The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-03-18
had come as complement and he kept
1t because it helped him to see himself.

had come as complement and he kept
1t because it helped him to see himself.
As Alan weakened the bridge ap-
preached completion. Batches Of men,
as special work was finished, were
dispatched to the coast. With each
batch McDougal strove to send his
master, but Alan was too weak to go,
though he did not say so. He had
realized it with terror and then with
calm. mo, McDougal, not this time,"
he would say, and finally, II think I
might just as we'll stay on till they
send up to take over. It's unprofes-
sional to chuck it before. 1t won't be
long now" And McDougal had cursed
low, rolling oaths and taken It out on
the men.
Alan seemed to have become child
ish in his weakness. He spent what
strength he had left in cutting words
into board ripped from a kerosene
box. When he had finished he called
McDougal and showed him his handi-
work. "McDougal." he said, III any.
thing should happen to keep me here
permanently Just cut these words into
some big fock and lay me under Il.
Be careful you get them just 20. The
French are mighty particular about the
way we use their lingo, and while it
wasn't Frenchman that wrote this
Bit I guess he'd be Just al particular"
"Aweel, sir" said McDougal, sitting
his rage within him, "1'll do as you
wish" He took the board and looked
at it. The words meant nothing to
him but the scene meant much. He
went out and concluded his agreement
with twelve quiet, lowering men gath
cred from the countryside. They were
pioneers without knowing it. They
and their fathers and their fathers
fathers had held these far depths of
the world against wild beasts and
drought and flood since, centuries ago,
the Jesuits swept through the subcon-
tinent and left trail of settlers be-
hind them. They were proud, narrow,
Independent. They were uninventive,
unimaginative. No man among them
had ever thought to lie. They did not
steal, though they were robbed when
ever they invaded civilization with
their wares.
From them McDougal had learned
that due east, halfway to the sea, was
place called Lieber's and that this
Lieber was known as the Americana
and had fame as curador of fevers
Four men could carry a sick man to
Ldeber's In q hammock in four days.
Twelve men could do 1t in two, and
quicker than that a hundred men could
not go. For the price Of three steers
each-two-year-olds-they would IN.
dertake to deliver the sick man at
Leber's in two days. McDougal pom
dered. It was chance. II he sent
Alan to the rail-head there wouldn't
be even chance. There was no one
who could help at the rail-head, nor
along the thin line, nor even at the
coast.
I'm two days." said he despairingly,
1.-THE master will be dead"
They gathered at the door of Alan's
tent and looked in at him as he Law
half comatose. NO." said the Oldest
Of them, ''he will be dead in seven
days time"
As McDougal picked him up and
laid him gently In a hammock, Alan
came to. The hammock was padded
with. pillows and blankets and strung
on stout bamboo pole with two msn
| at each end supporting it.
what are you doing with met" he
asked angrily and sank back into the
pillows. From there his eyes glared
up at McDougal.
"I'm sending ye home" said Nc.
Dougal gently but firmly.
Alan smiled a twisted smile. "Send-
ing me home" he repeated. and added
resignedly, "Oh, all right" Then he
started up. Bring Matches" he said,
McDougal took matches from his peck.
ct Alan drew two letters from inside
his coat. "Burn them" He held them
out and watched jealousy as McDou.
gal opened out the sheets with averted
eyes and set fire to the thin paper. The
f1lmy cinders blew hither and thither
under the light breeze. The men under
the pole moved nervously, anxious to
be of. Their eight companions
wheeled their hea-bitten ponies and
headed for the trail. mo, you don't, y
shouted McDougal and explained with
many gestures that they were to ride
behind on account Of the dust. .
1--WE know, MASTER" answered one
quietly, I'VE would but start"
McDougal held out an awkward
hand in farewell. you're ready, Mr.
Wagner"
Eyes, - said Alan between chattering
teeth, and then cried, mo, I want the
board-my epitaph thing, you know
| McDougal dived into the tent and
brought out the board with the roughly
cut words that he could not read but
somehow began to understand. he
slipped 1t into the hammock behind the
cushions and then just touched Alan's
hand and gave the word to the men
They started of In shambling, rapid
| trOt The hOrseman fell in behind. A