The Lamar register., 1918-04-03
RE
3AXNotM Of EAu:I Three
IN Bertrand W Sinclair
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full OF aromatic odorS from plant ana
tree.
There was no monotony In the pass
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 Meg
accepted with an equable spirit IND
the true philosophy of the trail-fo
take things as they come. When nam
deluged them, there was always shell
ter to be found and fire to warm them.
If the flies assailed too fiercely,
smudge brought easement of that i'll.
Each day was something more than a
mere toll of so 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 a blazed line In the scrub
timber. Roaring Bill pulled up. and
squinted away down the narrow lane
lresn WIN hA inafhs-
"Well," said he, 'T wonder what's
coming OFF now? That looks like a
survey line of some sort. II isn't a
trail-too wide. Let's follow 1t a
while.
''Tll bet n 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 a man squirting through
a 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 OF the SEN
tence. and stared a moment in frank
astonishment at Hazel. Then he took
of his hat and bowed. "Good morn
ing" he greeted politely.
Sure" Bill grinned I'VE have
mornings like this around here all the
time. What all are you fellows doing
in the wilderness. anyway Railroad?"
"Cross-section work for the @. T.
P.," the surveyor replied.
"Huh," Bill grunted. 'Ts II a dead
cinch. or is 1t something that may pos
sibly come to pass in the misty fu-
turer
"As near a cinch as anything ever
is," the surveyor answered. "Construc-
tion has begun-at both ends.
thought the few white folks in this
country kept tab on anything as i'm
portant as a new railroad."
We've heard lot. but none of 'em
has 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
didn't know 1t had got past the talking
stage. What's their Pacific terminalr"
prince Rupert-new town on a pc
ninsula north of the mouth of the
Skeena," said the surveyor. "It's
rush job all the way through, believe.
Three years to spike up the last rail.
And that's going some for transcon-
tinental road. Both the Dominion and
b. G. governments have guaranteed
the company's bonds away up Into mil
lions"
"Be great thing for this country
say, where does II cross the Rockies7
what's the general route7" Bill
asked abruptly.
Goes over the range through yell
lowhead pass. From here It 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. zone of the
modern labors of Hercules. Well,
we've got to peg. So long"
"Our camps about FIVE miles ahead.
Better stop in and noon" the surveyor
invited. "if it's on your road"
Thanks. Maybe we WILL" Bill re-
turned.
The surveyor lifted his hat, with
swift glance of admiration at Hazel.
and they passed with a mutual $50
long"
"What do you think of that old
girlT Bill observed presently. "A
real. honest-to-goodness railroad going
by within a hundred miles of our
shack. Three years. It'll be there be-
fore we know 1t. We'l have neigh
bors to burn"
"a hundred miles I" Hazel laughed.
"Is that your idea of a neighborly dis
lancer