The Mena star., 1898-03-16

songs, that will quiet him down, per haps."
 Lee-Carson responded to this at once, his eyes blazing
 T can hear them. o, Lord, it is goodl" he exclaimed, and seemed to lis ten; and he added, mysteriously: But it's not the sailors-it's = don't you know their voices ?-why, it's Fordison and Chester and-and the rest"
 And the high trembling voice was once more raised to join in the song: "But northward. east, and westward,
 And under the tropic sky
 The price that we paid to conquer
 Were the men who were proud to die!'
 He chanted it over and over, till the taat sinews loosened and he fell back exhausted, and lay still for many min utes.
 Presently Grammel crept around and covered him up carefully. Lee -Carson's sleep was the sleep of exhaustion, but it was better than no sleep at all.
 After awhile Grammel too lay down and slept.
 When Lee-Carson woke huge red moon on the horizon seemed very close to his eyes, and he called out, wildly:
 "Grammel! Grammel! Curse you, Grammel, you're deadi"
 And from the other side of the fire Grammel answered him, his dry lips bleeding as they parted:
 Dead? Of course I'm notl"
 What's death?" began Lee-Carson again. Don't let that moon dance and gleam in my eyes, it gets into my brainl Grammel, what's death?"
 "A sleep and forgetting" quoted Grammel, at his wits end.
 No, it's not thatl" said the sick man more calmly. "Grammel, come here! Where are you?'' he groped about for the friendly hand that met his. Look lookl-the other side of the firel''
 When Grammel could get his heavy eyes open. he looked across and saw nothing, only the snaky tongues of the flame leaping at intervals into the moonstruck gloom.
 There's nothing" he said, shortly Grammel had no imagination, hence he was at a loss, not knowing what be was expected to see.
 ''Nothing?" repeated Lee-Carson, peering anxiously forward No, l see nothing now-perhaps 1 dreamed think I'm going out. Most people die about the dawn"
 ''Roti" said Grammel, lamely.
 Lee-Carson's lips parted in the old whimsical smile. Presently he said; I've seen things, Grammel, and I'd like to tell you what I saw"
 Grammel was sitting close by, his hands clasped round his knees. Being the man he was, he said nothing, only waited to hear.
 Through the night I've seen them galloping past, squadrons and squad rons of mounted men--our fellows, you know"
 Grammel shook his head impercepti- ply.
 Il shouted to them-I shouted who we were, but they were riding fast east wards"
 No man rides east" said Grammel, looking up.
 You don't understand. said the sick man gently; you don't know who they are. They're the Frontier Men of Eng landl and their recruiting sergeant's Death. Don't you remember?
 "'They ride for ever up and down
 To guard the land they won Don't you see them-dont you see them-now? They're calling me, and 1 can't gol Oh, the morning of life is sweet. but this is betterl The end is coming, Grammel; it's coming fastl"
 II. to.y ,4xx.r, oreof,, .,..l Grammel mixed much brandy with lit- tie mud and water and gave it to him.
 In a little while Lee-Carson moved, his face distorted in the torchlight of the fire, as he shouted huskily:
 "Fordison. Chester, stop! I'm com ingl I shan't be long, and then we'll ride together. Grammel will come too-some day. He'll never die between sheets, good old Grammell wonder if he'll ride 16 stone as ghost?"
 He laughed out suddenly, and Gram mel muttered ill his beard:
 He's got it bad-very bad"
 We'll ride past our graves together and scare the beastsI We'll gallop into the sunsetl Who's with you? Oak wood and Tommy Brown. all of theml'' and in his deiirious transport he tore the blankets from him. ''I have known many good things in life-sea-dawns, and ships rushing through the arteries of the world, but this is better than aul"
 Grammel had started up and was lis tening intently. Still the voice, strained to breaking pitch, rang on: