The spectator., 1920-11-26
CHAPTER V-Cortinued,

and run west before the harvest is on us Allan said as they rode home through the darkness. We can file our land and get back for the fall work. Then we will go out for the winter and commence our duties The only question is. can they grow any thing on that land out there3'
 "Thats what they used to ask when we came to Manitoba" said his ia ther. And there were years when I doubted the answer myself Some parts were froze out year after year. and they're among the best in the coun- try now. and never think of frost The same thing'll happen out there. and we might as well be in the game
 To do him justice, 1t was not alto- gether the desire for more wealth that prompted Harris It was the call of new land; the call he had heard and answered in the early eighties the old appetite that had lain dormant for quarter of a century, but was still in his blood. waiting only suggestion of the open spaces. a whl6 from dry grass on the wind-swept plains. the zlgZag of wagon-trail streaking afar into the horizon, to set it ingling again.
 So this morning father and son were especially anxious that not d moment of their blowing weather should be lost, and it was particularly aggravat- ing when the hired mans long delay resulted in a bubhling sputter followed by dry hiss from the injector, warn ing the engineer that the water-taSk was empty. Allan shot an anxious glance down the road to the coulee, but the water team WAS not in sight. Seizing the whistle cord. he sent its peremptory summons Into the air Harris looked up from the blows, and the two exchanged fruwnS of annoy ance. But the water stood high in the glass, and Allan did not reduce the speed, although he cut the link action another notch 10 get every ounce of advantage from the expansion But the water went down. down in the glass. and still there was no sign of a further supply. Allan again cut the air with his whistle, and at length, with muttered imprecation. he slammed the throttle shut and jumped from the engine
 Keep n keen eye on your fire" said Harris. "and I'll go down anG see what's wrong with him." So the farm CT strode of across the plowed field. The delay annoyed him, and he felt unreaSonahly cross with TraverS. AS he plodded on through the heavy soil his temper d'd not improve, and he was talking to himself hy the time he came upon Travers. giving his team their wind at the top of the hill lead ing up from the creek.
 What kept you?' he demanded when he came within a rod of the wagon. Heres the outfit shut down waiting for water, and you"
 'l'n sorry Mfr Harris"
 "'rhat ain't what asked you You cant make steam with sorrow What have you been foolin' about?"
 'I haven't been fooling As to what delayed newell, you're delaying me now Better jump on and ride up with me"
 ''So you won't tell me, eh? You think you can do what you Ike with my team and my time, and It's none of my business. We'll see whose busi- ness 1t is."
 Harris came threateningly toward | the wagon, but was met only by the imperturhable smile of his hired man. He thrust his foot on a spoke of the | wheel and prepared to spring onto the | tank. hut at that moment the horses | stirred and his foot slipped. Seeing | that the farmer was about to fall | Travers seized him by the collar of | his shirt, but in so doing he leaned | and lost his own balance, when the | weight of the falling man came upon | him. and the two tumb!ed onto the grass in each others arms.
 Allan. having satisfied himself that | the engine would take no harm, had | followed his father, and came over the crest of the ridge above the coulee just in time to see Jim apparently | strike his employer and the two strug- gling on the grass together. In an in- | stant the young mans hot blood was in his head, ne rushed forward, and | lust as Jim had riSen to his knees he |