The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-18

eliEg by the sun and Bill's knowledge of the country.
 Some day there'll be trails blazed through here by paternal govern ment," he laughed over his shoulder. flor the benefit of the public. But we don't need 'em, thank goodness" The buckskin pony Hazel had bought for the trip In with Limping George ambled sedately under pack containing bedding. clothes and light shelter tent. The black horse, Nigger, he of the cooked ear and the rolling eye, carried in a pair of kyaks six weeks supply of food. Bill led the way. seconded by Hazel on easy -gaited Silk. Behind her trailed the pack horses like dogs we'll broken to heel. patient under their heavy burdens. On in the east the sun was barely clear of the towering Rockies. and the woods were still cool and shadowy, full of aromatic odors from plant and tree.
 Ing days. Rivers barred their way. These they forded or swan. or ferried . makeshift raft of logs. as seemed most fit. Haps and mishaps alike they accepted with an eQuable spirit and the true philosophy of the trail-to take things as they come. When rain deluged them. there was always shel- ter to be found and Ire to warm them. If the flies assailed too hercely, . smudge brought easement of that i'll. Each day was something moro than mere toll of 90 many miles traversed. The unexpected. for which both were eager-eyed. lurked on the shoulder of each mountain, in the hollow of every cool canyon. or met them boldly in the open. naked and unafraid. Bearing up to where the Nachaco debouches from Fraser lake, with a Hudson's bay fur post and an Indian mission on Its eastern fringe. they came upon . blaxed line in the scrub timber. Roaring Bill pulled up, and sQuinted away down the narrow lane fresh with ax marks.
 "Well," said he. 'I wonder what's coming of now7 That looks like c survey line of some sort. It isn't trail-too wide. Let's follow 1t while.
 "I'll bet nickel" he asserted next, that's a railroad survey" Half an hour of easy Jogging set the seal of truth on his assertion. They came upon man sQuinting through brass instrument set on three legs. directing, with alternate wavings of his outspread hands. certain activi- ties of other men ahead of him. Well, I'll be-" he bit ofY the sen- tence, and stared n moment in frank astonishment at Hazel. Then he took off his hat and bowed. Good morn ing." he greeted politely.
 "Sure." Bill grinned. "We have mornings like this around here all the time. What all are you fellows doing In the wilderness. anywav7 Railroadl"
 "Cross-secton work for the G. T. P.," the surveyor replied.
 Huh" Bill grunted. "Is 1t a dead cinch, or is 1t something that may pos sibly come to pass in the misty fu- turer
 "As near cinch as anything ever is," the surveyor answered. "Construc- ton has begun-at both ends. I thought the few white folks in this country kept tab on anything as im- pOrtant as new railroad"
 We've heard lot. but none of 'em hns transpired yet; not in my time, anyway" Bill replied dryly. How ever, the world keeps on moving. I've heard more or less talk of this, but I didn't know 1t had got past the talking stage. Whats their Pacific terminal"
 Prince Rupert-new town on a pe- ninsula north of the mouth of the Skeena," said the surveyor. "It's rush job all the way through. I believe. Three years to spike up the last rail. And that's going some for a transcon- tinental road. Both the Dominion and B. c. governments have guaranteed the cOmpany's bonds away up into mill lions."
 "Be great thing for this country say. where does 1t cross the Rockies7 whats the general route?" Bill asked abruptly.
 "Goes over the range through Tel lowhead pass. From here 1t follows the Nachaco to Fort George, then up the Fraser by Tete Juan Cache, through the pass, then down the Ath- abasca till 1t switches over to strike Edmonton"
 "Uh-huh," Bill nodded. "One of the modern labors of Hercules. We'll, we've got to peg. So long,"
 Our camps about five miles ahead. na44 -c4L. M