the way down at the of trail and river and famine the message was that other men might die but that he would pull through triumphant it was the old old lie of life itself believing itself immortal and bound to achieve over other lives and win to its heart s desire and so at times daylight off his and led the way to the bar but a united protest went up his theory that the paid was no longer to be it was contrary to custom and common sense and while it good fellowship nevertheless in the name of good fellowship it must cease the drinks were on ben and ben must buy them all drinks and general treats that daylight was guilty of ought to be paid by the house for daylight brought much custom to it whenever he made a night was the and his argument and was applauded daylight grinned stepped aside to the table and bought a of yellow at the end of ten minutes he weighed in at the scales and two thousand dollars in was poured into his own and an extra sack luck a mere flutter of luck but it was his was added to he was living and the night was his he turned upon his well wishing critics now the sure does pay he said and they surrendered there was no daylight when he on the back of life and rode it and burning daylight at one in the morning he saw henry and joe the lumber jack toward the door daylight interfered where are you all going he demanded attempting to draw them to the bar bed answered he was a lean tobacco new the one daring spirit in his family that had heard and answered the call of the west shouting through the mount desert back pastures and wood lots got to joe added we re out in the daylight still detained them what s the excitement no excitement explained we re just a goin to play your an tackle the upper country don t you want to come along i sure do daylight affirmed but the question had been put in fun and ignored the acceptance we re the he went on al told me he seen some likely bars first time he come down the and we re goin to em while the river s you listen daylight an mark my words the time s when winter be all the go there ll be men in them days that ll laugh at our summer an ground at that time winter was of on the from the moss and grass the land was frozen to bed rock and frozen gravel hard as granite defied pick and in the summer the men stripped the earth down as fast as the sun it then was the time they did their during the winter they their provisions went hunting got all ready for the summer s work and then the bleak dark months through burning daylight in the big central such as circle city and forty mile winter s sure daylight agreed wait till that big strike is made up river then you all see a new kind of what s to prevent wood burning and sinking shafts and drifting along bed rock won t need to timber that frozen and gravel stand till hell is and its mill tails is turned to ice cream why they ll be working pay streaks a hundred feet deep in them days that s i m sure going along with you all laughed gathered his two partners up and was making a second attempt to reach the door hold on daylight called i sure mean it the three men turned back suddenly upon him in their faces surprise delight and incredulity g wan you re said the other a quiet steady man there s my and daylight answered that ll make two and the loads though we all have to travel easy for a spell for them is sure tired the three men were but still a trifle incredulous now look here joe out none of your daylight we mean business will you come daylight extended his hand and shook then you d best be to bed advised we re out at six and four hours sleep is none so long we ought to lay over a day and let him rest up suggested daylight s pride was touched no you don t he cried we all start at six what time do you all want to be called five all right i ll rouse you all out burning daylight you have some sleep gravely you can t go on forever daylight was tired profoundly tired even his iron body acknowledged weariness every muscle was for bed and rest was appalled at continuance of exertion and at thought of the trail again all this physical protest up into his brain in a wave of revolt but deeper down scornful and defiant was life itself the essential fire of it whispering that all daylight s fellows were looking on that now was the time to pile deed upon deed to his strength in the face of strength it was merely life whispering its ancient lies and in league with it was with all its and you all think i ain t yet daylight demanded why i ain t had a drink or a dance or seen a soul in two months you all get to bed i ll call you all at five and for the rest of the night he danced on in his feet and at five in the morning on the door of his new partners cabin he could be heard singing the song that had given him his name � burning daylight you all river burning daylight burning daylight burning daylight chapter vn this time the trail was easier it was better packed and they were not carrying mail against 