM°^^^^^^ 68 THE LAW-BRINGERS ^h 11 |ii 4 I up a half-year's arrears with needle and thread on more or less wrecked garments. The varied degrees of men among which Dick's hfe was thrown interested him always. But to-night he welcomed them with special graciousness. One of them would serve his need before the night was out. He glanced over them, wondering where his choice would fall. There was Ogilvie' pinched and shakily conscious that he was an old man in his youth. There was Lampard, the cheerful commonplace Canadian in the Hudson Bay Store. There was Slicker ; Parrett, the new Dissenting minister ; Heinmann, a German boy travel- ling through to Peace River ; and Falconer from Lac La Biche. They drowsed and talked and smoked in their steaming clothes, with the smeh of ccist furs in the corner growing stronger as the heat iLxreased. Dick, pulling a thread as long as his arm, broke suddenly into song, with the elements riding their Valkyrie gallop outside. " Kiug Charles, and who'll do him right now ? King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now? Give a rouse : here's in Hell's despite now King Charles ! " The outer door burst open, and a blast of icy wind Ucked past Robison as he stood on the sill with his shoulders peppered with snow. " Sergeant home yet ? " he asked, and slammed the door in obedience to a tenfold command. " No," said Dick. " Do you want anything ? " Robison intimated that he did ; and Dick went through with him to the little court-room, gave the special bit of informa- tion required, ripped some memo-forms off the block, and noted on his way back that Robison stumbled on Ogilvie's out-thrust feet and shot him a perfectly unexplainable look of fury in reply to Ogilvie's apology. "There is something the matter there," said his unflagging brain. But he continued his song untroubled as he shut Robison out in the night. " Who helped me to gold I spent since ? Who found me in wine you drank once ? " " And that we never did," said Lampard. " Though you appear to be bearing up under it." " Just as well as the H.B.C. is bearing up under the know- ledge that it has lost its significance," agreed Dick. " What's that ? " demanded Lampard^ instantly afire for the honour of his world-known firm. more or less the door in " Why- ' GRANGE'S ANDREE' 69 Here before ChriQf • m^ • • ^^ *° ^"^ themselves after you passed. Parrett " he said " v!! ?v ^^ J""^* of it, of course ? " ^°" ^^^ ^^e tracks of Jm^ '"*"°'>'-" ''^ ^^l- " I ^a^ the tracks. Plenty it to te- by thTspo/e ?"1ske^'n"v ?°^ "'S ™»W J"" take on the paper ^ '^ ""'''• """S'^S ""t bold sweeps '• n?^' ^^K° ', 't'^y were— I guess I didn't measure them " sat unmoved ^r^!^"^ ^^r^^^^^ ^ this/' he"7aid." ''*''°" "'" "'^"* *° '^" yo" « -ver he seea Th?Suffalo^?th^w ';°''i[""' '*" '*•■■ =aid Dick placidly. RoWson's Se ?ed eves an/il^P '""^ °' *" ^'«"^'' w°" had Robison's%l,>ht%!( 5'^*^''y ""^"^ °' ''"'=1' hair. It cX'^aVX^^SS- °U!^' ■"^" -"•> Andrfe in^ We 11 see how Robison likes it," he said Slicker snatched at it and missed it xxn- V ' y°" "^^^^ nie tired, Ocilvie " hp «!airi "t What did vou mvp if fn i.,-^^ V^- , .^^^^' ^^^^ ^^ up. Robison is." ^ ^° ^'"^ ^°"' ^^^k ? You know wh^t cwcif ™ P^^f ely what Dick did not know. Bn. ,-. th- ^son'::^,^^^;^^^^ '"^'"^'^ *« fi^d out enemy. '^ ^* P'^'^"*' ^"^ ^^ ^^ight make a valuable 70 THE LAW-BRINGERS I MP' ti 1 I »ure you show Wm! Ogiltte" " ''*"°" "^^°S°-- "• ^a he'll^ry to'£l v^«*for°tt"\?H^o''-,""''^ '""^ ^PP'<^» I tWnk upandUt'hls'^ay'TnJ^'thrl?!""^'- ^""^ P'"^"*'^ "^ 8°' idly AliTthrto/v'* t°-^rd= h™ and went on sketching tread: ' *"' '°°S had the old stately, deep-sef "Good-night to you, Spanish ladies. Oood-mght to you, ladies of Spain," wa.' tt t?c?oTSSa'i°e.f;o';ig ^t^'^' "' "^^ ^"^^^ "^^^ I think you do not look it" ' asked. Dick accepted the comphment modestly, he sugg^s'ted"^ "^^^ '"" 'P'"^ °' ^^^"'^ ^^-^ -^^h more respect," m^n love ^^'yoTL'^i'ffJSfl " ^^ r^'^' ^^^ ^^ always." ^ language, and I hope to love all ladies— ^l^x^ceTFftt^^'^1 /^"^^ 'P"^"§^ ^"t° I^ick's eyes. Then he he lerked fh^.^''^"^.^"" '" *^" '^^^^^ «f his hand. And ?hen he_ j^erked the stove door open ; crumpled the sheet, and ?hrus? he'la^dTvlV""^?^ ZfT^"" ^°^" ^" °"^ ^^"g"^g-' Heinmann." to remeSthat." "^^ ""'^^^ '"'P^^^' ^^^ ^'" *^°"ble you toited'^wiS'hk^r they were gone, and when Kennedy had ™rthe tabL'^and'' ""'fT ^P '° ^^^' ^^^k ^^t -th his _ rms on the table, and laughed a low laugh with no mirth in "How very easy it is to humbug others " he qaid " wi.o<- a pity It IS not so easy to humbug oneself.''' ^^** th2l opTnthfd?or"' ''"' '°"" '"^ P^^^^S^' -^ Tempest W^sti/aTli^ris.'''^ ""™" "^ ^^^^'" ^^ -i^- "I'- ral conceit," ises it. Be pies I think ently he got )n sketching ly, deep-sea Lirved hand id his httle h. and your 3en doing, le German ' he asked. 3 respect," :t does not 11 ladies — Then he And then md thrust iinmann," ouble you nedy had t with his ' mirth in " What Tempest i. " I'm 'GRANGE'S ANDREE' 71 He jerked off his gloves and rubbed his hands before the stove laughmg cheerfully. He brought a changed atmosphere into the room wMch Dick's thoughts had made sordTd^ an atmosphere pure almost to austerity, yet gay and quick 'and eager^ and a deep hght shone in his eyes which was strange to Dick m Its content. For Tempest had been over to the En|hsh Mission and there he had seen Andree for five minutes that k tingled his blood to remember minutes tnat it ^oI?:lyf^ • " '^ ^^'^'- " ^^^ y- S^^ ^- to do any " Well. I did." Dick smiled blandly. " He intimated that ho was too crippled with rheumatism"^ So I st^eThed himind rubbed him until I fancy he understands me a little Stter He chopped half-a-cord of wood after that, and was willing to do more if I'd ordered it." wming Tempest looked at him with puckered brows ^^ There are ways of doing things " he suggested. I know. And I know Blake. When you have to do sentry-go over a skunk you must treat him hke a skunk It's t:.:^^t':r^'lJ:Tl,''' '° ^"^^"^^^^ ''''- «^'^^ «^-P -11 1 ? J yawned, lying back in his chair. The day of both men had been hard ; filled to the brim with the numb Jrless common little things which knit up the great whole. For it is on the anvil of the common things that human nature is ordLed to be hammered out and toughened for the tests of life !.,•= K ?f fent on to his office; but a little later'he put ylwninlstiU' ""' '^"^' "^^^^ "P ^^^ P^-^^- ^-k -STe! aske^Cmpesf ' ^"^ ^''^''" """^ °^ *^' court-room j ust now ? " " No. Lost anything ? " h.ni/r^'^.f"?^^, ^ ^^^t it here," said TempcLt, sifting a 'h^'^u^p^tp '•^'- " ^^'^'* ^^^^^ y°- P^P' -ith an/o^ the/well TnT."^^-' '°°^ " '""^^'^ °^ memo-forms. But did Jo'u d?:;?h ?hem ?" "'" '"' ^'' "^ ^'''"^^ °^ ''• What "Burnt one. Sketched Robison on the other and Omlvif^ took It out to show him about two hours ago " ^ ^ ^Wen?''^Z Tl '°"^j^ Tempest's jaw. He stood still. Don^be shy.'^ ' ^"^ ^' ^^'' narrowed. " Hit out. hn^ZT\ 7^^ ^"^ ^^^ morning about some freighting He happened to remark that t hrrpr' r>- +1- ^ ^^'s^uug. ne ^u.z^ ^ ■ V — ^^'rii- '.i L>reea ou zhv I'cace who Look l^inrJ KODison had been buying m several places lately. Evidently 72 THE LAW-BRINGERS m Hi I Dick lifted his shouWers *^'^ ^'" ^'^"^ ^^^^^^^ " slam o?th"doo°'"™' ^' *°'"^<^- -<> -- So- with the its full b.asttros?tt"hSrs stnlTnfLTce wlJll'T "'*" Hotchk ss fnl!r\ "°!;'"°°* «''^'='» Ogi'vie shared with whegi- r^^^^^^^^^^^ to Grange.. •' mat's doifgl SS o?ruicfd:?.'?''^^ "= "P^-**"-- Dick :„K th^ch^l oTttrSles'^*""Givi'= ^^^PJ^J" straight," he ordered. " Seen ,5"we% " <^'™ ■»« ^ whiskey Sure. He was around right after supper " heru"/'™' ^* *^' "^^"'^ =»=» then.^'P^ere now ? Hit p'^a'^^^^oift&nt-^St^flec;!"^?",?:^ some place an' is stS' „ni J^S^ ^^ ' "'^^ ^^^ doctor English out of Sm tf rno^il' w^^^^^^^^^^ ^'' ^"^^^^ him is stomach-ache or Wtdi^e^^^^^^ '^ "^l!*f^ .^^' sleepin' it off some place ObTtlf' ^""^ J .^"^^^ ^^^ J^s' the English MissSn Hp'« k ' , " ^^^ ' ^^^ ^"^^ o^^^ to doc. told him hTw^c^/ ^.^° ^^°°^ *^^^^ *^ee titles since wuthfindi? ^.ZL^u^'"" '^^''- ^"*I ^"la&ine he ain't nJw^t^ ' ? 'i ?^ ^'Srgest toad in the puddle anvwav '' ag2n gi?r'^'^^?"^^" ^^ ^'' satisfaction he f'elUo w^;k orwith'' ho 'w\^Ts'c "am^^^^^ ?- ^^ -nt whipped the bare Do?ir^^H^^i u- !°^t"^ed branches that r:s4'inl^m%'o^fi^^h^t^^^^^ and the hot blood dark swlt^asUTomThi"'^^ *^-^ '^''''''^ ^^ ^^- «°--thing He sprl'g at as tlS tuft eaZ'^^' ^"^ ^'^"^^ ^° *^^ *^^^« by thjarl an^ bl l'ff%roXoVKpr "^^ ^ ^^^'^'^ '' "^ He'^had'^K^.I^r^^^^^^^^^ " ^^ ^^--^^'^• to some men--in-cS:;-rbfc^;SS;r^:^^^ 11 I ; I heads of what n't much, but ivatched " up the stairs es. one with the n this special ght him with h hard snow. iS a side-trail shared with to Grange's, sudden calm operations. tempter in le a whiskey now ? Hit ; a hustler." ikely in the zy for her. the doctor git enough matter wi' ss he's jes' are over to times since le he ain't , anyway." ell to work n he went nches that hot blood something the trees. rked it up led. ing money 3, respect 'GRANGE'S ANDREE out fe'rT^''^'""^- ^°" '■»?•" he said. ■• ^^Lt are you do^ng the WaT^l/flySg^SJt^rnd^"'' t ' -^"gorous, with wrapped close by the wtad ^""^ ^"^ *>'' '°°8 coat Vous'^ee^ezXp taTl ■■"'■" ^"^ ""^^ «-■*-"%. •• Eh 1 he"tS?etd It' ""T'tAi^k foV^H'^r,?"^? - -^'^ S"P. -d ■ He'aT?h?:fS> ;"hT"cL'd' ''.^"J? "P-I . C'esttoridethewindwhen comesso Ah,' v„'"' I °l? ! Vous si crueile I Ecoutez mni i ■■ T' -J ^""^ terrible into the deep belling whistirofth/ "'^ ,t° "• '"•^a^ing changed. For she Sr Ti^- ^ moose-call. Dick's eyes restless passion "^ '"' °™ "^" fibres to a chord'^^I ■■^^^^^J^'^XC^ ""■ ^"-^ ^""""^ "- -sain. ifhe°h^d"?' °«"™ '''^ene! Ah! Tant pis pour il hasmuc°h'todo"^ithyou ''"^l^'V''%^T' '" anyone who She stood suddenly sSll ' """' ' ^*'^°° ■' " O^^i^'Z^^i^^^i:^ ^^^ ; How you tease ! y^Tdid t^^Z^^ ---^ I -rhiXLr A^S modSt-optaif„VyoTrseKT„H*°° '^^ '^ '* ? Keep that these days. And now fmMn ' °"u^ '^^' '' ^°° ^^Wom You Ve no right out arttohou" "' ''"" "'"'• '"^ ' ^"='- lessly darfg!"' '"'''""^ against the blast ; provocative; law- Thl°J °°, "5' l^eeper, Corp'ral Heriot " she criM stept' 'XVhe?i5Lr ^<^ '^^ "-'"•' H« ?""oted her two knive;o°the°rnd"agata"'For'r''' "^ -"^^ »d faced th, at the Mission the oxartTm.? t,.™^ necessary to discover I guesf iTe^t^'hidK^ \ t^f.vl1^■■4^?^^^ calls at the Mission." ^"^^ "^^^ ^" ^°"r between their II 74 THE LAW-BRINGERS '^ 5°^^*?^ "^^Sht have waited for him." suggested Tempest, and Dick laughed, ^^ '• More hkely to have waited for Grange's Andree," he said. I met her coming home alone." " Andree ! " Tempest reddened. He hated to think of Andree in connec- tion with those men, and in his heart the time was already ripening when he should take her from all such things as could rub the bloom off her young girlhood. " U-m-m," grunted Dick, rubbing the frozen snow out o^ his hair. " Wild little devil she is, too. May as well question her again, anyway. ' ' And then Tempest turned on him in a swift blaze of anger I suppose it is hardly likely that you should keep your respect for women when you have lost it for yourself," he said Dick stared. Then he laughed, low and softly. He put no personal application into this. He was not fastidious but he would not have troubled about Grange's Andree, and the Idea that Tempest might do so would have been absolutely impossible of conception. But he believed that he saw in this rempest's old impossible ideals of human nature. " Don't fret," he said. " You have probably annexed all the superfluous amount in the universe. Anyway, I think I m going to ask some questions to-morrow." But although Grey Wolf to its last man searched the woods m the blinding snow next day ; although Robison underwent a severe cross-examination in the barrack-oihce ; although Dick questioned Andree privately until she stooped and bit his hand and fled, leaving him cursing, no one found Ogilvie. He was gone : gone like the dead leaves of fall that lay under the snow to decay ; and neither art or chance nor anything else gave him back to Grey Wolf to tell what he had done .vith a certain memorandum of the Royal North- West Mounted Police. I 3d Tempest, ie," he said. e in connec- ivas already igs as could now out of ell question 3 of anger. keep your If," he said. He put no idious, but 3e, and the absolutely saw in this innexed all ly, I think the woods underwent ; although ;d and bit ad Ogilvie. ; lay under r anything done .vith b Mounted CHAPTER V. " WE GENERALLY DON't." PoleyTa XscTr^lrH'"^ ^°^"' ^^^ ^o figure it out." said bre^SeTh^ea^L^^^^^^^^^ P""-f "P the last sled-strap ; to go back into^the fur ! lovl I'^t^.l ^^'^^ ^"^^ sufficiently " Well, I guess D ck'fl h. v. ^^^^^"' together, and said : minit, all right, all right -' ^'" °"* *^°^^^^ ^o you in a work began. Polev knew f>.^ Tempest and Dick when He communicated iL opinion rthf"'"''^^ ' mysteriously, to them, and last nighf ^Ld ^^^ "^^^^^^^ ^^d his fellows would go— exacflv w w ^ IT °^^ them— so far as words sketch ff him "l/^h^^^^^^^^^^ of Dick for a cer?IS This morning he had tproVed 'the Tess^^v ^^^ ""^'^ ^°"- team m wrong order when Dirk Wf ll ^y harnessmg one in at Tempest's cnll 7^^ u ^^ the work half-done to so over-younrfor k Ld ?abou" a'nf '^"!.'^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ -as out briskly, pumnron ^?= ) "^^'^^"^ ""^'"^ts. Dick came tangle of ySpi^g dogs ?oPolev^anTv ^^.^^^^^^d from th« " Who treated ^fnu.lr^ ^'. ^^^ ^^ ^"^'^^ was soft. " For I'll swelf yCnt^""^ ? "he asked, pocket." ^ ^ ^°t as bad as this out of your own P-^sTk^LX^Z^,^^^^^^ be over-careful of his private the dogs ; cuffing and SinTfn f "' ?i'^ '^^""^ ^^^"^«°S such as thev loved Tifv?^ ^ ^ good-humoured savagerv v-o b,--i-. J °^^d- The huffe short-hplrpH ■^/ro.l„-,-.• v^^ - Vrctd DUujiicd iiiLo hi to else. But here, wTth the greaTc^^^^^^^ '^TI'^ "^^^^"^ The^Nt^h ir/h^rr" °! •'""ngT c^rta^n woL^°.'"« two dollars, and charge to%Le?al acct " '*'' *■"' ""^ °' thJ?dc'SK°wtai?°t^1Jh<^'^^ not lost cunning at trap and' trigger. " "^ ^""^ ^^"^ vords. For a lore value to in Kennedy's to that great part, and all sion. Then ght rounding s slunk from as a weaver's fire. Then, , forgetful of fn ; splitting g brittle the ings and the p at the fire vood and to like merry If had been ito the old fe. Among ■ed nothing lued North- his senses, rs went by, ivhere their to be good. . t, that the ortly going woman, igh in the ar true all will. He leir rough, ■e good to ra back to 't a clump the forest 3re, above e Hudson 3 sum of West and t yet had 'WE GENERALLY DON'T' 79 "Perhaps I go to Peace River Landing " he sLiH •• a ^ perhaps to St. John. Ne totam goes west ? " ^""^ Dick's knowledge of Cree would not string a sentence t^„*. his hand-language presentlv Liourht him out an in ..r!; ,^"* a middle-aged half-breed ^v; ., ,^ „ fed h4> I?n t nn y l^'^.l'"'' ' and mangy skins close ^> his 1 W Th, "h^? ^"' '^^"^^^ hnvn i k!'^^i? u *' e Pr ,, ,h Of the half-breed We-t " r nave a brother who is un ' oi.: u- blanc " He explained further that his brother lived in n ,.r.-^ as Randal clung to his bat erv 1. ^\ ?'''^ °^ civihzation portibres, and D^ick nodded. ^"'''^ '"^ J'""^'^^ ^° ^^^ '^'^ ''You're belly-pinched, my friend " he snirl " a„.i old before your time But vm rr« o if ^^^ ^^^^^ brother. Your sSdal probSs don'^S^''' ""^^ *^^" ^°"' " Zl^Z'T' P'^'^*^ '° ^^'"'fi'^e Isaac Tn •■ '^'"=^' "'"= *° «""» in Thelent' *°"' °'* ""'™"* t'^-'^'-" *<> Kennedy for' tt'^wfater^PBu'tTh^' r? ^"^^ ^^ ^^P^'* *" "^ke out already faaded most o^Th.v" , ?^ ""1*°"' ''"' ">ey have had taught hto to endure hi. ™- ^"' ^^ree days with Dick agonising sno™ shoe ache w»r„'r*^°"^'^°""">™'- ^"^ *>>» ^^??^^i#'T='''"''P"P-^^^^ had learned to brooded with theSwU-i'u^ ^ '^^^ ^^^^^ *^^ «P^u<=e« roof abovTall. ^^^^'^^^g^d branches, snow-spread, for a thrp,"..*^5y ^f^'.S*^^™ter out the first ChinnnV ,vqi -^ tn^.m, Kuia Dick. Then hp miior? t.^ 'j"~7 — "iuwu first dog in the camp gave tongu"!^ "^^ ^°'^^'^ ^^ '^' i£iii. So THE LAW-BRINGERS " I'm out for Abraham," he said. " But you're to look after his wives. Kennedy— as many of them as you can manage. Leave me the men." ^ " B-but— what can I do with 'em ? " said Kennedy in his nervous youth. ''Anything. Kiss 'em. But keep them off me. Abraham will hkely show fight, and I can't be mussed up with other tilings. ^ The dogs drew into the camp and dropped panting, each where he stood. But Okimow the hound watched Dick with his red-nmmed, sagging eyes. One night those two had met for victory, even as Foley had predicted, and the dog now gave the man that proud obedience which one lord may yield anotner. Dick rubbed the wet nose as he passed Okimow. " Good boy," he said, and strode up to a shapeless muddle of sticks and srtow sealed by a wooden door that had once been the floor of a wagon. His knock on the door woke the silent camp as a bee-hive wakes at a kick. Unseen children screamed ; a^woman ran out of a near-by shack and dived back. More dogs barked, and sound went calling through all the crazy structures where no man appeared to stand against these two who earned their errand in their very tread "Saints send that Abraham has offered up himself " said Dick and burst the door down with his shoulder and went in. A damp air breathed at him ; fetid, and chill and horrible. He sruck a raatch and held it up, looking round. Then his blood suddenly ran slow. The smoke-blackened place was empty, swept naked of all that made it human habitation And yet human habitation was there, stretched on a piece of sacking at his feet ; a still body, small and young, and but partly covered. Dick dropped on his knee with his heart thumping He struck another match, and sought with swift eyes and fingers. There was no blood ; no mark of the knife anywhere at all And yet the boy lay there very truly as a sacrifice ; offered up to the madness of man's beliefs as surely as thougn he had died by the steel on the wind-swept hill Dick stepped out again with lips close and eyes dangerous hi'J^Jl ^^•"'fr^u*^^^ "^'^^^ ^^^'^ b^^" "^ l^i^^ was dead, and he kicked in the brush-and-snow shelters with slight ceremony unearthing the remaining children and all the women The women cried, clamouring to Kennedy in an unknown tongue D^^ z::^r.iii^i '-'-'' -'''''' ^^^ ^^^ ^^"^^ -y-' -^ " Keep your head and keep your temper," he said " T W^Kaf f^f rem'^' ''' ^''" '"^'^ '^^^ ^^"^ ^-*-^- Kennedy never forgot that hour when Dick inspected everything in the camp that would bear inspection and much I f ^ ^ i« :o look after an manage, nedy in his Abraham with other nting, each I Dick with vo had met ig now gave jld anotner. ess muddle t had once r woke the en children iived back, igh all the gainst these iself," said id went in. d horrible, nd. Then med place iabitation. on a piece g, and but his heart with swift f the knife truly as a s as surely ;pt hill, iangerous. dead, and ceremony, nen. The m tongue. eyes, and said. " I ! hunting. inspected and much 'WE GENERALLY DON'T' the cloae drTwn SSs'-'^mcr SeThif 'P"'T "^^"^ t:^X'° ''' """' ^"^' --^--'- 'xheThf st: pluck the patlVch °houS Hif H ' ■ ' «"'''= ''" "^^ '" men swung inLTe c?earnfi,rtt° "'t"^'=<="^ """"^ '»" from their Low-shoes M™Lreath,,„r?'''' IP"'*'' breaking in great lumps ; grey coar^^^ff h 7*^ 'l?™ *''^" shoulder, were woody we4lin4 whT,h„mhi h 'i'' f'*'' "' ^^°°'^- Two third walked hke a hunter w?th a w f"? "'"^"^y^- The arm, and his keen ey"s illidn^ Winchester crooked in his what was probably an Old TestLenf ^^^" "' *^"*'"S beard, stiffened by frost b ew into ?. ^ "ar-song. His grey the moose-pelt girded ahn.tT. l^"? °™'' '= "elt, speaking yo^ S C'eS o"&y t-P-- And don't shoot till in his throat as the r^et ne^ed" h"''' "*i' ^^^ ^PP'<= ^""'"'"S the first time, and te be~ re^L^thatT' ""'"5^ *" a man to do less than make eood H. = f ^ '^ P"'"'"'''' *" nervously ; stood ud anin ,^,? ^ ?fj^*^ ''°"'" °° tt« sled itlay wu'h'muzzleZSchXawJ'* '''' '''^'"' S""l where anfae barrd o^i'^rieS w°' f'T^ " ""^"^ -°ther step, of the moS!pelt Siiy^'"^''''^'^ '^°'"' ^"™S the fold that ten-shot automft'crae^ an?? ° '"",."''=''• '°'' '«= ''"«" up to it with un.°Smg fert Bu? T "."='' "f "^ '"'^'^M as Dick saw the wavpri„,f -X *™ '''' <=°"1<1 not see, Abraham q^iVered swervfd T "l"^ "y'"' °* ""^^nity - =''^'"''8 , It was the first seaSt th^bo - -H ""V." **"" '"'^"■ on manhood, and he «ood-aloue'S thTsX' dum^3^rct ¥' 82 THE LAW-BRINGERS J I III I f ■ ^^ in t^to^^ %Z S '^Z, J^^e two weaklings up to the hunters' draiein?S'^.? ' ^"' '^' ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ the forest where the grefof Lsk ttitlZ^"""^'- ^"^ °"* ^^ Kennedy's breath^ca^ht in gre^^^^^^^^ IT" ^° '°""^- occasionally has the strpncrfi. l\f ^^ P^' ^^ msane man back alone-someSinratfhe h.^' f^^ l^ *^^^ "^^"^^'^ ^^"^^ " I won't run. "^S^'Jl] f ^o'n'^.t'^,^ ^^^ -^^ eternally : wSTgas^'^^^'ndt:^^^^^ ^T"^^ - *h^ harness, menace !til^ and OkTmow sh^^^^ °'!^ ^r* ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ log launched tnto sm^e Th. t ^ -^"""^ ^'^' ^ ^'°^^ Kennedy, and he reaped fh.f.T °^ ^!!''^^ ^^"^^ ^^^^^^^d in bones, and that in ?he frlf l^n'°^^ ^^' ^^^^"^ ^^to his looked grey ' ' frosty metallic light, the held-up men mite^ovtThVn:" rrr'-^"' ^^^ ^°^^ *-^ ^^^ ^read. vvhite boy ;y ^4e X 3careTt '°"5^. ^^''' '^^^^ ' the «lmggymLofal^;%o'irueTn"br:S' '"""^ '"^ ^"^^^^y' piX"?he'fmerofrir;:? ''^ "r^" "-^^ fi-^' and vitals untilhe shut hf. ZT, i"^"""'^'^''^ ^^^"^^ Kennedy's of fear and hunfe? and wearSi ^^^''"''' ^^t ^^^ ^he tension edge of hyste^^^when dTpI 1 fT" ^* ^^^ ^^^^^ to the was half Jti^I^pedl^f ^th^^S^^^^^^^ talking heavily. He swung up his fur artikffrni^ f^ *. "^"^ ^^ staggered as he march. ^ ^'^'^ ^'""^ ^^^ ^^^^ and bisected Kennedy's of m^dTn^r'Ge?^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^- " ' '^'^ ^im most SharJ, Wev':-go??^ go^f^hr^" '° ^'^ ''^' ^"^ ^-^• ^^ Kennedy asked one question as his teeth met in the smoking ''Did Okimow help any ? " he siid a„^ -n- , sitting with Abraham^ riJe across h'sknet^ ^'^ ^"'^''^^' Just about saved my hfe. I guess." struggle r?heiores?- tt "mJ "^T '"T "^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ when they lifLd the hnnnH ^'"""^'"^ *°^^ ^^ ^ little more and Dick^s c liplftoLs of eX °:'- 'V'^" ^^^^ ^" ^he dark, of the snappinlTaws ?nd fhP >i°'' ^^^" ^^"^ ^tand clear that had be^en rfan ^Abraham hTd ^•'^^' '^^°^'^ ^^"^^- ^H hke an animal in a trfn r=f ^'''^'' '"^^y- ^nd he foamed glaring with starting eTe^ ^^ '" ^^ "^^"°^" ^°"g"-' ^"^ bufd'nef std'into a Thick". "" ^^T" ^^ ^^^ ^ ^he and left it. Th"en\\tf C;:5t?i^.r5;",-^°^ ^^^ -S^t. ->.ci.i.cuj v^v.-iv ocntry-go m turns two weaklings ig him eye to is wrist. The ildren crawled And out of ime no sound, n insane man maniac came aid eternally : n the harness, ding the steel ? like a brown id lessened in -ting into his held-up men 3k the tread- round ; the the swarthy, 3 fires, and 1 Kennedy's the tension frown to the leavily. He :gered as he 1 Kennedy's ;ft him most !S and feed. :he smoking £ answered, >rds of the little more 1 the dark, stand clear lands. All he foamed 3ngue, and neered the the night, o in turns 'WE GENERALLY DON'T' ^3 until the dawn broke. And at dawn thev bnriVH fho t sx^^^j5:;^LcS-^-^^ wiping the sweat frbm his face straightened, and h^?: W^er"' Thev'i; do tilf " " ^"^^^ ^^t one man. But Kennedy\al[eStSi^^^^ mum^t:i?d^^^ ^°" ^^^^^^^'^ --^ *- say^rmethin'." he tmShis'hps''"^ ''"''^- ^^^" ^""^°^°"« contempt " Say anything you feel hke, son," he said " An^ f.i time I imagine it would come bekerfrom you than^^^^ Ab?a\ ra?d\t r^ii'aL?^^^^^^ T^^T '^^.^^^o^^^^ ^ the hound and hsten^d to thP wV r'^ ^"^' °^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ched man. And an hou? later h. lu^ T"^" ^^ ^^^ pinioned walked with tW throu4 thf ""• H^^^^^ nightmare that days that two m^:; reZmlle! ZT.uTtl^e^^^^^^^ to find his senses again in another ^if" '^' '^^^^ ^^^ ^one iromZrala^tl^tT^^^^ °""«- ^'^^ turned livid locking the handcuffs to hi ow^h"^/? ""'^'''^ ^" ^^"^' were hours when Ahnh^m i .^^^ ^°^ ^^^^^y- There through which ?LvstrulT.H? '/^"^' 7^*^ ^^^^^^^^^ teeth were hours too whe^n theltzlrS rlV^.S ^" "^^^- ^here and dogs bowed to its miJht InH ^v,^^.""" ' '° *^'^* "^^^^ pitched tent with the raS^/.fv.^"'^^^^ ""^^^ the haif- vvas spent and the, rose IS ^^'^'.'^'^ "^^^^ ^^^ ^^orm food-kit. ^ ^°'^ ''^'''"' recounting their lessening him,orstri,gg^eda?ansthir.; T^"", ^'"^ ^'"^' ^"^ ^^^ Reside hideous danTe, aSL t^' Thr.h^^^^^'^^^^"^^"^^^"^^^"- We might be kept ?n t?^s hu^e v..?" ' '"^'"'' ^" °^^^^ ^^at want and dared not k? D^? -':' ""^T. ^^'°''^ ^^'^^' ^^^ "ot from the sheer brute <=Lrr^hnr.K ^'^^ ""^^ °^*"^ ^^ danger from sleeplessness and evhr^l ^ *?^ "^^^^ ^^ ^^s worn from hunger A .ot o,f^^t T ^"l"^ ^"^^^^ ^^^' ^^ ^^^er days. anhourwLnhlaafnoSm^to'^r.^v.^^ ^.'^^ ^^"^" ^^^^k in teeth had met on VZ l^T^ ^^Z^^^^^"" '^' Abraham's incomin^-r f^ost tl , atrnp! n ? ^ P^^""* "^ ^^^ ^^^d, and tae were stion^VV^^^^lP^^^l^n,^ His nerves wor^cd^welll^— -,|--y-^^^^ ^■'^KT' wmwhm}'^^ 84 THE LAW-BRINGERS physical fibres were not vet spf anri +1,^ u 1 Dick. ^ ^*' ^"^ ^^e burden of all fell on through his last fit of vSc? and lifh™?'' '■™ ^'"'"t handcuffs only. He fell aslZ'n ?h i"V," ^''"^ «''*•' «>e sunken eyes on Kennedy ^ ' """ ""='' '""^ed with can L7e'oSw«fci'.V/ f J?' " ■" "^^ -"• " ^ou GivemetwohourIand^^n■caS"^i"''^'"^^ "^'^ '^^^^^ -'• DiS; whe^Tgas^S^^l'i^^^^^^^^^^^ -^^ -"'V ^-"ed him, and somewhere i™hedJrkh,T''"i'?;^ ^''"""^ ''°""' ^ ing. He was full a4ake -,n^ j>e heard the mad jaws clash- self-preservatton and like riff ""'' "" "^^ "^""^ »* mare, the chck' ^^^.^1^^^^^ ^^ hk?fn,rhabT?n"tie I'ilS a^nf ?^f "^ '^" '' '- Okimow's bristfes quieted B^t , ° *'^ "*' "^"'e up, and mto self-accusatio„r tte topaSSy '■' ''°""'"^'' ■■ ThltVUep'y^'Svre*' ' "P"* °' *^^= ^^P'-." '- ^d. '' I don't guess I know how ." shut^p"""' ''^" " ^^"^ ^°°k' ^— 't you ? Get busy and c^^Vt S^tee^^tsJ^ Jti/V^"^^^^^ rnSeXrct-itl^^^^^^^^ thickly. Kennedy with h s L, vi^' ."""J ^^^ 'i^"' ^^^^^thmg out to the fire wroT^ t>l ^^f^^^y-stockinged feet thrust watched tLflamesTnd remon^h'^^^?,^ ^^"^*^^^^>^' ^^^ Dick playing with DuTne as eoS ?i' t'' ^T " ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ " Gite me that paper Tennedv ^?n' ^V'f • "^'"^^^y- book." ^^ ' -^^"nedy. I ]] put it m my pocket- " I'm not through yet- " ^uc"ZrytU7^'''''-'y'"^-^^^-S> A book? How .',' °°'y '°<"^ pages and a bit." it oin'hfr.'%r,"Se rn i^r/ytu" °.i.»<',r''' the honour to rennrf f^.^^- 4-1 • ^ • ^^^' — I have i en of all fell on •ey Wolf, in an hours Abraham le fire, moaning ind him about t ease with the ck looked with le said. " You e's fagged out. y nearly called "essed down on lad jaws clash- ;he instinct of rough a night- mer came to :he throat-grip If on the two. laid at last made up, and :Iy floundered ure," he said. jet busy and vas infinitely . The wood lump of snow till, breathing 1 feet thrust y, and Dick vhich he was abruptly, I my pocket- >ook ? How ^ and chuck sir, — I have ^ — surname ailing^ them- WE GENERALLY DON'T' KJnlayZtn^^^^^^^^ -P*"-^ by Constabi! Constable Kennedy who has rer^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ «i"^- commendable coolness under rXl^ f^^'"''''' ^'^^^"^ ^^^^ rub l^l^L That.'^'""''^ '""^'^'y- " ^- d-'t want to Dick^°'' V^J^i? ^ ™''" ^" "S^* ^h^n yo« grow up " said liout thethtgst d^snt dr ^Cf '^'' ^ "^^" ^^^ '^ out of th:s httfe gameTomeIn Grl^ WokT-.^^" ^'"^"^ *° -^^^ sham'e '"'" ^"""^"' ^^^^ ^^""^^y burned with the red of " All right," said Dick, and laiiPhpH " -a *. t wouldn't We generally d^n't you ifnow'' "' ' ^"^^' ' IWdy^trtrrrk^wtnThT^^"' ^^"^ ^^^ ^--"^^ straightway seekinrat G^^n^/^'f J^ ^^^ ^^^Pos^d of, and soul craved. ^ S so it wa. fLV?'''* ^/^"^^ *°^ ^^ich his the little back:room at Cr.n!!^* J?"l^"^' ^^^^i"? later into with his glass' [oTd h m''rsrerth:^;^X'^-k .^^d retired big chair, with one leg outstretiLd T.^-T. t ^7 ?^^^ ^^ ^^e and melted snow drtpp^cf^^om f.^^^ "P to the knee, and ^the wh ?e o^.es rolled 1°'^^"^' '^"^^ moccasins. His fur coat pr^i hTo ^ ^°^" ^^^r the and his unshaven cSLwL s^mk ?nT' ?""-^ °" *^^ ^^^^^ hand, knotted in a rouVband^"^ I ' tunic-collar. One and the whole of him told ou? thf.' i ""? °^"^*^" chair-arm, born of bitter, unresting strain ""'^"''^ °^ ^^''^ ^^^^^ is iJnrdyiyouthJo\id?;ofb?derr^^ ^^--' fo^ the reserve of his n^w coZ m! u ^^ 'T^ ^^"°^^^- And yet to such things as the searTne^rD^V?'^ ^'^^ '1 !!'^ ^°"^^"'^ ^^^her and the pulling of the teams in a^r^ ' T.l"^ ^^ ^ '"^'^^^ bolt And of the things which weUtL^'^'f"^ ^^^" *° ^^^ °^" glory, the wit nor thl^unSerstl^^^^^^^^ learning to interpret kno^^;]^rt^ufuL ?"* Jennifer was She moved a little from the. in^K^ ^u^^ "^^^^^ ^^ ^^t said, hair damp wi h swearand t^t'^'y'"'^ "^^" ^^^^ ^is dark and she looked from the dnlHnt ^^ ^'"^' '"°^^"^ ^^^ ™0"th, such men came. '"^ "^'^^^^ °^ *he lives whereto so^?<^^^;^^'^^--- of t^^ West who bore his man a maniac prisoner Ind aSh,/^ ^rJ^ ^^^'" °^ ^^^ ^^^ter ; days of strain by the loss oh ifn" °'^'"' ^^^° P'^^^ ^^^ ^hose at whom a " Cowbov Arl! Z7'i '^"'^'- ^^^^^ ^^^ one I05 of the Crimin.Tr°^.J/:^',LP;f .*^d \Sn^ against section one chair" in the" struggle of' cl^^tn ""''^'k"^^'*^^^ ^^^^^^^ "uggie 01 capture. Ihere was the rider I ■^^k'^f^iK?, 86 THE LAW-BRINGERS yj ^ '" them as surely as evir firer?in^.rf ^ ^T^^ ^^at ringed that other who walked in 'he serenit'v v".^"^' ^here Ls or devils through the Indian car^n^.^ TJ^'^^ '^ ^'^^"^ ^f God across the prc^'ected hnrofT^aToad^^^-ivid objection thunder and gathering lightnin/ hx^ ?^' ^""^ dispersed the directness with which he kicked down fh' /'"'P^' methodical m an unbroken silence And f h ^^^ *^P''®^' ^"^ by one naS-sr-?&-: - ISi V- --e their land for their nation TZym no^l "''' ^^^^^-^or She looked again at Dirk a 1/ , ?°* ^"^w. of him. One kLe was bent one h^/^^'^"^^^ ^^^ ^«ne out h^s nature watched fo? the sudden ^T ^".'^"^''^ "P ^' though stand that. It was the Lrth^ta^^^^^^^^^ Jennifer could under- men, for all the children of^ ^!, i^°''^ ^^^^^ the roving force and the charged Ltness an d"?i '"'^^ ^* ' ^^^^^ the which makes for conquest for the l^J T^^'^"^ ^^^^^ness nothing, for the building of nat^nrin ;h^°^ something from bath and purchase and hard won ?^ ^^""^ ^hey hold by such as these was surely som^thCb:-^^^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^t. i^ la with Prince Rupert- ^on^Un^^^ \^Zu^^ authorized passions and wh^s o^th. . '^' ^^^"^^^^' ^^ '^n- get into line, of the daring thaTswhlA ^""P"' ^^^^ will not wh^re the big runs roar "^' ^ "'^" ^o the front rank witira^^e^^LV'^ftheTS'l: ^^ ^^7 -re heavy against the grey window Jenmfer where she stood You there st'":i," he said " r? ^ , Jennifer ? That i CorS^' for ? ^^^ ^'^ ^^^^^ ^a" you Arthur." ^.Ornish for Guinevere— and she left JepfeTLtTd ^tVtf ,71/f r *■- "-y e^Se of dreads, suddenly into his senses again * '™ ^^ ^P-'^S "P. 'ocked I beg your pardon " he spM " t •Tknow^'/l^ ^'h-eAstcomeTn''^^^'P^"^- ^^^^'^^ " KennTdy i^'^e^y'^younj '^' \'''''^'^' ^^-^le time." excuse him." ""^"^y ^^^^g- apologised Dick. " You must '' But—didn't you ? " " Not at all, thank von t<- Patrol. But I can't forgive mvsTf''fn''" ^^*^^"^ely ordinary these clothes." ^ '^^^^^ ^°r coming before you in nd children of a mes that ringed ild. There was IS given of God vivid objection I dispersed the 'Ple methodical Jes, one by one. thousand more he blue-backed umour in these vboy Jack the nnifer laughed ere doing — for vv. 5 had gone out up as though r could under- an the roving ^t ; carry the ring alertness mething from they hold by And yet, in len who came wless, of un- that will not ^e front rank were heavy re she stood ley call you Id she left e of dreams, up, locked • And I'm 3 time." You must V ordinary ore you in 'WE GENERALLY DON'T' 87 always— °^ '^"^"^ ^°" '^"^ ^'^ "^""^ that I I'm glad Dick skilfully effaced the sentence before she reahsed it a^SwTeXSk^^ '^ ^^^^P^^^^^^ '^-I^-t'^ -— 'n '^i " Men say hard things of me, Mrs. T cane " he saM •• n <. won't you concede me still the possessSn of a Stie respect for women and for myself ? " respect "Oh," said Jennifer, and reddened. " Don't It if- hurts to-to thmk a man would need to speak in ?hat wa^I^ " I'm sorry," he said instantly. " A man v^hr. r... u much in rough places forgets lometimerwhr^a deU^te mstrument a woman is " aeucate "lo* at'thi^^'riaid'' ^l^Z'^'S ^"<^ ^»- organ, perhaps. But'orlLt lutet* tt haf ^r" Z f ••"""'■ cTotherand'„"f T'* '""^ ^™"" °' ™* -°°' '" hisstocMng^ a^d law ^oldeXr '^^ ^"^P' °''' ^"^^ '™^™ '^'^^ ^L a° uS j.;i:rdXTr^;sri;r--^^o-uT:r- concSte'd" ''"" '°''" ' ' ^"^ J™"«"' =">'J her voice wa. wiihTheru vrhkT" r^j^".p^T: '?,"«''^''-, •■ ^'^y ■ne. See? I "won't have it " ^"* meet them, te under the Jngly even in ige's Andree iaugh called -red. For it from which 3d and went out of that 2 said. "efe, because white light 5auties that ng-burning ut, because 3wn beliefs like to find fie is quite eaving his arried one taken her ) all con- ' to Lower ishes with y tableful the door, >vith eyes see. For , and her '■ and by i though her eyes 'WE GENERALLY DON'T' of the gods which Tempe'st wou'S^have h r be ^^""'"1'^ hegph-;t-.hr.h\-^ sp"U:LSlrL*tteTo;?„7J°"'; ^ ""' ^-^^d the last fiddle-head to come nLr te "" P"'' *'^'' '°"S P°Wng tu5j>t"iLT;a\t'^„%i,t!*'ntra^ipr„tyo;' -^? - p.et^?:,^rertoTe:? ho^J':^:Te clj^f'' T^'' ^ when she chose. "^^ *^^^ ^^^e of herself ;; But it is so often that they are good bovs " <,hp «=.,-h I know. They're usually all right But JhJTt i, c^aLrarery^r- '^tl^^^ ^"y^^l^'^"^ it'^lh r h^^V;:s'^ ^Bufsh^t^- ^A^ ^^' '-^^ -t read ; I-don't undSancf'' she lold'l^ '""^ "'^^ ^^^^ -^^• thilk^mft :wVtT;^th:?atTndrt:' 1^''' F^y^'^^^- ^ them the moose wa"^ cougWng^"shfLselfT'' ^.'^ ""''^^ vague, indistinct. And then he c. n^f f f ^T"^ growing a sharp virile note into the haze ^ ^'''^'' ^""^^"^ Andree," he said. " Will you marry me P " She jumped w.th a cry of anger and LS ' gonSrrr°"l'dotof;\P:?-.. " Nemoweya. I do not want to sto?d\a'ro'XlL^:;t^^^^^"^ ^"^^^^^ --^ ^-- He i-S'd doi'Lngtl^^^^^^^ '; ^^^^- " You don't you to think about this inSpf ^t°"W "^^ ^^^ ' ^"^ ^ "^ed since I first saw you inVtS" ' '^"^ *^°"^^* °^ ^^ -- ShTstprpJ^ f'u- "^'^^ ^ ^°"^^ ^^^d^awn breath. thf s^ffe" ^ 'she"'ad"no'd'" 'f" ^^^^^^"^ ^^^^^^ behind Andree, '' ^o bovs were h.f f .1 ^"' marriage. Always with better ihaiT^^o''^' ^^l^^^'l^'J'^^^ T'' f^^ ^^'^^ ^oys were and it might be well ?o ^? r ""? ^.^'" troublesome of late, brunt, if did not un o ilXef- • ' ^ ^-^'T'" '" ^'-^^^ ^^^ 41UL run so m her umm. li-^t field no more 90 THE LAW-BRINGERS W I that rimed her cur s and h.r Ji T"^ ""^'y '*'" ^^ ^hc mist long warning fingers between 'J°'"-^^^^" ^ood and pushed silence that fhe ,^ed with TemnoTf ^"t 'J^t-"^^"" ^he very him it showed a girl-heart relvf-H'"^ ^? reverence. To touched. He did not ^uess thiL ^° ^^ ^-^^ finely know it for her only If ^^on w^Vhfm "V^^ '"°"^'' "^* *° impatiently in the snow. Then it flun. l.t^"'^'' '^^"^P^^ yard, with neck laid back so fhnf fJ, k^ i^'^^''^^ ^°""d the Hne with the shoulders and it. hi . 1"^'"^ *^°'"' ™^^^« ^ lessly. It looked huge and thre^f '^""^ ^""^ '^^"^'"^ "oi^^- mist. passed and came^afn And t".'"^ as it loomed in the of how the Wild heart inS stm girT'cXd'to^t "° '^°"^^'^^ likely Tan T' ^hLf ^' ^^ ' And I think you complement. You^;7n't'T.L,rsLd%hT^^RT^^^ '^ ''' is made dual Andree t ili,! ^ . ^"^ everything bitter, strength needs weakn-."'''^' ^^'^"'^^^' ^^^^t need! only the confrast-the nlrness o> ^^-"^ ^^ '^°™'"- ^' '' the one grow to its highest Tinvf ^^her-which can make it has n'ot been en o^ for me slncriT^',''^'^ ^"^"•^- ^"* can never be enough'for me agSn •' '"""'' ^°"- ^ ^^^^^^^' ^^ and tendons He vvasth^ ^^ '^^"? °^ ^^^^^ steel muscles than Robison, and TnfmtlvT? ""T^' ' ^'^""^^^ P^^^^^P^ hands suddenly and kissed them tI'™^"?' ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^s man-strength of him and thnf ^;. ,^1' ^^' *"^"te to the understood But to Teml.f l ^""^ ^" *^^* «^^ ^^^^d for or the blood to hi foreLaT^H rowef ?t"r'''"'^i^^°"^^* hands. ® Dowed it down on the joined ^^■^God bless you,- he said unsteadily. - God bless you, by'^htligtt'whfrstrsh^e inT"™";" .""'■ ™= ^'"««d in to smoke a p pe much later r!,T'"" ' ''"^'= "''™ ^e came proof could have m7Hll,i,t ".' "° P°""="' ^^°^ "f actual Hebhnlced upX^dtrist™, halrctlt'' ^'^"^^'^ ^"''-• begg"T' rsa!:3"\lVtrb™'at-*hT ni'H^™ °''' » verse that drifted to him oufofth" nowhere-"""'' ^"* °' A veil twixt us anti Thee • And unto madness see " )methinp: that :ill in the mist i and pushed n. The very evercnce. To > be as finely mough wit to oose stamped 5ly round the lorns made a ringing noise- )omed in the no knowledge I think you -which is its t everything sweet needs )man. It is ch can make cnows. But I think it r her gloved 'wn, sinewy, r out of life ;eel muscles ger perhaps e lifted his bute to the ared for or !iat brought the joined bless you, as startled 3n he came t of actual j's Andree. . you old ed part of CHAPTER VI. " THE YOUNG GOD FREY." " HAH-yah-AU-AU I Hah-^^aA-nh-ahl Hah-va^ " sn^H^t7f^ .^"^ ^"' cup down in the saucer with a force that spattered the tea across the tablecloth ^ • ^ V?^t ^^ *^^ ^^^^ of all things dVou let that nlH f««i into the house for ? " he c! ^manded ^^ ^°°^ alJa'ys"'" '""^^'^^ *^^ '''''' -^^ ■^-"gh that soothed him reason why. But sho shielded and eased and ,n».n.T ., faoeTwnslTn^™''' 'V* ^ ^"^ ■' t"-trata shoSta te lace It was not Ducane who would notice it nnr .^f fi.1 / "" l^LT'VT<''''y "^"^h^" behind the house ^'* *' '™ Jennifer stood a moment in the door Af fi-.^ k^^ j ui , ™;=d bench running along one sMe of the p4e he s lo^'dumsv ha f-breed g,rl was splashing greasy water as she shaped I pot. bhe was a livmg thorn in Tprin,-f«T-'e a^oi ^'-ifpea a Uol*J'h^*S™l'^ ™* "' ta^ghraJdrrne^r Uttts''temp^^^^^ rrp-i^^harsK'^D^'iTera^rptorr T"?^^^^^ Sr T?' T' "^"^ °*''- *""S= wSb°e ongStThe dayi to touch if Lf'^,? "'"," "•"* =•><= bad not hid the coura-e to touch. Before the glowing stove sat the old Cree aS, the Wind seamed L\.„ '■'?y« • J^' «<^. ^^ 1^^ •'■y BSaBBiB 93 THE LAW-BRINGERS I ! [ ■ t ' I! 1 if ^ m ■ llJ : Jennifer touched the bowed shoulder. " Meewahsin, Son-of-Lightning," she said. " Very good " Son-of-Lightning's bony knuckles dropped from the tuneless little drum. He twisted to meet the voice. " Meewahsin ? " he said, and showed all his tobacco-blacked teeth in the grin which he gave no one but Jennifer " Aha Tapwa ? " ' " Certainly," said Jennifer, " It is truly very good " She looked at Louisa. " Tell him it is time to go out and cut kindling," she said. "" Louisa interpreted in the swift guttural mutters that seem to have no terminals. The old man raised himself by sections and Jennifer pulled her coat from the passage-peg, stepping'out with him into the crisp brilliance of the spring morning. All the world was vividly, crystally new. Under the breath of the Chinook which came eager and warm from the Rockies the trees had sloughed their winter covering, standing m delicate grey tracery against the dazzling sky. In this atmosphere the houses over at Grey Wolf stood distinct, each one, with smoke feathering straightly from the chimneys Jennifer could see the glint of a beaded moccasin on a man by the hotel door. She could catch the crack of a quirt as Ken- nedy went up the street on the piebald barrack pony. Snow- birds were calling gladly down the lake where the ice was thinning ; and against the clearing fences and the heaps of melting snow sunshine was splintering its lances gaily. All about the feet of Spring moved ; growing nearer, warmer The air was full of promise ; of life, of thin-s to be and do and Jennifer's blood ran riot with the joy of it as she thrust open the door of Son-of-Lightning's shack. If the world outside was resurrection that shack most surely was the grave. But its desolation of sacking-bunk, ragged blankets, old lumber, and almost audible smell troubled her less this morning. The day was too boisterously glad. Besides Son-of-Lightning loved it. He trod past her with the unerring feet of the blind who know their path ; squatted on the floor hke some furry animal ; reached his knife from a tie in the wall and a dried stick from the floor, and began slicing slivers for firewood. He paused once to try the blade on his thumb and Jennifer went away, shutting the door on the sharp, keen air. Day or dark were alike to Son-of-Lightning, and he was smoke-dried beyond all hurt from the smells. Round the house the snow was pounded into holes and kicked to ridges by the passing of men and horses. Where the crisp surface spumed into spray about their bodies a big husky-dog was fighting two of Ducane's sled-dogs. They were bred too close to the wolf for j ennifer to care for or to heed the issue. Everything belonging to Ducane was savage I 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' 93 •y good." e tuneless o-blacked . "Aha, d." She and cut hat seem sections, 3ping'out ider the from the standing In this net, each himneys. L man by as Ken- Snow- ice was heaps of ily. All warmer. and do, le thrust st surely . ragged bled her Besides, imerring the floor e in the g slivers thumb, rp, keen he was les and Where 33 a big I'hey )r or to savage and rough and unlovely as himself ; everything except Jennifer. She watched them a n-oment with her dark brows drawn together. Tnat husky dog was Robison's. and always his coming left Ducane iniiamed with excitement or irritable with a hidden fear. She went into the house, hearing Ducane call her from the passage. " Jenny ! Bring another cup— ard some more bacon. Robison's here." This was not the first time Ducane had bade her wait on the breed, and her temper began to stir. She gave two orders to Louisa, and met Ducane in the narrow side-passage hung with his guns and fishing-gear. " Louisa will bring them," she said quietly. " You don't want to make me wait on Robison, do you ? " Ducane was irritable already. " By George," he exploded. " I guess you'll leave your Toronto riirs behind you up here, my girl, if Robison is good enough for me " " He is good enough for me. Is that what you mean ? " Under her eyes Ducane fidgeted. " What's the matter with him ? " he said sulkily. " Nothing, perhaps— in his proper place. But his place is not in my sitting-room, and you have brought him there more than once. Nor is it in the dining-room when I am there. You would not dare attempt to make him my equal if he had not a greater hold over you than he should have." Ducane went purple. All his bullying, blustering nature flared up. ]| By , you'll do as I tell you," he said. " I will not," said Jennifer, and he saw the steel in her eyes. For a moment he gasped. Then he swore again, low and in admiration. " You've got sand, you little spitfire," he said. " You've got sand." He stared at her still. " I reckon you could jolly the lot of 'em if you were put to it, eh ? They wouldn't cut any ice off you," She shivered under the eager speculation in his eyes. " Harry— dear— " she said, and reached her hand up to touch his cheek. He caught it, crushing his lips to the palm. " You'd do anything for me, Jenny ? " he whispered. " Any- thing, if I needed it ? You know I love you, Jenny. I love Neither the man nor the woman knew yet if he loved himself better. Jennifer drew her hand gently away. " Anything I could," she said. " You know that. Now, go back to Robison. Louisa has taken in the bacon.' 'If . If m ^ THE] LAW-BRINGERS i t Ducane went, and there was the Hft of eagerness in his feet For he had a whole new formula to work on ; one close at hand ; one which he had never thought of before. Robison looked at him with curiosity. He did not understand this man who had gone into a game for men to play and who was now afraid of it. For long they talked very low over the table-corner. Then Ducane pushed dishes and silver aside and brought some papers from a locked drawer in a wall- cabinet. " When the first boat goes down to Chipewyan we go too," he said. " I want some information and some photographs about that country." ^ "Oh," Robison rubbed his broad flat nose. " Told yer Grey Wolf was only a nibble at the beginning." *' I could have told you that. Last week I heard from a fellow in England who'd been reading some of our literature It came under cover to Winnipeg, of course. I'm replying direct to him. He's going to have that bit of land on the Peace that you bought from Ras Taylor." Ras Taylor was the breed whose scrip-land Robison had bought. Incidentally Ras Taylor had also been very drunk at intervals for some months. But ic was known that Robison had been very good to him and had paid him in advance for part of his next year's trapping, Ras being too deeply in debt to the Hudson Bay Company to receive grace from them ^u '^^^^^^^ nodded. This thing had been done before, although the Winnipeg Company which supplied the hterature would not have warmly approved. But neither Ducane nor Robison had thought of seeking encouragement from them. "Hand over the feller's letter, an' yer answer," said Robison. He took pains to know that Ducane reserved all his treachery for the other members of the Company, and he read the letters with deliberation. " Looks all right," he said, and tossed them back. " Ducane, what's that Dick Heriot doing across here so often ? " " How should I know ? I can't stop him or he'd suspect something." " Do you think he ain't suspectin' everybody in Grey Wolf ever since he first got wind o' this ? I heard all about him long before he come here. But you've got to watch out that he doesn't do more than suspect. See ? " Ducane's fat, ruddy face sagged and paled. " He can't suspect. How should he ? We never have " " Well, take care as we never do, that's all. I'm lookin' for a chance ter git even with him, but it's long a-comin'." He pulled a flat sheet of paper from his mooseskin \/allet. See that .-' " he said. " That's what he done to me, the " Ducane picked up Dick's sketch of the wood-buffalo, which 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' in his feet, le close at Robison stand this d who was ^ over the Iver aside, in a wall- e go too," Lotographs ' Told yer rd from a literature. I replying the Peace bison had ' drunk at fc Robison vance for deeply in om them, although ire would : Robison Robison. treachery he letters Ducane, 1 suspect rey Wolf .out him out that Lve " 1 lookin' comin'." 1 \/allet. :he " o, which 95 was Robison. It was a Httle blurred by damp and rubbing, but it was unmistakable, and cruelly clever. Ducane laughed* holding it up against the light. ' " By Jove, he's got his own idea of a joke." he said. " How long have you had this ? " " Never you mind." Robison leaned forward suddenly. " There's writin' on that other side. Faint pencil, an' I never saw it befon . Hand it here." He half-snatched it and read the notes in Tempest's clear writmg below the " Memorandum. Royal North- West Mounted Police Force. Form No. " " I never saw this before," he said weakly. " I never saw this before. " What is it ? " Ducane took it and read it. Then he sprang up with a gasp. Deadly fear had caught him, making him cringe at the far-off threat. ^ " They're after us" he cried. " Lord ! They're after us. They know what we're at." There was sweat on his face. He brought a bottle and glasses to the table, poured himself a stiff nip, and dropped back in his chair, holding his glass with a shaking hand. Robison was watching in the imp- -trable gravity of an elephant. Fear was a thing outside Lis understanding. Everyone knows Ras Taylor took scrip last year an' sold to me this," he said. " Don't make such a row.'' " They wouldn't have noted it unless they were going to do something, would they ? By , perhaps they've got the whole thing already I shall clear out. I can't stand this. Ihey 11 get me, the brutes. They'll get me." Robison's elemental brain felt dimly that he was rather more ignored than courtesy demanded. " And where do I come in ? " he demanded ' as near caught as you, any day. But I reckon way out of it so far. An' so must you." His little red eyes were sharp on Ducane. It did not occur to him that any man could baulk over the telling of lies, for he did not know that this is one of the hmitations which usually goes with the honour of being born a gentleman. spiked—"^ ''°"'^ *° ^^'^^* " *^'' '^^"'''^'^ ^^^^°* ^^3 Ducane halted suddenly, thinking of Jennifer. His face lightened a little, and he sat still. Robison heaved himself up standing with great arms hanging, more hke an ape than ever. We 11 go on as we ve gone," he said. " I'm not goin' out r/ght!" ^''"'' *° ''''' ^""^ '^' ^^^'^'^ money in it all " I won't do any more." Ducane looked up defiantly " I won't go up to Chipewyan. I • ^ I reckon I'm I can lie my lili. ffl } II Jl i «■' « 96 THE LAW-BRINGERS on"i.^°"?n^° *? Chipewyan," said Robison. " An' vou'U sta^ ^nin' .'' *' V" '" *^°"^^ ^ith our little corner sLeP S goin to make enough out o' my pickin's to set me nn Vo, • scooped more than your share^i? far But you'll P^;e me fa'r dues now. an' you won't pull out till I'm ready" ^ ^^'" n,^fnl ^^ ''°'''l "^^^ ^°^^^^d and he scarcely moved But ?oTtlJT^''''f *^^ enormous brute force S will fi^ht knowledgeTgain ' '"^'"'^ ^^^ "^'""^^^^ "^^^^ ^^e get'm^'^ ^ "^"^ ^^^'' ^""^^"S ^°^k," he said. "He'll " I don't. No. But -" likd^g^t hurrM^'it ?°'^'=°" 1"-*'y- ■' - 1 Suess you'll a brown s.AZ^ '^J^-J^tl^^lT^' '"' ^"°" ''»" down too X coull"!,^' young again." she told it, and looked thumb-marks oTwhite rper"'' tanT ''^"''ll^l '*^ "-" verv Qmaii K.K . ^"^.y ^^'J^i . a tail, handsome breed w:th a liry face close. I. "I'm going to I enough to be '^n' you'll stay •• See ? I'm e up. You've II give me fair moved. But lich will fight If he played [e had known ed under the laid. He'll low much or :e is near five -t. And you wife things ? I guess you'll lifer, passing her eyes and ;e. But she she chmbed tig the frost y the Indian ' were begin- erings, and r the hillside e snow from , and looked y hke black her breath. who was a mnifer had reed w:th a was dead, d in some . Jennifer ittering his 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' 97 " The police will get hold of it to-day," he said. " Man- slaughter, at the very least, of course. Maybe the girl was justified. She had to work for the kid." " Where is her husband ? " asked Jennifer, and Ducane laughed uproariously. "Who knows," he said, and Jennifer's heart had surged up in a great wave of pity for Florestine. She felt the reflex of that pity now in this silent world where tragedy had a way of lying so nakedly to the eye Then along the line of trail that snaked round to Grey Wolf she saw something black that swung near, and very fast. A flash of light struck on brass harness; the stout hues of the barrack-sleigh shaped familiarly ; and sharply, almost vyithout her knowledge, Jennifer plunged down the snow- slope to reach the shack which was Florestine's before the uU^tin *^^^ ''''^^®^^^^^^ patrol should loop round it and ^^^A^^^-^^^7^^ ?^ "^^y "^^^ ^°"Sh w^tb little snow-graves that buried hay-heaps, battered tins, broken harness, and loose lumber. But she s.umbled over them with her heart in her throat ; reached the crazy door first, and turned with her arm flung out as though to bar it against Tempest where he came up the trail behind her. -You— you can't go in there," she said desperately. Tempests hps twitched in a brief smile. There was no door in aU the North- West dared deny him entrance when he J^k fh J ki ^li ^i! eyes were grave, for it was errands hke this that bled the heart-blood out of him. «' QK^^^ ^^^^ ^°" *^°™® ^ " he said gently. r.^.J^ '^f27^•" Jennifer's voice dropped to whispered pleadmg. She never meant it. She did it just in a moment because she was so tired, and it cried so. She never meant to "Please •" said Tempest, and his eyes contracted. The matter was painful enough without this. " She doesn't know any better." said Jennifer. " She only knows about the things that frighten her-about the woman who was a weetigo and who came in the night and wanted tne baby— and the winds that make noises— and the W nf V ?.• '^■^' T^''""^ *° ^^'- They couldn't have ner at the Mission because you know they are so short fninT^^r"!,"'^-?'^ "^^^ ^^^ alone-and the weetigo woman told her to do it— and si 10 is so sorry." +ii* "^^^^1 *^^^ °''® woman's heart interpreting through this girl hP In"^!? v'';^°''' °* ^" ^^°"^^^- Tempest recognised it. But he laid his hand on the latch. "Do you think I have no pity for her ? " he said. " But I must go in. I am as much under the law as she is. ' 98 THE LAW-BRINGERS h 1 r ^11 1 f "nJ!''rJf-\'Tw'lJ^""^^5' ^"^ ^''*^ ^^"^ t^^tJ^ together. OJi ! 1 think I hate the law," , ,• J°" are thinking of man's law," said Tempest, and smiled a little. I wasn t meaning only that." He pulled up the latch and stepped over the threshold with that quiet manner of his which seemed to cany the hush of finahty with it. Jennifer heard the half-choked cry as Florestine saw him, and it drove home the truth of his words o™er that the world may go on sin must be punished' rooted out, crushed into death. Nature demands it. and opposite the neglect of this law she sets the extinction and the" degradation of the race. Jennifer stood for a little in the great hito theTha^k ^^^^ ^'^^'^* '^^'''" '^'' followed Tempest It was very cold in the shack, for Florestine had made no fire since the baby died. It smelt of moose-skin and coal-oil and all airless greasiness and wood-smoke. Near the burnt- out lamp on the rough table lay a pair of half-finished moccasins with the stnpsof white doe-skin and the htterof beadsandgay silks. Florestine had been working on them for an order when the peevish crying of the baby had started her up from the box overturned on the earth floor. There were pans and Til l,P°i ^^""J*^ ^ P^'^ ""^ snow-shoes flung off in a corner • the black shawl Florestine wore over her head when she went to Grey Wolf, and, where the light of the day swamped the darkness, Florestine on a stool, holding her baby, and Tempest kneeled on one knee beside her. Jennifer halted, half-ashamed. For Florestine needed no rescue from the mercilessness of the law-bringer. Tempest was stroking the brown scrap of flesh that made the infinitely cold baby cheek with a gentle forefinger, and his tone as he spoke m his broken Cree-French was tenderness made wise He had drawn from her with such skill that she did not know It the few necessary words he wanted, and now he was trying to draw from her the dead child. For her long bitter journey to Fort Saskatchewan must begin in the morninj? rhe girl was numb with the cold and dazed with hunger and terror. The ghost of the woman who was a weetigo had shrieked at her hourly, demanding the soft body as well as the hfe already given. She clutched it, staring at Tempest with eyes that were softening. i^ wim ^^ '' Astum," said Tempest, and shd his firm hands about it All, le petit napasis. I take him, Florestine So " A moment Florestine rebelled. Then she let go. Jennifer held her breath. There was no denying that quiet power Tempest stood up with his light burden, and Florestine spoke. 1 want him not cry— and now I want him cry" she said m the mixed language that Tempest only understood. •THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' eth together. )t, and smiled he threshold my the hush loked cry as of his words, be punished, mds it. and :tion and the 2 in the great 'ed Tempest lad made no and coal-oil r the burnt- 3d moccasins eads and gay or an order her up from re pans and in a corner ; en she went A^amped the nd Tempest needed no "empest was finitely cold as he spoke se. she did not nd now he r long bitter e morning, hunger and eetigo had well as the npest with s about it. Jennifer liet power. tine spoke. cry," she nderstood. 99 And ht had no answer for it, because it was the unexplainaMe tragedy of impatient human hfe in a sentence. The grunt of runners packing in the snow came from without sharpened by the snap of a whip as Kennedy pulled the pie- bald barrack pony back on its haunches. Dick ploughed through the snow to the door where Tempest meL him, and Florestine's eyes followed in the dumb submission of a' dog Tempest spoke low and quickly. Both men looked at Jenni- fer, and then Tempest came to her. " I am taking Florestme back with me," he said. " And you'd best go home at once, Mrs. Ducane. There's a storm coming, I fancy. Those look like snow-clouds." Jennifer realised suddenly that the sun was gone and that a cold restless wind was plucking at the shack-corners. But she did not heed. " Who is taking her down to Fort Saskatchewan ? " she asked. " Kennedy. To-morrow morning." Jennifer glanced at the ruddy youth. " Oh, will he know enough ? " she said. " Will he be kind to her ? " " Why, he'll do his best," Tempest smiled. " He's a good lad. But I'll speak to him if you like." He beckoned Kennedy. " Mrs. Ducane is very anxious that this poor girl should be well looked after," he said. " I told her you'd do your best Isn't that so ? " " Aha," said Kennedy, scarlet with shyness. " All heht Sergeant. Cert'nly." ^ ' Tempest's glance passed to the motionless Florestine. ^^ " I think you would be wise to go, ^Trs. Ducane." he said We may get bad snow out of this. You know what the spring storms are." Jennifer went obediently, with a curious sense of impotence These men whose ways lay so much among rough men and rough work needed no teaching from her in the matters of gentleness and forethought. She could not have handled Florestme as Tempest had done, and she believed that Tempest had made more of the storm so that she should not have the pam of seeing them take Plorestine away. Then she realised that the storm was very much more than a tbmg of Tempest's imagination, and along the flank of the hill she hurried with all her strength, feeling the chill bite of the wind on her face. A flake of wet snow, chill as the forerunner of a bhzzard. struck her, and she lowered her head, pushing against it with her long swift snow-shoe swing. Already the distances were shortening down with the mist that brought the snow. The wind in her skirts held her back and tired her and 100 , i li I*! Ill THE LAW-BRINGERS the cold began to strike home to her thinly-clad bodv Tf had been so warm this morninrr ev,« *. \j I ,, """Y- ^t would have expec?^d this AnH^4 ^"^"^ .^^''^"- ^° °"« saddle-backs Sore her vet Four mltr'n" ^°"k '''^'' °^ ^^'^ the storm full. But sC dared n^. k^^^ '^"^ ""'^"^^ ^^^^ There would be no oL tLre now bu^fL ^ho t of t^' ''^^'" who was a weetigo. All about horf hi f^ ^^'^ '^°'"^'' It's so""coId^° °SC '"' ^"Tk"- " I """='■ B"t if^ so cold. numb" wo tout'^hTe/s wl' nn^^^^^^^^ ' ^*™"'"s; on hpr Mor oi • / Struggle and the grasp of the cold the snow was so cold. So cold ^^ii" out oi ner. And zSH"=e--d ar.-' - = WS glov. ofi and .ubbing\e. CL^Te^ef„'t"S^'r.' didTfretloufj'rwhv h''/"'''; /' Y™ poor child. Why 1 carseeS bloodT^,^it\Tck*To«°' Is that better ? how about your feet ° i'li „et ^ fi ".-''""i ''='"'^'- '^"'^ child." ■ ^^'^^ '^ ^'^ directly. You poor " I would have died " ='™ died watel^roof h J wore ' '■ Tnd ^^t ' "f ??k^ °« *?^ '°°g ^^''ow while I bring some „ore wo^?-* ""* "' *''°=^ ^'^'^s at once. i body. It If. No one niles of bare would catch the shacks, the woman e moaning ; g the snow ■ what was ety masses gh for mid- d took her t's so cold. stumbUng, of the cold iown. She 1 it meant her. And swung her her out of er shelter. akiy as to oisy storm id she slid pulling his ong warm ild. Why It better ? ids. And You poor tiave died But you '11 make a lem ; fed and pre- lifer was stood up. ng yellow at once. •THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' loi "Oh, thank you. Thank you. How good you arc to me And you came after me through that storm " " T.^"^ .f through more than that." He broke the sentence. Take those wet things off," he said, and went out hurriedly. light m his eyes. Ihose moments when he held Jennifer in his arms had shaken him much. He seemed to feel the soft- ness and the lightness of her there yet. Some months ago he had been startled when he first realised that Jennifer was becoming a factor in his life. Then he had been amused He fhoin^^H 71? ' ^^^ ''^^^' ^^"^"S '^ Srow, interested to find that Pkasure He Lt^hT^ ^^ ""Z "^^'^^ ^°"^^ ^ivc her so much pleasure. He had believed that the power to love- the power to be excited ; the power to feel very warmly kbout anything on earth had gone out from him. He rejoked in the waT §ltt^ llL^Jfr ''-'' '' -'-'' '^ '^'^ ^'^^^^^^ I :^^;^r tr^SttjgS^^-^-^ ^- -- The thought delighted him. It seemed to put colour into existence once more. He was in love with love. He felt hke 1X1^ '^''^^' again after a long illness. And then grad- lea^l hirJL''T"*/''^ the pleasure faded off the sensation, leaving him face to face with the naked fact. This love was not any longer a thing to be played with and petted. It was flaming into a strength that he had not believed was left fn guTssed :? !t '" H^' '^" f^"^^ ^^^^"^^ ^^ -- ho^ httlf sh^ guessed at it, and saw, too, where she stood just now un- foundtr." "^''' "''^ ""'' ^°"^ ^°^ ^"^^"^ ^--bl^g Jennifer was laughing over the fire when he came back. 1 couldn t help being such a baby," she said. " I reallv did feel as if I'd got to the end of all things." ^ " T^f ""'i*! '* ^^^^ ^i^"" horrible slump back to earth now ? " ran with'^me/ ' '"" ^^'^^ "^^"'^ ^°" P^"^"^ "^^ "P ^"^ ^^Dick turned quickly. But her eyes were frank as Slicker's " We are going to be late for dinner." she said. " And I'm haS ?" ^" """" ''""'"'' ^"' ""^'^^"^ ^'^^^^ ^^°^* y°^ it is have you over^"n.-i°^'''''''-^'"' '°"^>' *° ^^y- ^"^ the worst of wl 1^ i you wring your skirts out ? Let me do it." agSn. ^ ^^""^""^ self-possession which made her laugh How many varied chores do you police have to do through "i^t/me of service ?" she asked. " tnrougn -I think it is as well they are not tabulated for us your Whv- 102 THE LAW-BRINGERS ir : ^i f . ';l:,: i iullTk n ^ ''^"r '^^'.'' ^''''' "^^" *° ^^^« them in the h stori. A '^''''' ''^''' ^'"'' '"^' «^^t ^"''^^^^ «""^^^ ^"nny family fn^i fV t'n"' you warm now ? " He took her hand. "I led that this ,s partly my fault, you know." he said. to ccDiu;."" ' """'''"^ ""* ^""'- " -^"^ ^* ^''^^ ''^ K"°^^ <^f yo" }J^l 1?°^'''^, ''"''^ ,-' '*^^'^ t^""- ^'^'^ t'lc wet Crispins on her b ght ha.r above the collar of his slicker and the glow of he cold on her cheeks. The touch and the look of her r^oved lum powerfully Then he stooped to the lire agam Cthe moment he could not trust himself to speak ,, J.^V^ J;""'/"" ^hah ^ 1 ^"^P"^ ^^' ^"^ ^ap " You say to me Xt esU Lmme f '^^ ''"^ ""'' ^"^^^^^^ and Tempest sa-A^ the Se. wnH "" ^^°^^^^^ ?" he began, " I do not know '' sSd il' r f "?< S ^^'"^ '^^°"& throat. fall She has not\ear"'of hTstee ''''' "^"^ ^^^P^^^" ^^^ tired f"et thatTfd aS7h/m11j' tv ^'^ ?,^ ^^"^^^^ ^ ^he bad," he said. '' S W voL T^^ "Him laike heem. I want 1 er ron?' ."""^ ^^* " ^lorestine no bye apres de Nouvelle Yer She ""^'^ ^' ''^^^^^^ ^y'm come." ^'''^^- ^iie mak' cry; mais she no of^fs Sf ^'"^^'* ^* T^-P-t with the bright keen eyes A ^^'^eoot girl," he said. And Tempest, not foro-etfmn- ^i-' , • - shack, said, " I believe ySu!"" ''"^'''^' ^'''^ ^^^" i" the .^. I that true ? Tacks, came I wound up fe the mist n a trapper ng to watch a httle cr^ ony sprar^ >oked do\fn nd, Floies- the shawl, hought no h. into the nembcring ppers who 's at Grey the spring 3d sled of liar meals on would ing again ard work lark face. 5 fur cap nglish le began, :hroat. ping last 1 on the "Him tine no ig by'm she no 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' en eyes in the 105 Tornmy Joseph twisted his cap rapidly, as though trvinjr to engender some new force to aid him ^ ^ ^ gj^j ,?'P°^^ ^°"^ ^^t SO ? " he burst out at last. " She goot Tempest leant over the desk. " You know better than to ask that, don't you ? " he said compassionately. ^ *^ ''^^"' Tommy Joseph twirled his cap again he'sfgg^ested."'''' ^''' ""^ ^^^ '^^'^ "^°^'"^^^' ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^'" "Maybe," agreed Tempest. "But you were not She will have to go down to Fort Saskatchewan, Tommy But I amglad you told me this. 1 will certainly put it'SVeport '' Jose^inh^runrbTeatS '^t^^';: '^ fr ^ Fonny, dat." He backed to tLe door with head bent '' Mefci much," he said, and went out in silence lempest drew out the report carefully. But this naked httle tragedy could not hold him for long. Because he had been a lonely reserved man for so many^years?he thought and sense of Andree filled his world up^now Ld her wfth drTm Lrwelf "P^?^"'^ ^^^^^^-^^^ '^''^^ the ddicacy^rh l" drtam too well. He never saw her as other men saw her and he never spoke with her as other men spoke s^that bLk busy with his own troubles, knew nothing of this tWnjr until Sst^^ir^ ''''''' ^^°" ^^^ ^^- onc^da;a;%ringli:i! Reserve' In'JSn?.^ the dea^coness was selling to a succession of up verrlv f ? ft ? '""f T*'.^*^ °^ ^^^^ bales which came Wf^^^^ ^}. Eastward side, and Shcker was drivinjr to .ie a slant-eyelsoM girlS^fS , ^^^^^ ''^^ hav; such a very JjoZe'ltce of ivJgo°od'f ^ha^^g rt J"" she cried " wJ^^T ^® ashamed of yourself, Corporal," that Tirl " cn^nf '• Trv 'I''* beginning to take an interest n too fnd .^T T^'^r^'^^- " ^^" ^^' that blue kimono thing too, and sue 11 get a husband to-morrow. You've sDoiled n promising career. Miss Chubb. Hallo, kiddy ' '^ ^ thaitwept'thrfl^or.^ two-year-old buttoned into trousers " I imagine that'll about do the trick." he said. " Keep him io6 THE LAW-BRINGERS IM (jij <> •. i ^' 1 1^1 1 ilir warm right alone till he's grown-up, eh ? Hello, sonny. Don't walk all over yourself." ^ it's' f ^ kf ''■' ^^^^^"^ ^'"^ ^^"^^' " ^^' *^^^ ^^ ^'^^^^- S^^^er, She collapsed weakly on a bale of quilts and laughed moo- ?;7? ''IhTs'id." "^'^^ ^" *'^ "^^^'" ^"^ ^ ^° do' withTou " w3h^^ r.u'''*° partnership." suggested Dick unabashed. We d get through more trade in a day than you would in three weeks. Hustle around that fellow over there. Shcker. .rl a? °'' •!rw^„"'°'^^^ garment we have, and his pockets are bulgmg with bills yet." Miss Chubb looked round the bale-room where the rows of For nit fPP^^ the unfolded ends of every kind of garment. fvP..? T ^."vf' ^"""^^ ^"S^^" ^^^d P""ed and brown critical eyes stared at them and brown flat noses smelt them. She L^^ "r^f '"^ ?^ school-yard where the children were quarrel- ling shrilly ; she was needed in the kitchen where her young helper struggled to make up a meal for ten hungry mouths on limited resources ; she was needed in the sewing-room rir^%S ?' °^ ^^^fT knickerbockers and toeless stockings gaped for her And she was ijeeded here so long . s the swarthy breeds and silent Indians chose to circle those wails aTd buy the worth of a dollar. ^ uuy ro^in^''^'^ ^^'■''^'" ^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^"- " ^^^ here are some more Slicker looked from the window. Then he hugged himself. " Oniri (""rn ? u7^' ^^"^ "^^"^ *° ^e* "d of." he said. ev?r say no" Taemana buy them. She can't aske?foS"ST'' '' ""™"^^' ""''''• " ^^' '' ^ ^"- y- Vp'lf °'t T^'" Jf ^\ *^'^ ^"^'°" ^ay I^dia^ kick-up at New hrpffh T T n ?"■ ^,"1 ^°"'' ^"^ «he ^^^^^ let up to take .IT. A } ~^3 frankly. I did think she'd burst. ' Aha,' she said to everything I brought. ' Aha.' " to'b?.m7- ''^'''J' ?^^T% ^""^ *^^* y^""^ persuasive manner was knnw S^!V T'^ ^"^^ ^T^^- " ^y ^^""^ Slicker, don't you know that it IS vulgar for an Indian to refuse food ? Mrs laemana. being a specimen of high-bred society, couldn't Chn in ' ' ^^'^1 ^T- ''■ ^y *^^ bye, I did hear that de c'?nTeXn."o7 courfe " '''""^^'^- ''^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ of Lrl^Mr. ntriot!^ '°"''" '"^ ^'''' ''^^"^^- " ''^^ "^^^ ^^"^ /; It is constant balm to a man to find how fond women pre ux their sex,- said Dick. "Now. practically the only bond between men is the struggle for existence. We grant a man mi sonny. Don't Fierce. Slicker, laughed, mop- ) do with you ;k unabashed, you would in there, Shcker. id his pockets :e the rows of d of garment, brown critical t them. She were quarrel- ;re her young ingry mouths sewing-room less stockings b the swarthy .^ails and buy re some more 'iged himself, of," he said. . She can't it a kiss you k-up at New t up to take rst. ' Aha,' manner was , don't you food ? Mrs. ty, couldn't ear that de iiat has any n very fond women are ■ only bond rant a man 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' 107 the right to live — off us, if he's clever enough ; but we don't take much personal interest in the matter. It is the ladies who provide the encouragement— and the need for it." Miss Chubb did not care to look at his eyes. She had never cared to look at them since she caught them watching her one day when Tempest passed. "I'll give you plenty of encouragement to remove Slicker right now," she said. " He keeps me too busy to do any- thing." ^ Dick departed with his fingers down Slicker's collar • but outside the yard where the school-children pla\^ed at the swings, noisy with the fret of spring that would soon call them to the woods again, Shcker freed himself. " I have been wanting to catch you alone for a week, Dick " he said. " Of course you know what people are saying about Tempest and Grange's Andree ? " Dick shrugged his shoulders. The idle talk had galled him extremely ; but he had never considered it his mission to interfere m the affairs of other men. " Your perspicacity does you credit," he said dryly Shcker flushed. His eyes had not lo.t the look of youth's dreams ; but he was growing more conscious of his manhood every day. ''You must stop it," he cried. " I hate to have anything said against Tempest." ^ " Do you ? Well, so do I. Slicker. But don't you under- stand that no silly talk can touch him ? He fathers and mothers the whole of Grey Wolf, and if Andree gets more than her share— well, she is uncommonly pretty, you know As men of the world, Slicker, we must allow Tempest a few human failings. His virtues insist that they shall be very few. poor " But he loves her." " That remark," said Dick, lighting his pipe, " is unworthy of your intellect. -^ da" "^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ' ^ ^^^^ ^"^^ kissing her hands only yester- " You what ? " Slicker repeated his assertion, and Dick dropped the match and put his foot on it. He would have put it on Andree with as httle compunction just then. Tempest and Jennifer were the only beautiful things in his world, and the mere suggestion of this sickened him. He looked at the boy narrowly Of course he was only taking out a shver, ' ' he said "But even so it is hardly worth talking about i-. it ? of scandal Grey Wolf amuses "itself with is dabbUng in, either." He went on, leaving Slicker abashed and unconvinced, and hardly worth zo8 h ; il; tfii I I: '. :i I . THE LAW-BRINGERS i: the forest-trail, P.cknowLdged^t ^i^' "^^^^'S^ ^^^^ *^^°"gh manywrong-doia-sofhisliffwn.fh. Punishment for the god Frey who sat in Odin'f lI? / Punishment of the young for his comfort. Dick had e^lfn^ f ^ *°° ^^' ^^d too^clea? wisdom, and he saw to the he.rf "f .1^° it ^^ Odin's seat of Looking on Tempelt as plLn man I ^' *^^°^' ^^^^^ and sure, all things are possible to a pS tT T''. "^^^^^ *^"«' ^^^ Dick had learned to look the ft? ' ^^o^ing on him as phemy. With a queer nui^^-nf^i^^ was unthinkable-a blas- Chubb's favourite^expieire ""'"^ ^" remembered Miss " '^y'n'^^2\^^^^^^ ^e laughed, graves," he said. ^ '"■ *^^ §°ds until we see their knew so well. Their " honk-honk ''h ^T. ^°"- "^^^^ he overhead as they passed a wl.w ^ °P^/^ ^°^" ^^0^ sheer the crystal air,^with ea'.er nerlf^ '"^f".^'^ ^"^ ^^^ «^^0"gh Down in the trail the mefn who hL^"^ high-beating hearts, heart leap up to them wTth lo^.^^ T?'''\ '? "^"^^^ ^^^^ his way; unknowing; unafraid ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ their straight- white wings down Tst t slacke^tT ^•^^'"^ ^°^^ *^eir forswore no good and learnt^tht ^ ? S^'"" ^P^^ses. They by no God and learnt the fear T^i '^f''^^" ^^^^ P^^^^d for mankind ; for Dick for TemnS . "'i"^' ^"^^ ^^^^^ved to them had been given the ineSnhl ^^^J^f^i^^^- Because Down in the narrow tmiI.™\r'^^^*'S:e ^^ a soul. smothered a sigh that was ha f a^u?s^ '^", ^"^'^ P^"^« ^^^^ softening snow slipping under Ls feet ' """"' °° ^^^^ *^^ ^r^p^^^^: ^l^\^^^-^^ suffering ' A man must drink somethS/" ^^^''^ ^"^'^^^ remedies. My friend," said DicV " ti. But usually the last thing that TJ^h '^f^^-^ ^"^^* *^"th. Now, I should advise vou to get i^ofh'w- '' repentance, right away or you'll he -, 1 7^ a *^^ abstinence business Good-night to you." ^'"^ "P ^^S:ain before you know it And then he went down to rxrpn^^'c k long. For the knowled^Iof tho ?.^ ^""V^ ^^^y^^ there on him. ^°^^ °^ ^he young god Frey was heavy His lagging feet halted him at ihr> r^ he went upstairs that nirfit Tpn! f ^ss-room door before apH ^^^^„:„. "^-ii- mgnt. lemoest wa« the'-- • --^--i • *^\B imm77- -; , 'THE YOUNG GOD FREY ' 109 given the elder ing fast through shment for the 3nt of the young ar and too clear Odin's seat of swift and sure. hkely true, for "ng on him as ikable— a blas- nembered Miss aughed, til we see their le clang of the long rivers he wn from sheer ttd far through eating hearts, much felt his their straight- g bore their pulses. They They passed -vere reserved fer. Because ' of a soul. pines Dick t on with the iter suffering nilla-essence. ed, as Dick :ic remedies. great truth. repentance. ice business ou know it. tayed there was heavy door before ', smoking, 2rse. Dick hghtened. sure as the moon and the stars, and as Tempest was sure ; high above earth. He looked up at Dick's tread, waving his pipe •'Come on, come on," he said. " I've got an idea here." It was the impetuous manner of the days when thev harl oved without doubt or pain. The other man felt the call of It to his heart again, and his eyes were sombre as he dropped into a chair and stretched his legs. Life had broken hir^^but br'eif Tempest " "' '^'"^^ '''' '' '^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^* '' -^^^t ya'wned^Dick!''^^^^^' *^^ ^°*^°"^^^^^ ^^yss separating them," '' Yes. But don't you see why ? That's the germ of it and It never struck me before. It was there so thfy couMn't meet in an earthly way. You remember how those two grea^ offT.^'^ T^ • J") '^'"^-^''' "^'''^ ^" °f coarseness sloufhed f i r V ^1?/°^^ S^^' 'P'^y °^ ^^fl^^i"^ and the transparent pure heat of Muspelheim. Relined and purified they met in mid-air and made life. And that life made the worldlnTwas the world. Understand ? There's no way to the higher he along the earthly plane-that chucks Is into the aLlss ?. .1, uf "i"^''^""^^-^^^ *^^^"g ^i^^tilled away from the heat r/, .-^^J^'^i-^^? *^^ ^^^'^^^ '^^ °f selfishness-My GodI That IS the thing ! That is hfe ! " ^ He walked the room now with his light nervous steps. His head was flung back and his eyes shone. Dick thought sud denly of a Browning-sick girl who used to call Tempest " Sun- luf'"-^^^''^ the smile on his lips had lost its^cyniclm although his words had not. v^yuicibm, "Very pretty," he said. " Unfortunately the bulk of us go into Ginungagap. Partly for the sake bf company and partly because we are still gross enough to prefer the heat^of the Sf !f t''!^- ^""^ P^'^'y b^^a^se ^^^ habit of wanting to hfh,>Vf . ^"'"i °^ ^^'^^Ss seems more ineradicable than the habit of wanting to get to the top." 1^ " ^^u ^! ^?^' Th^^t's just where we mistake. When we can lose that idea we will be " '' Gods," suggested Dick suavely, and LovJTs^^'"''' ''^^' ^"* '""^ "^"^ ^" ""^^^ *^ ''^ ^ife vers^°oldran""^°'^'- ^^°" '"""^'^^'^ P'^* *^^* ^"**^ ^"^^ ^ "^i" fpi?5!P^'* '^?PJP^^ *'' ^^"Sh. There were many days when he felt the great barrier between himself and this Ln But no •' ' «l i- ft 4isi THE LAW-BRINGERS ments. He went awav af i.of i i^'^'^ ^ ^^ly-dropped com- But Dick sat on\^,"rhrs Pine hurn'.T^. ^^^ ^"^^^^^ ^^i"' opposite wall. ^ ^^ ''"'^''* °"* ^^^ stared at the Bufhetne^Vat^he^waT^^^^^^^ ^"^'^^-^ - himself, years oldor than himseTf wn^ . I"'* ''°'^- ™' "^^°' three had kept his ideals and thnZ fJ'^T^ ^°""^'' "^ ^'^'^- ^e studied men and women a^hi=iu„t^ J?*"'. °"''' I^^d not where Tempest's 3(^171 ' T ""'"""t having seen by now He loved it wfth that arfenHnvjTP,'^'* ^^"'•e<^'i *<> Canada, their land. He wronfofthoTe bom ?„"?'= '"l "^^ ^^" ^ive ^Z^^ ^:^:'Z^^^^^^ wS is^o^ a^^s^r it rH?- "rr- from poverty He wLTt'fn, T"?^^ ^'°"' ^^^°^' P^^^ty mighty men whoseTame li i "^^^^,^^^^1^ into one of those their fLt ceasfto Icho'n 7t ' "'°"^ '"'^ ^""^ ^^^^ ^^^er haJ?c?uet\\tLd"er''io^^^^^^^ ^"^ ^-^ -^^ ^ curious saved for alUhis-iflvonPf no w^ ^°"ld be could be set to bear hiXnn.?fn?^*'?"^.^l^° ^^^^ him. He lonely CalvarS He coi^lH h! ^fJ^'l^'Sh heart through to a men shirked-^by Anyone tho hf/''?^ '^' ^^^"§^ ^^^^ «ther on the cross of oth Jr^ J^ ^ "^'^ ^"°"Sh to nail him flat just thatTempest shouS haL'^^h ^"V^^^tcomings. It was and the great cuniswlc.^ there because he was worthy, her nobleS For /h^T^ff ^^'^^ ^^""^ ^^^^^^ ^^"en upon had the skill hi wL i- "^''' ^"'1 temptation. He skill to make Tempest iZ^fl " ".' ?°='=- «" "^^ '"e .edropp^edhis^tTe-ttSdri;>d%-tt'^LXX^^^^^^^^ nd. He felt it 1. and he talked -dropped com- l buoyant still. I stared at the )ns in himself. Ins man, three • in heart. He ig to slay him ising Tempest o much. One )r very sake of those men to carrying into Dick had not g seen by now -d to Canada, men can give ler need. He r's work is so to give heart- fit to travail :haos, plenty 3 one of those id long after -^as a curious sst could be ve him. He through to a IS that other nail him flat igs. It was was worthy, fallen upon their eating rid go by. tation. He He had the mself could deepening ' half a sob, r very long. CHAPTER VII. " THE RETURN OF OGILVIE." " Such things should not be allowed," said Slicker hotly " Unfortunately," said Dick, and his voice was propor- tionately cool, " we have learnt to conduct society on the assumption that each human being is a separate individual And therefore, logic requires that we allow to each at least the outward rights of personal independence." ''^ But they have no right to use those rights against another." You know Mrs. Hotchkiss says that bruise was where she teJJ against a tree. Slicker," reproved young Forbes. " But she knows it isn't. And so do we." Along Leigh's warm, shady verandah the older men glanced at each other in amusement. Dick looked down on the two boys spread luxuriously on the suniiy grass. " Whose rights are you encroaching on now, SUcker ? " he asked. " Oh, it's all rot ! " Shcker sat up with a jerk. " Love and marriage just upset the preconceived plan of the whole cosmos " Especially marriage," murmured Dick; while the other men laughed, stinging Slicker into defence. ^^ ''We ought to have been all men or all women." he cried. All men wouldn't bother to bully each other, and all women wouldn t bother to nag each other. There wouldn't be much love, and so there wouldn't be much sorrow. We'd iust iis along each on our own." ^ " Sounds enticing," said Bond, the young factor of Revil- l°"ft: . ?"* ^^^^® ^^^^ *° ^s some fundamental objections to that plan, Slicker. The world has to go on, you know. Or at least, we are under that impression. We may be over- estimating our value." " "Heaven help us if we are," said Dick. He looked at C5iicicer Who gave you leave to take Kant and Hegel and some other books out of my room ? " he asked. Shcker went scarlet. Several conditions in Grey Wolf had upset him lately • and he was seeking explanation for them, ana, incidentally, for his own existence and that of everyone 112 M >^ I-; !' r, » i i i THE LAW-BRINGERS t€ I found them," he muttered. "T'r^^f f ,, ^°" "^^ something With Hotchkiss?" said RnnH 1 m afraid he rives thaf nr»r,r i;<^v-i„ >-'-iiM.ibb . saia ±5ond. " -Mr.*. „ I fc>';^^ Lxiat poor little woman a bad fimf> " ne'sXX£. ts^^P'-ns-or Leigh. Sp^^u'To' Leigh. iyinrLST„1;is'"eharwit''h 'r.'^-f .'°"°""S "---»• And presently tte bo' roslvvith, ,*'^"-*"'/yes on Slicker down to thejate, and^"r^;^aIonVt^!•oa/°'^"" ^ "='"'^'' the breakim?-up of a hom. t.I^^V'^^^'"^'^^ ^^^^ matching he battled f?r Jennifer a^ainst^Dn '''" ^"^'' -^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ and demands ; Xre he couM wT ' ^'''™^ drunkenness naturally, curbed thTunive.se D ck'sir ' '""^' "°^' ^"^^^ the universe Ho hnr^uZ\ t ^^^ "° reason to curse always-tacfful ^rlnd' Srvti^s^ tt^'^^^^'T-^^^^^' cheered and strengthened her Z?Z? f"'^ ^"^ ^^*^"ty she had become to him much nnnr^ ??''''? ^^'^ ^°"^d do. And to bdieve, although Ssnatur™ra.ri^'^''^"°^^^^^^«^^^ nifer. brave-eyed and unshaken Tn\ ^•7^'"^''^ ^^™- J^^- to him than any woman had meanJ'h 7'^'^°°^' "^'^^* ^°^^ would more than p^^^^^^^^ ^^^e^aw that he innocence into a knowtd^P Sh i Jennifer out of her blind The man who desired! thfn.Tn^ ?f^ T^ ^^^^ ^° ^^'^ ^er. Dick's amused contemntnfH Y^^ dared not take it aroused he found he'd been done ^ ^"^ '"''^' ^° '""'" ^^^^^ ^^^^« '' Wen 5 'ZhT ^"'^'^"' '""^ ^^"^^ «" to me." Leigh. • ^^^'^* ^^^ y°" ^^«"^o to do about it ? " demanded plIceTote^ b JomedT'thi^ '" '° ' ?''^ ^^" ^^ ^^ the first once bouSt shTe. in . I^""^' ''"'^ ^^ ^°"'t be the last. I sea myself sth th?nL^n ntlT' '^"' ^"^^ '""''^ ^"^^ °^tat it whea we wS? but "/papef ''^^P'"' ^°" ^^°"- ^e invite " No"ir" A ^i'^^"''" '"^^ ^^^-^- " ^t -i" kill the place " iNot It. A German came up lately with scrip that showed tcious. " Well. DO." 3 ? " said Bond, •ad time." )eak to Leigh. ing discussion, ^es on Slicker, iance ; walked reason for this been watching ^here he could g drunkenness ay, and, quite 3ason to curse ilways-kindly, and vitality 'uld do. And lowed himself ig him. Jen- , meant more n as Tempest est go to ruin esaw that he of her blind to hurt her. ke it aroused ays. For he sing that the rh the race, igain. ) with one of 3d old buffer e with when " demanded not the first the last. I miles out at We invite the place.'"' hat showed i ' THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 113 a fine river-frontage— but unfortunately he found that he had to go into the river to get it. But he liked the and and he bought hat genuine frontage of Robison's near Pitcher Portage He smiled gently. " Robison is advertising us quite a httle bit, I think," he added. uvtrtising us He said it again to himself as he rode over to Ducane's for supper a little later But this time he added Ducane" name and under the wide dark tent of trees where sweet scents 1^0^60! the birds answered him in cheerful, roHicking song. By Ihe trai the yellow catkins of the pussy-willow we?e swIyinVand Dick came with their pollen on him to the dining-room where Ducane was working at a roll-top desk. Ducane swept fnll ^^Tfu^'^r "" "^'^^"^ ^"'^ ^«^^«i it instantly, and SSk followed the disappearance of the bunch of keys into Ws pocket with the eyes of desire. The handling of thJt bunch for such a httle while might mean so much 1 hroughout the meal Ducane was moody and irritable He smoked a cigar between his mouthfuls, scattering the asl on the " ■ J""''"'^ '^'' ^""-"^* ^^^k'^' and she'^s^nUd " Isn't he dreadful ? " she said. " It is alwavs a ci^^r nr cigarettes. The kitten eats what she can, and r^y ch^^nk thinks them invaluable for his next winter's store. ^ ButTstm find the ends about everywhere." " You always exaggerate so infernally," growled Ducane If you came out of that cloud of smoke you'd calUtbv another name," said Dick. " Where is the chipmunk Mrs^ Ducane ? I haven't seen him since he bit my finder and Pve Crp: 's'^Mad^Do? 'rrY^ ':.'' °^ ''- ^° y- --mVe? bir^Butfkm^dfhedo?'" *'" "^" ^^^^^^^^^ ^-- *h- He continued to talk; tightly, casually, though he missed P oved Tha't Su^n:'? ' '' ^'"' ™^ ^^^^^^ at mealTme^ proved that Ducane s nerves were rapidly getting bevond sell-control. And the furtive look in his eyes proveS the slme The man was on the verge of a big coup or an utter breakdown' Either was equally likely to affect him in this wlv But whichever it was Dick hoped that the matter wo^ld^not be taken out of his own hands. The instinct of the chase was too strong m him. He knew that he could not let S now ne'sro??htill J^"^^ ^." the lamplight with alUhf ^d^°tT: fn r Ki ^. u ""y'^^^^"Sed table about her, and the cynicism l^nH ^^f"^ ^'°"^^^^ ^^^ ^'^"^t smile to h,s eye?. Life Td thS t^^hou ttlt'tV'^BlT^^-. " ^^^^^ S^'^ him tlelw'e'e stroXer nor ^ wSer ZJ'Xef :Z:^J'''^Z''''Y '' "^^^"^^ unhappy one also. ' ~ " ^^ ^"^"""^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^n In the sitting-room later Ducai..o was smoking cigarettes. H 114 THE LAW-BRINGERS n 14 ii ff't J i ' f ; 111 He smoked them rapidly, flinging them into the fire half-burnt out. And he walked through the room in restless irritation tossmg a word mto the conversation now and again, and contra- dictmg Dick rudely. Dick was well accustomed to this Jennifer never asked anyone else to her home now. but she had ceased to mind Dick. Indeed, without understanding why, she found co nfort in his presence. In a tall, grey jar on the floor big branches of pussy-willow showed palely, scenting the room with spring. Ducane brushed once against them as he walked, and he turned, with a curse, kicking the jar over. " •^i^^'^o- *^^? y°" *° P"^ y°"r deuced rubbish about all over the shop, he said savagely. " Pick it up and take it awav- I. l^"!? ul'"i,^*°.°'^ ,"P' flashing. This was worse than anything he had hitherto shown before Dick. She silenced Dick with a movement of her hand as he rose, and went forward. But Ducane had already entangled his feet in the branches. He stooped ; wrenched them away from his ankles, and flung them in Jennifer's face. ^ " Do you want to make me fall and break my neck ? " he stormed. -^ " Harry, dear " And then a quiet hand put Jennifer aside. Dick &° '"^way for a few minutes, Mrs. Ducane," said " Oh — you won't ? " u^ r°,'i'l^"'"t ^'"'- ^"* ^e "^ight hurt you. Please go." We held the door open, and Ducane lurched forward, inar- ticulate with fury. He had ceased to fear Dick for the moment. And he was a big man. Bigger and heavier than Dick. Jennifer stood on the threshold. She was half-dazed, but one little sharp thread of fear ran through her. ■' Oh— I can't. He's not safe " " Not safe for me ? " Dick smiled. " Don't be frightened." he said, and shut the door, facing Ducane with his back to it Jennifer stood outside it with her face white and set She was glad, fiercely glad that a man should meet Ducane on tne ground where she had bowed in submission so long And she was burning with shame that it should be necessary. And sne was thrilhng with some unexplainable emotion which was more than anger, more than relief, more than pain. She could not analyse it ; but she knew that from no other man wouM she fiave allowed this interference between herself and her husband. Ducane s voice rose, loud and hectoring. She could not near Dick. She did not want to hear him. She went down the passage to her own room and stood looldng out on the caim night of stars. There was no love for Ducane left in her s'''l I 1 I in i ire half-burnt ess irritation, 1, and contra- ned to this, aow, but she ndcrstanding pussy-willow ng. Ducane urned, with a ish about all and take it lan anything Dick with a rward. But anches. He 3, and flung neck ? " he icane," said Please go." rward, inar- :he moment, than Dick, jed, but one [rightened," )ack to it. d set. She Ducane on long. And sary. And . which was She could n would she er husband. i could not went down out On the 3 left in her '■4M J:* 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 115 now, and at present she felt that there was no love for anyone or anythmg else in all the world. ^ Ducane was scattering curses through his incoherent wrath His natural bullymg temper had outleapt its bounds and he was ih^'\\^ with fury. But the quiet, half-smiling man against the door cowed him. He kept his distance. " How dare you interfere between me and my wife ? " he foamed. In a man's own house, too. I'll have you " ^^ Do you really call yourself a man ? " asked Dick poltely r,^ T^ 1 1 ^"?^"6 became incoherent again. "You have no right, legal or otherwise, damn you " "I don't want any right other than that of my muscles " ?'f '"^^v ^^^^'•^/"ddenly ; close up to the stuttering, purple face. Your word isn't worth much," he said. " But I have a fancy to make you give it to me. Will you control yourself more m future ? You had better say yes. I give you a couple of minutes to think it over." ^ ^ '• I'll have you up for assault if you try to bully me." vour S. ° ^"TV"" ^r^^ endeavour to make it worth ^1/ .i -^'^^ ^^^^^ *° unbutton his tunic. "You prefer It this way then ?" he asked. sudden Lf° '""mo^^tT ^^^''^^ ^^^y' "^"lanned by a suadenfear. No. I know you could lick me." J30 do 1. If I wasn't so absolutely sure perhaps I'd take don^cZ. n'^ "' ''■ "^'u ^"^^"^' nerve-a^ttackf like tW^ don t come on a man without reason. Unless you want me to begin taking a professional interest in your affairs y ou hTd Sf d^H^J to control yourself. Do you understand^" nPPH.H r ^^ ^''u ^'^ °^ *^' half-veiled threat. But he r!ffu T''P°'' "^^^^ ^°"ld strike home. This did. Ducane redded back against the wall, and his puffy face turned taUow! " No^W^g/'"'''^^'"^ "^'""^ ""'^^ °^y P"^^*^ ^«^i^«'" he gasped. de'clofseiui' ^9^11°! '^°"J\'^' ^ '"PP^^^" ^ou'd better see ae (.noiseaux. Shall I send him over in the morning ? " he^natThed T/?''"^ '"^J'^^^- ^"* ^^ ^^^"^^^ to Dick that bSy -^^ "^^y °^ ^'^^P^- ^^^k bade him good-night ask Mrs X'.nJf 7'^ ^e Choiseaux." he said. " And I'll mustn't iSf if ^"^ *^" ""^ ^°^ y°"'^^ spent the night. You He Ipf! n '' ''^'^^' S"* ^^y "^°^e hold, you know." down ihl "" groping with the hint behind this, and went cZ^l I P^^'^l" *° ^^^ his hat. In the open doorway Jennffer and frail ' ^""^ "^^'^ '^' ^^^' ^^^^^^^^t she looked very small fhl^^^^''^^ y°"'" she said, almost inaudiblv. " But I hope that It will never be necessary for you to do this any more "^ 1x6 i':- THE LAW-BRINGERS He had to lighten that note of tragedy in her voice before he could think of anything else. Why. it was nothing," he said. " When a man gets a bad attack of nerves a lew plain words from another man soon help to make him see things straight. I am going to bring de Choiseaux over in the morning. Ducane has con- sented to take a tonic. You'll see that he'll soon be all right again. But he'll have to knock off his smoking." Both knew well that it was very much more than nothing. But she said only : " How very kind you always are to me." Dick looked down at her smiling. He was wondering if she would say this t j him in the days that were coming. " That virtue brings its own reward in this case." he said, and rode away into the night. A week later Slicker tottered in at the barrack-gate, white- faced. " Dick, I've found him," he gasped. " I've found Ogilvie." Dick led him into the little office and shut the door. " Where ? " he said. " Take your time— and take this first. Shcker swallowed the small nip from Dick's flask, and shud- dered. " He's at the bottom of that couMe a couple of hun- dred yards from the Mission trail. I didn't go down, but I knew that coon coat of his. And the flies were buzzing. Ugh ! " " All right. Don't you worry about Ogilvie. He's been shut of his troubles these six months, lucky devil. Hold on till I get Kennedy and the buckboard. You must show us the place right now." But among the close-set young poplars and the sweet- scented Balm of Gilead at the coulde-top Slicker backed away. " I— I guess I'll stay with the team," he said, and the two policemen crashed down through the undergrowth together, with the drumming of woodpeckers in the hollow trees about them sounding like hammering on an empty coihn. Sunk deep in the coulee-bottom was a huddle of rough fur ; something that gleamed, as though scratched oul ;>y a. qi.esting coyote, and a boot turned upwards, with a v/b\i: Ir. terfly poised on its tip. In the hot air the buzzing o-i lu^s came up drowsily, suggesting sleep. But Ogilvie's sleep was six months long. Dick stooped over the +hing on the ground. For a httle time he did not move. Then, with a strong jerk of his wrist, he pulled a knife from the joint of the neck and collar-bone and . t od up, quenching Kennedy's exclamations. " Vvt have found Ogilvie's bones/' be said. " That's all youkiiovv. Now help shift him out of this." i voice before , man gets a another man am going to ane has con- n be all right han nothing. dering if she se," he said, -gate, white- md Ogilvie." oor. id take this ik, and shud- uple of hun- down, but I ere buzzing. He's been il. Hold on lust show us the sweet- tacked away, and the two th together, trees about n. i rough fur ; 'y a qv.esting ite bnrterfly ujs came up s six months For a little of his wrist, collar-bone " Thaf B all •THE RETURN OF OGILVIE' n; Four drove home where three drove out. and in the loose- box at the barrack-stable Ogilvie was laid, wrapped decentlv m a Hudson Bay blanket. I'hen Dick wont ,ip to his bedroom and washed and brushed himself, whistling softly the while The hound-instmct was avwike in him, whipping him on to the blood-trail and already he had scented the two whom he must follow. If It were not Robison who had done tliis thing then it assuredly was Grange s Andree, and it behoved him to have those two suspects m h.s hands before the news of O-ilvic's return got loose m Grey Wolf. He had enforced present ?silence tTr w'"^^^",^ ^^l'^7 u ^"' ^^" '""^"'^^ "°t be able to keep It for long. He laughed, brushing the thick hair back from his sunburnt forehead, and settling his cap with a swaL-er It s you and me for it first, I reckon. Grange's Andree " he said, and clattered cheerfully down the narrow stairs ' T., 1 S^ '■el'eved that Tempest would not be back from the Black Mile until the next night. The matter was entLly under his control, and he knew exactly what he was going to do as he walked down to Grange's where a Sabbath calm lay over S feoor "^ '^'" "'^"^ ^°^' '^^^ '^'P' ^" '^' dust '• I want to speak to Andree a moment," he said leanintr :?enH'°h'H- *^" back-padour window; and Moosta w ithTn steady babies reeling round her ample skirts, answered him Lampa?d.°'' ^° '"' '''"°'- ^^^ "'^^' ^^^^ ^^"'^ Monsieur do^n ':! J°?;er"'' ''"'' ^"' "^^"'"^ ^^^ ^-^' ^^ --^ Against the bank where the canoe widened to the lake he found Andree m her canoe. She held the overhanging wflLw! branches with one round arm from which the sleevi hid aUrn back. There was a bracelet of the dyed porcupine qriUs on it and a belt of like make clipped her supple waist^ She lav back Idly, and her long slender feet were thrus^ out before her rnd1ilk"."^DicTsmii:r ''' "^^' ''^' ^"^ "^^^^^^ ^^d--^' fnenYs!^t'Ji?rlT^r" "^'"^^^^ ^° ^^"^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Then he slid down the back and stood beside her. Andree looked up with a pretty pretence at anger. Then she frowned She had no reason to love Dick. ^rownea. " What boy are you waitinj; for this eveninfr Anrlrf^P ^ » askea Lhck pieasantlv. and stepped into the canoe. " iNot you, she said sharply, and drew her feet in. m ^m ii8 THE LAW-BRINGERS Ah, I m sorry for that." Dick reached for the paddle and sent the canoe out into the stream. " Because, you see IVe An^d^ee '^ ^^"^ *° ^^^^^^ *° ^°" ^^^^^^ particularly. Grange's She looked up with suspicion at his suave voice. Dick nodded. His smile was almost bland. • 'lu^^l ^'"^ y^"" ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ yo" didn't see Ogilvie that night m the Mission trail .^ " he asked softly. " Ah ! ''she said, and half-sprang up. But Dick was too quick for her. He dropped the paddle, and thrust her back in the seat. " You can't swim," he said. " And I'm not going to hurt n? ht r^"^' ^ *™^ "^'"^ ^'"'^ ^^^ Robison on that same " I did never see either," she said with a ga?p. '' Did you see them both at the same time ? " " I did not see " ','. ^^^^ *^^y ^°*^^ ^" *^^ *^ai^ together when you saw them ? " ^^ Norn de Dieu ! " she burst out. " You devil ! " jt p',?-^®P ^^^^^- ^°" ^^^^ had us over. Both at once, was "I did never " " It was both at once then ? " This steady hammering was too much for her. breathi^'" ^^^ ^^^^' ^"^ ^^^^ *^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ quickened " Now," he said persuasively, " you will tell me what else you saw, Andree." " Diable ! " she cried, and her voice rose in a scream " I not see nothing. I not know. Oh— damn you, Dick " " " That matter has already been attended to, thank vou Now, what did you see ? " ■^ " " I did see nothing." ^^ Dick's hand slid round her wrist softly, and suggestively. i-h^''u ^°? ^^^^^ '^ ''^^^''^ ^^ y°^ ^^eP on saying " Oh ! '' Andree shuddered, drawing her head in between her shoulders. Then suddenly she flung it up and looked at him defiantly. '[ Est-ce que vous avez envie de moi to tell ? " she demanded. You have guessed exactly right, Andree " ^ ''Robison," she began. Then she put her hand out. Take those eyes out of my eyes," she said. " Now— I will say. They did mak' fight. An Ogilvie he hit. Ar- an Robison take le couteau " she dropped her face ';^ ^^er hands. " Non, non," she gasped. " Tais'-vous. Ah I Cette aiiaire ! C'est affreux ! " Dick sat back, letting her go. i^. 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE he paddle and you see, I've irly. Grange's voice. Dick vie that night 3ick was too 3t her back in ?oing to hurt n that same 119 You can tell saw them ? " I!" at once, was iT quickened le what else icream. " I )ick." thank you. uggestively. ) on saying in between d looked at : demanded. hand out. " Now— e hit. An' d her face vous. Ah ! " I think that will do for now." he said, the rest in court. Where is Robison ? " " He did go north with Ducane on Mercredi — on Wednes- day. I do not know " Oick smothered an oath. This was an unforeseen compHca- ti.-n. And the man had four days' start. " Are you sure ? " he asked. " Oui," said Andree sulkily. On the night before Robison left he had shown his increas- mg jealousy against Tempest very plainly, and it had taken all her small amount of wit to quieten him. Andree had no more love for Tempest than for Robison. But it pleased her to have the men in the bar chaff her about him, and it pleased her to see the light leap into his eyes when she came near him. Dick took up the paddle and drove the canoe in under the willows again. "I am obliged to you for your graciousness, Andree," he said. " But I advise you not to shower it on any one else in this matter, or you may get yourself into trouble. And I wonder if any girl who had not Indian blood in her could have held her tongue for so long." He went back through the streets, asking for Robison and Ducane, and confirming Andree's words. They had gone to catch the scows making north with the first spring freight for Fort Smith and Hay River and many a lonelv outpost beside Dick knew well the trail they must take. He knew the run of the river from Pelican Portage down, and he knew just as exactly his chances of catching the steamer which met the scows at Fort McMurray. An hour later he ran down to the bank on moccasined feet, and witluu ten minutes a httle canoe shot out into the sunset, with Dick kneeling, eager-eyed and hthe-armed, in the bow, and Tommy Joseph in the stern. Tommy had tracked up that river and sailed down it until he knew the lie of it by heart, and when night came the steady push of the paddles still ate up the miles. Once a bull-moose thrashed the undergrowth close by with his wide-branching horns, and far off the shy cow answered with a wild note • harsh, and strangely appealing. Silence dropped, and Dick knew that the huge animal was swinging his mighty bulk and heavy antlers through the woods as noiseless and as swift as a weasel. It was hot on the river through the days that followed. And It was very lonely. Sometimes across an open sweep of red-top grass coyotes raised their high wild howling and shot irora sight like yellow shadows. Sometimes loons rose from desolate marshes and flew into horizon with straight beaks wide open and strident cries that made crazy echoes. Some- times a brown bear rocked along the rim of their night-camp 4 >i i' i: ', kii ■ 120 THE LAW-BRINGERS with his silent shuffle, or the nasal whistle of a night-hawk on the trail of a bat came to them where they lay under the white moon. But the men spoke httle. and in silence they thought their own thoughts, still-faced and quiet-eyed in that reserve which the men of the back-trails know well Many times Dick thought of Robison ; swarthy, stealthy ready to die hard when his time came. Of Ducane who would crouch and cry when rounded up for his branding Of Jennifer— and then his thoughts went no further, and all the great dead of whom the forest told were nothing to him. For the men who loved Canada haunt her silent places still ; a ghostly, unforgotten company, grey with the thickening dust of time. Alexander Mackenzie, who broke out the white-man's flag where only the Indian's smoke-fla- had blown ; Franklin, thrusting his pincer-points down from the naked Pole ; Bishop Bompas, that wide-hearted, dauntless Apostle of the North"; James Robertson; George Munro Grant, and the men of a later day ; Strathcona and Mount btephen, who smote with steel and paved with iron and buckled up coast to coast. And a thousand untold, and yet another thousand ; men who died with shut teeth and fierce eyes on the Long Traverse • trappers whose sleeping places the grey wolf knows ; freighters' Indians, Hudson Bay runners, men of the Mounted Police^ Canada s lovers all, sowing their bones down the trails thev blazed that other men might follow after. All the world was full of summer, from the duck nestinc^ in unknown pools to the reeling rim of the Arctic day, where'the reindeer moss pushes green through the snow, and the bergs break out, and the whalers wake and the great seals put to sea. One early dawn, when the portages of Grand Rapid Island were passed, a sleepy breed in his tepee was waked to hear a burnt-skinned, sunk-eyed man in the uniform which explained more than his words ask how long it was since the scows had passed the Rapids. His answers seemed jerked from him • and then the man sprang into a canoe, and struck out where the Athabaska ran red under the dawning. The breed grunted rubbing his eyes. ^ ' " By gar." he said. " Go roun' wit chip on hees shoulder dat chap. Carcajou, hetm." Carcajou, the wolverine, was first made of all created things and he alone has changed neither habit nor form since Kitche Manitou put him into the woods. Therefore Carcajou has knowledge of all hid things behind those watchful eyes of his """n i^ r^"^ °''. *^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ the first man who had called Dick Carcajou in uneasy resentment. Dmyn this wide northern road uncounted men of many lands have gone to the Yukon gold ; to the untapped mineral U> ;yed, in that 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 121 wealth of the hills ; to the lip of the Arctic where the kit-fox breeds. Scores had never come back. But their ghostly march did not trouble Dick. Between the great wash o'f water and the hard naked sky all the past was shrivelled up. He had come with chafed limbs and stiff shoulders to get his man ; and that instinct would not die, though the sunset flung mocking colour on drawn, set faces, and the moon saw two figures that crouched lower with humped shoulders as the weary paddles flashed in and flashed out. Citrons and tender blues swamped the flats of Fort McMurray under daybreak when a man in earth-stained kharki walked drunkenly up the gangway of a little steamer where the bare- foot crew laboured among the hay-bales, boxes and myriad thmgs that collect naturally when a river-steamer comes to anchor. Two hours later the captain, coming aboard, trod on that man where he stretched unlawfully into the passage- way. But he showed no surprise when Dick sat up and asked for a passage so far as he chose to go. Bessait listened in silence. Small curiosities do not fit with a thousand-mile landscape, and the talk of the great rivers make the human voice sound thin. Then he made reply in one grave nod and went on deck. Dick proceeded with his toilet in a lazy content. Haste was over for the time, and at leisure he made his investigations. The crew were as mixed a draft as Bessait usually carried' French breeds with the strength of ten ; a remittance man gone sufficiently insane to cook salt junk and dried moose and tinned meats and fresh fish month in and month out for a clamorous multitude ; a stoker with an unnecessarv certificate, who was engineer and greaser and everything else ; an Englishman with suggestive holes cut in his clothes-corners as though some name had been blotted out ; a few quiet, firm-lipped Canadians Fraser's young son, and a delicate-limbed, fine-faced boy- student from McGill University, who did what he was told for the sake of learning life in his holidays. Dick yawned and went aft among the carefully-stacked barrels, boxes, cases, bacon in sacks, harness, bales of clothes seasoned timber, bags of sealed mail, and manv things more which Bessait was taking north addressed to men whom the world " outside " had forgotten long since. On a bale sat a French priest with biretta and breviary. The stamp of an old-world monastery was raw on him, and Dick wondered Idly what kind of work this man would make of life among the realities. Then he pushed open the door of the half-moon glass-sided saloon where a handful of men were playing poker at this nine of a summer morning, and looked in. Brodribb, the Hudson Bay factor from Fort Smith, saw him first, and gave welcome. Ducane twisted in his chair ; went 122 ■I i ( 1 ; 'li ,} Hit m if: THE LAW-BRINGERS for that. ^'^ '""^^^y ^ ^°" o' the strong North an?1alf ^ AndThrdLl"'o?f. ^™^^" ^^^^ *^^ ^-^^--^k unrolled in their idle speech TW ' ""'?> -'^" "'"^'^ ^^^^^ ment Survey ^rev^hl^^ed .nJ t "^^^ ^^'"^ °^ ^^^ ^o^^™- down for his^weS";LTmL"u"^^^^^^ with gay young de Mussot frnm nt ^"°? °^ *^^ sohtudes with the traged^yln h^s still fac^ ThT^ ^"""^ ^^^ '^'''' ^^^^^ German, prospectinS fnr IAm •P®'"^ "^^^ ^ broad-barrelled outfit aAd^ln easy fnowIP^di .7'^.^'' absolutely admirable of white nations b^foreti"^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ --y« a Revillons' " fur-pup ''t^n^N^^^^^^ ^here was that great Comnanv whilT^ ^^^ ^"^ ^ ^™' ^^^"^ branch of Hudson Bay and a^blhnn IY"? 'f '" ^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^^^t the called to thJCg^^n'efy feof F^^t M^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ""^^T. mtfe^fu^r pup^'l^H^ ^-^' that^fe^hS^e^boy^a^Ttt Lif7wenra^g"aLst h° m' ^'"' '^'^^^ '° ^^'^ ^^^ ^h^L' cards o? Light " laid her nose to th^P^? full stream, and the " Northern up the steeo laddS L^i, cotton-woods knew. Then he ran roCd fnd^a lithe canv^^^^ ?^'' ^''^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^"^^^^^ And as his head lifteSv^^ f- ^^'' *° *^^ °P^^ ^^y- He stared, almost unbdie^ni t^'' T' "'"^ Jennifer's, anger. Was Ducanp rirJl„ T^' •7^®'' ^^ reddened with w4h he was pS^g f ^^^^^^^^ these shady games for except as a bUnd ? " AnH / \^! ^'°"^^t her up here with her and w^h Wmse^f ? Th'^.'^h"' Tf ^^ ^°^"^ *° ^^ mind hke hghtning on a do J if ?"i^*' ?'^ *^"°"S^ ^« And that naUed T= ^'' ™* "*'' ^" exclamation of fear, she knew it. ' ^'-^'n.^o— dangerous busmess ; and lade the cards I Dick's heart the hand that strong North he smoke-reek le naked hves >f the Govern- calm, going the sohtudes ! silent Lyons oad-barrelled ily admirable get the ways . There was lim branch of d against the i-West Pohce I. He would boy, and the the cards of ut down the ies. adder of hfe and squat- ! " Northern rit. Among heart-flame, th his own. ck laughed, rhen he ran J the funnel e open sky. Jennifer's, iened with lady games er up here ng to do — hrough his heir mark, even with loved, the •ward, on of fear. II of fact, iiess ; and 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 123 ■' ?''~Tf?f ''*™ y™ '^<"n« 'or ? " she said. T ' """''' '','?'' '° ^"^y *'>^* " was to see you. But Fm afraid i toio: '/ou here-^ftr^'ur^orr SL°"U' tir *° "^ home-life among all us men " "*' ^^''"^ °' an^Ts word? He^;* soVZa?l"= out under his look of home at this edge of al thfna 'ew It ' ""\^ P'^ he Should give reasin fort^r'^lhrni/edrhlm^""'"^ "^^ how" she IIT'' "^^^^^ '"^='=" *° -"y surroundings some- su^o^undrngrt^youSr" *''^" *'>^*- ^^ -" -•'-P* V"" ^-Lj^;°r-d^-^J— ^^^^ He took off his Stetson and contemplated the narrow strap Dart nffh. "^^^^ ^^^-P^^^'" he complained. " Besides ft^s part of the equipment. Do vou rea'Iv fhint r-t^ ^"^^^^^^'J^ s that couldn't be adapted ? " ^ ^ ^ surroundmg Jhe glanced up. half-startled, half-puzzled at his earnest and ^lirto'SkZZt^^,?' P^T-"'" '^' '^^^' ^^^ding the issue, for her scSors " Wh '!f *^'"^ ^"°"^ ^'^ ^^^^s and sought gety^ur chSy fro^p'VhaJ^ "' '^^ °"^^^^^ ^^^^^ my hfe. Antoine c^r Ld r^^ Z ^^^"^ '° "^^^^^^ °" ^^ ^11 an'd Louis Pe^eLrS ow'd^S ^hl^TptTin'f " ^'^ ^^' mattress. Mrs CartemnH t o i?x, captam s sweet-grass the scows if we'd wanted thin ^^""^ ^'^^ "^"^^ ^^^^^et in us pails of wl?er to wash wi^' "^ '°"'' °"' ^^' ^^^^ ^^^^^"g ••Who ismZ rrS . '^^ 7^"" ^'^^^ ^® ^ame aboard." watcWng her face. ' ' "'^^^ ^^^^ ^^1^' ^^^ he was turLS^o'n'hir^"' '^he°S h^r ^°^\f -^"tion," Jennifer years a-o and nnw c>!f 1! u "" daughter out to school ten ried if wafthe first ti-fi'? to Moosejaw to see her mar- aud she ifgo n^back to nprh/"^ ^''?.°"* ^^ ^^^^^^^^^ y^^^«' only you m4 who .tr../fvPT.r^'^^*^^^ "lo^e- It is not "And ,> I?r^ , ^ *^'^ great North- West of ours." " rd^ 1?°.* ^''^y y°" wo"i^n who know it " than t^be'saSed 4ltW 1 '° "°^^ without being satisfied she is so (TooTn^^il ,^ ^'''^'"g worked. But— oh dear 1— - TakP m. n she makes me feel horribly bad." make ytT.ei L'rrS A^l' '^'""S ^" ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ °"^ht to possibly be able to e^'stt"^- ^"^.~^° ^^^ ^^^^ ^hatl will JennLr laugSd 'bS ^'.r'^V'^ "^''^ ^?- ^^^^^^ ? " xd,ut,nea. iiut she shivered. A sudden wind J i ! 1 ' 1 1 ■ :'' ' m^ diil ,; t In IE : f |i' II I: III .^jifi <^ln '^m Blii 124 THE LAW-BRINGERS fnTr^^^ '^', ?fl^ ^^u^ "'^" ^^^ th^ °^^ woman about he? And then that flat-chested, grey-haired woman with the brave brfght eyes^mterrupted them, and Dick went away to smoke and to rniw H^f ""^ intention to arrest Robison so long as more ^fw^ I'f''"^ ^^ ^"^^^"^ ^'"^ ^'^^- What was to be learned he did not know yet. But he meant to watch ; and Ducane knew It. and said so to Jennifer that night, taking her up to the very nose of the steamer, among the windlasses IndtSe warp! daVvTt'h Jf ''''.f ^^ ^^''' P^^^^S ^ f^- f^-t below an^d itUf ^^^'""^ '"^ l^^ '""'^^ ^o^O"^s. He hid his face against Jennifer s sleeve as he lay on the poop, turning to her as to an mfinite well from which he could draw his coufage chn M^^ ^^^"^ ?'" ^^ ^^^^- " I know he is. ■ What else should he come for ? " wimL eise ;' He says there is that defalcating Italian " Jennifer bit her lips. " Then lose your own," she said. " Let us go out poor so long as we go honest. We can begin again." ^ ^ 1,0- ?°'', ^^^ "^ i^"^^ ^°°^-" Ducane sat up. pushing the damn shTt an'd ?'7- ^" ^l^^i^'^^dsome face. Meyes were blo^d? shot and his hps unsteady. " What the devil you do know about poverty and disgrace ? " he said ^ You know that I don't let you swear to me. Harry." -L>ucane moved impatiently. ^ " Unless Heriot can be squared there won't be much mor^ from us in a httle." he said. " Heriot has a long head and a fn p'wWould'h'"'"^ ^r '" P^^y ^"« ^^-^- ' neverlnt: a M.1-. who could be squared yet ; but you're pretty thick with JennyiiZ-'" ''^'^ ^^^^ ^^^ danglin| aroun"^ yo^^i SrrSp^ 1 iT° v^"", ^°°^^^ "^"'^^ *^^^* S^eat pale gleam of water that led. by link and link, to the Arctic Seas. Du7ane was killing 'o'mucrersl.'"'"'^'^^ '^ ""' ^"^^^^^ thoughtrarh^rdSf said.^""^ ''^° ''^ ^" ^'""'"^ ^''^'^'''' ? He hasn't a wife." she i id the woman T reached out ne to Jennifer red sun sink d learnt the i deep in the ut her. And ) brave bright imoke and to ong as more to be learned and Ducane her up to the nd the warp- it below and I face against her as to an What else bison would Jut Robison n't put this out poor so ig the damp were blood- )u do know Harry." much more head and a never knew ' thick with 1 this trip, water that was killing had killed wife," she ' THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 125 '• Curse Robison." Ducane brought his head close " I'll ^et^ ten years-and likely more-if Heriot catches me." he Jenntfef. '° '"'" ^' *^''' ^' ^ ^°^ ^^^ ^^^^^^« it." said ^_ Ducane sat up as though a cracker had exploded beneath ar:m;"wI^eT— " ^^ ^P^^^^. " Do you know that you fa&wlrt trl^^^y 'hS '''' °" ^"^- ^^^ ^^^^^ -- 'Oh. Harry, will you never be a man ? " she said sadlv Ducane was silent. From the upper deck roHedlhc sound of smgmg. where the McGiU student and Dick led the interm^ able chorus to each verse of each song that was sung. "^'Ve^river' "^' '°"'' "" '^" ^"^ "P' ^°^^ ^" *^« ^^y "P Come up; come up. come all the way up . . come all +h* way up the river." y up . . come all the «nJ°^-^^''"'^^'' ^^^""^ "^^^ "'^"^•'^ i" that strong body of virile sound sweepmg out to the lonely waters and the still fo^esf^ and naked cliffs. Was she too called to go ail the way up the grey nver of dread that broke at last to the Ar^tk Seas ? Ducane spoke sulkily • ^it-cic aeas .'' to prison/' '^^'' ^" "^^* ^°' y°"'" ^^ '^'^- " y^^ don't go Jennifer's spirit was there already wron^^'' Rn^^f !?o " ^ "^"^ 5°u^"^^ understand a man doing thrpfeasur^'^n^t T^' "^ ^"' '^ '''^'^ ^" ^^^ time-where'f for^helTwas'w^t' '""^'^^ ^' ^^^' "°^^^ ^^^ ^^^ His her Snr'''' vn'^^"^- ." ^^'^'"^"' ^^^^ ^ord ! " He caught ner nands. You must save me. Tennv " h- snir? " t ^ 'Z standi, I can't. Remember ivf a£ys' Wd you^ S?le' „ J?"?"^I '!;■"!? ^^^ ^^""^^ f'^'=<= and stood up. She could r^u^rt'o-rTti^e'^di^^^^^^^^ wirthirV'^'' f ?P"^'='^ • *''^ ■»9ther and nu?se! not he :i£hsh'^=h^^A?„%°!*,^8>!*J^^^^^^ hard for a ySung heart t'ofoU^w ^''"' ^''"' °' '^""' ™^ D.ck looked down and saw her, a sUm. tense figure in the 126 THE LAW-BRINGERS * # ^ s. ■ 1 ' U TreaTn. Ji J'^?* ^k ^ ^'^PP'^ ^^^' ^"^ for a background the Ihll , 5"^ ' V ^^, ^'^^'^ °^ the river and the far faint skv out oftt n-?.''"'' ^^^ '°"^^y • ^"d the man at he feet wJs out of the picture even as the man on the upper deck much":^ '^^''' ^ "^"'" ^^^^ J^^^^^^^- " n^^y'not be Then she turned from him and dimbed the ladder to the upper deck, for she dared not be alone with herself j ustlhen ani talk'and n '. "T' ^'f ""^ ^^^^^^^ '''''' '^'^ ^"^ laugh er sh^down tfh h T^^;.^'' of childish longing made Jennifer suae down with her head against Mrs. Carter's knee Her of'eaTh .'n7" ""'V' ^'^ "^ ^"^^"«' -^th half a contin^n them bu^wlhr^" '^^^, ^ '^^J^'^^^"^ °f knowledge between and airnin wnc ' '.?"^' ^^^"^ ^hat touched her forehead now aCs1.nTdauIhter. "°''"^ ''"' ^^^°' ^^"^^ ^^h love for an The women did not speak. They sat on the sur-e of th^ man-talk that swept them this way and that through ai? that faUronTh! N^H'^"''°r°'^ ^^^ «-t curious pffdewS For the Nort^ n'nH^Jf '' 7^'"'' they speak of their own domain fnli^ u ^^ ^^^ th'^SS of the North are the only world to the men bred in it. Brodribb himself had never seen the hous'^nd added of "T' '% ^^ ^^^ ^ thousand miles and a tnousand added of good earth to his either hand, and the lakes chff^wl^'''"K ^'".' ^^^ ^^^^^^d ^nd beat heir wrinkled chffs with combers from beyond horizon. And if the waters be'ar and buffT T'^ !flt^^'^ ^^^ salt-springs for moore and Dear and buffalo to find their comfort in Disconnectedly the talk ran round. ' Talk of the added bounty on timber wolves, bringing it to twenty dollars of the Tbt^Wo^uld'^r '^.^'^^ ^^'''^' -^ clird'iTelieflha luck hv 1 '^^""u^ *h^ superstitious Indian to court ill- Talk of h/''if t^^^ber-wolf before he went to the hunting, lalk ol the strong man " of the North who had iust won uCThe llT^ "\''''f' ^y ^^^'^-^^"g ^ freighted s^oJunai^S up the Pelican Rapids ; of " Soft-wind-of-the-morninff ''the Indian gul at Great Slave Lake, who had so queSedth!' finest an^cfS ""7 '"^' '^"',^.^ ''' "^^h°"t her fltheA lodge day tni r/}L' .^tarvmg until his bones stood out 1 - love of her^ cTo'sslx 'si^r "' tracking-wage and the price of silver' nd the^Ath.hilf *!'^ prospectors in the tar-soaked sand along tfie Athabaska, who struck rock-salt in punching an oil-shaft and later blew their whole plant to high heaveS^by bui dinf a mosquito-smudge over-near. Brodribb spoke of I bear hunt when he went to break in three young dogs and lost two But he came home with the n^lt and a riDt)-d -- --. -1 V T" white steel-hard claw had touched ^^PP^^-"^" *'^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ U : ] 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 127 " I guess it wasn't exactly bear-baiting " he said " Th« d'S'oute ^^"^ ^'■^-'^^- ^"* "y °"^ '^« 'a^3 St p,a^^^ Here the men feU on technicalities concerninc the on, S bac^kandl'o!;'/'^ Z '"V'^"^ • ^"-^ J-n™r!eaned her neaa back and looked in Mrs. Carter's eves and ^^,1^2^^:^ ^o- '-> " »>>e whispered. ra-rtjdf;s'srciti!o?x^^^^^^^ Z^ttrSfrh'sVorrhraZn?^^^^^^ dVrlt"Sfl;ir.s tCt'""^"' '■'^ '^''^ ^ and tte^'Sd a^d'he cross and'TtupM ^^Buf if^wortr w? """■"= T" ^'°"' ^"'^ love us." " -"""^ " '^ *°rth wbile, you know. They yountwifeTravely. "'^' "^^ ^^^^* *^°^'" ^^^ ^^-ane's A few mallard splashed in the reeds alongside • rose blarV against the primrose sky and flew north w"thha;sh clamour farlnThTtaTm^eSr ^T^^^ ^^^^' ^ '- a"d Jru^^nd circHn^ T^^l ^ *^ ^^^ ^'^^* wavered, wheeled, and came »wiS:Vr1&-n-a^A-T^^^^^^^^ But I always preferred hfe's luxuries " he ^aid " tt.^c« "clfe Z°r°°.^^ ""f ^^"-*^" -« the eq^iva^nis." ^''°'° fine t7drce'^'a's°Cr^''^..^?J,ir;ju;' ^f' '^'"^' ^""k'^'^ .aS^,- er.SL-"- n^r be. sat forward ith 128 i V ^!:lf m^ ■ I THE LAW-BRINGERS for the cold white nights and the tepee-ribs by the frozen lake where the canbou roamed were to him the land where he wouM "And a fellow could shoot them— and shoot bear ! '■ he said Dick looked at him keenly. To the far-scattered Dosts whose positions are shown on the Pohce inaps ^^1^1^ red ^la's come many grades of men for Canada's serving Sons of earls, some ; medical students, and clowns and lumber !f rn 1 ' ?f ^'"^ ^" *^^ ""Sular armies of the earth ; Zme- produced farmers, American broncho-busters, and ev^rythTng in between. lours ago Dick had placed Grahame as he younger son of some Scotch laird or baronet, and he gties ed wUld Viirl^un'r^^ ^°"^^^^ -'-' '^^ ^-^ winter ?;rfs Lake ' 'l^frrr^'"^^ up half-a-day by caribou swimming Artillery acros; it nL /, " :^''^ ^ '^'""^ ^'^^'^ '"^« °f l^o^-'^s ruled across it, and they poured down over the crest of the hill hke molasses out of a jug. We didn't dare bring our canoes n^? ?medThem ^"n"f l"^"^.'."^' ^'^^ ^' paddled around and timed them. Ihat bunch took exactly six hours and eighteen mmu^tes to pass a given point. They Weren't sloushfng ft any in " ^'^f^^""'^'" r'1 ^"''"Sr Grahame, and drew his breath ^:.r. fh ^* "" '° u"^'y ' ^^^^ ^ P^^^e to hve in I Do you do everything on as big a scale as that ? " ^ "I suppose that some of our men are the smallest things cTm'eTp ^eladdt '^^T^/"' '^^^^^ ^^^^ '^^ dTcf :s Du'caf came up the ladder. But young Grahame followed him. Dick '^nfZ^'rhr. '^^i^^J.h the stately courtesy which made knot^Fnrf M T^ '"^ the baronet-father. " I hear that you wiS^^^S^:L J^^r " ^^^^^"^ ^^^^— ^^^^ " Wdrvo^?n'.'.T' f ^'' adventure, I imagine." he said. asThat of thi^Ro ' ^'^J°"' '"^f^ °^ '^ ^^^PP^^^ t° be the same as that of the Force. You will have to cut wood and haul it four or hve miles— probably more. And the sreen fish for dog feed usually has to come from Arctic Red R7ver--about l^Zll """r^"'-. ^°"'" S° ^^^'' that in the winter through att^endTnl hX 'Tr^. f ''"^^^*>^ ^'^^^ '^'^' instead ol attendmg balls and Caledonian meetings. Some day you may shoot your bear or your moose to save your lif^and may not save it then. There is the routine work, of coVse And the patrols to Herschel Island-two-fifty miles^ach way The Dawson patrols-considerably longer and harder • and perhaps another to Kittieazuit. Vn.'U h^!^e ?o ?hI"P ^l mountain Indians for deer:meat for-yom-selv^s, ^nd the river the frozen lake vhere he would •ear ! " he said, cattered posts little red Hags nng. Sons of and lumber- earth ; home- nd everything aha me as the nd he guessed winter patrols ming Artillery of horns ruled 3f the hill hke ir canoes near 1 around and > and eighteen lushing it any, ew his breath I Do you do nallest things 3ck as Ducane ^ed him. J which made lear that you ling about it, lishonourable le," he said. ) be the same i and haul it reen fish for ^iver — about iter, through ), instead of ne day you fe — and may ;ourse. And 5 each way. larder ; and o chase the nd the river 'THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 129 ones for fish for dog-feed The Pp^i j,, ^1 to last the summer." He smiled a mtli '' R^' ^Vf • l"°"Sh you ?" he asked. ^^'ea a little. Have I frightened " Heavens ! " said young Grahams " t^-- 11 ^ Cooper and all the rest of 'em rnH^ . ^* ^ ^'^^ Fenimore through all that ! " ^ "^^"^^ '"*° ^'"e. You've been wish^t'lJir' h^S '*•'' I b^^'" ^^^"'^ '^'^ ^^-^ed. •• I to be a credit to us " ^ ^""^^'^ ^^^ ^^« P^^bably going w^tT'oT^S' Cnd t.^V'^'^ r/PPed to the unseen, and his heart sweUedSnnHw-*?-^"^ '^^^ y^* sons have broken the triils of r?n J .^^°* '" ^"'^ Scotland's centuries even as 'S: himLff wou^^^^^ does not go into words hnf .Y""^° ^^- -^^hat kmd of th ng did. ^ °'^'^'' ^"t t^^^e was something else which And I'll be able to shoot hfar 1 " 1,^ -j For some days Dick keot^vlf a^ ^^''^ reverently, which he sought Then he dkrn^ h^? 'l^^^ ^°^ ^^e clue He eame along the upper IcrtoTnd ^I'-f^^^^^^^ J^"^^^^^' Carter, and there were some nLlLT,^"" *^^^'"^ ^^^^ Mrs. She looked up at Dick's step ^^''^^^^^P^^ ^^^'^^^ on her knee. Bay,' "hS '"' F^rVthid^hf " "^^""'^^ °^ *^^ ^^^-n has I hope he'll get as good th s t i^^^^^ X'h°' v' ^''' ^^^ with him." e^i^u tnis time. He has his big camera Amcj^g ?hL!';eTtwTo^f '^T'' the photographs, famihar. He had seen th^m iT ^ P^;aine-land which were German to whom RobkoT in P^^P^^et brought up by the handful he manTgeJt aJstrLVone '"1 'r^' .'^"^^^^ ^ ashamed of himsdf for ^80 An ""^ ^^ ^'^ "°t feel fate as Ducane aoDear^H f^^^ i Anyone who could dare accepted. Pres:^^;^^!^':'^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ k^^^ ^^^"-^e was more cheerful than usual pnH ?°^i'°" ^^^^^^ by. Ducane comphmented on lus work ' "^P^"^ graciously to be neveri^;eToralf 1L°V. ^^t them, Jenny ? " he said. " I these SyTdf." A^htv 1T 1 ^°"^ ^^^^^^ ^^ P^^ted looked up at hfm saSv .' W ^i/^^°°^ ^' ^^"^^ She yours ? And thTt f aJS thaJ^ '" ^^ you Jhink that was Duclt::Snt'?ontfp'^J?efHn' ^^ *^^ ^-t. Had eyes and skin instantil L^n ?f i'"'^-. ^^°°^ «"«f"sed his " What do you me/T; h ^^fjched it from her. --•J r. , .y^" mean bv ttiaHH],',,-, ...:ii. __- , 1 ,, 3aid fiercely. " Bv^ if'T ~"*-'''"5 "Ilu my drawers? he —here ; give me those I " ^°'' touching my things again H, \m w i i •t 't Wi 130 THE LAW-BRINGERS He swept the armful out of her lap and flung them overboard, and then Robison caught him by the arm and walked him off. And the suppressed fury on Robison's face was not a pleasant thing to see. Jennifer had courage. She looked at Mrs. Carter, and then she looked at Dick. " I get just as cross when anyone pokes into my drawers," she said. " Harry hunted through them once for a necktie of his that I'd been wearing, and it took me a week to put them straight. I expect he's afraid of what he'll find when he gets back." She laughed a little. But presently she got up and went away. Mrs. Carter turned to Dick. I' Does this kind of thing occur often ? " she asked. " Well— it varies according to circumstances," said Dick. •' Poor child," said the elder woman softly. " Poor, brave Then she too got up and went away, leaving Dick alone on the upper deck, except for Bessait in the wheel-house. But Bessait lived in his own world up and down these hushed ways of men where no footprints are left on the trail, and his far- seemg gaze seldom homed to those about him. Dick shut the photograph into his pocket-book, ht his pipe again, and settled back to think in the manner Tempest knew so well ; foot held over his knee by his hand ; shoulders slightly stooped,' and eyes dark and brooding. He had enough now to warrant a search into Ducane's effects when he went back. His business at present was to see where those two went in Chipewyan ; to whom they spoke and what photographs they took. That he must do unseen! And then, when people began to rush Lake Athabaska land, it would go hard with him if he did not sheet the reason for it home to Durane. Except that one photograph and Ducane's rages, which were not producible proof, he had nothing yet against Ducane which would stand in a law-court. Concerning Robison he knew much more. Link by link he went over in his mind the points which he did know. Ducane had been supplying Robison with money lately ; Dick had seen the cheques. Through Robison's assistance several breeds and one or two who had been supposed to be Indians had managed to prove themselves of sufficiently white extraction to receive scrip-land from Government. More than two of those grants had passed into Robison's hands publicly and been sold by him. The others probably belonged to him privately— or to Ducane. There was more drinking than formerly among the breeds— Dick believed he could account for that when he was ready. Trappers were getting in debt to the Hudson Bay Company and leaving it to trade with Robison. Dick had "'discovered one occasion on which lem overboard, d walked him ice was not a She looked at my drawers," Dr a necktie of k to put them i when he gets up and went ked. 5," said Dick. " Poor, brave Dick alone on sl-house. But 3 hushed ways I, and his far- Dick shut the >e again, and knew so well ; ghtly stooped, nto Ducane's resent was to m they spoke, ist do unseen, habaska land, e reason for it and Ducane's i nothing yet . Concerning went over in loney lately ; n's assistance apposed to be oi sufficiently rnment. More bison's hands ably belonged nore drinking /ed he could I were getting ng it to trade ion on which • THE RETURN OF OGILVIE ' 131 about th^e matter a„S a nttIoTa?^r T' "'""""""y ^appy and took scrip land That h,H „if /"^ S''™ "P trappini publicly. ^ "*' ''="' ""t yet passed to Robison— whotdt'tttlTRobt"n°s"rivc°r"?''°" "'"' "«= '^-"an those conversations vlliable """"''""'^^Se. and he had found chi^atfo^Vh^n'ieisbLt?* ="r"- "^^-have imat- Canada Home-Iot Egsten .on oPomt' ""*' '''"' '' "°* the they say ■ Ridiggleous We haf tl.^ - '"^ anywhere at all, 111" T. *n° 'heifLdress al^'wh. V '' SdT,'' a h,' '''^ '"'^ groundt floor and a blace on th^ LL u ■ ^ '"'*<='' °" the who baints eggs-chruchh tf„„ f*5P '^'^"'' '^ * ^irdy man wasanodso^Ugaladyt^ ''?t'«-, ^"'' '" "eLeen H™,e-lot Egstentifn oZ^l^;-^^-^ „>'o Canada Dick felt more than a 7«„;+.- ^^ • . Bu^SdM^notTay'^so" ' '°«'*™^'= »'"-' - 'he dirty man. Of course," he d pSeVt^^^ ^ &1^' ^ ^^^ "°^^-^- ^"t y<>^p^<^^^^:t^,::!^.^ '-^ ^-th. ..Ah. heTumm^^p.^'^o^'rimreT ^'^-"^'l kick's mind. Then in some still c^ell fo?the passin. of O '^^' ^' "^^^^* ^"«^'? own future operations very mTch Tcf'l";' .T"^^ ^"PP^« ^^ of swmdling the breeds out of f hi,- "^^^^ ^'"^ «" ^ charge the whole 'affair. St Rob/son ' '^^^^^^^ roguery after he had been condemn "J"^ ^^'^^^ ^" ^^^^d fo? and Dick dared not wai^e the knowl.. ^"1,^""^ ^°^ "^"^der, out of Andree. He regretted ^^^^^ wanted to make his bi/cfuD.nH^^-^"^^^^^^^ "o^- He to do it. And then he heL Tennif ,"°'/'' ''^ '^' ^^V below, and it started him ud on hlTt\ ^^"^^ ^" ^^^ ^^loon and wS^h^^l ^rfn^soTu^^^^^^^^ *^^ -^^^ -- - "^usive leave it, even for her Sh° ^Z^ J^'^l'^^^- ^^ ^^^^^ not so would he ; and he would watl if 7 ^°^^' Presently, and vivisecting eye because thiwr. J '*'"^^^^" °^ ^^^h with a swayed by emotion and traoSfh '"'^°"' P'°^^^"^ °f ^^^e, trolled by some undiscerniSp^rl ^y/^^^^^n^stance, and con^ It would not let go.^'p^^r'hi:^"^- 1"^ f^P? ^™ ^^^ xuye ana .t made his face grow cruel S' hi u^ T"^^ ^''^ ^'^ She IS better without him -T h^ walked. wirnout him, he said. " And she'll love Wrf- ^ T^ ^il li' Itt |P' r- 1 r 1 ' 132 THE LAW-BRINGERS me in spite of this. By- she shall." Then his eyes nar- But it is more than possible rowed, and he smiled slowly. that I'll pay heavily all the same," he added. In the following days he told stories and sang songs and sketched sketches of the whole ship's company, until men talked apart of the suggestion of fear which he had flung into the bluff mask of Du cane's face, and the hint of tragedy in the soft features of the little " fur-pup." Jennifer spoke of this to Dick one evening when chance had left them alone on the upper deck with a breed at the wheel to hold the " Northern Light " on her clear course of scarlet where the dying sun lay bleeding. " He wants it to send to his mother, poor little boy," she said. " Don't let him have it. You had no right to put that look in his face." "I'm borry. But I saw it. People say that I see too much, you know." He smiled down at her with that hint of mockery which she saw seldom, and her lips quivered. " If you have that power you will be held very responsible, some day," she said. " I shall be very willing to meet my creditors. They have added much to the interest of life for me, and I hope they won't find me ungrateful. What do you think of the French Brother ? The man who never speaks — even to you ? " " How can I think anything ? A table he pokes me and points to what he wants, and he won't lock at me. Oh " She took the sketch Dick put into her hands. " How like him. But — I hadn't thought — yes ; there is that look of repression and of exaltation about him somewhere. As if he had overcome greatly. But I never thought you would have seen that." Dick took the sketch, pushing it back into his pocket. " Why not ? " he asked very quietly. Jennifer looked away to the reedy banks where the wild duck splashed. A faint grey knot of shacks and tepees stood against a wedge of dark pine-forest on the shore, and across the pure shining mauve of the river a canoe shot out, breaking level silver lines that ridged each wave from bank to bank. The " Hya — he-e-e-e " cry of the paddler came shaiply, and Dick stooped. " Why not ? " he said, and Jennifer looked up, half -laughing. " Why — I have thought you were too materialistic," she said. Dick glanced at her. Then he set his lips together ; drew a piece of millboard from a skin-case in his breast-pocket and put it into her hands. He watched her while she looked at it. In all warm, delicate tints it stood out ; a carefully, tenderly, finished portrait of herself, as unlike the bold, crude sketches I his eyes nar- than possible ,ng songs and ly, until men tiad flung into tragedy in the spoke of this I alone on the tie " Northern dying sun lay ttle boy," she ht to put that see too much, :ery which she •y responsible, 5. They have 1 I hope they of the French o you ? " pokes me and ne. Oh " , " Row hke that look of ere. As if he >u would have is pocket. here the wild i tepees stood re, and across out, breaking )ank to bank. ! shaiply, and half-laughing, stic," she said, igether ; drew Lst-pocket and e looked at it. ully, tenderly, Tude sketches •THE RETURN OF OGILVIE' 133 " Oh-h," she said. Joss%hrm'" SLusLd^^^^^^^^ '."^^^ wood-sparks feeling her wince ^ ^^^^"^ ^'°°^ Jennifer's shoulder, ;; No one else has seen it," he said. The name drew her eves ud to hi.! 1^^ u , they said and what hers armw^in ^ ^^^ ^"^^ ^hat the sentence of death when I Ts'-H^' t fl^ ^"°^« numbly a thing outside his control or . °"1*° ^'™ ' ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ which is. She sprang unw Ml ^""^P^^^ension ; as a thing ^ No , " She sa^^ war&^^^^ -*' little VuTky^tck^r^^^^^^^ r-r; r/^^ -^^^^^ the his pipe, 4ile the blus^c anL'd TS .'h °°>^'^' ^^^ f^^g^tting them over with all the rr.r. ? ^^^ ^°"^^ ^^^ shunted Once he sTiod s ii :n7 a^^^^^^ ^"^^ eternity. " It had to come soon or latf-hV 1 h ^°?.'& half -relieved, been a fool it would have been late Tf ^"* '^ ^ ^^^^^'^ enough to take the man before it wirh/.T^ '° ^^^^^ now." L»eiore. it will be the very devil He walked on slowly. "But I've got to take him " he said " t',,. every other mortal thine at the hilfv^f ' / ^^ ""^^^^^ *" damned if I'll let mv brain LfL^ my desires, but I'm me. And then I'vJeot to i-^^?' -""^ ""' ^°* ^o justify Down in the littfe^h.r! ^Vf^ify myself-with Jennifer." Carter Jeltr 'fay\tdiont V^^ '"' f ^^^^ ^^^h Mrs. gripping the pilW clL ovLTer evert^^ T'^'^' to the quick by the fierce hZ A? li^^f ' ^,^^ "^^^ terrified She felt a smle twSch he, Hnl '>^r\?™"^ing influence, influence 1 She I She wL^V^'P . theT'"'" "y- . ^ civUieing an„n„tt„have,ovel:X:S^-te"'XIX?-4t^ ^i^rwswirww 134 THE LAW-BRINGERS I1 ana duty lay. She who had touched suddenly to the heart of those huge forces which sway the immortal soul, and who had to face them, giddy and alone, with all outward interpretation driven back from eyes and tongue. For a brief while Jennifer was a raw soul struggling with eternal problems back of the crusted beams of time and the torn tie-ribs of old earth Mrs Carter came m softly ; asked for and accepted the woman's eternal excuse of a headache ; undressed and chmbed into the upper bunk. Jennifer lay still with her eyes on the dark now and the steamer moved on with the strange hush of midnieht around it. 051. The engine heart-beat stopped suddenly with a shudder hke the coming of death. Men called ; moccasined feet pattered tne decks and the gang-plank ran out with complaining squeals. Jennifer slid off the bunk and looked from the un- glassed eight-inch window. The boat lay along a tall, dark bank where the pines were jewelled on their tops by the stars A flare glowed redly over the gang-plank and over a string of silent, stooping figures which trod up it slow and burdened and ran back swift and lightly. To Jennii r came the fancy th^t each man brought his burden of sins across the bridge of rr^jentance and turned earthward to his work again, glad and forgiven. '^ She had seen river-steamers wooding-up many times before this But the dark pines and the white face of the stacked timber ; the red, uncertain flare and the silent bowed proces- sion moving in moccasined stealthiness took the blank reahty from It. And then she saw Dick, treading the plank with sure light feet ; bare-armed where he gripped the rough wood • bare-throated where the black head rose beside it He passed' with a flickering dark shadow behind him. and Jennifer crept back to the bunk because she dared not watch for that figure again. * But long after the flare died out ; long after the steamer sheered into the stream, and the talk and tread of men in the alley-way ceased, and the smell of tobacco grew fainter Jen- nifer stole back to the window, and saw the stars wheel their courses under the eye of the moon. There was no sleep for her where all the world was dreaming. For a man may sweat his present devils out by savage work But a woman must pray them out— or let them stay. s to the heart of il, and who had 1 interpretation f while Jennifer ms back of the 'Id earth. Mrs. d the woman's limbed into the I the dark now, ish of midnight I a shudder hke d feet pattered h complaining i from the un- ng a tall, dark )S by the stars. »ver a string of and burdened ame the fancy s the bridge of gain, glad and y times before of the stacked bowed proces- 3 blank reahty )lank with sure rough wood ; t. He passed, Jennifer crept for that figure r the steamer of men in the / fainter, Jen- xs wheel their s no sleep for ' savage work, stay. I ■- if' CHAPTER VHI. " ON THE ATHABASKA." " Who spilt that ? " roared Ducane. mo'^qVi^o^-s^dgefoTerhim'tdt^ '^.^tS «^^^ ^-- '^- Chipewyan whefe thev cell^;.. h T' ^^" *^^ Population of yea?s permiTs hadSe^tot'the L"u^^^^ ^^^ whole duty of man to ^pp f w^I ^ ' ^"^ ^^^* ^* ^as the upon another bTdaybreak' ^ °"' ^'^^ °^ *^°"^ ^^"^^"^^^ dru'lTken'laug^^^^^^^^^ where ribald songs and thrust forwafd. There was Z-.w' ^""""l ^°"^"^ P^^^ ^ ^^^^ skin by the nostrils JusW^^.k°''1^^ iorch^^^^ and the still keL eyes DuSnf knew It ' ^^ '^' '^^^' ""^^ ^"^ ^^^ ^^X'J^^^oS'''^ "^^ " And if you're v^ho talks hke a drunken cad " * "^'"^ °" ^ "^^" few hrurs%\\'h:r''-he'^:dTorc'T^^^ "^'-^ ^°"^-^* b-^"-. a had given It Sf and fow TnH "" ^.Tl'" ^'°°^ J^"^^^^^- She not afraid o Sck Heriot nnvln^ t '"'•?'°"' ^^'^ ^" ^^^ him now. Teni^fer wonH Ti ??^'- Jenmfer would manage and Robison diS the work which Z°".' f '^' ^^>^ ^^"^^ ^« He laughed. ""^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^e North to do. oiyo:!ZtZn^^' °"^'" ^^ -^- " I -ulcl tell things hoSsln^'^i^f to^^dit^vef "h ""^ ' ^' ^^^^^ ^P-^table chartered b'eforlhand tlTonlf t'^i'rc^^^^ ^°^^°- had they were going to do with ff VJ§^ ^^ Chipewyan and what to decide whether he chonlH ! ^ad spent more in trying he might gain more bvS ^5^^^* R°bison now or whethe? he had drunk Whthp - n^ ^'^ "^^'^^ ^nd finally was acutely on edL ZTw ^" *?f ^^^^^^ ""*^^ ^is tempe; restraint. ^ ^^ ^"""^ ^'^ restlessness almost beyond " Tell them." he «5airi " tmi 'I mp mm I 136 THE LAW-BRINGERS "Keep that you-be-damucd nature of yours quiet Heriot " advised Brodribb ; and Ducane laughed Jgain. ^ ' wife—'' ^'''^^'' ""^^ *^" "'°'^' ^ Suess. Maybe my wifc^^' V" ^'""^'^ ^'"""^^ ^^'"* "^'"^ ^ ^"^^^° J^'"^- " Your af^ 'h^t'.'rne^.S Dranc'"''"' "'° '"^"^ ^"°"^^ *° ^^^ his^eg^ ^ '^^'P ""'■^^ ^^^k sprang "P. and Lowndes caught at ;; steady Heriot ; the man's drunk." he cried. •• T iv,f/° .P"'^ ^° ^''"^^^ ^'"^ " ' I^ick kicked himself free I have neither gloves nor boots on " aft^r^ hZ"^ "^r"" *^f .^^^^!^ ^nto the dark, and Ducane looked after hnn m tipsy triumph. He had made Jennifer's task doS o7i "'iff ^,^ ^^ '^'''''?^ ^"^ -- cvi/Uper inihe granfte cup. '"''"' ^'"' ^ ^runt, and thrust out his ■•Give me another drink, somebody." he said Insnlt^ Trl ''°'''u *^^ ^'^^^' ^^^^^ ^^^'^ ^^"te and bitten lips. Insults to himself never troubled him, but this insult to Jennifer cut deep. And the truth of it stung wo^d [L*^f beach lay up to the forehead of the dark wood the factors house showed, low and pale nalelv shape oT 7'' something white beyond it wlS 'tooT^th^^ shape of a woman as Dick came near. He knew it at once Jennifer had found the night too hot for sle^p tnd she had come out to look like Beatrice over the hedge oiler 'Cvt'mZ^^'i '^^°': Dante-iires along the distance. Xk had de?k ^f^ f ^^^'^ ^'T ^^' '"^^^ th^t n^'ght on the steamer deck hfty hours ago. He had hurt her enough for the prosit and her white face and strained eyes told it. By and bv he would speak and she would listen^ But all thaf was good in him repented that he had done this when there was no escape for her from either Ducane or himself, and hTe trSd past her now with head a httle away and dowA. and a silent near to^th^l""'.' '""'fl ^"^ ^' «^^^ -«--t he was near to the kingdom of heaven because of the reverence in And then Jennifer laughed ; laughed close beside him in the fhp n""'^/ t'^^' ' ^^"^^^^ ^ ^^"1« ^«<=king laugh thatbrough? 1; Weren't you going to speak to me ? " she asked. She stood with hands linked behind her and head cocked in that saucy way which she used to Shcker, and-in those a^e° old davs when friPnH=b'"" — -ut-' .- , /" "/ys'e age- —with the thing that lay between them. Now-when he M uiet, Heriot," Maybe my ierk. " Your lough to look des caught at 1 himself free. ucane looked nnifer's task emper in the :irust out his I bitten lips. lis insult to 3f the dark ale, palely, :h took the knew it at r sleep, and Ledge ot her Dick had ;he steamer the present, ' and by he vas good in re was no id he trod nd a silent, nt he was :verence in him in the at brought though the I. cocked in those age- elf. Now -when he •ON THE ATHABASKA' I Sa\fh^m'LTat'° '^^-^^^ -"^^ ^-g^. and ^ beg/n%f,?;nur^s^2:a^^^^^^^ ^^^^. P-^erred— •. ^e look at him like that ? ^^ ™ '^"&^"8^- ^hy did she .. What made you come away from them ? " . • ^ t I can only stand a long way oTJTZ! .u"^^ Jennifer. We can never have such I ^od ^Ll f^" *^^"^ laughing, and make offerings to Bacchu^' ^"' ^°" ^°°^- ^ ^^n't go laughed again, ^cklLg'on heel7a^^^^^^^^ '' ^^^^' ^^^ Jennifer was daring, sharply vivid ShelooklH I' >.?"" ^^°^" ^"^^ude free. She was the essence of iffe distil S\' ^' 1'^°"^ ^"^ as and Dick was not the man to in^V l^"^ *° ^ burning drop caught his breath, comiW near Wh°r ^V ""^"^^^ng ^ He not the white lady of h^^woSik, 1"^^'"^ ''^°°^- This was did not know who it was He ^did no7l' "°' J'''""'^^^- He over her shoulder And what sh?'"'^' ^°°^^"S ^^^^ ^^ ^m was playing her game full and fierce^ '°"'''^*^^ ^^^- Sh^ It, and already she had puzzted tho m ^ ^%^ ^^^'^^ ^^^ P^ay had smashed all his theo^rls and feftT' , ^" °"' "foment she on the edge of something strange ^nH ^^T'^"^^"^ ^""^^ling that with mascuhne deds on fhe would h^'" ^' ^^^ ^^^«P«d The spirit of illusion of exHW T . ^^ somewhere else and dropping them with such'Sls^'^f .'?"^ ^°^ ^°-i« burn was on her. She saw him foUow . ^^^^^'^ ^°"^d not her hate for him was as gLt as hlr 7^ ""^ ^^^ ^^« ^^^d, for heart down from the secret nlaLj."^^- . ^^ ^^^ ^^^g her knew it. NowhewasfoWtotUt^^f ^^e ^ept it, and he him for what he was. It wouH h T u' ^^ile she discovered desired to be hurt. She desTred to fH l- i?. ^'^ ^^' ^"^ she c^alTn'-arair ^" ^'^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^'^^^^^^^ 4^^^^:^l^^S^^^I^^ Jen- want^t^t^htet:?'^^ ^^ -f a^^^act'^thts^^f «. X the pa'ddS ^'H^'shj^t^r. ?."^^ '• ^-P* -. and knelt, graspin. until their outlVt^s meTged'inT/Zf ^°"^ ^avage'strffi he rested the dripping mdf ff o V^^ ?''^^"^ shore-hne. Then anT.I '"^ ^*"« '"tIeTfloatS i^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ S and the red fiampc ,.j,%v - 1 *^^ ^^^^ between hp;,^.«rl did not attempt" to^adTuifhr^''^- "^ ^^^ ^^t speak." He broken shards Lout l^^ Se dTd ^ot'r "'"'. ^'^ ^^^ ^^^t ■tie did not remember the difference 138 THE LAW-BRINGERS i\i r;; 2 I H 1* » ■■ 1 IL: between right and wrong. The electricity of the night and of her nearness led him into the trap she set. " Do you remember Browning's ' Two in a gondola ' ? " said Jennifer, idly dabbling her hand in the water. " I think a canoe is much nicer than a gondola." " It's not," said Dick, who remembered over-well. " You can't move in a canoe." " Why should you want to move ? " said Jennifer inno- cently. Dick bit his lip. He could be "iibtle in some ways, but he did not begin to know how subtk .% voman can be when she has an end to gain. " You know better than to ask that, don't you ? " he said. Jennifer laughed a very little. He was going to be just what she had expected him to be. He was going to kill that unlawful love with his own hand just as Ducane had killed the lawful love. " Perhaps I am glad that you know better than to tell it," she said. Dick drove the canoe further out. From the shore the delirium of the bagpipes and the smell of smoke came faintly. The hot night beat on his skin, making it hotter. " How many women are you ? " he said suddenly and thickly. " Are you just beginning to find out that I am more than one ? " He was at a disadvantage already. " I am beginning to find out that you are not the woman I thought you." " Are you sure now that I am the woman you think me ? " Dick flung the paddle down. " Let me come nearer and I'll tell you " " Wait ! " She leaned forward and her voice was changed. " I want to ask you something. Would you do — for me — a thing that you did not want to do ? " The sweet true ring was back in her voice again. Dick paddled in silence. Then he said huskily : " You can remember two nights ago and ask me that ? " The thrust made Jennifer wince. She had not expected it — not in that tone. Then she rallied. " But how was I to know that yott had remembered ? " she asked. " I — I had thought that was the only thing " Dick stopped, and swift, bitter derision of himself swept over him. Had he been insanely careful of a thing which was not there ? Had he been scourging himself for his cruelty to her while she had been laughing at his silence ? " Was it ? " she asked. light and of .la ' ? " said " I think a ell. " You inifer inno- ays, but he e when she ? " he said. to be just to kill that d killed the han to tell I shore the ime faintly. Idenly and more than le woman I tiink me ? " as changed. — for me — ^ain. Dick 3 that ? " expected it ered ? " she " Dick 'ON THE ATHABASKA' swept over ich was not iielty to her m 139 + 'li f PP^^^ ^^"^ '■-^^i'^^ *^^^ y°"^ question gives the answer to that.' he said. Sit still, for I am comin| up to your end to talk to you. ^ jt j She saw him move, and she sprang up instantly. Dick crouched, motionless, with his mouth dry "Sit down," he said. " For God's sake, sit down i I couldn t swim in with you from here." ^A T'^t''^ ^"T"! ^^I ^^°°'^' ^^^^^"S^ i" ^ sudden wildness that death was best— death was easier than hfe. Then she dropped back, controlled by her knowledge of God's " shalt nots.^ But her head was giddy. She had set herself to test Dick s real nature, and already she beheved that she hated it It was as necessary for her to prove the worthlassness of the man she loved as it was for her to hide the worthlessness of the man whom she did not love. It was as necessary for her to save Ducane as it was for Dick to destroy him, and for precisely the sanie reason And she was going to win. But the know- ledge of It burnt her like hot irons. asked^^^^ ^ *^^^ ^°" ^^^* ^* ^^^ ^ wanted you to do ?" she "I'll do anything you tell me. you witch, so long as you don't try to drown yourself again. What is it, Jennifer ? " She leaned forward There was only the worn-down butt of an old moon up in the sky, but its light was full on her face ; that daring, mocking face which was not Jennifer's Youve promised," she said. "Now tell me. You came because Harry and Robison were coming " His face changed. His natural suspicion awoke. he countered^^"'' "'"''^'^ ^^^""^ ^^ ^°'' ""^ ''°"''''^ ""^^^^ ^^^"^ • " She shook her head, and the come-and-go smile on the crooked mouth excited him. ^ hn'f °^ ^"""^ "^^"'"/he said. " You can promise so gallantly : but when It comes to doing-why, where are you then P " ^ ^^ 11 you would tell me why you want to know " Are you bargaining with me— Dick ? " Ynn^Lf""',^'^^ tell, you. I have come to watch them. You must make up to me for this, you know for I have practically put all I have in your hands^by sa^^^g so." 1 hen why did you say it ? " j j o ' ' You appeared to want it as a proof of my affection Have you forgotten that already ? " ^ anecnon. nave Shf shn^ht^'P^i *^f ^^"^ '^^" °^ ^ ^"^^^ fo^ all its ardour. She shut her nails close into her palm. Just now she hated going "'shrsaTd'''* " Vf *^^?^"^^«« you know where they are going, sne said. I am not bargaining with you, Dick. I'll Ir ^^m^SsS^ 140 THE LAW-BRINGERS HJ il tell you. They are taking the tug up to Lobstick Island very early in the mornmg— before anyone is awake." She felt the canoe swerve at Dick's start, and she saw his eyes stare. " Good God ! " he said. Then, " Do you realise what you are saying ? ' ' Jennifer had not told the first dehberate lie of her life without realising it. "How much do you expect me to bear ? " she cried in sudden passion. " If you want him take him. Take him and let me be free— free of him and of you and of everyone! Oh, I m tired of it all. I'm tired." There was enough truth in this to put the real ring in her voice. Dick looked at her with his eyes hard and sombre. Ihen he turned his head with a shght shrug of his shoulders and looked out over the dark water. He was utterly stunned • utterly disgusted. This was Jennifer ! This was the woman lor whose sake he had so deeply regretted his past life ! The bitter humour of his nature woke again. It was only the old game which hfe always played him. Always there was a worm withm the apple ; and always he had to bite to find it out • and always the mouthful sickened him. But never as now' ^ ever as now ; because he loved her and he had reverenced ner. He looked at her again. She was leaning forward with fier eyes lit and eager and her lips half-drawn back from the little sharp teeth. " Thank you," he said. " I see that I have given myself a great deal of extra trouble. I might as well have come to you for the whole affair long ago. My knowledge of— women has been at fault again. " But I wouldn't have told you until I knew that you cared lor me, said Jennifer softly. Her words turned him suddenly cold in the hot night He picked up the paddle and drove the canoe homeward in a complete silence until the prow grounded in the squishysand and he sprang out into the little protesting ripples and reached his hand to her. He held it, looking down at her with the mocking contempt in face and voice. "You deserve a kiss for that information," he said. " But you re not going to get it. You have probably sold your husband to me to-night, Mrs. Ducane. and if I buy that ends *^®j^J^,ansaction. I am not asking any commission. Good- He turned on his heel and left her, walking straight up the beach to the barracks. Jennifer stood still, watching him : haK-giddy yet with rehef and thankfulness. The liehts w^ere nnlsina T-.rirrV.fiv «" *-hr "H — -.--1 ^■^- i -« pipe skirl and the laughter came up fitfully. They had been ON THE ATHABASKA' Island very she saw his e what you life without le cried in Take him, f everyone. ring in her id sombre. J shoulders y stunned ; ;he woman hfe ! The ily the old r^as a worm nd it out ; sr as now. •everenced ward with : from the 1 myself a me to you 'omen has you cared ight. He i^ard in a ishy sand, i reached with the [. " But old your :hat ends . Good- it up the ng him ; the bag- lad been 141 less than an hour away, but to Jennifer it had been many ages She had won out for Ducane, because Dick would most cer- tamly start for Lobstick Island at once. And she had lost for herself; lost for always, because she could never feel contempt for the man who had flung his contempt at her so unequivocally. She went back, and through the verandah- door to her own room, dropping wearily on the bed. For the fire that had charged her actions was spent, and the grey ash of it lay chill on her heart. Dick went into the barracks and found Forsyth, the ser- geant, preparing for bed. And he stood in the door and dehvered his desires without circumlocution. " I'll want you," he said. " And I want a boat that will sail I m starting up the lake for Lobstick in ten minutes " The jar in walk and tone enlightened Forsyth. He knew of Dick as a man absolutely invaluable in his own class of work and utterly dangerous to thwart. "Sure," he said placidly, and proceeded to get into his boots again. He hmped as he moved, quite perceptibly, for the tendons of his left leg were stiffened by an ice-cut won on a midwinter Yukon patrol. He had spliced and sewn up the wound and gone his way of two hundred miles and over. But he would never walk hke other men again. Dick took belt and revolver from the bed-foot and buckled them on. He had left them there earlier in the evening. " What's doing on the beach ? " he said. Forsyth was Dick's superior in the Force, but he had the wit to recognise the younger man's superiority in everything "Why— they're mostly goin' home. Amazin' peaceable they are, too. Ducane was gittin' nasty, but Robison hauled nim off some place. I guess he's watchin' out for Ducane these days. "They're going to Lobstick," said Dick. " We're wanting to be there first. You must come yourself." Forsyth swore liberally. " Pshaw I I guess they'd be apt to hit the trail some twelve hours before we could raise it. D'you know how far it aims to be up to Lobstick ? " *.\!' ^> ^"^^g^^^ i^ is as many miles for them as for us. And tnere s a breeze making right now. Are you ready ? " ^^ Why It is going to take us two days— likely three." I intend that it shall be less than that. Who has a dinghy ? Who ? Very well. Meet me on the beach, for It s^important that you come too." Forsyth was there within twenty minutes. He had a smart young constable with him. and he poured directions out at fr^ 1' 1^1 '1 ■ i ", j ii 1 i <• ' i . n 1 : { 1 142 THE LAW-BRINGERS every step. Dick, superintending the stowing of water and provisions, turned to add his word also. " Watch what time those two get off," he said. " And if they ask for me say I am drunk, or sleeping in. Take note of anything unusual you may see. And— Minds, the ' Northern Light won't go out till mid-day. Let no one know where we have gone. Say Forsyth is on patrol and I am drunk or sick — anything. The night was blowing up dark and suggestive of thunder Scattered white-caps showed here and there down the dis- tance. It was a cross-wind, blowing in nasty, choppy puffs and the powerful breed who helped Dick run the sail up predicted trouble very shortly. "If it comes it comes," said Dick, and crouched down in the stern-sheets. " Don't be afraid to let her have all she can take, Honor6. Honor6 knew all that there was to know about a dinghy and about a wind that bellied the sail and slapped it flat and endeavoured to unstep the mast all at one and the same moment And they ran out into the swift-coming storm with the combing of the wind about their ears and the growling of the thunder sending sullen echoes down the lake. Dick had no conversation to give Forsyth as the boat tacked and swung and drove on her beam until the upper strakes foam, d with white lips. He was planning what he would do with clear-minded decision. He would watch those °u^^^5^ '^"'■^ ^^'""^ ^^^y ^^^e doing, and if that gave him no hold he would arrest them both on the face-value of that photograph winch he carried. In all probability he could frighten the whole affair out of Ducane. And if he could not • If he failed, and broke and spoiled it all, what did that matter > Ihere were more things spoiled in this world than a man's work. But Ducane would turn King's evidence and sell every soul of them all to ransom his coward's skin. Concerning Jennifers part in this his beliefs were unshipped and astray and a heavier wrath held him than the dark wild wrath of the sea. For it was the impotent anger of a strong soul struck in the dark and blindly struggling to hit back again. Since he had cleared himself of the old truths he had forsworn his God with light hps and tx-ampled the great threat of the afterward under a reckless heel. Jennifer had stripped that sheltering harness off him and left him naked to the doctrine of Retribu- tion ; not in words, but in the knowledge that he had lost the power to do the good thing so far as he could see it. Under her pure eyes he had tried— sometimes— to crawl up to the good And now she had taken that which she gave and made a hideous thing of it, thrusting his unbelief out into belief savage and more bitter still. He had banished the gods of his /I water and . " And if akc note of ' Northern V where we Link or sick 3f thunder, ^n the dis- T puffs, and ) predicted !own in the .11 she can a dinghy, it flat and the same torm, with Towling of the boat the upper J, what he atch those gave him ue of that he could ;ould not ; t matter ? 1 a man's sell every oncerning id astray, ath of the struck in Since he n his God ifterward sheltering Retribu- d lost the . Under ip to the md made ito belief Dds of his 'ON THE ATHABASKA' f ^""Jt^ 'r ^v.".* °"* °^. *t^ ^*°™ *^^y "^°^ked at him. gibbering m the hghtnmg and chuckling in the wmd ^ ^''Tu^^L^l'''''^ cloud-breasts the lightning jetted in great ragged handfuls. and once Forsyth saw Dick's face clear in the yellow gleam of It He sucked in his breath as he looked, and for a moment he forget the lesser death which reached long arms at hmi over the gimwale and whistled shrill derision in his fnt'n'fh °' ^^Z'^'^t:^}^ ^"'^'^ S^'PP^"g the sheets and staring into the night with the water streaming off him was surelv tasting a greater death. That face would be meTci7ess to the utter need of woman or man. And it would be worse than merciless ; it would laugh. Out of the south-west the storm smote fully. It struck the httle boat sheer on the quarter, heeling her over unt 1 the can? jerked a curse of terror out of Forsyth. The water was runnLg ankle-deep along the bilge, and Honor6 sprang to slack thf sail-ropes. But Dick was before him "Let her have it," he shouted, and the words came thin and weak upon the gale. " She can stand up to it. Let he^ have It. By , we ve got to drive her " ba'iltag on hisTnet ""'" '° '"^'^ °° "■"^•" y'^"^" ^°'^^^- Dick gave no answer. He was battling with Honort^ fn secure the foresheets. From his expression Honor? was ev° dently objecting But the words were blown out of his mouth leavmg him with distended cheeks and eyes where "he round white showed. The men were flung this way and that as the stout httle boat fought for its life, and the h%h waves slapped over them and through the wet shrillness of the wfnd came the theTd'^T f thunder-guns. For three hours tliey huTg on the edge of eternity, stiffened and bruised and beaten But whenX^fff'^%'^"'^ '^^' ^'^ "^y ^-^^th the counter, and when the saffron dawn caught the sky Honore cleared his eyes By damn," he said. " I t'ink we come tr6s queek moi I vas s'pose we be to Lobstick in four, seex heures "^ ' ' TTpriW^P^''^^ ^""^ '!^'^ "" Circumstance to boatin' wi' you t^ouslvasfhl °'f '^' ^^rf tening his cramped hmbs cau-' and ank under'^t ^^"'^,'°°^ '^^ ''^ ^^-^^e sun on their crests whtnTougointo^actior?'^"^ "° ""'^" ^°^ reinforcements Dick said nothing. He was looking forward with keen eves Fnr\« i.Tk ^° ^^""^ ^^^ take his reward from Jennifer For he had been a besotted fool last night. Jenniier. them "to the tl \^7 'T °5 ^^^^ ^ strong clear wind behind bv ronJh° l^i h !*rnb 'in^"^'^ gathered, separated, and slid w'illnw« """"-ri, 1 -"f^^-P^^^ i^"tl soit wiUi young blooming willows. The sky toned to hottest hazy blue that stoopeTto 144 THE LAW-BRINGERS •I I fM/hf-i I ii tolh^ I ' Ifll Ml4l meet a hazy sea. And nowhere down the distance could the keen, searching eyes pick up the smoke-trail that would be the w l!°1. .t^ ^l^ ''^"''"^ "P ^^°"^ Chipewyan. The sun was yet high though seven hours had gone by since noon, when the dinghy shd between Lobstick Island and the jutting uiainknd and Dick went ashore, seeking information. He fouad rein- deer moss and willows and pines bent with the ^. nd He found a dead beaver, and white ash where a camp had been. Inen he came back. "Best cache the boat and stay ashore." he said. " Some- one s bound to turn up before long." Forsyth looked round with dubious eyes. The very air of the mltllat °^ something given over to the grey gull and he asM^* "^^"^^ ^°" suppose they want to come here for ? " " How should I know ? Fond du Lac Indians in it. Ukely." Forsyth made doubtful noises in his throat and flung himself slent^wL thr'' 7^"^,°^°««- ': I guess—" he be|an and Slept with the words in his mouth yet. T^nVn-^l^'^r ^^""^^^y sleeping, unrestnined and peaceful. ±5ut Dick had never been more fully awake in all his fife He was strung up to tension that would give him no rest "until this business was put through, and he smoked two pipes scarce knowing It. clenched grimly in his thoughts. With the third hf„«?vf'' ? ^'"°'^ ''^'"^''- ^^'^ ^" ^" *^^t wide far sweep of hihtn /if ^^ °° ^""'"'^^^ °* ^"^°^^ ' ^« a" tlie green silence behind there came no sound of hfe ; no straggling camp of T?ono°I *T? ?V^''' *'P""' "P ^°d t° "^^ke thef fires, even as Honors had done, against the mosquito-army. He walked fl;;i7>,*'^/^; t"' l^ ^'^ °°* doubt. Ind it was ForsytTwho "i^^ ^^* ^"""^ °^^^ *^^ sapper at a later hour. sudd^S^'^fDkZ''" ^"' ^°^' information?" he demanded " From a reliable source," said Dick curtly. ^^ You can bank on that ? " " Certainly." smoke^^*^ wrinkled his eyes up, drawing under lee of the ^ "They say you've never been caught," he remarked. f5rS ffiT r ^° ^^'^ ^^^^'^ ^^"^ ^ P"*-"P J°b. 'Taint the to alU^ tricLT^^^^^^ ^"^' *'^°^^- ^°^^^°-'« ^^-^ "P "The information did not come through Robison " r^Zr v?""^ '°'''*^? ""^ "'^^^ speculation; but when the ong, sunht evening drew to ten o'clock Forsyth came seeking lof 7°'"'^^^^ "^^^ ^^^^"^ ^^ ^*°°^ wi^^ feet lipped by the lake- r ce could the would be the rhe sun was on, when the ng uiainland found rein- ! wind. He p had been. d. " Some- very air of rey gull and here for ? " 1 it. Ukely." lung himself began, and d peaceful, lis life. He ) rest until pipes scarce h the third ar sweep of reen silence ig camp of res, even as He walked orsyth who ir. demanded ON THE ATHABASKA' lee of the remarked. 'Taint the i about up when the ne seeking f the lake- 145 you Tckon^rhoTiio^r^h'^told Vou'L i^^nr^ ' ■■ D™'t mistake ? " "' ^^^ '^ ^'^ble to be makin' a Dick wet his dry lips. " I don't think so." likely t.oi'S^'lo'Sa;:::;^^:?^^^-- Heriot. They've we'll find the whole thSr nut Ito.' ""k ^^^" ^^ git back Ducane lickin' his i. >s X^a^cat tw"c^^ "1" swallered an' canary." " ^ ^ ^^* ^^^t s just polished oif the powf e'v°?^:J sfniirarirs^r, '•^'^ 'y^ ""--^ »-" -t the a return. ^ '' ^°'"' ""^ '^ «>'° slept, and suggested Fo;yrh" j;it°g"u'p°" '^'"' "^^ t™''^'^ then ? - demanded trick^''.'." '"'" '""' ""y <3"i'-'%- ■• I reckon I have been Forsyth followed down to the boat H„ "^"^ M^' r d^i t^ ^! -^ J ^^^^' ^^^ ' "-'' -^" who served him that sauce " ''""^'^''^ "^" *° ^e the joker beach'ed^nVhe'r^rSw '""^ '°"i'^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^ kittle dinghy dogs and the cMdren^eSg^^^^^^^^^^^^ over boats gave welcome ^ "^"^ ^'^ '" the heeled- toam"rbutXktr"tr^^^ f-bed .he slope could rise up from Wrsunnpr f^n ?"'^' ^^^°^^ ^^e constable been wetted'and^rliro?S^Twice"hi. ""i!'^'^ ^^^^^^^ had wmd-beaten and lined and fl.. k '^ ^'^ ^^'" ^^s rain and his face. But his manner ^,\", ^^^^^ 'growth was black on weakness. ""^"""^^ ^^^^^d neither agitation nor syihItV m^i^d^ho " '^ ^^'^^' -^ -- his Shoulder For- " W^^'eV'^^^^ you know," said Hinds. The sudden excUmn^inn has disappeared." walked to a chair in sHence TL '^ ^^'^^^^'s voice. Dick notebook. "^''^^ ' dropped down, and pulled out a FoTsvth ?nn^i ^r ^"°^' " he said, plate. Hinds s'^d'' '^' '°°""^ ^"PP^^' ^^t down and filled a Why, you know I co-lrln'f 1.^ H^se. But you told me ?o wl?! ilf.Tl*"-"*? , «--"« i" any ihcy must have eot ofF in +'Cr"': ■" '^^^ ^^e best 1 could m !j -fW-'i THE LAW-BRINGERS M^^ uZn^'^iLlP" '"° """y^ ^^ -"» ™'y Kobison and ;■ A?« Ducane ? '■ said Forsyth, glancing up. .■- he has got them to talce him up it to join the IVaco an Ih^ toT IX* "'" "'^' "='^- °' •><= -"'d set dor?h:ij: ;; What about Robison ? '■ interrupted Diclc. •■ Arre^ed^'wm oTthi n"'/'- 't'" "'""= " """d '=°ntent. worth a cent R^t T . ?^''"': ''"""'='^"- ^""= didn't Iticlc hi°mi?r Tt'ot Mrs'Drane^: th^r"?''He'n"' °r™° °"' °' •■ Ripping good ,uck I „"aTd Robilon, watn'^^r?" 'rraT*- .. ^Z ' 'i"'"'" r'y '■-'= been better if you hadn't ■' mean^J^TTTaid "'' """' "''• " *'"'* *^= "<=-« do you Di'clc^LTun Sp.t "formation from Robison any more." b£»ne, a^^d T^JT^^^IJ^ ^ fca*!.^ Can I go to your room and clean up, Forsyth ? '' ^ ^^ You sure can. Where is Mrs. Ducane; Hinds ? " iret backso^h n 'u '°"''u ^ S""'^ ^°bison was meaning to siH^£- -^^ ^Sprnt^seSts: he sJd"'"'' '''''*' " ^°°^ ^'''^ "^ *""= about this goin' around," nota^i;i„"ti^ip.----Str:^^^^^^^^^^ th£°Ro'sf ^ -fd i^^iy-i^A- piLrt ^°f s~ tions they've been through tojiether anH Mro r» f u hated the brnfo An.i ^i ,S;ctner, and Mrs. D. must have fnt!^ * And— there's more than one says sh'- hid a nrjtS;einr;hVRrve''rrSeri^t«.^==' ^™ unde^ittd^ro: I am^lngTsUrSrn:t::'^p"„^^t^''^ -'^ ,'bis is can promise that she will tell me all I wan to know Y^ 1 thmk I can promise that." «-uuw. xes , ;; gid fhe send you up to Lobstick, Heriot ? " " I beheve that's a damned lie. von knnw she dH v-^.m best be careful, or vou'Il be in the soup x rself present Can t you guess what fellows are saying aboit tSfbuSs p"^' tily Robison and ip. - ere'd been some urches Channel, f there. Likely 2 Peace, and he down the Slave broad content, he didn't kick Ducane out of ised a moment, t ? " he said. 'U hadn't." ! deuce do you ti any more," the gallows by to spite us all. Is ? " /as meaning to it she expected together." ■r the broken ently sent him •ON THE ATHABASKA' ^oin' around," iVS, and he did vn on the cot. o Ducane out )f the trarsac- D. must have ays she had a derstand how world this is. and I think I know. Yes ; ' did. You'd slf presently. 3 business ? " 147 me to ? " ^^^^- How could you expect ^^?^^oZ\'^^^^^^^ Of evening when with his wife beside him The chTm^'^ Lowndes sat smoking smiled tl' &ownd:f ^'^" '^ ^^^^^ -er her head and comi tTcat^l'sSr' ''Vc^amf t^T t *° '^^ ^^^^ ' ^^^n't you tell me where I can find hTr ? " ^^ ^''- ^"'^"°- ^o^ld . Mrs. Lowndes stood up nervouslv w^ 1, . in her tlu-oat. P nervously. Her heart was bobbing passage.'''st-s?e' has had\' trvfn/ r "" ' J^''^ ^°^" the hope you will remember that "^^ "'^' ^'' ^^"°t. I-i a sL^tthi^r^^. ^I^asern^t if ' ^"^ ^^^ ^-p her "^He walk V^ quite easily?" ''°"^'' '° ^°"^^ ^^^h me. [ LowndrSdlXor^s^hut'^crSlv^ ^"^ P^^^^"«y Mrs. with a little shiver ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^d at her husband sol^Jut?? °^ that man. Gregory," she said. " He looks sayi:^-L^d^so does^he, 1?^she'doesI^" ^ul ^^-"^ P^°P^^ ^^^ gottogetallshecantel out of her .nH k ^^ ' ^""°^^«t he's doesn't care about havin^; n h ^^^^—^^^ sharp, too. Emmett lodged complaints ^h'^Fo'T^^^^^^^ °^ ^^^ *"^' ^^^^' himself. It's a case of suspected m^^^^^^^^^ '" °'^^^ *° ^^^^^ But whv nn'f +>,^ ^"^peccea murder, anywav " ^ •• T:.ey"'jJTskVdlL'mr''?l^ th^e men— " these two days. Ind heC had ?.^.\''"' ^""^ "^^^^"g «!«« Fourches Channel for info^mllJon {^^.^^°.",P^trolling Quatre Mrs. Ducane can't know •' ' "* ^- ^ impossible that " I SonTcl?bte;V'^Vl'-^ '^' - ^-d - it—.. Phically. .. Or noth Lg l"f noT?"! ^^^^^^ P^^^^^o- fancy Heriot will sort al I.; .^ °"^ busmess. Amy T Hehas allhissens:fth1t fdir.t^ out of this mess, any^;ay' the ^il/erlLTtUlTX^^^^^ ^-^-^ out on Lowndes baby in her arms and h'^^'^'''^"- ^^^ ^^^ the last mstmctivelv when s^. W>'- " ^"^ ^""^"P tightened ro„nri it He came to her in silence w^'kin^ ?'tf ^^ ^^^^ ^t the doon something of the strain wWcLhe^ hid k^' ""M^"' ^'''^ ^^^wed Please allow me " hp^^^ • !? ^^^"^ through. ' he said quietly, and stoop'ed. drawing 148 THE LAW-BRINGERS i the sleeping child from her with the manner of one clearing decks before action. He laid it in the seat of a big chair and came back to her, with a very faint smile on his lips. But it was not the smile which she had seen there last. "I have come to pay my debts," he said pleasantly, and pulled a chair up, sitting opposite to her, and leaning forward. You have won quite a good deal from me, Mrs. Ducane I suppose you understand that ? " She did not hft her eyes from the wrist-muscles of the shut hand across his knee. But she felt her own hands and feet getting cold. There was nothing familiar in this man, and there was nothing m her which knew how to answer him. ^^ "Of course we both know how you managed it," said Dick. You knew where I was weak, and you took advantage. I don t reproach you, for I know that women like to work that way. But you will not find me weak any more, Mrs. Ducane." Jennifer did not speak. She was trying to remember the Dick she had known : the courteous, kindly friend who had helped her over so many hard places. There was nothing left but the courtesy, and that was congealed almost into threat. " You know what 1 came here f or ? " said Dick softly. " I came for you to tell me what you have done with your hus- band." ■' " I can't," she said sharply, and a shudder ran through her. "I assure you that he cannot escape if he is hving. You have not the least idea of our power and organisation. He cannot get out of Canada from here, and he cannot stay in it long without our knowledge. You can do no good by holding your tongue. But you can do much harm." " To whom ? " " To yourself." He would not add his own name. " You know that people are saying that he has been made away with ? The captain of the tug has already lodged an accusa- tion against you. It is unsupported. I beUeve it to be unsup- portable. But you can only prove that by telhng the truth now. There was no mercy in his voice. She knew that he was in a white heat of anger at the check to his plans and the blow to his pride. And she knew how the knowledge that she had taken advantage of his love to make him betray his duty would cut very deep. She had scarcely resented what that duty was leading him to do. Her own recognition of the word explained the matter for her, and she did not think of the ways in which he had come by his knowledge. ^^ I cannot tell you," she said. " I promised." You will break that promise. I ca'Tse here to see that vou do. Cannot you understand that it is necessary for your safety that you should ? " j j 'ON THE ATHABASKA' of one clearing a big chair and liis lips. But it ;t. pleasantly, and eaning forward. /Irs. Ducane, I icles of the shut hands and feet this man, and wer him. I it," said Dick. Dok advantage, ke to work that , Mrs. Ducane." • remember the friend who had vas nothing left ost into threat, ick softly. " I with your hus- in through her. is hving. You :anisation. He mnot stay in it ood by holding name. " You en made away Iged an accusa- it to be unsup- ilhng the truth :hat he was in a nd the blow to t she had taken luty would cut that duty was tvord explained ways in which to see that you isary for your 1^9 Jennifer leaned back and her lips closed Dirk in..i-«^ 4. her with his eyes darkening. There milht be tronhJ f?. I ^* self later, but there was trouble for jSer now ih^' ^'"'' little and white, and his love for her was as "reat as ht7^' '° against her. It would be greater in « Tif f i! "u^ I . ^""^^^ time to be thankful for Se^Ve^ta^'n oU^^^^^^^ SS^een^^^S!;.-'--^^-the4^ i^;ind=— - Ihen he leaned forward, keeping his eves on h^r • ^r.A u questioned her over and over in various wL^""." ' ,^"^,^^ " I can't 1 can't tell you " " Where is he ? " _'' O stop " " Where is he ? " evenLre YouandT w^nH^^'^,^ ^°"*^^'^ j°"™ey or tell me what you dedde to do >'- ' ^°" ""^ «°°'' '="™«'' '<> reprtchlf tte" S ^1 '""^f "* """• ^he unconscious •■ I havenochotel" hTr •■ shesai^' "'^"v'' ^1"' '"J ""*™'- "As von will '> ^ "^'^^' snesaid. You know that well " ask yo??o b e" ead":ntn"S ""^f"''"- l' ^'^^" ' "-' night during the full moon " """" P''^*" '° ^'""^ at Bu^thTslVtharhis'C 4?"r":,"r''^ *° ^J-- Lowndes. Lowndes down to 'the^ate Slim' '*""^" ^''^" "^ *""'' 150 THE LAW-BRINGERS Mm tZ^:lTj^-' ^^^"^ *°° ^ " ^- ^-^ journey fo'ATalTy^ Th^nTe'^said f '"^ '°'"' questions, receiving concise answers. " I'll speak to my wife, but she won't make anv difficulf^ If we can possibly get the kiddie's kit together SfthftTme Don t thank me. I am glad to do it for you both" Tn 7?, J^""'^^^ ^^"^e seemed real through the following hours In the house was talk and hurry and the excited voices of children On the tug which took them to meet the scows at the r^h/^-'^J Athabaska River there was the smel of coo 2r on the night-breeze ; there were many dark slouchinrmen moving m a.u out of the lamp-light and there was MrT Lowndes close beside her with Jack on her knee On the be^ch at last was red sand where a mosquito-smudge flared a broad watt th?'' ^Vrf'^y^'^^ ^*'^^d' ^" aLAhe hP of the water, the great forty-foot scows, dark and heavy, with w How rickers and tarpauhns rigged over the sterns of T few AH was movement and chuckling laughter and sudden caTls atd shouts as the trackers got themselves into the harness .Sfh hght-hearted horse-play ; and the wiry, spring strengtToft^^^ North was in their muscles, even as its keen power was in their eyes Lowndes spoke at Jennifer's side ^ This leading scow is yours, Mrs. Ducane. Heriot thought you d like the rickers bare as it's such a hot evening Yes - say good-bye to her, mother. It's time they were Siht Drnnn^'^P T i"P '^^ P^^"^' ^''' Ducane. that's fir you.- ^ Jack, you young sinner. Wait till I come With Mrs. Lowndes' warm kiss on her lips Jennifer dmnnpri lonf and *^!i ^.^-^f-'^-d which was toVZt^^^t The^scow sme t Jh ' V °" \^'f^ ^''^^^^ ^^^^ ^' f^^'bales tr^A J^Z and whispered of strange things ; of loneliness whn H ?.l''''' °^ \^"^" ^'"™^^« *h^t had died^ and of ?he meii who did these cruel things and did not care. Then Jack^hS scrlmbkd un^'."- '\' ^T .^'^'''^'''' ^"^ imm^ediate y scrambled up agam to shout her good-bves LowndP^' bearded face showed over the edge. -Lowndes ''Comfortable down there .? " he asked cheerily " Thaf'c right. Eusta will make up your beds in five minutes mo's t^S^^rlirV Y°"'^:^°^i? Good. Takeca;ermy Tb!" J I her keyam upe if she dimbs around too much " ^ The big breed showed white teeth as he stepped on the 'ra TtatutTn'^^^^^^^^ '°i *'" '^''^' *^" ^^ ^ndy ^"oi ed as a statue. And then the long scow surged forward wHH . gruan and a spewmg-up of sand and water; the talk"and she will have to d Mrs. Lowndes irney for a lady oncise answers. ^ any difficulty er in the time. )th." allowing hours, cited voices of he scows at the nell of cool air slouching men here was Mrs. On the beach ared ; a broad, the lip of the y, with willow Df a few. All Iden calls and harness with strength of the er was in their ON THE ATHABASKA' leriot thought svening. Yes J they were cane. That's ait till I come nifer dropped r home for so of fur-bales. of loneliness, id of the men hen Jack shd immediately 3. Lowndes' y- " That's ates. Who's care of my oomuch." pped on the finely poised ward with .a he talk and •<■■; laughter died ; the group of figures on the strip of beach sUd behmd, and Jack began to sniff ominously. Jennifer stoooed to give comfort. And when she looked again the fires frn£? big Indian camp cast a red glow along the beach and black and strong across the face of it, swung the trackpr. Uo deeply in the traces ; swaying' bodief fnd w"aVm^'"Sf n ne keeping step as one and passing out of the lieht to ^itt SfseVrcLT itXir^nr -sufif^^^^^^^^^^^ " Huh ! Huh I Huh i We comp \xt^ Huh! Huh! Weconie!" ^^ ''°°'^- ^^^ I The naturally dauntless spirit in Jennifer wakpH QT.« 00+ up. And Jack, squirming about her with rrstiess arm. .h legs, cuddled into her suddenly ^^ ^"^"^^ ^"^ plIce^'wL^^Xtea^s^T^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ *^^ ^^^"tale " You darhng," said Jennifer, and laughed with a delirm„« fedmg of excitement. " Perhaps it wiule a T^S^-l^t''^::^, heard^SSS ITntZ ^"'° ^'^ '^^"' ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^he acrosVthe ^on' ^'ff IT'" ^! '^'^- ^^^ ^' ^^^<^^ came clear aS you neef f'' " ^^^ "^^* ^^^^^-S ^^11 me. Have you in;^^ij^i^:^;sss-^4-^^ time m very many months, she had all he needed V^^^^^^ tr."^ '^.^•^^"'^f unsupportable life with Ducane pelce an? the soothing of nature in the hush of the n\JhT IhE ^' • ghde of the scow, the dear famiFar stars Sth^^^^^^^^ wind's warm breath. Above her canTp fh^ 1^ ^ f *?^ their voyageur forefathf r; n^^ ^ ^l^ *°°^ '^^ ^'""^^ ^hich ti,. „,t^:l":° ^'"f^ "^ "'here the tepees fall and the mon ^ t^^I^^'^^'y^''' keen-eared and sUent, iefore the 152 THE LAW-BRINGERS r - ,.i , u 1 * ■ ■ where a red fox led her vnlf . ?'^ ^^'^' ^"^"^ ^ ^l^aring the flowering fetches Shi^^^^^^ It '^T'''''V ''' the bird-calls from hidden sinLrs.rtL ^^^"^^"'"^^ ^^^ great cranes that flew against the snrfif I F^''^^' ^"^ *^^ hke behind To Tack f hi h.®*'^'*^ ^°°S ^^^^ rudder- only ; from breakfast in f I. ^' 7^'^ '""'^^"^ ^^^ gladness plafe'on reTtles'fnees^a^^^^^^^^ withVanite fresh-cut bed of blue-?ofnT^rf « ""^^ °! *'""^^ ^°°d«' ^o the tent pitched on some lonelvshor^' spruce branches in the white the cliff-swallow^Hed ^^Cw'7^^^^*^ sandpiper ran and palate can take hfe v^thout the season?n^ n' >^^^"«^ "« ^Id.r all the pleasure. seasonmg. pam was mixed with wotld^rry^^u^v^a'ptcl ofh^' ^^^^^-^^^^^^ ^^^e the seemed just the friend o^nM Fu^l ^1^^"^^' Outwardly he would come. B™ he made iho^ J™''' '^^ ""^ ''^"'^ "^at days of intimate friendWt,?!,, ^""^^ ^° beautiful for her ; weie and we"e not Sf ,L^ ^ f, "S"'"^"*^ ™ all things that the cam C^ren tTlZJ^^f^^^T' ^"^^ «-s over co.dStt\ea"dhimtdftTh""*"^''n= better than she at her ^or.p^sSi^;nZ\^:l^\:^:',\?^^^f"^<^d. Perhaps, persuaded Jack to say each ntaht ,„h >,??''f ^"'''* ^^^ Jennifer's embarrassmLt dec?d!d to sat ^t nt J?f "l^ *° she went to bed. ^ ^^^ ^ ^"^^ before elf'tocH ■■ Why no^i "rd b/"''^\"'*? ^^''^ °' "- black the fire than if I hurried Urtl,"""'^ f?°''" " ^ ^'"d tliem by my time here" Co^Z'tT* He'rL^''"™'" '" ' ^™'^ *="- Whic^h kris"tor?he^i?ar , "■■ ''' ^" ^™ -"' *". J-=. and\rbifh\X*^t&l tf ^"-^ *'^^* *°- *° J-"^. ^Tnat^e^to i 3H??"~^ -- ask^a blessmg ^or^'iS^aS ^ t"lrS1 ^fo t" I it was still the II the after years ring her a sharp tin ; for the hot, from a clearing moonlight ; for golden-rod, and )assed, and the ong legs rudder- ^e and gladness ig with granite ed foods, to the hes in the white idpiper ran and :cause no older A^as mixed with ness made the Outwardly he f cynicism and mtle deference 3 knew it. For : she knew well between them y waiting, and he battle that atiful for her ; all things that ent times over tter than she Jsed, perhaps, ers which she Jack once, to 's knee before of her black said them by ■ I could take tnt to, Jack. one to Jack, re and bowed ' with deter- ck heard her I at his own ' ON THE ATHABASKA ' 4i M 153 m^Lltn^Tood-'nthtX St"'™* ""^ ->^» '^^ a good long up the beach, Sng as sSe ran-^'n f' '""^}°'^ '"^^d- reflectively. ^^ " '^"^ °"='' gazed after her ■'• S'^'h'i'rf o'T ™''''"e or yours ? " he asked, girl Sself"' °' '™"'"- ^™ "-^"-^ her ask to be made a good he:V',ace you'iXlaTe^^'lt'hT"^'^"'™*- " *"<> ' ^eard pigs as those who are XL"bt ^hnP"™*' '""^ ^^^ 8uinea- ■' I have told her th-,t ST ^. ,°™ improvement." in distress. " But you'Ln'ow jTek*°' "^^'''■" '^'^ >■">"«' face,rt Z ttTZ^^ZlXe^'^^'^r ^f '""""^ I am flattered at her interest " ''°° * apo'ogise. himlg1ng'sofUy*a°Httl7F '' T' *^'' '^"'' *- »l'e heard jack hal olje°S tV^'.^S^eaS fl tlTtZ^ "'"''' " Toi, mon ame Et ma foi, Sois ma dame Et ma loi ; Sois ma mie, Sois Marie, Sois ma vie, Toute a moi ! " Jret^:n Te b^S hT^oT '^" "S?^"^' ^^^ ^^^ ^-^^ed shared with Robison Thf n.T' T^'""^ *^" *^^* ^^^^^ he took them up to he forest on th^-^?^''''^' °^ *^^ breeds in his blanket and sle^f ^e^^^^^^ f^ch rolled Robison out of his sieht for Jrfn^ tu^\ -^"^ ^'^^ never let no interest in anytS since thVfi°."^^ ^^^ "^^" ^^^ «hown had had with Dick iri the ce^Iat old rl'^""^""'^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ " Who told on me ? - hi I i ^.^'P^wyan. with interest, made answer • ' ^""^ ^'''^' matching "Grange's Andree." down asThough^jfe had bPP,f«?^ '/"^ ^"^ ^'^ shoulders bow that this primitive man was toln'^n^^^^^ '^" ^^"^' ""^ ^^ ^"^^ even as he had heeTl^ZlTTu^^.^^''''y''^^''''^^^^i^^te displeased him. Human nalt.^^ mterested him, but it higher in the essenViaklLr 11 a?? Tl "^"^^^^ «° "^"^h and in his face was that rnH. u-^u ^""^ ^^^^^^^^^ §^^nced up. once seen there '"''°"' ^^^h look which Tempest had - nil I K J mm I. :'IWf| lll!^!| i>il •■I II ii U 1: I I 154 THE LAW-BRINGERS |:^ out of ?t r'^"^ ^""^^ *^^* '''^' ^* "P • " *^^ ^^^d- " Andree's if you don't want to fight " =>""puiy matters Ogi'lli?^'* "^^"^ ^° ^^^*'" '^^^ ^°^^^°" «^°^ly- " I done up An^^ri^n"^-.!?^"' ; ^^^^ ^^^^"^ °^ suspicion Came to Dick ]' Why ? " he asked suddenly. susoS^i"^"^" ^^^ unready stammer quickened Dick's suspicions He showed me a picture you made of me." fhpn ? T ?. u^°" ^^'""^ y°" punished the wrong man then? I might have made some more " ^ ' she ? '• ^''^''^ ^'""'^ ^°""^ ^^ "^^'^"^ ^« responsible, ain't This let in a flood of light under which Dick staff^erpd ioSn'^L^ife^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^"^^^ -^^^"^y found tfSt ^^ -How about yourself ? " he said, and his voice was unmoved nnSt V J^ •^°''"u ^"^ane's camera and several bundles of £kk was tak?n ' ?r^ ''^ '?' ?""^^^ ^°"^^h- Channel and JJick was taking them up to Grey Wolf with him There S-o^. T ^'° °*^'" ^°'^ ^°"^ • but this was a Tee oUnle K^H 1^ ''.k' ^^T*^"^"''' ^^^ ^^l-^^l^ss until he a^nd Tempes? had gone through Ducane's papers tempest I was fixed all right if that smart young constable hadn'f gel an you bin after me. I hate the whole bunch o' von " Th^?' 'w rPi"?^ ?^ '^"^•" «^ «Pat on the floor of the ceU That s what I think o' you." he said. ,.,^ ^°'' ^""^ welcome. Probably I should think preciselv the ame m go- position although I might not have'^:he grl^^^^^^ I 1 put vou o ,if IT "^^ *^"^ ?^^ °^ "^^ y°" "^ust not objec? go Vt Atrbaskl''^'"" ^° ''' '' ' ^°"^^^- fi^ -^- we Robison niade no objection. The salt of life seemed to have gone out of him, and he let Dick do as he wouW The?e wis no information to be got from him. and Dick understand W this, began to shape the plan by which he muk Lip Ten^^^^^ when the time came. But because this pkn was^gS S require of him something which he did not wanTto li^e^^s ''^i^l'' made him require from Jennifer a£o soSIthing wfiicii ahc did nor want to give. ^wmcLmiig Andree's ' ON THE ATHABASKA ' about all in, iplify matters " I done up ame to Dick, ^obison fights kened Dick's 3 of me." wrong man, 3nsible, ain't ck staggered, ind out what ras unmoved, ide ? " il bundles of Channel, and him. There piece of sure and Tempest itable hadn't )u," Robison ■ damned lot i^as after my mch o' you. T of the cell. precisely the the grace to 3t not object fit when we tned to have There was derstanding elp Jennifer as going to to give, his something 155 Jennifer knew that Dick would reauirp if nf h^^ «« She guessed what his eyes could showli^^VthecW^^^ ence or bold command went out of them ar d ^S '^^'^ what that dominant temper which submitted' so inSlv now to her wishes would want to do. But she was no? afraid^ Through these weeks she had gone over and Zzl ^ul I i and beautiful thing in her heart mo^fldw^f.K^^ """^^"^ softening it with teL. and buTding up.ttl by word^IuXt' renunciation, an ennobling for them both an^on the du^X before the scows drew in to Grev Wnlf «ht ool^ 1 ^^* Dick s tread sounded up the pebbles of the beach W. h.^ been bathing, and she saw the glow on h£ .Wn h h ^ round the fire and sat on the llg Reside her - l^T^ hand out in sudden fear " '""^ P"^ ^^^ '•• f ^hint""?!?^'" '^/ ^^'^- " Oh. not to-night." I think It has got to be to-night, Jennifer " he said " T must speak, and you must listen '' •^'^""''^'^' ^^ ^aid. I arg'umentslgal'^"'^ '°^^^'^^' ^^^^ '^ ^^^^al all those he'said":'"' '° ''"^"^ '' y°^ ^""^ ^"y ''^' objection to divorce ? " " N-not in the abstract " his ™rc7 '^'ll^lo^I^'-" ^""^ "^^^'^ the amusement In come, you know." J^^i-^^ns to it. box that is going to ;; No ! No I Oh. never. There is no reason " he hS -llTreir;^^^^^^^^ P-e that matter. But on the socf.l ."^^^t ^f ^""°' P^^^^^ ^ ^o^ial I want to make arranrmin?^? ^ acknowledge the necessity. We canno? go on so much ^^ ^ "^^ '* ^" ^^^^ ^' °"'^^- know that tWs monfh T ? • S"^^""' J^^^ifer. Don't you stand ? " """^^ ^^' *"^d ^^ nearly as far as I can di^noJ^^ ^slSnlfaSrr"^.f "'^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^^- "YOU have been t^^ ^-^-^ Jrt ^^^^^^^^^^^^ 156 THE LAW-BRINGERS Ml / ■ ( I Bi; 1 :| ■; t ' ^ , I : A if i I ■ , 1 ,* ' 1 < f the sort ior the a,lso.t7^'i.",-;'S oyTSl^"'"^"""^ °' he,p.'-AeT4"cre"S S7 "^'^ z "" T^" "^ One can't help love F.nt nn„ ,.<.„ i, i "" ' """' Sive t. nsht to marry f I didn't Ltomft^ f ^ marriage, and I had no "rihe'iiTtifd'^rTr"'™ '"-''^ he would trive her tho rhnn.. V^ speak She had prayed that was givinfi^!q\Titi fullv Ti. rr^ ""^^^ ''^^' ^^"*^^' ^"d he not help her His si on ^r. . ''°,"''' ''^'"'''"f^^ ^^y this did Will. ^^as^Z^^^XV^^TT ''t^^-^^^ how much battle and thomrhtnnH '^ ^"^"^ °^ ^'"^ = had gone to his making Srom^;^:?^ ^"^ temptation guess at in him Then X k anything which she could carefully-pla ned sintences wS ""^""'V ^'^^^^"^ °"t ^hose fort hiii/ She spoke of he SrHf ° r"""'" ^"'^ ^°"^- help of prayer the sacred hpI^ J 7 self-renunciation, the to slough off the eLth tLs 's^n D^^'^' ^^'^ -'^''°"^ '"°"^^ nothing. J3ut his eye werf l^k L'^H ?'^.*^'' ^'^' '^^^"^^ remembering that flame in Temn^cf' ^ brooding. He was Norse legends ; he w^rtinrtre1h\?e1^^^^^^^^ '^ '^f' °^,^^^ voice using the simple sweet words whU « ??l'^' ^'"^^'^ And he was looking-for thffiTstWnn ^'^'*' barred the door against wrnn^ 1 time on an mnocence which ledge can do ^ °"^ '""^"^ effectually than all know- high a path for him to tread at once ? Or h^^ ,!^^ ' u''^'' *°° more than was necessarv ? m^ /,, Or had she perhaps said face flamed luddenlv and Lr^fl' *^/" ^^' ^^^^^^^^ ? Her her eyes went b inrXhe^^^r^rpokrT'^ '"^^^ gentle; almost pitying ^ ^- ^'^ ^°^^^ ^^s very jInTfer"fSt'Tar;i7 W '^l' "^^"' J^""^^-'" ^^ -^d. expected anytLg but this ^^ ^"^^ °" ^-««"- She had w!7^~P.^'"^''P^ "°*'" she stammered. He turned on the log and took her hands ^^n^^m^X^oln'^L^^^^^ ^^ -^^- "When we of us do. i^da'.^°°"^^y^"g"ntilwegetit. At least, most ch is better than have." Dick looked at 'd something of lin. He needs my I must give it. e, and I had no for better or for while he lives." ok and hurried Ld prayed that vanted, and he e way this did 3ct beyond her knew of him : id temptation hich she could ?ing out those ince and com- mciation, the strong enough he fire, saying ing. He was le spoke of his irnest, girlish :ed her heart, ocence which lan all know- things which but he would ■ sat so still iid he sit so e shown too perhaps said lanly ? Her iier ears, and :e was very er," he said. She had ' When we least, most ON THE ATHABASKA 157 His voice was very quiet, very convincing. It made Jenni- fer feel more helpless than she had done in all her life. He lifted her hands to his hps ; kissed them, and let them l- " I will do you all the reverence you deserve," he said " But I will not let you go out of my hfe. Did' you reallv ever think I would ? " j y " Oh," she said, feeling the tinghng in her hands, is all wrong. We have to sacrifice something- That I have no objection. I am willing to sacrifice anything— so long as it is not you — or myself." There was more tlian a suspicion of raillery about him now He was humorously humouring her, just as he did Jack She sprang up, strugghng for her self-restraint. For her heart was fighting with Dick against her. •'Oh," she cried. " We must end this now— for alto- gether. I can't. I never can. I " He was on his feet beside her, and his smile hurt her. " Do you think you can end it ? " he asked. " You ? I have got to give you pain yet, Jennifer, and I have got to give myself much more. But that will not end it. And when this wretched busmess is over and you see what I have done to you thai will not end it. I know you better, and I know myself " bhe felt his eyes on her, but she could not lift her own 4. ir P°°^^.^i"^<^ girl," he said. " Don't fret any more.' We'll talk of this again when I come to your own house." He took her cold hand gently, " Good-night," he said. " The matter is in my hands more than yours. Don't grieve yourself about it." Then he left her, and she watched him go down the white path of moonlight to his own tent. And she felt utterly impotent; utterly weak and inadequate. Ouietlv and courteously he had put aside all her carefully-prepared argu- ments as one puts away childish toys— things which the man- mind had outgrown. He was one of those who hear what they themselves say, not what the other person says But she had not known it until now, and now it was too late She shivered in the creeping shadows of that tree-top army Was his mascuhne mind as much stronger than hers as his mascuHne muscles were stronger ? Even the difference bet .^en her light noiseless step and his swinging tread up the beach, crushing the pebbles and spurning them out under his feet, frightened il ^^^ began to reahse for the first time where she stood. fnf^ ??'^^ ?/ ^ "^^^ ''°*'" b"* sl^^ had let another factor into the matter now. And she knew too little of it of its hidden forces and currents and dynamic powers to be able to guard against it. Besides, her heart was on the side of that tacLur, althougii her soul was not. H^tr^'^xi,'^^'^^ ^°,''^^'' ^^^ ^^°°^' "stening to the wash of the river. Then slowly, and with wet eyes, she went up to her tent \ m till 'i I ill' ■ .1 if ' fir P CHAPTER IX. " YOU UNDERSTAND." " Here's Tempest to see you. honey " cursed the five hours whirh v,,/ swift flash of intuition, and her home. But he?e he was^lr^'f ''"S ^"'='<^^ brought filently back into the law which bound v*"'' TiT' '«'''"' her and ,^,^^ ^^y, ^^.,^ Temp^JtoTher h"rd ''' '""""' " Bu^ ?rufdTve°U t^itfre^a^ierTcf > ^^P^'- ?r.T„fX:^,-rH|^f^^^^^ Mrs. Ducane." '■"^ougn your husband's private papers. grippl^tt' Joorfhafd" *tVh[er' '"'^ ' " ^=''^<* J»"««. -d ^^^^rm afraid n.t. Under the circumstances I must request " Isn't command the better wnrH 3 " i. ^ , •, From behind Temoesf n^ft ? i J^^'>'^^^^ Jennifer, and her face with a^Sola^V'l^'S"'^, ^^" ^'^^^ ^^ her eyes had plenty of courage^ °'^^^- ^' ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^"°^« that she " Perhaps so," said Temnpc^^- " t3„4. t remember that I too am ?£ "^ ^ ^°"^^ ^^^e yoij ta mander. I arn sor?S to sav thT^ ^"^'^' ^"^ "^^ ^^J corn- should have accesT7o lL7,%t:%\rZ:Te'^'^^^^ *'^^ ^ He'^e^SeTto^^::!.^:^^^^^^^ "^"f ^" ^""" as changed, back to struggirw^th s^n^eVS°^^^^ ^^'^ ^u^^ "^^^^ ^rfwn could not solve AlLd^l.^ f^'l^l^"^ P^^^^^"^ which he official minutes in the GrVwci;^^ ^^''^ ^^"^ f°^ a few been formally charged to aoo^r 1 ^'^^T^"'' ^^^^ ^^e had soon as Forsyth hfd brougT?he otW^'^?^^'^" ^^^^^°"^ ^« Chipewyan and formally freed on h. t ^^^^f^^es down from Tempest himsplf S^iV'u^^^ °^ ^f ^ provided by Leigh and — -. ... hav. becu gentle with her then, as he was W YOU UNDERSTAND' and came out ice was white : in the night intuition, and icker brought only, locked id he saluted lid Tempest, cases hadn't ary for us to ivate papers, ennifer, and tiust request ennifer. in her eyes ivn that she like you to )t the com- sary that I -s changed, lind drawn ^ which he for a few in she had Sessions as lown from Leigh and , as he was gentle now. But the old buoyant sympathy and understaud- mg were gone. ^i^uw " I— I suppose there would be no use in my applvinc force to^prevent you," she said, struggling to maintain^a^nfnjured and frafr ""^ ^"" "^ l^mpesfs eyes. She looked so very small too.'' ""^ ^^'""'^ "°** ^°" '^^ ^ ^^''^ ^°'P°''^^ ^«"°t here Jennifer reddened. Then she stood aside from the door went ir ' Wh"^ T' ^'^^"*' ^"^ '^' ^^° "^^" passed her and went ,n. Where Ducane's reading-lamp burnt on his desk a litter o papers was scattered. Drawers and boxes were open on he loor .ashes smouldered in the fireplace among brokeS plates from Ducane's camera. Dick said nothing He had with anger. Even now his work came before everything before Jennifer herself. He crossed to the fire quickly kicMne rln f .^^P^' ' K "^ '^^^""^S ^°"^^ half-burnt sSs But w:re^f hisToic'e.'^^' '° J^""^^^^' ^"^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^--tion womin"" ^'^''' ^'^^^^ ''°"'^"'" ^' '^'^' " You brave little <•? w'!!^!''^?^^^''^^ ^^^ ^^^o^- a rush of tears. What s the use of it ? " she sobbed. " What's the n^o now f Oh. what will Harry say I What will HarTy say ! """^ ' " ^o.^tZntlJ^l °"^^' '^ 'T" ^' ^°°k^d at sucker, won t you take her away and— and— do what vou can Slicker ? he said. " We can't help this you know And wil lyou remember. Mrs. Ducane. that the keenest joys and tSe worst sorrows are those which never come. You may have no need to dread anything at all " ^ ^^""^ But Jennifer would allow no comment here Sh^ fnn^hf fer's coumgl ' ''^ ''"'* thankfully. He, too, knew Jenni- GrantS" ;jk:i™"ii:--:'J.^ "^""'f *° Grange's Andree." -.orj a-s a taVg.r wItr^o.?^£i ^r^hoVcf-^'SS 11 r ? ''Hi 1 60 THE LAW-BRINGERS i^d^^^^^: Z^:r °" ''^ ^-^ --- when she about all there is to thinS^'Ihe Ls'dr'''^ *,^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^Y sensitive chaps than Tempest so von .' ""^ }^'' high-flown making hay of him. HiT work1« Ti S!" I"'* S:uess if she's It used to be the core-— -'^ """^^ *^^ ^^^^ to him now. '•' How ?'- ^Sr ^°'^ ^" ^^'^ ? " corning love aS wfn' nSe'^" '^°"^^^^^- ^^^ ^^eas con- " Because he's a foor MerhkeV^^ increasing in severity. "%^-7--time. Everybody L'o^P^^^ that som?thTng'2;ref4s"beTnrr^ t° know what was goini forwardTf ? ^ despoiled here. She forgot on Slicker^^ ^ ""'^ '" *^^ "^^^ room and turned her rage ^^^'-^'n'^S:'jZt^^^^ " Howdareyou stupid boy " ^ ' ^"^^ y°" ^n the middle of it .? You He'iSghuLen": yoT ^ ^ Ve^^^P ''' X?" ^^ould do that. Jennifer had never\^rfh" , ^'^^T"' joys more acutely than of Lte '^^ disadvantages and do t|"^ea:i;rthi"g!^^^^^^^^ ^^^ --an to ,, It wouldn't be unpleasant for you" .^ ^ Are you complimenting me on ^ tact or on the lack of ^^^h. don't be a beast, Jennifer. I've said all I could think the thingTyo1i^couir'?think"o??^^°'^^^^^ ^'V tosay of course he " °^ '* "^^"^^ ^^ much safen And "Well, he did." Slicker wrifffried " m. u He's letting go of evervthS' w'^ ^°' ^''- ^^^^^ ^^^ her. times." said ShckerTn the wisd^^ Tu'^i^ "^" ^^^^ «°«ie- We will drop through the bo torn of°, n !'• ^^^"^y^^e years. want, and we never think how w^'r. ^^'?^' *° ^^^^ ^^at we pest is just beginning to realLT^S '^^^^^J'^'- ^^"^- i dun t know ii he's reckonpH nr^ iv. \ ^ , ' ^i^P^d in. But and his uniforn. beforhTc^tTs'^:,^!- 'evXr-^ YOU UNDERSTAND i6l :casion when she is — is only " that she's only ' less high-flown 5t guess if she's sk to him now. His ideas con- ng in severity, ly love as they tipest to know e. She forgot urned her rage How dare you e of it ? You lould do that. ivantages and le woman to n the lack of I could think iies try to say I safer. And ou could get ich a jeering, ? " re to-night." lere, honey. 'azy for her. that some- '-one years. ?et what we out. Tem- i in. But t on himself )es." 'S "Mr. Tempest will never shame anything or anybody but those who are wicked enough to accuse him of doing it." " Sakes," said Slicker admiringly. " What a refreshment you are, honey. Why, you see. there are plenty of fellows ready to sneer at religion and law and all the other things that Tempest used to stand for. Dick Heriot's one So can't you realise what a peg he's giving them to hang 'their sneers on ? Tempest was— well, he was about the genuine article Now he's a fool. He forgets most things, and doesn t bother about the rest. He isn't Tempest any more. It s the fault of the life up here, of course. A man sees so few possible women " '' You brat ! How dare you attempt to iudge men like him and--and anyone else ? You ought to go ea again now your lung s healed. I shall write to Uncle Gerald and tell him you spend all your time carrying scandal- spit By Heavens, Jennifer ! You're enough to make a toad .. ^u^^^'^u^^ ' " ^^^^ Jennifer fell into sudden laughter. Oh, what a dear boy you are. It has done me aU the good m the world to get angry with you just now. ' ' " That's all very well." Shekel was not appeased. " But somebody's got to do something about it." No one was realising this more keenly than Dick in Ducane's study. If Tempest had not been in arrears with the court- case work, occasioning much delay and later complications Dick would have been over here earlier. He had never sus- pected this, of course ; but his natural instincts led him to desire to guard against all possibihties. Now Jennifer had got iTi,^ 1^ first, and the results showed very effectively. For all his anger and disgust and keen disappointment Dick laughed more than once at the holocaust. Her accurate brain had grasped the salient points so thoroughly. There was abso- lutely nothing left which gave a clue to the real address or composition of the Canada Hom.e-lot Extension Company although there were papers pertaining to it which were suffi- cient to show Ducane's connection with it, and also a number be founV^ '^■^'^^^'^ "^^^^ "^'^^^ contain clues if the key could On other matters there were papers which verified the scanty revelations discovered already in Robison's shack. The men nad certainly been getting in permits under false names ; they had been buying land from the breeds at absolutely cut-prices, and they had an infinitely more intimate knowledge of the values and owners of land in the district than anv ordinary nnw''S''T^^'' f'"P^ ^° ^^^^- -^"t Jennifer had taken the poker to Ducanes camera-plates, and Tempest looked up over the wreck in some amusement. . ^^ l62 THE LAW-BRINGERS [Hiii *( l!li f - rema^rk'ed^'^" O^f .^ ^°°^ ^'""^ *° *^" imagination only." he remarked. Of course one can tell that these two have h^Pn s'^aTed'off Set!?"^ I'y! ^'''''- ^^"^ ^^^^ Ducane was evident y IfZl f n in! T ^^^ ''^^^^ °^ ^ commission which Robison wonder'?"'"^ '"^' '° P^^ ^^^^S^' What scared iSm? ste?mer.'°'^ ""^ '^' photograph seen on Jennifer's lap on the said^^-Rnl"^?'* ^'"'''^ ?^^ ^'^ ^^^°g"i^« it' of course" he S| muc? fLV frthat'- "°"^'^'^ ^^'^ ^^^^-^- H^ -ver liff'iJ^^"'" '^^"'Pfst looked round the room. " She's a bravP ^^UrCth-y dttr^y t^dLS VaS ^i^B '''^LlslT','^"-"^'^^^ shT;\sTmphcate"d alst'' '^' ^^ inat IS a legal suggestion only, of course ? " we'd besTrbaclf "" v ' ""^"^^ ""^^^^^ ^'' P'^^^^^^Y- Well ; we d best go back You can come over to-morrow and do the from his stooping position and looked at him R,,?^^^"""^ tanking Of the qL'ition, He wartUnUing^f thfrni^' "¥he?e had always been such buoyant couraee in T^mL^f There one of those finely-tempered rap°"fwhfch wTbend Mt^t"^ Ten.pe"'=at:i* all\tT hltet f^o d^ 1^0^ t'd t^ftf .,»,?» J" ■?" "• • "•" ' ■■ »• "tad. - 1 ™» „ '42: ition only," he two have been e was evidently which Robison scared him, I er's lap on the of course," he :es. He never ' She's a brave lelp her. She dm if she had ted also," ^ately. Well ; ow and do the But we might . The end of c straightened 'Ut he was not man. There •est. He was bend hilt to :h a resonant seemed gone en the nature jr come back srstand what ai d to-night ad forgotten md he felt a ;urned away, ers together, ive back to s in the safe " I want to It, Dick." i was wide- Jest without ?o of all the IS strong ill 3est, and it ing to lower 'YOU UNDERSTAND' 163 his standard of hfe as he unquestionably was doing Some uulocated words flashed to his mind suddenly. " When the will has forgotten the lii'elong aim, And the mind can only disgrace its fame, And a man is uncertain of his own name' . . ." The mercilessness of the thought jarred all the love ahve m Dick Such thmgs might be for men spent with toil and years ; but for Tempest in full strength and vigour the thine was brutal, unreal, hideous. And yet it seemed very surelv true. Tempest turned to the door. ^ ' F^'i """u -^^^ ^'^^^ ^^^^"^ y°" SO/' he said. And then Dick went alter him, and laid a hand on his arm you ower'thTs"°°"'''''*''"'''°°^'°'''"^°'"''"'''''- " "''°'' facelardeui,rg°"""*' ™"'=-" ^""P^^' straightened with hi, " Are you going to marry her, Neil ? " wi?f .^^H "°^ "il^i ^^^^ ""^'^^ ^" ^^^^y years ; and his voice sta^tled^'^nH ""l'^ f'' 'r^^ °^ ''' ^^^ '^^^Pe^t drew back ; startled, and sternl> indignant. aske?°^ d^d you know what no one has been told ? " he ^1.^+^° n ^ I ^^ l^^"" ^^"°'^' y°" '^a^'t surely be as blind as that ? Don t you know that there are bets about it from the Landing up to Chipewyan, and probably much further ? flon7r ^°""' ''■ r'^u' ''-'' ^" the glare of the foot hghts along these rivers, as I have found out, I assure you " iempest leaned against the door, and his face was drawn was shoXd''"'^' ^!! ^\^^^^^ ^^-^^"^y — e °f"S nature time outraged ; thrown down off its balance for the her ?^"^^ """^ """^ ^^^^'""^ ^^''''^ ^^'■'" ^^ ^'''^' " Not about It seemed to Dick as though that passionate, vibrating voice B°?rhl-?tf aSwef" '""^ -"""'^ 'y '^^ -- '-- ™" she would have had me ! But she's so shy-so defcate me'at'':r'iler' f '^- ' .^^", ''^'^ set Lr^ tlkt He brL nff T "" '°"S^' ?"'^'y ^^"^e beside her." of ^if uv.^' wall^^ng across the room hastily. He twitched ^vl H^'^^-r X. ^^""^ "^^'^ contemplation shutting down woT.P T*'*'" .^ "^""f "^"'"e than he had expected Much S staS'S' th"'l^ ^-^"^ "! "^"" "^° ^^- the shining of mgn stars and the blooming of white flowers wherever he 'l?l 164 'f , .■ i* ■' ? Pf- 1 mi: 1 l[ ■ ' i ■ H m m I in THE LAW-BRINGERS and a kiss ; he had done it many times himself for fhffi^ ohve cheek was soft and satm-sLooTh He had seen ?S he looked again at the st^ll figure m the window ''^°-*^^" Heavens above I Don't you Mo. V^t wf af/ t^hL'^f Tempest turned and his eyes showed fire. «,PP fh.f T ■ '""^^ ^'^^ y°" ^an misjudge her. You can't He stopped again, turning back to the window that " he saM ^°" '" ""^ '^^ ""^ ^o" ''*''™ to a child like see"^''4'^hTTe^;es'iTa'r • "^ ^^^ *- '« *" -^-^ ^^.e to that ? Grange's Andree wS^t mad^e for S>^V°" *""""'"' yo; S'd^riihTttL^r^ Ve*':mer'f a^Lr, '"-' Good-night. " " ^^ *^^t' please. •nS^r' '° '^''- ="' '^^*°- -^^ ='^P' he came to a deter- he'laYd^'" ^ ^'* """' '"■" Edmonton Til put an end to this," It had seldom been Dick's hahif i-n hr,M- ^ xi. he had made his mind up to travel ft Bu? .n ' '^^"^ °"'' nights later hastened rnatters lo him LrSed^fh?"^" T down the barlr naGcacrc o,,^ 4-u J. '^'*"^cuib trier , stumbled which td'beL'S^^s'pi^'vl^^^^^ ^' ^^^-- the little alley behind the fiSh church He S k"* ^"*° canoe-patrol all dav and hi. ±.ca4t 4- K ^-^ ^^■f'' °'' so thaf the two on the far7ide'of7he roVm whrt^p^^^^^^^^ from the window fell did not hear him or heed "^^^t ^ fhe * ;h as most people ying cards in the ly to cheat with ig with Robison lass where theirs ti a careless jest slf, for the firm, had seen — then ow. " But you can -ts of the case. e all think of ler. You can't Id thing of the tection. But I t to give it to ow. ■ to a child like r to be able to herself of your 't you answer domestic pro- pull out of this just now that -t that, please. ne to a deter- end to this," he road once episode two ediably. He ing the inner : of a handful ;t ; stumbled ■ of the room vay out into had been on with silence, ;he pale light But to the YOU UNDERSTAND 165 3 man in the dark of the door that poor, grey light gave a picture so cruelly clear that it took his breath. In Ducane's big padded chair sat Grange's Andree ; and Tempest was on his knee at her side, gripping both her hands and speaking low and thickly. Tempest's head and shoulders were blocked out in a vague smudge ; but the light was sharp across the girl's face, showing the wild, half-terrified irritation of a young horse resisting the bit and yet lacking the courage to break free. Tempest did not see. His head was bowed and he was praymg to Andree as a man might pray for his life Dick closed the door softly and got himself out "into the dark narrow alley where the wooden church wall rose against the golden afterglow. Crickets were chirping and crows were calling harshly. From the hotel stables came the champ of feeding horses and the occasional bang as they kicked the wall m endeavour to dislodge the flies. Someone came unseen down the noisy sidewalk, whistling shrilly. Dick heard all the sounds. But they seemed far off. Nothing was near but the ugly rock on which a good man was splitting his life Tempest," he said in his throat. " Good God ' Tem- pest ! " He told himself that he had known it before. But he knew with an artist's instinct that he had not known until he saw Andree s face. There was no heart behind that face • no understanding. Tempest meant no more to her than Robison or O Hara had done. Perhaps not so much. And she meant to Tempest— Dick thrust himself through a gap in the rail- fence, and felt the dried grass of the churchyard beneath his feet. The door was open, and the light went in, glorious and golden, to dazzle on the small brass cross above the altar Dick remembered a tall black cross standing bare on a hili on the trail to Lower Landing. Russian emigrants had wor- shipped there before they built a church to house their prayers m, but to Dick the Man whom these two crosses represented meant nothing, although the man who was likely soon to be broken on the cross of his own passion meant very much indeed. -^ The day was nearly done. The wind was full of rich scents trom yellow-daisy blooms and clover and silver reeds in the river ; from grass on the low warm hills and damp moss in the muskeg, and from thick, loamy earth in the forest. Clear notes of birds fluted across the river, and the sunset lights were flushing m warm opal on the sky. As Dick reached the barrack-gate, slowly, and with his head low, he was stopped by Parrett, the Dissenting minister. Parrett had been in^Grey Wolf nearly a year, and he had learnt much, though not so much as he would have done if orey Wolf had had more time to give to his education k. i66 THE LAW-BRINGERS ' >: III frr. I- H P till^o^row '^he'TJd''^^^^^^^^^^^ '' ^°^* Saskatchewan see him, Co Joral^ " ^ ^°'^ ^ '^" "°"^^ "^^^t in and PaSett's""" '°""'^"' ^^^ *^«^ - --'t on any lips but eesie^°"'" IZ *^'"^- ^''^ ^'^ ^ *"«^ premature ? " he su^- ^ " f?^ ?^ "'^'^ '^ "°* condemned yet " ^ " ^/r;r rV'*'' ^^* ^^^essary to wait for that." Six times," agreed Dick. " Be easv T am t-o^^- • shot " ""^""''^ ^'' °^*'" unexpected. And heTs a good fn^Vl^^'t'^ •''''^'' *^^ ^^*^ ^^*^^ Parrett had gone listening to the high, joyous voices of two httle eirls 91^3;,. !! I J^ nver-bank, and thinking of Jennifer if^tasS^^^^ could touch the man now, and if he chose tc assert that he h:did^„"*t'',\^ierveT„^^s„'rto*'cLt7^ nothing would make Je/nifer^speak and th2 factTausrf rn3p£&nof.oX?o-l-f^rn?^^^^^^^ YOU UNDERSTAND' rt Saskatchewan ne right in and m any lips but :ure ? " he sug- r that." ht feel it rather h training your t Saskatchewan ill." ble expression, -eathless before for this— this im receiving a le most pointed 1 may prove a harder than a ^d he is a good ?one, listening :ipping on the dreading this g for himself, ed by. Care- ill side-issues, 3 of assistance sar. Nothing ssert that he, ane, he could would go near on went into etter what to tingency, and new now that 't caused him iable courage 3ring Ducane thout doubt ches Indians ;e of Indian M not want now, for the But the two 167 stupid Germans and the lunatic who had gone insane from loneliness did to the last inch the work detailed for them to do They whip-sawed timber for a shack to be built on the adjoin- ing lot. They cleaned stables and re-baingled an outl ouse and dug post-holes and stretched a wire-fence along them There were days when the lunatic ilesirod only to walk through the head of Dick's shadow as it moved over the dusty grass and Dick had to let him do it ; ther ■ were days when the bullying wind or the rain, or, worst of all, smoke from the forest-fires which blanketed the hills above Grey Wolf made work a torment. But time drew by at last. Forsyth came down with his witnesses ; Jennifer went to Edmonton with Slicker and Mrs. Leirh, and, by Tempest's arrangement, Andree had gone with thtai. I^ ok did not speak to Tempest of Andree now, though he had been more than uneasy over a certain matter which occurred on the night when Andree reahsed that Robison was taken to Fort Saskatchewan for a trial which would v an death. Dick had gone through the back-passage at Grange's that night and had suddenly con- fronted Moosta. To all appearances Moosta had just come through a storm which had fallen on her apart from her will She clutched Dick with fat, strong hands, and all her respect for him could not straighten her English. '; Dieu ! She mak' hit ! " she gasped. " Hit Rosario. An moi. An she cry. \n' cry. An' mak' noise— diable noise. " Who ? " demanded Dick, halting. "S'pose it Andree," said Moosta. "She got devil, me t ink. Dick pushed open the door of the back-parlour and walked m. He had never been there before, and its mustiness and smell of smoke and cooking and its low, roughly-beamed ceiling made all dark for the moment. Then he saw Andree on the rT/" °^^}^^ Grange's big chair, with her head wound in a tablecloth and wild turmoil about her. Dick pulled the cloth away, and stooped to her. That always suspicious mind of his was interested. ^/' ^^^V^ .^" *^'^' Andree ? " he asked. " You have scared Moosta s hair out of its pins." Andree's eyes met his ; soft, wild, and anguish-stricken as the eyes of a wounded doe. Dick had never realised her beauty so keenly before. He stooped lower " Will— he be— kill ? " she whispered. " Undoubtedly. I think he wants to be killed, Andree. Do you know why ? " The tears darkened her eyes. She put up her long, slender hands, framing Dick's face in them. " What matter— if he want it so ? " she asked. i68 f ,.' ' 1 Kff m ':\t THE LAW-BRINGERS is it, ^e^^-^ .-Lrr ^XZ -^r ^St i' ' temples. ''TheydrLerTl''^^^^^J^''^^y against his feeling in her voL *' '^^ '^^^' ^"^ ^^^^e was no P'^.tr ?,!' ^"f^*^ ^"' ^°°king at her. it in^et" 'or Lt\Ti/'.r T ' '^^"^ "^^^ -- -" get he said. .. ^hT rf ^^u^cfyL^,^^^^^^^^^^^ ^-^^'^ Andrei" up,wl.t:gSf£S^^^ And then she sprang sa.3- - -- ?^-^^^^^ She ch?sf to dleTndeS^d "that^ "^^ T ^^'^^d^ ""^obison But the matte^ld'ha^^^^^^^^^^ TiRouT^''T'''''- a legitimate fight for his life Robison had made TempU'd'refdefs^lr^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ J-nifer, would make AnLe sweaTaw^^ ^^''^ *hev himself over the matteT hifwi^ man's hfe. He tortured his share in it moJSl fn ^^ ^"^'^ ^^*^ ^^^^ because of work and o thoS ^J"^^°"«' . ^^aried out by stress of done seemed to ra£ and hu7t ..^ 7?^'^ ^"^ ^^^^ ^"^ nature, and Dick comine fnto fh. ^ '^'^'^^*^ ^^^^^ °^ ^is where Tempest wasTakfng u? Ws en^'^fTh '^' ''S ^"^"^^^ understood that he would^Tve to take S! ?/^"^ very shortly, or it would be tooTo J ™ *his thmg m hand late now. ^ *°° '^*^ ' '^' ^"deed. it were not too "Hat l^ptaTed fh'^'"'^'.^ ^^^^^ °-^ '^^ ^-k. i "'^^^ aupncated this voucher three fimp? " h^ o^-^ Can you make the other three to-night ?'' ' ^ '^'^' ■• Ther :ts\°::„°a" ,::rtic oT.^«^'' H^-^P"--- "e said. a.d that n,eanrsixfSro„°LTstc"h S ■■ " ^'"^^ ^ -»«• in the morning ? " everythmg ready for an early start youU'much%onTnrw' '■. ^""'" '''''''' ^" '"^^ ^^^ ^-^^ of Tempest turned back to his hlnftin-^nad ^-imf;- " _ At least you keep the balance'even^'^he Sd " ^• But when Dick had gone out he dropp'erht pen and sat YOU UNDERSTAND ing over, is it, )o much. It is 1 est fort bien. >ick ; they do y against his i there was no 5t men will get ige's Andree," n she sprang ne more," she place," . If Robison 3wn business. son had made for Jennifer, it there they He tortured ;k because of by stress of '^as said and edges of his last evening 3nth reports, ling in hand were not too lie desk, s," he said. :il midnight. iS," he said, nee I came, Tempest 1 early start get hold of :ientiy. en and sat 169 still, with a fear which had lately come to life dawning in his eyes. Dimly he was beginning to know that he was deceiving himself ; that he was deliberately building up and holding to a thing which had not, and never could have, any foundation He fought against this knowledge with all his powers • telling himself that it was the right of man to seek a woman to give to her love and protection and help, to enable her to fulfil her hfe gloriously and wisely and fully. This was man's right : one of the primal laws. Therefore, if he chose to give so to Andree where was the sin ? A thousand times he told hiniself that there was no sin. The very height and fineness of his nature made it possible for him to deceive himself He had given his all to the work. Now he was giving his all to the woman. Surely these were the two things which Nature and God required of him ? But the fact that he had to assure himself of this so often suggested the flaw in it. He knew well that he was wrecking his powers and crippling his work • he knew that his unhappiness was due to more than Andree's indifference. And in the centre of his heart he knew that the truth was waiting, if he would look at it. He had lived too near that truth all his life not to know it. But he would not r^ ^u^^^. ^^""^'^ °^ ^^^* ^* ™ight tell him ; and so he hved with his inner heart shut against himself, and he suffered accordingly. Dick could do wrong if he wanted to ; open-eyed, and in half-derision at himself. Tempest could only do it by blinding his conscience. Part of him guessed that he was doing this Fart of him clung to that early image of Andree ; of the Ideal woman and the ideal life; clung fiercely, with all the steel-sprmg tenacity of his nature. He could not let her go^and he would not, until she was taken irrevocably from But when the moment which he had feared came, four days later, and he saw Andree walk into the witness-box and take the oath, all his strength went out of him, and he hid his eyes under his hand. Dick, sitting in the front seat among the witnesses watched, with that silent intensity which had gained him his Indian name of Carcajou. He saw Robison in the dock raise his head and look once at Andree with that expres- sion which Dick had seen in the cell at Chipewyan. There was renunciation m it ; there was adoration ; self-abnegation. There was something which lifted him for the instant to a ? A^^^^^^^i ^f ^ ^""^ "^''^^ *^°dd^" yet- Then it was gone, and the thick heavy face and brutal eyes and forehead showed reddened and swarthy in the airless heat of fhe filled court- room. Dick's suspicions strengthened. Could it possibly be Andree who was playing Robison into the hands of death ? was there any means by which Robison could save himself i if] T 170 THE LAW-BRINGERS iiitiii |!i^ ' mm m '\i.i know hT • '^'^ ^""^"^ "erself the sinner, and did Kobison Tenn"er stood Tr J "' '"'.^ ^ *^^"S ^*"^«^"- Had n^ ;!^u • * '^^' '>'"'^' ''^way his liberty with the half coquettish innocence Andree used he would have had her hfe for It though he took his own directly after. And that breed coarse and dark and soulless as a lump of moose-meat conM assuredly never be so far swayed by tL epic mssk^,n of in %rby onTthrn'^ P^^^^"' °^ hlte mfht ^vrhim.^'^^' fo^ ^ questions went ov almost as a matter of r^ui^^^l^^ *^^* y°" ^^" ^^ay while the murder was taking ^ aL.T^T/'':? ""."^^"^ ^"^° Grey- Wolf for help ? - "^ A flash of Andree's coquetry had just sought and found the f^^e^'!i?^i^i:r '^-'^'^ •^'-■^- ^-^ ^ta?Jr' :;;! ^' I— I suppose," she said. " y^J "^'^ 7-?" u°* *^" Corporal Heriot when you saw him P " her chin uo '''^'^'V'^T''''" ^^^^ Andree'^sedately with Dick saw tb. L ^^ r""^. '°""^' ^"^ ^"^^^^ thrilled to it. Actions TndL^i'^i^r \l' ^^'^' ^"^ *h« consciousness in her actions and he smiled. It was so exactly the vain irresoonsi ble nature which he had always ascribed to he?' Surdv ^^ Tnts^lTlnaT% • ?""' ^^"^P^^^ -* stii? ^ith'hTstad wen^toug^^o' ht'enT "she' ^dM^'noT'^ T^^^ T^^"^^ tl nf V"^^^^""^" It'laf al^s rtsilTvtf she'ir h'm^trL'"' ""f Ir'^ ^."^^^- 0-' «h« «a^?Lat Sut sne saw him strike, and then she did run Dick s evidence established a little more nlf>.n„«T, •*. scarcely needed ; for Robison plelder^m-irwittut T tenuating circumstances, receiving his sentence with stoHd indifference A man behind Dick leaned forward. brutli™?^ ^''' ^" ^"^^^ "^" '" ^^ ^-^- " O^ - it just * '!J*,'^ r"' ^ t^i"^'" said Dick, and shuddered a litflp to think what that will might do to Jennifer before long And then he went out to get through as best he might thf hours before he would see Jennifer in that dock. ^ ' Yesterday Tempest had driven Jennifer through the town W fw ^^^t *!" ^^"^' °^ *^^ Saskatchewan S assuW ^,U f,,'^ ^^^ "°^^^"^ *° ^^^^' and that this absurd cW must fall to pieces on the least investigation. And TenSfS did not mean to fear. But when shesfond «:?th w ---I hands on the edge of the dock, and saw the white wTgs^bibWn^ below her. and the stand of the jury opposite, a^d^he judgl YOU UNDERSTAND i did Robison 171 m his scarlet robes, her strong courage failed for a moment. Tempest and Dick and Slicker were all there. But they could not help. It was one of those crucial moments when the soul must stand alone. Then, as the oath was'administered to the first witness, she straightened, and stood still. Emmett, captain of the tug, was the first 'witness ; a small, mean-lookmg man, terribly afraid of being personally impli- cated. He told how he had put Ducane, Robison, and Jennifer ashore at Quatre Fourches Channel, and how they had been taken up the stream by Indians. In about four hours Jennifer and Robison had come back, and inquiries for Ducane were met with the assertion that he would return with the Indians. Emmett had thought no more of the matter until Constable Hmds arrested Robison on the arrival of the tug at Chipewyan and asked concerning Ducane. Robison said that Ducane was coming back later. Emmett could not remember that Jennifer had said anything, either of denial or assent. Next morning Hinds went across to the Channel. But the Indians were gone, and it was only the cache in the bank which gave the first suggestion of foul play. Hinds could not follow the Indians up, for there was no one else at the Post. Being asked where the other police were he told how Dick had taken Forsyth to Lobstick Island, and how it was rumoured that he had done so because he knew what Robison and Ducane intended to do. Cross-examined, he spoke of the well-known fact that Ducane was brutal to his wife and that Dick, Robison, and Slicker were almost the only visitors to the house across the Lake. Slicker was called to corroborate this, and in the hands of the direct ruddy-faced counsel for the prosecution he was forced to admit Dick's friendship with Jennifer, his dislike of Ducane, and Ducane's scarcely- concealed hatred and fear of Dick. He admitted that Jennifer felt her position as Ducane's wife very keenly, and that once, m a flash of temper, she had said that she hoped she would never be tempted to strike him. Under cross-examination he said that Jennifer had gone to Chipewyan against her wish, and at Ducane's expressed command. Her counsel asked : " He was in the habit of making her do what she did not want, then ? " " I don't know. She seldom spoke of her own feelings. She was very good to him, and very patient with him always." ^^ Was she friendly with the breed, Robison ? " " No. She couldn't bear him. She never spoke to him if she could help it." "You do not think she would connive with him asrainst her husband ? " " Never. And I know that Ducane is alive. Otherwise his wife would tell what had happened," said Slicker. 172 t!) ( ■! m 1^ i THE LAW-BRINGERS The counsel for the prosecution rose ajrain. what' occ'u'r'';c7'T.,!;:!:?'''''''-M ■"''•; '■"'"•""'"'^ *"" ™"'^' k""" «t„,l., ir 1 , '" ''''-"ICO to fxtr.ict from Ducani>' silence of con,W«;^ce w^KM,! ?," ''"^''"'■'" "''"'"■ To aceuse him silence" ' " "'"^ c.rc.nslanocs, be better than that^'"""""' reasons have been st.ggested as a reason for •; I bcHeve tliem to be totally untrue " .^o'/oM^"'' ;■"'■' "'-•'l'<>""">™t on^li c'overinT^hi; He wafers: in;.";ue!;™^^"'"°" ^"»"«-'<--'' th' tlenniter that'she Imd ^roZn to'r "",^"' "? '""'' "'^^ •^"'"and and said Tempeir '"'''"' ""■' '""^' '^'"' ™'='' ''™ »= ^er husband." J ' YOU UNDERSTAND 173 A few more leading questions were quietly parried and then Tempest gave place to Hinds, who told of the search' in Quatre Lourches; the finding of the cache and the impossibihty of extracting nilorniatiou Inui: .ther Jennifer or Kobison He had not been able to frllow np the Indians ; but Forsyth had done so later, and tb 1 j of t'.eni were now in court. They were called ; but either tin y v. ,.r^ ignorant of the affair or Kobison's threats had been oft..a u-.). They had left the two white men and the white woman . shore up the Channel, and, after taking a few photo^ raph , ■^he three had gone into the woods borne hours later r-. >iicane had returned with Kobison who told them that Ducane was following in another canoe Ihey never saw anything of that canoe, and on their return to their people they neither heard nor saw anything of a white man. Ihey did not know any more. Forsyth was next called. His evidence asserted that Dick had come to Chipewyan ostensibly to arrest Kobison for mur- der, but that he had refused to do so at once on the ground that he wished to implicate Ducane on another matter first He could not say that Dick had any other motive in leaving the man at liberty. He could not say that Dick had any but the alleged reason for taking himself to Lobstick Island. He did not see why tne Indians should deny the fact if a white man had passed up the Channel, and he thought it very possible that Ducane could have been killed and sunk in the Channel or buried in the swampy land round about without being found He acknowledged that he had had men dragging the Channel ever since ; but it was muddy and full of snags. Under cross- examination he had no reason to say that he suspected Dick of collusion. Dick had promised to get evidence from Mrs Ducane, and had afterwards refused to give it. Dick had in- sisted on taking Mrs. Ducane back with him in order that she might supply information regarding the Company for which Ducane was supposed to be working. He had not heard that she had given any. His evidence closed the day's inquiry ; and Dick, who had never left the court, except to snatch a hasty lunch while Jennifer was away, caught Tempest's arm at the door ' I must keep off," he said. " But go round to see her Tempest. Tell her that it's going all right. And don't let anyone suggest Kobison to her. Slicker, I want you " Slicker turned wretched blue eyes on him. " If she is condemned it's my doing," he said. "Don't you flatter yourself. Twenty of you couldn't condemn her. This is only the beginning of the thing. Mv aear fellow, you wait until we get through." He was kinder than Slicker had ever known him ; and he insisted on the boy dining with him, and staying with him until 174 THE LAW-BRINGERS ii mt Leigh came round and took him for a walk. And after that ?.ht oi'fn ^^^"^^. ""'' °^^ ^"^^^^^^ ^g^^^' examii^ng t in the Ssarl ?fe'w^n^''V^^ readjusting wherever it seemed necessary. He was too busy to be anxious ; too grimly set on his work to thmk of Jennifer ^^""iy set delc^-^'thl !f°™"g dragged through with unimportant evi- dence . the breed who had seen Dick and Jennifer eo out?n the canoe; Grey Wolf residents who spoke of the^state ^ affairs in Ducane's house ; those who knew Dck and could sZum:rMLrZ\ "^^l^^^i-- Jennifer and could rTwi K i^K S^^^^ ^°d." not because he believed in a Bnt ' ^l-'^^^^^^e there is no other form of reheved express^ But Robison was not available. There had been delavTn IZfXZt'Tl^'' Saskatchewan prison, anTotck^was presently put in the witness-box in his stead. He felt a moment s tremor as he took the oath. For he meanTto dea? Jenmfer if it were possible ; but he knew that it woild b at hri^dTan n°a rof r. ^^^-^P-^^-^-g ^t him. remembered vpr.. n?wt? ?! °^ Carcajou and sighed a little. Dick was very quiet and his eyes were half-closed ; but Tempest k^ew how he could flash out when it came to fight SomTSnim nnrr ant ^estions opened the way for the leading one ^°''' immSelv IZrt^ ^''^f °' ^""''^'^ "? ^° ^^^^^ick Island Du^ane ?^!^ ^^ ^^^"^ °^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^°^ with Mrs. therf ""^"'^ '^' ^""^^ ""' ^ """"^^ ^"^ ^''' ^^^band and Robison ;; It is alleged that you went for another reason." sea-skk •' ^' ^^^'"'' ^ ^^^- ^ "^^^^ Sergeant Forsyth coS? '°''"''^ '''^'^'"''^ ^' ^ smothered laugh ran through the " The captain of the tug has accused Mrs. Ducane of sending. Cane"'^'""'^ '^"^ '" ''''' ^^^ -^^ ^^ thrmurd'r of '' He would," said Dick composedly. ^^ What do you mean by that ? " " To accuse everyone interested is the surest wav to savA a^c?u?e^^ Sran^:.^?^^^^^- ^"^ ' '^^^^^'^ ^^^ ^^7^^^^ '•' ?ZIZ^'^^^1^^^^F''''^''^ ^^y ^^^e committed suicide ? " ^^ Certamly not I do not think that Ducane is dead " " ^^ What reason do you give for that opinion ? " Sergeant Forsyth has had parties searcliing the woods and Captain Lmmett has had men dragging the ChZn^]^f^^.i. ever since Ducane disapoeared. llSLt Lheve tha^?^^^^^^ would not fi«d him, supposing he was there-if they wished t^ " 'YOU UNDERSTAND' 175 " What do you mean by ' if they wished to ' ? " fh.f fh^^^^'l^"''''''", ^'^^^ """^ ^^^^ *° acknowledge publicly of thL sort/ '^''' '^' ^' ^^^ '""^^''''^ ^ womaf to^a thing grinnrng.'"" *^^ ^^'^ ''^* ^'^"^^ ^^' '"^'""S ^' hands and '■ My my." he said. " Don't get much change out o' the h::ra!J'4°ht!"''^^^ ^ ' ^"^^^ ''-'' ^^^ ^--'t where 'h': "I do not like to look at Dick," said Andree underbreath - Wh ' * T T'^! ? ^^' °"^ ^^^"^^^ ^^"ght in a trap " • " AhJ~m^^''^'^'r^ ^°°^^^^ P^^"y say, myself." shrug s^^d Andree. and turned from him with a The question Dick had prepared for came next. On what terms were you with Mrs. Ducane which could hef h^Vand?" '" ^°" '' '^"^ ^^^ ^^^"^^ ^^^^ you to arrS " 1 got a very great deal of information concerning Ducane's raudulence from his wife-without her knowledge.^of course I obta,med it principally at her own house where I Visited very " You mean that you went to a man's house and ate his bread and used his friendship as a cloak to extract damnS^ information about him from his wife ? " aamnmg '■ Certainly. I had to have the information." i^ut you could not have gained the knowledge that senf you o Lobstick in this way ? Please explain the mate f ulir^ * in the fact rnn^^ '''^'^''- '^"'^^"^ ^^^ ^ ^^'^^ ^^ <^«ll"^ion m tne fact of Ducane s disappearance. That is so far from in ofde^to'"'' "^a^ clehberately gave me misLforma 10" fL/ f ^ '^T.f''^ ^'^ "^^P^"^^- I ^^^ under the impress on that she was telhng the truth. I knew that she hadTgJea? deal to bear from Ducane. and I was-I imagined tha?^he had taken me into her co. fidence for the first tiine It was not t'ricked'me'" "^^'^'"^ '^'"^' '^^' ' ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ fully she had ^hUn ^^® ^"""^ ''®''^'" S'''^^ y°" he^ confidence before why pomt tC ^X!,^"Pf t^? and beheved it on such an important pomt then ? Was it not more likely that you should be sus- picious of her desire to betray her husband ? " Dick looked across at Jennifer, and he hesitated a moment Through all our friendship Mrs. Ducane has kept me at arm s ength. She relented somewhat that night and-she S e'did Tto^ P"\^y «T -^-Pretation on Ihat sSe safd clnsiv. r T^ ^7 husband, as I have since had very con dusive reason to understand. For Mrs. Ducane knows wW Ducane is. and she knows that it means ^^ery much To mc [o 176 THE LAW-BRINGERS ■ h I h?f f*"?'^ ^"^ ' '^™ 8^* °° information from her at all Sh^ ha^fooled me, and shown me whore I stand in her estimatio! - of?rutr"' ""'^ '*""■ """°^' ''"■ B"t " ca^rSdThe'rmg Du.rj^Lrdir.t'!\^™ane^-r:^^^^^^ wiThTctn^rtL^-h^S ri,L--itq7^^^^^^^^ rnf^fn^Vtra^ro^rrrS^^^^ disappeared because hisVar Of nTwasgreXThrRn^'""'"' |="^:Srrat-X-^-w?s~r hiSelf '?■"'"'' '"""-""y "y '^'t^*y»8 th'^ Company- fo? ten;|;orK-s "-e"^— t^o^hftrji;^,'.- - " ?n whS"aT'°'° "°" ""^ '""°"^' -""^ "' "'^'•" heSate.""" ''^""^ '" J^°""«'= '*erty and he did not or' ti droreThll*' Td *'!?'' ^° ^''f "** ■-" '" '<'''™ D-^ane S ^?F ? "- ^- -^ 5';S«n7foitm-S co"m\^ Sto'do'^J^tL'J'e '^^'Sr.? "^^ -- '-- - Betf/S s'^pXI^J^Lef e^erSSy. Xt ft'^^ha^^ ?1 '■e7^^:jeret;L^^l'^= ^x"&MS- „o""""f esW^'H.^'^^'fn-^^Ty'^'^^^Sy of the matter was inter- esting He was telling the absolute truth, which was unusual But llrl^^""^ ^^'' arrangement would show very soon But because the postulated reason for Jennifer's alleTd 'YOU UNDERSTAND' er at all. She 3r estimation." trried the ring m or had him eticent on the e shelter Mrs. ul to Robison. > that Ducane lem. He had t he had suffii- inion Ducane lan Robison 's le implicating ime back, he Company for that she was ick ? " )f that." he did not eave Ducane 'd me. Her iim to come )re reason to Dick was it at what a g his inmost )ut he surely And then no scruples Ejections to ' was inter- ^as unusual, ■shapea lies ! persecuted the sinners, very soon, ^r's alleged ick, he was afternoon ; l;il Robison e had done 177 himself with her he did not know either. But no cross- examming could extract from him more than he wished to say and he gave place to Robison at last in the knowledge that Jennifer s cause was safe unless Robison chose to damn It. But Robison chose to say nothing. Called to a higher tribunal he was indifferent to the threats of an earthly one He would not tell the truth, but he would not lie eithe? and Dick saw him go with something nearer gratitude to aA un known God than he had thought possible The long days in the hot, close court-room made Jennifer's little pale face smaller and paler than ever. But her courage had not flagged, and she had not misunderstood Dick's evidence Much that he had said seemed painful and unneces- sary to her ; but she did not doubt his wisdom in saying i? even when she herself stood to be questioned on what he had said. There was nothing to deny there, for Dick had known better than to he with her frank truth to follow him But hS disclosures had turned the tide of sympathy so powerfully in her favour that it could not be stopped now. Of Emmett's trumped-up charge there was practically nothing left Jenni- fer had been shown to have thwarted at all pomts the man with whom she was supposed to be in love, and not the severest exammation could make her story differ in the essentials from r ^^ . ^ ^^^® ^®^ answers clearly and directly ; but she refused to say more of Ducane but that he was, to the best of her knowledge, alive and well. ^ uc&t + -iA^^f-^ '^'"''^^ ^^ *^^ "^^^ °^ "^y helping him get away if I thin l^'^^r^ • " '^^^'^'^ ^^^^"^^y • '^d DiSk saw more man one of the jury smile. Her counsel made much of the point that. Ducane bein? a free agent at the time of his disappearance. Jennifer had com- niitted no crime m assisting him, nor in destroying his papers at his command. She denied most firmly any knowledge concerning Ducane's connection with the Canada Home-lot Extension Company. Ducane had told her to burn all the papers m his escritoire, an.' she had been doing it hastily wh-^n she was interrupted. Many of them mentioned the Company knL'^f "^S" f ^'^f , '"^ objection to giving the address if she S S"^ ^^^ ^^'^ ^- remember it, even if she had read it bhe was djsnussed at '.isl with a verdxt of " Not proven "" and a heavy i;-e for contempt of court; and Dick, who had hoped for som.ihmg better, had venom on his tongue when xempest went to rds room before dinner that night. ,m» ' "'^"'* ^h':'^' H^at Trs. Ducane was lying, though I thought you were." saM Temy^est. " Did you try to make her love at Templst "^'^'"'"^ ^^*^' ^ ^''^^' "^"^ ^^ '^°PP^^ *° ^^"^^ i*i 178 THE LAW-BRINGERS " That little And it didn't •".^^f. xr"'* *^^ ^^^* woman, and she won't be the last " he said. Need you look so solemn over it ? " "I had not thought that you were a scoundrel," said Tem- pest slowly. " " Oh, well " ; Dick shrugged his shoulders pour passer le temps did her good on the whole hurt me." " I wonder if anything can hurt you now " " Not much, I fancy. Not this, anyway.' She gave me a run for my money, though." ^ ^ "ic d, Tenipest went out in disgust, and Dick frowned as he hooked his collar. He had never loved Jennifer better than now, and he had never been so afraid of her. All which she had held sacred he had dragged into the light, making her testify to it as well as himself . She had been asked once if she loved him and Dick s heart had stopped with fear before the question 7Z^7^'^ .\^^''' .^f ^"/"^ *^^* ^^^ ^o^ld have told the truth. But though fear for her was over now there was much bitterness in him, or he would not have answered Tempest so He was coming to believe that she would be more difficult to persuade than he had ever expected, and his face was hard with anxiety when he went at last out to the dimly-hghted streets and walked up to Jennifer's hotel. Slicker opened the door of her private sitting-room when he knocked on it. The strain had told on the boy severely • but anger flamed into his face at the sight of Dick. He would have shut the door if Dick's foot had not been in the way ^^ Is she there— alone ? " said Dick. "Yes. But you're not to see her, you cad " Dick's hand brushed Slicker aside door'SLnd him''" """ "'^ ""'^' ""^ "^"' ^"' ^^^"'"S *^^ Slicker stood still on the mat with the colour dying from, his face. Boy though he yet was in experience and under- standing, he felt those charged forces in the man with which he dared not meddle. Then he went away, a little dazed, and with a curious feeling of awe. The little hotel parlour was as unhke Jennifer's pretty rooms at home as anything could be. But Dick saw nothing bu u the white-gowned girl in the big chair by the window. She turned her head to watch him cross the room ; but neither spoke, and she did not lift the head from where the bare arm propped It on the window-sill. The night was very hot and her face had no colour at all, though there was a faint smile on her hps as she looked at his scarlet uniform and at the gentle deference which she knew would not hold him long You were right when you said you would hurt me." she n )e the last." he rel," said Tem- " That Uttle And it didn't She gave me a d as he hooked than now, and 1 she had held er testify to it she loved him, 3 the question tiave told the lere was much id Tempest so. more difficult face was hard dimly-hghted room when he severely ; but k. He would the way. shutting the ir dying from. e and under- .n with which ;le dazed, and lifer's pretty : saw nothing vindow. She but neither the bare arm ^ery hot, and :aint smile on at the gentle ng. urt me," she 'YOU UNDERSTAND' And I 179 was right when I said that would not end it You understand, or you would not be speaking to me now'" He sat on the window-sill with the dark of a closed shop behind him Never mind all that now, Jennifer. It is over What pretty arms you have I never saw them uncovered before '' She drew them back hurriedly under the falling laces ' " nT^J!°^ ^u^^ ^?r" ^^^ "^^^ ^° ^^" "^^ Jennifer," she "said. But you will. He paused, then said slowly : " If you are too tired wc will leave the matter for to-night But von cannot imagine that I am going to let it rest '' ' " I am not too tired. No." She shivered a little. " But it can only hurt us." • -due " I don't fancy your suggested remedy would ease that £ar? ?^'' "" '* '° '"""P^" *° P"^ '^^ ^^^^S °^t of yo^r " You know that I have not. But that doesn't alter the question. We are not our own masters here. This has been threshed out for us long ago-through suffering— and passion —and bitter remorse." ^ passion Her voice was low, and she looked past him to the skv In her loose white dress and her aureole of bright hair she seemed almost unearthly, guarded from his dominant eagerness bv a strange sacredness which daunted and puzzled him I am not asking you to do wrong," he said. " God forbid But to divorce the man who has ill-treated you and v/hom vou' do not love, and to marry the man who loves you is common- sense^only. To refuse to do it is the wrong. ^ Can't yTsee " I made nj reservations when I married Harry. I cannot make theni now. I could not live in the same house with him again I think But I must be free to help him if ever h^ snould need help. This is my duty. Not my duty to mysell only, nor to you, nor to him. We can't get away from the fact that we belong to the great Brotherhood of Life. Where vou or 1 fail or sin future generations pay for it " " ? ^°^'t, understand. It is not as if you had children " work oll^'Jb."'''^'',*^*- ^''} '^ ^^^ ^^^^" ^"^^ centuries to Z? \ \ , u^ "'"'■^^ ^^^^' ^ud so ^e know they must be true We^hould hurt ourselves and more than ourselves if we broke '' I cannot feel or believe that, Jennifer " to hfin^ ^ ''^'' ^'li'^\ . ^^'^ ^^c^^se you know this it is for you ^.n^P J^l^' ""^i *'■ ^^"'^^^- " should be the pride of your manhood to make chis hard thing easy for us to bear." ^ «?ihlP v^ want to make it easy. I want to make it impos- wi ; "".^^'^ ^"'^'^^^'^ ^ f^ti'^h out of a chimera. Jennifer We owe nothing to the past, nor to the future. We owe Si to ourselves only. And I am not ^oin^ fn .noil .Zt uZ.^^i i8o THE LAW-BRINGERS mine for the sake of a creation of the fancy. This life is all we have, and ^t is madness not to make the most oi t Itis madness to lose a day — an hour " He caught her hands, speaking thickly, and his face was ht and warm with eagerness. She met his eyes steadily Th^ nhr.°r r f^J^" '^'P""* ^**^ y°" ? " ^he asked, at Gref wnlf rV'J^. ^" remembered that German boy aJ^I Z^'"" ^""3. ^^'^""^^ *° " lo^e all ladies always " And he remembered his own rebuke. It was her face had now ^'ne e? h ""7 ''/"• '' "^^ ^^^ ^^^ brought Tts me^r^ '^V u ^^"^^ ^°- a"d stood up. ^ pll +lt^ ^°r ?^^'^?" '^ ^ ^""^^ offended you." he said. " But all this IS only fencing, you know. You will have to see the senously think of condemning us to such an equivocal posi- fnJh'^T^ T^/^!^. °^.*^ ^°* ^°°"^ he walked back and forth ; he stood still ; he came back to the window a^ain tlTiTeZr''' P-^^^"^e .with passion, with flashes of sa": casm or tenderness. His bitter humour got the upper hand " Your religion is accountable for this, of course You arTcertain to do "^S' ^^'' '"'"^^ ""^ ''^' ^^^ ^^ -» ^-tremes vou aone^r ?n h. f '" Z°"' "^^"'"^^ P^^^^"^^ ^^ self-sacrifice you appear to have forgotten me. I have not offered mvself Tt'^c^" to m?''""' ^"' ' ^^"'* ''' -^^* "^"^* yo^W toTand !.' iV^^'* ^®^^S^°"- It is— conscience." ^^ The same thing when they become abnormal." ,-f -o +^°:^ Conscience is— it is God, I suppose. Religion— well t IS tied on to us with our bibs, and we leave it theTbecIuse more^od^v t^'- f."' T?^ '°^^ °^ P^°P^^ ^* - ^^mls f li 1^ I ""^""^ *h^" that, you know. He is sought first-hand by those who won't take a go-between Relir| is that iftl fV^°"^'*^''"- ^"^ ^^''^ 5^°" ^^-^ at eT^on that is the thing you mean. I am afraid you don't under- stand anything about the other— yet " '' I understand that you are the sweetest and truest soul I have ever known." He came back ; kneeling a knTon the wmdow-sill and leaning to her. " I will take you for mv religion and my conscience and my God'if you ^H Bu^I won't take any other. I don't want any other my should I ? If God made this world then He did not make such a oure mmtTaro^t^ '''' ^'^^^^"^^ --^ toTlove'^dtSS who^f^L"^ fSl* ''°" ^^^ *''i^u^* ^' y°" ^"^ unbelievers like you blame God!" ^""^ ^'^"*^ °"* °^ '^ ' ^"^ ^^en you This life is all 'St of it. It is I his face was 5 steadily, he asked, t German boy idies always." her face had ht its memory 3 said. " But ive to see the t you should juivocal posi- :ed back and indow again : lashes of sar- 3 upper hand course. You s all extremes fc self-sacrifice 'ffered myself have to hand I" iligion — well, :here because it is nothing le is sought Rehgion is r at religion don't under- l truest soul knee on the you for my will. But I Why should '■ such a pure md^worship ers like you id then you 'YOU UNDERSTAND' i8z us." t^en."""^"^ """^ ^^""^ ^"""^"^ ^^' ^^^'^ *° b^ too strong for " It is you who have allowed that " un" fn^fu iu""'^ ^T"" t theological discussion. I am not up m all the, cant phrases-J beg your pardon aeain but_r wonder if you realise w.' . ySulre doLg witKe' We are not children, to be frightened by the burbeLo; devils or gods We are simpl/man and^woman wUh our own problems to meet and our own doubts to Snquer iHs natural that you should be afraid of this step at first But no rehgion, no philosophy, no metaphysics can prove to us tha? there is a God or another world but tliis. Our Tature is our itT f o1 Z\Zl':t'^:---'-'^- ^'-y ^^-^^-'^ - ^ono^w s^.^-Yo^^i:^c^TrDi^ K^SrVSe^? Th^you"''- ''""^- ^--^d-tlivewfthoutit-Tot'even " My God— if you'd only try it," he said. But before her face his eager eyes dropped, and he sat still, bitSg hfs hps and frowmng at the dark wall beyond the window ^ ^_You are wilfully blinding yourself." he said at last You don t realise that rehgion is and Always has been the most selfish thing conceivable. You are showfit me the brutality and mercilessness of religion now Vn,7hcf T zl zs^:^ %^o^r '^v'^'-^^^'it is'^tTeS/ri^h* oFthot wh" w!rsl?;it — "" "^ '"^ ^^^^•'^^^^-^ -tisiction She put out her hands with a sudden cry. t-o ! Oh. go I You are hurting me too much ! " He sprang up and stooped over her comingticrwhUelte^anTl^iJr '""'^ "' ^^^^^ ^^P ^n Jennifi. I ::;n LvcTou'.^f 11^ Z^^^^^''^^' wmt ^iztj^'kr^f '?. t?^ w^ 4'rw'7udVou come '' ^*' ^"^ ^ '^'^" ^ome to you again. I shall L^^rspi^ruara^r^^^^^^^^ 'n^' &--nd'not i7: stop wantin me V- •' ^ ™^' ^"""^ y°" "^'^^ "^^^^ and Ducan>and V >^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^""^ ^°"^ ^o yourself tb^fl^l^^){ !f ?,ylyo" ^^nnot love me the less. You know „^n „, ,,i ^e renets which you believe, and yet you ■4 tiii 182 THE LAW-BRINGERS tin cannot love me the less. This proves tliat love is not a spiritual ining and that it is slieer iinbecihty to put it on a spiritual pUine. \ou are wreclcing both our lives for nothing- nothing ! ° '' It is often the nothings of earth which grow to the evcrv- things oi Heaven." she s.iid. ^ The white, brave sarhuss of her face halted tlie impatient anger on his tongue, lie lifted her hands, kissed them, and laid tiieni back on iior lap. " 1 have lived enough to know that we all blind ourselves and that no man has the right to judge his fellow." he said! \ou believe that you are right, you poor little girl, and you are going \o make us both sulfer for your belief. I believe that you arc wrong, and I'll convince you of it yet. A man takes his stand on reason and a woman on sentiment. If I give way on some points you must do the same. And I will not say good-bye to you, for I mean to come back." She watched him cross to the door and turn to look at her. And she raised herself in the big chair. "Good-bye," she said. J kit he shook his head with a sudden, half-wlumsical smile, and shut the door behind him. 'Mil: not a spiritual )u a spiritual )r nothing — to the evcry- he impatient ;d them, and nd ourselves, )w," he said, ^irl, and you i. I beheve yet. A man it. If I give id I will not look at her. lead with a •ehind him. CHAPTER X. " THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY." The mystery of the people of the world ; the strangeness of the many hvcs about him had always consoled Dick in other days for the troubles that fell on him. It was his nature to keep himself busy, bodily and mentally ; and when he came back to the old dady routine at Grey Wolf and passed the empty house across the Lake in his patrols he found the value of the work-habit which he had taught himself. Work was the only leash which could hold his temper just now and he needed all that life could give him. Day and night the district saw him prowling through it ; stalking faint trails of wrong-doers, examining into the state of roads and crops and bridges, hearing petty details of complaint and squabble in that alert silence which promised swift redress, and exercising prisoners with a bland mercilessness which made men fear to come under the harrow of his power. Tempest went his own way these days. Since Dick s rebuke to him the old friendship seemed to have slid off the two and each man walked his daily round, king in his own right of jurisdiction, and neither giving nor asking sympathy or under- standing. Trouble dulled Tempest's energies ; it quickened Dick s. And no love of woman nor of himself could blur the sharp edge of his calculating mind. Before he went to Edmon- ton he had discovered that llattery, gross, daring flattery was the simplest way in which to manage Grange's Andree. To the heat of it she would open the doors of her heart while Tempest's gentle and reverent prayers only irritated or amused her. Dick's clear mind had grasped this salient fact fully, and with Jennifer's face sweet and grave-eyed in his mind, he began to make private sketches and bold outlines of Andree • planning his attack with restless oagernt>ss, and bringing at last to Moosta a strongly-finished girl-head that was Grange's Andree glowing in her young wild beauty. Moosta was in the back passage with her arms full of babies when Dick presented it to her, holding it away from chubby lingers and reaching mouths and finally taking it into the back parlour and pinning it on the wall between a s-arish oleograph 184 THE LAW-BRINGERS >m III ilM f i I Celow £sf. .f ' ^ ^f 'f ?"^*^""« ^^"^P °" the bracket iust now with ""Jf/ ^'^"^' ^ ^"^°"t J^o"^'-^" ^^^tholic Bui nfrY' . ^^ ^^' "^'^^ S°^"^^ t« ^1^'- Mission School Madom?a. ^ "^^"^ ^"^""'' ^"^°^ ^^^ ^^iff. ilat-faced it tnf ''^ snatchcdthe lamp up when she saw it. and looked at t"^ lampHght'pa}" ^''" ^^""^ ^^■^"^^^' ^^"^ ^^^^ ^^^^ -^-^^ Mnn^fV," f^ '''''^•. "Tliat-that not me \ " pickshure, mais vous 3tes mechatwow plus bonne." curis Jr^r ' ^^1™' ,"^.*^'^ ''"°°^''- t^^"^^'"t' «kni to the dark to'tt' pir^agafn^'^'^"^ ^"^"^ '''' '^^'^'^^- '^^ ^^-^ vr;;"^^:n;,ts^'^ ''''-' ^^' ^-- "^^-'-^ of ^fh^.^>f'^ often seen herself as the distorted common mirrors ?L h ^°"fl^he knew showed her to her own girl'^eyes She had not before seen herself as a man saw her and th?f man the man of all others who had piqued ht^bv his careless indifference, and roused her hate by^iS slren^^^^^^^ interest by the stories men told of hum This wfs a tntfmSh a dizzy burmng triumph; an unbelievable surprise |he pulled the pamting down ; breathing into it scndfmr the ight of her eyes to meet those painted ones ' thriaulh on her hps to those red lips curved by a cunning hand Fo^Se first time in the bald, raw hfe she had lived she saw absolute wrrer'oTn'" Sh^i'fl'' ^""f^'i^'' t^^^- Andthltte^ty oTher"ir-bel'r:&sta" ^'''^' ''''' ^"^ ''^'''' ^^^^'^ strnihf ' " '^A ''"r'^- " ^^"^^ °" «ie. Omisse-with the Sa! ^Di-t.^^'^'-V'^. Ah-est-il that je suisce bele? mC.-lL^frZ/ Td?meM^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^"^*"" ^ -- ha^StaS^^^::^"-^^ «- «"^^ threads were Eh P^^ aVo . y-""^ ' '^"'^'^^' Feenish! Vous mak' keel hh ? Aha ; him say vous mooch plus preety " IcakeSre^^kieka'^."^ ''''' ^^^'^^"' '''^''^' ^^^ ''^' ^^ you If w^^^n^'°", f P"^^ • " M°osta rubbed her wide flat nose Wee aU mak' see vous laike dat-tous les jou™' ■^i » the bracket man Catholic ssion School. 1 its rounded tiff, llat-faced s.nd looked at id on Moosta es that made hreads. She ith exquisite ^nd then she ver' bon, cet e." I to the dark She turned " Ah— c 'est non mirrors girl's eyes. r, and that his careless h, and her a triumph, ■prise. She sending the le laugh on i. For the iw absolute hat beauty rled herself —with the ) ce belle ? tun ; mais reads were lak' keel. II love you flat nose. 'THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY' 185 She was bM 1 ^".^^ce sprang up ; swaying, glowing, glorious, drunk with joy in her own beauty. ^'Ir! ^'"^ r°* ^7°"^.' ^ " ^^^ ^toPP«d suddenly with her deep eyes turned sideways like a listening animal and her breast hnnZi '^"''', ^- .V'^"^*" '^^' speaking in the passage, and both women knew the voice with a laugh in it which answered. Ah I Andree whipped the moccasin from Moosta's astonished hands, and sat herself down to work demurely. " JJans Ics prisons des Nantos, Dans les prisons des Nantes , . " she sang, sweet and low, setting careful scarlet stitches into a growing bud on the deer-skin. Grange giggled as he pus lied the door wide said^^"' V.n'^ ^°'P'."^ TT ^^""^ ^"' ^ g^"^^ o' '^ards." he said. \ou take a hand, Andree ? You sure will ? " Andree broke her song one half-moment, but she did not raise her eyes. '' Too busy." she said sedately. o A ll"*~7~l' ^''P'' Moosta, finding her voice in her dismay, and then Andree's voice carolled out, high and clear. "Lui y a-tun prisonnier, gai, Falnron, falurette, fahiron, fahirette." Dick's voice came in with hers on the last line : "Faluron, falurette, dond6." He crossed the room, noting the painting on the table and the colour that climbed to Andree's hair ^ brown'''fingers"^'''He'irb; ^""^I'^u"^ '^'' ^"^ "^^^^ '^' '^^^ Andree." ""^^ "'^" ^^° gets those, r.H^^'l'"'^ ^^^^i'^ ^^'"^^y" ^^^^^d ^ic^ before these men of the explanation , ended in a squeak of Cree desoair and fh^r, obeyed Grange's order to brhig glasses and a bott e Grange lor tne hrst time in the back-parlour, and he was content tn '"' WoS'f vo n r'" ^".^"^^^ ^^^^^ ^° — "b- Wm again Won t you tell me who they're for, Andree ? " said DirW taWe^'^Vr^'^ ^P ' saw his eyes; saw the painting on t^^^^ table and flung restraint off in a breath. ^ ^ Ah ! "she cried. " Say it ! Is that like— me ? " " ^n'.^^^'iT "'^l''^'' ^^^"^ *^^^' -^"dree. Much loveHer " looked aU^im <' wl ^^^^'^^^.T T'''^^^ ^^^ ^^^ght. She l?ts'atl St pretty^^'Xsa^' ^^" "^^ ^^^"^ ' ''' ^^ ^-- Dick bit the smile off on his lips. 1- ^ w„^ A^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A S" ^. S,. "V {< ^^^ m/.^ 1.0 fM IIIIIM I.I 1.25 '^ fPIM 1.4 - 6" M 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 m V iV :\ \ ^9) o^ %•-• ^ &> #? ^ M ^^ t^ ^ i86 THE LAW-BRINGERS i " Jn!; " Z^ ^"T ''^''. ^"""^^ "' ^" ^° "^"^h, Andree." he said. «nH ^o K- ^ u"^ ^S'''''' ^''^ ^*^^ ^ands fell idle on her lap and her big eyes burned as she stared across the room. ^ vpr^f 1? t ^* ^^"^ "^'^^ ^"'"^^^ comprehension, seeing the vamty which swayed her. And at that moment there was nothing ebe in Grange's Andree. He took up the rnocca^n touching her warm, hands as he did it moccasin. hp'saYd^ paint more pictures of you may I have these?" fellow '■' ^^^ ^^""^ y°" *° "^^^^ ^^^"^ fo'- another The scarlet blazed in her ohve skin again. " pfl ^""'"^ S^ over— some more ? In my new dress ? " i^ernaps You finish those moccasins for me ? " Moost??^ P.^'/kT ^^^ forgotten that the moccasins were reSLmberPd A ^ '^ would not have affected her if she had remembered. A smile curved her lips. said^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^ nemoweya, but not nemoweya nia," she Dick knew well the distinction between those two " Noes " vou And^rP^ wil leave out even the nem..weya next time, won't Si /^ .i"^ ^'^^^' ^^^ ^"^^l^d as she sprang up to get the cards in sudden confusion 5 "F «-" get rea^v tlfJT'^f ^'' *^'°"^^ *^" ^'^^^^ ^^'^ ^o^^- She menf uA ^""^^ ' i° ^"^^^^^g^y ^"11 of colour and move- memnrv M^ ^T^^^ P^'^'^^S that little picture of her from ThSeTertafnr '""^^^ ^"'^ "'^^^ P^^^^^^^^ ^^^"^ ^he model, ineie certainly was some excuse for Tempest. Then he put ScT forx^'' ^i """i-- "-^'^"^ ^^^^^y *h^ *-- to find excuses tor lempest on this point. Mn^?f '"'' ^jy^ Andree worked on the moccasins, silencing mn?^ tll"''^K,°^J''^i°°' ^y P^°""^^^ that she would buy he? more silks-blue and purple and magenta silks, and lots of httle white beads to go round the edge of everything, some K T Ar^^"^' °ne afternoon, she carried them up to the low hill and'lt t?eT.' -/^r.'^' "^"* ^° P'^^ ^°^^b^«h cranbeTrfes and put the last stitches in them with her dreaming eyes gkncing down, now and again, on the ugly little dull village ever^bJn^^•nT^■f' '^?^, ^^°^^ *^^* P^^^ure than she had ever been in her life. Like a second Narcissus she loved her thTt Dfck^mi^h'r \"" ^'^ '""^^ "^y°"^ ''''' ^^d th- though? that Dick might make some more of those dehghtful colours and curves which were herself intoxicated her. She filled and s?r.nrnf F '^ f^ ^'^'"^'"^ '^^ ^°"S tie-thongs into place, and scraps of French songs came and went on her lips. She f^Plin". fh^ ^f/l' ^^"^'^^^"^ °^ ^" ^"t the delicious, excited mond^ \ u^^^ *"""' ^"^ *^^ ^^y ^^d ^'^^ ^"0"gh to fit her mood. Swallows were making steely-blue flashes across the e," he said, on her lap Dm. seeing the there was ' moccasin, 5 these ? " [or another iress ? " isins were if she had nia," she > " Noes." ime, won't up to get >om. She nd move- f her from he model. m he put e to find silencing i buy her id lots of ing, some e low hill inberries, ling eyes ill village she had oved her ! thought 1 colours ihe filled to place, ps. She , excited o fit her :ross the ' THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY ' 187 warm, golden light where they chased the glancing mot^. Butterflies trembled in the tall grass-stalks where the wind went dreamily, and in the scattered balsams vireo and fly- catcher were dipping and calling. Dick came over the crest oi the hill, whistling. He came near ; stopped, and looked down. In her yellow gown and the yellow light, with the soft wind in her short curls and shadow and sun across her face Grange's Andree was something to stir the most phlegmatic blood. And Dick had never been phlegmatic. Andree held out the moccasini;. " I did make feenish— pour vcus," she said; and a sudden impulse brought Dick down beside her to push away the curls that made blue veins on her temples and hid the dimple in her cheek. It was a full half-hour before he rose and went down the hill with long, swinging strides. And his eyes were uneasy. For he did not care to remember all that he had done and said in that half-hour. To-morrow the yearly Sessions were to be held in Grey Wolf, and the one street of it was choked with passing fife. In the dust a half-dozen north-bred huskies were fighting ; the smell of bananas and tar and hot leather and groceries hung heavily round the Hudson Bay Store. Two Indian women squatted outside the Store with round-eyed babies on their backs, and within a score of bucks were buying ammu- nition and tobacco. Dick heard Leigh's voice raised in fluent Cree expostulation, and he knew that the men were bargaining for debt on the furs of the coming winter. He swung past with a shrug. Most of those Indians were bankrupt now. They would be more bankrupt by spring, and then would begin trouble with the Hudson Bay and Revillons ; starvation perhaps, and theft- all these things and many more would come in Dick's way later on. They were the warp and woof of the North- West. They were the day's work and the grim night's anxiety. Tempest met him outside the barracks. "An Indian has reported a Galician sick and alone in a shack along the trail to Stony Point." he said. " I can't go, because of the Judge, and Kennedy's not back. If you go at once you can be back in time for breakfast, Dick. And I'm afraid 1 11 have to send you." Dick was in no mood for twelve hours and more of lonely forest. Since he came back from Edmonton he had been in no mood for twelve hours of himself. " Damn the Galician," he said. " We could do with a few less of him." Tempest pushed up the brim of his Stetson, looking at Dick with more friendliness than usual in his grave eyes. w il '! •. I'll 1 'i , ^ 1' m i 1 f ( i ' 1,/ H t > i88 THE LAW-BRINGERS Feel fi+ to "You are not very gay yourself." he said. go ? " Oh, Lord, yes. And that's more than you are, by the look of you, old ] lan." Tempest's face softened. "I haven't been good company lately," he said. " But I don t want to make you pay for it. A man doesn't care to ahenate one of the few friends he has affection for " Dick looked at the ground. No ; a man did not care to do '.. „, ^^,T^^ probably going to be done very shortly. We 11 both feel better when this heat's over. It certainly was a snorter in the court-house this morning. And it will be worse to-morrow very hkely. I'U take a snack with me and go, then. ShaU I take Flanks or the piebald ? " Better have Flanks. Kennedy had the pony most of yesterday. Bring the man in if necessary. And you can't waste time, you know. There is work to put through before the cases start in the morning." Dick nodded and went in to hurry Foley over the providing of eatables for him. His pocket-flask he filled himself . Since he came back from Edmonton it had required to be filled more oiten tha, any cases of assistance on the patrols seemed to warrant. Then he harnessed up the big chestnut into the buckboard ; took such things as guesswork and xcnowledge suggested for the aid of the sick man, and plunged from the Dlazmg heat of afternoon into the cool greens of the forest, ine Oahcian might be suffering with anything from smallpox to angina pectoris or broken limbs. That did not trouble 1 • ' u 7^^ ^^^ ^" *^® ^^y '^ ^°r^' i "St as the knowledge that a king-boxt or a spring or a shaft might break on this rough trail of corduroy, deep pot-holes and tree-butts was aU in the aays work. Chance and danger were fed to him with his oany meals, and, hke many another man, he found their sauce the pnncipal thing which made his food worth while. In aU directions the birds were home-coming. Their calls and twitters and flurry of quick wings knit up the long aisles mto runs and chords of sweet, eager sound. Scents blew along the trail to Dick's face ; damp and clean and piney. Golden light dredged through the black needles of the jack-pines and the wide-spread spruces, and powdered the slender white of Dirch and cotton-wood with yellow dust. And, hour by hour, the beat of hoofs and the jarring of the rig could no more than laintly blur the surface of the deep, warm silence that lav hke Peace itself upon the earth. The chestnut swung along with his awkward, tireless gait ; obedient to the hght hand of the man whom he knew for his master ; and Dick sat still, with his lean face expressionless and his eyes staring out, unblinking, below the heavy brows Feel fi+ to re, by the " But I I't care to care to do : certainly ': it will be h me and • most of you can't gh before providing If. Since lied more eemed to into the nowledge from the he forest, smallpox t trouble 3dge that lis rough all in the with his eir sauce leir calls ng aisles ew along Golden ines and white of by hour, ore than that lay ;ss gait ; r for his sionle ss ' brows. 'THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY' 189 He was thinking of a comparison in Ruskin's " Ethics of the Dust " ; a comparison of the awful, hopeless difference between the hyaline block which is pure, untouchable in its integrity ; which unhesitatingly repulses everything evil, and of its brother block ; weak, immoral, accepting corruption, unable to deny the insiduous power of corroding fluids. To the lay eye those two blocks looked alike, even as he and Tempest had looked alike — years ago. Life had used vari nis acids to test the two men. But Tempest or y had won out. Grange's Andree might break his heart and his work, but neither she nor any- thing else could make him evil. Dick of his own free will had taken tests which had left their scars and their rotten places, and which had eaten out of him the power to stand where he would have chosen to stand now. Fully he saw this, as a man may bring himself unflinchingly to look on himself. And stil) he drove through the calling musical forest with that concentrated look on his face. Ahead came faintly the smell of cooking-fires ; of green wood smoke and fresh-grilled bacon and coffee. Round a sharp elbow in the trail showed a clearing sunk among the dark pines and a knot of covered wagons like huge brown beetles asleep. Where the fiimes pulsed up women moved and children's laughter echoed, sweet and shrill. A man slouched forward big and sunburnt, leaving a trail of tobacco-smoke blue on thejstill air. Dick pulled up. He knew these for settlers trekking in with their wives and children to the Peace ±lT^°^ ?"*^ *he buckboard. She watched for his salute as the horse jumped forward in the traces and then seeJ^^ltfn\l:Z^ J'wJ^^'^y °^ *hat lad," she said. " For it I?tS after tS! Iw ?." ',*l^d^ ^* *he cross-roads of his Hfe." and mintin^^ n^H *^.^* P^? ^egan the httle gallery of sketches w4rwerefo mirS"^ '^^''°.^^ °"*^^"^^ °f ^^^^S^'s Andree thSr hli i!^ f ^^e.the eyes of men bum with di^ tears and wWch hadtS?.'^''''^"^ ^°^^ ^^^'' the beautiful warm flesh for ever sZ.ft-'^°"'^?- ^^ ^°^^ ^^^y ^^^"^ human eyes lor ever. Something which she did not understand held N fir" 194 THE LAW-BRINGERS 1 i 'I I IHIiiflt M\H Andree from speaking to Tempest of these meetings, and something which all men understood held anyone else from telling him of the easel set up in the little back-parlour at Grange's and of the work that went on there. Andree was tired of Tempest. Nothing which he said or did could flatter her as that +i« o ^' ^^ ^^'^' ^^^ ^^th a thunder m^nooves the iittle army swung to the right along the hill- r 'ii i I mi ^ h ( ♦ • I ij I i r (I II n likii iiiii 196 THE LAW-BRINGERS own desires with the whip-butt, and Grange helped him. But before the pony had made his cho; :e of the two evils Grange spoke, and his usual giggle was high and weak. " I guess they'x e cut it," he said. Slicker looked round. The muskeg was like a roo'i with four irregular grey walls. There were neither doors nor win- dows to that room, nor any sound in it but the ftr-off sound of the windy fire running in the trees. He turned his startled blue eyes on Grange's inefficient little face, and curbed the words on his tongue. " Well, we're all right. The muskeg won't burn." " But we can't git out. An' the smoke may come over. An' we got no food — an' no nothing." " Dick wiU come back for us," said Slicker. And then his heart said it again, with a sudden shock of sui-prise. He believed that he hated and mistrusted Dick. He knew that he had shown Dick all the insolence in his power. \nd yet he knew quite certainly that this man who had betrayed Jennifer's confidence ; who was playing a double game with Tempest ; who never upheld the honour of the Law he served one whit more than he had to — he knew that this man would come back through the fire to find them. Why he knew he could not explain ; and because this vexed him he unsaddled the pony and invited it to lie down, and hammered it again with the wh^t>-butt because it wouldn't. ."^■B trail into Halliday's Rift was an evil one to the men who followed Dick that day. East and West the fire was eat- ing into the forest with fierce, swift jaws ; snapping at tall trees and passing on with reddened dripping fangs. Down open galleries the smoke was thinned by the clear shimmer of heat, and where little fires ran rapidly in the undergrowth came crackhng noises that sounded like detached grace-notes on the huge roaring body of sound. The smok.; blew across them ; blotting out sense and sound. It lifted, showing spouts of flame against the tall canopy of black. And then they stum- bled on burnt and broken timber ; hot and tangled , and flaming yet here and there, but promising a way through where the fire would not come, because it had already worked its will. It was a way through, with men like Carruthers and Leigh and Dick to make that way. But it was done principally on foot and altogether in torment. The smouldering earth burnt their boots and caused the horses to rear and snort. Charred logs were white-hot to the touch, and acrid thick smoke tormented their labouring chests. But they won through it to the width of fresh-ploughed land beyond, and here Dick spoke a consecutive sentence for the first time in two hours. " Good man, Halliday," he said. " I should think he had saved the house. We'll be out of it across this." I him. But ivils Grange roo'i with )rs nor win- off sound of his startled curbed the arn. come over. nd then his li-prise. He ' knew that \nd yet he id Jennifer's h Tempest ; 3d one whit i come back e could not id the pony in with the to the men ire was eat- at tall trees Down open ner of heat, rowth came lotes on the :ross them ; g spouts of they stum- and flaming here the fire 3 will. 3 and Leigh principally ering earth and Siiort. thick smoke through it I here Dick svo hours, link he had I ' THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY ' 197 And then, like men passing out of Purgaio.y with its marks upon them, they rode up to the house. On the east the furrows had belted it in to safety ; but down in the oatfield flames were running with the crackhng of thorns under a pot, and below the pouring smoke the fighting-line of httle figures swayed back and forth, taking a httle here to lose it elsewhere. Dick spoke again as the men flocked round a tub of water by the kitchen ^°?u i ,s^"^^»°g t,^roats and faces, and gasping with reUef and with the stmg of the water on their burns. ;• Where's Slicker ? " he said sharply. " And Grange ? " The men looked at each other. Smeared, blackened, with blood-shot eyes and drawn faces they were hideous enough. But they turned from the more hideous fear which each read m his neighbour's eyes. Dick swung himself back to the saddle. I hope you'll have luck with HaUidav's oats," he snid. " Come up, you old devil." Hi? big gelding staggered, and Leigh caught at the bri '\e. Wha ire yoi going to do, Heriot ? " he said. K "-^^.rri^ l"-"!? l""" "" "^^'" ^^^^ ^ic^ lightly: and ?,? f'^n^.^^ ^""^^^ ^'^^ ^^^ disappeared into the smoke that rolled above the plough-line. /•Theri goes a man," said Leigh, and rubbed his eyes. But I wouldn t quite like to name the figure of the chances he s taking of finding them." M [mf^ taking more chances than that," said Carruthers. WeU ; I guess we d best go and do what he brought us for anyway. ° ' Beyond the plough-land and the burnt timber such safety as there was left Dick, and he charged into the columned dis- tences where the fire threaded about to loop him in. Every fibre of him was quick with the knowledge that he must save Slicker. Jennifer loved Shcker, and it was through Dick that he was here, and that thought stung sharper than the httle sparks upon his hands. The fate of Grange did not trouble him particularly. He had not very much reverence for human hfe, and Grange would have to die some day any- how. He would have -one after Grange, had the man been alone, because such matters were scheduled in his inind as the wlJ't l^°^Y-^,^*f ^^"^^ ^'^ °^ ^^^^g^' ^""^^ ^s l^s charred back-teeth or his knife, would have satisfied Dick very nearly. Slicker was difierent. He had to bring Shcker out unharmed be iven^hi^ ' ^^ "^^^ """^ ^"""^ '^ *^^ ''^°^''® "^^"^^ And yet there was a half-wild deUght to him in the danger : \^ lu I'i'l^^'' ""^ ^?® """^"^S ^™y ^hich shook the forest ; in the belching smoke and the rockets of flame that shot the Sky, and in the sturieking and the whistMng and the almost human screams. Birds flew by, low and darting. One brushed M ! t i i 1 ifP^ 198 THE LAW-BRINGERS his cheek, and fell dead in his hand. It smelt of burn^ flesh and feathers. All the undergrowth was full of the rush and the huny and the squealing of httle animals, and a skunk smgcd naked as a young rabbit, lay in the trail. Far-off a vixen was yelpnig in short, agonised barks. Behind him some- thmg was whming. Ahead something cried. He did not Know that both were the flames running in the saskatoons and cranberries. So far he had kept very much to the trail by which he had come. But Grange and Shcker would not be here. Some- where they would be racing before the fire, unless they were m the muskeg. Dick's whole heart clung to the hope that they were in the muskeg, and he rode on, weaving his way through the smoke-bhnded trails, more by instinct than sight Down the crossed trails tall trees that stocJ apart were hke tortured Indians with their scalp-locks streaming. Grey windmg-sheets of smoke wrapped thr m, and out of the dun clouas a column of fire fell presently leaving a scarlet streak across the sight. Red flames ran like merry monkeys up the swinging moss-beard of an ancient spruce ; twitched httle branches off and flung them on Dick's head. Flames crept unseen up the stairway of a hollow trunk, and waved trium- phant banners as the wild bees rolled out in a terrified swarm or the squirrels rushed and tumbled to their death below. And everywhere the forest moaned and cried, and fought the coming death, and bowed and fell before it. In the air • from the sky ; up from the tormented earth, the man recog- nised the cry of the helpless against the devourer ; of nature against the hideously unnatural; of hfe against death. Branches cracked and flew off with the report of pistols Tall trees pitched sideways with a human shriek, bearing others down ; and the fire leapt on the ruin with the chuckling hurrv of the despoilers of the slain. A man who knew less of horses than Dick did could never have forced the terrified gelding down those trails where he plunged and reared and struggled against the bit that was growing hot in his mouth. Heat seared the eyeballs and parc.ied the lips ; shooting flames snatched and bit, and smoke drove into the labouring lungs. The gelding pitched sud- denly; and before Dick found his feet again the glazing eyes and shivering outstretched body told him all that he needed to know. He stooped, wrenching off his spurs in two quick movements. ^ "But I've only one boot-sole left," he said, and turned and crashed into the brush with never a look behind. The dying horse had come to the end of the passage, even as he himself would come some day. But it had done its work first. If he Drought so good a record he would be content. burnt flesh e rush and d a skunk. Far-off a I him some- [e did not atoons and lich he had re. Some- they were hope that ig his way than sight, ipart were ing. Grey Df the dun rlet streak eys up the ched httle imes crept ved trium- [ied swarm ith below, nd fought n the air ; nan recog- of nature ist death, tols. Tall ing others :ling hurry )uld never where he that was iballs and md smoke ched sud- izing eyes he needed two quick irned and rhe dying le himself St. If he n 'THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY' 199 It was SHcker, smoking his fifth cigarette, and still trying to cheer Grange, who saw something loom and gather shape and stagger near in the rift. He ran forward ; caught Dick's shoulder, and felt the cloth crisp and melt under his hand. But sudden stranghng, unexpected sobs kept him from any words at all. Dick did not heed. Stopped in his blind reeling progress he sat down promptly. Then he laid him- self flat, feehng the cool spongy mosses against the naked parts of his smarting body. Later, Dick rode back into Grey Wolf on Slicker's pony ; and, once the familiar trail was reached, Grange raced home on his raking bay mare to his work and to Moosta. But where the one man rode with his burnt shoulder stiffening under the singed shirt, and his foot throbbing where the boot-sole was charred off, and where the other man walked, silent and with long light steps, there was little excitement or speech. Shcker raised his head at last. " I guess you know I hate you," he said bluntly. " Why don't you hate me ? " " Perhaps I recognise that you have the better right Shcker." II Well — if you hadn't been such a cur to Jennifer " " Do you mind if she is hurt or not ? " "Do I mind ? Why — she's always been everything to me. She's like a sister and a mother, and she's the best chum — what are you looking like that for ? " " I was appreciating the way in which you have been proving your words lately. Slicker." Shcker flushed hotly. He trudpjed on ; and presently he said : r j " You always were a sneering beast." " I k:iow. But I c" ) not expend my powers on my neigh- bouxs only, I assure you." " What's a fellow to do ? " Shcker spoke sulkily. " I won't go into my uncle's business in Toronto. He's always at me about it— and I won't do it." " You want to get your neck under some yoke, though I am the last man to preach obedience to you. Why not try our game ? It has some elements of interest." " Go into the Pohce ? " Slicker stopped short with his blue eyes wide. " Exactly. If you could manage to think wliile you were mo vmg— thank you. i would rather like to get back to Grey Wolf before dark." ^ It was long before Slicker spoke again. Then he said : Do you advise it ? " Do I do what ? Oh— the Police, you mean ? My dear fellow, no. I never advise a man to do anything. It is a most f m w A ] ■if^ ''^^H ' m 1^1 I of ^^i^^l ' Br^ 7^B| ^^ !-'lB^ § s ■ 1 i { "'. r, ™ 1, ^'«! Mlf^J mi I'i ! \i :i III 200 THE LAW-BRINGERS injudicious and unnecessary way of making enemies But If you speak to Tempest I h^ve no doubt that he wiU advise you. He has a soul above the sordidness of personal results " f^?? tiie edge of the long ugly street with Grey Wolf clinging to the sides of it Shcker hesitated, jerking his words out 1 called you a beast, and you are. But you're a brave beast. I concede you that. I hate you because you— you don t seem to recognise what a man naturally owes a woman. i3ut 1 thank you for coming after me." "Ah. And now that you have paid your debts you can eo on hating rne with a clear conscience. I think I would prefer that you did, so long as you realise that you forfeit that right so soon as you place yourself in the same category with myself You are heading for it, you know." .'' ^f"i I— I guess I'll likely speak to Tempest to-morrow " said Shcker and he did it; disturbing Tempest where he J^pSuously " '^^^"' ^"^ P^^^^'^S ^"^° *^^ ^^bi^^t " My lungs are O.K.," he said. " There was no disease, you know. Only a weakness. De Choiseaux says any doctor would pass me. ^ ^^.-lui relucSy *^"'* ^^'^^ ^' ^^^^""^ ^""^ ^^^^ ^' attention " Well you should have a pretty fair idea of what it means by now," he said. " You're not Wind." " You should have a better. Dick told me to dress by what you said. •' "Ah" Tempest smiled. "Did he? Well— you're a teetotaler, aren't you ? " > u ic d ' ^?: ^'^^ ^^^^ drinking quite a little bit lately. I was more than half-seas over the other night." Shcker looked at him with his blue eyes darkening. " I want some kind of hfe that 11 make a man of me. Tempest," he said. Tempest sat still for a space with his j aw in his hand. Then 116 ScLlQ I '' Do you think that would help you ? " " Why— I reckon it should. Don't you ? " Tempest turned and looked at him squarely. " You've seen one Uttle corner of Western hfe from the mside, Shcker, " he said. " You know tne two big temptations a man has to meet— for himself or for others. He is no more fit or able to meet them because he has a uniform on his back. Ihat s the mistake that gets us so many wasters in the Force A man has got co be a man before he goes into the R N W M P or I guess he's not particularly likely to become one afterwards' There is so much which he can hide beneath his authority if 1 don t want to drink or— or do anything I shouldn't, li^. But wll advise 1 results." If clinging i out. e a brave you — you a woman. on can go ild prefer ;hat right h myself. norrow," ivhere he ! subject disease, ly doctor attention it means by what ou're a I was Joked at id of life . Then ora the stations 10 more is back, i Force. A^.M.P., rwards. lOrity if Juldn't, ' THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY ' 5201 Tempest. I am sure I could keep straight if it was worth are' min ^T^' T""^^ "^^^^ ^^^ I see your argument. We motive '^ y..T^ 5°°'.?"^ *^^* ^^ ^'^«t hfve a special helZl T^^,\".^°^f. suddenly, and his eyes softened. "No," he said. That s a he. We are made of such good stuff thaf we can do most things if we have a motive at all B,ff T'm not going to help you into our Service ?f your only motive Ts t a^vwar Y^u^d'^ri ^TP^^^--- Yol woulS?t"f doing u, anyway. You d likely be running in " ituni/TTi'H^''^^*ll'' ^^"^Ptation yet. I could easily give It up If I had something special to interest me." ^ ^ bure ? Well, I don't want to discourage you We need liLXS'VhTr^^'' ^l^.-^"^^d the fiLrnd o7men- fp/nH. '. Theses work m plenty for them. But a drunken bir^n/thTt Ch ^°V^'^T^^^^^ ^^^^^^^- There's^use wo^eTf X chot t^bVone^V^s'To^^irL' ^ ^°°' '''' ^^^i^.^,r^ -«- tS^gi! aTd rJLTe^y^ tos ThPrf^r/ ^Z""^] ^""^ y°"^ ^"" share of tempta- S'he'is m\deVf •• ""' °' '^°" ^^^ ^^^^ --' - -^^ter '' TheTfor^Cnd?* I'^f °" ^ ^^^* *° *^ ^t' Tempest." sharDened ^l S.f '^> ^^^P straight." Tempest's voice •' S For^ tn'f ?'^ '""^f '^^^y "°^ *h^" it "sed to do. sPlvP^ «nT\ ^ """""^^^ ^°^ °^^° who can't handle them- selves and who expect the discipline to do it for them And^t ^hl^^^^^J^ "" ^ ™* ^t*'' °f conscience. In how far wa/ha ^UKM afd a7 *""'' ^'^'^'^ '"^ taught-which Tlid Xays ^ughtand always practised untU now? "We have aJl »S our own rows to hoe. Slicker," he went on '■ A^d ifiJi^t easy to hoe them well. Bnt I believe yru'ul youf best'""" ' his blueTyes l^^^'aSs' '"1 T «T/ ?."^ ''"*^''' ^"<» DirV . v,o'o r anxious. I — I couldn't sav much to -tt ieans Hood'S^f "^ '^'- '"'' ' ^° ^"°S"'='= "hat i? A^d I r^it ToVaS goorTL;%i.^° -^^-^ "^^ """°™- must^JuL^^fL^'t^l^P-, Heaven send you do. Now I give me DarticnlVr« t t^.^^ -P-' ^'°°^^ ^^""^ to-night and le pr'Ju^r/o'i'rter o^yt tr°" ^^ "''^'^ '"^^ "^•" i j I ±oi THE LAW-BRINGERS \l''\ m [li 'hI M II iTtfr m* a. ,i " Thank you. Tempest." Slicker flushed with pleasure. " You are a good sort." And he went out in a glow of friend- ship and pity for the man who was " having such .-^ rotten time with that httle devil Andree." He passed Grange's bar with his chin up, and he went for a long walk in the forest, concocting a letter in which he would explain it all to Jennifer. But the exact connection of the " sneering beast " with this matter which was so exciting him seemed to escape him, although it did not escape Jennifer when she read the letter. Through the fall and the early winter life went forward as it ever did in Grey Wolf. A few new clerks came and went in the Stores. A prospector drowned himself from a canoe in the Lake, and the young ice broke beneath two sledfuUs of freight and necessitated court-cases before anyone would pay the damage. Hotchkiss was publicly convicted and sent to the cells for a month, on account of a specially-prolonged tor- ture of Mrs. Hotchkiss, and Dick varied the monotony of that month for him by all the refinements of unease which discipline allowed. The trackers had come and gone. The yearly Treaty party had ^ assed through from some vague place on the map, and they too had gone. Even the birds had left Grey Wolf before the hunters went to the chilling woods for their long season of silence and labour. Sleighs took the place of wheels, and furs of light coats and uniforias. Tempest had several long journeys on special investigation business, and Dick had much routine work, with or without Kennedy's help. Twice he had written to Jennifer; once she had answered — just a few sweet, true, simple lines, like herself, and Dick carried them in his breast-pocket with the little picture he had made of her. And, when time allowed him, he painted Andree. He had meant to paint a few pictures of her only. To rouse her vanity to a living force and th^ ' persuade her to break with Tempest completely. He knew that nothing short of her actual refusal to speak to him or touch him would cure Tem- pest. How deeply the man loved her he hardly knew. But how terribly her coquetries and her indifference and her occasional half-yieldings were effecting him Dick knew well. It was time to stop this thing. He should have stopped it long ago. And yet he did not. An explanation with Tempest would mean a discontinuance of those hours which were a sheer delight to the artist in him, and, though this he guessed but vaguely, to more chan the artist. Dick had that force of spirit which dashed colour and heat on all things which he chose to handle. He had the insight \vh\rh is brutal in its clarity of interpretation, and he had the sick and restless soul which can never run straight to any goal. All these things made a very good medium through which to ■K :h pleasure. )w of friend- ' rotten time e's bar with :, concocting ;r. But the this matter although it ; forward as and went in a canoe in sledfuUs of J would pay and sent to olonged tor- tony of that ch discipline The yearly :ue place on :ds had left g woods for ok the place rempest had asiness, and Kennedy's :e she had herself, and ittle picture , he painted '. To rouse ) break with tiort of her i cure Tem- knew. But ce and her knew well, pped it long th Tempest ivere a sheer guessed but ur and heat the insight he had the to any goal. jh which to ' THE FORCE ISN'T A NURSERY * 203 paint Grange's Andree, and Grange himself began to take pnde m the fiJhng portfoHo that stood in the cornefo^ the little anSsCr- ""^^ l"'-^^"^ "^^^ *^^ smooth round arms and shoulders came to be a joy to more than Dick. He turned straight and tall He made a Greek girl of her, draping her ^rlVhf''' ^';°^,M?°^ta's box. He painted her with Sand dress blown back hauhng on a team of husky dogs brought Srln?i ^ ^T^^^^'^u ^" ^^"^^^^^ h^^ ^^til he knew evfry tr ck of her-better than ever he had known Jennifer. It was hin„f f "v *° ^rf " '■ ^ ^^^f-^^^d. tormenting pleasure! ^LZl 1 7Z '^'^u '^ P"'* ^^^ ^^'y soon, and what it might be for Andree herself he neither knew nor cared. She fTi tV''^^^'^^ ^' *°i? ^'' *° ^°' ^"d ^hen he forbade he? to speak to or to look at Tempest again she would obey. But the days went on and he did not do it. They went on and Tempest did not know of it. For it is only natural that the person most concerned in a matter of this sort is the one thTni ^^' '? Ignorance. But at last, just after Christmas, fnnnn^ff "J' for Tempest to know. And it was Miss Chubb innocently forgetful, who told him. m ! i I CHAPTER XL \\u IL MAIME, JE VOUS DIS." Miss Chubb was kneading bread on the morning when Tempest went over to the Mission on some business and stayed a while m the kitchen to talk. Miss Chubb usually expected it, and produced cake, or apples, or a cup of tea as an offering. And Tempest usually got good medicine out of her real common- sense and cheerful outlook in her cramped life. This morning he had something rather special to te'l her, for the confirmation of his Inspectorship had come up by the last maUs. and there would probably be big changes for him before long. He explamed this to Miss Chubb, sitting back against the kitchen shelf and watching her thin hands glancing and turning in the tin pan. Miss Chubb stopped her work abruptly, staring at Tempest. There was a smudge of flour on her sandy eyebrow, and it gave the suggestion of a terrier with its ears cocked. '.'. J°" 4°°'* ^^y ' " s^^ said. " Well. I do call that fierce." ' That is not the usual manner in which to convey congratu- lations." suggested Tempest ; but he laughed as Miss Chubb went to work again. " Why— maybe xiot. But we're not to be congratulated. They didn't make you Inspector to leave you in this little hole, did they ? " " I can't tell you. It is not likely. I shall be sent some- where else, I'm " He stopped abruptly, but Miss Chubb knew that the end of the sentence would be " I'm afraid." She set her pale lips together. For she knew, too, why Tempest would be afraid to leave Grey Wolf. " I suppose." she said. " Grey Wolf isn't big enough to stand such style. They'll, send you expeditioning some place — or cleaning up a post that's let its standard down. ' ' She laughed, half-nervously. " You have the name for being a real moral influence where you go." Tempest's answering laugh was constrained. •IL M'AIME, JE VOUS DIS ' 305 ;d Tempest red a while ted it, and iring. And I common- is morning nfirmation and there long. He he ^tchen ling in the ; Tempest. )w, and it lat fierce." congratu- [iss Chubb Tatulated. this httle ent some- t the end r pale lips be afraid 1 to stand place — or ; laughed, eal moral said. I didn't come over here to be abused, Miss Chubb," he «f Why- -" Miss Chubb proceeded to set out the bread- pans with a celerity born of much practice. They did not seem to aid her in her completion of the sentence, and she turned to the back door as three black-eyed, black-haired, mahogany-skinned heads thrust themselves in, whimpering. Then she slammed a pan down in sudden desperation. " I wish there were no Saturdays in the week. I certainly do ! What has got you children this morning ? Some of you have been under my feet all day. What's wrong, Annie ? Jane, did you make Pauline cry any more ? " The children sidled in, with fingers in mouths and eyes glancing through the elf-locks which Miss Chubb had brushed and plaited into neatness a few hours since. From their whispers, punctuated by covert peeps at Tempest, the fact was elicited that David Mikwas had fallen out of the swing ,on top of Pauline. Miss Chubb examined bruises ; sent the two elder children out again, and gave Pauline a dab of dough to play with. Then she returned to her work with a sigh that seemed to come straight through her thin body from the toes. " Mr. Barnes always goes off for the whole day, Saturdays," she said. " I don't blame him. I should if I was teaching the alphabet and simple division all week. But those children do choose to have all their accidents on Saturdays, and Miss Hemming isn't much use with them. Pauline's been left here all summer, too, poor little mite. That father of hers ought to do something for her, Sergeant. I— I mean " '' Never mind." Tempest laughed. " It's too new yet, isn't it ? Job Kesikaw is her father, Barnes told me. A clever trapper, and he must be making a good living. Doesn't he pay anything for Pauhne's up-keep ? " " Never a penny. And the way he treated Florestine was cruel. You knew he was married to Pauline's mother first ? Well, he was. A good trapper, you call him ? I call him a bad lot." She slapped the dough into one pan after the other, and set them aside to rise. There was not time for pause in this Mission life of the West. "1 can't make him pay, you know. Miss Chubb." Tempest glanced down at the little brown ball whose chubby fingers were rapidly making the white dough as brown. " But if I come across him I'll see what I can do. On the Reserve, is he ? " WllV T Qt-i-n-nnea " Mi"" PlrnKV J ^^ - '-^'t- - —J, - -'-I'j^^^^^. iViioo ?^ilUDD suiapcu Liic pu,ii wiui a noisy knife. " He camo to see Pauline yesterday, and got a good square meal for nothing. These Indians know how to n i .1, 206 THE LAW-BRINGERS And then he carried off a hunk of pie m time their meal-hours, in his hat." Tempest laughed and stood up. " I will certainly remind him of that when I see him Here ^/^ ^?"^t./^sitors for your bale-room, Miss Chubb, "whv— itjooks Jike Grange's wife ; but I don't know who's driving caked^ar^r*" rf 'I^k"^^ '"^^^^ vigorously at her fiour- PW^nT'T ^"^' ^^ "^^ probably won't wear clothes in tion foh V ^"PP?^e someone would be set to the distribu- nn^ l^t /^' '■ 'u^ ^°°'*^- ^"^ «h^'" buy one pinafore Andree." ^" " ^^°"* *^°'" wonderful pictures of " Pictures of Andree ? " whitr^^^'' ^iv ^^^^l ^°°^? ^* *^^"^- Then she went ^etchin^ her .71 7' '^^ ^^'^- " ^- ^^"°t has been Sketching her, as he does everyone else, you know." thought ont^. J^^P^'^* indifferently. " I see. I just hadn't ^.^L^^ft^.^'^ good-bye cheerfully, and Miss Chubb never fnto ron.rI?' f 'P^"?^,^"^ the fierce jealousy which quickened «^ ?J f S ^ ^?' u* f"^" ^°'^^- ^"* she looked after him wert te'nSe^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^--^' -<^ ^er eyes ••There's a good man spoiled," she said. "Unless Dick Heriot has put a spoke in his wheel. And I don't know 5 that will mend matters much." That night Tempest found occasion to go into Grange's back-parlour for the first time. Moosta only las Sere among fj^ h ^^' V^""^' ^' "'"^^' ^^' English and her comprehension fnl if t I'"'P.''*K ,^"* ^" ^°°^^^ a* that face whichTung m Its dark beauty below the Madonna ; and Moosta in her i&;S.' """^'^ P°^'°"° ''""^ *^^ — • and' spread ;; Him s'pose Andree tr^s jolie," she said. " Goot, eh ? " thn Jh?i/° ' .r^"*^d Tempest, and laid his hands upon colour annVr''"^'"' P.^'^^f^' ^^^^ ^^eir alluring dashes^ of colour and their suggestive tragedies. And then he went home, and he did not sleep at all. Dick realis'edT'TW^'''^ ^T'^'j ^' ^"^" ^^-P^^^ had neier shtr, W I ^^'^ ^^"^*'' P^^^ty °* them, in the workman- amp , but the power was undeniable. And Dick had done trnTbircalCT' ""h ^"^ '^°"" °^* *^^ ^-^"^al side of he? terribly, callously and yet with that strange charm which T^tl ""'^ ^""^^ ^""^'^^ ^^^^ ^heu they reSoiled SSm her Those pictures were clever. crueUy clever. Dick had nevi u^xic sucn gooa work before, and he would not do it again • For not agam would he have such a model or such a reason; « hunk of pie him. Here b. Why— 10 's driving t her flour- r clothes in le distribu- e pinafore, )ictures of 1 she went has been ust hadn't ubb never quickened after him d her eyes iless Dick t know if Grange's re, among )rehension liich hung ta, in her id spread ot, eh ? " nds upon dashes of 11. Dick lad never irorkman- lad done de of her m which rom her. ad never it again. • I reason. 'IL M'AIME, JE VOUS DIS ' 207 Tempest threshed from side to side of his bed, burning with a righteous anger and grief. Dick was his friend : his friend. And Andree was the woman he loved. And it was Dick who was taking Andree away from him. Dick who had perhaps been doing it all these months. Dick, who had reviled her. laughed at her urged Tempest to shake himself free of her. Dick who had held her up to contempt as he now held her up to the unlawful admiration of any man who happened to stray into Grange's back-parlour Tempest shivered, guessing for how many eyes Moosta might have dragged out that portfolio with her placid grins and her " Goot, eh ? " To Tempest in his reverence the thing was an indecency, a profanity, an outrage. His luiy against Dick became a live thing through that night • but he said no word to the man because the thought of the woman over-rode all else in his heart. He must get Andree away from this Ufe— now, at once. By bribery, by stratagem by persuasion— any method would do as long as it took her from Grey Wolf. It happened in the next afternoon that Dick found the fat German who had bought Robison's land in the bar, and he stayed so long talking to him of possibilities concerning the Canada Home-lot Extension Company, which, as Dick warmly hoped, were now finding themselves baffled along this line of extension, that he had no time to spare for Andree And it was the first day he had been in the hotel that week, too for he had been chasing a defaulting freighter along the Moon- Dance trail. He went out at last by the back passage, and there Andree stood waiting for him; half-defiant, half- piteous. He took her face between his hands, and her strange lawless beauty unsteadied him as it had done more than once or twice of late. "I will not have you come and not come to me. Dick " snesaid. ' You must speak with me. You must." Do you think I let a girl say must to me, Andree ? " He laughed a little, but he did not move his eyes from her w 3 ^ ,\^^7^ y°" ^°* *^^* red thing round your head A A ^°",!°°^^ like a Bacchant^-or a bit like the Fomarina " Andree did not know what they were. But she knew how to meet the unwilhng admiration in Dick's eyes. Very softly she drew the lids shut with her fingers. Theh she said : o+. J°"a l°pk'"g ^oes go through me. And I do not under- T^^t../^ ^"""^ ^l^-^ '^'^ ^"^*' '°"^e days. And some days lempest does make his eyes hurt me too. Why ? " r^^'^K^ opportunities offered often enough. But he would ,, "• — ":~" ' ^ wOum iiuL LUKc this one. fh.„?iT 5°"^^i.^"''^ • Let me open my eyes and see i* they 11 hurt you this time. Now. what do they say to you ? " fW ifiif •W'f It r ' Mn H- J 1 If f' 208 THE LAW-BRINGERS im He was half-laughing, and yet idly curious. And he was not sure that he wanted those eyes interpreted fully just n^w Andree looked, drawing her ddicate brows into a iLe. Then she pulled his face forward. ones^^""^'"^^ " ^^^ ^^''^' ^''^ ""^^ ^'^ "P^ "^'^^ ^e'" warm ,-n ^L^^l!''^'^'^ ^^"^ ^ ^""dred times before . carelessly or m thoughtless amusement. But the swift passion in those clinging lips thrilled him as anything that Andree said or dd had never thrilled him before. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her back, twice."^ Then he let her go and went down to the barracks with the memory of that fifst kiss tingling his blood yet. A ^°^^ee flung on her fur cap and her coat, and went out hef wais't ''^'""^ *^' ^'' J'"^^y ^^^^^^^ ^^ arm to catch " ?^''''?'*ur?J°" ^^"'^^y' Andree." he said. " What " Ah~diable ! said Andree. through her teeth anH q>.a boxed his ear with a swinging biow. and ran out ' ' Jimmy rubbed his ear. looking after her ruefully Lord, she s a handful." he said. " I wouldn't want to be the man she chose to settle down wi' " Andree fled down the street and along the forest-trail with her eyes bnght. and her blood racing in her veins The keen sharp air brought the brilhancl to her cheeks and quickened her breath, and some vague excitement ^SdriZt ?or f J • ^'^ f ""^ ^'^°"^* *°^ ^* '■ ^id ^°t ^^- She just^al for the ]oy of running, and the joy of Uving • skimming rZ^^h ""Tr^ frozen surface, fleitfy and surdy as a S Then the gladness left her face suddenly, and she stoDDed shrugging her shoulders. For Tempest hid turned the comi Of the trail, and he came to her swiftly. But there was a shiver of superstitK)n in his heart. It was here he harfirs? w ^ ^T^-^' ^""^'^^ ^ ^"^^ ^^°- Was it here that he was to lose her ? He spoke of other things first, to steady himself J'J^^.^ ^ "^^c ^'""^ m^° "'"''^ "°^ that I am Inspector." he added. So much that you would enjoy having " He knew better now than to plead to Andree for love That happiness was not for him yet ; perhaps not at all. But all his tenderness all his manhood was struggling for the right to protect and cherish Grange's Andree. She pSled he" hand w .^1^'*"^'^*^^' ^^^ ^°^ *^^ fi^^t ^^^^ there was no sSy fear of him m her voice. That kiss of Dick's had lit in her something which Tempest could not quench. She did not _„ r wnoav.u=x>. ouu was lar too stupid for that. But instinct told her without hesitation or surprise. And he was lly just now. line. Then :h her warm arelessly, or on in those said or did nds on her let her go, of that first i went out. •m to catch What " :h, and she want to be t-trail with ^eins. The :heeks and ivas driving he just ran skimming ' as a hare, le stopped, the comer biere was a e had first t he was to ly himself, le so many 'nspector," )ve. That I. But all he right to her hand 'as no shy lit in her e did not hat. But ii I M ' IL M'AIME, JE VOUS DIS ' 309 ;; I do not want to marry you." she said. And pretty dresses. And servants to do as you tellThem '* She pouted, looking away from his tense, earnest fSe Neither could see the tragedy of that wooing T^the Hrl It was merely a tiresome interlude which /et pleased her s^lt Je^d be^"^^ '' ^'' ^^^ '^'-^ - th^bairncTo' ^^ ha^'Sick'to plTme.' "^^"'^''' ^'^ ^^^^ " ' -"^^ -ther For aU Tempest's care his voice took a changed note him '■ He savT'Sta ''"''•" t°'"'"= "^"'^ "»<• <"^ I love hhn- ^ " '"-^ "^ ^''*- "i-^ '""^ me, an' man at her side could not answer %>.„h ^/^f ' ,'^' siS siTreri^-cror"-"^^^^^ - "^ ^ ca:e£rrr^'w^tSt.7.aTK: ?,-Jn^;r.^ You are sure of this, Andree ? " "^^• ^M^'^ ""^J """^'"^^ anything in the low, steady voice ••N:Tr,ToTd1n''t^^^-^^'^- "'^OU../^' come to me— not to him You love me. Me. You want to - ^^ ^^,^^^. Andree Andree!" .S%:^ '^^''' Z^Iss^'^,''!^^^'-^^^ ^ ""te face held her head back" "^"'"^ "^^ " ^'''- She hJIITh ?'"''■" "'!™^''- "I love Dick I I love Dick I" he^be^td'rt" Xe'^°m^mtta?r ""'' ''^ -nd eyes Ind to die in Andree tierha™ R . ^°« "f *''^"'''' B°™ but "I - you?o>Sfd3low?y;'."rse'';?u do""" '^* "'' ^°- ^ He ^oked down the white t'raU v4S°s"hf had come to for y™"?'-?'" '"' "'^ ^''"P^y- '■ Are you sure that he cares had no doubts. "'^"^^^d' ^id not know it ? But Andree She looked at him with bright rbPe^c ^^a .^.r].h~- ■tier words liad dppmori +^ ^ ■ ""T' -^— '^" •• ■^iia opariviiuy eves, had not known The '^,f^^^^°«^^ ^^ ^^^ ^ truth which she Known, bhe was exulting m the discovery of some ■ •■■■■i i I w, h fi L^fci 210 THE LAW-BRINGERS tiling new ; something which belonged to her— to her very self. " Oui." she said violently. " C'est vrai. 11 m'aime. ie vous dis. Ah— je lui connais." For a moment more Tempest looked at her in silence. In the dull track she looked bright and vivid almost as a llamc. But he could not ask again lor that which Nature and not Andree had denied him. He would never ask for it any more. It was not to be for him to shield her from the dangers which crowded round her careless feet. He could do nothing for her. Nothing. And she needed guidance as few creatures of God's earth needed it. And then, for the last time, he took her hand and kissed it. He had never kissed her facj. " God guard you, Andree," he said, and left her. And along the winter trail she ran and ran, intoxicated with her unreasoning joy. Dick opened the front door of the barracks to Tempest, and his voice was quick and eager. " Watson is starting to-night instead of to-morrow morning," he said. " Can we get those permit-papers filled to send out with him ? " Through the open kitchen and up the passage the red of the winter sunset flooded up behind him, striking his outline tall and black and strong. His voice was strong, and the brown hand shut on the papers was strong. Tempest looked at him, feeling the vigour and virility in him, and in one blinding flash, realisation leapt to him. It was Dick who had done this thing to him. Dick, his Mend, who had done it — knowingly, secretly, wilfully. He went giddy for a moment, and put his hand on the wall. Then he thrust past, speaking thickly, " No," he said. " Leave them." And he walked into the office, and turned the key on himself. The yellow and egg-shell blue slid out of the sky. Dick went upstairs, whistling, to pack his kit for a three-days' trip to Lower Landing. Light drew back from the zenith, leaving it naked to the stars, and across the river the dark pine- forest settled into night. But the night of the soul was on Tempest in the httle bare, cold office where he sat still, staring at the wall. All round him were the maps, the blue books, the filed memoranda, the pencils, pens and rulers of his work. He had come back to that work as Dick would have gone in like case to the forest. Come back, bhndly, unconsciously, that it might help him through with his pain ; that work which had once meant most of all to him ; thac \v.?rk which he had forsaken for a personal and private love, and which had its grip on all his fibres still. It reproached hiin now ; cruelly and bitterly. M " -to her very 1 m'aime, je silence. In it as a flame, ture and not it any more, angers which thing for her. ures of God's ook her hand :t her. And ted with her tempest, and )w morning," I to send out passage the im, striking ! was strong, g. Tempest him, and in as Dick who ho had done on the wall. ked into the sky. Dick ee-days' trip nith, leaving ! dark pine- e httle bare, , All round memoranda, i come back case to the at it might ch had once lad forsaken s grip on all md bitterly. f ■*■' *IL M'AIME. ]E VOUS DIS ' 211 of meals, liut Temnest h ul !?.? '"^""'^^mg the advisabihty •• T ^ ^ I ■^^,'"P6st nad one answer onlv for liim I cannot bo disturbed. 1 urn busv " ho l,,v , on sitting motionless in his chair and Sin.^^ Ah Y''"'^ "^^"^ on the wall. Later he heard I icHnd Sn 1 "" ^^"^ "^^^^ in the room at the head of 1 e stahs Hi '^^ ^'""'"^ ^° ^^'^ and reckless mood, and Kenned vt,.',,^'''' ""'f '1 ^ ^^^^ loose in strangled SDuttersmorofP ^.'''"owing laugh broke stillness droppVd oTorc" WoiT ai'd^s^m T ''''''1 "^«^^ ^^^ chair, staring at ' ae wall. ^ Tempest sat in his A man had once said of Tomnouf *-u^4. u 1 , religion and philosophy to a saSctnr^^^^ he had reduced fusing in himself the DlLirnrnfC^i/^^^^ workmg basis by whole' was a sound feaven ThlsT f '^Tf ' ""^^^ '''^ because of it Tempest Iniil'roAr^lu ««™^what true, and man might do. 7or he could no^ hi' T'l^''''' ^" "^^^y and his God and the other mnn ?^^ ^^^"^^ *^^" "^^^^^^^ Like one of an earlier dav ho M?,' '''''^ ? exculpate himself. Heaven and had SLd ^ St for 'h ' °"^ *°.^"^^^ ^ ^^^^^ to had betrayed his vvo?k even ?. l^.H^' ^T" ^^'^ ^^'^^^^- ^^ dared not'call DirtL' mos^gu/^ty ''' ""'"'^''^ ^^"^' ^^ ^« havc^gte^rn^^m^tlv^^ T"^^"^^ ^^P^^" " ^^^nl^ should have gonr Or the floor ,' T^ ?.' ^^^^'^ °*^^^ P^P^^^ unopened pile of offidal Invf ° ""^er the window were an the Vges^^uLl'^'DowrrtT^^^^^^^^ three text-books with waiting to see him in regard fo<=^. °u^S® ^^^'^^^^ ^as there. He had been Sfn^mo?." h^""^^' "^''^ *^^ ^'^^^^ were a handful of thin^ronlv^ t *^^V "" '"°"th. These that bore witness agafetWm" ""'P'"' ^"'^ ^^^ "^"^^itude never...p -in^ prL:.n' ">1-L "^^.l ^„?^ ^]'^, the merciless. g proll^ins of life. Why should duty and desire clash foi ever ? Whv shnnM c,.''"/ ^"^"i" "^^^^y and desire at war } Whv should .Z ' f^ ^""^ ^^^^h be constantly re:ider him ^ore "merciful "fo^^^T^'^^f °' ^^^ °^" ^^^ ^ol Tempest knew well Xntdf^'^K.^^^^ '^"' °^ °*^^^^ ? He knew that stTgnat on^s a bri.^ V'^ *^' ^""^^" «°"^- thing than the beatht out of . h ?'' ^'"^"'^ ^ "^^^^ hnal. But he knew also that a man's dnt' r" ^^^^,^P°" the rocks, nor in the harVwc^ter h ,/^ f^ ^'^^ ""^'ther on the rocks direct stream" ol'ufe '^^ "^^^^y- strenuous, sanely! Tempest had dropped into a backwater to please himseH 212 THE LAW-BRINGERS i ■f ! ; it mi \i *p with his private loves and desires. And now he was on the rocks. He knew it, and because the pain in him would not let him be he stayed there, bruising his spirit and beating it with rods. For he could not forgive Dick ; he could not let 4ndree go, and he could not take up his life again. And he under- stood that, as a man, as an immortal soul, as the one firm human link between Time and Eternity, he must do all three. The lamp on the desk burned low and went out, leaving an evil smell of smoke and kerosine. Down the side street among the naked cotton- woods a starved Indian dog was yelping to the sky his qualifications for a canine heaven through his eternal purging away of all the fleshly joys. Insensibly that dog, emblem of his race, obtruded himself on Tempest's thought. Unfed, cursed and kicked the summer tiu-ough ; strapped into the traces all the winter ; harness-galled, sore-footed, strained by the dragging of interminable sledges it yet had the unflagging heart which did not fail, the warm^tongue for its master's hand, the ready and obedient ear for his voice. Tempest bowed his head down in his hands and thought that matter out. In some way it made his own conduct seem less excusable, less righteous. Through long hours of struggle and wordless prayer Tempest won back to himself his behef in mankind. Dick had not betrayed him. He had been called by Nature even as Tempest himself, and the strain in the mar'.s eyes and voice, and the thinner lines of his big body bore witness that he had recognised Tempest's prior right and had attempted to yield to it. It was Tempest who had sinned in doubting liis friend. It was Tempest who had judged another man unheard. It was Tempest who had no right, no choice. Tempest who must tread the barren trail of duty, leaving the younger man free to love. He sprang up, walking the room with his hght rapid steps. This thing had gone beyond him. The sacrifice was his to make, whether he would or no. It only remained for him to make it manfully, ungrudgingly, gallantly, beheving that when the great day of understanding came he would be glad of it. But he loved Andree well, and the other man was his friend. And he was human as all strong men of flesh and blood and temper are human. Morning caught him walking still, with his fight half-fought and the future yet dim and cold before him. For he loved Andree. He loved her at this moment better than his God ; and it was his friend who had taken her from him. For Tempest the next day was filled with the ordinary routine of the post. There was the mspection of the barracks, of the stables, of the prisorers. There were complaints to he was on the n would not let beating it with not let 4ndree And he under- s the one firm st do all three. Dut, leaving an ie street among was yelping to in through his [nsensibly that ipest's thought, igh ; strapped d, sore-footed, ges it yet had irm^tongue for ' for his voice. i thought that iduct seem less •rayer Tempest Dick had not ^en as Tempest voice, and the had recognised rield to it. It riend. It was leard. It was )est who must inger man free ht rapid steps, ice was his to ned for him to beheving that would be glad was his friend, and blood and king still, with nd cold before ; this moment had taken her the ordinary f the barracks, complaints to 'IL M'AIME, JE VOUS DIS ' 213 listen to from one and rebukes to be administered to another There was a consultatio.i with Foley concemrnlflo o I of food consumed in the cells and in the Tesl * m ^^^^^^ were orders to give to Kennedy a.d to Scklnd there were the dull hours of clerical work ; checking accounts ioZulZ mg reports • examining receipts and bills from the S^Slo" Bay on orders drawn in favour of some TnHiln ^®,""^son months back and six hundred miles away TtL Ltte'r'of ten necessitated the turning up o^ old diariernnH Wo k i . usually Tempest called^n^Dick totiS limlrrf ■'°°'^' ^"' pre^s:Le^Sry.%e'rent%lk'o\'?tr ^"f • *^^^ ^^^^^^^ from^S^n V^^ ^'""^ °^ ^^^"^ ^* ^« «^id that they " come dC ?%?"^^^ ^T"^! ^here, and are bound for the same Wolf .J ""^^^-t«& of his life had beached himin Gr^v Wm there HeTr^/f /'""^II""^ ^°"^ ^°^ Tempest had kept Tempest with added deference V^nr^hi'. ^ not treated Where are yer a.. Inspecto p'^ Th" sort o'^^a^"!-.-' «"?'• man awav quicker'n an,H-i,i„„ S.r ^*"'' '^'" P"* » an; git o/tsJc'rl^It" f^^L ^7br JaTfuf ? aS*.e?'="' wi much to yer " •-'leaKius am t let yer bZl^e^ ' a'&o* 1^ ??■ -Tf " "'^ ''''■ ^"^ the rheumy human\?r,dnesste Polev^, 'h f^^^^^^ "°*, '""'"^ *^ »"< of the very thingJn^^aS'.tr ^et^tturn^o^ ''^'^^^"^'^ *° "<= gra"eUyT„^d^e''Lt\™''^^^<' '"^ '•"^^- "f-rngs nor scatter the brefd tSthJ?" *^ '°"P ^""" *« "-tadot harsh pipiL whktk Lf *" i"™ ^""^'^ ^"'^ »"«' Foley's And wLTL setted™ cWo h?" *\'''i='^^" 1""*-'' agaL. was lightened. A^thoth' it\aH ZZ^, *„\^!'°"''-°" "'= '-= patch m the snow outsidf- Pr^il V'' ^^T ,^ y^'Jiuw-ochre Tempest's heart quite as til v.^f^' '71 ^^^ strengthened it to strengthen his stomach "^ '^' °'^ "^"" ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ IM 214 ^ i I I : ' [ i/f^ I f f !• i iiii^i I THE LAW-BRINGERS It was a still evening, with a red sun dropping through a clear sky when Dick came in to make his reno^ tnrough a ttnTsuirinr ^f ^^f ^^"'' -^ '' s'^uc^m^re s^r^ngfy^ L WmseK And v'T'^v ^^ f.'^^"^?^^* ^^^* *« ^e slackenfng n^^v V ^®* '"^ ^''"' '* ^ad once been the strongest win'^dotrghl'" "P°^* ^"^^^^^^^^' ^*-^-S *-" agaifsf the _' Morgan missed those sacks yesterday morning " he said dj r iney nad churned the snow up around in order to obliterate all they might want to find out. Fortunately thev ^nd^^T .^""f ^^"^°^^ '^" P'^^^ ^here they water ihe horses^ and I tracked my man through there, and followed up to that Cree camp at Dog Point. There I found the corner of a new ?o Do,!hl t'Tp^'^'^ ^y "" ^'^^'' ^^d an old horse belonging to Double-Toed-Pigeon which looked as if he had latelv be^f Xut if '' ' He'nJ"".*- ^""'^ ^^^"'* --* to tS me at^th ^.g «i,L^^' -"^^"'i ^ "^""^ wanting to see that man myself " A towards VTr^'' '""^^ °"^^ '^^^^P^^t '• ^ suddT warmtt supper, ne said. It s full moon. Tell Polev hp ran t.,,4- ^4- Ha've timf %'T r^* *°° "^"^^' and iThL'e mTne^ere to save time But I have to see Holland first He was complaining about the man who is renting his river-lot '' big chaifTn the °''" *' Poley a,d fl/ng himself Into the suloer camels mess-room to doze and warm himself until f,nS ^ame m. Something m Tempest's voice made him ledr^Wch heT'.^"^ ''''"^7. ^" ^^^ ™"d ag-- the kno" S?d Thnfi ^^ ^'!" avoiding with all his strength. He a^dlt madeS^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^" ^^^ ^^^ clear-sigLedness, He had gone into this game with Andree in the primal direct motive of taking her from Tempest since he could not Ion.' sTncT' HilT ^" . ""^ ^"^ ^°^* ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ -ob- long since. His primal idea now was to amuse himself He wouW W ^^%% I'T''^:' l^^ ^" ^^« ^-^t' and?h: alwa^ would have it. But Andree's beauty attracted him and hpr wild spirit struck a flame from the like thing in h mseW He did not ove Andree, but he was losing JennL?for her She was dulling memory of Jennifer's pure high thoughts and words And And?ee^""'? '° ^T^'^^^ ^"*^^5^' ^^^ well\e knew why And Andree was losmg him Tempest. She was destrovint^ "he waJ'dSr ' '" ^-"^'^ ^^"^P^^^' I ^id this^you alone '' fh\w.^'/:i'lT;!^ ^? ^™ «^^ P°-^^ t° help Tempest alon. be th^; Tprn^" f ■ '",^ '^ "■'''''^^' '^"^' ^y ^° do^ng. it might be that Tempest would never take that road. He knew ling," he said. 'IL M'AIME, JE VOUS DIS* 215 would stay there, bowing Us head ?nh^. '"f ^'" ""^ would take the lower plfce for eter whfn If ^""^ S" world ordained him for the higher ^'•*'"''' ^^ *'>^ Tet^pl^'toMS tt^l^Kic'riSTal'd*'' "^" *° -^^'P was prolonging the torment whteh ^e hadtrnTf "/ KS^St.^'^Vatdtng-tS'S^F?^^^^^^^ noion2:;:^r^rh-Sf -^Sf -1? ?.^:Si*\t'Sfoirg?h\\rLS?.^^^^^^ inii:?^Ss'sr"^uTT*^^^^^^^^^^^ AlmShe fe It thaf he couldTot R* h T^° *°^^ l"^^-=- had to suffer fori" ^nd^S dTsuflef'gf^:;^""'^ ™" ""^ fou'Jfdlt' TnTTennU'^St h "^t'^'l^^''^ tempest deny them. He smHed L that bSL 1,'''~^"'' ^'^ <=°"''J ""* forsook him. He had tri^,^ t^ bitter humour which seldom unselfish friend In W,MnH,t'l^J ^^^ ^"""^^ "»='" : «ie and what t might turn to t 'tl^,'*.*""? ? *'>'= "'^"'^y- thinir Ti,,* , t jV ^ '™ future he dirl not care to Kad^s^en^elood'Kh^^^ -f ^ times ?n hi'ifl! wi-ong. ^ ^ ^" *^^ "^^y through, and had done the Jt'^TJ:ntf:Zl^^ ^^^^-P -' the tray, and Dick a letter with stiff cold L^ ^^'}''%^y was there, writing boyish fecf perp^exei ^ '' ^' ^°°^^^ "? ^^th his ruddy "How do you spell niece ? " he asked Kenntly'trsst^ff?^^^^^^ ?.^" ^^^°°k^d ^t the lad. that none orthrhottfsrfi/i o/rf ' ^^'^f ft fellow, and he hoped " Wb.00 ^■^l^?^ i^""^^ °! life would ever sear him. brow was" calm ' '"''''^^ ' " '''^ ^'^^d' ^"t Kennedy's " ^7 own." he said. " iVe got a married sister. I sent I 2l6 THE LAW-BRINGERS the kiddie a Christmas present from her Uncle Tack Mv I just know how her eyes'Il stick out when she gets it." Dick left him chewing his pen-handle and chuckling and ran down again. From his own room Tempest heard him pass along the passage, and he halted a moment in the putting xu f T- i "^^"^' ^^^^- ^^^ ^y^^ we^^ dark with the struggle that had grown more fierce in Dick's presence. He had not r^^f^t,!^*' ^^^ ^" ^'^ knowledge, all his training, all his behef, all his strength he had not yet won to the staying point Because the staying point needs such infinitely deeper anchor- age than the arriving point, by reason of the constant ebb and flow of a man's will. The night was silver-white where a full moon flooded the earth, and the keen crystal air seemed to prickle like champagne Over the hard snow along these beaten trails the horses swung easily, and the men rode side by side, speaking httle For each man his own thoughts were full enough company' On the edge of the moonlight the first shacks of the Reserve showed, low and darkly. Naked scrub and undergrowth made scratchy shadows to the very doors, and like shadows too a handful of Indian dogs flicked out, leaping and barking and rolling on the snow. A sore-withered pony raised its head • then returned to its investigations among the bare twigs and where a red fire darkened the forest to ink a few women moved with the light trembling on their black hair and eyes and dull stuff dresses. For, to the partially civilised Indian woman bnght colours are a reproach. They make her appear " too Indian." Not many men stayed on the Reserve through the winter. But Christmas had brought some of them in, and among those Dick expected to find Job Kesikaw. They halted by the woman, and Clouds-of-Sunrise glanced up from her work of spitting mo. ^e-meat on sharp sticks for the roasting and her broad, high-boned face was lit with humour. " Had no meat for t'e veek," she said. " I vas s'pose some men come — eat it up for us ! " " Why," said Dick, " what have Peter and Mike and Eusta been doing ? All at the hunting, eh ? And wouldn't Eusta take you this time ? " Clouds-of-Morning had been at the Mission School long enough to understand more English than she spoke. She giggling, looking on the other women who stood about in beaming approval. " All to hunt," she said. " Akonaqui kill him." She pointed from a girl with the lean, eager face of a hunter to the moose-meat, and the women gfrunted their amnipscence watching the white men with the giggles and rallying coquetry of a company of school-girls. Jack. My, :t." :kling, and heard him the putting tie struggle le had not ing, all his Ting point. )er anchor- tit ebb and [ooded the [lampagne. the horses king httle. company, le Reserve dergrowth adows too, irking and its head ; bwigs, and len moved s and dull n woman, Dear " too le winter, id among halted by from her roasting, 'as s'pose nd Eusta n't Eusta lool long ke. She, about in a hunter nescence, coquetry " Our man's Dick nodded. 217 IL M'AIME. JE VOUS DIS ' not here," said Tempest underbreath, and '' We'll find hini at Sebompa's, I expect." he said, and they rode on ; takmg the narrow twisting trails through the white still woods with accurate knowledge of their intricacies- hearing Indian talk that carried far through the eilence and seeing, all about, the winking lights of the fires outsid^ the shacks and tepees^ lu a trail they passed an old Indian, bent double, and stumbhng over the snow by help of a stick His !t"ri'I*''S^-^^'''^^ ^y^- d^^ggin^ a hand-sled, and both greeted the Policemen with the frankness of men who know French"^'' Tempest halted, speaking in his broken Cree- '' Is Tommy Joseph hunting this season, Selok ? " he asked Th^^lL- ^^^f^°^^/d, swaying his shaggy head until the white hair covered his face. K Jf^^ ^T !-°^^u ;^is disapproval. Tommy Joseph was own brother to him, but that was no reason why his father should show emotion. me' t^nk ''^^""^ ^^^^ *° Chipewyan," he said. " Go die soon, groa^^a Sn"^^ ^"^ ^'""^ " " ^^^^"^ Tempest, and the old man Tnn?i? ""c^'? Job Kesikaw in canoe. Git in brul6 upset. Too col . Seek m 'tomach. Goo'bye " ;; Where is Job Kesikaw ? " asked Dick idly. <:nr..H if-^'V*^"^- .^°T ^^^""^ ^°"^' '^^^t-" The young man spread his hands to the universe. " No talk wit' heem " .11 +1?^ grew closer as they followed the winding trail. In all that great Reserve where each of the wild men can live his own wild life unmolested if he so desire, there were some who desired the contact of their fellows, making a sca?trred village, built without method or meaning of any sort, along the throat of a couMe where little running Itreams gav^ watir m horsprT/^^ i^' high walls made a natural corral for the liXTVhi?" u .^^ "^^5: .^"^""y ^'°"^ *^^ distant blinking lights that spelt homes, Dick and Tempest rode up the coul4 h^^'^^'Jr'' °' '""^'i' ""^ tepees thickened f where the halt-savage dogs swarmed noisily around them, and the camp- fires were big and lurid, shooting tongues of flame against the Men were hf.re in numbers ; smoking lazily about the fires or working un,:il the busy women round the pots and the spi?s ran abo^r.L' -''^f • '^^°"^^* ^^" *^^"^ *° ^^^d. Children frl''.,?ed*a-~ -?/-'' "^'-r *^'4^^'^' long-trousered or lon^- ir...!.ccl gaxiuuiits irom Miss Chubb's bale-room. One fat yellow-brown urchin, in a skin shirt and scanty drawers anchored by one suspender, stood sheer in the firelight and f I i ! 2l8 THE LAV^-BRINGERS spat at them. A hand of correction reached out of the dark and withdrew him bodily, and after-sounds told that reproof had not stopped there. The men of the North- West Mounted Police understood that they were herewith greeted as friends On the Grey Wolf Reserve were chiefly Crees and Beavers who accepted the white man's protection and took ^reatv payments to prove it. But there were some breeds also who had reverted to the call of the Indian blood which was in them and It was among the latter that Job Kesikaw was rated In the eternally-shifting crowds along the river-ways Dick and Tempest had probably seen Job more than once ; but he was one of the weed-rack of earth, drifting ever. '' And I've never located him yet," said Dick to his brain and ran his quick eye round the half-seen groups. " And I fancy the description I've got from old The-Back-of-To- morrow won't help me at all." He went over that description internally. It suggested Job as a stocky, clumsy man of middle height ; bull-necked and bull-strong ; sinewed Hke a wolf, and with the eyes of a wolf • dark as the earth where the moss grows, and cunning, and greasily fat. There were at least ten men within sight who filled that picture, line on line. One was lacing the corded sinews through a half-made snowshoe with his heavy face intent on the crossing of each mesh. Two more, on their knees by the fire were charring lengths of pliant green wood into the angle of sled- runners. Yet another sliced a raw moose-hide into slender strips for tie or snowshoe thongs. Sheer in the fire-glow a young muscular breed was pegging out the skin of a wolverine on a flat board. He grinned at Dick in swift dehght. t ■,',' ?H^ ' ^°" Carcajou," he said. " You no git you man kill, is it not ? " Dick recognised this reference to Robison whom a severe attack of pneumonia had so far salvaged from the gallows. He slid out of the saddle, and shook hands with the breed cheerfully. " Aha," he said. " Him gone sick. But by-an'-bye him get well again. Then they punish him down in Fort Saskat- chewan, Beaver Tail." He was looking on the other men as he spoke, and across the face of he who sliced the moose-hide he saw fear flicker and darken. An almost imperceptible motion of his hand brought Tempest to the ground also, and then Dick went on with his salutations. Many of the men were known to him, and he shook hands with each, asking the names of those he did not know. The breeds were laughing, entering into the game with the joyous- ness of children, and at the cooking-fires where the smell of the dark, that reproof est Mounted d as friends, and Beavers took Treaty ids also who ivas in them, s rated. In ^s Dick and but he was his brain, »s. " And I Back-of-To- t suggested -necked and s of a wolf ; inning, and ) filled that sws through the crossing e fire, were igle of sled- nto slender fire-glow a a wolverine ht. it you man m a severe he gallows. 1 the breed n'-bye him ort Saskat- i across the flicker and nd brought )n with his look hands now. The the joyous- the smell IL M'AIME. JE VOUS DIS 219 of meat was thick and warm, women halted in their labours watching the two clean-run white men in their close uniforms with admiring curiosity. iwxms Dick stopped before the man whose hands were red and greasy with the hide. ^^ "I guess I'm the friend of all here," he said, and held his hand out. But I don't know your name, my friend " Someone piped it out. And then Job Kesikaw, thrusting out his paw reluctantly, felt himself seized in a sudden trap-like grip, and heard the new note in Dick's voice " I want you Job Kesikaw," he said, and Job sprang back jerking free with the full weight of his body ^g oacK, T.??'^ ^f 'P J^^-'^T -^ ' ^""^ ^^^ ^^^^^y hand slid from it. Job turned and dived into the darkness, whipping up his " Wah ! Wah ! " said Beaver Tail, astonished and interested The men around him grunted ; looked at each other doubtfully for a httle space, and then fell to their work again Principally they were amazed at the audacity of Tob in defying the Big Law. Partly they were amused and con- temptuous ; and partly, in virtuous knowledge of their own presumably clean sheets, they arraigned him mercilessly in that he had brought himself under the terror of that law ' T 1 , ""• .? ^°"^^ "^^"^ foUishness, me s'pose," said Beaver Tail laying the pegged skin aside. " Huh ! What him want - „ "? Carcajou, anyway ? T'ink him no catch ? Huh 1 " Huh ! said the chorus of derision out of the dark and appeared to lose outward interest in the fate of Job ... f^ °^ ^^f *T° "^^''' through the forest, Job's" progress seemed to make the dark roar with sound. Sticks snapped! and crashed; branches whipped back as the great body hurled Itself through them and the white men followed • catching the slashing twigs across their faces ; stabbed bv a fhrn,?\'Ji J ^t""^b"ng, jumping, dimbing, pushing ever through the tangling growth, burst apart by the man ahead and clogged by the soft snow. ' Job was evilly fat and short of wind. The white men were ^'rJJf V.^ !i .1^""^ ^^^"^ "^'^h the strenuous work of the summer, i^^ ?-^l^ ^®"'/^''''''^' an^ ^n a clearing where the white moon-hght was sharp on the white ground, he halted, turned dn^k^H^'^fS'' "^" "P- ^'"^ ^^^'^ the bullet whislle as he i.n T " l^^^'^S. He heard the trigger click again ; and TempIstXd ' -^^^.^^^- «n him, swinging him Iside and ^-Pf t 5®^' ^""^^ ^" the moment when he fell. -L-iCK had izo time to understand that Tempest had possiblv given one hfe to save the other. He scrambled up,^?ee ing the sandy snow grit in his ungloved hands, and rushed in on 220 THE LAW-BRINGERS m'Wi' mih 1^' ' f h' •" n, . i • fro^Th^ m *^^^"&^b;;^^th. Job's trigger-arm swung loose from the elbow and Dick was glad. He looked on the big man sitting in the snow and crying like a frightened baby, and then he Icoiced on the other man lying still in the moonlight. I fancy you 11 wait till I'm ready to strap that " he said and ran over to Tempest's side. ne saia. How or when he knew it he could not tell. But he under- stood why Tempest had taken the bullet which should have hfr.^% Tempest knew this thing which Dick had done to him , and because Dick had exacted the sacrifice of his love Tempest, following Biblical methods, had offered his life also! Not even in the first moment did he do Tempest the dishonour tron^ &*l^* ^'1^^ '°"S^* ^ ^^y ^^' himself out of hi AnH h V f^'^J^! T''^ °^ *h^ "^^^ t°o ^ell for that. And he knew also that, if Tempest lived, the thing which he had to say to him was going to be infinitely more terrible than he had expected it to be. There was blood on Tempest's face and in his hair. Dick JTiS . ^^^^^ ^°"^^ *^^ bullet-graze on the temple which nnn.H .""f^^- ^r-. ^? '^* ^^"^ ^'th ^ breath of relief and wf of", . ' ^^f^- ,".^^' ^"^P*y' ^ it had been too many T^npff h h' ^^^^^^fk felt the burn of shame as he tilted it^ Tempest had no flask, and so Dick flung snow over the still face ; softening it first by the warmth of L iCdr Presently Tempest shivered, feeling the icy air strike into him. Across teeth ''°Th^nT'^^' T"f^ ^"^ shuddering with chattering ll^\ /, T/";P^^t l^t up with Dick's aid ; sick and giddy and stupidly feeling the blood that ran on his face He r.T.!?^ ^ ^' ashamed as Dick himself of the thing which onW nf T '. ^'''^' ^^ f°°'"^*' b°*h ignored causes and spoke ^^Jun f ^>^' ""' ?i'^ ^^'hed the skin round the wound and bound it up with torn handkerchiefs. He had to use a piece of his shirt when he came to Job, and the man wept o Th. hrnv' ''^K^-^^ '""'S'"^' tournaquet, and at the winZg of the broken limb into a hastily-stripped cradle of birch-bark I guess you ve lost enough blood to cool that courage of yours, 'remarked Dick, dragging him up to his feet. " Nof Sbe^ttS^thrid':* *^ ^^"P- ^°" ^^°^^^ ^-- these fhS""*^ Dick's patients were staggering with weakness when they reached the camp, and it was an hour later when thev took the trail to Grey Wolf ; Tempest riding a little beWnd^ tu\ l^i^^.V^e^hat giddy still, and Dick two yards aS' with Job Kesikaw on the lame Indian pony at his knee The ZZZTj^^Z' ^""V ^f -^^^ ^''^ time in several months, the Northern Lights pulsed m the skv. in Ion? dir^rf <=fr--P- iividiy-blue and pure. They hung'the forest-trees with a dim' unearthly sheen, and in the light^of it Dick saw the night 'ung loose >n the big baby, and )nlight. " he said, he under- Duld have d done to : his love, i life also, dishonour )ut of his for that, which he •ible than ir. Dick 5le which elief and :oo many tilted it. the still Presently Across lattering id giddy, ice. He ig which id spoke ; wound to use a an wept winding ch-bark. courage " Now w these ' IL M'AIME. JE VOUS DIS ' 221 animals pass and pass again, without sound. There was little pleasure to D.ck in that ride home. He was thinkinTgri^y of what would have to be said on the morrow. But over lJT^\ ? ''""°"' hush and a deep content had descended. nf.U'« f K^T'."T- ^^ '°"'^ ^""'Sive, because he had given Dick s hfe back to him. and in so doing he had given hiL all Cheerfully with eyes bright and head up, he rode home For with all his strength and love he was fitting himself to brhig that offering which the other man-having demanded and obtained of him— must throw away. ss when en they behind, 1 ahead, e. The ths, the earners, I a dim, e night f|! R'Hf 1 f^ r |f iT i m ifff CHAPTER XII. " THE THIEF ON THE LEFT." " Dick I " table*'" ' " "" '""'■ ""'^ T^^P^^t t"™od from the dressing. ca^e^r His'chat'eVo'exl,^ If- '"^"•" '^^ ^^■<'- ' ^"^ D-k pleasantly was for now '^""° *'"' "^"'''^- <=°»vincingly and smiled. ^°^ strong, and his eyes idle.'ei?to. "^ Ab'ou''t''£lf T'di''' ^^''f, " «."' I i^-™"'* been moral support of some kind ■' ° '"'°"" "^^ "^""^ '° '°' for'rl^Iirs."'^"'' """ ^'"''^^ '^"'^ P'^^'y «"><' «"" tie up to you dr;;in'gTaL'Xly^'"^Cu've'!Jo'e ™ "'"'"'' °'- ^"^ way. you old sinner while_«Jou-dh»^T''>,°™.P^''"'^°''^ to me, there'd have been no Ste-aVtMs ""''^ '° '^'"^ said ^' wSfs rtV'"^' '"'" '"P^^'^<^ ""-^^ty fr""- -ne," he " Andree has told me," said Tempest ouietlv " ti, t enough. And I saw those paintinRs of vouS if' T h J * ^J more proof I rmiM i,,,,. t T y"""^ if 1 had needed tne meaning oi life yet." ' -^-'-..^.n r knuw ii!l" ' THE THIEF ON THE LEFT ' .^ riis voice was low and sfpaH^r tk^ • , . that Tempest had turned hif face to th^ h ""?. °^ '* *°^^ ^^^^ it was for himself to (^U the mnn I *^^>f'Shts again, and that not care to think of ^"""-^ ^''^'' ^ ^^^" ^^ich he did suddlnTy mte^d"wsU fnd'sSd'' ^^^. T^^^^^' ^^^ ^« noticed what youvflooked ii£ ,^^^^^^ ^«"> *^^"^ ^ ^^^^^^'t too strong for you both-and .n ^' ■ ^"* "^*"^^' ^^^ been is to giveaway ^?acefuUy. Thope'l^a'n do?/.f "^^°" ^^" ^° work— and I've got mv frienH q/ *^^*' ^ '^^ go* my a clear conscience oWman^^h. .JJ '^",^° ^^^° ^^^^^^ with Dick did not take it h; ht^^^^' ''''^ ^^^^ ^^« ^^^^ out. : You're all Jrtg:^-he^:iS^^^^^^^^ thJtToSLrwi;!^tat^Cl.°'^^^^^^^^^^^ and the Sun-tfea^er '""^ remember the idiotic girl ^^JI^There's no need of lies between you and I. Dick." he said the wordsTatagdv" '^sS "^^^^^^.^^^ ^' ^^PS and flung out to come out of it * So T fn Jf '"'"'"^ ^^"^ "^^ ^^d she had heragain." But I donVwant hef Tne"' ''.7''''''' ^^^^ ^'' she was ruining you ' ' ''^''^'' "^'^ ^^^* ^^r. But Butte mnl'tfll b1 stS^ aTd' ^'^"^'. ^"^ ^ ^^ ^P^^^ it. could soften^t And therefore h° T/' 'T''''''^ ^^ "^^" looked at him. H:s .^'^^U^:^:^^, J^t Di&d^f :rair A'el?^^^ it P " he said slowly, they seemed to ring in The ak vet ^^^ '^J^^. ^^ords because no others. Tempeft Lve Tmtt i^ ^^'''^^'' ^^^'^ ^^re among the brusheronfhrdrVs^t-t:ifle- """ ^^"' ^^^^^^^ r.^Jr' fu'"''''^ ^ don't understand " he said " tu • need for this. I have told you thkt I dnn'f ' ^T l ^° barrier to your marriage." ^* "^®^" to be a TheTw* ^°'?>^ *i° ""'^"^y ^^^•" said Dick. flaJh ' ""'' ^^"^ ^^^^ *« Tempest's face in one white terrible ;; ^at do you mean by that ? " he said. ago.ToVlTave pt'edt '' ' '" ^°"- ' *°^^ ^^ - ^^ng " Proved it ? " if :l \m (lit |! -] 224 THE LAW-BRINGEKS But^softcr words were too foreign to him. They would not " You say you have proved it." Tempest's mind travelled slow y lirough this bhndmg iire. " How have you proveS it " Before God, Tempest " ^ ^^ it t •• Leave God out. How have you proved it ? " 1 have 1 attered her. That was bait enough to take her o^ r;,' • ""^f "Tr ^^^^'^ y""' ^"^ «'^- clucsn'tSove me She lovesMiothmg but her own sehish body-she hasn'tgota soul " You said you could do what you hked with her What have you hked to do ? " ^ The tone was perfectly level, but there was a thread in it wludi tlu-xUed Dzck. Had he saved this soul for which he had LT/olir ni^SiT ""'^ ''^^ '""^ ^""^*'' ^^^" i^--"^^y ^-g'ttr " I have kissed her." said Dick. " That is all. I didn't care to do more or 1 could have done it " ;ho Jul "^'h"',* "^/^ ^" '^'' "^°'^-" Tempest looked away at the glass ; did not seem to recognise the face reflected there he aiked ^"""^ ''^""- " "^''^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ '^ do morcT' Dick's self-control was breaking he'sa^d"^"^' Vt!;'' "°A'"'^ ^ ^'"*" ^' y°" t^ t° «^^kc me out." he said. I meant to save you. That's why." in theVCt"'.? To Jrsr: r '^^"^^' "^^ ^ ^"^^^ ^"^^ -^^^ chl' ^M? i^""^ ^'"°^1''. "P °^^^^ "^^^ before she ever saw you and L'X'rS ^e^erii!:'. ^^^^ '^^'^ ^^ ^^ ^^ -^ - ^^er sei' heH ^^'-''-^^ "'^^ "^^ yo" have caused other men to Thln'it^'died^^DTrkl?' °"' !f Tempest's voice for an instant. ^ -' Uatfad sS1onr?;;;o'uT''^^^^^- '^^"^^^^^ '''' = I tell you she was spoiling your " yo': Ih^^ul^d^tLf tfherT"^' "^^ ^'^ ^^^' ^°^^ ^° ^^ ^^^^ The ring of pain in the words turned Dick weak for a breath This man was treading where he could never follow Th^ insult to mmself ; the cold brutality of deed and woS • the reason which now seemed no more than impertinent inter c^^^^^^^^^r^^^^^^'^-^^o.. "One For a httle space Tempest was silent. But Dick felt fbp gr.i,„= „. ^aripust s motUw and sisters on the wlU, and 'at the 'THE THIEF ON THE LEFT' other men to le to you that s low, " One 225 can make you anythin- but rJsnnn ihi I I.'^ "° ^'°'' ""'" ^l^vil think she could have ci^ec? K n V"' ^''^*^- ^^ ^^e first I even then. What are you^oi;^ o n^^\ T" ^^'^^' ^^ ^"^^ Dick naoistened his hps ^Sv such t'"' '^ "°^ ? " men occasionally, which co.ihl /.v.\ i : ^/^^ common to most ment. was an in^inTtey leaser t hi r;/'''^^^^ ^"^'^ ^"'^ "^°^«- , • 1 am not ,^oing to iotnyl^Z^'^'-'};}. ''"^^''^"'^'^ stillness. I have (lone too niuch and [nm^n .,""'''' '' ''"'^^'"^ ^ do. ihit it was necessary—^' ^"^ ""*^ ^^^'^ *« excuse myself. co^^z!:^^::'^^ p ^^? ;;^- j^- you. do you th^k i of that ? " ^°" ^ y°" ^^^ve mercy on her because post was now tramplin/in to 'T,? '"i?" ''^" "'"'^h Tom- recognise its hurt "'" "°"''' ™ke presently to I si/eToVisrcxtTs sc ;Mt^"< '.°^^'; "- ="°-- n I could make you unrl^rin! . .u' . ""' ' '="• ' do more, because you were rZing your wl^^' " "^'' "> "^^ done " wEs t'r? r^ "8'i: even tTe eyes yvnat IS that to you ' " he sniH " \r , own hfe long ago ? What hn=\^ T-f . . " ^^° ''"i^ed your dared you interfere wHh my^^^ *« ^« ^^^h you ? 6ow •\You°d"id?t'becaus?y™rcareJZ^''^'^ ^°""' ^^^ not, change, did it because, as I wTyoTr frien5°ruT ^"^T"^^'^*" ^^ u have your fun and I would novPr«, ^ . ^""^^ ^^^^ y^" ^0"^ you do not know how to live an h?''^ ^^^ ^^^ ^* because And then you shield ^rself hi ^"^ ^""^ honourable hfe. to do with you ? I am retnn K,'"^ "'^- ^^^^^ ^as my hfe you." ^ " • -^ ^"^ responsible to my God for it-not to iy?sV::eTi:i%Sf::^'' gLk'^^^ - «. table, and his because there was no anger in Sm Jf ^^'^^' *^^^ tempest. grief for himself and ^o thi^!^Z ^^"^^"^ ^™ ' ^^^^ ^ deep " Vnnt- !,<: ■ "^^ man. - '^^ Canada--" °"^"' ^ «■■=« deal to me, Tempest. And to f ' . f m 226 THE LAW-BRINGERS X " ^^l l%u^^^^^ ^^'° • " The little sneer was not like Tcnnpest. That is complimentary, perhaps, but not con- " Upon my honour " ';^ Again compUmentary, but not convincing." said Tempest. This stung Dick into action. He moved forward a step and the colour came back to his face " Whether you hke or don't like," he said. " you shall hear me now. You shall hear what I've got to say, and, by God you won t forget it. For I'm speaking truth, and you will know Its truth. I have never taken the stand among men that you have I did not want to, if I could have done it. But you have chosen to stand where you do stand in the eyes of the world. You have chosen to be known in the Force and far beyond it as a man whose judgment and whose word and whose advice should be trusted. You have chosen that men ijould know your opinions and should know that vou walked by them. You were not afraid of being judged Per- that ?"'''' ^""'^^'"'^^ ^^^^ted judgment. Can you deny Tempest did not attempt to. His face had not changed. And do you see what you are doing now ? You who allowed yourself to be considered as an example ? Do vou see what you have done now that you have put your name in the mouth of every man as the name of one who is eager and wilhng to smk all his ideals, all the weight of his influence, all his power for the gratification of what he knows to be the lower — the lowest part of his nature." Tempest's lips moved, but no sound came from them His face was changing now. " You do know it ! " Dick hurled the words at him " And you shall surely know what you have done. You are com- mittmg one of the deadhest of sins, because you can't fall without dragging down all those whom you have allowed to believe m you. You cau't faU without defiling all that truth and honour anri virtue which you have chosen to make your- self the exponexxt of. You chose to take a high place— I don't say you were not fit for it. You were. But you can't leave that place without disgrace to more than yourself. You have chosen to wield a great influence, and now you are choosing to betray It. \ ou say you are responsible to your God What is your God going to say about it ? The virtues that you are making a bonfire of are popularly supposed to belong to Him in the first place, aren't they ? " ^ .'e stopped, but Tempest made no sound, no movement. He was not looking at Dick now. His eyes went straight past to the wmuow, but Dick knew that he was looking at himself. A wave of remorso swept over Dick. He was never hurt by !er was not like 3, but not con- " said Tempest, forward a step, " you shall hear y, and, by God, ti, and you will md among men d have done it. tand in the eyes 'n in the Force md whose word ive chosen that know that you g judged. Per- Can you deny not changed. >w ? You who 3 ? Do you see >ur name in the lo is eager and lis influence, all to be the lower om them. His at him. " And You are com- you can't fall ave allowed to I all that truth to make your- place — I don't row can't leave slf. You have are choosing to God. What is 3 that you are belong to Him no movement, it straight past ing at himself, never hurt by ' THE THIEF ON THE LEFT ' the roughest handling R„f t ^^^ material ^''''''^' ^"* tempest was of such different Tempest " Tempest's glance brushed arrn« k- t was no expression in it '' ^'' ^°^ ^ moment. There .. You can go," he said. ., Tempeg, for God's sake don't " And IT I t°o1dTou ?S to?'?^^^- "I *°^d you that before. Tem^'esrs^pL/;;^^^^^^^^ other sound at all, although he is^entdf'^'^ '^^^^ ^^^^ no Tempest had dropped into^ S ? J^"" ^ ^^^g^' ^ong while back, and his face was hSden on T ' ^""^"^^^ ^'^ arms on tiS seemed alive but his brain and th" f ' ™- ^^ P^rt of him "^t^t^ ^^^^^ '^'^^^ to iilTup^: .r' T"^"^^ "^^d blazing AH that Dick had said to h m wS trnf"^ $\ ^* ^^^ true^ ence. He was wielding it daXw^",.^^ ^^^ that influ was he doing with it ? God in ^^ "^^"^^ ^°^ ^^^e it. What with it ? Mfi^at was he Joing wx^hS "^^"^^ ^^ ^olng jehgion and duty which he had cIl led ^ F?^^ °^ ^«^k and What was he doin^ with it ht ^t . ®" to hear him preach ? Which he had set f f"r th mo^aT a^^^^^^^^ ^°^ ^ ^^^^ Sa^rd s^?I, ""'^ him : he who had no hesitatJd'?^ f^"^ ^^ ^^^^ small corner for Canada herself P ^^''^^^^^ to stand in his own told iLTe W, trtL' tfa'rf ^^- ^- ^^^t Dick had recognised it. In so far as thTh ^^ °"^ °" ^^ body as he a mock of God HimsSf H^^^eTpes't ? 'a ''}' ^^ ^ 'k-^| love and truth had made f S^ck Xf ^"^ "°^ ^od and sonnd^' f"^^' ^^^ h^ staved there sct^;iv^" '°^"^^^ ^^^^^ Th.r^-'^.^y ^^"^^ ^"to the woriS bevond fh'"^^'^'"^^ ""^^^ ^^^ That night was an uneasv one for n^ *,^® "^^^^ ^gain. and went down to the yard^C a ha^J' ^^^ ,^^ '°«« ^arly the dog-harness slung across if qiI?^''''^^ ^^^d stood with tent from where it hun^^n fL ^i^^i^^^^ ^^ ^^uled his l7tt]e ;t into shape for plckTnr Ther^ wa"a^,^ ^"^ ^^^ and fended old trail before him. and hT^J^^^f^r''^^^^ on a week- troubles of his life heretofore hrhn/K"^ °^ '^' ^^^m all the straight into space, with onlv ^ i ?^ ^^^^ ^^y. heading them. The keen air tinX^h. J *?"^^"^ ^^"^^ to gu df maw them restless wSfth,^^^^^ of the forest men of the trapped animal and for the In '\ '/"'^^"'^ ^^^ the c?; Of the forest on their faces \rvo"ut' ^^^"^ ^^^ ^^^^ Ane youn- breed opened his €\ li, M 'W AXmrn-' T'^ ?^^ ^^"" ^°^ him what it is intended it hi Ha ^ '^had drawn the restless evil out of him and ment %? "" ^''^ '^"^ ^^"^ ^''''' ^^^ ^^ honest content ment. He was strong enough now to stand up to the battle I:'|. 'THE THIEF ON THE LEFT' ^31 for a newe^Tove" ^t'S 'Li"f ^^H^t""* '-^°"» h™ Tempest had not fo Rivo„ ho ro„H°"",". ^^^^ "O"' Even if and love again. Tlie Xeat hand nf ^'°''^ T'^^P'^^ obedience disciphno, had been lieavv "„ »■ ^^ discphne, hourly bodily he felt the benefit of ?t lie ta,?d^''°"«'' '''^"' ='" '^^^^^ ^-d ™^^ by his own o.o^ci't^^z^^:::^^^:^^ tenderest and best-known little tL *"' ".""'''y '""S3 that men, and he leaned fromZtfnlwJSSg/ *"' ™^''«™" "^ '^clai.-e fontaine, M'en allant promener, J ai trouver 1' eau si belle yuo je me suis baigu^," sang Passepartout, ending with a wn.i " tr swung his dogs into the varT niJ. n H-r-r-r-rup," as he some, sullen Greek beside h[m Th. ""^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^d- fight for he was handcuffed to a sTran^n n^f ■ Tf^^^^^ ^^«^" smiled as Dick halted the Greekin Fh '? ' ^'^*- Tempest with that half-idle levity which Z ir^^ ^^^ ^P^^^ ^o him cunning equal to thal'S S^^ naSS'^t? "f ^'' " ^^^^P Greek was not fully awake to ?tT.?% ' u^ ^olverme. The attempt to escape ; and then tIJ^' /°' ^t ™^^^ ^^ abortive Dick caught the ma^by the eTbTw?t n^^I-^"^' ^"^^^ ^^ ^^^^t, and twisted him into a cell AfTT' l^ }l!^ '''''°^^ ^^^ Yard, tunic, and Tempest saw hfm nn^ '^*^^* ^^ P""^^ down his out and spoke to him "^'^ ^"^ ^^"^^ ^« Kennedy came to mTkrhitp^^^dte^^^^^^^^^^^ --^d be coming i„ pest's heart beat uneieniv as D^rkTu '°"i'"u^ "°^' ^"^ Tem- room. and gave his riport suc^to v r^i ""'' ^^°^^ ^"*° ^^e as Tempest himself. There was a ^ff,^ ''^'* ^^^ °«^^ial done. There was a moment whL Wv,^ ^^"'^ ^^^^ ^^ ^ad the barrier down. But tL -nr^ ?^ ""^^ ^^^*^^d to break strength of that desire and Cv^""* i"^'"'^ ' ^"^^d by the to settle back to his work "^^"^ °"*' ^^^^^"^ Tempest DiS^^Brtryt^d't^^^^^^^^ than for removal had come for him v.f ^^?'°'^' *°°- ^° ^^^d of he had to take his' stand'^.^t: -JS^!^"^:^^^ ^e had fallen, that were left to him Mo^i "■•'" 'A "" ""P^"^ ^"d the force w ..a t on Andree's skin when Bich'^nJL^ f *^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ n^XUS'lrVm^ "?^ -swarding" wS The weak in many ways\nd too strong in others He hTh*"" .ll-judged, cruel, selfish ; but he was not a har W^h T " ^i:^^ srr,- s^s-~ rf *- come: was he not learning that for himse^r Xnd tle^'oM fnendship could be retained, if God wiUeT ' ""^ "''* When Dick had left him he saf for a i,-<-+i^ i i • paperswhichDickhadbro^ghrxLv r^r'nfof hfZn!^^^^^^^^ m'lIdrthTh'e pa^' '"^f^'l "^^ P^"' But therTwastv^e Dick went to sleep in the bis chair in ?i,„ ^' night, and he waked to the 'sound o^soft sobb"nnd7e'M of something wet on hi^ hanHc or,^ ^ s,oDDmg and the feel " Dick," she said. " Dick." Just that, and her voice was verv low ■r,,^- -n- i i , • into those wet wild-animal eyes of her!' kn^^ t^.t r °°^'"! had spoken truth. By some mockerv of fht^ ft ^f "^P^^* had brought to Andree th^gifTof a soul th.?r^ ^' kI"?'"" him with it. For the momenf he did normovl h'^'^^'I 1°^." her as she knelt there with her faJe unh^Jnln" ^^^^^^^^ed light m Andree's eyes. Her lar coat and cap^ay on the flS I .i 'THE THIEF ON THE LEFT' — - 233 longtemps to wait" "''' "'"P" "'"■" ="<' ^'d. •• It was si do?brttcr°:L''\:ro?re t- ^t'^"^" *» --- *» hand. Tliere was bitterness and ip'' ''" '^^"'^ ""der his sm.Ie on his lips. This "as nnf I " Zf. '"'«" " the faint who might have loved pStv^f ^^^ =''™W this girl him ? He was not even flattered !^h"?™" ^new, choie know." ■ "" ''^'d. You have no right here, you ha™r"4M?o°Tom?tfvou "^Th T '^JI^"^^ -«y. .• i iant-tinted face crse. '^^Make not T^^^'' """• "^1- ^ToS). ^'^''■" ^"^ -"'• ■^^ave"tLtT:^*:iirg foTa' to?^iTso";'iS?'s"Shat^?l\""? ""* ''^ --'<' have powers to go' through"lth it For ?• "^ "? *';''" ""^ ^" "= not be bound by any of tL orH Grange's Andree would women. She wLTeLing o„ hi^lr conventions which rule hand against her with"hose two'li^''r«i =""^ '>°'dtog his ^•"did^'M^sToll'll'l"'''™ °°" "' '"''■ she said gleelulir "T^l^el^^JS'J f^ '''" ^°" -""^e,- -except Moosta's babijs iZ * ^° ""="= to Wss before than Moosta's babies Dick " '' "' ""* """'^^ better cas^:^r;a"p''oSh™ he°had°h"r "*'>- ™-" - "ke unsure with Gfange's Andree '"■'"'"'°- ^"* fx^ was •■ ^rqZn''^"""'- '^"* y™ ">»«t not kiss me any more." wereX"VrydeaT"rt Zl'^'^t '^"'^''=<' *« e^^e we Andree/Dil.t you know thTtp'"' "" P=«' >="" ^e cour, C'est bon":Sr' K£^m?iict"'^- " ^ '"''^«°"- ^ien , those^SL'mea'^^^fHint totrte hfd "T' "'^™- ™>« they mattered. He looked p+vL 1 J°' considered that fomcthing woke in him that had 1^*"" ^f /^^^ <^^'''. »d He fought ,t i-Patiently tirmTnV"°Sht™bered''rt^- *; if' I j nfi 234 tt » '- ■ifli' -* II. THE LAW-BRINGERS " 1^.%'!!^ "''"'?• """^ P"'^^^ ^"'^ ^^'-^'^ back, and stood up home/' ^''' ^"" ^"y "^°^^' ^"^^^^- Get up and g^o wifh heThand^ h".g^1/" °^^ ^^^^^^ -«— *' ^^anding still tures "^^rn ""^^^«t^"d/' she said. " You did make my pic- t^ires. And you did say ' je t'aime.' and you did k ?^ Ws knoXr st"-" ^^%P--^. with Tr tt'raigh shrdim?v lit' JJl-Tu ""^r^ ^"y°"^ ^^' English, and yet mar ^ Sin? S-^ ^'°"^^* ^^^ "^°^^ *« the level of the W Kn'fiLl T ?^ y^"" "^"'^ b^^^- I think of you mfk^'it s^ '"°^-' " ^^ y^^ -"^^ knoJ^i's-rosY^^^ou evfs^' H?t^.l7H*l^l: ^°°^.^"^ ^^ ^^"^^^th innocent, appealing he kneJ^ But thn/n "f"^? *^" ""^" ^°°"^ restlessly.^ Yes^ in the Terv leas? Th "°^* '?"" "^'^^ *° ^^P^^^ ^^e matted come^andTlV^ikHv'"'! *^^* ^* ^^ "°* customary for a girl to come and talk hke this to a man, my dear " he said " Tf was W jouer only You have no riglt to'think m^ e of it '' if h^^ ^^ ^" *^^ "^h*'" «^id Andree gravely " I feel '* !? Tr^'i ^y/oe"^-niy-my top 'tomick '' ^ * inen I had no right to give you the right. Foreet it " Mais— what do that mean ? ' ' -forget it. His face looked drawn and dark. The shVht ^mi]^ ..t. i,;. A^H^^! better. He hated himself for the paft he must plav ^^^f:^. "fee ^ - — --" treated"'vonM^^* ^ T *^'? °^ y°"' " "^^^ns that I have Andree.''^ ^°'' ^^"^^ *'"^*^^ P^^^^^ °f "^^«. Grange's " Then—what make me feel— so-for you ? " she asked busi Ji: srtiiougr' ""' '" '^' ^ '''-'' '"^-^^ ^^^^ " Bi^tCaT/lou^^TW *^l*°"' °^ °^^ suddenly awakened. ^^^«^ 1 want you. That make you want me because I want ;; Not by chalks. How about Tempest ? " big chair, and looking at her with tired, wise eyes X takes a woman to get down to the personal view," he ' THE THIEF ON THE LEFT • 235 you that you've got tt^goods t'' J" h? n"ow ■^°'' ' "^^"™ " Ift'lT/ TS "■■^t^. through her tfeft."""- she asked ™ ' """"" ^o from Tempest and I was afraid ? ■• " Ab-solutely." hi;^f\*d^^"„o1tnusT',?ect?e^'°™' ''"'' ' '^"' —^ »!* ^^ Oh, Lord. Yes ! " '' And—and like when Ogil " our m"aS at?em^pC°arer ^Tft'-uo^^r^ "^f ? "^■''"^ wateh out for another fellow who's fookfn.LT' ^^,'''""'i ""'' youthewhole^worldsolongas^oS'^^^^^^^^^^^ thg. b^^^ltlsl wlorr;^"^^^^^^^^ .lUce any „, Dick shrugged his shoulders. ^ hope"hatTeZ7^o''LrhlSr'^'Te f T '^. \ ^^^--"^ exactly like them fll because f don't W ^°''''"'=- '* *^ you loved them," ' '°™ y™ ^"y more than no^MeTe"' ""'"'=■ "^ '^" "'' ""«■ But still she could S'iii^'ew'thai z Lr^o^hV^ "to ;r "-'f reasoning out. She iust «?n„ahf +J \ ^ ^°"°^ ^ l»ne of have donl But tt^idTofe^a ^efl ' 'H?eva^°S ^S'"* answer. "Centers. ±ie evaded direct " To-night you have done a good deal " Ti^ c^;^ .. t • you my word that a man does nof.nf^ ' f , ^'^- ^ S^^® made me feel to-night.'^ ^^ ^^^^'"^ ^^ ^^^ have But what have I done to -trrM, 3 " c j i , herself into the chair-seTf ZJ^ Suddenly she flung shoulders. Her eves w.rf'f ^^^^^'""l "P her hands to his great love. ''Wh^tZvelJnZ'^' ^"* ^^^""^ ^^^^ thei? began when you were made a ,„„X,,„ f r ^"^ trouble Andree." ™™^° ^"d I "as made a man. " No ' ' "HelookrfTt her' ''t?^'""'■ "°* -"derstanding. he was paintfng t? "^' "^Z ''f^lT^!^l''°^^ ff when to be, wouldn't it ? Th^ td^ " ""v. 7 "'-"^^ better not you a good dea'i ^tj^^:;:Ltz:^7:t^z:^.'' °- !' l.[ JW \v '■ W\ 1 I i' 1 "t \ il 1 . I I (!-■ 236 THE LAW-BRINGERS Ah! she said impatiently. "I do not understand Kiss me, Dick. You did not never wait so long before " " You hit very straight for a woman, my dear girl But I am not going to kiss you any more, Andree, because, having hurt you quite considerably I have to keep on hurting you in order to regain my self-respect. Does that sound funny to you ? It sounds equally funny to me. Very nearly fuiinv enough to make one laugh. But I can assure you that it is according to the ordmary rules of the game." 4- " ?^.?" Lu^°" "^^^^ ^° "^"^^ ^^^^ ' And I do not under- stand. She pushed her face close to his. " Put your hands on my face and kiss me, Dick. That I do understand." that " ' ^°" ^^' ""^^^^" ^^^P y°"- ^® ^^ave made sure of He freed himself from her clutching hands and picked up her cap and coat. ^ " Put these on and go home, Andree," he said. " It's fret- ting late." ^ She sprang upright in one bound ; her hands gripped up her eyes blazing. ^^ ^' He shrugged his shoulders and turned to meet her " Now we are going to have it," he said. A moment she stood so ; battling with the great sobs that were shaking her. Then she hurled herself forward on her knees with her arms round him in what T^ould have been melo- drama in another woman but was pure natural abandonment m Grange s Andree. "Put your hand on to me," she sobbed. "Put your hand— an' say you love me. Dick ! Dick ! Not to make me go like this. Not to be cruel— all in one togezzer. Dick — it make me kill some place inside." Apart from the real pity and shame in him his natural instinct for analysis was awake. He had not dreamed that there was anything in the girl which could suffer like this She clung to him, hiding her face against him, and she shook them both with her wild sobbing. He drew a hard breath, standing quite still, and looking at this thing as his mind showed it It was inevitable that he should break Andree here, because Andree stood for the primitive, the savage ; for the primal thing which has to be done away with before the march of progress. She was the Canada of the unformed, the undisci- plined, the uncivilised. And, being so, she had to make way tor the needs and desires of the white man who peoples the world m the place of the native-born. For always, over the face of the earth, go the white men ; fulfilling their destiny • destroying the lesser within or without the law • taking that which they can never replace ; but obeying, eveA as the lesser animal obeys, that great merciless inscrutable Power which •THE THIEF ON THE LEFT' 237 has made of the white race rulers, founders, destroyers ; the builders-up of new dynasties ; the devourers of tlxc old. Tempest stood for the new dynasty ; for the race of the future ; for a link in the long chain wherewith the white man buckles the earth to himself. And Andree stood for the old dynasty ; the thing which must die ; the thing to be trodden hard that the roots of the new-planted tree should stand firm in it. This was the law of life ; the law of eternity. It was the ever-mutable Now out of which the Future is shaped. All mankind were governed ahke by that law. There was no escape. But, with those young arms gripped eibout him, Dick did not feel competent to lay the whole blame on the natural evolution of destiny. Andree drew herself up against him ; lifting her quivering lips. " Not to love me, perhaps," she said. " But to let me stay. To put your hand on me. Not to stand— io. Dick, make your eyes kind to me again." He took her arms and lifted her away resolutely. " My dear girl," he said, " don't you think we've had enough of this ? You don't expect me to change my mind once I've said a thing, do you ? " Then the savage roused in her. She charged him, with head down and hands clawing and white teeth snapping. The onslaught all but upset him, for he was unprepared, and for a few moments he needed to put out all his strength to master her. He had her by the wrists at last, and they faced each other ; tall, straight and breathless, with white passionate faces and shut lips. Then, quite suddenly, Andree laughed. " Dieu," she said. " You are the strong man. I think you might kill me." " I wish I could," said Dick sincerely. Andree laughed again. ^ " I did never have done like you do to me," she said. " Even Robison he say, ' Cherie Andree. Bonne Andree.' Mais vous— ! Voila ! C'est tout le meme devil in we two." " Then you ought to know how to respect it. Will you go home ? " " Peste ! I do not know." She looked at him in frank appreciation. At the brown, lean face— hard-fleshed, well- shaped, wind-tanned ; at the set of the lips and the slightly- twitching thin nostrils ; at the level eyes whence the pity was driven back. He was so entirely the man and the master that the animal simplicity in her obeyed him with actual pleasure in the obedience. " Bien," she said, and glanced down at her wrists where his grip drove the colour from her skin. " Bien," she said again, and glanced up daringly to Ills face. " Kiss me now, Dick, and I will go." » 1 ^H j l.H^^^H i i^^^^M ' ^^^^^1 i^^H ^;.^^^^^B \^^^^^^M t^^H E^^H . i^^^l !■ niifl^^H i ^'i a » "1 238 THE LAW-BRINGERS ifi 1 '1' i i|ifii fin if I She brought her mouth near. Her breath was sweet and milky as a cow's, and her red hps were parted hke a child's. The storm had passed for the moment, but electricity was in the air yet. Dick felt it. And felt as he had felt before the intoxication of her beauty. And he let his lips stoop down to hers. And then she flung her arms round 'ms neck and so held him. And he did not hear when Tempest, coming back from the Leighs' evening party, walked down the passage, and opened the mess-room door. It was Andree who heard and saw and pulled free with a little cry. Dick did not look at Tempest. He put the girl into her cap and coat ; pulled wide the outer door, and gave her good-night on the step. Then he turned coolly back into the room, with a simulation of indifference on him. His luck was surely surpassing itself to-night. Tem- pest's head was bare. But he still wore his fur coat, and his hands were gloved. Dick wondered for a moment if the man would hit him. But Tempest only said, very quietly : " If she was not good enough for me, can it be possible that you consider her good enough for yourself, my friend ? " The words bit like acid, but Dick did not wince. His mouth drew down at the corners in the slight smile Tempest had always hated to see. There was no defence for this case, and he was not going to make any. Tempest's face changed. His eyes blazed suddenly, and he drew himself up to his full height : cold ringing steel, hke the sword of justice unsheathed. " I hold you responsible for her," he said. " I hold you responsible for her till the end of time." Out of the miserable consciousness of his treachery Dick answered him. " By what right ? " he asked, and the sneer twisted his lips. A moment more Tempest stood, unmoving. Then he seemed to crumble and weaken. He put his hand up to his face sud- denly ; turned, and stumbled out, and Dick saw his shoulders heaving. The door shut, and Dick sought in his pockets for his pipe, tried to fill it, and found that his hands would not serve him. He stood still, staring straight at the wall. There was no palhation for what he had done, and not for an instant did he attempt to find any. Vaguely, at the back of his head, two lines of some profane ong were ringing : " And the thief on the left said never a word. For the son of a gun had sand." Dick had offered no weak excuses. He had accepted his disgrace and stood up to it. But for the moment there was no relief in that. He spoke slowly, drawing a deep breath. " He will never forgive himself for that," he said. " He will never forgive himself because he let me see him crying " a I.: CHAPTER XIII. " I WANT THE WEST AGAIN." '^S'''^ff^' "'^'^ J^""^^^'- " ^"^^^^ h^« been talking North- West all the afternoon, and I'm quite drunk with it " sav h^lhr^e^^'-^'" Tli ^'TK' r^^^"^ gently." " Please mfd^P nf il ' '"'"'^ ^^^" l^.'''''^^' ^^"S^^d' standing in the middle of the room and pushing back her hair into a ruddy glory round her bright face. ^ •'What a darling you are." she s.id. " Isn't she, Slicker ? Mother mine, if I go West again you'll have to come too-I'' ^^ Lut you don t want to go West again, dear." ..r. ,^^■ : .u ^^^""^^y ^''' Y°" ^"°^ I always would begin everything at the beginning-even a book. And they are st 11 beginning at the beginning out there. We'll go bLk and fn'Jl \'^uV'' ^,d«"^°^^at, and be tracked in a York 'boat, and have half-breed servants who don't know the English fo^ Hurry up, and— for mercy's sake. Slicker! Therf- ar^^ visitors! Fly! Fly! I wouWt ha;e anybody see you^ that rig for a pension." ^ ^ ^ C.U ^'^ ?'n ^f"^^'^ ?^ Jennifer's mother SHcker had robed him- ?^;if f"" glory of mooseskin coat, blue shirt and moccasins. He stood his ground now, impudent and delighted. honev I'll t J*^ ' " -^^ f^^^- " ^^^^ ^ f^"o^ a Show, honey. 1 11 knock 'em in these better than in any store' clothes ever sewn. ^ cnrt^n^'^ ^nu"^?^''^. ^^^'"'^^'^ ^^' P^^P^^^ through the curtains. Oh. it is Mrs. Barrymore and Angela. They are r« .S?? V wouldn't so much mind-but Mrs. Chichester tLn^ 1 ,f'"V^''? ^^^ ' ^^"^^ys looking for something to be llr^ tS ^^°''^- .^^" y°" S'' Slicker ? Martha will be showing them m just in half a minute." Slicker sat down. "There;s a meanness about you sometimes that I don't Mr.' rv^i; ; ?^ ?-f,marked. " Why should you disappoint ^Z-S!^'^l'^''J ^^ ^'^ ^11 "^eant to make life as ple^ant ckuj TT<^ \-an lur otiicrs. " If you think that you'll go. Oh~it's too late." , I I t 240 THE LAW-BRINGERS / \li She went forward with her charming, half-shy grace of manner, and, quailing under the suppressed emotion of the three ladies m the door, weakly introduced Slicker as " mv cousm. Just come from the North-We.^t, you know " It was the extremely pretty girl in the middle who dis- concerted Slicker for at least hve minutes, and Jennifer was human enough to find spiteful delight in the knowledge But the h^tle feminine flutter and stir and half-finished sentences before seats and tea were provided gave him his balance again Six weeks ago Slicker had left Grey Wolf and come to Toronto to settle his business affairs with his uncle before joining the Fohce His uncle had been displeased and had not troubled to conceal the fact. On the whole. Slicker considered that he rather obtruded it. Jennifer and her mother had been in New York, and to-day was Slicker's first cha .ce for full appreciation and confidence. The advent of these three threatened to spoil It, and Slicker was bent on revenging himself accordingly Jennifer began to tremble when she'saw that he attached himself unhesitatingly to Mrs. Chichester ; bringing cake and tea, closing a window against the draught, and finally setthng into the next chair with all the appearance of one who intends to be a fixture. Mrs. Chichester pinned him instantly under her lorgnette, and through Jennifer's conversation with the others she heard scraps of conversation which did not ease her mind. " Why, no," said Slicker, in evident answer to some ques- ^°^'r^u\ ^,^"PP°s^ I i^ight rather call myself a missionary." Oh ! Mrs. Chichester's voice was dubious. " I thou'^ht missionaries were— would not— but I infer you must follow the customs of the country ? " "Oh, I hope not." The scandalised piety in Slicker's tone would have done credit to Mrs. Chichester herself Please don't mention the customs of the country Mrs Chichester." •" " Why — you don't mean " Both voices dropped, and through the unheard conversation which followed Jennifer, as she told Slicker afterwards simply grilled." She broke it at last by coming across with her cup. " I really must interrupt you," she said. " Mrs. Barrymore wants to speak to you, Slicker, and you have monopolised Mrs Chichester quite long enough. Mrs. Barrymore is a member of the Woman's Auxiliary, Slicker. You have helped unpack some of the bales of clothing which they send out to the Anglican Missions, I know. I have heard you speak of it at Grey Wolf." Shcker's blue eyes met hers full. They looked startlingly blue m the deep bronze of his face, and they look-d wickedly must follow 'I WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 241 amused He had read her ruse, and he was not going to let her benefit by it. He rose promptly. " I shall be delighted to give Mrs. Barrymore any information she may require about the best kinds of things to send up tnere, he said. ^ "Shcker," began Jennifer despairingly, and then Mrs. Barrymore smiled across the room. ;; You are a convert to mission work, then ? " she asked. ru ^l-• R ^''^'^^^y ^ convert." Shcker remembered Miss Chubb s oft-repeated assertions that he would be the death of ner and that the circumstance was fierce. " I do what little I can ; his voice was modest. " Sometimes I help the dea- coness sell things to the breeds and Indians. A corporal in the r; w u-f^ i*'^'"^ *° ""^^^ °^ ^^"^^ of the girls around Grey Wolf if only we could get something stylish on them to take the eye Jennifer's mother created a diversion for a few moments. But Shcker returned to the attack. He was enjoying himself interested " expected, and the pretty girl was evidently Tvyr "^" "®®^ *? ^^^^ "P ^°"^^ real smart dashing clothes. Mrs. Bariyniore." he said. " I know what a breed girl wants to make her look human. I've tried most of the bale-room things on them " '^ 2,^ I " , ^^^ Chichester shot the word out like a bomb, and Shcker s calm voice continued : " —on top of their other clothes. They re not nice about a thing fitting too quick. And If you pmch them in one place they— they make up for it m another. Find their level, as you may say. But Dick and 1 would like to see them in something stylish. Not neat, plain, serviceable garments, such as you send, and not squishy thinf^s either. There's one chiffon bonnet with rosebuds that I've tried on every girl in the district— and not one of 'em but would scare a skunk in it. You have to study their requirements, you know. There are half a dozen would make a good stand m the matrimonial market if they were dressed to kill." u ^T ^PP"^.^^ *o take a great interest in human nature." began Mrs. Chichester acidly. " In half of it y ; Shcker's bow was as unimpeachable as his voice. But Jennifer broke in ruthlessly. TVT- ' "%.^?f "'* ^^^^^y k^°^ anything about it, Mrs. Barrymore. Miss Chubb never lets him into the bale-room if she can help • ^u ®^ ^^ ^^'^^ that he took more watching than a hen m the flower-garden. He dressed up to-day to amuse us. and he is just trying to act the part." Now Mrs. Chichester, didn't you read all about the Mis- sions and the Mounted Police in those articles Jennifer wrote '.or one of the Toronto papers ? " i| m .!| (lii "; i ■ f) ii:'-r :» t ... 1 . ' i i ''' 'm 242 if I Slicker ! had THE LAW-BRINGERS I never wrote them. You know I didr't. And Jennifer went red and white. She had been too lar inside that hfe to speak of it lightly. A l^^^^' ^^ ^0"rse, you don't know the whole of it. anyway A Mounted Pohceman has to carry his hfe in his hand you know. His hfe in one hand and his revolver in the other and his reins between his teeth. That's why they won't let you into the Force if you have false teeth. Too much depends on their staying in. Mine are all right." Slicker smiled to ^I?r u . T.,'^ ^^ joining next month. It's a tricky kind K tr,, . ?''} '^'''^^ *° ^^"°^ y°" by telling you too much about that sort of thing. We men are accustomed to danger you know. ° ' Jennifer looked at him with interest. His manner was cer- tainly splendid. Even Mrs. Chichester was impressed, and Angela Barrymore never took her eyes off him. " Of course anyone who lives constantly in such conditions cannot be exactly normal." vouchsafed Mrs. Chichester with the air of one granting a concession. '' But I guess you don't know anything about the conditions yet. Did my cousin tell you of the river-steamers where tiie cabins are so small that you have to go outside to turn round and the whole ship's company and passengers wash in one basm m the alley-way ? Or about the shacks where the board- dark "°"^ ^^^ ^" ^"^^ ^^^^*' ^° *^^* ^^'^ ^^^^ *° S° ^° ^^"^ ^"^ *^® " That will do, Slicker ! " " Now. honey 1 Don't you pretend you don't know Who pinned h^ things up all around the walls that night at Sheri- dan s ? Think I didn't hear about it ? " With the other ladies' cordial co-operation Jennifer turned the conversation, and Slicker subsided into a corner with Angela Barrymore. Neither seemed anxious to come out of it when the move for departure was made ; and Shcker accom- panied them all into the hall and waved his good-byes from the step. When he came back Jennifer was waiting for him. You— you perfect httle beast. Slicker. ' ' sne cried. ' ' What made j^ou do it ? " " Be easy honey " ; the familiar term, caught from Dick, stilled Jennifer s heart for a moment. " That old lady with the three cock s-tails hasn't had such a time since she doesn't know when. You'll hear all about it at half a dozen afternoons. And think what kudos you'll get for having seen it all." \ ou didn't tell her anything about— me. Slicker ? " B Slicker put his hand on her shoulder, looking down at her You didn't think that of me. honev ? Not for one little niinute That's right. Now. come and have a jaw over the fire. Wliere's auntie ? " didr't. And had been too •f it, anyway. lis hand, you in the other, ley won't let luch depends :er smiled to a tricky kind ,^ou too much 3d to danger, mer was cer- pressed, and h conditions Chester, with le conditions rs where tiie turn round, vash in one •e the board- to bed in the :now. Who ;ht at Sheri- aifer turned corner with me out of it ;ker accom- i-byes from ? for him. d. " What from Dick, 1 lady with she doesn't afternoons, all." •? " )wn at her. ir one little w over the ' I WANT THE WEST AGAIN ' 243 " Someone came to see her on business." Jennifer lo. her- self down beside Slicker on the hearthrug, and flung on a hickory-knot I just hate you for making fun of all the splendid work people do for the missions." she said " And you were very rude about the W.A.. too." " She didn't mind, bless you. A^d I told Miss Barrvmore some plain truth." y*"^ic " Oh. I hope it wasn't too plain, you wretch. You know how you " ^°^' ^o^' fon't waste time. I want to get down to essentials. You re glad that I'm going into the Force ? " Yes. Yes ; I think so. But it will take " "I know, honey I know it's not all ice-cream, sodas, and hmehght effects. I know it's not an easy life in any one way Tempest rubbed that into me-salted it in. But I have decided on it. and I will stick to it." Jennifer was thinking of one man of the Royal North- West ^?."i?,^^,^ P°L'''^' ^""^ ""^ ^^^ ^^"* °f ease his life had given him Uid— did anyone else advise it ? " she asked " Well— I told you what Dick Heriot said. But I didn't tell you why. Anyway, it's a life where a man has to be a man or get out. And that's attractive, you know " " Oh. you boy ! Is that all ? " 1, "^A-" .^}'''^^' P^^'^^ *^^ ^^® ""*il t^e sparks flew, and he dxd not look at her. " No. I've been rotting sinc^ you left Jennifer. I had to take up something— or follow Ogilvie's " Slicker ! Oh. Slicker ! " Jennifer saw the boy face and figure through a sudden mist of tears. " I never thought of that for you. ° " I never thought of it for myself. But it is in the air up there, someway. You know how it is. Jennifer. Nothing to do but hang around the hotel and smoke and yarn and drink And when you were gone-well, I told you Heriot pulled me up that day of the fire. He didn't say much. But, my land he S-utf"^ ^° ^ ^"""^ ^^^' ^ ^'^^ ^^ "^^^"'^ ^^^^^y ^"^'^ a "Perhaps if you — if you knew him better, dear " Jennifer s words were uncertain here, but Slicker's answer was " D'you think I don't know him a hundred times better than you do honey ^ Even if I could forgive him for what he did Tempest '^^ ^°"' ^ ''''"'* ^"'"^'''^ ^'"^ ^°'" ^^^^ ^""'^ ^°^"S ^^ Jennifer made the fire up before she asked : ■• What is he doing to Mr. Tempest ? " " Well--you know how crazy poor old Tempest is over Granges Andree ? Heriot is cutting him out there, lock. J ■f I I: \n, rif'H 1 ii 3 . 1 I -J f N ■ i ; i 1 . ^. . 'il'l 1 r i i. te ii mi ii W?l ' J < i 1 t 244 THE LAW-BRINGERS . f stock and barrel. But he hasn't the honesty to let Tempest know, and the poor old beggar is as blind as a bat where that girl IS concerned. It's a beastly underhand trick to play any ^That ^'^^""^ "^ ""^^^'"^^ ^^"°* ^'""^ ^^^"^ ^ ^°* *° ^^^ ^^"""^ " Oh, Slicker ! You don't know what you are talking about. You never do. They were such friends " "That's the reason," said Shcker gloomily. "Tempest would never suspect. He's jealous of every other man, but he trusts Heriot. It's a bad business, honey, and Heriot's a bad lot. So s Andree. I can't see why fellows make such a fuss over the girl. Did I tell you I saw Robison when I came through Fort Saskatchewan ? It was just a few days before he was hung He'd been sick, you knov . tnd that and the confinement had pulled him down. His voice was as hollow as a bottle after Ogilvie had done with it. But he didn't seem to worry any. 'How's Andree?' he asked, right away. Pretty as ever, I said. ' She's shaken Tempest, and isn't wearing the willow over it either. ' My ! you should have seen how that brightened him up. Of course, I didn't tell him about JJick. He never loved Dick, anyway." ;; I suppose not. Poke that log back, Slicker. It's smoking." I guess he just thinks of Andree, Andree all the time " said Slicker, obeying. " I wish somebody had drowned that girl when she was a kitten— I mean, as old as a kitten. She's done more harm than any one person has a right to, and she isn t through yet. I guess. There are stacks more fools left in the world. I suppose she is a beauty, though. Heriot has made some glorious pictures of her, Forbes says. He writes to me regularly. Rather a nice chap. You remember him, don t you ? Shcker continued his monologue, giving Jennifer time to recover her poise. It was not long since she had had a letter , f°"^.7^' \?P^,°^ those interesting, vivid sketches of daily X. Ji ^®^ ^°^^ ^^^^^ ^^® ^"^w so well how to write There had been no word of love in it. He had only gained permis- sion to write on condition that there should be none But "^^ .1}"^^ ^^^""^ ^^^" ^^y wo^d of Andree. After all, why should there be ? What had it to do with Jennifer if Dick painted pictures of Andree. or if he turned to Andree for com- fort ? Wliat should it be to her except a gladness, a relief that he was not going to spoil his years waiting for what could not be ? She did not think of Tempest. There was not room for Tempest even as a background when Dick filled the fore- ground of hex thoughts. Hastily her mind said that she did not believe it. but that she hoiipd if- S"reh' it »— M ^-^ -^K- best thing that could happen. Then she returned to present ute to hear Shcker say : let Tempest t where that to play any D the bottom liking about. " Tempest er man, but d Heriot's a nake such a vhen I came days before hat and the IS as hollow didn't seem right away, it, and isn't Id have seen 11 him about s smoking." the time," owned that ;ten. She's to, and she :e fools left Heriot has He writes ember him, lev time to lad a letter es of daily ite. There led permis- lone. But er all, why fer if Dick 36 for com- !ss, a relief what could s not room d the fore- lat she did •UiQ i_re the to present 'I WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 245 '' And so that's the end of that story." How very interesting, Shcker dear." Jennifer did not hesitate long enough to be ashamed of her mendacity. ' ' Now tell me all about Grey Wolf." ^ ' " Well, I've just told you " abou?Mr° RnnH ^ If'^f' ^'"u"'^ '°^^" "^°^^- ^ ^^^^ to know he found And Th^^^^' ^T."i^^ "^^ ^^^^^ "^^ wild-flower Mrs Lef^h And ^ T?^ u!^- ^^^'^ ^^ ^^^ barracks, and ivirs. i^eigh And Son-of-Lightning. I am so {jlad Mr I eiVh gave him that nttle shack in the Hudson Ba/yard Shckfr I would have hated to think of him lonely " ^ H Ti Zr^'^^i^.u^^'' ^^^^ '^ y°^ ^^^^ a^ employee of the H.B., honey. He'll drive them all to drink if the v can't lit the song out of him by a surgical operation or something My he IS a caution. Well, it's veiy nice over here, but I'm glad Oh! fwantt ! " ' '° '"^ ''^*- ' ^°- ' ^^^ *« ^^ ^ack. ey2'o7her. ^^' '^^"^ ^'^^ '"^^'" P^"^' " ^^^^^^^ ^Hcker's fi,r ^^' ^^''!f^ ' y^"" ^^^ s"^h a bad time out there I never thought you'd want to go back." ei,"ii^^"'" J^^^'^e^ looked at the fire, speaking slowlv " I shall hear something about Harry some Jay, dear and it is easier waiting for it out there. Here-it s a little Sffficu? ind of 'r°"""^,- "^^^ r'' ^^''y h^^ disappeared, and! and, of course, all sorts of stories about it came East Nearly tZ'tl%w ^F'l'"'''^ r''' t° "^^' b"t there are a few-Z find ^;5thfnf ?u't— '''^°" ^'^ ^"^^ ^°"^^^ *° -^ '' ^^^ -- "Damn her," exploded Shcker. " No, I won't betr vonr 1 don t feel that houses can ever take the place of trees and Sli.t^^'S-^ ^ ^r* '^^ ^^^t- Oh, I want the West." But he?greed"°' '^^* ^''"''^'' ^^^ ^^^* ^^^ ^^^^* there. a son^.^.n'"''^' th^^' ho^fy- You could get your old house for LnTs^n .7 ^^TT Hamilton's wife hates the place, and Hamil- 10 t oub e ^^B?; r "' ""t' '°'^', "^^ ^^ yo" offered there'd be no trouble. But—there s been a lot of talk, you know." -. :i^Know. But— in what particular wav ? " frowne'd .flV^'''^' were said about you and Heriot." Shcker f vou 1 hV.t ^^- ^ ^"°^ ^t ^" ^°^ h^«' of course. But li you go back-you may as well know it. Jennifer-there are rr^ 246 THE LAW-BRINGERS mil I "« — T that you came to hunt him up over this Andree some who'll Sc business." " Oh I " Jennifer felt her face burn. " I never thought " she said m a choked voice. " I never thought of— you didn't think I meant to go back. Shcker ? I couldn't go there I '' shoulder'' ''''"' """'"'^ ^^''' ^'"'^'''^ ^^' ^^^^ ^Sainst his •1^°"^^' ^^^^' ^^^ ^ ^° ^* clumsily ? I'm so sorrv What Tf ^^"*'?."^/ ?'''^''^ ^"^ ^^"°* I g"^«« y°"'^« had enough 01 men. Best stay where you are with the little auntie and when I get a post I'll have you both up to keep house for me If It s any place short of Herschel Island. I will only be at Kegma three or four months, you know, and I'll write and teU you every last thing about it. He kept his word faithfully, and each week through those months of snow and frost brought her a letter headed '' Regina J^arracks : a letter that was a medley of boyish slang and manly thought and frank love for herself. There were fervid ttTS .T' °^ " """[ "'^'''" ^"^ " "^y h°^««'" interlarded with tales of the swank recruit " who " came such a buster " in riding-school, and the " tiger of a drill-sergeant who thinks he owns the universe— with all the ' h's ' left out of it " Once there was mention of a corporal's love affair which came to an untimely end ; and then, through dissertations on love and gills, Shcker ended : " I'm glad you're the kind of girl you are. noney. I d have had to disown you if you were hke some that a fellow runs across. By the way, what is that Miss Barry- more hke, really ? You might remember me to her when you see her and ask her if she'd like some Indian moccasins. She admired mine." ^^ Jennifer put down the letter and laughed with her eyes "Oh Slicker Shcker," she said. "You're not going to meet girls like Angela Barrymore for years to come, dear It will be tne Mackenzie district and the Esquimaux for you perhaps ; or a httle selection full of third-grade people. Or ^J'i^''^l ^'""^y ^°^^ ^"'^"S *he breeds and Indians. For Slkker " ^^^ ^°^'^^ '^^°^^'' ^°'' ^°"'' h^^"^o^^k' dear old f n^^®^, Christmas was past he wrote again ; blotted sheets full of dehght. ;• Just think, honey; the CO. told me the other day that I d probably be sent out before my time was up Patted me on the back meta— (can't spell the beast), and said I was a good boy, and I went and tumbled over myself m the Gym for a solid hour to work off my bloated pride Hope my boss will be more Tempest's shape than Heriot's. And 1 hope it won't be too civihsed. I don't want to do the goose-step along the pavement of a nasty proper little town ;r this Andree *I WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 247 Guess I could keep down a better job than that. And— honey— perhaps I'll come across Ducane for myself. I won't shy off any m letting him know what I think of him, I promise " Jennifer folded that letter with tight hps. Slicker never dared speak of Ducane to her face. And not to anyone did she dare speak of him herself. He had made life too hard • too ^cruelly bitter. And for his sake it must be bitter all her .hl\^T ^°v? ^'"^\D^^k had written to her ; longer still since she had written to him. The news which Slicker had brought seT" fruth'to'if '"' ''^' "^' ^"^'^ ""^^ '"''^'^ P-^ '^^ .1^^^^ ^t^ u°^ know that he was afraid to write because the cloud which hung over him would surely have darkened his words and because he was ashamed to tell what that cloud might be. He avoided Andree because he feared her, and he avoided lempest for much the same reason. But his feeling towards lempest almost deepened into hate very shortly ; for Tempest had saved his honour by the very thing which had caused Dick to lose his. Tempest had taken hold of his work again He had put personal interests from him, and flung himself into the wider, fuller river of the life about him. Labour was his salvation as it has been the salvation of many a man before him, and because his only chance lay in giving his all to it, he gave; lifelessly, sorrowfully, at first, but day by day with strengthening fibres. The very tone of Grey Wolf began to alter. It was known that the Inspector was ' ' watching out " here and there and everywhere else, and men braced up under the flash of his eyes and the lash of his tongue when Tempest went to sweep the refuse of the hidden places out into the sun- He challenged criticism and obvious retort everywhere but he did not get it For if he did not spare others neither did he spare himself, and his honesty there did for him what mV?'T.?^^ I'^T-? ^^^^ '^°"^- ^"^ of the real Tempest, the man of the glad ideaJs and the frank friendships, there seemed rnnin"^ K Vi ""u^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^hy- He knew that Tempest f r.ii^^^ ^ ^.^^''^ forgiven and forgotten anything but that treachery ; and realisation of this haunted him, driving the sin of It home to him past his attempted unconcern and impa- tient resentment and his cynical knowledge that he was no worse than many another. Dick had saved Tempest at danger to himself, and that oanger grew, embittering him as time went by. Anaiee alone S. H ^'' I"" ^'^''''^^ ^"^ unpleasant, for she upbraided and pleaded and coquetted and tormented him whenever occas-on arose. Once, catching him in the wood-trail by the lake on a ■ S ' if ' it 248 ii ''J lii' THE LAW-BRINGERS ^hght Wow, but .t made her spring back, glaring like a S so^J df;rw':ii' ^if^rkeer? '■^'^ ^°"- ' «"' "-' y-- ■• I d^^t taorthT? '° '/y;" ">= ^'^'-esed his shoulders, me alone now ? " ' ""°* *° P'''=^'=°* y°"- Will you leave To'b^°wh;pp:d''rfL.:you^."' *''°''«'' ■-" '^^">- "a"" said Di:[Vr^ty™" Sfek to if ml'i™ ''^^''..'" ^ '°"« «"'^-" past her andVent bfcrietS'Sh g l^^T""' Andree nnw wl ^! ^^- '^'^ ^^^ not even sorry for «^=t hf hel^d "^!^? if L^i--Us5 ?: ni'ha;1t?tLSdMTone'e "■■ ^°" "^^ "'^P-'' °" »- wh^ had"enfu«dttnt'T' '"'"f ?" "j'^ P'P^^tem, It was he But wher:Tas1ifow J S f '°He hfdtsTtw* ^Vfrt he big case which was to have meant so mucl° to hfi Hitn' ?emed a'Teadlo'c Withl'?;',* -"--?-' -he h^ad, a"nd Ufe Dain in ft %r : *'' ''f'^ capacity for more pleasure or ^n conttaue o?' ve-^^To' '* '' "°* '" ''^'"•^ ''^^^'^ deadlock ntaranrt th!i * '^ ""f- °°^ morning when spring was hfm into the office™ tT """" ""''^ ^^ain, Tempes'i sentlor desk ^^^ J-— luT/afoS^r- - "-^ unc^d^^^r-^-^^^^^^^^^ a^ds^'on ?am'toTr\r'°«"="' "^^^'t'^^' tohabTta°„"ts, is me^tfoned as one o ' heThre°"°We1e?'' ='"' ^°" "^""^ , Will uceu picKea men. Have you anvthins? to cjov ? " His eyes wpre colder arsH +>,-. '•», x . r"/ '-^""6 lo say .-' they used to be "R nf I. S ^ "'i""' °^ ^''' *^^^ ^^rder than ley used to be. But he had complete control of himself, and WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 249 nSL)"LlirLr%7. "'"^ "'''°"' '' ""^^ *^^^ ^'^^^ -h-^ " r7/,?.\"^*^^^i°'.*^u'^°''''"'^^^^i^k. He smiled Slightly element '• ^^' ^^* *^' °*^'' *^° ^^" P^°^'d« the focial ;; We will do the work. That is all which matters." xou have always said so " Tempest's'iace '°''"'"°'' °' *' ""="• ''™"S" "«' ^lood to For both men a new interest came into life after that now Tt"t7 '"'^'^ ''f^. --Pl--ts seemed less Stating now that there was a horizon of change to round them As always there was the freighter who had contracted for oJSmar^ wage m cartmg and who demanded more because unlookedS conditions had arisen ; there was the breed who had sold h°s and and who could not understand that he must not continue to hve on It ; there was the Indian who had traded a half dozen skins to Moore and Holland, and who. on hearing that he could get a better price elsewhere, required ihem back agafn ?hWs^Tb^Jot^.h'^°"r^ "^-"^^ °* *^^ ^''^''''' i-vTaSe tnings to be got through as winter died under the breath of And there was work to be done for this patrol also. New ^ood^a^'1^f'i'r.''f P^t^^borough canoes were needed. A good pair of field-glasses were indispensable ; also a camera • a strong and hght outfit of cooking, surveying and Tthe; equipments ; besides tinned foods and everytrn| else wWch could be compressed into the smallest co^sf/ Tempest had to take a journey to Winnipeg in connection withXse arrangements, and on his return he stayed an hour^th Ran dal at Pitcher Portage. Slackness of effort and shortneS of heM \aT the' ' "f " 'r '^^ ''''''''' ^' headquarJe"" ad continu.^^.. r'^^'^ Z"" t^^ telegraph-hne. and Randal still continued to live in his httle shack and to connect himself P^rtag'e' ""'' ""^ ^" '^"^^ ^^^ ^" *^^ ^^^^^ rive"r!rL^rthe to^hTdoor^'^Th^^^i,^"^! ^'^ "'^^■^^y "^"^^ ^h^" Tempest came it eve,t°'-. hnt t" T ^l "T^"^ ^^^ uncomfortable as from If Tf fl . T^"^P^st noticed a deep- worn track straight ri^„ I? Cuupic uf half-Inaian babies sprawling with the S™sheH%t'*,"°°'/°'', ^''""S strips of ?aw bacLR^^^^ dal pushed the hving tangle of content aside with his foot and «i a 250 THE LAW-BRINGERS filfil ;■!! !i If :: hi hastened to set beans and bannock before Tempest and Tern- pest smiled, remembering. ' '' Got the better of you at last, have they, Randal ? " he Randal reddened up his swarthy skin, and clattered knives and forks with embarrassment. '■'."^/r^ ^"^^^ *^^y ^^^'t help it, the httle " he lu u ^''Jl'''^'^''-^o^n they are. anyways." He jerked his thumb at the smaller of the two where it lay on its chest sucking hard, and staring with round, unwinking eyes Near died this winter, she did," he remarked. " Croup or cohc or suthin'. an' them domned parents didn't know what to do no more'n nuthin'. So I up an' het a biler o' water an' shoves her inter it. Tell yer she looked cute scttin' there-like a httle blown squ r'l. an' hangin' outer me finger like grim death ter a nigger. So-she pulled around, an' she wb^? T'H K ?! *^' "'^' ,^«"^e^ays. Like she was wonderin' what I d be like s posin' I was tried out fer good. Git awav chew here'' "^^'''^ ^'' ' ^°" """'' ^^^ "° bootlaces ter He lifted the little solemn armful, and Tempest chucked it under the round, brown chin. " That's right, Randal," he said cheerfully. " After all they are going to be our colonists, you know. We must make the best stuff we can out of them. She's not likely to be one of those hysterical nuisances who are always in the doctor's hands, anyway." " Not much ! Hoe her own row all right, won't yer. girlie ? bure. sir. 1 11 attend about them messages right away '' Tempest rode on into Grey Wolf with his eyes softened. Randal s hfe was cruelly circumscribed ; terribly lonely. But he had found the compensation. Was Tempest so much a lesser man than Randal that he could not also find the com- pensation ? ^XT^^Y^^ i'V*^® ^^""^ "'^''^h ^^^^^ the last night at Grey Wolf, and Tempest walked for long under the cotton- woods seeing the lights which he would not know any more blink out along the dimming street. For it was not likely that he would ever come back to Grey Wolf, and it was not likely that after to-morrow he would ever again see Grange's Andree. The whole of hirn was shrinking from the future which would possibly be Andree's. He seldom spoke to her now, and he seldom spoke to Dick. He could ask no questions there He could only fear. He could only hate with a bitter helplessness the man whom Andree loved. And he could do nothing more he with his hands tied, and the great silent North waiting to swallow bim. ° For long he walked under the cottou-woods, and then sharply, leaping through his brain, came the thought : 'I WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 251 "She was a good woman— and young enough to under- stand. Perhaps she would look after Andree " hi.^- "^^^^^^.^ '■ ,^ent swiftly into his office, and wrote one of his direct, clearly-put letters to Jennifer Dick also wrote to Jennifer that evening. He had meant minhn^rH t' ^""K'l ^'^ P^^^"^S^ ^^^ h^d ^o"^« on the little milboara ;Dainting of her which he had always carried until stood%Hll '.^''"^ ^f '' ^^^y- ^" *^^ little bunk-room he ^Ihf ^^'l^^sta^^g down on the bright face in the candle- i?pin\" ^f ^^yf were grim. For the difference between 'reatTn Di^i'^S' ^"^.*^" '^"'^^ °^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^0" ^as too f.^J\ ^^u ^1 "'^'^'^^'^ ^ ^^^^ °" the tiller, and Fate had fw! n"" "f l^- ^^"^ ^^""^^ ^^h^^h he would have allowed him ?■ "^^^ ^'^^ reckless temper which had denied ni^t'^flf °^^^ ^i!"''^'^^ ""^ clattering upstairs cheerfully, and mckin^" R '^l ?'''"l' ^f ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^«* ^"d finished his JennSfr °'^ ^ ^^^ ^^ "^"""^^ ^ ^'^''^ ^""^^^ ""^« *° wh^!;\V^^*f '''''"f ^""'^ ^y the same mail as Tempest's ; but when they lay m her lap together Jennifer opened Tempest's ^nv^lnnt llr' ^^u^ '^^ P'^^^^ "P the sheet and the torn envelope and the other envelope with that familiar black writ- ing and carried them all up to her room and locked the door on herself. Twice over she read Tempest's letter. Its quiet Sh fl "^p\^l*°^^7l'>^ ""^" = ^°t much more than Slicke; had told. But it niade her fear to open that other letter. Her pulses beat until they stifled her, and her eyes were blurred, bne knew, with a sharpness, with a terrible sureness, that Dick meant more to her than anything-than anyone. And was mnLT qT *° f 7 *^^* 'he did not mean anything to him any Buned onA'>.''i-^''i,^'?^ '\^^' ^^P' "PP^^ the envelope, and pulled out the big sheet with its strong black writing There were only a few lines in the middle of it. ^' pul'/ f m.°n*'n, I" the morning for perhaps a year. I have tried to ?xDec?eH Vn °n *^^i """^ '''"^ ^ot further in myself than I S? AnH It ^^" l^^derstand that this was likely to happen to Sv ve^v so d T ^''^H '^^l 7°" "-'^ *^ ""y ^'^^ ^"d "^v heirt and woVd'^end jenmfer.^ "°' ''"' ^°" °"' '^°"^h I tried until the The heavy twist of his initials finished it, and Tennifer Sm fnh' T!,^ "'".'^'^.^^^^^^ ^^^ shining eyes. She had no right to be glad. But she was glad ; frankly, gloriously glad So f^f^' °' ''V.'i, *^^ ^^Se of one of those long plunges wh?ch h. ""T?'^'' ^1^ ^^^° °^ ^he suave, idle words with Snin ^ T'^' ^'^ thoughts so well. It was a flagrant disobedience of her commands. It was a daring defiance of I 252 THE LAW-BRINGERS I If ■ I J. I li all which Tempest's letter told. It gave no explanation no apology, no penitence. She hud no nght to be gla She tn^ZZl ""T '".r.- '°?^ "^'"^^ '^'^ word.s at her 'challeng! ing her to love hiin the less for all his misdeeds and his failures that she';^M '''. And instead she laughed a httle ; knolTng datln w^i f "^^' f "I ^"°^'"^^' *°°' t''^^ f^'o'-y of that renun- face tS Tace ' '''"' *" ^'" "^"'^ °^^"" ^^^^^ things That night, kneeling by her mother's bed in the dark couTd notTlfn^' '''' ''"^S ^° ^° ^-^ *° ^'-y Wol' She could not tell the reason. But she knew that the duty which Dick owed to Grange's Andree and which Tempest without &e."n "Jh TTy ^^^ '^^"'•^y ^'"^"^^^^' --'' hers^o discharge How deep that obligation might be siic did not know. Why Ihltuwi '' r '''^' '!:'' ^'^' "°^ ^"°^- l^"t she did know caned W "^^ ^J^^ ,^°" ^y *he far-away northern river an fir "°, ''^^!.'. P^''^"^ °" ^^^th had ever called her. Of nnH f !f f^i'^ "°^*""S to her mother, but there was much understood between the two which even the tenderest love TtllT "r^^- J^l^ ^^^^^ "°-^" 1-d her w'dowed Vrnd on the young hand which was so infinitely worse than widowed for nTnrl T^ °° ^''^ ^°' y°"' J^»"ifer," she said. " And for niore than you. Have you thought of that ? " little thin^f"' A ^l'\ ^ must go. Over there I shall hear- Z'isTi^l r^yml'^''' '° ^^^^^°"^ ^^--- They are all ^ Ji'^ T^^^"" '^''' ''^^^"*- She had neither right nor power to sta^ndTne Her d' "'h?T^^ ""'' ^°"^^°^' ^^'^"^ he? vTnder- wW. i.-fi. f daughter had won her way down strange paths where neither love nor guarding could hedge hor in. But one thing she knew, and she spoke it. ;; If you do go I win go with you. Jennifer." Oh. mother of mine, would you ? Truly, would vou ? tte'SeT' Anf r"^ '^^^ ^"f^^^^^^^ nose'froTb^trin accusTomed to^' ' '^"' ''' ^° ''^ °' *^^ ^^^^^^^ y-'- " yo'-i are the principal comfort which I'm accustomed to I canao without the other things, but not without you darling '' Jennifer put her lips to the fine old face ^" ., ^ don't want to be selfish," she said. " But I shall blow the roof off something if I have to stay here muS 1^^°^ And you'll love the Indian babies, mother mine. I H steaUne m a moss-bag for you. Mrs. Grange has got so many that she d never miss two or three " ^ of ^And'^^P^'^'w "^ ^°T^'' ''^'''^ ^^'^^y- b"* «he could not speak thefe Ihe r^'iH^'^^^K '°"^^ "'^^^^^ ^^^P "°^ understand tnere. She could not be expected to. For Tennifer's own need she had found the solutioifto the thing vvhich had trouS ' I WANT THE WEST AGAIN ' 253 her. Dick had redeemed Tempest at the cost of somi» Hio honour to himself, and possibl^ some wellTser^ed Thame" and he had been man enough not to ask forgiveness wher^?; was not hkely to be accorded. But. because^Grrnge's Andree was also a woman who loved him and who could never come ha it's'ould t loTf ". ''''' ^ ''^"' °^ J°y -^ thankfuirs treads rn^^J. ^'',^° ^'r T'^^^'"^ ^^^'•'^ ^"J to untie the tnreads that Dick s careless hands had knotted She dreamed that night of the ways whereby that Ufe which own'a'n %t"r "'^"^^"? ^^°"^^ cross "[racis with ter own aga n. The stray word of a breed who had passed hini on the nvers Indians coming in with the winte Turs wh^ a who'" *h"'' K'^^'t'- ^ ^^^^°^' °^ ^ missionary, p^riups at whose house he had stayed. Letters brought by the steamer and written long months before. The wide brooding majesty of the North closed round her, and tho^e lone calm days on the Athabaska were clear to Jennifer as she feU asleep and m place of the rattling cars she heard again the S; parting at the prow, and instead of the flaring light acrosTthe s reet she saw the moon-reflection, deep and serene and glorious, m the bosom of the drowsing river the rX^fiT^"''/""^ ^''^ ^""^'^^ ^^^"^^d the old house on the Lake to Jennifer again, and in the midst of her packing came another letter from Slicker, written from Saskatoo^n 1"! enclosed for Jennifer's benefit, young Forbes' descript ion'^f the leaving of the Long Patrol from Grey Wolf anTcrange's Andree's part in the matter. orange s " I guess it was a pretty shady thing for Dick to chuck her away as he did.' ' commented Slicker. '' Of course Andree is the hmit, all right. But it must have been a shindy as you'll see from what Lin Forbes says. ^ ^ "'They'd been keeping their mouths shut with both hands as to date and time of leaving.' wrote you^g Forbes But It leaked out somehow ; and when we all got down to the steamer Andree was waltzing around like a crazy tWng She froze ou to Dick-gave him a devil of a time. And there was Tempest standing on the wharf and waiting. I tell you't than^fh? T^ ',° '"'-J ^""'^ g"^^^ he evfr meant more than a bit of fooling. That's Dick, you know He has an X 1! T7 P'^^^y ^'''^' ^^d Andree is uncommonly pretty SstS out '°?%t-" "^^ '"'^^^- ^"^ ^^ ^-' serv^d^for i?: the W nl > V ^^^ ^'"? ^^''^- '* S°°^ ^"d strong. He made of us all I'd . fr^'- l"'^ ^^"^^^"^' ^"^^ ^''^'^ her in front thp '^a^2^' ^ Andree running over her ankles into the water and crying out, " Dick ! Dick ! " But he'll never come back to her. He knows a trick worth two of that But w^ ■ 1 ''i I ■ ^ i< ', p. ■ t m i ' ' Hf lit mm I 234 THE LAW-BRINGERS he wiped Tempest s eye over t le business, and I reckon Tern- pest has too much grit to forgive him easily. Those two are about as friendly as a couple of wolf-bred huskies these days.' " ^^"fi ^^of-^?^ ^^ something doing before they part com- pany ' added Shcker. '' Dick'U be sorry for his devilry before he s done. Of course she was ruining Tempest, and this has straightened him up again. But I don't imagine Dick wen? 'Z^rHutl'^^'- ^^ ^^^'^ ^"^^^ ^' ^^^ ^'^« ^^«y -^e Be-ause all human nature is irrational Jennifer did not attempt to explain to herself why she felt more pity than anger over this. Dick might have treated her as he had treated Andree. and she could have forgiven him ; not only because the elements of submission and self-renunciation are very strong m the nature of most women, but because, seeing all thing.s through the glass of her own clear heart, she beheved that the man must suffer the more keenly of the two as for awhile she stood, with her dainty clothes strewed round hei on floor and bed and in the open boxes. Simple they "^^ °f """? ^" ^°'^ J"'* *^^* nameless, elusive charm which was Jennifer s own : that charm which made a man standing on the deck of a little steamer that chug-chugged its 3 7^^ ^^l^'^^\^^^r "^^^' ^°^S^* ^" that he haTdone and would not do, and hold the memory of her before him hour by silent hour, drawing his strength for the future therefrom There were comments which it was better that Jennifer Should not hear when she came again to Grey Wolf But because she had guessed at them, and met them, in her heart long since she did not quail at them now. Son-of-Lightning was re-installed m his shack behind the kitchen, and his tune? less smgmg warmed Jennifer's spirit, although it made her mother laugh until she cried, and then say : ',' ^°" "^"^t "^^ke him exercise his voice at regular hours only, Jennifer. Hours when I go walking or driving. He will kill me dead if I have to hear him more than once a week " I could never make him understand all that, dear," said Jenmfer. But I might explain that it would be a terrible thing for him to damage his throat by over-exertion if Clara IS any good as a medium." Clara was the breed provided by Mrs. Leigh in place of the original Louisa. She lived in the kitchen and drove the staid loronto servant to despair five times a day. " But " as Ten m.er said, " she kept Susan from being lonely, 'and even something to worry one is better than isolation " Leigh had also stocked up the necessar horses and pies and the necessary hired man. Moostas last' baby but one wis h^ rowed for a week. " just to help settle them in." according ' I WANT THE WEST AGAIN ' 355 roulTonTh^S'^^^^^^ J,?"^r *°°^ ^-^t^ -d looked most familfar d^LtTs h^^^^^^^^^ "'j^f .'^^^ ^^^^^^* ^^^ deep-laid plan wherX she W^h ^ Moosta's baby was the knew that if Gm iJe'^Anrfr. ^""^ ^V'^^ ^"^^^^^ ^^^ she ctsMe J- H"'r„' B^ir aXr foYi"^^^'' J-""- she alken" ptty ^ *° ''^^P «°-*^' R"-- all the time ? " waiTh"egri wtlaalk toM*t'' a quickening heart-beat. Thia And™ V-™'" ""^ "^'^ ''^^«"y- " Did you waat him back, ItL'ef:iem''iSette''brk;!?L', ^"'"^^•. " ^^w it in a book. Jennifer knew ^?^ °ack-parlour is empty without him." ba4-pa Lr "But .heTnir. "" ^'"1'^ ''°"='' '^°'' '" ««t whicf mi up a place, Zt t^onf "'• " '^ "°* ^''^ -""er and fe?crhinack''lrdri >" v""" ^°". '"'^ *" ~™ °-«^ and n, bring you bicf before daTk " """ '""^ ""* "«> '»^- wild"wordtimaH?antV"%S'^T''- ^""^ "^ -°- *»« -nner and paler, ^^^ J^t .X", t e°X'ri^ S ■i^l"^^ fri„"°nr^- *^- oZ^,h.-- she stammered. keepSasTonVrrhM'In"dY';'^.'!.''rS^ ^'"^ ' ^""M civil to take hiSi back ,,»;=,, '^°° l*''"'' *' ™"'. I 'li.fl I \ J! i i ki I I'IflWfM k — s SBiJ Ik ill 256 THE LAW-BRINGERS on her knees and tang'e her curls in the chubby fingers and coo the soft Indian baby-talk which was so alien to the white woman. And Rosario chuckled and crowed ; tossing his arms until Andree looked up with the beautiful face laughing through " II m'aime," she cried. " He do like me best. Dieu ! It IS me best. Later she gathered him into her arms ; sitting on the floor and rocking and crooning until he fill asleep. She took no count of Jennifer. Women never entered much into Andree's calculation unless they got in her way. and Jennifer was deeply thankful that the girl did not know how much this woman who slipped down on the rug beside her stood in her way Andree," she said ; " Mrs. Gran-- showed me a very pretty picture of you. I should think it would make you feel so proud. Mr. Heriot painted it, didn't he ? " ''^ Qui," said Andree on a long-drawn breath. 7-+^i ^^i^^ painted others too." Jennifer's voice faltered a mtle. She was striving to crush down an unworthy doubt. ±Jut the girl beside her was so beautiful, so very beautiful And she knew that she was plain. " Won't you show me the others some day, Andree ? " For a little the girl was silent. Jennifer saw the colour pulsing m her face and the flutter of her breast. Then Andree cast Rosario aside with that impetuosity to which he was so accustoroed that it did not break his sleep and hid her face in her hands. ^^ '' It makes me go seeck inside to talk 'bout him," she wailed I do not know. I do not know. I not care for people to call me belle any more." Jennifer breathed sharply. The bent, dark head blurred before her eyes. Then she put her arm round the shoulders and drew Andree's head against her. " Tell me," she said gently, " is it because he had to go away ? He could not help that, Andree." As usual under pressure Andree sloughed off all reserve and flung her heart bare to Jennifer as she had done to Dick I love him," she cried. " I do love him so I could keel him. And he laugh at me. He kiss me— and laugh. The place burn It burn now. One day he say, ' I love you. Andree. Now he laugh— and for two-three months before he go he no speak to me. And one day he hu me with his whip. I hate him. I hate him— ah, mon Dieu, I love him SO* Jennifer controlled her voice with difficulty. '.', f-"^ y°^ *^^"^ ^® ^°^s not love you, Andree ?^' she asked. 1 not ,<:novv. Perhaps — and perhaps again. But I think he hate me. And I hate him. But if again he smile at m&- WANT THE WEST AGAIN' 257 t^;!^?®.^"""^® '"^"l '''°^^°* ^°^^^"gf ' " ah' Dick, come back. I not hate you. Oh, come back from so far away " finish ^"^"^ ^°" *^^* ^^ ^°''^'^ y°" " Jennifer could not mnrr?^' f ^i!^/°"t^ ■ 'f ""^^ ^^^^ ^^^ "^"^n- ^o-day to kiss, to- Thec^Zr"" Ku ^^'^ ^^^ ^"' ^^"^ ^^ ^^^^- He was not Uke Ahr' X They did pray to me. Dick make me pray to him. '• SJh if '^°°^ ^'''^" ^'^^' ^"^ «a* "P- biting her lips. When he come agam to Grey Wolf I will kill him He no good, anyway. Before he go he drink-he drink too much sometimes. He no good. And he make game of ^tu b^en! I make much game of him. There are plenty more love Andree. Ah! I do hate him. Mon Dieu ! " Poni?!!^ ^^I'^'lu "^ T* ^^""^^^ ^^'^ "^°od any more than Dick could handle the softer mood of that other night. She shivered going white under the tense fury of the words. Dimly she recognised that there were elements in Andree which she could never understand, even as there were elements in Dick For the rugged rocks and the fierce winds and the deep secret woods TnT th//o^bears of their souls in the days when Andree's Indian fathers and the roystering gentlemen adventurers who were responsible for Dick had known this young land of Canada as no men of a later day could know it. Andree stood up, knotting back her curls with swift, skilful fingers. ^ao^ii** " It is another day I will come for Rosario." she said, and then Jennifer found her feet and her courage together Come soon, Andree," she said. " And talk to me as much Tn nn? ^°'' "^^^^ *''• ^"l^ ^y ^"^ ^y' P-^^haPS' yo" will not be so unhappy. You say that there are plenty more people who care tor you. x- t- / ', i 1 1 mi R i ■t- iff CHAPTER XIV. " ON THE LONG TRAIL." " Big Blanket, is it ? " said Gillin^ton " Tn^f ^r.r.^. ^.■ -P- Otway. T™ wives and si^; cfiMron, ei f G* ^hemTu ?h"^ so nhZ\fr°^l' "=" "■" *° '^o ahead andTam tnera so i ii know he hasn't swapped any since In^f -^r^a,- Otway I guess I'll want out anothe?^box of Ihe pS^er" ^'''• The Treaty-clerk disappeared into the httle tent and Ci) Imgton pusljed his hat back from his heated ilorSi' face Sd nodded as the immovable Big Blanket introduced his SmUy one by one, through the interpreter lamii),, " Little Cow, she old wife," said Big Blanket thrustinf? the wrinkled wisp of womanhooa forwtrd. " Qorv^of-^^^^^^ eyes she new " Then he ranged up the berry-brownTauihint children, and told them over. *' Violette PiW I ^ of-all-the-birds. Apisis. Smoke. Bcak-oi-t^^^^^^ stretched his hands for the little packet of d^ollar bil^s done up neatly in fives, as Gillington paid them down oiih; big box in front of the little box on which he sa? *^' \Vord by word Francois translated as Gillington spoke nnnw^ 'rT.^' ''u^^''' "^°°' "^yanun, nikoowasik Those packets are for the children. Big Blanket. Three more lot. for yourself and the wives, making kakut mitatut i^ .n at sets for Big Blanket, Otway. Wha^f tCt Doc " ''"' ""'"" The heat of the sun poured over him as he turned where the grey smoke from a mosquito-smudge blew sidewayT hTdin^ and revealing the silent knots of Indians-Chipewvans Do/ l^Gltlt^faLrf^;!"-'^' ^r ^° F- '^-"Ln o1 monev AnH.li^T ? ^^^''" ^^^'^^ Payment of the Treaty money. And this Treaty money is the pledge of the Canadinn Government that it will stand by the children of the NoS West to the extent of five dollars yearly to everv man nnH woman and child which can produce the Treaty^tTcLTs carrv^ dai^r^i^lasT^^^^^^^^^^^ att'lTngTon'relbow """^'^^T '/ ''^ r^^^^"^^^^ ^^^^^^ V uu„giuu b eiDow. lie caiiied a brown battered bag, and 'ON THE LONG TRAIL' 259 3k his name ot them all i and name ■ last year. )er." t, and Gil- i face, and his family, , thrusting ory-of-the- n, laughing 'ot. Song- gle." He ioUar-bills, wn on the ipoke. k. Those )re lots for all. Nine where the ^s, hiding ans, Dog- )lution on tie Treaty Canadian le North- man and 3ts carry- /. and the ek halted bag, and there was a suggestion of strenuousness about all his move- ments. For the last three hours he had been examining wounds, disease, and various sicknesses in the colony of tepees set along the sandy shore, and those hours had been very full indeed. Because many of the distant tribes take their doctor as they take their Treaty-money, once only in a year. I've just seen that old scoundrel, Turquetil," he said. " He and his son had a fight, and they're more or leas laid out. Send them their Treaty by Charhe Diamond, won't you GiUmgton ? He'll see that they get it." GiUington growled assent, ticking off the necessary dol- lars for Little Hat and his belongings. Charlie Diamond was Chief of the Canoe River Band of which Turquetil was an unworthy member. " Sure," he said. " Got many sick, Sherwood ? " The doctor thrust his lip out. He was hghting a pipe with eager fingers. " Same as usual," he said. " If only the Lord had mad« 'em able to comprehend the meaning of cleanhness hfe would be snnpliiied. Joseph Iron broke his leg yesterday, and I met him crawling out for his Treaty just now. For the land's sako, GiUington, what are you doing with all those poUce ? Do the people at headquarters think our precious lives need guard- ing ? " GiUington glanced round to the tent where, in the shade, three khaki uniforms made a dull blur. Two more walked the stretch of sandy level immediately behind the tepees. As Gilhngton looked they separated ; and one went up to the barracks and the other came down towards the tent. " Those four came in just now," he said. '' A patrol going through to Fullerton. Tempest is in charge. You remember him ? The man who was made Inspector for his moral influ- ence — and a few more reasons." He made the introductions briefly as Tempest came up. then turned to his work again. And from where he lay by the tent with his hat pulled over his eyes and his pipe going fiercely to free him of the mosquitoes, Dick watched this scene which had been so familiar to him in other days : on the Little Slave River ; on the Peace ; at Vermihon, and which never grew stale. For it was colour and movement, tragedy and comedy It was Life. He lifted on his elbow ; dragged out his sketch-book, and roughed m the picture with a charcoal stub. And it was a picture worth while to the man who could see. Back of all lay the broad blue Une of the lake that lipped the sandy beach. JThen the dirty brown, close-set jumble of tepees, nalf=hid by Suioke that lifted sometimes to sliow the white houses of the Fort beyond. The medley of children and dogs 9 Mil If. ii ;' ' \k0 ;|l:i ii si|: C ; f ■ i 260 THE LAW-BRINGERS that rolled, laughing and yapping, about the tent9 Th^ others and mothers of the race, crowding round the Treaty Payer; pure Mongohan type, some with eager, slant-eves for the sooneyahs ' which C.illington was dealing erect ^dLnT fied chiefs who ask help of the white man againft'none but the white man and who manipulate their family quarrenWate ill-mado derelicts hauling their loose stL-clothes^til^hte; round their unwashed bodies, and looked on with disfavour bv the sturdier Dog-legs. And foremost of all the ittle /roun o^ white men: Gillington straddled on his box wii^h £= shi?t loose at the thick throat and the sweat drippinr/rom him as FranZs' iMirt%:."' ^"""^ -couragemenU to' the mere" ^f i/^? 2 ^"^e^P^^tation, seeing in answer the white of eves and teeth flashing out suddenly with a coarsely-humorous retort whil. .h' S«"*\^"^^"ly ^>tway, with the furtive eyes which told' while they believed they hid, the reason which had brought wonr.f'V'^i' '^^!.^'""^ ^"^ '^'^ '^^'^ ^hi^h bred hfm Sher wood the big-boned, merry-eyed doctor, who carried his lonely beat over a good-sized section of a half-continent-and S raw 'verSf nf*?r. r ' ^.°"^^"^ ^^^ ^'' P'^^^^^s to dab on the S7ed bv H^f n?L f * ^'^^ ! waist-scarf, or the saffron tem- pered by dirt of that woman's shawl. Or the blue of the lake do^ '^'r''\T^f'' °^ t^^« tepees, and the pure algrey of a dog that scratched itself at Tempest's feet. Tempest he did AtLtHw ° A°t ^\ ^^^^°"^^ *h^- ^°"-- steamer T" on tte ness as he hnd nof 7^^"^!?^.^ "? *^" P^""^^ ^"t° the wilder- ness as he had not dreaded the future ever before in ill hiq igainsftho " 'f °' ''f "^^P°^^^"^ -Se which we feef only against those whom we have wronged and who will not trive Of what Tempest thought through these weeks which held them so closely together Dick did not know. There was nothing in him which could interpret the heart of th man to l^teTe h.'n'''^^''.-""^ '''' ^^^P^^ P^^^^^ ^' ^if- were open Of late he had sometimes even grown to fear Tempest. The utter self-restraint of the still man who walked with him by dav and sat beside him over the evening fires when neitlie?th7prDe smoke or the long loneliness could knit them together into more than casual speech had its effect on his nerves and on S hSirt Tempest was completely just to him ; completely courteous and kind. But Dick understood well that it was the gentleman in Tempest which owed these things to himself ; not the f?S which owed them to Dick. Not once did he suffer Dick to look below the surface of his quiet manner ; and Dick knowin. the if .r .„ .•_ h^-^-ir . :"T , - ' ^ ^^^'^'^- «^"owing tne y xn hxxiisck wmch wouki iiave had satuUaction for a tents. The the Treaty- ant-eyes for 3rect, digni- one but the nn private; hes tighter isfavour by tie group of :h his shirt rom him as le mercy of of eyes and ous retort ; which told, id brought lim ; Sher- i his lonely -and Tem- dab on the ffron tem- )f the lake, i-grey of a est he did lys on the /er wished he wilder- in all his feel only 1 not give k, by day hich held here was is man to )pen. Of The utter 1 by day the pipe- nto more his heart, ;ourteous sntleman he friend k to look wing the ion for a 'ON THE LONG TRAIL' 261 iTre^dMcult f'!;^'''' V"'^ ^^''^^^"*^"^' ^"^^ f«""d it daily more dilhciilt to keep lempcst out of his thoughts. ^ was D'ck s nature to demand an eye for an eve and nnfii now he had always felt contempt for the man who ^skedlss liut he could not feci contempt for Temnest H^ ifn. t i he had done to this man ; hc^knevJ th?t'orment wWcThetal given han to bear, and he knew that Tempest was st^U he stronger. He would not soon forget his iiZThZL I , on the bank at Grey Wolf, with Snest st wW^h 'I'^'IT knew that the fear which waiLd S V^^^pt Af^^^ ^^ the fear for this girl whom Dick had wLed ToThe reSf^ love and dependence and had flung away to seek helSv blmdly for what she could find instead. T' re co'ld Hp "^ forgiveness for such a thing as this, and Di^:k did ^ot expect h/^ 1 ./"^ T* ""^"^ '^' ^°" Tempest would havo seemed to him less than human if he could have given it. But gradually he was rcahsmg keenly, bitterly, that he was contro lied and driven by the bhnd forces of the universe only and that for lempest and Jennifer there was a higher grade' ' Life made sport of them and tied their feet even as hi, were tied. But it could not break their spirits They were nearer that supreme thing which Jennifer cT\L\ rJ^ , which Tempest had once called Urn eTsSuding In^ or^th^ sacrifice of self which that required of them fheyh.d surd v found the compensation. And then Dick roulTL \ 1 ^ forehead and hung on her shoulders in two thfck olaitV^ Th ^ was a httle moss-bag bal.y in the curlrof her arr^ »n J t round-eyed, tottering, elder babies clungt her m^ged bk^k elt curious toTt" '°hT^ ^°""8 '"" ""defendeTind Diek nectfon w" th her r ,r .™' ^f ''"«= ">" *'"'>' "■» *■> con- ^h£}X io^ reVas'tro^ubtr'' ^"="^"« "^ '^' let you have it for the baby " ' ^^" ^ 262 I1 1 " t y ; ■'I ' ^' ^ !i : r 'f ■ ^ i. THE LAW-BRINGERS hi tu " What's wrong ? " he asked of Gilhngton, and GiUington rubbed his nose vexedly. " Why— she can't account for the kiddie. He isn't one of Canada's legitimate citizens, and I can't pay him Treaty." ^ ^ " Poor httle beggar." Tempest regarded the placid baby- face with pity. " Can't you waive the law for once, Gilhng- ton ? " " Guess not. It wouldn't do to create a precedent. I'm sorry, too. I reckon those five dollars mean as much to her as two or three hundred to you or me." Leaf-of-the-woods raised her eyes to Tempest. She did not understand what these big- voiced men were saying ; but she read that heart-note in Tempest's tone which is common to all languages. Dick saw Tempest's grave face flush and soften. " Can't you manage it some way, GiUington ? " he asked. " As an officer of the law, I can't. But there's nothing to prevent your giving her the five dollars if you feel like it." GiUington laughed at his own joke. But Tempest's eyes lighted to a gleam of the mischievous laughter of earher days. " Nothing to prevent my adopting that kid and insuring his yearly payment out of my own pocket, I suppose ? " he asked. " Nothing but the state of your own pocket," agreed GiUing- ton. " I fancy it can stand that. Will you explain to Francois that I want the girl to know that I'm going to be responsible for those five dollars in future, and that I am going to give the child my name so that I can keep track of him." " You always were quixotic," remarked Sherwood, looking at him curiously. "Likely enough," cried Tempest dryly, and raised his voice, calling to a httle burly priest who was passing from the Roman Catholic Mission, The priest halted, and Tempest went to him, and then the two came back together. A gaping young breed was sent to the lake for a dipper of water, and before the rough box with its thumbed account-books Dick saw enacted a queer httle cere- mony which left him undecided to the end of his hfe concerning its comedy or tragedy. Gilhngton's jolly face was composed into an unusual solem- nity, and Otway leaned against the tent-opening with his brows knit and in his eyes a haunting look of memory. Among the crowding Indians stood the fat priest with rusty cassock and kindly, flabby face. Tempest took the baby from the f,nrl's arms, starting with all a man's alarm as it began to 'cry. Hastily he thrust it into the priest's hands, giving his own name with it, and the child screamed strongly as the water sprayed over it from the priest's hot fingers. 'ON THE LONG TRAIL 263 . Gillington e isn't one : pay him acid baby- ce, Gilling- dent. I'm uch to her )he did not J ; but she imon to all d soften, le asked, nothing to ke it." pest's eyes irlier days, isuring his ' he asked. :ed Gilling- Francois esponsible to give the >d, looking 1 his voice, he Roman i then the as sent to ox with its little cev'^- concerning ual solem- with his . Among y cassock 1 the f^irl's n to cry. own name !r sprayed Then the mother took it again ; Gillington, relaxing the corners of his mouth with evident relief, made a careless joke, and insisted on Tempest himself placing the five dollars in the soft dark fingers of Neil Fraser Tempest the younger. Dick got up and walked hurriedly down to the canoes on the Lake shore. Was this brown, greasy baby the only one who was to carry on Tempest's name when the man's work was done and that alert, breezy step stilled for ever ? Dick guessed tliat it almost surely would be so. There was a lonely hfe before Tempest now : a lonely life and his work, supposing that tlus crust of quiet dignity behind which he had withdrawn him- self hid hving fires and not burnt-out ash. Dick would have given all he had, except a certain Uttle oil-painting, to know what lay beneath that crust. He could have borne with Tempest for an outspoken enemy, or he could have abased himself and asked forgiveness for the first time in his fife. But this rigid, outward calm maddened him ; and yet, here again because Tempest was the stronger, he could not break through it. He went down to the Lake where the canoes lay, loaded and ready for their long unknown journey to the East. The other two policemen of the Patrol were there, packing in their own dunnage, and joking with the few white men who stood round. The mosquitoes hummed in swarms across the low swamp-land, and Myers, the stocky little Corporal detailed from work on the Yukon, was swearing in Cockney English as he puffed his briar pipe and beat the air right and left. The bowman of Dick's canoe was a tall, melancholy French-Canadian, with drooping moustache and drooping shoulders and muscles of springv steel. He looked at Myers with his dark, sad eyes. " Parbiieu ! You are too fat," he said. " They will eat yc-.i always. And it is to be worse where we go in the next days." " Ain't 'e a nice feller ter have along on a picnic ? " appealed Myers to the lookers-on. " A reel merry company, that's what 'e is. ' Wot's the good o' hvin' terday ? ' 'e says. ' We gotter die termorrer.' Yesser. Why— yesser. We ain't got nothin' more ter wait for— 'cept them breeds." Tempest had hired two breeds and a canoe to help hghten the loads across the dangerous Long Traverse of rapids on the Lake. He looked right and left for them now, drawn to his full height, with his bright eyes keen as Dick's own. Outwardly he seemed all that a workman should be. But the test that would try him in so many ways was not yet. Up the sweep of the shore came a canoe, shot forward by the quick, long strokes of the breeds. They paddled Indian- fashiOii, changing the hands every few minutes, and the flash of the dripping paddles overhead dazzled in the sunlight. 264 I v p lll il I THE LAW-BRINGERS Dick looked down at the canoes which were to carry the little patrol so far. Long and snaky-brown they lay ; of varnished strip cedar ; a good eighteen feet in length, with a fortylfour inch beam and a draught of eighteen inches. Tempest had chosen them from the design-book, and he knew eve?y stra k of them for he and Dick had tried them or ;ho rapids of the Athabaska and he had gone over them, foot by loot as thev o^s'^7fh '' T """i^^" ^""^t ''^ "-^'^ ^^^^"^^^ ^^^^^h brought them up to Smith s Landing. They were iitted witix oars, and big rolled lateen sails and with many paddles. Aft and amidships were mernnSl 'h ""^ f' 'l''f'' ^^"^^ ^^^ ^^ ^'^^ ^"^ clothe the men until they touched to white-man life again, and at thr own '1 'S.'k' 'r ^'"'^^ ""''' ^^°^^"S the renfainder into the r own light birch canoe. ^^^'\^''i^^ ^'^^ '*°°P^^ *° ^'^^ tJ^e prow of a canoe. Ki^ }u . f portaging weight ? " he asked; and Dick blowing the tobacco-smoke round him in a cloud, said • About one-twenty pounds. The very lightest make I've come across for the strength." t ano 1 vo ^^•t^ ' " ^""'u ^^^ "'''"' ''^"^ wagged his head. " But you don t know where you're going. Where a feller has to cut enough.''""" ^°^ ^^"^ '''''"'' afterwards I guess it gets heavy loo^i^onfT'^ away with a grunt. He did not like men who ^ifltf ^T^^u ^^^''^''' '^ ^^« «° ^ery tT"e that he ti aJ'uT '^^'^''^ ^^ "^^^ eoing. Neither in spirit nor in body did he know. But he was very sure of one thing. Before ^h^if ""'hT' ^"""^f ^^ "^^"^^ ^""«* *^^°"gh that crust which sheltered Tempest, even if Tempest killed him for it .J '"" r""!/^* ^'^^' *^°"^^ Tempest's watch said half-past f wrH ilf f ^f "°u^ dropped away from Fort Resolution, threading through the big and little channels that harry the many island shores. The sun laid its broad gold on their feces or on their neck-napes as they wound right and left, with the birds calling past them from island to island and all the warm wet scents of trees and earth blowing fresh in their nostrils There was enough wind to keep the mosquitoes off, and the hth^flrH r "^^^ l'°"S^>^ ^^*^ *^^ ^^PPi^g paddles sending light-flashes far over the streaming water Leaf-of-the-woods, crouched with her "children in a little crazy dug-out. and paddling heavily back to her home on a distant island, looked up as the canoes swept by. with the sun glinting on tunic-buttons and badges, and making ruddy the frThi^^^ ' ^'"^,",-^y^d ^a^^s- Exactly what Tempest had done for her she could not comprehend ; but she understood that in some mysterious way he had assured those coveted five fn ^'^ 1 ^}^T1l ^,^"^^ ^* ^^' ^-^^'" She halted the paddle m her dusky, dirty httle hands ; staring, round-eyed and un- ON THE LONG TRAIL ry the little •f varnished I forty-four smpest had very straik tpics of the ot, as they ht them up d big rolled Iships were clothe the ind at the : into iheir Danoe. and Dick, -id: make I've ' But you las to cut jets heavy men who le that he rit nor in ',. Before ust which half-past esolution, harry the heir faces with the bhe warm ■ nostrils. and the s sending I a little )me on a 1 the sun iddy the tiad done ood that 3ted five e paudle and un- 265 bTr? h.".H . n^' n^ '"'''"[^ "^ ^^ ^''^"^ ^'^^ «« ^^^ kneeling bare-headed. wUh the waul in his thick chestnut hair and hi! f:,T!^ "r^ '''"r^^^' ^^'^ ^'^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ swing of the piddle Leaf-of-the-woo.ls gave no response. She did not think about ntf.i ^"'^T .'^?' something so utterly alien to her ; so com- £^ofi T '^"^ '^"' ''^' '''''^ '^^^^ comprehension, h; scarcely seemed a man among men to Leaf-of-the-woods. He was more InlTr r^r^l"""^ ^"'""' '^^ ^^" ^»^« ^hite men who trod and ooked as he did were. She watched him pass with a kind of ndifierence, anc when the islands hid him she took up her paddle agam and worked her stolid way home lempest forgot her in a struggle to clear a snag round the Tr^n.'TT .^^' '^'^ ^^^'"^ ^hich he had done^efore the Vh^jJ^ ^V^?'^ Kesolution meant more than either the white man or the brown girl knew. For it was earnest of that to i^vo ^T V"Pf ^,«°"^1 fathering which Tempest was later to give to the land he loved. Through the evening haze a tall York boat grew out of the blue distance with its patched sail drawing feebly in the fitful wind. It was crowded with the Yellow Knives and Dog Rib Indians, going in to Fort Kesolution for Treaty Payment. ffriT..^'^^ '?« °' l^y ^^°"* *^^ ^^^king : long-haired, loose- hmbed. indifferent, except where one boy sprang up on a thwart holding a little girl on his broad shoulder. A red hand- hrnSn .r' K^l^ ""^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^'^ ^^^^ ' ^"^ his shlill hail, broken across by the drop of his voice to a man's depth came curiously over the empty waters. Then they too fell away into the past, and Dick turned his eyes to the man ahead of mm again. wiS^f!?^ r "Tf '^^''? ?'^ °^^ °^ ^^^^^ swarthy, dark-eyed faces With the hghtnmgly-kcen glance which was his by nature. He fmfnTi nn. ^""'iu ^°°^ '° '^^ ^^^"y "^^^ he passed-until he fnnnS P ''• , }^^ ''''^^'' *° ^fo and look for Ducane until he conM hn? ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^"^ "'"'y ""^^ly the greatest joy earth know f h7 ^IT"" ^'"', "'^^- ^^"*' because it was denied, he he wnnM T^^l °''^y i^.ngthened by a little. If Ducane hved ^nnl ^"'It ^™- " ^"^^^"^ di^d he would know of it. ocr..io^n'lf ' "^""l^^' ^^ ^^^ the strange intuition which chance ^ ''°™^' "'^'^ ^^"^ ^^"^^ '^^ed all their lives on urrTllf ^/^^' ^"^^ ^"^^ moaning as the sea, was dark with the Than Tpi.'^^.f-''^ ^'".''^"^ t^^t night. But it was no darker island r3 J ' ^^Z"\ ^% ^^ ^^^^^"^ ^^e stony ridge behind their inl onlvTvf V ?'^f *^^ °* *^^ mosquito-smudges, and remember- c"?ihsition .nn'f^^ ^Vf '* *^^^" *^^ ^^''^^^ ^tep away from cmiisation and from all knowledge of Andree fhpi^h.nTi^''!!'"®^ "^""^ ^"""y "^^ch for what she was. But that had only changed his love. He no longer thought of her 266 THE LAW BRINGERS I' m HI" 111. a wife, lo him she was. and always would be. just Cranee's Andree ; a thing hall-human and wholly dear-a tiv^wTch the very soul of him longed to protect and which he could not touch, could^notjielp. could, not.shield. ^ouia not He looked down the slope to the sleeping bodies round the mosqmto-smudge. and knew instantly which 0I them was Dick. He had lain round camp-fires with him too often not to know how Dick always slept on his side, with one knee bent and fingers curving for the revolver-butt; quick to Lrin^ up on the instant at any unusual sound P^wL so S always, this man whom Tempest had loved and trusted^ So quick with his laugh and his love and his generous impulses lempest had loved Dick because he was Dick, never ha tS to consider that Dick might treat him as he had treated othe? "ahous indiff '" ''"\'^\^ f °"^ '' ' ^°"^ it with the u u'al hfe doi. if .h'^ "^^"^ ^^ '^°^^^ ^t "^°st crises of his life done it with mocking eyes and a lie on his mouth. in lempest there was so such mad mixture of rojrue and martyr and devil, of sin and renunciation and sehUmess and reverence as tormented Dick. There was no litt£ cvnkal imp of humour in his blood to teach him how to jest at hfssoS fmo wih^/>'\""^' ";!;"^ ^"^^ ^^""- ^^-k possessed that H^?H )^'^^°"* '^ j^e could not have served the Law which he derided, nor found such good joy in life still. Tempest had none of that spark to keep the fire o. his days burnhrg He knew, as all the world's chosen men know (and there a?e man v more of them than the world ever find out that hS to fiL'^.h'^' '"^f "^' ;' ""^ ^^^ P^^"^ duty as ^immokal ma^ hi W "'"'"'^^ ^"5 *° ^PP^y '^ ""^" he could stand upon t'oVttiS'tre^tul^"^^'' ^"^ '' '^' '^^ --^ wh-h was ^i.fr!'^ ulJ'T'^. to-night, as he had known so many times through the last months, that as yet he could not do It He had first to stamp out his hate of Dick, and all ?he outraged betrayed friendship in him fought instinctively aglnst that' He went down to the fire again ; took his blanket and wrapped it round him. A breed was raised on his elbow throwing more wood on the fire. The flickering light weni playing hide-and-seek across the faces of the sleeS men bnnging the semblance of laughter to Dick's mouth TVm' pest turned his back on him and lay dow^^ But that mockT; laughter chased him through his dreams and spoS Ss rest fhJ. !f '"^ ^'?'' ^^^ ^"d ^^"^"V. with a following wind that ran them with taut sails down to the grey aneTv fiill of rarfisi:fd?thaf/l^^%^J^^^^^^^- ^^^oT'^e'^^^^ na^ed w^dth of thrr "^^^cf, '^°? T"'" ^°^^ "^ ^^^c, and the about Th^n. Ti ^^^^ ^^^""^ ^^^^ was hke a rimless sea about them. The canoes seemed absurdly inadequate and Wff: Orange's ag which could not ound the hem was 3ften not :nee bent to spring so quick ited. So impulses, r halting ted other he usual js of his h. )gue and ness and cynical : his soul sed that vhich he )est had ng. He re many having tal man id upon lich was y times it. He itraged, St that, et, and elbow, it went ig men, Teni- locking lis rest, ig wind line of small, md the ess sea te and ON THE LONG TRAIL' 267 es rolled, the crested he stalking ree- traders frail to take that passage ; but the breeds slid into it, indiffer- ently, with the assured skill of their kind, and the white men's canoes followed, as snaky and alert as they. The rising wind blew up a sea that threatened danger, and the .n:xt ^o hours were full of it. With tunics Hung aside, u.d s'r and hats off every man laboured for his LU. anc waves about them allowed no rest, any mou 'b .\ Indian of an earher day had allowed rest <-o tl. - .cc:-uiaucia who were marked down for punishment on that . ! THE I.AW-BRINGERS liWi lakes had been beaten hard bv the Dis<;inir nl fi,„ * u i hrough uncounted years on th'^^ir 3 to"|or Resolu'tinr"!'? opinions as he fiunR tiie Hst fiM'^fh n^^'''' ''^"^'^^ '"^^^^ of the divide where the hJfL ^f^}y-^^^^^^} P^ck on the crest muscles of his ned '^' """"^ '"^^'^ *^^ ^"^^"- Police"^' he sals' '^.'''^f''.'^^^ J^ker called us the Mounted we ar;. An' this ref«^ +!; u , personal belongings myself ''^' ^^^"^ *° overhaul my the mTL^o'the^e^^^^^^^^^^ '^ ""^^ ^- ^^^ followed it was not o? ftlhlTTempt^ ^pokf °^ ^"^^ ^^°"^"^^ ^^^ -- " Shin^^"""" y°\be«^doing to your feet ? " he asked " You'] hP . i ^''^^"P ^^^ ^o^^ and sat down again with your feet ? " s>iiooic. What is wrong ou'titwTlw^"'^'''*'''^^"^^-'' Dick looked up. "Whenlcrv out It will be time enough for you to fuss over me " ^ anl™d''S'™:"''-'°°^ '"' t'^a'lool. and^rrrSeant. They ^p^^'^tfi:^-' --^-^ -^y "- to take i if 11 ' 1! 1, ^: -, i i Ill I 270 THE LAW-BRINGERS had become a familiar. Now it was about the one thing which might be said to reprcsert home to him. Other things passed and were replaced ; but the httle faded bag survived in some way which he never took the trouble to account for. _ "Be easy," he said, and detached another clip from a melt- ing lump of cobbler's wax. " I will get through my work as well as the next man." He kept his word unconcernedly and to the letter. But it hurt Tempest more than he had believed he could be hurt now to watch those limping feet on the many portages that linked up lake after lake until the long waters of Artillery Lake stretched before them, gleaming delicate mauve and silver under the dying day. Dick had been this way before on a lone patrol, filled only with the cheerful exnltance of a hunter who keeps a difficult trail. Now he dropped his pack on the camping-ground ; straightened with an effort ; rubbed his hot hands over his hotter face, and looked out across the peaceful water. At his side Depache said gently : " Mary Mother ! But it is hke w'en de bells of San Michel do call us to pray at home." Dick heard, but he did not speak. The great spreading calm of the water ; the pure air, warm and soothing where it blew in his face ; the quiet, bare hill-spaces dimming to dusk, and the one grove of trees about him where the dark thickened' brought more rest into his fretted weary mind than he had known for long. Unmoving he stood, with his face changing and softening. Then he turned, loosed the straps round his pack, and went back over the hundred-yard portage for a second load. That night the real keepers of the Silences waked and walked about the two little tents along the lake-shore. Dick hearing the faint familiar call and the soft clicking of hoofed feet, saw them first. Then he crawled to the tent-opening and lay there, watching. In .wos and threes and in dozens they passed and re-passed him ; the full-grown caribou bull stand- mg mightily with his antlers clear-cut on the pallor of the lake ; the slender does, stepping lightly and turning their dappled necks to left and right, and the young bulls halting now and again to butt each other with their sprouting horns and then rushing off with exaggerated snorts of fear. All along the lake-hp they drank and clustered ; parted and came again. The smell of their warm, furry bodies and of the mud they churned up in the swampy places came strongly to Dick ; and the murmuring, whimpering sounds of them ; the sharp scuffles and the occasional deep note of warning struck home to the very core of the man's heart. It was only among the creatures of the wild that the savage was wiptd out of him and the unquestioning simpUcity of liing which ngs passed ed in some r, 3ra a melt- ly work as :r. But it 5 hurt now hat linked lery Lake and silver jfore on a f a hunter Lck on the >ed his hot e peaceful !an Michel spreading ^ where it ? to dusk, hickened, n he had changing round his ige for a iked and e. Dick, of hoofed ming and jens they -ill stand- the lake ; dappled now and and then long the le again, lud they ck ; and p scuffles le to the e savage 'licity of 'ON THE LONG TRAIL* ahead whcrL the nJ,;; l" 5''^'"^^.!" V'" '^^^^^°^- And then, no saw a tSng wWch^h. '' V^'? ^^^" ^"^^ ^° ^^e water moment he wonckred i^ tho ? k"'^ "f" ^''^^°''^' ^"^ for a nightmare only and if th so, *'^"^'"^ ^'""r ^^*^^^" ^^'^ bulls who crossed ipr. '''' ^'"^y °^ stately-treading breasted the Seon^afte^^^ '^' "^'^' ^^'^^^"^ed, and as this was tiframe ni S wSclThe h°'/'' '""T. ""^>^' '^^^ years ago. " ^ ''^'' ^'^ ^^^ P^«««^ here five full lay'^SThe gra^:'*' "^"^^"^^^^^^ ^^^ ^P^ko below him as they IS^^ln'&Tu'itd'^' ^""'"'M' "^^^^^ '-' multitude." such as he had tt Sn^he'se'^^^^^^^^^ heart-whole laugh crested horns that split the wfto^ nil. ^l \''' }^''' '"'S"^&' bodies looked dcviikh on^ . ^°'''' ^^^ '^^^^ swimming barren water Both mnnf^ ^^T^ ^-'^^ "^^"^^^ ^^^^ ^^d the grew chilled and he cr^nTh '^1 ll" "^^V* ^^^^ache's long body But Dick clun "to his sn^fr ."^ ' ^'i'?^^^' ^^'^ ^'^'^ ^o the tent^ splash where a'^rLbnHnLP.r*' ^^^^'^^^^^ ^^^ the distant sound as 1^ sw'r^ sto^d ^ ^^^ ^f "' ' ^"^ ^^^« ^^^^ ^"^hing greatbody as hTllded Yn'fl. . '' "^'"^P^"^ '^^^^^ °^ ^^^^ far, and Dick's ear^wero■n„^V^'l"^' '^^""^^^ ^°"nd carried And his eyes were TuTck T,f V^°'' "' '^' ^""^^^ "^"^^ be. tlie life which Sn4 to tf- ^l . T'^^'"^' ""^^'^^^ ^^^^^ «f dear to him. Year bv v-^ ^^ -' ^""^ "^''^'""^ '''''^ "^''^ came again- stLv nnnV /^^^^^ rcindeer'moss and th'e tree-Sch""'d't"^ ' ."^^^"^ ^^^ unnamed lake for drink "^T ^ , "l *^^ ^'^^^^^^ ^f some to South and back fh^; ^^°"^^'^««' drifting ever from North land ; tL Ln^ry-^o of ThriS ^'' r ' "^^'^'"^ "^^^^^^^ ^^ «^i« the frontier ^ "^ ^^"^ ^'""^^ ^^^^^^s ; the guard along across^SroTtierThe'^-i'o '"^ '''' "^^^^ "^^^ ^™ -°"'d be bad trodSerto4thrr n f ^'/'^'' before, he and Tem .est North closed up in?o it. 1 "^^T '^''^ ^''' ^^^^ ^"^'the be there, moving n ?heir couJ"'^' '^^T '""^°" ^°"^^ ^^^^ whiteness. ^ "^ countless rarki over the noiseless wa'Vs'edtJdtt'kTrr Cro"- T" ^^-^-^ '^^^^ «^ *-- north to the Arctic -^Inc ^/°""d^ ^''^ lay left and right and sun poured Latdl;ff r''''^ ^' "^^"^ ^^^^^^P^^' ^^^ the on every naked Mrt^nd;^" ," "' ^^an: s, brmgmg blood and quaked ben^eath the r' ^^-fy- ""trodden portages slid clogghigmudandtite^^^^^^^^ '^'/'\' *^^°"S^ *° flung the man forw^^S^^ISen^-^ ^t^S^^l^r^J '4 272 THE LAW-BRINGERS ;■ il It'll i lii m\ it m> I tracked the canoes among snarling rapids. In open reaches sudden stiff winds bore them back to barren shores that held no anchorage. The one lonely little Indian camp they passed wa^ far behind, and the four men moved alone in the hand of the elements and of the God Who made them. But the fat mosquito-bitten Myers had unfaihng iokes for every good or evil ; Depache sang his little plaintive l^rench-Canadian songs, untroubled by wind or rain; and the dangerous alert look softened in Dick's eyes before the touch ( fu ?^ ^^^?^ °" ^'^ ^°"^' ^^d he told his casual yarns the things he had seen and had done as easily in the cold wind-beaten tent as round the jovial camp-fires of the south' lempest s men had been picked with skill, and he had reason to approve the judgment. They were men right through these roughened, sweating, blood-smudged ruffians who took the tracking-hne or the portage-pack, the paddle, the oar or the straining stays of the sail, cheerfully and without comment, at his word. And he, knowing himself for the king-bolt of the company, laboured with all the inward courage le.t him to take his part manfully in the daily trials that no mail knows until he comes to face them for himself. The days dropped away, remembered only by " that noon when we couldn't make a landing, and had no dinner " ; or. the night It blew too hard to pitch the tents, and we slept unoer the canoes " ; or, " that bloomin' day what was all portages an we unloaded an' loaded up again five times." And then, when a short month was done, they came to the portage on the Height of Land, with rivers and ground falling eastward into Hudson Bay. ^ They camped on Height of Land portage that night ; round a fire made of driftwood worn and light from long beating on these barren shores, and of moss which Dick searched for and. knowing well the use of. brought back to the fire in great cakes. It gave out a musty smell to the night, and Myers declared that it made the tea taste. But the flavour was good to Dick, and the wild night blowing up dark on the naked wastes about him was good. For the belief was quicken- ing m his ramd— day by day, and hour by hour— that when he touched to the haunts of men again he would find Ducane. Through all those miles from Fort Resolution, which were only about three hundred and seventy on the survey map although the portages had piled them up to almost as many S?"-?' ^^^^ ^ "^^"^^ held sleeplessly to the thought of Ducane. While his senses exulted in the smell of the rivers • in the deep-trod spore of deer on the shores ; in the high, white stars that strung themselves across the curve of the great skv m the winds that blew out of the unbreathed spaces round the 'n reaches that held ey passed the hand ing jokes plaintive ; and the the touch ual yarns the cold, he south. ad reason through, who took the oar, without : for the i courage 3 that no hat noon er " ; or. we slept was all ! times." le to the id falling ; round ating on hed for, in great d Myers our was on the |uicken- at when lid find ch were ;y map. -s many Ducane. in the ite stars it skv • and the ' ON THE LONG TRAIL ' 273 He took his skill in his work fnr }i,-o f^^.- u the very salt of life in it llie trv o^Wf' ^ T'°' ^"^^^^ welded, with strong blows and w^fo^hif '^''' ^^ ^^^ ^een left him with mu?h mlc^fdt^ Law, duty, discipline had meaiTt pracSni .k"*^^^" "^^"• until he saw the beauty of them in T^..''?*^"^' *° ^'"^ even thr ,ugh his pam in^onSon\ thX man'^^^ ""Ta to his pride and his humour to know tha? hf I'. ^^^^^^^"^ derelict, had whipped Tempest back^nfo .1. ' !^'^- ™°^ally- and that Tempest was treadm. it faithfnli ' /^'^'^^^ P^^^' glorying delight of old. ^^"""'^ '^' ^^^thluUy. if not with the Insomewaywhichliedidnottrvtofnf}-,r^r.. 4.u- ■, awakened,,Dick's understanding o^ vvhat Col^f ^^^.^^^ to which he had given his oatlt It betai to^f ^^^ ^^'^^ semblance of a burden to be slipped when poss^l! t T^"" to be got up with a crib ; a factor vXch h^rl n^ . '''' interest except where it concenied hi! prtatf '^t''"' k° step, out here among these mighty forces which rn S^^ ^^ pnr^i^^^xfh:^:^^ fsfi^SaS^s^3=:^^ could overcome wLfh^lLnft^'knor as^ D^^^^^^^^ ;txiCo^,- r^^^ -"^^ -- thr^r^wtrdon^^r r^e^Sl^nJ^^w^l^r ^5^'^^^^^w He knew that when refounfnn '^?'"^^ ^"°"^ ^^^^ "^^tive. the man crinlJand vvht^lr^ ^'^7°^^^ ^^"^^^ ^o ^^^ kick Ducane up on to Sit a "^ ^T' , ^^^)-0"W delight to He had suifcred too ,nuVh tiu"^^^^ to forgive him, and he knew wellthat hT ^"'^^"^ ^^^^ so long as he or Ducane liVed And f'Z^'fr^, '\T^''' passing him on the port-i-e S f.,f .■ vddenly, Myers, little ttvmkhng. blue eyes ' P"''^"'^- "'^^^^ ^' ^'^^^ with '' SX^'" SS' D-'r' ''/^'^ ^"^' "^^^ ' " ^^ d^--ded. stinging neck. ' '' Like oab'^nd'^r^^ ''".'^^ ^^^^ ^^^ been slaying my thousaiidtnnH f J°'^"^„^nd the rest, I've Myers grunted. ^^""^ ""^ thousands." S 274 THE LAW-BRINGERS M " Looks like the smell o' blood don't sicken you any," he said, and went on. There was a curious affinity between the cheerful little Cockney and Dick. Myers had served in the Yukon Territory during the mining rush, and there were several passages in his life which he found it convenient to forget. But he had learnt there how to seek for the inner values in a man, knowing them to be different utterly from the side he faces the world with. Like Dick there were times when the man in him grew tired of strife, and turned boyishly to the boyish equivalent for birds'-nesting and chasing cats ; and together they sought these equivalents now ; trolling for the great red trout at foot of the rapids ; whipping the water for grayling ; hunting caribou when fresh meat was needed ; and chasing the cat (which was Depache) when opportunity occurred. No power on earth could ruffle Depache's gentle melancholy into a storm. When Dick and Myers cursed the flies and the damp heat along the ragged streams and boulders that broke the portages, and yet would not allow canoe-work ; when they swore at the windy nights ; at the infinitely desolate hills where only the moss and a few handfuls of grass in the bottoms offered fuel ; when, rising to giddy peaks of profanity, they vowed that they would feed no more biscuit to the stomachs that desired bread — bread, and could make no fire wherewith to bake it ; then Depache would look at them, sad-eyed, and interested. " But I could never think of all those words, moi," he would say, and drift off to sing his little fjongs contentedly. By the nature of things Tempest stood somewhat alone throughout this patrol. Birth and position placed him apart, and his temper just now kept him there. He did his work accurately, both in the physical and mental branches ; and what he thought about he kept to xiimself. Once Dick saw him handling his revolver with rather unnecessary interest, and he walked past noisily, meaning to make Tempest look up. Tempest did not look up. He put the revolver back in its case and snapped it shut. But Dick carried the memory of that little scene away with him, and he did not forget it. In Tempest's place he would have used that revolver on the other man. He knew that if Tempest used it he would use it on himself, and that thought kept his mind busy, even through the keen disappointment when the patch of spruce wood promised by an early survey map as growing on the shores of Sifton Lake turned out, after much searching, to be soft ground spruce, of hardly greater value than the moss. Over that spruce Myers lost his temper fully for the first time. He flung himself on it, tearing it up by the stringy roots, and consigning it to hotter flames than that by which he had J* ^ou any," he heerful little kon Territory assages in his he had learnt ;nowing them i world with, m grew tired ijuivalent for they sought trout at foot ng ; hunting sing the cat ; melancholy flies and the rs that broke A'ork ; when tely desolate grass in the of profanity, scuit to the make no fire lok at them, is, moi," he contentedly. lewhat alone id him apart, did his work inches ; and :ce Dick saw ary interest, pest look up. • back in its 3 memory of orget it. /olver on the le would use . busy, even ch of spruce wing on the searching, to an the moss, he first time. ;y roots, and hich he had •ON THE LONG [TRAIL' 275 hoped to bake his brcaH xh^., t. long hair that swjpt tL ^ronn f' '^'^^J^' T^" ^""^' ^^^ the him hke rags shaLfin the S H?'"^ ^f '^""^^^^ ^°"»d they had seen that day and thehnS ^'f ^^t^"'^^ P^"^^ ^^ ^^^^ desolate without him ^' '''' stretches seemed more bloting^'thlcf airg'^^^^^^^^^ -f ^ife again. Grass the banks ; sea-gulfs and Z.f ' k^^^^^ ^'"^^^^ skirting under the sunset^, woivti^e and'' A ^'°^" -^^^^^ saunterin| On a portage Dick kkked nn . . '^ u^'""^ ^" *^^ ^^ght workmanship. He thrust i^in^r'"? ^-^"^ "^ Esquimaux with a new light shininr. S r ^'^ *""'^ ^"^ t^^dged on long, he would know S^tie I? '^''- ^'^°'" ^°"&' before ve?y Esquimaux sheltered Ducane^^^"^'^'^""^^ ^^ '''''^ ^^^tern of the land, it followed that h.''"'°7.^^'" ^'^P^^^ roadways places. And as the place wh or. "^"'^^^^^ ^^d to the waste of existence are rather cTeariv'^^^^^ ^^'^ ^^" '^" ^"^ "^^^"s that he must be aW tho H "^ ^ .'""x "^'^^' ^^^^ ^"^^ He could not Kive ?he countrv inH V^^^^ ^^^^ ^one east, northern ways, and Dick dM nnf ^v^^^^u^ ^J ^^^ ^^ ^^e to face the congested p^fces of ?h sottt' h'?' "?"'^ ^^^« men, and would be known hJ i "^^ ^^^^ *oo many instant did Dick thinkTm In T "S"^.' u"^"^ "^^^^ ^^^ °ne he would have known if it hf^v ^^ ^"^^^ instinctively that as instinctively thi? it woufd hf /°- ^-"^"^ ^" ^^^t' ^^^^'^ and carry him back to th^? . ^""l ^'"' ^° ^^d Ducane long. H^ ow"d it to rennLr S "'"h^ -^ ^"^ ^^^^^ «« owed it to the work which wifi.' °'^'-''^ '^ ^° ^^"^^elf ; he than ever bcfoi7 ^^' beginning to mean more to him fi^^ TgretttTm I'^n t^ /^"^^^"^ ^^^ '• their tents each mornin? and .n?. ^ ^^^^ *"^"^^ °"t ^'^^ before the canoe-prow^^' tL heat of^ soft creaking ice-films but each morning it T^ed loniS .nH "^'^u^^ '^^P* '^ °« ' more early. The tentacS nf fh ' xt ^..^^^^ ^"^^"^"^ ^^ came to annex its own a^Tin t itfl. h' ^f^/^.^"^ P^^^ing down up behind them. Alreadv thl M^^ httle the land was closing shut down, and HefsS L tf^v ^'^^""''^ ^^^^^^ ^°"Jd have rigidity. The keen gtd ^,::\^^^,S^^ ''' «— -onths of vipour to fh^ b/^iu ureatn of the morninjrs nut- r,^.- "° to the ..cii; xne ihes were dead, and the^loSg,~har3 1! s i,... if": 'Iff I 1 f 276 THE LAW-BRINGERS i IH miles of labour had tightened thew and muscle, and sweated off superfluous flesh until there was nothing left but a tense, springy strength that seemed never to tire. And then, one hot midday when the river ran fast between tall, naked cliffs, the canoes swung round a bluff and found an anchorage before a knot of deerskin tepees where Esquimaux women were working. Dick's heart was in his throat as he went with Tempest up to the tepees. But there was nothing for him there. All the men were away at Fullerton, trading fur and carvings with the whalers, and the little information which the laughing, flat-faced women could give in their broken EngUsh suggested no knowledge of a white man among them. Tempest stopped to admire the sleek, alert, husky dogs which made the sledge-teams. " About as different from an Indian dog as day from night." he said. " I shouldn't wonder if we weren't wishing we had em before long." " Why ! " Dick was startled. " Don't you imagine we will catch the steamer at Chesterfield or Fullerton ? " he asked. " Can't say." Tempest turned on his heel. " Winter seems likely to be early, and I am afraid it's going to take us all our time " And then he forgot Dick, and stood watching Depache down on his long knees among the greasy, chuckling babies who rolled on the stamped ground without the tepees. Depache was cuddling those babies and kissing them. He made bobbing rabbits for them out of his ragged handker- chief. He tickled them and laughed as the fat, good-natured mothers laughed, and Tempest went away to camp with a sudden, surprised understanding in him. Shut in on his own troubles, it had never struck liim that this gentle, serenely obedient man had been famishing for something to fondle ; something to take care of. Tempest remembered now ho\v Depache had begged for the broken-legged dog, and how he had gone away by himself when Tempest had refused him. For all the rigid laws and the strenuous man-life to which they had submitted themselves, there was yet something strangely young and uneradicable in these lives under his hand. Dick and Myers wanted their boy-games, though their eyes and the hues round their mouths could tell how much they knew of men. The soft, melancholy Depache, who was stronger than Tempest himself, wanted some httle helpless thing to pet and kiss. Of what Tempest himself wanted he did not dare to think. He went back to camp, and wrote up his diary. Along the Thelon River old cut trees told where Esquimaux camps had been. For the Indians never stray so far from the- and sweated t but a tense, fast between and found an ■e Esquimaux throat as he i was nothing ;rton, trading e information give in their e man among , husky dogs ■ from night." shing we had imagme lerton ? " we he el. " Winter ng to take us ling Depache ckhng babies tepees. dssing them, fged handker- good-natured camp with a in on his own atle, serenely ig to fondle ; red now how , and how he refused him. to which they ing strangely hand. Dick eyes and the :hey knew of stronger than \g to pet and not dare to diary, e Esquimaux far from the 'ON THE LONG TRAIL' 277 western fur-trading posts, and the Esquimaux make no permanent homes in the woods. The open count^ where the snow packs hard beneath the dog-trains and the caT^nn run in their endless herds are dearer to them by far There were fish and deer and musk-ox in plenty where th« following winter chased the little patrol east aS ever «2f mto Hudson Bay. Sweeps of utterly barren count^ w^fe interspersed with heavy timber ; deserted camps^howed otunZ TrS- *^; 'P'^"""' •• ^"^ *^^ thickly-cros^sed spares ttpos::^d^ ^X'lZ't^^yri^^^ and the women and children. "irKing nusJaes Dick knelt without moving in the stern of his canoe whila Tempest called a welcome, and the answers came in unusuaUv good Enghsh. He was wondering why thatXi^Vv ^.^1!^ into a half-hidden tepee and dropped the skin flap behlndtirn^ And yet. m his own heart, he did not really wonder H^ swung his canoe alongside Tempest's and spoke toTm; ver^ '' Can't we make camp here ? " he said, " For I believe I have just seen Ducane." oeneve i: CHAPTER XV. i|iii THE BARREN GROUNDS." Up the stony beach and among the sparse, ragged timber many Sr?n« '?"'' women were working : cutting deer flesh into long strips, poundmg them flat, and hanging them over the pole! that ran between forked sticks in the sun. Others were scraping the skms and stretchmg them on frames. On the left some men were making a kyak ; sewing the skin across the ribs of dot. t /L H H ^^f-*^",d°V« «f the caribou. There were many dogs, fat and hea thy-lookmg ; and the brown smoked skin wTvf .f nTi "^^T ""i ""^"^ prosperous. Tempest glanced side- ^eTto' do'^ubt him'' '"'" ''^ ^^^^"'^ P°-^^^^^ °^ ^^^-^-- ^- ''^ Where ? " he asked. "Slinking into one of those tepees. Can I go after him ? " There was an eager, almost wolf-like note in face and voice Tempest recoiled from it, thinking of Ducane's wife. He looked up at the chief of the camp who was talking to Myers in sur- prisingly effective English. ^ " You have a white man here ? " he said. The Esquimaux nodded and smiled. u-"S^'T: H™ Sleepy-face. Me Good-night." He patted his broad breast. " Dat my wife mak' deer-meat 'crosf dere Muffin"" Sleepy-face wife too be'ind. She Sweet Dick turned to look at Sweet Muffin. She sat on the ground beside a great hunch of the deer-meat with her fur-wrapped legs under her and the loose fur skirt tucked up round her fat, swathed body She was chewing a bit of the meat as she worked, and her bright eyes glanced in her flat, greasy face. Swiftly she cut off shce after slice, and flung it to the next woman who pounded it out on a stone. Then they laughed together; niusically, happily. Dick unfolded his legs and stood up in his canoe. ^ " May I go after Ducane ? " he asked, and his voice was dangerously quiet. " Why. certainly." said Tempest. " And don't waste time, iivery hour is valuable now. Do you want any help ? " mber many h into long ir the poles Te scraping 3 left some the ribs of were many noked skin inced side- uction too ter him ? " and voice. He looked ers in sur- He patted crost dere. She Sweet he ground r-wrapped round her eat as she easy face. > the next y laughed legs and voice was aste time, p?" 'THE BARREN GROUNDS' 279 "No, thanks," said Dick. "I'd rather go alone." He walked up among the sniffing dogs and the roly-polv children with long, swift steps. He had no weapon with him and he knew why he could use none to Jennifer's husband no matter what the provocation might be. But he did not expect any fight from Ducane. He would have given almost any- thing he had if he could have expected it. But he knew the bed-rock cowardice of the man too well. Past a large, well-shaped tepee with its chimney-fiy smoked deep chocolate he reached the smaller, half-hidden one into which the big man had disappeared. He had not taken his eyes from that tepee since the man went in, and he knew that his chances of finding Ducane there were considerable. Ducane would not have expected even those hawk-eyes to search him out in that one instant of time. He hf ted the skin flap of the tepee ; stooped, and walked m. It was dark and it smelt infinitely. Dick Mew his nostrils out in disgust. Ducane had never been a dainty man ; but this was worse than was necessary, " Anyone here ? " he asked. There was no sound. He struck a match, and looked round Under his feet lay strips of wood, caribou-bones, fishing-nets long needles, and other litter. In the back of the tent furs were piled untidily. It might have been the flicker of the match, but Dick fancied that the skins moved — just once. " Gone to earth on the chance," said his brain. Then he strode over and took up two great handfuls of the skins, " You'd best come out of that, Ducane." he said, " I'm here, you know." There was still no sound, no sight of life. Dick let the match drop, and reefed up another armful of the softly-cured odorous deer-skins, kicking at the same time. And then something rolled out on the earth at his feet ; cursing whim- pering, clutching at him, mixing prayers and blasphemy hke a man demented. Dick jerked himself free in a more virulent rage than had ever possessed him in his life. It was this thing —this thing that rolled on the earth and cried, which separated him from Jennifer. "Get up," he said between his teeth. " Get up vou cur Get up." ^ ■' " ^ ?-^^' y°^'^^ making a mistake," whimpered Ducane. Kobison was deeper dipped than me. On my soul he was. And he s dead. They must have turned him off long ago. Why can t you " ^ " In the devil's name— get up ! " said Dick, and there was something m his voice which brought Ducane shaking and murmuring to his feet, " You can't imprison me." he blustere4. " lU turn King'g IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k {/ .!^ ^W vw *c^ -(S Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 72-4503 ^ \# ^ fc 28o THE LAW-BRTNGERS '4' , ! ii .1. I i ' ^ ■ ..' ' 'I others Tn if T'l, * °"^^* ^^t ^^^°^^ *^^"^ ""*• There are nW^on T I" ^i'^^ y°" *^^^^ ^^"^es- 33ut I won't go to vonJ!!"" ^^'-y^^' What did you come here for, " ow^^^ ^^*^''-" ..^^'',^ "^^^ *^^^"^ ^is b'-eath in long gulTDs. Oh Lord ; if you'd only hit me ! " he said. ^ ' Dick Cw iS".i^''°'^ ^ "^^^ ^^'■^ • " E^^" i^ the close dark Dick knew that the man was wringing his hands and rocking i .ooH w " '"' ?''P^^"- " J^^^y "^^^^ told you. She waf a good wife to me, Jenny was. She wouldn't tell you. UnTess LTlie7jtn';!i-P^' ^^" "^^^^ ^- ^ ^y Helven. J^^ou Dick was interested. There was a spark of manhood in this creature yet, then. And it flamed at memory of the woman whom he had left to bear the weight of wZdisgrace while he lived in a skin tepee with Sweet Muffin ^ Suppose I did ? " he said, and every muscle was twitching JefnifS'sTuL^^nd.""^ '^ '''^' ^^^^ *^^^ -- ^^^ -' But Ducane had slid back on the earth again ■ sDurtinsr Sa? °H?w:frrP'r*'°"/ ""'^ ^^"■"S silent'againlrftte? •'That's enough," he said. " Come on. You're camDin.> rguesTvoi^^Sein'';''"'';^""'' '"" ^^"°^^ -- waiting oSe" I guess you U help carry them over the next portages We're I'r^ surf /?"^' ^'"^'"': '"" y°"'" ^^ ™^y "■=>»■"= fter? 1 m sure. Are you going to get up ? " mln^'^T^LT'l^^' ^^^u^ ^°" "^""t^^ "^"^^le ^eft in the man. He had become obsessed with the dread of prison shame.' ^'"^'^ '° """^ ""'^^ "^''''^ ^'^y ^^^' burnt w?th "Why can't you leave me alone ? I'm not doin? anv harm up here. Robison's dead. He must be defd aL 7ll g™ you the names of the company. There's John W. Harker of Dick ! Oh, my God ! Dick ' " ^cir^er, oi In heu of a handcuff Dick had taken a piece of fishin^-hne rt^r^wTthibf r^' ;i ^^r."- ^"^- hurt thei^ ron h -. ^^"^^^ °l^'' °^^- ^"g^^«- It did not K it ^^°"-hard sinews ; but it sank into Ducane's soft flesh hke a string into cheese. Ducane sprang up with a veil and mcoherent ravings. Dick laughed softly^ ^ ^ ^ Why, he said. "I'm not beginning to hurt vet But a special patrol of Canada is being kept waiting for y^u Dtfcane and 1 don t consider it pohte to let it wait any lor -er Do you prefer to be l.d out like a puppy on a string Jn-^'- "^^ Ducane took a step. Then he halted. Dread of the dock There are 3n't go to It would here for, 3ng gulps. ;lose dark d rocking She was . Unless n, if you nhood in y of the > disgrace twitching who was spurting in utter e to wait camping outside. , We're le there, fc in the : prison, nt with ly harm I'll give irker, of dng-hne twisted did not le's soft h a yell But a )ucane, 3r. Do le dock 'THE BARREN GROUNDS' 281 ^ver Um "'S^^'"^■^'T -^^"^ '^^^' '"^ ^^^^ ^^ liberty swept fn?. tI i' V ^"'"'^i^^.'^ sideways, smashing a heavy blow right into Dicks face Dick carried the mark under his lift fve oTloT?fun wfth'^L^Tr ''%''' '^ '''''' thatlDucane did 7ol C.X r Ls t^^ ^;^- ^ " -^ ^^- i^e^ioiiord-ss Half-way down the beach Dick stopped. For fh.Trcf .•^'''^ ^'^^ good-bye to your wife." he said. - >t3\ •?"'^n^^ '^^ '^^"^^ °^ Ducane's face. " As vou'lik. ''"r, '""^^-i^^-^^.S^'^ '^^"^^^d hi« shoulders, the canoes mdifferently. and led on down to .nl^'SF''"* ^^"^^ *^^ necessary explanations to Good-night Prestle^eThTm wi?^^^^^^ ^"'- ^-^'-ght was TouS: Jt^T • • '^'*^. *^® P^^^'"^ of the white man. But he gave permission graciously, if reluctantly, and watched the canoes shoot round the grey bend of the'iiver wfth curfosity on his good-humoured face ^unubiiy kill'^hela'd' "' L'^why^'p^^^ ^'''^^-'^'^ ''^^ ^ ^^^ *- ^^ f 3?^^"* !^^^ heart-sick to see the utter letting-go of all traditions of manhood in Ducane, the man who had once been sTon'aSed^' T^'- "^.^ ^^P* ^"^y f^°^ him whenever occa^ f.ltc T .ify^^^apd Depache did the same ; very much as dogs who sniff suspiciously and from a distance at a stronger Dirk^?"'P^'l^°^ ^i^'y ^^^^ ^^^^ forbidden to touch. But i^ T, uT^^ *° ^"^ ^^t^^-^l pleasure in this derelict thing which he had salvaged. Often Tempest caught him watch n| the other man in speculative interest, as a cat watchS Tmouse^ «" t DicTwa^r"'' ^^i-'^-^'y d-g-ted. not undeSt'nd ^g fW ? yf ^learning this man through and through in order poSts ""'^ * ^" ^^^' '° ^"^^^ J^""^^'^^ ^g^^^^t him at all Except Ducane no man in the little patrol ever complained But, according to Myers' often-asserted belief " thS wS iSctoTm^t''' ^'?^^^^°«^^"' ^«gi--t- Why don't canoes ?'' '"" '° '' *"'" °' '°^^^"' ^he bloomin' wJ!''^'^^'-*'' ^'^^ ""^^^^ ^^^'^ had stood thigh-deep in icy water, hanging on to his canoe that it might not bang itself to Temoes? hnd T""^ H^^'^^ before the others could lold it up dutThnd til ' *^? '^^^ ^°^ his, and the day before thit was^w^ld /.H K °" Myejs -and Depache. For all the earth The MeL Pi ^^''""/"d ^o^'^ly now. Trees had gone with the Thelon River, and moss was far to seek and little to find after much labour. Dick laughed. * «- ^ to nncj wsmmmmmmm it 1 i. 28a THE LAW-BRINGERS " Why, he takes his turn at eating the bannock, anyway," he said, and Myers departed in fervent profanity. Very soon Tempest discovered that Uucane had neither the strength for the portages nor the physical courage for the rapids, and he was sick always when they put the sails up and charged into choppy water. And, because he did not work, the chill of his constantly-wetted clothes struck in to the marrow of him, until Tempest feared sometimes that a real sickness would force an indefinite halt on these Barren Grounds. It was on the night following a long and dangerous day of shooting the rapids, where the river fell with sharp zigzags between tall, naked chffs into Baker Lake, that Dick came to Tempest. " Have you the dope-box handy ? " he said. " Ducane has cramp in the stomach, and he doesn't appear to be liking it any." Tempest caught up the little medicine-chest and went over to the tent which Ducane shared with Myers and Dick. He sent Myers across to sleep with Depache, and, with Dick, he did what he could for the suffering man. But Ducane was seized with the terrors of the daninec. He believed that he was dying, and his agony of mind and body was a painful thing for Tempest to witness. It did not seem to trouble Dick. He did all that he c.uld for the man where he rolled and screamed and cursed ; but when he began to call on his wife's name Tempest saw a dangerous glitter in Dick's eyes for a moment. Ducane started up suddenly. " Robison is dead ? " he cried. " You told me Robison was dead." " Why, yes," said Tempest soothingly. " But you're not going to die. I've seen men much worse than you, and they got over it. Take some more of this, Ducane." " You've never seen men make more row about it," said Dick. " How are we to tell if it's pain or only fright ? " " Then — if Robison's dead." Ducane was writhing and jerking out his words brokenly. " All these months he's had no masses said for his soul — and I'm dying — and I promised — I swore that I'd go to hell if I broke my word " " Be easy," said Dick. " I expect your word won't make so much difference as you think. And you don't mean to tell me that you have the elements of religion in you ? " He was kneeling by the mattress and his lean, dark face showed mockingly interested in the faint, blurring light of the candle-lantern. Ducane turned his head from it. " I don't know," he moaned. " Robison had. I suppose a man needs some religion when he's going to die." This was O'Hara's cry, and the repetition of it struck Dick unpleasantly. 'THE BARREN GROUNDS' anyway, either the e for the lis up and lot work, in to the lat a real Grounds, us day of p zigzags c came to a cane has i liking it vent over )ick. He Dick, he cane was i that he a painful o trouble he rolled all on his ck's eyes Robison ou're not and they it," said t? " liing and iths he's g — and I ord " n't make an to tell lark face ;ht of the '. suppose uck Dick 283 " Tempest," cried Ducane. " Tempest ! Come here I'll tell you. I won't tell that . He'd give his w^d and break ^' ^T ^^f}>'^"^^ ^a« 0"t of my body. Tempest ! " All right. All right." Tempest's quiet, steady voice came into the following torrent li curses and cr'L^ '^I'm here. What is it you want to tell me, Ducane ? " He took Dick's place by the mattress, and Dick stood un holding the . oak light so that the two fac;s shone on the gloom x»r him : Ducane's, with ragged beard and staring eyerand white haggard skin and a hand that fumbled incessLtly It h^ trembling lips ; Tempest's, with the well-poised head the thick hair pushed back from the square forehead", the healthily brown fine y-cut, grave face. It seemed to him that he had neve; really seen Tempest's physical beauty until he saw it in con- trast with Ducane. Then Ducane began to speak, and 4 of 1 m^n'^ ^^' '°^^'"^ °^ ^ ^^"^ ^^^ the curses " I didn't want to have his blood on my hands. But it was the price. If he got off and shut the mouth of the Quaere Fourches Indians— it was the price " V^uatre pretS^Dick *° ^^""^ ^°'''' ^^'"^ '^ ^""^ """^^^ ^^ '°"^'" ^"t^r- ^i.' \'^''^'''l^- "^""^^ . " ^ ^Pas"i halted Ducane and then he continued with the tears running down his face. "' How could I get at a priest out here ? How could I give him the paper ? But I promised. There were to be misles for Ws soul— not as a murderer " Tempest remembered afterwards how just then Dick's hand bore heavily down on his shoulder, and Dick said • ' Let me take your place. Let me hear what he has to sav This is my business— not yours." ^' Tempest shook him off. " Be quiet," he said. " What is that. Ducane ? Robison was a murderer, you remember. He murdered Ogilvie " ..4. ii°' ^^.^'?^'*1 J d°"'t want his blood-but how could I get at a priest out here " fJ^^r'''^ clear before his brain-sight Dick was seeing the face of Grange s Andree when he had asked her in Gran-e's back-parlour why she was crying. He interrupted again. ^ Tempest, will you let me " ^^ "Will you hold your tongue ? " said Tempest impatiently. How do you know this, Ducane ? Do you mean to sav we ve hung an innocent man? Who killed Ogilvie if it wasn't Robison ? " b c n lu JlrP^' ^^rf^'i I" ^^^^J^ick, in nearer prayer than he had used in his life before. But he could not keep his eyes from that brown, bending face in the feeble light Ducane lifted himself on his elbow. BS r !• ' Jr •f ' [ 1 ■ r :lt! 1'. ,l ' i r u 1 i^ .I' 284 THE LAW-BRINGERS V ■',* Grange's chill run Tempest stared in thickened, you ? By " I don't want Robison's blood on my hands," he said. " And, after all, it was his business, wasn't it ? Not mine. If he loved her enough — he said a girl shouldn't suffer that penalty." " But you haven't told me who it was," said Tempest gently. " Oh, haven't I ? " said Ducane. " It was Andree." Dick had expected that name. But he felt the along his blood as he heard it. utter amaze, " Andree ? " he said slowly. Then his voice " Who dared invent that devilish lie ? Was it , if you did " " No, no," screamed Ducane, frightened out of his pain. " I didn't. It's true. You'll see it all in the paper. Robison promised her at the time that he'd take the punishment if it was found out. But he wanted masses said for his soul. He wanted them said for a martyr, not a murderer. That's why he gave me the paper. And I don't want his blood " The impish devil in Dick was laughing at the mockery of this. Robison's sacrifice had been epic, but it had failed in such a poor, feeble way. Failed because of the man's vanity. He could not bear that some unknown priest should give his name to his gods as a murderer's name. And then he shud- dered, seeing behind this something of the futility of human plans. Tempest stood up. " Where is that paper ? " he asked. Dick's ever-nimble mind was working instantly. While Tempest's voice held that tone he was not to be trusted with any paper of importance. For the moment Dick hardly con- sidered the meaning of the paper. It was his nat;iral ^'>stinct which led him to protect anything which could coir^ omise anyone. " It's in my black wallet — back pocket of my breeches." Ducane did not know what he had done, for he had utterly forgotten Tempest's connection with Grange's Andree. But the feeling that he had given important information to these two men sustained him until he almost forgot his suffering. And he quite forgot that he was preparing for speedy death. Before Tempest could move Dick had pounced on the wet garment where it hung over a box. He remembered those old riding-breeches in the days when he had first known Jennifer. They were torn and dirty now ; but he fumbled with shaking fingers for the buttoned back pocket, drew out the silver- initialled clasped case that had once been so familiar to him, 'THE BARREN GROUNDS 285 he said, nine. If ffer that Tempest Grange's chill run :ared in lickened. )u ? By ain. " I Robison aent if it oul. He lat's why »i )ckery of failed in s vanity, give his he shud- •f human . While 5ted with rd'y con- 1 ^"stinct " omise ches." d utterly ee. But to these juffering. r speedy . the wet those old Jennifer. I shaking le silver- to him, Then Tempest was and thrust it into the breast of his tunic, standing over him. " Where is the paper ? " he said again ; and before that voice the ready he halted on Dick's hps. He picked the breeches up and shook them. ''Not here," he said. " Ducane must have put the wallet m his shirt or his artiki or something. Or it may have dropped on the ground. We'd never find it to-night in all this litter. And it's too confoundedly dark to see anything, anyway. Wait till morning. Tempest. It can't get lost by then." He was talking without knowing what he said. Nothing seemed very real to him at that moment but the knowledge that he did not want to hear Tempest speak again. That curious, crushed tone sounding through the blackness of the tent was so hideously unlike Tempest. From the mattress Ducane called fretfully. The opiate wliich Tempest had given was beginning to take effect, and the fear of instant death was no longer whipping him into frenzy. ''I'd be better now if I could get some rest," he said. If you two would only shut up and let me sleep maybe I'll live after all." That's an inducement," said Dick, treading over the bundles and boxes to him. " Leave that wallet till the morning, Tempest. We'll look for it then." He thrust it further into his shirt. " I guess it's not very far off " he added. Tempest did not speak again. He turned, groping for the flap, and went out. And after a moment Dick followed dodging the moonlight that shone so baldly over the bareness without. For he did not intend that this man whom he and Fate were trying-out in such furnaces should put an end to his training at this juncture. Dick was feeling for Tempest now, very keenly and anxiously : but mixed with the pity was a strong resentment, an impatience ; even a savage kind of gladness that Tempest should know at last the full worth of this girl whom he had been squandering the treasure of his life upon. " He must be sickened of her after this," he said. " He must be sickened of her. Gad ! what is that girl made of anyhow? And how is he going to stand up to it, l wonder." ^ With crafty softness he followed among the low rocks as the tall, black shadows bobbed among them where Tempest went down to the lake shore. He shivered in the keen air and the palhd moonhght. If Tempest chose to try to drown himself there was an unpleasant time coming for both. But Tempest seemed to have no such thought. He turned along the beach, and for an hour Dick watched him come and go; walking i THE LAW-BRINGERS slow ami steadily with hands deep in his trouser-pocketa lonpl . "K ^' \^^""Sh his cytvs wire looking away to the lonely stars that edged the lar level rim of the earth ^ He was quite evidently thinking out some plan, and Dick began to breathe more Ireely. He could meet cunning w th cunning SoL'LTiS " He r, 1^— -^-t to do witli a man 3n aown Dy grief. He had borne his own share of heartaches and knowledge of his endeavour to help Temoest ZlTln^ Tu least of them But at least he could^faceTe worTd with^^^^^^ eyes and a joke still, and if Tempest could not hrw^uld fee that disgrace for Tempest as fully as any othen ^ lempest had suffered in silence so far, and not even tho r?a"[ren'r^"" ^?' ^^" ^^ ""'-^y ^^" cou?d Whow tif h1 T, l,^""''^'"'^"^- ^'""^ did not know. But he felt desperately that he must know soon. He mustlmash down that barrier in Tempest before the hardening prSfess had gone so deep that the man below was stultihed. Vhethe? he was competent to break it down did not occur to him who Hnf/.^; ^"^ '*' ^'^^ ^^'''^ t^^"g« '^^^ ^ot done by the S vet SL did no.T"- ^Tlf- ,^' ^^^^'^^ h^ -^^ "°^ thinSng Jhl'f ^^ not desire to think of her, nor of the use to which to gife'^lt "^^1^7" '° \' P'^*: ^^^ "^^^^^^ did he intend quickened bv tb.f ?''*• ?'' determination there was no^^li^H 1,^ ^^'""^ jealousy for Tempest's honour which possessed him more and more as he realised how far his own tnnif "".?'. ^"'^des. with him as with many of us t^e wav in tf. '^V''' ^? ^°"^^ P^^Pl^ ^^^ki"g their straight S .vil ri "^ """'''' ^° ^^'°^d to the rest the hcence to do Dick tr , H '\^, ""T^'^fy part of the earth's make-up. Dick wheeled at last and went back to the tent He lit -i match and stared at the sleeping Ducane untTl it burnt his fangers and went out. Then he llung himself down on hS tTefa^c 'th t D ^"^ '"^ V '''''■ Until now he had accepted the fact that Ducane was alive and might outlive him He ha d accepted it as mankind usually accepts the obvSus VlSn^s edl o'f the'ST ^''.-'"^"^t? - trying^to find a way roun^The edge of the obstruction. Now, with a shock of realisation It had come to him this night that Ducane's Se iSgS no^^^ VZ^^. u ^^^ ^^^^' ^"- ^^ ^a« a prematurely aged man enfeebled by excesses ; weakened by'^hving in I way wWch brIintrsoirTtto'.'? f""^ '°^ ^°"^'^"d wfth no staL'a o for Vb?= T ^ Z ^l^? ^""' '"^ ^ ^""i"- Lying there, the longing for this man s death swept over Dick like a torrent of fire • blotting out all but the remembrance that there was a hird journey yet before them, and that no law of men nor angels could make it necessary for him to smooth the trail before Ducane's feet. And if Ducane stumbled and feU and one day did not get up again, then, and only then, would Dick bring ^li: THE BARREN GROUNDS' 287 '^luahtslood^^^ whichever altar pleased him best, and say. In the cold pale dawn he was up and away down the beach to a httle jutting bluff behind which he could read that paper of Robison's in safety. The empty canoes beached orfhc naked shore ; the two little white tents sitting together on the stony desolation struck him anew with the paltry weakness of them. Like a Hake of foam off the lake they marked the shore for a moment and passed, leaving all as it had been and would contnue to be. Those stones and that grey tossing ake and these barren cliffs were the only things unswayed bv passion, unbroken by life. There was a stateliness. a d^ity n the slowness and the surety of their changes. To Dkk there was an irrelevant mockery, an almost disgusting lev ?v about the rapidity of the changes in man. The difference seemed to put him. with his few puny years, on a level w"th tLTrtots' Srthr^.^^^ '^^'' ''^' ^^^^' - ^-P-s t uJr^^v^u-^^''^''^ "P ^"""'^ *^^^ ^i^d round the corner of the bluff ht h,s pipe, and opened the wallet to find out in what vvords Kobison and Ducane had endeavoured to ensure a future paradise for both. ^"aure a There were a score of things in the wallet. Unpaid bills HI plenty; a note from Jennifer-Dick knew her writZ and he thrust that sheet back hastily ; some accounts some memorandums; finally a dirty piL of paper folded veTy .nH V^''''^ that looks like Robison's thumb-mark." said Dick wrfffon °P^^^d^t smothering an oath at seeing that it was written in smudged pencil. Then, picking out the words in Ducane s crabbed hand- writing with difficulty, he read it. craoDea liand- The whole of the account was ill-constructed and full of repetition. It had evidently been drawn up on that night at Chipewyan when Ducane had decided to decamp and Robison had preferred to chance the possibihty that Dick might have come on other business. First came Robison's promiS to ge? Ducane smuggled away east towards Hudson Bay through the t^o fh? fT""^'' ^"^^^"^' °^ ^^^d^*^°^ that Ducane agreed it ^t ,^?"°^^^"g/equirements. Robison's name was set in and b^oSr. n ^^^T.'V'^^!- ^""^ *^^" ^^"^^ ^^e requirements^ and fW ^ ''^ ^^^ ^°* *^'°"Sh their tangled phraseology and their strange mixture of cant and bold courage and real m^n fw'Iv """^ ^^^^u,^ ^^^^^^ ^"^h ^ ^ery much better Sr^ ^t . f ''°'''"^^' blunt-minded breed, who had gone to fn fhfc I'^^'^v^K^ '^°"''^" ^^° d^d "ot love him. trusting to this paper to absolve him from purgatory Stripped of clogging words the details of the whole affair 1 u If! IH ■'!'■ MMMjI^H it- ^^^^1 J. fPW -Li :f } , '0. 'i 288 THE LAW-BRINGERS Kiil-U i f I -! 1 . >. 1 1 t . '^ 1- 1 '1 i ni i ' H ^4 |iB|lnjH 1 ^^H^^l' 1 , i 7 t P w 1 If*.' were bald ; much more bald than Dick had hoped for. They told how Kobison had gone to^bring Andrce back from the English Mission : how they had met Ugilvie in the trail : how the two men had quarxelled and Ogilvie had pulled out his knife; how Andree had snatched the knife and stabbed Ogilvie, and how Kobison had dragged him olf into the coulde and flung him down among the thick undergrowth and snow. The paper also told how he had intended to bury the bones so soon as the snow was gone, and how he had subdued Andree's alarm at what she had done by promising to shoulder the possible results. It desired any priest who should receive this paper to pray for the soul of Kesikak Kobison, who had died to save the life of another, and added that Ducane would pay all the necessary charges. Both men had signed this, and y,t the foot was set in full the oath by which Ducaue swore to dehver the paper and pay the money. This Ducane had signed alone. Dick folded the paper and put it back in the pocket-book. He was thinking tirst that Ducane had either money concealed about his rags, or that he was in communication with some person " outside." In the latter case there might be the chance of bail perhaps, or of influence set to work to free him. Dick made a mental note of that. Then he considered the other matter. It was pi-obable that if Andree had pleaded manslaughter at the beginning she might have got off hghtl5^ For Ogilvie was known to have been drunk, and had assuredly been impertinent. But she had Kobison's death also on her shoulders now. Dick understood at last her cry to him in Grange's back-parlour on the day of the trial. " If he want to die, why do it matter ? " she had said ; and he knew Andree sufficiently to deduce her reasoning. She did not want to die, and if Kobison did, why should she not let him ? Dick grinned over the simplicity of it. Andree's wits would not carry her further than that, and most assuredly her conscience would not. For there was in Andree a quahty which belongs to a certain class of masculine minds ; the quality which enables a person to accept the thing which has occurred as inevitable, and therefore not to be regretted or remembered. But there are few women who can look at hfe from tfiat standpoint. " She could never begin to appreciate that sacrifice," he said. " Little devil." And then, horribly, vividly, the truth came back to him that Andree loved him ; that he had taught her to love him. And after that he looked up at a step on the gravelly beach, and saw Tempest. " I guessed you were here," said Tempest. " I have come for that paper, Hcriot." 'THE BARREN GROUNDS' iacrifice," he I have come ^ - 289 betweTl'™^^ bS Sv'^h"'" ''^"^^ ^^"- Andree came Sharpened force. ^ It rtSed hTrthtt^S'^l^'^'^ ^^" -"^ friendship which would leav^ r. ^ * ^^'^ breaking of a of two nTen's liverwoufcble'A'nlre *^'°"^^ *^^ ^^"^^h deathofRobison.orofoSlviroroffW ."i^ "^""'^ ^^an the died with her name in W? mouth ^'' ^''^ "^'^^^^ ^^^ ^ad I haven't got the paper "he said "r u ,. Tempest shook his head siighUv hke . «S "^"^^ * 5^°" ? " are about him. ^"gntiy. like a stag when the midges " It is true, then ? " he askpH " t^ out^^pipTand'^htsW?^ to be extenuating circuristances when 5!^"-?°^^^*. " Bound though. Ducane's so much bettrr thi. ""^"""'^ ^°"« ^"to. we needn't delay at all Did Infi^i^'' morning that I think fast?" ^ • ^^^ y°" ^o™e to call me for break- Tem^st* '' ^°" ^'^^^"^ *° ^- -th that paper ? " asked ;; Keep it-for the present, anyway." " NoT :n"/ouT lU ''"^^Diel^t^rPf ^"^'^«>^- short laugh. ^' Don't tal^that wa^"' t"^ ''^" '""' "^'^ ^ you don't expect me to give it -• ^' ^^ '^'^- ^ou know words haTknoTke'd^t 4t offTh^ ''l 'T " ^^^^ -al- though the spirit had won out to a cer^tl't '' ''''' '^^^°"' ^"^ the night, the natural reaction h^dWf^^^/'"^-P°*^t during control. reaction had left his temper less under Di'ck^^aw \:S! ap^rovaSt: o^^J^^/ ^--'" ^^ said, and body " I am yo^;"; superior oTcer ?/^^*^"^°^-P °f the shm '' coLTndlen'if Z ItTftX TT'" '^'' ^^^^ -^^y- have it any other way '' ' ""^ ^ ^'""^^ ^^^^ you v^on't ^^^ne^^e.''^^?^^^^^ him prompted the were off his lips, and the twrmrnciLd-k^^^^^^ '5" ^°^^^ arms gripped, and flushed faces nea? as thev? ^°'^.'^ '" ^"^«' Dick and Temnp<5f i^-,^ ''''=' "^^r as they swayed. that were gon^TnTSpe'tl ^1"""°^, *™^^ '" *« d^V^ Dick's strength equally una Temn." ,''™'='i''«^^ "ad matched Dick could not find the counSf w '"?*J' *^°^ '<"■ ^'hich ■n Chicago, and had seen a bac^ brfktn h"^ H"'"^ " ^'°<=«' could CO.I of it r^,^ I^rnTa^^Tt b^,' 290 THE LAW-BRINGERS I >M ^1 sudden feint, and again they bent and swayed, spurting the gravel out from under their struggling feet, and feeling the lust of hght generate with each hot, hard-breathing moment. It seemed as though all the pain and bad blood and evil tempers of the last months had culminated at last, and both men gloried in the knowledt,e, and fought to ease thomselvcs of the load. Inch by inch Tempest was feeling for the throw again, and this time Dick did not stoj) him. The fighting savage had been too fully roused in him, and he was mad with desire to prove himself the better man. He slacked his body slightly, letting Tempest get home to the side-swing that preceded thr: fall. Then, at the one instant when the other man's balance was unguarded, Dick crouched, shifted his grip quick as lightning, and Hung Tempest over his shoulder. Tempest fell with a thud on the stones of the beach. Being utterly unprepared he had made no resistance, and Dick staggered up and looktv' at him, breathing heavily through his nostrils. Tempest lay on his face with one arm under him and his body curled up. He did not move, and for a space Dick stared at him without emotion. Then terror smote him in such a blinding, tearing agony that it felt like death itself. He dropped on his knees by Tempest, but he dared not touch him. From somewhere he heard a voice saying : " Have I broken his back ? Have I broken his back ? Have I broken his back ? " At first he did not know that voice for his own. Then he traced it to his moving lips and at once began to take a close aiid curious interest in the individuality of this " I." It did not seem to be really himself, any more than that still thing with the hidden face seemed to be really Tempest. Then why was he afraid ? Why was he so sick afraid that his hands were numb and the little pebbles under his knee-bones burnt like fire ? Part of his brain was searching for a reason, and presently out of the back of his mind there shaped the memory of a sketch of his pasted on the wall of the bunk-room at Grey Wolf. It was -ust an eye, gazing indifferently over the edge of the universe into space, and he had drawn it to illustrate the callousness of that Power which, men alleged, controlled creation and all things within it. Now he knew that he had drawn a true thing, only the Eye was not in- different. It was watching Lim. It had been watching all the time, taking that close and curious interest in his individuality which he took himself. In a spasm of uncontrollable fear he hid his face from it, but he knew that it was watching still. It was that Thing which Hindoo, and Buddhist, and Christian and Mahomedan each give their own name to and worship. It was the Thing en his back ? 'TIIK BARKEN GROUNDS' :^()l And now it '"^'I'VX *'*^'' ^"'*"'^* ^^^'^''t ♦'^"'' "^'^ -iempest an't alone .nidor his .sin lit (l/t L 'I' ,'''^'''^' ^^''^'••^" '»" I must jiot hpln " . . '-y^ watchniK. •k' stood as i^;. ! 1 1 ! ^h 'bn^h : w'ls .;;;rr:' t ^-- - -'-^^ I "Hist got ho!,,.- ho s lid !J '„ 1 . tinnkn,^. " CciUuMy an.l vventbackhUhocalup ' "• '""'' ""■""' ''"^" <»»' l^-ach Among the little stones Myors wis bnil li >ro and pntting on the kottlo^ta bc^i i '1^' '"' '''"♦wood long Inn-hs slowly, rollod the bocid n mi '^'^'"^'•^/."'ov.ng his a httle song thtf whilo. With ?. m T'''^ "' ^^'''■^J'inK cursing. Dick rubbed hi.s eye st ^c i ^ M '\"^'""" ^'^« llu>se men dul not .seem rea^ Htiu T 1^*'^'"^; '" ""' '"•"• paper pasted against tho cohn Hess b , 7 "•";'' "'" '^"^-""t possibly';;^; h m ■ An;r h 7r'' ^''^tr^ '^ ^'-y ->'"'aek ? Jieknew for the inev;^>lo c^^X;^;^.^^/"^: -'^' ^"-'^ tent !;::;uiS ;t*td r ,^n' i'^'^^'-^ ^-'^ ^'> ^'- c oths wrung out of ll^^iZj^o^'^l^^ U '"^ IT' ''^"'^ who commanded here with his ^Jl V " '^'■''' '^*'P'"-l'e who obeyed, enraged k the rti^nrVf '*''";. "^'' ^^"'"^"^'^ ''^ny reasonable man suppo c h h ^T^.'^ ^^^ ''[ '^ •'^"- ^''>"''' i U ' t j \i I ri f 1 • i|r^ '■ 1- ^;;i -^Hi'l 5 •in ■I I ih * I 292 THE LAW-BRINGERS cloths which could not bring the colour of life back to Tempest's skin. Depache was making little broken prayers as he worked, and Dick looked at him with angry eyes. " Why didn't you do that before ? " he said ; and then Depache straightened, with his melancholy, womanish face lighted exultantly. " But it is that he will live," he cried. " See the blood come back under the skin. He will live." Dick looked on the reddened flesh where the cloths were hfted. He saw the dark eyelashes quiver just a little, and he stood up and wen+ to the door, feeling physically sick. " For he doesn't know yet that his back is probably broken," he told himself. " He doesn't know that." Behind him he heard Depache speak as one speaks to a man wh3 yet belongs to the ordinary life of men, and that uncontrollable fear seized him again, chasing him out along the beach with hast3^ unsteady feet. He could not face the conr-:^[uences of this. He could not face that which Tempest might be facing now. The scent of wood smoke drifted to him along the barren beach ; the smell of rain was sweet and heavy in the air ; lake and hills and sky lay colourless and softly tender where seabirds drifted over, sending down thin cries. Dick did not know if it were mid-day or evening or early morning still. A strange, detached feeling of separation from all the natural things possessed him. There did not seem any thing to do or anywhere to go. He was helpless ; helpless to avert the consequences of his own passion ; helpless in the hands of that omnipotent Life which flushes the veins of men for a little space, and then withdraws to fulfil itself in other forms. Because Dick had never loved anyone as he loved Tempest he had never known grief before. He had never known tha need of a God before. He had never known utter fear. He knew them all now, and he staggered under the weight of them. In a little while he would have to gr back to Tempest. He would have to go, and the horror of that thought plucked all the defiant unbelief out of him for the time. " God," he said with stammering lips. " Oh, God ' Oh God ! " And then he walked on, and walked back again, still keeping the edge of the bluff where he and Tempest had fought between him and the camp. And at last, not knowing why he returned any more than he knew why he had gone out, he passed the bluff towards the camp again. The tents were struck, and on the beach men moved, loading up the canoes. Dick stared, rubbing both his eyes. Was Tempest dead, or was he on his feet again ; or, knowing the ' See the blood 'THE BARREN GROUNDS' , . 293 mlr*d7e%%K"; were%r"' *° ^° "^^^^^ *^^ ^--^s of beach. anTnotanvofThoLV/'" """^ ^^^^ "^^^^^^ °^ the his eyes. standS^ sti 1 TnH c^^ Dick shut over himse? He must eo ^nd .r^^w^ ^^'''^^ ^°^ ^^"t^'^l he laughed a httle ThJ ^\- P^ "^"^^ S^' Suddenly "To ^^*^ yo" ^earn that counter, you beeear ? " .. If your back broken ? " demanded Dick^^ ' prett^ nasty\7k"'thS^ again ''You've given me a to dTc *' ^"^* *™^ *"' """'"S nature offered some relief in;?d;„-.'^s^^:''Vof.:s^^ s Jiili 1 iff I )h, God ! Oh, I' ' 1 imm ' 1^ 1 BfS 1 tfrffWf ■ J'i.i' [:: 'J '-1 ill i lJI t i i I: i I 1^ hi ^ . 1 CHAPTER XVI. " THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE." " The Indians throughout this region come yearly to Fort Resolution for Treaty, and, having no permanent camps, would not be benefited by a Police Detachment in the vicinity. The tribes are Yellow Knives and Dog Ribs, and they bear a fairly good reputation and seem passably prosperous. The Esquimau x ' ' Tempest turned in the big chair where he sat propped with all the pillows which the barracks at Fort Churchill could muster. " Those dogs are making an awful row," he said. " They always fight in the first snow. Besides, the moon excites them." Dick drove his pen into the ink again. " Well ? " he said. " The Esquimaux are not a very potent factor. I guess they can worry along all right without us." " So long as they dress by their ancient laws and customs they're better without the white-man element. Yes. Er — The Esquimaux on the Hudson Bay side of Height of Land " Dick went on writing, and for a while there was no sound in the room but Tempest's quiet voice and the scribble of the pen and the noise of the husky dogs outside the window. The blind was up, and the white square of the moonlit snow showed beyond the black shadows of the buildings. Occasionally a dog shot across it, followed by the flickering ghosts of the mob. Then the square lay naked again, and in the little room where the black stove-pipe ran, oozing warmth, the two men worked on steadily. It was just the fitting of another little grey unnoticed chip of mosaic into the huge pavement of Empire which thrusts its length around the world : just a curt telling of the neces- sary things with all that made it a human record left out. In the Parliament Buildings at Ottawa one man would read it. In the printing-room and nroof-room one or two more would run over it with skilled eyes and brain elsewhere before it went to swell the size of the yearly Blue Book of the Royal North- lo more would 'THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE' 295 Zil^^^'X^, f""^''- 1°"^^ ^^y ^° ^^g""^«"t a clerk or a S^^ rf'f ^ *",T "P *^^ '^^P^''* ^nd find that the Hudson ff JpolSr^'.'^"^^ conveniently be collected from ChurchUl It a police map were near he might run his finger north until mtirrTd fllr'l^l^"^ f "'y ?S^^°^ «^ ^^*i*"d?, he found the of the DoUrf tI P^^^^^^^^d that Fort Churchill was a post °i?f P Ir* ^*,"^^gh* even mterest him to see that it was just two thousand nine hundred and twenty-five miles from Liverpool England. But this was not likelyl Tr was ?^ hkely that he or any other man would read, word by word VulZi'"^^^^^}'''^}^^ °" *^^ fl°°^ round Dick's fe^et ' In Dick s black decided hand some of the headings showed on those scattered papers. Game ; Topography • Temprra- ture ; Inhabitants ; each slip filled up with curt ' direS^sen- a'aT^^cfinlh "^'"^'"^ °'/^.^ ^''^^' ""^- a blue sky :Uh of the 7a^uZ \^ '!? ' ""^ i^' '^""^gl^^ ^"d the suffering ; hL^- il "^1 "^^^^ ^^^ '""'^^^ °^ ^ little bird calling floods the to the W of ?hT'^" '""l '""^; ^^^ ^^^^^^ mileage^was added n?.r, ii i ^ '^''P°'"*' ^^ "^'^^ess to the labours Of four white men m the unconsidered areas; but few would heed it to S^ith r^" ^^n^ *^°"^^^^^- ForZfpatfwas to stand with so many others among the things which do not Mt uo^Thrr"''^; '"^ ^°? "^^^ ^"^^ '^ ^^ they patiently readin^^fror^ h??^', P^^f ^ P^^" ' tempest in his chair! f nS ^ -flT ^""^"^ note-books and diaries ; Dick at the rouih Zat ^;\*^"^e-collar loosed and his forehe^id knit and the Taper alfie wr'oto'^"' "^'"^ ^ '^''^ ^^^^^^^^ sound on the It was Tempest who sat crippled in the chair, but it was Sutne h?d hP^'^ '^°"1 *^^ ^"^^^^ °^ *hose past days Ducane had been worse than useless in the canoes and the purney down the Beverley Lake and along ChesterfieM Inle? had dragged on until Dick was maddened beyond thought or ZT^\ "1'°^^' ^"^^^S '^"^ ^hieh no covering's could kef p out the t^wo :,h^"^^^f^^"^ i^to that ricked back of TempestTand into ^?11..7' °^^^^h"g ^^d paddling up Hudson Bay itself vlted or ?h^^ '* T' ^°"^^ *^^* *h^ steamer had not waited for them, did not ease the trouble. Rough weather steamed ^^''""^r^ l""'' ^^"^^^^"' ^^^h the 'mtropen SDurtn.?ni. "1,*^/°;;^^ *^/ ^'^ '^^ ^"^ ^" early winter spurting m icy blasts down from the North had broken even ?ThP FLfTif^"^ ^n"^ ^^ ^^^^P*^^ the decision of the men roin.nfrn ^hu- fill post, and prepared to surrender his reins of government to Dick. K.^i'^'^'^y ^^^^, had taken up all those threads which it had as no of Sr^" ^Ti'Pu '^ *° ^'°P- ^e had managed Ducane as no other man could have done ; he had arranged the slow and exceedingly difficult matter of procuring dog-train outfit^ \n I I if mm IK ^^w pli 1 [te ',: hf ! '■ 1 lf'"l:ii : ! i 1 - jn ;;F j,:' 'l«^ 1 :\i J ) ,, '1 1 N 1 1 . I ^ 1 i f i •i 1 ,1k 1 I 1 ^1 'J ly 1 I i 'f 1 1 i I'f iM^ 296 THE LAW-BRINGERS and ni the morning he was to leave with Ducane and Myers for the South. Previous instructions had transferred Depache to the Pullerton post, and Tempest would not soon forget the trouble m the man's gentle eyes as the little steamer snorted oh from the wharf. Depache had looked after him with wonderful tenderness and forethought, and when he was left behmd Tempest suffered considerably under Myers' rough hands and Dick's abrupt strength. Now he dropped the last pencil-scrawled, weather-stained note-book with a sigh of relief. ° •• I guess it's all in," he said. " Bring it here and let me look over it. You've got Rainer's Fullerton reports all right have you ? " r b > " Yes. He's wanting a whole lot of lumber sent in next spring Hope he'll get it." Dick gathered up the sheets and carried them over the room. " Do you want those ermine skms sent east right away ? " -,/.' ^.^^ ^^ you can get them properly cured and m.ade up in \\ mmpeg. If you wire Harley to meet you at the station he'll take charge of them. Tell him I want them fixed into the fashionable kind of furs women wear now. And tell him they're for my sister. He knows Betty." So did Dick, and his memory jumped back to days in the old home far off m Ontnrio when he and Betty had climbed apple- trees together and pelted Tempest where he lay in the long grass with " The Canterbury Tales," or Schiller, or, in later days, Tolstoi or Schopenhauer. He looked down at Tempest's long hands moving with difficulty among the papers, and looked away again sharply, " Hellier is making things good and snug here for the winter," he said. " They've hauled no end of wood, and the whole place has been freshly muddied-up. You will be happy as a coon in a hollow tree, Tempest." "Yes. L wish I could have got through." Tempest's eyes darkened. " Hellier has written the Commissioner. teUine him that I'm not fit." " He'd know that, I im.agiiie. He knows you. And it's going to be a beast of a time. Soft snow and rotten dogs. I've got scratch teams if ever I saw them. Thank the Lord Myers is a first-class driver, though." " Yes," said Tempest absently. He went on reading, and Dick thrust some more wood in the stove ; ht his fourth pipe that evening ; roamed through the room restlessly, straying at last to the bUndless window. He smoked m long breaths, screwing his eyes up, as a painter does in seeking for his values. But he was not thinking of that bold beauty which the snowy night offered. The strained, unnatural mood which had held him for days I \< 'THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE' 297 bo"\a:d:'„''L'proketV'l7d'w°T^"'' ^*"^ ™* -"> heavy frown. Suddcnrv he M? that tT ™f ''"■^"'" '"*° '^ him, and he swung rouU%eddeX a S?i"' "SchTav"! became harder to meet the light in those unconqutred eve! is ZZZ':t%tf-^'''' ^--^ T-P-*- ■' But'etrTthing th^Ve^^' Jatg/,oT"'VonJJtr°" mt? ?^ ^^^^ *=™' »'' huskies, and a'kckenl TouLd h"u pS. Ze .Tu' l"^ atod-'il^^."TnL1iSt ^S'^"^ «t goln to\^ He's'irA'e tapping"""" ' ^"^^"^''^ "'■" *° -">■= f-ther! «ill?„''"'"- ''^H'^ ^"""""-^ questions more, and then came sdence again. Across the passage the men of Fort ChurS ^^ You stm have that paper of Robison's ? '' " Certainly." •' Starrlly^''^" '^ '"^ *° *^'' Commissioner at Regina ? " Dick jerked out his pouch and proceeded to refill his dIdp sitting astride a chair. His manner could not K-' . been Hre brutally indifferent, and yet he had never 'so' deeply lonS to tell Tempest how much he cared for him ^^ ^ Why wouldn't you give it to me when I asked you ? " 'di 11 In * ! ''', i ',i ^*^*i'' 300 THE LAW-BRINGERS \,iv <'.>' i ji 'I ■iii own hands. He is every man who takes advantage of the laws of the country to add to that sin and temptation. Oh, he isn't dead. Don't you think it. He's ahve, and he's going to keep on Uving. And he is going to keep on governing the world." Dick was on his feet now. He walked through the room. Then he came back and stood over Tempest. His face was black. " Because you're a Puritan you needn't curse all other men," he said. " I imagine we are as God made us — if there is a God." Tempest flushed painfully. " I don't want to curse other men. But — I can be glad that she is to die for this. It was life that I was afraid of for her." Dick walked back to the window. He stood there some time. Then he said : " On my honour, I never meant to make her love me." " What happened to your honour when you gave me your word that you'd leave her alone, and then broke it ? " said Tempest sternly. Dick turned round. That crumpled body with the clear, menacing eyes seemed suddenly terrible. He understood that this man was fighting for more than " the individual case." " Oh, you can't understand," he said impatiently. " If you could you wouldn't need to ask. You'd know for your- self. A man struggles — or he doesn't struggle. And it all comes to the same in the end if he's built that way." " That can't be true." Tempest lay back, staring at the wall. " Good and Evil are forces." he said. " Whether we generate them ourselves and let them loose in the universe, or whether they are in the universe and we have power to annex them doesn't matter much, I think. We have access to them, anyway. And we can choose which we will have access to principally, and we know that the more we have to do with the one the less we can have to do with the other. That seems to have proved itself. Those forces are inde- structible. Huge blind gods, perhaps. Purposeful things with individual power to attract or repel, perhaps. We don't know anything about all that. But we do know that we can draw those forces into ourselves and transmute them by the alchemy of our own souls into potent things. And we do know that, whether we like it or not, we have got to transmit those potent things to others. It may be possible for mankind to so absorb the Good that it will in time kill all sin out of being, as inocula- tion destroys disease. That is another thing we can onh'' o^uess at. It is certainly possible for us individually to absorb the evil so far that we seem unable to retain the good. But the ge of the ion. Oh, le's going rning the ;he room, face was all other —if there 1 be glad as afraid ere some ne. me your ; ? " said :he clear, tood that ise." :ly. " If for your- nd it all ig at the ether we universe, power to /e access vill have ! have to le other, ire inde- il things A^e don't can draw alchemy ow that, ie potent o absorb inocula- ilv pfiipss — J o — — sorb the But the 'THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE' 301 Good must be meant to win out if we would only help it There is no other solution for the making of Life. And how do we know that the Good is not seeking us as we are seeking it ? A new Force, like electricity or magnetism, ready to enlighten the whole universe if we would only give it a chance We grope m the dark. How do we know that we haven't got the match m our hand, waiting to be lit ? " His face was glowing and his eyes deep with a glory that Dick had not seen even in Tempest before. Dick looked at him in envy. '' I reckon you have Ht your match." he said. "No, no. Oh, God knows I haven't." Tempest put up his shaking hands to his face. " There were times when I could have killed you," he said. Dick drew a long breath. " Thank the Lord for that," he said. " You've sometimes scared me into thinking you couldn't be human. I was afraid you only wanted to kill yourself." ^^ '' I did want to." Still Tempest spoke with his face hidden . I knew that I had to see this thing in a larger way or I ^'■';?''?L'^°"?-". ^^ ^^°^^ °^- sitting silent; and Dick walked through the room with his lips tight-shut. At last he touched Tempest on the shoulder. Axrl' ^T'^ ^°'''' medicine," he said. " Let me hold the glass, mat do you expect me to think of a God or a Good that can let you suffer this way while I go free ? " Tempest looked up. His forehead was wet near the hair and his eyes weie very sad. ' " Do you go free ? "he asked. Dick looked away. The Wind battling soul in him desired intensely to cry out its doubts and troubles to this man But his stubborn heart held him back. Besides, he told himself that he could not speak of Jennifer. •' I'd give my own strength to get yours back," he said. It will come back." Tempest smiled a little. " I'm not going to be laid on the shelf yet. And I owe you more than you owe me. ^ '' What ? " Dick looked at him in sudden distrust. ^t, . ^}^ *"^" ^^ ^^^^ ^^*° *h^ trail again. And I believe that you began to do it honestly. And I have no right to judge you. I have failed too far myself . I had thought that 1 could stand— and it needed her sorrow as well as mine to show me the only way in which I could stand. She had to pay so that I should learn, you see. I have got to do something with that learning." " Tempest ! Do you love her still as a man loves the woman he wants for his wife ? " Dick blurted the question out. naif-afraid, half -desperate. mi •.#a:.| tm m \ '1 I'i ; m-l 302 THE LAW-BRINGERS With that paper in his pocket he knew that he must know this. "No/' said Tempest, very low. " Not that way any more ' ' He did not explain further. But Dick guessed, and he did u.F^^l ^"^ ""^""y ^^"^ '^'■^"S. Tempest loved Andree now for all that she was not. Fc r all that an unnpe and over-strenuous civilisation had made hei. For all her kin who would sin and suffer under that same civilisation. For all that ignorance required at the hands of knowledge— and did not get There was silence again in the room. And then Hellier Sergeant m charge of the post, came in. and after that the wheels of life took up their ordinary running once more. There was much to be said yet. Much that never would be said. Tempest had forgiven Dick. But he had shown very fully how much there was to forgive. And Dick, although feeling painfully that he should be grateful, set out on the winter trail with no light heart. On the third night out they camped on the edge of the heavy timber and the morning gave a cold world of wind and storm and a drifted trail that demanded constant breaking. Each man but Ducane took his turn at that and his turn at holding the blinded, struggling dogs into it when it was broken • and each man but Ducane laboured to put the tent up in the teeth of the wind that night, and to make a fire with the little green twigs torn off the bowed spruces. But it was Ducane who refused to turn out of his blankets on the following morn- mg. He complained of that cramp which had caught him bv Beverley Lake, and Dick, who had expected this, found a sinful delight m administering some medicine which kept Ducane passably civil for two full days. The three men of the Outer Places were wolf-thewed and tireless. They could break trail for a half-day and feel no alter pams. They would curl up in their wet furs and sleep and wake cheerfully to another day of labour. But Ducane haa never belonged to the Outer Places, and in a very little while he began to drive Dick desperate with his complaints Dick cured his toothache by threatening to abstract the tooth and he heard no more of Ducane's weak ankle after the night on which he urged the teams forward, leaving Ducane to limp sulkily into camp when supper was done. But through the cold and heavy fortnight of travel which landed them at Split Lake Ducane made life for those about him an infinitely more wearisome thing than it had any need to be It was on the trail to Norway House where the poUce flag flew at the head of Lake Winnipeg that Ducane asked the question which Dick had been expecting since they first met vvnerc is jenny ? " he asked; and Dick stopped his walk and looked at him. •THE LAW IS POWERLESS THERE' 303 You expect her to come " With her mother in Toronto, and bail you out, of course ? " "What business is that of yours ? " snarled Ducane Then he looked at the other man in sharp suspicion " What business is it of yours what my wife does or doesn't do ? " he said again. He thrust his watery eyes and racjred beard ''°' wS ?^?- • " ^° y°" ^°^^ ^^^ ? h^ snapped sSenly ^^ What business is that of yours ? " countered Dick lazily. Why— I guess it is my business, too. I " " No it is not." Dick turned on his heel. " The next time you poke your nose into my private affairs you'll Hkelv eet hurt, Mr. Ducane," he said, and left the other man puzzled and N^ ii I Ij" CHAPTER XVII. li i ' BUT THAT can't BE." " Come in," said the Commissioner. Dick halted yet another moment before he followed his knock into the office. These three days in the Regina Head- quarters of the Royal North-West Mounted Police had brought him back to the trim alertness required of every man who wears the buffalo-badge, and his mind was fully as alert as his body. But it was much less brushed and buttoned into shape, and his eyes were anxious as he crossed over the thresh- old, saluted, and stood up, rigid and expressionless, before the Commissioner. The Commissioner was sitting sideways at his table with his keen face more grave than was usual. Maay things and many men passed under his hi.nds, and his work was often weighty on him. But he loved it, and he took a pride in his men, although ho seldom told them so. He had known Dick in the days when Dick was rough-rider here, and he had seen him many times since when he sent the man out on his lone patrols and welcomed him when he came back to report. He turned to him now with the steady eyes that had learnt how to judge men while the man himself was learning how to trust them, neither forgetting nor ignoring conditions of upbringing or birth. " You are looking better than when you came in," he said. " Are you feeling as fit as you look ? " " Quite, thank you, sir." " Ready for another lone patrol ? " A change flickered over the composed face before him. It was gone instantly ; even before Dick said his respectful, " Yes, sir," But the Commissioner had seen it, and again he wished, as he had so often wished before, that it was not incumbent on him to treat these fiery pieces of flesh and blood and spirM: so like machines. " You ; la e had seven months of severe work," he said. " I should not Smia you out again just now if I did not beheve that you^were the most suitable man I can spare at present." •BUT THAT CAN'T BE* " I am ready to go, sir," said Dick. He had 305 whirling nf. K ' outward balance, but his mind was whirhng. Ducane— he was one oi the principal witnesses in Ducane s case. He had got the information together He knew more of the connecting links than anyone else. If he were sent away again, for months, perhaps for a year, what was Singh^P^^" ^° ^'^^ '^^' ^^' Comfniss'ioner Z^ " What is it. Heriot ? " he asked. it m^^fn ,*^^°^^"8: about that case of Ducane's. sir. I worked It up — so far as it went. n J ^^l Ducane. Yes. of course. He's in cells here, is he not ? Yes. I have all the information on that case tabulated he e. Sergeant Jones sent it down from Grey Wolf and of course it has been in abeyance until we got the man. Did this Ducane tell you that he desired to turn Kin^^'s Evidence ? " disgust. '°" ^"* ^ ^'"^"'^ ^'"^^' " ^'^'^ stopped" in " '^^"' .^t is a fact. I saw him the morning after you brought him 1.. and he gave me the names of this company I am operating now on the basis of what I got from him. and 1 fancy we can manage without you, Heriot. You are wanted for more important work." The Commissioner smiled. " This rnan will be no trouble." he said. " He is eager to tell every- thing m order to lighten his sentence. He will lighten it of ^°T u, ^ ^?^*' ^^*^'" *^® '^^se comes up in court he will probably be let out on bail pending the arrest of the other men. There is a bigger thing behind this than the petty rogueries of Ducane. and I can assure you that your thorough work m the matter will not go unappreciated " A T^^^oniniissioner smiled again, but bick's face was a blank. A cold horror had shut down over him. Ducane out on bail • penniless ; practically a moral and physical wreck, and Ten- nif er with no one to guard her, no one to help her against him Edmonton hotd"^'' Jennifer's steady words that night in the fhlf^i,^^ "^^"^f "^Z ^^^P ^ ^^^" ^^^^ys Siy" it'- " and he knew that she meant what she said. Through this long iourney he had taken comfort in the thought that at least he was insuring ipinfv^ u"i?",^"\ ?T' '^^^"^ ^^^* he had done, and seeing himself helpless, he had no words to say. On the day you came in I wired Grey Wolf Barracks for the arrest of the girl called Grange's Andree," said the Com- missioner, turning over the papers on his desk. " Sergeant Jones reply came in an hour ago." He^paused, and Dick answered with his mechanical " Yes sir. He nad neiuier thought nor care to spare for Andree at : t i I rffp ! t 1 i I 'V •fell !*l i 1 I ■ i *' k 306 THE LAW-BRINGERS " Sergeant Jones says that full inquiries have been made concerning the girl," went on the Commissioner, picking up a telegraph-form. " She is not in Grey Wolf. It has been ascertained that she went North, probably on the Peace, with two nuns who were going in to Fort Vermilion just before the rivers shut down." " Went North ! Andree ! " Dick was startled into sudden attention. " She must have had word of this," he said. " Ah ! " The Commissioner leaned forward. " Why should you think that ? " " Why — she has always had a superstition against the North. She used to say that she would never come back if she once went down there " " You know her, then ? " " Yes, sir." " Ah ! How do you suggest that she might have been warned ? " " I don't know. Yes, I do. Ducane likely talked about the matter to someone and word got round to her. There has been plenty of time. It is over a year since he had the paper." " I see. Then you think that she has gone North in order to escape ? " " Very probably," said Dick. " I see." The Commissioner sat back in his chair, frowning at the wall. " This complicates the affair," he said. " She has had six weeks or two months start. But it makes me all the more certain of the wisdom of my original decision. I have detailed you to bring the girl in, Heriot. It is a cold time of year for travel, but you are acclimated to that." " You want me — to go after Andree ? " Dick spoke low and dazedly. The thought seemed strangely horrible and unreal. " And as soon as possible." The Commissioner's voice sharpened. " We hanged Robison," he said. " We have hanged an innocent man. That is a stain which, to my know- ledge, has not been on our name before, and I would give a very great deal if it could be wiped out. Unfortunately that is impossible ; but it is all the more our duty to bring the real criminal to justice without loss of time. You have a genius for marking down your men, and I don't think I could do better than send you after her." Dick did not speak. The Commissioner turned back to the table. " You can get a dog-train outfit in Grey Wolf, of course," he said. " Don't delay at any point on account of funds. The honour of the whole Force is more or less tarnished until e been made picking up a It has been e Peace, with ist before the 1 into sudden he said. ' Why should against the r come back t have been talked about • her. There 3 he had the orth in order air, frowning ; has had six all the more lave detailed e of year for led strangely oner's voice " We have to my know- vould give a unately that to bring the You have a hink I could back to the , of course," it of funds, rnished until 'BUT THAT CAN'T BE 307 we get her. For if she knows of it we mav h^^ c„r« ^i, 4. u ■ not the only one. You will leave here Tt^he momin^ "c" '" to me after stables, and I will give you vour^i...?"'! mstructions." ^ ^ ^^"^ letter of Dick was dismissed, but still he did not move Th» r missione looked at him aeain and fh^n ^^ ^^^ ^°"^- over the barrier of disdplfne ^""^ ^ "^°"^^"* ^^ ^'^^ " This patrol doesn't please you " he saiH " t for I have always looked on vou al or,P nf ^* , ^"^ '°"y' mat is your objection ? " ^ """^ °^ °"" ^^^"^^^ men. " I knew her— rather well," said Dick slowhr " t i, ^ sooner it had been another m^n to take her ^^^^ ^ ^^^ m/c'h^m^^Tertra^rktr^^^^^^^^ too far into the inner hves of thesfm'enVtmTr'l d° ^^^'^ tell ^ouX^In ^^r.'^::^t^--^^r me to must be ignored. The fact t Tt!ZJ? . ^'7^^^ ^""^^"^^ over this,^Heri.t. There is a good d^ea" at Ttak/^^A^ '^^ sending you I beUeve that I am ^eSding the best man ^h^ '" ^h^t'if alf Tom?^"^ ^°" '°^ ^^^^ ^-^'' wlriryou'ktw ■inat IS all. Come and see me in the morniTicr vV. \\T^' driven into Regina to catch the mid-day tmrWest"'' ""'" ^' Dick went out. He turned along the famni.rSH u . across the barrack-square But he did ^nJ I "'^^-^^Ik and went, nor why. Like a burninlglass his minn''"'^ Z^''^ ^' suddenly on one point. He woulf n't^o Xr I^drr'n' would not, and he could not. He would eo F.Vf tt ..^ Setrgi^e\rltml^.^^^^^^ Of what he^ad'rn^t SmeTno::°"LV:^^^^ ^^^ because Ducane must not take her ^ndhZ?^t^. Jennifer, half-tloud."'' ■ ^'" ^^^ '"■" ^"^y fr"™ her,- he said, th;'h°.^t'„„<;?,^*.f^y!?°y- CreyWolt Been there If I'f \fW 1 ! f 308 THE LAW-BRINGERS M i ■• I i , (r ' B- ' ■ ■ '''~ "■''-■ I i.. . * ': ? i" ' ■- ' : ! must have known that it would be much more difficult for him to take her away from there ; much more difficult for him to escape from there. How the devil was he to He stopped impatiently, knocking the snow off his high fur over-boots. He had forgotten that Jennifer knew nothing of this determination of his. " Is she alone ? " he asked abruptly. " Who ? Oh, Mrs. Ducane ? No ; she has her mother with her, I believe. I fancy that if Ducane " The stream of talk went on, leaving Dick still more angry. Her mother ! What in the name of sense had possessed Jen- nifer to saddle herself with her mother ? What was he going to do with her mother ? And how was he going to persuade her, even though he persuaded Jennifer ? Even though ? Sudden dread of the doubt which those words implied chilled him. He forgot the difficulties ; he forgot the sacrifice ; he forgot his anger. He remembered only that he wanted her — wanted her ; that she was the one sweet and sacred thing to him — the one salve to all the aches and bruises that life had given him. He went back to his corner of the bunk-room which he shared with four other men, and sat on his bunk with his head in his hands. " I've got to think this out — I've got to think this out," he said, over and over. But his will would not hold any one point true. Again and again it swung him up into the wind, and he shivered, helpless as a ship in irons. Tempest and Andree : Jennifer and Ducane : his own good name and the way men spoke of it from Herschel across to FuUerton and south into Regina itself. It was not his private name that he cared about. That had been blurred long years ago. But he was jealous for his work. His work. The one thing which he had never betrayed or belittled or neglected. The one thing which he had served purely, according to his lights. He had dreaded always that life and passion might call on him to cash in his brain also at the bank of his heart, and he knew that if ever that day came it would leave hin> naked of something which he never would have any more. His work was the one firm thing which he had clung to, and he knew, with a terrible clearness of vision, that even with Jen- nifer's arms about him, his soul would be sick for that work still, and for the pride which he had lost. He stood up at last ; changed his boots, thrust his cheque- book into his inner pocket, and went down to ask the O.C. for leave. He banked in Regina, and it was wise for a deserter to draw all his money out betimes, for, as he knew well, a cheque is often one of those little threads by which a man ties himself to that which he would escape. ifficult for him ;ult for him to )ff his high fur ew nothing of ls her mother 11 more angry, possessed Jen- t was he going ig to persuade Lven though ? implied chilled ; sacrifice ; he wanted her — acred thing to s that life had ^hich he shared his head in his link this out," t hold any one into the wind, his own good 3chel across to not his private rred long years ork. The one i or neglected. ;cording to his passion might k of his heart, )uld leave hiir ,ny more. His mg to, and he 3ven with Jen- for that work jst his cheque- sk the CCffor for a deserter lich a man ties •BUT THAT CAN'T BE 309 And the next morning, across the snow-bound prairies he sat m the tram that rocked west, ever west, and fitted into Shape with grim precision every move in this game which he meant to play. It must be played quickly. He could not go to Grey Wolf and not go to the barracks. That would raise suspicion too soon. And he could not go to the barracks without reporting to Sergeant Jones, who knew already that he had been detailed tor t he patrol and who would already be getting the outfit together. Therefore, at whatever hour of the day or the night he took Jennifer away with him, it would not be long before he was looked for. He could hoodwink them in several ways and he thought those ways out, hour by hour, sitting in the position which Tempest knew so well, with one knee over the other, and his chin shut into his hand. But for all the start he might get it would be little enough in that country where the tew winter trails are known as a man knows the number of his hngers. Again he felt irritation at Jennifer because she had gone back to Grey Wolf. ^^ ''She might have known I would come to her," he said. She might have known." He felt strangely fretful and angry about something. He ^/^g°^^g to give what to him would be the greatest sacrifice of his life, even though he gained what he most desired by it. Jiut he could feel no exaltation; no calm determination. A child playing up and down the corridor offered him some candy. ''Those are kisses," she said, with her red lips upturned. But he pushed her aside with his knee. "I don't want any," he said sharply, and she ran back to her mother, half-frightened. Then his mind began to run on the fear of what Jenni'er would say. She would not refuse again. He had got to break down her resistance this time. He had got to do it He felt maddened at the very thought of going North and leaving her where Ducane could trouble her. "She has got to give in," he told himself. " She has got to give m." ^ And then he sat still, and thought of all the things which he would say to her. He had a month in which to mature those plans and argu- ments. A month of sleigh-drivin- behind the ringing horse- f L u 3"^P^ti^nt waiting at side-way houses for a team ; ot cold beds and discomfort and themeigicof the North pulling at his heart-strings and the shame of lijs purpose heavy on his soul. He faced that knowledge, looking out into the white world with sullen eyes and bitten lips. Again Life was making a jest of him. But this time he could not fling the jest back. < W if ' I 1 n I '"*■ nil w mv^r iili ^il * I : i. ■ i 'I , If :/'W!l I 310 i^i THE LAW-BRINGERS The barb had gone too deep. His pride was touched, and he could not contemplate the loss of that even in his secret heart and hold his head up. He look(^d worn and thin and sulky when he knocked the snow of Grey Wolf off his over-boots on the familiar step and went mto the barracks to report to Sergeant Jones. And the sight of the florid, fleshy little man in the chair which had once been Tempest's did not ease his spirit. Sergeant Jones had many thmgs to say, and the short winter twilight had already shut down when Dick escaped and went through the kitchen to find Foley. His impatience to see Jennifer was over-riding most thmgs now ; but the human part of him had to obey the calls of cold and hunger. And something of the keen edge of his temper softened at the old man's welcome, and at the hot food, and the warmth, and at Kennedy bursting in, rosy-faced and mcohcrent with delight. The boy looked older, with little lines showing already about the corners of his eyes. His manner was more assured, and Dick looked on that piece of his work with pleasure. He was gomg out of it all, and Kennedy was exactly the kind of fellow to curse him with tears in his eyes and the bitterest profanity he knew. But he would not be able to forget that Dick had made him. The mess-room was dearly familiar, with the smells of old from the kitchen and the mat before the stove where Dick's pipe had burnt a hole. And Foley was dearly familiar, with his red rough beard where the grey hairs showed and his watery blue eyes either side the bloated nose. The man who had taken Dick's place was away, and Dick was thankful. For one little hour he lived here again in his own right. Then he stood up. " I think I'll go around and see if Grey Wolf has got all its corners yet," he said. " Don't wait up for me, Kennedy. I can find my way into my bunk. I fancy." Kennedy had talked of everything he knew ; including the disappearance of Grange's Andree, and the rumour (it was no more than a rumour) which had slid through Grey Wolf whis- pering that she was wanted. " Don't speak of Andree to Grange," he said. " He's awfully cut up about it. You wouldn't think the little fel- low'd a-had so much heart. He's blocked Moosta showing these pictures of yours around to folks since she left." Dick had forgotten those pictures. He remembered them now with a swift pang. Then he nodded acquiescence, and went out. But he did not turn down the well-known flapping sidewalk to Grange's. He went across to the frozen lake where the snow lay levelly hard and white under the new-come dark. Far over the glimmering stretch shone the lights of Jennifer's Duched, and he lis secret heart le knocked the niliar step and )nes. And the vhich had once ant Jones had ht had already !?h the kitchen va.s over-riding ad to obey the e keen edge of and at the hot ; in, rosy-faced awing already more assured, pleasure. He ;ly the kind of I the bitterest to forget that 3arly familiar, nat before the nd Foley was the grey hairs bloated nose, 'ay, and Dick e again in his has got all its Kennedy. I including the our (it was no ey Wolf whis- said. " He's the little fel- josta showing e left." ;mbered them liescence, and •ping sidewalk ,ke where the w-come dark. 3 of Jennifer's • BUT THAT CANT BE ' 311 home, and Dick turned his face towards them and walked forward quickly. In the early days of her married life Jennifer had left the house-lDlmds up at night that the lights of his home miffht greet Ducane the moment he turned his eyes towards them from tar off Later she had drawn them that she might not see the gleam from the police barracks shoot out into the gloom. Now that neither Ducane nor barracks mattered any m^^re she left them up, because she loved to see the white" stars and the dance of the northern lights when the lamps were low and to watch for the occasional beat of a night-bird's vvin-s on the pane. This night there were no northern lights, and the stars were shrouded. But the blinds were up still, though the lamps were high, and Jennifer sat in the softened glow of them scwmg on some white work. A half-made pmafore intended for one of Miss Chubb's children at the Enj-lish Mission School lay on the floor beside her, and a black kitten had rolled itself up in it. Jennifer stooped to roll it out again and heard across the room a sound lilie the flutter of a bird's wings on the glass. She looked round. And then she spran- to her feet ; dropping her work, and shutting her hands ove? her leaping heart. In the sudden terror of her face and her wide-stretched eyes Dick knew what he had done. Of course she did not know that he was within a thousand miles ; two thousand • five She would think that his spirit had come to tell her of his death. She would think "Good Lord," he said. " I've frightened the hfe out of her, and he ran hastily to the door into the side-hall Then he remembered that his disappearance would put more truth to her fear, and he cursed himself for a clumsy fool as he wrenched the door open ; shed his heavy furs and cap in one movement, and thrust open the sitting-room door Jen- nifer heard his feet, and she turned. She saw him at the door but she could not believe. His face was so thin and his dark eyes looked so far back under those heavy brows. " Jennifer ! " he said ; and with a queer, choked cry. she put out her hands to him, tottering where she stood Then she felt herself swept up in his arms, and his kisses on her ; warm, strong, quick kisses over her lips and her eyes and her hair. She clung to him blindly, passionately ; sobbing in little gasps, and incapable of any but the one thought that he had come back to her. He had come back, and all the terrible blanks of lier life were filled by the touch of his hps and his arms. ^ He held her close ; speaking with tender, broken words such as no one had ever heard on his tongue before. To the ^ ij#i.ir I ,, Nj, i.i«' 312 THE LAW-BRINGERS end of her life she remembered the smell of the wood-smoke in his clothes ; the roughness of his coat-collar where her tears wetted it ; the shaking gentleness of his voice. He carried her over to the lounge by the open fire, and put her on it ; sitting beside her with his arms round her yet. and his hand stroking her hair. "I told you it had to come to this." he said unsteadily. " Darling— my darling — don't shiver so. It's all right dear. It's all right now." ' " I thought you were dead," she sobbed. " When I saw — I thought you were dead." " I know. I know. Stupid brute that I was to frighten you so. You know better now, sweetheart, don't you ? Are these the kisses of a dead man ? " He was controlling himself with difficulty. Ducane was forgotten ; his own black, fierce fight with himself was for- gotten. Nothing mattered but the sweetness of her lips on his own and that vague fragrance that clung about her hair and dress. It intoxicated him. He held her off ; looking at her out of shining eyes, and laughing with pure pagan joy. " Are you alive ? " he said. " You httle wild-haired thing ! You want a garland of acorns and oak-leaves on that head of yours, and all the green grass under a fairy forest to dance on." The glowing exultance of him seemed to fill the room up. Her veins tingled with his vitality. He put an electric spark mto the air which lighted her own heart to a flame. " I wanted you," she cried. " Dick. I wanted you ! I wanted you ! " " I know you did. And I wanted you. And I've come to you. Good Lord, we thought we could do without each other, did we ? What fools we were, my little girl. What fools I Ah ! We're wiser now. Kiss me. sweetheart. Jennifer, if the skies fall, we'll have the hour. We'll have the hour, by God, whatever comes." His vehemence began to frighten her. She shrank a little in the strong grasp of his arms. " I can't think," she said breathlessly. " When you look and talk like that I can't think." " Who wants you to think ? Leave that for another day. Laugh, Jennifer. Don't look at me with your dear mouth quivering so. Laugh, sweetheart, for we have found each other at last." For the moment she believed it. He was so glad, so glori- ously sure. She smiled faintly, uncertainly, looking up at him with wet, hungry eyes. She noted the dark bruise which Ducane had made on his cheek-bone, and the rumpled hair, and(the deep wind-burn tan of his skin. She put her fingers up softly to the bruise. ood-smokc in ere her tears He carried it her on it ; ind his hand 1 unsteadily, 's all right, When I saw 5 to frighten t you ? Are Ducane was self was for- er lips on his her hair and oking at her ti joy. aired thing ! that head of o dance on." he room up. lectric spark :ed you ! I ['ve come to ; each other, What fools ! Jennifer, if he hour, by •ank a little 3n you look nother day. dear mouth found each id, so glori- g up at him ruise which tripled hair, her fingers 'BUT THAT CAN'T BE 313 ••Does that hurt ? " she whispered. -Nn^nl;'''^ '^^'''^' ^^^"ibering whose hand had given it I think T'^' cf ^ "^f ^^"^- ^°- ^°^^i"S c^" l^^rt me now Jir nn r"^.u° T^' y°" ^°' ^" ^"^"let in future littTe n ier wLTe s'hilf '' " "^"^'^^ ^°"^^"S away with me, Ten- niier. Where shall we go, honey? We've all the wnrlrl S "wit^hS"; "^'' r'^^P- '"^ «^ -^ °-"" Or sZ h ivinca, with little nigger-boys to dig us diamonds ? Or T know a place down at the bottom of Malay—'' He was aughing still ; stooping his ruddy, wind-whipped face to hlrs Anywhere sweetheart. Anywhere at alL We've St the whole world to choose from, and there's always room or another rover on the Out Trail " phSe wh Jre his wiM ^' Tf ' 'T "^'"^ ^'' °"* ^^*° ^^e atmos- Fii ^v^ ^^^^ ^°"^ ^^^^^ and drew deep breaths But gSdT.'a;"irShr''°"^nJT^^^^- ^heLt suffocated gioay . atraid. She pressed his face back with both hands '• ol tol ''^7'^"^ "^^? '""^y '^y across his lips. '""'' "P^A ilV ^^'.^ gasped. " You frighten me." over It W.S .tT?''" ^'l^ ^y ^^'^^^S- y°^'^e shaking all ?of Vt. '^'^l^hat cursed foolishness of mine at the window M f"' Vl'^ S°^"g *° b""g the colour back ? " chSL flnH ^''' ^y^^^ds and her forehead and her white let hS; *;t yT.''T'''^"l^>^' ^^^' ^'^' ^ ^eary baby, she her stTelth „ Jh ' lu'"^ °/ ^'' P^'^^°" seemed to have torn him with ^Sh? ^ *^' '°?*'- ^^" ^^d ^°thi"g left to fight fiX Bnf H r' T'?\y conscious that there was need for pfecious had ro'I^l^'^rf ^'^'^* something wonderful and not stay ^°^ *^^* ^* ^°"^^ "«* stay. It could DerfectW L'n^^'^ T^^ ^'^'"j^^ whispered. " When one was perfectly happy, if one could only die " the reatTes'ilntf h ^""^ ^.^^kened. He, too. had forgotten throrg^ffLt "''^' ^'°"^^' '^^"^ ^°""^ ^i"^ -th litile'^sm^^^;-^^^^^^^^ °" ^^-^ P-^-«y happy, you " That*can¥be."* ^''" '^' '^^'^' ^^^' ^°' repeating a lesson. heS^her^^nri^^"' ?°7 ^' *^°"Sh to push him away, and he His sfrnn^ °' r^' ^^^eseeing the battle that was coming, but '. ;°"Sly-"^asculine mind saw no use in it. There could be have In T '""^ "^r- ^^"* ^^ ^"^^ that the woman would hS: ^^:rT:%^t:^h -^ ^^ --^^^^ -th ^s mouth a Let me go," she said. " Let eyes. made " Sometb do? me go. Oh, what have you ing that neither of us will ever forget," he said 314 THE LAW-BRINGERS i :r 11 i i-' unsteadily. " I think I will remember the touch of your dear hps on mine when I am in my grave." " Oh, how could I forget ! " She spoke in a rush of terror with the blood burning her face. " I only thoujjht— of you " * " You have only to think of me now till the end of time Jennifci-." ' " No ! No ! You know that is not true. Oh, let me so ! Let me go ! " She burst into an agony of weeping ; flinging him off, and hidmg her head among the cushions of the couch. He saw her shm body shake and jerk with the violence of her grief, and he stooped over her in a distress almost as great as her own. Something of the sort he had expected, although he could not understand it. But this shook him to the very core. ^ " Darling," he said. " Darling— for God's sake, don't. Jennifer, Jennifer ; don't cry like that. Good Heavens, what can I do ! What can I do ! She'll kill herself. Dearest dearest. Stop. Oh, Lord, what a clumsy brute I am." He went down on his knees beside her ; pleading in broken words ; trying to see her face ; shaking and moved beyond belief at her trouble, and yet knowing grimly that he must hold to such rights as he had gained, both for her sake and for his own. He could never leave her now. She needed him too much. " For the love of Heaven, stop, Jennifer," he said. " I— I can't stand it. There is nothing on earth should make you cry hke that. Dear ; I'm not asking much of you. People get divorces every day, and you have a perfect right to demand one of Ducane." He laid his hand on her shoulder ; but she shook it off, and sprang up, with the tears dried in her eyes. " Don't touch me," she said, with burning cheeks. " Don't touch me." He had seen flashes of Jennifer's occasional temper before, and he breathed more freely ; starding up against the mantel- shelf as she walked through the room with her h;! ds shut up fighting for her self-control. He did not attempt to speak,' knowing that she would scatter his words out like chaff. He stood still, looking at the black kitten where it wound itself in a spool of Jennifer's thread, and presently she burst out : " You should have helped me to do what was right. You are the strongest : you should have helped me." " I did," he said, not looking at her. "" It was nVht for vou to come to me. We love each other." " It is not right while Harry is alive. And I feel that he is f your dear h of terror, hought — of id of time, let me go ! im off, and .. He saw f her grief, reat as her [though he > the very ike, don't, vens, what Dearest, m.'" in broken ed beyond t he must ke and for seded him id. " I— make you I. People 'o demand it off, and " Don't •er before, le mantel- s shut up, to speak, half. He und itself st out : ;ht. You it for vou hat he is 'BUT THAT CAN'T BE' 31C5 at rSh^ alive," said Dick coldly. " I have left him in prison tit^hlTa^vTtS-.- ' '°""' '^"^ ^^^^"^ ^"^°"^ *^^ E^q— He raised his eyes, and looked at her as he snoke R,.+ tell C '°"."'r^ ""^^^^ ^^^ ^«°- -g-n and iTcould not tell how much she was stirred by his news She walked ?n silence and presently he was ashamed of his brutality. " Don [ ?rlt' hav«, jo^^e pity on me, Jennifer," he said. 1, i"^^ *^^^^ "^e as If I'd been a scoundrel." " Wh^r "'"^^help me do what is right," she said. ^^ What do you choose to call right ? " " Sending you — away." haH'derpt:tr'^ "^"^^ '^^'^ ^'^^ ^^^S^^^- half-impatlent. '• Merci much, as the breeds say. No, I'm not goins to help you do that. You hardly expect it. do you ? " ^ ^ ^^ If you love me, I do." " But this is madness," he said in exasperation. " There's whaT'r^.'];''^ Z'i^^ '^'' ^^°"^^ ^g^-^i"' J^n^^fer. You knew me to H^ ?^^* ^f'^'^u ^°^' ^^^'' ^hat you have allowed me to do, I consider that I have some say in the matter I am not gomg to be sent away " i tne matter, i wwie ffcT^""^ ^"""^ ^°''^'''^ ^^ ^"^ ^^^^ ^"' ^y^' ^^de in her thinl'°"she's^f '"^ ""^ punishment a very certain and bitter von ^y darling-oh, good Heavens, what am I to do with you ? Sweetheart, when a thing is done, ifs done. You elsT' Y^r' A°T '\^^ ' "^^^"* "^°^^ t° vou than anyone should no 'I It^'^n^Y ^'^"^^- I^ ^« "o^ right that you should. Doesn t the God you believe in allow His creatures to ^u^s'both ]'''"'" • ^"^ '' ^^ ^°^^ "^y ^^«"^d you deny it ''Because this would not be the way to get it," she said. cou^h.'"'"'' ^"""^ *°°^ ^'' ^'^"^ ^^^ ^^^ h^^ back to the stan?"'Tf^^'t^'''^ "'* ^°^"'" ^^ ^^id- " You are not fit to fot to R,r T ^°^ *° ^° "^^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^^ I suppose we have d°sobev m^n'71 "°^ ^°^' ^^*° ^^ ^^g^^^y- y°" ^"d I. To too mTn^of fl """^"^ ."^"'y ^^"^^ *° "^«- Perhaps I know do n^t~" '"^^'''"' ^^ ^^ ""^^^^ "'''''y °^ ^^^"^- A^d I beSv^^nTcod now.^^- ""^ ^°"^' "°^ ''' ^^^* ^^ ^^^ ^^ whlt'h^'Sd'' ^^"^^^ '" ^ ^'^'^'' ^® ™^*tered, hardly knowing T T^l ^" ""^ ^od and in my conscience," said Jennifer. " Dick I have got to help Harry still if he needs help. He is my iPl 4 Itj n ! 1 I ii KM 1 ^P 1 "©i f*#4f ffff T jR i IB' ^ ^ / * Ij.J j. R 5 ! ' H i i ! 1 J i ' 1 ! J S I > i ! , ii I li^ i -,J 3i6 THE LAW-BRINGERS husband. I can't let him utterly go to ruin. Oh, there is something in me which tells me that I can't." She pressed her hands over her heart again, looking at him with her wide, wistful eyes. He could not meet that look. But in some way it angered him. What was that thing in Ternpest and in Jennifer which commanded them apart from their hearts and their human wills ? It was a power that they dare not disobey ; that they would not disobey though all that was flesh in them cried out against it. He felt afraid ; groping in the dark below them. That great Eye seemed moving down from the horizon of the world again. Jennifer could stand up before it. Tempest could. But he could not. He wanted his own will, and he hated that which denied it to him. 'I And don't you think I want help ? " he said bitterly. " Yes. But I can only give it to you by being away from you." " If you'd be good enough not to talk sophistries or enig- mas—I beg your pardon. I don't know what I am saying." He sprang up and walked through the room several times. Then he came back, beginning boldly : " I tell you I need you more than Ducane does. As philan- thropy seems to mean more to you than love you might make a note of that. You've filled my life up — every hour of His voice grew uneven ; stopped, and he stood still, looking into the fire. For a little while she did not speak. Then she said : " What had you wanted me to do ? " " To come away with me to-morrow." His voice changed eagerly. " I could arrange that quite easily. And then you'd go to the States, and I'd meet you somewhere." " And your work ? " He felt the twinge. But it was a light one. Beside her nothing else was of moment. " That doesn't matter," he said. " How do you mean ? " " Well, it doesn't matter. You come first." " Then you — meant to desert ? " " I tell you it doesn't matter," he said impatiently. " They wouldn't catch me. I know more than any of them." " Oh ! " Jennifer leaned back, covering her face. " And you are so proud of what you have done in your work." "I would be more proud of your love for me," he said sincerely. ■• And then ? " " I could get work somehow. Anything that paid. I'm strong. And I am good at draughtsmanship. I might get 'BUT THAT CAN'T BE* 317 •h, there is ing at him that look, it thing in ipart from • that they though all ;lt afraid ; ^e seemed Jennifer could not. inied it to terly. .way from s or enig- laying." ral times. A.S philan- ight make r hour of 11, looking Then she 3 changed hen you'd •eside her 1.' They 'And ' he said aid. I'm Qight get I wouldn't let things be hard for into an architect's office, you, Jennifer." He came near, almost timidly, as though afraid that she might deny that which she seemed to be giving. Her eves ran oveiv He was blooded to the wild wlys and Yhe K trails. The very breath of them spoke in his daily speech and she knew she had never plumbed his love for her^untii T 1^' ^ *°!^ y°" .o"cc before that you were a better man than I knew.' she said. "I tell you again. There is something toS great m you to be spoiled, Dick. You must make it easy for rSe to do what I know to be right " ^ besVde hov. '^'''^'"''^ ''^'^"'' ^' ^"'^* ^ ^"^^ ^" *h« ^^^^^ he said. With your love I might make something of mv life, even If I-though I give this work up. Bufff you send me away I can't say what I shall do. Jennifer. There is notWng straTght^' """ ^^'^'^^^' ^ ^°"'* ^^^^ to be heW " Not for my sake ? " " No. Not for your sake, without you. You aon't know very much o a man's temper. Jennifer. And you don^ know the work I'm on just now. They are sending me out f find hen" ^^''^' ^^' '' ^^"'^^' ^"^ ^'"^ ^o go tUl f.i?^)f P°^'' roughly, wanting to rouse her jealousy. But he felt the unworthmess of his ihought when she looked up a^ "Poor Andree." she said. "Poor, poor Andree Oh gnt^nt ^t,^- ^'^^ ^-^ '- ^- »" *^ '»= too-^ '' I know she cares. I taught her to." he said. Jennifer put out her hand to him. " Don't hurt us both that way, dear." she said. " Can't we say good-bye without hard words ? " " God knows," he said. " I don't see how we're j?oin? fo HhV' f • .' ^°i!;* ''' "^y -^ ^h°"»d sayTt.'^ Se'gripped whif H\f ' T^i^""^!' ^""S^^S ^^ f^^« ^^^r- It wis very white, and the forehead was wet ^ npp/ "'"'''^^V?^ ,?;^' " I ^^^d you. Don't turn me away. I need you. I don't know what I may do " He was speaking with a premonition ' what was to come upon him. She shivered, but her eyes vere steady. It s something beyond me. Dick." she said. " I know I must send you away. I know. You must find your own salvation, and fight your fight alone." " Then you don't love me as I love you," he said huskily ••t I ^p^ 318 THE LAW-BRINGERS I " You are not willing to give up even a private scruple for me. He (lid not Siiy what he had been willing to give up for her But siic knew, though even then she did not know all. " 1 would give up my hfe for you." she said. " J3ut the other thmg is not mine to give. It belongs to God." She said it quite simply, as though she believed it. Dick ooked at her a moment. Then he stood up, drawing his breath in between his teeth. " Tha^ends it, I fancy," he said. " I suppose you hope that some day I'll come to love that Power which vou have set up between us. I am not quite such a fool, Jennifer. 1 shall never do anything but hate it." He turned down the room as though to leave her without another word. But at the door he wheeled swiftly and came back ; caught her close in his arms ; kissed her once on the hps, and let her go. She heard his quick, firm tread across the floor and the decisive shutting of the door. And then she dropped down on the couch in a little heap with her face covered. Jennifer's mother also heard the shutting of the door. She had been listening for it ever since she came down the passage- way more than half an hour ago, and found Dick's coat and cap outside the door. She had seen the shining buttons of the Mounted Police among the fur, and with a sudden chill at her heart she had stooped and felt the lining of the thick coat and the cap. They were quite cold, and then she knew to whom they must belong. If it were any other man Jennifer would have come to call her long since. She went back to her room, sitting with the door half-open and listening for that step. She had never seen Dick She had not known his name until she came to Grey Woif Jen- nifer never spoke of him. But she knew the hold that he had on her daughter's heart, and she knew that she was helpless here. She, with all her love and her long years of cherishing was helpless against this unknown man who had trodden farther mto Jennifer's heart than she could ever tread. She sat still in her chair, with her delicate wrinkled hands pressed together, and waited for him to come by. And when she heard the door shut she went out into the passage swiftly, so that he must pass her as he came. She watched him come, walking straightly. He held his cap in his hand, and his big coat fell open, showing the dull blurr of khaki. He came as a man who knew his way ; glancing at her carelessly with bold, imperious eyes that seemed to look through her and pass on. To his knowledge he did not see her at all. He did not hear her. But he was vivid enough to her. She never forgot the sensation of his ' BUT THAT CAN'T BE scruDle for 319 ^ZlZiu of vm:ni;:Zr, '""'; ;■'" "-* fead-carriag., vory clap „, u,s »hu , ,g"ni^,'tt:, ,7, ''°%i'"'l ^'"'t 't. Ae made of the stuff whiclt i, casilv 1 .', ,^'"',' ""'" "■'» ""' sent him away aL-ain then Ih^^e^^.-^r^f '■''''^- , " J""""'"- '''"' her gentle he4t quakc'lto Ihink 0I " ''"'"'^ ""^""ich ancU;t:^L"c™;faway '/'r'^^-fn "~^ °[ *= '''-^'-.oo,n, ahe opened the .l^orTJ^^rin f,",;Z'" ""^''"' '"'"''«''■ sudden cry. Then see n^h J J™™'" sprang up with a tronbling Ld trying to smile ""■■"■• '''" ''"■"P'"-''' ^ack, Th^elier':l\f 2rov'ra"rv'''!'= ■"°"'" ■' »- -«• fondled them. AhnoTtX wn^'nf }T^ "'° '=°'" ^^"ds and though her daughto were gone int'?'. i't/P'".''- " "''"""'^ »= where she could not fohol? w",e°e 'he dW n"r" •', '' '"""' the language. Then, nervousl^ she s^d not understand •■Oh'-TeSe? ZJTll "°^ '" "l^ P--8^. ''-r." came painfully ba4 to her facV™*' "''"*"■• ^"^ *"« <=*"^ ■■Yes^m^ihe"'.'*""'"''^-'?" •' No^^tr" '"J'^" """^ *° ^"-"^ back again, Jennifer ? " her^mo"l,Tr?S J™""" *""=^ ^"^ lung her arms round ht;;irbni;i'?g*-''t'u;sie^ ^or^-.d"^-^*^"'' '■- y°- mother I" ' ™'""S'«- Oh, liold me tight; mother. Ih ■i ij'i k ' i CHAPTER XVIII. THE EPITOME OF LIFE. "A la claire fontaine M'en allant promener ; J'ai trouver I'eau si belle Que je m'y suis baign6." The strong, soft voice died out as the passing breed swung by on his snow-shoes through the clear, frosty night. Shcker turned back from the window with the hard hues of his young face softened too. But he did not cross the room where, at one end of the table, the men of the Split Lake Detachment were gathered in a mist of tobacco-smoke and a silence broken only by the curt sentences as the cards went round. Slicker was one of the four at that table usually ; but a prospector passing through to the North had taken his place to-night, and so Slicker had stood at the window and heard the breed sing and felt a wave of home-sickness for the old life with Jennifer and Dick and Tempest in it. For three months now he had known this Split Lake life ; and to him it had been a time of stagnation and of numbing ideals. He had expected so much from the call to which he had answered ; knowing as he did the work at Grey Wolf, the stern self-denial and the long hours of labour on an under- manned, difficult post. Slicker had prepared himself for that. He was ardent for self-sacrifice. He was ready to die on the trail if need be for the glory of service. He was eager to serve nobly and with his whole heart. And Life had required of him another test than this. It had sent him to one for which he was ill-prepared and ill-fitted. It had sent him to a lonely post where the only give-and-take of thought was from these men at the table ; where there was little work to do and less to see and less still to think about. This detachment was a integral part of the whole : it guarded a line ; it made a nucleus for a mighty tract of country. But few people passed that line — few came in to it from the country. It was there as a warning and a promise, but it had few chances for lulniiing either. )reed swung ^ht. Slicker of his young tn where, at Detachment ence broken ad. Shcker I prospector o-night, and e breed sing ith Jennifer t Lake Ufe ; of numbing to which he Grey Wolf, >n an under- jelf for that. 3 die on the Lger to serve uired of him or which he to a lonely I from these do and less ment was a it made a 3ople passed [t was there for lulniling 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE' 321 When the winter wood was drawn and cut • wh*»n ^h^ ,„oii necessary thmgs done, work was at a dead-lock— until «;nmf> Lakf T^hr^.^.' ^^^ '"^^"^^ ^^^ -°* often happen at Spl^' enough Th 'f "?"" ^"""P*^^ *^^ stagnation contentedly pLye^d caTds'^ an J' ^ ^°.°^ ^'^^' '^^^ ^^°^^d, and they piayea cards, and, according to Cordv's a;/^ ff^^' "^""^ ^°'^^^^ ^^ ^ hurry. He felt as though the hinted accusation had been flung at himself But Cordy was untroubled. He lifted his eyebrows .xrnJ" ^^ y°" hke, of course," he said. "Hallo Slicker Will you take a hand ? " ' ^"*^^®^- to k^p/'^ ^°''' ^""^^'^ ^""'"'^ ^°* ^°^^ "^°"«y than you want let'fSe toV^tn " '^'^ ^?^^!' ^""^ ^"'"^^^ ^^°"^ Hopper's sear- ch it ^ ^' ^^Pectmg to see the anger that he knew was flus^oThifcheekf ' ^°^'^ ^^"^"'^^' ^^^^°"^^ ^^^^ -« ^ ^^^ " Losers are allowed some latitude," he said. " I'm sorrv lucK last night has done to your temper ! " ^^ \/e were not playing for such big stakes last night." i-ord, man ; you don't call thps*^ Uia 0+0 Upc 1 -r^^-.f t.^, sarcastic. Coming, Slicker ? " ° ' ^ "® A moment Slicker hesitated. Then he slipped into Hon- pers chair, and Hopper turned and walked oTof the'rooL i n ■MUM 322 THE LAW-BRINGERS I ■? ; • . ♦ ' ■■i.;i ji liii^ sharply. The game went on, and Cordy's easy manner soon brushed the restraint off it. But Slicker played badly. He felt vaguely outraged ; not so much at the accusation as at the fact that Cordy did not seem to resent it. For his own honour, for the honour of the Force, for the honour of this little post itself, Cordy ought to have resented it before this quiet- eyed, observant civilian who lost his money with such equa- nimity. Slicker had worked himself into acute indignation by the time the evening was done and Cordy had cheerfully seen the prospector into his room down the passage and had come back to turn the lamp out. Smith was gone ; but Slicker sat at the table with his blue eyes alight and that square look on his jaw which Cordy had come to know. He went straight to his point. " Why didn't you give Hopper the lie just now ? " he demanded. Cordy yawned. But there was an unpleasant look in his eyes. " This life imposes bonds considerably tighter than the marriage-boi 1, my dear boy," he said. " t have probably got to live with Hopper for the next few years — and he is my be 3S '• Will it improve the situation to have him think you a cheat ? " " My dear Slicker ! " Cordy laughed, but his cheeks took their dull flush again. " You haven't learnt the graces of speech yet. Why, of course, it will improve it. Hopper will bear anything better than contradiction. And how could I disabuse his mind except by my fists ? I don't want to go out of here in irons." " If you'd given him your word of hon< ur he'd have had to believe you 1 " Cordy glanced at him sharply. There was something of envy and of pain in the quickly-veiled eyes. He knew, and Hopper knew, why he did not offer his word of honour. And Hopper knew, as he knew, that the matter would have to blow over simply because these lonely men dared not make their daily life intolerable. Cordy registered a determination that Hopper should be his partner for a few times when a fellow came by who was worth fleecing. That would shut Hopper's mouth if nothing else would. He yawned again. " Oh, my dear boy, what do these louts know about a word of honour ? " he said. Then he laughed softly, drawing up his coat as he stood before the stove. " That reminds me of a funny story that happened to a chap I knew in England." He paused, with light raillery in his eyes. " I don't know if you're old enough to hear it," he added. Slicker fingered his lip where the soft down was already manner soon 1 badly. He Lisation as at For his own r of this httle ire this quict- h such equa- :nation by the fully seen the id come back flicker sat at "e look on his traight to his ; now ? " he t look in his ter than the ive probably and he is my think you a i cheeks took :he graces of Hopper will how could I ant to go out . have had to something of [e knew, and lonour. And have to blow t make their lination that ^hen a fellow hut Hopper's out a word of awing up his inds me of a igland." He :)n't know if was already 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE' 323 This touched him beginning to part itself into a moustache on the quick as Cordy knew. f«M^°f°"'r ^^ ^^'^ ^"^"^y- A'^d he laughed when it wi^ fl.lf ' ^^l'* '^^' ^""y ^"""y- ^^d Cordy 's subtle dehneatioS flattered his raw manhood. But he went to bed more une^^r than he cared to allow. That little song had iiT some w'v brought Jennifer and Tempest very clearly into his mLT Ind he did not care to think of them in connection with?ordy For several days the thought of Tempest possessed him He knew, of course, that Tempest was at ChurcMl and that he would probably come out as soon as he was fit He reahsed that of ate he had not been very anxious to see TempLt aiaTn and with that straight courage which seldom faUedhiT he sought the reason and found it He did nof w^nf +!^ ? Cordy tell Tempest that he and Slicll .t'reI'chToVc\umT And he knew just exactly how Cordy would say it too t"S matter kept him sulky until he found a solution where nine tenths of humanity finds it, in a compromise. He could not quarre with Cordy. That would be absurd • besides ^hl old fellow was really such awfully good comnanv An^ h e:lV° Cordv^h'd"^' "^^ -7 of^oSl^ngTlFfHas noTele! yatmg. Cordy had seen much more of life than <^HrV^v ^r.A hewouIdthinkSlickerafcH,!. No ; he could norbehted'.fa w™^ "A^'n^- ''"' }" T"''^ "°' '"=' "hat Cordy slMh,^t Cofdy g"o:n^'"'"' '^'^' '"'^''^' ^^ t^"'- »"™-«^- For " Don't you think it's likely to be— well— to hp -, i,-f+io /i.,ii to-night?'' he asked. "I Luldn'tTay any^thinf agahS the Inspector, of course. But he will inspect more than our u;;^'siick:r'?' '''^' "°"'' ^^ • ^^^^ y^^ ^'^ ^-^ soul dean^d '' nrS.^' h'^^^'k '* P^^^^h'" said Slicker, but he reddened Oh, my dear boy. no. He's a gentleman, of course But can t you just see how Tempest, the immacu ate, wilUook on us the erring ones. He won't say anything of course bn^ ou c'a^rplavir^ r "^ ^"' ^'^^^ l-\e.^d^in'sidrhimself'a ?^ l^ E, "^ ^* ^ "" ^°'"^^ *° take the very shirt off vou As nf.^if ^^^''- ^"^ ^'" ^'' y°" have it bJck to-morrow As philosophers, you know, we are bound to meet circum' stances as cheerfully as we can." circura- ;; Tempest plays cards himself," said Slicker. S,P.W^?:;„hrd'^^^^^^^^^ Or is it patience. Slicker ? " to Temoest T^if hi 'T' ^'*h°"g*^ ^^ felt the treachery to lempest. But he went away thinking that perhans Tp^V pest was a little-well, not exactly the sor^t of elC orwoald set out to have a jolly time with. And Cordy was i F : t ! 5 ; i ! !' J ; fil '■ ' ■ *!■ I m •HfM 324 THE LAW-BRINGERS But Cordy had made a miscalculation when he asserted that Tempest would not say anything. Acting on this belief he forced animal spirits to take the place of the drink which was debarred at the detachment, and in a little while he heard Tempest come down the passage which separated the mess- room from Hopper's quarters. Tempest stood in the door, smihng at Slicker, who, stripped to shirt and trousers and with his hair wild, was attenn rating to sand-bag Cordy as the elder man dodged and feinted and doubled. There was considerable skill shown by both, and Tempest dropped into a chair and watched them. It was against strict etiquette, but he had known Slicker so well once. He had been in a httle earlier in the evening, waiting for Hopper to finish a game of cards, and he looked on now with a very much clearer knowledge of Cordy than Cordy imagined. And neither he nor Hopper guessed why Tempest had insisted that the Sergeant should finish his game. Nor why Tempest came back now. They were exhausted presently, and Tempest made them sit down and talk. He had not seen Shcker since the boy had worn the khaki, and he chaffed him about it, good-naturedly and cleverly enough to make Cordy laugh once. In some way this astonished Slicker. He was coming to look on stronger meat as the only possible material for jokes. And that Cordy should laugh raised his opinion of Tempest considerably. But the real mischief in Cordy which had enabled him to weather all the winds that buffeted him was his undoing very presently. Shcker never quite remembered at what point of the conversa- tion he felt Tempest look at him ; look again, and finally break in on Cordy's easy-flowing speech. " Shcker," he said, " I wish you'd ask the Sergeant if my kit has been taken to my room. And I'm going to ask you to unpack it for me. I can't do much stooping yet." What Tempest said to Cordy after the door was shut Slicker never knew in the least, for Cordy showed no after-signs of it. But what Tempest said to Shcker himself Slicker knew very certainly. Tempest had an apt directness of speech on some occasions. " I am going to use a very unpleasant simile, Shcker," he said ; " and I am using it because I think it more appropriate than any other. There are many men and animals which are attracted by vile smells and tastes— high game, rotten cheese, asafoetida, and all that kind of thing. Those are the physical attractions. Animals — we say unfortunately for them, but there may be some doubts about that— cannot be attracted on the mental side as men must be — and are. Your friend Cordy *" ''■ J ..,i,^i,,.,i;-u .^-j- liiciiLdi jjumuiiy uut;iis ana putna game. I won't add garlic ; that's a healthy smell, though I don't like it myself." 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE' ;serted that is belief he which was e he heard I the mess- 1 the door, rs and with LS the elder onsiderable I chair and Dut he had ittle earlier le of cards, knowledge lor Hopper ant should w, de them sit le boy had 1-naturedly In some on stronger that Cordy ably. But to weather J presently. e conversa- nally break eant if my ask you to hut Slicker •signs of it. knew very ;h on some Ucker," he ippropriate ! which are ten cheese, tie physical them, but ttracted on lend Cordy a.nd putrid [, though I 325 Slicker wriggled on his chair, but his manner suggested that he had expected something of this sort and was indSerent to It. Tempest looked at him narrowly iumereni; " How long have you been here, Slicker ? " he asked. Four months," said Slicker sulkily " And Cordy is the only friend you've got ? " There's no one else." " ^\ There's no one else, I suppose. I wonder if vou remember anythmg of what I said'^that day in Grey Volf when you asked me if you should join the Force ? " ^ and unlforS''*"^^* n '^^' ^^^^"'^ "-Slicker forgot his rank T^^^A^ A ^^"u"^ ^^"^ ^^^y a kid all his hfe. I've got to do as men do when I'm with them, you know." Do I ? But why not make them do as you do ? " This was a new thought to Slicker. He stared." 1 couldn t, he said. " ^°". P.^^° *^at you have not enough character • not enough mitiative, or brain, or common-sefse p » ^^*'' ' "°* stand"ng"s"ir ^""^' ^^^ '"'° "°^^^- ^^^^^ -d^^--^' T.,'l^°°'"^°!^>^"°'^'" '^^^ Tempest. " It isn't easy, is it ? But you didn t expect ease when you gave yourself to us." * I don t want ease," burst out Slicker. " I want work part of Ttlll "The"'- '" % ^^^" T^^^'^ the-the darnnabla part of t all. There s nothing to do and nothing to drink and '°.f w° wf""""^ "^'^^ ^°^dy- I can't help it." ' von ? w. "^'"^ Tempest, " you remember our motto, don't you ? We maintain the right over a fairly big jurisdiction- several million square miles. But that's not so much to ba proud of It we can't maintain it over ourselves. I don't know DO nt'' r^Tn7 ""w ^*,^ P^^^^h to other men on that exac^ F.TL.f ?i V ^5 ■!" ^^^^ '^"^^ ^P^cial P^ace where we fail most, Shcker, and it will probably trip us more or less all nof .r- ??* ^'"J"^^ ^ ^^"°^ h^« f^"^^ over a stone het not debarred from shouting a warning to the fellow behind. I have no right to do more than shout the warning. But you'll allow me that, won't you ? " 5 "i- yi^a '•' Tw^ *° f2°lT^ ^'^ ^^^" P"* somewhere under you." f rp JnH^ ""Tl"*? * ^^ J^'y "'""^ "^^- We can't do such a tremendous lot for each other, old fellow. And if we try we perhaps make things worse." ^ c.i?^ ^T *?i"k^"g o^ something which had been done to him- self under the name of help. Slicker saw the shade on his ptetdy" """"'* °* *^''^ ^^"'' ^^y' 'P^^* ^h^°"g^ com- " You know— sometimes when I used to hear you and IZftl T"'""^. ^^^"t ^" ^^"^^ °f things-or when you used to get on to Dick, and the old beggar would smoke 326 THE LAW-BRINGERS "'i vi J I ; t' II UV'I I'. and grin quietly till he had you up on your feet— then I felt that I — that I wanted to — to go out and do some of the big things that fellows did in the old days. I did really, Tempest. And now — to have nothing to do. It's knocked the bottom out of all my ideas. It's a rotten hfe." " There's the army that pushes the trail through into the enemy's country, and there are the details who guard the hne. They are of equal importance." Tempest smiled. " You may not have to be a detail for long," he said, " But if you are you must remember that you're necessary or you wouldn't be here. I mentioned to Cordy th&h a<^ wasn't exactly the man I'd choose for an intimate friend, . :: J he may profit by the hint or he may take his revenge out o^ you. But more prob- ably he won't do either. I'm going straight through to Regina now, and I'll see what I can do there. But if I can't do any- thing, you remember, Shcker, that Cordy is better as an enemy than as a friend." Tempest screwed his face up as though he tasted something unpleasant. " He's a highly-specialised and refined beast." he said. " And they're the worse sort. I hate to know that there are such fellows in the Force. It gives some people a chance to call us a refuge for derelicts ; though, thank Heaven, I don't think there are many like him." Tempest did not forget his promise when he came to report to the Commissioner at Regina three weeks later. He touched on the matter lightly, with an apology. ^ " For the boy joined on my recommendation," he said. " And he's a clever boy. I think he may be worth a good deal to us if he has a fair start. He has a temperament which takes up some things very enthusiastically." " Then he probably won't stay with us. The work is not what it was when I was on patrol. Too much sentry-go and too little whiskey-smuggling and raiding to please the men. Isn't that so ? " " Why, certainly— in some cases." Tempest thought of Dick, " But I believe young Warriner would want to stay if he had more to do." " Well, I'll make a note of it. Perhaps I can move him. You say that one of the men is a bad companion for him ? " Undoubtedly. I shouldn't wonder if you had trouble with him later. Other parts of the world have possibly had trouble with him already." " I'll make a note of that, too." The Commissioner turned from the subject with relief. " You are not quite strong yet ? I notice that you limp a little. It started from a fall, did It ? " " The rheumatism settled in mv hip. But I'll be all rieht once the warm weather comes. Yes f it was a fall. I ricked myself." et — then I . do some did really, s knocked h into the "d the line, d. " You But if you \i wouldn't ly the man >fit by the nore prob- to Regina .'t do any- an enemy as though specialised forse sort. Force. It derelicts ; like him." ; to report [e touched ' he said, th a good iperament ork is not ry-go and the men. bought of to stay if lOve him. him ? " )uble with id trouble ler turned rong yet ? I fall, did 5 all right I ricked •THE EPITOME OF LIFE' 327 " Ah ! I want to put you in charge of the Mackenzie Dis- trict, Tempest. Channing has resigned, and he comes out this summei. You'll get your furlough first, of course. But if the doctor won't pass you I don't quite know what I'm going to do." " He will pass me," said Tempest quietly. He sat silent for a minute, trying to brace himself for the next thing which he wanted to say. Andree was seldom long away from his thoughts ; but as he got nearer Regina she filled them up with a completeness which was absolute tor- ture. Sight of the familiar little chapel and the prison across the barrack square had made him giddy with the flood of reahsation. Was Andree now shut in Fort Saskatchewan prison ? Had she met her death there, or did she hve still ? His love for her was now protection and pity only ; but the memory of what had been was sharp. He turned in his chair with his face from the hght. " Corporal Heriot brought out some more information about the Robison-Ogilvie case," he said. " Has it been followed up ? " The Commissioner frowned. ^ " That is the worst case we have had in the Force," he said. " I hate to think of it. We have hanged an innocent man, and the girl who is responsible for two deaths has gone off to the North somewhere. I sent Heriot after her at once, and he'll get her if anyone can. But I don't expect to hear any more for a long while yet. She had about two months' start. " Tempest had schooled himself to hear something which would hurt. But not all his self-control was quite sufficient. The Commissioner looked up. " You knew something about her, too, did you ? I remem- ber that Heriot was very averse to going. Had he— but that IS no business of mine. I told him not to come back without her, and he is too keen on his work to fail." Tempest stood up, smiling a httle. " No. I don't expect that he will fail," he said. " And I must ask you to excuse me, sir. I'm sleeping at the Ferrars' to-night, and they have people coming for dinner, so Til have to go ror.nd and borrow some clothes. I have onl-; my kit here." ^ ^ But he walked across the Square to the married officers* quarters and up to his room in Ferrars' house without thinking any more about the clothes. He did not quite know what he thought until he caught his eyes asking him the question from the mirror. It was chiefly the eyes which told how Tempest had suffered. The eager glow in them was quenched, and the steady light which shone instead kept its gravity, even when he smiled. There were a few white threads in the thick hair, I'll i f'l T'll 328 i. i ■ \ '|i^ 1 • .-ll! I ! i ! ' n,: lii ilpi' THE LAW-BRINGERS and the temporal arteries showed more clearly. But the wind- had^'noVrf -r^^'^ ?"" ^'^^ ''' ^^^ ^^^^ «till. and his mouth had not lost its sweetness. "Dick ! " he said to the eyes in the mirror. " Dick I " He sat down, hiding his face in his hands, shaking with the rebelhon agamst life which swept over him. He judged Dick tl "^^u "'^'^^^"^^' f o^« indifferent, more wilfully cruel than he really was and for the moment he hated most fiercely the man who had been his friend and whom he loved still as he knew that Dick loved him. Dick would not fail. He wouYd W^ Xnd'? h'^ '°, '^^' ^^''''^ ^^^^^ ^^d ^^ited h^r over- long. And Andree loved him. Tempest did not dare let hjmself think for many minutes on that flight anS the return a mfss s'u^tTrom r"h T' '^^°"l^ '^^ ^^^^ ^^" ^^^ '« "-row a mess suit froni Chartens or Bayne or someone else. at the Ferra?s" TV?^' ^^^^"«!.he also was going to dinner fL^A ? J ^"^^ ^^ arranged the matter for Tempest ove witT mm^'ff "^ "^ the Bachelor Quarters, and waS over with him afterwards. Charteris was a good-natured obtuse man with a tendency to spread himself over the affairs of others, and he made the conversation at table more personal than Tempest desired. He had just been East for his leave and had stayed with Tempest's pJople, and he Sd not^org^^^^^^^^ he .^H ^ ' t7^'^^^ y°" "°"^^ b^^k a bachelor. Tempest," oL c J^^""^ f y°"^ ^'^^^^ engaged and Lloyd married and young Stuart thinking about it. You will have to takTthe fsn'?'.'. b°r 't^ y°" ^^r • ^^^^-« --- tenyou Ih^t i? isn t as bad as it's supposed to be." ,/' F^rrars had a special inducement." Temoest turned to ^f'conce?" ri^^ ^'^ ^"'^^".^ ^°"^^^^y- " AndTo a good deal of conceit. There is no other occasion on which a man needs such a good opinion of himself, is there ? " . I' v''''l^^ '"^ *t^ i"""^- "'^ marvellous how nerve will carry yoltU^Tli;;-^; ^°^^ ^^^^- — ^- t^^t cas^o^ " An^! ^^""^ ^^^ forgotten it. Charteris." said Ferrars blandly. And we are not going to be pilloried for our ignorance It would be quite as hopeless as discussing the bE troub e " Or a year's isolation round the rim of the Pole to rit. comforts. How long since you have eaten with a sUver fork or drunk wine, Tempest ? " « onvci xuia. or £reLJer3L,-^!i^ \^^^\^u'^ *^°'^ deprivations with much greater equanimity than I bore the loss of mv razor when a breed upset all my dunnage in Pelican Rapids^/t Wf" 1 how he crn't'.W^'?'^ ^"^ 1 smooth face loses'his self-respect when ne can t shave for weeks at a time." 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE it the wind- i his mouth )ick I " Qg with the udged Dick cruel than fiercely the still, as he He would d her over- )t dare let the return, c to borrow e. g to dinner : Tempest, md walked •d-natured, the affairs re personal ■ his leave, )t forget it. Tempest," i married, to take the 3u that it turned to . good deal nan needs will carry at case of s blandly, ranee. It in trouble aeroplane le to city er fork or ith much •r when a Lwful how »ect when 329 Mrs. The ,retty girl at Tempest's side looked up at him Ferrars had placed her there in order that she should Fancy thinkmg of that in such a strenuous hfe. How wonderful you are," she sighed. . " ^.,^°o^'" admitted Tempest. " But so few people recog- nise It, I have to be Bowdlerised for ordinary conversation you see. '' He means that the person who hasn't been there only understands and commends us for the obvious things," inter- preted Bolton, who was an Inspector himself. " And thev are never the things that are of any consequence." " ^^^^'" ^"^"^ured a soft voice on Tempest's other side. Clothes, for mstance. '•My dear Christine," Mrs. Ferrar laughed. " We women and our ideas don't count on the outside edges of things " I mean to count," said Christine. She glanced up at Tempest with a spark of challenge in her dark eyes. "Are sweethearts and wives among the deprivations which you men of the police can bear with equanimity ? " she demanded Tempest knew her for the wife of a young Enghshman who had just entered the Force. It was suspected that he had done It for the sake of excitement, and that he would not stay m it long. He smiled quietly. " You must ask someone who is better qualified to give an °P'.T']' x^® ^^''^- " ^" poetical phraseology I happen to be wedded to my work, and so I have all I want of hfe. you The young eyes questioned his a moment longer, and he bore the look unflinchingly. It was the stand he meant to take all his hfe through now. But he was relieved when the two women were gone Good wine, and a good cigar, and the talk and voices of the men of his own class were very comforting to him after the five strait years of naked necessities only. A httle later the name of Ducane came up. Tempest was known to be connected with the case, and Bolton asked questions. " I am working it up here," he said. " The man is a worm. He turned King's Evidence and told every mortal thing he knew. So he's out on bail, pending the arrest of the others. We have two of them, but the rest have disappeared. Of course we'll get them, though it may take time. It is going to be quite a big affair, for people have been wanting to get at the basis of the Canada Home-lot Extension Company for some time. You knew Heriot, Tempest ? He was under vou at Grey Wolf, wasn't he ? " tt -w-r 1 • " Yes. " Bad luck for him that he hadn't the chance to carry this thing through. He would probably have got his step over it. ; 1 !:'! 330 THE LAW-BRINGERS Ml 1 *J He s a clever chap, too. A confoundedly clever chap. But there's a kink in him somewhere, to my mind. I fancy he is safer hunting criminals along the Mackenzie than knocking around among civihzed beings. Didn't you find him hard to manage ? " ''Not particularly. You said Ducane was out on bail. Where is he ? " " Gone back to his wife at Grey Wolf, I believe. Poor Uttle woman, she'll need to be good stuff to stand him. And she is good stuff, I know. One of our oldest Toronto families, th ? Why, yes. She did go home for a while. But she came back to Grey Wolf. I happened to see her on Regina station the day she passed through. She has wonderful eyes." Tenipest assented absently. He wondered if Jennifer had gone back to Grey Wolf to take care of Andree. And he won- dered what she was doing there now with Ducane. Before the evening was over he had made his mind up on one point. He would spend the first two months of his leave in a fleeting visit to Grey Wolf. Jennifer deserved that of him. And, besides, she could tell him so much about Andree. In the bachelor quarters several of the men spoke about Tempest later on. Bolton was genuinely troubled. " He's as good a fellow as ever, of course," he said. " But he looks as if he'd had a knock." " Had a krock ! He looks as if he'd been shot sitting and dri led clean through," declared Charteris. " I hope his folk will marry him off, down East. A good, comfortable, domesti- cated life is what he wants. He should give up the Force. You can see he's had enough of it." But before Tempest went East he presented himself one warm, wet spring morning at the house across the lake from Grey Wolf, and heard Jennifer's cry of joy, and felt the grasp of her hands as she welcomed him, " Oh," she said. " How I wish you had six hands to shake, I can t tell you how glad I am. And you haven't got this district, have you ? That would be too splendid to be true." " Yes ; I'm afraid it would. I'm on leave, and I'm spending a part of it in hunting up my old friends." He looked at her intently. "I came to see if you needed help," he said. " That is hke you," Jennifer's eyes met his bravely. " You will see Harry directly, and I shall be glad to talk to you afterwards. Here's mother. And mother and I hunt through every day for all the fun we can get out of it, you know. It makes hfe so much more — more bearable." Tempest understood completely why she chose that epithet when Ducane came in to lunch. The fellow was a wreck of the burly, blustering man whom Grey Wolf had once known. He shuffled in his walk, hanging his head. The shadow of the chap. But fancy he is a knocking lira hard to it on bail. Poor little him. And to families, it she came ina station es. snnifer had nd he won- Before the point. He eeting visit id, besides, )oke about lid. But sitting and pe his folk i, domesti- the Force. imself one lake from tie grasp of 3 to shake, t got this • be true." 1 spending ked at her lid. ly. " You Ik to you it through know. It at epithet eck of the own. He aw of the THE EPITOME OF LIFEj' 331 cells was on him, and horror of the future showed in his shifty eyes and m his manner. He alternately r^ved at Jennifer and cajoled her. He cringed to Tempest, and when the two men went out under the light spring rain with their pipes he gave way altogether ; shivering and sobbing ; cursing Dick and himself and the law. and imploring Tempest to help him. " It would be so hard on Jenny to have me in— in— locked up again," he whined. " And she's been a good wife to me always. I don't deserve it. I know I don't deserve it. But she knows I'm fond of her. She knows it. Poor Jenny." It was a horrible exhibition to Tempest ; but he bore with It m patience. Even so httle as he could do eased the burden for those brave women in the house. And, for all the fallen manhood in Ducane ; for all the shameful thing which he had become, there was still that redeeming feature in him. He loved Jennifer. After each burst of passion he came to her like a dog, whimpering for forgiveness. His eyes followed her about the room, and the touch of her hand soothed him in his Budden fits of excitement. Tempest guessed that if Ducane were parted from that sweet womanly strength on which ha fed he would soon be parted from hfe also. And in his heart he hoped that that day might come soon. On the second night, when Ducane, cross and sleep\ as a chilu, had stumbled off to bed, Jennifer slid her arm through her mother's. " Mr.^ Tempest is going in the morning, little mother," she said. " And I have got one or two things to scold him about privately. You don't mind, darling ? I knew you wouldn't." Then, when the door was shut, she drew a chair for Tempest up to the fire, and sat down in a corner of the lounge where she had said good-bye to Dick. " I want to speak to you about Andree," she began at once, not looking at Tempest. " When I got your letter I came back to look after her. Don't thank me. I had nearly decided to come, anyway. And I was glad of the excuse. I did what I could." She paused a moment. " She cared for him too much to look at anyone else. And then she went North. I had not heard of any reason why she should go until Mr. Heriot told me that he had been sent after her. She did not come to say good-bye to me. I am sorry that I failed to— to understand her better. I did try. But Andree never cared about women." Tempest sat back in hie chair for a long while, staring into the fire. At last he said slowly : " You saw Heriot as he came through ? " " Yes." ^ " And she loved him still ? As much as ever ? " Jennifer felt her eyes fill. She knew how this man had loved Grange's Andree. n i'^m i! i ?.5 i 33* ■ J II i 1 I m THE LAW-BRINGERS and so he pos- •;He seemed to have wakened her heart sessed It. I think they both reahse that." ' Tempest was silent again. His hand shaded his face but Jennifer coulc guess something of his thoughts. For a little she struggled with herself, trying to brace herself to give him comfort which it was going to hurt her unspeakably to givT She laid her hand lightly on his knee for a moment ^ ^ ''• You aie afraid that she will tempt him to— to forget his work and to run away with her, or-or something of that sort. He won't. Mr. Tempest. And he won't be cruel to her I^thmk he will try to treat her as I would want hun to treat Tempest looked up sharply. " How do you know that ? " Pn^h^o.?"'^ ^'' loves me and I love him. And we have told each other so." said Jennifer bravely ^T??w'.*^'^1 ^V^^"' "°^ conscious that he was staring. Is that true ? " he said. * " Yes." forl^L^°?. U' '^i!^ Tempest. He put his hand up to his forehead He-he has " He looked away, stunned bv evLTave-^" "^^^-^^^ ^""'^ mean-.ut how could he •' Each time I sent him away it maddened him. I can't understand Perhaps you cL't. either. But-I have had to understand that it did not alter his feeling for me I could^not blind my eyes to that." " "^^^ " ^^ ^^^^ ^nto thought again. Then he seemed to catch hold of his natural courtesy. " I did not wo^n'^o^H r^^T'' ^'°"^ y°"'" h^ «^id "I think no woman could have done a more gracious act." v.Hh^^^^^}''''^ Jennifer was speaking very low and levelly. t'ru't h^'ro'' '"P^^' ''''''■ " ' ''^'' ^-' -^ y- --t T '' ^"t— you said you sent him away ? And last time— 1— I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to " Last time was different." said Jennifer steadily " He— we said more than we had done before. We knew that rr^f S, TS'^u T^ 5^ ^"y°"^ ^^^^- You see he under- wood that he had perhaps brought Harry back to me " tohZlt^^r""^- ?"'i^5 ^^'' *^^Sedy even his own seemed indrJocn J- ^°^^^ ^'^ ""^^ love-he never had loved Andree as Dick assuredly would love this woman. The thought ^rvl^^uTstl^^^^^ '''' ^^^' ""' ^^''^' ""^^'^^ ~^y -^ "I do not know how to thank vou for tellinf^ mp fhi= Tf explains so much And I had never guessed-good "Heavens I Why, I— I— asked you to look after Andree becaus 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE so he 333 pos- is face, but For a little to give him t>ly to give. — to forget ling of that ruel to her. an to treat ! have told i staring. I up to his tunned by r could he I. I can't — I have g for me. Then he I did not think no id levelly, you must st time — "He- new that le under- j," '^n seemed ad loved 3 thought 'enly and this. It leavens I ^^ ' That did not matter very much." Jennifer smiled faintly. ' He wrote to me before he went North with you. Just a few lines, but they made the matter clear. I mean — they did not palliate it. He has never tried to do that with anything in his life." Tempest leaned his elbows on the mantel-shelf, pressing his temples with his fingers. This man who had lived with him daily, for weeks, for months, for years, had had this in his heart all the while. '!, -^"^d— and his eviaence at the trial ? " he said. " He did not mind what people said of himself. He tried to make it easy for me. And he would not make excuses for what he had done to me. He had done it, and he let me know it. He — he used that work as a weapon to — to fight himself with in part. And— and he would not let me think him better than he was." Tempest nodded. He knew that love can be as merciless as hate. Dick would have Jennifer's love, and his bold temper would insist that he had it in spite of what she knew of him. " And he knew that he left you to— this," he said slowly! Jennifer did not answer. Memories were too keenly sharp. The thoughts of both were with the man somewhere out along the far trails in the silence. The fire fell together with a crash, and Jennifer looked up. " Have you forgiven him for what he did to you ? " she asked. " I thought I had. I know now that I had not. I can guess a little at what pain would do to a man of his temperament. If I had only known— but he would not tell me, o* course He could not." I' But you can forgive him now ? " "I have already forgiven him of&cially," Tempest smiled a little bitterly. " And I can't cease to care for him. I don't know if I shall ever feel the same way towards him again. He did a great wrong, not to me, but to her." '^ No one could have expected her to care." I' He knew his power with women. I beg your pardon " " Please don't. He has been quite honest with me, and so there is no need." There was silence again until Tempest straightened himself and looked at her. " You make me ashamed," he said. " I have seen yo .t gentleness and your care of Ducane, and now I have seen— something that I can't speak about. I had thought we men of the Mounted Police were doing a great thing for Canada. But perhaps when all is made clear we'll understand that some of the greatest things done here have been done by the women. You— you still intend to look after him ? " MI mil t IT' f ' 1 i 1 ift 1 i i 334 THE LAW-BRINGERS " Sc long as I can. If they imprison him I shall get rooms near the prison. He needs me." ^ " I shall be in the North later, as I told you. But mv leave lasts four months yet, and if you want me during that tirne you know how gladly I will come. And if ever there ^s teTme^f "' """ ^" "^^ *^"* ' "^^ '''' ^y^'"' for you wiU hon. Thf ^ t"/' ^ ^^^ '*°°^ "P ^^^ g^^^ him her hand. " I hope I have helped you, for your sympathy has helped me There are certam things which one cannot fight against We so 4n7tht'.rV- r '''"^ '^"* standpoint. But there Zl Lii^t^V^Z^ H^'^ "^^ '^^- ^"^' ^^^^^ ^"' the epitome of i.ite IS battle and conquest, isn't it ? " " Or defeat." " There are high defeats which aro better than low con- quests." saia Jennifer, and her words stayed with hirwhen she went away and left him alone by the dying fire abS?act cTse^^nT^ ' ^^ l'^""^'"'' ^PP^Y to "lore than the abstract case ? Had he not himself been seeking conquest along infinitely ower lines than this high defeat iS had Zn f i!f ^T^^'' *^^ ^''^ ^ Nature had insisted that he love TenSIft ""i"'^ '""'t ^ ^* ^^^ ^^^^^ted that Dick should ances-^from PnH f^^ T^^ r ^.^° ^^^^^^ ^^^^P* Nature's ordin- ances from end to end ? Is it not against old Nature that her TthrumS'"! ^'"' .V" '""'^ ^^^^^"^ -th consctnce as the umpire ? Tempest knew, as he had known for Ion- marrv^5^' ^She ^^ST^ ''J"' ^^^ P^""^^^^ ^ndree fo marry him. She could have been no helpmate for his soul ?n.i?°"^K ^,\Xf^h^^^ "^ade her other than she was And yet nothing but the knowledge that he could not get her had parted tZ?"^ ^\'- ^J!'^ '^°^^ things which hf used to talk of he tn T'^tr^^^^"* *^' ^°^^^ ^^^^ = he had believed that he had stumbled on a great truth there. But in how far had he acted on it ? Dick had frankly acknowledged his preference for Gigungagap Tempest had talked of the\ighcrplaTes- he could remember now the thrill and the certainty with which tions anTbel^f. J^'h 7''' "" ^/^ ^^^^^ ^^^^-^' ^'' ^is arpira- tions and beliefs dead leaves only ; ropes of sand • dust that the first wind of desire blew out of existence ? Oh God I Not that i Not that ! " he cried He had Sabf t^-.''^ ^"^ ^^^°°^^^ himselfTo accfpt ^the Sfhad now^ft?H th-^'f ^'^V"'' '^"* ^* ^^« the inevitable ±ie nad now hfted this love into a sacred thing which he could think of without shame and without passion^ But who hid enabled him to do this ? Not his own strength. Not his own conscience nor his love for that work which he h.d h JZ^ tii'ust him" hJr f'^'l 'If ^''""^ '^''- " ^^^ Dick who^had thrust him back ; brutally, mercilessly, but 1 hfully into :kf. 11 get rooms I. But my during that ver there is 3r, you will hand. " I helped me. ainst. We it there are epitome of a low con- him when e. re than the I conquest which had ed that he ick should ire's ordin- re that her conscience I for long, Andree to r his soul. And yet lad parted ;o talk of. ieved that w far had preference planes — 'ith which lis aspira- dust that He had xept the levitable. I he could who had t his own believed who had ully into 'THE EPITOME OF LIFE' 335 the battle. And he could not forgive and he could not forget because Andree had been sacrificed that this should be accom- phshed. And yet he had consented that Dick should sacXe Jennifer for his work's sake. He had seen very clearrthere how the individual must perish to further the growth of the whole. But where the matter touched himself ; where Andree had to go that he might give what the years, what his birth and t'T^^^i^ traditions, had made him for the aid of the many what had he cared for his work then ? "id-ny. He got up, walking through the dusky room as Dick had walked on the night when he pleaded with Jennifer. Through these months Dick must have been fightin- nearlv as\fprn « battle as himself. He would suffer f'or XTjeLuer'^T^U Bu7D^rh.T° "^*^^,-r^ as Tempest suffered forA^'ee But Dick had never let his work go. Wild-hearted, bitter- minded unbeliever though he was, he had held valiantly to his work even using it, as Jennifer had said, for a sword agains? himself He remembered the cruel mockery of those skftches m the Grey Wolf bunk-room. Dick had no^morTto help h m ^rough hfe than what they told. He had nothing to hoW™ What wonder then if he fell ? But had he fallen any further rigM-tHtters ? ''"^'^ ^'"P"'' "^° ^"^" ^^^ prea^ched the Tempest went late to his bed that night, and when he said good-bye to Jennifer in the morning hil manner was very " I owe you a very great deal." he said. " And I owe Dick a very great deal" He smiled. " He knew that before I dM '' he added. "But perhaps he can bear to hear it again " He saw Bolton for a moment on the Regina Station as the ^ram carried him East, and the joviallnspeLrshook his hand " wlTfTif/v,"'"''^'!'''' look better already, old fellow." he said. Wait till the pretty girls in Ontario get hold of you Thev'll knock ten years off you." ^ -^ '•Thank you," said Tempest. " I think I don't want to lose those years, Bolton. Not a blessed Oiic of them " His welcome at home shamed him again. They were so transparently joyful at his coming and he had wanted so little to come. He knew that all the great issues of his life were bound up for ever with the West : with the places where he had suffered and lost and gained so much. And yet he found that there was something for him to gain in the old home. Some panacea which he had needed and which nothing else could have given him He found it in his mother's kiss, and in Betty :. throttling embraces, and in Lloyd's hand-grip. It was Lloyd who got down to the heart of the matter at once, reading mm as a man reads his kind. ^ III f'l I , , ■k r. 336 THE LAW-BRINGERS if' : i 1 1 :i}lift!( You won t get old Nei' to cut the Service and settle down oyer here, mother," he said. " You may trot out your eligi- bles and stay him with dinner-parties and comfort him with dances all you know— and it won't help you worth a cent. Something else has booked him, mother, and we're soine to lose him." ^ ^ '' Oh, Lloyd ! You don't think that any girl out there " * n • 9^ 'i ^^^'■^ "^^^ ^^'^ ^°^* ^^^- But I noticed him ta king with Carter and Orde last night. It's Canada has taken him. I guess. He means to give himself to his work and not to anything else." Betty scoffed at this doctrine and angled for him with all the arts which she and her friends could muster. In the first glow of her own love she appealed to Tempest vividly, and he delighted to take her about. She was much younger than himself, and she had been a merry child when he was a tall and stutious boy. She was a merry girl still, and she brought the sweets of life back to him in many ways through those brief weeks. Tempest had that quiet, interested courtesy which charms wherever it goes ; but his serene indifference to Its effects roused Betty's ire, and one evening as he smoked his cigar under the scented limes she came to him. running in her white dress over the grassy lawn, and walked up and down with him. Her hand was through his arm, and she chattered to him and scolded him. half in mischief, half in real earnest. Por a while Tempest parried her thrusts with good-natured evasion Then he turned on her shm finger the ring which sparkled through the starlight. ^ .'.' ?u^ °^^^ ^^^ ^°^ altogether, Betty dear ? " he asked. ^^ Oh, yes." She fell shy instantly at confessing her love Even though you lost him— there could never be anyone " Never ! Oh, never ! " " Well—that's my answer, dear," he said gently. I I'l - ,pi id settle down )ut your eligi- fort him with worth a cent, ire're going to ut there " '. noticed him i Canada has to his work, him with all In the first vidly, and he younger than he was a tall 1 she brought hrough those !ted courtesy adiflference to IS he smoked n, running in up and down she chattered real earnest. ?ood-natured e ring which le asked, g her love. 5r be anyone " THE LONE PATROL." saS^'p^^rf M^r ^^ ^°" T}1^^ ^°i"g "^^ the greatest of favours."' said Pfei e Mehsand. You come to me. figuratively speaking as the men used to come to me at RoueA-with strange stSs Tl.t"'' T' ^"1*^" ^"^^" °^ *h^ saltsea-water in ?heir ha^r I have not seen the sea since I left France ten years ago. And Di'ckfl^fn'lo?f\'^^*^^*^'!^"'°^*^^ ^g° i^ Hudson Bay." i^ick flung off his coat and looked round him " You keen some relics of France with you still." he added. ' " I remembe? tS<^S'i:\l^^f^ ^' Versailles-and surely theTh'alr^ .1,1'°™!!,'"^-, •'^''''- ^^ ■>'*™ °'>"' fencies yet, thouEh we little things to one who remembers " toSut pCmp? ^°°h ^* ^! i""'^' ^^^^°"* th^ ^^sock and tSfs Stlf Rn^.n ri^°"lt^^^^ ^^^ ^°thi"& to knit him to tms little Roman Catholic Mission at VermiHon on the Peace fnTt'he fluent ^f '^\'7^ °' ^ "^^^ «* th« -°^ld in his eyes rSck tohlrno/ \''^°u^' °" ^^ *°"g"^' ^"d he welcomed him to .nrSp nSJ'^'w ^"'^ ^"'* ^' ^^ ^°^ld have welcomed irlp^ft ^llt^h^^iftraS^e^r^^^^^^^^^^ I will ask Antoine to hasten dinner " he said " Vn„ dXilto'rt^ ^°^^ ^"^ ^"^^^^- Traveilinrira%haJi: get' more he^'re f"""^ "^'^^ ^^°'^'^ "^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^"^^ I the mominr"^ T^^'^K* ^^T S"^ °' *^°- ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^im in But??w!.'r. ^^«h we had some to spare at the Mission. £^e therirpoSlle"'?^^' """"'^^^ '^ ^""^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^" brSi''^.„7h*?^^ ^T ^°' ^^^y wondering what power could bring such a man to waste himself among the breeds and T '"i 338 THEJLAW-BRINGERS 1? • , i M Indians of this Canadian outpost. Religion seemed to him such a weak answer. For Dick looked on religion still as many ^x^ ??^-°^ ^*' ^^ ^ ^^^"Se when life has Uttle left to offer. And Pfere Mehsand's eyes said that such a reason was untrue here But It may occasionally be a refuge when life has too much to offer he told himself, and throughout the simple dinner he watched P^re Melisand in that interpretation. The man could talk. He showed deep and wise interest in many things, and more than once his eyes lit to a fire that accorded ill with the meek tonsure. He did not smoke • but he gave Dick a good cigar, and he brought out a bottle of wme, giving a rakish air of conviviality to the evening which appealed to Dick's humour. It was over the walnuts which P^re ^'T-hsand cracked with an old-fashioned silver crackers that i;ick broached the business which had brought him to Vermilion through the wet dangerous drifts where the early Chinooks blew warm, and Phre Melisand leaned back, caressing his chin. '• Ah. that I cannot tell you," he said. " Soeur Narcisse and boeur Madeleine came in while I was at Battle River 1 here was no girl answering to your description in Vermilion when 1 came back. She must have gone further." " Then might I be allowed the honour of a "few minutes conversation with one of the ladies you mention ? " .. r ^ssu^ed^y-" P^re Melisand's line lips drew into a smile. And why not ? "If you have no reason I shall certainly not supply one " Dick smiled back. " It is very necessary for me to find her " he explained. " I'm a wanderer until I do." " May I ask what she is wanted for ? " "Murder in the first degree. And— as an anti-climax— perjury." " Ah ! " P^re Mehsand shuddered. " Poor thing And yours IS a hard life, my friend, when it sends you out on such errands. ^ " A man must live— even, or shall I say, usually— at the expense of others. And if he cannot wipe out his own crimes -H ^"I^y. ^°'°^ ^^^^ ^° assisting others to wipe out theirs." P6re Mehsand shook his head, with the smile still hngering. Well— there is always the untamed thing that runs clamouring through our blood. There will be the doer of ' crimes, and the executor of crimes so long as this old world lasts. And m the next we may have to sheet those very crimes home to the opposite shoulders and begin all over again But do not speak of this to Soeur Narcisse in the morning I thmk you shall see Soeur Narcisse. " • i?^^. is perhaps not young enough to be fluttered at the sight of— shall we say— divided skirts ? " suggested Dick. seemed to him )n still as many t to offer. And as untrue here, e has too much simple dinner Dn, vise interest in to a fire that i not smoke ; it out a bottle the evening 3r the walnuts shioned silver ti had brought rifts where the i leaned back, )oeur Narcisse Battle River. 1 in Vermihon r." . few minutes ) >> ' into a smile. supply one," } to find her," anti-climax — thing. And 11 out on such ually — at the is own crimes 3 out theirs." itill hngering. g that runs the doer of tiis old world e very crimes • again. But morning, I :tered at the ted Dick. •THE LONE PATROL' 339 Pfere MeUsand shook his head again '' W^rh t ""t "''^^' ^"^u"^^ ^"^°^h lo^e our country." Which IS I imagine, the reason why vou leave it A thing demed has its value enhanced, and the wisdom of tht French m matters of love is fully acLowVdged"Su?e worM chSn' ^'"''"^ ^^"^^'^' ''""°S his shoulders in the taU •' Come " he said. " Tell me what you know about France rndTl'^i:' ?r vP'^'°"^ °" ^°^^ *« explain ther^e'lves languS\u"> ''^^ ^^^^^ ^--* your^isdom in any Dick's answering smile did not show in his eves PAr« Thlr^'^H ^"f''^ *^^* '^^'^ ^^d been no smile therefor lone That did not surprise him, for he knew much of the I'vS S SntrM^^'""^ ^"'^ ' ^"* *^^ Pi*y o^ Dick's face when helaw eteruU'hisfaS^"^"^ ^'^ Dick's tuS2>n^"SSe^A^J Wh3Sh^^-^-30-^ inrht't''^^ ^''f "^ y°" ' " ^^^k was curiously upset at this for he knew Andree's utter indifference to women. ' Then you can t tell me where she went ? " he asked To Chipewyan. But beyond that I do not know Th^r^ were many Indians on rafts. We begged of he^-^iav h^ one of us. Mais elle n'en pent. Elle^l^ il l a ^teJt'aux ^uTent" ' "°' ""'"^'^"'' ^'' ^-^-P «^^ feterrplum^ the' HP.'fh P'C f'i ^^^^- u ^"* ^« shi^e^ed a little. Would tlie death which he was bringing her ever so f '° ^'""lu^ ^^li-^o^cn covers beforeL m^keS he^ b^r; 1. ^'^.r^' *^^ Fullerton trail which he and Tempest had taken, with its medley of intersecting lakes. TherT was the trail direct north to the Great Bear Lake where lonTdld rMTn?r^P°''' ^f^^ ^'' glamouring traditions of bullet riddled palisades, and mahogany furniture ; of the grim kings of the Company and the dare-devil men with bright handker! RilttrrtotZD' ^^^'-.b--- There was the'coppermte Kiver trail to the Dismal Lakes on the rim of the Arctic Oce -in He s'cheMsTand' great Mackenzie route to the Yukon anTt"o iierschel Island. Dick weighed the chances of each with all down^tL^M \"°^^.^^&^; He beheved that Andree woSd go down the Mackenzie ; for, wild creature of the forest thoufh she was, she had never loved loneliness nor the Indians Her ways had lam among the white men, and her vanity and love onrhfG":fs^"''r\''P^"^..*^^^^• TheicewaKrell^ng ?•, L f.^* ^^^^^ ^^^® '^^en Dick reached it and in a little while the birch canoes shot across the long blue run ofT Dkk Gr^nt? Antr ''^S^ '"^^^ ^^^°^^ ^^ ^^^ "P- ^hf tra^ o^ Grange s Andree. He was to know well the mouse-erev strSlv He '^' r-'^'^t ""^ ^°°^^ «^- low!"camn1 stridently He was to see the prairies yellow as the snow passed and the pale feathers of birch and poplar b ow aga^sT the mdigo of the fir-forests. He was to seek the camp of minv a breed and Indian along the shores, remembering p^^t historv hrsr/Sbt sti e^^fl^ntw^^^ ""^^^^"^ ^' --"^^- Enterprise, ReHance, Providence, Confidence, Good Sope and Resolution. The courage of the bluff old sailor and his stron J^ wro^mrxThr '^ ^^^'^ '^' ' ^^--^^^^^^ ^- ^^- 'n nd then he too lush ice on the jolution before at ever on his nd thundering awake on the ng of Andree 1 only for her ; trails, and he le marked her and Tempest . There was ere long-dead )ns of bullet- le grim kings ght handker- Coppermine Arctic Ocean, ukon and to •ach with all ■ee would go orest though ndians. Her ity and love fa.s breaking id in a little I of it. Dick 1 the trail of mouse-grey ow, calling s the snow 'low against Tip of many last history, ermination, -dead forts wild land. Hope and his strong- er the men i him into . J. X score js glow ©f !p content 'THE LONE PATROL' 345 which belongs only to the people of the North in their own stampmg-grounds. He went ashore, and stayed the ntht Grln^e's Andtr '^ 5^''^^? ^^^^ toResoluSe kn^w hat t^range s Andree was fiymg from what he was bringing her to the great silence of the Mackenzie River """S^i^g ner to whilrthf Lw f '^'"^ ^^', ^'^ .^"^ ^°"°^^d h^^- He followed wnile the brief summer glowed to the full and faded • whilo h:t7oTerin"aVS^"^^"°^'°"^^^ ^-^ placeTo'fiVe^eed tnat glowed m all the glory of a Scotch heather hill Till fTroi/''"'V;?y^^ ^y the banks, and the shfnTng rankJo the golden-rod ht up the hillsides where the black crows flaDnert low and heavily and the wild bird calls thrUled tWn andTr through the dry tang of the pine-forests. At Fort sTmpson n it "nd^airth'e^S"" '^^"^"^^ ^^^"^"^ with'the'S m It, ana all the potatoes were in flower. Dick staved bor^ some days ; seeing the Sisters of Charity workhig in tWarSeT patches, and questioning the many breeds and Indfans who S^^Ma?te HP°'\i!'"ii'^ ^^"^^ ^^^^^ ^"d across to i^c la Marte. Here the Hudson Bay Store ^^tood in fbp of oll'TdTh';tT^^°^"^^ "^^^^ had^een'common'o'al and stmck rnl^,r r '"" T'T^^ '^' weather-beaten flanks ana struck colour from rock and sweeping prairie Then fhp LTh?rtolrrf "^r° f ""^^^" HafeSa'ns o^ri" •' w n 1 ^^^^on Bay factor with a question. ^ " M.n ',7°^ ^"1°"^ "^^^^ '^ '^■" «^id the factor, and laughed st,^ fh"^ drink something. They make th s abominable stuff themselves of hops and yeast and dried fruit and suSar The smell nearly kills a chap dead. But it GervS its purpSe You might let Macpherson know about it " Purpose. of .'^^''f/''^'^- . Two little detachments patrolled the whole of this Mackenzie River district as best they might and sXht sntr^ '^""^'. °" *^^ "^^^-^°«^ bushj and the tall slight saskatoons, and down by-ways the pea- vines were N^'r^F'^JT ^"^ ^^"^^^^ ^'^^^' blazed red and orange Sare fnd an Tn'^r^' "^^t " ^"""^ ^^^^ ^ constable and a ware Indian, paddling upstream with the sun in their eves Dick gave a greeting, and the Constable swung alongsTde^ Come and tiffin with me," he said. " It's about time " damper Ind^r' S'k*"^ ^^^^^"^^^ the'two Ite badTy-cooTed a^^Pffitb T^^ ^^^P' ^^^ freshly-caught fish with more appetite than they once had eaten in T nndnn hot-1- Urn Constable used the speech of Eton and Oxford and he ieLTJ"" \^'"* ^'' ^^^" ^* ^^S^"^- But all his hard-Wtten genial face showed contentment, and Dick recognised him ag f ^ ''I fi' I' 'I ! I ! t II t'tlrf! m :( ii 1 hj 4^ 1 ;» 346 THE LAW-BRINGERS one of those throw-backs to the restless days which bred Raleigh and Drake and so many more. He had caught his man near Fort Macphcrson, and two thousand miles of lonely country and a desperate furtive Indian stood between him and civilisation. But he said good-bye to Dick with a hearty grip and laughing eyes. " Good fortune to you," he said. " At what end of the earth will we meet next ? " At little Fort Norman in the Great Bear Lake district there was no word of Andree. Dick did not expect it, and he turned from the Enghsh Mission house to his long, silent trail again with certainty growing in him. Andree was seeking the white life. If she had wanted to hide among the Indians she would not have come so far north as this. The creatures of the wild were all about him as he made his night-camps now. The short-necked moose thumping down on their knees to nibble grass in the open places ; black bear snuffing down the hole of rabbit or musquash ; wolves howling on some edge of forest at the moon ; marten, wolverine ; fierce, tuft-eared lynx. He saw the spores of all and heard their cries. At the occa- sional Indian camps among the white birches and the deep spruces he went ashore, struggling in the little Chipewyan that he know to make interpretation to these Slave and Doe Rib Tribes. ^ Where the big Mission churches and schools, the trading- posts and log-houses of Fort Good Hope stood above its tall ramparts of clay banks Dick sought the Hudson Bay factor. He slept that night between lavend>^r-scented sheets with the memory of Grieg, played well by the factor's wife, in his ears. There had been silver on the table, too, and cut glass, and the rim of the Arctic Circle was fourteen miles away. Dick left Good Hope reluctantly. The two hundred odd miles separat- ing him from the next post promised so much of that solitude which he was daily finding more terrible. There was frost in the red mornings and the yellow evenings when he reached Arctic Red River ; and on the little iajs'ooi\s, where the duck were gathering to take flight, ice crisped 'soiiie- times as he drove his canoe in among the reeds to shoot mallard or merganser for his supper. The days were shortening rapidly ; but wild-flowers still bloomed among the grasses when he left the Mackenzie and turned up the Peel River to Fort Macpherson. Two days before he had found a drowned Indian caught in a snag and had towed him ashore and buried him. For a moment he had stood by the shallow grave scooped in the sand and stared down on the dead face before he covered it with an aching desire to know what was the use of it all ; of all the short, sharp days of man's life that pass so swiftly; of all the long eternities of nothingness that come after, id of the earth 'THE LONE PATROL* 347 th"''he ha/Inn"^ f Macpherson gave him more comfort you havean interpreter. WhafX.Xll' ''^'JyT^^, roughed i7the°taTbrL? '""^v '^'S ^" ''^'^' ^nd rapidly chiland the ca^ae^^^^ *^'i"T" °^ *^^ cheek and m 1 ■'^''?* '^ *" amateur attempt," he said rt^lv " li., '«?,''?■ has done the thing rather better" ' '^^ "^' »iet^"l-- "^^^^^ - t- S o;'tt^ ^a,f%y g^ a=^f .M;;nAX-tf s, :-:i s La^S must have known her pretty well, too." "^ here Saven? vou"T^t' "T' ^°".''''™ ^ ^o""? ^rahame him twoyearslgo." "' '^°™ ''^ "" ^ ^hipewyan with aJ(n?i^/ /''''• H"''"'' y"" •'"ar about that ? We were all who'i^eseTed "^ef'°ft last winter. Hunting aloucheu" wno a deserted his family, you know. And there was a got hta tat-^!V*"^^ ^*^"t*T' ' «"^' ™'-'th» wXes werr^rf^^ '^ y came across his bones in the spring. Thev to o"4,^rd ST °^"* ''^ r =*'^">^^ '- tte Comm'ssi^'n^i TO lorward back to his people. He came of »n«^ .t-^,, °. Scotland!"'' """" *' photographs of his folk aid his home°n Dick remembered how sure he had been of the baronet [ilia pfl'.. ! i H 1 ^^^^^^hB^^?^^^?^ ' 1 ^^^^^Brall ' ■ ^^ ^ 348 THE LAW-BRINGERS father ; and he guessed that the pocket-book would go into the family shrine along with perhaps a rusty claymore worn at Flodden, or a sword broken under Montrose. " Did he ever shoot a bear ? " he asked suddenly. " Why — was it Grahame or — yes, he did. The first winter he was here." Dick's hps curved on his pipe-stem into a smile. He had not forgotten the lad's eager words on the Athabaska, and somehow he felt curiously pleased that young Grahame had shot his bear. Hensham had a couple of gaily-ornamented birch canoes ready at day-break, with a Loucheux Indian of pronounced Japanese type squatted in the stern of each. " We go up the Peel," he explained. " Then a little river lets us right into the Fishing Lakes, Jelly and Good Boy will get us up in no time. Smells good, this morning, doesn't it ? " The air was still and vital with the frost, Across the foot-hills and the white flanks of the Rockies sunUght dazzled ; drawing sharp scents from distant clumps of aspen and tamarac and willow, all mixed with the pungent odours of spruce. In the swampy places over the river, and along the uplands duck were calhng and wild geese clanging in their haste to be gone, and Dick's foot broke a stray yellow dandelion from its stem as he sprang into the canoe. Hensham pointed his cane at it. " Look," he said. " In August, and a hundred miles within the Arctic Circle as the crow flies. What would English people think of that ? " "I've found wild-flowers in July two-fifty miles further on." " At Herschel ? " Hensham looked at him quickly. " You've been there, then ? Why — I guess — you're the man who picked that Yankee absconder out of his own whaler there about five years ago." " Six. It is a great solace to some of us to find we can win fame so easily." " I imagine it wpsn't easily. You can't treat a Yank like anyone else. He mostly has his own opinions. These canoes are pretty decent, aren't they ? The Indians won't use any- thing but birch bark. Our hardwood's good enough, too. Baskerville- -he's H.B. factor here — he has a pair of birch bark snow-shoes over a hundred years old. Right and left spread of frame, you know. I want them the worst way, but he won't part for any money." It was good to hear Hensham talk after the long silences filled with thoughts that hurt. And it was good to paddle smoothly with the strong stern-thrust to help, past banks of spruce and willow and scented Balm of Gilead where the i lid go into more worn first winter '.. He had 3aska, and ihame had rch canoes »ronounced little river Good Boy ig, doesn't \cros3 the it dazzled ; id tamarac of spruce, ae uplands laste to be elion from •ointed his iles within d English rther on." quickly. e the man vn whaler id we can Yank like 3se canoes t use any- lugh, too. jirch bark jft spread Y, but he g silences to paddle banks of rhere the 'THE LONE PATROL' 349 coloured leaves dropped into the water. The frost had killed out the last flies and mosquitoes ; but Hensham remembered them feelingly. " An absolutely devilish pest they are," he said. " How did you get on ? " ''Kept out in the stream all day, and made smudges at night. They were nothing to what I've known on the Hudson Bay side." " Tell me about it. What's the hunting like there ? We have the jumping deer here, you know. They're fine sport. And moose, of course, and sometimes musk-ox. But there's nothing much better than the jumping deer among the foot- hills. Grahame was crazy about them. Said they beat the Scotch deer-forests hollow." Dick had no time for thought until they came in the darken- ing evening of the short fall day to the Fishing Lakes, raising the Indian camp-fires one by one as they swung round the loops of the river. " Smell the fish ? " said Hensham. " They don't leave things to the imagination anv, do they ? What say ? Oh well ; they do get a few greyling and loche and others! But It s mostly white fish, A course. Jelly "—he turned to the Loucheux behind him—" drive in there where the camp seems biggest. They're sure to have some chiefs among them. And you go nght ahead and ask what you want to know, Heriot. Jelly will put you through. And you can trust 'em as far as you can size 'em up. They're decent fellows. Never have any trouble with them. Christians, too. They all carry around Bibles in their own language." " Do you call that a recommendation," said Dick, amused ; and he stepped out. looking round him with all the keen delight of his artist blood. Through the colourless evening the big camp-fires blazed strongly ; shooting their light among the little dingy tepees and the spreading spruces and across the clearing to the lip of the grey low lake. In the clearings stood great scaffoldings of birch poles, gridironed over the top. In dark, half-seen knots by the lake stooped the Indian women, spHtting the fish, and running a sharp-pointed stick through the tails, one after the other. PresejUly a shapeless figure detached herself from the bulk ; crossed the bars of light that pricked out for a momenc the high-cheeked copper-yellow face and the black stiff hair ; crossed to a scaffold, and hung her armful of sticks in a row along the gridiron. Then noiselessly she turned and went back to her work. The men had done their share when they drew the last nets to land an hour ago. They smoked now, lounging round the fires, and sucking the fish-bones of their supper. Through I ft ■ ''I p m J' I i i ,1 f! I L 'I f>' i / frr r*! ■*« ft ,'V '( 350 THE LAW-BRINGERS i^^viJ^Z'tSn'^HeZ '''''' '"'r" information mominE. fhev've m,^., ^ 'i "^ ^"'f *= ramrods by " Whv-thev'^dn^r"'^ '/"^Z ""*^''' ^°™' themselves." They ca'che't^'^tt" Indtrn'^bacftoifT r ^°'^• can p.ir.ch holes in the icTandTt .„ *:, Anyhow, they Cot a« nevi yet ? " ® ' ^"""^ ™"* '* *^^''"' P^^ed. EnghV*°^'l?i^;r.Ta fewE "'^" ">'^'' ^P-'' ^ "^^ great deal of intuWoT and in Y ^flu'maux words and a very stage he was to olav hit fijf ^ ''"''' .""^"^ ^^ ^""^ °° ^^ch She had gone to the Chc oil™/'* "ll*'' '^'^"^^'^ ^'"^'^■ River where its manvn?. If " ' e mighty Mackenzie Esquima^^i'siXySs'anTh •H.l^" "'^*^''- ^0 t^^ "Now what in thf / ^°'' '""'d fieir snow igloes. said Sl^* '° *^" "^""^ '^"'"d have taken her there ? " not s^^kl^^if"' ''"'' •'"^«y- '-^-^ -^ - "«>^ while he would neither Indian nor E^uS* Tf'^f*?,''!,"'"^''^^'^ ^ith rn"e:s;^.&erHi'j Is^ei^K^r^i: seas of ^nte Dick's cW 1, h°' '',°"'' ''^i°"Sl> those smoking An^.e migh1|"S!'lS^\T,^,1So^^^^^^^^^^ wS^^aTsSLTS^dno^Tonri ^"""-^ '"f^* to run his quarry down Lb »h°^!\-^"'*?''° =^™8= ^^ire Heknocked\s'^4rtrn=d%tTup''lft'^^^ Hers^he b"efrthet"'"ca^^ ""''• . ^'"' ' ™"nto ^^-X-^hl^^ n>-h«ramr ?^os'° ^^ to'^S^at^Kvlouty-'-ee-rr^^^ 'THE LONE PATROL 351 right away to-night, are you ? " He laughed. " Leave it a tl^'Jr.VJu^l J"^ '^' ^^y- I «^^t Anderson down 4S the mail after the boat came in. You'll meet him. and he cin hkely give you some information." " Ah I Perhaps he can." . Ji"? ^^^Iji}^""^,' ^°°^^"S '■°"°d on the amber and scarlet and the cold black of the night where the dark figures moved iTf. f^l^' ^"^y ^°™^" brought that strange sense If hor^^ hfe to this wild nature which no camp of men ever bri^s Dick had noticed this very often before, and the fact struck him again forcibly. A quiver of pain passed across hfs face before he turned to answer Hensham's next question For he was remembering Jennifer sewing on the d^eck of the river- steamer down the Athabaska. fj i I I ■■■! CHAPTER XX. I. I " YOU MEAN TO DO IT ? " Across the bare rock of Herschel Island in the Arctic Ocean the wind from the Pole blew a gale. For to the whalers Herschel was known famiharly as " the blow-hole," and through all the storm-bitten twelve miles of it neither tree nor shrub dared raise its head, though the long grasses waved over it in the summer and the wild-llowers bloomed. In the httle settlement of white men and Esquimaux which crouched on the sand-spit round Pauhne Cove every door was barred and every window made taut against the blast roaring down over the shoulder of the low hill behind. Out in the land-locked bay— the safest harbour all along the Coast— —the riding-lights of four of the whaling-fleet swayed and shuddered, driven hard against their moorings, and three short miles away the black humps of the mainland mountains showed htfully as the Northern Lights flickered up and fell back. The low, strong log-and-skin huts of the KogmoUock tribe of Esquimaux on the island were dark blots only, hke tortoises asleep. The store-houses of the whaling-companies were dark, and in the half-dozen log huts used by occasional officers of the whahng ships when they chose to hve ashore, no life showed. Except for the riding-hghts in the Bay and the glow from the windows of the Royal North-West Mounted Pohce Barracks, Herschel Island might well have been a dead thing, accursed and lonely between the frozen Pole and the naked shore. But the life-light of the daring men burned bright there ; of the whalers who follow their strike by berg and floe through the teeth of the harsh salt wind and the smoky spume that it brings, and of the Pohce of Canada, who plant their flag some four thousand miles north of its birth-place and sit down under it to dispense the law of God and of men with all the wit they may. Dick turned from the window in Baxter's small private room and came back to warm his hands nt the stove where the driftwood shone umber and sky-blue and salty purple. He had been at the Island a fortnight, and he had learned some of Arctic Ocean the whalers and through ;e nor shrub 3d over it in maux which ry door was )Iast roaring Out in the the Coast — swayed and i three short ains showed ell back, ollock tribe ke tortoises 3 were dark, 1 officers of life showed. )w from the e Barracks, g, accursed ihore. But ;re ; of the hrough the me that it r flag some iown under tie wit they all private : where the arple. He led some of • YOU MEAN TO DO IT ? ' 353 the things which he had come for. And his knowledge kenf to"iSa' ' wfh%'r r ' '°^ '"; ^r^^^'' '' -nS^dS to inertia With Selkirk, one of the two constables under Baxter at the detachment, he had made a long and exhaustive t'^Lnd theT h' the Esquimaux on Baillie Isfand and b'ond AnrW T T ""'^ ^^""'^ ^ ^^^ ^^'^y f^^ts about Grange's nn ?r Ju"" i-^q^'^^aux of the Nunatalmute tribe-the bold and honest hunters and trappers of the mainland-had brought her across Mackenzie Bay, and there she had joined a famllv party going east in one of the great deep-sea Ss where n Francisco this year, and would they hJve taken her aboaS supposing they were ? " y ^ ^<^^^n ner aooard Baxter considered. wii-'Ji'^''^'' ^^/u ^''^^' ^^P*^^" Ormundsen. He's got his wife hnH 1 T\ ^f ^^ ^f S°^"S ^"* '^ he took whales He had agaii" C of r"' ^"^ t^' ' F^^S^^y ' ^^d^'t i^t^^d wfnterin' agam. Closely was master of her and a bad lot He'd take Andree just to give us trouble. The ' Fanny ' reckoned toto out, but she's back. Got no whales, and herLster persuadf^^ the men to try another season. They're losin' money an' they 11 keep on losin' it, I guess. Likely some T^em wHl desert this winter, an' we'll have to hunt 'em AnTfhLn there's the ' Rocket.' She aimed to go out buT I guess ack Scott 11 bring her back. He's a Yank, and he'll ftick at^t till he has to hammer his way home through ice I Andree Sr'v WoK h'f"^' ''''^'•' *^^^^'" ^^ ^ows.'lremembe?Ser : ?ars^l^n ^f'^'^y^'"' t^^^e. She had all the place by the ears then. A wild young devil she was, always. That's the only four as wintered here last year." T' " ^\L f^,"^ ^^ Andree has gone out on any of those boats I ve got half a continent to cover before I can^get at her '' Sure. And you hkely haven't got her then." roSed L nf "^^'^ T\ I^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^a« strongly Andree.^ ' ^^ ^^'^ '""^^ "^'^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ Gran/e's " A chap wrote su'thin' about ' There's never a law of God or man runs north of Fifty-three.' " said Baxter. - I guess woMi h. ^ ^* ?u^^*^' "^^'^h i^ ^h^ P°le itself, ain't it, why- runs ttflvT ^^T "^\' ^"^^y- I ^^^k°" °"^ juri diction Bdt\' hv Yf f]^''^^''^; -^ ^'""^ ^^"'* g^t °" the far side of r>riTiSii ia\v in these parts. soiftrl^nH P^*'°^ ""T^^l """"^ *^° hundred and fifty miles south, and as many hundreds east as he could go. Alaskan 4 f 1 . p 1^ ■! I I* HI I W 354 THE LAW-BRINGERS territory touched it on the west ; but he had no objection to including all the northern latitude there was. Dick smiled. This unemotional sanguine temperament was exactly the stuff needed for Herschel. " What have you done with yourself these two vears Baxter ? " he asked. ^ " Why— I reckon they ain't been so long as I thought. There are the patrols up to Macpherson and around to Kitti- gazuit, and I went a cruise on the ' Janet ' last year, after whales. Saw a lot o' country and Esquimaux that were new, and got a lot o' new locahties fixed in my head. I've been mapping them out in case they're ever wanted. We were over a hundred miles north of the magnetic pole that time, and I tell you right here that the discipline a good master can keep on a whaler isn't far short o' that on a man-o'-war. Then there's the shootin' in spring. Brayne and I had a solid week this year, and I guess we could have got thousands o' duck an' crane an' geese if we'd wanted. There's all the wood to haul from the mainland, for we can't get enough coal in by steamer. An' there are the customs to collect from the whalers, an' rows to kick up if they're caught givin' drink to the natives, or doin' any else that they shouldn't. An' once in a while we have a prisoner, though the Esquimaux don't give much trouble. There was the whaleboat I bought from off the Karnac last year, too. We stove her in on a rock, an' she took a lot o' tmkerin' to patch. An' — oh, well, I guess we keep busy, one way an' another." Dick nodded. Baxter had had the wisdom to count the centre of the world from where his own feet stood instead of from some three or four thousand miles to the southward. That stolid nature of his brought its own compensation. Two years of Herschel Island would have driven Dick insane. " But you won't be sorry to be going out in the summer ? " he asked. " \Yhy—l guess not." Baxter jerked his thumb at a photograph on the wall near the stove. " That's what's waitin' for me outside," he said. Dick looked at the photograph with lazy interest. It showed a homely face of about average intelligence and amiabihty. But Baxter's voice was deep with an immense pride and reverence. " Ah ! " he said. " I shouldn't leave her too long. Sergeant, or jou'll find some other fellow has rnn off with her." " Not much." Baxter accepted the comphment with abashed delight. " Why, she says " he thrust his hand into his tunic, drew it away again, and eri:ined nil over his kindly weather-beaten face. '^She'll wait," he said. " I'm not afraid o' losing my Miralma. Why, she writes every week. ) objection to Dick smiled. ictly the stuff ; two years, s I thought, and to Kitti- , after whales, new, and got een mapping ^er a hundred tell you right on a whaler I there's the ek this year, an' crane an' aul from the earner. An' , an' rows to ves, or doin' le we have a uch trouble. Karnac last :ook a lot o' 3p busy, one o count the iood instead i southward, ation. Two insane, summer ? " humb at a hai's what's interest. It ligence and an immense ig, Sergeant, ler." iment with st his hand all over his said. " I'm every week. * YOU MEAN TO DO IT ? ' Iot?fo' he^.'TTd/ he^r^aKt'^^'r^ ^^^^^ ^"' ' --^^s andldoaloto'tSkinluDhere S^' ^ "" ^^1?^^"^ ^^«"t- young fellows. a^'fh^^X'^^^^^ ., What do you think about ? " as' .d Dick curion.Iv ' •• Ahl-mA-^^lZ^X*^'''? ^ y^'y eood thing, either." Sergeant." ^' ''"""""^ ^8a.n, " You are not a sophist, '• nSvTn„f rn''"" "°' '='"'"'y <^''rtain what that is." thougi; f.y"" ^"^^ y™ "^^"^ '^'^y be. Have you any gods, MirataaTays"lWot7o hf" r^^'t' *''='* *°o- ^V gpVe& toSl'd---h-S^-S^,-re€ wi;;/ft^(^i"^;:,- — ^^^^^^ - corr. us _, If you think as she ever tried to get me " r wa. ?h,"„'!;- ™ '"""'}*■ ™" ""'*"=»• attraction. Lilce to like R. thmking more of myself than of you just then " bafkS The'wg" lfair^"arP'^*"^. ^ ''^""^ ea^/body Rung barrel." mcklooked ^^^Z^n^ !rrons"' Tr"."^^'"°" ^nd ^IS^S^ ""^^ «rt1reTaSZl- Ja'rirheSf "E?sSF--- ^^^^^^^^^ - S It"- They'r: a""handy"pai?"^"' ""^ ''"'""^ ^ shovel-hlndle. " '^^''y ''='™ '° be- Do you know what else I've been JllI i u Wi '» -i J' ij? lbCKI.JS»& - '.iC 356 THE LAW-BRINGERS thinkin' ? What my Miralma calls God is not mighty unlike what I call conscience." " Really ? Not the conscience you have to live with all the year round ? " Why, now ; I guess it's got to be. Conscience is a kind o' standard we got to measure up to whether we like it or not. I learned at school — an' it stuck, someway — that the first Edward of England made the yard-measure the length o' his own arm. And it stayed put at that. Well, the measure o' right is the standard o' Miralma's God's arm, I reckon. And that stays put. We can't monkey any over measurin' cloth. That^s a set standard. It don't change because we want a bit o' give an' take sometimes. It stays pui. And we can't monkey any with the standard of our conscience. A man knows right enough what he's got to measure up against. He's got the whole three feet of it inside of him." " And supposing he has — what then ? " " Why — why ; any ordinary decent man don't generally go doing what he knows he hadn't ought to do." " How old are you, Baxter ? " " Forty-two, sir." • Occasionally Baxter forgot the rank which man makes in presence of the rank which birth makes. Dick looked at him through half-shut eyes. " Seven years older than I am," he said, slowly. " You're a lucky man, Sergeant." Baxter's eyes went back to the plain-faced woman on the wall. " My ! I reckon I know that," he said softly. Dick sprang up impatiently, and went over to the window, staring out on the pale wild night where the lights fluttered! Even in the sheltered bay the sea heaved in great masses hke ebony, and the wind brought the steady boom of its crashing on the outer rocks. A speck of light Hke a firefly showed once beyond the harbour mouth, showed again, and Dick spoke. " Here's Jack Scott walking the ' Rocket ' home, Baxter." "What?" Baxter came h, riedly to his elbow. "Why, it is a boat, sure enough. And I guess it's Scott. There ain't too many men would try to make that passage to-night. Eh ? She's a five-forty-ton steamer, twin propeller, is the 'Rocket,' and maybe she'll get in, and maybe she won't. If she catches one oi those big seas on her she'll go down like a nail under a punch. But she Ukely had to come. The ice'd be chasing her off the grounds, and Scott won't fool around doing nothing." Dick gave no answer. He was watchinj? that li^ht whirh flared skyward and sank and struggled up again like the fluctuat- ing pulse of a sick man. I represented forty or more human ij III ; generally go •YOU MEAN TO DO IT?' 357 lives, and one of those lives might be Grange's Andree That thought quickened the desire for capture in him and quickened str'^r^P ' n"- ';:PP°^^ ^"^^^^ --^^ abJarShTw would wan t^ sr/h.. "'' ^' ^S^ ''^" ^'' ^^'^^^' ^"d he did not want to see that agam. He could not think of Andree as o7Jhf/''T."'^? ^°', T'^'y- ^' ^°»ld not think of it Ra?he? l^breasw^ t ^t' 1°'"^ ^"^.^^^"^ ^P^^^ '^^'^ ^^ ^hink o \aLrJ:l ^ ■ /^"S^""S' w^th her curls blown out and her long coat wrapped round her. There were the same reckless elements m her as m himself. She would defy him -or she would fling herself on him in her all-forgetting Le But si e would not cry to him for mercy. He dLd not tWnk of that He watched the light die and leap up again and pitch side- ^e^.liri'^tS^Z^^^^ of^belfef fhat it w^fAr^lt Blxtt'spoSn^ ' "'^""' thereagainst the storm. that^D^ntT He'! *^" 'f^^ket,' safe enough. See her clear " vT?^ g°f board her with you in the morning, Sergeant ? " Tf . ^nl 1 W^^y-were you thinkin' he might have Andree ? It s one chance in a hundred, Heriot " ' l.Z^?!'V^^\^^''}- " '^^ ^^"t out intending to board a that did'n'tl^ ''- /"^ '!"''''$ "°* ^^ "^«^^ than^three or four on the RoS/ '^ '"''''"'■ ^""''^ '' ^ S°°^ ^^^"^^ *h^^ ^he's I '^nlf 'j^^lV^'''^}l Anything is possible in this world, Lt h.r ..h. J H* vt"^^ y°" ^^«"g' Ke"ot. Maybe I can tt ^hTn^lLTubirS^^^ "^'^^ ^°"^^ ^^ ^^^^- ^^- ^°^"' An^dS fix? amuse'd hL"^' ^^'"^^^^^ ^" ^^^^ '^ ^^^^'^ DublLVr°"l!^c^-H *^f A^'i* *^"^" ^"^^^^ ^^^^ objected to SM l,T;.s n ' • "^^J^.y^" ^^"'^ g^* h^^ ashore. Sergeant. TmuJlnJ ""^ '^"^^^^'^S up your sleeve. If she's there. some wfy.'' ^' ^°" ^^"'^ ^^'^' ^°^ ^^^' '^^ g^^s off in hefrnZ7^^^^' ^""^ ^^S^nce the two watched the ' Rocket ' beat near and nearer until she came to anchor at last ridin? heavily against the white foam along the harbour aws"^ Then Dick went to bed. But he did not sleep well A dozen times he woke to hear the thunder of the wind and tht gurgling snores of Baxter in the other bed nrross n,e room f^ont dot"\''"^r^^"' *^^ room oppo-site and tried the of tl e w?nd f '* shuddered and groaned under the smite of the wmd. and many times he expected the storm-window 358 THE LAW-BRINGERS 1 II il! ■If- . I I ~ ft*- to be driven in. Mingled with his uneasy dreams were the aces he knew best. Jennifer, now laughing, now cryTng now nTs' tl^e^'Z) Tempest stern anlalo^f, unbeS^'e": iLw^L^ w?th ^"'""''k*'^"- '^"^'""' warm-lipped and giowmg with .V:. luvv:, ,-Hchmg eager hands to him. lie woke once with the strun^e breathless sensation of a kiss stiSg kv "^UU T""- '^" ^'?.^ ^"""P^"S along his veins. Then Se lay still, staring on the darkness, and thinking his bitter accept his friendship any more. These two whom he loved had chosen to be nothing to him. Tt was only Andree who held hira before pride or conscir ice or anything else. Only AndJe^ wouirh ''"^.V ° "^l^ ^ "F ^^^ ^^^ ^"d was into his Sds ^ h: Slcnf.? n%V\ ^l^ ^" ^^^ ^^^" ^^"^1 to her, merd^ And thon .""i! ^'' ^°// ^^^ ^"'^ ^ g^^^*^^ thing than that. And then with a sudden stab came the thought • Was her love for him still the chief thing in her life ? A^chiil of dread ran along his body to think that perhaps it vvas not In the knew thJ.°l"^^'"i!f^K*' "^^° " ^^"'^ -^" ^-'^ weakest Dck ceased fnlo r"^"^ 5' '"^^ P^^" *° ^"°^ that Andree had and for tI f • ?1^^' heart-sick with desire for Jennifer T?iev h J h P''*/ """^^^'y ^'^^ ^'"^^d ^^"^ ^hat he Wanted. reiuk,nn o^ rr °° 1°^^' ?° P"^" ^°^ ^^"^ • ^^^ in a savage revulsion of feehng the whole of him cried out for somethinjr rndtru'lVrn."^^"', '"f 1^" °"" ''"'■ P^^^ ^" ^--« -"SS hhn wbpfh! r ^^^^"^^tions : something which would love knd .n^/f>. were good or evil, whether he were cruel or il// ,s°"^ething which just gave, demanding none of those self-torturing struggles from him. ^ wh^n'^fh??"^ ^'k "^ ^^"^ doggedly through the next morning, when the grey bay tossed restlessly under the clear sky and Baxter went out in the whaleboat with Selkirk and a couple aL miTAT '° the 'Rocket.' Dick helped Brayne wash up lurcoJLu!%'^'^^ '^°'^^- ^^^^ ^^ P"t on the close-sewn do;r;;\Sori^^" '" ^^' ^°^"°"°^^ -^-- -^ --t his^v^r' M °^ *^^ "1". • **".^^^^ ^' ^^°°d ^t once and reddened ins eyes He opened his chest to it, walking fast, and glancing round him with those keen eyes which missed so Httle ^ ^ Outside their low banked-up huts a few Esquimaux were moving with the fur-lined held-covering thror^ack fTom their coarse black hair, tonsured like a monk's and their good-natured flat greasy faces. They had gone into the r ToTtsTad tho f"^\^^.^lT '^-^"^ '^'' evening^or their outer suit fh fl "! ^^^^.bJow^^g in the wind. On the inner suit the hair was turned next the skip Tn t>^° -tor- o* th- onTof fh^'^'^^ T^^"""^ Navigation Companv som'e hands off one of the whalers were bringing out beams and joists and ■i'}' 'YOU MEAN TO DO IT?' 359 jams were the w crying, now abending even m-lipped and im. He woke I kiss stinging ins. Then he ing his bitter est would not liom he loved idree who held Only Andree lis hands if he to her, merci- j than that. ?ht : Was her chill of dread not. In the veakest, Dick ; Andree had e for Jennifer it he wanted, i in a savage or something vs and creeds ti would love tvere cruel or lone of those jxt morning, lear sky and and a couple yne wash up le close-sewn m and went md reddened and glancing tie. limaux were 1 back from 3, and their e into their r their outer )n the inner store of the le hands off i joists and planed timber for the roofing-in of their vessel. Dick stopped a little while to watch them. Hard-sinewed men, the most of them ; with their loose clothes flapping, and their untamed faces ruddy, and their bright eyes with that far-seeing wildness in them as though they listened still to the call of their lover the sea. They spoke Uttle and sullenly, and he guessed them to be from the ' Fanny ' ; foremast hands who had " signed on bone," and who, because there were no whales and conse- quently no bone, were going deeper in debt to the schooner every day. Dick remembered Baxter's suspicion that some of them would try to desert. And, looking at them, he believed it. In the harbour the boats still rocked and groaned at their hawsers with the tug of the after-swell. The ' Rocket ' drew deeper than any other there ; but she, like the rest, was bluff and broad of beam and fiat of keel, so that the ice might lift her and not crush her in its mighty grip. Naked and mournful they looked with their bare poles stabbing the sky and their sheets singing in the wind. The white shaving of smoke from the ' Rocket's ' stack showed that she had not chosen her winter quarters yet, and as Dick watched her, Baxter's boat dropped away from her side and drove shore- ward with the men swinging low to the oars. Dick went down to the very lip of the water and looked. There was no woman in the boat. But that told nothing. It was not Baxter who was to take Grange's Andree from her stronghold. The boat swung near, dipping deep in the restless swell. Baxter stepped out, answering the question in Dick's eyes, " She's there," he said briefly. Then he took Dick a few steps aside. " She's there," he said again, and his voice was uneven. " Heriot, you never told me she'd turned out the lovely thing she is. I remember her thin and brown, and even then — Well, she's got them all crazy for her, of course. And they can't do anything with her, not a man of 'em. She goes around with a knife in her belt, and they dassent touch her. Have it into them like light, she would, and they know it. My 1 And that makes them the crazier. She is a beauty, and this is a bitter cruel thing you've got to do, Heriot. A bitter cruel thing." Dick smiled a little. He knew so well that wild animal indifference and temper and defiance in Andree. And she carried a knife, did she ? Would she try to use it on him, or would she come to him as before, with her hands out and the gladness in her eyes ? " Jack Scott's clean off his head," said Baxter. " He wanted to take her out the worst wa'^'^ but the ice caught hira. I'll go along with you now, Heriot, for she'll be a handful of herself if she don't want to come, and I wouldn't answer for i 'II 1i ' I ' ! P!»l 360 THE LAW-BRINGERS out liirt n *"" '"™ ^""^at for it. You watch out, Dick. One can raise out most fellows on \ 1,1. n u I man in love is the devil to meddrwlth " ""■ ■""' ^ caWrdotTer'y^xte'r'sloul'j ""^"i "^ P^'^^^'' '" ='* *he r t — u^frH?^ ^o'^ any man," she cried ^ "^'^ "°^ ^° ^^^^^^ ^^r out STh'e'S'aT'lni;!''' ^"^^^^ ' " ^^^^ ^^k, and stepped colour su'dde%'stru^cktoy??r"^^^^^^^^^ ^J^ ^^ move, but his eyes did not leave Andree n.H ^^f *^^ "^^^ he had come for ? Did she know f ^ '^^ ^"°^ ^^^* Dick ! " she screamed sharply. " Dick ! " tahl^^. ^f- ^'' ^°°* ^."^ *^^ *"^"^°^ and hurled herself across the ^n^^"^^^:^ --^ ^^^ -PS andrtfe^^r he? sSr"^^* ^^^ ^-aching arms and hfted her down, holding "Steady," he said. "Steady. Andree." -out his own voice was not stead v m^^- 0+ ^i,- -uM^h. forget what she, in h'er1:St^br„d'o^! S^ S^et faceXoTed'bT'pa^^s^r °' *^ '^"'^ -"■ ^^^ "- ^^ uniform?" quietly. Don t you see his Dick had stooped his head down to Andree •• §h ^oui -^"^Annf ^'r '°^^ ^°^' ^^^^^'^ ? " he asked. " I sup^or ' Mafc-lnew if 'w ' ^fu '^°"^'^" i-patiently. it was you 1 " ""^"^ ^^ ^^^^ *^ ^"^ me. And 'YOU MEAN TO DO IT? 361 hef^.pJ?;"^^^'^, 'u *^^* light-hearted spirit which never let mv shin^airM " ''' '"'^ '''^^^- " ^^^'' "^Y Passengcr aboard ^fVere^' it ZZ ' '"'" '''■ ^"^^^^^^ed with. Clet away out cent for vou or . / ^^tizen, and I don't care a cold behinntTT"! J«"' ' '^^"" "^ that damned law of yours Dick h .ir ? ^ '^ ' ■^'- ^^* ''^^^y 0"t of hero I " ^ •'Leave hi rr.' '^c!"^""^' ^"^^^^^ ^^^^^'y ^^^^^ind him. stood For™ nvT' ^"^S^'^^t' he said; and Baxter under- wlnch Baxters '^^«°"^-^^a,so"« which were beyond those Scott'.' '^ h^s round of duties, and looked afte; Andree. She obeyed Dick implicitly, with a frank delight more than he felt when he one night expressed a belief that Andree would probably knife Selkirk directly as she had done ;; Did she tell you she'd killed Ogilvie ? " said Dick sharply. byre. Last night. He cheeked her. she said an' she vasn t goin' to stand it. Wonderful what she takes from you '' He raised himself, looking keenly at Dick. " If one could give a chap a warnin'," he began. we'irn'lfH'''''^V i/^'""^'' ^"""^ "^^^ ^''''^' "Selkirk tells me we 11 a 1 be on half-rations directly. Is that so ? " \V,.MM, ~ .1'''''' •''■^ ^°"'' bo^ts in that didn't mean to winter. We U have a!! we want of llsh and seal-meat, o' course, but we're I <0f::m ' ». f 1 * It ' 1 III 1 r;i:ii T' ■* ' 1 fi liali ■wn mi 1 s7 1 - • I 364 THE LAW-BRINGERS :x. going to suffer in the groceries. And I've got to keep a reserve, you know. The kiddies would peter out in a week if we fed them with oil and meat only. They've ot too accustomed to flour and sugar and tea now." "I'm afraid I'll have to beg enough to carry me to Macpherson. I fancy we should get off in a couple of days now. Yes. I'll be glad. Damned glad. I want to be doing something." ^ He went out with a restlessness which he rarely showed and followed Andree down to Ek-ki-do's igloo, where she went daily to play with the children. It was not needful to put Andree under restraint. Her love for him was the chain which bound her fast, and he knew it. He had had reason to know it more acutely than ever during these past weeks. Outside an earth-and- timber shaft Dick dropped on his knees, and crawled painfully through an odorous darkness into a tmy room where he could not stand upright and across to a larger one where Andree rolled with a couple of Kogmollock babies among the deerskin robes on the little platform which ran round the walls. The very dim light came through a piece of transparent yellow seal-bladder stretched across a gap in the roof, and the whole place was hot and extremely rank with oil and fish-smells. But Andree was laughing in merry peals of joy among the babies, while the little fat mother sat on the floor, stitching neatly at a deer-skin tunic. "Hallo, Andree," said Dick, and stood up as Andree tumbled the chuckhng bundles aside and pushed her curls back. Dick, she cried. "It is that I will have a deer-skin suit, moi. Je ne peux to mush in a skirt, and I will not 1 will have a parka and all else— comme 9a. Like to Mrs Ek-ki-do. And we will have the seal-skin boots, my Dick and I will chew them pour vous when that they do get too " You will what ? " Chew them." Andree pointed to Mrs Ek-ki-do " She does chew her husband's boots tous les jours— all round the sole— to keep them soft. And my teeth are all so good as "I know. You bit me once. I will see about the clothes Andree, because I have been thinking that we will need something of the kind. And I will chew my own boots if it's necessary, thank you. But I fancy it won't be. It is time to come back to barracks, Andree." " But kiss this UU the once. She is so dear," said Andree and lifted the black-eyed, broad-faced little bundle with her strong young grace. Dick's eyes contracted. Among children Grange's Andree was at her very sweetest— until she tired of them. )t to keep a ut in a week 3y've ^ot too :arry me to uple of days, t to be doing showed, and he went daily ) put Andree which bound inow it more pped on his )us darkness it and across Kogmollock tform which e through a led across a d extremely laughing in e fat mother ic. as Andree r curls back, a deer-skin I will not. .ike to Mrs. 5, my Dick, do get too -do. " She 1 round the so good as the clothes, ! will need boots if it's It is time aid Andree, le with her :e's Andree YOU MEAN TO DO IT? 365 Of Mi\t:-s"b:bi^J^''"' " ^'^^P P^"^°"- " ^° -* -y to me She was out of the igloo and across the beach before Dick could follow her. and in the barrack-kitchen he found her quarrelhng heatedly with Brayne. But that incident in Mrs Ek-ki-do s Igloo haunted him for some days. For many years f^ Be h^r^d'^' ''w'^K^'"^'"" Nietszche-s new commandment r.n^ ^ 'u- ^"*' ^f ^""'^ °^ t^^ irrationalism which he recognised, his strength there was always hkely to be shaken at the unexpected call on it. ^ snaken Ten days later came Dick's last night at Herschel, and he felt a curious and uneasy reluctance at leaving it All the ti^TZ"" ?' ^^^ been on the wind-swept plateaS with Brayne and Selkirk sawing out the great blocks of ice from the fresh- water lake for storage in the ice-house until summer came and his last sight of the dead white Polar sea from it hadTrought him down shivering with more than cold. For the first time he had a distinct dread of this long journey which ^s surely hkely to be no worse than man? ^ihich he had taken fln?f^ *^^ Stove in Baxter's little room Andree was putting floats on a small net with which she intended to catch fish in the Mackenzie. She sang as she worked, and her face was lit with anticipation. Dick knew that ou himself only the product of a refined civilisation, lay the horrors of that anticipa- tion. Andree never attempted to realise a thing until sh-- came to it, and se'dom then. She would never have run irom^ justice If the breed who had brought her word of something W^f? i °?''^ '^'?- ^^^^ ""^t ""Sed it, for she had quite forgotten the fear which possessed her at the time of the trial, bhe forgot quickly as an animal does, and far more ^""1?? f, y* ^^'^^^se her eager ignorant mind always flung ih. 1 if J T ?' ""T^ "^"^ ^''^^- This long mush through the half-dark of an A.ctic winter, with only Dick besid< her .Lltu'''''^} ^^^u' c r"^^ ^^ something new and strange and altogether delighaful. ^ " Beca-bec ; et toi, et moi," she hummed Then she glanced up. " Je me ^■ r . votre couteau, Dick," she cried mind ? T. ^c Dier I did myself cut with it, too know what make happm to me with Maktuk tms v/nen we go ^o .hoot seals round the blow-hole ? mu. I cold, and +he parka collar would not keep up face. And Maktvik he did make spit cu the two aidp^ ;in,i " You no Do you afternoon It was so round my 366 THE LAW-BRINGERS 'm :n hold them togezzer. Dieu I They freeze like one dans un moment. And they had to hold me the fire over to melt me when I come back, I did laugh." Baxter laughed also, going on with his careful setting-out of native births, deaths, and marriages ; his tabulation of the tonnage, names of officers, and of boats in the Bay • his details of patrols, of the few white men hunting or prospecting along the Arctic, and of the state of health and contentment of the settlement. All these data were to go south with Dick and also a httle package of letters and native carvings for Baxter's " I guess they know a thing or two," he said " And I guess reports are a mighty different thing to what they must ha been at Herschel before the missionaries and us came alone Drinkm . an all sorts o' rows with the whalers, an' no law or religion anywhere at all. And now those Kogmollocks hold their services among themselves regular, and every boat's crew has to be aboard by ten o'clock, and no drinkin' allowed This sort o thing s a satisfaction to a man. I reckon " "Exactly. And so is the knowledge that we ultimately convert the heathen by killing them out. There are about one hundred and twenty Kogmollocks now. aren't there ? And much the same of Nunatalmutes ? A few years ago there were four hundred Kogmollocks. Oh, we will convert them all right, Baxter, for that is the way in which we conquer our territories. We can't do much with the Arctic when we get It all to ourselves without a native left to it. But we will get it. That IS the glory of Empire. And we can't do without Empire. " But it is better for them to be converted " beean Baxter vaguely. ^ '• Indubitably. Perhaps the Esquimaux consider measles and whooping cough rather drastic missionaries. But that '^^""l ?•'''" ^^f^' o^^. ?° °"^ ^^^*- '^e ^^^^ always said so. mat time does Selkirk expect to start in the morning " Selkirk was taking the pohce dog-team up to Fort Mac- pherson for supplies, if any could be spared from there- and Dick, with his long strong sled and specially-picked line of huskies, expected to keep pace with him so far. For he was an expert musher. and Andree was unusually strong for a '' D'rectly after breakfast. You ought to make Macpherson m ten or eleven sleeps. I guess. Likely you'll put in a day or two there ? ■> ir j "Not longer than necessary to get loaded up again— unless Andree happens to be fagged at all." He broke off, and both men looked at Grange's Andree where she sat on the Polar bear rug with the fire from the one dans un T to melt me il setting-out ilation of the y ; his details meeting along tment of the th Dick, and i for Baxter's id. " And I it they must 3 came along. , an' no law Kogmollocks every boat's kin' allowed. 1." e ultimately re are about ren't there ? V years ago will convert 1 we conquer tic when we But we will t do without " began der measles . But that ^ays said so. lorning." » Fort Mac- :rom there ; -picked line For he was trong for a Macpherson ut in a day up again — je's Andree re from the •YOU. MEAN TO DO IT?' 367 busy hlnl."''"""^ °° '"'■''"™ °™' •=»<='=''» and her slender, " Dans les prisons dcs Nantes " An^ree.'^'' ^''^ '^''' "°' altogether, nor even in chief, for ;. fijf ) i m li i» tt \ CHAPTER XXI. I \ i h^. THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE." The thin-gnawed rind of a red sun showed just above the horizon in the South. It hfted httle higher in these days of mid-winter, and the strange pallor of a long night full of the silky swishing and the colourless gleam of the Northern Lights possessed the world for all but three hours daily. Andree stopped in the trail and turned to look at that red curve before it dropped again. She could look straight into it without blinking, and Dick watched her as she stood, drawn to her full height, with the hood pushed back from her face. The world was colourless, motionless, soundless. In a little while their breath would begin to crackle with the frost as it had done last night. Just now the two, heated through a long march without a pause, were glad to stand a moment to take breath again. In the hues the huskies leaned forward, ears pricked and tongues dripping. To the south a yellow snow-cloud banked up towards the zenith. Against the wide sweep of snow Andree's tall young figure stood lithe and vigorous, instinct with life. i3ut her face was sad : sadder than Dick had seen it since he came to her in the cabin of the " Rocket." " What is it, Andree ? " he said, and she moved instantly, smiling at him. "I did wonder — this place where there is no life and no light— is this what it will be like to be dead, Dick ? " He came very close to her and took her hand. '^ Do you often think of that, Andree ? " he asked. " Non. Oh, non. I cannot think all the to-morrows. They are too many. But — it seemed so, perhaps." " Forget about it ; " he patted her hand gently. " The sun will come again to-morrow, you know. And we will see it more every day as we go south." " But it is not the sun I did know. And these are not the same stars, Dick." " I know. But we will get back to them again." ' THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE ' 369 thp'f??V?'''' ^^^ ^u^- ^""^ *^^" ^^e looked at Selkirk and nver ^TTT ^t^fJ"^^"^ ^^^^^ ^^""^ ^^^ ^end in the ph^'son ? '' shelXr '^'' "^ "^'^ ^"^^^ '^ ^^^ ^- ^-- "7°?'?,^*- Unless you stand here too long. Are vou tired Andree ? You are such splendid mu!her that I sometimes forget you're only a girl " ^ 1 "J a"? u?^ ^'f^"^-" ^^^ looked at him gravely, with that ast red light on her face. " I do not know what it^is mrceque ]e suis tres content. I did not think ever in my life to have you near me for so long time. Dick. What you want to pu? your hand up that way for ? " ^ blinlng" Z AndrS.'?''**^ *"* ' *"""' ' "■" ^''^''^ °' ^^^ The joy shone over her face suddenly. Her eyes sparkled and she langhed putting her hands up^gainst h^neS " ^J°jl "i^ecried. "I am glad. Now I do for..et that iTok ltZ'!l^:^i/^^''' *° ^ - P-«y '^ways whX^d^* not t° touch m'e r'^°" ''""'' """^ ' ' "^^^ *°"^ ^O" before She let him go instantly. her. ?rownfng!' '^' '^''^' "^'^^ ^ ""^' '^^^' ^^^ ^^"^ ^^^^ed at otheS^?^' he sl?d ^'"^^' °^'^'^"' '^ "^^ ^^^ "«* *« *he kis': '^ei-^L'^s'fZ^i:^^^:^^^^^ ^°" ^^" ^^^^ "^^ -^ turningft u^to^^^^ "'^ '"^ ^" '^'^ ^^'"^^" ^^^ ^^^^^' "You have broken very many men in your time " he said Do you want to break me. too. Grange's Andree P " ^^ 1 want you to kiss me again," she said simply. And can t you understand that if I did—No I can't freeze. Come on. It will be late now before we get to the is lot like ^V^Kr* ^"l*^0"gh the long pale dusk which ihe stirdv iXfl^^* anywhere else they swung forward with tne sturdy httlc huskies trotting strongly. The smell of fro"? ThTn "nV'^H'i" air dan.pLg the'n^nging chill of the va^ue .hifP i'^^^*^''^ *^^ "^"^ ^^^"^^d ""^ie^s, and ahead fSere^H^^ ^ ^^''V t^""?'^ ^"^ ^^" ^« ^^e Lights overhead o f h/p P ^"'^ .f "^ ^^'^- A^^ then, on the naked bank Hln^h ' '^"^' ^^l" '"^ ^^°^' °^" th^ "ghts of Fort Macpherson tlill nTght!" ^ ""^ ^^' '^"" '""^P^^' ^"^ h^ ^^« ^P^et ' It's a — a devilish fhino fhqt -.r^,,-,,^ — ,+. +- j- tt • . ,, 2 A 4r. 370 THE LAW-BRINGERS I I'- M he said. " Ton my soul, I don't know how you have the heart to — stand up to it." From the big chair by Hensham's stove Dick looked up in amused mockery. " Why ? " he asked. " Why ? " Hensham exploded. " Lord, man ; she's lovely. And that way she has of " " 1 see. Sin is only sin in the old and ugly. Therefore Guinevere didn't sin. Helen didn't sin. Judith didn't sin. Salome— perhaps we may grant a little license to Salome. She did as her mother told her. But I see your drift " " I don't know what you mean," began Hensham, redden- ing. " No ? But I know what you mean. We don't interpret the person through the sin, you see. We are too apt to interpret the sin through the person. That is one of the fundamental faults in what someone describes as ' this psychological adventure called man.' We let Romance run away with us. Because a woman is pretty she can't be wicked." " You know I don't mean that. But this isn't quite the same thing " " The particular case never is. And every case is the particular case, isn't it, Hensham ? " " Good Lord," said Hensham, walking through the room, heatedly. " Haven't you a heart in your body at all, man ? " " That is my own private business, isn't it ? " " The deuce knows." Hensham looked at him gloomily, " I doubt if any one thing on earth is a man's private business only." " It is until he is weak enough to show that he possesses that thing," said Dick; and a little later, in his own room, he said it again, with a laugh of contempt at himself. For he had been using these arguments on himself very often of late, and he knew the value of them. Two mornings after Andree came to the door of his room and talked to him as he twisted and knotted the thongs of his outer moccasins. She was all ready for the continuance of the journey, and animation sparkled in her as she chattered, taking no heed of his curt replies. At last she ran to him, sliding her arms about him as he stooped. " 1 do love you," she whispered. " Dick, Dick ; je t'aime. Ah ! Je t'aime." His hands ceased their work. He did not move. " You know how cruel I am being to you, Andree," he said. " Bien ! C'est toi. If you do make it so — still it is you," she said. 1 ; she's lovely. isham, redden- ck ; je t'aime. till it is you,' ' THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE ' 371 again " No ' ? ""^ ^'i ^^'''P^y' ^"^ ^hen looked away - AnH : ''''''^ J"^^ deciding something Andree '' H^?n i' ;* IT "'^^"^ ^"^^ ? " she asked. ^' He looked at her again, speaking slowly. Yes, he said. " It is now made sure." P^^Z:^^ ^S ^^- ^^ the edge of the winter go"" Dkk 'wTcheH'^''' *°'''='''' ='"" *>•= ™= ™ haste to be a while"' he'said°"°"F';;r ""'^ "°''">' ''"'' °°* *^"= ^t ^ 'or a,a. a -r^^ the „^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ vviiy ? she asked, half-startled. in su^dS passion'* '''l\lnVdo'^r Saskatchewan," he said. No man co£d w:th your f^c^ La? hL. ' TwTge 'Xt^:::^, the Yukon somehow, and bury myself at the sam^e ?ime •' ^ ^^ But one cannot be bury while one is live " are ^tj^^Tl ''^"- ^^^"^^ °^ "^^^ ^'^ buried while they are ahye. What are you looking like that for ? " ^ order as'soon as pSle '" '"'"^^ """"=■> represented law and anfth? s?al'te,fir'r" V""' "'"" '""^'^ anow-hummoeks aim tne sparse vegetation they crossed the Peel ■ ca^^ed th„ barraeks agam, and struck on to the Peel iSaie'which ed by wild and rugged mountain ways into the YukoT D rk at aTl B^uf h^h^"' '"^ ^r'^S^ °^'y' -'i the Iter trail i^S almo t cert'in thaf he f °,h ""? """^ " ^°"'P^=>'' ^"^ it was X hi's'hoi M nof ",? f ""^^ ^"^ *-^ were'rSs n^w way ne Should not make any mistakes. He had olentv Of provisions, and he and Andree were in perfect health ii fy ii ■» lltif 372 THE LAW-BRINGERS Therefore, there was no danger to be feared except from the barracks. He smiled grimly as he swung along, breaking trail with a heavy lurching step. Hensham might talk windily enough ; but he was not the man to fling away reputation and position to do this thing which Dick was now doing. But there was no pride in Dick that he was doing it. He went on with face set and strong, lunging steps, making his stops short and m frequent. He knew that he dared not stop. He dared not think. And yet, despite himself, that keen unflaggmg brain of his would think. He believed that he had faced this matter fully enough in the last two months. Now he knew, as every man knows, that until the future becomes the present, he had not realised what it meant to him. The lire of Andree's words and her beauty maddened his hot blood, and he knew that it would do so again. And he knew that the chill of common-sense would continue to thrust in between, congealing that hot blood as It was doing now. What was it that he meant to do ? Why did he mean to do it ? Andree would never understand ; never realise. She swung after him as unconcernedly now as she had done all the way up from Herschel. Life meant no more to her than the day. Death meant no more. It was a vague thing which she would not think of; which she could not think of because^ all greatness had no meaning for her. She was stupid, utterly and entirely stupid, and he knew it. And those mocking words which he had said to Hensham about her beauty were true, and he knew that also. Without that inconsequent alluring wild-wood bloom of her no man would ever have looked twice at Grange's Andree. He would not. If Andree had been like Moosta to look at he would not be doing this now. Life had hardened him too much through the work which he had had to do for ordinary pity to obscure his judgment. What was controlling him now ? It was not pity. It was not love. It was not a sense of justice. It was just that lawless call of the will-o'-the-wisp again. It was the old breakdown. That it woukl not be for more than the moment he knew well. There was neither rule nor convention in this world would ever bind Grange's Andree. And he would not keep her with him and guard her. He knew himself too well to think that. And if he let her go what was there for her then ? Tempest had said : "I hold you responsible for her till the end of time." Tempest had said : '' Death will be easier for her than life." If Tempest who loved her had chosen so for her ; if the natural law of punishment for crime had chosen so for her, by what right did he interfere ? He tramped on. breaking trail grimly, with the dull dusk falling, and the snow drifting on his shoulders. :cept from the ong, breaking it talk windily r^ay reputation w doing. But it. He went king his stops red not stop. ^U, that keen, illy enough in y man knows, id not realised vords and her that it would common-sense that hot blood ncant to do ? r understand ; rnedly now as Life meant nt no more, ot think of ; itncss had no ntirely stupid, :h he had said ;new that also. 1 bloom of her 1 Andree. He to look at he him too much ordinary pity not pity. It was just that was the old 1 the moment ention in this he would not Tiself too well there for her nsible for her Death will be »ved her had lent for crime rfere ? ith the dull is shoulders. 'THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE' 373 He did not notice the snow. He was seeing into his* hoarf Zt u\ P''''^'"^ self-knowledge which seldom f. died hTrf although he as seldom walked bv its lipht m. l 1 ' Kid anything but contempt lor 'the mfn' wh"o' a^LiZl face the sting m order to snatch the honey of life He had known keenly what he meant to give up L Tennifer But he whole of his mind and body was eagc^i andSved to <^ It He was givnig these tlnngs up now for Grange's Andree He was wreckmg his life for no great all-concmerin/nassinn • '^b:Z^\!:t^' Vr^' Snseifishness.^"Hrwr^oing It Decause hr was weak ; because there was nothing in tho core of him which could stand against idle temptXn ing hL"°Thc Sr'- '' '""^^ ^'^ ^^^ eyelasLs haif-bhnd- ^fuV , ^"^'"^ "^""^ growing more hilly and roueh and night was closing in with a bleak wind. 1 ^ut not oncfin the stih'd' n^t^m^n?' T? .'^' 1' T''^ ^" ^^-' g" behind"him :5nc ciia not mind. That kiss had filled up her world for hnr again, and she would have trod after him beside the dogs until theThtn/?r\^'' ^" ^^^ ^"^«'^- S^^- wanted nothhgSu StSisirh:^^^^^^^^^ at^and nL7 .T^'^^'^'^ZJ'''''' "^^^^ ^ ^^icker blurr close tlKou'ifhiSTg^^l"^^' ^ ^^^'' ^"^^^"^^ -^^^^^-^ «- to l^^^.^T f^^^P^here Andree," he said shortly, and began to break the branches, knocking the snow out of them and kicking It aside from the earth He sooke littlo f hnf^ 1 ^ and repulsed all Andree's overtures And lonfafte; An^^^^^^ Dickltwi h hf b " L"^ "^^""i" ^^^^-^ -' the bLfoTthe ten ?re a^d thouUt.^^ ''""'' '"' ^^^' ^"' "^^^^^^ ^^^ ^-^^^ His work seemed hateful to him now. The past in which bp had loved Jennifer and Tempest seemed hateful He wanted to cut himself free from it as he had done with ofher pasts Against the whirling snow Tempest's face shaped Sf with the square strong forehead and the sword of justice in ht Zt, "1 ^\"^^^ ^^ ''■ T^^^°"^h his effort to he p Tempe this tangle had come around his feet. Who was Tempest tru^LfhTmls An'r T^ i ^"^^^ ^^^^^^^ h^d loverand crustea mm as Andree did he would not be hero Wlm ,,.-,. she to interfere with him now ? Then he sudd' nly realised Th'e stnd'orV"'"'"" .^'^ '''^'^ ^^^ far-off" nTdfrn' ine sound of her voice, the personality of her the verv it rTed ?o fix r ^'"'v ^""^ T^"^' -^^^ ^^^-t oThallallrm! ™ to fix them in his mind as clearly as they had alwavs lived there. At each effort they evaded him more completelv He knew how common such lapses of memory are He knew that the strain of his mind and the weariness of hS body wore xiVi .r% .r,0. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. 4is y. f/i C<5 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.8 Sim M 2.2 2.0 1.8 U 11.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation #^ \^ ^ 9> ?>- 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 7x m «. ^ ^ 374 THE LAW-BRINGERS partly accountable. And yet. with that elusive superstition which moves more or less in every man's blood, he felt that It was a final thmg. Ho had denied and defied her, and she had left lum. He got up. walking out of the tent to take the snow on his lace The huskies, curled nose to tail, glanced up, bright- eyed. But he did not see them. " Jennifer ! " he cried, and the word fell dead without meaning. " Jennifer ! " he said again. And then he stood still with hands clenched up. Ever since he had left her he had fought the hold which she had on him. He had cursed it and defied it, mad with himself because he loved her .till. And now she had gone. She had gone. His tired, half-dizzy brain fumbled with the thought He flung his hands out. " By God," he said. " I have got Tenn^ferT" ^^ ^°" ^^^^"" ^ ^^^® ^°^ *° ^° ^^^^"^ *° ^'^^' In the yellow morning the snow still fell. The trail by which they had come would be half obliterated already. But it would never be obliterated in his mind. There was feverish haste m him now to turn back. And then, as he came from '' aS^'t^'^?^^^ ^^^ ^™' brilliant-eyed and brilhant-cheeked. Ah. Dick. I did dream you were away," she cried, and hung her arms close round his neck. " I do love you. I do love you," she whispered. For a moment Dick stood still with eyes set and face white. Then he freed himself, stepping back with a little smile. ^ ^ " I wonder what you would think if you knew what it is that you love. Grange's Andree," he said. " Supposing that you could ever thmk or ever know— or ever love perhaps And I wonder what you will say when I tell you that we must go back to Fort Saskatchewan after all." She went red, then white. His repulse had roused her temper, and fury and terror swept her hke the wind on a harp I will not," she screamed. " I will not. You can make me keel, but I will not." He moved past her and began to kick up the tent-pegs. ^^ Get your things together." he said. " And be quick." I will not," she screamed again. i He made no answer. He struck the tent, rolled it and stowed the cooking-box and the shovel and axe on the' sled The snow blew in his face, and the trail would be lessening each moment, and in this heavy storm he could see no land- marks. Andree stood with her blue hands cl-nched up and the snow wet on her face. Then she hurled herself down full- length, sobbing, and beating the snow into spray about her Dick left his work and went to her, recognising grimly that just retribution had caught him very soon. But it was long superstition he felt that her, and she snov/ on his up, bright- ead without len he stood Id which she with himself e. She had the thought. I have got ack to you, ail by which dy. But it was feverish } came from int-cheeked. e cried, and : you, I do stood still, elf, stepping / what it is •posing that re, perhaps, lat we myst roused her i on a harp, u can make mt-pegs, be quick." lied it, and )n the sled. )e lessening ee no land- led up, and E down full- about her, grimly that it was long 'THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE' 375 before he could get her on her feet, because he would not employ the only method which she wanted. Wisdom told him t^f^l m camp until the storm broke. Irritated temper told^i'r^ S he could not sit still for twenty or thirty hours with And ree He got away at last, with Andree beside the sled She snai^ned at him like a husky when he spoke to her, and ae went to the lead m silence. Among the pines and the rougrspurs the winding trail was difficult to tallow Drifts blorl pH ^f a the wind which he had kept on hi:-lef?ctek began to' b^"w in whirlwinds round them, and the trail was gone But hi would not believe that he could lose himself^on thif com! paratively easy piece of track, and until the dogs were too weary to go further he plodded on in the deepfni^c^Tnow ^!^:^ '' '^'^ '''''''■ '' ^^ ^--^d- wi?hin sighTS tha?nT^hT^a^n"d^n\^''f ?^,^^ ^"^'^ ^^P^ ^^'^ both silent the d^m Llf iLf' k'^?^ ^'^^ ^ ^°S. waking sometimes in tne dim half-light which was all the day gave now For though south from Herschel by more t^han two hundred miles, they were still well within the Arctic Ci^°e and at S''/ll V^ T,"^^^'^ have ceased to lift above the horizon slf Alu^'i'-' snow-shadow was lessened by the strong af instTh. h''^'' 'J'T''' '' ' ^^^ Di^k went Lt swaying f&l ^ K ^•^^'^' ^""^ • ^t ^'^^ ^°^^- Baskerville-he's ti.B. factor, and quite a bit, of a doctor-he has been 384 THE LAW-BRINGERS I'; IN^ "°^' ^nd Careful nursing and timl h? ^! " *° Penitential extremes foot, little by hftle b"? thele S- '' ^"'^ '" '^' "^"^"^^^' were on the river before nfrl ^ ' ^°"^ ^nd the canoes Indians with him from poS to 3 fr'^ "^f "• ^^ took Simpson, and paddlin<^ the Ion /cf' ^^'^'''^ ^^^ last one at alone. He had kno ^^lon ' s^^Tcl thST^^^^ ^°^* Resolution of the Mackenzie l^istri^ct now .nH i. TPf? ^^^ ^" ^^arge steamer, which he met neL SI;. .?^ ^"d heard from the h>m in Tempest's c^re ThoseZ.""' ^^^* ^'""^^ ^^re waiting night for him now Dear thn 'J f ""^"^ *^^ ^^y and thf much though she m;ant and !^^'^ ^^^^^^^r was to him he knew thf t no pSe tendern?^' .T"^^ "^^^n in his liTe for the pubhc disg^rS wLc^S^^^ '^"^^ ^"^^^ atone than the disgracl-for thfS In .k"" ^'''" ^^^ ^^^ "^o^e be to him to'know the Sno mo^e ' ^'"^^'^^ '' ^'^'^ wTor^lhtsl^e^a'tt^^^^^ glowed yet with lavish glory of young sCmershrred th. h^' ^''^^^^ ^^^ in himself. He could neZle^^XJ-^u^^'''^ ^^^^ youth But he knew that he wonM nf ^"^ without a heartbreak had gone dowa fh ^ rigMy ri;'^^^^^^^^ '' ^^« ^-honour evening before he reaSifd Fn^T !l^ ^'"'- ^^ the last spruce clump redolent wTth Sn^ ^^^^^^^"tion he camped in a upon the lake. The tuTm^oFse Ld '' ^?? '""'^^ an outlook sunset across that rimless reTchn^l'^'r^ ^°^n-°^ ^^^ quivering mnr^ «Ionon- fi- ""^^ pacli of famtlv rollinfr waf^t c^„„4 -- olonou. than he had ever seen it'beforeT nt ownTfe 2 C 388 THE LAW-BRINGERS p. %■■ ] was just as horizonless at present and there was none of that beauty in it, and yet there was a new-sprung hope and pleasure in him that used not to be there. He was hoping because he dared not do anything else. He was trying tobeUeve because he dared not do anything else. And this is really the one and only reason which makes a man in earnest. Lulled there in the lap of that great silence with only his pipe for company, the radiance of the sunset held more mean- mg, the brooding calm of the deepening slcy held more, the occasional scuffling and splash of the ducks m the reeds held more. He seemed to have stumbled on some new under- standing and comradeship with that mighty Life which pulsed through everything, and yet he could not tell how and where he felt in touch with it. But he carried a courageous heart into Fort Resolution next day, and he received his letters and the news that Tempest would be back in a couple of hours with a like serenity. Then, because he dared not read those letters out m the breezy day with the sunlight dancing on the lake and all the wildwood scents loose about him, he took them into Tempest's little sitting-room, and shut the door, and sat down in Tempest's chair to read them. He sat still for very long after they were read, and he was sitting there still when he heard Tempest's voice in the passage. " V^Tiat ? In there, is he ? Very well. Yes. I'll call you when I want you, Bernard." Dick stood up, thrusting the letters into his pocket. He heard Tempest's step, and both step and voice seemed to bear the eager ring of the old days. Then Tempest swung the door open, and came in swiftly. " My word, I am glad to see you, old man," he said. The grip of the hand told it, and the half-break in the voice. Then Tempest stood back, laughing half-nervously. " They've managed to put some flesh on you again down at Macpherson," he said. " You're not ehgible for our ' Dolce et decorum ' roll-call yet." Dick winced. This was touching on the sore place already. " Macpherson must share her honours," he said. " Young Grahame was offered up on her altar." " Yes. Sad thing that. Sit down, and let me look at you. Fit ? I should think I was. No time to be anything else up here." ^ ^ He talked cheerfully, with much of the old buoyancy back in his manner and words. But it had a deeper note and a greater gravity at times, and there were some threads of grey m his thick hair. It was Dick who spoke of his lameness because he had seen the contraction of Tempest's forehead when he limped to his chair. * "^""^^ ^TEJ^NAL CHILDREN WE ARE ■ 389 ,J* wm be permanent,- he said. ■• But there is no pain •■ No^^Ditl"'''""^**'' y- ^°' duty ? •• to incapacitate me rduty"^- "''"""• " ' """'t «Tect that Tempest siS'f '""" *^^ ^''^-^ oi other things. Then "Now tell me about Andree, please " did not suffer at the last She dirt i^ '"^'^'"^ ' " ^ t^ink she were glorious when I closed them^- "^ "■"'' ^""^ her eyes ,. 1^3 j?™"* y°" to the last, Dick ? " " ThLr;o7Tthi„?r ^^Tf* =-"' -J^^fy ^ make her hippy ju ?'to Je wifh *° ''T" *h^* " would she ran away from you " ^ "^'^ y°»- And yet-they said Witt hir first, ^rmpest"""" °°* *" ''^«»"'"g- I '^n away ' You did what ? " I cLLgel ml m'in'd" nTtr^^^^^^^^ .^f a minute , I was rather brutal to her and she r.n!. ' ^^^' ^ «"PPo«« fs no need for you to make .nv ? '^^^.^'■°"' "^^- There imagine that I have iS? allien. ?'"* °" *^^«- ^on't I have so nearly lost ev^f-Jthlng ek^ ''' P^"P°^«°" ^^^^-^^e It wl7ht oTdTalitVhfn in'sT '' "^^' ^^^"^^ ^he room, still, staring at the Lr He d*'^^^^ and Dick sat to tell Tempest. Now" he saw f W ^.''°'^ i^^* ^^ ^^^ "^^^nt otherwise. He owed Andree's eve^trnl , '"'"^l^^* ^^^« been he said : ^naree s ever-true lover that. Presently tUn|.*Si?i"Snnot ■'■' ^°" °"^ '^^=°" ""^ ^ -arly did that Mrs.'D'"rn: seS^rawa:!^^ '" "'' "^'^- " » -- because do you know about thVp^'!" ^^' ^°* ^°^ ^"^^k. " What ;; ^rs. Ducane told me, Dick." ishe told you ? " toull St^it^l^M^^^tttnd^ st't^^d-^ «^^"«-- --^ *« sure of it." ®' ^^^ ^^e told me why she was to tr<^""?hL°rA'^„s^?eThZ' hrha°d'f ^ t^ "-* "-^ agam. It was Tempest who ..ov" il^"* ^"P^'^t^'' *» "e hurt ■ 1 have no right to blame'-any „;;; when I have been so H -f r< 590 THE LAW-BRINGERS far from blameless myself. If I had been less hard to you it might have helped you." ^ '• I deserved all I got there. It would have helped, though. You ara Jennifer were too good and too far-off for me." He shrugged his shoulders with a slight laugh. " But I had to come back to you," he said. Tempest did not ask what had brought him back. That was Dick s own arrangement with his God— if he had one. .. -n-:^ y?" ^^""f *^^ "Sht to come back now," he said. Did you know that Ducane is dead ? " " ^,^^^^^^ad a letter from her telling me. I wrote her from Macpherson." It was Tempest's silence drew the next words out of him. " She is waiting at Grey Wolf until I come. It rather frightens one to know how much a woman can forgive. "So long as you stay frightened you'll be all right," said lempest dryly. Then he came over, standing close by Dick's '' I am a brute to say such things to you," he said with his old impetuosity. " You saved me, and nearly lost yourself over doing it. That should make us quits. You didn't know what was going to come out of it." " I don't know that I cared, after the first. And you have surely more humour than to make apologies to me " Dick pushed his chair back, and stood up. "I think you're wanted. Someone has been perambulating the passage and coughing discreetly for the last three minutes." Tempest turned to the door. But he looked back. T^- ,^-Pm'? ^^^f ^^ ^^ *^^ ^^ys you can spare, won't you, Dick ? he asked. ^ " I shall be glad to," said Dick briefly. But under the bald words both men felt the pull of that old bond of friendship again. It was not broken, and it would not break now. Dick knew this certainly as he went out to smoke a pipe along the sunny beach, and he felt surprisedly that he was glad, really glad, although joy and he had been strangers so long. Even Jennifer's letter had not made him glad, for its sweet, unreproachful wisdom had humbled him into the dust. And the Commissioner's letter had not made him glad. It had made him thankful. He smiled a little thinking of it. There was quite evidently something of the woman m the Commissioner too. Or perhaps it was because he had had such a very large acquaintance with men for so many years that he was prepared for everything. Or it may have been that he set undue value on the fact that one of those men had confessed a fault which he so easily might have suppressed. Whatever the reason it seemed more likely that Dick would find a friend at Regina, in place of the judge he ' WH4T ETERNAL CHILDREN WE ARE ' 39X " If I coufd'bring^^er^^^^^^^ I' f^' "^^^ ^^^^ breath, a man can't waste Ss years and h^\^"\*^ ^^"^ "^«- ^ut Dick a:d'^^43\^^^^^^^^^ a few nights later when They would part L the morninfT? ^'^'^ "^^^^ ^^e stars. be long before they metTa?;".^' rTd .v^?"^^ V''^ P^^^^bly haunting beauty andTonelfness of fh.^ knowledge, and the tongues a little^o tharSttl? '^' ^^^.^ loosened their they spoke mor^ intimftdv th^^^^^^ T^ T*^ "^^^^ P^^^^s, of their fiery youth FvL w^ I^"""^ ^°"^ «^°ce the days that the humaTsoul is a shv w S hf" ^V'^^empest knew givewhereitmostdesrestoLT i^^fl"^^^^^ ^^*^° ^^""ot of man's natural reserve asiHph.-=.*' .^J Pitting something make some confessSnsfn nrH ' ^ ' ^^t^^tive skill led him to ciegrees he didga n them until'D?cr" '^T' • ^"^ ^^ ^^^^ to speak of his remorse isufhlSr "^^^ sufficiently softened " We were both ?o biame" ' K'"^' WHT'^^^"^• much the same as saying we are both h,^. ''i^'"PP°^«' was worse than yours becnn^P t^ T^°- ^"^ ^y sin Almost from the TgLS? knew ?t'^ h^'f / ^^^ ^^^^g' spite of Hell ' w^n . ^ ^* ' ^"* ^ went on ' in it '' He gtnced^at dST S T v'"' -"^^ ^'"^ ^^^ ^-^ °" methods were not genSe Rnf f "^^^''^^^ '"^^^^- " Your I sincerely think I mnW \o . '^^''* ^^^ *« beUeve that myself onfywith'ouV^e^y'^.:^:^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ to' Dick sha" '^^^ ^^^ y-- f-g-'e the other easily," said " I^hTu nroL'h,'^^^'^ ^^"°^^^ ^^« broken by Dick missU from the ^rn' ™-^'""^ ^^^ ^°°" if I can ge't per- eightmoSh"andIamTu?fo?r; ^"T",^ ^as beefd^ead I re-enlisted four years^go '^ ' ^ ^'^"'^ *^^^ '^ ^^en ;; Ah ! Then your term'is up next year ? " settle 'Hny Xlrt! 'Z'TiH ' T ^'T^'^- ' -"'t long." ^ "^® °°^- I have knocked about too .'; lVf^*~^^^ that be fair on-on " JNo ! Dick's lauffh hf^IH ^ =tinfr of b----.-- ever .een fair to her or anyonf Sfet 'SSTi. ineWUbl.! 392 THE LAW-BRINGERS m iHtS and she recognises that. Do you remember what some poet says ^ about Hercules ? He fell into all sorts of evils if he didn't have the chance to sweat his soul out occasionally at honest hard work. Not that I compare myself to the god in any other way ; but I do understand the common-sense of that. My nature will always be too strong for me if I can't find manual work enough to keep it down. She'll help- Jennifer will. But she can't do it all. It is part of the penalty, I suppose, that I shall never be able to settle down into a comfortable fat father and husband as you could. Oh — I never meant " " It's all right. Don't imagine that that hurts now, Dick. I am not a child to spend my life crying over what I can't have. I think I would have been rather glad to — to follow your example. 1 thought about it when I went East, and I — well, I tried. But I saw that, whoever the woman might be, she would take such a very third-class place behind my work and my country that it would have been dishonourable to ask her." " You have more conscience than I have. Tempest." " No. I have merely centred my interests where you have always wanted them to be — where I had thought I wanted them to be myself. A man can do little, perhaps. But the utmost which he can give will be asked of him. That is the great consolation." " You'll do more than a little, old chap." " I hope so." Tempest's eyes shone suddenly, and his voice rang. " Lord ! What eternal children we are ! We'll build our mud-heaps to raise us up to conquer the stars until the end of time, never heeding how often they crumble under us." He laid his hand on Dick's shoulder. " Whatever you did or meant to do to me I owe it to you that I have taken hold of things again," he said. " I can't see yet what it is all for. I can't see why the innocent should suffer for the guilty, or why self should be such an eternal devil to fight. There seems injustice somewhere. But perhaps I'll see clearer in time. Till I do I'll— go on building mud-heaps." " And when you do you'll conquer the stars." But Dick's raillery was very friendly, for the boyishness, which would never die out of Tempest, touched the younger man, who was so infinitely older in many ways. And for an hour yet they smoked their pipes as they kept step up and down the beach and spoke of many things. But they did not touch on those private subjects again ; and their words and their good-byes were casual on the shore in the morning when the breed in the stern of Dick's canoe held it against the bank, and Dick turned for a moment to give his hand to Temoest, ' WHAT ETERNAL CHILDREN WE ARE ' 393 canoe. He turned onS fn c -? ^' ^^ clambered into the ^ the shore. Then he went on rf.HH^,'"^''' f'^*^^^ ^"^ t^» on and the tobacco smolTebow^nf It "f.^ ^'^"^ ^^^^^es watched until the dazzle ofTvff tu^'''' ^'^^ ^™- Tempest entrance to the Great S^aveRi''" ^' '"''''' ^'"^ ^^"^ ^^^ '^^ along the beach, anTLng hlms'^rdo^^^ T Ji. '^^^" ^^ "^"* out to the shoreless Ink^fW Z.?^"^ °^ *^^ ^and. looking His eternal dutSwoui^c.^^^^^^ ^^"" ^^^^"^^ *h« blue sk/ he would start WsWpaCTof^ ^'m'^I^^k^^^ "^"* ^^^^ which Dick had come Rut fhf Tempest stood still to watch them go. Then he looked out across the land which was so dear to him with the old /«» •WHAT ETERNAL CHILDREN WE ARB 3,3 'ignt shining in his evp« w ■ , hand of a man who Sasns ?' "S^t hand was closed as the With a half laugh tlTh^if^TeK love "^'^''^ ^^ ^^^^ To love you isn't enough - if -^"^^ ^° ^« words, ready to suffe^r and wlr^JoTyouiVanada; "^ ^^^"* ^'^ looked the old