diff --git "a/data/test/3247.txt" "b/data/test/3247.txt" --- "a/data/test/3247.txt" +++ "b/data/test/3247.txt" @@ -1,11691 +1,11691 @@ - - - - -Produced by Donald Lainson - - - - - -THE PATROL OF THE SUN DANCE TRAIL - - -By Ralph Connor - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER - -I THE TRAIL-RUNNER - -II HIS COUNTRY'S NEED - -III A-FISHING WE WILL GO - -IV THE BIG CHIEF - -V THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE - -VI THE ILLUSIVE COPPERHEAD - -VII THE SARCEE CAMP - -VIII THE GIRL ON NO. 1 - -IX THE RIDE UP THE BOW - -X RAVEN TO THE RESCUE - -XI SMITH'S WORK - -XII IN THE SUN DANCE CANYON - -XIII IN THE BIG WIGWAM - -XIV "GOOD MAN--GOOD SQUAW" - -XV THE OUTLAW - -XVI WAR - -XVII TO ARMS! - -XVIII AN OUTLAW, BUT A MAN - -XIX THE GREAT CHIEF - -XX THE LAST PATROL - -XXI WHY THE DOCTOR STAYED - - - -THE PATROL OF THE SUN DANCE TRAIL - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE TRAIL-RUNNER - - -High up on the hillside in the midst of a rugged group of jack pines the -Union Jack shook out its folds gallantly in the breeze that swept down -the Kicking Horse Pass. That gallant flag marked the headquarters of -Superintendent Strong, of the North West Mounted Police, whose special -duty it was to preserve law and order along the construction line of the -Canadian Pacific Railway Company, now pushed west some scores of miles. - -Along the tote-road, which ran parallel to the steel, a man, dark of -skin, slight but wiry, came running, his hard panting, his streaming -face, his open mouth proclaiming his exhaustion. At a little trail that -led to the left he paused, noted its course toward the flaunting flag, -turned into it, then struggled up the rocky hillside till he came to the -wooden shack, with a deep porch running round it, and surrounded by -a rustic fence which enclosed a garden whose neatness illustrated a -characteristic of the British soldier. The runner passed in through the -gate and up the little gravel walk and began to ascend the steps. - -"Halt!" A quick sharp voice arrested him. "What do you want here?" From -the side of the shack an orderly appeared, neat, trim and dandified in -appearance, from his polished boots to his wide cowboy hat. - -"Beeg Chief," panted the runner. "Me--see--beeg Chief--queeck." - -The orderly looked him over and hesitated. - -"What do you want Big Chief for?" - -"Me--want--say somet'ing," said the little man, fighting to recover his -breath, "somet'ing beeg--sure beeg." He made a step toward the door. - -"Halt there!" said the orderly sharply. "Keep out, you half-breed!" - -"See--beeg Chief--queeck," panted the half-breed, for so he was, with -fierce insistence. - -The orderly hesitated. A year ago he would have hustled him off the -porch in short order. But these days were anxious days. Rumors wild -and terrifying were running through the trails of the dark forest. -Everywhere were suspicion and unrest. The Indian tribes throughout the -western territories and in the eastern part of British Columbia, under -cover of an unwonted quiet, were in a state of excitement, and this none -knew better than the North West Mounted Police. With stoical unconcern -the Police patroled their beats, rode in upon the reserves, careless, -cheery, but with eyes vigilant for signs and with ears alert for -sounds of the coming storm. Only the Mounted Police, however, and a -few old-timers who knew the Indians and their half-breed kindred gave -a single moment's thought to the bare possibility of danger. The -vast majority of the Canadian people knew nothing of the tempestuous -gatherings of French half-breed settlers in little hamlets upon the -northern plains along the Saskatchewan. The fiery resolutions reported -now and then in the newspapers reciting the wrongs and proclaiming the -rights of these remote, ignorant, insignificant, half-tamed pioneers -of civilization roused but faint interest in the minds of the people of -Canada. Formal resolutions and petitions of rights had been regularly -sent during the past two years to Ottawa and there as regularly -pigeon-holed above the desks of deputy ministers. The politicians had -a somewhat dim notion that there was some sort of row on among the -"breeds" about Prince Albert and Battleford, but this concerned them -little. The members of the Opposition found in the resolutions and -petitions of rights useful ammunition for attack upon the Government. In -purple periods the leader arraigned the supineness and the indifference -of the Premier and his Government to "the rights and wrongs of our -fellow-citizens who, amid the hardships of a pioneer civilization, were -laying broad and deep the foundations of Empire." But after the smoke -and noise of the explosion had passed both Opposition and Government -speedily forgot the half-breed and his tempestuous gatherings in the -stores and schoolhouses, at church doors and in open camps, along the -banks of the far away Saskatchewan. - -There were a few men, however, that could not forget. An Indian agent -here and there with a sense of responsibility beyond the pickings of his -post, a Hudson Bay factor whose long experience in handling the affairs -of half-breeds and Indians instructed him to read as from a printed page -what to others were meaningless and incoherent happenings, and above all -the officers of the Mounted Police, whose duty it was to preserve the -"pax Britannica" over some three hundred thousand square miles of Her -Majesty's dominions in this far northwest reach of Empire, these carried -night and day an uneasiness in their minds which found vent from time -to time in reports and telegraphic messages to members of Government and -other officials at headquarters, who slept on, however, undisturbed. But -the word was passed along the line of Police posts over the plains and -far out into British Columbia to watch for signs and to be on guard. The -Police paid little heed to the high-sounding resolutions of a few angry -excitable half-breeds, who, daring though they were and thoroughly able -to give a good account of themselves in any trouble that might arise, -were quite insignificant in number; but there was another peril, so -serious, so terrible, that the oldest officer on the force spoke of it -with face growing grave and with lowered voice--the peril of an Indian -uprising. - -All this and more made the trim orderly hesitate. A runner with news was -not to be kicked unceremoniously off the porch in these days, but to be -considered. - -"You want to see the Superintendent, eh?" - -"Oui, for sure--queeck--run ten mile," replied the half-breed with angry -impatience. - -"All right," said the orderly, "what's your name?" - -"Name? Me, Pinault--Pierre Pinault. Ah, sacr-r-e! Beeg Chief know -me--Pinault." The little man drew himself up. - -"All right! Wait!" replied the orderly, and passed into the shack. He -had hardly disappeared when he was back again, obviously shaken out of -his correct military form. - -"Go in!" he said sharply. "Get a move on! What are you waiting for?" - -The half-breed threw him a sidelong glance of contempt and passed -quickly into the "Beeg Chief's" presence. - -Superintendent Strong was a man prompt in decision and prompt in action, -a man of courage, too, unquestioned, and with that bulldog spirit that -sees things through to a finish. To these qualities it was that he owed -his present command, for it was no insignificant business to keep the -peace and to make the law run along the line of the Canadian Pacific -Railway through the Kicking Horse Pass during construction days. - -The half-breed had been but a few minutes with the Chief when the -orderly was again startled out of his military decorum by the -bursting open of the Superintendent's door and the sharp rattle of the -Superintendent's orders. - -"Send Sergeant Ferry to me at once and have my horse and his brought -round immediately!" The orderly sprang to attention and saluted. - -"Yes, sir!" he replied, and swiftly departed. - -A few minutes' conference with Sergeant Ferry, a few brief commands to -the orderly, and the Superintendent and Sergeant were on their way down -the steep hillside toward the tote-road that led eastward through the -pass. A half-hour's ride brought them to a trail that led off to the -south, into which the Superintendent, followed by the Sergeant, -turned his horse. Not a word was spoken by either man. It was not the -Superintendent's custom to share his plans with his subordinate officers -until it became necessary. "What you keep behind your teeth," was a -favorite maxim with the Superintendent, "will harm neither yourself nor -any other man." They were on the old Kootenay Trail, for a hundred years -and more the ancient pathway of barter and of war for the Indian tribes -that hunted the western plains and the foothill country and brought -their pelts to the coast by way of the Columbia River. Along the lower -levels the old trail ran, avoiding, with the sure instinct of a skilled -engineer, nature's obstacles, and taking full advantage of every sloping -hillside and every open stretch of woods. Now and then, however, the -trail must needs burrow through a deep thicket of spruce and jack pine -and scramble up a rocky ridge, where the horses, trained as they were in -mountain climbing, had all they could do to keep their feet. - -Ten miles and more they followed the tortuous trail, skirting mountain -peaks and burrowing through underbrush, scrambling up rocky ridges and -sliding down their farther sides, till they came to a park-like country -where from the grassy sward the big Douglas firs, trimmed clear of lower -growth and standing spaced apart, lifted on red and glistening trunks -their lofty crowns of tufted evergreen far above the lesser trees. - -As they approached the open country the Superintendent proceeded with -greater caution, pausing now and then to listen. - -"There ought to be a big powwow going on somewhere near," he said to his -Sergeant, "but I can hear nothing. Can you?" - -The Sergeant leaned over his horse's ears. - -"No, sir, not a sound." - -"And yet it can't be far away," growled the Superintendent. - -The trail led through the big firs and dipped into a little grassy -valley set round with thickets on every side. Into this open glade they -rode. The Superintendent was plainly disturbed and irritated; irritated -because surprised and puzzled. Where he had expected to find a big -Indian powwow he found only a quiet sunny glade in the midst of a silent -forest. Sergeant Ferry waited behind him in respectful silence, too wise -to offer any observation upon the situation. Hence in the Superintendent -grew a deeper irritation. - -"Well, I'll be--!" He paused abruptly. The Superintendent rarely used -profanity. He reserved this form of emphasis for supreme moments. He was -possessed of a dramatic temperament and appreciated at its full value -the effect of a climax. The climax had not yet arrived, hence his -self-control. - -"Exactly so," said the Sergeant, determined to be agreeable. - -"What's that?" - -"They don't seem to be here, sir," replied the Sergeant, staring up into -the trees. - -"Where?" cried the Superintendent, following the direction of the -Sergeant's eyes. "Do you suppose they're a lot of confounded monkeys?" - -"Exactly--that is--no, sir, not at all, sir. But--" - -"They were to have been here," said the Superintendent angrily. "My -information was most positive and trustworthy." - -"Exactly so, sir," replied the Sergeant. "But they haven't been here at -all!" The Superintendent impatiently glared at the Sergeant, as if he -were somehow responsible for this inexplicable failure upon the part of -the Indians. - -"Exactly--that is--no, sir. No sign. Not a sign." The Sergeant was most -emphatic. - -"Well, then, where in--where--?" The Superintendent felt himself rapidly -approaching an emotional climax and took himself back with a jerk. -"Well," he continued, with obvious self-control, "let's look about a -bit." - -With keen and practised eyes they searched the glade, and the forest -round about it, and the trails leading to it. - -"Not a sign," said the Superintendent emphatically, "and for the first -time in my experience Pinault is wrong--the very first time. He was dead -sure." - -"Pinault--generally right, sir," observed the Sergeant. - -"Always." - -"Exactly so. But this time--" - -"He's been fooled," declared the Superintendent. "A big sun dance was -planned for this identical spot. They were all to be here, every tribe -represented, the Stonies even had been drawn into it, some of the young -bloods I suppose. And, more than that, the Sioux from across the line." - -"The Sioux, eh?" said the Sergeant. "I didn't know the Sioux were in -this." - -"Ah, perhaps not, but I have information that the Sioux--in fact--" here -the Superintendent dropped his voice and unconsciously glanced about -him, "the Sioux are very much in this, and old Copperhead himself is the -moving spirit of the whole business." - -"Copperhead!" exclaimed the Sergeant in an equally subdued tone. - -"Yes, sir, that old devil is taking a hand in the game. My information -was that he was to have been here to-day, and, by the Lord Harry! if -he had been we would have put him where the dogs wouldn't bite him. The -thing is growing serious." - -"Serious!" exclaimed the Sergeant in unwonted excitement. "You -just bet--that is exactly so, sir. Why the Sioux must be good for a -thousand." - -"A thousand!" exclaimed the Superintendent. "I've the most positive -information that the Sioux could place in the war path two thousand -fighting-men inside of a month. And old Copperhead is at the bottom -of it all. We want that old snake, and we want him badly." And the -Superintendent swung on to his horse and set off on the return trip. - -"Well, sir, we generally get what we want in that way," volunteered the -Sergeant, following his chief. - -"We do--in the long run. But in this same old Copperhead we have the -acutest Indian brain in all the western country. Sitting Bull was a -fighter, Copperhead is a schemer." - -They rode in silence, the Sergeant busy with a dozen schemes whereby -he might lay old Copperhead by the heels; the Superintendent planning -likewise. But in the Superintendent's plans the Sergeant had no place. -The capture of the great Sioux schemer must be entrusted to a cooler -head than that of the impulsive, daring, loyal-hearted Sergeant. - - - -CHAPTER II - -HIS COUNTRY'S NEED - - -For full five miles they rode in unbroken silence, the Superintendent -going before with head pressed down on his breast and eyes fixed upon -the winding trail. A heavy load lay upon him. True, his immediate sphere -of duty lay along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, but as an -officer of Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police he shared with the -other officers of that force the full responsibility of holding in -steadfast loyalty the tribes of Western Indians. His knowledge of the -presence in the country of the arch-plotter of the powerful and warlike -Sioux from across the line entailed a new burden. Well he knew that his -superior officer would simply expect him to deal with the situation in -a satisfactory manner. But how, was the puzzle. A mere handful of men -he had under his immediate command and these dispersed in ones and twos -along the line of railway, and not one of them fit to cope with the -cunning and daring Sioux. - -With startling abruptness he gave utterance to his thoughts. - -"We must get him--and quick. Things are moving too rapidly for any -delay. The truth is," he continued, with a deepening impatience in his -voice, "the truth is we are short-handed. We ought to be able to patrol -every trail in this country. That old villain has fooled us to-day and -he'll fool us again. And he has fooled Pinault, the smartest breed we've -got. He's far too clever to be around loose among our Indians." - -Again they rode along in silence, the Superintendent thinking deeply. - -"I know where he is!" he exclaimed suddenly, pulling up his horse. "I -know where he is--this blessed minute. He's on the Sun Dance Trail -and in the Sun Dance Canyon, and they're having the biggest kind of a -powwow." - -"The Sun Dance!" echoed the Sergeant. "By Jove, if only Sergeant Cameron -were on this job! He knows the Sun Dance inside and out, every foot." - -The Superintendent swung his horse sharply round to face his Sergeant. - -"Cameron!" he exclaimed thoughtfully. "Cameron! I believe you're right. -He's the man--the very man. But," he added with sudden remembrance, -"he's left the Force." - -"Left the Force, sir. Yes, sir," echoed the Sergeant with a grin. "He -appeared to have a fairly good reason, too." - -"Reason!" snorted the Superintendent. "Reason! What in--? What did he--? -Why did he pull off that fool stunt at this particular time? A kid like -him has no business getting married." - -"Mighty fine girl, sir," suggested the Sergeant warmly. "Mighty lucky -chap. Not many fellows could resist such a sharp attack as he had." - -"Fine girl! Oh, of course, of course--fine girl certainly. Fine girl. -But what's that got to do with it?" - -"Well, sir," ventured the Sergeant in a tone of surprise, "a good deal, -sir, I should say. By Jove, sir, I could have--if I could have pulled it -off myself--but of course she was an old flame of Cameron's and I'd no -chance." - -"But the Service, sir!" exclaimed the Superintendent with growing -indignation. "The Service! Why! Cameron was right in line for promotion. -He had the making of a most useful officer. And with this trouble coming -on it was--it was--a highly foolish, indeed a highly reprehensible -proceeding, sir." The Superintendent was rapidly mounting his pet hobby, -which was the Force in which he had the honor to be an officer, the -far-famed North West Mounted Police. For the Service he had sacrificed -everything in life, ease, wealth, home, yes, even wife and family, to -a certain extent. With him the Force was a passion. For it he lived and -breathed. That anyone should desert it for any cause soever was to him -an act unexplainable. He almost reckoned it treason. - -But the question was one that touched the Sergeant as well, and deeply. -Hence, though he well knew his Chief's dominant passion, he ventured an -argument. - -"A mighty fine girl, sir, something very special. She saw me through a -mountain fever once, and I know--" - -"Oh, the deuce take it, Sergeant! The girl is all right. I grant you all -that. But is that any reason why a man should desert the Force? And now -of all times? He's only a kid. So is she. She can't be twenty-five." - -"Twenty-five? Good Lord, no!" exclaimed the shocked Sergeant. "She isn't -a day over twenty. Why, look at her. She's--" - -"Oh, tut-tut! If she's twenty it makes it all the worse. Why couldn't -they wait till this fuss was over? Why, sir, when I was twenty--" The -Superintendent paused abruptly. - -"Yes, sir?" The Sergeant's manner was respectful and expectant. - -"Never mind," said the Superintendent. "Why rush the thing, I say?" - -"Well, sir, I did hear that there was a sudden change in Cameron's -home affairs in Scotland, sir. His father died suddenly, I believe. The -estate was sold up and his sister, the only other child, was left all -alone. Cameron felt it necessary to get a home together--though I don't -suppose he needed any excuse. Never saw a man so hard hit myself." - -"Except yourself, Sergeant, eh?" said the Superintendent, relaxing into -a grim smile. - -"Oh, well, of course, sir, I'm not going to deny it. But you see," -continued the Sergeant, his pride being touched, "he had known her -down East--worked on her father's farm--young gentleman--fresh from -college--culture, you know, manner--style and that sort of thing--rushed -her clean off her feet." - -"I thought you said it was Cameron who was the one hard hit?" - -"So it was, sir. Hadn't seen her for a couple of years or so. Left her a -country lass, uncouth, ignorant--at least so they say." - -"Who say?" - -"Well, her friends--Dr. Martin and the nurse at the hospital. But I -can't believe them, simply impossible. That this girl two years -ago should have been an ignorant, clumsy, uncouth country lass is -impossible. However, Cameron came on her here, transfigured, glorified -so to speak, consequently fell over neck in love, went quite batty in -fact. A secret flame apparently smoldering all these months suddenly -burst into a blaze--a blaze, by Jove!--regular conflagration. And no -wonder, sir, when you look at her, her face, her form, her style--" - -"Oh, come, Sergeant, we'll move on. Let's keep at the business in hand. -The question is what's to do. That old snake Copperhead is three hundred -miles from here on the Sun Dance, plotting hell for this country, and -we want him. As you say, Cameron's our man. I wonder," continued the -Superintendent after a pause, "I wonder if we could get him." - -"I should say certainly not!" replied the Sergeant promptly. "He's only -a few months married, sir." - -"He might," mused the Superintendent, "if it were properly put to him. -It would be a great thing for the Service. He's the man. By the Lord -Harry, he's the only man! In short," with a resounding whack upon his -thigh, "he has got to come. The situation is too serious for trifling." - -"Trifling?" said the Sergeant to himself in undertone. - -"We'll go for him. We'll send for him." The Superintendent turned and -glanced at his companion. - -"Not me, sir, I hope. You can quite see, sir, I'd be a mighty poor -advocate. Couldn't face those blue eyes, sir. They make me grow quite -weak. Chills and fever--in short, temporary delirium." - -"Oh, well, Sergeant," replied the Superintendent, "if it's as bad as -that--" - -"You don't know her, sir. Those eyes! They can burn in blue flame or -melt in--" - -"Oh, yes, yes, I've no doubt." The Superintendent's voice had a touch of -pity, if not contempt. "We won't expose you, Sergeant. But all the same -we'll make a try for Cameron." His voice grew stern. His lips drew to a -line. "And we'll get him." - -The Sergeant's horse took a sudden plunge forward. - -"Here, you beast!" he cried, with a fierce oath. "Come back here! What's -the matter with you?" He threw the animal back on his haunches with a -savage jerk, a most unaccustomed thing with the Sergeant. - -"Yes," pursued the Superintendent, "the situation demands it. Cameron's -the man. It's his old stamping-ground. He knows every twist of its -trails. And he's a wonder, a genius for handling just such a business as -this." - -The Sergeant made no reply. He was apparently having some trouble with -his horse. - -"Of course," continued the Superintendent, with a glance at his -Sergeant's face, "it's hard on her, but--" dismissing that feature of -the case lightly--"in a situation like this everything must give way. -The latest news is exceedingly grave. The trouble along the Saskatchewan -looks to me exceedingly serious. These half-breeds there have real -grievances. I know them well, excitable, turbulent in their spirits, -uncontrollable, but easily handled if decently treated. They've sent -their petitions again and again to Ottawa, and here are these Members -of Parliament making fool speeches, and the Government pooh-poohing the -whole movement, and meantime Riel orating and organizing." - -"Riel? Who's he?" inquired the Sergeant. - -"Riel? You don't know Riel? That's what comes of being an island-bred -Britisher. You people know nothing outside your own little two by four -patch on the world's map. Haven't you heard of Riel?" - -"Oh, yes, by the way, I've heard about the Johnny. Mixed up in something -before in this country, wasn't he?" - -"Well, rather! The rebel leader of 1870. Cost us some considerable -trouble, too. There's bound to be mischief where that hair-brained -four-flusher gets a crowd to listen to him. For egoist though he is, he -possesses a wonderful power over the half-breeds. He knows how to work. -And somehow, too, they're suspicious of all Canadians, as they call the -new settlers from the East, ready to believe anything they're told, and -with plenty of courage to risk a row." - -"What's the row about, anyway?" inquired the Sergeant. "I could never -quite get it." - -"Oh, there are many causes. These half-breeds are squatters, many of -them. They have introduced the same system of survey on the Saskatchewan -as their ancestors had on the St. Lawrence, and later on the Red, the -system of 'Strip Farms.' That is, farms with narrow fronts upon the -river and extending back from a mile to four miles, a poor arrangement -for farming but mighty fine for social purposes. I tell you, it takes -the loneliness and isolation out of pioneer life. I've lived among them, -and the strip-farm survey possesses distinct social advantages. You -have two rows of houses a few rods apart, and between them the river, -affording an ice roadway in the winter and a waterway in the summer. -And to see a flotilla of canoes full of young people, with fiddles and -concertinas going, paddle down the river on their way to a neighbor's -house for a dance, is something to remember. For my part I don't wonder -that these people resent the action of the Government in introducing -a completely new survey without saying 'by your leave.' There are -troubles, too, about their land patents." - -"How many of these half-breeds are there anyway?" - -"Well, only a few hundreds I should say. But it isn't the half-breeds we -fear. The mischief of it is they have been sending runners all through -this country to their red-skin friends and relatives, holding out all -sorts of promises, the restoration of their hunting grounds to the -Indians, the establishing of an empire of the North, from which the -white race shall be excluded. I've heard them. Just enough truth and -sense in the whole mad scheme to appeal to the Indian mind. The older -men, the chiefs, are quiet so far, but the young braves are getting out -of hand. You see they have no longer their ancient excitement of war and -the chase. Life has grown monotonous, to the young men especially, on -the reserves. They are chafing under control, and the prospect of a -fight appeals to them. In every tribe sun dances are being held, -braves are being made, and from across the other side weapons are being -introduced. And now that this old snake Copperhead has crossed the -line the thing takes an ugly look. He's undeniably brainy, a fearless -fighter, an extraordinary organizer, has great influence with his own -people and is greatly respected among our tribes. If an Indian war -should break out with Copperhead running it--well--! That's why it's -important to get this old devil. And it must be done quietly. Any -movement in force on our part would set the prairie on fire. The thing -has got to be done by one or two men. That's why we must have Cameron." - -In spite of his indignation the Sergeant was impressed. Never had he -heard his Chief discourse at such length, and never had he heard -his Chief use the word "danger." It began to dawn upon his mind that -possibly it might not be such a crime as he had at first considered it -to lure Cameron away from his newly made home and his newly wedded wife -to do this bit of service for his country in an hour of serious if not -desperate need. - - - -CHAPTER III - -A-FISHING WE WILL GO - - -But Sergeant Cameron was done with the Service for ever. An accumulating -current of events had swept him from his place in the Force, as an -unheeding traveler crossing a mountain torrent is swept from his feet -by a raging freshet. The sudden blazing of his smoldering love into a -consuming flame for the clumsy country girl, for whom two years ago he -had cherished a pitying affection, threw up upon the horizon of his life -and into startling clearness a new and absorbing objective. In one brief -quarter of an hour his life had gathered itself into a single purpose; a -purpose, to wit, to make a home to which he might bring this girl he had -come to love with such swift and fierce intensity, to make a home for -her where she could be his own, and for ever. All the vehement passion -of his Highland nature was concentrated upon the accomplishing of -this purpose. That he should ever have come to love Mandy Haley, the -overworked slattern on her father's Ontario farm, while a thing of -wonder, was not the chief wonder to him. His wonder now was that he -should ever have been so besottedly dull of wit and so stupidly unseeing -as to allow the unlovely exterior of the girl to hide the radiant soul -within. That in two brief years she had transformed herself into a woman -of such perfectly balanced efficiency in her profession as nurse, and a -creature of such fascinating comeliness, was only another proof of his -own insensate egotism, and another proof, too, of those rare powers that -slumbered in the girl's soul unknown to herself and to her world. Small -wonder that with her unfolding Cameron's whole world should become new. - -Hard upon this experience the unexpected news of his father's death and -of the consequent winding up of the tangled affairs of the estate threw -upon Cameron the responsibility of caring for his young sister, now left -alone in the Homeland, except for distant kindred of whom they had but -slight knowledge. - -A home was immediately and imperatively necessary, and hence he must at -once, as a preliminary, be married. Cameron fortunately remembered that -young Fraser, whom he had known in his Fort Macleod days, was dead keen -to get rid of the "Big Horn Ranch." This ranch lay nestling cozily among -the foothills and in sight of the towering peaks of the Rockies, and was -so well watered with little lakes and streams that when his eyes fell -upon it Cameron was conscious of a sharp pang of homesickness, so -suggestive was it of the beloved Glen Cuagh Oir of his own Homeland. -There would be a thousand pounds or more left from his father's estate. -Everybody said it was a safe, indeed a most profitable investment. - -A week's leave of absence sufficed for Cameron to close the deal with -Fraser, a reckless and gallant young Highlander, whose chivalrous soul, -kindling at Cameron's romantic story, prompted a generous reduction -in the price of the ranch and its outfit complete. Hence when Mandy's -shrewd and experienced head had scanned the contract and cast up the -inventory of steers and horses, with pigs and poultry thrown in, and had -found nothing amiss with the deal--indeed it was rather better than she -had hoped--there was no holding of Cameron any longer. Married he would -be and without delay. - -The only drag in the proceedings had come from the Superintendent, who, -on getting wind of Cameron's purpose, had thought, by promptly promoting -him from Corporal to Sergeant, to tie him more tightly to the Service -and hold him, if only for a few months, "till this trouble should blow -over." But Cameron knew of no trouble. The trouble was only in the -Superintendent's mind, or indeed was only a shrewd scheme to hold -Cameron to his duty. A rancher he would be, and a famous rancher's -wife Mandy would make. And as for his sister Moira, had she not highly -specialized in pigs and poultry on the old home farm at the Cuagh Oir? -There was no stopping the resistless rush of his passionate purpose. -Everything combined to urge him on. Even his college mate and one time -football comrade of the old Edinburgh days, the wise, cool-headed Dr. -Martin, now in charge of the Canadian Pacific Railway Hospital, as -also the little nurse who, through those momentous months of Mandy's -transforming, had been to her guide, philosopher and friend, both had -agreed that there was no good reason for delay. True, Cameron had no -means of getting inside the doctor's mind and therefore had no knowledge -of the vision that came nightly to torment him in his dreams and the -memory that came daily to haunt his waking hours; a vision and a memory -of a trim little figure in a blue serge gown, of eyes brown, now sunny -with laughing light, now soft with unshed tears, of hair that got itself -into a most bewildering perplexity of waves and curls, of lips curving -deliciously, of a voice with a wonderfully soft Highland accent; the -vision and memory of Moira, Cameron's sister, as she had appeared to him -in the Glen Cuagh Oir at her father's door. Had Cameron known of this -tormenting vision and this haunting memory he might have questioned -the perfect sincerity of his friend's counsel. But Dr. Martin kept his -secret well and none shared with him his visions and his dreams. - -So there had been only the Superintendent to oppose. - -Hence, because no really valid objection could be offered, the marriage -was made. And with much shrieking of engines--it seemed as if all the -engines with their crews within a hundred miles had gathered to the -celebration--with loud thunder of exploding torpedoes, with tumultuous -cheering of the construction gangs hauled thither on gravel trains, -with congratulations of railroad officials and of the doctor, with the -tearful smiles of the little nurse, and with grudging but finally hearty -good wishes of the Superintendent, they had ridden off down the Kootenay -Trail for their honeymoon, on their way to the Big Horn Ranch some -hundreds of miles across the mountains. - -There on the Big Horn Ranch through the long summer days together they -rode the ranges after the cattle, cooking their food in the open and -camping under the stars where night found them, care-free and deeply -happy, drinking long full draughts of that mingled wine of life into -which health and youth and love and God's sweet sun and air poured their -rare vintage. The world was far away and quite forgotten. - -Summer deepened into autumn, the fall round-up was approaching, and -there came a September day of such limpid light and such nippy sprightly -air as to suggest to Mandy nothing less than a holiday. - -"Let's strike!" she cried to her husband, as she looked out toward -the rolling hills and the overtopping peaks shining clear in the early -morning light. "Let's strike and go a-fishing." - -Her husband let his eyes wander over the full curves of her strong and -supple body and rest upon the face, brown and wholesome, lit with her -deep blue eyes and crowned with the red-gold masses of her hair, and -exclaimed: - -"You need a holiday, Mandy. I can see it in the drooping lines of your -figure, and in the paling of your cheeks. In short," moving toward her, -"you need some one to care for you." - -"Not just at this moment, young man," she cried, darting round the -table. "But, come, what do you say to a day's fishing away up the Little -Horn?" - -"The Little Horn?" - -"Yes, you know the little creek running into the Big Horn away up the -gulch where we went one day in the spring. You said there were fish -there." - -"Yes, but why 'Little Horn,' pray? And who calls it so? I suppose you -know that the Big Horn gets its name from the Big Horn, the mountain -sheep that once roamed the rocks yonder, and in that sense there's no -Little Horn." - -"Well, 'Little Horn' I call it," said his wife, "and shall. And if -the big stream is the Big Horn, surely the little stream should be the -Little Horn. But what about the fishing? Is it a go?" - -"Well, rather! Get the grub, as your Canadian speech hath it." - -"My Canadian speech!" echoed his wife scornfully. "You're just as much -Canadian as I am." - -"And I shall get the ponies. Half an hour will do for me." - -"And less for me," cried Mandy, dancing off to her work. - -And she was right. For, clever housekeeper that she was, she stood with -her hamper packed and the fishing tackle ready long before her husband -appeared with the ponies. - -The trail led steadily upward through winding valleys, but for the most -part along the Big Horn, till as it neared a scraggy pine-wood it bore -sharply to the left, and, clambering round an immense shoulder of rock, -it emerged upon a long and comparatively level ridge of land that rolled -in gentle undulations down into a wide park-like valley set out with -clumps of birch and poplar, with here and there the shimmer of a lake -showing between the yellow and brown of the leaves. - -"Oh, what a picture!" cried Mandy, reining up her pony. "What a ranch -that would make, Allan! Who owns it? Why did we never come this way -before?" - -"Piegan Reserve," said her husband briefly. - -"How beautiful! How did they get this particular bit?" - -"They gave up a lot for it," said Cameron drily. - -"But think, such a lovely bit of country for a few Indians! How many are -there?" - -"Some hundreds. Five hundred or so. And a tricky bunch they are. They're -over-fond of cattle to be really desirable neighbors." - -"Well, I think it rather a pity!" - -"Look yonder!" cried her husband, sweeping his arm toward the eastern -horizon. From the height on which they stood a wonderful panorama of -hill and valley, river, lake and plain lay spread out before them. "All -that and for nine hundred miles beyond that line these Indians and their -kin gave up to us under persuasion. There was something due them, eh? -Let's move on." - -For a mile or more the trail ran along the high plateau skirting the -Piegan Reserve, where it branched sharply to the right. Cameron paused. - -"You see that trail?" pointing to the branch that led to the left and -downward into the valley. "That is one of the oldest and most famous -of all Indian trails. It strikes down through the Crow's Nest Pass and -beyond the pass joins the ancient Sun Dance Trail. That's my old beat. -And weird things are a-doing along that same old Sun Dance Trail this -blessed minute or I miss my guess. I venture to say that this old trail -has often been marked with blood from end to end in the fierce old -days." - -"Let's go," said Mandy, with a shudder, and, turning her pony to the -right, she took the trail that led them down from the plateau, plunged -into a valley, wound among rocks and thickets of pine till it reached a -tumbling mountain torrent of gray-blue water, fed from glaciers high up -between the great peaks beyond. - -"My Little Horn!" cried Mandy with delight. - -Down by its rushing water they scrambled till they came to a sunny glade -where the little fretful torrent pitched itself headlong into a deep -shady pool, whence, as if rested in those quiet deeps, it issued at -first with gentle murmuring till, out of earshot of the pool, it broke -again into turbulent raging, brawling its way to the Big Horn below. - -Mandy could hardly wait for the unloading and tethering of the ponies. - -"Now," she cried, when all was ready, "for my very first fish. How shall -I fling this hook and where?" - -"Try a cast yonder, just beside that overhanging willow. Don't splash! -Try again--drop it lightly. That's better. Don't tell me you've never -cast a fly before." - -"Never in my life." - -"Let it float down a bit. Now back. Hold it up and let it dance there. -I'll just have a pipe." - -But next moment Cameron's pipe was forgotten. With a shout he sprang to -his wife's side. - -"By Jove, you've got him!" - -"No! No! Leave me alone! Just tell me what to do. Go away! Don't touch -me! Oh-h-h! He's gone!" - -"Not a bit. Reel him up--reel him up a little." - -"Oh, I can't reel the thing! Oh! Oh-h-h! Is he gone?" - -"Hold up. Don't haul him too quickly--keep him playing. Wait till I get -the net." He rushed for the landing net. - -"Oh, he's gone! He's gone! Oh, I'm so mad!" She stamped savagely on the -grass. "He was a monster." - -"They always are," said her husband gravely. "The fellows that get off, -I mean." - -"Now you're just laughing at me, and I won't have it! I could just sit -down and cry! My very first fish!" - -"Never mind, Mandy, we'll get him or just as good a one again." - -"Never! He'll never bite again. He isn't such a fool." - -"Well, they do. They're just like the rest of us. They keep nibbling -till they get caught; else there would be no fun in fishing or in--Now -try another throw--same place--a little farther down. Ah! That was a -fine cast. Once more. No, no, not that way. Flip it lightly and if you -ever get a bite hold your rod so. See? Press the end against your body -so that you can reel your fish in. And don't hurry these big fellows. -You lose them and you lose your fun." - -"I don't want the fun," cried Mandy, "but I do want that fish and I'm -going to get him." - -"By Jove, I believe you just will!" The young man's dark eyes flashed an -admiring glance over the strong, supple, swaying figure of the girl -at his side, whose every move, as she cast her fly, seemed specially -designed to reveal some new combination of the graceful curves of her -well-knit body. - -"Keep flicking there. You'll get him. He's just sulking. If he only -knew, he'd hurry up." - -"Knew what?" - -"Who was fishing for him." - -"Oh! Oh! I've got him." The girl was dancing excitedly along the bank. -"No! Oh, what a wretch! He's gone. Now if I get him you tell me what to -do, but don't touch me." - -"All you have to do is to hold him steady at the first. Keep your line -fairly tight. If he begins to plunge, give him line. If he slacks, reel -in. Keep him nice and steady, just like a horse on the bit." - -"Oh, why didn't you tell me before? I know exactly what that means--just -like a colt, eh? I can handle a colt." - -"Exactly! Now try lower down--let your fly float down a bit--there." - -Again there was a wild shriek from the girl. - -"Oh, I've got him sure! Now get the net." - -"Don't jump about so! Steady now--steady--that's better. Fine! Fine -work! Let him go a bit--no, check--wind him up. Look out! Not too quick! -Fine! Oh! Look out! Get him away from that jam! Reel him up! Quick! Now -play him! Let me help you." - -"Don't you dare touch this rod, Allan Cameron, or there'll be trouble!" - -"Quite right--pardon me--quite right. Steady! You'll get him sure. And -he's a beauty, a perfect Rainbow beauty." - -"Keep quiet, now," admonished Mandy. "Don't shout so. Tell me quietly -what to do." - -"Do as you like. You can handle him. Just watch and wait--feel him all -the time. Ah-h-h! For Heaven's sake don't let him into that jam! There -he goes up stream! That's better! Good!" - -"Don't get so excited! Don't yell so!" again admonished Mandy. "Tell me -quietly." - -"Quietly? Who's yelling, I'd like to know? Who's excited? I won't say -another word. I'll get the landing-net ready for the final act." - -"Don't leave me! Tell me just what to do. He's getting tired, I think." - -"Watch him close. Wind him up a bit. Get all the line in you can. -Steady! Let go! Let go! Let him run! Now wind him again. Wait, hold him -so, just a moment--a little nearer! Hurrah! Hurrah! I've got him and -he's a beauty--a perfectly typical Rainbow trout." - -"Oh, you beauty!" cried Mandy, down on her knees beside the trout that -lay flapping on the grass. "What a shame! Oh, what a shame! Oh, put him -in again, Allan, I don't want him. Poor dear, what a shame." - -"But we must weigh him, you see," remonstrated her husband. "And we need -him for tea, you know. He really doesn't feel it much. There are lots -more. Try another cast. I'll attend to this chap." - -"I feel just like a murderer," said Mandy. "But isn't it glorious? Well, -I'll just try one more. Aren't you going to get your rod out too?" - -"Well, rather! What a pool, all unspoiled, all unfished!" - -"Does no one fish up here?" - -"Yes, the Police come at times from the Fort. And Wyckham, our neighbor. -And old man Thatcher, a born angler, though he says it's not sport, but -murder." - -"Why not sport?" - -"Why? Old Thatcher said to me one day, 'Them fish would climb a tree to -get at your hook. That ain't no sport.'" - -But sport, and noble sport, they found it through the long afternoon, -so that, when through the scraggy pines the sun began to show red in the -western sky, a score or more lusty, glittering, speckled Rainbow trout -lay on the grass beside the shady pool. - -Tired with their sport, they lay upon the grassy sward, luxuriating in -the warm sun. - -"Now, Allan," cried Mandy, "I'll make tea ready if you get some wood for -the fire. You ought to be thankful I taught you how to use the ax. Do -you remember?" - -"Thankful? Well, I should say. Do YOU remember that day, Mandy?" - -"Remember!" cried the girl, with horror in her tone. "Oh, don't speak of -it. It's too awful to think of." - -"Awful what?" - -"Ugh!" she shuddered, "I can't bear to think of it. I wish you could -forget." - -"Forget what?" - -"What? How can you ask? That awful, horrid, uncouth, sloppy girl." Again -Mandy shuddered. "Those hands, big, coarse, red, ugly." - -"Yes," cried Allan savagely, "the badge of slavery for a whole household -of folk too ignorant to know the price that was being paid for the -service rendered them." - -"And the hair," continued Mandy relentlessly, "uncombed, filthy, horrid. -And the dress, and--" - -"Stop it!" cried Allan peremptorily. - -"No, let me go on. The stupid face, the ignorant mind, the uncouth -speech, the vulgar manners. Oh, I loathe the picture, and I wonder you -can ever bear to look at her again. And, oh, I wish you could forget." - -"Forget!" The young man's lean, swarthy face seemed to light up with the -deep glowing fires in his dark eyes. His voice grew vibrant. "Forget! -Never while I live. Do you know what _I_ remember?" - -"Ah, spare me!" moaned his wife, putting her hands over his mouth. - -"Do you know what _I_ remember?" he repeated, pulling her hands away and -holding them fast. "A girl with hands, face, hair, form, dress, manners -damned to coarseness by a cruel environment? That? No! No! To-day as -I look back I remember only two blue eyes, deep, deep as wells, soft, -blue, and wonderfully kind. And I remember all through those days--and -hard days they were to a green young fool fresh from the Old Country -trying to keep pace with your farm-bred demon-worker Perkins--I remember -all through those days a girl that never was too tired with her own -unending toil to think of others, and especially to help out with many -a kindness a home-sick, hand-sore, foot-sore stranger who hardly knew a -buck-saw from a turnip hoe, and was equally strange to the uses of both, -a girl that feared no shame nor harm in showing her kindness. That's -what I remember. A girl that made life bearable to a young fool, too -proud to recognize his own limitations, too blind to see the gifts the -gods were flinging at him. Oh, what a fool I was with my silly pride of -family, of superior education and breeding, and with no eye for the -pure gold of as true and loyal a soul as ever offered itself in daily -unmurmuring sacrifice for others, and without a thought of sacrifice. -Fool and dolt! A self-sufficient prig! That's what I remember." - -The girl tore her hands away from him. - -"Ah, Allan, my boy," she cried with a shrill and scornful laugh that -broke at the end, "how foolishly you talk! And yet I love to hear -you talk so. I love to hear you. But, oh, let me tell you what else I -remember of those days!" - -"No, no, I will not listen. It's all nonsense." - -"Nonsense! Ah, Allan! Let me tell you this once." She put her hands upon -his shoulders and looked steadily into his eyes. "Let me tell you. I've -never told you once during these six happy months--oh, how happy, I fear -to think how happy, too much joy, too deep, too wonderful, I'm afraid -sometimes--but let me tell you what I see, looking back into those old -days--how far away they seem already and not yet three years past--I -see a lad so strange, so unlike all I had known, a gallant lad, a very -knight for grace and gentleness, strong and patient and brave, not -afraid--ah, that caught me--nothing could make him afraid, not Perkins, -the brutal bully, not big Mack himself. And this young lad, beating them -all in the things men love to do, running, the hammer--and--and fighting -too!--Oh, laddie, laddie, how often did I hold my hands over my heart -for fear it would burst for pride in you! How often did I check back my -tears for very joy of loving you! How often did I find myself sick with -the agony of fear that you should go away from me forever! And then you -went away, oh, so kindly, so kindly pitiful, your pity stabbing my heart -with every throb. Why do I tell you this to-day? Let me go through it. -But it was this very pity stabbing me that awoke in me the resolve that -one day you would not need to pity me. And then, then I fled from the -farm and all its dreadful surroundings. And the nurse and Dr. Martin, -oh how good they were! And all of them helped me. They taught me. -They scolded me. They were never tired telling me. And with that -flame burning in my soul all that outer, horrid, awful husk seemed to -disappear and I escaped, I became all new." - -"You became yourself, yourself, your glorious, splendid, beautiful -self!" shouted Allan, throwing his arms around her. "And then I found -you again. Thank God, I found you! And found you for keeps, mine -forever. Think of that!" - -"Forever." Mandy shuddered again. "Oh, Allan, I'm somehow afraid. This -joy is too great." - -"Yes, forever," said Allan again, but more quietly, "for love will last -forever." - -Together they sat upon the grass, needing no words to speak the joy that -filled their souls to overflowing. Suddenly Mandy sprang to her feet. - -"Now, let me go, for within an hour we must be away. Oh, what a day -we've had, Allan, one of the very best days in all my life! You know -I've never been able to talk of the past to you, but to-day somehow I -could not rest till I had gone through with it all." - -"Yes, it's been a great day," said Allan, "a wonderful day, a day -we shall always remember." Then after a silence, "Now for a fire and -supper. You're right. In an hour we must be gone, for we are a long way -from home. But, think of it, Mandy, we're going HOME. I can't quite get -used to that!" - -And in an hour, riding close as lovers ride, they took the trail to -their home ten miles away. - - - -CHAPTER IV - -THE BIG CHIEF - - -When on the return journey they arrived upon the plateau skirting the -Piegan Reserve the sun's rays were falling in shafts of slanting light -upon the rounded hilltops before them and touching with purple the great -peaks behind them. The valleys were full of shadows, deep and blue. The -broad plains that opened here and there between the rounded hills were -still bathed in the mellow light of the westering sun. - -"We will keep out a bit from the Reserve," said Cameron, taking a trail -that led off to the left. "These Piegans are none too friendly. I've had -to deal with them a few times about my straying steers in a way which -they are inclined to resent. This half-breed business is making them all -restless and a good deal too impertinent." - -"There's not any real danger, is there?" inquired his wife. "The Police -can handle them quite well, can't they?" - -"If you were a silly hysterical girl, Mandy, I would say 'no danger' of -course. But the signs are ominous. I don't fear anything immediately, -but any moment a change may come and then we shall need to act quickly." - -"What then?" - -"We shall ride to the Fort, I can tell you, without waiting to take our -stuff with us. I take no chances now." - -"Now? Meaning?" - -"Meaning my wife, that's all. I never thought to fear an Indian, but, by -Jove! since I've got you, Mandy, they make me nervous." - -"But these Piegans are such--" - -"The Piegans are Indians, plain Indians, deprived of the privilege of -war by our North West Mounted Police regulations and of the excitement -of the chase by our ever approaching civilization, and the younger -bloods would undoubtedly welcome a 'bit of a divarshun,' as your friend -Mike would say. At present the Indians are simply watching and waiting." - -"What for?" - -"News. To see which way the cat jumps. Then--Steady, Ginger! What the -deuce! Whoa, I say! Hold hard, Mandy." - -"What's the matter with them?" - -"There's something in the bushes yonder. Coyote, probably. Listen!" - -There came from a thick clump of poplars a low, moaning cry. - -"What's that?" cried Mandy. "It sounds like a man." - -"Stay where you are. I'll ride in." - -In a few moments she heard his voice calling. - -"Come along! Hurry up!" - -A young Indian lad of about seventeen, ghastly under his copper skin -and faint from loss of blood, lay with his ankle held in a powerful -wolf-trap, a bloody knife at his side. With a cry Mandy was off her -horse and beside him, the instincts of the trained nurse rousing her to -action. - -"Good Heavens! What a mess!" cried Cameron, looking helplessly upon the -bloody and mangled leg. - -"Get a pail of water and get a fire going, Allan," she cried. "Quick!" - -"Well, first this trap ought to be taken off, I should say." - -"Quite right," she cried. "Hurry!" - -Taking his ax from their camp outfit, he cut down a sapling, and, using -it as a lever, soon released the foot. - -"How did all this mangling come?" said Mandy, gazing at the limb, the -flesh and skin of which were hanging in shreds about the ankle. - -"Cutting it off, weren't you?" said Allan. - -The Indian nodded. - -Mandy lifted the foot up. - -"Broken, I should say." - -The Indian uttered not a sound. - -"Run," she continued. "Bring a pail of water and get a fire going." - -Allan was soon back with the pail of water. - -"Me--water," moaned the Indian, pointing to the pail. Allan held it -to his lips and he drank long and deep. In a short time the fire was -blazing and the tea pail slung over it. - -"If I only had my kit here!" said Mandy. "This torn flesh and skin ought -to be all cut away." - -"Oh, I say, Mandy, you can't do that. We'll get the Police doctor!" said -Allan in a tone of horrified disgust. - -But Mandy was feeling the edge of the Indian's knife. - -"Sharp enough," she said to herself. "These ragged edges are just -reeking with poison. Can you stand it if I cut these bits off?" she said -to the Indian. - -"Huh!" he replied with a grunt of contempt. "No hurt." - -"Mandy, you can't do this! It makes me sick to see you," said her -husband. - -The Indian glanced with scorn at him, caught the knife out of Mandy's -hand, took up a flap of lacerated flesh and cut it clean away. - -"Huh! No-t'ing." - -Mandy took the knife from him, and, after boiling it for a few minutes, -proceeded to cut away the ragged, mangled flesh and skin. The Indian -never winced. He lay with eyes closed, and so pallid was his face and so -perfectly motionless his limbs that he might have been dead. With deft -hands she cleansed the wounds. - -"Now, Allan, you must help me. We must have splints for this ankle." - -"How would birch-bark do?" he suggested. - -"No, it's too flimsy." - -"The heavy inner rind is fairly stiff." He ran to a tree and hacked off -a piece. - -"Yes, that will do splendidly. Get some about so long." - -Half an hour's work, and the wounded limb lay cleansed, bandaged, packed -in soft moss and bound in splints. - -"That's great, Mandy!" exclaimed her husband. "Even to my untutored eyes -that looks like an artistic bit of work. You're a wonder." - -"Huh!" grunted the Indian. "Good!" His piercing black eyes were lifted -suddenly to her face with such a look of gratitude as is seen in the -eyes of dumb brutes or of men deprived of speech. - -"Good!" echoed Allan. "You're just right, my boy. I couldn't have done -it, I assure you." - -"Huh!" grunted the Indian in eloquent contempt. "No good," pointing -to the man. "Good," pointing to the woman. "Me--no--forget." He lifted -himself upon his elbow, and, pointing to the sun like a red eye glaring -in upon them through a vista of woods and hills, said, "Look--He -see--me no forget." - -There was something truly Hebraic in the exultant solemnity of his tone -and gesture. - -"By Jove! He won't either, I truly believe," said Allan. "You've made a -friend for life, Mandy. Now, what's next? We can't carry this chap. It's -three miles to their camp. We can't leave him here. There are wolves all -around and the brutes always attack anything wounded." - -The Indian solved the problem. - -"Huh!" he grunted contemptuously. He took up his long hunting-knife. -"Wolf--this!" He drove the knife to the hilt into the ground. - -"You go--my fadder come. T'ree Indian," holding up three fingers. "All -right! Good!" He sank back upon the ground exhausted. - -"Come on then, Mandy, we shall have to hurry." - -"No, you go. I'll wait." - -"I won't have that. It will be dark soon and I can't leave you here -alone with--" - -"Nonsense! This poor boy is faint with hunger and pain. I'll feed him -while you're gone. Get me afresh pail of water and I can do for myself." - -"Well," replied her husband dubiously, "I'll get you some wood and--" - -"Come, now," replied Mandy impatiently, "who taught you to cut wood? I -can get my own wood. The main thing is to get away and get back. This -boy needs shelter. How long have you been here?" she inquired of the -Indian. - -The boy opened his eyes and swung his arm twice from east to west, -indicating the whole sweep of the sky. - -"Two days?" - -He nodded. - -"You must be starving. Want to eat?" - -"Good!" - -"Hurry, then, Allan, with the water. By the time this lad has been fed -you will be back." - -It was not long before Allan was back with the water. - -"Now, then," he said to the Indian, "where's your camp?" - -The Indian with his knife drew a line upon the ground. "River," he said. -Another line parallel, "Trail." Then, tracing a branching line from -the latter, turning sharply to the right, "Big Hill," he indicated. -"Down--down." Then, running the line a little farther, "Here camp." - -"I know the spot," cried Allan. "Well, I'm off. Are you quite sure, -Mandy, you don't mind?" - -"Run off with you and get back soon. Go--good-by! Oh! Stop, you foolish -boy! Aren't you ashamed of yourself before--?" - -Cameron laughed in happy derision. - -"Ashamed? No, nor before his whole tribe." He swung himself on his pony -and was off down the trail at a gallop. - -"You' man?" inquired the Indian lad. - -"Yes," she said, "my man," pride ringing in her voice. - -"Huh! Him Big Chief?" - -"Oh, no! Yes." She corrected herself hastily. "Big Chief. Ranch, you -know--Big Horn Ranch." - -"Huh!" He closed his eyes and sank back again upon the ground. - -"You're faint with hunger, poor boy," said Mandy. She hastily cut a -large slice of bread, buttered it, laid upon it some bacon and handed it -to him. - -"Here, take this in the meantime," she said. "I'll have your tea in a -jiffy." - -The boy took the bread, and, faint though he was with hunger, sternly -repressing all sign of haste, he ate it with grave deliberation. - -In a few minutes more the tea was ready and Mandy brought him a cup. - -"Good!" he said, drinking it slowly. - -"Another?" she smiled. - -"Good!" he replied, drinking the second cup more rapidly. - -"Now, we'll have some fish," cried Mandy cheerily, "and then you'll be -fit for your journey home." - -In twenty minutes more she brought him a frying pan in which two large -beautiful trout lay, browned in butter. Mandy caught the wolf-like look -in his eyes as they fell upon the food. She cut several thick slices of -bread, laid them in the pan with the fish and turned her back upon him. -The Indian seized the bread, and, noting that he was unobserved, tore -it apart like a dog and ate ravenously, the fish likewise, ripping the -flesh off the bones and devouring it like some wild beast. - -"There, now," she said, when he had finished, "you've had enough to keep -you going. Indeed, you have had all that's good for you. We don't want -any fever, so that will do." - -Her gestures, if not her words, he understood, and again as he watched -her there gleamed in his eyes that dumb animal look of gratitude. - -"Huh!" he grunted, slapping himself on the chest and arms. "Good! Me -strong! Me sleep." He lay back upon the ground and in half a dozen -breaths was dead asleep, leaving Mandy to her lonely watch in the -gathering gloom of the falling night. - -The silence of the woods deepened into a stillness so profound that a -dead leaf, fluttering from its twig and rustling to the ground, made her -start in quick apprehension. - -"What a fool I am!" she muttered angrily. She rose to pile wood upon the -fire. At her first movement the Indian was broad awake and half on his -knees with his knife gleaming in his hand. As his eyes fell upon the -girl at the fire, with a grunt, half of pain and half of contempt, he -sank back again upon the ground and was fast asleep before the fire was -mended, leaving Mandy once more to her lonely watch. - -"I wish he would come," she muttered, peering into the darkening woods -about her. A long and distant howl seemed to reply to her remark. - -It was answered by a series of short, sharp yelps nearer at hand. - -"Coyote," she said disdainfully, for she had learned to despise the -cowardly prairie wolf. - -But again that long distant howl. In spite of herself she shuddered. -That was no coyote, but a gray timber wolf. - -"I wish Allan would come," she said again, thinking of wakening the -Indian. But her nurse's instincts forbade her breaking his heavy sleep. - -"Poor boy, he needs the rest! I'll wait a while longer." - -She took her ax and went bravely at some dead wood lying near, cutting -it for the fire. The Indian never made a sound. He lay dead in sleep. -She piled the wood on the fire till the flames leaped high, shining -ruddily upon the golden and yellow leaves of the surrounding trees. - -But again that long-drawn howl, and quite near, pierced the silence -like the thrust of a spear. Before she was aware Mandy was on her feet, -determined to waken the sleeping Indian, but she had no more than taken -a single step toward him when he was awake and listening keenly. A soft -padding upon the dead leaves could be heard like the gentle falling -of raindrops. The Indian rolled over on his side, swept away some dead -leaves and moss, and drew toward him a fine Winchester rifle. - -"Huh! Wolf," he said, with quiet unconcern. "Here," he continued, -pointing to a rock beside him. Mandy took the place indicated. As she -seated herself he put up his hand with a sharp hiss. Again the pattering -feet could be heard. Suddenly the Indian leaned forward, gazing intently -into the gloom beyond the rim of the firelight, then with a swift -gliding movement he threw his rifle up and fired. There was a sharp -yelp, followed by a gurgling snarl. His shot was answered by a loud -shout. - -"Huh!" said the lad with quiet satisfaction, holding up one finger, "One -wolf. Big Chief come." - -At the shout Mandy had sprung to her feet, answering with a loud glad -halloo. Immediately, as if in response to her call, an Indian swung -his pony into the firelight, slipped off and stood looking about him. -Straight, tall and sinewy, he stood, with something noble in his face -and bearing. - -"He looks like a gentleman," was the thought that leaped into Mandy's -mind. A swift glance he swept round the circle of the light. Mandy -thought she had never seen so piercing an eye. - -The Indian lad uttered a low moaning sound. With a single leap the man -was at his side, holding him in his arms and kissing him on both cheeks, -with eager guttural speech. A few words from the lad and the Indian was -on his feet again, his eyes gleaming, but his face immobile as a death -mask. - -"My boy," he said, pointing to the lad. "My boy--my papoose." His voice -grew soft and tender. - -Before Mandy could reply there was another shout and Allan, followed by -four Indians, burst into the light. With a glad cry Mandy rushed into -his arms and clung to him. - -"Hello! What's up? Everything all right?" cried Allan. "I was a deuce of -a time, I know. Took the wrong trail. You weren't frightened, eh? What? -What's happened?" His voice grew anxious, then stern. "Anything wrong? -Did he--? Did anyone--?" - -"No, no, Allan!" cried his wife, still clinging to him. "It was only a -wolf and I was a little frightened." - -"A wolf!" echoed her husband aghast. - -The Indian lad spoke a few words and pointed to the dark. The Indians -glided into the woods and in a few minutes one of them returned, -dragging by the leg a big, gray timber wolf. The lad's bullet had gone -home. - -"And did this brute attack you?" cried Allan in alarm. - -"No, no. I heard him howling a long way off, and then--then--he came -nearer, and--then--I could hear his feet pattering." Cameron drew -her close to him. "And then he saw him right in the dark. Wasn't it -wonderful?" - -"In the dark?" said Allan, turning to the lad. "How did you do it?" - -"Huh!" grunted the lad in a tone of indifference. "See him eyes." - -Already the Indians were preparing a stretcher out of blankets and two -saplings. Here Mandy came to their help, directing their efforts so that -with the least hurt to the boy he was lifted to his stretcher. - -As they were departing the father came close to Mandy, and, holding out -his hand, said in fairly good English: - -"You--good to my boy. You save him--to-day. All alone maybe he die. You -give him food--drink. Sometime--perhaps soon--me pay you." - -"Oh," cried Mandy, "I want no pay." - -"No money--no!" cried the Indian, with scorn in his voice. "Me save -you perhaps--sometime. Save you--save you, man. Me Big Chief." He drew -himself up his full height. "Much Indian follow me." He shook hands with -Mandy again, then with her husband. - -"Big Piegan Chief?" inquired her husband. - -"Piegan!" said the Indian with hearty contempt. "Me no Piegan--me -Big Chief. Me--" He paused abruptly, turned on his heel and, flinging -himself on to his pony, disappeared in the shadows. - -"He's jolly well pleased with himself, isn't he?" said Cameron. - -"He's splendid," cried Mandy enthusiastically. "Why, he's just like -one of Cooper's Indians. He's certainly like none of the rest I've seen -about here." - -"That's true enough," replied her husband. "He's no Piegan. Who is he, I -wonder? I don't remember seeing him. He thinks no end of himself, at any -rate." - -"And looks as if he had a right to." - -"Right you are! Well, let's away. You must be dog tired and used up." - -"Never a bit," cried Mandy. "I'm fresh as a daisy. What a wonderful -ending to a wonderful day!" - -They extinguished the fire carefully and made their way out to the -trail. - -But the end of this wonderful day had not yet come. - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE - - -The moon was riding high in the cloudless blue of the heavens, tricked -out with faintly shining stars, when they rode into the "corral" that -surrounded the ranch stable. A horse stood tethered at the gate. - -"Hello, a visitor!" cried Cameron. "A Police horse!" his eyes falling -upon the shining accouterments. - -"A Policeman!" echoed Mandy, a sudden foreboding at her heart. "What can -he want?" - -"Me, likely," replied her husband with a laugh, "though I can't think -for which of my crimes it is. It's Inspector Dickson, by his horse. You -know him, Mandy, my very best friend." - -"What does he want, Allan?" said Mandy, anxiety in her voice. - -"Want? Any one of a thousand things. You run in and see while I put up -the ponies." - -"I don't like it," said Mandy, walking with him toward the stable. "Do -you know, I feel there is something--I have felt all day a kind of dread -that--" - -"Nonsense, Mandy! You're not that style of girl. Run away into the -house." - -But still Mandy waited beside him. - -"We've had a great day, Allan," she said again. "Many great days, and -this, one of the best. Whatever comes nothing can take those happy days -from us." She put her arms about his neck and drew him toward her. -"I don't know why, Allan, I know it's foolish, but I'm afraid," she -whispered, "I'm afraid." - -"Now, Mandy," said her husband, with his arms round about her, "don't -say you're going to get like other girls, hysterical and that sort of -thing. You are just over-tired. We've had a big day, but an exhausting -day, an exciting day. What with that Piegan and the wolf business and -all, you are done right up. So am I and--by Jove! That reminds me, I am -dead famished." - -No better word could he have spoken. - -"You poor boy," she cried. "I'll have supper ready by the time you -come in. I am silly, but now it's all over. I shall go in and face the -Inspector and dare him to arrest you, no matter what you have done." - -"That's more like the thing! That's more like my girl. I shall be with -you in a very few minutes. He can't take us both, can he? Run in and -smile at him." - -Mandy found the Inspector in the cozy ranch kitchen, calmly smoking his -pipe, and deep in the London Graphic. As she touched the latch he sprang -to his feet and saluted in his best style. - -"Never heard you ride up, Mrs. Cameron, I assure you. You must think me -rather cool to sit tight here and ignore your coming." - -"I am very glad to see you, Inspector Dickson, and Allan will be -delighted. He is putting up your horse. You will of course stay the -night with us." - -"Oh, that's awfully kind, but I really can't, you know. I shall tell -Cameron." He took his hat from the peg. - -"We should be delighted if you could stay with us. We see very few -people and you have not been very neighborly, now confess." - -"I have not been, and to my sorrow and loss. If any man had told me that -I should have been just five weeks to a day within a few hours' ride of -my friend Cameron, not to speak of his charming wife, without visiting -him, well I should have--well, no matter--to my joy I am here to-night. -But I can't stay this trip. We are rather hard worked just now, to tell -the truth." - -"Hard worked?" she asked. - -"Yes. Patrol work rather heavy. But I must stop Cameron in his -hospitable design," he added, as he passed out of the door. - -It was a full half hour before the men returned, to find supper spread -and Mandy waiting. It was a large and cheerful apartment that did both -for kitchen and living room. The sides were made of logs hewn smooth, -plastered and whitewashed. The oak joists and planking above were -stained brown. At one end of the kitchen two doors led to as many rooms, -at the other a large stone fireplace, with a great slab for mantelpiece. -On this slab stood bits of china bric-a-brac, and what not, relics -abandoned by the gallant and chivalrous Fraser for the bride and her -house furnishing. The prints, too, upon the wall, hunting scenes of the -old land, sea-scenes, moorland and wild cattle, with many useful -and ornamental bits of furniture, had all been handed over with true -Highland generosity by the outgoing owner. - -In the fireplace, for the night had a touch of frost in it, a log fire -blazed and sparked, lending to the whole scene an altogether delightful -air of comfort. - -"I say, this does look jolly!" cried the Inspector as he entered. -"Cameron, you lucky dog, do you really imagine you know how jolly well -off you are, coddled thus in the lap of comfort and surrounded with all -the enervating luxuries of an effete and forgotten civilization? -Come now, own up, you are beginning to take this thing as a matter of -course." - -But Cameron stood with his back to the light, busying himself with his -fishing tackle and fish, and ignoring the Inspector's cheerful chatter. -And thus he remained without a word while the Inspector talked on in a -voluble flow of small talk quite unusual with him. - -Throughout the supper Cameron remained silent, rallying spasmodically -with gay banter to the Inspector's chatter, or answering at random, but -always falling silent again, and altogether was so unlike himself that -Mandy fell to wondering, then became watchful, then anxious. At length -the Inspector himself fell silent, as if perceiving the uselessness of -further pretense. - -"What is it, Allan?" said Mandy quietly, when silence had fallen upon -them all. "You might as well let me know." - -"Tell her, for God's sake," said her husband to the Inspector. - -"What is it?" inquired Mandy. - -The Inspector handed her a letter. - -"From Superintendent Strong to my Chief," he said. - -She took it and as she read her face went now white with fear, now red -with indignation. At length she flung the letter down. - -"What a man he is to be sure!" she cried scornfully. "And what nonsense -is this he writes. With all his men and officers he must come for my -husband! What is HE doing? And all the others? It's just his own stupid -stubbornness. He always did object to our marriage." - -The Inspector was silent. Cameron was silent too. His boyish face, for -he was but a lad, seemed to have grown old in those few minutes. The -Inspector wore an ashamed look, as if detected in a crime. - -"And because he is not clever enough to catch this man they must come -for my husband to do it for them. He is not a Policeman. He has nothing -to do with the Force." - -And still the Inspector sat silent, as if convicted of both crime and -folly. - -At length Cameron spoke. - -"It is quite impossible, Inspector. I can't do it. You quite see how -impossible it is." - -"Most certainly you can't," eagerly agreed the Inspector. "I knew from -the first it was a piece of--sheer absurdity--in fact brutal inhumanity. -I told the Commissioner so." - -"It isn't as if I was really needed, you know. The Superintendent's idea -is, as you say, quite absurd." - -The Inspector gravely nodded. - -"You don't think for a moment," continued Cameron, "there is any -need--any real need I mean--for me to--" Cameron's voice died away. - -The Inspector hesitated and cleared his throat. "Well--of course, we -are desperately short-handed, you know. Every man is overworked. Every -reserve has to be closely patroled. Every trail ought to be watched. -Runners are coming in every day. We ought to have a thousand men instead -of five hundred, this very minute. Of course one can never tell. The -chances are this will all blow over." - -"Certainly," said Cameron. "We've heard these rumors for the past year." - -"Of course," agreed the Inspector cheerfully. - -"But if it does not," asked Mandy, suddenly facing the Inspector, "what -then?" - -"If it does not?" - -"If it does not?" she insisted. - -The Inspector appeared to turn the matter over in his mind. - -"Well," he said slowly and thoughtfully, "if it does not there will be a -deuce of an ugly time." - -"What do you mean?" - -The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. But Mandy waited, her eyes fixed -on his face demanding answer. - -"Well, there are some hundreds of settlers and their families scattered -over this country, and we can hardly protect them all. But," he added -cheerfully, as if dismissing the subject, "we have a trick of worrying -through." - -Mandy shuddered. One phrase in the Superintendent's letter to the -Commissioner which she had just read kept hammering upon her brain, -"Cameron is the man and the only man for the job." - -They turned the talk to other things, but the subject would not be -dismissed. Like the ghost at the feast it kept ever returning. The -Inspector retailed the most recent rumors, and together he and his host -weighed their worth. The Inspector disclosed the Commissioner's plans -as far as he knew them. These, too, were discussed with approval or -condemnation. The consequences of an Indian uprising were hinted at, but -quickly dropped. The probabilities of such an uprising were touched upon -and pronounced somewhat slight. - -But somehow to the woman listening as in a maze this pronouncement and -all the reassuring talk rang hollow. She sat staring at the Inspector -with eyes that saw him not. What she did see was a picture out of an -old book of Indian war days which she had read when a child, a smoking -cabin, with mangled forms of women and children lying in the blackened -embers. By degrees, slow, painful, but relentlessly progressive, certain -impressions, at first vague and passionately resisted, were wrought into -convictions in her soul. First, the Inspector, in spite of his light -talk, was undeniably anxious, and in this anxiety her husband shared. -Then, the Force was clearly inadequate to the duty required of it. At -this her indignation burned. Why should it be that a Government should -ask of brave men what they must know to be impossible? Hard upon this -conviction came the words of the Superintendent, "Cameron is the man and -the only man for the job." Finally, the Inspector was apologizing for -her husband. It roused a hot resentment in her to hear him. That thing -she could not and would not bear. Never should it be said that her -husband had needed a friend to apologize for him. - -As these convictions grew in clearness she found herself brought -suddenly and sharply to face the issue. With a swift contraction of the -heart she realized that she must send her husband on this perilous duty. -Ah! Could she do it? It was as if a cold hand were steadily squeezing -drop by drop the life-blood from her heart. In contrast, and as if with -one flash of light, the long happy days of the last six months passed -before her mind. How could she give him up? Her breathing came in short -gasps, her lips became dry, her eyes fixed and staring. She was fighting -for what was dearer to her than life. Suddenly she flung her hands to -her face and groaned aloud. - -"What is it, Mandy?" cried her husband, starting from his place. - -His words seemed to recall her. The agonizing agitation passed from her -and a great quiet fell upon her soul. The struggle was done. She had -made the ancient sacrifice demanded of women since ever the first man -went forth to war. It remained only to complete with fitting ritual this -ancient sacrifice. She rose from her seat and faced her husband. - -"Allan," she said, and her voice was of indescribable sweetness, "you -must go." - -Her husband took her in his arms without a word, then brokenly he said: - -"My girl! My own brave girl! I knew you must send me." - -"Yes," she replied, gazing into his face with a wan smile, "I knew it -too, because I knew you would expect me to." - -The Inspector had risen from his chair at her first cry and was standing -with bent head, as if in the presence of a scene too sacred to witness. -Then he came to her, and, with old time and courtly grace of the fine -gentleman he was, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. - -"Dear lady," he said, "for such as you brave men would gladly give their -lives." - -"Give their lives!" cried Mandy. "I would much rather they would save -them. But," she added, her voice taking a practical tone, "sit down and -let us talk. Now what's the work and what's the plan?" - -The men glanced at each other in silent admiration of this woman who, -without moan or murmur, could surrender her heart's dearest treasure for -her country's good. This was a spirit of their own type. - -They sat down before the fire and discussed the business before them. -But as they discussed ever and again Mandy would find her mind wandering -back over the past happy days. Ever and again a word would recall her, -but only for a brief moment and soon she was far away again. - -A phrase of the Inspector, however, arrested and held her. - -"He's really a fine looking Indian, in short a kind of aristocrat among -the Indians," he was saying. - -"An aristocrat?" she exclaimed, remembering her own word about the -Indian Chief they had met that very evening. "Why, that is like our -Chief, Allan." - -"By Jove! You're right!" exclaimed her husband. "What's your man like, -again? Describe him, Inspector." - -The Inspector described him in detail. - -"The very man we saw to-night!" cried Mandy, and gave her description of -the "Big Chief." - -When she had finished the Inspector sat looking into the fire. - -"Among the Piegans, too," he mused. "That fits in. There was a big -powwow the other day in the Sun Dance Canyon. The Piegans' is the -nearest reserve, and a lot of them were there. The Superintendent says -he is somewhere along the Sun Dance." - -"Inspector," said Allan, with sudden determination, "we will drop in on -the Piegans to-morrow morning by sun-up." - -Mandy started. This pace was more rapid than she had expected, but, -having made the sacrifice, there was with her no word of recall. - -The Inspector pondered the suggestion. - -"Well," he said, "it would do no harm to reconnoiter at any rate. But we -can't afford to make any false move, and we can't afford to fail." - -"Fail!" said Cameron quietly. "We won't fail. We'll get him." And the -lines in his face reminded his wife of how he looked that night three -years before when he cowed the great bully Perkins into submission at -her father's door. - -Long they sat and planned. As the Inspector said, there must be no -failure; hence the plan must provide for every possible contingency. By -far the keenest of the three in mental activity was Mandy. By a curious -psychological process the Indian Chief, who an hour before had awakened -in her admiration and a certain romantic interest, had in a single -moment become an object of loathing, almost of hatred. That he should be -in this land planning for her people, for innocent and defenseless women -and children, the horrors of massacre filled her with a fierce anger. -But a deeper analysis would doubtless have revealed a personal element -in her anger and loathing. The Indian had become the enemy for whose -capture and for whose destruction her husband was now enlisted. Deep -down in her quiet, strong, self-controlled nature there burned a passion -in which mingled the primitive animal instincts of the female, mate for -mate, and mother for offspring. Already her mind had leaped forward to -the moment when this cunning, powerful plotter would be at death-grips -with her husband and she not there to help. With intensity of purpose -and relentlessness of determination she focused the powers of her -forceful and practical mind upon the problem engaging their thought. - -With mind whetted to its keenest she listened to the men as they made -and unmade their plans. In ordinary circumstances the procedure of -arrest would have been extremely simple. The Inspector and Cameron would -have ridden into the Piegan camp, and, demanding their man, would have -quietly and without even a show of violence carried him off. It would -have been like things they had each of them done single-handed within -the past year. - -"When once we make a start, you see, Mrs. Cameron, we never turn back. -We could not afford to," said the Inspector. There was no suspicion -of boasting in the Inspector's voice. He was simply enunciating the -traditional code of the Police. "And if we should hesitate with this -man or fail to land him every Indian in these territories would have -it within a week and our prestige would receive a shock. We dare not -exhibit any sign of nerves. On the other hand we dare not make any -movement in force. In short, anything unusual must be avoided." - -"I quite see," replied Mandy with keen appreciation of the delicacy of -the situation. - -"So that I fancy the simpler the plan the better. Cameron will ride -into the Piegan camp inquiring about his cattle, as, fortunately for the -present situation, he has cause enough to in quite an ordinary way. -I drop in on my regular patrol looking up a cattle-thief in quite the -ordinary way. Seeing this strange chief, I arrest him on suspicion. -Cameron backs me up. The thing is done. Luckily Trotting Wolf, who is -the Head Chief now of the Piegans, has a fairly thorough respect for -the Police, and unless things have gone much farther in his band than I -think he will not resist. He is, after all, rather harmless." - -"I don't like your plan at all, Inspector," said Mandy promptly. "The -moment you suggest arrest that moment the younger men will be up. They -are just back from a big brave-making powwow, you say. They are all -worked up, and keen for a chance to prove that they are braves in more -than in name. You give them the very opportunity you wish to avoid. -Now hear my plan," she continued, her voice eager, keen, hard, in the -intensity of her purpose. "I ride into camp to-morrow morning to see -the sick boy. I promised I would and I really want to. I find him in a -fever, for a fever he certainly will have. I dress his wounded ankle and -discover he must have some medicine. I get old Copperhead to ride back -with me for it. You wait here and arrest him without trouble." - -The two men looked at each other, then at her, with a gentle admiring -pity. The plan was simplicity itself and undoubtedly eliminated the -elements of danger which the Inspector's possessed. It had, however, one -fatal defect. - -"Fine, Mandy!" said her husband, reaching across the table and patting -her hand that lay clenched upon the cloth. "But it won't do." - -"And why not, pray?" she demanded. - -"We do not use our women as decoys in this country, nor do we expose -them to dangers we men dare not face." - -"Allan," cried his wife with angry impatience, "you miss the whole -point. For a woman to ride into the Piegan camp, especially on this -errand of mercy, involves her in no danger. And what possible danger -would there be in having the old villain ride back with me for -medicine? And as to the decoy business," here she shrugged her shoulders -contemptuously, "do you think I care a bit for that? Isn't he planning -to kill women and children in this country? And--and--won't he do his -best to kill you?" she panted. "Isn't it right for me to prevent him? -Prevent him! To me he is like a snake. I would--would--gladly kill -him--myself." As she spoke these words her eyes were indeed, in Sergeant -Ferry's words, "like little blue flames." - -But the men remained utterly unmoved. To their manhood the plan -was repugnant, and in spite of Mandy's arguments and entreaties was -rejected. - -"It is the better plan, Mrs. Cameron," said the Inspector kindly, "but -we cannot, you must see we cannot, adopt it." - -"You mean you will not," cried Mandy indignantly, "just because you are -stupid stubborn men!" And she proceeded to argue the matter all over -again with convincing logic, but with the same result. There are -propositions which do not lend themselves to the arbitrament of logic -with men. When the safety of their women is at stake they refuse to -discuss chances. In such a case they may be stupid, but they are quite -immovable. - -Blocked by this immovable stupidity, Mandy yielded her ground, but only -to attempt a flank movement. - -"Let me go with you on your reconnoitering expedition," she pleaded. -"Rather, let US go, Allan, you and I together, to see the boy. I am -really sorry for that boy. He can't help his father, can he?" - -"Quite true," said the Inspector gravely. - -"Let us go and find out all we can and next day make your attempt. -Besides, Allan," she cried under a sudden inspiration of memory, "you -can't possibly go. You forget your sister arrives at Calgary this week. -You must meet her." - -"By Jove! Is that so? I had forgotten," said Cameron, turning to study -the calendar on the wall, a gorgeous work of art produced out of -the surplus revenues of a Life Insurance Company. "Let's see," he -calculated. "This week? Three days will take us in. We are still all -right. We have five. That gives us two days clear for this job. I feel -like making this try, Mandy," he continued earnestly. "We have this chap -practically within our grasp. He will be off guard. The Piegans are not -yet worked up to the point of resistance. Ten days from now our man may -be we can't tell where." - -Mandy remained silent. The ritual of her sacrifice was not yet complete. - -"I think you are right, Allan," at length she said slowly with a twisted -smile. "I'm afraid you are right. It's hard not to be in it, though. -But," she added, as if moved by a sudden thought, "I may be in it yet." - -"You will certainly be with us in spirit, Mandy," he replied, patting -the firm brown hand that lay upon the table. - -"Yes, truly, and in our hearts," added the Inspector with a bow. - -But Mandy made no reply. Already she was turning over in her mind a -half-formed plan which she had no intention of sharing with these men, -who, after the manner of their kind, would doubtless block it. - -Early morning found Cameron and the Inspector on the trail toward the -Piegan Reserve, riding easily, for they knew not what lay before them -nor what demand they might have to make upon their horses that day. The -Inspector rode a strongly built, stocky horse of no great speed but good -for an all-day run. Cameron's horse was a broncho, an unlovely -brute, awkward and ginger---his name was Ginger--sad-eyed -and wicked-looking, but short-coupled and with flat, rangy legs that -promised speed. For his sad-eyed, awkward broncho Cameron professed a -deep affection and defended him stoutly against the Inspector's jibes. - -"You can't kill him," he declared. "He'll go till he drops, and then -twelve miles more. He isn't beautiful to look at and his manners are -nothing to boast of, but he will hang upon the fence the handsome skin -of that cob of yours." - -When still five or six miles from camp they separated. - -"The old boy may, of course, be gone," said the Inspector as he was -parting from his friend. "By Superintendent Strong's report he seems to -be continually on the move." - -"I rather think his son will hold him for a day or two," replied -Cameron. "Now you give me a full half hour. I shall look in upon the -boy, you know. But don't be longer. I don't as a rule linger among these -Piegan gentry, you know, and a lengthened stay would certainly arouse -suspicion." - -Cameron's way lay along the high plateau, from which a descent could -be made by a trail leading straight south into the Piegan camp. The -Inspector's course carried him in a long detour to the left, by which -he should enter from the eastern end the valley in which lay the Indian -camp. Cameron's trail at the first took him through thick timber, then, -as it approached the level floor of the valley, through country that -became more open. The trees were larger and with less undergrowth -between them. In the valley itself a few stubble fields with fences -sadly in need of repair gave evidence of the partial success of the -attempts of the farm instructor to initiate the Piegans into the science -and art of agriculture. A few scattering log houses, which the Indians -had been induced by the Government to build for themselves, could be -seen here and there among the trees. But during the long summer days, -and indeed until driven from the open by the blizzards of winter, not -one of these children of the free air and open sky could be persuaded to -enter the dismal shelter afforded by the log houses. They much preferred -the flimsy teepee or tent. And small wonder. Their methods of sanitation -did not comport with a permanent dwelling. When the teepee grew foul, -which their habits made inevitable, a simple and satisfactory remedy -was discovered in a shift to another camp-ground. Not so with the log -houses, whose foul corners, littered with the accumulated filth of a -winter's occupation, became fertile breeding places for the germs of -disease and death. Irregularly strewn upon the grassy plain in -the valley bottom some two dozen teepees marked the Piegan summer -headquarters. Above the camp rose the smoke of their camp-fires, for it -was still early and their morning meal was yet in preparation. - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE ILLUSIVE COPPERHEAD - - -Cameron's approach to the Piegan camp was greeted by a discordant -chorus of yelps and howls from a pack of mangy, half-starved curs of all -breeds, shapes and sizes, the invariable and inevitable concomitants of -an Indian encampment. The squaws, who had been busy superintending the -pots and pans in which simmered the morning meal of their lords and -masters, faded from view at Cameron's approach, and from the teepees on -every side men appeared and stood awaiting with stolid faces the white -man's greeting. Cameron was known to them of old. - -"Good-day!" he cried briefly, singling out the Chief. - -"Huh!" replied the Chief, and awaited further parley. - -"No grub yet, eh? You sleep too long, Chief." - -The Chief smiled grimly. - -"I say, Chief," continued Cameron, "I have lost a couple of steers--big -fellows, too--any of your fellows seen them?" - -Trotting Wolf turned to the group of Indians who had slouched toward -them in the meantime and spoke to them in the singsong monotone of the -Indian. - -"No see cow," he replied briefly. - -Cameron threw himself from his horse and, striding to a large pot -simmering over a fire, stuck his knife into the mass and lifted up a -large piece of flesh, the bones of which looked uncommonly like ribs of -beef. - -"What's this, Trotting Wolf?" he inquired with a stern ring in his -voice. - -"Deer," promptly and curtly replied the Chief. - -"Who shot him?" - -The Chief consulted the group of Indians standing near. - -"This man," he replied, indicating a young Indian. - -"What's your name?" said Cameron sharply. "I know you." - -The young Indian shook his head. - -"Oh, come now, you know English all right. What's your name?" - -Still the Indian shook his head, meeting Cameron's look with a fearless -eye. - -"He White Cloud," said the Chief. - -"White Cloud! Big Chief, eh?" said Cameron. - -"Huh!" replied Trotting Wolf, while a smile appeared on several faces. - -"You shot this deer?" - -"Huh!" replied the Indian, nodding. - -"I thought you could speak English all right." - -Again a smile touched the faces of some of the group. - -"Where did you shoot him?" - -White Cloud pointed vaguely toward the mountains. - -"How far? Two, three, four miles?" inquired Cameron, holding up his -fingers. - -"Huh!" grunted the Indian, holding up five fingers. - -"Five miles, eh? Big deer, too," said Cameron, pointing to the ribs. - -"Huh!" - -"How did you carry him home?" - -The Indian shook his head. - -"How did he carry him these five miles?" continued Cameron, turning to -Trotting Wolf. - -"Pony," replied Trotting Wolf curtly. - -"Good!" said Cameron. "Now," said he, turning swiftly upon the young -Indian, "where is the skin?" - -The Indian's eyes wavered for a fleeting instant. He spoke a few words -to Trotting Wolf. Conversation followed. - -"Well?" said Cameron. - -"He says dogs eat him up." - -"And the head? This big fellow had a big head. Where is it?" - -Again the Indian's eyes wavered and again the conversation followed. - -"Left him up in bush," replied the chief. - -"We will ride up and see it, then," said Cameron. - -The Indians became voluble among themselves. - -"No find," said the Chief. "Wolf eat him up." - -Cameron raised the meat to his nose, sniffed its odor and dropped it -back into the pot. With a single stride he was close to White Cloud. - -"White Cloud," he said sternly, "you speak with a forked tongue. In -plain English, White Cloud, you lie. Trotting Wolf, you know that is no -deer. That is cow. That is my cow." - -Trotting Wolf shrugged his shoulders. - -"No see cow me," he said sullenly. - -"White Cloud," said Cameron, swiftly turning again upon the young -Indian, "where did you shoot my cow?" - -The young Indian stared back at Cameron, never blinking an eyelid. -Cameron felt his wrath rising, but kept himself well in hand, -remembering the purpose of his visit. During this conversation he had -been searching the gathering crowd of Indians for the tall form of his -friend of the previous night, but he was nowhere to be seen. Cameron -felt he must continue the conversation, and, raising his voice as if in -anger--and indeed there was no need of pretense for he longed to seize -White Cloud by the throat and shake the truth out of him--he said: - -"Trotting Wolf, your young men have been killing my cattle for many -days. You know that this is a serious offense with the Police. Indians -go to jail for this. And the Police will hold you responsible. You are -the Chief on this reserve. The Police will ask why you cannot keep your -young men from stealing cattle." - -The number of Indians was increasing every moment and still Cameron's -eyes searched the group, but in vain. Murmurs arose from the Indians, -which he easily interpreted to mean resentment, but he paid no heed. - -"The Police do not want a Chief," he cried in a still louder voice, "who -cannot control his young men and keep them from breaking the law." - -He paused abruptly. From behind a teepee some distance away there -appeared the figure of the "Big Chief" whom he so greatly desired to -see. Giving no sign of his discovery, he continued his exhortation to -Trotting Wolf, to that worthy's mingled rage and embarrassment. The -suggestion of jail for cattle-thieves the Chief knew well was no empty -threat, for two of his band even at that moment were in prison for this -very crime. This knowledge rendered him uneasy. He had no desire himself -to undergo a like experience, and it irked his tribe and made them -restless and impatient of his control that their Chief could not protect -them from these unhappy consequences of their misdeeds. They knew -that with old Crowfoot, the Chief of the Blackfeet band, such untoward -consequences rarely befell the members of that tribe. Already Trotting -Wolf could distinguish the murmurs of his young men, who were resenting -the charge against White Cloud, as well as the tone and manner in -which it was delivered. Most gladly would he have defied this truculent -rancher to do his worst, but his courage was not equal to the plunge, -and, besides, the circumstances for such a break were not yet favorable. - -At this juncture Cameron, facing about, saw within a few feet of him the -Indian whose capture he was enlisted to secure. - -"Hello!" he cried, as if suddenly recognizing him. "How is the boy?" - -"Good," said the Indian with grave dignity. "He sick here," touching his -head. - -"Ah! Fever, I suppose," replied Cameron. "Take me to see him." - -The Indian led the way to the teepee that stood slightly apart from the -others. - -Inside the teepee upon some skins and blankets lay the boy, whose bright -eyes and flushed cheeks proclaimed fever. An old squaw, bent in form and -wrinkled in face, crouched at the end of the couch, her eyes gleaming -like beads of black glass in her mahogany face. - -"How is the foot to-day?" cried Allan. "Pain bad?" - -"Huh!" grunted the lad, and remained perfectly motionless but for the -restless glittering eyes that followed every movement of his father. - -"You want the doctor here," said Cameron in a serious tone, kneeling -beside the couch. "That boy is in a high fever. And you can't get him -too quick. Better send a boy to the Fort and get the Police doctor. How -did you sleep last night?" he inquired of the lad. - -"No sleep," said his father. "Go this way--this way," throwing his arms -about his head. "Talk, talk, talk." - -But Cameron was not listening to him. He was hearing a jingle of spurs -and bridle from down the trail and he knew that the Inspector had -arrived. The old Indian, too, had caught the sound. His piercing eyes -swiftly searched the face of the white man beside him. But Cameron, -glancing quietly at him, continued to discuss the condition of the boy. - -"Yes, you must get the doctor here at once. There is danger of -blood-poisoning. The boy may lose his foot." And he continued to -describe the gruesome possibilities of neglect of that lacerated wound. -As he rose from the couch the boy caught his arm. - -"You' squaw good. Come see me," he said. "Good--good." The eager look in -the fevered eye touched Cameron. - -"All right, boy, I shall tell her," he said. "Good-by!" He took the -boy's hand in his. But the boy held it fast in a nervous grasp. - -"You' squaw come--sure. Hurt here--bad." He struck his forehead with his -hand. "You' squaw come--make good." - -"All right," said Cameron. "I shall bring her myself. Good-by!" - -Together they passed out of the teepee, Cameron keeping close to the -Indian's side and talking to him loudly and earnestly about the boy's -condition, all the while listening to the Inspector's voice from behind -the row of teepees. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed aloud as they came in sight of the Inspector mounted -on his horse. "Here is my friend, Inspector Dickson. Hello, Inspector!" -he called out. "Come over here. We have a sick boy and I want you to -help us." - -"Hello, Cameron!" cried the Inspector, riding up and dismounting. -"What's up?" - -Trotting Wolf and the other Indians slowly drew near. - -"There is a sick boy in here," said Cameron, pointing to the teepee -behind him. "He is the son of this man, Chief--" He paused. "I don't -know your name." - -Without an instant's hesitation the Indian replied: - -"Chief Onawata." - -"His boy got his foot in a trap. My wife dressed the wound last night," -continued Cameron. "Come in and see him." - -But the Indian put up his hand. - -"No," he said quietly. "My boy not like strange man. Bad head--here. -Want sleep--sleep." - -"Ah!" said the Inspector. "Quite right. Let him sleep. Nothing better -than sleep. A good long sleep will fix him up." - -"He needs the doctor, however," said Cameron. - -"Ah, yes, yes. Well, we shall send the doctor." - -"Everything all right, Inspector?" said Cameron, throwing his friend a -significant glance. - -"Quite right!" replied the Inspector. "But I must be going. Good-by, -Chief!" As his one hand closed on the Indian's his other slid down upon -his wrist. "I want you, Chief," he said in a quiet stern voice. "I want -you to come along with me." - -His hand had hardly closed upon the wrist than with a single motion, -swift, snake-like, the Indian wrenched his hand from the Inspector's -iron grasp and, leaping back a space of three paces, stood with body -poised as if to spring. - -"Halt there, Chief! Don't move or you die!" - -The Indian turned to see Cameron covering him with two guns. At once -he relaxed his tense attitude and, drawing himself up, he demanded in a -voice of indignant scorn: - -"Why you touch me? Me Big Chief! You little dog!" - -As he stood, erect, tall, scornful, commanding, with his head thrown -back and his arm outstretched, his eyes glittering and his face eloquent -of haughty pride, he seemed the very incarnation of the wild unconquered -spirit of that once proud race he represented. For a moment or two a -deep silence held the group of Indians, and even the white men were -impressed. Then the Inspector spoke. - -"Trotting Wolf," he said, "I want this man. He is a horse-thief. I know -him. I am going to take him to the Fort. He is a bad man." - -"No," said Trotting Wolf, in a loud voice, "he no bad man. He my friend. -Come here many days." He held up both hands. "No teef--my friend." - -A loud murmur rose from the Indians, who in larger numbers kept crowding -nearer. At this ominous sound the Inspector swiftly drew two revolvers, -and, backing toward the man he was seeking to arrest, said in a quiet, -clear voice: - -"Trotting Wolf, this man goes with me. If he is no thief he will be -back again very soon. See these guns? Six men die," shaking one of them, -"when this goes off. And six more die," shaking the other, "when -this goes off. The first man will be you, Trotting Wolf, and this man -second." - -Trotting Wolf hesitated. - -"Trotting Wolf," said Cameron. "See these guns? Twelve men die if you -make any fuss. You steal my cattle. You cannot stop your young men. The -Piegans need a new Chief. If this man is no thief he will be back again -in a few days. The Inspector speaks truth. You know he never lies." - -Still Trotting Wolf stood irresolute. The Indians began to shuffle and -crowd nearer. - -"Trotting Wolf," said the Inspector sharply, "tell your men that the -first man that steps beyond that poplar-tree dies. That is my word." - -The Chief spoke to the crowd. There was a hoarse guttural murmur in -response, but those nearest to the tree backed away from it. They knew -the Police never showed a gun except when prepared to use it. For -years they had been accustomed to the administration of justice and the -enforcement of law at the hands of the North West Mounted Police, and -among the traditions of that Force the Indians had learned to accept two -as absolutely settled: the first, that they never failed to get the man -they wanted; the second, that their administration of law was marked -by the most rigid justice. It was Chief Onawata himself that found the -solution. - -"Me no thief. Me no steal horse. Me Big Chief. Me go to your Fort. My -heart clean. Me see your Big Chief." He uttered these words with an air -of quiet but impressive dignity. - -"That's sensible," said the Inspector, moving toward him. "You will get -full justice. Come along!" - -"I go see my boy. My boy sick." His voice became low, soft, almost -tremulous. - -"Certainly," said Cameron. "Go in and see the lad. And we will see that -you get fair play." - -"Good!" said the Indian, and, turning on his heel, he passed into the -teepee where his boy lay. - -Through the teepee wall their voices could be heard in quiet -conversation. In a few minutes the old squaw passed out on an errand and -then in again, eying the Inspector as she passed with malevolent hate. -Again she passed out, this time bowed down under a load of blankets and -articles of Indian household furniture, and returned no more. Still the -conversation within the teepee continued, the boy's voice now and again -rising high, clear, the other replying in low, even, deep tones. - -"I will just get my horse, Inspector," said Cameron, making his way -through the group of Indians to where Ginger was standing with sad and -drooping head. - -"Time's up, I should say," said the Inspector to Cameron as he returned -with his horse. "Just give him a call, will you?" - -Cameron stepped to the door of the teepee. - -"Come along, Chief, we must be going," he said, putting his head inside -the teepee door. "Hello!" he cried, "Where the deuce--where is he gone?" -He sprang quickly out of the teepee. "Has he passed out?" - -"Passed out?" said the Inspector. "No. Is he not inside?" - -"He's not here." - -Both men rushed into the teepee. On the couch the boy still lay, his -eyes brilliant with fever but more with hate. At the foot of the couch -still crouched the old crone, but there was no sign of the Chief. - -"Get up!" said the Inspector to the old squaw, turning the blankets and -skins upside down. - -"Hee! hee!" she laughed in diabolical glee, spitting at him as he -passed. - -"Did no one enter?" asked Cameron. - -"Not a soul." - -"Nor go out?" - -"No one except the old squaw here. I saw her go out with a pack." - -"With a pack!" echoed Cameron. And the two men stood looking at each -other. "By Jove!" said Cameron in deep disgust, "We're done. He is -rightly named Copperhead. Quick!" he cried, "Let us search this camp, -though it's not much use." - -And so indeed it proved. Through every teepee they searched in hot -haste, tumbling out squalling squaws and papooses. But all in vain. -Copperhead had as completely disappeared as if he had vanished into thin -air. With faces stolid and unmoved by a single gleam of satisfaction the -Indians watched their hurried search. - -"We will take a turn around this camp," said Cameron, swinging on to his -pony. "You hear me!" he continued, riding up close to Trotting Wolf, "We -haven't got our man but we will come back again. And listen carefully! -If I lose a single steer this fall I shall come and take you, Trotting -Wolf, to the Fort, if I have to bring you by the hair of the head." - -But Trotting Wolf only shrugged his shoulders, saying: - -"No see cow." - -"Is there any use taking a look around this camp?" said the Inspector. - -"What else can we do?" said Cameron. "We might as well. There is a faint -chance we might come across a trace." - -But no trace did they find, though they spent an hour and more in close -and minute scrutiny of the ground about the camp and the trails leading -out from it. - -"Where now?" inquired the Inspector. - -"Home for me," said Cameron. "To-morrow to Calgary. Next week I take up -this trail. You may as well come along with me, Inspector. We can talk -things over as we go." - -They were a silent and chagrined pair as they rode out from the Reserve -toward the ranch. As they were climbing from the valley to the plateau -above they came to a soft bit of ground. Here Cameron suddenly drew rein -with a warning cry, and, flinging himself off his broncho, was upon his -knee examining a fresh track. - -"A pony-track, by all that's holy! And within an hour. It is our man," -he cried, examining the trail carefully and following it up the hill and -out on to the plateau. "It is our man sure enough, and he is taking this -trail." - -For some miles the pony-tracks were visible enough. There was no attempt -to cover them. The rider was evidently pushing hard. - -"Where do you think he is heading for, Inspector?" - -"Well," said the Inspector, "this trail strikes toward the Blackfoot -Reserve by way of your ranch." - -"My ranch!" cried Cameron. "My God! Look there!" - -As he spoke the ginger- broncho leaped into a gallop. Five miles -away a thin column of smoke could be seen rising up into the air. Every -mile made it clearer to Cameron that the smoke rising from behind the -round-topped hill before him was from his ranch-buildings, and every -mile intensified his anxiety. His wife was alone on the ranch at the -mercy of that fiend. That was the agonizing thought that tore at his -heart as his panting broncho pounded along the trail. From the top -of the hill overlooking the ranch a mile away his eye swept the scene -below, swiftly taking in the details. The ranch-house was in flames and -burning fiercely. The stables were untouched. A horse stood tied to -the corral and two figures were hurrying to and fro about the blazing -building. As they neared the scene it became clear that one of the -figures was that of a woman. - -"Mandy!" he shouted from afar. "Mandy, thank God it's you!" - -But they were too absorbed in their business of fighting the fire. They -neither heard nor saw him till he flung himself off his broncho at their -side. - -"Oh, thank God, Mandy!" he panted, "you are safe." He gathered her into -his arms. - -"Oh, Allan, I am so sorry." - -"Sorry? Sorry? Why?" - -"Our beautiful house!" - -"House?" - -"And all our beautiful things!" - -"Things!" He laughed aloud. "House and things! Why, Mandy, I have YOU -safe. What else matters?" Again he laughed aloud, holding her off from -him at arm's length and gazing at her grimy face. "Mandy," he said, "I -believe you are improving every day in your appearance, but you never -looked so stunning as this blessed minute." Again he laughed aloud. He -was white and trembling. - -"But the house, Allan!" - -"Oh, yes, by the way," he said, "the house. And who's the Johnny -carrying water there?" - -"Oh, I quite forgot. That's Thatcher's new man." - -"Rather wobbly about the knees, isn't he?" cried Cameron. "By Jove, -Mandy! I feared I should never see you again," he said in a voice that -trembled and broke. "And what's the chap's name?" he inquired. - -"Smith, I think," said Mandy. - -"Smith? Fine fellow! Most useful name!" cried Cameron. - -"What's the matter, Allan?" - -"The matter? Nothing now, Mandy. Nothing matters. I was afraid that--but -no matter. Hello, here's the Inspector!" - -"Dear Mrs. Cameron," cried the Inspector, taking both her hands in his, -"I'm awfully glad there's nothing wrong." - -"Nothing wrong? Look at that house!" - -"Oh, yes, awfully sorry. But we were afraid--of that--eh--that is--" - -"Yes, Mandy," said her husband, making visible efforts to control his -voice, "we frankly were afraid that that old devil Copperhead had come -this way and--" - -"He did!" cried Mandy. - -"What?" - -"He did. Oh, Allan, I was going to tell you just as the Inspector came, -and I am so sorry. When you left I wanted to help. I was afraid of what -all those Indians might do to you, so I thought I would ride up the -trail a bit. I got near to where it branches off toward the Reserve near -by those pine trees. There I saw a man come tearing along on a pony. It -was this Indian. I drew aside. He was just going past when he glanced at -me. He stopped and came rushing at me, waving a pistol in his hand. Oh, -such a face! I wonder I ever thought him fine-looking. He caught me by -the arm. I thought his fingers would break the bone. Look!" She pulled -up her sleeve, and upon the firm brown flesh blue and red finger marks -could be seen. "He caught me and shook me and fairly yelled at me, 'You -save my boy once. Me save you to-day. Next time me see your man me kill -him.' He flung me away from him and nearly off my horse--such eyes! such -a face!--and went galloping off down the trail. I feared I was going to -be ill, so I came on homeward. When I reached the top of the hill I saw -the smoke and by the time I arrived the house was blazing and Smith was -carrying water to put out the fire where it had caught upon the smoke -house and stables." - -The men listened to her story with tense white faces. When she had -finished Cameron said quietly: - -"Mandy, roll me up some grub in a blanket." - -"Where are you going, Allan?" her face pale as his own. - -"Going? To get my hands on that Indian's throat." - -"But not now?" - -"Yes, now," he said, moving toward his horse. - -"What about me, Allan?" - -The word arrested him as if a hand had gripped him. - -"You," he said in a dazed manner. "Why, Mandy, of course, there's you. -He might have killed you." Then, shaking his shoulders as if throwing -off a load, he said impatiently, "Oh, I am a fool. That devil has sent -me off my head. I tell you what, Mandy, we will feed first, then we will -make new plans." - -"And there is Moira, too," said Mandy. - -"Yes, there is Moira. We will plan for her too. After all," -he continued, with a slight laugh and with slow deliberation, -"there's--lots--of time--to--get him!" - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE SARCEE CAMP - - -The sun had reached the peaks of the Rockies far in the west, touching -their white with red, and all the lesser peaks and all the rounded -hills between with great splashes of gold and blue and purple. It is the -sunset and the sunrise that make the foothill country a world of mystery -and of beauty, a world to dream about and long for in later days. - -Through this mystic world of gold and blue and purple drove Cameron and -his wife, on their way to the little town of Calgary, three days after -the ruthless burning of their home. As the sun dipped behind the western -peaks they reached the crossing of the Elbow and entered the wide Bow -Valley, upon whose level plain was situated the busy, ambitious and -would-be wicked little pioneer town. The town and plain lay bathed in -a soft haze of rosy purple that lent a kind of Oriental splendor to -the tawdry, unsightly cluster of shacks that sprawled here and there in -irregular bunches on the prairie. - -"What a picture it makes!" cried Mandy. "How wonderful this great plain -with its encircling rivers, those hills with the great peaks beyond! -What a site for a town!" - -"There is no finer," replied her husband, "anywhere in the world that I -know, unless it be that of 'Auld Reekie.'" - -"Meaning?" - -"Meaning!" he echoed indignantly. "What else but the finest of all the -capitals of Europe?" - -"London?" inquired Mandy. - -"London!" echoed her husband contemptuously. "You ignorant Colonial! -Edinburgh, of course. But this is perfectly splendid," he continued. "I -never get used to the wonder of Calgary. You see that deep cut between -those peaks in the far west? That is where 'The Gap' lies, through which -the Bow flows toward us. A great site this for a great town some day. -But you ought to see these peaks in the morning with the sunlight coming -up from the east across the foothills and falling upon them. Whoa, -there! Steady, Pepper!" he cried to the broncho, which owed its name to -the speckled appearance of its hide, and which at the present moment -was plunging and kicking at a dog that had rushed out from an Indian -encampment close by the trail. "Did you never see an Indian dog before?" - -"Oh, Allan," cried Mandy with a shudder, "do you know I can't bear to -look at an Indian since last week, and I used to like them." - -"Hardly fair, though, to blame the whole race for the deviltry of one -specimen." - -"I know that, but--" - -"This is a Sarcee camp, I fancy. They are a cunning lot and not the most -reliable of the Indians. Let me see--three--four teepees. Ought to be -fifteen or twenty in that camp. Only squaws about. The braves apparently -are in town painting things up a bit." - -A quarter of a mile past the Indian encampment the trail made a sharp -turn into what appeared to be the beginning of the main street of the -town. - -"By Jove!" cried Cameron. "Here they come. Sit tight, Mandy." He pointed -with his whip down the trail to what seemed to be a rolling cloud of -dust, vocal with wild whoops and animated with plunging figures of men -and ponies. - -"Steady, there, boys! Get on!" cried Cameron to his plunging, jibing -bronchos, who were evidently unwilling to face that rolling cloud of -dust with its mass of shrieking men and galloping ponies thundering down -upon them. Swift and fierce upon their flanks fell the hissing lash. -"Stand up to them, you beggars!" he shouted to his bronchos, which -seemed intent upon turning tail and joining the approaching cavalcade. -"Hie, there! Hello! Look out!" he yelled, standing up in his wagon, -waving his whip and holding his bronchos steadily on the trail. The -next moment the dust cloud enveloped them and the thundering cavalcade, -parting, surged by on either side. Cameron was wild with rage. - -"Infernal cheeky brutes!" he cried. "For two shillings I'd go back and -break some of their necks. Ride me down, would they?" he continued, -grinding his teeth in fury. - -He pulled up his bronchos with half a mind to turn them about and pursue -the flying Indians. His experience and training with the Mounted Police -made it difficult for him to accept with equal mind what he called the -infernal cheek of a bunch of Indians. At the entreaties of his wife, -however, he hesitated in carrying his purpose into effect. - -"Let them go," said Mandy. "They didn't hurt us, after all." - -"Didn't? No thanks to them. They might have killed you. Well, I shall -see about this later." He gave his excited bronchos their head and -sailed into town, drawing up in magnificent style at the Royal Hotel. - -An attendant in cowboy garb came lounging up. - -"Hello, Billy!" cried Cameron. "Still blooming?" - -"Sure! And rosebuds ain't in it with you, Colonel." Billy was from the -land of colonels. "You've got a whole garden with you this trip, eh?" - -"My wife, Billy," replied Cameron, presenting her. - -Billy pulled off his Stetson. - -"Proud to meet you, madam. Hope I see you well and happy." - -"Yes, indeed, well and happy," cried Mandy emphatically. - -"Sure thing, if looks mean anything," said Billy, admiration glowing in -his eyes. - -"Take the horses, Billy. They have come a hundred and fifty miles." - -"Hundred and fifty, eh? They don't look it. But I'll take care of 'em -all right. You go right in." - -"I shall be back presently, Billy," said Cameron, passing into the dingy -sitting-room that opened off the bar. - -In a few minutes he had his wife settled in a frowsy little eight-by-ten -bedroom, the best the hotel afforded, and departed to attend to his -team, make arrangements for supper and inquire about the incoming train. -The train he found to be three hours late. His team he found in the -capable hands of Billy, who was unharnessing and rubbing them down. -While ordering his supper a hand gripped his shoulder and a voice -shouted in his ear: - -"Hello, old sport! How goes it?" - -"Martin, old boy!" shouted Cameron in reply. "It's awfully good to see -you. How did you get here? Oh, yes, of course, I remember. You left the -construction camp and came here to settle down." All the while Cameron -was speaking he was shaking his friend's hand with both of his. "By -Jove, but you're fit!" he continued, running his eye over the slight but -athletic figure of his friend. - -"Fit! Never fitter, not even in the old days when I used to pass the -pigskin to you out of the scrimmage. But you? You're hardly up to the -mark." The keen gray eyes searched Cameron's face. "What's up with you?" - -"Oh, nothing. A little extra work and a little worry, but I'll tell you -later." - -"Well, what are you on to now?" inquired Martin. - -"Ordering our supper. We've just come in from a hundred and fifty miles' -drive." - -"Supper? Your wife here too? Glory! It's up to me, old boy! Look here, -Connolly," he turned to the proprietor behind the bar, "a bang-up supper -for three. All the season's delicacies and all the courses in order. As -you love me, Connolly, do us your prettiest. And soon, awfully soon. A -hundred and fifty miles, remember. Now, then, how's my old nurse?" he -continued, turning back to Cameron. "She was my nurse, remember, till -you came and stole her." - -"She was, eh? Ask her," laughed Cameron. "But she will be glad to see -you. Where's MY nurse, then, my little nurse, who saw me through a fever -and a broken leg?" - -"Oh, she's up in the mountains still, in the construction camp. I -proposed to bring her down here with me, but there was a riot. I barely -escaped. If ever she gets out from that camp it will be when they are -all asleep or when she is in a box car." - -"Come along, then," cried Cameron. "I have much to tell you, and my wife -will be glad to see you. My sister comes in by No. 1, do you know?" - -"Your sister? By No. 1? You don't say! Why, I never thought your -sister--by No. 1, eh?" - -"Yes, by No. 1." - -"Say, Doc," said the hotel man, breaking into the conversation. "There's -a bunch of 'em comin' in, ain't there? Who's the lady you was expectin' -yourself on No. 1?" - -"Lady?" said Cameron. "What's this, Martin?" - -"Me? Wake up, Connolly, you're walking in your sleep," violently -signaling to the hotel man. - -"Oh, it won't do, Martin," said Cameron with grave concern. "You may -as well own up. Who is it? Come. By Jove! What? A blush? And on that -asbestos cheek? Something here, sure enough." - -"Oh, rot, Cameron! Connolly is a well-known somnambulist." - -"Sure thing!" said Connolly. "Is it catchin,' for I guess you had the -same thing last night?" - -"Connolly, you've gone batty! You need a nurse." - -"A nurse? Maybe so. Maybe so. But I guess you've got to the point where -you need a preacher. Ha! ha! Got you that time, Doc!" laughed the hotel -man, winking at Cameron. - -"Oh, let it out, Martin. You'll feel better afterward. Who is it?" - -"Cameron, so help me! Connolly is an infernal ass. He's batty, I tell -you. I'm treating him for it right now." - -"All right," said Cameron, "never mind. I shall run up and tell my wife -you are here. Wait for me," he cried, as he ran up the stairs. - -"Connolly, you fool! I'll knock your wooden block off!" said the doctor -in a fury. - -"But, Doc, you did say--" - -"Oh, confound you! Shut up! It was--" - -"But you did say--" - -"Will you shut up?" - -"Certain, sure I'll shut up. But you said--" - -"Look here!" broke in the doctor impatiently. "He'll be down in a -minute. I don't want him to know." - -"Aw, Doc, cut it out! He ain't no Lady Clara." - -"Connolly, close that trap of yours and listen to me. This is serious. -He'll be back in a jiffy. It's the same lady as he is going to meet." - -"Same lady? But she's his sister." - -"Yes, of course, you idiot! She's his sister. And now you've queered me -with him and he will think--" - -"Aw, Doc, let me be. I'll straighten that tangle out." - -"Sh-h! Here he is. Not a word, on your life!" - -"Aw, get out!" replied Connolly with generous enthusiasm. "I don't leave -no pard of mine in a hole. Say," he cried, turning to Cameron, "about -that lady. Ha! ha!" - -"Shut your ugly mug!" said the doctor savagely. - -"It's the same lady. Ha! ha! Good joke, eh, Sergeant?" - -"Same lady?" echoed Cameron. - -"Sure, same lady." - -"What does he mean, Martin?" - -"The man's drunk, Cameron. He got a permit last week and he hasn't been -sober for a day since." - -"Ha! ha!" laughed Connolly again. "Wish I had a chance." - -"But the lady?" said Cameron, looking at his friend suspiciously. "And -these blushes?" - -"Oh, well, hang it!" said Martin. "I suppose I might as well tell you. -I found out that your sister was to be in on this train, and in case you -should not turn up I told Connolly here to have a room ready." - -"Oh," said Cameron, with his eyes upon his friend's face. "You found -out? And how did you find out that Moira was coming?" - -"Well," said Martin, his face growing hotter with every word of -explanation, "you have a wife and we have a mutual friend in our little -nurse, and that's how I learned. And so I thought I'd be on hand -anyway. You remember I met your sister up at your Highland home with the -unpronounceable name." - -"Ah, yes! Cuagh Oir. Dear old spot!" said Cameron reminiscently. "Moira -will be heart broken every day when she sees the Big Horn Ranch, I'm -afraid. But here comes Mandy." - -The meeting between the doctor and Cameron's wife was like that between -old comrades in arms, as indeed they had been through many a hard fight -with disease, accident and death during the construction days along the -line of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rocky Mountains. - -A jolly hour they had together at supper, exchanging news and retailing -the latest jokes. And then Cameron told his friend the story of old -Copperhead and of the task laid upon him by Superintendent Strong. -Martin listened in grave silence till the tale was done, then said with -quiet gravity: - -"Cameron, this is a serious business. Why! It's--it's terrible." - -"Yes," replied Mandy quickly, "but you can see that he must do it. We -have quite settled that. You see there are the women and children." - -"And is there no one else? Surely--" - -"No, there is no one else quite so fit to do it," said Mandy. - -"By Jove, you're a wonder!" cried Martin, his face lighting up with -sudden enthusiasm. - -"Not much of a wonder," she replied, a quick tremor in her voice. "Not -much of a wonder, I'm afraid. But how could I keep him? I couldn't keep -him, could I," she said, "if his country needs him?" - -The doctor glanced at her face with its appealing deep blue eyes. - -"No, by Jove! You couldn't keep him, not you." - -"Now, Mandy," said Cameron, "you must upstairs and to bed." He read -aright the signs upon her face. "You are tired and you will need all the -sleep you can get. Wait for me, Martin, I'll be down in a few moments." - -When they reached their room Cameron turned and took his wife in his -arms. - -"Mandy! as Martin says, you are wonderful. You are a brave woman. You -have nerve enough for both of us, and you will need to have nerve for -both, for how I am going to leave you I know not. But now you must to -bed. I have a little business to attend to." - -"Business?" inquired his wife. - -"Yes. Oh, I won't try to hide it from you, Mandy. It's 'The Big -Business.' We are--Dr. Martin and I--going up to the Barracks. -Superintendent Strong has come down for a consultation." He paused and -looked into his wife's face. "I must go, dear." - -"Yes, yes, I know, Allan. You must go. But--do you know--it's foolish -to say it, but as those Indians passed us I fancied I saw the face of -Copperhead." - -"Hardly, I fancy," said her husband with a laugh. "He'd know better than -run into this town in open day just now. All Indians will look to you -like old Copperhead for a while." - -"It may be so. I fancy I'm a little nervous. But come back soon." - -"You may be sure of that, sweetheart. Meantime sleep well." - -The little town of Calgary stands on one of the most beautiful -town-sites in all the world. A great plain with ramparts of hills on -every side, encircled by the twin mountain rivers, the Bow and the -Elbow, overlooked by rolling hills and far away to the west by the -mighty peaks of the Rockies, it holds at once ample space and unusual -picturesque beauty. The little town itself was just emerging from its -early days as a railway construction-camp and was beginning to develop -ambitions toward a well-ordered business activity and social stability. -It was an all-night town, for the simple and sufficient reason that its -communications with the world lying to the east and to the west began -with the arrival of No. 2 at half-past twelve at night and No. 1 at -five o'clock next morning. Few of its citizens thought it worth while -to settle down for the night until after the departure of No. 2 on its -westward journey. - -Through this "all-night" little town Cameron and the doctor took their -way. The sidewalks were still thronged, the stores still doing business, -the restaurants, hotels, pool-rooms all wide open. It kept -Sergeant Crisp busy enough running out the "tin-horn" gamblers and -whisky-peddlers, keeping guard over the fresh and innocent lambs -that strayed in from the East and across from the old land ready for -shearing, and preserving law and order in this hustling frontier town. -Money was still easy in the town, and had Sergeant Crisp been minded -for the mere closing of his eyes or turning of his back upon occasion he -might have retired early from the Force with a competency. Unhappily for -Sergeant Crisp, however, there stood in the pathway of his fortune the -awkward fact of his conscience and his oath of service. Consequently -he was forced to grub along upon the munificent bounty of the daily pay -with which Her Majesty awarded the faithful service of the non-coms. -in her North West Mounted Police Force. And indeed through all the wide -reaches of that great West land during those pioneer days and among all -the officers of that gallant force no record can be found of an officer -who counted fortune dearer than honor. - -Through this wide awake, wicked, but well-watched little town Cameron -with his friend made his way westward toward the Barracks to keep his -appointment with his former Chief, Superintendent Strong. The Barracks -stood upon the prairie about half a mile distant from the town. They -found Superintendent Strong fuming with impatience, which he controlled -with difficulty while Cameron presented his friend. - -"Well, Cameron, you've come at last," was his salutation when the -introduction was completed. "When did you get into town? I have been -waiting all day to see you. Where have you been?" - -"Arrived an hour ago," said Cameron shortly, for he did not half like -the Superintendent's brusque manner. "The trail was heavy owing to the -rain day before yesterday." - -"When did you leave the ranch?" inquired Sergeant Crisp. - -"Yesterday morning," said Cameron. "The colts were green and I couldn't -send them along." - -"Yesterday morning!" exclaimed Sergeant Crisp. "You needn't apologize -for the colts, Cameron." - -"I wasn't apologizing for anybody or anything. I was making a statement -of fact," replied Cameron curtly. - -"Ah, yes, very good going, Cameron. Very good going, indeed, I should -say," said the Superintendent, conscious of his own brusqueness and -anxious to appease. "Did Mrs. Cameron come with you?" - -"She did." - -"Indeed. That is a long drive for a lady to make, Cameron. Too long a -drive, I should say. I hope she is quite well, not--eh--over-fatigued?" - -"She is quite well, thank you." - -"Well, she is an old campaigner," said the Superintendent with a smile, -"and not easily knocked up if I remember her aright. But I ought to -say, Cameron, how very deeply I appreciate your very fine--indeed very -handsome conduct in volunteering to come to our assistance in this -matter. Very handsome indeed I call it. It will have a good effect upon -the community. I appreciate the sacrifice. The Commissioner and the -whole Force will appreciate it. But," he added, as if to himself, -"before we are through with this business I fear there will be more -sacrifice demanded from all of us. I trust none of us will be found -wanting." The Superintendent's voice was unduly solemn, his manner -almost somber. Cameron was impressed with this manifestation of feeling -so unusual with the Superintendent. - -"Any more news, sir?" he inquired. - -"Yes, every post brings news of seditious meetings up north along the -Saskatchewan and of indifference on the part of the Government. And -further, I have the most conclusive evidence that our Indians are being -tampered with, and successfully too. There is no reason to doubt that -the head chiefs have been approached and that many of the minor chiefs -are listening to the proposals of Riel and his half-breeds. But you -have some news to give, I understand? Dickson said you would give me -particulars." - -Thereupon Cameron briefly related the incidents in connection with the -attempted arrest of the Sioux Chief, and closed with a brief account of -the burning of his home. - -"That is most daring, most serious," exclaimed the Superintendent. "But -you are quite certain that it was the Sioux that was responsible for the -outrage?" - -"Well," said Cameron, "he met my wife on a trail five miles away, -threatened her, and--" - -"Good God, Cameron! Threatened your wife?" - -"Yes, nearly flung her off her horse," replied Cameron, his voice quiet -and even, but his eyes glowing like fires in his white face. - -"Flung her off her horse? But--he didn't injure her?" replied the -Superintendent. - -"Only that he terrified her with his threats and then went on toward the -house, which he left in flames." - -"My God, Cameron!" said the Superintendent, rising in his excitement. -"This is really terrible. You must have suffered awful anxiety. I -apologize for my abrupt manner a moment ago," he added, offering his -hand. "I'm awfully sorry." - -"It's all right, Superintendent," replied Cameron. "I'm afraid I am a -little upset myself." - -"But what a God's mercy she escaped! How came that, I wonder?" - -Then Cameron told the story of the rescue of the Indian boy. - -"That undoubtedly explains it," exclaimed the Superintendent. "That -was a most fortunate affair. Do an Indian a good turn and he will never -forget it. I shudder to think of what might have happened, for I assure -you that this Copperhead will stick at nothing. We have an unusually -able man to deal with, and we shall put our whole Force on this business -of arresting this man. Have you any suggestions yourself?" - -"No," said Cameron, "except that it would appear to be a mistake to give -any sign that we were very specially anxious to get him just now. So -far we have not shown our hand. Any concentrating of the Force upon his -capture would only arouse suspicion and defeat our aim, while my going -after him, no matter how keenly, will be accounted for on personal -grounds." - -"There is something in that, but do you think you can get him?" - -"I am going to get him," said Cameron quietly. - -The superintendent glanced at his face. - -"By Jove, I believe you will! But remember, you can count on me and on -my Force to a man any time and every time to back you up, and there's my -hand on it. And now, let's get at this thing. We have a cunning devil -to do with and he has gathered about him the very worst elements on the -reserves." - -Together they sat and made their plans till far on into the night. But -as a matter of fact they could make little progress. They knew well it -would be extremely difficult to discover their man. Owing to the state -of feeling throughout the reserves the source of information upon -which the Police ordinarily relied had suddenly dried up or become -untrustworthy. A marked change had come over the temper of the Indians. -While as yet they were apparently on friendly terms and guilty of no -open breach of the law, a sullen and suspicious aloofness marked the -bearing of the younger braves and even of some of the chiefs toward the -Police. Then, too, among the Piegans in the south and among the -Sarcees whose reserve was in the neighborhood of Calgary an epidemic -of cattle-stealing had broken out and the Police were finding it -increasingly difficult to bring the criminals to justice. Hence with -this large increase in crime and with the changed attitude and temper of -the Indians toward the Police, such an amount of additional patrol-work -was necessary that the Police had almost reached the limit of their -endurance. - -"In fact, we have really a difficult proposition before us, short-handed -as we are," said the Superintendent as they closed their interview. -"Indeed, if things become much worse we may find it necessary to -organize the settlers as Home Guards. An outbreak on the Saskatchewan -might produce at any moment the most serious results here and in British -Columbia. Meantime, while we stand ready to help all we can, it looks to -me, Cameron, that you are right and that in this business you must go it -alone pretty much." - -"I realize that, sir," replied Cameron. "But first I must get my house -built and things in shape, then I hope to take this up." - -"Most certainly," replied the Superintendent. "Take a month. He can't do -much more harm in a month, and meantime we shall do our utmost to obtain -information and we shall keep you informed of anything we discover." - -The Superintendent and Sergeant accompanied Cameron and his friend to -the door. - -"It is a black night," said Sergeant Crisp. "I hope they're not running -any 'wet freight' in to-night." - -"It's a good night for it, Sergeant," said Dr. Martin. "Do you expect -anything to come in?" - -"I have heard rumors," replied the Sergeant, "and there is a freight -train standing right there now which I have already gone through but -upon which it is worth while still to keep an eye." - -"Well, good-night," said the Superintendent, shaking Cameron by -the hand. "Keep me posted and when within reach be sure and see me. -Good-night, Dr. Martin. We may want you too before long." - -"All right, sir, you have only to say the word." - -The night was so black that the trail which in the daylight was worn -smooth and plainly visible was quite blotted out. The light from the -Indian camp fire, which was blazing brightly a hundred yards away, -helped them to keep their general direction. - -"For a proper black night commend me to the prairie," said the doctor. -"It is the dead level does it, I believe. There is nothing to cast a -reflection or a shadow." - -"It will be better in a few minutes," said Cameron, "when we get our -night sight." - -"You are off the trail a bit, I think," said the doctor. - -"Yes, I know. I am hitting toward the fire. The light makes it better -going that way." - -"I say, that chap appears to be going some. Quite a song and dance he's -giving them," said the doctor, pointing to an Indian who in the full -light of the camp fire was standing erect and, with hand outstretched, -was declaiming to the others, who, kneeling or squatting about the fire, -were giving him rapt attention. The erect figure and outstretched arm -arrested Cameron. A haunting sense of familiarity floated across his -memory. - -"Let's go nearer," he said, "and quietly." - -With extreme caution they made about two-thirds of the distance when a -howl from an Indian dog revealed their presence. At once the speaker -who had been standing in the firelight sank crouching to the ground. -Instantly Cameron ran forward a few swift steps and, like a hound upon -a deer, leapt across the fire and fair upon the crouching Indian, crying -"Call the Police, Martin!" - -With a loud cry of "Police! Police! Help here!" Martin sprang into the -middle of an excited group of Indians. Two of them threw themselves -upon him, but with a hard right and left he laid them low and, seizing -a stick of wood, sprang toward two others who were seeking to batter the -life out of Cameron as he lay gripping his enemy by the throat with one -hand and with the other by the wrist to check a knife thrust. Swinging -his stick around his head and repeating his cry for help, Martin made -Cameron's assailants give back a space and before they could renew the -attack Sergeant Crisp burst open the door of the Barracks, and, followed -by a Slim young constable and the Superintendent, came rushing with -shouts upon the scene. Immediately upon the approach of the Police the -Indians ceased the fight and all that could faded out of the light into -the black night around them, while the Indian who continued to struggle -with incredible fury to free himself from Cameron's grip suddenly became -limp and motionless. - -"Now, what's all this?" demanded the Sergeant. "Why, it's you, doctor, -and where--? You don't mean that's Cameron there? Hello, Cameron!" he -said, leaning over him. "Let go! He's safe enough. We've got him all -right. Let go! By Jove! Are they both dead?" - -Here the Superintendent came up. The incidents leading up to the present -situation were briefly described by the doctor. - -"I can't get this fellow free," said the Sergeant, who was working hard -to release the Indian's throat from the gripping fingers. He turned -Cameron over on his back. He was quite insensible. Blood was pouring -from his mouth and nose, but his fingers like steel clamps were gripping -the wrist and throat of his foe. The Indian lay like dead. - -"Good Lord, doctor! What shall we do?" cried the Superintendent. "Is he -dead?" - -"No," said Martin, with his hand upon Cameron's heart. "Bring water. -You can't loosen his fingers till he revives. The blow that knocked him -senseless set those fingers as they are and they will stay set thus till -released by returning consciousness." - -"Here then, get water quick!" shouted the Superintendent to the slim -young constable. - -Gradually as the water was splashed upon his face Cameron came back to -life and, relaxing his fingers, stretched himself with a sigh as of vast -relief and lay still. - -"Here, take that, you beast!" cried the Sergeant, dashing the rest of -the water into the face of the Indian lying rigid and motionless on the -ground. A long shudder ran through the Indian's limbs. Clutching at -his throat with both hands, he raised himself to a sitting posture, his -breath coming in raucous gasps, glared wildly upon the group, then sank -back upon the ground, rolled over upon his side and lay twitching and -breathing heavily, unheeded by the doctor and Police who were working -hard over Cameron. - -"No bones broken, I think," said the doctor, feeling the battered head. -"Here's where the blow fell that knocked him out," pointing to a ridge -that ran along the side of Cameron's head. "A little lower, a little -more to the front and he would never have moved. Let's get him in." - -Cameron opened his eyes, struggled to speak and sank back again. - -"Don't stir, old chap. You're all right. Don't move for a bit. Could you -get a little brandy, Sergeant?" - -Again the slim young constable rushed toward the Barracks and in a few -moments returned with the spirits. After taking a sip of the brandy -Cameron again opened his eyes and managed to say "Don't--" - -"All right, old chap," said the doctor. "We won't move you yet. Just lie -still a bit." But as once more Cameron opened his eyes the agony of the -appeal in them aroused the doctor's attention. "Something wrong, eh?" he -said. "Are you in pain, old boy?" - -The appealing eyes closed, then, opening again, turned toward the -Superintendent. - -"Copperhead," he whispered. - -"What do you say?" said the Superintendent kneeling down. - -Once more with painful effort Cameron managed to utter the word -"Copperhead." - -"Copperhead!" ejaculated the Superintendent in a low tense voice, -springing to his feet and turning toward the unconscious Indian. "He's -gone!" he cried with a great oath. "He's gone! Sergeant Crisp!" he -shouted, "Call out the whole Force! Surround this camp and hold every -Indian. Search every teepee for this fellow who was lying here. Quick! -Quick!" Leaving Cameron to the doctor, who in a few minutes became -satisfied that no serious injury had been sustained, he joined in the -search with fierce energy. The teepees were searched, the squaws and -papooses were ruthlessly bundled out from their slumbers and with the -Indians were huddled into the Barracks. But of the Sioux Chief there was -no sign. He had utterly vanished. The black prairie had engulfed him. - -But the Police had their own methods. Within a quarter of an hour half -a dozen mounted constables were riding off in different directions to -cover the main trails leading to the Indian reserves and to sweep a wide -circle about the town. - -"They will surely get him," said Dr. Martin confidently. - -"Not much chance of it," growled Cameron, to whom with returning -consciousness had come the bitter knowledge of the escape of the man -he had come to regard as his mortal enemy. "I had him fast enough," he -groaned, "in spite of the best he could do, and I would have choked his -life out had it not been for these other devils." - -"They certainly jumped in savagely," said Martin. "In fact I cannot -understand how they got at the thing so quickly." - -"Didn't you hear him call?" said Cameron. "It was his call that did it. -Something he said turned them into devils. They were bound to do for me. -I never saw Indians act like that." - -"Yes, I heard that call, and it mighty near did the trick for you. Thank -Heaven your thick Hielan' skull saved you." - -"How did they let him go?" again groaned Cameron. - -"How? Because he was too swift for us," said the Superintendent, who had -come in, "and we too slow. I thought it was an ordinary Indian row, -you see, but I might have known that you would not have gone in in that -style without good reason. Who would think that this old devil should -have the impudence to camp right here under our nose? Where did he come -from anyway, do you suppose?" - -"Been to the Blackfoot Reserve like enough and was on his way to the -Sarcees when he fell in with this little camp of theirs." - -"That's about it," replied the Superintendent gloomily. "And to think -you had him fast and we let him go!" - -The thought brought small comfort to any of them, least of all to -Cameron. In that vast foothill country with all the hidings of the hills -and hollows there was little chance that the Police would round up the -fugitive, and upon Cameron still lay the task of capturing this cunning -and resourceful foe. - -"Never mind," said Martin cheerily. "Three out, all out. You'll get him -next time." - -"I don't know about that. But I'll get him some time or he'll get me," -replied Cameron as his face settled into grim lines. "Let's get back." - -"Are you quite fit?" inquired the Superintendent. - -"Fit enough. Sore a bit in the head, but can navigate." - -"I can't tell you how disappointed and chagrined I feel. It isn't often -that my wits are so slow but--" The Superintendent's jaws here cut off -his speech with a snap. The one crime reckoned unpardonable in the men -under his own command was that of failure and his failure to capture old -Copperhead thus delivered into his hands galled him terribly. - -"Well, good-night, Cameron," said the Superintendent, looking out into -the black night. "We shall let you know to-morrow the result of our -scouting, though I don't expect much from it. He is much too clever to -be caught in the open in this country." - -"Perhaps he'll skidoo," said Dr. Martin hopefully. - -"No, he's not that kind," replied the Superintendent. "You can't scare -him out. You have got to catch him or kill him." - -"I think you are right, sir," said Cameron. "He will stay till his work -is done or till he is made to quit." - -"That is true, Cameron--till he is made to quit--and that's your job," -said the Superintendent solemnly. - -"Yes, that is my job, sir," replied Cameron simply and with equal -solemnity. "I shall do my best." - -"We have every confidence in you, Cameron," replied the Superintendent. -"Good-night," he said again, shutting the door. - -"Say, old man, this is too gruesome," said Martin with fierce -impatience. "I can't see why it's up to you more than any other." - -"The Sun Dance Trail is the trail he must take to do his work. That was -my patrol last year--I know it best. God knows I don't want this--" -his breath came quick--"I am not afraid--but--but there's--We have been -together for such a little while, you know." He could get no farther for -a moment or two, then added quietly, "But somehow I know--yes and she -knows--bless her brave heart--it is my job. I must stay with it." - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE GIRL ON NO. 1. - - -By the time they had reached the hotel Cameron was glad enough to go to -his bed. - -"You need not tell your wife, I suppose," said the doctor. - -"Tell her? Certainly!" said Cameron. "She is with me in this. I play -fair with her. Don't you fear, she is up to it." - -And so she was, and, though her face grew white as she listened to the -tale, never for a moment did her courage falter. - -"Doctor, is Allan all right? Tell me," she said, her big blue eyes -holding his in a steady gaze. - -"Right enough, but he must have a long sleep. You must not let him stir -at five." - -"Then," said Mandy, "I shall go to meet the train, Allan." - -"But you don't know Moira." - -"No, but I shall find her out." - -"Of course," said Dr. Martin in a deprecating tone, "I know Miss -Cameron, but--" - -"Of course you do," cried Mandy. "Why, that is splendid! You will go -and Allan need not be disturbed. She will understand. Not a word, now, -Allan. We will look after this, the doctor and I, eh, Doctor?" - -"Why--eh--yes--yes certainly, of course. Why not?" - -"Why not, indeed?" echoed Mandy briskly. "She will understand." - -And thus it was arranged. Under the influence of a powder left by Dr. -Martin, Cameron, after an hour's tossing, fell into a heavy sleep. - -"I am so glad you are here," said Mandy to the doctor, as he looked in -upon her. "You are sure there is no injury?" - -"No, nothing serious. Shock, that's all. A day's quiet will fix him up." - -"I am so thankful," said Mandy, heaving a deep sigh of relief, "and I am -so glad that you are here. And it is so nice that you know Moira." - -"You are not going to the train?" said the doctor. - -"No, no, there is no need, and I don't like to leave him. Besides you -don't need me." - -"N-o-o, no, not at all--certainly not," said the doctor with growing -confidence. "Good-night. I shall show her to her room." - -"Oh," cried Mandy, "I shall meet you when you come. Thank you so much. -So glad you are here," she added with a tremulous smile. - -The doctor passed down the stairs. - -"By Jove, she's a brick!" he said to himself. "She has about all she -can stand just now. Glad I am here, eh? Well, I guess I am too. But what -about this thing? It's up to me now to do the Wild West welcome act, and -I'm scared--plain scared to death. She won't know me from a goat. Let's -see. I've got two hours yet to work up my ginger. I'll have a pipe to -start with." - -He passed into the bar, where, finding himself alone, he curled up in -a big leather chair and gave himself up to his pipe and his dreams. The -dingy bar-room gave place to a little sunny glen in the Highlands of -Scotland, in which nestled a little cluster of stone-built cottages, -moss-grown and rose-covered. Far down in the bottom of the Glen a tiny -loch gleamed like a jewel. Up on the hillside above the valley an avenue -of ragged pines led to a large manor house, old, quaint, but dignified, -and in the doorway a maiden stood, grave of face and wonderfully sweet, -in whose brown eyes and over whose brown curls all the glory of the -little Glen of the Cup of Gold seemed to gather. Through many pipes he -pursued his dreams, but always they led him to that old doorway and -the maiden with the grave sweet face and the hair and eyes full of the -golden sunlight of the Glen Cuagh Oir. - -"Oh, pshaw!" he grumbled to himself at last, knocking the ashes from -his pipe. "She has forgotten me. It was only one single day. But what a -day!" - -He lit a fresh pipe and began anew to dream of that wonderful day, that -day which was the one unfading point of light in all his Old Country -stay. Not even the day when he stood to receive his parchment and the -special commendation of the Senatus and of his own professor for his -excellent work lived with him like that day in the Glen. Every detail of -the picture he could recall and ever in the foreground the maiden. With -deliberate purpose he settled himself in his chair and set himself to -fill in those fine and delicate touches that were necessary to make -perfect the foreground of his picture, the pale olive face with its -bewildering frame of golden waves and curls, the clear brown eyes, now -soft and tender, now flashing with wrath, and the voice with its soft -Highland cadence. - -"By Jove, I'm dotty! Clean dotty! I'll make an ass of myself, sure -thing, when I see her to-day." He sprang from his chair and shook -himself together. "Besides, she has forgotten all about me." He looked -at his watch. It was twenty minutes to train-time. He opened the door -and looked out. The chill morning air struck him sharply in the face. He -turned quickly, snatched his overcoat from a nail in the hall and put it -on. - -At this point Billy, who combined in his own person the offices of -ostler, porter and clerk, appeared, his lantern shining with a dim -yellow glare in the gray light of the dawn. - -"No. 1 is about due, Doc," he said. - -"She is, eh? I say, Billy," said the Doctor, "want to do something for -me?" He pushed a dollar at Billy over the counter. - -"Name it, Doc, without further insult," replied Billy, shoving the -dollar back with a lordly scorn. - -"All right, Billy, you're a white little soul. Now listen. I want your -ladies' parlor aired." - -"Aired?" gasped Billy. - -"Yes, open the windows. Put on a fire. I have a lady coming--I -have--that is--Sergeant Cameron's sister is coming--" - -"Say no more," said Billy with a wink. "I get you, Doc. But what about -the open window, Doc? It's rather cold." - -"Open it up and put on a fire. Those Old Country people are mad about -fresh air." - -"All right, Doc," replied Billy with another knowing wink. "The best is -none too good for her, eh?" - -"Look here, now, Billy--" the doctor's tone grew severe--"let's have no -nonsense. This is Sergeant Cameron's sister. He is knocked out, unable -to meet her. I am taking his place. Do you get me? Now be quick. If you -have any think juice in that block of yours turn it on." - -Billy twisted one ear as if turning a cock, and tapped his forehead with -his knuckles. - -"Doc," he said solemnly, "she's workin' like a watch, full jewel, patent -lever." - -"All right. Now get on to this. Sitting-room aired, good fire going, -windows open and a cup of coffee." - -"Coffee? Say, Doc, there ain't time. What about tea?" - -"You know well enough, Billy, you haven't got any but that infernal -green stuff fit to tan the stomach of a brass monkey." - -"There's another can, Doc. I know where it is. Leave it to me." - -"All right, Billy, I trust you. They are death on tea in the Old -Country. And toast, Billy. What about toast?" - -"Toast? Toast, eh? Well, all right, Doc. Toast it is. Trust yours truly. -You keep her out a-viewin' the scenery for half an hour." - -"And Billy, a big pitcher of hot water. They can't live without hot -water in the morning, those Old Country people." - -"Sure thing, Doc. A tub if you like." - -"No, a pitcher will do." - -At this point a long drawn whistle sounded through the still morning -air. - -"There she goes, Doc. She has struck the grade. Say, Doc--" - -But his words fell upon empty space. The doctor had already disappeared. - -"Say, he's a sprinter," said Billy to himself. "He ain't takin' no -chances on bein' late. Shouldn't be surprised if the Doc got there all -right." - -He darted upstairs and looked around the ladies' parlor. The air was -heavy with mingled odors of the bar and the kitchen. A spittoon occupied -a prominent place in the center of the room. The tables were dusty, the -furniture in confusion. The ladies' parlor was perfectly familiar to -Billy, but this morning he viewed it with new eyes. - -"Say, the Doc ain't fair. He's too swift in his movements," he muttered -to himself as he proceeded to fling things into their places. He raised -the windows, opened the stove door and looked in. The ashes of many -fires half filling the box met his eyes with silent reproach. "Say, the -Doc ain't fair," he muttered again. "Them ashes ought to have been out -of there long ago." This fact none knew better than himself, inasmuch as -there was no other from whom this duty might properly be expected. Yet -it brought some small relief to vent his disgust upon this offending -accumulation of many days' neglect. There was not a moment to lose. He -was due in ten minutes to meet the possible guests for the Royal at the -train. He seized a pail left in the hall by the none too tidy housemaid -and with his hands scooped into it the ashes from the stove, and, -leaving a cloud of dust to settle everywhere upon tables and chairs, ran -down with his pail and back again with kindling and firewood and had -a fire going in an extraordinarily short time. He then caught up an -ancient antimacassar, used it as a duster upon chairs and tables, flung -it back again in its place over the rickety sofa and rushed for the -station to find that the train had already pulled in, had come to a -standstill and was disgorging its passengers upon the platform. - -"Roy--al Ho--tel!" shouted Billy. "Best in town! All the comforts and -conveniences! Yes, sir! Take your grip, sir? Just give me them checks! -That's all right, leave 'em to me. I'll get your baggage all right." - -He saw the doctor wandering distractedly up and down the platform. - -"Hello, Doc, got your lady? Not on the Pullman, eh? Take a look in the -First Class. Say, Doc," he added in a lower voice, coming near to the -doctor, "what's that behind you?" - -The doctor turned sharply and saw a young lady whose long clinging black -dress made her seem taller than she was. She wore a little black hat -with a single feather on one side, which gave it a sort of tam o' -shanter effect. She came forward with hand outstretched. - -"I know you, Mr. Martin," she said in a voice that indicated immense -relief. - -"You?" he cried. "Is it you? And to think I didn't know you. And to -think you should remember me." - -"Remember! Well do I remember you--and that day in the Cuagh Oir--but -you have forgotten all about that day." A little flush appeared on her -pale cheek. - -"Forgotten?" cried Martin. - -"But you didn't know me," she added with a slight severity in her tone. - -"I was not looking for you." - -"Not looking for me?" cried the girl. "Then who--?" She paused in a -sudden confusion, and with a little haughty lift of her head said, -"Where is Allan, my brother?" - -But the doctor ignored her question. He was gazing at her in stupid -amazement. - -"I was looking for a little girl," he said, "in a blue serge dress and -tangled hair, brown, and all curls, with brown eyes and--" - -"And you found a grown up woman with all the silly curls in their proper -place--much older--very much older. It is a habit we have in Scotland of -growing older." - -"Older?" - -"Yes, older, and more sober and sensible--and plainer." - -"Plainer?" The doctor's mind was evidently not working with its usual -ease and swiftness, partly from amazement at the transformation that had -resulted in this tall slender young lady standing before him with -her stately air, and partly from rage at himself and his unutterable -stupidity. - -"But you have not answered me," said the girl, obviously taken aback at -the doctor's manner. "Where is my brother? He was to meet me. This is -Cal--gar--ry, is it not?" - -"It's Calgary all right," cried the doctor, glad to find in this fact a -solid resting place for his mind. - -"And my brother? There is nothing wrong?" The alarm in her voice brought -him to himself. - -"Wrong? Not a bit. At least, not much." - -"Not much? Tell me at once, please." With an imperious air the young -lady lifted her head and impaled the doctor with her flashing brown -eyes. - -"Well," said the doctor in halting confusion, "you see, he met with an -accident." - -"An accident?" she cried. "You are hiding something from me, Mr. Martin. -My brother is ill, or--" - -"No, no, not he. An Indian hit him on the head," said the doctor, -rendered desperate by her face. - -"An Indian?" Her cry, her white face, the quick clutch of her hands at -her heart, roused the doctor's professional instincts and banished his -confusion. - -"He is perfectly all right, I assure you, Miss Cameron. Only it was -better that he should have his sleep out. He was most anxious to meet -you, but as his medical adviser I urged him to remain quiet and offered -to come in his place. His wife is with him. A day's rest, believe me, -will make him quite fit." The doctor's manner was briskly professional -and helped to quiet the girl's alarm. - -"Can I see him?" she asked. - -"Most certainly, in a few hours when he wakes and when you are rested. -Here, Billy, take Miss Cameron's checks. Look sharp." - -"Say, Doc," said Billy in an undertone, "about that tea and toast--" - -"What the deuce--?" said the doctor impatiently. "Oh, yes--all right! -Only look lively." - -"Keep her a-viewin' the scenery, Doc, a bit," continued Billy under his -breath. - -"Oh, get a move on, Billy! What are you monkeying about?" said the -doctor quite crossly. He was anxious to escape from a position that had -become intolerable to him. For months he had been looking forward to -this meeting and now he had bungled it. In the first place he had begun -by not knowing the girl who for three years and more had been in his -dreams day and night, then he had carried himself like a schoolboy -in her presence, and lastly had frightened her almost to death by his -clumsy announcement of her brother's accident. The young lady at his -side, with the quick intuition of her Celtic nature, felt his mood, and, -not knowing the cause, became politely distant. - -On their walk to the hotel Dr. Martin pointed out the wonderful pearly -gray light stealing across the plain and beginning to brighten on the -tops of the rampart hills that surrounded the town. - -"You will see the Rockies in an hour, Miss Cameron, in the far west -there," he said. But there was no enthusiasm in his voice. - -"Ah, yes, how beautiful!" said the young lady. But her tone, too, was -lifeless. - -Desperately the doctor strove to make conversation during their short -walk and with infinite relief did he welcome the appearance of Mandy at -her bedroom door waiting their approach. - -"Your brother's wife, Miss Cameron," said he. - -For a single moment they stood searching each other's souls. Then by -some secret intuition known only to the female mind they reached a -conclusion, an entirely satisfactory conclusion, too, for at once they -were in each other's arms. - -"You are Moira?" cried Mandy. - -"Yes," said the girl in an eager, tremulous voice. "And my brother? Is -he well?" - -"Well? Of course he is--perfectly fine. He is sleeping now. We will not -wake him. He has had none too good a night." - -"No, no," cried Moira, "don't wake him. Oh, I am so glad. You see, I was -afraid." - -"Afraid? Why were you afraid?" inquired Mandy, looking indignantly at -the doctor, who stood back, a picture of self condemnation. - -"Yes, yes, Mrs. Cameron, blame me. I deserve it all. I bungled the whole -thing this morning and frightened Miss Cameron nearly into a fit, for -no other reason than that I am all ass. Now I shall retire. Pray deal -gently with me. Good-by!" he added abruptly, lifted his hat and was -gone. - -"What's the matter with him?" said Mandy, looking at her sister-in-law. - -"I do not know, I am sure," replied Moira indifferently. "Is there -anything the matter?" - -"He is not like himself a bit. But come, my dear, take off your things. -As the doctor says, a sleep for a couple of hours will do you good. -After that you will see Allan. You are looking very weary, dear, and no -wonder, no wonder," said Mandy, "with all that journey and--and all you -have gone through." She gathered the girl into her strong arms. "My, I -could just pick you up like a babe!" She held her close and kissed her. - -The caressing touch was too much for the girl. With a rush the tears -came. - -"Och, oh," she cried, lapsing into her Highland speech, "it iss -ashamed of myself I am, but no one has done that to me for many a day -since--since--my father--" - -"There, there, you poor darling," said Mandy, comforting her as if she -were a child, "you will not want for love here in this country. Cry -away, it will do you good." There was a sound of feet on the stairs. -"Hush, hush, Billy is coming." She swept the girl into her bedroom as -Billy appeared. - -"Oh, I am just silly," said Moira impatiently, as she wiped her eyes. -"But you are so good, and I will never be forgetting your kindness to me -this day." - -"Hot water," said Billy, tapping at the door. - -"Hot water! What for?" cried Mandy. - -"For the young lady. The doctor said she was used to it." - -"The doctor? Well, that is very thoughtful. Do you want hot water, -Moira?" - -"Yes, the very thing I do want to get the dust out of my eyes and the -grime off my face." - -"And the tea is in the ladies' parlor," added Billy. - -"Tea!" cried Mandy, "the very thing!" - -"The doctor said tea and toast." - -"The doctor again!" - -"Sure thing! Said they were all stuck on tea in the Old Country." - -"Oh, he did, eh? Will you have tea, Moira?" - -"No tea, thank you. I shall lie down, I think, for a little." - -"All right, dear, we will see you at breakfast. Don't worry. I shall -call you." - -Again she kissed the girl and left her to sleep. She found Billy -standing in the ladies' parlor with a perplexed and disappointed look on -his face. - -"The Doc said she'd sure want some tea," he said. - -"And you made the tea yourself?" inquired Mandy. - -"Sure thing! The Doc--" - -"Well, Billy, I'd just love a cup of tea if you don't mind wasting it on -me." - -"Sure thing, ma'm! The Doc won't mind, bein' as she turned it down." - -"Where is Dr. Martin gone, Billy? He needs a cup of tea; he's been up -all night. He must be feeling tough." - -"Judgin' by his langwidge I should surmise yes," said Billy judicially. - -"Would you get him, Billy, and bring him here?" - -"Get him? S'pose I could. But as to bringin' him here, I'd prefer wild -cats myself. The last I seen of him he was hikin' for the Rockies with a -blue haze round his hair." - -"But what in the world is wrong with him, Billy?" said Mandy anxiously. -"I've never seen him this way." - -"No, nor me," said Billy. "The Doc's a pretty level headed cuss. There's -somethin' workin' on him, if you ask me." - -"Billy, you get him and tell him we want to see him at breakfast, will -you?" - -Billy shook his head. - -"Tell him, Billy, I want him to see my husband then." - -"Sure thing! That'll catch him, I guess. He's dead stuck on his work." - -And it did catch him, for, after breakfast was over, clean-shaven, calm -and controlled, and in his very best professional style, Dr. Martin made -his morning call on his patient. Rigidly he eliminated from his manner -anything beyond a severe professional interest. Mandy, who for two years -had served with him as nurse, and who thought she knew his every mood, -was much perplexed. Do what she could, she was unable to break through -the barrier of his professional reserve. He was kindly courteous and -perfectly correct. - -"I would suggest a quiet day for him, Mrs. Cameron," was his verdict -after examining the patient. "He will be quite able to get up in the -afternoon and go about, but not to set off on a hundred and fifty mile -drive. A quiet day, sleep, cheerful company, such as you can furnish -here, will fix him up." - -"Doctor, we will secure the quiet day if you will furnish the cheerful -company," said Mandy, beaming on him. - -"I have a very busy day before me, and as for cheerful company, with you -two ladies he will have all the company that is good for him." - -"CHEERFUL company, you said, Doctor. If you desert us how can we be -cheerful?" - -"Exactly for that reason," replied the doctor. - -"Say, Martin," interposed Cameron, "take them out for a drive this -afternoon and leave me in peace." - -"A drive!" cried Mandy, "with one hundred and fifty miles behind me and -another hundred and fifty miles before me!" - -"A ride then," said Cameron. "Moira, you used to be fond of riding." - -"And am still," cried the girl, with sparkling eyes. - -"A ride!" cried Mandy. "Great! This is the country for riding. But have -you a habit?" - -"My habit is in one of my boxes," replied Moira. - -"I can get a habit," said the doctor, "and two of them." - -"That's settled, then," cried Mandy. "I am not very keen. We shall do -some shopping, Allan, you and I this afternoon and you two can go off -to the hills. The hills! th--ink of that, Moira, for a highlander!" She -glanced at Moira's face and read refusal there. "But I insist you must -go. A whole week in an awful stuffy train. This is the very thing for -you." - -"Yes, the very thing, Moira," cried her brother. "We will have a long -talk this morning then in the afternoon we will do some business here, -Mandy and I, and you can go up the Bow." - -"The Bow?" - -"The Bow River. A glorious ride. Nothing like it even in Scotland, and -that's saying a good deal," said her brother with emphasis. - -This arrangement appeared to give complete satisfaction to all parties -except those most immediately interested, but there seemed to be no very -sufficient reason with either to decline, hence they agreed. - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE RIDE UP THE BOW - - -Having once agreed to the proposal of a ride up the Bow, the doctor -lost no time in making the necessary preparations. Half an hour later he -found himself in the stable consulting with Billy. His mood was gloomy -and his language reflected his mood. Gladly would he have escaped what -to him, he felt, would be a trying and prolonged ordeal. But he could -not do this without exciting the surprise of his friends and possibly -wounding the sensitive girl whom he would gladly give his life to serve. -He resolved that at all costs he would go through with the thing. - -"I'll give her a good time, by Jingo! if I bust something," he muttered -as he walked up and down the stable picking out his mounts. "But for a -compound, double-opposed, self-adjusting jackass, I'm your choice. Lost -my first chance. Threw it clean away and queered myself with her first -shot. I say, Billy," he called, "come here." - -"What's up, Doc?" said Billy. - -"Kick me, Billy," said the doctor solemnly. - -"Well now, Doc, I--" - -"Kick me, Billy, good and swift." - -"Don't believe I could give no satisfaction, Doc. But there's that Hiram -mule, he's a high class artist. You might back up to him." - -"No use being kicked, Billy, by something that wouldn't appreciate it," -said Martin. - -"Don't guess that way, Doc. He's an ornery cuss, he'd appreciate it all -right, that old mule. But Doc, what's eatin' you?" - -"Oh, nothing, Billy, except that I'm an ass, an infernal ass." - -"An ass, eh? Then I guess I couldn't give you no satisfaction. You -better try that mule." - -"Well, Billy, the horses at two," said the doctor briskly, "the broncho -and that dandy little pinto." - -"All serene, Doc. Hope you'll have a good time. Brace up, Doc, it's -comin' to you." Billy's wink conveyed infinitely more than his words. - -"Look here, Billy, you cut that all out," said the doctor. - -"All right, Doc, if that's the way you feel. You'll see no monkey-work -on me. I'll make a preacher look like a sideshow." - -And truly Billy's manner was irreproachable as he stood with the ponies -at the hotel door and helped their riders to mount. There was an almost -sad gravity in his demeanor that suggested a mind preoccupied with -solemn and unworldly thoughts with which the doctor and his affairs had -not even the remotest association. - -As Cameron who, with his wife, watched their departure from the balcony -above, waved them farewell, he cried, "Keep your eyes skinned for an -Indian, Martin. Bring him in if you find him." - -"I've got no gun on me," replied the doctor, "and if I get sight of him, -you hear me, I'll make for the timber quick. No heroic captures for me -this trip." - -"What is all this about the Indian, Dr. Martin?" inquired the girl at -his side as they cantered down the street. - -"Didn't your brother tell you?" - -"No." - -"Well, I've done enough to you with that Indian already to-day." - -"To me?" - -"Didn't I like a fool frighten you nearly to death with him?" - -"Well, I was startled. I was silly to show it. But an Indian to an Old -Country person familiar with Fenimore Cooper, well--" - -"Oh, I was a proper idiot all round this morning," grumbled the doctor. -"I didn't know what I was doing." - -The brown eyes were open wide upon him. - -"You see," continued the doctor desperately, "I'd looked forward to -meeting you for so long." The brown eyes grew wider. "And then to think -that I actually didn't know you." - -"You didn't look at me," cried Moira. - -"No, I was looking for the girl I saw that day, almost three years ago, -in the Glen. I have never forgotten that day." - -"No, nor I," replied the girl softly. "That is how I knew you. It was -a terrible day to us all in the Glen, my brother going to leave us and -under that dreadful cloud, and you came with the letter that cleared it -all away. Oh, it was like the coming of an angel from heaven, and I have -often thought, Mr. Martin--Dr. Martin you are now, of course--that I -never thanked you as I ought that day. I was thinking of Allan. I have -often wished to do it. I should like to do it now." - -"Get at it," cried the doctor with great emphasis, "I need it. It might -help me a bit. I behaved so stupidly this morning. The truth is, I was -completely knocked out, flabbergasted." - -"Was that it?" cried Moira with a bright smile. "I thought--" A faint -color tinged her pale cheek and she paused a moment. "But tell me about -the Indian. My brother just made little of it. It is his way with me. He -thinks me just a little girl not to be trusted with things." - -"He doesn't know you, then," said the doctor. - -She laughed gayly. "And do you?" - -"I know you better than that, at least." - -"What can you know about me?" - -"I know you are to be trusted with that or with anything else that calls -for nerve. Besides, sooner or later you must know about this Indian. -Wait till we cross the bridge and reach the top of the hill yonder, it -will be better going." - -The hillside gave them a stiff scramble, for the trail went straight up. -But the sure-footed ponies, scrambling over stones and gravel, reached -the top safely, with no worse result than an obvious disarrangement of -the girl's hair, so that around the Scotch bonnet which she had pinned -on her head the little brown curls were peeping in a way that quite -shook the heart of Dr. Martin. - -"Now you look a little more like yourself," he cried, his eyes fastened -upon the curls with unmistakable admiration, "more like the girl I -remember." - -"Oh," she said, "it is my bonnet. I put on this old thing for the ride." - -"No," said the doctor, "you wore no bonnet that day. It is your face, -your hair, you are not quite--so--so proper." - -"My hair!" Her hands went up to her head. "Oh, my silly curls, I -suppose. They are my bane." ("My joy," the doctor nearly had said.) "But -now for the Indian story." - -Then the doctor grew grave. - -"It is not a pleasant thing to greet a guest with," he said, "but you -must know it and I may as well give it to you. And, mind you, this is -altogether a new thing with us." - -For the next half hour as they rode westward toward the big hills, -steadily climbing as they went, the story of the disturbance in the -north country, of the unrest among the Indians, of the part played in -it by the Indian Copperhead, and of the appeal by the Superintendent to -Cameron for assistance, furnished the topic for conversation. The girl -listened with serious face, but there was no fear in the brown eyes, nor -tremor in the quiet voice, as they talked it over. - -"Now let us forget it for a while," cried the doctor. "The Police have -rarely, if ever, failed to get their man. That is their boast. And they -will get this chap, too. And as for the row on the Saskatchewan, I don't -take much stock in that. Now we're coming to a view in a few minutes, -one of the finest I have seen anywhere." - -For half a mile farther they loped along the trail that led them to the -top of a hill that stood a little higher than the others round about. -Upon the hilltop they drew rein. - -"What do you think of that for a view?" said the doctor. - -Before them stretched the wide valley of the Bow for many miles, -sweeping up toward the mountains, with rounded hills on either side, and -far beyond the hills the majestic masses of the Rockies some fifty miles -away, snow-capped, some of them, and here and there upon their faces -the great glaciers that looked like patches of snow. Through this wide -valley wound the swift flowing Bow, and up from it on either side the -hills, rough with rocks and ragged masses of pine, climbed till they -seemed to reach the very bases of the mountains beyond. Over all the -blue arch of sky spanned the wide valley and seemed to rest upon the -great ranges on either side, like the dome of a vast cathedral. - -Silent, with lips parted and eyes alight with wonder, Moira sat and -gazed upon the glory of that splendid scene. - -"What do you think--" began the doctor. - -She put out her hand and touched his arm. - -"Please don't speak," she breathed, "this is not for words, but for -worship." - -Long she continued to gaze in rapt silence upon the picture spread out -before her. It was, indeed, a place for worship. She pointed to a hill -some distance in front of them. - -"You have been beyond that?" she asked in a hushed voice. - -"Yes, I have been all through this country. I know it well. From the top -of that hill we get a magnificent sweep toward the south." - -"Let us go!" she cried. - -Down the hillside they scrambled, across a little valley and up the -farther side, following the trail that wound along the hill but declined -to make the top. As they rounded the shoulder of the little mountain -Moira cried: - -"It would be a great view from the top there beyond the trees. Can we -reach it?" - -"Are you good for a climb?" replied the doctor. "We could tie the -horses." - -For answer she flung herself from her pinto and, gathering up her habit, -began eagerly to climb. By the time the doctor had tethered the ponies -she was half way to the top. Putting forth all his energy he raced after -her, and together they parted a screen of brushwood and stepped out on -a clear rock that overhung the deep canyon that broadened into a great -valley sweeping toward the south. - -"Beats Scotland, eh?" cried the doctor, as they stepped out together. - -She laid her hand upon his arm and drew him back into the bushes. - -"Hush," she whispered. Surprised into silence, he stood gazing at her. -Her face was white and her eyes gleaming. "An Indian down there," she -whispered. - -"An Indian? Where? Show me." - -"He was looking up at us. Come this way. I think he heard us." - -She led him by a little detour and on their hands and knees they crept -through the brushwood. They reached the open rock and peered down -through a screen of bushes into the canyon below. - -"There he is," cried Moira. - -Across the little stream that flowed at the bottom of the canyon, and -not more than a hundred yards away, stood an Indian, tall, straight and -rigidly attent, obviously listening and gazing steadily at the point -where they had first stood. For many minutes he stood thus rigid while -they watched him. Then his attitude relaxed. He sat down upon the rocky -ledge that sloped up from the stream toward a great overhanging crag -behind him, laid his rifle beside him and, calmly filling his pipe, -began to smoke. Intently they followed his every movement. - -"I do believe it is our Indian," whispered the doctor. - -"Oh, if we could only get him!" replied the girl. - -The doctor glanced swiftly at her. Her face was pale but firm set with -resolve. Quickly he revolved in his mind the possibilities. - -"If I only had a gun," he said to himself, "I'd risk it." - -"What is he going to do?" - -The Indian was breaking off some dead twigs from the standing pines -about him. - -"He's going to light a fire," replied the doctor, "perhaps camp for the -night." - -"Then," cried the girl in an excited whisper, "we could get him." - -The doctor smiled at her. The Indian soon had his fire going and, -unrolling his blanket pack, he took thence what looked like a lump of -meat, cut some strips from it and hung them from pointed sticks over the -fire. He proceeded to gather some poles from the dead wood lying about. - -"What now is he going to do?" inquired Moira. - -"Wait," replied the doctor. - -The Indian proceeded to place the poles in order against the rock, -keeping his eye on the toasting meat the while and now and again turning -it before the fire. Then he began to cut branches of spruce and balsam. - -"By the living Jingo!" cried the doctor, greatly excited, "I declare -he's going to camp." - -"To sleep?" said Moira. - -"Yes," replied the doctor. "He had no sleep last night." - -"Then," cried the girl, "we can get him." - -The doctor gazed at her in admiration. - -"You are a brick," he said. "How can we get him? He'd double me up like -a jack-knife. Remember I only played quarter," he added. - -"No, no," she cried quickly, "you stay here to watch him. Let me go back -for the Police." - -"I say," cried the doctor, "you are a wonder. There's something in -that." He thought rapidly, then said, "No, it won't do. I can't allow -you to risk it." - -"Risk? Risk what?" - -A year ago the doctor would not have hesitated a moment to allow her -to go, but now he thought of the roving bands of Indians and the -possibility of the girl falling into their hands. - -"No, Miss Cameron, it will not do." - -"But think," she cried, "we might get him and save Allan all the trouble -and perhaps his life. You must not stop me. You cannot stop me. I am -going. You wait and watch. Don't move. I can find my way." - -He seized her by the arm. - -"Wait," he said, "let me think." - -"What danger can there be?" she pleaded. "It is broad daylight. The road -is good. I cannot possibly lose my way. I am used to riding alone among -the hills at home." - -"Ah, yes, at home," said the doctor gloomily. - -"But there is no danger," she persisted. "I am not afraid. Besides, you -cannot keep me." She stood up among the bushes looking down at him with -a face so fiercely resolved that he was constrained to say, "By Jove! I -don't believe I could. But I can go with you." - -"You would not do that," she cried, stamping her foot, "if I forbade -you. It is your duty to stay here and watch that Indian. It is mine to -go and get the Police. Good-by." - -He rose to follow her. - -"No," she said, "I forbid you to come. You are not doing right. You are -to stay. We will save my brother." - -She glided through the bushes from his sight and was gone. - -"Am I a fool or what?" said the doctor to himself. "She is taking a -chance, but after all it is worth while." - -It was now the middle of the afternoon and it would take Moira an hour -and a half over that rocky winding trail to make the ten miles that -lay before her. Ten minutes more would see the Police started on their -return. The doctor settled himself down to his three hours' wait, -keeping his eye fixed upon the Indian. The latter was now busy with his -meal, which he ate ravenously. - -"The beggar has me tied up tight," muttered the doctor ruefully. "My -grub is on my saddle, and I guess I dare not smoke till he lights up -himself." - -A hand touched his arm. Instantly he was on his feet. It was Moira. - -"Great Caesar, you scared me! Thought it was the whole Blackfoot tribe." - -"You will be the better for something to eat," she said simply, handing -him the lunch basket. "Good-by." - -"Hold up!" he cried. But she was gone. - -"Say, she's a regular--" He paused and thought for a moment. "She's an -angel, that's what--and a mighty sight better than most of them. She's -a--" He turned back to his watch, leaving his thought unspoken. In the -presence of the greater passions words are woefully inadequate. - -The Indian was still eating as ravenously as ever. - -"He's filling up, I guess. He ought to be full soon at that rate. Wish -he'd get his pipe agoing." - -In due time the Indian finished eating, rolled up the fragments -carefully in a rag, and then proceeded to construct with the poles and -brush which he had cut, a penthouse against the rock. At one end his -little shelter thus constructed ran into a spruce tree whose thick -branches reached right to the ground. When he had completed this shelter -to his satisfaction he sat down again on the rock beside his smoldering -fire and pulled out his pipe. - -"Thanks be!" said the doctor to himself fervently. "Go on, old boy, hit -her up." - -A pipe and then another the Indian smoked, then, taking his gun, blanket -and pack, he crawled into his brush wigwam out of sight. - -"There, you old beggar!" said the doctor with a sigh of relief. "You are -safe for an hour or two, thank goodness. You had no sleep last night and -you've got to make up for it now. Sleep tight, old boy. We'll give you a -call." The doctor hugged himself with supreme satisfaction and continued -to smoke with his eye fixed upon the hole into which the Indian had -disappeared. - -Through the long hours he sat and smoked while he formulated the plan -of attack which he proposed to develop when his reinforcements should -arrive. - -"We will work up behind him from away down the valley, a couple of us -will cover him from the front and the others go right in." - -He continued with great care to make and revise his plans, and while -in the midst of his final revision a movement in the bushes behind -him startled him to his feet. The bushes parted and the face of Moira -appeared with that of her brother over her shoulder. - -"Is he still there?" she whispered eagerly. - -"Asleep, snug as a bug. Never moved," said the doctor exultantly, and -proceeded to explain his plan of attack. "How many have you?" he asked -Cameron. - -"Crisp and a constable." - -"Just two?" said the doctor. - -"Two," replied Cameron briefly. "That's plenty. Here they are." He -stepped back through the bushes and brought forward Crisp and the -constable. "Now, then, here's our plan," he said. "You, Crisp, will go -down the canyon, cross the stream and work up on the other side right to -that rock. When you arrive at the rock the constable and I will go in. -The doctor will cover him from this side." - -"Fine!" said the doctor. "Fine, except that I propose to go in myself -with you. He's a devil to fight. I could see that last night." - -Cameron hesitated. - -"There's really no use, you know, Doctor. The constable and I can handle -him." - -Moira stood looking eagerly from one to the other. - -"All right," said the doctor, "'nuff said. Only I'm going in. If you -want to come along, suit yourself." - -"Oh, do be careful," said Moira, clasping her hands. "Oh, I'm afraid." - -"Afraid?" said the doctor, looking at her quickly. "You? Not much fear -in you, I guess." - -"Come on, then," said Cameron. "Moira, you stay here and keep your eye -on him. You are safe enough here." - -She pressed her lips tight together till they made a thin red line in -her white face. - -"Can you let me have a gun?" she asked. - -"A gun?" exclaimed the doctor. - -"Oh, she can shoot--rabbits, at least," said her brother with a smile. -"I shall bring you one, Moira, but remember, handle it carefully." - -With a gun across her knees Moira sat and watched the development of the -attack. For many minutes there was no sign or sound, till she began to -wonder if a change had been made in the plan. At length some distance -down the canyon and on the other side Sergeant Crisp was seen working -his way with painful care step by step toward the rock of rendezvous. -There was no sign of her brother or Dr. Martin. It was for them she -watched with an intensity of anxiety which she could not explain to -herself. At length Sergeant Crisp reached the crag against whose base -the penthouse leaned in which the sleeping Indian lay. Immediately she -saw her brother, quickly followed by Dr. Martin, leap the little stream, -run lightly up the sloping rock and join Crisp at the crag. Still there -was no sign from the Indian. She saw her brother motion the Sergeant -round to the farther corner of the penthouse where it ran into the -spruce tree, while he himself, with a revolver in each hand, dropped on -one knee and peered under the leaning poles. With a loud exclamation he -sprang to his feet. - -"He's gone!" he shouted. "Stand where you are!" Like a hound on a scent -he ran to the back of the spruce tree and on his knees examined the -earth there. In a few moments his search was rewarded. He struck the -trail and followed it round the rock and through the woods till he -came to the hard beaten track. Then he came back, pale with rage and -disappointment. "He's gone!" he said. - -"I swear he never came out of that hole!" said Dr. Martin. "I kept my -eye on it every minute of the last three hours." - -"There's another hole," said Crisp, "under the tree here." - -Cameron said not a word. His disappointment was too keen. Together they -retraced their steps across the little stream. On the farther bank they -found Moira, who had raced down to meet them. - -"He's gone?" she cried. - -"Gone!" echoed her brother. "Gone for this time--but--some day--some -day," he added below his breath. - -But many things were to happen before that day came. - - - -CHAPTER X - -RAVEN TO THE RESCUE - - -Overhead the stars were still twinkling far in the western sky. -The crescent moon still shone serene, marshaling her attendant -constellations. Eastward the prairie still lay in deep shadow, its long -rolls outlined by the deeper shadows lying in the hollows between. Over -the Bow and the Elbow mists hung like white veils swathing the faces -of the rampart hills north and south. In the little town a stillness -reigned as of death, for at length Calgary was asleep, and sound asleep -would remain for hours to come. - -Not so the world about. Through the dead stillness of the waning night -the liquid note of the adventurous meadow lark fell like the dropping -of a silver stream into the pool below. Brave little heart, roused from -slumber perchance by domestic care, perchance by the first burdening -presage of the long fall flight waiting her sturdy careless brood, -perchance stirred by the first thrill of the Event approaching from -the east. For already in the east the long round tops of the prairie -undulations are shining gray above the dark hollows and faint bars of -light are shooting to the zenith, fearless forerunners of the dawn, -menacing the retreating stars still bravely shining their pale defiance -to the oncoming of their ancient foe. Far toward the west dark masses -still lie invincible upon the horizon, but high above in the clear -heavens white shapes, indefinite and unattached, show where stand the -snow-capped mountain peaks. Thus the swift and silent moments mark the -fortunes of this age-long conflict. But sudden all heaven and all earth -thrill tremulous in eager expectancy of the daily miracle when, all -unaware, the gray light in the eastern horizon over the roll of the -prairie has grown to silver, and through the silver a streamer of palest -rose has flashed up into the sky, the gay and gallant 'avant courier' of -an advancing host, then another and another, then by tens and hundreds, -till, radiating from a center yet unseen, ten thousand times ten -thousand flaming flaunting banners flash into orderly array and possess -the utmost limits of the heavens, sweeping before them the ever paling -stars, that indomitable rearguard of the flying night, proclaiming -to all heaven and all earth the King is come, the Monarch of the Day. -Flushed in the new radiance of the morning, the long flowing waves of -the prairie, the tumbling hills, the mighty rocky peaks stand surprised, -as if caught all unprepared by the swift advance, trembling and blushing -in the presence of the triumphant King, waiting the royal proclamation -that it is time to wake and work, for the day is come. - -All oblivious of this wondrous miracle stands Billy, his powers of mind -and body concentrated upon a single task, that namely of holding down -to earth the game little bronchos, Mustard and Pepper, till the party -should appear. Nearby another broncho, saddled and with the knotted -reins hanging down from his bridle, stood viewing with all too obvious -contempt the youthful frolics of the colts. Well he knew that life would -cure them of all this foolish waste of spirit and of energy. Meantime -on his part he was content to wait till his master--Dr. Martin, to -wit--should give the order to move. His master meantime was busily -engaged with clever sinewy fingers packing in the last parcels that -represented the shopping activities of Cameron and his wife during the -past two days. There was a whole living and sleeping outfit for the -family to gather together. Already a heavily laden wagon had gone on -before them. The building material for the new house was to follow, -for it was near the end of September and a tent dwelling, while quite -endurable, does not lend itself to comfort through a late fall in the -foothill country. Besides, there was upon Cameron, and still more upon -his wife, the ever deepening sense of a duty to be done that could not -wait, and for the doing of that duty due preparation must be made. Hence -the new house must be built and its simple appointments and furnishings -set in order without delay, and hence the laden wagon gone before and -the numerous packages in the democrat, covered with a new tent and roped -securely into place. - -This packing and roping the doctor made his peculiar care, for he was -a true Canadian, born and bred in the atmosphere of pioneer days in -old Ontario, and the packing and roping could be trusted to no amateur -hands, for there were hills to go up and hills to go down, sleughs to -cross and rivers to ford with all their perilous contingencies before -they should arrive at the place where they would be. - -"All secure, Martin?" said Cameron, coming out from the hotel with hand -bags and valises. - -"They'll stay, I think," replied the doctor, "unless those bronchos of -yours get away from you." - -"Aren't they dears, Billy?" cried Moira, coming out at the moment and -dancing over to the bronchos' heads. - -"Well, miss," said Billy with judicial care, "I don't know about that. -They're ornery little cusses and mean-actin.' They'll go straight enough -if everything is all right, but let anythin' go wrong, a trace or a -line, and they'll put it to you good and hard." - -"I do not think I would be afraid of them," replied the girl, reaching -out her hand to stroke Pepper's nose, a movement which surprised that -broncho so completely that he flew back violently upon the whiffle-tree, -carrying Billy with him. - -"Come up here, you beast!" said Billy, giving him a fierce yank. - -"Oh, Billy!" expostulated Moira. - -"Oh, he ain't no lady's maid, miss. You would, eh, you young -devil,"--this to Pepper, whose intention to walk over Billy was only -too obvious--"Get back there, will you! Now then, take that, and stand -still!" Billy evidently did not rely solely upon the law of love in -handling his broncho. - -Moira abandoned him and climbed to her place in the democrat between -Cameron and his wife. - -By a most singular and fortunate coincidence Dr. Martin had learned that -a patient of his at Big River was in urgent need of a call, so, to the -open delight of the others and to the subdued delight of the doctor, he -was to ride with them thus far on their journey. - -"All set, Billy?" cried Cameron. "Let them go." - -"Good-by, Billy," cried both ladies, to which Billy replied with a wave -of his Stetson. - -Away plunged the bronchos on a dead gallop, as if determined to end the -journey during the next half hour at most, and away with them went the -doctor upon his steady broncho, the latter much annoyed at being thus -ignominiously outdistanced by these silly colts and so induced to strike -a somewhat more rapid pace than he considered wise at the beginning of -an all-day journey. Away down the street between the silent shacks and -stores and out among the straggling residences that lined the trail. -Away past the Indian encampment and the Police Barracks. Away across the -echoing bridge, whose planks resounded like the rattle of rifles -under the flying hoofs. Away up the long stony hill, scrambling and -scrabbling, but never ceasing till they reached the level prairie at the -top. Away upon the smooth resilient trail winding like a black ribbon -over the green bed of the prairie. Away down long, long s to low, -wide valleys, and up long, long s to the next higher prairie level. -Away across the plain skirting sleughs where ducks of various kinds, and -in hundreds, quacked and plunged and fought joyously and all unheeding. -Away with the morning air, rare and wondrously exhilarating, rushing -at them and past them and filling their hearts with the keen zest of -living. Away beyond sight and sound of the great world, past little -shacks, the brave vanguard of civilization, whose solitary loneliness -only served to emphasize their remoteness from the civilization which -they heralded. Away from the haunts of men and through the haunts -of wild things where the shy coyote, his head thrown back over his -shoulder, loped laughing at them and their futile noisy speed. Away -through the wide rich pasture lands where feeding herds of cattle -and bands of horses made up the wealth of the solitary rancher, whose -low-built wandering ranch house proclaimed at once his faith and his -courage. Away and ever away, the shining morning hours and the fleeting -miles racing with them, till by noon-day, all wet but still unweary, the -bronchos drew up at the Big River Stopping Place, forty miles from the -point of their departure. - -Close behind the democrat rode Dr. Martin, the steady pace of his wise -old broncho making up upon the dashing but somewhat erratic gait of the -colts. - -While the ladies passed into the primitive Stopping Place, the men -unhitched the ponies, stripped off their harness and proceeded to rub -them down from head to heel, wash out their mouths and remove from them -as far as they could by these attentions the travel marks of the last -six hours. - -Big River could hardly be called even by the generous estimate of the -optimistic westerner a town. It consisted of a blacksmith's shop, with -which was combined the Post Office, a little school, which did for -church--the farthest outpost of civilization--and a manse, simple, neat -and tiny, but with a wondrous air of comfort about it, and very like the -little Nova Scotian woman inside, who made it a very vestibule of heaven -for many a cowboy and rancher in the district, and last, the Stopping -Place run by a man who had won the distinction of being well known to -the Mounted Police and who bore the suggestive name of Hell Gleeson, -which appeared, however, in the old English Registry as Hellmuth Raymond -Gleeson. The Mounted Police thought it worth while often to run in upon -Hell at unexpected times, and more than once they had found it necessary -to invite him to contribute to Her Majesty's revenue as compensation for -Hell's objectionable habit of having in possession and of retailing to -his friends bad whisky without attending to the little formality of a -permit. - -The Stopping Place was a rambling shack, or rather a series of shacks, -loosely joined together, whose ramifications were found by Hell and his -friends to be useful in an emergency. The largest room in the building -was the bar, as it was called. Behind the counter, however, instead of -the array of bottles and glasses usually found in rooms bearing this -name, the shelf was filled with patent medicines, chiefly various -brands of pain-killer. Off the bar was the dining-room, and behind the -dining-room another and smaller room, while the room most retired in the -collection of shacks constituting the Stopping Place was known in -the neighborhood as the "snake room," a room devoted to those unhappy -wretches who, under the influence of prolonged indulgence in Hell's bad -whisky, were reduced to such a mental and nervous condition that the -landscape of their dreams became alive with snakes of various sizes, -shapes and hues. - -To Mandy familiarity had hardened her sensibilities to endurance of all -the grimy uncleanness of the place, but to Moira the appearance of -the house and especially of the dining-room filled her with loathing -unspeakable. - -"Oh, Mandy," she groaned, "can we not eat outside somewhere? This is -terrible." - -Mandy thought for a moment. - -"No," she cried, "but we will do better. I know Mrs. Macintyre in the -manse. I nursed her once last spring. We will go and see her." - -"Oh, that would not do," said Moira, her Scotch shy independence -shrinking from such an intrusion. - -"And why not?" - -"She doesn't know me--and there are four of us." - -"Oh, nonsense, you don't know this country. You don't know what our -visit will mean to the little woman, what a joy it will be to her to see -a new face, and I declare when she hears you are new out from Scotland -she will simply revel in you. We are about to confer a great favor upon -Mrs. Macintyre." - -If Moira had any lingering doubts as to the soundness of her -sister-in-law's opinion they vanished before the welcome she had from -the minister's wife. - -"Mr. Cameron's sister?" she cried, with both hands extended, "and just -out from Scotland? And where from? From near Braemar? And our folk came -from near Inverness. Mhail Gaelic heaibh?" - -"Go dearbh ha." - -And on they went for some minutes in what Mrs. Macintyre called "the -dear old speech," till Mrs. Macintyre, remembering herself, said to -Mandy: - -"But you do not understand the Gaelic? Well, well, you will forgive us. -And to think that in this far land I should find a young lady like this -to speak it to me! Do you know, I am forgetting it out here." All the -while she was speaking she was laying the cloth and setting the table. -"And you have come all the way from Calgary this morning? What a drive -for the young lady! You must be tired out. Would you lie down upon the -bed for an hour? Then come away in to the bedroom and fresh yourselves -up a bit. Come away in. I'll get Mr. Cameron over." - -"We are a big party," said Mandy, "for your wee house. We have a friend -with us--Dr. Martin." - -"Dr. Martin? Indeed I know him well, and a fine man he is and that kind -and clever. I'll get him too." - -"Let me go for them," said Mandy. - -"Very well, go then. I'll just hurry the dinner." - -"But are you quite sure," asked Mandy, "you can--you have everything -handy? You know, Mrs. Macintyre, I know just how hard it is to keep a -stock of everything on hand." - -"Well, we have bread and molasses--our butter is run out, it is hard to -get--and some bacon and potatoes and tea. Will that do?" - -"Oh, that will do fine. And we have some things with us, if you don't -mind." - -"Mind? Not a bit, my dear. You can just suit yourself." - -The dinner was a glorious success. The clean linen, the shining dishes, -the silver--for Mrs. Macintyre brought out her wedding presents--gave -the table a brilliantly festive appearance in the eyes of those who had -lived for some years in the western country. - -"You don't appreciate the true significance of a table napkin, I venture -to say, Miss Cameron," said the doctor, "until you have lived a year in -this country at least, or how much an unspotted table cloth means, or -shining cutlery and crockery." - -"Well, I have been two days at the Royal Hotel, whatever," replied -Moira. - -"The Royal Hotel!" exclaimed the doctor aghast. "Our most palatial -Western hostelry--all the comforts and conveniences of civilization!" - -"Anyway, I like this better," said Moira. "It is like home." - -"Is it, indeed, my dear?" said the minister's wife greatly delighted. -"You have paid me a very fine tribute." - -The hour lengthened into two, for when a departure was suggested the -doctor grew eloquent in urging delay. The horses would be all the better -for the rest. It would be fine driving in the evening. They could easily -make the Black Dog Ford before dark. After that the trail was good for -twenty miles, where they would camp. But like all happy hours these -hours fled past, and all too swiftly, and soon the travelers were ready -to depart. - -Before the Stopping Place door Hell was holding down the bronchos, while -Cameron was packing in the valises and making all secure again. Near the -wagon stood the doctor waiting their departure. - -"You are going back from here, Dr. Martin?" said Moira. - -"Yes," said the doctor, "I am going back." - -"It has been good to see you," she said. "I hope next time you will know -me." - -"Ah, now, Miss Cameron, don't rub it in. You see--but what's the use?" -continued the doctor. "You had changed. My picture of the girl I had -seen in the Highlands that day never changed and never will change." The -doctor's keen gray eyes burned into hers for a moment. A slight flush -came to her cheek and she found herself embarrassed for want of words. -Her embarrassment was relieved by the sound of hoofs pounding down the -trail. - -"Hello, who's this?" said the doctor, as they stood watching the -horseman approaching at a rapid pace and accompanied by a cloud of dust. -Nearer and nearer he came, still on the gallop till within a few yards -of the group. - -"My!" cried Moira. "Whoever he is he will run us down!" and she sprang -into her place in the democrat. - -Without slackening rein the rider came up to the Stopping Place door -at a full gallop, then at a single word his horse planted his four feet -solidly on the trail, and, plowing up the dirt, came to a standstill; -then, throwing up his magnificent head, he gave a loud snort and stood, -a perfect picture of equine beauty. - -"Oh, what a horse!" breathed Moira. "How perfectly splendid! And what a -rider!" she added. "Do you know him?" - -"I do not," said the doctor, conscious of a feeling of hostility to -the stranger, and all the more because he was forced to acknowledge to -himself that the rider and his horse made a very striking picture. The -man was tall and sinewy, with dark, clean-cut face, thin lips, firm chin -and deep-set, brown-gray eyes that glittered like steel, and with that -unmistakable something in his bearing that suggested the breeding of a -gentleman. His horse was as distinguished as its rider. His coal black -skin shone like silk, his flat legs, sloping hips, well-ribbed barrel, -small head, large, flashing eyes, all proclaimed his high breeding. - -"What a beauty! What a beauty!" breathed Moira again to the doctor. - -As if in answer to her praise the stranger, raising his Stetson, swept -her an elaborate bow, and, touching his horse, moved nearer to the door -of the Stopping Place and swung himself to the ground. - -"Ah, Cameron, it's you, sure enough. I can hardly believe my good -fortune." - -"Hello, Raven, that you?" said Cameron indifferently. "Hope you are -fit?" But he made no motion to offer his hand nor did he introduce him -to the company. At the sound of his name Dr. Martin started and swept -his keen eyes over the stranger's face. He had heard that name before. - -"Fit?" inquired the stranger whom Cameron had saluted as Raven. "Fit -as ever," a hard smile curling his lips as he noted Cameron's omission. -"Hello, Hell!" he continued, his eyes falling upon that individual, who -was struggling with the restive ponies, "how goes it with your noble -self?" - -Hastily Hell, leaving the bronchos for the moment, responded, "Hello, -Mr. Raven, mighty glad to see you!" - -Meantime the bronchos, freed from Hell's supervision, and apparently -interested in the strange horse who was viewing them with lordly -disdain, turned their heads and took the liberty of sniffing at the -newcomer. Instantly, with mouth wide open and ears flat on his head, the -black horse rushed at the bronchos. With a single bound they were off, -the lines trailing in the dust. Together Hell, Cameron and the doctor -sprang for the wagon, but before they could touch it it was whisked from -underneath their fingers as the bronchos dashed in a mad gallop down the -trail, Moira meantime clinging desperately to the seat of the pitching -wagon. After them darted Cameron and for some moments it seemed as if -he could overtake the flying ponies, but gradually they drew away and he -gave up the chase. After him followed the whole company, his wife, the -doctor, Hell, all in a blind horror of helplessness. - -"My God! My God!" cried Cameron, his breath coming in sobbing gasps. -"The cut bank!" - -Hardly were the words out of his mouth when Raven came up at an easy -canter. - -"Don't worry," he said quietly to Mandy, who was wringing her hands in -despair, "I'll get them." - -Like a swallow for swiftness and for grace, the black stallion sped -away, flattening his body to the trail as he gathered speed. The -bronchos had a hundred yards of a start, but they had not run another -hundred until the agonized group of watchers could see that the stallion -was gaining rapidly upon them. - -"He'll get 'em," cried Hell, "he'll get 'em, by gum!" - -"But can he turn them from the bank?" groaned Mandy. - -"If anything in horse-flesh or man-flesh can do it," said Hell, "it'll -be done." - -But a tail-race is a long race and a hundred yards' start is a serious -handicap in a quarter of a mile. Down the sloping trail the bronchos -were running savagely, their noses close to earth, their feet on the -hard ground like the roar of a kettledrum, their harness and trappings -fluttering over their backs, the wagon pitching like a ship in a gale, -the girl clinging to its high seat as a sailor to a swaying mast. -Behind, and swiftly drawing level with the flying bronchos, sped the -black horse, still with that smooth grace of a skimming swallow and -with such ease of motion as made it seem as if he could readily have -increased his speed had he so chosen. - -"My God! why doesn't he send the brute along?" cried Dr. Martin, his -stark face and staring eyes proclaiming his agony. - -"He is up! He is up!" cried Cameron. - -The agonized watchers saw the rider lean far over the bronchos and seize -one line, then gradually begin to turn the flying ponies away from the -cut bank and steer them in a wide circle across the prairie. - -"Thank God! Thank God! Oh, thank God!" cried the doctor brokenly, wiping -the sweat from his face. - -"Let us go to head them off," said Cameron, setting off at a run, -leaving the doctor and his wife to follow. - -As they watched with staring eyes the racing horses they saw Raven bring -back the line to the girl clinging to the wagon seat, then the black -stallion, shooting in front of the ponies, began to slow down upon them, -hampering their running till they were brought to an easy canter, and, -under the more active discipline of teeth and hoofs, were forced to a -trot and finally brought to a standstill, and so held till Cameron and -the doctor came up to them. - -"Raven," gasped Cameron, fighting for his breath and coming forward with -hand outstretched, "you have--done--a great thing--to-day--for me. I -shall not--forget it." - -"Tut tut, Cameron, simple thing. I fancy you are still a few points -ahead," said Raven, taking his hand in a strong grip. "After all, it was -Night Hawk did it." - -"You saved--my sister's life," continued Cameron, still struggling for -breath. - -"Perhaps, perhaps, but I don't forget," and here Raven leaned over his -saddle and spoke in a lower voice, "I don't forget the day you saved -mine, my boy." - -"Come," said Cameron, "let me present you to my sister." - -Instantly Raven swung himself from his horse. - -"Stand, Night Hawk!" he commanded, and the horse stood like a soldier on -guard. - -"Moira," said Cameron, still panting hard, "this is--my friend--Mr. -Raven." - -Raven stood bowing before her with his hat in his hand, but the girl -leaned far down from her seat with both hands outstretched. - -"I thank you, Mr. Raven," she said in a quiet voice, but her brown eyes -were shining like stars in her white face. "You are a wonderful rider." - -"I could not have done it, Miss Cameron," said Raven, a wonderfully -sweet smile lighting up his hard face, "I could not have done it had you -ever lost your nerve." - -"I had no fear after I saw your face," said the girl simply. "I knew you -could do it." - -"Ah, and how did you know that?" His gray-brown eyes searched her face -more keenly. - -"I cannot tell. I just knew." - -"Let me introduce my friend, Dr. Martin," said Cameron as the doctor -came up. - -"I--too--want to thank you--Mr. Raven," said the doctor, seizing him -with both hands. "I never can--we never can forget it--or repay you." - -"Oh," said Raven, with a careless laugh, "what else could I do? After -all it was Night Hawk did the trick." He lifted his hat again to Moira, -bowed with a beautiful grace, threw himself on his horse and stood till -the two men, after carefully examining the harness and securing the -reins, had climbed to their places on the wagon seat. - -Then he trotted on before toward the Stopping Place, where the -minister's wife and indeed the whole company of villagers awaited them. - -"Oh, isn't he wonderful!" cried Moira, with her eyes upon the rider in -front of them. "And he did it so easily." But the men sat silent. "Who -is he, Allan? You know him." - -"Yes--he is--he is a chap I met when I was on the Force." - -"A Policeman?" - -"No, no," replied her brother hastily. - -"What then? Does he live here?" - -"He lives somewhere south. Don't know exactly where he lives." - -"What is he? A rancher?" - -"A rancher? Ah--yes, yes, he is a rancher I fancy. Don't know very well. -That is--I have seen little of him--in fact--only a couple of times--or -so." - -"He seems to know you, Allan," said his sister a little reproachfully. -"Anyway," she continued with a deep breath, "he is just splendid." Dr. -Martin glanced at her face glowing with enthusiasm and was shamefully -conscious of a jealous pang at his heart. "He is just splendid," -continued Moira, with growing enthusiasm, "and I mean to know more of -him." - -"What?" said her brother sharply, as if waking from a dream. "Nonsense, -Moira! You do not know what you are talking about. You must not speak -like that." - -"And why, pray?" asked his sister in surprise. - -"Oh, never mind just now, Moira. In this country we don't take up with -strangers." - -"Strangers?" echoed the girl, pain mingling with her surprise. "And yet -he saved my life!" - -"Yes, thank God, he saved your life," cried her brother, "and we shall -never cease to be grateful to him, but--but--oh, drop it just now -please, Moira. You don't know and--here we are. How white Mandy is. What -a terrible experience for us all!" - -"Terrible indeed," echoed the doctor. - -"Terrible?" said Moira. "It might have been worse." - -To this neither made reply, but there came a day when both doubted such -a possibility. - - - -CHAPTER XI - -SMITH'S WORK - - -The short September day was nearly gone. The sun still rode above the -great peaks that outlined the western horizon. Already the shadows were -beginning to creep up the eastern of the hills that clambered till -they reached the bases of the great mountains. A purple haze hung over -mountain, hill and rolling plain, softening the sharp outlines that -ordinarily defined the features of the foothill landscape. - -With the approach of evening the fierce sun heat had ceased and a -fresh cooling western breeze from the mountain passes brought welcome -refreshment alike to the travelers and their beasts, wearied with their -three days' drive. - -"That is the last hill, Moira," cried her sister-in-law, pointing to a -long before them. "The very last, I promise you. From the top -we can see our home. Our home, alas, I had forgotten! There is no home -there, only a black spot on the prairie." - -Her husband grunted savagely and cut sharply at the bronchos. - -"But the tent will be fine, Mandy. I just long for the experience," said -Moira. - -"Yes, but just think of all my pretty things, and some of Allan's too, -all gone." - -"Were the pipes burned, Allan?" cried Moira with a sudden anxiety. - -"Were they, Mandy? I never thought," said Cameron. - -"The pipes? Let me see. No--no--you remember, Allan, young--what's his -name?--that young Highlander at the Fort wanted them." - -"Sure enough--Macgregor," said her husband in a tone of immense relief. - -"Yes, young Mr. Macgregor." - -"My, but that is fine, Allan," said his sister. "I should have grieved -if we could not hear the pipes again among these hills. Oh, it is all so -bonny; just look at the big Bens yonder." - -It was, as she said, all bonny. Far toward their left the low hills -rolled in soft swelling waves toward the level prairie, and far away to -the right the hills climbed by sharper ascents, flecked here and -there with dark patches of fir, and broken with jutting ledges of gray -limestone, climbed till they reached the great Rockies, majestic in -their massive serried ranges that pierced the western sky. And all that -lay between, the hills, the hollows, the rolling prairie, was bathed -in a multitudinous riot of color that made a scene of loveliness beyond -power of speech to describe. - -"Oh, Allan, Allan," cried his sister, "I never thought to see anything -as lovely as the Cuagh Oir, but this is up to it I do believe." - -"It must indeed be lovely, then," said her brother with a smile, "if -you can say that. And I am glad you like it. I was afraid that you might -not." - -"Here we are, just at the top," cried Mandy. "In a minute beyond the -shoulder there we shall see the Big Horn Valley and the place where our -home used to be. There, wait Allan." - -The ponies came to a stand. Exclamations of amazement burst from Cameron -and his wife. - -"Why, Allan? What? Is this the trail?" - -"It is the trail all right," said her husband in a low voice, "but what -in thunder does this mean?" - -"It is a house, Allan, a new house." - -"It looks like it--but--" - -"And there are people all about!" - -For some breathless moments they gazed upon the scene. A wide valley, -flanked by hills and threaded by a gleaming river, lay before them and -in a bend of the river against the gold and yellow of a poplar bluff -stood a log house of comfortable size gleaming in all its newness fresh -from the ax and saw. - -"What does it all mean, Allan?" inquired his wife. - -"Blest if I know!" - -"Look at the people. I know now, Allan. It's a 'raising bee.' A raising -bee!" she cried with growing enthusiasm. "You remember them in Ontario. -It's a bee, sure enough. Oh, hurry, let's go!" - -The bronchos seemed to catch her excitement, their weariness -disappeared, and, pulling hard on the bit, they tore down the winding -trail as if at the beginning rather than at the end of their hundred and -fifty mile drive. - -"What a size!" cried Mandy. - -"And a cook house, too!" - -"And a verandah!" - -"And a shingled roof!" - -"And all the people! Where in the world can they have come from?" - -"There's the Inspector, anyway," said Cameron. "He is at the bottom of -this, I'll bet you." - -"And Mr. Cochrane! And that young Englishman, Mr. Newsome!" - -"And old Thatcher!" - -"And Mrs. Cochrane, and Mr. Dent, and, oh, there's my friend Smith! You -remember he helped me put out the fire." - -Soon they were at the gate of the corral where a group of men and women -stood awaiting them. Inspector Dickson was first: - -"Hello, Cameron! Got back, eh? Welcome home, Mrs. Cameron," he said as -he helped her to alight. - -Smith stood at the bronchos' heads. - -"Now, Inspector," said Cameron, holding him by hand and collar, "now -what does this business mean?" - -"Mean?" cried the Inspector with a laugh. "Means just what you see. But -won't you introduce us all?" - -After all had been presented to his sister Cameron pursued his question. -"What does it mean, Inspector?" - -"Mean? Ask Cochrane." - -"Mr. Cochrane, tell me," cried Mandy, "who began this?" - -"Ask Mr. Thatcher there," replied Mr. Cochrane. - -"Who is responsible for this, Mr. Thatcher?" cried Mandy. - -"Don't rightly know how the thing started. First thing I knowed they was -all at it." - -"See here, Thatcher, you might as well own up. I am going to know -anyway. Where did the logs come from, for instance?" said Cameron in a -determined voice. - -"Logs? Guess Bracken knows," replied Cochrane, turning to a tall, lanky -rancher who was standing at a little distance. - -"Bracken," cried Cameron, striding to him with hand outstretched, "what -about the logs for the house? Where did they come from?" - -"Well, I dunno. Smith was sayin' somethin' about a bee and gettin' green -logs." - -"Smith?" cried Cameron, glancing at that individual now busy unhitching -the bronchos. - -"And of course," continued Bracken, "green logs ain't any use for a real -good house, so--and then--well, I happened to have a bunch of logs up -the Big Horn. I guess the boys floated 'em down." - -"Come away, Mrs. Cameron, and inspect your house," cried a stout, -red-faced matron. "I said they ought to await your coming to get your -plans, but Mr. Smith said he knew a little about building and that they -might as well go on with it. It was getting late in the season, and so -they went at it. Come away, we're having a great time over it. Indeed, I -think we've enjoyed it more than ever you will." - -"But you haven't told us yet who started it," cried Mandy. - -"Where did you get the lumber?" said Cameron. - -"Well, the lumber," replied Cochrane, "came from the Fort, I guess. -Didn't it, Inspector?" - -"Yes," replied the Inspector. "We had no immediate use for it, and Smith -told us just how much it would take." - -"Smith?" said Cameron again. "Hello, Smith!" But Smith was already -leading the bronchos away to the stable. - -"Yes," continued the Inspector, "and Smith was wondering how a notice -could be sent up to the Spruce Creek boys and to Loon Lake, so I sent a -man with the word and they brought down the lumber without any trouble. -But," continued the Inspector, "come along, Cameron, let us follow the -ladies." - -"But this is growing more and more mysterious," protested Cameron. "Can -no one tell me how the thing originated? The sash and doors now, where -did they come from?" - -"Oh, that's easy," said Cochrane. "I was at the Post Office, and, -hearin' Smith talkin' 'bout this raisin' bee and how they were stuck for -sash and door, so seein' I wasn't goin' to build this fall I told him he -might as well have the use of these. My team was laid up and Smith got -Jim Bracken to haul 'em down." - -"Well, this gets me," said Cameron. "It appears no one started this -thing. Everything just happened. Now the shingles, I suppose they just -tumbled up into their place there." - -"The shingles?" said Cochrane. "I dunno 'bout them. Didn't know there -were any in the country." - -"Oh, they just got up into place there of themselves I have no doubt," -said Cameron. - -"The shingles? Ah, bay Jove! Rawthah! Funny thing, don't-che-naow," -chimed in a young fellow attired in rather emphasized cow-boy style, -"funny thing! A Johnnie--quite a strangah to me, don't-che-naow, was -riding pawst my place lawst week and mentioned about this--ah--raisin' -bee he called it I think, and in fact abaout the blawsted Indian, and -the fire, don't-che-naow, and all the rest of it, and how the chaps were -all chipping in as he said, logs and lumbah and so fowth. And then, bay -Jove, he happened to mention that they were rathah stumped for shingles, -don't-che-naow, and, funny thing, there chawnced to be behind my -stable a few bunches, and I was awfully glad to tu'n them ovah, and -this--eh--pehson--most extraordinary chap I assuah you--got 'em down -somehow." - -"Who was it inquired?" asked Cameron. - -"Don't naow him in the least. But it's the chap that seems to be bossing -the job." - -"Oh, that's Smith," said Cochrane. - -"Smith!" said Cameron, in great surprise. "I don't even know the man. He -was good enough to help my wife to beat back the fire. I don't believe I -even spoke to him. Who is he anyway?" - -"Oh, he's Thatcher's man." - -"Yes, but--" - -"Come away, Mr. Cameron," cried Mrs. Cochrane from the door of the new -house. "Come away in and look at the result of our bee." - -"This beats me," said Cameron, obeying the invitation, "but, say, -Dickson, it is mighty good of all these men. I have no claim--" - -"Claim?" said Mr. Cochrane. "It might have been any of us. We must stand -together in this country, and especially these days, eh, Inspector? -Things are gettin' serious." - -The Inspector nodded his head gravely. - -"Yes," he said. "But, Mr. Cochrane," he added in a low voice, "it is -very necessary that as little as possible should be said about these -things just now. No occasion for any excitement or fuss. The quieter -things are kept the better." - -"All right, Inspector, I understand, but--" - -"What do you think of your new house, Mr. Cameron?" cried Mrs. Cochrane. -"Come in. Now what do you think of this for three days' work?" - -"Oh, Allan, I have been all through it and it's perfectly wonderful," -said his wife. - -"Oh nothing very wonderful, Mrs. Cameron," said Cochrane, "but it will -do for a while." - -"Perfectly wonderful in its whole plan, and beautifully complete," -insisted Mandy. "See, a living-room, a lovely large one, two bedrooms -off it, and, look here, cupboards and closets, and a pantry, and--" here -she opened the door in the corner--"a perfectly lovely up-stairs! Not to -speak of the cook-house out at the back." - -"Wonderful is the word," said Cameron, "for why in all the world should -these people--?" - -"And look, Allan, at Moira! She's just lost in rapture over that -fireplace." - -"And I don't wonder," said her husband. "It is really fine. Whose idea -was it?" he continued, moving toward Moira's side, who was standing -before a large fireplace of beautiful masonry set in between the two -doors that led to the bedrooms at the far end of the living-room. - -"It was Andy Hepburn from Loon Lake that built it," said Mr. Cochrane. - -"I wish I could thank him," said Moira fervently. - -"Well, there he is outside the window, Miss Moira," said a young fellow -who was supposed to be busy putting up a molding round the wainscoting, -but who was in reality devoting himself to the young lady at the present -moment with open admiration. "Here, Andy," he cried through the window, -"you're wanted. Hurry up." - -"Oh, don't, Mr. Dent. What will he think?" - -A hairy little man, with a face dour and unmistakably Scotch, came in. - -"What's want-it, then?" he asked, with a deliberate sort of gruffness. - -"It's yourself, Andy, me boy," said young Dent, who, though Canadian -born, needed no announcement of his Irish ancestry. "It is yourself, -Andy, and this young lady, Miss Moira Cameron--Mr. Hepburn--" Andy made -reluctant acknowledgment of her smile and bow--"wants to thank you for -this fireplace." - -"It is very beautiful indeed, Mr. Hepburn, and very thankful I am to you -for building it." - -"Aw, it's no that bad," admitted Andy. "But ye need not thank me." - -"But you built it?" - -"Aye did I. But no o' ma ain wull. A fireplace is a feckless thing in -this country an' I think little o't." - -"Whose idea was it then?" - -"It was yon Smith buddie. He juist keepit dingin' awa' till A promised -if he got the lime--A kent o' nane in the country--A wud build the -thing." - -"And he got the lime, eh, Andy?" said Dent. - -"Aye, he got it," said Andy sourly. "Diel kens whaur." - -"But I am sure you did it beautifully, Mr. Hepburn," said Moira, moving -closer to him, "and it will be making me think of home." Her soft -Highland accent and the quaint Highland phrasing seemed to reach a soft -spot in the little Scot. - -"Hame? An' whaur's that?" he inquired, manifesting a grudging interest. - -"Where? Where but in the best of all lands, in Scotland," said Moira. -"Near Braemar." - -"Braemar?" - -"Aye, Braemar. I have only come four days ago." - -"Aye, an' did ye say, lassie!" said Andy, with a faint accession of -interest. "It's a bonny country ye've left behind, and far enough frae -here." - -"Far indeed," said Moira, letting her shining brown eyes rest upon his -face. "And it is myself that knows it. But when the fire burns yonder," -she added, pointing to the fireplace, "I will be seeing the hills and -the glens and the moors." - -"'Deed, then, lassie," said Andy in a low hurried voice, moving toward -the door, "A'm gled that Smith buddie gar't me build it." - -"Wait, Mr. Hepburn," said Moira, shyly holding out her hand, "don't you -think that Scotties in this far land should be friends?" - -"An' prood I'd be, Miss Cameron," replied Andy, and, seizing her hand, -he gave it a violent shake, flung it from him and fled through the door. - -"He's a cure, now, isn't he!" said Dent. - -"I think he is fine," said Moira with enthusiasm. "It takes a Scot to -understand a Scot, you see, and I am glad I know him. Do you know, he -is a little like the fireplace himself," she said, "rugged, a wee bit -rough, but fine." - -"The real stuff, eh?" said Dent. "The pure quill." - -"Yes, that is it. Solid and steadfast, with no pretense." - -Meanwhile the work of inspecting the new house was going on. Everywhere -appeared fresh cause for delighted wonder, but still the origin of the -raising bee remained a mystery. - -Balked by the men, Cameron turned in his search to the women and -proceeded to the tent where preparations were being made for the supper. - -"Tut tut, Mr. Cameron," said Mrs. Cochrane, her broad good-natured face -beaming with health and good humor, "what difference does it make? -Your neighbors are only too glad of a chance to show their goodwill for -yourself, and more for your wife." - -"I am sure you are right there," said Cameron. - -"And it is the way of the country. We must stick together, John says. -It's your turn to-day, it may be ours to-morrow and that's all there -is to it. So clear out of this tent and make yourself busy. By the way, -where's the pipes? The folk will soon be asking for a tune." - -"But I want to know, Mrs. Cochrane," persisted Cameron. - -"Where's the pipes, I'm saying. John," she cried, lifting her voice, to -her husband, who was standing at the other side of the house. "Where's -the pipes? They're not burned, I hope," she continued, turning to -Cameron. "The whole settlement would feel that a loss." - -"Fortunately no. Young Macgregor at the Fort has them." - -"Then I wonder if they are here. John, find out from the Inspector -yonder where the pipes are. We will be wanting them this evening." - -To her husband's inquiry the Inspector replied that if Macgregor ever -had the pipes it was a moral certainty that he had carried them with him -to the raising, "for it is my firm belief," he added, "that he sleeps -with them." - -"Do go and see now, like a dear man," said Mrs. Cochrane to Cameron. - -From group to group of the workers Cameron went, exchanging greetings, -but persistently seeking to discover the originator of the raising -bee. But all in vain, and in despair he came back to his wife with the -question "Who is this Smith, anyway?" - -"Mr. Smith," she said with deliberate emphasis, "is my friend, my -particular friend. I found him a friend when I needed one badly." - -"Yes, but who is he?" inquired Moira, who, with Mr. Dent in attendance, -had sauntered up. "Who is he, Mr. Dent? Do you know?" - -"No, not from Adam's mule. He's old Thatcher's man. That's all I know -about him." - -"He is Mr. Thatcher's man? Oh!" said Moira, "Mr. Thatcher's servant." A -subtle note of disappointment sounded in her voice. - -"Servant, Moira?" said Allan in a shocked tone. "Wipe out the thought. -There is no such thing as servant west of the Great Lakes in this -country. A man may help me with my work for a consideration, but he is -no servant of mine as you understand the term, for he considers himself -just as good as I am and he may be considerably better." - -"Oh, Allan," protested his sister with flushing face, "I know. I know -all that, but you know what I mean." - -"Yes, I know perfectly," said her brother, "for I had the same notion. -For instance, for six months I was a 'servant' in Mandy's home, eh, -Mandy?" - -"Nonsense!" cried Mandy indignantly. "You were our hired man and just -like the rest of us." - -"Do you get that distinction, Moira? There is no such thing as servant -in this country," continued Cameron. "We are all the same socially and -stand to help each other. Rather a fine idea that." - -"Yes, fine," cried Moira, "but--" and she paused, her face still -flushed. - -"Who's Smith? is the great question," interjected Dent. "Well, then, -Miss Cameron, between you and me we don't ask that question in this -country. Smith is Smith and Jones is Jones and that's the first and last -of it. We all let it go at that." - -But now the last row of shingles was in place, the last door hung, the -last door-knob set. The whole house stood complete, inside and out, top -and bottom, when a tattoo beat upon a dish pan gave the summons to the -supper table. The table was spread in all its luxurious variety and -abundance beneath the poplar trees. There the people gathered all upon -the basis of pure democratic equality, "Duke's son and cook's son," each -estimated at such worth as could be demonstrated was in him. Fictitious -standards of values were ignored. Every man was given his fair -opportunity to show his stuff and according to his showing was his place -in the community. A generous good fellowship and friendly good-will -toward the new-comer pervaded the company, but with all this a kind of -reserve marked the intercourse of these men with each other. Men were -taken on trial at face value and no questions asked. - -This evening, however, the dominant note was one of generous and -enthusiastic sympathy with the young rancher and his wife, who had come -so lately among them and who had been made the unfortunate victim of -a sinister and threatening foe, hitherto, it is true, regarded with -indifference or with friendly pity but lately assuming an ominous -importance. There was underneath the gay hilarity of the gathering an -undertone of apprehension until the Inspector made his speech. It was -short and went straight at the mark. There was danger, he acknowledged. -It would be idle to ignore that there were ugly rumors flying. There was -need for watchfulness, but there was no need for alarm. The Police Force -was charged with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property -of the people. They assumed to the full this responsibility, though they -were very short-handed at present, but if they ever felt they needed -assistance they knew they could rely upon the steady courage of the men -of the district such as he saw before him. - -There was need of no further words and the Inspector's speech passed -with no response. It was not after the manner of these men to make -demonstration either of their loyalty or of their courage. - -Cameron's speech at the last came haltingly. On the one hand his -Highland pride made it difficult for him to accept gifts from any source -whatever. On the other hand his Highland courtesy forbade his giving -offense to those who were at once his hosts and his guests, but none -suspected the reason for the halting in his speech. As Western men they -rather approved than otherwise the hesitation and reserve that marked -his words. - -Before they rose from the supper table, however, there were calls for -Mrs. Cameron, calls so insistent and clamorous that, overcoming her -embarrassment, she made reply. "We have not yet found out who was -responsible for the originating of this great kindness. But no matter. -We forgive him, for otherwise my husband and I would never have come to -know how rich we are in true friends and kind neighbors, and now that -you have built this house let me say that henceforth by day or by night -you are welcome to it, for it is yours." - -After the storm of applause had died down, a voice was heard gruffly and -somewhat anxiously protesting, "But not all at one time." - -"Who was that?" asked Mandy of young Dent as the supper party broke up. - -"That's Smith," said Dent, "and he's a queer one." - -"Smith?" said Cameron. "The chap meets us everywhere. I must look him -up." - -But there was a universal and insistent demand for "the pipes." - -"You look him up, Mandy," cried her husband as he departed in response -to the call. - -"I shall find him, and all about him," said Mandy with determination. - -The next two hours were spent in dancing to Cameron's reels, in which -all, with more or less grace, took part till the piper declared he was -clean done. - -"Let Macgregor have the pipes, Cameron," cried the Inspector. "He is -longing for a chance, I am sure, and you give us the Highland Fling." - -"Come Moira," cried Cameron gaily, handing the pipes to Macgregor and, -taking his sister by the hand, he led her out into the intricacies of -the Highland Reel, while the sides of the living-room, the doors and -the windows, were thronged with admiring onlookers. Even Andy Hepburn's -rugged face lost something of its dourness; and as the brother and -sister together did that most famous of all the ancient dances of -Scotland, the Highland Fling, his face relaxed into a broad smile. - -"There's Smith," said young Dent to Mandy in a low voice as the reel was -drawing to a close. - -"Where?" she cried. "I have been looking for him everywhere." - -"There, at the window, outside." - -Even in the dim light of the lanterns and candles hung here and there -upon the walls and stuck on the window sills, Smith's face, pale, stern, -sad, shone like a specter out of the darkness behind. - -"What's the matter with the man?" cried Mandy. "I must find out." - -Suddenly the reel came to an end and Cameron, taking the pipes from -young Macgregor, cried, "Now, Moira, we will give them our way of it," -and, tuning the pipes anew, he played over once and again their own Glen -March, known only to the piper of the Cuagh Oir. Then with cunning -skill making atmosphere, he dropped into a wild and weird lament, Moira -standing the while like one seeing a vision. With a swift change the -pipes shrilled into the true Highland version of the ancient reel, -enriched with grace notes and variations all his own. For a few moments -the girl stood as if unwilling to yield herself to the invitation of the -pipes. Suddenly, as if moved by another spirit than her own, she stepped -into the circle and whirled away into the mazes of the ancient style of -the Highland Fling, such as is mastered by comparatively few even of the -Highland folk. With wonderful grace and supple strength she passed from -figure to figure and from step to step, responding to the wild mad music -as to a master spirit. - -In the midst of the dance Mandy made her way out of the house and round -to the window where Smith stood gazing in upon the dancer. She quietly -approached him from behind and for a few moments stood at his side. He -was breathing heavily like a man in pain. - -"What is it, Mr. Smith?" she said, touching him gently on the shoulder. - -He sprang from her touch as from a stab and darted back from the crowd -about the window. - -"What is it, Mr. Smith?" she said again, following him. "You are not -well. You are in pain." - -He stood a moment or two gazing at her with staring eyes and parted -lips, pain, grief and even rage distorting his pale face. - -"It is wicked," at length he panted. "It is just terrible wicked--a -young girl like that." - -"Wicked? Who? What?" - -"That--that girl--dancing like that." - -"Dancing? That kind of dancing?" cried Mandy, astonished. "I was brought -up a Methodist myself," she continued, "but that kind of dancing--why, I -love it." - -"It is of the devil. I am a Methodist--a preacher--but I could not -preach, so I quit. But that is of the world, the flesh, and the devil -and--and I have not the courage to denounce it. She is--God help -me--so--so wonderful--so wonderful." - -"But, Mr. Smith," said Mandy, laying her hand upon his arm, and seeking -to sooth his passion, "surely this dancing is--" - -Loud cheers and clapping of hands from the house interrupted her. The -man put his hands over his eyes as if to shut out a horrid vision, -shuddered violently, and with a weird sound broke from her touch and -fled into the bluff behind the house just as the party came streaming -from the house preparatory to departing. It seemed to Mandy as if she -had caught a glimpse of the inner chambers of a soul and had seen things -too sacred to be uttered. - -Among the last to leave were young Dent and the Inspector. - -"We have found out the culprit," cried Dent, as he was saying -good-night. - -"The culprit?" said Mandy. "What do you mean?" - -"The fellow who has engineered this whole business." - -"Who is it?" said Cameron. - -"Why, listen," said Dent. "Who got the logs from Bracken? Smith. Who -got the Inspector to send men through the settlement? Smith. Who got the -lumber out of the same Inspector? Smith. And the sash and doors out of -Cochrane? Smith. And wiggled the shingles out of Newsome? And euchred -old Scotty Hepburn into building the fireplace? And planned and bossed -the whole job? Who? Smith. This whole business is Smith's work." - -"And where is Smith? Have you seen him, Mandy? We have not thanked him," -said Cameron. - -"He is gone, I think," said Mandy. "He left some time ago. We shall -thank him later. But I am sure we owe a great deal to you, Inspector -Dickson, to you, Mr. Dent, and indeed to all our friends," she added, as -she bade them good-night. - -For some moments they lingered in the moonlight. - -"To think that this is Smith's work!" said Cameron, waving his hand -toward the house. "That queer chap! One thing I have learned, never to -judge a man by his legs again." - -"He is a fine fellow," said Mandy indignantly, "and with a fine soul in -spite of--" - -"His wobbly legs," said her husband smiling. - -"It's a shame, Allan. What difference does it make what kind of legs a -man has?" - -"Very true," replied her husband smiling, "and if you knew your Bible -better, Mandy, you would have found excellent authority for your -position in the words of the psalmist, 'The Lord taketh no pleasure in -the legs of a man.' But, say, it is a joke," he added, "to think of this -being Smith's work." - - - -CHAPTER XII - -IN THE SUN DANCE CANYON - - -But they were not yet done with Smith, for as they turned to pass into -the house a series of shrill cries from the bluff behind pierced the -stillness of the night. - -"Help! Help! Murder! Help! I've got him! Help! I've got him!" - -Shaking off the clutching hands of his wife and sister, Cameron darted -into the bluff and found two figures frantically struggling upon the -ground. The moonlight trickling through the branches revealed the man -on top to be an Indian with a knife in his hand, but he was held in such -close embrace that he could not strike. - -"Hold up!" cried Cameron, seizing the Indian by the wrist. "Stop that! -Let him go!" he cried to the man below. "I've got him safe enough. Let -him go! Let him go, I tell you! Now, then, get up! Get up, both of you!" - -The under man released his grip, allowed the Indian to rise and got -himself to his feet. - -"Come out into the light!" said Cameron sharply, leading the Indian -out of the bluff, followed by the other, still panting. Here they were -joined by the ladies. "Now, then, what the deuce is all this row?" -inquired Cameron. - -"Why, it's Mr. Smith!" cried Mandy. - -"Smith again! More of Smith's work, eh? Well, this beats me," said her -husband. For some moments Cameron stood surveying the group, the Indian -silent and immobile as one of the poplar trees beside him, the ladies -with faces white, Smith disheveled in garb, pale and panting and -evidently under great excitement. Cameron burst into a loud laugh. -Smith's pale face flushed a swift red, visible even in the moonlight, -then grew pale again, his excited panting ceased as he became quiet. - -"Now what is the row?" asked Cameron again. "What is it, Smith?" - -"I found this Indian in the bush here and I seized him. I thought--he -might--do something." - -"Do something?" - -"Yes--some mischief--to some of you." - -"What? You found this Indian in the bluff here and you just jumped on -him? You might better have jumped on a wild cat. Are you used to this -sort of thing? Do you know the ways of these people?" - -"I never saw an Indian before." - -"Good Heavens, man! He might have killed you. And he would have in two -minutes more." - -"He might have killed--some of you," said Smith. - -Cameron laughed again. - -"Now what were you doing in the bluff?" he said sharply, turning to the -Indian. - -"Chief Trotting Wolf," said the Indian in the low undertone common to -his people, "Chief Trotting Wolf want you' squaw--boy seeck bad--leg -beeg beeg. Boy go die. Come." He turned to Mandy and repeated -"Come--queeek--queeek." - -"Why didn't you come earlier?" said Cameron sharply. "It is too late -now. We are going to sleep." - -"Me come dis." He lowered his hand toward the ground. "Too much mans--no -like--Indian wait all go 'way--dis man much beeg fight--no good. Come -queeek--boy go die." - -Already Mandy had made up her mind. - -"Let us hurry, Allan," she said. - -"You can't go to-night," he replied. "You are dead tired. Wait till -morning." - -"No, no, we must go." She turned into the house, followed by her -husband, and began to rummage in her bag. "Lucky thing I got these -supplies in town," she said, hastily putting together her nurse's -equipment and some simple remedies. "I wonder if that boy has fever. -Bring that Indian in." - -"Have you had the doctor?" she inquired, when he appeared. - -"Huh! Doctor want cut off leg--dis," his action was sufficiently -suggestive. "Boy say no." - -"Has the boy any fever? Does he talk-talk-talk?" The Indian nodded his -head vigorously. - -"Talk much--all day--all night." - -"He is evidently in a high fever," said Mandy to her husband. "We must -try to check that. Now, my dear, you hurry and get the horses." - -"But what shall we do with Moira?" said Cameron suddenly. - -"Why," cried Moira, "let me go with you. I should love to go." - -But this did not meet with Cameron's approval. - -"I can stay here," suggested Smith hesitatingly, "or Miss Cameron can go -over with me to the Thatchers'." - -"That is better," said Cameron shortly. "We can drop her at the -Thatchers' as we pass." - -In half an hour Cameron returned with the horses and the party proceeded -on their way. - -At the Piegan Reserve they were met by Chief Trotting Wolf himself and, -without more than a single word of greeting, were led to the tent in -which the sick boy lay. Beside him sat the old squaw in a corner of the -tent, crooning a weird song as she swayed to and fro. The sick boy lay -on a couch of skins, his eyes shining with fever, his foot festering -and in a state of indescribable filth and his whole condition one of -unspeakable wretchedness. Cameron found his gorge rise at the sight of -the gangrenous ankle. - -"This is a horrid business, Mandy," he exclaimed. "This is not for you. -Let us send for the doctor. That foot will surely have to come off. -Don't mess with it. Let us have the doctor." - -But his wife, from the moment of her first sight of the wounded foot, -forgot all but her mission of help. - -"We must have a clean tent, Allan," she said, "and plenty of hot water. -Get the hot water first." - -Cameron turned to the Chief and said, "Hot water, quick!" - -"Huh--good," replied the Chief, and in a few moments returned with a -small pail of luke-warm water. - -"Oh," cried Mandy, "it must be hot and we must have lots of it." - -"Hot," cried Cameron to the Chief. "Big pail--hot--hot." - -"Huh," grunted the Chief a second time with growing intelligence, and -in an incredibly short space returned with water sufficiently hot and in -sufficient quantity. - -All unconscious of the admiring eyes that followed the swift and skilled -movements of her capable hands, Mandy worked over the festering and -fevered wound till, cleansed, soothed, wrapped in a cooling lotion, the -limb rested easily upon a sling of birch bark and skins suggested and -prepared by the Chief. Then for the first time the boy made a sound. - -"Huh," he grunted feebly. "Doctor--no good. Squaw--heap good. Me two -foot--live--one foot--" he held up one finger--"die." His eyes were -shining with something other than the fever that drove the blood racing -through his veins. As a dog's eyes follow every movement of his master -so the lad's eyes, eloquent with adoring gratitude, followed his nurse -as she moved about the wigwam. - -"Now we must get that clean tent, Allan." - -"All right," said her husband. "It will be no easy job, but we shall do -our best. Here, Chief," he cried, "get some of your young men to pitch -another tent in a clean place." - -The Chief, eager though he was to assist, hesitated. - -"No young men," he said. "Get squaw," and departed abruptly. - -"No young men, eh?" said Cameron to his wife. "Where are they, then? I -notice there are no bucks around." - -And so while the squaws were pitching a tent in a spot somewhat removed -from the encampment, Cameron poked about among the tents and wigwams of -which the Indian encampment consisted, but found for the most part -only squaws and children and old men. He came back to his wife greatly -disturbed. - -"The young bucks are gone, Mandy. I must get after this thing quickly. I -wish I had Jerry here. Let's see? You ask for a messenger to be sent -to the fort for the doctor and medicine. I shall enclose a note to the -Inspector. We want the doctor here as soon as possible and we want Jerry -here at the earliest possible moment." - -With a great show of urgency a messenger was requisitioned and -dispatched, carrying a note from Cameron to the Commissioner requesting -the presence of the doctor with his medicine bag, but also requesting -that Jerry, the redoubtable half-breed interpreter and scout, with -a couple of constables, should accompany the doctor, the constables, -however, to wait outside the camp until summoned. - -During the hours that must elapse before any answer could be had from -the fort, Cameron prepared a couch in a corner of the sick boy's tent -for his wife, and, rolling himself in his blanket, he laid himself -down at the door outside where, wearied with the long day and its many -exciting events, he slept without turning, till shortly after daybreak -he was awakened by a chorus of yelping curs which heralded the arrival -of the doctor from the fort with the interpreter Jerry in attendance. - -After breakfast, prepared by Jerry with dispatch and skill, the product -of long experience, there was a thorough examination of the sick boy's -condition through the interpreter, upon the conclusion of which a long -consultation followed between the doctor, Cameron and Mandy. It was -finally decided that the doctor should remain with Mandy in the Indian -camp until a change should become apparent in the condition of the boy, -and that Cameron with the interpreter should pick up the two constables -and follow in the trail of the young Piegan braves. In order to allay -suspicion Cameron and his companion left the camp by the trail which led -toward the fort. For four miles or so they rode smartly until the trail -passed into a thick timber of spruce mixed with poplar. Here Cameron -paused, and, making a slight sign in the direction from which they had -come, he said: - -"Drop back, Jerry, and see if any Indian is following." - -"Good," grunted Jerry. "Go slow one mile," and, slipping from his -pony, he handed the reins to Cameron and faded like a shadow into the -brushwood. - -For a mile Cameron rode, pausing now and then to listen for the sound of -anyone following, then drew rein and waited for his companion. After a -few minutes of eager listening he suddenly sat back in his saddle and -felt for his pipe. - -"All right, Jerry," he said softly, "come out." - -Grinning somewhat shamefacedly Jerry parted a bunch of spruce boughs and -stood at Cameron's side. - -"Good ears," he said, glancing up into Cameron's face. - -"No, Jerry," replied Cameron, "I saw the blue-jay." - -"Huh," grunted Jerry, "dat fool bird tell everyt'ing." - -"Any Indian following?" - -Jerry held up two fingers. - -"Two Indian run tree mile--find notting--go back." - -"Good! Where are our men?" - -"Down Coulee Swampy Creek." - -"All right, Jerry. Any news at the fort last two or three days?" - -"Beeg meetin' St. Laurent. Much half-breed. Some Indian too. Louis Riel -mak beeg spik--beeg noise--blood! blood! blood! Much beeg fool." -Jerry's tone indicated the completeness of his contempt for the whole -proceedings at St. Laurent. - -"Something doing, eh, Jerry?" - -"Bah!" grunted Jerry contemptuously. - -"Well, there's something doing here," continued Cameron. "Trotting -Wolf's young men have left the reserve and Trotting Wolf is very -anxious that we should not know it. I want you to go back, find out what -direction they have taken, how far ahead they are, how many. We camp -to-night at the Big Rock at the entrance to the Sun Dance Canyon. You -remember?" - -Jerry nodded. - -"There's something doing, Jerry, or I am much mistaken. Got any grub?" - -"Grub?" asked Jerry. "Me--here--t'ree day," tapping his rolled blanket -at the back of his saddle. "Odder fellers--grub--Jakes--t'ree men--t'ree -day. Come Beeg Rock to-night--mebbe to-morrow." So saying, Jerry climbed -on to his pony and took the back trail, while Cameron went forward to -meet his men at the Swampy Creek Coulee. - -Making a somewhat wide detour to avoid the approaches to the Indian -encampment, Cameron and his two men rode for the Big Rock at the -entrance to the Sun Dance Canyon. They gave themselves no concern about -Trotting Wolf's band of young men. They knew well that what Jerry could -not discover would not be worth finding out. A year's close association -with Jerry had taught Cameron something of the marvelous powers of -observation, of the tenacity and courage possessed by the little -half-breed that made him the keenest scout in the North West Mounted -Police. - -At the Big Rock they arrived late in the afternoon and there waited -for Jerry's appearing; but night had fallen and had broken into morning -before the scout came into camp with a single word of report: - -"Notting." - -"No Piegans?" exclaimed Cameron. - -"No--not dis side Blood Reserve." - -"Eat something, Jerry, then we will talk," said Cameron. - -Jerry had already broken his fast, but was ready for more. After the -meal was finished he made his report. His report was clear and concise. -On leaving Cameron in the morning he had taken the most likely direction -to discover traces of the Piegan band, namely that suggested by Cameron, -and, fetching a wide circle, had ridden toward the mountains, but he -had come upon no sign. Then he had penetrated into the canyon and ridden -down toward the entrance, but still had found no trace. He had then -ridden backward toward the Piegan Reserve and, picking up a trail of one -or two ponies, had followed it till he found it broaden into that of a -considerable band making eastward. Then he knew he had found the trail -he wanted. - -"How many, Jerry?" asked Cameron. - -The half-breed held up both hands three times. - -"Mebbe more." - -"Thirty or forty?" exclaimed Cameron. "Any Squaws? - -"No." - -"Hunting-expedition?" - -"No." - -"Where were they going?" - -"Blood Reserve t'ink--dunno." - -Cameron sat smoking in silence. He was completely at a loss. - -"Why go to the Bloods?" he asked of Jerry. - -"Dunno." - -Jerry was not strong in his constructive faculty. His powers were those -of observation. - -"There is no sense in them going to the Blood Reserve, Jerry," said -Cameron impatiently. "The Bloods are a pack of thieves, we know, but our -people are keeping a close watch on them." - -Jerry grunted acquiescence. - -"There is no big Indian camping ground on the Blood Reserve. You -wouldn't get the Blackfeet to go to any pow-wow there." - -Again Jerry grunted. - -"How far did you follow their trail, Jerry?" - -"Two--t'ree mile." - -Cameron sat long and smoked. The thing was extremely puzzling. It seemed -unlikely that if the Piegan band were going to a rendezvous of Indians -they should select a district so closely under the inspection of the -Police. Furthermore there was no great prestige attaching to the Bloods -to make their reserve a place of meeting. - -"Jerry," said Cameron at length, "I believe they are up this Sun Dance -Canyon somewhere." - -"No," said Jerry decisively. "No sign--come down mesef." His tone was -that of finality. - -"I believe, Jerry, they doubled back and came in from the north end -after you had left. I feel sure they are up there now and we will go and -find them." - -Jerry sat silent, smoking thoughtfully. Finally he took his pipe from -his mouth, pressed the tobacco hard down with his horny middle finger -and stuck it in his pocket. - -"Mebbe so," he said slowly, a slight grin distorting his wizened little -face, "mebbe so, but t'ink not--me." - -"Well, Jerry, where could they have gone? They might ride straight -to Crowfoot's Reserve, but I think that is extremely unlikely. They -certainly would not go to the Bloods, therefore they must be up this -canyon. We will go up, Jerry, for ten miles or so and see what we can -see." - -"Good," said Jerry with a grunt, his tone conveying his conviction that -where the chief scout of the North West Mounted Police had said it was -useless to search, any other man searching would have nothing but his -folly for his pains. - -"Have a sleep first, Jerry. We need not start for a couple of hours." - -Jerry grunted his usual reply, rolled himself in his blanket and, lying -down at the back of a rock, was asleep in a minute's time. - -In two hours to the minute he stood beside his pony waiting for Cameron, -who had been explaining his plan to the two constables and giving them -his final orders. - -The orders were very brief and simple. They were to wait where they were -till noon. If any of the band of Piegans appeared one of the men was -to ride up the canyon with the information, the other was to follow -the band till they camped and then ride back till he should meet his -comrades. They divided up the grub into two parts and Cameron and the -interpreter took their way up the canyon. - -The canyon consisted of a deep cleft across a series of ranges of hills -or low mountains. Through it ran a rough breakneck trail once used by -the Indians and trappers but now abandoned since the building of the -Canadian Pacific Railway through the Kicking Horse Pass and the opening -of the Government trail through the Crow's Nest. From this which had -once been the main trail other trails led westward into the Kootenays -and eastward into the Foothill country. At times the canyon widened into -a valley, rich in grazing and in streams of water, again it narrowed -into a gorge, deep and black, with rugged sides above which only the -blue sky was visible, and from which led cavernous passages that wound -into the heart of the mountains, some of them large enough to hold a -hundred men or more without crowding. These caverns had been and -still were found to be most convenient and useful for the purpose of -whisky-runners and of cattle-rustlers, affording safe hiding-places for -themselves and their spoil. With this trail and all its ramifications -Jerry was thoroughly familiar. The only other man in the Force who -knew it better than Jerry was Cameron himself. For many months he had -patroled the main trail and all its cross leaders, lived in its caves -and explored its caverns in pursuit of those interesting gentlemen whose -activities more than anything else had rendered necessary the existence -of the North West Mounted Police. In ancient times the caves along the -Sun Dance Trail had been used by the Indian Medicine-Men for their pagan -rites, and hence in the eyes of the Indians to these caves attached a -dreadful reverence that made them places to be avoided in recent years -by the various tribes now gathered on the reserves. But during these -last months of unrest it was suspected by the Police that the ancient -uses of these caves had been revived and that the rites long since -fallen into desuetude were once more being practised. - -For the first few miles of the canyon the trail offered good footing -and easy going, but as the gorge deepened and narrowed the difficulties -increased until riding became impossible, and only by the most strenuous -efforts on the part of both men and beasts could any advance be made. -And so through the day and into the late evening they toiled on, ever -alert for sight or sound of the Piegan band. At length Cameron broke the -silence. - -"We must camp, Jerry," he said. "We are making no time and we may spoil -things. I know a good camp-ground near by." - -"Me too," grunted Jerry, who was as tired as his wiry frame ever allowed -him to become. - -They took a trail leading eastward, which to all eyes but those familiar -with it would have been invisible, for a hundred yards or so and came -to the bed of a dry stream which issued from between two great rocks. -Behind one of these rocks there opened out a grassy plot a few yards -square, and beyond the grass a little lifted platform of rock against a -sheer cliff. Here they camped, picketing their horses on the grass and -cooking their supper upon the platform of rock over a tiny fire of dry -twigs, for the wind was blowing down the canyon and they knew that they -could cook their meal and have their smoke without fear of detection. -For some time after supper they sat smoking in that absolute silence -which is the characteristic of the true man of the woods. The gentle -breeze blowing down the canyon brought to their ears the rustling of -the dry poplar-leaves and the faint murmur of the stream which, tumbling -down the canyon, accompanied the main trail a hundred yards away. - -Suddenly Cameron's hand fell upon the knee of the half-breed with a -swift grip. - -"Listen!" he said, bending forward. - -With mouths slightly open and with hands to their ears they both sat -motionless, breathless, every nerve on strain. Gradually the dead -silence seemed to resolve itself into rhythmic waves of motion rather -than of sound--"TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM." It was -the throb of the Indian medicine-drum, which once heard can never be -forgotten or mistaken. Without a word to each other they rose, doused -their fire, cached their saddles, blankets and grub, and, taking only -their revolvers, set off up the canyon. Before they had gone many yards -Cameron halted. - -"What do you think, Jerry?" he said. "I take it they have come in the -back way over the old Porcupine Trail." - -Jerry grunted approval of the suggestion. - -"Then we can go in from the canyon. It is hard going, but there is less -fear of detection. They are sure to be in the Big Wigwam." - -Jerry shook his head, with a puzzled look on his face. - -"Dunno me." - -"That is where they are," said Cameron. "Come on! Only two miles from -here." - -Steadily the throb of the medicine-drum grew more distinct as they moved -slowly up the canyon, rising and falling upon the breeze that came down -through the darkness to meet them. The trail, which was bad enough in -the light, became exceedingly dangerous and difficult in the blackness -of the night. On they struggled painfully, now clinging to the sides of -the gorge, now mounting up over a hill and again descending to the level -of the foaming stream. - -"Will they have sentries out, I wonder?" whispered Cameron in Jerry's -ear. - -"No--beeg medicine going on--no sentry." - -"All right, then, we will walk straight in on them." - -"What you do?" inquired Jerry. - -"We will see what they are doing and send them about their business," -said Cameron shortly. - -"No," said Jerry firmly. "S'pose Indian mak beeg medicine--bes' leave -him go till morning." - -"Well, Jerry, we will take a look at them at any rate," said Cameron. -"But if they are fooling around with any rebellion nonsense I am going -to step in and stop it." - -"No," said Jerry again very gravely. "Beeg medicine mak' Indian man -crazy--fool--dance--sing--mak' brave--then keel--queeck!" - -"Come along, then, Jerry," said Cameron impatiently. And on they went. -The throb of the drum grew clearer until it seemed that the next turn in -the trail should reveal the camp, while with the drum throb they began -to catch, at first faintly and then more clearly, the monotonous chant -"Hai-yai-kai-yai, Hai-yai-kai-yai," that ever accompanies the Indian -dance. Suddenly the drums ceased altogether and with it the chanting, -and then there arose upon the night silence a low moaning cry that -gradually rose into a long-drawn penetrating wail, almost a scream, made -by a single voice. - -Jerry's hand caught Cameron's arm with a convulsive grip. - -"What the deuce is that?" asked Cameron. - -"Sioux Indian--he mak' dat when he go keel." - -Once more the long weird wailing scream pierced the night and, echoing -down the canyon, was repeated a hundred times by the black rocky sides. -Cameron could feel Jerry's hand still quivering on his arm. - -"What's up with you, Jerry?" said Cameron impatiently. - -"Me hear dat when A'm small boy--me." - -Then Cameron remembered that it was Sioux blood that the -life-stream in Jerry's veins. - -"Oh, pshaw!" said Cameron with gruff impatience. "Come on!" But he was -more shaken than he cared to acknowledge by that weird unearthly cry -and by its all too obvious effect upon the iron nerves of that little -half-breed at his side. - -"Dey mak' dat cry when dey go meet Custer long 'go," said Jerry, making -no motion to go forward. - -"What are you waiting for?" said Cameron harshly. "Come along, unless -you want to go back." - -His words stung the half-breed into action. Cameron could feel him in -the dark jerk his hand away and hear him grit his teeth. - -"Bah! You go hell!" he muttered between his clenched teeth. - -"That is better," said Cameron cheerfully. "Now we will look in upon -these fire-eaters." - -Sharp to the right they turned behind a cliff, and then back almost upon -their trail, still to the right, through a screen of spruce and poplar, -and found themselves in a hole of a rock that lengthened into a tunnel -blacker than the night outside. Pursuing this tunnel some little -distance they became aware of a light that grew as they moved toward -it into a fire set in the middle of a wide cavern. The cavern was of -irregular shape, with high-vaulted roof, open to the sky at the apex and -hung with glistening stalactites. The floor of this cavern lay slightly -below them, and from their position they could command a full view of -its interior. - -The sides of the cavern round about were crowded with tawny faces of -Indians arranged rank upon rank, the first row seated upon the ground, -those behind crouching upon their haunches, those still farther back -standing. In the center of the cavern and with his face lit by the fire -stood the Sioux Chief, Onawata. - -"Copperhead! By all that's holy!" cried Cameron. - -"Onawata!" exclaimed the half-breed. "What he mak' here?" - -"What is he saying, Jerry? Tell me everything--quick!" commanded Cameron -sharply. - -Jerry was listening with eager face. - -"He mak' beeg spik," he said. - -"Go on!" - -"He say Indian long tam' 'go have all country when his fadder small boy. -Dem day good hunting--plenty beaver, mink, moose, buffalo like leaf on -tree, plenty hit (eat), warm wigwam, Indian no seeck, notting wrong. Dem -day Indian lak' deer go every place. Dem day Indian man lak' bear 'fraid -notting. Good tam', happy, hunt deer, keel buffalo, hit all day. Ah-h-h! -ah-h-h!" The half-breed's voice faded in two long gasps. - -The Sioux's chanting voice rose and fell through the vaulted cavern like -a mighty instrument of music. His audience of crowding Indians gazed -in solemn rapt awe upon him. A spell held them fixed. The whole circle -swayed in unison with his swaying form as he chanted the departed -glories of those happy days when the red man roamed free those plains -and woods, lord of his destiny and subject only to his own will. The -mystic magic power of that rich resonant voice, its rhythmic cadence -emphasized by the soft throbbing of the drum, the uplifted face glowing -as with prophetic fire, the tall swaying form instinct with exalted -emotion, swept the souls of his hearers with surging tides of passion. -Cameron, though he caught but little of its meaning, felt himself -irresistibly borne along upon the torrent of the flowing words. He -glanced at Jerry beside him and was startled by the intense emotion -showing upon his little wizened face. - -Suddenly there was a swift change of motif, and with it a change of -tone and movement and color. The marching, vibrant, triumphant chant -of freedom and of conquest subsided again into the long-drawn wail of -defeat, gloom and despair. Cameron needed no interpreter. He knew the -singer was telling the pathetic story of the passing of the day of the -Indian's glory and the advent of the day of his humiliation. With sharp -rising inflections, with staccato phrasing and with fierce passionate -intonation, the Sioux wrung the hearts of his hearers. Again Cameron -glanced at the half-breed at his side and again he was startled to note -the transformation in his face. Where there had been glowing pride there -was now bitter savage hate. For that hour at least the half-breed was -all Sioux. His father's blood was the water in his veins, the red was -only his Indian mother's. With face drawn tense and lips bared into -a snarl, with eyes gleaming, he gazed fascinated upon the face of the -singer. In imagination, in instinct, in the deepest emotions of his soul -Jerry was harking back again to the savage in him, and the savage in him -thirsting for revenge upon the white man who had wrought this ruin upon -him and his Indian race. With a fine dramatic instinct the Sioux reached -his climax and abruptly ceased. A low moaning murmur ran round the -circle and swelled into a sobbing cry, then ceased as suddenly as there -stepped into the circle a stranger, evidently a half-breed, who began to -speak. He was a French Cree, he announced, and delivered his message in -the speech, half Cree, half French, affected by his race. - -He had come fresh from the North country, from the disturbed district, -and bore, as it appeared, news of the very first importance from those -who were the leaders of his people in the unrest. At his very first -word Jerry drew a long deep breath and by his face appeared to drop from -heaven to earth. As the half-breed proceeded with his tale his speech -increased in rapidity. - -"What is he saying, Jerry?" said Cameron after they had listened for -some minutes. - -"Oh he beeg damfool!" said Jerry, whose vocabulary had been learned -mostly by association with freighters and the Police. "He tell 'bout -beeg meeting, beeg man Louis Riel mak' beeg noise. Bah! Beeg damfool!" -The whole scene had lost for Jerry its mystic impressiveness and had -become contemptibly commonplace. But not so to Cameron. This was the -part that held meaning for him. So he pulled up the half-breed with a -quick, sharp command. - -"Listen close," he said, "and let me know what he says." - -And as Jerry interpreted in his broken English the half-breed's speech -it appeared that there was something worth learning. At this big -meeting held in Batoche it seemed a petition of rights, to the Dominion -Parliament no less, had been drawn up, and besides this many plans had -been formed and many promises made of reward for all those who dared to -stand for their rights under the leadership of the great Riel, while -for the Indians very special arrangements had been made and the most -alluring prospects held out. For they were assured that, when in the far -North country the new Government was set up, the old free independent -life of which they had been hearing was to be restored, all hampering -restrictions imposed by the white man were to be removed, and the -good old days were to be brought back. The effect upon the Indians was -plainly evident. With solemn faces they listened, nodding now and -then grave approval, and Cameron felt that the whole situation held -possibilities of horror unspeakable in the revival of that ancient -savage spirit which had been so very materially softened and tamed -by years of kindly, patient and firm control on the part of those -who represented among them British law and civilization. His original -intention had been to stride in among these Indians, to put a stop to -their savage nonsense and order them back to their reserves with never a -thought of anything but obedience on their part. But as he glanced about -upon the circle of faces he hesitated. This was no petty outbreak of -ill temper on the part of a number of Indians dissatisfied with their -rations or chafing under some new Police regulation. As his eye traveled -round the circle he noted that for the most part they were young men. -A few of the councilors of the various tribes represented were present. -Many of them he knew, but many others he could not distinguish in the -dim light of the fire. - -"Who are those Indians, Jerry?" he asked. - -And as Jerry ran over the names he began to realize how widely -representative of the various tribes in the western country the -gathering was. Practically every reserve in the West was represented: -Bloods, Piegans and Blackfeet from the foothill country, Plain Crees and -Wood Crees from the North. Even a few of the Stonies, who were supposed -to have done with all pagan rites and to have become largely civilized, -were present. Nor were these rank and file men only. They were the -picked braves of the tribes, and with them a large number of the younger -chiefs. - -At length the half-breed Cree finished his tale, and in a few brief -fierce sentences he called the Indians of the West to join their -half-breed and Indian brothers of the North in one great effort to -regain their lost rights and to establish themselves for all time in -independence and freedom. - -Then followed grave discussion carried on with deliberation and courtesy -by those sitting about the fire, and though gravity and courtesy marked -every utterance there thrilled through every speech an ever deepening -intensity of feeling. The fiery spirit of the red man, long subdued by -those powers that represented the civilization of the white man, was -burning fiercely within them. The insatiable lust for glory formerly won -in war or in the chase, but now no longer possible to them, burned in -their hearts like a consuming fire. The life of monotonous struggle for -a mere existence to which they were condemned had from the first been -intolerable to them. The prowess of their fathers, whether in the -slaughter of foes or in the excitement of the chase, was the theme of -song and story round every Indian camp-fire and at every sun dance. -For the young braves, life, once vivid with color and thrilling with -tingling emotions, had faded into the somber-hued monotony of a dull and -spiritless existence, eked out by the charity of the race who had robbed -them of their hunting-grounds and deprived them of their rights as free -men. The lust for revenge, the fury of hate, the yearning for the return -of the days of the red man's independence raged through their speeches -like fire in an open forest; and, ever fanning yet ever controlling the -flame, old Copperhead presided till the moment should be ripe for such -action as he desired. Back and forward the question was deliberated. -Should they there and then pledge themselves to their Northern brothers -and commit themselves to this great approaching adventure? - -Quietly and with an air of judicial deliberation the Sioux put the -question to them. There was something to be lost and something to be -gained. But the loss, how insignificant it seemed! And the gain, how -immeasurable! And after all success was almost certain. What could -prevent it? A few scattered settlers with no arms nor ammunition, with -no means of communication, what could they effect? A Government nearly -three thousand miles away, with the nearest base of military operations -a thousand miles distant, what could they do? The only real difficulty -was the North West Mounted Police. But even as the Sioux uttered the -words a chill silence fell upon the excited throng. The North West -Mounted Police, who for a dozen years had guarded them and cared for -them and ruled them without favor and without fear! Five hundred red -coats of the Great White Mother across the sea, men who had never been -known to turn their backs upon a foe, who laughed at noisy threats and -whose simple word their greatest chief was accustomed unhesitatingly to -obey! Small wonder that the mere mention of the name of those gallant -"Riders of the Plains" should fall like a chill upon their fevered -imaginations. The Sioux was conscious of that chill and set himself to -counteract it. - -"The Police!" he cried with unspeakable scorn, "the Police! They will -flee before the Indian braves like leaves before the autumn wind." - -"What says he?" cried Cameron eagerly. And Jerry swiftly interpreted. - -Without a moment's hesitation Cameron sprang to his feet and, standing -in the dim light at the entrance to the cave, with arm outstretched and -finger pointed at the speaker, he cried: - -"Listen!" With a sudden start every face was turned in his direction. -"Listen!" he repeated. "The Sioux dog lies. He speaks with double -tongue. Never have the Indians seen a Policeman's back turned in -flight." - -His unexpected appearance, his voice ringing like the blare of a trumpet -through the cavern, his tall figure with the outstretched accusing arm -and finger, the sharp challenge of the Sioux's lie with what they all -knew to be the truth, produced an effect utterly indescribable. For -some brief seconds they gazed upon him stricken into silence as with a -physical blow, then with a fierce exclamation the Sioux snatched a rifle -from the cave side and quicker than words can tell fired straight at -the upright accusing figure. But quicker yet was Jerry's panther-spring. -With a backhand he knocked Cameron flat, out of range. Cameron dropped -to the floor as if dead. - -"What the deuce do you mean, Jerry?" he cried. "You nearly knocked the -wind out of me!" - -"Beeg fool you!" grunted Jerry fiercely, dragging him back into the -tunnel out of the light. - -"Let me go, Jerry!" cried Cameron in a rage, struggling to free himself -from the grip of the wiry half-breed. - -"Mak' still!" hissed Jerry, laying his hand over Cameron's mouth. -"Indian mad--crazy--tak' scalp sure queeck." - -"Let me go, Jerry, you little fool!" said Cameron. "I'll kill you if you -don't! I want that Sioux, and, by the eternal God, I am going to have -him!" He shook himself free of the half-breed's grasp and sprang to his -feet. "I am going to get him!" he repeated. - -"No!" cried Jerry again, flinging himself upon him and winding his -arms about him. "Wait! Nodder tam'. Indian mad crazy--keel quick--no -talk--now." - -Up and down the tunnel Cameron dragged him about as a mastiff might -a terrier, striving to free himself from those gripping arms. Even as -Jerry spoke, through the dim light the figure of an Indian could be seen -passing and repassing the entrance to the cave. - -"We get him soon," said Jerry in an imploring whisper. "Come back -now--queeck--beeg hole close by." - -With a great effort Cameron regained his self-control. - -"By Jove, you are right, Jerry," he said quietly. "We certainly can't -take him now. But we must not lose him. Now listen to me quick. This -passage opens on to the canyon about fifty yards farther down. Follow, -and keep your eye on the Sioux. I shall watch here. Go!" - -Without an instant's hesitation Jerry obeyed, well aware that his master -had come to himself and again was in command. - -Cameron meantime groped to the mouth of the tunnel by which he had -entered and peered out into the dim light. Close to his hand stood an -Indian in the cavern. Beyond him there was a confused mingling of forms -as if in bewilderment. The Council was evidently broken up for the time. -The Indians were greatly shaken by the vision that had broken in upon -them. That it was no form of flesh and blood was very obvious to them, -for the Sioux's bullet had passed through it and spattered against the -wall leaving no trail of blood behind it. There was no holding them -together, and almost before he was aware of it Cameron saw the cavern -empty of every living soul. Quickly but warily he followed, searching -each nook as he went, but the dim light of the dying fire showed him -nothing but the black walls and gloomy recesses of the great cave. At -the farther entrance he found Jerry awaiting him. - -"Where are they gone?" he asked. - -"Beeg camp close by," replied Jerry. "Beeg camp--much Indian. Some -talk-talk, then go sleep. Chief Onawata he mak' more talk--talk all -night--then go sleep. We get him morning." - -Cameron thought swiftly. - -"I think you are right, Jerry. Now you get back quick for the men -and come to me here in the morning. We must not spoil the chance of -capturing this old devil. He will have these Indians worked up into -rebellion before we know where we are." - -So saying, Cameron set forward that he might with his own eyes look upon -the camp and might the better plan his further course. Upon two things -he was firmly resolved. First, that he should break up this council -which held such possibilities of danger to the peace of the country. And -secondly, and chiefly, he must lay hold of this Sioux plotter, not only -because of the possibilities of mischief that lay in him, but because of -the injury he had done him and his. - -Forward, then, he went and soon came upon the camp, and after observing -the lay of it, noting especially the tent in which the Sioux Chief had -disposed himself, he groped back to his cave, in a nook of which--for -he was nearly done out with weariness, and because much yet lay before -him--he laid himself down and slept soundly till the morning. - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -IN THE BIG WIGWAM - - -Long before the return of the half-breed and his men Cameron was astir -and to some purpose. A scouting expedition around the Indian camp -rewarded him with a significant and useful discovery. In a bluff some -distance away he found the skins and heads of four steers, and by -examination of the brands upon the skins discovered two of them to be -from his own herd. - -"All right, my braves," he muttered. "There will be a reckoning for this -some day not so far away. Meantime this will help this day's work." - -A night's sleep and an hour's quiet consideration had shown him the -folly of a straight frontal attack upon the Indians gathered for -conspiracy. They were too deeply stirred for anything like the usual -brusque manner of the Police to be effective. A slight indiscretion, -indeed, might kindle such a conflagration as would sweep the whole -country with the devastating horror of an Indian war. He recalled the -very grave manner of Inspector Dickson and resolved upon an entirely -new plan of action. At all costs he must allay suspicion that the Police -were at all anxious about the situation in the North. Further, he must -break the influence of the Sioux Chief over these Indians. Lastly, he -was determined that this arch-plotter should not escape him again. - -The sun was just visible over the lowest of the broken foothills when -Jerry and the two constables made their appearance, bringing, with them -Cameron's horse. After explaining to them fully his plan and emphasizing -the gravity of the situation and the importance of a quiet, cool and -resolute demeanor, they set off toward the Indian encampment. - -"I have no intention of stirring these chaps up," laid Cameron, "but I -am determined to arrest old Copperhead, and at the right moment we must -act boldly and promptly. He is too dangerous and much too clever to be -allowed his freedom among these Indians of ours at this particular time. -Now, then, Jerry and I will ride in looking for cattle and prepared to -charge these Indians with cattle-stealing. This will put them on the -defensive. Then the arrest will follow. You two will remain within sound -of whistle, but failing specific direction let each man act on his own -initiative." - -Jerry listened with delight. His Chief was himself again. Before the -day was over he was to see him in an entirely new role. Nothing in life -afforded Jerry such keen delight as a bit of cool daring successfully -carried through. Hence with joyous heart he followed Cameron into the -Indian camp. - -The morning hour is the hour of coolest reason. The fires of emotion and -imagination have not yet begun to burn. The reactions from anything -like rash action previously committed under the stimulus of a heated -imagination are caution and timidity, and upon these reactions Cameron -counted when he rode boldly into the Indian camp. - -With one swift glance his eye swept the camp and lighted upon the Sioux -Chief in the center of a group of younger men, his tall commanding -figure and haughty carriage giving him an outstanding distinction over -those about him. At his side stood a young Piegan Chief, Eagle Feather -by name, whom Cameron knew of old as a restless, talkative Indian, an -ambitious aspirant for leadership without the qualities necessary to -such a position. Straight to this group Cameron rode. - -"Good morning!" he said, saluting the group. "Ah, good morning, Eagle -Feather!" - -Eagle Feather grunted an indistinct reply. - -"Big Hunt, eh? Are you in command of this party, Eagle Feather? No? Who -then is?" - -The Piegan turned and pointed to a short thick set man standing by -another fire, whose large well shaped head and penetrating eye indicated -both force and discretion. - -"Ah, Running Stream," cried Cameron. "Come over here, Running Stream. I -am glad to see you, for I wish to talk to a man of wisdom." - -Slowly and with dignified, almost unwilling step Running Stream -approached. As he began to move, but not before, Cameron went to meet -him. - -"I wish to talk with you," said Cameron in a quiet firm tone. - -"Huh," grunted Running Stream. - -"I have a matter of importance to speak to you about," continued -Cameron. - -Running Stream's keen glance searched his face somewhat anxiously. - -"I find, Running Stream, that your young men are breaking faith with -their friends, the Police." - -Again the Chief searched Cameron's face with that keen swift glance, but -he said not a word, only waited. - -"They are breaking the law as well, and I want to tell you they will be -punished. Where did they get the meat for these kettles?" - -A look of relief gleamed for one brief instant across the Indian's face, -not unnoticed, however, by Cameron. - -"Why do your young men steal my cattle?" - -The Indian evinced indifference. - -"Dunno--deer--mebbe--sheep." - -"My brother speaks like a child," said Cameron quietly. "Do deer and -sheep have steers' heads and hides with brands on? Four heads I find -in the bluff. The Commissioner will ask you to explain these hides and -heads, and let me tell you, Running Stream, that the thieves will spend -some months in jail. They will then have plenty of time to think of -their folly and their wickedness." - -An ugly glance shot from the Chief's eyes. - -"Dunno," he grunted again, then began speaking volubly in the Indian -tongue. - -"Speak English, Running Stream!" commanded Cameron. "I know you can -speak English well enough." - -But Running Stream shook his head and continued his speech in Indian, -pointing to a bluff near by. - -Cameron looked toward Jerry, who interpreted: - -"He say young men tak' deer and sheep and bear. He show you skins in -bluff." - -"Come," said Running Stream, supplementing Jerry's interpretation and -making toward the bluff. Cameron followed him and came upon the skins of -three jumping deer, of two mountain sheep and of two bear. They turned -back again to the fire. - -"My young men no take cattle," said the Chief with haughty pride. - -"Maybe so," said Cameron, "but some of your party have, Running Stream, -and the Commissioner will look to you. You are in command here. He will -give you a chance to clear yourself." - -The Indian shrugged his shoulders and stood silent. - -"My brother is not doing well," continued Cameron. "The Government feed -you if you are hungry. The Government protect you if you are wronged." - -It was an unfortunate word of Cameron's. A sudden cloud of anger -darkened the Indian's face. - -"No!" he cried aloud. "My children--my squaw and my people go hungry--go -cold in winter--no skin--no meat." - -"My brother knows--" replied Cameron with patient firmness--"You -translate this, Jerry"--and Jerry proceeded to translate with eloquence -and force--"the Government never refuse you meat. Last winter your -people would have starved but for the Government." - -"No," cried the Indian again in harsh quick reply, the rage in his -face growing deeper, "my children cry--Indian cannot sleep--my white -brother's ears are closed. He hear only the wind--the storm--he sound -sleep. For me no sleep--my children cry too loud." - -"My brother knows," replied Cameron, "that the Government is far away, -that it takes a long time for answer to come back to the Indian cry. -But the answer came and the Indian received flour and bacon and tea and -sugar, and this winter will receive them again. But how can my brother -expect the Government to care for his people if the Indians break the -law? That is not good. These Indians are bad Indians and the Police will -punish the thieves. A thief is a bad man and ought to be punished." - -Suddenly a new voice broke in abruptly upon the discourse. - -"Who steal the Indian's hunting-ground? Who drive away the buffalo?" The -voice rang with sharp defiance. It was the voice of Onawata, the Sioux -Chief. - -Cameron paid no heed to the ringing voice. He kept his back turned upon -the Sioux. - -"My brother knows," he continued, addressing himself to Running Stream, -"that the Indian's best friend is the Government, and the Police are the -Government's ears and eyes and hands and are ready always to help the -Indians, to protect them from fraud, to keep away the whisky-peddlers, -to be to them as friends and brothers. But my brother has been listening -to a snake that comes from another country and that speaks with a forked -tongue. Our Government bought the land by treaty. Running Stream knows -this to be no lie, but the truth. Nor did the Government drive away the -buffalo from the Indians. The buffalo were driven away by the Sioux from -the country of the snake with the forked tongue. My brother remembers -that only a few years ago when the people to which this lying snake -belongs came over to this country and tried to drive away from their -hunting-grounds the Indians of this country, the Police protected the -Indians and drove back the hungry thieving Sioux to their own land. And -now a little bird has been telling me that this lying snake has been -speaking into the ears of our Indian brothers and trying to persuade -them to dig up the hatchet against their white brothers, their friends. -The Police know all about this and laugh at it. The Police know about -the foolish man at Batoche, the traitor Louis Riel. They know he is -a liar and a coward. He leads brave men astray and then runs away and -leaves them to suffer. This thing he did many years ago." And Cameron -proceeded to give a brief sketch of the fantastic and futile rebellion -of 1870 and of the ignoble part played by the vain and empty-headed -Riel. - -The effect of Cameron's words upon the Indians was an amazement even to -himself. They forgot their breakfast and gathered close to the speaker, -their eager faces and gleaming eyes showing how deeply stirred were -their hearts. - -Cameron was putting into his story an intensity of emotion and passion -that not only surprised himself, but amazed his interpreter. Indeed so -amazed was the little half-breed at Cameron's quite unusual display of -oratorical power that his own imagination took fire and his own tongue -was loosened to such an extent that by voice, look, tone and gesture he -poured into his officer's harangue a force and fervor all his own. - -"And now," continued Cameron, "this vain and foolish Frenchman seeks -again to lead you astray, to lead you into war that will bring ruin -to you and to your children; and this lying snake from your ancient -enemies, the Sioux, thinking you are foolish children, seeks to make -you fight against the great White Mother across the seas. He has been -talking like a babbling old man, from whom the years have taken wisdom, -when he says that the half-breeds and Indians can drive the white man -from these plains. Has he told you how many are the children of the -White Mother, how many are the soldiers in her army? Listen to me, and -look! Get me many branches from the trees," he commanded sharply to some -young Indians standing near. - -So completely were the Indians under the thrall of his speech that a -dozen of them sprang at once to get branches from the poplar trees near -by. - -"I will show you," said Cameron, "how many are the White Mother's -soldiers. See,"--he held up both hands and then stuck up a small twig in -the sand to indicate the number ten. Ten of these small twigs he set in -a row and by a larger stick indicated a hundred, and so on till he had -set forth in the sandy soil a diagrammatic representation of a hundred -thousand men, the Indians following closely his every movement. "And all -these men," he continued, "are armed with rifles and with great big guns -that speak like thunder. And these are only a few of the White Mother's -soldiers. How many Indians and half-breeds do you think there are with -rifles?" He set in a row sticks to represent a thousand men. "See," he -cried, "so many." Then he added another similar row. "Perhaps, if all -the Indians gathered, so many with rifles. No more. Now look," he said, -"no big guns, only a few bullets, a little powder, a little food. Ha, -ha!" he laughed contemptuously. "The Sioux snake is a fool. His tongue -must be stopped. My Indian brothers here will not listen to him, but -there are others whose hearts are like the hearts of little children who -may listen to his lying words. The Sioux snake must be caught and put in -a cage, and this I do now." - -As he uttered the words Cameron sprang for the Sioux, but quicker than -his leap the Sioux darted through the crowding Indians who, perceiving -Cameron's intent, thrust themselves in his path and enabled the Sioux to -get away into the brush behind. - -"Head him off, Jerry," yelled Cameron, whistling sharply at the same -time for his men, while he darted for his horse and threw himself upon -it. The whole camp was in a seething uproar. - -"Back!" yelled Cameron, drawing his gun. The Indians fell away from him -like waves from a speeding vessel. On the other side of the little bluff -he caught sight of a mounted Indian flying toward the mountains and with -a cry he started in pursuit. It took only a few minutes for Cameron to -discover that he was gaining rapidly upon his man. But the rough rocky -country was not far away in front of them, and here was abundant chance -for hiding. Closer and closer he drew to his flying enemy--a hundred -yards--seventy-five yards--fifty yards only separated them. - -"Halt!" cried Cameron, "or I shoot." - -But the Indian, throwing himself on the far side of his pony, urged him -to his topmost speed. - -Cameron steadied himself for a moment, took careful aim and fired. The -flying pony stumbled, recovered himself, stumbled again and fell. But -even before he reached the earth his rider had leaped free, and, still -some thirty yards in advance, sped onward. Half a dozen strides and -Cameron's horse was upon him, and, giving him the shoulder, hurled the -Indian senseless to earth. In a flash Cameron was at his side, turned -him over and discovered not the Sioux Chief but another Indian quite -unknown to him. - -His rage and disappointment were almost beyond his control. For an -instant he held his gun poised as if to strike, but the blow did not -fall. His self command came back. He put up his gun, turned quickly -away from the prostrate Indian, flung himself upon his horse and set off -swiftly for the camp. It was but a mile distant, but in the brief -time consumed in reaching it he had made up his mind as to his line of -action. Unless his men had captured the Sioux it was almost certain that -he had made his escape to the canyon, and once in the canyon there was -little hope of his being taken. It was of the first importance that he -should not appear too deeply concerned over his failure to take his man. - -With this thought in his mind Cameron loped easily into the Indian camp. -He found the young braves in a state of feverish excitement. Armed with -guns and clubs, they gathered about their Chiefs clamoring to be allowed -to wipe out these representatives of the Police who had dared to attempt -an arrest of this distinguished guest of theirs. As Cameron appeared -the uproar quieted somewhat and the Indians gathered about him, eagerly -waiting his next move. - -Cameron cantered up to Running Stream and, looking round upon the -crowding and excited braves, he said, with a smile of cool indifference: - -"The Sioux snake has slid away in the grass. He has missed his -breakfast. My brother was about to eat. After he has eaten we will have -some quiet talk." - -So saying, he swung himself from his saddle, drew the reins over his -horse's ears and, throwing himself down beside a camp fire, he pulled -out his pipe and proceeded to light it as calmly as if sitting in a -council-lodge. - -The Indians were completely nonplussed. Nothing appeals more strongly -to the Indian than an exhibition of steady nerve. For some moments they -stood regarding Cameron with looks of mingled curiosity and admiration -with a strong admixture of impatience, for they had thought of being -done out of their great powwow with its attendant joys of dance and -feast, and if this Policeman should choose to remain with them all day -there could certainly be neither dancing nor feasting for them. In the -meantime, however, there was nothing for it but to accept the situation -created for them. This cool-headed Mounted Policeman had planted himself -by their camp-fire. They could not very well drive him from their camp, -nor could they converse with him till he was ready. - -As they were thus standing about in uncertainty of mind and temper -Jerry, the interpreter, came in and, with a grunt of recognition, threw -himself down by Cameron beside the fire. After some further hesitation -the Indians began to busy themselves once more with their breakfast. In -the group about the campfire beside which Cameron had placed himself was -the Chief, Running Stream. The presence of the Policeman beside his fire -was most embarrassing to the Chief, for no man living has a keener sense -of the obligations of hospitality than has the Indian. But the Indian -hates to eat in the presence of a white man unless the white man shares -his meal. Hence Running Stream approached Cameron with a courteous -request that he would eat with them. - -"Thanks, Running Stream, I have eaten, but I am sure Jerry here will -be glad of some breakfast," said Cameron cordially, who had no desire -whatever to dip out of the very doubtful mess in the pot which had been -set down on the ground in the midst of the group around the fire. -Jerry, however, had no scruples in the matter and, like every Indian -and half-breed, was always ready for a meal. Having thus been offered -hospitality and having by proxy accepted it, Cameron was in position to -discuss with the Chief in a judicial if not friendly spirit the matter -he had in hand. - -Breakfast over, Cameron offered his tobacco-pouch to the Chief, who, -gravely helping himself to a pipeful, passed it on to his neighbor who, -having done likewise, passed it in turn to the man next him till the -tobacco was finished and the empty pouch returned with due gravity to -the owner. - -Relations of friendly diplomacy being thus established, the whole party -sat smoking in solemn silence until the pipes were smoked out. Then -Cameron, knocking the ashes from his pipe, opened up the matter in hand, -with Jerry interpreting. - -"The Sioux snake," he began quietly, "will be hungry for his breakfast. -Honest men do not run away before breakfast." - -"Huh," grunted Running Stream, non-committal. - -"The Police will get him in due time," continued Cameron in a tone of -quiet indifference. "He will cease to trouble our Indian brothers with -foolish lies. The prison gates are strong and will soon close upon this -stranger with the forked tongue." - -Again the Chief grunted, still non-committal. - -"It would be a pity if any of your young men should give heed to these -silly tales. None of your wise men have done so. In the Sioux country -there is frequent war between the soldiers and the Indians because bad -men wish to wrong the Indians and the Indians grow angry and fight, but -in this country white men are punished who do wrong to Indians. This -Running Stream knows to be true." - -"Huh," grunted Running Stream acquiescing. - -"When Indians do wrong to white men it is just that the Indians should -be punished as well. The Police do justly between the white man and the -Indian. My brother knows this to be true." - -"Huh," again grunted Running Stream with an uneasy look on his face. - -"Therefore when young and foolish braves steal and kill cattle they must -be punished. They must be taught to keep the law." Here Cameron's voice -grew gentle as a child's, but there was in its tone something that made -the Chief glance quickly at his face. - -"Huh, my young men no steal cattle," he said sullenly. - -"No? I am glad to hear that. I believe that is true, and that is why I -smoke with my brother beside his camp fire. But some young men in this -band have stolen cattle, and I want my brother to find them that I might -take them with me to the Commissioner." - -"Not know any Indian take cattle," said Running Stream in surly -defiance. - -"There are four skins and four heads lying in the bluff up yonder, -Running Stream. I am going to take those with me to the Commissioner and -I am sure he would like to see you about those skins." Cameron's manner -continued to be mild but there ran through his speech an undertone of -stern resolution that made the Indian squirm a bit. - -"Not know any Indian take cattle," repeated Running Stream, but with -less defiance. - -"Then it would be well for my brother to find out the thieves, for," and -here Cameron paused and looked the Chief steadily in the face for a few -moments, "for we are to take them back with us or we will ask the Chief -to come and explain to the Commissioner why he does not know what his -young men are doing." - -"No Blackfeet Indian take cattle," said the Chief once more. - -"Good," said Cameron. "Then it must be the Bloods, or the Piegans or the -Stonies. We will call their Chiefs together." - -There was no hurry in Cameron's manner. He had determined to spend -the day if necessary in running down these thieves. At his suggestion -Running Stream called together the Chiefs of the various bands of -Indians represented. From his supplies Cameron drew forth some more -tobacco and, passing it round the circle of Chiefs, calmly waited until -all had smoked their pipes out, after which he proceeded to lay the case -before them. - -"My brothers are not thieves. The Police believe them to be honest -men, but unfortunately among them there have crept in some who are not -honest. In the bluff yonder are four hides and four heads of steers, two -of them from my own herd. Some bad Indians have stolen and killed these -steers and they are here in this camp to-day, and I am going to take -them with me to the Commissioner. Running Stream is a great Chief and -speaks no lies and he tells me that none of his young men have taken -these cattle. Will the Chief of the Stonies, the Chief of the Bloods, -the Chief of the Piegans say the same for their young men?" - -"The Stonies take no cattle," answered an Indian whom Cameron recognized -as the leading representative of that tribe present. - -"How many Stonies here?" - -The Indian held up six fingers. - -"Ha, only six. What about the Bloods and the Piegans?" demanded Cameron. -"It is not for me," he continued, when there was no reply, "to discover -the cattle-thieves. It is for the Big Chief of this camp, it is for you, -Running Stream, and when you have found the thieves I shall arrest them -and bring them to the Commissioner, for I will not return without them. -Meantime I go to bring here the skins." - -So saying, Cameron rode leisurely away, leaving Jerry to keep an eye -upon the camp. For more than an hour they talked among themselves, but -without result. Finally they came to Jerry, who, during his years -with the Police, had to a singular degree gained the confidence of the -Indians. But Jerry gave them little help. There had been much stealing -of cattle by some of the tribes, not by all. The Police had been -patient, but they had become weary. They had their suspicions as to the -thieves. - -Eagle Feather was anxious to know what Indians were suspected. - -"Not the Stonies and not the Blackfeet," replied Jerry quietly. It was -a pity, he continued, that innocent men should suffer for the guilty. He -knew Running Stream was no thief, but Running Stream must find out the -thieves in the band under his control. How would Running Stream like to -have the great Chief of the Blackfeet, Crowfoot, know that he could not -control the young men under his command and did not know what they were -doing? - -This suggestion of Jerry had a mighty effect upon the Blackfeet Chief, -for old Crowfoot was indeed a great Chief and a mighty power with his -band, and to fall into disfavor with him would be a serious matter for -any junior Chief in the tribe. - -Again they withdrew for further discussion and soon it became evident -that Jerry's cunning suggestions had sown seeds of discord among them. -The dispute waxed hot and fierce, not as to the guilty parties, who were -apparently acknowledged to be the Piegans, but as to the course to be -pursued. Running Stream had no intention that his people and himself -should become involved in the consequences of the crimes of other -tribes whom the Blackfeet counted their inferiors. Eagle Feather and his -Piegans must bear the consequences of their own misdeeds. On the other -hand Eagle Feather pleaded hard that they should stand together in this -matter, that the guilty parties could not be disclosed. The Police could -not punish them all, and all the more necessary was it that they should -hold together because of the larger enterprise into which they were -about to enter. - -The absence of the Sioux Chief Onawata, however, weakened the bond of -unity which he more than any other had created and damped the ardor of -the less eager of the conspirators. It was likewise a serious blow to -their hopes of success that the Police knew all their plans. Running -Stream finally gave forth his decision, which was that the thieves -should be given up, and that they all should join in a humble petition -to the Police for leniency, pleading the necessity of hunger on their -hunting-trip, and, as for the larger enterprise, that they should -apparently abandon it until suspicion had been allayed and until the -plans of their brothers in the North were more nearly matured. The time -for striking had not yet come. - -In this decision all but the Piegans agreed. In vain Eagle Feather -contended that they should stand together and defy the Police to prove -any of them guilty. In vain he sought to point out that if in this -crisis they surrendered the Piegans to the Police never again could they -count upon the Piegans to support them in any enterprise. But Running -Stream and the others were resolved. The thieves must be given up. - -At the very moment in which this decision had been reached Cameron rode -in, carrying with him the incriminating hides. - -"Here, Jerry," he said. "You take charge of these and bring them to the -Commissioner." - -"All right," said Jerry, taking the hides from Cameron's horse. - -"What is up, Jerry?" said Cameron in a low voice as the half-breed was -untying the bundle. - -"Beeg row," whispered Jerry. "Eagle Feather t'ief." - -"All right, keep close." - -Quietly Cameron walked over to the group of excited Indians. As he -approached they opened their circle to receive him. - -"My brother has discovered the thief," he said. "And after all a thief -is easily found among honest men." - -Slowly and deliberately his eye traveled round the circle of faces, -keenly scrutinizing each in turn. When he came to Eagle Feather he -paused, gazed fixedly at him, took a single step in his direction, and, -suddenly leveling an accusing finger at him, cried in a loud voice: - -"I have found him. This man is the thief." - -Slowly he walked up to the Indian, who remained stoically motionless, -laid his hand upon his wrist and said in a clear ringing voice heard -over the encampment: - -"Eagle Feather, I arrest you in the name of the Queen!" And before -another word could be spoken or a movement made Eagle Feather stood -handcuffed, a prisoner. - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -"GOOD MAN--GOOD SQUAW" - - -"That boy is worse, Mrs. Cameron, decidedly worse, and I wash my hands -of all responsibility." The old army surgeon was clearly annoyed. - -Mandy sat silent, weary with watching and weary with the conflict that -had gone on intermittently during the past three days. The doctor -was determined to have the gangrenous foot off. That was the simplest -solution of the problem before him and the foot would have come off days -ago if he had had his way. But the Indian boy had vehemently opposed -this proposal. "One foot--me go die," was his ultimatum, and through -all the fever and delirium this was his continuous refrain. In this -determination his nurse supported him, for she could not bring herself -to the conviction that amputation was absolutely necessary, and, -besides, of all the melancholy and useless driftwood that drives hither -and thither with the ebb and flow of human life, she could imagine none -more melancholy and more useless than an Indian crippled of a foot. -Hence she supported the boy in his ultimatum, "One foot--me go die." - -"That foot ought to come off," repeated the doctor, beginning the -controversy anew. "Otherwise the boy will die." - -"But, doctor," said Mandy wearily, "just think how pitiable, how -helpless that boy will be. Death is better. And, besides, I have not -quite given up hope that--" - -The doctor snorted his contempt for her opinion; and only his respect -for her as Cameron's wife and for the truly extraordinary powers and -gifts in her profession which she had displayed during the past three -days held back the wrathful words that were at his lips. It was late in -the afternoon and the doctor had given many hours to this case, riding -back and forward from the fort every day, but all this he would not have -grudged could he have had his way with his patient. - -"Well, I have done my best," he said, "and now I must go back to my -work." - -"I know, doctor, I know," pleaded Mandy. "You have been most kind and -I thank you from my heart." She rose and offered him her hand. "Don't -think me too awfully obstinate, and please forgive me if you do." - -The doctor took the outstretched hand grudgingly. - -"Obstinate!" he exclaimed. "Of all the obstinate creatures--" - -"Oh, I am afraid I am. But I don't want to be unreasonable. You see, the -boy is so splendidly plucky and such a fine chap." - -The doctor grunted. - -"He is a fine chap, doctor, and I can't bear to have him crippled, -and--" She paused abruptly, her lips beginning to quiver. She was near -the limit of her endurance. - -"You would rather have him dead, eh? All right, if that suits you better -it makes no difference to me," said the doctor gruffly, picking up his -bag. "Good-by." - -"Doctor, you will come back again to-morrow?" - -"To-morrow? Why should I come back to-morrow? I can do no more--unless -you agree to amputation. There is no use coming back to-morrow. I have -other cases waiting on me. I can't give all my time to this Indian." The -contempt in the doctor's voice for a mere Indian stung her like a whip. -On Mandy's cheek, pale with her long vigil, a red flush appeared and -in her eye a light that would have warned the doctor had he known her -better. - -"Is not this Indian a human being?" she asked quietly. - -But the doctor was very impatient and anxious to be gone. - -"A human being? Yes, of course, a human being, but there are human -beings and human beings. But if you mean an Indian is as good as a white -man, frankly I don't agree with you." - -"You have given a great deal of your time, doctor," said Mandy with -quiet deliberation, "and I am most grateful. I can ask no more for THIS -INDIAN. I only regret that I have been forced to ask so much of your -time. Good-by." There was a ring as of steel in her voice. The doctor -became at once apologetic. - -"What--eh?--I beg your pardon," he stammered. - -"It is not at all necessary. Thank you again for all your service. -Good-by." - -"Eh? I don't quite--" - -"Good-by, doctor, and again thank you." - -"Well, you know quite well I can't do any more," said the old doctor -crossly. - -"No, I don't think you can." - -"Eh--what? Well, good-by." And awkwardly the doctor walked away, -rather uncertain as to her meaning but with a feeling that he had been -dismissed. - -"Most impossible person!" he muttered as he left the tent door, -indignant with himself that no fitting reply would come to his lips. And -not until he had mounted his horse and taken the trail was he able to -give full and adequate expression to his feelings, and even then it -took him some considerable time to do full justice to himself and to the -situation. - -Meantime the nurse had turned back to her watch, weary and despairing. -In a way that she could not herself understand the Indian boy had -awakened her interest and even her affection. His fine stoical courage, -his warm and impulsive gratitude excited her admiration and touched her -heart. Again arose to her lips a cry that had been like a refrain in her -heart for the past three days, "Oh, if only Dr. Martin were here!" Her -experience and training under Dr. Martin had made it only too apparent -that the old army surgeon was archaic in his practice and method. - -"I know something could be done!" she said aloud, as she bent over her -patient. "If only Dr. Martin were here! Poor boy! Oh! I wish he were -here!" - -As if in answer to her cry there was outside a sound of galloping -horses. She ran to the tent door and before her astonished eyes there -drew up at her tent Dr. Martin, her sister-in-law and the ever-faithful -Smith. - -"Oh, oh, Dr. Martin!" she cried, running to him with both hands -outstretched, and could say no more. - -"Hello, what's up? Say, what the deuce have they been doing to you?" The -doctor was quite wrathful. - -"Oh, I am glad, that's all." - -"Glad? Well, you show your joy in a mighty queer way." - -"She's done out, Doctor," cried Moira, springing from her horse and -running to her sister-in-law. "I ought to have come before to relieve -her," she continued penitently, with her arms round Mandy, "but I knew -so little, and besides I thought the doctor was here." - -"He was here," said Mandy, recovering herself. "He has just gone, and -oh, I am glad. He wanted to cut his foot off." - -"Cut his foot off? Whose foot off? His own?" said Dr. Martin. - -"But I am glad! How did you get here in all the world?" - -"Your telegram came when I was away," said the doctor. "I did not get it -for a day, then I came at once." - -"My telegram?" - -"Yes, your telegram. I have it here--no, I've left it somewhere--but I -certainly got a telegram from you." - -"From me? I never sent a telegram." - -"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Cameron. I understood you to desire Dr. -Martin's presence, and--I ventured to send a wire in your name. I hope -you will forgive the liberty," said Smith, red to his hair-roots and -looking over his horse's neck with a most apologetic air. - -"Forgive the liberty?" cried Mandy. "Why, bless you, Mr. Smith, you are -my guardian angel," running to him and shaking him warmly by the hand. - -"And he brought, us here, too," cried Moira. "He has been awfully good -to me these days. I do not know what I should have done without him." - -Meantime Smith was standing first on one foot and then on the other in a -most unhappy state of mind. - -"Guess I will be going back," he said in an agony of awkwardness and -confusion. "It is getting kind of late." - -"What? Going right away?" exclaimed Mandy. - -"I've got some chores to look after, and I guess none of you are coming -back now anyway." - -"Well, hold on a bit," said the doctor. "We'll see what's doing inside. -Let's get the lie of things." - -"Guess you don't need me any more," continued Smith. "Good-by." And he -climbed on to his horse. "I have got to get back. So long." - -No one appeared to have any good reason why Smith should remain, and so -he rode away. - -"Good-by, Mr. Smith," called out Mandy impulsively. "You have really -saved my life, I assure you. I was in utter despair." - -"Good-by, Mr. Smith," cried Moira, waving her hand with a bright smile. -"You have saved me too from dying many a time these three days." - -With an awkward wave Smith answered these farewells and rode down the -trail. - -"He is really a fine fellow," said Mandy. "Always doing something for -people." - -"That is just it," cried Moira. "He has spent his whole time these three -days doing things for me." - -"Ah, no wonder," said the doctor. "A most useful chap. But what's the -trouble here? Let's get at the business." - -Mandy gave him a detailed history of the case, the doctor meanwhile -making an examination of the patient's general condition. - -"And the doctor would have his foot off, but I would not stand for -that," cried Mandy indignantly as she closed her history. - -"H'm! Looks bad enough to come off, I should say. I wish I had been here -a couple of days ago. It may have to come off all right." - -"Oh, Dr. Martin!" - -"But not just to-night." - -"Oh, I knew it." - -"Not to-night," I said. "I don't know what the outcome may be, but it -looks as bad as it well can." - -"Oh, that's all right," cried Mandy cheerfully. Her burden of -responsibility was lifted. Her care was gone. "I knew it would be all -right." - -"Well, whether it will or not I cannot say. But one thing I do know, -you've got to trot off to sleep. Show me the ropes and then off you go. -Who runs this camp anyway?" - -"Oh, the Chief does, Chief Trotting Wolf. I will call him," cried Mandy. -"He has been very good to me. I will get him." And she ran from the tent -to find the Chief. - -"Isn't she wonderful?" said Moira. - -"Wonderful? I should say so. But she is played right out I can see," -replied the doctor. "I must get comfortable quarters for you both." - -"But do you not want some one?" said Moira. "Do you not want me?" - -"Do I want you?" echoed the doctor, looking at her as she stood in the -glow of the westering sun shining through the canvas tent. "Do I want -you?" he repeated with deliberate emphasis. "Well, you can just bet that -is just what I do want." - -A slight flush appeared on the girl's face. - -"I mean," she said hurriedly, "cannot I be of some help?" - -"Most certainly, most certainly," said the doctor, noting the flush. -"Your help will be invaluable after a bit. But first you must get Mrs. -Cameron to sleep. She has been on this job, I understand, for three -days. She is quite played out. And you, too, need sleep." - -"Oh, I am quite fit. I do not need sleep. I am quite ready to take my -sister-in-law's place, that is, as far as I can. And you will surely -need some one--to help you I mean." The doctor's eyes were upon her -face. Under his gaze her voice faltered. The glow of the sunset through -the tent walls illumined her face with a wonderful radiance. - -"Miss Moira," said the doctor with abrupt vehemence, "I wish I had the -nerve to tell you just how much--" - -"Hush!" cried the girl, her glowing face suddenly pale, "they are -coming." - -"Here is the Chief, Dr. Martin," cried Mandy, ushering in that stately -individual. The doctor saluted the Chief in due form and said: - -"Could we have another tent, Chief, for these ladies? Just beside this -tent here, so that they can have a little sleep." - -The Chief grunted a doubtful acquiescence, but in due time a tent very -much dilapidated was pitched upon the clean dry ground close beside -that in which the sick boy lay. While this was being done the doctor was -making a further examination of his patient. With admiring eyes, -Moira followed the swift movements of his deft fingers. There was no -hesitation. There was no fumbling. There was the sure indication -of accurate knowledge, the obvious self-confidence of experience in -everything he did. Even to her untutored eyes the doctor seemed to be -walking with a very firm tread. - -At length, after an hour's work, he turned to Mandy who was assisting -him and said: - -"Now you can both go to sleep. I shall need you no more till morning. I -shall keep an eye on him. Off you go. Good-night." - -"You will be sure to call me if I can be of service," said Mandy. - -"I shall do no such thing. I expect you to sleep. I shall look after -this end of the job." - -"He is very sure of himself, is he not?" said Moira in a low tone to her -sister-in-law as they passed out of the tent. - -"He has a right to be," said Mandy proudly. "He knows his work, and now -I feel as if I can sleep in peace. What a blessed thing sleep is," she -added, as, without undressing, she tumbled on to the couch prepared for -her. - -"Is Dr. Martin very clever? I mean, is he an educated man?" - -"What?" cried Mandy. "Dr. Martin what?" - -"Is he very clever? Is he--an educated man?" - -"Eh, what?" she repeated, yawning desperately. "Oh, I was asleep." - -"Is he clever?" - -"Clever? Well, rather--" Her voice was trailing off again into slumber. - -"And is he an educated man?" - -"Educated? Knows his work if that's what you mean. Oh-h--but I'm -sleepy." - -"Is he a gentleman?" - -"Eh? What?" Mandy sat up straight. "A gentleman? I should say so! That -is, he is a man all through right to his toe-tips. And gentle--more -gentle than any woman I ever saw. Will that do? Good-night." And before -Moira could make reply she was sound asleep. - -Before the night was over the opportunity was given the doctor to -prove his manhood, and in a truly spectacular manner. For shortly -after midnight Moira found herself sitting bolt upright, wide-awake and -clutching her sister-in-law in wild terror. Outside their tent the night -was hideous with discordant noises, yells, whoops, cries, mingled with -the beating of tom-toms. Terrified and trembling, the two girls sprang -to the door, and, lifting the flap, peered out. It was the party of -braves returning from the great powwow so rudely interrupted by Cameron. -They were returning in an evil mood, too, for they were enraged at the -arrest of Eagle Feather and three accomplices in his crime, disappointed -in the interruption of their sun dance and its attendant joys of feast -and song, and furious at what appeared to them to be the overthrow of -the great adventure for which they had been preparing and planning for -the past two months. This was indeed the chief cause of their rage, for -it seemed as if all further attempts at united effort among the Western -tribes had been frustrated by the discovery of their plans, by the -flight of their leader, and by the treachery of the Blackfeet Chief, -Running Stream, in surrendering their fellow-tribesmen to the Police. -To them that treachery rendered impossible any coalition between the -Piegans and the Blackfeet. Furthermore, before their powwow had been -broken up there had been distributed among them a few bottles of -whisky provided beforehand by the astute Sioux as a stimulus to their -enthusiasm against a moment of crisis when such stimulus should be -necessary. These bottles, in the absence of their great leader, were -distributed among the tribes by Running Stream as a peace-offering, but -for obvious reason not until the moment came for their parting from each -other. - -Filled with rage and disappointment, and maddened with the bad whisky -they had taken, they poured into the encampment with wild shouting -accompanied by the discharge of guns and the beating of drums. In terror -the girls clung to each other, gazing out upon the horrid scene. - -"Whatever is this, Mandy?" cried Moira. - -But her sister-in-law could give her little explanation. The moonlight, -glowing bright as day, revealed a truly terrifying spectacle. A band -of Indians, almost naked and hideously painted, were leaping, shouting, -beating drums and firing guns. Out from the tents poured the rest of the -band to meet them, eagerly inquiring into the cause of their excitement. -Soon fires were lighted and kettles put on, for the Indian's happiness -is never complete unless associated with feasting, and the whole band -prepared itself for a time of revelry. - -As the girls stood peering out upon this terrible scene they became -aware of the doctor standing at their side. - -"Say, they seem to be cutting up rather rough, don't they?" he said -coolly. "I think as a precautionary measure you had better step over -into the other tent." - -Hastily gathering their belongings, they ran across with the doctor to -his tent, from which they continued to gaze upon the weird spectacle -before them. - -About the largest fire in the center of the camp the crowd gathered, -Chief Trotting Wolf in the midst, and were harangued by one of -the returning braves who was evidently reciting the story of their -experiences and whose tale was received with the deepest interest and -was punctuated by mad cries and whoops. The one English word that could -be heard was the word "Police," and it needed no interpreter to -explain to the watchers that the chief object of fury to the crowding, -gesticulating Indians about the fire was the Policeman who had been the -cause of their humiliation and disappointment. In a pause of the uproar -a loud exclamation from an Indian arrested the attention of the band. -Once more he uttered his exclamation and pointed to the tent lately -occupied by the ladies. Quickly the whole band about the fire appeared -to bunch together preparatory to rush in the direction indicated, but -before they could spring forward Trotting Wolf, speaking rapidly and -with violent gesticulation, stood in their path. But his voice was -unheeded. He was thrust aside and the whole band came rushing madly -toward the tent lately occupied by the ladies. - -"Get back from the door," said the doctor, speaking rapidly. "These -chaps seem to be somewhat excited. I wish I had my gun," he continued, -looking about the tent for a weapon of some sort. "This will do," he -said, picking up a stout poplar pole that had been used for driving the -tent pegs. "Stay inside here. Don't move till I tell you." - -"But they will kill you," cried Moira, laying her hand upon his arm. -"You must not go out." - -"Nonsense!" said the doctor almost roughly. "Kill me? Not much. I'll -knock some of their blocks off first." So saying, he lifted the flap of -the tent and passed out just as the rush of maddened Indians came. - -Upon the ladies' tent they fell, kicked the tent poles down, and, -seizing the canvas ripped it clear from its pegs. Some moments they -spent searching the empty bed, then turned with renewed cries toward the -other tent before which stood the doctor, waiting, grim, silent, savage. -For a single moment they paused, arrested by the silent figure, then -with a whoop a drink-maddened brave sprang toward the tent, his rifle -clubbed to strike. Before he could deliver his blow the doctor, stepping -swiftly to one side, swung his poplar club hard upon the uplifted arms, -sent the rifle crashing to the ground and with a backward swing caught -the astonished brave on the exposed head and dropped him to the earth as -if dead. - -"Take that, you dog!" he cried savagely. "Come on, who's next?" he -shouted, swinging his club as a player might a baseball bat. - -Before the next rush, however, help came in an unexpected form. The tent -flap was pushed back and at the doctor's side stood an apparition that -checked the Indians' advance and stilled their cries. It was the Indian -boy, clad in a white night robe of Mandy's providing, his rifle in his -hand, his face ghastly in the moonlight and his eyes burning like flames -of light. One cry he uttered, weird, fierce, unearthly, but it seemed -to pierce like a knife through the stillness that had fallen. Awed, -sobered, paralyzed, the Indians stood motionless. Then from their ranks -ran Chief Trotting Wolf, picked up the rifle of the Indian who still lay -insensible on the ground, and took his place beside the boy. - -A few words he spoke in a voice that rang out fiercely imperious. Still -the Indians stood motionless. Again the Chief spoke in short, sharp -words of command, and, as they still hesitated, took one swift stride -toward the man that stood nearest, swinging his rifle over his head. -Forward sprang the doctor to his side, his poplar club likewise swung up -to strike. Back fell the Indians a pace or two, the Chief following them -with a torrential flow of vehement invective. Slowly, sullenly the crowd -gave back, cowed but still wrathful, and beginning to mutter in angry -undertones. Once more the tent flap was pushed aside and there issued -two figures who ran to the side of the Indian boy, now swaying weakly -upon his rifle. - -"My poor boy!" cried Mandy, throwing her arms round about him, and, -steadying him as he let his rifle fall, let him sink slowly to the -ground. - -"You cowards!" cried Moira, seizing the rifle that the boy had dropped -and springing to the doctor's side. "Look at what you have done!" She -turned and pointed indignantly to the swooning boy. - -With an exclamation of wrath the doctor stepped back to Mandy's aid, -forgetful of the threatening Indians and mindful only of his patient. -Quickly he sprang into the tent, returning with a stimulating remedy, -bent over the boy and worked with him till he came back again to life. - -Once more the Chief, who with the Indians had been gazing upon this -scene, turned and spoke to his band, this time in tones of quiet -dignity, pointing to the little group behind him. Silent and subdued the -Indians listened, their quick impulses like those of children stirred -to sympathy for the lad and for those who would aid him. Gradually the -crowd drew off, separating into groups and gathering about the various -fires. For the time the danger was over. - -Between them Dr. Martin and the Chief carried the boy into the tent and -laid him on his bed. - -"What sort of beasts have you got out there anyway?" said the doctor, -facing the Chief abruptly. - -"Him drink bad whisky," answered the Chief, tipping up his hand. "Him -crazee," touching his head with his forefinger. - -"Crazy! Well, I should say. What they want is a few ounces of lead." - -The Chief made no reply, but stood with his eyes turned admiringly upon -Moira's face. - -"Squaw--him good," he said, pointing to the girl. "No 'fraid--much -brave--good." - -"You are right enough there, Chief," replied the doctor heartily. - -"Him you squaw?" inquired the Chief, pointing to Moira. - -"Well--eh? No, not exactly," replied the doctor, much confused, "that -is--not yet I mean--" - -"Huh! Him good squaw. Him good man," replied the Chief, pointing first -to Moira, then to the doctor. - -Moira hurried to the tent door. - -"They are all gone," she exclaimed. "Thank God! How awful they are!" - -"Huh!" replied the Chief, moving out past her. "Him drink, him -crazee--no drink, no crazee." At the door he paused, and, looking back, -said once more with increased emphasis, "Huh! Him good squaw," and -finally disappeared. - -"By Jove!" said the doctor with a delighted chuckle. "The old boy is a -man of some discernment I can see. But the kid and you saved the day, -Miss Moira." - -"Oh, what nonsense you are talking. It was truly awful, and how -splendidly you--you--" - -"Well, I caught him rather a neat one, I confess. I wonder if the brute -is sleeping yet. But you did the trick finally, Miss Moira." - -"Huh," grunted Mandy derisively, "Good man--good squaw, eh?" - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE OUTLAW - - -The bitter weather following an autumn of unusual mildness had set in -with the New Year and had continued without a break for fifteen days. A -heavy fall of snow with a blizzard blowing sixty miles an hour had made -the trails almost impassable, indeed quite so to any but to those bent -on desperate business or to Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police. To -these gallant riders all trails stood open at all seasons of the year, -no matter what snow might fall or blizzard blow, so long as duty called -them forth. - -The trail from the fort to the Big Horn Ranch, however, was so -wind-swept that the snow was blown away, which made the going fairly -easy, and the Superintendent, Inspector Dickson and Jerry trotted along -freely enough in the face of a keen southwester that cut to the bone. -It was surely some desperate business indeed that sent them out into -the face of that cutting wind which made even these hardy riders, burned -hard and dry by scorching suns and biting blizzards, wince and shelter -their faces with their gauntleted hands. - -"Deuce of a wind, this!" said the Superintendent. - -"It is the raw southwester that gets to the bone," replied Inspector -Dickson. "This will blow up a chinook before night." - -"I wonder if he has got into shelter," said the Superintendent. "This -has been an unusually hard fortnight, and I am afraid he went rather -light." - -"Oh, he's sure to be all right," replied the Inspector quickly. "He was -riding, but he took his snowshoes with him for timber work. He's hardly -the man to get caught and he won't quit easily." - -"No, he won't quit, but there are times when human endurance fails. Not -that I fear anything like that for Cameron," added the Superintendent -hastily. - -"Oh, he's not the man to fall down," replied the Inspector. "He goes the -limit, but he keeps his head. He's no reckless fool." - -"Well, you ought to know him," said the Superintendent. "You have been -through some things together, but this last week has been about the -worst that I have known. This fortnight will be remembered in the annals -of this country. And it came so unexpectedly. What do you think about -it, Jerry?" continued the Superintendent, turning to the half-breed. - -"He good man--cold ver' bad--ver' long. S'pose catch heem on -plains--ver' bad." - -The Inspector touched his horse to a canter. The vision that floated -before his mind's eye while the half-breed was speaking he hated to -contemplate. - -"He's all right. He has come through too many tight places to fail -here," said the Inspector in a tone almost of defiance, and refused to -talk further upon the subject. But he kept urging the pace till they -drew up at the stables of the Big Horn Ranch. - -The Inspector's first glance upon opening the stable door swept the -stall where Ginger was wont to conduct his melancholy ruminations. It -gave him a start to see the stall empty. - -"Hello, Smith!" he cried as that individual appeared with a bundle of -hay from the stack in the yard outside. "Boss home?" - -"Has Mr. Cameron returned?" inquired the Superintendent in the same -breath, and in spite of himself a note of anxiety had crept into his -voice. The three men stood waiting, their tense attitude expressing the -anxiety they would not put into words. The deliberate Smith, who had -transferred his services from old Thatcher to Cameron and who had taken -the ranch and all persons and things belonging to it into his immediate -charge, disposed of his bundle in a stall, and then facing them said -slowly: - -"Guess he's all right." - -"Is he home?" asked the Inspector sharply. - -"Oh, he's home all right. Gone to bed, I think," answered Smith with -maddening calmness. - -The Inspector cursed him between his teeth and turned away from the -others till his eyes should be clear again. - -"We will just look in on Mrs. Cameron for a few minutes," said the -Superintendent. "We won't disturb him." - -Leaving Jerry to put up their horses, they went into the ranch-house and -found the ladies in a state of suppressed excitement. Mandy met them at -the door with an eager welcome, holding out to them trembling hands. - -"Oh, I am so glad you have come!" she cried. "It was all I could do -to hold him back from going to you even as he was. He was quite set on -going and only lay down on promise that I should wake him in an hour. -Sit down here by the fire. An hour, mind you," she continued, talking -rapidly and under obvious excitement, "and him so blind and exhausted -that--" She paused abruptly, unable to command her voice. - -"He ought to sleep twelve hours straight," said the Superintendent with -emphasis, "and twenty-four would be better, with suitable breaks for -refreshment," he added in a lighter tone, glancing at Mandy's face. - -"Yes, indeed," she replied, "for he has had little enough to eat the -last three days. And that reminds me--" she hurried to the pantry and -returned with the teapot--"you must be cold, Superintendent. Ah, this -terrible cold! A hot cup of tea will be just the thing. It will take -only five minutes--and it is better than punch, though perhaps you men -do not think so." She laughed somewhat wildly. - -"Why, Mrs. Cameron," said the Superintendent in a shocked, bantering -voice, "how can you imagine we should be guilty of such heresy--in this -prohibition country, too?" - -"Oh, I know you men," replied Mandy. "We keep some Scotch in the -house--beside the laudanum. Some people can't take tea, you know," she -added with an uncertain smile, struggling to regain control of herself. -"But all the same, I am a nurse, and I know that after exposure tea is -better." - -"Ah, well," replied the Superintendent, "I bow to your experience," -making a brave attempt to meet her mood and declining to note her -unusual excitement. - -In the specified five minutes the tea was ready. - -"I could quite accept your tea-drinking theory, Mrs. Cameron," said -Inspector Dickson, "if--if, mark you--I should always get such tea as -this. But I don't believe Jerry here would agree." - -Jerry, who had just entered, stood waiting explanation. - -"Mrs. Cameron has just been upholding the virtue of a good cup of tea, -Jerry, over a hot Scotch after a cold ride. Now what's your unbiased -opinion?" - -A slight grin wrinkled the cracks in Jerry's leather-skin face. - -"Hot whisky--good for fun--for cold no good. Whisky good for sleep--for -long trail no good." - -"Thank you, Jerry," cried Mandy enthusiastically. - -"Oh, that's all right, Jerry," said the Inspector, joining in the -general laugh that followed, "but I don't think Miss Moira here would -agree with you in regard to the merits of her national beverage." - -"Oh, I am not so sure," cried the young lady, entering into the mood -of the others. "Of course, I am Scotch and naturally stand up for my -country and for its customs, but, to be strictly honest, I remember -hearing my brother say that Scotch was bad training for football." - -"Good again!" cried Mandy. "You see, when anything serious is on, the -wisest people cut out the Scotch, as the boys say." - -"You are quite right, Mrs. Cameron," said the Superintendent, becoming -grave. "On the long trail and in the bitter cold we drop the Scotch and -bank on tea. As for whisky, the Lord knows it gives the Police enough -trouble in this country. If it were not for the whisky half our work -would be cut out. But tell me, how is Mr. Cameron?" he added, as he -handed back his cup for another supply of tea. - -"Done up, or more nearly done up than ever I have seen him, or than I -ever want to see him again." Mandy paused abruptly, handed him his -cup of tea, passed into the pantry and for some moments did not appear -again. - -"Oh, it was terrible to see him," said Moira, clasping her hands and -speaking in an eager, excited voice. "He came, poor boy, stumbling -toward the door. He had to leave his horse, you know, some miles away. -Through the window we saw him coming along--and we did not know him--he -staggered as if--as if--actually as if he were drunk." Her laugh was -almost hysterical. "And he could not find the latch--and when we opened -the door his eyes were--oh!--so terrible!--wild--and bloodshot--and -blind! Oh, I cannot tell you about it!" she exclaimed, her voice -breaking and her tears falling fast. "And he could hardly speak to us. -We had to cut off his snow-shoes--and his gauntlets and his clothes -were like iron. He could not sit down--he just--just--lay on the -floor--till--my sister--" Here the girl's sobs interrupted her story. - -"Great Heavens!" cried the Superintendent. "What a mercy he reached -home!" - -The Inspector had risen and came round to Moira's side. - -"Don't try to tell me any more," he said in a husky voice, patting her -gently on the shoulder. "He is here with us, safe, poor chap. My God!" -he cried in an undertone, "what he must have gone through!" - -At this point Mandy returned and took her place again quietly by the -fire. - -"It was this sudden spell of cold that nearly killed him," she said in a -quiet voice. "He was not fully prepared for it, and it caught him at -the end of his trip, too, when he was nearly played out. You see, he was -five weeks away and he had only expected to be three." - -"Yes, I know, Mrs. Cameron," said the Inspector. - -"An unexpected emergency seems to have arisen." - -"I don't know what it was," replied Mandy. "He could tell me little, but -he was determined to go on to the fort." - -"I know something about his plans," said the Inspector. "He had proposed -a tour of the reserves, beginning with the Piegans and ending with the -Bloods." - -"And we know something of his work, too, Mrs. Cameron," said the -Superintendent. "Superintendent Strong has sent us a very fine report -indeed of your husband's work. We do not talk about these things, -you know, in the Police, but we can appreciate them all the same. -Superintendent Strong's letter is one you would like to keep. I shall -send it to you. Knowing Superintendent Strong as I do--" - -"I know him too," said Mandy with a little laugh. - -"Well, then, you will be able to appreciate all the more any word of -commendation he would utter. He practically attributes the present state -of quiet and the apparent collapse of this conspiracy business to -your husband's efforts. This, of course, is no compensation for his -sufferings or yours, but I think it right that you should know the -facts." The Superintendent had risen to his feet and had delivered his -little speech in his very finest manner. - -"Thank you," said Mandy simply. - -"We had expected him back a week ago," said the Inspector. "We know he -must have had some serious cause for delay." - -"I do not know about that," replied Mandy, "but I do know he was most -anxious to go on to the fort. He had some information to give, he said, -which was of the first importance. And I am glad you are here. He will -be saved that trip, which would really be dangerous in his present -condition. And I don't believe I could have stopped him, but I should -have gone with him. His hour will soon be up." - -"Don't think of waking him," said the Superintendent. "We can wait two -hours, or three hours, or more if necessary. Let him sleep." - -"He would waken himself if he were not so fearfully done up. He has a -trick of waking at any hour he sets," said Mandy. - -A few minutes later Cameron justified her remarks by appearing from -the inner room. The men, accustomed as they were to the ravages of -the winter trail upon their comrades, started to their feet in horror. -Blindly Cameron felt his way to them, shading his blood-shot eyes from -the light. His face was blistered and peeled as if he had come through a -fire, his lips swollen and distorted, his hands trembling and showing -on every finger the marks of frost bite, and his feet dragging as he -shuffled across the floor. - -"My dear fellow, my dear fellow," cried the Inspector, springing up to -meet him and grasping him by both arms to lead him to a chair. "You ran -it too close that time. Here is the Superintendent to lecture you. Sit -down, old man, sit down right here." The Inspector deposited him in the -chair, and, striding hurriedly to the window, stood there looking out -upon the bleak winter snow. - -"Hello, Cameron," said the Superintendent, shaking him by the hand with -hearty cheerfulness. "Glad, awfully glad to see you. Fine bit of work, -very fine bit of work. Very complimentary report about you." - -"I don't know what you refer to, sir," said Cameron, speaking thickly, -"but I am glad you are here, for I have an important communication to -make." - -"Oh, that's all right," said the Superintendent. "Don't worry about -that. And take your own time. First of all, how are you feeling? -Snow-blind, I see," he continued, critically examining him, "and -generally used up." - -"Rather knocked up," replied Cameron, his tongue refusing to move with -its accustomed ease. "But shall be fit in a day or two. Beastly sleepy, -but cannot sleep somehow. Shall feel better when my mind is at rest. I -cannot report fully just now." - -"Oh, let the report rest. We know something already." - -"How is that?" - -"Superintendent Strong has sent us in a report, and a very creditable -report, too." - -"Oh," replied Cameron indifferently. "Well, the thing I want to say is -that though all looks quiet--there is less horse stealing this month, -and less moving about from the reserves--yet I believe a serious -outbreak is impending." - -The Inspector, who had come around and taken a seat beside him, touched -his knee at this point with an admonishing pressure. - -"Eh?" said Cameron, turning toward him. "Oh, my people here know. You -need not have any fear about them." A little smile distorted his face as -he laid his hand upon his wife's shoulder. "But--where was I? I cannot -get the hang of things." He was as a man feeling his way through a maze. - -"Oh, let it go," said the Inspector. "Wait till you have had some -sleep." - -"No, I must--I must get this out. Well, anyway, the principal thing -is that Big Bear, Beardy, Poundmaker--though I am not sure about -Poundmaker--have runners on every reserve and they are arranging for -a big meeting in the spring, to which every tribe North and West is to -send representatives. That Frenchman--what's his name?--I'll forget my -own next--" - -"Riel?" suggested the Inspector. - -"Yes, Riel. That Frenchman is planning a big coup in the spring. You -know they presented him with a house the other day, ready furnished, at -Batoche, to keep him in the country. Oh, the half-breeds are very keen -on this. And what is worse, I believe a lot of whites are in with them -too. A chap named Jackson, and another named Scott, and Isbister and -some others. These names are spoken of on every one of our reserves. -I tell you, sir," he said, turning his blind eyes toward the -Superintendent, "I consider it very serious indeed. And worst of all, -the biggest villain of the lot, Little Pine, Cree Chief you know, our -bitterest enemy--except Little Thunder, who fortunately is cleared out -of the country--you remember, sir, that chap Raven saw about that." - -The Superintendent nodded. - -"Well--where was I?--Oh, yes, Little Pine, the biggest villain of them -all, is somewhere about here. I got word of him when I was at the -Blood Reserve on my way home some ten days ago. I heard he was with -the Blackfeet, but I found no sign of him there. But he is in the -neighborhood, and he is specially bound to see old Crowfoot. I -understand he is a particularly successful pleader, and unusually -cunning, and I am afraid of Crowfoot. I saw the old Chief. He was very -cordial and is apparently loyal enough as yet, but you know, sir, how -much that may mean. I think that is all," said Cameron, putting his hand -up to his head. "I have a great deal more to tell you, but it will not -come back to me now. Little Pine must be attended to, and for a day or -two I am sorry I am hardly fit--awfully sorry." His voice sank into a -kind of undertone. - -"Sorry?" cried the Superintendent, deeply stirred at the sight of -his obvious collapse. "Sorry? Don't you use that word again. You have -nothing to be sorry for, but everything to be proud of. You have done a -great service to your country, and we will not forget it. In a few days -you will be fit and we shall show our gratitude by calling upon you to -do something more. Hello, who's that?" A horseman had ridden past the -window toward the stables. Moira ran to look out. - -"Oh!" she cried, "it is that Mr. Raven. I would know his splendid horse -anywhere." - -"Raven!" said Cameron sharply and wide awake. - -"Raven, by Jove!" muttered the Inspector. - -"Raven! Well, I call that cool!" said the Superintendent, a hard look -upon his face. - -But the laws of hospitality are nowhere so imperative as on the western -plains. Cameron rose from his chair muttering, "Must look after his -horse." - -"You sit down," said Mandy firmly. "You are not going out." - -"Well, hardly," said the Inspector. "Here, Jerry, go and show him where -to get things, and--" He hesitated. - -"Bring him in," cried Mandy heartily. The men stood silent, looking at -Cameron. - -"Certainly, bring him in," he said firmly, "a day like this," he added, -as if in apology. - -"Why, of course," cried Mandy, looking from one to the other in -surprise. "Why not? He is a perfectly splendid man." - -"Oh, he is really splendid!" replied Moira, her cheeks burning and her -eyes flashing. "You remember," she cried, addressing the Inspector, "how -he saved my life the day I arrived at this ranch." - -"Oh, yes," replied the Inspector briefly, "I believe I did hear that." -But there was little enthusiasm in his voice. - -"Well, I think he is splendid," repeated Moira. "Do not you think so?" - -The Inspector had an awkward moment. - -"Eh?--well--I can't say I know him very well." - -"And his horse! What a beauty it is!" continued the girl. - -"Ah, yes, a most beautiful animal, quite remarkable horse, splendid -horse; in fact one of the finest, if not the very finest, in this whole -country. And that is saying a good deal, too, Miss Moira. You see, this -country breeds good horses." And the Inspector went on to discourse in -full detail and with elaborate illustration upon the various breeds of -horses the country could produce, and to classify the wonderful black -stallion ridden by Raven, and all with such diligence and enthusiasm -that no other of the party had an opportunity to take part in the -conversation till Raven, in the convoy of Jerry, was seen approaching -the house. Then the Superintendent rose. - -"Well, Mrs. Cameron, I fear we must take our departure. These are rather -crowded days with us." - -"What?" exclaimed Mandy. "Within an hour of dinner? We can hardly allow -that, you know. Besides, Mr. Cameron wants to have a great deal more -talk with you." - -The Superintendent attempted to set forth various other reasons for a -hasty departure, but they all seemed to lack sincerity, and after a few -more ineffective trials he surrendered and sat down again in silence. - -The next moment the door opened and Raven, followed by Jerry, stepped -into the room. As his eye fell upon the Superintendent, instinctively he -dropped his hands to his hips and made an involuntary movement backward, -but only for an instant. Immediately he came forward and greeted Mandy -with fine, old-fashioned courtesy. - -"So delighted to meet you again, Mrs. Cameron, and also to meet your -charming sister." He shook hands with both the ladies very warmly. -"Ah, Superintendent," he continued, "delighted to see you. And you, -Inspector," he said, giving them a nod as he laid off his outer leather -riding coat. "Hope I see you flourishing," he continued. His debonair -manner had in it a quizzical touch of humor. "Ah, Cameron, home again I -see. I came across your tracks the other day." - -The men, who had risen to their feet upon his entrance, stood regarding -him stiffly and made no other sign of recognition than a curt nod and a -single word of greeting. - -"You have had quite a trip," he continued, addressing himself to -Cameron, and taking the chair offered by Mandy. "I followed you part -way, but you travel too fast for me. Much too strenuous work I found -it. Why," he continued, looking narrowly at Cameron, "you are badly -punished. When did you get in?" - -"Two hours ago, Mr. Raven," said Mandy quickly, for her husband sat -gazing stupidly into the fire. "And he is quite done up." - -"Two hours ago?" exclaimed Raven in utter surprise. "Do you mean to say -that you have been traveling these last three days?" - -Cameron nodded. - -"Why, my dear sir, not even the Indians face such cold. Only the Mounted -Police venture out in weather like this--and those who want to get away -from them. Ha! ha! Eh? Inspector? Ha! ha!" His gay, careless laugh rang -out in the most cheery fashion. But only the ladies joined. The men -stood grimly silent. - -Mandy could not understand their grim and gloomy silence. By her -cordiality she sought to cover up and atone for the studied and almost -insulting indifference of her husband and her other guests. In these -attempts she was loyally supported by her sister-in-law, whose anger was -roused by the all too obvious efforts on the part of her brother and -his friends to ignore this stranger, if not to treat him with contempt. -There was nothing in Raven's manner to indicate that he observed -anything amiss in the bearing of the male members of the company about -the fire. He met the attempt of the ladies at conversation with a -brilliancy of effort that quite captivated them, and, in spite of -themselves, drew the Superintendent and the Inspector into the flow of -talk. - -As the hour of the midday meal approached Mandy rose from her place by -the fire and said: - -"You will stay with us to dinner, Mr. Raven? We dine at midday. It is -not often we have such a distinguished and interesting company." - -"Thank you, no," said Raven. "I merely looked in to give your husband -a bit of interesting information. And, by the way, I have a bit of -information that might interest the Superintendent as well." - -"Well," said Mandy, "we are to have the pleasure of the Superintendent -and the Inspector to dinner with us to-day, and you can give them all -the information you think necessary while you are waiting." - -Raven hesitated while he glanced at the faces of the men beside him. -What he read there drew from him a little hard smile of amused contempt. - -"Please do not ask me again, Mrs. Cameron," he said. "You know not how -you strain my powers of resistance when I really dare not--may not," he -corrected himself with a quick glance at the Superintendent, "stay in -this most interesting company and enjoy your most grateful hospitality -any longer. And now my information is soon given. First of all for you, -Cameron--I shall not apologize to you, Mrs. Cameron, for delivering -it in your presence. I do you the honor to believe that you ought to -know--briefly my information is this. Little Pine, in whose movements -you are all interested, I understand, is at this present moment lodging -with the Sarcee Indians, and next week will move on to visit old -Crowfoot. The Sarcee visit amounts to little, but the visit to old -Crowfoot--well, I need say no more to you, Cameron. Probably you know -more about the inside workings of old Crowfoot's mind than I do." - -"Visiting Crowfoot?" exclaimed Cameron. "Then I was there too soon." - -"That is his present intention, and I have no doubt the program will -be carried out," said Raven. "My information is from the inside. Of -course," he continued, "I know you have run across the trail of the -North Cree and Salteaux runners from Big Bear and Beardy. They are -not to be despised. But Little Pine is a different person from these -gentlemen. The big game is scheduled for the early spring, will probably -come off in about six weeks. And now," he said, rising from his chair, -"I must be off." - -At this point Smith came in and quietly took a seat beside Jerry near -the door. - -"And what's your information for me, Mr. Raven?" inquired the -Superintendent. "You are not going to deprive me of my bit of news?" - -"Ah, yes--news," replied Raven, sitting down again. "Briefly this. -Little Thunder has yielded to some powerful pressure and has again -found it necessary to visit this country, I need hardly add, against my -desire." - -"Little Thunder?" exclaimed the Superintendent, and his tone indicated -something more than surprise. "Then there will be something doing. -And where does this--ah--this--ah--friend of yours propose to locate -himself?" - -"This friend of mine," replied Raven, with a hard gleam in his eye and -a bitter smile curling his lips, "who would gladly adorn his person with -my scalp if he might, will not ask my opinion as to his location, and -probably not yours either, Mr. Superintendent." As Raven ceased speaking -he once more rose from his chair, put on his leather riding coat and -took up his cap and gauntlets. "Farewell, Mrs. Cameron," he said, -offering her his hand. "Believe me, it has been a rare treat to see you -and to sit by your fireside for one brief half-hour." - -"Oh, but Mr. Raven, you are not to think of leaving us before dinner. -Why this haste?" - -"The trail I take," said Raven in a grave voice, "is full of pitfalls -and I must take it when I can. The Superintendent knows," he added. -But his smile awoke no response in the Superintendent, who sat rigidly -silent. - -"It's a mighty cold day outside," interjected Smith, "and blowing up -something I think." - -"Oh, hang it, Raven!" blurted out Cameron, who sat stupidly gazing into -the fire, "Stay and eat. This is no kind of day to go out hungry. It is -too beastly cold." - -"Thanks, Cameron, it IS a cold day, too cold to stay." - -"Do stay, Mr. Raven," pleaded Moira. - -He turned swiftly and looked into her soft brown eyes now filled with -warm kindly light. - -"Alas, Miss Cameron," he replied in a low voice, turning his back upon -the others, his voice and his attitude seeming to isolate the girl from -the rest of the company, "believe me, if I do not stay it is not because -I do not want to, but because I cannot." - -"You cannot?" echoed Moira in an equally low tone. - -"I cannot," he replied. Then, raising his voice, "Ask the -Superintendent. He knows that I cannot." - -"Do you know?" said Moira, turning upon the Superintendent, "What does -he mean?" - -The Superintendent rose angrily. - -"Mr. Raven chooses to be mysterious," he said. "If he cannot remain here -he knows why without appealing to me." - -"Ah, my dear Superintendent, how unfeeling! You hardly do yourself -justice," said Raven, proceeding to draw on his gloves. His drawling -voice seemed to irritate the Superintendent beyond control. - -"Justice?" he exclaimed sharply. "Justice is a word you should hesitate -to use." - -"You see, Miss Cameron," said Raven with an injured air, "why I cannot -remain." - -"No, I do not!" cried Moira in hot indignation. "I do not see," she -repeated, "and if the Superintendent does I think he should explain." -Her voice rang out sharp and clear. It wakened her brother as if from a -daze. - -"Tut, tut, Moira!" he exclaimed. "Do not interfere where you do not -understand." - -"Then why make insinuations that cannot be explained?" cried his sister, -standing up very straight and looking the Superintendent fair in the -face. - -"Explained?" echoed the Superintendent in a cool, almost contemptuous, -voice. "There are certain things best not explained, but believe me if -Mr. Raven desires explanation he can have it." - -The men were all on their feet. Quickly Moira turned to Raven with a -gesture of appeal and a look of loyal confidence in her eyes. For a -moment the hard, cynical face was illumined with a smile of rare beauty, -but only for a moment. The gleam passed and the old, hard, cynical face -turned in challenge to the Superintendent. - -"Explain!" he said bitterly, defiantly. "Go on if you can." - -The Superintendent stood silent. - -"Ah!" breathed Moira, a thrill of triumphant relief in her voice, "he -cannot explain." - -With dramatic swiftness the explanation came. It was from Jerry. - -"H'explain?" cried the little half-breed, quivering with rage. -"H'explain? What for he can no h'explain? Dem horse he steal de -night-tam'--dat whiskee he trade on de Indian. Bah! He no good--he one -beeg tief. Me--I put him one sure place he no steal no more!" - -A few moments of tense silence held the group rigid. In the center stood -Raven, his face pale, hard, but smiling, before him Moira, waiting, -eager, with lips parted and eyes aglow with successive passions, -indignation, doubt, fear, horror, grief. Again that swift and subtle -change touched Raven's face as his eyes rested upon the face of the girl -before him. - -"Now you know why I cannot stay," he said gently, almost sadly. - -"It is not true," murmured Moira, piteous appeal in voice and eyes. A -spasm crossed the pale face upon which her eyes rested, then the old -cynical look returned. - -"Once more, thank you, Mrs. Cameron," he said with a bow to Mandy, "for -a happy half-hour by your fireside, and farewell." - -"Good-by," said Mandy sadly. - -He turned to Moira. - -"Oh, good-by, good-by," cried the girl impulsively, reaching out her -hand. - -"Good-by," he said simply. "I shall not forget that you were kind to -me." He bent low before her, but did not touch her outstretched hand. As -he turned toward the door Jerry slipped in before him. - -"You let him go?" he cried excitedly, looking at the Superintendent; but -before the latter could answer a hand caught him by the coat collar -and with a swift jerk landed him on the floor. It was Smith, his face -furiously red. Before Jerry could recover himself Raven had opened the -door and passed out. - -"Oh, how awful!" said Mandy in a hushed, broken voice. - -Moira stood for a moment as if dazed, then suddenly turned to Smith and -said: - -"Thank you. That was well done." - -And Smith, red to his hair roots, murmured, "You wanted him to go?" - -"Yes," said Moira, "I wanted him to go." - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -WAR - - -Commissioner Irvine sat in his office at headquarters in the little town -of Regina, the capital of the North West Territories of the Dominion. A -number of telegrams lay before him on the table. A look of grave anxiety -was on his face. The cause of his anxiety was to be found in the news -contained in the telegrams. An orderly stood behind his chair. - -"Send Inspector Sanders to me!" commanded the Commissioner. - -The orderly saluted and retired. - -In a few moments Inspector Sanders made his appearance, a tall, -soldierlike man, trim in appearance, prompt in movement and somewhat -formal in speech. - -"Well, the thing has come," said the Commissioner, handing Inspector -Sanders one of the telegrams before him. Inspector Sanders took the -wire, read it and stood very erect. - -"Looks like it, sir," he replied. "You always said it would." - -"It is just eight months since I first warned the government that -trouble would come. Superintendent Crozier knows the situation -thoroughly and would not have sent this wire if outbreak were not -imminent. Then here is one from Superintendent Gagnon at Carlton. He -also is a careful man." - -Inspector Sanders gravely read the second telegram. - -"We ought to have five hundred men on the spot this minute," he said. - -"I have asked that a hundred men be sent up at once," said the -Commissioner, "but I am doubtful if we can get the Government to agree. -It seems almost impossible to make the authorities feel the gravity -of the situation. They cannot realize, for one thing, the enormous -distances that separate points that look comparatively near together -upon the map." He spread a map out upon the table. "And yet," he -continued, "they have these maps before them, and the figures, but -somehow the facts do not impress them. Look at this vast area lying -between these four posts that form an almost perfect quadrilateral. -Here is the north line running from Edmonton at the northwest corner -to Prince Albert at the northeast, nearly four hundred miles away; -then here is the south line running from Macleod at the southwest four -hundred and fifty miles to Regina at the southeast; while the sides of -this quadrilateral are nearly three hundred miles long. Thus the four -posts forming our quadrilateral are four hundred miles apart one way by -three hundred another, and, if we run the lines down to the boundary and -to the limit of the territory which we patrol, the disturbed area may -come to be about five hundred miles by six hundred; and we have some -five hundred men available." - -"It is a good thing we have established the new post at Carlton," -suggested Inspector Sanders. - -"Ah, yes, there is Carlton. It is true we have strengthened up that -district recently with two hundred men distributed between Battleford, -Prince Albert, Fort Pitt and Fort Carlton. But Carlton is naturally a -very weak post and is practically of little use to us. True, it guards -us against those Willow Crees and acts as a check upon old Beardy." - -"A troublesome man, that Kah-me-yes-too-waegs--old Beardy, I mean. It -took me some time to master that one," said Inspector Sanders, "but then -I have studied German. He always has been a nuisance," continued the -Inspector. "He was a groucher when the treaty was made in '76 and he has -been a groucher ever since." - -"If we only had the men, just another five hundred," replied the -Commissioner, tapping the map before him with his finger, "we should -hold this country safe. But what with these restless half-breeds led by -this crack-brained Riel, and these ten thousand Indians--" - -"Not to speak of a couple of thousand non-treaty Indians roaming the -country and stirring up trouble," interjected the Inspector. - -"True enough," replied the Commissioner, "but I would have no fear -of the Indians were it not for these half-breeds. They have real -grievances, remember, Sanders, real grievances, and that gives force to -their quarrel and cohesion to the movement. Men who have a conviction -that they are suffering injustice are not easily turned aside. And -these men can fight. They ride hard and shoot straight and are afraid of -nothing. I confess frankly it looks very serious to me." - -"For my part," said Inspector Sanders, "it is the Indians I fear most." - -"The Indians?" said the Commissioner. "Yes, if once they rise. Really, -one wonders at the docility of the Indians, and their response to fair -and decent treatment. Why, just think of it! Twenty years ago, no, -fifteen years ago, less than fifteen years ago, these Indians whom we -have been holding in our hand so quietly were roaming these plains, -living like lords on the buffalo and fighting like fiends with each -other, free from all control. Little wonder if, now feeling the pinch of -famine, fretting under the monotony of pastoral life, and being -incited to war by the hot-blooded half-breeds, they should break out -in rebellion. And what is there to hold them back? Just this, a feeling -that they have been justly treated, fairly and justly dealt with by the -Government, and a wholesome respect for Her Majesty's North West Mounted -Police, if I do say it myself. But the thing is on, and we must be -ready." - -"What is to be done, sir?" inquired Sanders. - -"Well, thank God, there is not much to be done in the way of -preparation," replied the Commissioner. "Our fellows are ready to a man. -For the past six months we have been on the alert for this emergency, -but we must strike promptly. When I think of these settlers about Prince -Albert and Battleford at the mercy of Beardy and that restless and -treacherous Salteaux, Big Bear, I confess to a terrible anxiety." - -"Then there is the West, sir, as well," said Sanders, "the Blackfeet and -the Bloods." - -"Ah, yes, Sanders! You know them well. So do I. It is a great matter -that Crowfoot is well disposed toward us, that he has confidence in our -officers and that he is a shrewd old party as well. But Crowfoot is an -Indian and the head of a great tribe with warlike traditions and with -ambitions, and he will find it difficult to maintain his own loyalty, -and much more that of his young men, in the face of any conspicuous -successes by his Indian rivals, the Crees. But," added the Commissioner, -rolling up the map, "I called you in principally to say that I wish you -to have every available man and gun ready for a march at a day's notice. -Further, I wish you to wire Superintendent Herchmer at Calgary to -send at the earliest possible moment twenty-five men at least, fully -equipped. We shall need every man we can spare from every post in the -West to send North." - -"Very good, sir. They will be ready," said Inspector Sanders, and, -saluting, he left the room. - -Two days later, on the 18th of March, long before the break of day, the -Commissioner set out on his famous march to Prince Albert, nearly three -hundred miles away. And the great game was on. They were but a small -company of ninety men, but every man was thoroughly fit for the part -he was expected to play in the momentous struggle before him; brave, of -course, trained in prompt initiative, skilled in plaincraft, inured to -hardship, oblivious of danger, quick of eye, sure of hand and rejoicing -in fight. Commissioner Irvine knew he could depend upon them to see -through to a finish, to their last ounce of strength and their last -blood-drop, any bit of work given them to do. Past Pie-a-pot's Reserve -and down the Qu'Appelle Valley to Misquopetong's, through the Touchwood -Hills and across the great Salt Plain, where he had word by wire from -Crozier of the first blow being struck at the south branch of the -Saskatchewan where some of Beardy's men gave promise of their future -conduct by looting a store, Irvine pressed his march. Onward along the -Saskatchewan, he avoided the trap laid by four hundred half-breeds at -Batoche's Crossing, and, making the crossing at Agnew's, further down, -arrived at Prince Albert all fit and sound on the eve of the 24th, -completing his two hundred and ninety-one miles in just seven days; and -that in the teeth of the bitter weather of a rejuvenated winter, without -loss of man or horse, a feat worthy of the traditions of the Force of -which he was the head, and of the Empire whose most northern frontier it -was his task to guard. - -Twenty-four hours to sharpen their horses' calks and tighten up their -cinches, and Irvine was on the trail again en route for Fort Carlton, -where he learned serious disturbances were threatening. Arrived at Fort -Carlton in the afternoon of the same day, the Commissioner found there a -company of men, sad, grim and gloomy. In the fort a dozen of the gallant -volunteers from Prince Albert and Crozier's Mounted Police lay groaning, -some of them dying, with wounds. Others lay with their faces covered, -quiet enough; while far down on the Duck Lake trail still others lay -with the white snow red about them. The story was told the Commissioner -with soldierlike brevity by Superintendent Crozier. The previous day a -storekeeper from Duck Lake, Mitchell by name, had ridden in to report -that his stock of provisions and ammunition was about to be seized by -the rebels. Immediately early next morning a Sergeant of the Police with -some seventeen constables had driven off to prevent these provisions and -ammunition falling into the hands of the enemy. At ten o'clock a scout -came pounding down the trail with the announcement that Sergeant Stewart -was in trouble and that a hundred rebels had disputed his advance. -Hard upon the heels of the scout came the Sergeant himself with his -constables to tell their tale to a body of men whose wrath grew as -they listened. More and more furious waxed their rage as they heard -the constables tell of the threats and insults heaped upon them by the -half-breeds and Indians. The Prince Albert volunteers more especially -were filled with indignant rage. To think that half-breeds and -Indians--Indians, mark you!--whom they had been accustomed to regard -with contempt, should have dared to turn back upon the open trail a -company of men wearing the Queen's uniform! The insult was intolerable. - -The Police officers received the news with philosophic calm. It was -merely an incident in the day's work to them. Sooner or later they would -bring these bullying half-breeds and yelling Indians to task for their -temerity. - -But the volunteers were undisciplined in the business of receiving -insults. Hence they were for an immediate attack. The Superintendent -pointed out that the Commissioner was within touch bringing -reinforcements. It might be wise to delay matters a few hours till his -arrival. But meantime the provisions and ammunition would be looted -and distributed among the enemy, and that was a serious matter. The -impetuous spirit of the volunteers prevailed. Within an hour a hundred -men with a seven-pr. gun, eager to exact punishment for the insults -they had suffered, took the Duck Lake trail. Ambushed by a foe who, -regardless of the conventions of war, made treacherous use of the white -flag, overwhelmed by more than twice their number, hampered in their -evolutions by the deep crusted snow, the little company, after a -half-hour's sharp engagement with the strongly posted enemy, were forced -to retire, bearing their wounded and some of their dead with them, -leaving others of their dead lying in the snow behind them. - -And now the question was what was to be done? The events of the day -had taught them their lesson, a lesson that experience has taught all -soldiers, the lesson, namely, that it is never safe to despise a foe. -A few miles away from them were between three hundred and four hundred -half-breeds and Indians who, having tasted blood, were eager for more. -The fort at Carlton was almost impossible of defense. The whole South -country was in the hands of rebels. Companies of half-breeds breathing -blood and fire, bands of Indians, marauding and terrorizing, were -roaming the country, wrecking homesteads, looting stores, threatening -destruction to all loyal settlers and direst vengeance upon all who -should dare to oppose them. The situation called for quick thought and -quick action. Every hour added to the number of the enemy. Whole tribes -of Indians were wavering in their allegiance. Another victory such as -Duck Lake and they would swing to the side of the rebels. The strategic -center of the English settlements in all this country was undoubtedly -Prince Albert. Fort Carlton stood close to the border of the half-breed -section and was difficult of defense. - -After a short council of war it was decided to abandon Fort Carlton. -Thereupon Irvine led his troops, together with the gallant survivors of -the bloody fight at Duck Lake, bearing their dead and wounded with -them, to Prince Albert, there to hold that post with its hundreds of -defenseless women and children gathered in from the country round about, -against hostile half-breeds without and treacherous half-breeds within -the stockade, and against swarming bands of Indians hungry for loot and -thirsting for blood. And there Irvine, chafing against inactivity, eager -for the joyous privilege of attack, spent the weary anxious days of the -next six weeks, held at his post by the orders of his superior officer -and by the stern necessities of the case, and meantime finding some -slight satisfaction in scouting and scouring the country for miles on -every side, thus preventing any massing of the enemy's forces. - -The affair at Duck Lake put an end to all parley. Riel had been -clamoring for "blood! blood! blood!" At Duck Lake he received his first -taste, but before many days were over he was to find that for every drop -of blood that reddened the crusted snow at Duck Lake a thousand Canadian -voices would indignantly demand vengeance. The rifle-shots that rang out -that winter day from the bluffs that lined the Duck Lake trail echoed -throughout Canada from ocean to ocean, and everywhere men sprang to -offer themselves in defense of their country. But echoes of these -rifle-shots rang, too, in the teepees on the Western plains where the -Piegans, the Bloods and the Blackfeet lay crouching and listening. -By some mysterious system of telegraphy known only to themselves old -Crowfoot and his braves heard them almost as soon as the Superintendent -at Fort Macleod. Instantly every teepee was pulsing with the fever of -war. The young braves dug up their rifles from their bedding, gathered -together their ammunition, sharpened their knives and tomahawks in eager -anticipation of the call that would set them on the war-path against the -white man who had robbed them of their ancient patrimony and who held -them in such close leash. The great day had come, the day they had been -dreaming of in their hearts, talking over at their council-fires and -singing about in their sun dances during the past year, the day promised -by the many runners from their brother Crees of the North, the day -foretold by the great Sioux orator and leader, Onawata. The war of -extermination had begun and the first blood had gone to the Indian and -to his brother half-breed. - -Two days after Duck Lake came the word that Fort Carlton had been -abandoned and Battleford sacked. Five days later the news of the bloody -massacre of Frog Lake cast over every English settlement the shadow of -a horrible fear. From the Crow's Nest to the Blackfoot Crossing bands of -braves broke loose from the reserves and began to "drive cattle" for the -making of pemmican in preparation for the coming campaign. - -It was a day of testing for all Canadians, but especially a day of -testing for the gallant little force of six or seven hundred riders who, -distributed in small groups over a vast area of over two hundred and -fifty thousand square miles, were entrusted with the responsibility of -guarding the lives and property of Her Majesty's subjects scattered in -lonely and distant settlements over these wide plains. - -And the testing found them ready. For while the Ottawa authorities with -late but frantic haste were hustling their regiments from all parts of -Canada to the scene of war, the Mounted Police had gripped the situation -with a grip so stern that the Indian allies of the half-breed rebels -paused in their leap, took a second thought and decided to wait till -events should indicate the path of discretion. - -And, to the blood-lusting Riel, Irvine's swift thrust Northward to -Prince Albert suggested caution, while his resolute stand at that -distant fort drove hard down in the North country a post of Empire that -stuck fast and sure while all else seemed to be sliding to destruction. - -Inspector Dickens, too, another of that fearless band of Police -officers, holding with his heroic little company of twenty-two -constables Fort Pitt in the far North, stayed the panic consequent upon -the Frog Lake massacre and furnished food for serious thought to the -cunning Chief, Little Pine, and his four hundred and fifty Crees, as -well as to the sullen Salteaux, Big Bear, with his three hundred braves. -And to the lasting credit of Inspector Dickens it stands that he brought -his little company of twenty-two safe through a hostile country -overrun with excited Indians and half-breeds to the post of Battleford, -ninety-eight miles away. - -At Battleford, also, after the sacking of the town, Inspector Morris -with two hundred constables behind his hastily-constructed barricade -kept guard over four hundred women and children and held at bay a horde -of savages yelling for loot and blood. - -Griesbach, in like manner, with his little handful, at Fort -Saskatchewan, held the trail to Edmonton, and materially helped to bar -the way against Big Bear and his marauding band. - -And similarly at other points the promptness, resource, wisdom and -dauntless resolution of the gallant officers of the Mounted Police -and of the men they commanded saved Western Canada from the complete -subversion of law and order in the whole Northern part of the -territories and from the unspeakable horrors of a general Indian -uprising. - -But while in the Northern and Eastern part of the Territories the Police -officers rendered such signal service in the face of open rebellion, it -was in the foothill country in the far West that perhaps even greater -service was rendered to Canada and the Empire in this time of peril by -the officers and men of the Mounted Police. - -It was due to the influence of such men as the Superintendents and -Inspectors of the Police in charge of the various posts throughout -the foothill country more than to anything else that the Chiefs of -the "great, warlike, intelligent and untractable tribes" of Blackfeet, -Blood, Piegan, Sarcee and Stony Indians were prevented from breaking -their treaties and joining with the rebel Crees, Salteaux and -Assiniboines of the North and East. For fifteen years the Chiefs of -these tribes had lived under the firm and just rule of the Police, had -been protected from the rapacity of unscrupulous traders and saved from -the ravages of whisky-runners. It was the proud boast of a Blood Chief -that the Police never broke a promise to the Indian and never failed to -exact justice either for his punishment or for his protection. - -Hence when the reserves were being overrun by emissaries from the -turbulent Crees and from the plotting half-breeds, in the face of the -impetuous demands of their own young men and of their minor Chiefs to -join in the Great Adventure, the great Chiefs, Red Crow and Rainy Chief -of the Bloods, Bull's Head of the Sarcees, Trotting Wolf of the Piegans, -and more than all, Crowfoot, the able, astute, wise old head of -the entire Blackfeet confederacy, held these young braves back from -rebellion and thus gave time and opportunity to Her Majesty's Forces -operating in the East and North to deal with the rebels. - -And during those days of strain, strain beyond the estimate of all -not immediately involved, it was the record of such men as the -Superintendents and Inspectors in charge at Fort Macleod, at Fort -Calgary and on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway construction -in the mountains, and their steady bearing that more than anything else -weighed with the great Chiefs and determined for them their attitude. -For with calm, cool courage the Police patrols rode in and out of the -reserves, quietly reasoning with the big Chiefs, smiling indulgently -upon the turbulent minor Chiefs, checking up with swift, firm, but -tactful justice the many outbreaks against law and order, presenting -even in their most desperate moments such a front of resolute -self-confidence to the Indians, and refusing to give any sign by look -or word or act of the terrific anxiety they carried beneath their gay -scarlet coats. And the big Chiefs, reading the faces of these cool, -careless, resolute, smiling men who had a trick of appearing at -unexpected times in their camps and refused to be hurried or worried, -finally decided to wait a little longer. And they waited till the fatal -moment of danger was past and the time for striking--and in the heart -of every Chief of them the desire to strike for larger freedom and -independence lay deep--was gone. To these guardians of Empire who fought -no fight, who endured no siege, who witnessed no massacre, the Dominion -and the Empire owe more than none but the most observing will ever know. - -Paralleling these prompt measures of the North West Mounted Police, the -Government dispatched from both East and West of Canada regiments of -militia to relieve the beleaguered posts held by the Police, to prevent -the spread of rebellion and to hold the great tribes of the Indians of -the far West true to their allegiance. - -Already on the 27th of March, before Irvine had decided to abandon Fort -Carlton and to make his stand at Prince Albert, General Middleton had -passed through Winnipeg on his way to take command of the Canadian -Forces operating in the West; and before two weeks more had gone the -General was in command of a considerable body of troops at Qu'Appelle, -his temporary headquarters. From all parts of Canada these men gathered, -from Quebec and Montreal, from the midland counties of Ontario, from -the city of Toronto and from the city of Winnipeg, till some five or six -thousand citizen-soldiers were under arms. They were needed, too, every -man, not so much because of the possible weight of numbers of the enemy -opposing them, nor because of the tactical skill of those leading the -hostile forces, but because of the enemy's advantage of position, owing -to the nature of the country which formed the scene of the Rebellion, -and because of the character of the warfare adopted by their cunning -foe. - -The record of the brief six weeks' campaign constitutes a creditable -page in Canadian history, a page which no Canadian need blush to read -aloud in the presence of any company of men who know how to estimate at -their highest value those qualities of courage and endurance that are -the characteristics of the British soldier the world over. - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -TO ARMS! - - -Superintendent Strong was in a pleasant mood, and the reason was not far -to seek. The distracting period of inaction, of doubt, of hesitation was -past, and now at last something would be done. His term of service along -the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway construction had been far from -congenial to him. There had been too much of the work of the ordinary -patrol-officer about it. True, he did his duty faithfully and -thoroughly, so faithfully, indeed, as to move the great men of the -railway company to outspoken praise, a somewhat unusual circumstance. -But now he was called back to the work that more properly belonged to an -officer of Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police and his soul glowed -with the satisfaction of those who, having been found faithful in -uncongenial duty, are rewarded with an opportunity to do a bit of work -which they particularly delight to do. - -With his twenty-five men, whom for the past year he had been polishing -to a high state of efficiency in the trying work of police-duty in the -railway construction-camp, he arrived in Calgary on the evening of the -tenth of April, to find that post throbbing with military ardor and -thrilling with rumors of massacres and sieges, of marching columns and -contending forces. Small wonder that Superintendent Strong's face took -on an appearance of grim pleasure. Straight to the Police headquarters -he went, but there was no Superintendent there to welcome him. That -gentleman had gone East to meet the troops and was by now under -appointment as Chief of Staff to that dashing soldier, Colonel Otter. - -But meantime, though the Calgary Police Post was bare of men, there were -other men as keen and as daring, if not so thoroughly disciplined for -war, thronging the streets of the little town and asking only a leader -whom they could follow. - -It was late evening, but Calgary was an "all night" town, and every -minute was precious, for minutes might mean lives of women and children. -So down the street rode Superintendent Strong toward the Royal Hotel. At -the hitching post of that hostelry a sad-looking broncho was tied, whose -calm, absorbed and detached appearance struck a note of discord with his -environment; for everywhere about him men and horses seemed to be in -a turmoil of excitement. Everywhere men in cow-boy garb were careering -about the streets or grouped in small crowds about the saloon doors. -There were few loud voices, but the words of those who were doing the -speaking came more rapidly than usual. - -Such a group was gathered in the rear of the sad-looking broncho before -the door of the Royal Hotel. As the Superintendent loped up upon his -big brown horse the group broke apart and, like birds disturbed at their -feeding, circled about and closed again. - -"Hello, here's Superintendent Strong," said a voice. "He'll know." - -"Know what?" inquired the Superintendent. - -"Why, what's doing?" - -"Where are the troops?" - -"Is Prince Albert down?" - -"Where's Middleton?" - -"What's to be done here?" - -There were many voices, all eager, and in them just a touch of anxiety. - -"Not a thing do I know," said Superintendent Strong somewhat gravely. -"I have been up in the mountains and have heard little. I know that the -Commissioner has gone north to Prince Albert." - -"Have you heard about Duck Lake?" inquired a voice. - -"Yes, I heard we had a reverse there, and I know that General Middleton -has arrived at Qu'Appelle and has either set out for the north or is -about to set out." - -"Heard about Frog Lake?" - -"Frog Lake? No. That is up near Fort Pitt. What about it?" - -For a moment there was silence, then a deep voice replied: - -"A ghastly massacre, women and children and priests." - -Then another period of silence. - -"Indians?" murmured the Superintendent in a low voice. - -"Yes, half-breeds and Indians," replied the deep voice. And again there -was silence. The men waited for Superintendent Strong to speak. - -The Superintendent sat on his big horse looking at them quietly, then he -said sharply: - -"Men, there are some five or six thousand Indians in this district." -They were all thinking the same thing. "I have twenty-five men with me. -Superintendent Cotton at Macleod has less than a hundred." - -The men sat their horses in silence looking at him. One could hear their -deep breathing and see the quiver of the horses under the gripping knees -of their riders. Their minds were working swiftly. Ever since the news -of the Frog Lake massacre had spread like a fire across the country -these men had been carrying in their minds--rather, in their -hearts--pictures that started them up in their beds at night broad awake -and all in a cold sweat. - -The Superintendent lowered his voice. The men leaned forward to listen. -He had only a single word to say, a short sharp word it was-- - -"Who will join me?" - -It was as if his question had released a spring drawn to its limit. From -twenty different throats in twenty different tones, but with a single -throbbing impulse, came the response, swift, full-throated, savage, -"Me!" "I!" "Here you are!" "You bet!" "Count me!" "Rather!" and in three -minutes Superintendent Strong had secured the nucleus of his famous -scouts. - -"To-morrow at nine at the Barracks!" said this grim and laconic -Superintendent, and was about turning away when a man came out from the -door of the Royal Hotel, drawn forth by that sudden savage yell. - -"Hello, Cameron!" said the Superintendent, as the man moved toward the -sad-appearing broncho, "I want you." - -"All right, sir. I am with you," was the reply as Cameron swung on to -his horse. "Wake up, Ginger!" he said to his horse, touching him with -his heel. Ginger woke up with an indignant snort and forthwith fell into -line with the Superintendent's big brown horse. - -The Superintendent was silent till the Barracks were gained, then, -giving the horses into the care of an orderly, he led Cameron into the -office and after they had settled themselves before the fire he began -without preliminaries. - -"Cameron, I am more anxious than I can say about the situation here in -this part of the country. I have been away from the center of things for -some months and I have lost touch. I want you to let me know just what -is doing from our side." - -"I do not know much, sir," replied Cameron. "I, too, have just come in -from a long parley with Crowfoot and his Chiefs." - -"Ah, by the way, how is the old boy?" inquired the Superintendent. "Will -he stick by us?" - -"At present he is very loyal, sir,--too loyal almost," said Cameron in -a doubtful tone. "Duck Lake sent some of his young men off their heads a -bit, and Frog Lake even more. The Sarcees went wild over Frog Lake, you -know." - -"Oh, I don't worry about the Sarcees so much. What of Crowfoot?" - -"Well, he has managed to hold down his younger Chiefs so far. He made -light of the Frog Lake affair, but he was most anxious to get from -me the fullest particulars of the Duck Lake fight. He made careful -inquiries as to just how many Police were in the fight. I could see that -it gave him a shock to learn that the Police had to retire. This was a -new experience for him. He was intensely anxious to learn also--though -he would not allow himself to appear so--just what the Government was -doing." - -"And what are the last reports from headquarters? You see I have not -been kept fully in touch. I know that the Commissioner has gone north to -Prince Albert and that General Middleton has taken command of the forces -in the West and has gone North with them from Qu'Appelle, but what -troops he has I have not heard." - -"I understand," replied Cameron, "that he has three regiments of -infantry from Toronto and three from Winnipeg, with the Winnipeg Field -Battery. A regiment from Quebec has arrived and one from Montreal and -there are more to follow. The plan of campaign I know nothing about." - -"Ah, well," replied the Superintendent, "I know something about the -plan, I believe. There are three objective points, Prince Albert and -Battleford, both of which are now closely besieged, and Edmonton, -which is threatened with a great body of rebel Crees and Salteaux under -leadership of Little Pine and Big Bear. The Police at these points can -hardly be expected to hold out long against the overwhelming numbers -that are besieging them, and I expect that relief columns will be -immediately dispatched. Now, in regard to this district here, do you -know what is being done?" - -"Well, General Strange has come in from his ranch and has offered his -services in raising a local force." - -"Yes, I was glad to hear that his offer had been accepted and that he -has been appointed to lead an expeditionary force from here to Edmonton. -He is an experienced officer and I am sure will do us fine service. -I hope to see him to-morrow. Now, about the South," continued the -Superintendent, "what about Fort Macleod?" - -"The Superintendent there has offered himself and his whole force for -service in the North, but General Middleton, I understand, has asked him -to remain where he is and keep guard in this part of the country." - -"Good! I am glad of that. In my judgment this country holds the key. The -Crees I do not fear so much. They are more restless and uncertain, but -God help us if the Blackfeet and the Bloods rise! That is why I called -for volunteers to-night. We cannot afford to be without a strong force -here a single day." - -"I gathered that you got some volunteers to-night. I hope, sir," said -Cameron, "you will have a place for me in your troop?" - -"My dear fellow, nothing would please me better, I assure you," said -the Superintendent cordially. "And as proof of my confidence in you I am -going to send you through the South country to recruit men for my troop. -I can rely upon your judgment and tact. But as for you, you cannot leave -your present beat. The Sun Dance Trail cannot be abandoned for one hour. -From it you keep an eye upon the secret movements of all the tribes in -this whole region and you can do much to counteract if not to wholly -check any hostile movement that may arise. Indeed, you have already done -more than any one will ever know to hold this country safe during these -last months. And you must stay where you are. Remember, Cameron," added -the Superintendent impressively, "your work lies along the Sun Dance -Trail. On no account and for no reason must you be persuaded to abandon -that post. I shall get into touch with General Strange to-morrow and -shall doubtless get something to do, but if possible I should like you -to give me a day or two for this recruiting business before you take up -again your patrol work along the Sun Dance." - -"Very well, sir," replied Cameron quietly, trying hard to keep the -disappointment out of his voice. "I shall do my best." - -"That is right," said the Superintendent. "By the way, what are the -Piegans doing?" - -"The Piegans," replied Cameron, "are industriously stealing cattle and -horses. I cannot quite make out just how they can manage to get away -with them. Eagle Feather is apparently running the thing, but there is -someone bigger than Eagle Feather in the game. An additional month or -two in the guardroom would have done that gentleman no harm." - -"Ah, has he been in the guard-room? How did he get there?" - -"Oh, I pulled him out of the Sun Dance, where I found he had been -killing cattle, and the Superintendent at Macleod gave him two months to -meditate upon his crimes." - -Superintendent Strong expressed his satisfaction. - -"But now he is at his old habits again," continued Cameron. "But his -is not the brain planning these raids. They are cleverly done and are -getting serious. For instance, I must have lost a score or two of steers -within the last three months." - -"A score or two?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "What are they doing -with them all?" - -"That is what I find difficult to explain. Either they are running them -across the border--though the American Police know nothing of it--or -they are making pemmican." - -"Pemmican? Aha! that looks serious," said the Superintendent gravely. - -"Yes, indeed," said Cameron. "It makes me think that some one bigger -than Eagle Feather is at the bottom of all this cattle-running. -Sometimes I have thought that perhaps that chap Raven has a hand in it." - -"Raven?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "He has brain enough and nerve in -plenty for any dare-devil exploit." - -"But," continued Cameron in a hesitating voice, "I cannot bring myself -to lay this upon him." - -"Why not?" inquired the Superintendent sharply. "He is a cool hand and -desperate. I know his work fairly well. He is a first-class villain." - -"Yes, I know he is all that, and yet--well--in this rebellion, sir, -I believe he is with us and against them." In proof of this Cameron -proceeded to relate the story of Raven's visit to the Big Horn Ranch. -"So you see," he concluded, "he would not care to work in connection -with the Piegans just now." - -"I don't know about that--I don't know about that," replied the -Superintendent. "Of course he would not work against us directly, but he -might work for himself in this crisis. It would furnish him with a good -opportunity, you see. It would give him plenty of cover." - -"Yes, that is true, but still--I somehow cannot help liking the chap." - -"Liking the chap?" echoed the Superintendent. "He is a cold-blooded -villain and cattle-thief, a murderer, as you know. If ever I get my hand -on him in this rumpus--Why, he's an outlaw pure and simple! I have -no use for that kind of man at all. I should like to hang him!" The -Superintendent was indignant at the suggestion that any but the severest -measures should be meted out to a man of Raven's type. It was the -instinct and training of the Police officer responsible for the -enforcement of law and order in the land moving within him. "But," -continued the Superintendent, "let us get back to our plans. There must -be a strong force raised in this district immediately. We have the kind -of men best suited for the work all about us in this ranching country, -and I know that if you ride south throughout the ranges you can bring me -back fifty men, and there would be no finer anywhere." - -"I shall do what I can, sir," replied Cameron, "but I am not sure about -the fifty men." - -Long they talked over the plans, till it was far past midnight, when -Cameron took his leave and returned to his hotel. He put up his own -horse, looking after his feeding and bedding. - -"You have some work to do, Ginger, for your Queen and country to-morrow, -and you must be fit," he said as he finished rubbing the horse down. - -And Ginger had work to do, but not that planned for him by his master, -as it turned out. At the door of the Royal Hotel, Cameron found waiting -him in the shadow a tall slim Indian youth. - -"Hello!" said Cameron. "Who are you and what do you want?" - -As the youth stepped into the light there came to Cameron a dim -suggestion of something familiar about the lad, not so much in his face -as in his figure and bearing. - -"Who are you?" said Cameron again somewhat impatiently. - -The young man pulled up his trouser leg and showed a scarred ankle. - -"Ah! Now I get you. You are the young Piegan?" - -"Not" said the youth, throwing back his head with a haughty movement. -"No Piegan." - -"Ah, no, of course. Onawata's son, eh?" - -The lad grunted. - -"What do you want?" inquired Cameron. - -The young man stood silent, evidently finding speech difficult. - -"Eagle Feather," at length he said, "Little Thunder--plenty Piegan--run -much cattle." He made a sweeping motion with his arm to indicate the -extent of the cattle raid proposed. - -"They do, eh? Come in, my boy." - -The boy shook his head and drew back. He shared with all wild things the -fear of inclosed places. - -"Are you hungry?" - -The boy nodded his head. - -"Come with me." - -Together they walked down the street and came to a restaurant. - -"Come in and eat. It is all right," said Cameron, offering his hand. - -The Indian took the offered hand, laid it upon his heart, then for a -full five seconds with his fierce black eye he searched Cameron's face. -Satisfied, he motioned Cameron to enter and followed close on his heel. -Never before had the lad been within four walls. - -"Eat," said Cameron when the ordered meal was placed before them. The -lad was obviously ravenous and needed no further urging. - -"How long since you left the reserve?" inquired Cameron. - -The youth held up three fingers. - -"Good going," said Cameron, letting his eye run down the lines of the -Indian's lithe figure. - -"Smoke?" inquired Cameron when the meal was finished. - -The lad's eye gleamed, but he shook his head. - -"No pipe, eh?" said Cameron. "Come, we will mend that. Here, John," -he said to the Chinese waiter, "bring me a pipe. There," said Cameron, -passing the Indian the pipe after filling it, "smoke away." - -After another swift and searching look the lad took the pipe from -Cameron's hand and with solemn gravity began to smoke. It was to him -far more than a mere luxurious addendum to his meal. It was a solemn -ceremonial sealing a compact of amity between them. - -"Now, tell me," said Cameron, when the smoke had gone on for some time. - -Slowly and with painful difficulty the youth told his story in terse, -brief sentences. - -"T'ree day," he began, holding up three fingers, "me hear Eagle -Feather--many Piegans--talk--talk--talk. Go fight--keel--keel--keel all -white man, squaw, papoose." - -"When?" inquired Cameron, keeping his face steady. - -"Come Cree runner--soon." - -"You mean they are waiting for a runner from the North?" inquired -Cameron. "If the Crees win the fight then the Piegans will rise? Is that -it?" - -The Indian nodded. "Come Cree Indian--then Piegan fight." - -"They will not rise until the runner comes, eh?" - -"No." - -Cameron breathed more easily. - -"Is that all?" he inquired carelessly. - -"This day Eagle Feather run much cattle--beeg--beeg run." The young man -again swept the room with his arm. - -"Bah! Eagle Feather is no good. He is an old squaw," said Cameron. - -"Huh!" agreed the Indian quickly. "Little Thunder go too." - -"Little Thunder, eh?" said Cameron, controlling his voice with an -effort. - -The lad nodded, his piercing eye upon Cameron's face. - -For some minutes Cameron smoked quietly. - -"And Onawata?" With startling suddenness he shot out the question. - -Not a line of the Indian's face moved. He ignored the question, smoking -steadily and looking before him. - -"Ah, it is a strange way for Onawata to repay the white man's kindness -to his son," said Cameron. The contemptuous voice pierced the Indian's -armor of impassivity. Cameron caught the swift quiver in the face -that told that his stab had reached the quick. There is nothing in the -Indian's catalogue of crimes so base as the sin of ingratitude. - -"Onawata beeg Chief--beeg Chief," at length the boy said proudly. "He do -beeg--beeg t'ing." - -"Yes, he steals my cattle," said Cameron with stinging scorn. - -"No!" replied the Indian sharply. "Little Thunder--Eagle Feather steal -cattle--Onawata no steal." - -"I am glad to hear it, then," said Cameron. "This is a big run of -cattle, eh?" - -"Yes--beeg--beeg run." Again the Indian's arm swept the room. - -"What will they do with all those cattle?" inquired Cameron. - -But again the Indian ignored his question and remained silently smoking. - -"Why does the son of Onawata come to me?" inquired Cameron. - -A soft and subtle change transformed the boy's face. He pulled up his -trouser leg and, pointing to the scarred ankle, said: - -"You' squaw good--me two leg--me come tell you take squaw 'way far--no -keel. Take cattle 'way--no steal." He rose suddenly to his feet. "Me go -now," he said, and passed out. - -"Hold on!" cried Cameron, following him out to the door. "Where are you -going to sleep to-night?" - -The boy waved his hand toward the hills surrounding the little town. - -"Here," said Cameron, emptying his tobacco pouch into the boy's hand. -"I will tell my squaw that Onawata's son is not ungrateful, that he -remembered her kindness and has paid it back to me." - -For the first time a smile broke on the grave face of the Indian. He -took Cameron's hand, laid it upon his own heart, and then on Cameron's. - -"You' squaw good--good--much good." He appeared to struggle to find -other words, but failing, and with a smile still lingering upon his -handsome face, he turned abruptly away and glided silent as a shadow -into the starlit night. Cameron watched him out of sight. - -"Not a bad sort," he said to himself as he walked toward the hotel. -"Pretty tough thing for him to come here and give away his dad's scheme -like that--and I bet you he is keen on it himself too." - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -AN OUTLAW, BUT A MAN - - -The news brought by the Indian lad changed for Cameron all his plans. -This cattle-raid was evidently a part of and preparation for the bigger -thing, a general uprising and war of extermination on the part of the -Indians. From his recent visit to the reserves he was convinced that the -loyalty of even the great Chiefs was becoming somewhat brittle and would -not bear any sudden strain put upon it. A successful raid of cattle such -as was being proposed escaping the notice of the Police, or in the teeth -of the Police, would have a disastrous effect upon the prestige of the -whole Force, already shaken by the Duck Lake reverse. The effect of -that skirmish was beyond belief. The victory of the half-breeds was -exaggerated in the wildest degree. He must act and act quickly. His home -and his family and those of his neighbors were in danger of the most -horrible fate that could befall any human being. If the cattle-raid were -carried through by the Piegan Indians its sweep would certainly include -the Big Horn Ranch, and there was every likelihood that his home might -be destroyed, for he was an object of special hate to Eagle Feather and -to Little Thunder; and if Copperhead were in the business he had even -greater cause for anxiety. - -But what was to be done? The Indian boy had taken three days to bring -the news. It would take a day and a night of hard riding to reach his -home. Quickly he made his plans. He passed into the hotel, found the -room of Billy the hostler and roused him up. - -"Billy," he said, "get my horse out quick and hitch him up to the -post where I can get him. And Billy, if you love me," he implored, "be -quick!" - -Billy sprang from his bed. - -"Don't know what's eatin' you, boss," he said, "but quick's the word." - -In another minute Cameron was pounding at Dr. Martin's door upstairs. -Happily the doctor was in. - -"Martin, old man," cried Cameron, gripping him hard by the shoulder. -"Wake up and listen hard! That Indian boy you and Mandy pulled through -has just come all the way from the Piegan Reserve to tell me of a -proposed cattle-raid and a possible uprising of the Piegans in that -South country. The cattle-raid is coming on at once. The uprising -depends upon news from the Crees. Listen! I have promised Superintendent -Strong to spend the next two days recruiting for his new troop. Explain -to him why I cannot do this. He will understand. Then ride like blazes -to Macleod and tell the Inspector all that I have told you and get him -to send what men he can spare along with you. You can't get a man here. -The raid starts from the Piegan Reserve. It will likely finish where the -old Porcupine Trail joins the Sun Dance. At least so I judge. Ride by -the ranch and get some of them there to show you the shortest trail. -Both Mandy and Moira know it well." - -"Hold on, Cameron! Let me get this clear," cried the doctor, holding him -fast by the arm. "Two things I have gathered," said the doctor, speaking -rapidly, "first, a cattle-raid, then a general uprising, the uprising -dependent upon the news from the North. You want to block the -cattle-raid? Is that right?" - -"Right," said Cameron. - -"Then you want me to settle with Superintendent Storm, ride to Macleod -for men, then by your ranch and have them show me the shortest trail to -the junction of the Porcupine and the Sun Dance?" - -"You are right, Martin, old boy. It is a great thing to have a head like -yours. I shall meet you somewhere at that point. I have been thinking -this thing over and I believe they mean to make pemmican in preparation -for their uprising, and if so they will make it somewhere on the Sun -Dance Trail. Now I am off. Let me go, Martin." - -"Tell me your own movements now." - -"First, the ranch," said Cameron. "Then straight for the Sun Dance." - -"All right, old boy. By-by and good-luck!" - -Cameron found Billy waiting with Ginger at the door of the hotel. - -"Thank you, Billy," he said, fumbling in his pocket. "Hang it, I can't -find my purse." - -"You go hang yourself!" said Billy. "Never mind your purse." - -"All right, then," said Cameron, giving him his hand. "Good-by. You are -a trump, Billy." He caught Ginger by the mane and threw himself on the -saddle. - -"Now, then, Ginger, you must not fail me this trip, if it is your last. -A hundred and twenty miles, old boy, and you are none too fresh either. -But, Ginger, we must beat them this time. A hundred and twenty miles -to the Big Horn and twenty miles farther to the Sun Dance, that makes -a hundred and forty, Ginger, and you are just in from a hard two days' -ride. Steady, boy! Not too hard at the first." For Ginger was showing -signs of eagerness beyond his wont. "At all costs this raid must be -stopped," continued Cameron, speaking, after his manner, to his horse, -"not for the sake of a few cattle--we could all stand that loss--but to -balk at its beginning this scheme of old Copperhead's, for I believe -in my soul he is at the bottom of it. Steady, old boy! We need every -minute, but we cannot afford to make any miscalculations. The last -quarter of an hour is likely to be the worst." - -So on they went through the starry night. Steadily Ginger pounded the -trail, knocking off the miles hour after hour. There was no pause for -rest or for food. A few mouthfuls of water in the fording of a running -stream, a pause to recover breath before plunging into an icy river, or -on the taking of a steep coulee side, but no more. Hour after hour they -pressed forward toward the Big Horn Ranch. The night passed into morning -and the morning into the day, but still they pressed the trail. - -Toward the close of the day Cameron found himself within an hour's ride -of his own ranch with Ginger showing every sign of leg weariness and -almost of collapse. - -"Good old chap!" cried Cameron, leaning over him and patting his neck. -"We must make it. We cannot let up, you know. Stick to it, old boy, a -little longer." - -A little snort and a little extra spurt of speed was the gallant -Ginger's reply, but soon he was forced to sink back again into his -stumbling stride. - -"One hour more, Ginger, that is all--one hour only." - -As he spoke he leapt from his saddle to ease his horse in climbing a -long and lofty hill. As he surmounted the hill he stopped and swiftly -backed his horse down the hill. Upon the distant skyline his eye had -detected what he judged to be a horseman. His horse safely disposed of, -he once more crawled to the top of the hill. - -"An Indian, by Jove!" he cried. "I wonder if he has seen me." - -Carefully his eye swept the intervening valley and the hillside beyond, -but only this solitary figure could he see. As his eye rested on him the -Indian began to move toward the west. Cameron lay watching him for some -minutes. From his movements it was evident that the Indian's pace was -being determined by some one on the other side of the hill, for he -advanced now swiftly, now slowly. At times he halted and turned back -upon his track, then went forward again. - -"What the deuce is he doing?" said Cameron to himself. "By Jove! I have -got it! The drive is begun. I am too late." - -Swiftly he considered the whole situation. He was too late now to be of -any service at his ranch. The raid had already swept past it. He wrung -his hands in agony to think of what might have happened. He was torn -with anxiety for his family--and yet here was the raid passing onward -before his eyes. One hour would bring him to the ranch, but if this were -the outside edge of the big cattle raid the loss of an hour would mean -the loss of everything. - -"Oh, my God! What shall I do?" he cried. - -With his eyes still upon the Indian he forced himself to think more -quietly. The secrecy with which the raid was planned made it altogether -likely that the homes of the settlers would not at this time be -interfered with. This consideration finally determined him. At all costs -he must do what he could to head off the raid or to break the herd -in some way. But that meant in the first place a ride of twenty or -twenty-five miles over rough country. Could Ginger do it? - -He crawled back to his horse and found him with his head close to the -ground and trembling in every limb. - -"If he goes this twenty miles," he said, "he will go no more. But it -looks like our only hope, old boy. We must make for our old beat, the -Sun Dance Trail." - -He mounted his horse and set off toward the west, taking care never to -appear above the skyline and riding as rapidly as the uncertain footing -of the untrodden prairie would allow. At short intervals he would -dismount and crawl to the top of the hill in order to keep in touch -with the Indian, who was heading in pretty much the same direction as -himself. A little further on his screening hill began to flatten -itself out and finally it ran down into a wide valley which crossed -his direction at right angles. He made his horse lie down, still in the -shelter of the hill, and with most painful care he crawled on hands and -knees out to the open and secured a point of vantage from which he could -command the valley which ran southward for some miles till it, in turn, -was shut in by a further range of hills. - -He was rewarded for his patience and care. Far down before him at the -bottom of the valley a line of cattle was visible and hurrying them -along a couple of Indian horsemen. As he lay watching these Indians he -observed that a little farther on this line was augmented by a similar -line from the east driven by the Indian he had first observed, and by -two others who emerged from a cross valley still further on. Prone upon -his face he lay, with his eyes on that double line of cattle and its -hustling drivers. The raid was surely on. What could one man do to check -it? Similar lines of cattle were coming down the different valleys and -would all mass upon the old Porcupine Trail and finally pour into the -Sun Dance with its many caves and canyons. There was much that was -mysterious in this movement still to Cameron. What could these Indians -do with this herd of cattle? The mere killing of them was in itself a -vast undertaking. He was perfectly familiar with the Indian's method of -turning buffalo meat, and later beef, into pemmican, but the killing, -and the dressing, and the rendering of the fat, and the preparing of the -bags, all this was an elaborate and laborious process. But one thing -was clear to his mind. At all costs he must get around the head of these -converging lines. - -He waited there till the valley was clear of cattle and Indians, then, -mounting his horse, he pushed hard across the valley and struck a -parallel trail upon the farther side of the hills. Pursuing this trail -for some miles, he crossed still another range of hills farther to the -west and so proceeded till he came within touch of the broken country -that marks the division between the Foothills and the Mountains. He had -not many miles before him now, but his horse was failing fast and he -himself was half dazed with weariness and exhaustion. Night, too, was -falling and the going was rough and even dangerous; for now hillsides -suddenly broke off into sharp cut-banks, twenty, thirty, forty feet -high. - -It was one of these cut-banks that was his undoing, for in the dim -light he failed to note that the sheep track he was following ended thus -abruptly till it was too late. Had his horse been fresh he could easily -have recovered himself, but, spent as he was, Ginger stumbled, slid and -finally rolled headlong down the steep hillside and over the bank on -to the rocks below. Cameron had just strength to throw himself from the -saddle and, scrambling on his knees, to keep himself from following his -horse. Around the cut-bank he painfully made his way to where his horse -lay with his leg broken, groaning like a human being in his pain. - -"Poor old boy! You are done at last," he said. - -But there was no time to indulge regrets. Those lines of cattle were -swiftly and steadily converging upon the Sun Dance. He had before him an -almost impossible achievement. Well he knew that a man on foot could do -little with the wild range cattle. They would speedily trample him into -the ground. But he must go on. He must make the attempt. - -But first there was a task that it wrung his heart to perform. His -horse must be put out of pain. He took off his coat, rolled it over his -horse's head, inserted his gun under its folds to deaden the sound and -to hide those luminous eyes turned so entreatingly upon him. - -"Old boy, you have done your duty, and so must I. Good-by, old chap!" He -pulled the fatal trigger and Ginger's work was done. - -He took up his coat and set off once more upon the winding sheep trail -that he guessed would bring him to the Sun Dance. Dazed, half asleep, -numbed with weariness and faint with hunger, he stumbled on, while the -stars came out overhead and with their mild radiance lit up his rugged -way. - -Suddenly he found himself vividly awake. Diagonally across the face of -the hill in front of him, a few score yards away and moving nearer, a -horse came cantering. Quickly Cameron dropped behind a jutting rock. -Easily, daintily, with never a slip or slide came the horse till he -became clearly visible in the starlight. There was no mistaking that -horse or that rider. No other horse in all the territories could take -that slippery, slithery hill with a tread so light and sure, and no -other rider in the Western country could handle his horse with such -easy, steady grace among the rugged rocks of that treacherous hillside. -It was Nighthawk and his master. - -"Raven!" breathed Cameron to himself. "Raven! Is it possible? By Jove! -I would not have believed it. The Superintendent was right after all. He -is a villain, a black-hearted villain too. So, HE is the brains behind -this thing. I ought to have known it. Fool that I was! He pulled the -wool over my eyes all right." - -The rage that surged up through his heart stimulated his dormant -energies into new life. With a deep oath Cameron pulled out both his -guns and set off up the hill on the trail of the disappearing horseman. -His weariness fell from him like a coat, the spring came back to his -muscles, clearness to his brain. He was ready for his best fight and he -knew it lay before him. Swiftly, lightly he ran up the hillside. At the -top he paused amazed. Before him lay a large Indian encampment with rows -upon rows of tents and camp fires with kettles swinging, and everywhere -Indians and squaws moving about. Skirting the camp and still keeping -to the side of the hill, he came upon a stout new-built fence that ran -straight down an incline to a steep cut-bank with a sheer drop of thirty -feet or more. Like a flash the meaning of it came upon him. This was to -be the end of the drive. Here the cattle were to meet their death. Here -it was that the pemmican was to be made. On the hillside opposite there -was doubtless a similar fence and these two would constitute the fatal -funnel down which the cattle were to be stampeded over the cut-bank to -their destruction. This was the nefarious scheme planned by Raven and -his treacherous allies. - -Swiftly Cameron turned and followed the fence up the incline some three -or four hundred yards from the cut-bank. At its upper end the fence -curved outward for some distance upon a wide upland valley, then ceased -altogether. Such was the of the hill that no living man could turn -a herd of cattle once entered upon that steep incline. - -Down the hill, across the valley and up the other side ran Cameron, -keeping low and carefully picking his way among the loose stones till he -came to the other fence which, curving similarly outward, made with its -fellow a perfectly completed funnel. Once between the curving lips of -this funnel nothing could save the rushing, crowding cattle from the -deadly cut-bank below. - -"Oh, if I only had my horse," groaned Cameron, "I might have a chance to -turn them off just here." - -At the point at which he stood the of the hillside fell somewhat -toward the left and away slightly from the mouth of the funnel. A -skilled cowboy with sufficient nerve, on a first-class horse, might turn -the herd away from the cut-bank into the little coulee that led down -from the end of the fence, but for a man on foot the thing was quite -impossible. He determined, however, to make the effort. No man can -certainly tell how cattle will behave when excited and at night. - -As he stood there rapidly planning how to divert the rush of cattle from -that deadly funnel, there rose on the still night air a soft rumbling -sound like low and distant thunder. That sound Cameron knew only too -well. It was the pounding of two hundred steers upon the resounding -prairie. He rushed back again to the right side of the fenced runway, -and then forward to meet the coming herd. A half moon rising over the -round top of the hill revealed the black surging mass of steers, their -hoofs pounding like distant artillery, their horns rattling like a -continuous crash of riflery. Before them at a distance of a hundred -yards or more a mounted Indian rode toward the farther side of the -funnel and took his stand at the very spot at which there was some hope -of diverting the rushing herd from the cut-bank down the side coulee to -safety. - -"That man has got to go," said Cameron to himself, drawing his gun. But -before he could level it there shot out from the dim light behind the -Indian a man on horseback. Like a lion on its prey the horse leaped with -a wicked scream at the Indian pony. Before that furious leap both man -and pony went down and rolled over and over in front of the pounding -herd. Over the prostrate pony leaped the horse and up the hillside fair -in the face of that rushing mass of maddened steers. Straight across -their face sped the horse and his rider, galloping lightly, with never -a swerve or hesitation, then swiftly wheeling as the steers drew almost -level with him he darted furiously on their flank and rode close at -their noses. "Crack! Crack!" rang the rider's revolver, and two steers -in the far flank dropped to the earth while over them surged the -following herd. Again the revolver rang out, once, twice, thrice, and -at each crack a leader on the flank farthest away plunged down and was -submerged by the rushing tide behind. For an instant the column faltered -on its left and slowly began to swerve in that direction. Then upon the -leaders of the right flank the black horse charged furiously, biting, -kicking, plunging like a thing possessed of ten thousand devils. -Steadily, surely the line continued to swerve. - -"My God!" cried Cameron, unable to believe his eyes. "They are turning! -They are turned!" - -With wild cries and discharging his revolver fair in the face of the -leaders, Cameron rushed out into the open and crossed the mouth of the -funnel. - -"Go back, you fool! Go back!" yelled the man on horseback. "Go back! I -have them!" He was right. Cameron's sudden appearance gave the final and -necessary touch to the swerving movement. Across the mouth of the funnel -with its yawning deadly cut-bank, and down the side coulee, carrying -part of the fence with them, the herd crashed onward, with the black -horse hanging on their flank still biting and kicking with a kind of -joyous fury. - -"Raven! Raven!" cried Cameron in glad accents. "It is Raven! Thank God, -he is straight after all!" A great tide of gratitude and admiration -for the outlaw was welling up in his heart. But even as he ran there -thundered past him an Indian on horseback, the reins flying loose and a -rifle in his hands. As he flashed past a gleam of moonlight caught his -face, the face of a demon. - -"Little Thunder!" cried Cameron, whipping out his gun and firing, but -with no apparent effect, at the flying figure. - -With his gun still in his hand, Cameron ran on down the coulee in the -wake of Little Thunder. Far away could be heard the roar of the rushing -herd, but nothing could be seen of Raven. Running as he had never run in -his life, Cameron followed hard upon the Indian's track, who was by this -time some hundred yards in advance. Suddenly in the moonlight, and far -down the coulee, Raven could be seen upon his black horse cantering -easily up the and toward the swiftly approaching Indian. - -"Raven! Raven!" shouted Cameron, firing his gun. "On guard! On guard!" - -Raven heard, looked up and saw the Indian bearing down upon him. His -horse, too, saw the approaching foe and, gathering himself, in two short -leaps rushed like a whirlwind at him, but, swerving aside, the Indian -avoided the charging stallion. Cameron saw his rifle go up to his -shoulder, a shot reverberated through the coulee, Raven swayed in his -saddle. A second shot and the black horse was fair upon the Indian pony, -hurling him to the ground and falling himself upon him. As the Indian -sprang to his feet Raven was upon him. He gripped him by the throat and -shook him as a dog shakes a rat. Once, twice, his pistol fell upon the -snarling face and the Indian crumpled up and lay still, battered to -death. - -"Thank God!" cried Cameron, as he came up, struggling with his sobbing -breath. "You have got the beast." - -"Yes, I have got him," said Raven, with his hand to his side, "but I -guess he has got me too. And--" he paused. His eye fell upon his horse -lying upon his side and feebly kicking--"ah, I fear he has got you as -well, Nighthawk, old boy." As he staggered over toward his horse the -sound of galloping hoofs was heard coming down the coulee. - -"Here are some more of them!" cried Cameron, drawing out his guns. - -"All right, Cameron, my boy, just back up here beside me," said Raven, -as he coolly loaded his empty revolver. "We can send a few more of these -devils to hell. You are a good sport, old chap, and I want to go out in -no better company." - -"Hold up!" cried Cameron. "There is a woman. Why, there is a Policeman. -They are friends, Raven. It is the doctor and Moira. Hurrah! Here you -are, Martin. Quick! Quick! Oh, my God! He is dying!" - -Raven had sunk to his knees beside his horse. They gathered round him, a -Mounted Police patrol picked up on the way by Dr. Martin, Moira who had -come to show them the trail, and Smith. - -"Nighthawk, old boy," they heard Raven say, his hand patting the -shoulder of the noble animal, "he has done for you, I fear." His voice -came in broken sobs. The great horse lifted his beautiful head and -looked round toward his master. "Ah, my boy, we have done many a journey -together!" cried Raven as he threw his arm around the glossy neck, "and -on this last one too we shall not be far apart." The horse gave a slight -whinny, nosed into his master's hand and laid his head down again. A -slight quiver of the limbs and he was still for ever. "Ah, he has gone!" -cried Raven, "my best, my only friend." - -"No, no," cried Cameron, "you are with friends now, Raven, old man." He -offered his hand. Raven took it wonderingly. - -"You mean it, Cameron?" - -"Yes, with all my heart. You are a true man, if God ever made one, and -you have shown it to-night." - -"Ah!" said Raven, with a kind of sigh as he sank back and leaned up -against his horse. "That is good to hear. It is long since I have had a -friend." - -"Quick, Martin!" said Cameron. "He is wounded." - -"What? Where?" said the doctor, kneeling down beside him and tearing -open his coat and vest. "Oh, my God!" cried the doctor. "He is--" The -doctor paused abruptly. - -"What do you say? Oh, Dr. Martin, he is not badly wounded?" Moira threw -herself on her knees beside the wounded man and caught his hand. "Oh, it -is cold, cold," she cried through rushing tears. "Can you not help him? -Oh, you must not let him die." - -"Surely he is not dying?" said Cameron. - -The doctor was silently and swiftly working with his syringe. - -"How long, Doctor?" inquired Raven in a quiet voice. - -"Half an hour, perhaps less," said the doctor brokenly. "Have you any -pain?" - -"No, very little. It is quite easy. Cameron," he said, his voice -beginning to fail, "I want you to send a letter which you will find in -my pocket addressed to my brother. Tell no one the name. And add this, -that I forgive him. It was really not worth while," he added wearily, -"to hate him so. And say to the Superintendent I was on the straight -with him, with you all, with my country in this rebellion business. I -heard about this raid; and I fancy I have rather spoiled their pemmican. -I have run some cattle in my time, but you know, Cameron, a fellow who -has worn the uniform could not mix in with these beastly breeds against -the Queen, God bless her!" - -"Oh, Dr. Martin," cried the girl piteously, shaking him by the arm, "do -not tell me you can do nothing. Try--try something." She began again to -chafe the cold hand, her tears falling upon it. - -Raven looked up quickly at her. - -"You are weeping for me, Miss Moira?" he said, surprise and wonder in -his face. "For me? A horse-thief, an outlaw, for me? I thank you. And -forgive me--may I kiss your hand?" He tried feebly to lift her hand to -his lips. - -"No, no," cried the girl. "Not my hand!" and leaning over him she kissed -him on the brow. His eyes were still upon her. - -"Thank you," he said feebly, a rare, beautiful smile lighting up the -white face. "You make me believe in God's mercy." - -There was a quick movement in the group and Smith was kneeling beside -the dying man. - -"God's mercy, Mr. Raven," he said in an eager voice, "is infinite. Why -should you not believe in it?" - -Raven looked at him curiously. - -"Oh, yes," he said with a quaintly humorous smile, "you are the chap -that chucked Jerry away from the door?" - -Smith nodded, then said earnestly: - -"Mr. Raven, you must believe in God's mercy." - -"God's mercy," said the dying man slowly. "Yes, God's mercy. What is it -again? 'God--be--merciful--to me--a sinner.'" Once more he opened his -eyes and let them rest upon the face of the girl bending over him. -"Yes," he said, "you helped me to believe in God's mercy." With a sigh -as of content he settled himself quietly against the shoulders of his -dead horse. - -"Good old comrade," he said, "good-by!" He closed his eyes and drew a -deep breath. They waited for another, but there was no more. - -"He is gone," said the doctor. - -"Gone?" cried Moira. "Gone? Ochone, but he was the gallant gentleman!" -she wailed, lapsing into her Highland speech. "Oh, but he had the brave -heart and the true heart. Ochone! Ochone!" She swayed back and forth -upon her knees with hands clasped and tears running down her cheeks, -bending over the white face that lay so still in the moonlight and -touched with the majesty of death. - -"Come, Moira! Come, Moira!" said her brother surprised at her unwonted -display of emotion. "You must control yourself." - -"Leave her alone. Let her cry. She is in a hard spot," said Dr. Martin -in a sharp voice in which grief and despair were mingled. - -Cameron glanced at his friend's face. It was the face of a haggard old -man. - -"You are used up, old boy," he said kindly, putting his hand on the -doctor's arm. "You need rest." - -"Rest?" said the doctor. "Rest? Not I. But you do. And you too, Miss -Moira," he added gently. "Come," giving her his hand, "you must get -home." There was in his voice a tone of command that made the girl look -up quickly and obey. - -"And you?" she said. "You must be done." - -"Done? Yes, but what matter? Take her home, Cameron." - -"And what about you?" inquired Cameron. - -"Smith, the constable and I will look after--him--and the horse. Send a -wagon to-morrow morning." - -Without further word the brother and sister mounted their horses. - -"Good-by, old man. See you to-morrow," said Cameron. - -"Good-night," said the doctor shortly. - -The girl gave him her hand. - -"Good-night," she said simply, her eyes full of a dumb pain. - -"Good-by, Miss Moira," said the doctor, who held her hand for just a -moment as if to speak again, then abruptly he turned his back on her -without further word and so stood with never a glance more after her. -It was for him a final farewell to hopes that had lived with him and had -warmed his heart for the past three years. Now they were dead, dead as -the dead man upon whose white still face he stood looking down. - -"Thief, murderer, outlaw," he muttered to himself. "Sure enough--sure -enough. And yet you could not help it, nor could she." But he was not -thinking of the dead man's record in the books of the Mounted Police. - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -THE GREAT CHIEF - - -On the rampart of hills overlooking the Piegan encampment the sun -was shining pleasantly. The winter, after its final savage kick, had -vanished and summer, crowding hard upon spring, was wooing the bluffs -and hillsides on their southern exposures to don their summer robes of -green. Not yet had the bluffs and hillsides quite yielded to the wooing, -not yet had they donned the bright green apparel of summer, but there -was the promise of summer's color gleaming through the neutral browns -and grays of the poplar bluffs and the sunny hillsides. The crocuses -with reckless abandon had sprung forth at the first warm kiss of the -summer sun and stood bravely, gaily dancing in their purple and gray, -till whole hillsides blushed for them. And the poplars, hesitating with -dainty reserve, shivered in shy anticipation and waited for a surer -call, still wearing their neutral tints, except where they stood -sheltered by the thick spruces from the surly north wind. There they -had boldly cast aside all prudery and were flirting in all their gallant -trappings with the ardent summer. - -Seeing none of all this, but dimly conscious of the good of it, Cameron -and his faithful attendant Jerry lay grimly watching through the -poplars. Three days had passed since the raid, and as yet there was no -sign at the Piegan camp of the returning raiders. Not for one hour -had the camp remained unwatched. Just long enough to bury his new-made -friend, the dead outlaw, did Cameron himself quit the post, leaving -Jerry on guard meantime, and now he was back again, with his glasses -searching every corner of the Piegan camp and watching every movement. -There was upon his face a look that filled with joy his watchful -companion, a look that proclaimed his set resolve that when Eagle -Feather and his young men should appear in camp there would speedily be -swift and decisive action. For three days his keen eyes had looked forth -through the delicate green-brown screen of poplar upon the doings of the -Piegans, the Mounted Police meantime ostentatiously beating up the Blood -Reserve with unwonted threats of vengeance for the raiders, the bruit of -which had spread through all the reserves. - -"Don't do anything rash," the Superintendent had admonished, as Cameron -appeared demanding three troopers and Jerry, with whom to execute -vengeance upon those who had brought death to a gallant gentleman and -his gallant steed, for both of whom there had sprung up in Cameron's -heart a great and admiring affection. - -"No, sir," Cameron had replied, "nothing rash; we will do a little -justice, that is all," but with so stern a face that the Superintendent -had watched him away with some anxiety and had privately ordered a -strong patrol to keep the Piegan camp under surveillance till Cameron -had done his work. But there was no call for aid from any patrol, as it -turned out; and before this bright summer morning had half passed away -Cameron shut up his glasses, ready for action. - -"I think they are all in now, Jerry," he said. "We will go down. Go and -bring in the men. There is that devil Eagle Feather just riding in." -Cameron's teeth went hard together on the name of the Chief, in whom -the leniency of Police administration of justice had bred only a deeper -treachery. - -Within half an hour Cameron with his three troopers and Jerry rode -jingling into the Piegan camp and disposed themselves at suitable -points of vantage. Straight to the Chief's tent Cameron rode, and found -Trotting Wolf standing at its door. - -"I want that cattle-thief, Eagle Feather," he announced in a clear, firm -voice that rang through the encampment from end to end. - -"Eagle Feather not here," was Trotting Wolf's sullen but disturbed -reply. - -"Trotting Wolf, I will waste no time on you," said Cameron, drawing his -gun. "I take Eagle Feather or you. Make your choice and quick about -it!" There was in Cameron's voice a ring of such compelling command that -Trotting Wolf weakened visibly. - -"I know not where Eagle Feather--" - -"Halt there!" cried Cameron to an Indian who was seen to be slinking -away from the rear of the line of tents. - -The Indian broke into a run. Like a whirlwind Cameron was on his trail -and before he had gained the cover of the woods had overtaken him. - -"Halt!" cried Cameron again as he reached the Indian's side. The Indian -stopped and drew a knife. "You would, eh? Take that, will you?" Leaning -down over his horse's neck Cameron struck the Indian with the butt of -his gun. Before he could rise the three constables in a converging rush -were upon him and had him handcuffed. - -"Now then, where is Eagle Feather?" cried Cameron in a furious voice, -riding his horse into the crowd that had gathered thick about him. "Ah, -I see you," he cried, touching his horse with his heel as on the farther -edge of the crowd he caught sight of his man. With a single bound his -horse was within touch of the shrinking Indian. "Stand where you are!" -cried Cameron, springing from his horse and striding to the Chief. "Put -up your hands!" he said, covering him with his gun. "Quick, you dog!" he -added, as Eagle Feather stood irresolute before him. Upon the uplifted -hands Cameron slipped the handcuffs. "Come with me, you cattle-thief," -he said, seizing him by the gaudy handkerchief that adorned his neck, -and giving him a quick jerk. - -"Trotting Wolf," said Cameron in a terrible voice, wheeling furiously -upon the Chief, "this cattle-thieving of your band must stop. I want the -six men who were in that cattle-raid, or you come with me. Speak quick!" -he added. - -"By Gar!" said Jerry, hugging himself in his delight, to the trooper who -was in charge of the first Indian. "Look lak' he tak' de whole camp." - -"By Jove, Jerry, it looks so to me, too! He has got the fear of death on -these chappies. Look at his face. He looks like the very devil." - -It was true. Cameron's face was gray, with purple blotches, and -distorted with passion, his eyes were blazing with fury, his manner one -of reckless savage abandon. There was but little delay. The rumors -of vengeance stored up for the raiders, the paralyzing effect of the -failure of the raid, the condemnation of a guilty conscience, but -above all else the overmastering rage of Cameron, made anything like -resistance simply impossible. In a very few minutes Cameron had his -prisoners in line and was riding to the Fort, where he handed them over -to the Superintendent for justice. - -That business done, he found his patrol-work pressing upon him with a -greater insistence than ever, for the runners from the half-breeds and -the Northern Indians were daily arriving at the reserves bearing -reports of rebel victories of startling magnitude. But even without -any exaggeration tales grave enough were being carried from lip to lip -throughout the Indian tribes. Small wonder that the irresponsible young -Chiefs, chafing under the rule of the white man and thirsting for the -mad rapture of fight, were straining almost to the breaking point the -authority of the cooler older heads, so that even that subtle redskin -statesman, Crowfoot, began to fear for his own position in the Blackfeet -confederacy. - -As the days went on the Superintendent at Macleod, whose duty it was to -hold in statu quo that difficult country running up into the mountains -and down to the American boundary-line, found his task one that would -have broken a less cool-headed and stout-hearted officer. - -The situation in which he found himself seemed almost to invite -destruction. On the eighteenth of March he had sent the best of his men, -some twenty-five of them, with his Inspector, to join the Alberta Field -Force at Calgary, whence they made that famous march to Edmonton of over -two hundred miles in four and a half marching days. From Calgary, too, -had gone a picked body of Police with Superintendent Strong and his -scouts as part of the Alberta Field Force under General Strange. Thus -it came that by the end of April the Superintendent at Fort Macleod had -under his command only a handful of his trained Police, supported by two -or three companies of Militia--who, with all their ardor, were unskilled -in plain-craft, strange to the country, new to war, ignorant of the -habits and customs and temper of the Indians with whom they were -supposed to deal--to hold the vast extent of territory under his charge, -with its little scattered hamlets of settlers, safe in the presence of -the largest and most warlike of the Indian tribes in Western Canada. - -Every day the strain became more intense. A crisis appeared to be -reached when the news came that on the twenty-fourth of April General -Middleton had met a check at Fish Creek, which, though not specially -serious in itself, revealed the possibilities of the rebel strategy and -gave heart to the enemy immediately engaged. - -And, though Fish Creek was no great fight, the rumor of it ran through -the Western reserves like red fire through prairie-grass, blowing almost -into flame the war-spirit of the young braves of the Bloods, Piegans -and Sarcees and even of the more stable Blackfeet. Three days after that -check, the news of it was humming through every tepee in the West, -and for a week or more it took all the cool courage and steady nerve -characteristic of the Mounted Police to enable them to ride without -flurry or hurry their daily patrols through the reserves. - -At this crisis it was that the Superintendent at Macleod gathered -together such of his officers and non-commissioned officers as he could -in council at Fort Calgary, to discuss the situation and to plan for all -possible emergencies. The full details of the Fish Creek affair had just -come in. They were disquieting enough, although the Superintendent made -light of them. On the wall of the barrack-room where the council was -gathered there hung a large map of the Territories. The Superintendent, -a man of small oratorical powers, undertook to set forth the disposition -of the various forces now operating in the West. - -"Here you observe the main line running west from Regina to the -mountains, some five hundred and fifty miles," he said. "And here, -roughly, two hundred and fifty miles north, is the northern boundary -line of our settlements, Prince Albert at the east, Battleford at the -center, Edmonton at the west, each of these points the center of a -country ravaged by half-breeds and bands of Indians. To each of these -points relief-expeditions have been sent. - -"This line represents the march of Commissioner Irvine from Regina to -Prince Albert--a most remarkable march that was too, gentlemen, nearly -three hundred miles over snow-bound country in about seven days. That -march will be remembered, I venture to say. The Commissioner still holds -Prince Albert, and we may rely upon it will continue to hold it safe -against any odds. Meantime he is scouting the country round about, -preventing Indians from reinforcing the enemy in any large numbers. - -"Next, to the west is Battleford, which holds the central position and -is the storm-center of the rebellion at present. This line shows the -march of Colonel Otter with Superintendent Herchmer from Swift Current -to that point. We have just heard that Colonel Otter has arrived at -Battleford and has raised the siege. But large bands of Indians are -in the vicinity of Battleford and the situation there is extremely -critical. I understand that old Oo-pee-too-korah-han-apee-wee-yin--" the -Superintendent prided himself upon his mastery of Indian names and -ran off this polysyllabic cognomen with the utmost facility--"the -Pond-maker, or Pound-maker as he has come to be called, is in the -neighborhood. He is not a bad fellow, but he is a man of unusual -ability, far more able than of the Willow Crees, Beardy, as he is -called, though not so savage, and he has a large and compact body of -Indians under him. - -"Then here straight north from us some two hundred miles is Edmonton, -the center of a very wide district sparsely settled, with a strong -half-breed element in the immediate neighborhood and Big Bear and Little -Pine commanding large bodies of Indians ravaging the country round -about. Inspector Griesbach is in command of this district, located -at Fort Saskatchewan, which is in close touch with Edmonton. General -Strange, commanding the Alberta Field Force and several companies of -Militia, together with our own men under Superintendent Strong and -Inspector Dickson, are on the way to relieve this post. Inspector -Dickson, I understand, has successfully made the crossing of the Red -Deer with his nine pr. gun, a quite remarkable feat I assure you. - -"But, gentlemen, you see the position in which we are placed in -this section of the country. From the Cypress Hills here away to the -southeast, westward to the mountains and down to the boundary-line, -you have a series of reserves almost completely denuded of Police -supervision. True, we are fortunate in having at the Blackfoot Crossing, -at Fort Calgary and at Fort Macleod, companies of Militia; but the very -presence of these troops incites the Indians, and in some ways is a -continual source of unrest among them. - -"Every day runners from the North and East come to our reserves with -extraordinary tales of rebel victories. This Fish Creek business has had -a tremendous influence upon the younger element. On every reserve there -are scores of young braves eager to rise. What a general uprising would -mean you know, or think you know. An Indian war of extermination is -a horrible possibility. The question before us all is--what is to be -done?" - -After a period of conversation the Superintendent summed up the results -of the discussion in a few short sentences: - -"It seems, gentlemen, there is not much more to be done than what we -are already doing. But first of all I need not say that we must keep our -nerve. I do not believe any Indian will see any sign of doubt or fear in -the face of any member of this Force. Our patrols must be regularly -and carefully done. There are a lot of things which we must not see, a -certain amount of lawbreaking which we must not notice. Avoid on every -possible occasion pushing things to extremes; but where it is necessary -to act we must act with promptitude and fearlessness, as Mr. Cameron -here did at the Piegan Reserve a week or so ago. I mention this because -I consider that action of Cameron's a typically fine piece of Police -work. We must keep on good terms with the Chiefs, tell them what good -news there is to tell. We must intercept every runner possible. Arrest -them and bring them to the barracks. The situation is grave, but not -hopeless. Great responsibilities rest upon us, gentlemen. I do not -believe that we shall fail." - -The little company broke up with resolute and grim determination stamped -on every face. There would be no weakening at any spot where a Mounted -Policeman was on duty. - -"Cameron, just a moment," said the Superintendent as he was passing out. -"Sit down. You were quite right in that Eagle Feather matter. You did -the right thing in pushing that hard." - -"I somehow felt I could do it, sir," replied Cameron simply. "I had the -feeling in my bones that we could have taken the whole camp that day." - -The Superintendent nodded. "I understand. And that is the way we should -feel. But don't do anything rash this week. This is a week of crisis. -If any further reverse should happen to our troops it will be extremely -difficult, if indeed possible, to hold back the younger braves. If there -should be a rising--which may God forbid--my plan then would be to back -right on to the Blackfeet Reserve. If old Crowfoot keeps steady--and -with our presence to support him I believe he would--we could hold -things safe for a while. But, Cameron, that Sioux devil Copperhead must -be got rid of. It is he that is responsible for this restless spirit -among the younger Chiefs. He has been in the East, you say, for the last -three weeks, but he will soon be back. His runners are everywhere. His -work lies here, and the only hope for the rebellion lies here, and he -knows it. My scouts inform me that there is something big immediately -on. A powwow is arranged somewhere before final action. I have reason to -suspect that if we sustain another reverse and if the minor Chiefs from -all the reserves come to an agreement, Crowfoot will yield. That is the -game that the Sioux is working on now." - -"I know that quite well, sir," replied Cameron. "Copperhead has captured -practically all the minor Chiefs." - -"The checking of that big cattle-run, Cameron, was a mighty good stroke -for us. You did that magnificently." - -"No, sir," replied Cameron firmly. "We owe that to Raven." - -"Yes, yes, we do owe a good deal to--to--that--to Raven. Fine fellow -gone wrong. Yes, we owe a lot to him, but we owe a lot to you as -well, Cameron. I am not saying you will ever get any credit for it, -but--well--who cares so long as the thing is done? But this Sioux must -be got at all costs--at all costs, Cameron, remember. I have never -asked you to push this thing to the limit, but now at all costs, dead or -alive, that Sioux must be got rid of." - -"I could have potted him several times," replied Cameron, "but did not -wish to push matters to extremes." - -"Quite right. Quite right. That has been our policy hitherto, but now -things have reached such a crisis that we can take no further chances. -The Sioux must be eliminated." - -"All right, sir," said Cameron, and a new purpose shaped itself in his -heart. At all costs he would get the Sioux, alive if possible, dead if -not. - -Plainly the first thing was to uncover his tracks, and with this -intention Cameron proceeded to the Blackfeet Reserve, riding with Jerry -down the Bow River from Fort Calgary, until, as the sun was setting on -an early May evening, he came in sight of the Blackfoot Crossing. - -Not wishing to visit the Militia camp at that point, and desiring -to explore the approaches of the Blackfeet Reserve with as little -ostentation as possible, he sent Jerry on with the horses, with -instructions to meet him later on in the evening on the outside of the -Blackfeet camp, and took a side trail on foot leading to the reserve -through a coulee. Through the bottom of the coulee ran a little -stream whose banks were packed tight with alders, willows and poplars. -Following the trail to where it crossed the stream, Cameron left it for -the purpose of quenching his thirst, and proceeded up-stream some little -way from the usual crossing. Lying there prone upon his face he caught -the sound of hoofs, and, peering through the alders, he saw a line -of Indians riding down the opposite bank. Burying his head among the -tangled alders and hardly breathing, he watched them one by one cross -the stream not more than thirty yards away and clamber up the bank. - -"Something doing here, sure enough," he said to himself as he noted -their faces. Three of them he knew, Red Crow of the Bloods, Trotting -Wolf of the Piegans, Running Stream of the Blackfeet, then came three -others unknown to Cameron, and last in the line Cameron was startled to -observe Copperhead himself, while close at his side could be seen the -slim figure of his son. As the Sioux passed by Cameron's hiding-place -he paused and looked steadily down into the alders for a moment or two, -then rode on. - -"Saved yourself that time, old man," said Cameron as the Sioux -disappeared, following the others up the trail. "We will see just which -trail you take," he continued, following them at a safe distance and -keeping himself hidden by the brush till they reached the open and -disappeared over the hill. Swiftly Cameron ran to the top, and, lying -prone among the prairie grass, watched them for some time as they took -the trail that ran straight westward. - -"Sarcee Reserve more than likely," he muttered to himself. "If Jerry -were only here! But he is not, so I must let them go in the meantime. -Later, however, we shall come up with you, gentlemen. And now for old -Crowfoot and with no time to lose." - -He had only a couple of miles to go and in a few minutes he had reached -the main trail from the Militia camp at the Crossing. In the growing -darkness he could not discern whether Jerry had passed with the horses -or not, so he pushed on rapidly to the appointed place of meeting and -there found Jerry waiting for him. - -"Listen, Jerry!" said he. "Copperhead is back. I have just seen him -and his son with Red Crow, Trotting Wolf and Running Stream. There were -three others--Sioux I think they are; at any rate I did not know them. -They passed me in the coulee and took the Sarcee trail. Now what do you -think is up?" - -Jerry pondered. "Come from Crowfoot, heh?" - -"From the reserve here anyway," answered Cameron. - -"Trotting Wolf beeg Chief--Red Crow beeg Chief--ver' bad! ver' bad! -Dunno me--look somet'ing--beeg powwow mebbe. Ver' bad! Ver' bad! Go -Sarcee Reserve, heh?" Again Jerry pondered. "Come from h'east--by -Blood--Piegan--den Blackfeet--go Sarcee. What dey do? Where go den?" - -"That is the question, Jerry," said Cameron. - -"Sout' to Weegwam? No, nord to Ghost Reever--Manitou -Rock--dunno--mebbe." - -"By Jove, Jerry, I believe you may be right. I don't think they would go -to the Wigwam--we caught them there once--nor to the canyon. What about -this Ghost River? I don't know the trail. Where is it?" - -"Nord from Bow Reever by Kananaskis half day to Ghost Reever--bad -trail--small leetle reever--ver' stony--ver' cold--beeg tree wit' long -beard." - -"Long beard?" - -"Yes--long, long gray moss lak' beard--ver' strange place dat--from -Ghost Reever west one half day to beeg Manitou Rock--no trail. Beeg -medicine-dance dere--see heem once long tam' 'go--leetle boy me--beeg -medicine--Indian debbil stay dere--Indian much scare'--only go when mak' -beeg tam'--beeg medicine." - -"Let me see if I get you, Jerry. A bad trail leads half a day north from -the Bow at Kananaskis to Ghost River, eh?" - -Jerry nodded. - -"Then up the Ghost River westward through the bearded trees half a day -to the Manitou Rock? Is that right?" - -Again Jerry nodded. - -"How shall I know the rock?" - -"Beeg rock," said Jerry. "Beeg dat tree," pointing to a tall poplar, -"and cut straight down lak some knife--beeg rock--black rock." - -"All right," said Cameron. "What I want to know just now is does -Crowfoot know of this thing? I fancy he must. I am going in to see him. -Copperhead has just come from the reserve. He has Running Stream with -him. It is possible, just possible, that he may not have seen Crowfoot. -This I shall find out. Now, Jerry, you must follow Copperhead, find out -where he has gone and all you can about this business, and meet me -where the trail reaches the Ghost River. Call in at Fort Calgary. Take a -trooper with you to look after the horses. I shall follow you to-morrow. -If you are not at the Ghost River I shall go right on--that is if I see -any signs." - -"Bon! Good!" said Jerry. And without further word he slipped on to his -horse and disappeared into the darkness, taking the cross-trail through -the coulee by which Cameron had come. - -Crowfoot's camp showed every sign of the organization and discipline of -a master spirit. The tents and houses in which his Indians lived were -extended along both sides of a long valley flanked at both ends by -poplar-bluffs. At the bottom of the valley there was a series of -"sleughs" or little lakes, affording good grazing and water for the -herds of cattle and ponies that could be seen everywhere upon the -hillsides. At a point farthest from the water and near to a poplar-bluff -stood Crowfoot's house. At the first touch of summer, however, -Crowfoot's household had moved out from their dwelling, after the manner -of the Indians, and had taken up their lodging in a little group of -tents set beside the house. - -Toward this little group of tents Cameron rode at an easy lope. He found -Crowfoot alone beside his fire, except for the squaws that were cleaning -up after the evening meal and the papooses and older children rolling -about on the grass. As Cameron drew near, all vanished, except Crowfoot -and a youth about seventeen years of age, whose strongly marked features -and high, fearless bearing proclaimed him Crowfoot's son. Dismounting, -Cameron dropped the reins over his horse's head and with a word of -greeting to the Chief sat down by the fire. Crowfoot acknowledged his -salutation with a suspicious look and grunt. - -"Nice night, Crowfoot," said Cameron cheerfully. "Good weather for the -grass, eh?" - -"Good," said Crowfoot gruffly. - -Cameron pulled out his tobacco pouch and passed it to the Chief. With an -air of indescribable condescension Crowfoot took the pouch, knocked the -ashes from his pipe, filled it from the pouch and handed it back to the -owner. - -"Boy smoke?" inquired Cameron, holding out the pouch toward the youth. - -"Huh!" grunted Crowfoot with a slight relaxing of his face. "Not -yet--too small." - -The lad stood like a statue, and, except for a slight stiffening of -his tall lithe figure, remained absolutely motionless, after the Indian -manner. For some time they smoked in silence. - -"Getting cold," said Cameron at length, as he kicked the embers of the -fire together. - -Crowfoot spoke to his son and the lad piled wood on the fire till it -blazed high, then, at a sign from his father, he disappeared into the -tent. - -"Ha! That is better," said Cameron, stretching out his hands toward the -fire and disposing himself so that the old Chief's face should be set -clearly in its light. - -"The Police ride hard these days?" said Crowfoot in his own language, -after a long silence. - -"Oh, sometimes," replied Cameron carelessly, "when cattle-thieves ride -too." - -"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot innocently. - -"Yes, some Indians forget all that the Police have done for them, -and like coyotes steal upon the cattle at night and drive them over -cut-banks." - -"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot again, apparently much interested. - -"Yes," continued Cameron, fully aware that he was giving the old Chief -no news, "Eagle Feather will be much wiser when he rides over the plains -again." - -"Huh!" ejaculated the Chief in agreement. - -"But Eagle Feather," continued Cameron, "is not the worst Indian. He is -no good, only a little boy who does what he is told." - -"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot with childlike simplicity. - -"Yes, he is an old squaw serving his Chief." - -"Huh?" again inquired Crowfoot, moving his pipe from his mouth in his -apparent anxiety to learn the name of this unknown master of Eagle -Feather. - -"Onawata, the Sioux, is a great Chief," said Cameron. - -Crowfoot grunted his indifference. - -"He makes all the little Chiefs, Blood, Piegan, Sarcee, Blackfeet obey -him," said Cameron in a scornful voice, shading his face from the fire -with his hand. - -This time Crowfoot made no reply. - -"But he has left this country for a while?" continued Cameron. - -Crowfoot grunted acquiescence. - -"My brother has not seen this Sioux for some weeks?" Again Cameron's -hand shaded his face from the fire while his eyes searched the old -Chief's impassive countenance. - -"No," said Crowfoot. "Not for many days. Onawata bad man--make much -trouble." - -"The big war is going on good," said Cameron, abruptly changing the -subject. - -"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot, looking up quickly. - -"Yes," said Cameron. "At Fish Creek the half-breeds and Indians had a -good chance to wipe out General Middleton's column." And he proceeded -to give a graphic account of the rebels' opportunity at that unfortunate -affair. "But," he concluded, "the half-breeds and Indians have no -Chief." - -"No Chief," agreed Crowfoot with emphasis, his old eyes gleaming in -the firelight. "No Chief," he repeated. "Where Big Bear--Little -Pine--Kah-mee-yes-too-waegs and Oo-pee-too-korah-han-ap-ee-wee-yin?" - -"Oh," said Cameron, "here, there, everywhere." - -"Huh! No big Chief," grunted Crowfoot in disgust. "One big Chief make -all Indians one." - -It seemed worth while to Cameron to take a full hour from his precious -time to describe fully the operations of the troops and to make clear -to the old warrior the steady advances which the various columns were -making, the points they had relieved and the ultimate certainty of -victory. - -"Six thousand men now in the West," he concluded, "besides the Police. -And ten thousand more waiting to come." - -Old Crowfoot was evidently much impressed and was eager to learn more. - -"I must go now," said Cameron, rising. "Where is Running Stream?" he -asked, suddenly facing Crowfoot. - -"Huh! Running Stream he go hunt--t'ree day--not come back," answered -Crowfoot quickly. - -Cameron sat down again by the fire, poked up the embers till the blaze -mounted high. - -"Crowfoot," he said solemnly, "this day Onawata was in this camp and -spoke with you. Wait!" he said, putting up his hand as the old Chief -was about to speak. "This evening he rode away with Running Stream, Red -Crow, Trotting Wolf. The Sioux for many days has been leading about your -young men like dogs on a string. To-day he has put the string round the -necks of Red Crow, Running Stream, Trotting Wolf. I did not think he -could lead Crowfoot too like a little dog. - -"Wait!" he said again as Crowfoot rose to his feet in indignation. -"Listen! The Police will get that Sioux. And the Police will take the -Chiefs that he led round like little dogs and send them away. The Great -Mother cannot have men as Chiefs whom she cannot trust. For many years -the Police have protected the Indians. It was Crowfoot himself who once -said when the treaty was being made--Crowfoot will remember--'If the -Police had not come to the country where would we all be now? Bad men -and whisky were killing us so fast that very few indeed of us would have -been left to-day. The Police have protected us as the feathers of the -bird protect it from the frosts of winter.' This is what Crowfoot said -to the Great Mother's Councilor when he made a treaty with the Great -Mother." - -Here Cameron rose to his feet and stood facing the Chief. - -"Is Crowfoot a traitor? Does he give his hand and draw it back again? -It is not good that, when trouble comes, the Indians should join the -enemies of the Police and of the Great Mother across the sea. These -enemies will be scattered like dust before the wind. Does Crowfoot think -when the leaves have fallen from the trees this year there will be any -enemies left? Bah! This Sioux dog does not know the Great Mother, nor -her soldiers, nor her Police. Crowfoot knows. Why does he talk to the -enemies of the Great Mother and of his friends the Police? What does -Crowfoot say? I go to-night to take Onawata. Already my men are upon his -trail. Where does Crowfoot stand? With Onawata and the little Chiefs -he leads around or with the Great Mother and the Police? Speak! I am -waiting." - -The old Chief was deeply stirred. For some moments while Cameron was -speaking he had been eagerly seeking an opportunity to reply, but -Cameron's passionate torrent of words prevented him breaking in without -discourtesy. When Cameron ceased, however, the old Chief stretched out -his hand and in his own language began: - -"Many years ago the Police came to this country. My people then were -poor--" - -At this point the sound of a galloping horse was heard, mingled with the -loud cries of its rider. Crowfoot paused and stood intently listening. -Cameron could get no meaning from the shouting. From every tent men came -running forth and from the houses along the trail on every hand, till -before the horse had gained Crowfoot's presence there had gathered about -the Chief's fire a considerable crowd of Indians, whose numbers were -momentarily augmented by men from the tents and houses up and down the -trail. - -In calm and dignified silence the old Chief waited the rider's word. He -was an Indian runner and he bore an important message. - -Dismounting, the runner stood, struggling to recover his breath and to -regain sufficient calmness to deliver his message in proper form to the -great Chief of the Blackfeet confederacy. While he stood thus struggling -with himself Cameron took the opportunity to closely scrutinize his -face. - -"A Sarcee," he muttered. "I remember him--an impudent cur." He moved -quietly toward his horse, drew the reins up over his head, and, leading -him back toward the fire, took his place beside Crowfoot again. - -The Sarcee had begun his tale, speaking under intense excitement which -he vainly tried to control. He delivered his message. Such was the -rapidity and incoherence of his speech, however, that Cameron could make -nothing of it. The effect upon the crowd was immediate and astounding. -On every side rose wild cries of fierce exultation, while at Cameron -angry looks flashed from every eye. Old Crowfoot alone remained quiet, -calm, impassive, except for the fierce gleaming of his steady eyes. - -When the runner had delivered his message he held up his hand and -spoke but a single word. Immediately there was silence as of the grave. -Nothing was heard, not even the breathing of the Indians close about -him. In sharp, terse sentences the old Chief questioned the runner, who -replied at first eagerly, then, as the questions proceeded, with some -hesitation. Finally, with a wave of the hand Crowfoot dismissed him and -stood silently pondering for some moments. Then he turned to his people -and said with quiet and impressive dignity: - -"This is a matter for the Council. To-morrow we will discuss it." Then -turning to Cameron he said in a low voice and with grave courtesy, "It -is wise that my brother should go while the trails are open." - -"The trails are always open to the Great Mother's Mounted Police," said -Cameron, looking the old Chief full in the eye. - -Crowfoot stood silent, evidently thinking deeply. - -"It is right that my brother should know," he said at length, "what the -runner tells," and in his deep guttural voice there was a ring of pride. - -"Good news is always welcome," said Cameron, as he coolly pulled out his -pipe and offered his pouch once more to Crowfoot, who, however, declined -to see it. - -"The white soldiers have attacked the Indians and have been driven -back," said Crowfoot with a keen glance at Cameron's face. - -"Ah!" said Cameron, smiling. "What Indians? What white soldiers?" - -"The soldiers that marched to Battleford. They went against -Oo-pee-too-korah-han-ap-ee-wee-yin and the Indians did not run away." No -words could describe the tone and attitude of exultant and haughty pride -with which the old Chief delivered this information. - -"Crowfoot," said Cameron with deliberate emphasis, "it was Colonel Otter -and Superintendent Herchmer of the Mounted Police that went north -to Battleford. You do not know Colonel Otter, but you do know -Superintendent Herchmer. Tell me, would Superintendent Herchmer and the -Police run away?" - -"The runner tells that the white soldiers ran away," said Crowfoot -stubbornly. - -"Then the runner lies!" Cameron's voice rang out loud and clear. - -Swift as a lightning flash the Sarcee sprang at Cameron, knife in hand, -crying in the Blackfeet tongue that terrible cry so long dreaded by -settlers in the Western States of America, "Death to the white man!" -Without apparently moving a muscle, still holding by the mane of his -horse, Cameron met the attack with a swift and well-placed kick which -caught the Indian's right wrist and flung his knife high in the air. -Following up the kick, Cameron took a single step forward and met the -murderous Sarcee with a straight left-hand blow on the jaw that landed -the Indian across the fire and deposited him kicking amid the crowd. - -Immediately there was a quick rush toward the white man, but the rush -halted before two little black barrels with two hard, steady, gray eyes -gleaming behind them. - -"Crowfoot!" said Cameron sharply. "I hold ten dead Indians in my hands." - -With a single stride Crowfoot was at Cameron's side. A single sharp -stern word of command he uttered and the menacing Indians slunk back -into the shadows, but growling like angry beasts. - -"Is it wise to anger my young men?" said Crowfoot in a low voice. - -"Is it wise," replied Cameron sternly, "to allow mad dogs to run loose? -We kill such mad dogs in my country." - -"Huh," grunted Crowfoot with a shrug of his shoulders. "Let him die!" -Then in a lower voice he added earnestly, "It would be good to take the -trail before my young men can catch their horses." - -"I was just going, Crowfoot," said Cameron, stooping to light his -pipe at the fire. "Good-night. Remember what I have said." And Cameron -cantered away with both hands low before him and guiding his broncho -with his knees, and so rode easily till safely beyond the line of the -reserve. Once out of the reserve he struck his spurs hard into his horse -and sent him onward at headlong pace toward the Militia camp. - -Ten minutes after his arrival at the camp every soldier was in his place -ready to strike, and so remained all night, with pickets thrown far out -listening with ears attent for the soft pad of moccasined feet. - - - -CHAPTER XX - -THE LAST PATROL - - -It was still early morning when Cameron rode into the barrack-yard at -Fort Calgary. To the Sergeant in charge, the Superintendent of Police -having departed to Macleod, he reported the events of the preceding -night. - -"What about that rumor, Sergeant?" he inquired after he had told his -tale. - -"Well, I had the details yesterday," replied the Sergeant. "Colonel -Otter and a column of some three hundred men with three guns went out -after Pound-maker. The Indians were apparently strongly posted and could -not be dislodged, and I guess our men were glad to get out of the scrape -as easily as they did." - -"Great Heavens!" cried Cameron, more to himself than to the officer, -"what will this mean to us here?" - -The Sergeant shrugged his shoulders. - -"The Lord only knows!" he said. - -"Well, my business presses all the more," said Cameron. "I'm going after -this Sioux. Jerry is already on his trail. I suppose you cannot let -me have three or four men? There is liable to be trouble and we cannot -afford to make a mess of this thing." - -"Jerry came in last night asking for a man," replied the Sergeant, "but -I could not spare one. However, we will do our best and send you on the -very first men that come in." - -"Send on half a dozen to-morrow at the very latest," replied Cameron. "I -shall rely upon you. Let me give you my trail." - -He left a plan of the Ghost River Trail with the Sergeant and rode to -look up Dr. Martin. He found the doctor still in bed and wrathful at -being disturbed. - -"I say, Cameron," he growled, "what in thunder do you mean by roaming -round this way at night and waking up Christian people out of their -sleep?" - -"Sorry, old boy," replied Cameron, "but my business is rather -important." - -And then while the doctor sat and shivered in his night clothes upon the -side of the bed Cameron gave him in detail the history of the previous -evening and outlined his plan for the capture of the Sioux. - -Dr. Martin listened intently, noting the various points and sketching an -outline of the trail as Cameron described it. - -"I wanted you to know, Martin, in case anything happened. For, well, you -know how it is with my wife just now. A shock might kill her." - -The doctor growled an indistinct reply. - -"That is all, old chap. Good-by," said Cameron, pressing his hand. "This -I feel is my last go with old Copperhead." - -"Your last go?" - -"Oh, don't be alarmed," he replied lightly. "I am going to get him this -time. There will be no trifling henceforth. Well, good-by, I am off. -By the way, the Sergeant at the barracks has promised to send on half -a dozen men to-morrow to back me up. You might just keep him in mind of -that, for things are so pressing here that he might quite well imagine -that he could not spare the men." - -"Well, that is rather better," said Martin. "The Sergeant will send -those men all right, or I will know the reason why. Hope you get your -game. Good-by, old man." - -A day's ride brought Cameron to Kananaskis, where the Sun Dance Trail -ends on one side of the Bow River and the Ghost River Trail begins on -the other. There he found signs to indicate that Jerry was before him -on his way to the Manitou Rock. As Cameron was preparing to camp for -the night there came over him a strong but unaccountable presentiment -of approaching evil, an irresistible feeling that he ought to press -forward. - -"Pshaw! I will be seeing spooks next!" he said impatiently to himself. -"I suppose it is the Highlander in me that is seeing visions and -dreaming dreams. I must eat, however, no matter what is going to -happen." - -Leaving his horse saddled, but removing the bridle, he gave him his -feed of oats, then he boiled his tea and made his own supper. As he was -eating the feeling grew more strongly upon him that he should not camp -but go forward at once. At the same time he made the discovery that the -weariness that had almost overpowered him during the last half-hour -of his ride had completely vanished. Hence, with the feeling of half -contemptuous anger at himself for yielding to his presentiment, he -packed up his kit again, bridled his horse, and rode on. - -The trail was indeed, as Jerry said, "no trail." It was rugged with -broken rocks and cumbered with fallen trees, and as it proceeded became -more indistinct. His horse, too, from sheer weariness, for he had -already done his full day's journey, was growing less sure footed and -so went stumbling noisily along. Cameron began to regret his folly in -yielding to a mere unreasoning imagination and he resolved to spend the -night at the first camping-ground that should offer. The light of the -long spring day was beginning to fade from the sky and in the forest the -deep shadows were beginning to gather. Still no suitable camping-ground -presented itself and Cameron stubbornly pressed forward through the -forest that grew denser and more difficult at every step. After some -hours of steady plodding the trees began to be sensibly larger, the -birch and poplar gave place to spruce and pine and the underbrush almost -entirely disappeared. The trail, too, became better, winding between -the large trees which, with clean trunks, stood wide apart and arranged -themselves in stately high-arched aisles and long corridors. From the -lofty branches overhead the gray moss hung in long streamers, as Jerry -had said, giving to the trees an ancient and weird appearance. Along -these silent, solemn, gray-festooned aisles and corridors Cameron rode -with an uncanny sensation that unseen eyes were peering out upon him -from those dim and festooned corridors on either side. Impatiently he -strove to shake off the feeling, but in vain. At length, forced by -the growing darkness, he decided to camp, when through the shadowy and -silent forest there came to his ears the welcome sound of running water. -It was to Cameron like the sound of a human voice. He almost called -aloud to the running stream as to a friend. It was the Ghost River. - -In a few minutes he had reached the water and after picketing his horse -some little distance down the stream and away from the trail, he -rolled himself in his blanket to sleep. The moon rising above the high -tree-tops filled the forest aisles with a soft unearthly light. As his -eye followed down the long dim aisles there grew once more upon him -the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. Vainly he cursed -himself for his folly. He could not sleep. A twig broke near him. He -lay still listening with every nerve taut. He fancied he could hear soft -feet about him and stealing near. With his two guns in hand he sat bolt -upright. Straight before him and not more than ten feet away the form of -an Indian was plainly to be seen. A slight sound to his right drew his -eyes in that direction. There, too, stood the silent form of an Indian, -on his left also an Indian. Suddenly from behind him a deep, guttural -voice spoke, "Look this way!" He turned sharply and found himself gazing -into a rifle-barrel a few feet from his face. "Now look back!" said the -voice. He glanced to right and left, only to find rifles leveled at him -from every side. - -"White man put down his guns on ground!" said the same guttural voice. - -Cameron hesitated. - -"Indian speak no more," said the voice in a deep growl. - -Cameron put his guns down. - -"Stand up!" said the voice. - -Cameron obeyed. Out from behind the Indian with the leveled rifle glided -another Indian form. It was Copperhead. Two more Indians appeared with -him. All thought of resistance passed from Cameron's mind. It would mean -instant death, and, what to Cameron was worse than death, the certain -failure of his plans. While he lived he still had hope. Besides, there -would be the Police next day. - -With savage, cruel haste Copperhead bound his hands behind his back and -as a further precaution threw a cord about his neck. - -"Come!" he said, giving the cord a quick jerk. - -"Copperhead," said Cameron through his clenched teeth, "you will one day -wish you had never done this thing." - -"No speak!" said Copperhead gruffly, jerking the cord so heavily as -almost to throw Cameron off his feet. - -Through the night Cameron stumbled on with his captors, Copperhead in -front and the others following. Half dead with sleeplessness and blind -with rage he walked on as if in a hideous nightmare, mechanically -watching the feet of the Indian immediately in front of him and thus -saving himself many a cruel fall and a more cruel jerking of the cord -about his neck, for such was Copperhead's method of lifting him to his -feet when he fell. It seemed to him as if the night would never pass or -the journey end. - -At length the throbbing of the Indian drum fell upon his ears. It was to -him a welcome sound. Nothing could be much more agonizing than what he -was at present enduring. As they approached the Indian camp one of his -captors raised a wild, wailing cry which resounded through the forest -with an unearthly sound. Never had such a cry fallen upon Cameron's -ears. It was the old-time cry of the Indian warriors announcing that -they were returning in triumph bringing their captives with them. -The drum-beat ceased. Again the cry was raised, when from the Indian -encampment came in reply a chorus of similar cries followed by a rush -of braves to meet the approaching warriors and to welcome them and their -captives. - -With loud and discordant exultation straight into the circle of the -firelight cast from many fires Copperhead and his companions marched -their captive. On every side naked painted Indians to the number of -several score crowded in tumultuous uproar. Not for many years had these -Indians witnessed their ancient and joyous sport of baiting a prisoner. - -As Cameron came into the clear light of the fire instantly low murmurs -ran round the crowd, for to many of them he was well known. Then silence -fell upon them. His presence there was clearly a shock to many of -them. To take prisoner one of the Mounted Police and to submit him to -indignity stirred strange emotions in their hearts. The keen eye of -Copperhead noted the sudden change of the mood of the Indians and -immediately he gave orders to those who held Cameron in charge, with the -result that they hurried him off and thrust him into a little low hut -constructed of brush and open in front where, after tying his feet -securely, they left him with an Indian on guard in front. - -For some moments Cameron lay stupid with weariness and pain till his -weariness overpowered his pain and he sank into sleep. He was recalled -to consciousness by the sensation of something digging into his ribs. As -he sat up half asleep a low "hist!" startled him wide awake. His heart -leaped as he heard out of the darkness a whispered word, "Jerry here." -Cameron rolled over and came close against the little half-breed, bound -as he was himself. Again came the "hist!" - -"Me all lak' youse'f," said Jerry. "No spik any. Look out front." - -The Indian on guard was eagerly looking and listening to what was going -on before him beside the fire. At one side of the circle sat the Indians -in council. Copperhead was standing and speaking to them. - -"What is he saying?" said Cameron, his mouth close to Jerry's ear. - -"He say dey keel us queeck. Indian no lak' keel. Dey scare Police get -'em. Copperhead he ver' mad. Say he keel us heemse'f--queeck." - -Again and again and with ever increasing vehemence Copperhead urged his -views upon the hesitating Indians, well aware that by involving them in -such a deed of blood he would irrevocably commit them to rebellion. But -he was dealing with men well-nigh as subtle as himself, and for the very -same reason as he pressed them to the deed they shrank back from it. -They were not yet quite prepared to burn their bridges behind them. -Indeed some of them suggested the wisdom of holding the prisoners as -hostages in case of necessity arising in the future. - -"What Indians are here?" whispered Cameron. - -"Piegan, Sarcee, Blood," breathed Jerry. "No Blackfeet come--not -yet--Copperhead he look, look, look all yesterday for Blackfeet -coming. Blackfeet come to-morrow mebbe--den Indian mak' beeg medicine. -Copperhead he go meet Blackfeet dis day--he catch you--he go 'gain -to-morrow mebbe--dunno." - -Meantime the discussion in the council was drawing to a climax. With -the astuteness of a true leader Copperhead ceased to urge his view, and, -unable to secure the best, wisely determined to content himself with the -second-best. His vehement tone gave place to one of persuasion. Finally -an agreement appeared to be reached by all. With one consent the council -rose and with hands uplifted they all appeared to take some solemn oath. - -"What are they saying?" whispered Cameron. - -"He say," replied Jerry, "he go meet Blackfeet and when he bring 'em -back den dey keel us sure t'ing. But," added Jerry with a cheerful -giggle, "he not keel 'em yet, by Gar!" - -For some minutes they waited in silence, then they saw Copperhead with -his bodyguard of Sioux disappear from the circle of the firelight into -the shadows of the forest. - -"Now you go sleep," whispered Jerry. "Me keep watch." - -Even before he had finished speaking Cameron had lain back upon the -ground and in spite of the pain in his tightly bound limbs such was his -utter exhaustion that he fell fast asleep. - -It seemed to him but a moment when he was again awakened by the touch -of a hand stealing over his face. The hand reached his lips and rested -there, when he started up wide-awake. A soft hiss from the back of the -hut arrested him. - -"No noise," said a soft guttural voice. Again the hand was thrust -through the brush wall, this time bearing a knife. "Cut string," -whispered the voice, while the hand kept feeling for the thongs that -bound Cameron's hands. In a few moments Cameron was free from his bonds. - -"Give me the knife," he whispered. It was placed in his hands. - -"Tell you squaw," said the voice, "sick boy not forget." - -"I will tell her," replied Cameron. "She will never forget you." The boy -laid his hand on Cameron's lips and was gone. - -Soon Jerry too was free. Slowly they wormed their way through the flimsy -brush wall at the back, and, crouching low, looked about them. The camp -was deep in sleep. The fires were smoldering in their ashes. Not an -Indian was moving. Lying across the front of their little hut the -sleeping form of their guard could be seen. The forest was still black -behind them, but already there was in the paling stars the faint promise -of the dawn. Hardly daring to breathe, they rose and stood looking at -each other. - -"No stir," said Jerry with his lips at Cameron's ear. He dropped on his -hands and knees and began carefully to remove every twig from his path -so that his feet might rest only upon the deep leafy mold of the -forest. Carefully Cameron followed his example, and, working slowly and -painfully, they gained the cover of the dark forest away from the circle -of the firelight. - -Scarcely had they reached that shelter when an Indian rose from beside -a fire, raked the embers together, and threw some sticks upon it. As -Cameron stood watching him, his heart-beat thumping in his ears, a -rotten twig snapped under his feet. The Indian turned his face in their -direction, and, bending forward, appeared to be listening intently. -Instantly Jerry, stooping down, made a scrambling noise in the leaves, -ending with a thump upon the ground. Immediately the Indian relaxed his -listening attitude, satisfied that a rabbit was scurrying through the -forest upon his own errand bent. Rigidly silent they stood, watching him -till long after he had lain down again in his place, then once more they -began their painful advance, clearing treacherous twigs from every place -where their feet should rest. Fortunately for their going the forest -here was largely free from underbrush. Working carefully and painfully -for half an hour, and avoiding the trail by the Ghost River, they made -their way out of hearing of the camp and then set off at such speed as -their path allowed, Jerry in the lead and Cameron following. - -"Where are you going, Jerry?" inquired Cameron as the little half-breed, -without halt or hesitation, went slipping through the forest. - -"Kananaskis," said Jerry. "Strike trail near Bow Reever." - -"Hold up for a moment, Jerry. I want to talk to you," said Cameron. - -"No! Mak' speed now. Stop in brush." - -"All right," said Cameron, following close upon his heels. - -The morning broadened into day, but they made no pause till they had -left behind them the open timber and gained the cover of the forest -where the underbrush grew thick. Then Jerry, finding a dry and sheltered -spot, threw himself down and stretched himself at full length waiting -for Cameron's word. - -"Tired, Jerry?" said Cameron. - -"Non," replied the little man scornfully. "When lie down tak' 'em easy." - -"Good! Now listen! Copperhead is on his way to meet the Blackfeet, but -I fancy he is going to be disappointed." Then Cameron narrated to Jerry -the story of his recent interview with Crowfoot. "So I don't think," he -concluded, "any Blackfeet will come. Copperhead and Running Stream are -going to be sold this time. Besides that the Police are on their way to -Kananaskis following our trail. They will reach Kananaskis to-night and -start for Ghost River to-morrow. We ought to get Copperhead between us -somewhere on the Ghost River trail and we must get him to-day. Where -will he be now?" - -Jerry considered the matter, then, pointing straight eastward, he -replied: - -"On trail Kananaskis not far from Ghost Reever." - -"Will he be that far?" inquired Cameron. "He would have to sleep and -eat, Jerry." - -"Non! No sleep--hit sam' tam' he run." - -"Then it is quite possible," said Cameron, "that we may head him off." - -"Mebbe--dunno how fas' he go," said Jerry. - -"By the way, Jerry, when do we eat?" inquired Cameron. - -"Pull belt tight," said Jerry with a grin. "Hit at cache on trail." - -"Do you mean to say you had the good sense to cache some grub, Jerry, on -your way down?" - -"Jerry lak' squirrel," replied the half-breed. "Cache grub many -place--sometam come good." - -"Great head, Jerry. Now, where is the cache?" - -"Halfway Kananaskis to Ghost Reever." - -"Then, Jerry, we must make that Ghost River trail and make it quick if -we are to intercept Copperhead." - -"Bon! We mus' mak' beeg speed for sure." And "make big speed" they -did, with the result that by midday they struck the trail not far from -Jerry's cache. As they approached the trail they proceeded with extreme -caution, for they knew that at any moment they might run upon Copperhead -and his band or upon some of their Indian pursuers who would assuredly -be following them hard. A careful scrutiny of the trail showed that -neither Copperhead nor their pursuers had yet passed by. - -"Come now ver' soon," said Jerry, as he left the trail, and, plunging -into the brush, led the way with unerring precision to where he had made -his cache. Quickly they secured the food and with it made their way back -to a position from which they could command a view of the trail. - -"Go sleep now," said Jerry, after they had done. "Me watch one hour." - -Gladly Cameron availed himself of the opportunity to catch up his sleep, -in which he was many hours behind. He stretched himself on the ground -and in a moment's time lay as completely unconscious as if dead. But -before half of his allotted time was gone he was awakened by Jerry's -hand pressing steadily upon his arm. - -"Indian come," whispered the half-breed. Instantly Cameron was -wide-awake and fully alert. - -"How many, Jerry?" he asked, lying with his ear to the ground. - -"Dunno. T'ree--four mebbe." - -They had not long to wait. Almost as Jerry was speaking the figure of an -Indian came into view, running with that tireless trot that can wear out -any wild animal that roams the woods. - -"Copperhead!" whispered Cameron, tightening his belt and making as if to -rise. - -"Wait!" replied Jerry. "One more." - -Following Copperhead, and running not close upon him but at some -distance behind, came another Indian, then another, till three had -passed their hiding-place. - -"Four against two, Jerry," said Cameron. "That is all right. They have -their knives, I see, but only one gun. We have no guns and only one -knife. But Jerry, we can go in and kill them with our bare hands." - -Jerry nodded carelessly. He had fought too often against much greater -odds in Police battles to be unduly disturbed at the present odds. - -Silently and at a safe distance behind they fell into the wake of the -running Indians, Jerry with his moccasined feet leading the way. Mile -after mile they followed the trail, ever on the alert for the doubling -back of those whom they were pursuing. Suddenly Cameron heard a sharp -hiss from Jerry in front. Swiftly he flung himself into the brush and -lay still. Within a minute he saw coming back upon the trail an Indian, -silent as a shadow and listening at every step. The Indian passed his -hiding-place and for some minutes Cameron lay watching until he saw him -return in the same stealthy manner. After some minutes had elapsed a -soft hiss from Jerry brought Cameron cautiously out upon the trail once -more. - -"All right," whispered Jerry. "All Indians pass on before." And once -more they went forward. - -A second time during the afternoon Jerry's warning hiss sent Cameron -into the brush to allow an Indian to scout his back trail. It was clear -that the presence of Cameron and the half-breed upon the Ghost River -trail had awakened the suspicion in Copperhead's mind that the plan to -hold a powwow at Manitou Rock was known to the Police and that they were -on his trail. It became therefore increasingly evident to Cameron that -any plan that involved the possibility of taking Copperhead unawares -would have to be abandoned. He called Jerry back to him. - -"Jerry," he said, "if that Indian doubles back on his track again I mean -to get him. If we get him the other chaps will follow. If I only had a -gun! But this knife is no use to me." - -"Give heem to me," said Jerry eagerly. "I find heem good." - -It was toward the close of the afternoon when again Jerry's hiss warned -Cameron that the Indian was returning upon his trail. Cameron stepped -into the brush at the side, and, crouching low, prepared for the -encounter, but as he was about to spring Jerry flashed past him, and, -hurling himself upon the Indian's back, gripped him by the throat and -bore him choking to earth, knocking the wind out of him and rendering -him powerless. Jerry's knife descended once bright, once red, and the -Indian with a horrible gasping cry lay still. - -"Quick!" cried Cameron, seizing the dead man by the shoulders. "Lift him -up!" - -Jerry sprang to seize the legs, and, taking care not to break down the -brush on either side of the trail, they lifted the body into the thick -underwood and concealing themselves beside it awaited events. Hardly -were they out of sight when they heard the soft pad of several feet -running down the trail. Opposite them the feet stopped abruptly. - -"Huh!" grunted the Indian runner, and darted back by the way he had -come. - -"Heem see blood," whispered Jerry. "Go back tell Copperhead." - -With every nerve strung to its highest tension they waited, crouching, -Jerry tingling and quivering with the intensity of his excitement, -Cameron quiet, cool, as if assured of the issue. - -"I am going to get that devil this time, Jerry," he breathed. "He -dragged me by the neck once. I will show him something." - -Jerry laid his hand upon his arm. At a little distance from them there -was a sound of creeping steps. A few moments they waited and at their -side the brush began to quiver. A moment later beside Cameron's face -a hand carrying a rifle parted the screen of spruce boughs. Quick as -a flash Cameron seized the wrist, gripping it with both hands, and, -putting his weight into the swing, flung himself backwards; at the same -time catching the body with his knee, he heaved it clear over their -heads and landed it hard against a tree. The rifle tumbled from the -Indian's hand and he lay squirming on the ground. Immediately as Jerry -sprang for the rifle a second Indian thrust his face through the screen, -caught sight of Jerry with the rifle, darted back and disappeared with -Jerry hard upon his trail. Scarcely had they vanished into the brush -when Cameron, hearing a slight sound at his back, turned swiftly to -see a tall Indian charging upon him with knife raised to strike. He had -barely time to thrust up his arm and divert the blow from his neck to -his shoulder when the Indian was upon him like a wild cat. - -"Ha! Copperhead!" cried Cameron with exultation, as he flung him off. -"At last I have you! Your time has come!" - -The Sioux paused in his attack, looking scornfully at his antagonist. -He was dressed in a highly embroidered tight-fitting deerskin coat and -leggings. - -"Huh!" he grunted in a voice of quiet, concentrated fury. "The white dog -will die." - -"No, Copperhead," replied Cameron quietly. "You have a knife, I have -none, but I shall lead you like a dog into the Police guard-house." - -The Sioux said nothing in reply, but kept circling lightly on his toes -waiting his chance to spring. As the two men stood facing each other -there was little to choose between them in physical strength and agility -as well as in intelligent fighting qualities. There was this difference, -however, that the Indian's fighting had ever been to kill, the white -man's simply to win. But this difference to-day had ceased to exist. -There was in Cameron's mind the determination to kill if need be. One -immense advantage the Indian held in that he possessed a weapon in -the use of which he was a master and by means of which he had already -inflicted a serious wound upon his enemy, a wound which as yet was but -slightly felt. To deprive the Indian of that knife was Cameron's first -aim. That once achieved, the end could not long be delayed; for the -Indian, though a skillful wrestler, knows little of the art of fighting -with his hands. - -As Cameron stood on guard watching his enemy's movements, his mind -recalled in swift review the various wrongs he had suffered at his -hands, the fright and insult to his wife, the devastation of his home, -the cattle-raid involving the death of Raven, and lastly he remembered -with a deep rage his recent humiliation at the Indian's hands and how -he had been hauled along by the neck and led like a dog into the Indian -camp. At these recollections he became conscious of a burning desire to -humiliate the redskin who had dared to do these things to him. - -With this in mind he waited the Indian's attack. The attack came swift -as a serpent's dart, a feint to strike, a swift recoil, then like -a flash of light a hard drive with the knife. But quick as was the -Indian's drive Cameron was quicker. Catching the knife-hand at the wrist -he drew it sharply down, meeting at the same time the Indian's chin with -a short, hard uppercut that jarred his head so seriously that his grip -on the knife relaxed and it fell from his hand. Cameron kicked it behind -him into the brush while the Indian, with a mighty wrench, released -himself from Cameron's grip and sprang back free. For some time the -Indian kept away out of Cameron's reach as if uncertain of himself. -Cameron taunted him. - -"Onawata has had enough! He cannot fight unless he has a knife! See! I -will punish the great Sioux Chief like a little child." - -So saying, Cameron stepped quickly toward him, made a few passes and -once, twice, with his open hand slapped the Indian's face hard. In a mad -fury of passion the Indian rushed upon him. Cameron met him with blows, -one, two, three, the last one heavy enough to lay him on the ground -insensible. - -"Oh, get up!" said Cameron contemptuously, kicking him as he might a -dog. "Get up and be a man!" - -Slowly the Indian rose, wiping his bleeding lips, hate burning in his -eyes, but in them also a new look, one of fear. - -"Ha! Onawata is a great fighter!" smiled Cameron, enjoying to the full -the humiliation of his enemy. - -Slowly the Indian gathered himself together. He was no coward and he was -by no means beaten as yet, but this kind of fighting was new to him. He -apparently determined to avoid those hammering fists of the white man. -With extraordinary agility he kept out of Cameron's reach, circling -about him and dodging in and out among the trees. While thus pressing -hard upon the Sioux Cameron suddenly became conscious of a sensation -of weakness. The bloodletting of the knife wound was beginning to tell. -Cameron began to dread that if ever this Indian made up his mind to run -away he might yet escape. He began to regret his trifling with him and -he resolved to end the fight as soon as possible with a knock-out blow. - -The quick eye of the Indian perceived that Cameron's breath was coming -quicker, and, still keeping carefully out of his enemy's reach, he -danced about more swiftly than ever. Cameron realized that he must bring -the matter quickly to an end. Feigning a weakness greater than he felt, -he induced the Indian to run in upon him, but this time the Indian -avoided the smashing blow with which Cameron met him, and, locking his -arms about his antagonist and gripping him by the wounded shoulder, -began steadily to wear him to the ground. Sickened by the intensity -of the pain in his wounded shoulder, Cameron felt his strength rapidly -leaving him. Gradually the Indian shifted his hand up from the shoulder -to the neck, the fingers working their way toward Cameron's face. Well -did Cameron know the savage trick which the Indian had in mind. In a -few minutes more those fingers would be in Cameron's eyes pressing the -eyeballs from their sockets. It was now the Indian's turn to jibe. - -"Huh!" he exclaimed. "White man no good. Soon he see no more." - -The taunt served to stimulate every ounce of Cameron's remaining -strength. With a mighty effort he wrenched the Indian's hand from his -face, and, tearing himself free, swung his clenched fist with all his -weight upon the Indian's neck. The blow struck just beneath the jugular -vein. The Indian's grip relaxed, he staggered back a pace, half stunned. -Summoning all his force, Cameron followed up with one straight blow upon -the chin. He needed no other. As if stricken by an axe the Indian -fell to the earth and lay as if dead. Sinking on the ground beside him -Cameron exerted all his will-power to keep himself from fainting. After -a few minutes' fierce struggle with himself he was sufficiently revived -to be able to bind the Indian's hands behind his back with his belt. -Searching among the brushwood, he found the Indian's knife, and cut from -his leather trousers sufficient thongs to bind his legs, working with -fierce and concentrated energy while his strength lasted. At length as -the hands were drawn tight darkness fell upon his eyes and he sank down -unconscious beside his foe. - - - -"There, that's better! He has lost a lot of blood, but we have checked -that flow and he will soon be right. Hello, old man! Just waking up, -are you? Lie perfectly still. Come, you must lie still. What? Oh, -Copperhead? Well, he is safe enough. What? No, never fear. We know the -old snake and we have tied him fast. Jerry has a fine assortment of -knots adorning his person. Now, no more talking for half a day. Your -wound is clean enough. A mighty close shave it was, but by to-morrow you -will be fairly fit. Copperhead? Oh, never mind Copperhead. I assure you -he is safe enough. Hardly fit to travel yet. What happened to him? Looks -as if a tree had fallen upon him." To which chatter of Dr. Martin's -Cameron could only make feeble answer, "For God's sake don't let him -go!" - -After the capture of Copperhead the camp at Manitou Lake faded away, for -when the Police Patrol under Jerry's guidance rode up the Ghost River -Trail they found only the cold ashes of camp-fires and the debris that -remains after a powwow. - -Three days later Cameron rode back into Fort Calgary, sore but content, -for at his stirrup and bound to his saddle-horn rode the Sioux Chief, -proud, untamed, but a prisoner. As he rode into the little town his -quick eyes flashed scorn upon all the curious gazers, but in their -depths beneath the scorn there looked forth an agony that only Cameron -saw and understood. He had played for a great stake and had lost. - -As the patrol rode into Fort Calgary the little town was in an uproar of -jubilation. - -"What's the row?" inquired the doctor, for Cameron felt too weary to -inquire. - -"A great victory for the troops!" said a young chap dressed in cow-boy -garb. "Middleton has smashed the half-breeds at Batoche. Riel is -captured. The whole rebellion business is bust up." - -Cameron threw a swift glance at the Sioux's face. A fierce anxiety -looked out of the gleaming eyes. - -"Tell him, Jerry," said Cameron to the half-breed who rode at his other -side. - -As Jerry told the Indian of the total collapse of the rebellion and the -capture of its leader the stern face grew eloquent with contempt. - -"Bah!" he said, spitting on the ground. "Riel he much fool--no good -fight. Indian got no Chief--no Chief." The look on his face all too -clearly revealed that his soul was experiencing the bitterness of death. - -Cameron almost pitied him, but he spoke no word. There was nothing that -one could say and besides he was far too weary for anything but rest. -At the gate of the Barrack yard his old Superintendent from Fort Macleod -met the party. - -"You are wounded, Cameron?" exclaimed the Superintendent, glancing in -alarm at Cameron's wan face. - -"I have got him," replied Cameron, loosing the lariat from the horn of -his saddle and handing the end to an orderly. "But," he added, "it seems -hardly worth while now." - -"Worth while! Worth while!" exclaimed the Superintendent with as much -excitement as he ever allowed to appear in his tone. "Let me tell you, -Cameron, that if any one thing has kept me from getting into a blue funk -during these months it was the feeling that you were on patrol along the -Sun Dance Trail." - -"Funk?" exclaimed Cameron with a smile. "Funk?" But while he smiled he -looked into the cold, gray eyes of his Chief, and, noting the unwonted -glow in them, he felt that after all his work as the Patrol of the Sun -Dance Trail was perhaps worth while. - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -WHY THE DOCTOR STAYED - - -The Big Horn River, fed by July suns burning upon glaciers high up -between the mountain-peaks, was running full to its lips and gleaming -like a broad ribbon of silver, where, after rushing hurriedly out of the -rock-ribbed foothills, it settled down into a deep steady flow through -the wide valley of its own name. On the tawny undulating hillsides, -glorious in the splendid July sun, herds of cattle and horses were -feeding, making with the tawny hillsides and the silver river a picture -of luxurious ease and quiet security that fitted well with the mood of -the two men sitting upon the shady side of the Big Horn Ranch House. - -Inspector Dickson was enjoying to the full his after-dinner pipe, -and with him Dr. Martin, who was engaged in judiciously pumping -the Inspector in regard to the happenings of the recent -campaign--successfully, too, except where he touched those events in -which the Inspector himself had played a part. - -The war was over. Batoche had practically settled the Rebellion. Riel -was in his cell at Regina awaiting trial and execution. Pound-maker, -Little Pine, Big Bear and some of their other Chiefs were similarly -disposed of. Copperhead at Macleod was fretting his life out like an -eagle in a cage. The various regiments of citizen soldiers had gone back -to their homes to be received with vociferous welcome, except such of -them as were received in reverent silence, to be laid away among the -immortals with quiet falling tears. The Police were busily engaged in -wiping up the debris of the Rebellion. The Commissioner, intent upon his -duty, was riding the marches, bearing in grim silence the criticism of -empty-headed and omniscient scribblers, because, forsooth, he had -obeyed his Chief's orders, and, resisting the greatest provocation to -do otherwise, had held steadfastly to his post, guarding with resolute -courage what was committed to his trust. The Superintendents and -Inspectors were back at their various posts, settling upon the reserves -wandering bands of Indians, some of whom were just awakening to the -fact that they had missed a great opportunity and were grudgingly -surrendering to the inevitable, and, under the wise, firm, judicious -handling of the Police, were slowly returning to their pre-rebellion -status. - -The Western ranches were rejoicing in a sense of vast relief from the -terrible pall that like a death-cloud had been hanging over them for six -months and all Western Canada was thrilling with the expectation of a -new era of prosperity consequent upon its being discovered by the big -world outside. - -Upon the two men thus discussing, Mrs. Cameron, carrying in her arms her -babe, bore down in magnificent and modest pride, wearing with matronly -grace her new glory of a great achievement, the greatest open to -womankind. - -"He has just waked up from a very fine sleep," she exclaimed, "to make -your acquaintance, Inspector. I hope you duly appreciate the honor done -you." - -The Inspector rose to his feet and saluted the new arrival with becoming -respect. - -"Now," said Mrs. Cameron, settling herself down with an air of -determined resolve, "I want to hear all about it." - -"Meaning?" said the Inspector. - -"Meaning, to begin with, that famous march of yours from Calgary to the -far North land where you did so many heroic things." - -But the Inspector's talk had a trick of fading away at the end of -the third sentence and it was with difficulty that they could get him -started again. - -"You are most provoking!" finally exclaimed Mrs. Cameron, giving up the -struggle. "Isn't he, baby?" - -The latter turned upon the Inspector two steady blue eyes beaming with -the intelligence of a two months' experience of men and things, and -announced his grave disapproval of the Inspector's conduct in a distinct -"goo!" - -"There!" exclaimed his mother triumphantly. "I told you so. What have -you now to say for yourself?" - -The Inspector regarded the blue-eyed atom with reverent wonder. - -"Most remarkable young person I ever saw in my life, Mrs. Cameron," he -asserted positively. - -The proud mother beamed upon him. - -"Well, baby, he IS provoking, but we will forgive him since he is so -clever at discovering your remarkable qualities." - -"Pshaw!" said Dr. Martin. "That's nothing. Any one could see them. They -stick right out of that baby." - -"DEAR Dr. Martin," explained the mother with affectionate emphasis, -"what a way you have of putting things. But I wonder what keeps Allan?" -continued Mrs. Cameron. "He promised faithfully to be home before -dinner." She rose, and, going to the side of the house, looked long and -anxiously up toward the foothills. Dr. Martin followed her and stood at -her side gazing in the same direction. - -"What a glorious view it is!" she said. "I never tire of looking over -the hills and up to the great mountains." - -"What the deuce is the fellow doing?" exclaimed the doctor, disgust and -rage mingling in his tone. "Great Heavens! She is kissing him!" - -"Who? What?" exclaimed Mandy. "Oh!" she cried, her eyes following the -doctor's and lighting upon two figures that stood at the side of the -poplar bluff in an attitude sufficiently compromising to justify the -doctor's exclamation. - -"What? It's Moira--and--and--it's Smith! What does it mean?" The -doctor's language appeared unequal to his emotions. "Mean?" he cried, -after an exhausting interlude of expletives. "Mean? Oh, I don't -know--and I don't care. It's pretty plain what it means. It makes no -difference to me. I gave her up to that other fellow who saved her life -and then picturesquely got himself killed. There now, forgive me, Mrs. -Cameron. I know I am a brute. I should not have said that. Don't look -at me so. Raven was a fine chap and I don't mind her losing her heart to -him--but really this is too much. Smith! Of all men under heaven--Smith! -Why, look at his legs!" - -"His legs? Dr. Martin, I am ashamed of you. I don't care what kind of -legs he has. Smith is an honorable fellow and--and--so good he was to -us. Why, when Allan and the rest of you were all away he was like a -brother through all those terrible days. I can never forget his splendid -kindness--but--" - -"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Cameron, I beg your pardon. Undoubtedly he is -a fine fellow. I am an ass, a jealous ass--might as well own it. But, -really, I cannot quite stand seeing her throw herself at Smith--Smith! -Oh, I know, I know, he is all right. But oh--well--at any rate thank -God I saw him at it. It will keep me from openly and uselessly abasing -myself to her and making a fool of myself generally. But Smith! Great -God! Smith! Well, it will help to cure me." - -Mrs. Cameron stood by in miserable silence. - -"Oh, Dr. Martin," at length she groaned tearfully, "I am -so disappointed. I was so hoping, and I was sure it was all -right--and--and--oh, what does it mean? Dear Dr. Martin, I cannot tell -you how I feel." - -"Oh, hang it, Mrs. Cameron, don't pity me. I'll get over it. A little -surgical operation in the region of the pericardium is all, that is -required." - -"What are you talking about?" exclaimed Mrs. Cameron, vaguely listening -to him and busy with her own thoughts the while. - -"Talking about, madam? Talking about? I am talking about that organ, -the central organ of the vascular system of animals, a hollow muscular -structure that propels the blood by alternate contractions and -dilatations, which in the mammalian embryo first appears as two tubes -lying under the head and immediately behind the first visceral arches, -but gradually moves back and becomes lodged in the thorax." - -"Oh, do stop! What nonsense are you talking now?" exclaimed Mrs. -Cameron, waking up as from a dream. "No, don't go. You must not go." - -"I am going, and I am going to leave this country," said the doctor. "I -am going East. No, this is no sudden resolve. I have thought of it for -some time, and now I will go." - -"Well, you must wait at least till Allan returns. You must say good-by -to him." She followed the doctor anxiously back to his seat beside the -Inspector. "Here," she cried, "hold baby a minute. There are some things -I must attend to. I would give him to the Inspector, but he would not -know how to handle him." - -"God forbid!" ejaculated the Inspector firmly. - -"But I tell you I must get home," said the doctor in helpless wrath. - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Cameron. "Look out! You are not holding him -properly. There now, you have made him cry." - -"Pinched him!" muttered the Inspector. "I call that most unfair. Mean -advantage to take of the young person." - -The doctor glowered at the Inspector and set himself with ready skill to -remedy the wrong he had wrought in the young person's disposition while -the mother, busying herself ostentatiously with her domestic duties, -finally disappeared around the house, making for the bluff. As soon as -she was out of earshot she raised her voice in song. - -"I must give the fools warning, I suppose," she said to herself. In the -pauses of her singing, "Oh, what does she mean? I could just shake her. -I am so disappointed. Smith! Smith! Well, Smith is all right, but--oh, I -must talk to her. And yet, I am so angry--yes, I am disgusted. I was -so sure that everything was all right. Ah, there she is at last, -and--well--thank goodness he is gone. - -"Oh-h-h-h-O, Moira!" she cried. "Now, I must keep my temper," she added -to herself. "But I am so cross about this. Oh-h-h-h-O, Moira!" - -"Oh-h-h-h-O!" called Moira in reply. - -"She looks positively happy. Ugh! Disgusting! And so lovely too." - -"Did you want me, Mandy? I am so sorry I forgot all about the tea." - -"So I should suppose," snapped Mandy crossly. "I saw you were too deeply -engaged to think." - -"You saw?" exclaimed the girl, a startled dismay in her face. - -"Yes, and I would suggest that you select a less conspicuous stage for -your next scene. Certainly I got quite a shock. If it had been Raven, -Moira, I could have stood it." - -"Raven! Raven! Oh, stop! Not a word, Mandy." Her voice was hushed and -there was a look of pain in her eyes. - -"But Smith!" went on Mandy relentlessly. "I was too disgusted." - -"Well, what is wrong with Mr. Smith?" inquired Moira, her chin rising. - -"Oh, there is nothing wrong with Smith," replied her sister-in-law -crossly, "but--well--kissing him, you know." - -"Kissing him?" echoed Moira faintly. "Kissing him? I did not--" - -"It looked to me uncommonly like it at any rate," said Mandy. "You -surely don't deny that you were kissing him?" - -"I was not. I mean, it was Smith--perhaps--yes, I think Smith did--" - -"Well, it was a silly thing to do." - -"Silly! If I want to kiss Mr. Smith, why is it anybody's business?" - -"That's just it," said Mandy indignantly. "Why should you want to?" - -"Well, that is my affair," said Moira in an angry tone, and with a high -head and lofty air she appeared in the doctor's presence. - -But Dr. Martin was apparently oblivious of both her lofty air and the -angle of her chin. He was struggling to suppress from observation a -tumult of mingled passions of jealousy, rage and humiliation. That this -girl whom for four years he had loved with the full strength of his -intense nature should have given herself to another was grief enough; -but the fact that this other should have been a man of Smith's caliber -seemed to add insult to his grief. He felt that not only had she -humiliated him but herself as well. - -"If she is the kind of girl that enjoys kissing Smith I don't want her," -he said to himself savagely, and then cursed himself that he knew it was -a lie. For no matter how she should affront him or humiliate herself -he well knew he should take her gladly on his bended knees from Smith's -hands. The cure somehow was not working, but he would allow no one to -suspect it. His voice was even and his manner cheerful as ever. Only -Mrs. Cameron, who held the key to his heart, suspected the agony through -which he was passing during the tea-hour. And it was to secure respite -for him that the tea was hurried and the doctor packed off to saddle -Pepper and round up the cows for the milking. - -Pepper was by birth and breeding a cow-horse, and once set upon a trail -after a bunch of cows he could be trusted to round them up with little -or no aid from his rider. Hence once astride Pepper and Pepper with his -nose pointed toward the ranging cows, the doctor could allow his heart -to roam at will. And like a homing pigeon, his heart, after some faint -struggles in the grip of its owner's will, made swift flight toward the -far-away Highland glen across the sea, the Cuagh Oir. - -With deliberate purpose he set himself to live again the tender and -ineffaceable memories of that eventful visit to the glen when first his -eyes were filled with the vision of the girl with the sunny hair and the -sunny eyes who that day seemed to fill the very glen and ever since that -day his heart with glory. - -With deliberate purpose, too, he set himself to recall the glen itself, -its lights and shadows, its purple hilltops, its emerald loch far down -at the bottom, the little clachan on the hillside and up above it the -old manor-house. But ever and again his heart would pause to catch anew -some flitting glance of the brown eyes, some turn of the golden head, -some cadence of the soft Highland voice, some fitful illusive sweetness -of the smile upon the curving lips, pause and return upon its tracks to -feel anew that subtle rapture of the first poignant thrill, lingering -over each separate memory as a drunkard lingers regretful over his last -sweet drops of wine. - -Meantime Pepper's intelligent diligence had sent every cow home to its -milking, and so, making his way by a short cut that led along the Big -Horn River and round the poplar bluff, the doctor, suddenly waking from -his dream of the past, faced with a fresh and sharper stab the reality -of the present. The suddenness and sharpness of the pain made him pull -his horse up short. - -"I'll cut this country and go East," he said aloud, coming to a -conclusive decision upon a plan long considered, "I'll go in for -specializing. I have done with all this nonsense." - -He sat his horse looking eastward over the hills that rolled far away to -the horizon. His eye wandered down the river gleaming now like gold in -the sunset glow. He had learned to love this land of great sunlit spaces -and fresh blowing winds, but this evening its very beauty appeared -intolerable to him. Ever since the death of Raven upon that tragic -night of the cattle-raid he had been fighting his bitter loss and -disappointment; with indifferent success, it is true, but still not -without the hope of attaining final peace of soul. This evening he knew -that, while he lived in this land, peace would never come to him, for -his heart-wound never would heal. - -"I will go," he said again. "I will say good-by to-night. By Jove! I -feel better already. Come along, Pepper! Wake up!" - -Pepper woke up to some purpose and at a smart canter carried the doctor -on his way round the bluff toward a gate that opened into a lane leading -to the stables. At the gate a figure started up suddenly from the shadow -of a poplar. With a snort and in the midst of his stride Pepper swung on -his heels with such amazing abruptness that his rider was flung from his -saddle, fortunately upon his feet. - -"Confound you for a dumb-headed fool! What are you up to anyway?" he -cried in a sudden rage, recognizing Smith, who stood beside the trail in -an abjectly apologetic attitude. - -"Yes," cried another voice from the shadow. "Is he not a fool? You would -think he ought to know Mr. Smith by this time. But Pepper is really very -stupid." - -The doctor stood speechless, surprise, disgust and rage struggling for -supremacy among his emotions. He stood gazing stupidly from one to the -other, utterly at a loss for words. - -"You see, Mr. Smith," began Moira somewhat lamely, "had something to say -to me and so we--and so we came--along to the gate." - -"So I see," replied the doctor gruffly. - -"You see Mr. Smith has come to mean a great deal to me--to us--" - -"So I should imagine," replied the doctor. - -"His self-sacrifice and courage during those terrible days we can never -forget." - -"Exactly so--quite right," replied the doctor, standing stiffly beside -his horse's head. - -"You do not know people all at once," continued Moira. - -"Ah! Not all at once," the doctor replied. - -"But in times of danger and trouble one gets to know them quickly." - -"Sure thing," said the doctor. - -"And it takes times of danger to bring out the hero in a man." - -"I should imagine so," replied the doctor with his eyes on Smith's -childlike and beaming face. - -"And you see Mr. Smith was really our whole stay, and--and--we came -to rely upon him and we found him so steadfast." In the face of the -doctor's stolid brevity Moira was finding conversation difficult. - -"Steadfast!" repeated the doctor. "Exactly so," his eyes upon Smith's -wobbly legs. "Mr. Smith I consider a very fortunate man. I congratulate -him on--" - -"Oh, have you heard? I did not know that--" - -"Yes. I mean--not exactly." - -"Who told you? Is it not splendid?" enthusiasm shining in her eyes. - -"Splendid! Yes--that is, for him," replied the doctor without emotion. -"I congratulate--" - -"But how did you hear?" - -"I did not exactly hear, but I had no difficulty in--ah--making the -discovery." - -"Discovery?" - -"Yes, discovery. It was fairly plain; I might say it was the feature of -the view; in fact it stuck right out of the landscape--hit you in the -eye, so to speak." - -"The landscape? What can you mean?" - -"Mean? Simply that I am at a loss as to whether Mr. Smith is to be -congratulated more upon his exquisite taste or upon his extraordinary -good fortune." - -"Good fortune, yes, is it not splendid?" - -"Splendid is the exact word," said the doctor stiffly. - -"And I am so glad." - -"Yes, you certainly look happy," replied the doctor with a grim attempt -at a smile, and feeling as if more enthusiasm were demanded from him. -"Let me offer you my congratulations and say good-by. I am leaving." - -"You will be back soon, though?" - -"Hardly. I am leaving the West." - -"Leaving the West? Why? What? When?" - -"To-night. Now. I must say good-by." - -"To-night? Now?" Her voice sank almost to a whisper. Her lips were white -and quivering. "But do they know at the house? Surely this is sudden." - -"Oh, no, not so sudden. I have thought of it for some time; indeed, I -have made my plans." - -"Oh--for some time? You have made your plans? But you never hinted such -a thing to--to any of us." - -"Oh, well, I don't tell my plans to all the world," said the doctor with -a careless laugh. - -The girl shrank from him as if he had cut her with his riding whip. But, -swiftly recovering herself, she cried with gay reproach: - -"Why, Mr. Smith, we are losing all our friends at once. It is cruel of -you and Dr. Martin to desert us at the same time. Mr. Smith, you -know," she continued, turning to the doctor with an air of exaggerated -vivacity, "leaves for the East to-night too." - -"Smith--leaving?" The doctor gazed stupidly at that person. - -"Yes, you know he has come into a big fortune and is going to be--" - -"A fortune?" - -"Yes, and he is going East to be married." - -"Going EAST to be married?" - -"Yes, and I was--" - -"Going EAST?" exclaimed the doctor. "I don't understand. I thought -you--" - -"Oh, yes, his young lady is awaiting him in the East. And he is going to -spend his money in such a splendid way." - -"Going EAST?" echoed the doctor, as if he could not fix the idea with -sufficient firmness in his brain to grasp it fully. - -"Yes, I have just told you so," replied the girl. - -"Married?" shouted the doctor, suddenly rushing at Smith and gripping -him by both arms. "Smith, you shy dog--you lucky dog! Let me wish you -joy, old man. By Jove! You deserve your luck, every bit of it. Say, -that's fine. Ha! ha! Jeerupiter! Smith, you are a good one and a sly -one. Shake again, old man. Say, by Jove! What a sell--I mean what a -joke! Look here, Smith, old chap, would you mind taking Pepper home? -I am rather tired--riding, I mean--beastly wild cows--no end of a run -after them. See you down at the house later. No, no, don't wait, don't -mind me. I am all right, fit as a fiddle--no, not a bit tired--I mean I -am tired riding. Yes, rather stiff--about the knees, you know. Oh, it's -all right. Up you get, old man--there you are! So, Smith, you are going -to be married, eh? Lucky dog! Tell 'em I am--tell 'em we are coming. My -horse? Oh, well, never mind my horse till I come myself. So long, old -chap! Ha! ha! old man, good-by. Great Caesar! What a sell! Say, let's -sit down, Moira," he said, suddenly growing quiet and turning to the -girl, "till I get my wind. Fine chap that Smith. Legs a bit wobbly, but -don't care if he had a hundred of 'em and all wobbly. He's all right. -Oh, my soul! What an ass! What an adjectival, hyphenated jackass! Don't -look at me that way or I shall climb a tree and yell. I'm not mad, I -assure you. I was on the verge of it a few moments ago, but it is gone. -I am sane, sane as an old maid. Oh, my God!" He covered his face with -his hands and sat utterly still for some moments. - -"Dr. Martin, what is the matter?" exclaimed the girl. "You terrify me." - -"No wonder. I terrify myself. How could I have stood it." - -"What is the matter? What is it?" - -"Why, Moira, I thought you were going to marry that idiot." - -"Idiot?" exclaimed the girl, drawing herself up. "Idiot? Mr. Smith? I am -not going to marry him, Dr. Martin, but he is an honorable fellow and a -friend of mine, a dear friend of mine." - -"So he is, so he is, a splendid fellow, the finest ever, but thank God -you are not going to marry him!" - -"Why, what is wrong with--" - -"Why? Why? God help me! Why? Only because, Moira, I love you." He threw -himself upon his knees beside her. "Don't, don't for God's sake get -away! Give me a chance to speak!" He caught her hand in both of his. "I -have just been through hell. Don't send me there again. Let me tell you. -Ever since that minute when I saw you in the glen I have loved you. In -my thoughts by day and in my dreams by night you have been, and this day -when I thought I had lost you I knew that I loved you ten thousand times -more than ever." He was kissing her hand passionately, while she sat -with head turned away. "Tell me, Moira, if I may love you? And is it -any use? And do you think you could love me even a little bit? I am not -worthy to touch you. Tell me." Still she sat silent. He waited a few -moments, his face growing gray. "Tell me," he said at length in a -broken, husky voice. "I will try to bear it." - -She turned her face toward him. The sunny eyes were full of tears. - -"And you were going away from me?" she breathed, leaning toward him. - -"Sweetheart!" he cried, putting his arms around her and drawing her to -him, "tell me to stay." - -"Stay," she whispered, "or take me too." - -The sun had long since disappeared behind the big purple mountains -and even the warm afterglow in the eastern sky had faded into a pearly -opalescent gray when the two reached the edge of the bluff nearest the -house. - -"Oh! The milking!" cried Moira aghast, as she came in sight of the -house. - -"Great Caesar! I was going to help," exclaimed the doctor. - -"Too bad," said the girl penitently. "But, of course, there's Smith." - -"Why, certainly there's Smith. What a God-send that chap is. He is -always on the spot. But Cameron is home. I see his horse. Let us go in -and face the music." - -They found an excited group standing in the kitchen, Mandy with a letter -in her hand. - -"Oh, here you are at last!" she cried. "Where have you--" She glanced at -Moira's face and then at the doctor's and stopped abruptly. - -"Hello, what's up?" cried the doctor. - -"We have got a letter--such a letter!" cried Mandy. "Read it. Read it -aloud, Doctor." She thrust the letter into his hand. The doctor cleared -his throat, struck an attitude, and read aloud: - - -"My dear Cameron: - -"It gives me great pleasure to say for the officers of the Police Force -in the South West district and for myself that we greatly appreciate the -distinguished services you rendered during the past six months in your -patrol of the Sun Dance Trail. It was a work of difficulty and danger -and one of the highest importance to the country. I feel sure it will -gratify you to know that the attention of the Government has been -specially called to the creditable manner in which you have performed -your duty, and I have no doubt that the Government will suitably express -its appreciation of your services in due time. But, as you are aware, -in the Force to which we have the honor to belong, we do not look for -recognition, preferring to find a sufficient reward in duty done. - -"Permit me also to say that we recognize and appreciate the spirit -of devotion showed by Mrs. Cameron during these trying months in so -cheerfully and loyally giving you up to this service. - -"May I add that in this rebellion to my mind the most critical factor -was the attitude of the great Blackfeet Confederacy. Every possible -effort was made by the half-breeds and Northern Indians to seduce -Crowfoot and his people from their loyalty, and their most able and -unscrupulous agent in this attempt was the Sioux Indian known among -us as The Copperhead. That he failed utterly in his schemes and that -Crowfoot remained loyal I believe is due to the splendid work of the -officers and members of our Force in the South West district, but -especially to your splendid services as the Patrol of the Sun Dance -Trail." - - -"And signed by the big Chief himself, the Commissioner," cried Dr. -Martin. "What do you think of that, Baby?" he continued, catching the -baby from its mother's arms. "What do you think of your daddy?" The -doctor pirouetted round the room with the baby in his arms, that -young person regarding the whole performance apparently with grave and -profound satisfaction. - -"Your horse is ready," said Smith, coming in at the door. - -"Your horse?" cried Cameron. - -"Oh--I forgot," said the doctor. "Ah--I don't think I want him to-night, -Smith." - -"You are not going to-night, then?" inquired Mandy in delighted -surprise. - -"No--I--in fact, I believe I have changed my mind about that. I have, -been--ah--persuaded to remain." - -"Oh, I see," cried Mandy in supreme delight. Then turning swiftly upon -her sister-in-law who stood beside the doctor, her face in a radiant -glow, she added, "Then what did you mean by--by--what we saw this -afternoon?" - -A deeper red dyed the girl's cheeks. - -"What are you talking about?" cried Dr. Martin. "Oh, that kissing Smith -business." - -"I couldn't just help it!" burst out Moira. "He was so happy." - -"Going to be married, you know," interjected the doctor. - -"And so--so--" - -"Just so," cried the doctor. "Oh, pshaw! that's all right! I'd kiss -Smith myself. I feel like doing it this blessed minute. Where is he? -Smith! Where are you?" But Smith had escaped. "Smith's all right, I say, -and so are we, eh, Moira?" He slipped his arm round the blushing girl. - -"Oh, I am so glad," cried Mandy, beaming upon them. "And you are not -going East after all?" - -"East? Not I! The West for me. I am going to stay right in it--with the -Inspector here--and with you, Mrs. Cameron--and with my sweetheart--and -yes, certainly with the Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail." - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail, by Ralph Connor - + + + + +Produced by Donald Lainson + + + + + +THE PATROL OF THE SUN DANCE TRAIL + + +By Ralph Connor + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + +I THE TRAIL-RUNNER + +II HIS COUNTRY'S NEED + +III A-FISHING WE WILL GO + +IV THE BIG CHIEF + +V THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE + +VI THE ILLUSIVE COPPERHEAD + +VII THE SARCEE CAMP + +VIII THE GIRL ON NO. 1 + +IX THE RIDE UP THE BOW + +X RAVEN TO THE RESCUE + +XI SMITH'S WORK + +XII IN THE SUN DANCE CANYON + +XIII IN THE BIG WIGWAM + +XIV "GOOD MAN--GOOD SQUAW" + +XV THE OUTLAW + +XVI WAR + +XVII TO ARMS! + +XVIII AN OUTLAW, BUT A MAN + +XIX THE GREAT CHIEF + +XX THE LAST PATROL + +XXI WHY THE DOCTOR STAYED + + + +THE PATROL OF THE SUN DANCE TRAIL + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE TRAIL-RUNNER + + +High up on the hillside in the midst of a rugged group of jack pines the +Union Jack shook out its folds gallantly in the breeze that swept down +the Kicking Horse Pass. That gallant flag marked the headquarters of +Superintendent Strong, of the North West Mounted Police, whose special +duty it was to preserve law and order along the construction line of the +Canadian Pacific Railway Company, now pushed west some scores of miles. + +Along the tote-road, which ran parallel to the steel, a man, dark of +skin, slight but wiry, came running, his hard panting, his streaming +face, his open mouth proclaiming his exhaustion. At a little trail that +led to the left he paused, noted its course toward the flaunting flag, +turned into it, then struggled up the rocky hillside till he came to the +wooden shack, with a deep porch running round it, and surrounded by +a rustic fence which enclosed a garden whose neatness illustrated a +characteristic of the British soldier. The runner passed in through the +gate and up the little gravel walk and began to ascend the steps. + +"Halt!" A quick sharp voice arrested him. "What do you want here?" From +the side of the shack an orderly appeared, neat, trim and dandified in +appearance, from his polished boots to his wide cowboy hat. + +"Beeg Chief," panted the runner. "Me--see--beeg Chief--queeck." + +The orderly looked him over and hesitated. + +"What do you want Big Chief for?" + +"Me--want--say somet'ing," said the little man, fighting to recover his +breath, "somet'ing beeg--sure beeg." He made a step toward the door. + +"Halt there!" said the orderly sharply. "Keep out, you half-breed!" + +"See--beeg Chief--queeck," panted the half-breed, for so he was, with +fierce insistence. + +The orderly hesitated. A year ago he would have hustled him off the +porch in short order. But these days were anxious days. Rumors wild +and terrifying were running through the trails of the dark forest. +Everywhere were suspicion and unrest. The Indian tribes throughout the +western territories and in the eastern part of British Columbia, under +cover of an unwonted quiet, were in a state of excitement, and this none +knew better than the North West Mounted Police. With stoical unconcern +the Police patroled their beats, rode in upon the reserves, careless, +cheery, but with eyes vigilant for signs and with ears alert for +sounds of the coming storm. Only the Mounted Police, however, and a +few old-timers who knew the Indians and their half-breed kindred gave +a single moment's thought to the bare possibility of danger. The +vast majority of the Canadian people knew nothing of the tempestuous +gatherings of French half-breed settlers in little hamlets upon the +northern plains along the Saskatchewan. The fiery resolutions reported +now and then in the newspapers reciting the wrongs and proclaiming the +rights of these remote, ignorant, insignificant, half-tamed pioneers +of civilization roused but faint interest in the minds of the people of +Canada. Formal resolutions and petitions of rights had been regularly +sent during the past two years to Ottawa and there as regularly +pigeon-holed above the desks of deputy ministers. The politicians had +a somewhat dim notion that there was some sort of row on among the +"breeds" about Prince Albert and Battleford, but this concerned them +little. The members of the Opposition found in the resolutions and +petitions of rights useful ammunition for attack upon the Government. In +purple periods the leader arraigned the supineness and the indifference +of the Premier and his Government to "the rights and wrongs of our +fellow-citizens who, amid the hardships of a pioneer civilization, were +laying broad and deep the foundations of Empire." But after the smoke +and noise of the explosion had passed both Opposition and Government +speedily forgot the half-breed and his tempestuous gatherings in the +stores and schoolhouses, at church doors and in open camps, along the +banks of the far away Saskatchewan. + +There were a few men, however, that could not forget. An Indian agent +here and there with a sense of responsibility beyond the pickings of his +post, a Hudson Bay factor whose long experience in handling the affairs +of half-breeds and Indians instructed him to read as from a printed page +what to others were meaningless and incoherent happenings, and above all +the officers of the Mounted Police, whose duty it was to preserve the +"pax Britannica" over some three hundred thousand square miles of Her +Majesty's dominions in this far northwest reach of Empire, these carried +night and day an uneasiness in their minds which found vent from time +to time in reports and telegraphic messages to members of Government and +other officials at headquarters, who slept on, however, undisturbed. But +the word was passed along the line of Police posts over the plains and +far out into British Columbia to watch for signs and to be on guard. The +Police paid little heed to the high-sounding resolutions of a few angry +excitable half-breeds, who, daring though they were and thoroughly able +to give a good account of themselves in any trouble that might arise, +were quite insignificant in number; but there was another peril, so +serious, so terrible, that the oldest officer on the force spoke of it +with face growing grave and with lowered voice--the peril of an Indian +uprising. + +All this and more made the trim orderly hesitate. A runner with news was +not to be kicked unceremoniously off the porch in these days, but to be +considered. + +"You want to see the Superintendent, eh?" + +"Oui, for sure--queeck--run ten mile," replied the half-breed with angry +impatience. + +"All right," said the orderly, "what's your name?" + +"Name? Me, Pinault--Pierre Pinault. Ah, sacr-r-e! Beeg Chief know +me--Pinault." The little man drew himself up. + +"All right! Wait!" replied the orderly, and passed into the shack. He +had hardly disappeared when he was back again, obviously shaken out of +his correct military form. + +"Go in!" he said sharply. "Get a move on! What are you waiting for?" + +The half-breed threw him a sidelong glance of contempt and passed +quickly into the "Beeg Chief's" presence. + +Superintendent Strong was a man prompt in decision and prompt in action, +a man of courage, too, unquestioned, and with that bulldog spirit that +sees things through to a finish. To these qualities it was that he owed +his present command, for it was no insignificant business to keep the +peace and to make the law run along the line of the Canadian Pacific +Railway through the Kicking Horse Pass during construction days. + +The half-breed had been but a few minutes with the Chief when the +orderly was again startled out of his military decorum by the +bursting open of the Superintendent's door and the sharp rattle of the +Superintendent's orders. + +"Send Sergeant Ferry to me at once and have my horse and his brought +round immediately!" The orderly sprang to attention and saluted. + +"Yes, sir!" he replied, and swiftly departed. + +A few minutes' conference with Sergeant Ferry, a few brief commands to +the orderly, and the Superintendent and Sergeant were on their way down +the steep hillside toward the tote-road that led eastward through the +pass. A half-hour's ride brought them to a trail that led off to the +south, into which the Superintendent, followed by the Sergeant, +turned his horse. Not a word was spoken by either man. It was not the +Superintendent's custom to share his plans with his subordinate officers +until it became necessary. "What you keep behind your teeth," was a +favorite maxim with the Superintendent, "will harm neither yourself nor +any other man." They were on the old Kootenay Trail, for a hundred years +and more the ancient pathway of barter and of war for the Indian tribes +that hunted the western plains and the foothill country and brought +their pelts to the coast by way of the Columbia River. Along the lower +levels the old trail ran, avoiding, with the sure instinct of a skilled +engineer, nature's obstacles, and taking full advantage of every sloping +hillside and every open stretch of woods. Now and then, however, the +trail must needs burrow through a deep thicket of spruce and jack pine +and scramble up a rocky ridge, where the horses, trained as they were in +mountain climbing, had all they could do to keep their feet. + +Ten miles and more they followed the tortuous trail, skirting mountain +peaks and burrowing through underbrush, scrambling up rocky ridges and +sliding down their farther sides, till they came to a park-like country +where from the grassy sward the big Douglas firs, trimmed clear of lower +growth and standing spaced apart, lifted on red and glistening trunks +their lofty crowns of tufted evergreen far above the lesser trees. + +As they approached the open country the Superintendent proceeded with +greater caution, pausing now and then to listen. + +"There ought to be a big powwow going on somewhere near," he said to his +Sergeant, "but I can hear nothing. Can you?" + +The Sergeant leaned over his horse's ears. + +"No, sir, not a sound." + +"And yet it can't be far away," growled the Superintendent. + +The trail led through the big firs and dipped into a little grassy +valley set round with thickets on every side. Into this open glade they +rode. The Superintendent was plainly disturbed and irritated; irritated +because surprised and puzzled. Where he had expected to find a big +Indian powwow he found only a quiet sunny glade in the midst of a silent +forest. Sergeant Ferry waited behind him in respectful silence, too wise +to offer any observation upon the situation. Hence in the Superintendent +grew a deeper irritation. + +"Well, I'll be--!" He paused abruptly. The Superintendent rarely used +profanity. He reserved this form of emphasis for supreme moments. He was +possessed of a dramatic temperament and appreciated at its full value +the effect of a climax. The climax had not yet arrived, hence his +self-control. + +"Exactly so," said the Sergeant, determined to be agreeable. + +"What's that?" + +"They don't seem to be here, sir," replied the Sergeant, staring up into +the trees. + +"Where?" cried the Superintendent, following the direction of the +Sergeant's eyes. "Do you suppose they're a lot of confounded monkeys?" + +"Exactly--that is--no, sir, not at all, sir. But--" + +"They were to have been here," said the Superintendent angrily. "My +information was most positive and trustworthy." + +"Exactly so, sir," replied the Sergeant. "But they haven't been here at +all!" The Superintendent impatiently glared at the Sergeant, as if he +were somehow responsible for this inexplicable failure upon the part of +the Indians. + +"Exactly--that is--no, sir. No sign. Not a sign." The Sergeant was most +emphatic. + +"Well, then, where in--where--?" The Superintendent felt himself rapidly +approaching an emotional climax and took himself back with a jerk. +"Well," he continued, with obvious self-control, "let's look about a +bit." + +With keen and practised eyes they searched the glade, and the forest +round about it, and the trails leading to it. + +"Not a sign," said the Superintendent emphatically, "and for the first +time in my experience Pinault is wrong--the very first time. He was dead +sure." + +"Pinault--generally right, sir," observed the Sergeant. + +"Always." + +"Exactly so. But this time--" + +"He's been fooled," declared the Superintendent. "A big sun dance was +planned for this identical spot. They were all to be here, every tribe +represented, the Stonies even had been drawn into it, some of the young +bloods I suppose. And, more than that, the Sioux from across the line." + +"The Sioux, eh?" said the Sergeant. "I didn't know the Sioux were in +this." + +"Ah, perhaps not, but I have information that the Sioux--in fact--" here +the Superintendent dropped his voice and unconsciously glanced about +him, "the Sioux are very much in this, and old Copperhead himself is the +moving spirit of the whole business." + +"Copperhead!" exclaimed the Sergeant in an equally subdued tone. + +"Yes, sir, that old devil is taking a hand in the game. My information +was that he was to have been here to-day, and, by the Lord Harry! if +he had been we would have put him where the dogs wouldn't bite him. The +thing is growing serious." + +"Serious!" exclaimed the Sergeant in unwonted excitement. "You +just bet--that is exactly so, sir. Why the Sioux must be good for a +thousand." + +"A thousand!" exclaimed the Superintendent. "I've the most positive +information that the Sioux could place in the war path two thousand +fighting-men inside of a month. And old Copperhead is at the bottom +of it all. We want that old snake, and we want him badly." And the +Superintendent swung on to his horse and set off on the return trip. + +"Well, sir, we generally get what we want in that way," volunteered the +Sergeant, following his chief. + +"We do--in the long run. But in this same old Copperhead we have the +acutest Indian brain in all the western country. Sitting Bull was a +fighter, Copperhead is a schemer." + +They rode in silence, the Sergeant busy with a dozen schemes whereby +he might lay old Copperhead by the heels; the Superintendent planning +likewise. But in the Superintendent's plans the Sergeant had no place. +The capture of the great Sioux schemer must be entrusted to a cooler +head than that of the impulsive, daring, loyal-hearted Sergeant. + + + +CHAPTER II + +HIS COUNTRY'S NEED + + +For full five miles they rode in unbroken silence, the Superintendent +going before with head pressed down on his breast and eyes fixed upon +the winding trail. A heavy load lay upon him. True, his immediate sphere +of duty lay along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, but as an +officer of Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police he shared with the +other officers of that force the full responsibility of holding in +steadfast loyalty the tribes of Western Indians. His knowledge of the +presence in the country of the arch-plotter of the powerful and warlike +Sioux from across the line entailed a new burden. Well he knew that his +superior officer would simply expect him to deal with the situation in +a satisfactory manner. But how, was the puzzle. A mere handful of men +he had under his immediate command and these dispersed in ones and twos +along the line of railway, and not one of them fit to cope with the +cunning and daring Sioux. + +With startling abruptness he gave utterance to his thoughts. + +"We must get him--and quick. Things are moving too rapidly for any +delay. The truth is," he continued, with a deepening impatience in his +voice, "the truth is we are short-handed. We ought to be able to patrol +every trail in this country. That old villain has fooled us to-day and +he'll fool us again. And he has fooled Pinault, the smartest breed we've +got. He's far too clever to be around loose among our Indians." + +Again they rode along in silence, the Superintendent thinking deeply. + +"I know where he is!" he exclaimed suddenly, pulling up his horse. "I +know where he is--this blessed minute. He's on the Sun Dance Trail +and in the Sun Dance Canyon, and they're having the biggest kind of a +powwow." + +"The Sun Dance!" echoed the Sergeant. "By Jove, if only Sergeant Cameron +were on this job! He knows the Sun Dance inside and out, every foot." + +The Superintendent swung his horse sharply round to face his Sergeant. + +"Cameron!" he exclaimed thoughtfully. "Cameron! I believe you're right. +He's the man--the very man. But," he added with sudden remembrance, +"he's left the Force." + +"Left the Force, sir. Yes, sir," echoed the Sergeant with a grin. "He +appeared to have a fairly good reason, too." + +"Reason!" snorted the Superintendent. "Reason! What in--? What did he--? +Why did he pull off that fool stunt at this particular time? A kid like +him has no business getting married." + +"Mighty fine girl, sir," suggested the Sergeant warmly. "Mighty lucky +chap. Not many fellows could resist such a sharp attack as he had." + +"Fine girl! Oh, of course, of course--fine girl certainly. Fine girl. +But what's that got to do with it?" + +"Well, sir," ventured the Sergeant in a tone of surprise, "a good deal, +sir, I should say. By Jove, sir, I could have--if I could have pulled it +off myself--but of course she was an old flame of Cameron's and I'd no +chance." + +"But the Service, sir!" exclaimed the Superintendent with growing +indignation. "The Service! Why! Cameron was right in line for promotion. +He had the making of a most useful officer. And with this trouble coming +on it was--it was--a highly foolish, indeed a highly reprehensible +proceeding, sir." The Superintendent was rapidly mounting his pet hobby, +which was the Force in which he had the honor to be an officer, the +far-famed North West Mounted Police. For the Service he had sacrificed +everything in life, ease, wealth, home, yes, even wife and family, to +a certain extent. With him the Force was a passion. For it he lived and +breathed. That anyone should desert it for any cause soever was to him +an act unexplainable. He almost reckoned it treason. + +But the question was one that touched the Sergeant as well, and deeply. +Hence, though he well knew his Chief's dominant passion, he ventured an +argument. + +"A mighty fine girl, sir, something very special. She saw me through a +mountain fever once, and I know--" + +"Oh, the deuce take it, Sergeant! The girl is all right. I grant you all +that. But is that any reason why a man should desert the Force? And now +of all times? He's only a kid. So is she. She can't be twenty-five." + +"Twenty-five? Good Lord, no!" exclaimed the shocked Sergeant. "She isn't +a day over twenty. Why, look at her. She's--" + +"Oh, tut-tut! If she's twenty it makes it all the worse. Why couldn't +they wait till this fuss was over? Why, sir, when I was twenty--" The +Superintendent paused abruptly. + +"Yes, sir?" The Sergeant's manner was respectful and expectant. + +"Never mind," said the Superintendent. "Why rush the thing, I say?" + +"Well, sir, I did hear that there was a sudden change in Cameron's +home affairs in Scotland, sir. His father died suddenly, I believe. The +estate was sold up and his sister, the only other child, was left all +alone. Cameron felt it necessary to get a home together--though I don't +suppose he needed any excuse. Never saw a man so hard hit myself." + +"Except yourself, Sergeant, eh?" said the Superintendent, relaxing into +a grim smile. + +"Oh, well, of course, sir, I'm not going to deny it. But you see," +continued the Sergeant, his pride being touched, "he had known her +down East--worked on her father's farm--young gentleman--fresh from +college--culture, you know, manner--style and that sort of thing--rushed +her clean off her feet." + +"I thought you said it was Cameron who was the one hard hit?" + +"So it was, sir. Hadn't seen her for a couple of years or so. Left her a +country lass, uncouth, ignorant--at least so they say." + +"Who say?" + +"Well, her friends--Dr. Martin and the nurse at the hospital. But I +can't believe them, simply impossible. That this girl two years +ago should have been an ignorant, clumsy, uncouth country lass is +impossible. However, Cameron came on her here, transfigured, glorified +so to speak, consequently fell over neck in love, went quite batty in +fact. A secret flame apparently smoldering all these months suddenly +burst into a blaze--a blaze, by Jove!--regular conflagration. And no +wonder, sir, when you look at her, her face, her form, her style--" + +"Oh, come, Sergeant, we'll move on. Let's keep at the business in hand. +The question is what's to do. That old snake Copperhead is three hundred +miles from here on the Sun Dance, plotting hell for this country, and +we want him. As you say, Cameron's our man. I wonder," continued the +Superintendent after a pause, "I wonder if we could get him." + +"I should say certainly not!" replied the Sergeant promptly. "He's only +a few months married, sir." + +"He might," mused the Superintendent, "if it were properly put to him. +It would be a great thing for the Service. He's the man. By the Lord +Harry, he's the only man! In short," with a resounding whack upon his +thigh, "he has got to come. The situation is too serious for trifling." + +"Trifling?" said the Sergeant to himself in undertone. + +"We'll go for him. We'll send for him." The Superintendent turned and +glanced at his companion. + +"Not me, sir, I hope. You can quite see, sir, I'd be a mighty poor +advocate. Couldn't face those blue eyes, sir. They make me grow quite +weak. Chills and fever--in short, temporary delirium." + +"Oh, well, Sergeant," replied the Superintendent, "if it's as bad as +that--" + +"You don't know her, sir. Those eyes! They can burn in blue flame or +melt in--" + +"Oh, yes, yes, I've no doubt." The Superintendent's voice had a touch of +pity, if not contempt. "We won't expose you, Sergeant. But all the same +we'll make a try for Cameron." His voice grew stern. His lips drew to a +line. "And we'll get him." + +The Sergeant's horse took a sudden plunge forward. + +"Here, you beast!" he cried, with a fierce oath. "Come back here! What's +the matter with you?" He threw the animal back on his haunches with a +savage jerk, a most unaccustomed thing with the Sergeant. + +"Yes," pursued the Superintendent, "the situation demands it. Cameron's +the man. It's his old stamping-ground. He knows every twist of its +trails. And he's a wonder, a genius for handling just such a business as +this." + +The Sergeant made no reply. He was apparently having some trouble with +his horse. + +"Of course," continued the Superintendent, with a glance at his +Sergeant's face, "it's hard on her, but--" dismissing that feature of +the case lightly--"in a situation like this everything must give way. +The latest news is exceedingly grave. The trouble along the Saskatchewan +looks to me exceedingly serious. These half-breeds there have real +grievances. I know them well, excitable, turbulent in their spirits, +uncontrollable, but easily handled if decently treated. They've sent +their petitions again and again to Ottawa, and here are these Members +of Parliament making fool speeches, and the Government pooh-poohing the +whole movement, and meantime Riel orating and organizing." + +"Riel? Who's he?" inquired the Sergeant. + +"Riel? You don't know Riel? That's what comes of being an island-bred +Britisher. You people know nothing outside your own little two by four +patch on the world's map. Haven't you heard of Riel?" + +"Oh, yes, by the way, I've heard about the Johnny. Mixed up in something +before in this country, wasn't he?" + +"Well, rather! The rebel leader of 1870. Cost us some considerable +trouble, too. There's bound to be mischief where that hair-brained +four-flusher gets a crowd to listen to him. For egoist though he is, he +possesses a wonderful power over the half-breeds. He knows how to work. +And somehow, too, they're suspicious of all Canadians, as they call the +new settlers from the East, ready to believe anything they're told, and +with plenty of courage to risk a row." + +"What's the row about, anyway?" inquired the Sergeant. "I could never +quite get it." + +"Oh, there are many causes. These half-breeds are squatters, many of +them. They have introduced the same system of survey on the Saskatchewan +as their ancestors had on the St. Lawrence, and later on the Red, the +system of 'Strip Farms.' That is, farms with narrow fronts upon the +river and extending back from a mile to four miles, a poor arrangement +for farming but mighty fine for social purposes. I tell you, it takes +the loneliness and isolation out of pioneer life. I've lived among them, +and the strip-farm survey possesses distinct social advantages. You +have two rows of houses a few rods apart, and between them the river, +affording an ice roadway in the winter and a waterway in the summer. +And to see a flotilla of canoes full of young people, with fiddles and +concertinas going, paddle down the river on their way to a neighbor's +house for a dance, is something to remember. For my part I don't wonder +that these people resent the action of the Government in introducing +a completely new survey without saying 'by your leave.' There are +troubles, too, about their land patents." + +"How many of these half-breeds are there anyway?" + +"Well, only a few hundreds I should say. But it isn't the half-breeds we +fear. The mischief of it is they have been sending runners all through +this country to their red-skin friends and relatives, holding out all +sorts of promises, the restoration of their hunting grounds to the +Indians, the establishing of an empire of the North, from which the +white race shall be excluded. I've heard them. Just enough truth and +sense in the whole mad scheme to appeal to the Indian mind. The older +men, the chiefs, are quiet so far, but the young braves are getting out +of hand. You see they have no longer their ancient excitement of war and +the chase. Life has grown monotonous, to the young men especially, on +the reserves. They are chafing under control, and the prospect of a +fight appeals to them. In every tribe sun dances are being held, +braves are being made, and from across the other side weapons are being +introduced. And now that this old snake Copperhead has crossed the +line the thing takes an ugly look. He's undeniably brainy, a fearless +fighter, an extraordinary organizer, has great influence with his own +people and is greatly respected among our tribes. If an Indian war +should break out with Copperhead running it--well--! That's why it's +important to get this old devil. And it must be done quietly. Any +movement in force on our part would set the prairie on fire. The thing +has got to be done by one or two men. That's why we must have Cameron." + +In spite of his indignation the Sergeant was impressed. Never had he +heard his Chief discourse at such length, and never had he heard +his Chief use the word "danger." It began to dawn upon his mind that +possibly it might not be such a crime as he had at first considered it +to lure Cameron away from his newly made home and his newly wedded wife +to do this bit of service for his country in an hour of serious if not +desperate need. + + + +CHAPTER III + +A-FISHING WE WILL GO + + +But Sergeant Cameron was done with the Service for ever. An accumulating +current of events had swept him from his place in the Force, as an +unheeding traveler crossing a mountain torrent is swept from his feet +by a raging freshet. The sudden blazing of his smoldering love into a +consuming flame for the clumsy country girl, for whom two years ago he +had cherished a pitying affection, threw up upon the horizon of his life +and into startling clearness a new and absorbing objective. In one brief +quarter of an hour his life had gathered itself into a single purpose; a +purpose, to wit, to make a home to which he might bring this girl he had +come to love with such swift and fierce intensity, to make a home for +her where she could be his own, and for ever. All the vehement passion +of his Highland nature was concentrated upon the accomplishing of +this purpose. That he should ever have come to love Mandy Haley, the +overworked slattern on her father's Ontario farm, while a thing of +wonder, was not the chief wonder to him. His wonder now was that he +should ever have been so besottedly dull of wit and so stupidly unseeing +as to allow the unlovely exterior of the girl to hide the radiant soul +within. That in two brief years she had transformed herself into a woman +of such perfectly balanced efficiency in her profession as nurse, and a +creature of such fascinating comeliness, was only another proof of his +own insensate egotism, and another proof, too, of those rare powers that +slumbered in the girl's soul unknown to herself and to her world. Small +wonder that with her unfolding Cameron's whole world should become new. + +Hard upon this experience the unexpected news of his father's death and +of the consequent winding up of the tangled affairs of the estate threw +upon Cameron the responsibility of caring for his young sister, now left +alone in the Homeland, except for distant kindred of whom they had but +slight knowledge. + +A home was immediately and imperatively necessary, and hence he must at +once, as a preliminary, be married. Cameron fortunately remembered that +young Fraser, whom he had known in his Fort Macleod days, was dead keen +to get rid of the "Big Horn Ranch." This ranch lay nestling cozily among +the foothills and in sight of the towering peaks of the Rockies, and was +so well watered with little lakes and streams that when his eyes fell +upon it Cameron was conscious of a sharp pang of homesickness, so +suggestive was it of the beloved Glen Cuagh Oir of his own Homeland. +There would be a thousand pounds or more left from his father's estate. +Everybody said it was a safe, indeed a most profitable investment. + +A week's leave of absence sufficed for Cameron to close the deal with +Fraser, a reckless and gallant young Highlander, whose chivalrous soul, +kindling at Cameron's romantic story, prompted a generous reduction +in the price of the ranch and its outfit complete. Hence when Mandy's +shrewd and experienced head had scanned the contract and cast up the +inventory of steers and horses, with pigs and poultry thrown in, and had +found nothing amiss with the deal--indeed it was rather better than she +had hoped--there was no holding of Cameron any longer. Married he would +be and without delay. + +The only drag in the proceedings had come from the Superintendent, who, +on getting wind of Cameron's purpose, had thought, by promptly promoting +him from Corporal to Sergeant, to tie him more tightly to the Service +and hold him, if only for a few months, "till this trouble should blow +over." But Cameron knew of no trouble. The trouble was only in the +Superintendent's mind, or indeed was only a shrewd scheme to hold +Cameron to his duty. A rancher he would be, and a famous rancher's +wife Mandy would make. And as for his sister Moira, had she not highly +specialized in pigs and poultry on the old home farm at the Cuagh Oir? +There was no stopping the resistless rush of his passionate purpose. +Everything combined to urge him on. Even his college mate and one time +football comrade of the old Edinburgh days, the wise, cool-headed Dr. +Martin, now in charge of the Canadian Pacific Railway Hospital, as +also the little nurse who, through those momentous months of Mandy's +transforming, had been to her guide, philosopher and friend, both had +agreed that there was no good reason for delay. True, Cameron had no +means of getting inside the doctor's mind and therefore had no knowledge +of the vision that came nightly to torment him in his dreams and the +memory that came daily to haunt his waking hours; a vision and a memory +of a trim little figure in a blue serge gown, of eyes brown, now sunny +with laughing light, now soft with unshed tears, of hair that got itself +into a most bewildering perplexity of waves and curls, of lips curving +deliciously, of a voice with a wonderfully soft Highland accent; the +vision and memory of Moira, Cameron's sister, as she had appeared to him +in the Glen Cuagh Oir at her father's door. Had Cameron known of this +tormenting vision and this haunting memory he might have questioned +the perfect sincerity of his friend's counsel. But Dr. Martin kept his +secret well and none shared with him his visions and his dreams. + +So there had been only the Superintendent to oppose. + +Hence, because no really valid objection could be offered, the marriage +was made. And with much shrieking of engines--it seemed as if all the +engines with their crews within a hundred miles had gathered to the +celebration--with loud thunder of exploding torpedoes, with tumultuous +cheering of the construction gangs hauled thither on gravel trains, +with congratulations of railroad officials and of the doctor, with the +tearful smiles of the little nurse, and with grudging but finally hearty +good wishes of the Superintendent, they had ridden off down the Kootenay +Trail for their honeymoon, on their way to the Big Horn Ranch some +hundreds of miles across the mountains. + +There on the Big Horn Ranch through the long summer days together they +rode the ranges after the cattle, cooking their food in the open and +camping under the stars where night found them, care-free and deeply +happy, drinking long full draughts of that mingled wine of life into +which health and youth and love and God's sweet sun and air poured their +rare vintage. The world was far away and quite forgotten. + +Summer deepened into autumn, the fall round-up was approaching, and +there came a September day of such limpid light and such nippy sprightly +air as to suggest to Mandy nothing less than a holiday. + +"Let's strike!" she cried to her husband, as she looked out toward +the rolling hills and the overtopping peaks shining clear in the early +morning light. "Let's strike and go a-fishing." + +Her husband let his eyes wander over the full curves of her strong and +supple body and rest upon the face, brown and wholesome, lit with her +deep blue eyes and crowned with the red-gold masses of her hair, and +exclaimed: + +"You need a holiday, Mandy. I can see it in the drooping lines of your +figure, and in the paling of your cheeks. In short," moving toward her, +"you need some one to care for you." + +"Not just at this moment, young man," she cried, darting round the +table. "But, come, what do you say to a day's fishing away up the Little +Horn?" + +"The Little Horn?" + +"Yes, you know the little creek running into the Big Horn away up the +gulch where we went one day in the spring. You said there were fish +there." + +"Yes, but why 'Little Horn,' pray? And who calls it so? I suppose you +know that the Big Horn gets its name from the Big Horn, the mountain +sheep that once roamed the rocks yonder, and in that sense there's no +Little Horn." + +"Well, 'Little Horn' I call it," said his wife, "and shall. And if +the big stream is the Big Horn, surely the little stream should be the +Little Horn. But what about the fishing? Is it a go?" + +"Well, rather! Get the grub, as your Canadian speech hath it." + +"My Canadian speech!" echoed his wife scornfully. "You're just as much +Canadian as I am." + +"And I shall get the ponies. Half an hour will do for me." + +"And less for me," cried Mandy, dancing off to her work. + +And she was right. For, clever housekeeper that she was, she stood with +her hamper packed and the fishing tackle ready long before her husband +appeared with the ponies. + +The trail led steadily upward through winding valleys, but for the most +part along the Big Horn, till as it neared a scraggy pine-wood it bore +sharply to the left, and, clambering round an immense shoulder of rock, +it emerged upon a long and comparatively level ridge of land that rolled +in gentle undulations down into a wide park-like valley set out with +clumps of birch and poplar, with here and there the shimmer of a lake +showing between the yellow and brown of the leaves. + +"Oh, what a picture!" cried Mandy, reining up her pony. "What a ranch +that would make, Allan! Who owns it? Why did we never come this way +before?" + +"Piegan Reserve," said her husband briefly. + +"How beautiful! How did they get this particular bit?" + +"They gave up a lot for it," said Cameron drily. + +"But think, such a lovely bit of country for a few Indians! How many are +there?" + +"Some hundreds. Five hundred or so. And a tricky bunch they are. They're +over-fond of cattle to be really desirable neighbors." + +"Well, I think it rather a pity!" + +"Look yonder!" cried her husband, sweeping his arm toward the eastern +horizon. From the height on which they stood a wonderful panorama of +hill and valley, river, lake and plain lay spread out before them. "All +that and for nine hundred miles beyond that line these Indians and their +kin gave up to us under persuasion. There was something due them, eh? +Let's move on." + +For a mile or more the trail ran along the high plateau skirting the +Piegan Reserve, where it branched sharply to the right. Cameron paused. + +"You see that trail?" pointing to the branch that led to the left and +downward into the valley. "That is one of the oldest and most famous +of all Indian trails. It strikes down through the Crow's Nest Pass and +beyond the pass joins the ancient Sun Dance Trail. That's my old beat. +And weird things are a-doing along that same old Sun Dance Trail this +blessed minute or I miss my guess. I venture to say that this old trail +has often been marked with blood from end to end in the fierce old +days." + +"Let's go," said Mandy, with a shudder, and, turning her pony to the +right, she took the trail that led them down from the plateau, plunged +into a valley, wound among rocks and thickets of pine till it reached a +tumbling mountain torrent of gray-blue water, fed from glaciers high up +between the great peaks beyond. + +"My Little Horn!" cried Mandy with delight. + +Down by its rushing water they scrambled till they came to a sunny glade +where the little fretful torrent pitched itself headlong into a deep +shady pool, whence, as if rested in those quiet deeps, it issued at +first with gentle murmuring till, out of earshot of the pool, it broke +again into turbulent raging, brawling its way to the Big Horn below. + +Mandy could hardly wait for the unloading and tethering of the ponies. + +"Now," she cried, when all was ready, "for my very first fish. How shall +I fling this hook and where?" + +"Try a cast yonder, just beside that overhanging willow. Don't splash! +Try again--drop it lightly. That's better. Don't tell me you've never +cast a fly before." + +"Never in my life." + +"Let it float down a bit. Now back. Hold it up and let it dance there. +I'll just have a pipe." + +But next moment Cameron's pipe was forgotten. With a shout he sprang to +his wife's side. + +"By Jove, you've got him!" + +"No! No! Leave me alone! Just tell me what to do. Go away! Don't touch +me! Oh-h-h! He's gone!" + +"Not a bit. Reel him up--reel him up a little." + +"Oh, I can't reel the thing! Oh! Oh-h-h! Is he gone?" + +"Hold up. Don't haul him too quickly--keep him playing. Wait till I get +the net." He rushed for the landing net. + +"Oh, he's gone! He's gone! Oh, I'm so mad!" She stamped savagely on the +grass. "He was a monster." + +"They always are," said her husband gravely. "The fellows that get off, +I mean." + +"Now you're just laughing at me, and I won't have it! I could just sit +down and cry! My very first fish!" + +"Never mind, Mandy, we'll get him or just as good a one again." + +"Never! He'll never bite again. He isn't such a fool." + +"Well, they do. They're just like the rest of us. They keep nibbling +till they get caught; else there would be no fun in fishing or in--Now +try another throw--same place--a little farther down. Ah! That was a +fine cast. Once more. No, no, not that way. Flip it lightly and if you +ever get a bite hold your rod so. See? Press the end against your body +so that you can reel your fish in. And don't hurry these big fellows. +You lose them and you lose your fun." + +"I don't want the fun," cried Mandy, "but I do want that fish and I'm +going to get him." + +"By Jove, I believe you just will!" The young man's dark eyes flashed an +admiring glance over the strong, supple, swaying figure of the girl +at his side, whose every move, as she cast her fly, seemed specially +designed to reveal some new combination of the graceful curves of her +well-knit body. + +"Keep flicking there. You'll get him. He's just sulking. If he only +knew, he'd hurry up." + +"Knew what?" + +"Who was fishing for him." + +"Oh! Oh! I've got him." The girl was dancing excitedly along the bank. +"No! Oh, what a wretch! He's gone. Now if I get him you tell me what to +do, but don't touch me." + +"All you have to do is to hold him steady at the first. Keep your line +fairly tight. If he begins to plunge, give him line. If he slacks, reel +in. Keep him nice and steady, just like a horse on the bit." + +"Oh, why didn't you tell me before? I know exactly what that means--just +like a colt, eh? I can handle a colt." + +"Exactly! Now try lower down--let your fly float down a bit--there." + +Again there was a wild shriek from the girl. + +"Oh, I've got him sure! Now get the net." + +"Don't jump about so! Steady now--steady--that's better. Fine! Fine +work! Let him go a bit--no, check--wind him up. Look out! Not too quick! +Fine! Oh! Look out! Get him away from that jam! Reel him up! Quick! Now +play him! Let me help you." + +"Don't you dare touch this rod, Allan Cameron, or there'll be trouble!" + +"Quite right--pardon me--quite right. Steady! You'll get him sure. And +he's a beauty, a perfect Rainbow beauty." + +"Keep quiet, now," admonished Mandy. "Don't shout so. Tell me quietly +what to do." + +"Do as you like. You can handle him. Just watch and wait--feel him all +the time. Ah-h-h! For Heaven's sake don't let him into that jam! There +he goes up stream! That's better! Good!" + +"Don't get so excited! Don't yell so!" again admonished Mandy. "Tell me +quietly." + +"Quietly? Who's yelling, I'd like to know? Who's excited? I won't say +another word. I'll get the landing-net ready for the final act." + +"Don't leave me! Tell me just what to do. He's getting tired, I think." + +"Watch him close. Wind him up a bit. Get all the line in you can. +Steady! Let go! Let go! Let him run! Now wind him again. Wait, hold him +so, just a moment--a little nearer! Hurrah! Hurrah! I've got him and +he's a beauty--a perfectly typical Rainbow trout." + +"Oh, you beauty!" cried Mandy, down on her knees beside the trout that +lay flapping on the grass. "What a shame! Oh, what a shame! Oh, put him +in again, Allan, I don't want him. Poor dear, what a shame." + +"But we must weigh him, you see," remonstrated her husband. "And we need +him for tea, you know. He really doesn't feel it much. There are lots +more. Try another cast. I'll attend to this chap." + +"I feel just like a murderer," said Mandy. "But isn't it glorious? Well, +I'll just try one more. Aren't you going to get your rod out too?" + +"Well, rather! What a pool, all unspoiled, all unfished!" + +"Does no one fish up here?" + +"Yes, the Police come at times from the Fort. And Wyckham, our neighbor. +And old man Thatcher, a born angler, though he says it's not sport, but +murder." + +"Why not sport?" + +"Why? Old Thatcher said to me one day, 'Them fish would climb a tree to +get at your hook. That ain't no sport.'" + +But sport, and noble sport, they found it through the long afternoon, +so that, when through the scraggy pines the sun began to show red in the +western sky, a score or more lusty, glittering, speckled Rainbow trout +lay on the grass beside the shady pool. + +Tired with their sport, they lay upon the grassy sward, luxuriating in +the warm sun. + +"Now, Allan," cried Mandy, "I'll make tea ready if you get some wood for +the fire. You ought to be thankful I taught you how to use the ax. Do +you remember?" + +"Thankful? Well, I should say. Do YOU remember that day, Mandy?" + +"Remember!" cried the girl, with horror in her tone. "Oh, don't speak of +it. It's too awful to think of." + +"Awful what?" + +"Ugh!" she shuddered, "I can't bear to think of it. I wish you could +forget." + +"Forget what?" + +"What? How can you ask? That awful, horrid, uncouth, sloppy girl." Again +Mandy shuddered. "Those hands, big, coarse, red, ugly." + +"Yes," cried Allan savagely, "the badge of slavery for a whole household +of folk too ignorant to know the price that was being paid for the +service rendered them." + +"And the hair," continued Mandy relentlessly, "uncombed, filthy, horrid. +And the dress, and--" + +"Stop it!" cried Allan peremptorily. + +"No, let me go on. The stupid face, the ignorant mind, the uncouth +speech, the vulgar manners. Oh, I loathe the picture, and I wonder you +can ever bear to look at her again. And, oh, I wish you could forget." + +"Forget!" The young man's lean, swarthy face seemed to light up with the +deep glowing fires in his dark eyes. His voice grew vibrant. "Forget! +Never while I live. Do you know what _I_ remember?" + +"Ah, spare me!" moaned his wife, putting her hands over his mouth. + +"Do you know what _I_ remember?" he repeated, pulling her hands away and +holding them fast. "A girl with hands, face, hair, form, dress, manners +damned to coarseness by a cruel environment? That? No! No! To-day as +I look back I remember only two blue eyes, deep, deep as wells, soft, +blue, and wonderfully kind. And I remember all through those days--and +hard days they were to a green young fool fresh from the Old Country +trying to keep pace with your farm-bred demon-worker Perkins--I remember +all through those days a girl that never was too tired with her own +unending toil to think of others, and especially to help out with many +a kindness a home-sick, hand-sore, foot-sore stranger who hardly knew a +buck-saw from a turnip hoe, and was equally strange to the uses of both, +a girl that feared no shame nor harm in showing her kindness. That's +what I remember. A girl that made life bearable to a young fool, too +proud to recognize his own limitations, too blind to see the gifts the +gods were flinging at him. Oh, what a fool I was with my silly pride of +family, of superior education and breeding, and with no eye for the +pure gold of as true and loyal a soul as ever offered itself in daily +unmurmuring sacrifice for others, and without a thought of sacrifice. +Fool and dolt! A self-sufficient prig! That's what I remember." + +The girl tore her hands away from him. + +"Ah, Allan, my boy," she cried with a shrill and scornful laugh that +broke at the end, "how foolishly you talk! And yet I love to hear +you talk so. I love to hear you. But, oh, let me tell you what else I +remember of those days!" + +"No, no, I will not listen. It's all nonsense." + +"Nonsense! Ah, Allan! Let me tell you this once." She put her hands upon +his shoulders and looked steadily into his eyes. "Let me tell you. I've +never told you once during these six happy months--oh, how happy, I fear +to think how happy, too much joy, too deep, too wonderful, I'm afraid +sometimes--but let me tell you what I see, looking back into those old +days--how far away they seem already and not yet three years past--I +see a lad so strange, so unlike all I had known, a gallant lad, a very +knight for grace and gentleness, strong and patient and brave, not +afraid--ah, that caught me--nothing could make him afraid, not Perkins, +the brutal bully, not big Mack himself. And this young lad, beating them +all in the things men love to do, running, the hammer--and--and fighting +too!--Oh, laddie, laddie, how often did I hold my hands over my heart +for fear it would burst for pride in you! How often did I check back my +tears for very joy of loving you! How often did I find myself sick with +the agony of fear that you should go away from me forever! And then you +went away, oh, so kindly, so kindly pitiful, your pity stabbing my heart +with every throb. Why do I tell you this to-day? Let me go through it. +But it was this very pity stabbing me that awoke in me the resolve that +one day you would not need to pity me. And then, then I fled from the +farm and all its dreadful surroundings. And the nurse and Dr. Martin, +oh how good they were! And all of them helped me. They taught me. +They scolded me. They were never tired telling me. And with that +flame burning in my soul all that outer, horrid, awful husk seemed to +disappear and I escaped, I became all new." + +"You became yourself, yourself, your glorious, splendid, beautiful +self!" shouted Allan, throwing his arms around her. "And then I found +you again. Thank God, I found you! And found you for keeps, mine +forever. Think of that!" + +"Forever." Mandy shuddered again. "Oh, Allan, I'm somehow afraid. This +joy is too great." + +"Yes, forever," said Allan again, but more quietly, "for love will last +forever." + +Together they sat upon the grass, needing no words to speak the joy that +filled their souls to overflowing. Suddenly Mandy sprang to her feet. + +"Now, let me go, for within an hour we must be away. Oh, what a day +we've had, Allan, one of the very best days in all my life! You know +I've never been able to talk of the past to you, but to-day somehow I +could not rest till I had gone through with it all." + +"Yes, it's been a great day," said Allan, "a wonderful day, a day +we shall always remember." Then after a silence, "Now for a fire and +supper. You're right. In an hour we must be gone, for we are a long way +from home. But, think of it, Mandy, we're going HOME. I can't quite get +used to that!" + +And in an hour, riding close as lovers ride, they took the trail to +their home ten miles away. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE BIG CHIEF + + +When on the return journey they arrived upon the plateau skirting the +Piegan Reserve the sun's rays were falling in shafts of slanting light +upon the rounded hilltops before them and touching with purple the great +peaks behind them. The valleys were full of shadows, deep and blue. The +broad plains that opened here and there between the rounded hills were +still bathed in the mellow light of the westering sun. + +"We will keep out a bit from the Reserve," said Cameron, taking a trail +that led off to the left. "These Piegans are none too friendly. I've had +to deal with them a few times about my straying steers in a way which +they are inclined to resent. This half-breed business is making them all +restless and a good deal too impertinent." + +"There's not any real danger, is there?" inquired his wife. "The Police +can handle them quite well, can't they?" + +"If you were a silly hysterical girl, Mandy, I would say 'no danger' of +course. But the signs are ominous. I don't fear anything immediately, +but any moment a change may come and then we shall need to act quickly." + +"What then?" + +"We shall ride to the Fort, I can tell you, without waiting to take our +stuff with us. I take no chances now." + +"Now? Meaning?" + +"Meaning my wife, that's all. I never thought to fear an Indian, but, by +Jove! since I've got you, Mandy, they make me nervous." + +"But these Piegans are such--" + +"The Piegans are Indians, plain Indians, deprived of the privilege of +war by our North West Mounted Police regulations and of the excitement +of the chase by our ever approaching civilization, and the younger +bloods would undoubtedly welcome a 'bit of a divarshun,' as your friend +Mike would say. At present the Indians are simply watching and waiting." + +"What for?" + +"News. To see which way the cat jumps. Then--Steady, Ginger! What the +deuce! Whoa, I say! Hold hard, Mandy." + +"What's the matter with them?" + +"There's something in the bushes yonder. Coyote, probably. Listen!" + +There came from a thick clump of poplars a low, moaning cry. + +"What's that?" cried Mandy. "It sounds like a man." + +"Stay where you are. I'll ride in." + +In a few moments she heard his voice calling. + +"Come along! Hurry up!" + +A young Indian lad of about seventeen, ghastly under his copper skin +and faint from loss of blood, lay with his ankle held in a powerful +wolf-trap, a bloody knife at his side. With a cry Mandy was off her +horse and beside him, the instincts of the trained nurse rousing her to +action. + +"Good Heavens! What a mess!" cried Cameron, looking helplessly upon the +bloody and mangled leg. + +"Get a pail of water and get a fire going, Allan," she cried. "Quick!" + +"Well, first this trap ought to be taken off, I should say." + +"Quite right," she cried. "Hurry!" + +Taking his ax from their camp outfit, he cut down a sapling, and, using +it as a lever, soon released the foot. + +"How did all this mangling come?" said Mandy, gazing at the limb, the +flesh and skin of which were hanging in shreds about the ankle. + +"Cutting it off, weren't you?" said Allan. + +The Indian nodded. + +Mandy lifted the foot up. + +"Broken, I should say." + +The Indian uttered not a sound. + +"Run," she continued. "Bring a pail of water and get a fire going." + +Allan was soon back with the pail of water. + +"Me--water," moaned the Indian, pointing to the pail. Allan held it +to his lips and he drank long and deep. In a short time the fire was +blazing and the tea pail slung over it. + +"If I only had my kit here!" said Mandy. "This torn flesh and skin ought +to be all cut away." + +"Oh, I say, Mandy, you can't do that. We'll get the Police doctor!" said +Allan in a tone of horrified disgust. + +But Mandy was feeling the edge of the Indian's knife. + +"Sharp enough," she said to herself. "These ragged edges are just +reeking with poison. Can you stand it if I cut these bits off?" she said +to the Indian. + +"Huh!" he replied with a grunt of contempt. "No hurt." + +"Mandy, you can't do this! It makes me sick to see you," said her +husband. + +The Indian glanced with scorn at him, caught the knife out of Mandy's +hand, took up a flap of lacerated flesh and cut it clean away. + +"Huh! No-t'ing." + +Mandy took the knife from him, and, after boiling it for a few minutes, +proceeded to cut away the ragged, mangled flesh and skin. The Indian +never winced. He lay with eyes closed, and so pallid was his face and so +perfectly motionless his limbs that he might have been dead. With deft +hands she cleansed the wounds. + +"Now, Allan, you must help me. We must have splints for this ankle." + +"How would birch-bark do?" he suggested. + +"No, it's too flimsy." + +"The heavy inner rind is fairly stiff." He ran to a tree and hacked off +a piece. + +"Yes, that will do splendidly. Get some about so long." + +Half an hour's work, and the wounded limb lay cleansed, bandaged, packed +in soft moss and bound in splints. + +"That's great, Mandy!" exclaimed her husband. "Even to my untutored eyes +that looks like an artistic bit of work. You're a wonder." + +"Huh!" grunted the Indian. "Good!" His piercing black eyes were lifted +suddenly to her face with such a look of gratitude as is seen in the +eyes of dumb brutes or of men deprived of speech. + +"Good!" echoed Allan. "You're just right, my boy. I couldn't have done +it, I assure you." + +"Huh!" grunted the Indian in eloquent contempt. "No good," pointing +to the man. "Good," pointing to the woman. "Me--no--forget." He lifted +himself upon his elbow, and, pointing to the sun like a red eye glaring +in upon them through a vista of woods and hills, said, "Look--He +see--me no forget." + +There was something truly Hebraic in the exultant solemnity of his tone +and gesture. + +"By Jove! He won't either, I truly believe," said Allan. "You've made a +friend for life, Mandy. Now, what's next? We can't carry this chap. It's +three miles to their camp. We can't leave him here. There are wolves all +around and the brutes always attack anything wounded." + +The Indian solved the problem. + +"Huh!" he grunted contemptuously. He took up his long hunting-knife. +"Wolf--this!" He drove the knife to the hilt into the ground. + +"You go--my fadder come. T'ree Indian," holding up three fingers. "All +right! Good!" He sank back upon the ground exhausted. + +"Come on then, Mandy, we shall have to hurry." + +"No, you go. I'll wait." + +"I won't have that. It will be dark soon and I can't leave you here +alone with--" + +"Nonsense! This poor boy is faint with hunger and pain. I'll feed him +while you're gone. Get me afresh pail of water and I can do for myself." + +"Well," replied her husband dubiously, "I'll get you some wood and--" + +"Come, now," replied Mandy impatiently, "who taught you to cut wood? I +can get my own wood. The main thing is to get away and get back. This +boy needs shelter. How long have you been here?" she inquired of the +Indian. + +The boy opened his eyes and swung his arm twice from east to west, +indicating the whole sweep of the sky. + +"Two days?" + +He nodded. + +"You must be starving. Want to eat?" + +"Good!" + +"Hurry, then, Allan, with the water. By the time this lad has been fed +you will be back." + +It was not long before Allan was back with the water. + +"Now, then," he said to the Indian, "where's your camp?" + +The Indian with his knife drew a line upon the ground. "River," he said. +Another line parallel, "Trail." Then, tracing a branching line from +the latter, turning sharply to the right, "Big Hill," he indicated. +"Down--down." Then, running the line a little farther, "Here camp." + +"I know the spot," cried Allan. "Well, I'm off. Are you quite sure, +Mandy, you don't mind?" + +"Run off with you and get back soon. Go--good-by! Oh! Stop, you foolish +boy! Aren't you ashamed of yourself before--?" + +Cameron laughed in happy derision. + +"Ashamed? No, nor before his whole tribe." He swung himself on his pony +and was off down the trail at a gallop. + +"You' man?" inquired the Indian lad. + +"Yes," she said, "my man," pride ringing in her voice. + +"Huh! Him Big Chief?" + +"Oh, no! Yes." She corrected herself hastily. "Big Chief. Ranch, you +know--Big Horn Ranch." + +"Huh!" He closed his eyes and sank back again upon the ground. + +"You're faint with hunger, poor boy," said Mandy. She hastily cut a +large slice of bread, buttered it, laid upon it some bacon and handed it +to him. + +"Here, take this in the meantime," she said. "I'll have your tea in a +jiffy." + +The boy took the bread, and, faint though he was with hunger, sternly +repressing all sign of haste, he ate it with grave deliberation. + +In a few minutes more the tea was ready and Mandy brought him a cup. + +"Good!" he said, drinking it slowly. + +"Another?" she smiled. + +"Good!" he replied, drinking the second cup more rapidly. + +"Now, we'll have some fish," cried Mandy cheerily, "and then you'll be +fit for your journey home." + +In twenty minutes more she brought him a frying pan in which two large +beautiful trout lay, browned in butter. Mandy caught the wolf-like look +in his eyes as they fell upon the food. She cut several thick slices of +bread, laid them in the pan with the fish and turned her back upon him. +The Indian seized the bread, and, noting that he was unobserved, tore +it apart like a dog and ate ravenously, the fish likewise, ripping the +flesh off the bones and devouring it like some wild beast. + +"There, now," she said, when he had finished, "you've had enough to keep +you going. Indeed, you have had all that's good for you. We don't want +any fever, so that will do." + +Her gestures, if not her words, he understood, and again as he watched +her there gleamed in his eyes that dumb animal look of gratitude. + +"Huh!" he grunted, slapping himself on the chest and arms. "Good! Me +strong! Me sleep." He lay back upon the ground and in half a dozen +breaths was dead asleep, leaving Mandy to her lonely watch in the +gathering gloom of the falling night. + +The silence of the woods deepened into a stillness so profound that a +dead leaf, fluttering from its twig and rustling to the ground, made her +start in quick apprehension. + +"What a fool I am!" she muttered angrily. She rose to pile wood upon the +fire. At her first movement the Indian was broad awake and half on his +knees with his knife gleaming in his hand. As his eyes fell upon the +girl at the fire, with a grunt, half of pain and half of contempt, he +sank back again upon the ground and was fast asleep before the fire was +mended, leaving Mandy once more to her lonely watch. + +"I wish he would come," she muttered, peering into the darkening woods +about her. A long and distant howl seemed to reply to her remark. + +It was answered by a series of short, sharp yelps nearer at hand. + +"Coyote," she said disdainfully, for she had learned to despise the +cowardly prairie wolf. + +But again that long distant howl. In spite of herself she shuddered. +That was no coyote, but a gray timber wolf. + +"I wish Allan would come," she said again, thinking of wakening the +Indian. But her nurse's instincts forbade her breaking his heavy sleep. + +"Poor boy, he needs the rest! I'll wait a while longer." + +She took her ax and went bravely at some dead wood lying near, cutting +it for the fire. The Indian never made a sound. He lay dead in sleep. +She piled the wood on the fire till the flames leaped high, shining +ruddily upon the golden and yellow leaves of the surrounding trees. + +But again that long-drawn howl, and quite near, pierced the silence +like the thrust of a spear. Before she was aware Mandy was on her feet, +determined to waken the sleeping Indian, but she had no more than taken +a single step toward him when he was awake and listening keenly. A soft +padding upon the dead leaves could be heard like the gentle falling +of raindrops. The Indian rolled over on his side, swept away some dead +leaves and moss, and drew toward him a fine Winchester rifle. + +"Huh! Wolf," he said, with quiet unconcern. "Here," he continued, +pointing to a rock beside him. Mandy took the place indicated. As she +seated herself he put up his hand with a sharp hiss. Again the pattering +feet could be heard. Suddenly the Indian leaned forward, gazing intently +into the gloom beyond the rim of the firelight, then with a swift +gliding movement he threw his rifle up and fired. There was a sharp +yelp, followed by a gurgling snarl. His shot was answered by a loud +shout. + +"Huh!" said the lad with quiet satisfaction, holding up one finger, "One +wolf. Big Chief come." + +At the shout Mandy had sprung to her feet, answering with a loud glad +halloo. Immediately, as if in response to her call, an Indian swung +his pony into the firelight, slipped off and stood looking about him. +Straight, tall and sinewy, he stood, with something noble in his face +and bearing. + +"He looks like a gentleman," was the thought that leaped into Mandy's +mind. A swift glance he swept round the circle of the light. Mandy +thought she had never seen so piercing an eye. + +The Indian lad uttered a low moaning sound. With a single leap the man +was at his side, holding him in his arms and kissing him on both cheeks, +with eager guttural speech. A few words from the lad and the Indian was +on his feet again, his eyes gleaming, but his face immobile as a death +mask. + +"My boy," he said, pointing to the lad. "My boy--my papoose." His voice +grew soft and tender. + +Before Mandy could reply there was another shout and Allan, followed by +four Indians, burst into the light. With a glad cry Mandy rushed into +his arms and clung to him. + +"Hello! What's up? Everything all right?" cried Allan. "I was a deuce of +a time, I know. Took the wrong trail. You weren't frightened, eh? What? +What's happened?" His voice grew anxious, then stern. "Anything wrong? +Did he--? Did anyone--?" + +"No, no, Allan!" cried his wife, still clinging to him. "It was only a +wolf and I was a little frightened." + +"A wolf!" echoed her husband aghast. + +The Indian lad spoke a few words and pointed to the dark. The Indians +glided into the woods and in a few minutes one of them returned, +dragging by the leg a big, gray timber wolf. The lad's bullet had gone +home. + +"And did this brute attack you?" cried Allan in alarm. + +"No, no. I heard him howling a long way off, and then--then--he came +nearer, and--then--I could hear his feet pattering." Cameron drew +her close to him. "And then he saw him right in the dark. Wasn't it +wonderful?" + +"In the dark?" said Allan, turning to the lad. "How did you do it?" + +"Huh!" grunted the lad in a tone of indifference. "See him eyes." + +Already the Indians were preparing a stretcher out of blankets and two +saplings. Here Mandy came to their help, directing their efforts so that +with the least hurt to the boy he was lifted to his stretcher. + +As they were departing the father came close to Mandy, and, holding out +his hand, said in fairly good English: + +"You--good to my boy. You save him--to-day. All alone maybe he die. You +give him food--drink. Sometime--perhaps soon--me pay you." + +"Oh," cried Mandy, "I want no pay." + +"No money--no!" cried the Indian, with scorn in his voice. "Me save +you perhaps--sometime. Save you--save you, man. Me Big Chief." He drew +himself up his full height. "Much Indian follow me." He shook hands with +Mandy again, then with her husband. + +"Big Piegan Chief?" inquired her husband. + +"Piegan!" said the Indian with hearty contempt. "Me no Piegan--me +Big Chief. Me--" He paused abruptly, turned on his heel and, flinging +himself on to his pony, disappeared in the shadows. + +"He's jolly well pleased with himself, isn't he?" said Cameron. + +"He's splendid," cried Mandy enthusiastically. "Why, he's just like +one of Cooper's Indians. He's certainly like none of the rest I've seen +about here." + +"That's true enough," replied her husband. "He's no Piegan. Who is he, I +wonder? I don't remember seeing him. He thinks no end of himself, at any +rate." + +"And looks as if he had a right to." + +"Right you are! Well, let's away. You must be dog tired and used up." + +"Never a bit," cried Mandy. "I'm fresh as a daisy. What a wonderful +ending to a wonderful day!" + +They extinguished the fire carefully and made their way out to the +trail. + +But the end of this wonderful day had not yet come. + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE ANCIENT SACRIFICE + + +The moon was riding high in the cloudless blue of the heavens, tricked +out with faintly shining stars, when they rode into the "corral" that +surrounded the ranch stable. A horse stood tethered at the gate. + +"Hello, a visitor!" cried Cameron. "A Police horse!" his eyes falling +upon the shining accouterments. + +"A Policeman!" echoed Mandy, a sudden foreboding at her heart. "What can +he want?" + +"Me, likely," replied her husband with a laugh, "though I can't think +for which of my crimes it is. It's Inspector Dickson, by his horse. You +know him, Mandy, my very best friend." + +"What does he want, Allan?" said Mandy, anxiety in her voice. + +"Want? Any one of a thousand things. You run in and see while I put up +the ponies." + +"I don't like it," said Mandy, walking with him toward the stable. "Do +you know, I feel there is something--I have felt all day a kind of dread +that--" + +"Nonsense, Mandy! You're not that style of girl. Run away into the +house." + +But still Mandy waited beside him. + +"We've had a great day, Allan," she said again. "Many great days, and +this, one of the best. Whatever comes nothing can take those happy days +from us." She put her arms about his neck and drew him toward her. +"I don't know why, Allan, I know it's foolish, but I'm afraid," she +whispered, "I'm afraid." + +"Now, Mandy," said her husband, with his arms round about her, "don't +say you're going to get like other girls, hysterical and that sort of +thing. You are just over-tired. We've had a big day, but an exhausting +day, an exciting day. What with that Piegan and the wolf business and +all, you are done right up. So am I and--by Jove! That reminds me, I am +dead famished." + +No better word could he have spoken. + +"You poor boy," she cried. "I'll have supper ready by the time you +come in. I am silly, but now it's all over. I shall go in and face the +Inspector and dare him to arrest you, no matter what you have done." + +"That's more like the thing! That's more like my girl. I shall be with +you in a very few minutes. He can't take us both, can he? Run in and +smile at him." + +Mandy found the Inspector in the cozy ranch kitchen, calmly smoking his +pipe, and deep in the London Graphic. As she touched the latch he sprang +to his feet and saluted in his best style. + +"Never heard you ride up, Mrs. Cameron, I assure you. You must think me +rather cool to sit tight here and ignore your coming." + +"I am very glad to see you, Inspector Dickson, and Allan will be +delighted. He is putting up your horse. You will of course stay the +night with us." + +"Oh, that's awfully kind, but I really can't, you know. I shall tell +Cameron." He took his hat from the peg. + +"We should be delighted if you could stay with us. We see very few +people and you have not been very neighborly, now confess." + +"I have not been, and to my sorrow and loss. If any man had told me that +I should have been just five weeks to a day within a few hours' ride of +my friend Cameron, not to speak of his charming wife, without visiting +him, well I should have--well, no matter--to my joy I am here to-night. +But I can't stay this trip. We are rather hard worked just now, to tell +the truth." + +"Hard worked?" she asked. + +"Yes. Patrol work rather heavy. But I must stop Cameron in his +hospitable design," he added, as he passed out of the door. + +It was a full half hour before the men returned, to find supper spread +and Mandy waiting. It was a large and cheerful apartment that did both +for kitchen and living room. The sides were made of logs hewn smooth, +plastered and whitewashed. The oak joists and planking above were +stained brown. At one end of the kitchen two doors led to as many rooms, +at the other a large stone fireplace, with a great slab for mantelpiece. +On this slab stood bits of china bric-a-brac, and what not, relics +abandoned by the gallant and chivalrous Fraser for the bride and her +house furnishing. The prints, too, upon the wall, hunting scenes of the +old land, sea-scenes, moorland and wild cattle, with many useful +and ornamental bits of furniture, had all been handed over with true +Highland generosity by the outgoing owner. + +In the fireplace, for the night had a touch of frost in it, a log fire +blazed and sparked, lending to the whole scene an altogether delightful +air of comfort. + +"I say, this does look jolly!" cried the Inspector as he entered. +"Cameron, you lucky dog, do you really imagine you know how jolly well +off you are, coddled thus in the lap of comfort and surrounded with all +the enervating luxuries of an effete and forgotten civilization? +Come now, own up, you are beginning to take this thing as a matter of +course." + +But Cameron stood with his back to the light, busying himself with his +fishing tackle and fish, and ignoring the Inspector's cheerful chatter. +And thus he remained without a word while the Inspector talked on in a +voluble flow of small talk quite unusual with him. + +Throughout the supper Cameron remained silent, rallying spasmodically +with gay banter to the Inspector's chatter, or answering at random, but +always falling silent again, and altogether was so unlike himself that +Mandy fell to wondering, then became watchful, then anxious. At length +the Inspector himself fell silent, as if perceiving the uselessness of +further pretense. + +"What is it, Allan?" said Mandy quietly, when silence had fallen upon +them all. "You might as well let me know." + +"Tell her, for God's sake," said her husband to the Inspector. + +"What is it?" inquired Mandy. + +The Inspector handed her a letter. + +"From Superintendent Strong to my Chief," he said. + +She took it and as she read her face went now white with fear, now red +with indignation. At length she flung the letter down. + +"What a man he is to be sure!" she cried scornfully. "And what nonsense +is this he writes. With all his men and officers he must come for my +husband! What is HE doing? And all the others? It's just his own stupid +stubbornness. He always did object to our marriage." + +The Inspector was silent. Cameron was silent too. His boyish face, for +he was but a lad, seemed to have grown old in those few minutes. The +Inspector wore an ashamed look, as if detected in a crime. + +"And because he is not clever enough to catch this man they must come +for my husband to do it for them. He is not a Policeman. He has nothing +to do with the Force." + +And still the Inspector sat silent, as if convicted of both crime and +folly. + +At length Cameron spoke. + +"It is quite impossible, Inspector. I can't do it. You quite see how +impossible it is." + +"Most certainly you can't," eagerly agreed the Inspector. "I knew from +the first it was a piece of--sheer absurdity--in fact brutal inhumanity. +I told the Commissioner so." + +"It isn't as if I was really needed, you know. The Superintendent's idea +is, as you say, quite absurd." + +The Inspector gravely nodded. + +"You don't think for a moment," continued Cameron, "there is any +need--any real need I mean--for me to--" Cameron's voice died away. + +The Inspector hesitated and cleared his throat. "Well--of course, we +are desperately short-handed, you know. Every man is overworked. Every +reserve has to be closely patroled. Every trail ought to be watched. +Runners are coming in every day. We ought to have a thousand men instead +of five hundred, this very minute. Of course one can never tell. The +chances are this will all blow over." + +"Certainly," said Cameron. "We've heard these rumors for the past year." + +"Of course," agreed the Inspector cheerfully. + +"But if it does not," asked Mandy, suddenly facing the Inspector, "what +then?" + +"If it does not?" + +"If it does not?" she insisted. + +The Inspector appeared to turn the matter over in his mind. + +"Well," he said slowly and thoughtfully, "if it does not there will be a +deuce of an ugly time." + +"What do you mean?" + +The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. But Mandy waited, her eyes fixed +on his face demanding answer. + +"Well, there are some hundreds of settlers and their families scattered +over this country, and we can hardly protect them all. But," he added +cheerfully, as if dismissing the subject, "we have a trick of worrying +through." + +Mandy shuddered. One phrase in the Superintendent's letter to the +Commissioner which she had just read kept hammering upon her brain, +"Cameron is the man and the only man for the job." + +They turned the talk to other things, but the subject would not be +dismissed. Like the ghost at the feast it kept ever returning. The +Inspector retailed the most recent rumors, and together he and his host +weighed their worth. The Inspector disclosed the Commissioner's plans +as far as he knew them. These, too, were discussed with approval or +condemnation. The consequences of an Indian uprising were hinted at, but +quickly dropped. The probabilities of such an uprising were touched upon +and pronounced somewhat slight. + +But somehow to the woman listening as in a maze this pronouncement and +all the reassuring talk rang hollow. She sat staring at the Inspector +with eyes that saw him not. What she did see was a picture out of an +old book of Indian war days which she had read when a child, a smoking +cabin, with mangled forms of women and children lying in the blackened +embers. By degrees, slow, painful, but relentlessly progressive, certain +impressions, at first vague and passionately resisted, were wrought into +convictions in her soul. First, the Inspector, in spite of his light +talk, was undeniably anxious, and in this anxiety her husband shared. +Then, the Force was clearly inadequate to the duty required of it. At +this her indignation burned. Why should it be that a Government should +ask of brave men what they must know to be impossible? Hard upon this +conviction came the words of the Superintendent, "Cameron is the man and +the only man for the job." Finally, the Inspector was apologizing for +her husband. It roused a hot resentment in her to hear him. That thing +she could not and would not bear. Never should it be said that her +husband had needed a friend to apologize for him. + +As these convictions grew in clearness she found herself brought +suddenly and sharply to face the issue. With a swift contraction of the +heart she realized that she must send her husband on this perilous duty. +Ah! Could she do it? It was as if a cold hand were steadily squeezing +drop by drop the life-blood from her heart. In contrast, and as if with +one flash of light, the long happy days of the last six months passed +before her mind. How could she give him up? Her breathing came in short +gasps, her lips became dry, her eyes fixed and staring. She was fighting +for what was dearer to her than life. Suddenly she flung her hands to +her face and groaned aloud. + +"What is it, Mandy?" cried her husband, starting from his place. + +His words seemed to recall her. The agonizing agitation passed from her +and a great quiet fell upon her soul. The struggle was done. She had +made the ancient sacrifice demanded of women since ever the first man +went forth to war. It remained only to complete with fitting ritual this +ancient sacrifice. She rose from her seat and faced her husband. + +"Allan," she said, and her voice was of indescribable sweetness, "you +must go." + +Her husband took her in his arms without a word, then brokenly he said: + +"My girl! My own brave girl! I knew you must send me." + +"Yes," she replied, gazing into his face with a wan smile, "I knew it +too, because I knew you would expect me to." + +The Inspector had risen from his chair at her first cry and was standing +with bent head, as if in the presence of a scene too sacred to witness. +Then he came to her, and, with old time and courtly grace of the fine +gentleman he was, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. + +"Dear lady," he said, "for such as you brave men would gladly give their +lives." + +"Give their lives!" cried Mandy. "I would much rather they would save +them. But," she added, her voice taking a practical tone, "sit down and +let us talk. Now what's the work and what's the plan?" + +The men glanced at each other in silent admiration of this woman who, +without moan or murmur, could surrender her heart's dearest treasure for +her country's good. This was a spirit of their own type. + +They sat down before the fire and discussed the business before them. +But as they discussed ever and again Mandy would find her mind wandering +back over the past happy days. Ever and again a word would recall her, +but only for a brief moment and soon she was far away again. + +A phrase of the Inspector, however, arrested and held her. + +"He's really a fine looking Indian, in short a kind of aristocrat among +the Indians," he was saying. + +"An aristocrat?" she exclaimed, remembering her own word about the +Indian Chief they had met that very evening. "Why, that is like our +Chief, Allan." + +"By Jove! You're right!" exclaimed her husband. "What's your man like, +again? Describe him, Inspector." + +The Inspector described him in detail. + +"The very man we saw to-night!" cried Mandy, and gave her description of +the "Big Chief." + +When she had finished the Inspector sat looking into the fire. + +"Among the Piegans, too," he mused. "That fits in. There was a big +powwow the other day in the Sun Dance Canyon. The Piegans' is the +nearest reserve, and a lot of them were there. The Superintendent says +he is somewhere along the Sun Dance." + +"Inspector," said Allan, with sudden determination, "we will drop in on +the Piegans to-morrow morning by sun-up." + +Mandy started. This pace was more rapid than she had expected, but, +having made the sacrifice, there was with her no word of recall. + +The Inspector pondered the suggestion. + +"Well," he said, "it would do no harm to reconnoiter at any rate. But we +can't afford to make any false move, and we can't afford to fail." + +"Fail!" said Cameron quietly. "We won't fail. We'll get him." And the +lines in his face reminded his wife of how he looked that night three +years before when he cowed the great bully Perkins into submission at +her father's door. + +Long they sat and planned. As the Inspector said, there must be no +failure; hence the plan must provide for every possible contingency. By +far the keenest of the three in mental activity was Mandy. By a curious +psychological process the Indian Chief, who an hour before had awakened +in her admiration and a certain romantic interest, had in a single +moment become an object of loathing, almost of hatred. That he should be +in this land planning for her people, for innocent and defenseless women +and children, the horrors of massacre filled her with a fierce anger. +But a deeper analysis would doubtless have revealed a personal element +in her anger and loathing. The Indian had become the enemy for whose +capture and for whose destruction her husband was now enlisted. Deep +down in her quiet, strong, self-controlled nature there burned a passion +in which mingled the primitive animal instincts of the female, mate for +mate, and mother for offspring. Already her mind had leaped forward to +the moment when this cunning, powerful plotter would be at death-grips +with her husband and she not there to help. With intensity of purpose +and relentlessness of determination she focused the powers of her +forceful and practical mind upon the problem engaging their thought. + +With mind whetted to its keenest she listened to the men as they made +and unmade their plans. In ordinary circumstances the procedure of +arrest would have been extremely simple. The Inspector and Cameron would +have ridden into the Piegan camp, and, demanding their man, would have +quietly and without even a show of violence carried him off. It would +have been like things they had each of them done single-handed within +the past year. + +"When once we make a start, you see, Mrs. Cameron, we never turn back. +We could not afford to," said the Inspector. There was no suspicion +of boasting in the Inspector's voice. He was simply enunciating the +traditional code of the Police. "And if we should hesitate with this +man or fail to land him every Indian in these territories would have +it within a week and our prestige would receive a shock. We dare not +exhibit any sign of nerves. On the other hand we dare not make any +movement in force. In short, anything unusual must be avoided." + +"I quite see," replied Mandy with keen appreciation of the delicacy of +the situation. + +"So that I fancy the simpler the plan the better. Cameron will ride +into the Piegan camp inquiring about his cattle, as, fortunately for the +present situation, he has cause enough to in quite an ordinary way. +I drop in on my regular patrol looking up a cattle-thief in quite the +ordinary way. Seeing this strange chief, I arrest him on suspicion. +Cameron backs me up. The thing is done. Luckily Trotting Wolf, who is +the Head Chief now of the Piegans, has a fairly thorough respect for +the Police, and unless things have gone much farther in his band than I +think he will not resist. He is, after all, rather harmless." + +"I don't like your plan at all, Inspector," said Mandy promptly. "The +moment you suggest arrest that moment the younger men will be up. They +are just back from a big brave-making powwow, you say. They are all +worked up, and keen for a chance to prove that they are braves in more +than in name. You give them the very opportunity you wish to avoid. +Now hear my plan," she continued, her voice eager, keen, hard, in the +intensity of her purpose. "I ride into camp to-morrow morning to see +the sick boy. I promised I would and I really want to. I find him in a +fever, for a fever he certainly will have. I dress his wounded ankle and +discover he must have some medicine. I get old Copperhead to ride back +with me for it. You wait here and arrest him without trouble." + +The two men looked at each other, then at her, with a gentle admiring +pity. The plan was simplicity itself and undoubtedly eliminated the +elements of danger which the Inspector's possessed. It had, however, one +fatal defect. + +"Fine, Mandy!" said her husband, reaching across the table and patting +her hand that lay clenched upon the cloth. "But it won't do." + +"And why not, pray?" she demanded. + +"We do not use our women as decoys in this country, nor do we expose +them to dangers we men dare not face." + +"Allan," cried his wife with angry impatience, "you miss the whole +point. For a woman to ride into the Piegan camp, especially on this +errand of mercy, involves her in no danger. And what possible danger +would there be in having the old villain ride back with me for +medicine? And as to the decoy business," here she shrugged her shoulders +contemptuously, "do you think I care a bit for that? Isn't he planning +to kill women and children in this country? And--and--won't he do his +best to kill you?" she panted. "Isn't it right for me to prevent him? +Prevent him! To me he is like a snake. I would--would--gladly kill +him--myself." As she spoke these words her eyes were indeed, in Sergeant +Ferry's words, "like little blue flames." + +But the men remained utterly unmoved. To their manhood the plan +was repugnant, and in spite of Mandy's arguments and entreaties was +rejected. + +"It is the better plan, Mrs. Cameron," said the Inspector kindly, "but +we cannot, you must see we cannot, adopt it." + +"You mean you will not," cried Mandy indignantly, "just because you are +stupid stubborn men!" And she proceeded to argue the matter all over +again with convincing logic, but with the same result. There are +propositions which do not lend themselves to the arbitrament of logic +with men. When the safety of their women is at stake they refuse to +discuss chances. In such a case they may be stupid, but they are quite +immovable. + +Blocked by this immovable stupidity, Mandy yielded her ground, but only +to attempt a flank movement. + +"Let me go with you on your reconnoitering expedition," she pleaded. +"Rather, let US go, Allan, you and I together, to see the boy. I am +really sorry for that boy. He can't help his father, can he?" + +"Quite true," said the Inspector gravely. + +"Let us go and find out all we can and next day make your attempt. +Besides, Allan," she cried under a sudden inspiration of memory, "you +can't possibly go. You forget your sister arrives at Calgary this week. +You must meet her." + +"By Jove! Is that so? I had forgotten," said Cameron, turning to study +the calendar on the wall, a gorgeous work of art produced out of +the surplus revenues of a Life Insurance Company. "Let's see," he +calculated. "This week? Three days will take us in. We are still all +right. We have five. That gives us two days clear for this job. I feel +like making this try, Mandy," he continued earnestly. "We have this chap +practically within our grasp. He will be off guard. The Piegans are not +yet worked up to the point of resistance. Ten days from now our man may +be we can't tell where." + +Mandy remained silent. The ritual of her sacrifice was not yet complete. + +"I think you are right, Allan," at length she said slowly with a twisted +smile. "I'm afraid you are right. It's hard not to be in it, though. +But," she added, as if moved by a sudden thought, "I may be in it yet." + +"You will certainly be with us in spirit, Mandy," he replied, patting +the firm brown hand that lay upon the table. + +"Yes, truly, and in our hearts," added the Inspector with a bow. + +But Mandy made no reply. Already she was turning over in her mind a +half-formed plan which she had no intention of sharing with these men, +who, after the manner of their kind, would doubtless block it. + +Early morning found Cameron and the Inspector on the trail toward the +Piegan Reserve, riding easily, for they knew not what lay before them +nor what demand they might have to make upon their horses that day. The +Inspector rode a strongly built, stocky horse of no great speed but good +for an all-day run. Cameron's horse was a broncho, an unlovely +brute, awkward and ginger---his name was Ginger--sad-eyed +and wicked-looking, but short-coupled and with flat, rangy legs that +promised speed. For his sad-eyed, awkward broncho Cameron professed a +deep affection and defended him stoutly against the Inspector's jibes. + +"You can't kill him," he declared. "He'll go till he drops, and then +twelve miles more. He isn't beautiful to look at and his manners are +nothing to boast of, but he will hang upon the fence the handsome skin +of that cob of yours." + +When still five or six miles from camp they separated. + +"The old boy may, of course, be gone," said the Inspector as he was +parting from his friend. "By Superintendent Strong's report he seems to +be continually on the move." + +"I rather think his son will hold him for a day or two," replied +Cameron. "Now you give me a full half hour. I shall look in upon the +boy, you know. But don't be longer. I don't as a rule linger among these +Piegan gentry, you know, and a lengthened stay would certainly arouse +suspicion." + +Cameron's way lay along the high plateau, from which a descent could +be made by a trail leading straight south into the Piegan camp. The +Inspector's course carried him in a long detour to the left, by which +he should enter from the eastern end the valley in which lay the Indian +camp. Cameron's trail at the first took him through thick timber, then, +as it approached the level floor of the valley, through country that +became more open. The trees were larger and with less undergrowth +between them. In the valley itself a few stubble fields with fences +sadly in need of repair gave evidence of the partial success of the +attempts of the farm instructor to initiate the Piegans into the science +and art of agriculture. A few scattering log houses, which the Indians +had been induced by the Government to build for themselves, could be +seen here and there among the trees. But during the long summer days, +and indeed until driven from the open by the blizzards of winter, not +one of these children of the free air and open sky could be persuaded to +enter the dismal shelter afforded by the log houses. They much preferred +the flimsy teepee or tent. And small wonder. Their methods of sanitation +did not comport with a permanent dwelling. When the teepee grew foul, +which their habits made inevitable, a simple and satisfactory remedy +was discovered in a shift to another camp-ground. Not so with the log +houses, whose foul corners, littered with the accumulated filth of a +winter's occupation, became fertile breeding places for the germs of +disease and death. Irregularly strewn upon the grassy plain in +the valley bottom some two dozen teepees marked the Piegan summer +headquarters. Above the camp rose the smoke of their camp-fires, for it +was still early and their morning meal was yet in preparation. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE ILLUSIVE COPPERHEAD + + +Cameron's approach to the Piegan camp was greeted by a discordant +chorus of yelps and howls from a pack of mangy, half-starved curs of all +breeds, shapes and sizes, the invariable and inevitable concomitants of +an Indian encampment. The squaws, who had been busy superintending the +pots and pans in which simmered the morning meal of their lords and +masters, faded from view at Cameron's approach, and from the teepees on +every side men appeared and stood awaiting with stolid faces the white +man's greeting. Cameron was known to them of old. + +"Good-day!" he cried briefly, singling out the Chief. + +"Huh!" replied the Chief, and awaited further parley. + +"No grub yet, eh? You sleep too long, Chief." + +The Chief smiled grimly. + +"I say, Chief," continued Cameron, "I have lost a couple of steers--big +fellows, too--any of your fellows seen them?" + +Trotting Wolf turned to the group of Indians who had slouched toward +them in the meantime and spoke to them in the singsong monotone of the +Indian. + +"No see cow," he replied briefly. + +Cameron threw himself from his horse and, striding to a large pot +simmering over a fire, stuck his knife into the mass and lifted up a +large piece of flesh, the bones of which looked uncommonly like ribs of +beef. + +"What's this, Trotting Wolf?" he inquired with a stern ring in his +voice. + +"Deer," promptly and curtly replied the Chief. + +"Who shot him?" + +The Chief consulted the group of Indians standing near. + +"This man," he replied, indicating a young Indian. + +"What's your name?" said Cameron sharply. "I know you." + +The young Indian shook his head. + +"Oh, come now, you know English all right. What's your name?" + +Still the Indian shook his head, meeting Cameron's look with a fearless +eye. + +"He White Cloud," said the Chief. + +"White Cloud! Big Chief, eh?" said Cameron. + +"Huh!" replied Trotting Wolf, while a smile appeared on several faces. + +"You shot this deer?" + +"Huh!" replied the Indian, nodding. + +"I thought you could speak English all right." + +Again a smile touched the faces of some of the group. + +"Where did you shoot him?" + +White Cloud pointed vaguely toward the mountains. + +"How far? Two, three, four miles?" inquired Cameron, holding up his +fingers. + +"Huh!" grunted the Indian, holding up five fingers. + +"Five miles, eh? Big deer, too," said Cameron, pointing to the ribs. + +"Huh!" + +"How did you carry him home?" + +The Indian shook his head. + +"How did he carry him these five miles?" continued Cameron, turning to +Trotting Wolf. + +"Pony," replied Trotting Wolf curtly. + +"Good!" said Cameron. "Now," said he, turning swiftly upon the young +Indian, "where is the skin?" + +The Indian's eyes wavered for a fleeting instant. He spoke a few words +to Trotting Wolf. Conversation followed. + +"Well?" said Cameron. + +"He says dogs eat him up." + +"And the head? This big fellow had a big head. Where is it?" + +Again the Indian's eyes wavered and again the conversation followed. + +"Left him up in bush," replied the chief. + +"We will ride up and see it, then," said Cameron. + +The Indians became voluble among themselves. + +"No find," said the Chief. "Wolf eat him up." + +Cameron raised the meat to his nose, sniffed its odor and dropped it +back into the pot. With a single stride he was close to White Cloud. + +"White Cloud," he said sternly, "you speak with a forked tongue. In +plain English, White Cloud, you lie. Trotting Wolf, you know that is no +deer. That is cow. That is my cow." + +Trotting Wolf shrugged his shoulders. + +"No see cow me," he said sullenly. + +"White Cloud," said Cameron, swiftly turning again upon the young +Indian, "where did you shoot my cow?" + +The young Indian stared back at Cameron, never blinking an eyelid. +Cameron felt his wrath rising, but kept himself well in hand, +remembering the purpose of his visit. During this conversation he had +been searching the gathering crowd of Indians for the tall form of his +friend of the previous night, but he was nowhere to be seen. Cameron +felt he must continue the conversation, and, raising his voice as if in +anger--and indeed there was no need of pretense for he longed to seize +White Cloud by the throat and shake the truth out of him--he said: + +"Trotting Wolf, your young men have been killing my cattle for many +days. You know that this is a serious offense with the Police. Indians +go to jail for this. And the Police will hold you responsible. You are +the Chief on this reserve. The Police will ask why you cannot keep your +young men from stealing cattle." + +The number of Indians was increasing every moment and still Cameron's +eyes searched the group, but in vain. Murmurs arose from the Indians, +which he easily interpreted to mean resentment, but he paid no heed. + +"The Police do not want a Chief," he cried in a still louder voice, "who +cannot control his young men and keep them from breaking the law." + +He paused abruptly. From behind a teepee some distance away there +appeared the figure of the "Big Chief" whom he so greatly desired to +see. Giving no sign of his discovery, he continued his exhortation to +Trotting Wolf, to that worthy's mingled rage and embarrassment. The +suggestion of jail for cattle-thieves the Chief knew well was no empty +threat, for two of his band even at that moment were in prison for this +very crime. This knowledge rendered him uneasy. He had no desire himself +to undergo a like experience, and it irked his tribe and made them +restless and impatient of his control that their Chief could not protect +them from these unhappy consequences of their misdeeds. They knew +that with old Crowfoot, the Chief of the Blackfeet band, such untoward +consequences rarely befell the members of that tribe. Already Trotting +Wolf could distinguish the murmurs of his young men, who were resenting +the charge against White Cloud, as well as the tone and manner in +which it was delivered. Most gladly would he have defied this truculent +rancher to do his worst, but his courage was not equal to the plunge, +and, besides, the circumstances for such a break were not yet favorable. + +At this juncture Cameron, facing about, saw within a few feet of him the +Indian whose capture he was enlisted to secure. + +"Hello!" he cried, as if suddenly recognizing him. "How is the boy?" + +"Good," said the Indian with grave dignity. "He sick here," touching his +head. + +"Ah! Fever, I suppose," replied Cameron. "Take me to see him." + +The Indian led the way to the teepee that stood slightly apart from the +others. + +Inside the teepee upon some skins and blankets lay the boy, whose bright +eyes and flushed cheeks proclaimed fever. An old squaw, bent in form and +wrinkled in face, crouched at the end of the couch, her eyes gleaming +like beads of black glass in her mahogany face. + +"How is the foot to-day?" cried Allan. "Pain bad?" + +"Huh!" grunted the lad, and remained perfectly motionless but for the +restless glittering eyes that followed every movement of his father. + +"You want the doctor here," said Cameron in a serious tone, kneeling +beside the couch. "That boy is in a high fever. And you can't get him +too quick. Better send a boy to the Fort and get the Police doctor. How +did you sleep last night?" he inquired of the lad. + +"No sleep," said his father. "Go this way--this way," throwing his arms +about his head. "Talk, talk, talk." + +But Cameron was not listening to him. He was hearing a jingle of spurs +and bridle from down the trail and he knew that the Inspector had +arrived. The old Indian, too, had caught the sound. His piercing eyes +swiftly searched the face of the white man beside him. But Cameron, +glancing quietly at him, continued to discuss the condition of the boy. + +"Yes, you must get the doctor here at once. There is danger of +blood-poisoning. The boy may lose his foot." And he continued to +describe the gruesome possibilities of neglect of that lacerated wound. +As he rose from the couch the boy caught his arm. + +"You' squaw good. Come see me," he said. "Good--good." The eager look in +the fevered eye touched Cameron. + +"All right, boy, I shall tell her," he said. "Good-by!" He took the +boy's hand in his. But the boy held it fast in a nervous grasp. + +"You' squaw come--sure. Hurt here--bad." He struck his forehead with his +hand. "You' squaw come--make good." + +"All right," said Cameron. "I shall bring her myself. Good-by!" + +Together they passed out of the teepee, Cameron keeping close to the +Indian's side and talking to him loudly and earnestly about the boy's +condition, all the while listening to the Inspector's voice from behind +the row of teepees. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed aloud as they came in sight of the Inspector mounted +on his horse. "Here is my friend, Inspector Dickson. Hello, Inspector!" +he called out. "Come over here. We have a sick boy and I want you to +help us." + +"Hello, Cameron!" cried the Inspector, riding up and dismounting. +"What's up?" + +Trotting Wolf and the other Indians slowly drew near. + +"There is a sick boy in here," said Cameron, pointing to the teepee +behind him. "He is the son of this man, Chief--" He paused. "I don't +know your name." + +Without an instant's hesitation the Indian replied: + +"Chief Onawata." + +"His boy got his foot in a trap. My wife dressed the wound last night," +continued Cameron. "Come in and see him." + +But the Indian put up his hand. + +"No," he said quietly. "My boy not like strange man. Bad head--here. +Want sleep--sleep." + +"Ah!" said the Inspector. "Quite right. Let him sleep. Nothing better +than sleep. A good long sleep will fix him up." + +"He needs the doctor, however," said Cameron. + +"Ah, yes, yes. Well, we shall send the doctor." + +"Everything all right, Inspector?" said Cameron, throwing his friend a +significant glance. + +"Quite right!" replied the Inspector. "But I must be going. Good-by, +Chief!" As his one hand closed on the Indian's his other slid down upon +his wrist. "I want you, Chief," he said in a quiet stern voice. "I want +you to come along with me." + +His hand had hardly closed upon the wrist than with a single motion, +swift, snake-like, the Indian wrenched his hand from the Inspector's +iron grasp and, leaping back a space of three paces, stood with body +poised as if to spring. + +"Halt there, Chief! Don't move or you die!" + +The Indian turned to see Cameron covering him with two guns. At once +he relaxed his tense attitude and, drawing himself up, he demanded in a +voice of indignant scorn: + +"Why you touch me? Me Big Chief! You little dog!" + +As he stood, erect, tall, scornful, commanding, with his head thrown +back and his arm outstretched, his eyes glittering and his face eloquent +of haughty pride, he seemed the very incarnation of the wild unconquered +spirit of that once proud race he represented. For a moment or two a +deep silence held the group of Indians, and even the white men were +impressed. Then the Inspector spoke. + +"Trotting Wolf," he said, "I want this man. He is a horse-thief. I know +him. I am going to take him to the Fort. He is a bad man." + +"No," said Trotting Wolf, in a loud voice, "he no bad man. He my friend. +Come here many days." He held up both hands. "No teef--my friend." + +A loud murmur rose from the Indians, who in larger numbers kept crowding +nearer. At this ominous sound the Inspector swiftly drew two revolvers, +and, backing toward the man he was seeking to arrest, said in a quiet, +clear voice: + +"Trotting Wolf, this man goes with me. If he is no thief he will be +back again very soon. See these guns? Six men die," shaking one of them, +"when this goes off. And six more die," shaking the other, "when +this goes off. The first man will be you, Trotting Wolf, and this man +second." + +Trotting Wolf hesitated. + +"Trotting Wolf," said Cameron. "See these guns? Twelve men die if you +make any fuss. You steal my cattle. You cannot stop your young men. The +Piegans need a new Chief. If this man is no thief he will be back again +in a few days. The Inspector speaks truth. You know he never lies." + +Still Trotting Wolf stood irresolute. The Indians began to shuffle and +crowd nearer. + +"Trotting Wolf," said the Inspector sharply, "tell your men that the +first man that steps beyond that poplar-tree dies. That is my word." + +The Chief spoke to the crowd. There was a hoarse guttural murmur in +response, but those nearest to the tree backed away from it. They knew +the Police never showed a gun except when prepared to use it. For +years they had been accustomed to the administration of justice and the +enforcement of law at the hands of the North West Mounted Police, and +among the traditions of that Force the Indians had learned to accept two +as absolutely settled: the first, that they never failed to get the man +they wanted; the second, that their administration of law was marked +by the most rigid justice. It was Chief Onawata himself that found the +solution. + +"Me no thief. Me no steal horse. Me Big Chief. Me go to your Fort. My +heart clean. Me see your Big Chief." He uttered these words with an air +of quiet but impressive dignity. + +"That's sensible," said the Inspector, moving toward him. "You will get +full justice. Come along!" + +"I go see my boy. My boy sick." His voice became low, soft, almost +tremulous. + +"Certainly," said Cameron. "Go in and see the lad. And we will see that +you get fair play." + +"Good!" said the Indian, and, turning on his heel, he passed into the +teepee where his boy lay. + +Through the teepee wall their voices could be heard in quiet +conversation. In a few minutes the old squaw passed out on an errand and +then in again, eying the Inspector as she passed with malevolent hate. +Again she passed out, this time bowed down under a load of blankets and +articles of Indian household furniture, and returned no more. Still the +conversation within the teepee continued, the boy's voice now and again +rising high, clear, the other replying in low, even, deep tones. + +"I will just get my horse, Inspector," said Cameron, making his way +through the group of Indians to where Ginger was standing with sad and +drooping head. + +"Time's up, I should say," said the Inspector to Cameron as he returned +with his horse. "Just give him a call, will you?" + +Cameron stepped to the door of the teepee. + +"Come along, Chief, we must be going," he said, putting his head inside +the teepee door. "Hello!" he cried, "Where the deuce--where is he gone?" +He sprang quickly out of the teepee. "Has he passed out?" + +"Passed out?" said the Inspector. "No. Is he not inside?" + +"He's not here." + +Both men rushed into the teepee. On the couch the boy still lay, his +eyes brilliant with fever but more with hate. At the foot of the couch +still crouched the old crone, but there was no sign of the Chief. + +"Get up!" said the Inspector to the old squaw, turning the blankets and +skins upside down. + +"Hee! hee!" she laughed in diabolical glee, spitting at him as he +passed. + +"Did no one enter?" asked Cameron. + +"Not a soul." + +"Nor go out?" + +"No one except the old squaw here. I saw her go out with a pack." + +"With a pack!" echoed Cameron. And the two men stood looking at each +other. "By Jove!" said Cameron in deep disgust, "We're done. He is +rightly named Copperhead. Quick!" he cried, "Let us search this camp, +though it's not much use." + +And so indeed it proved. Through every teepee they searched in hot +haste, tumbling out squalling squaws and papooses. But all in vain. +Copperhead had as completely disappeared as if he had vanished into thin +air. With faces stolid and unmoved by a single gleam of satisfaction the +Indians watched their hurried search. + +"We will take a turn around this camp," said Cameron, swinging on to his +pony. "You hear me!" he continued, riding up close to Trotting Wolf, "We +haven't got our man but we will come back again. And listen carefully! +If I lose a single steer this fall I shall come and take you, Trotting +Wolf, to the Fort, if I have to bring you by the hair of the head." + +But Trotting Wolf only shrugged his shoulders, saying: + +"No see cow." + +"Is there any use taking a look around this camp?" said the Inspector. + +"What else can we do?" said Cameron. "We might as well. There is a faint +chance we might come across a trace." + +But no trace did they find, though they spent an hour and more in close +and minute scrutiny of the ground about the camp and the trails leading +out from it. + +"Where now?" inquired the Inspector. + +"Home for me," said Cameron. "To-morrow to Calgary. Next week I take up +this trail. You may as well come along with me, Inspector. We can talk +things over as we go." + +They were a silent and chagrined pair as they rode out from the Reserve +toward the ranch. As they were climbing from the valley to the plateau +above they came to a soft bit of ground. Here Cameron suddenly drew rein +with a warning cry, and, flinging himself off his broncho, was upon his +knee examining a fresh track. + +"A pony-track, by all that's holy! And within an hour. It is our man," +he cried, examining the trail carefully and following it up the hill and +out on to the plateau. "It is our man sure enough, and he is taking this +trail." + +For some miles the pony-tracks were visible enough. There was no attempt +to cover them. The rider was evidently pushing hard. + +"Where do you think he is heading for, Inspector?" + +"Well," said the Inspector, "this trail strikes toward the Blackfoot +Reserve by way of your ranch." + +"My ranch!" cried Cameron. "My God! Look there!" + +As he spoke the ginger- broncho leaped into a gallop. Five miles +away a thin column of smoke could be seen rising up into the air. Every +mile made it clearer to Cameron that the smoke rising from behind the +round-topped hill before him was from his ranch-buildings, and every +mile intensified his anxiety. His wife was alone on the ranch at the +mercy of that fiend. That was the agonizing thought that tore at his +heart as his panting broncho pounded along the trail. From the top +of the hill overlooking the ranch a mile away his eye swept the scene +below, swiftly taking in the details. The ranch-house was in flames and +burning fiercely. The stables were untouched. A horse stood tied to +the corral and two figures were hurrying to and fro about the blazing +building. As they neared the scene it became clear that one of the +figures was that of a woman. + +"Mandy!" he shouted from afar. "Mandy, thank God it's you!" + +But they were too absorbed in their business of fighting the fire. They +neither heard nor saw him till he flung himself off his broncho at their +side. + +"Oh, thank God, Mandy!" he panted, "you are safe." He gathered her into +his arms. + +"Oh, Allan, I am so sorry." + +"Sorry? Sorry? Why?" + +"Our beautiful house!" + +"House?" + +"And all our beautiful things!" + +"Things!" He laughed aloud. "House and things! Why, Mandy, I have YOU +safe. What else matters?" Again he laughed aloud, holding her off from +him at arm's length and gazing at her grimy face. "Mandy," he said, "I +believe you are improving every day in your appearance, but you never +looked so stunning as this blessed minute." Again he laughed aloud. He +was white and trembling. + +"But the house, Allan!" + +"Oh, yes, by the way," he said, "the house. And who's the Johnny +carrying water there?" + +"Oh, I quite forgot. That's Thatcher's new man." + +"Rather wobbly about the knees, isn't he?" cried Cameron. "By Jove, +Mandy! I feared I should never see you again," he said in a voice that +trembled and broke. "And what's the chap's name?" he inquired. + +"Smith, I think," said Mandy. + +"Smith? Fine fellow! Most useful name!" cried Cameron. + +"What's the matter, Allan?" + +"The matter? Nothing now, Mandy. Nothing matters. I was afraid that--but +no matter. Hello, here's the Inspector!" + +"Dear Mrs. Cameron," cried the Inspector, taking both her hands in his, +"I'm awfully glad there's nothing wrong." + +"Nothing wrong? Look at that house!" + +"Oh, yes, awfully sorry. But we were afraid--of that--eh--that is--" + +"Yes, Mandy," said her husband, making visible efforts to control his +voice, "we frankly were afraid that that old devil Copperhead had come +this way and--" + +"He did!" cried Mandy. + +"What?" + +"He did. Oh, Allan, I was going to tell you just as the Inspector came, +and I am so sorry. When you left I wanted to help. I was afraid of what +all those Indians might do to you, so I thought I would ride up the +trail a bit. I got near to where it branches off toward the Reserve near +by those pine trees. There I saw a man come tearing along on a pony. It +was this Indian. I drew aside. He was just going past when he glanced at +me. He stopped and came rushing at me, waving a pistol in his hand. Oh, +such a face! I wonder I ever thought him fine-looking. He caught me by +the arm. I thought his fingers would break the bone. Look!" She pulled +up her sleeve, and upon the firm brown flesh blue and red finger marks +could be seen. "He caught me and shook me and fairly yelled at me, 'You +save my boy once. Me save you to-day. Next time me see your man me kill +him.' He flung me away from him and nearly off my horse--such eyes! such +a face!--and went galloping off down the trail. I feared I was going to +be ill, so I came on homeward. When I reached the top of the hill I saw +the smoke and by the time I arrived the house was blazing and Smith was +carrying water to put out the fire where it had caught upon the smoke +house and stables." + +The men listened to her story with tense white faces. When she had +finished Cameron said quietly: + +"Mandy, roll me up some grub in a blanket." + +"Where are you going, Allan?" her face pale as his own. + +"Going? To get my hands on that Indian's throat." + +"But not now?" + +"Yes, now," he said, moving toward his horse. + +"What about me, Allan?" + +The word arrested him as if a hand had gripped him. + +"You," he said in a dazed manner. "Why, Mandy, of course, there's you. +He might have killed you." Then, shaking his shoulders as if throwing +off a load, he said impatiently, "Oh, I am a fool. That devil has sent +me off my head. I tell you what, Mandy, we will feed first, then we will +make new plans." + +"And there is Moira, too," said Mandy. + +"Yes, there is Moira. We will plan for her too. After all," +he continued, with a slight laugh and with slow deliberation, +"there's--lots--of time--to--get him!" + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE SARCEE CAMP + + +The sun had reached the peaks of the Rockies far in the west, touching +their white with red, and all the lesser peaks and all the rounded +hills between with great splashes of gold and blue and purple. It is the +sunset and the sunrise that make the foothill country a world of mystery +and of beauty, a world to dream about and long for in later days. + +Through this mystic world of gold and blue and purple drove Cameron and +his wife, on their way to the little town of Calgary, three days after +the ruthless burning of their home. As the sun dipped behind the western +peaks they reached the crossing of the Elbow and entered the wide Bow +Valley, upon whose level plain was situated the busy, ambitious and +would-be wicked little pioneer town. The town and plain lay bathed in +a soft haze of rosy purple that lent a kind of Oriental splendor to +the tawdry, unsightly cluster of shacks that sprawled here and there in +irregular bunches on the prairie. + +"What a picture it makes!" cried Mandy. "How wonderful this great plain +with its encircling rivers, those hills with the great peaks beyond! +What a site for a town!" + +"There is no finer," replied her husband, "anywhere in the world that I +know, unless it be that of 'Auld Reekie.'" + +"Meaning?" + +"Meaning!" he echoed indignantly. "What else but the finest of all the +capitals of Europe?" + +"London?" inquired Mandy. + +"London!" echoed her husband contemptuously. "You ignorant Colonial! +Edinburgh, of course. But this is perfectly splendid," he continued. "I +never get used to the wonder of Calgary. You see that deep cut between +those peaks in the far west? That is where 'The Gap' lies, through which +the Bow flows toward us. A great site this for a great town some day. +But you ought to see these peaks in the morning with the sunlight coming +up from the east across the foothills and falling upon them. Whoa, +there! Steady, Pepper!" he cried to the broncho, which owed its name to +the speckled appearance of its hide, and which at the present moment +was plunging and kicking at a dog that had rushed out from an Indian +encampment close by the trail. "Did you never see an Indian dog before?" + +"Oh, Allan," cried Mandy with a shudder, "do you know I can't bear to +look at an Indian since last week, and I used to like them." + +"Hardly fair, though, to blame the whole race for the deviltry of one +specimen." + +"I know that, but--" + +"This is a Sarcee camp, I fancy. They are a cunning lot and not the most +reliable of the Indians. Let me see--three--four teepees. Ought to be +fifteen or twenty in that camp. Only squaws about. The braves apparently +are in town painting things up a bit." + +A quarter of a mile past the Indian encampment the trail made a sharp +turn into what appeared to be the beginning of the main street of the +town. + +"By Jove!" cried Cameron. "Here they come. Sit tight, Mandy." He pointed +with his whip down the trail to what seemed to be a rolling cloud of +dust, vocal with wild whoops and animated with plunging figures of men +and ponies. + +"Steady, there, boys! Get on!" cried Cameron to his plunging, jibing +bronchos, who were evidently unwilling to face that rolling cloud of +dust with its mass of shrieking men and galloping ponies thundering down +upon them. Swift and fierce upon their flanks fell the hissing lash. +"Stand up to them, you beggars!" he shouted to his bronchos, which +seemed intent upon turning tail and joining the approaching cavalcade. +"Hie, there! Hello! Look out!" he yelled, standing up in his wagon, +waving his whip and holding his bronchos steadily on the trail. The +next moment the dust cloud enveloped them and the thundering cavalcade, +parting, surged by on either side. Cameron was wild with rage. + +"Infernal cheeky brutes!" he cried. "For two shillings I'd go back and +break some of their necks. Ride me down, would they?" he continued, +grinding his teeth in fury. + +He pulled up his bronchos with half a mind to turn them about and pursue +the flying Indians. His experience and training with the Mounted Police +made it difficult for him to accept with equal mind what he called the +infernal cheek of a bunch of Indians. At the entreaties of his wife, +however, he hesitated in carrying his purpose into effect. + +"Let them go," said Mandy. "They didn't hurt us, after all." + +"Didn't? No thanks to them. They might have killed you. Well, I shall +see about this later." He gave his excited bronchos their head and +sailed into town, drawing up in magnificent style at the Royal Hotel. + +An attendant in cowboy garb came lounging up. + +"Hello, Billy!" cried Cameron. "Still blooming?" + +"Sure! And rosebuds ain't in it with you, Colonel." Billy was from the +land of colonels. "You've got a whole garden with you this trip, eh?" + +"My wife, Billy," replied Cameron, presenting her. + +Billy pulled off his Stetson. + +"Proud to meet you, madam. Hope I see you well and happy." + +"Yes, indeed, well and happy," cried Mandy emphatically. + +"Sure thing, if looks mean anything," said Billy, admiration glowing in +his eyes. + +"Take the horses, Billy. They have come a hundred and fifty miles." + +"Hundred and fifty, eh? They don't look it. But I'll take care of 'em +all right. You go right in." + +"I shall be back presently, Billy," said Cameron, passing into the dingy +sitting-room that opened off the bar. + +In a few minutes he had his wife settled in a frowsy little eight-by-ten +bedroom, the best the hotel afforded, and departed to attend to his +team, make arrangements for supper and inquire about the incoming train. +The train he found to be three hours late. His team he found in the +capable hands of Billy, who was unharnessing and rubbing them down. +While ordering his supper a hand gripped his shoulder and a voice +shouted in his ear: + +"Hello, old sport! How goes it?" + +"Martin, old boy!" shouted Cameron in reply. "It's awfully good to see +you. How did you get here? Oh, yes, of course, I remember. You left the +construction camp and came here to settle down." All the while Cameron +was speaking he was shaking his friend's hand with both of his. "By +Jove, but you're fit!" he continued, running his eye over the slight but +athletic figure of his friend. + +"Fit! Never fitter, not even in the old days when I used to pass the +pigskin to you out of the scrimmage. But you? You're hardly up to the +mark." The keen gray eyes searched Cameron's face. "What's up with you?" + +"Oh, nothing. A little extra work and a little worry, but I'll tell you +later." + +"Well, what are you on to now?" inquired Martin. + +"Ordering our supper. We've just come in from a hundred and fifty miles' +drive." + +"Supper? Your wife here too? Glory! It's up to me, old boy! Look here, +Connolly," he turned to the proprietor behind the bar, "a bang-up supper +for three. All the season's delicacies and all the courses in order. As +you love me, Connolly, do us your prettiest. And soon, awfully soon. A +hundred and fifty miles, remember. Now, then, how's my old nurse?" he +continued, turning back to Cameron. "She was my nurse, remember, till +you came and stole her." + +"She was, eh? Ask her," laughed Cameron. "But she will be glad to see +you. Where's MY nurse, then, my little nurse, who saw me through a fever +and a broken leg?" + +"Oh, she's up in the mountains still, in the construction camp. I +proposed to bring her down here with me, but there was a riot. I barely +escaped. If ever she gets out from that camp it will be when they are +all asleep or when she is in a box car." + +"Come along, then," cried Cameron. "I have much to tell you, and my wife +will be glad to see you. My sister comes in by No. 1, do you know?" + +"Your sister? By No. 1? You don't say! Why, I never thought your +sister--by No. 1, eh?" + +"Yes, by No. 1." + +"Say, Doc," said the hotel man, breaking into the conversation. "There's +a bunch of 'em comin' in, ain't there? Who's the lady you was expectin' +yourself on No. 1?" + +"Lady?" said Cameron. "What's this, Martin?" + +"Me? Wake up, Connolly, you're walking in your sleep," violently +signaling to the hotel man. + +"Oh, it won't do, Martin," said Cameron with grave concern. "You may +as well own up. Who is it? Come. By Jove! What? A blush? And on that +asbestos cheek? Something here, sure enough." + +"Oh, rot, Cameron! Connolly is a well-known somnambulist." + +"Sure thing!" said Connolly. "Is it catchin,' for I guess you had the +same thing last night?" + +"Connolly, you've gone batty! You need a nurse." + +"A nurse? Maybe so. Maybe so. But I guess you've got to the point where +you need a preacher. Ha! ha! Got you that time, Doc!" laughed the hotel +man, winking at Cameron. + +"Oh, let it out, Martin. You'll feel better afterward. Who is it?" + +"Cameron, so help me! Connolly is an infernal ass. He's batty, I tell +you. I'm treating him for it right now." + +"All right," said Cameron, "never mind. I shall run up and tell my wife +you are here. Wait for me," he cried, as he ran up the stairs. + +"Connolly, you fool! I'll knock your wooden block off!" said the doctor +in a fury. + +"But, Doc, you did say--" + +"Oh, confound you! Shut up! It was--" + +"But you did say--" + +"Will you shut up?" + +"Certain, sure I'll shut up. But you said--" + +"Look here!" broke in the doctor impatiently. "He'll be down in a +minute. I don't want him to know." + +"Aw, Doc, cut it out! He ain't no Lady Clara." + +"Connolly, close that trap of yours and listen to me. This is serious. +He'll be back in a jiffy. It's the same lady as he is going to meet." + +"Same lady? But she's his sister." + +"Yes, of course, you idiot! She's his sister. And now you've queered me +with him and he will think--" + +"Aw, Doc, let me be. I'll straighten that tangle out." + +"Sh-h! Here he is. Not a word, on your life!" + +"Aw, get out!" replied Connolly with generous enthusiasm. "I don't leave +no pard of mine in a hole. Say," he cried, turning to Cameron, "about +that lady. Ha! ha!" + +"Shut your ugly mug!" said the doctor savagely. + +"It's the same lady. Ha! ha! Good joke, eh, Sergeant?" + +"Same lady?" echoed Cameron. + +"Sure, same lady." + +"What does he mean, Martin?" + +"The man's drunk, Cameron. He got a permit last week and he hasn't been +sober for a day since." + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Connolly again. "Wish I had a chance." + +"But the lady?" said Cameron, looking at his friend suspiciously. "And +these blushes?" + +"Oh, well, hang it!" said Martin. "I suppose I might as well tell you. +I found out that your sister was to be in on this train, and in case you +should not turn up I told Connolly here to have a room ready." + +"Oh," said Cameron, with his eyes upon his friend's face. "You found +out? And how did you find out that Moira was coming?" + +"Well," said Martin, his face growing hotter with every word of +explanation, "you have a wife and we have a mutual friend in our little +nurse, and that's how I learned. And so I thought I'd be on hand +anyway. You remember I met your sister up at your Highland home with the +unpronounceable name." + +"Ah, yes! Cuagh Oir. Dear old spot!" said Cameron reminiscently. "Moira +will be heart broken every day when she sees the Big Horn Ranch, I'm +afraid. But here comes Mandy." + +The meeting between the doctor and Cameron's wife was like that between +old comrades in arms, as indeed they had been through many a hard fight +with disease, accident and death during the construction days along the +line of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rocky Mountains. + +A jolly hour they had together at supper, exchanging news and retailing +the latest jokes. And then Cameron told his friend the story of old +Copperhead and of the task laid upon him by Superintendent Strong. +Martin listened in grave silence till the tale was done, then said with +quiet gravity: + +"Cameron, this is a serious business. Why! It's--it's terrible." + +"Yes," replied Mandy quickly, "but you can see that he must do it. We +have quite settled that. You see there are the women and children." + +"And is there no one else? Surely--" + +"No, there is no one else quite so fit to do it," said Mandy. + +"By Jove, you're a wonder!" cried Martin, his face lighting up with +sudden enthusiasm. + +"Not much of a wonder," she replied, a quick tremor in her voice. "Not +much of a wonder, I'm afraid. But how could I keep him? I couldn't keep +him, could I," she said, "if his country needs him?" + +The doctor glanced at her face with its appealing deep blue eyes. + +"No, by Jove! You couldn't keep him, not you." + +"Now, Mandy," said Cameron, "you must upstairs and to bed." He read +aright the signs upon her face. "You are tired and you will need all the +sleep you can get. Wait for me, Martin, I'll be down in a few moments." + +When they reached their room Cameron turned and took his wife in his +arms. + +"Mandy! as Martin says, you are wonderful. You are a brave woman. You +have nerve enough for both of us, and you will need to have nerve for +both, for how I am going to leave you I know not. But now you must to +bed. I have a little business to attend to." + +"Business?" inquired his wife. + +"Yes. Oh, I won't try to hide it from you, Mandy. It's 'The Big +Business.' We are--Dr. Martin and I--going up to the Barracks. +Superintendent Strong has come down for a consultation." He paused and +looked into his wife's face. "I must go, dear." + +"Yes, yes, I know, Allan. You must go. But--do you know--it's foolish +to say it, but as those Indians passed us I fancied I saw the face of +Copperhead." + +"Hardly, I fancy," said her husband with a laugh. "He'd know better than +run into this town in open day just now. All Indians will look to you +like old Copperhead for a while." + +"It may be so. I fancy I'm a little nervous. But come back soon." + +"You may be sure of that, sweetheart. Meantime sleep well." + +The little town of Calgary stands on one of the most beautiful +town-sites in all the world. A great plain with ramparts of hills on +every side, encircled by the twin mountain rivers, the Bow and the +Elbow, overlooked by rolling hills and far away to the west by the +mighty peaks of the Rockies, it holds at once ample space and unusual +picturesque beauty. The little town itself was just emerging from its +early days as a railway construction-camp and was beginning to develop +ambitions toward a well-ordered business activity and social stability. +It was an all-night town, for the simple and sufficient reason that its +communications with the world lying to the east and to the west began +with the arrival of No. 2 at half-past twelve at night and No. 1 at +five o'clock next morning. Few of its citizens thought it worth while +to settle down for the night until after the departure of No. 2 on its +westward journey. + +Through this "all-night" little town Cameron and the doctor took their +way. The sidewalks were still thronged, the stores still doing business, +the restaurants, hotels, pool-rooms all wide open. It kept +Sergeant Crisp busy enough running out the "tin-horn" gamblers and +whisky-peddlers, keeping guard over the fresh and innocent lambs +that strayed in from the East and across from the old land ready for +shearing, and preserving law and order in this hustling frontier town. +Money was still easy in the town, and had Sergeant Crisp been minded +for the mere closing of his eyes or turning of his back upon occasion he +might have retired early from the Force with a competency. Unhappily for +Sergeant Crisp, however, there stood in the pathway of his fortune the +awkward fact of his conscience and his oath of service. Consequently +he was forced to grub along upon the munificent bounty of the daily pay +with which Her Majesty awarded the faithful service of the non-coms. +in her North West Mounted Police Force. And indeed through all the wide +reaches of that great West land during those pioneer days and among all +the officers of that gallant force no record can be found of an officer +who counted fortune dearer than honor. + +Through this wide awake, wicked, but well-watched little town Cameron +with his friend made his way westward toward the Barracks to keep his +appointment with his former Chief, Superintendent Strong. The Barracks +stood upon the prairie about half a mile distant from the town. They +found Superintendent Strong fuming with impatience, which he controlled +with difficulty while Cameron presented his friend. + +"Well, Cameron, you've come at last," was his salutation when the +introduction was completed. "When did you get into town? I have been +waiting all day to see you. Where have you been?" + +"Arrived an hour ago," said Cameron shortly, for he did not half like +the Superintendent's brusque manner. "The trail was heavy owing to the +rain day before yesterday." + +"When did you leave the ranch?" inquired Sergeant Crisp. + +"Yesterday morning," said Cameron. "The colts were green and I couldn't +send them along." + +"Yesterday morning!" exclaimed Sergeant Crisp. "You needn't apologize +for the colts, Cameron." + +"I wasn't apologizing for anybody or anything. I was making a statement +of fact," replied Cameron curtly. + +"Ah, yes, very good going, Cameron. Very good going, indeed, I should +say," said the Superintendent, conscious of his own brusqueness and +anxious to appease. "Did Mrs. Cameron come with you?" + +"She did." + +"Indeed. That is a long drive for a lady to make, Cameron. Too long a +drive, I should say. I hope she is quite well, not--eh--over-fatigued?" + +"She is quite well, thank you." + +"Well, she is an old campaigner," said the Superintendent with a smile, +"and not easily knocked up if I remember her aright. But I ought to +say, Cameron, how very deeply I appreciate your very fine--indeed very +handsome conduct in volunteering to come to our assistance in this +matter. Very handsome indeed I call it. It will have a good effect upon +the community. I appreciate the sacrifice. The Commissioner and the +whole Force will appreciate it. But," he added, as if to himself, +"before we are through with this business I fear there will be more +sacrifice demanded from all of us. I trust none of us will be found +wanting." The Superintendent's voice was unduly solemn, his manner +almost somber. Cameron was impressed with this manifestation of feeling +so unusual with the Superintendent. + +"Any more news, sir?" he inquired. + +"Yes, every post brings news of seditious meetings up north along the +Saskatchewan and of indifference on the part of the Government. And +further, I have the most conclusive evidence that our Indians are being +tampered with, and successfully too. There is no reason to doubt that +the head chiefs have been approached and that many of the minor chiefs +are listening to the proposals of Riel and his half-breeds. But you +have some news to give, I understand? Dickson said you would give me +particulars." + +Thereupon Cameron briefly related the incidents in connection with the +attempted arrest of the Sioux Chief, and closed with a brief account of +the burning of his home. + +"That is most daring, most serious," exclaimed the Superintendent. "But +you are quite certain that it was the Sioux that was responsible for the +outrage?" + +"Well," said Cameron, "he met my wife on a trail five miles away, +threatened her, and--" + +"Good God, Cameron! Threatened your wife?" + +"Yes, nearly flung her off her horse," replied Cameron, his voice quiet +and even, but his eyes glowing like fires in his white face. + +"Flung her off her horse? But--he didn't injure her?" replied the +Superintendent. + +"Only that he terrified her with his threats and then went on toward the +house, which he left in flames." + +"My God, Cameron!" said the Superintendent, rising in his excitement. +"This is really terrible. You must have suffered awful anxiety. I +apologize for my abrupt manner a moment ago," he added, offering his +hand. "I'm awfully sorry." + +"It's all right, Superintendent," replied Cameron. "I'm afraid I am a +little upset myself." + +"But what a God's mercy she escaped! How came that, I wonder?" + +Then Cameron told the story of the rescue of the Indian boy. + +"That undoubtedly explains it," exclaimed the Superintendent. "That +was a most fortunate affair. Do an Indian a good turn and he will never +forget it. I shudder to think of what might have happened, for I assure +you that this Copperhead will stick at nothing. We have an unusually +able man to deal with, and we shall put our whole Force on this business +of arresting this man. Have you any suggestions yourself?" + +"No," said Cameron, "except that it would appear to be a mistake to give +any sign that we were very specially anxious to get him just now. So +far we have not shown our hand. Any concentrating of the Force upon his +capture would only arouse suspicion and defeat our aim, while my going +after him, no matter how keenly, will be accounted for on personal +grounds." + +"There is something in that, but do you think you can get him?" + +"I am going to get him," said Cameron quietly. + +The superintendent glanced at his face. + +"By Jove, I believe you will! But remember, you can count on me and on +my Force to a man any time and every time to back you up, and there's my +hand on it. And now, let's get at this thing. We have a cunning devil +to do with and he has gathered about him the very worst elements on the +reserves." + +Together they sat and made their plans till far on into the night. But +as a matter of fact they could make little progress. They knew well it +would be extremely difficult to discover their man. Owing to the state +of feeling throughout the reserves the source of information upon +which the Police ordinarily relied had suddenly dried up or become +untrustworthy. A marked change had come over the temper of the Indians. +While as yet they were apparently on friendly terms and guilty of no +open breach of the law, a sullen and suspicious aloofness marked the +bearing of the younger braves and even of some of the chiefs toward the +Police. Then, too, among the Piegans in the south and among the +Sarcees whose reserve was in the neighborhood of Calgary an epidemic +of cattle-stealing had broken out and the Police were finding it +increasingly difficult to bring the criminals to justice. Hence with +this large increase in crime and with the changed attitude and temper of +the Indians toward the Police, such an amount of additional patrol-work +was necessary that the Police had almost reached the limit of their +endurance. + +"In fact, we have really a difficult proposition before us, short-handed +as we are," said the Superintendent as they closed their interview. +"Indeed, if things become much worse we may find it necessary to +organize the settlers as Home Guards. An outbreak on the Saskatchewan +might produce at any moment the most serious results here and in British +Columbia. Meantime, while we stand ready to help all we can, it looks to +me, Cameron, that you are right and that in this business you must go it +alone pretty much." + +"I realize that, sir," replied Cameron. "But first I must get my house +built and things in shape, then I hope to take this up." + +"Most certainly," replied the Superintendent. "Take a month. He can't do +much more harm in a month, and meantime we shall do our utmost to obtain +information and we shall keep you informed of anything we discover." + +The Superintendent and Sergeant accompanied Cameron and his friend to +the door. + +"It is a black night," said Sergeant Crisp. "I hope they're not running +any 'wet freight' in to-night." + +"It's a good night for it, Sergeant," said Dr. Martin. "Do you expect +anything to come in?" + +"I have heard rumors," replied the Sergeant, "and there is a freight +train standing right there now which I have already gone through but +upon which it is worth while still to keep an eye." + +"Well, good-night," said the Superintendent, shaking Cameron by +the hand. "Keep me posted and when within reach be sure and see me. +Good-night, Dr. Martin. We may want you too before long." + +"All right, sir, you have only to say the word." + +The night was so black that the trail which in the daylight was worn +smooth and plainly visible was quite blotted out. The light from the +Indian camp fire, which was blazing brightly a hundred yards away, +helped them to keep their general direction. + +"For a proper black night commend me to the prairie," said the doctor. +"It is the dead level does it, I believe. There is nothing to cast a +reflection or a shadow." + +"It will be better in a few minutes," said Cameron, "when we get our +night sight." + +"You are off the trail a bit, I think," said the doctor. + +"Yes, I know. I am hitting toward the fire. The light makes it better +going that way." + +"I say, that chap appears to be going some. Quite a song and dance he's +giving them," said the doctor, pointing to an Indian who in the full +light of the camp fire was standing erect and, with hand outstretched, +was declaiming to the others, who, kneeling or squatting about the fire, +were giving him rapt attention. The erect figure and outstretched arm +arrested Cameron. A haunting sense of familiarity floated across his +memory. + +"Let's go nearer," he said, "and quietly." + +With extreme caution they made about two-thirds of the distance when a +howl from an Indian dog revealed their presence. At once the speaker +who had been standing in the firelight sank crouching to the ground. +Instantly Cameron ran forward a few swift steps and, like a hound upon +a deer, leapt across the fire and fair upon the crouching Indian, crying +"Call the Police, Martin!" + +With a loud cry of "Police! Police! Help here!" Martin sprang into the +middle of an excited group of Indians. Two of them threw themselves +upon him, but with a hard right and left he laid them low and, seizing +a stick of wood, sprang toward two others who were seeking to batter the +life out of Cameron as he lay gripping his enemy by the throat with one +hand and with the other by the wrist to check a knife thrust. Swinging +his stick around his head and repeating his cry for help, Martin made +Cameron's assailants give back a space and before they could renew the +attack Sergeant Crisp burst open the door of the Barracks, and, followed +by a Slim young constable and the Superintendent, came rushing with +shouts upon the scene. Immediately upon the approach of the Police the +Indians ceased the fight and all that could faded out of the light into +the black night around them, while the Indian who continued to struggle +with incredible fury to free himself from Cameron's grip suddenly became +limp and motionless. + +"Now, what's all this?" demanded the Sergeant. "Why, it's you, doctor, +and where--? You don't mean that's Cameron there? Hello, Cameron!" he +said, leaning over him. "Let go! He's safe enough. We've got him all +right. Let go! By Jove! Are they both dead?" + +Here the Superintendent came up. The incidents leading up to the present +situation were briefly described by the doctor. + +"I can't get this fellow free," said the Sergeant, who was working hard +to release the Indian's throat from the gripping fingers. He turned +Cameron over on his back. He was quite insensible. Blood was pouring +from his mouth and nose, but his fingers like steel clamps were gripping +the wrist and throat of his foe. The Indian lay like dead. + +"Good Lord, doctor! What shall we do?" cried the Superintendent. "Is he +dead?" + +"No," said Martin, with his hand upon Cameron's heart. "Bring water. +You can't loosen his fingers till he revives. The blow that knocked him +senseless set those fingers as they are and they will stay set thus till +released by returning consciousness." + +"Here then, get water quick!" shouted the Superintendent to the slim +young constable. + +Gradually as the water was splashed upon his face Cameron came back to +life and, relaxing his fingers, stretched himself with a sigh as of vast +relief and lay still. + +"Here, take that, you beast!" cried the Sergeant, dashing the rest of +the water into the face of the Indian lying rigid and motionless on the +ground. A long shudder ran through the Indian's limbs. Clutching at +his throat with both hands, he raised himself to a sitting posture, his +breath coming in raucous gasps, glared wildly upon the group, then sank +back upon the ground, rolled over upon his side and lay twitching and +breathing heavily, unheeded by the doctor and Police who were working +hard over Cameron. + +"No bones broken, I think," said the doctor, feeling the battered head. +"Here's where the blow fell that knocked him out," pointing to a ridge +that ran along the side of Cameron's head. "A little lower, a little +more to the front and he would never have moved. Let's get him in." + +Cameron opened his eyes, struggled to speak and sank back again. + +"Don't stir, old chap. You're all right. Don't move for a bit. Could you +get a little brandy, Sergeant?" + +Again the slim young constable rushed toward the Barracks and in a few +moments returned with the spirits. After taking a sip of the brandy +Cameron again opened his eyes and managed to say "Don't--" + +"All right, old chap," said the doctor. "We won't move you yet. Just lie +still a bit." But as once more Cameron opened his eyes the agony of the +appeal in them aroused the doctor's attention. "Something wrong, eh?" he +said. "Are you in pain, old boy?" + +The appealing eyes closed, then, opening again, turned toward the +Superintendent. + +"Copperhead," he whispered. + +"What do you say?" said the Superintendent kneeling down. + +Once more with painful effort Cameron managed to utter the word +"Copperhead." + +"Copperhead!" ejaculated the Superintendent in a low tense voice, +springing to his feet and turning toward the unconscious Indian. "He's +gone!" he cried with a great oath. "He's gone! Sergeant Crisp!" he +shouted, "Call out the whole Force! Surround this camp and hold every +Indian. Search every teepee for this fellow who was lying here. Quick! +Quick!" Leaving Cameron to the doctor, who in a few minutes became +satisfied that no serious injury had been sustained, he joined in the +search with fierce energy. The teepees were searched, the squaws and +papooses were ruthlessly bundled out from their slumbers and with the +Indians were huddled into the Barracks. But of the Sioux Chief there was +no sign. He had utterly vanished. The black prairie had engulfed him. + +But the Police had their own methods. Within a quarter of an hour half +a dozen mounted constables were riding off in different directions to +cover the main trails leading to the Indian reserves and to sweep a wide +circle about the town. + +"They will surely get him," said Dr. Martin confidently. + +"Not much chance of it," growled Cameron, to whom with returning +consciousness had come the bitter knowledge of the escape of the man +he had come to regard as his mortal enemy. "I had him fast enough," he +groaned, "in spite of the best he could do, and I would have choked his +life out had it not been for these other devils." + +"They certainly jumped in savagely," said Martin. "In fact I cannot +understand how they got at the thing so quickly." + +"Didn't you hear him call?" said Cameron. "It was his call that did it. +Something he said turned them into devils. They were bound to do for me. +I never saw Indians act like that." + +"Yes, I heard that call, and it mighty near did the trick for you. Thank +Heaven your thick Hielan' skull saved you." + +"How did they let him go?" again groaned Cameron. + +"How? Because he was too swift for us," said the Superintendent, who had +come in, "and we too slow. I thought it was an ordinary Indian row, +you see, but I might have known that you would not have gone in in that +style without good reason. Who would think that this old devil should +have the impudence to camp right here under our nose? Where did he come +from anyway, do you suppose?" + +"Been to the Blackfoot Reserve like enough and was on his way to the +Sarcees when he fell in with this little camp of theirs." + +"That's about it," replied the Superintendent gloomily. "And to think +you had him fast and we let him go!" + +The thought brought small comfort to any of them, least of all to +Cameron. In that vast foothill country with all the hidings of the hills +and hollows there was little chance that the Police would round up the +fugitive, and upon Cameron still lay the task of capturing this cunning +and resourceful foe. + +"Never mind," said Martin cheerily. "Three out, all out. You'll get him +next time." + +"I don't know about that. But I'll get him some time or he'll get me," +replied Cameron as his face settled into grim lines. "Let's get back." + +"Are you quite fit?" inquired the Superintendent. + +"Fit enough. Sore a bit in the head, but can navigate." + +"I can't tell you how disappointed and chagrined I feel. It isn't often +that my wits are so slow but--" The Superintendent's jaws here cut off +his speech with a snap. The one crime reckoned unpardonable in the men +under his own command was that of failure and his failure to capture old +Copperhead thus delivered into his hands galled him terribly. + +"Well, good-night, Cameron," said the Superintendent, looking out into +the black night. "We shall let you know to-morrow the result of our +scouting, though I don't expect much from it. He is much too clever to +be caught in the open in this country." + +"Perhaps he'll skidoo," said Dr. Martin hopefully. + +"No, he's not that kind," replied the Superintendent. "You can't scare +him out. You have got to catch him or kill him." + +"I think you are right, sir," said Cameron. "He will stay till his work +is done or till he is made to quit." + +"That is true, Cameron--till he is made to quit--and that's your job," +said the Superintendent solemnly. + +"Yes, that is my job, sir," replied Cameron simply and with equal +solemnity. "I shall do my best." + +"We have every confidence in you, Cameron," replied the Superintendent. +"Good-night," he said again, shutting the door. + +"Say, old man, this is too gruesome," said Martin with fierce +impatience. "I can't see why it's up to you more than any other." + +"The Sun Dance Trail is the trail he must take to do his work. That was +my patrol last year--I know it best. God knows I don't want this--" +his breath came quick--"I am not afraid--but--but there's--We have been +together for such a little while, you know." He could get no farther for +a moment or two, then added quietly, "But somehow I know--yes and she +knows--bless her brave heart--it is my job. I must stay with it." + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE GIRL ON NO. 1. + + +By the time they had reached the hotel Cameron was glad enough to go to +his bed. + +"You need not tell your wife, I suppose," said the doctor. + +"Tell her? Certainly!" said Cameron. "She is with me in this. I play +fair with her. Don't you fear, she is up to it." + +And so she was, and, though her face grew white as she listened to the +tale, never for a moment did her courage falter. + +"Doctor, is Allan all right? Tell me," she said, her big blue eyes +holding his in a steady gaze. + +"Right enough, but he must have a long sleep. You must not let him stir +at five." + +"Then," said Mandy, "I shall go to meet the train, Allan." + +"But you don't know Moira." + +"No, but I shall find her out." + +"Of course," said Dr. Martin in a deprecating tone, "I know Miss +Cameron, but--" + +"Of course you do," cried Mandy. "Why, that is splendid! You will go +and Allan need not be disturbed. She will understand. Not a word, now, +Allan. We will look after this, the doctor and I, eh, Doctor?" + +"Why--eh--yes--yes certainly, of course. Why not?" + +"Why not, indeed?" echoed Mandy briskly. "She will understand." + +And thus it was arranged. Under the influence of a powder left by Dr. +Martin, Cameron, after an hour's tossing, fell into a heavy sleep. + +"I am so glad you are here," said Mandy to the doctor, as he looked in +upon her. "You are sure there is no injury?" + +"No, nothing serious. Shock, that's all. A day's quiet will fix him up." + +"I am so thankful," said Mandy, heaving a deep sigh of relief, "and I am +so glad that you are here. And it is so nice that you know Moira." + +"You are not going to the train?" said the doctor. + +"No, no, there is no need, and I don't like to leave him. Besides you +don't need me." + +"N-o-o, no, not at all--certainly not," said the doctor with growing +confidence. "Good-night. I shall show her to her room." + +"Oh," cried Mandy, "I shall meet you when you come. Thank you so much. +So glad you are here," she added with a tremulous smile. + +The doctor passed down the stairs. + +"By Jove, she's a brick!" he said to himself. "She has about all she +can stand just now. Glad I am here, eh? Well, I guess I am too. But what +about this thing? It's up to me now to do the Wild West welcome act, and +I'm scared--plain scared to death. She won't know me from a goat. Let's +see. I've got two hours yet to work up my ginger. I'll have a pipe to +start with." + +He passed into the bar, where, finding himself alone, he curled up in +a big leather chair and gave himself up to his pipe and his dreams. The +dingy bar-room gave place to a little sunny glen in the Highlands of +Scotland, in which nestled a little cluster of stone-built cottages, +moss-grown and rose-covered. Far down in the bottom of the Glen a tiny +loch gleamed like a jewel. Up on the hillside above the valley an avenue +of ragged pines led to a large manor house, old, quaint, but dignified, +and in the doorway a maiden stood, grave of face and wonderfully sweet, +in whose brown eyes and over whose brown curls all the glory of the +little Glen of the Cup of Gold seemed to gather. Through many pipes he +pursued his dreams, but always they led him to that old doorway and +the maiden with the grave sweet face and the hair and eyes full of the +golden sunlight of the Glen Cuagh Oir. + +"Oh, pshaw!" he grumbled to himself at last, knocking the ashes from +his pipe. "She has forgotten me. It was only one single day. But what a +day!" + +He lit a fresh pipe and began anew to dream of that wonderful day, that +day which was the one unfading point of light in all his Old Country +stay. Not even the day when he stood to receive his parchment and the +special commendation of the Senatus and of his own professor for his +excellent work lived with him like that day in the Glen. Every detail of +the picture he could recall and ever in the foreground the maiden. With +deliberate purpose he settled himself in his chair and set himself to +fill in those fine and delicate touches that were necessary to make +perfect the foreground of his picture, the pale olive face with its +bewildering frame of golden waves and curls, the clear brown eyes, now +soft and tender, now flashing with wrath, and the voice with its soft +Highland cadence. + +"By Jove, I'm dotty! Clean dotty! I'll make an ass of myself, sure +thing, when I see her to-day." He sprang from his chair and shook +himself together. "Besides, she has forgotten all about me." He looked +at his watch. It was twenty minutes to train-time. He opened the door +and looked out. The chill morning air struck him sharply in the face. He +turned quickly, snatched his overcoat from a nail in the hall and put it +on. + +At this point Billy, who combined in his own person the offices of +ostler, porter and clerk, appeared, his lantern shining with a dim +yellow glare in the gray light of the dawn. + +"No. 1 is about due, Doc," he said. + +"She is, eh? I say, Billy," said the Doctor, "want to do something for +me?" He pushed a dollar at Billy over the counter. + +"Name it, Doc, without further insult," replied Billy, shoving the +dollar back with a lordly scorn. + +"All right, Billy, you're a white little soul. Now listen. I want your +ladies' parlor aired." + +"Aired?" gasped Billy. + +"Yes, open the windows. Put on a fire. I have a lady coming--I +have--that is--Sergeant Cameron's sister is coming--" + +"Say no more," said Billy with a wink. "I get you, Doc. But what about +the open window, Doc? It's rather cold." + +"Open it up and put on a fire. Those Old Country people are mad about +fresh air." + +"All right, Doc," replied Billy with another knowing wink. "The best is +none too good for her, eh?" + +"Look here, now, Billy--" the doctor's tone grew severe--"let's have no +nonsense. This is Sergeant Cameron's sister. He is knocked out, unable +to meet her. I am taking his place. Do you get me? Now be quick. If you +have any think juice in that block of yours turn it on." + +Billy twisted one ear as if turning a cock, and tapped his forehead with +his knuckles. + +"Doc," he said solemnly, "she's workin' like a watch, full jewel, patent +lever." + +"All right. Now get on to this. Sitting-room aired, good fire going, +windows open and a cup of coffee." + +"Coffee? Say, Doc, there ain't time. What about tea?" + +"You know well enough, Billy, you haven't got any but that infernal +green stuff fit to tan the stomach of a brass monkey." + +"There's another can, Doc. I know where it is. Leave it to me." + +"All right, Billy, I trust you. They are death on tea in the Old +Country. And toast, Billy. What about toast?" + +"Toast? Toast, eh? Well, all right, Doc. Toast it is. Trust yours truly. +You keep her out a-viewin' the scenery for half an hour." + +"And Billy, a big pitcher of hot water. They can't live without hot +water in the morning, those Old Country people." + +"Sure thing, Doc. A tub if you like." + +"No, a pitcher will do." + +At this point a long drawn whistle sounded through the still morning +air. + +"There she goes, Doc. She has struck the grade. Say, Doc--" + +But his words fell upon empty space. The doctor had already disappeared. + +"Say, he's a sprinter," said Billy to himself. "He ain't takin' no +chances on bein' late. Shouldn't be surprised if the Doc got there all +right." + +He darted upstairs and looked around the ladies' parlor. The air was +heavy with mingled odors of the bar and the kitchen. A spittoon occupied +a prominent place in the center of the room. The tables were dusty, the +furniture in confusion. The ladies' parlor was perfectly familiar to +Billy, but this morning he viewed it with new eyes. + +"Say, the Doc ain't fair. He's too swift in his movements," he muttered +to himself as he proceeded to fling things into their places. He raised +the windows, opened the stove door and looked in. The ashes of many +fires half filling the box met his eyes with silent reproach. "Say, the +Doc ain't fair," he muttered again. "Them ashes ought to have been out +of there long ago." This fact none knew better than himself, inasmuch as +there was no other from whom this duty might properly be expected. Yet +it brought some small relief to vent his disgust upon this offending +accumulation of many days' neglect. There was not a moment to lose. He +was due in ten minutes to meet the possible guests for the Royal at the +train. He seized a pail left in the hall by the none too tidy housemaid +and with his hands scooped into it the ashes from the stove, and, +leaving a cloud of dust to settle everywhere upon tables and chairs, ran +down with his pail and back again with kindling and firewood and had +a fire going in an extraordinarily short time. He then caught up an +ancient antimacassar, used it as a duster upon chairs and tables, flung +it back again in its place over the rickety sofa and rushed for the +station to find that the train had already pulled in, had come to a +standstill and was disgorging its passengers upon the platform. + +"Roy--al Ho--tel!" shouted Billy. "Best in town! All the comforts and +conveniences! Yes, sir! Take your grip, sir? Just give me them checks! +That's all right, leave 'em to me. I'll get your baggage all right." + +He saw the doctor wandering distractedly up and down the platform. + +"Hello, Doc, got your lady? Not on the Pullman, eh? Take a look in the +First Class. Say, Doc," he added in a lower voice, coming near to the +doctor, "what's that behind you?" + +The doctor turned sharply and saw a young lady whose long clinging black +dress made her seem taller than she was. She wore a little black hat +with a single feather on one side, which gave it a sort of tam o' +shanter effect. She came forward with hand outstretched. + +"I know you, Mr. Martin," she said in a voice that indicated immense +relief. + +"You?" he cried. "Is it you? And to think I didn't know you. And to +think you should remember me." + +"Remember! Well do I remember you--and that day in the Cuagh Oir--but +you have forgotten all about that day." A little flush appeared on her +pale cheek. + +"Forgotten?" cried Martin. + +"But you didn't know me," she added with a slight severity in her tone. + +"I was not looking for you." + +"Not looking for me?" cried the girl. "Then who--?" She paused in a +sudden confusion, and with a little haughty lift of her head said, +"Where is Allan, my brother?" + +But the doctor ignored her question. He was gazing at her in stupid +amazement. + +"I was looking for a little girl," he said, "in a blue serge dress and +tangled hair, brown, and all curls, with brown eyes and--" + +"And you found a grown up woman with all the silly curls in their proper +place--much older--very much older. It is a habit we have in Scotland of +growing older." + +"Older?" + +"Yes, older, and more sober and sensible--and plainer." + +"Plainer?" The doctor's mind was evidently not working with its usual +ease and swiftness, partly from amazement at the transformation that had +resulted in this tall slender young lady standing before him with +her stately air, and partly from rage at himself and his unutterable +stupidity. + +"But you have not answered me," said the girl, obviously taken aback at +the doctor's manner. "Where is my brother? He was to meet me. This is +Cal--gar--ry, is it not?" + +"It's Calgary all right," cried the doctor, glad to find in this fact a +solid resting place for his mind. + +"And my brother? There is nothing wrong?" The alarm in her voice brought +him to himself. + +"Wrong? Not a bit. At least, not much." + +"Not much? Tell me at once, please." With an imperious air the young +lady lifted her head and impaled the doctor with her flashing brown +eyes. + +"Well," said the doctor in halting confusion, "you see, he met with an +accident." + +"An accident?" she cried. "You are hiding something from me, Mr. Martin. +My brother is ill, or--" + +"No, no, not he. An Indian hit him on the head," said the doctor, +rendered desperate by her face. + +"An Indian?" Her cry, her white face, the quick clutch of her hands at +her heart, roused the doctor's professional instincts and banished his +confusion. + +"He is perfectly all right, I assure you, Miss Cameron. Only it was +better that he should have his sleep out. He was most anxious to meet +you, but as his medical adviser I urged him to remain quiet and offered +to come in his place. His wife is with him. A day's rest, believe me, +will make him quite fit." The doctor's manner was briskly professional +and helped to quiet the girl's alarm. + +"Can I see him?" she asked. + +"Most certainly, in a few hours when he wakes and when you are rested. +Here, Billy, take Miss Cameron's checks. Look sharp." + +"Say, Doc," said Billy in an undertone, "about that tea and toast--" + +"What the deuce--?" said the doctor impatiently. "Oh, yes--all right! +Only look lively." + +"Keep her a-viewin' the scenery, Doc, a bit," continued Billy under his +breath. + +"Oh, get a move on, Billy! What are you monkeying about?" said the +doctor quite crossly. He was anxious to escape from a position that had +become intolerable to him. For months he had been looking forward to +this meeting and now he had bungled it. In the first place he had begun +by not knowing the girl who for three years and more had been in his +dreams day and night, then he had carried himself like a schoolboy +in her presence, and lastly had frightened her almost to death by his +clumsy announcement of her brother's accident. The young lady at his +side, with the quick intuition of her Celtic nature, felt his mood, and, +not knowing the cause, became politely distant. + +On their walk to the hotel Dr. Martin pointed out the wonderful pearly +gray light stealing across the plain and beginning to brighten on the +tops of the rampart hills that surrounded the town. + +"You will see the Rockies in an hour, Miss Cameron, in the far west +there," he said. But there was no enthusiasm in his voice. + +"Ah, yes, how beautiful!" said the young lady. But her tone, too, was +lifeless. + +Desperately the doctor strove to make conversation during their short +walk and with infinite relief did he welcome the appearance of Mandy at +her bedroom door waiting their approach. + +"Your brother's wife, Miss Cameron," said he. + +For a single moment they stood searching each other's souls. Then by +some secret intuition known only to the female mind they reached a +conclusion, an entirely satisfactory conclusion, too, for at once they +were in each other's arms. + +"You are Moira?" cried Mandy. + +"Yes," said the girl in an eager, tremulous voice. "And my brother? Is +he well?" + +"Well? Of course he is--perfectly fine. He is sleeping now. We will not +wake him. He has had none too good a night." + +"No, no," cried Moira, "don't wake him. Oh, I am so glad. You see, I was +afraid." + +"Afraid? Why were you afraid?" inquired Mandy, looking indignantly at +the doctor, who stood back, a picture of self condemnation. + +"Yes, yes, Mrs. Cameron, blame me. I deserve it all. I bungled the whole +thing this morning and frightened Miss Cameron nearly into a fit, for +no other reason than that I am all ass. Now I shall retire. Pray deal +gently with me. Good-by!" he added abruptly, lifted his hat and was +gone. + +"What's the matter with him?" said Mandy, looking at her sister-in-law. + +"I do not know, I am sure," replied Moira indifferently. "Is there +anything the matter?" + +"He is not like himself a bit. But come, my dear, take off your things. +As the doctor says, a sleep for a couple of hours will do you good. +After that you will see Allan. You are looking very weary, dear, and no +wonder, no wonder," said Mandy, "with all that journey and--and all you +have gone through." She gathered the girl into her strong arms. "My, I +could just pick you up like a babe!" She held her close and kissed her. + +The caressing touch was too much for the girl. With a rush the tears +came. + +"Och, oh," she cried, lapsing into her Highland speech, "it iss +ashamed of myself I am, but no one has done that to me for many a day +since--since--my father--" + +"There, there, you poor darling," said Mandy, comforting her as if she +were a child, "you will not want for love here in this country. Cry +away, it will do you good." There was a sound of feet on the stairs. +"Hush, hush, Billy is coming." She swept the girl into her bedroom as +Billy appeared. + +"Oh, I am just silly," said Moira impatiently, as she wiped her eyes. +"But you are so good, and I will never be forgetting your kindness to me +this day." + +"Hot water," said Billy, tapping at the door. + +"Hot water! What for?" cried Mandy. + +"For the young lady. The doctor said she was used to it." + +"The doctor? Well, that is very thoughtful. Do you want hot water, +Moira?" + +"Yes, the very thing I do want to get the dust out of my eyes and the +grime off my face." + +"And the tea is in the ladies' parlor," added Billy. + +"Tea!" cried Mandy, "the very thing!" + +"The doctor said tea and toast." + +"The doctor again!" + +"Sure thing! Said they were all stuck on tea in the Old Country." + +"Oh, he did, eh? Will you have tea, Moira?" + +"No tea, thank you. I shall lie down, I think, for a little." + +"All right, dear, we will see you at breakfast. Don't worry. I shall +call you." + +Again she kissed the girl and left her to sleep. She found Billy +standing in the ladies' parlor with a perplexed and disappointed look on +his face. + +"The Doc said she'd sure want some tea," he said. + +"And you made the tea yourself?" inquired Mandy. + +"Sure thing! The Doc--" + +"Well, Billy, I'd just love a cup of tea if you don't mind wasting it on +me." + +"Sure thing, ma'm! The Doc won't mind, bein' as she turned it down." + +"Where is Dr. Martin gone, Billy? He needs a cup of tea; he's been up +all night. He must be feeling tough." + +"Judgin' by his langwidge I should surmise yes," said Billy judicially. + +"Would you get him, Billy, and bring him here?" + +"Get him? S'pose I could. But as to bringin' him here, I'd prefer wild +cats myself. The last I seen of him he was hikin' for the Rockies with a +blue haze round his hair." + +"But what in the world is wrong with him, Billy?" said Mandy anxiously. +"I've never seen him this way." + +"No, nor me," said Billy. "The Doc's a pretty level headed cuss. There's +somethin' workin' on him, if you ask me." + +"Billy, you get him and tell him we want to see him at breakfast, will +you?" + +Billy shook his head. + +"Tell him, Billy, I want him to see my husband then." + +"Sure thing! That'll catch him, I guess. He's dead stuck on his work." + +And it did catch him, for, after breakfast was over, clean-shaven, calm +and controlled, and in his very best professional style, Dr. Martin made +his morning call on his patient. Rigidly he eliminated from his manner +anything beyond a severe professional interest. Mandy, who for two years +had served with him as nurse, and who thought she knew his every mood, +was much perplexed. Do what she could, she was unable to break through +the barrier of his professional reserve. He was kindly courteous and +perfectly correct. + +"I would suggest a quiet day for him, Mrs. Cameron," was his verdict +after examining the patient. "He will be quite able to get up in the +afternoon and go about, but not to set off on a hundred and fifty mile +drive. A quiet day, sleep, cheerful company, such as you can furnish +here, will fix him up." + +"Doctor, we will secure the quiet day if you will furnish the cheerful +company," said Mandy, beaming on him. + +"I have a very busy day before me, and as for cheerful company, with you +two ladies he will have all the company that is good for him." + +"CHEERFUL company, you said, Doctor. If you desert us how can we be +cheerful?" + +"Exactly for that reason," replied the doctor. + +"Say, Martin," interposed Cameron, "take them out for a drive this +afternoon and leave me in peace." + +"A drive!" cried Mandy, "with one hundred and fifty miles behind me and +another hundred and fifty miles before me!" + +"A ride then," said Cameron. "Moira, you used to be fond of riding." + +"And am still," cried the girl, with sparkling eyes. + +"A ride!" cried Mandy. "Great! This is the country for riding. But have +you a habit?" + +"My habit is in one of my boxes," replied Moira. + +"I can get a habit," said the doctor, "and two of them." + +"That's settled, then," cried Mandy. "I am not very keen. We shall do +some shopping, Allan, you and I this afternoon and you two can go off +to the hills. The hills! th--ink of that, Moira, for a highlander!" She +glanced at Moira's face and read refusal there. "But I insist you must +go. A whole week in an awful stuffy train. This is the very thing for +you." + +"Yes, the very thing, Moira," cried her brother. "We will have a long +talk this morning then in the afternoon we will do some business here, +Mandy and I, and you can go up the Bow." + +"The Bow?" + +"The Bow River. A glorious ride. Nothing like it even in Scotland, and +that's saying a good deal," said her brother with emphasis. + +This arrangement appeared to give complete satisfaction to all parties +except those most immediately interested, but there seemed to be no very +sufficient reason with either to decline, hence they agreed. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RIDE UP THE BOW + + +Having once agreed to the proposal of a ride up the Bow, the doctor +lost no time in making the necessary preparations. Half an hour later he +found himself in the stable consulting with Billy. His mood was gloomy +and his language reflected his mood. Gladly would he have escaped what +to him, he felt, would be a trying and prolonged ordeal. But he could +not do this without exciting the surprise of his friends and possibly +wounding the sensitive girl whom he would gladly give his life to serve. +He resolved that at all costs he would go through with the thing. + +"I'll give her a good time, by Jingo! if I bust something," he muttered +as he walked up and down the stable picking out his mounts. "But for a +compound, double-opposed, self-adjusting jackass, I'm your choice. Lost +my first chance. Threw it clean away and queered myself with her first +shot. I say, Billy," he called, "come here." + +"What's up, Doc?" said Billy. + +"Kick me, Billy," said the doctor solemnly. + +"Well now, Doc, I--" + +"Kick me, Billy, good and swift." + +"Don't believe I could give no satisfaction, Doc. But there's that Hiram +mule, he's a high class artist. You might back up to him." + +"No use being kicked, Billy, by something that wouldn't appreciate it," +said Martin. + +"Don't guess that way, Doc. He's an ornery cuss, he'd appreciate it all +right, that old mule. But Doc, what's eatin' you?" + +"Oh, nothing, Billy, except that I'm an ass, an infernal ass." + +"An ass, eh? Then I guess I couldn't give you no satisfaction. You +better try that mule." + +"Well, Billy, the horses at two," said the doctor briskly, "the broncho +and that dandy little pinto." + +"All serene, Doc. Hope you'll have a good time. Brace up, Doc, it's +comin' to you." Billy's wink conveyed infinitely more than his words. + +"Look here, Billy, you cut that all out," said the doctor. + +"All right, Doc, if that's the way you feel. You'll see no monkey-work +on me. I'll make a preacher look like a sideshow." + +And truly Billy's manner was irreproachable as he stood with the ponies +at the hotel door and helped their riders to mount. There was an almost +sad gravity in his demeanor that suggested a mind preoccupied with +solemn and unworldly thoughts with which the doctor and his affairs had +not even the remotest association. + +As Cameron who, with his wife, watched their departure from the balcony +above, waved them farewell, he cried, "Keep your eyes skinned for an +Indian, Martin. Bring him in if you find him." + +"I've got no gun on me," replied the doctor, "and if I get sight of him, +you hear me, I'll make for the timber quick. No heroic captures for me +this trip." + +"What is all this about the Indian, Dr. Martin?" inquired the girl at +his side as they cantered down the street. + +"Didn't your brother tell you?" + +"No." + +"Well, I've done enough to you with that Indian already to-day." + +"To me?" + +"Didn't I like a fool frighten you nearly to death with him?" + +"Well, I was startled. I was silly to show it. But an Indian to an Old +Country person familiar with Fenimore Cooper, well--" + +"Oh, I was a proper idiot all round this morning," grumbled the doctor. +"I didn't know what I was doing." + +The brown eyes were open wide upon him. + +"You see," continued the doctor desperately, "I'd looked forward to +meeting you for so long." The brown eyes grew wider. "And then to think +that I actually didn't know you." + +"You didn't look at me," cried Moira. + +"No, I was looking for the girl I saw that day, almost three years ago, +in the Glen. I have never forgotten that day." + +"No, nor I," replied the girl softly. "That is how I knew you. It was +a terrible day to us all in the Glen, my brother going to leave us and +under that dreadful cloud, and you came with the letter that cleared it +all away. Oh, it was like the coming of an angel from heaven, and I have +often thought, Mr. Martin--Dr. Martin you are now, of course--that I +never thanked you as I ought that day. I was thinking of Allan. I have +often wished to do it. I should like to do it now." + +"Get at it," cried the doctor with great emphasis, "I need it. It might +help me a bit. I behaved so stupidly this morning. The truth is, I was +completely knocked out, flabbergasted." + +"Was that it?" cried Moira with a bright smile. "I thought--" A faint +color tinged her pale cheek and she paused a moment. "But tell me about +the Indian. My brother just made little of it. It is his way with me. He +thinks me just a little girl not to be trusted with things." + +"He doesn't know you, then," said the doctor. + +She laughed gayly. "And do you?" + +"I know you better than that, at least." + +"What can you know about me?" + +"I know you are to be trusted with that or with anything else that calls +for nerve. Besides, sooner or later you must know about this Indian. +Wait till we cross the bridge and reach the top of the hill yonder, it +will be better going." + +The hillside gave them a stiff scramble, for the trail went straight up. +But the sure-footed ponies, scrambling over stones and gravel, reached +the top safely, with no worse result than an obvious disarrangement of +the girl's hair, so that around the Scotch bonnet which she had pinned +on her head the little brown curls were peeping in a way that quite +shook the heart of Dr. Martin. + +"Now you look a little more like yourself," he cried, his eyes fastened +upon the curls with unmistakable admiration, "more like the girl I +remember." + +"Oh," she said, "it is my bonnet. I put on this old thing for the ride." + +"No," said the doctor, "you wore no bonnet that day. It is your face, +your hair, you are not quite--so--so proper." + +"My hair!" Her hands went up to her head. "Oh, my silly curls, I +suppose. They are my bane." ("My joy," the doctor nearly had said.) "But +now for the Indian story." + +Then the doctor grew grave. + +"It is not a pleasant thing to greet a guest with," he said, "but you +must know it and I may as well give it to you. And, mind you, this is +altogether a new thing with us." + +For the next half hour as they rode westward toward the big hills, +steadily climbing as they went, the story of the disturbance in the +north country, of the unrest among the Indians, of the part played in +it by the Indian Copperhead, and of the appeal by the Superintendent to +Cameron for assistance, furnished the topic for conversation. The girl +listened with serious face, but there was no fear in the brown eyes, nor +tremor in the quiet voice, as they talked it over. + +"Now let us forget it for a while," cried the doctor. "The Police have +rarely, if ever, failed to get their man. That is their boast. And they +will get this chap, too. And as for the row on the Saskatchewan, I don't +take much stock in that. Now we're coming to a view in a few minutes, +one of the finest I have seen anywhere." + +For half a mile farther they loped along the trail that led them to the +top of a hill that stood a little higher than the others round about. +Upon the hilltop they drew rein. + +"What do you think of that for a view?" said the doctor. + +Before them stretched the wide valley of the Bow for many miles, +sweeping up toward the mountains, with rounded hills on either side, and +far beyond the hills the majestic masses of the Rockies some fifty miles +away, snow-capped, some of them, and here and there upon their faces +the great glaciers that looked like patches of snow. Through this wide +valley wound the swift flowing Bow, and up from it on either side the +hills, rough with rocks and ragged masses of pine, climbed till they +seemed to reach the very bases of the mountains beyond. Over all the +blue arch of sky spanned the wide valley and seemed to rest upon the +great ranges on either side, like the dome of a vast cathedral. + +Silent, with lips parted and eyes alight with wonder, Moira sat and +gazed upon the glory of that splendid scene. + +"What do you think--" began the doctor. + +She put out her hand and touched his arm. + +"Please don't speak," she breathed, "this is not for words, but for +worship." + +Long she continued to gaze in rapt silence upon the picture spread out +before her. It was, indeed, a place for worship. She pointed to a hill +some distance in front of them. + +"You have been beyond that?" she asked in a hushed voice. + +"Yes, I have been all through this country. I know it well. From the top +of that hill we get a magnificent sweep toward the south." + +"Let us go!" she cried. + +Down the hillside they scrambled, across a little valley and up the +farther side, following the trail that wound along the hill but declined +to make the top. As they rounded the shoulder of the little mountain +Moira cried: + +"It would be a great view from the top there beyond the trees. Can we +reach it?" + +"Are you good for a climb?" replied the doctor. "We could tie the +horses." + +For answer she flung herself from her pinto and, gathering up her habit, +began eagerly to climb. By the time the doctor had tethered the ponies +she was half way to the top. Putting forth all his energy he raced after +her, and together they parted a screen of brushwood and stepped out on +a clear rock that overhung the deep canyon that broadened into a great +valley sweeping toward the south. + +"Beats Scotland, eh?" cried the doctor, as they stepped out together. + +She laid her hand upon his arm and drew him back into the bushes. + +"Hush," she whispered. Surprised into silence, he stood gazing at her. +Her face was white and her eyes gleaming. "An Indian down there," she +whispered. + +"An Indian? Where? Show me." + +"He was looking up at us. Come this way. I think he heard us." + +She led him by a little detour and on their hands and knees they crept +through the brushwood. They reached the open rock and peered down +through a screen of bushes into the canyon below. + +"There he is," cried Moira. + +Across the little stream that flowed at the bottom of the canyon, and +not more than a hundred yards away, stood an Indian, tall, straight and +rigidly attent, obviously listening and gazing steadily at the point +where they had first stood. For many minutes he stood thus rigid while +they watched him. Then his attitude relaxed. He sat down upon the rocky +ledge that sloped up from the stream toward a great overhanging crag +behind him, laid his rifle beside him and, calmly filling his pipe, +began to smoke. Intently they followed his every movement. + +"I do believe it is our Indian," whispered the doctor. + +"Oh, if we could only get him!" replied the girl. + +The doctor glanced swiftly at her. Her face was pale but firm set with +resolve. Quickly he revolved in his mind the possibilities. + +"If I only had a gun," he said to himself, "I'd risk it." + +"What is he going to do?" + +The Indian was breaking off some dead twigs from the standing pines +about him. + +"He's going to light a fire," replied the doctor, "perhaps camp for the +night." + +"Then," cried the girl in an excited whisper, "we could get him." + +The doctor smiled at her. The Indian soon had his fire going and, +unrolling his blanket pack, he took thence what looked like a lump of +meat, cut some strips from it and hung them from pointed sticks over the +fire. He proceeded to gather some poles from the dead wood lying about. + +"What now is he going to do?" inquired Moira. + +"Wait," replied the doctor. + +The Indian proceeded to place the poles in order against the rock, +keeping his eye on the toasting meat the while and now and again turning +it before the fire. Then he began to cut branches of spruce and balsam. + +"By the living Jingo!" cried the doctor, greatly excited, "I declare +he's going to camp." + +"To sleep?" said Moira. + +"Yes," replied the doctor. "He had no sleep last night." + +"Then," cried the girl, "we can get him." + +The doctor gazed at her in admiration. + +"You are a brick," he said. "How can we get him? He'd double me up like +a jack-knife. Remember I only played quarter," he added. + +"No, no," she cried quickly, "you stay here to watch him. Let me go back +for the Police." + +"I say," cried the doctor, "you are a wonder. There's something in +that." He thought rapidly, then said, "No, it won't do. I can't allow +you to risk it." + +"Risk? Risk what?" + +A year ago the doctor would not have hesitated a moment to allow her +to go, but now he thought of the roving bands of Indians and the +possibility of the girl falling into their hands. + +"No, Miss Cameron, it will not do." + +"But think," she cried, "we might get him and save Allan all the trouble +and perhaps his life. You must not stop me. You cannot stop me. I am +going. You wait and watch. Don't move. I can find my way." + +He seized her by the arm. + +"Wait," he said, "let me think." + +"What danger can there be?" she pleaded. "It is broad daylight. The road +is good. I cannot possibly lose my way. I am used to riding alone among +the hills at home." + +"Ah, yes, at home," said the doctor gloomily. + +"But there is no danger," she persisted. "I am not afraid. Besides, you +cannot keep me." She stood up among the bushes looking down at him with +a face so fiercely resolved that he was constrained to say, "By Jove! I +don't believe I could. But I can go with you." + +"You would not do that," she cried, stamping her foot, "if I forbade +you. It is your duty to stay here and watch that Indian. It is mine to +go and get the Police. Good-by." + +He rose to follow her. + +"No," she said, "I forbid you to come. You are not doing right. You are +to stay. We will save my brother." + +She glided through the bushes from his sight and was gone. + +"Am I a fool or what?" said the doctor to himself. "She is taking a +chance, but after all it is worth while." + +It was now the middle of the afternoon and it would take Moira an hour +and a half over that rocky winding trail to make the ten miles that +lay before her. Ten minutes more would see the Police started on their +return. The doctor settled himself down to his three hours' wait, +keeping his eye fixed upon the Indian. The latter was now busy with his +meal, which he ate ravenously. + +"The beggar has me tied up tight," muttered the doctor ruefully. "My +grub is on my saddle, and I guess I dare not smoke till he lights up +himself." + +A hand touched his arm. Instantly he was on his feet. It was Moira. + +"Great Caesar, you scared me! Thought it was the whole Blackfoot tribe." + +"You will be the better for something to eat," she said simply, handing +him the lunch basket. "Good-by." + +"Hold up!" he cried. But she was gone. + +"Say, she's a regular--" He paused and thought for a moment. "She's an +angel, that's what--and a mighty sight better than most of them. She's +a--" He turned back to his watch, leaving his thought unspoken. In the +presence of the greater passions words are woefully inadequate. + +The Indian was still eating as ravenously as ever. + +"He's filling up, I guess. He ought to be full soon at that rate. Wish +he'd get his pipe agoing." + +In due time the Indian finished eating, rolled up the fragments +carefully in a rag, and then proceeded to construct with the poles and +brush which he had cut, a penthouse against the rock. At one end his +little shelter thus constructed ran into a spruce tree whose thick +branches reached right to the ground. When he had completed this shelter +to his satisfaction he sat down again on the rock beside his smoldering +fire and pulled out his pipe. + +"Thanks be!" said the doctor to himself fervently. "Go on, old boy, hit +her up." + +A pipe and then another the Indian smoked, then, taking his gun, blanket +and pack, he crawled into his brush wigwam out of sight. + +"There, you old beggar!" said the doctor with a sigh of relief. "You are +safe for an hour or two, thank goodness. You had no sleep last night and +you've got to make up for it now. Sleep tight, old boy. We'll give you a +call." The doctor hugged himself with supreme satisfaction and continued +to smoke with his eye fixed upon the hole into which the Indian had +disappeared. + +Through the long hours he sat and smoked while he formulated the plan +of attack which he proposed to develop when his reinforcements should +arrive. + +"We will work up behind him from away down the valley, a couple of us +will cover him from the front and the others go right in." + +He continued with great care to make and revise his plans, and while +in the midst of his final revision a movement in the bushes behind +him startled him to his feet. The bushes parted and the face of Moira +appeared with that of her brother over her shoulder. + +"Is he still there?" she whispered eagerly. + +"Asleep, snug as a bug. Never moved," said the doctor exultantly, and +proceeded to explain his plan of attack. "How many have you?" he asked +Cameron. + +"Crisp and a constable." + +"Just two?" said the doctor. + +"Two," replied Cameron briefly. "That's plenty. Here they are." He +stepped back through the bushes and brought forward Crisp and the +constable. "Now, then, here's our plan," he said. "You, Crisp, will go +down the canyon, cross the stream and work up on the other side right to +that rock. When you arrive at the rock the constable and I will go in. +The doctor will cover him from this side." + +"Fine!" said the doctor. "Fine, except that I propose to go in myself +with you. He's a devil to fight. I could see that last night." + +Cameron hesitated. + +"There's really no use, you know, Doctor. The constable and I can handle +him." + +Moira stood looking eagerly from one to the other. + +"All right," said the doctor, "'nuff said. Only I'm going in. If you +want to come along, suit yourself." + +"Oh, do be careful," said Moira, clasping her hands. "Oh, I'm afraid." + +"Afraid?" said the doctor, looking at her quickly. "You? Not much fear +in you, I guess." + +"Come on, then," said Cameron. "Moira, you stay here and keep your eye +on him. You are safe enough here." + +She pressed her lips tight together till they made a thin red line in +her white face. + +"Can you let me have a gun?" she asked. + +"A gun?" exclaimed the doctor. + +"Oh, she can shoot--rabbits, at least," said her brother with a smile. +"I shall bring you one, Moira, but remember, handle it carefully." + +With a gun across her knees Moira sat and watched the development of the +attack. For many minutes there was no sign or sound, till she began to +wonder if a change had been made in the plan. At length some distance +down the canyon and on the other side Sergeant Crisp was seen working +his way with painful care step by step toward the rock of rendezvous. +There was no sign of her brother or Dr. Martin. It was for them she +watched with an intensity of anxiety which she could not explain to +herself. At length Sergeant Crisp reached the crag against whose base +the penthouse leaned in which the sleeping Indian lay. Immediately she +saw her brother, quickly followed by Dr. Martin, leap the little stream, +run lightly up the sloping rock and join Crisp at the crag. Still there +was no sign from the Indian. She saw her brother motion the Sergeant +round to the farther corner of the penthouse where it ran into the +spruce tree, while he himself, with a revolver in each hand, dropped on +one knee and peered under the leaning poles. With a loud exclamation he +sprang to his feet. + +"He's gone!" he shouted. "Stand where you are!" Like a hound on a scent +he ran to the back of the spruce tree and on his knees examined the +earth there. In a few moments his search was rewarded. He struck the +trail and followed it round the rock and through the woods till he +came to the hard beaten track. Then he came back, pale with rage and +disappointment. "He's gone!" he said. + +"I swear he never came out of that hole!" said Dr. Martin. "I kept my +eye on it every minute of the last three hours." + +"There's another hole," said Crisp, "under the tree here." + +Cameron said not a word. His disappointment was too keen. Together they +retraced their steps across the little stream. On the farther bank they +found Moira, who had raced down to meet them. + +"He's gone?" she cried. + +"Gone!" echoed her brother. "Gone for this time--but--some day--some +day," he added below his breath. + +But many things were to happen before that day came. + + + +CHAPTER X + +RAVEN TO THE RESCUE + + +Overhead the stars were still twinkling far in the western sky. +The crescent moon still shone serene, marshaling her attendant +constellations. Eastward the prairie still lay in deep shadow, its long +rolls outlined by the deeper shadows lying in the hollows between. Over +the Bow and the Elbow mists hung like white veils swathing the faces +of the rampart hills north and south. In the little town a stillness +reigned as of death, for at length Calgary was asleep, and sound asleep +would remain for hours to come. + +Not so the world about. Through the dead stillness of the waning night +the liquid note of the adventurous meadow lark fell like the dropping +of a silver stream into the pool below. Brave little heart, roused from +slumber perchance by domestic care, perchance by the first burdening +presage of the long fall flight waiting her sturdy careless brood, +perchance stirred by the first thrill of the Event approaching from +the east. For already in the east the long round tops of the prairie +undulations are shining gray above the dark hollows and faint bars of +light are shooting to the zenith, fearless forerunners of the dawn, +menacing the retreating stars still bravely shining their pale defiance +to the oncoming of their ancient foe. Far toward the west dark masses +still lie invincible upon the horizon, but high above in the clear +heavens white shapes, indefinite and unattached, show where stand the +snow-capped mountain peaks. Thus the swift and silent moments mark the +fortunes of this age-long conflict. But sudden all heaven and all earth +thrill tremulous in eager expectancy of the daily miracle when, all +unaware, the gray light in the eastern horizon over the roll of the +prairie has grown to silver, and through the silver a streamer of palest +rose has flashed up into the sky, the gay and gallant 'avant courier' of +an advancing host, then another and another, then by tens and hundreds, +till, radiating from a center yet unseen, ten thousand times ten +thousand flaming flaunting banners flash into orderly array and possess +the utmost limits of the heavens, sweeping before them the ever paling +stars, that indomitable rearguard of the flying night, proclaiming +to all heaven and all earth the King is come, the Monarch of the Day. +Flushed in the new radiance of the morning, the long flowing waves of +the prairie, the tumbling hills, the mighty rocky peaks stand surprised, +as if caught all unprepared by the swift advance, trembling and blushing +in the presence of the triumphant King, waiting the royal proclamation +that it is time to wake and work, for the day is come. + +All oblivious of this wondrous miracle stands Billy, his powers of mind +and body concentrated upon a single task, that namely of holding down +to earth the game little bronchos, Mustard and Pepper, till the party +should appear. Nearby another broncho, saddled and with the knotted +reins hanging down from his bridle, stood viewing with all too obvious +contempt the youthful frolics of the colts. Well he knew that life would +cure them of all this foolish waste of spirit and of energy. Meantime +on his part he was content to wait till his master--Dr. Martin, to +wit--should give the order to move. His master meantime was busily +engaged with clever sinewy fingers packing in the last parcels that +represented the shopping activities of Cameron and his wife during the +past two days. There was a whole living and sleeping outfit for the +family to gather together. Already a heavily laden wagon had gone on +before them. The building material for the new house was to follow, +for it was near the end of September and a tent dwelling, while quite +endurable, does not lend itself to comfort through a late fall in the +foothill country. Besides, there was upon Cameron, and still more upon +his wife, the ever deepening sense of a duty to be done that could not +wait, and for the doing of that duty due preparation must be made. Hence +the new house must be built and its simple appointments and furnishings +set in order without delay, and hence the laden wagon gone before and +the numerous packages in the democrat, covered with a new tent and roped +securely into place. + +This packing and roping the doctor made his peculiar care, for he was +a true Canadian, born and bred in the atmosphere of pioneer days in +old Ontario, and the packing and roping could be trusted to no amateur +hands, for there were hills to go up and hills to go down, sleughs to +cross and rivers to ford with all their perilous contingencies before +they should arrive at the place where they would be. + +"All secure, Martin?" said Cameron, coming out from the hotel with hand +bags and valises. + +"They'll stay, I think," replied the doctor, "unless those bronchos of +yours get away from you." + +"Aren't they dears, Billy?" cried Moira, coming out at the moment and +dancing over to the bronchos' heads. + +"Well, miss," said Billy with judicial care, "I don't know about that. +They're ornery little cusses and mean-actin.' They'll go straight enough +if everything is all right, but let anythin' go wrong, a trace or a +line, and they'll put it to you good and hard." + +"I do not think I would be afraid of them," replied the girl, reaching +out her hand to stroke Pepper's nose, a movement which surprised that +broncho so completely that he flew back violently upon the whiffle-tree, +carrying Billy with him. + +"Come up here, you beast!" said Billy, giving him a fierce yank. + +"Oh, Billy!" expostulated Moira. + +"Oh, he ain't no lady's maid, miss. You would, eh, you young +devil,"--this to Pepper, whose intention to walk over Billy was only +too obvious--"Get back there, will you! Now then, take that, and stand +still!" Billy evidently did not rely solely upon the law of love in +handling his broncho. + +Moira abandoned him and climbed to her place in the democrat between +Cameron and his wife. + +By a most singular and fortunate coincidence Dr. Martin had learned that +a patient of his at Big River was in urgent need of a call, so, to the +open delight of the others and to the subdued delight of the doctor, he +was to ride with them thus far on their journey. + +"All set, Billy?" cried Cameron. "Let them go." + +"Good-by, Billy," cried both ladies, to which Billy replied with a wave +of his Stetson. + +Away plunged the bronchos on a dead gallop, as if determined to end the +journey during the next half hour at most, and away with them went the +doctor upon his steady broncho, the latter much annoyed at being thus +ignominiously outdistanced by these silly colts and so induced to strike +a somewhat more rapid pace than he considered wise at the beginning of +an all-day journey. Away down the street between the silent shacks and +stores and out among the straggling residences that lined the trail. +Away past the Indian encampment and the Police Barracks. Away across the +echoing bridge, whose planks resounded like the rattle of rifles +under the flying hoofs. Away up the long stony hill, scrambling and +scrabbling, but never ceasing till they reached the level prairie at the +top. Away upon the smooth resilient trail winding like a black ribbon +over the green bed of the prairie. Away down long, long s to low, +wide valleys, and up long, long s to the next higher prairie level. +Away across the plain skirting sleughs where ducks of various kinds, and +in hundreds, quacked and plunged and fought joyously and all unheeding. +Away with the morning air, rare and wondrously exhilarating, rushing +at them and past them and filling their hearts with the keen zest of +living. Away beyond sight and sound of the great world, past little +shacks, the brave vanguard of civilization, whose solitary loneliness +only served to emphasize their remoteness from the civilization which +they heralded. Away from the haunts of men and through the haunts +of wild things where the shy coyote, his head thrown back over his +shoulder, loped laughing at them and their futile noisy speed. Away +through the wide rich pasture lands where feeding herds of cattle +and bands of horses made up the wealth of the solitary rancher, whose +low-built wandering ranch house proclaimed at once his faith and his +courage. Away and ever away, the shining morning hours and the fleeting +miles racing with them, till by noon-day, all wet but still unweary, the +bronchos drew up at the Big River Stopping Place, forty miles from the +point of their departure. + +Close behind the democrat rode Dr. Martin, the steady pace of his wise +old broncho making up upon the dashing but somewhat erratic gait of the +colts. + +While the ladies passed into the primitive Stopping Place, the men +unhitched the ponies, stripped off their harness and proceeded to rub +them down from head to heel, wash out their mouths and remove from them +as far as they could by these attentions the travel marks of the last +six hours. + +Big River could hardly be called even by the generous estimate of the +optimistic westerner a town. It consisted of a blacksmith's shop, with +which was combined the Post Office, a little school, which did for +church--the farthest outpost of civilization--and a manse, simple, neat +and tiny, but with a wondrous air of comfort about it, and very like the +little Nova Scotian woman inside, who made it a very vestibule of heaven +for many a cowboy and rancher in the district, and last, the Stopping +Place run by a man who had won the distinction of being well known to +the Mounted Police and who bore the suggestive name of Hell Gleeson, +which appeared, however, in the old English Registry as Hellmuth Raymond +Gleeson. The Mounted Police thought it worth while often to run in upon +Hell at unexpected times, and more than once they had found it necessary +to invite him to contribute to Her Majesty's revenue as compensation for +Hell's objectionable habit of having in possession and of retailing to +his friends bad whisky without attending to the little formality of a +permit. + +The Stopping Place was a rambling shack, or rather a series of shacks, +loosely joined together, whose ramifications were found by Hell and his +friends to be useful in an emergency. The largest room in the building +was the bar, as it was called. Behind the counter, however, instead of +the array of bottles and glasses usually found in rooms bearing this +name, the shelf was filled with patent medicines, chiefly various +brands of pain-killer. Off the bar was the dining-room, and behind the +dining-room another and smaller room, while the room most retired in the +collection of shacks constituting the Stopping Place was known in +the neighborhood as the "snake room," a room devoted to those unhappy +wretches who, under the influence of prolonged indulgence in Hell's bad +whisky, were reduced to such a mental and nervous condition that the +landscape of their dreams became alive with snakes of various sizes, +shapes and hues. + +To Mandy familiarity had hardened her sensibilities to endurance of all +the grimy uncleanness of the place, but to Moira the appearance of +the house and especially of the dining-room filled her with loathing +unspeakable. + +"Oh, Mandy," she groaned, "can we not eat outside somewhere? This is +terrible." + +Mandy thought for a moment. + +"No," she cried, "but we will do better. I know Mrs. Macintyre in the +manse. I nursed her once last spring. We will go and see her." + +"Oh, that would not do," said Moira, her Scotch shy independence +shrinking from such an intrusion. + +"And why not?" + +"She doesn't know me--and there are four of us." + +"Oh, nonsense, you don't know this country. You don't know what our +visit will mean to the little woman, what a joy it will be to her to see +a new face, and I declare when she hears you are new out from Scotland +she will simply revel in you. We are about to confer a great favor upon +Mrs. Macintyre." + +If Moira had any lingering doubts as to the soundness of her +sister-in-law's opinion they vanished before the welcome she had from +the minister's wife. + +"Mr. Cameron's sister?" she cried, with both hands extended, "and just +out from Scotland? And where from? From near Braemar? And our folk came +from near Inverness. Mhail Gaelic heaibh?" + +"Go dearbh ha." + +And on they went for some minutes in what Mrs. Macintyre called "the +dear old speech," till Mrs. Macintyre, remembering herself, said to +Mandy: + +"But you do not understand the Gaelic? Well, well, you will forgive us. +And to think that in this far land I should find a young lady like this +to speak it to me! Do you know, I am forgetting it out here." All the +while she was speaking she was laying the cloth and setting the table. +"And you have come all the way from Calgary this morning? What a drive +for the young lady! You must be tired out. Would you lie down upon the +bed for an hour? Then come away in to the bedroom and fresh yourselves +up a bit. Come away in. I'll get Mr. Cameron over." + +"We are a big party," said Mandy, "for your wee house. We have a friend +with us--Dr. Martin." + +"Dr. Martin? Indeed I know him well, and a fine man he is and that kind +and clever. I'll get him too." + +"Let me go for them," said Mandy. + +"Very well, go then. I'll just hurry the dinner." + +"But are you quite sure," asked Mandy, "you can--you have everything +handy? You know, Mrs. Macintyre, I know just how hard it is to keep a +stock of everything on hand." + +"Well, we have bread and molasses--our butter is run out, it is hard to +get--and some bacon and potatoes and tea. Will that do?" + +"Oh, that will do fine. And we have some things with us, if you don't +mind." + +"Mind? Not a bit, my dear. You can just suit yourself." + +The dinner was a glorious success. The clean linen, the shining dishes, +the silver--for Mrs. Macintyre brought out her wedding presents--gave +the table a brilliantly festive appearance in the eyes of those who had +lived for some years in the western country. + +"You don't appreciate the true significance of a table napkin, I venture +to say, Miss Cameron," said the doctor, "until you have lived a year in +this country at least, or how much an unspotted table cloth means, or +shining cutlery and crockery." + +"Well, I have been two days at the Royal Hotel, whatever," replied +Moira. + +"The Royal Hotel!" exclaimed the doctor aghast. "Our most palatial +Western hostelry--all the comforts and conveniences of civilization!" + +"Anyway, I like this better," said Moira. "It is like home." + +"Is it, indeed, my dear?" said the minister's wife greatly delighted. +"You have paid me a very fine tribute." + +The hour lengthened into two, for when a departure was suggested the +doctor grew eloquent in urging delay. The horses would be all the better +for the rest. It would be fine driving in the evening. They could easily +make the Black Dog Ford before dark. After that the trail was good for +twenty miles, where they would camp. But like all happy hours these +hours fled past, and all too swiftly, and soon the travelers were ready +to depart. + +Before the Stopping Place door Hell was holding down the bronchos, while +Cameron was packing in the valises and making all secure again. Near the +wagon stood the doctor waiting their departure. + +"You are going back from here, Dr. Martin?" said Moira. + +"Yes," said the doctor, "I am going back." + +"It has been good to see you," she said. "I hope next time you will know +me." + +"Ah, now, Miss Cameron, don't rub it in. You see--but what's the use?" +continued the doctor. "You had changed. My picture of the girl I had +seen in the Highlands that day never changed and never will change." The +doctor's keen gray eyes burned into hers for a moment. A slight flush +came to her cheek and she found herself embarrassed for want of words. +Her embarrassment was relieved by the sound of hoofs pounding down the +trail. + +"Hello, who's this?" said the doctor, as they stood watching the +horseman approaching at a rapid pace and accompanied by a cloud of dust. +Nearer and nearer he came, still on the gallop till within a few yards +of the group. + +"My!" cried Moira. "Whoever he is he will run us down!" and she sprang +into her place in the democrat. + +Without slackening rein the rider came up to the Stopping Place door +at a full gallop, then at a single word his horse planted his four feet +solidly on the trail, and, plowing up the dirt, came to a standstill; +then, throwing up his magnificent head, he gave a loud snort and stood, +a perfect picture of equine beauty. + +"Oh, what a horse!" breathed Moira. "How perfectly splendid! And what a +rider!" she added. "Do you know him?" + +"I do not," said the doctor, conscious of a feeling of hostility to +the stranger, and all the more because he was forced to acknowledge to +himself that the rider and his horse made a very striking picture. The +man was tall and sinewy, with dark, clean-cut face, thin lips, firm chin +and deep-set, brown-gray eyes that glittered like steel, and with that +unmistakable something in his bearing that suggested the breeding of a +gentleman. His horse was as distinguished as its rider. His coal black +skin shone like silk, his flat legs, sloping hips, well-ribbed barrel, +small head, large, flashing eyes, all proclaimed his high breeding. + +"What a beauty! What a beauty!" breathed Moira again to the doctor. + +As if in answer to her praise the stranger, raising his Stetson, swept +her an elaborate bow, and, touching his horse, moved nearer to the door +of the Stopping Place and swung himself to the ground. + +"Ah, Cameron, it's you, sure enough. I can hardly believe my good +fortune." + +"Hello, Raven, that you?" said Cameron indifferently. "Hope you are +fit?" But he made no motion to offer his hand nor did he introduce him +to the company. At the sound of his name Dr. Martin started and swept +his keen eyes over the stranger's face. He had heard that name before. + +"Fit?" inquired the stranger whom Cameron had saluted as Raven. "Fit +as ever," a hard smile curling his lips as he noted Cameron's omission. +"Hello, Hell!" he continued, his eyes falling upon that individual, who +was struggling with the restive ponies, "how goes it with your noble +self?" + +Hastily Hell, leaving the bronchos for the moment, responded, "Hello, +Mr. Raven, mighty glad to see you!" + +Meantime the bronchos, freed from Hell's supervision, and apparently +interested in the strange horse who was viewing them with lordly +disdain, turned their heads and took the liberty of sniffing at the +newcomer. Instantly, with mouth wide open and ears flat on his head, the +black horse rushed at the bronchos. With a single bound they were off, +the lines trailing in the dust. Together Hell, Cameron and the doctor +sprang for the wagon, but before they could touch it it was whisked from +underneath their fingers as the bronchos dashed in a mad gallop down the +trail, Moira meantime clinging desperately to the seat of the pitching +wagon. After them darted Cameron and for some moments it seemed as if +he could overtake the flying ponies, but gradually they drew away and he +gave up the chase. After him followed the whole company, his wife, the +doctor, Hell, all in a blind horror of helplessness. + +"My God! My God!" cried Cameron, his breath coming in sobbing gasps. +"The cut bank!" + +Hardly were the words out of his mouth when Raven came up at an easy +canter. + +"Don't worry," he said quietly to Mandy, who was wringing her hands in +despair, "I'll get them." + +Like a swallow for swiftness and for grace, the black stallion sped +away, flattening his body to the trail as he gathered speed. The +bronchos had a hundred yards of a start, but they had not run another +hundred until the agonized group of watchers could see that the stallion +was gaining rapidly upon them. + +"He'll get 'em," cried Hell, "he'll get 'em, by gum!" + +"But can he turn them from the bank?" groaned Mandy. + +"If anything in horse-flesh or man-flesh can do it," said Hell, "it'll +be done." + +But a tail-race is a long race and a hundred yards' start is a serious +handicap in a quarter of a mile. Down the sloping trail the bronchos +were running savagely, their noses close to earth, their feet on the +hard ground like the roar of a kettledrum, their harness and trappings +fluttering over their backs, the wagon pitching like a ship in a gale, +the girl clinging to its high seat as a sailor to a swaying mast. +Behind, and swiftly drawing level with the flying bronchos, sped the +black horse, still with that smooth grace of a skimming swallow and +with such ease of motion as made it seem as if he could readily have +increased his speed had he so chosen. + +"My God! why doesn't he send the brute along?" cried Dr. Martin, his +stark face and staring eyes proclaiming his agony. + +"He is up! He is up!" cried Cameron. + +The agonized watchers saw the rider lean far over the bronchos and seize +one line, then gradually begin to turn the flying ponies away from the +cut bank and steer them in a wide circle across the prairie. + +"Thank God! Thank God! Oh, thank God!" cried the doctor brokenly, wiping +the sweat from his face. + +"Let us go to head them off," said Cameron, setting off at a run, +leaving the doctor and his wife to follow. + +As they watched with staring eyes the racing horses they saw Raven bring +back the line to the girl clinging to the wagon seat, then the black +stallion, shooting in front of the ponies, began to slow down upon them, +hampering their running till they were brought to an easy canter, and, +under the more active discipline of teeth and hoofs, were forced to a +trot and finally brought to a standstill, and so held till Cameron and +the doctor came up to them. + +"Raven," gasped Cameron, fighting for his breath and coming forward with +hand outstretched, "you have--done--a great thing--to-day--for me. I +shall not--forget it." + +"Tut tut, Cameron, simple thing. I fancy you are still a few points +ahead," said Raven, taking his hand in a strong grip. "After all, it was +Night Hawk did it." + +"You saved--my sister's life," continued Cameron, still struggling for +breath. + +"Perhaps, perhaps, but I don't forget," and here Raven leaned over his +saddle and spoke in a lower voice, "I don't forget the day you saved +mine, my boy." + +"Come," said Cameron, "let me present you to my sister." + +Instantly Raven swung himself from his horse. + +"Stand, Night Hawk!" he commanded, and the horse stood like a soldier on +guard. + +"Moira," said Cameron, still panting hard, "this is--my friend--Mr. +Raven." + +Raven stood bowing before her with his hat in his hand, but the girl +leaned far down from her seat with both hands outstretched. + +"I thank you, Mr. Raven," she said in a quiet voice, but her brown eyes +were shining like stars in her white face. "You are a wonderful rider." + +"I could not have done it, Miss Cameron," said Raven, a wonderfully +sweet smile lighting up his hard face, "I could not have done it had you +ever lost your nerve." + +"I had no fear after I saw your face," said the girl simply. "I knew you +could do it." + +"Ah, and how did you know that?" His gray-brown eyes searched her face +more keenly. + +"I cannot tell. I just knew." + +"Let me introduce my friend, Dr. Martin," said Cameron as the doctor +came up. + +"I--too--want to thank you--Mr. Raven," said the doctor, seizing him +with both hands. "I never can--we never can forget it--or repay you." + +"Oh," said Raven, with a careless laugh, "what else could I do? After +all it was Night Hawk did the trick." He lifted his hat again to Moira, +bowed with a beautiful grace, threw himself on his horse and stood till +the two men, after carefully examining the harness and securing the +reins, had climbed to their places on the wagon seat. + +Then he trotted on before toward the Stopping Place, where the +minister's wife and indeed the whole company of villagers awaited them. + +"Oh, isn't he wonderful!" cried Moira, with her eyes upon the rider in +front of them. "And he did it so easily." But the men sat silent. "Who +is he, Allan? You know him." + +"Yes--he is--he is a chap I met when I was on the Force." + +"A Policeman?" + +"No, no," replied her brother hastily. + +"What then? Does he live here?" + +"He lives somewhere south. Don't know exactly where he lives." + +"What is he? A rancher?" + +"A rancher? Ah--yes, yes, he is a rancher I fancy. Don't know very well. +That is--I have seen little of him--in fact--only a couple of times--or +so." + +"He seems to know you, Allan," said his sister a little reproachfully. +"Anyway," she continued with a deep breath, "he is just splendid." Dr. +Martin glanced at her face glowing with enthusiasm and was shamefully +conscious of a jealous pang at his heart. "He is just splendid," +continued Moira, with growing enthusiasm, "and I mean to know more of +him." + +"What?" said her brother sharply, as if waking from a dream. "Nonsense, +Moira! You do not know what you are talking about. You must not speak +like that." + +"And why, pray?" asked his sister in surprise. + +"Oh, never mind just now, Moira. In this country we don't take up with +strangers." + +"Strangers?" echoed the girl, pain mingling with her surprise. "And yet +he saved my life!" + +"Yes, thank God, he saved your life," cried her brother, "and we shall +never cease to be grateful to him, but--but--oh, drop it just now +please, Moira. You don't know and--here we are. How white Mandy is. What +a terrible experience for us all!" + +"Terrible indeed," echoed the doctor. + +"Terrible?" said Moira. "It might have been worse." + +To this neither made reply, but there came a day when both doubted such +a possibility. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SMITH'S WORK + + +The short September day was nearly gone. The sun still rode above the +great peaks that outlined the western horizon. Already the shadows were +beginning to creep up the eastern of the hills that clambered till +they reached the bases of the great mountains. A purple haze hung over +mountain, hill and rolling plain, softening the sharp outlines that +ordinarily defined the features of the foothill landscape. + +With the approach of evening the fierce sun heat had ceased and a +fresh cooling western breeze from the mountain passes brought welcome +refreshment alike to the travelers and their beasts, wearied with their +three days' drive. + +"That is the last hill, Moira," cried her sister-in-law, pointing to a +long before them. "The very last, I promise you. From the top +we can see our home. Our home, alas, I had forgotten! There is no home +there, only a black spot on the prairie." + +Her husband grunted savagely and cut sharply at the bronchos. + +"But the tent will be fine, Mandy. I just long for the experience," said +Moira. + +"Yes, but just think of all my pretty things, and some of Allan's too, +all gone." + +"Were the pipes burned, Allan?" cried Moira with a sudden anxiety. + +"Were they, Mandy? I never thought," said Cameron. + +"The pipes? Let me see. No--no--you remember, Allan, young--what's his +name?--that young Highlander at the Fort wanted them." + +"Sure enough--Macgregor," said her husband in a tone of immense relief. + +"Yes, young Mr. Macgregor." + +"My, but that is fine, Allan," said his sister. "I should have grieved +if we could not hear the pipes again among these hills. Oh, it is all so +bonny; just look at the big Bens yonder." + +It was, as she said, all bonny. Far toward their left the low hills +rolled in soft swelling waves toward the level prairie, and far away to +the right the hills climbed by sharper ascents, flecked here and +there with dark patches of fir, and broken with jutting ledges of gray +limestone, climbed till they reached the great Rockies, majestic in +their massive serried ranges that pierced the western sky. And all that +lay between, the hills, the hollows, the rolling prairie, was bathed +in a multitudinous riot of color that made a scene of loveliness beyond +power of speech to describe. + +"Oh, Allan, Allan," cried his sister, "I never thought to see anything +as lovely as the Cuagh Oir, but this is up to it I do believe." + +"It must indeed be lovely, then," said her brother with a smile, "if +you can say that. And I am glad you like it. I was afraid that you might +not." + +"Here we are, just at the top," cried Mandy. "In a minute beyond the +shoulder there we shall see the Big Horn Valley and the place where our +home used to be. There, wait Allan." + +The ponies came to a stand. Exclamations of amazement burst from Cameron +and his wife. + +"Why, Allan? What? Is this the trail?" + +"It is the trail all right," said her husband in a low voice, "but what +in thunder does this mean?" + +"It is a house, Allan, a new house." + +"It looks like it--but--" + +"And there are people all about!" + +For some breathless moments they gazed upon the scene. A wide valley, +flanked by hills and threaded by a gleaming river, lay before them and +in a bend of the river against the gold and yellow of a poplar bluff +stood a log house of comfortable size gleaming in all its newness fresh +from the ax and saw. + +"What does it all mean, Allan?" inquired his wife. + +"Blest if I know!" + +"Look at the people. I know now, Allan. It's a 'raising bee.' A raising +bee!" she cried with growing enthusiasm. "You remember them in Ontario. +It's a bee, sure enough. Oh, hurry, let's go!" + +The bronchos seemed to catch her excitement, their weariness +disappeared, and, pulling hard on the bit, they tore down the winding +trail as if at the beginning rather than at the end of their hundred and +fifty mile drive. + +"What a size!" cried Mandy. + +"And a cook house, too!" + +"And a verandah!" + +"And a shingled roof!" + +"And all the people! Where in the world can they have come from?" + +"There's the Inspector, anyway," said Cameron. "He is at the bottom of +this, I'll bet you." + +"And Mr. Cochrane! And that young Englishman, Mr. Newsome!" + +"And old Thatcher!" + +"And Mrs. Cochrane, and Mr. Dent, and, oh, there's my friend Smith! You +remember he helped me put out the fire." + +Soon they were at the gate of the corral where a group of men and women +stood awaiting them. Inspector Dickson was first: + +"Hello, Cameron! Got back, eh? Welcome home, Mrs. Cameron," he said as +he helped her to alight. + +Smith stood at the bronchos' heads. + +"Now, Inspector," said Cameron, holding him by hand and collar, "now +what does this business mean?" + +"Mean?" cried the Inspector with a laugh. "Means just what you see. But +won't you introduce us all?" + +After all had been presented to his sister Cameron pursued his question. +"What does it mean, Inspector?" + +"Mean? Ask Cochrane." + +"Mr. Cochrane, tell me," cried Mandy, "who began this?" + +"Ask Mr. Thatcher there," replied Mr. Cochrane. + +"Who is responsible for this, Mr. Thatcher?" cried Mandy. + +"Don't rightly know how the thing started. First thing I knowed they was +all at it." + +"See here, Thatcher, you might as well own up. I am going to know +anyway. Where did the logs come from, for instance?" said Cameron in a +determined voice. + +"Logs? Guess Bracken knows," replied Cochrane, turning to a tall, lanky +rancher who was standing at a little distance. + +"Bracken," cried Cameron, striding to him with hand outstretched, "what +about the logs for the house? Where did they come from?" + +"Well, I dunno. Smith was sayin' somethin' about a bee and gettin' green +logs." + +"Smith?" cried Cameron, glancing at that individual now busy unhitching +the bronchos. + +"And of course," continued Bracken, "green logs ain't any use for a real +good house, so--and then--well, I happened to have a bunch of logs up +the Big Horn. I guess the boys floated 'em down." + +"Come away, Mrs. Cameron, and inspect your house," cried a stout, +red-faced matron. "I said they ought to await your coming to get your +plans, but Mr. Smith said he knew a little about building and that they +might as well go on with it. It was getting late in the season, and so +they went at it. Come away, we're having a great time over it. Indeed, I +think we've enjoyed it more than ever you will." + +"But you haven't told us yet who started it," cried Mandy. + +"Where did you get the lumber?" said Cameron. + +"Well, the lumber," replied Cochrane, "came from the Fort, I guess. +Didn't it, Inspector?" + +"Yes," replied the Inspector. "We had no immediate use for it, and Smith +told us just how much it would take." + +"Smith?" said Cameron again. "Hello, Smith!" But Smith was already +leading the bronchos away to the stable. + +"Yes," continued the Inspector, "and Smith was wondering how a notice +could be sent up to the Spruce Creek boys and to Loon Lake, so I sent a +man with the word and they brought down the lumber without any trouble. +But," continued the Inspector, "come along, Cameron, let us follow the +ladies." + +"But this is growing more and more mysterious," protested Cameron. "Can +no one tell me how the thing originated? The sash and doors now, where +did they come from?" + +"Oh, that's easy," said Cochrane. "I was at the Post Office, and, +hearin' Smith talkin' 'bout this raisin' bee and how they were stuck for +sash and door, so seein' I wasn't goin' to build this fall I told him he +might as well have the use of these. My team was laid up and Smith got +Jim Bracken to haul 'em down." + +"Well, this gets me," said Cameron. "It appears no one started this +thing. Everything just happened. Now the shingles, I suppose they just +tumbled up into their place there." + +"The shingles?" said Cochrane. "I dunno 'bout them. Didn't know there +were any in the country." + +"Oh, they just got up into place there of themselves I have no doubt," +said Cameron. + +"The shingles? Ah, bay Jove! Rawthah! Funny thing, don't-che-naow," +chimed in a young fellow attired in rather emphasized cow-boy style, +"funny thing! A Johnnie--quite a strangah to me, don't-che-naow, was +riding pawst my place lawst week and mentioned about this--ah--raisin' +bee he called it I think, and in fact abaout the blawsted Indian, and +the fire, don't-che-naow, and all the rest of it, and how the chaps were +all chipping in as he said, logs and lumbah and so fowth. And then, bay +Jove, he happened to mention that they were rathah stumped for shingles, +don't-che-naow, and, funny thing, there chawnced to be behind my +stable a few bunches, and I was awfully glad to tu'n them ovah, and +this--eh--pehson--most extraordinary chap I assuah you--got 'em down +somehow." + +"Who was it inquired?" asked Cameron. + +"Don't naow him in the least. But it's the chap that seems to be bossing +the job." + +"Oh, that's Smith," said Cochrane. + +"Smith!" said Cameron, in great surprise. "I don't even know the man. He +was good enough to help my wife to beat back the fire. I don't believe I +even spoke to him. Who is he anyway?" + +"Oh, he's Thatcher's man." + +"Yes, but--" + +"Come away, Mr. Cameron," cried Mrs. Cochrane from the door of the new +house. "Come away in and look at the result of our bee." + +"This beats me," said Cameron, obeying the invitation, "but, say, +Dickson, it is mighty good of all these men. I have no claim--" + +"Claim?" said Mr. Cochrane. "It might have been any of us. We must stand +together in this country, and especially these days, eh, Inspector? +Things are gettin' serious." + +The Inspector nodded his head gravely. + +"Yes," he said. "But, Mr. Cochrane," he added in a low voice, "it is +very necessary that as little as possible should be said about these +things just now. No occasion for any excitement or fuss. The quieter +things are kept the better." + +"All right, Inspector, I understand, but--" + +"What do you think of your new house, Mr. Cameron?" cried Mrs. Cochrane. +"Come in. Now what do you think of this for three days' work?" + +"Oh, Allan, I have been all through it and it's perfectly wonderful," +said his wife. + +"Oh nothing very wonderful, Mrs. Cameron," said Cochrane, "but it will +do for a while." + +"Perfectly wonderful in its whole plan, and beautifully complete," +insisted Mandy. "See, a living-room, a lovely large one, two bedrooms +off it, and, look here, cupboards and closets, and a pantry, and--" here +she opened the door in the corner--"a perfectly lovely up-stairs! Not to +speak of the cook-house out at the back." + +"Wonderful is the word," said Cameron, "for why in all the world should +these people--?" + +"And look, Allan, at Moira! She's just lost in rapture over that +fireplace." + +"And I don't wonder," said her husband. "It is really fine. Whose idea +was it?" he continued, moving toward Moira's side, who was standing +before a large fireplace of beautiful masonry set in between the two +doors that led to the bedrooms at the far end of the living-room. + +"It was Andy Hepburn from Loon Lake that built it," said Mr. Cochrane. + +"I wish I could thank him," said Moira fervently. + +"Well, there he is outside the window, Miss Moira," said a young fellow +who was supposed to be busy putting up a molding round the wainscoting, +but who was in reality devoting himself to the young lady at the present +moment with open admiration. "Here, Andy," he cried through the window, +"you're wanted. Hurry up." + +"Oh, don't, Mr. Dent. What will he think?" + +A hairy little man, with a face dour and unmistakably Scotch, came in. + +"What's want-it, then?" he asked, with a deliberate sort of gruffness. + +"It's yourself, Andy, me boy," said young Dent, who, though Canadian +born, needed no announcement of his Irish ancestry. "It is yourself, +Andy, and this young lady, Miss Moira Cameron--Mr. Hepburn--" Andy made +reluctant acknowledgment of her smile and bow--"wants to thank you for +this fireplace." + +"It is very beautiful indeed, Mr. Hepburn, and very thankful I am to you +for building it." + +"Aw, it's no that bad," admitted Andy. "But ye need not thank me." + +"But you built it?" + +"Aye did I. But no o' ma ain wull. A fireplace is a feckless thing in +this country an' I think little o't." + +"Whose idea was it then?" + +"It was yon Smith buddie. He juist keepit dingin' awa' till A promised +if he got the lime--A kent o' nane in the country--A wud build the +thing." + +"And he got the lime, eh, Andy?" said Dent. + +"Aye, he got it," said Andy sourly. "Diel kens whaur." + +"But I am sure you did it beautifully, Mr. Hepburn," said Moira, moving +closer to him, "and it will be making me think of home." Her soft +Highland accent and the quaint Highland phrasing seemed to reach a soft +spot in the little Scot. + +"Hame? An' whaur's that?" he inquired, manifesting a grudging interest. + +"Where? Where but in the best of all lands, in Scotland," said Moira. +"Near Braemar." + +"Braemar?" + +"Aye, Braemar. I have only come four days ago." + +"Aye, an' did ye say, lassie!" said Andy, with a faint accession of +interest. "It's a bonny country ye've left behind, and far enough frae +here." + +"Far indeed," said Moira, letting her shining brown eyes rest upon his +face. "And it is myself that knows it. But when the fire burns yonder," +she added, pointing to the fireplace, "I will be seeing the hills and +the glens and the moors." + +"'Deed, then, lassie," said Andy in a low hurried voice, moving toward +the door, "A'm gled that Smith buddie gar't me build it." + +"Wait, Mr. Hepburn," said Moira, shyly holding out her hand, "don't you +think that Scotties in this far land should be friends?" + +"An' prood I'd be, Miss Cameron," replied Andy, and, seizing her hand, +he gave it a violent shake, flung it from him and fled through the door. + +"He's a cure, now, isn't he!" said Dent. + +"I think he is fine," said Moira with enthusiasm. "It takes a Scot to +understand a Scot, you see, and I am glad I know him. Do you know, he +is a little like the fireplace himself," she said, "rugged, a wee bit +rough, but fine." + +"The real stuff, eh?" said Dent. "The pure quill." + +"Yes, that is it. Solid and steadfast, with no pretense." + +Meanwhile the work of inspecting the new house was going on. Everywhere +appeared fresh cause for delighted wonder, but still the origin of the +raising bee remained a mystery. + +Balked by the men, Cameron turned in his search to the women and +proceeded to the tent where preparations were being made for the supper. + +"Tut tut, Mr. Cameron," said Mrs. Cochrane, her broad good-natured face +beaming with health and good humor, "what difference does it make? +Your neighbors are only too glad of a chance to show their goodwill for +yourself, and more for your wife." + +"I am sure you are right there," said Cameron. + +"And it is the way of the country. We must stick together, John says. +It's your turn to-day, it may be ours to-morrow and that's all there +is to it. So clear out of this tent and make yourself busy. By the way, +where's the pipes? The folk will soon be asking for a tune." + +"But I want to know, Mrs. Cochrane," persisted Cameron. + +"Where's the pipes, I'm saying. John," she cried, lifting her voice, to +her husband, who was standing at the other side of the house. "Where's +the pipes? They're not burned, I hope," she continued, turning to +Cameron. "The whole settlement would feel that a loss." + +"Fortunately no. Young Macgregor at the Fort has them." + +"Then I wonder if they are here. John, find out from the Inspector +yonder where the pipes are. We will be wanting them this evening." + +To her husband's inquiry the Inspector replied that if Macgregor ever +had the pipes it was a moral certainty that he had carried them with him +to the raising, "for it is my firm belief," he added, "that he sleeps +with them." + +"Do go and see now, like a dear man," said Mrs. Cochrane to Cameron. + +From group to group of the workers Cameron went, exchanging greetings, +but persistently seeking to discover the originator of the raising +bee. But all in vain, and in despair he came back to his wife with the +question "Who is this Smith, anyway?" + +"Mr. Smith," she said with deliberate emphasis, "is my friend, my +particular friend. I found him a friend when I needed one badly." + +"Yes, but who is he?" inquired Moira, who, with Mr. Dent in attendance, +had sauntered up. "Who is he, Mr. Dent? Do you know?" + +"No, not from Adam's mule. He's old Thatcher's man. That's all I know +about him." + +"He is Mr. Thatcher's man? Oh!" said Moira, "Mr. Thatcher's servant." A +subtle note of disappointment sounded in her voice. + +"Servant, Moira?" said Allan in a shocked tone. "Wipe out the thought. +There is no such thing as servant west of the Great Lakes in this +country. A man may help me with my work for a consideration, but he is +no servant of mine as you understand the term, for he considers himself +just as good as I am and he may be considerably better." + +"Oh, Allan," protested his sister with flushing face, "I know. I know +all that, but you know what I mean." + +"Yes, I know perfectly," said her brother, "for I had the same notion. +For instance, for six months I was a 'servant' in Mandy's home, eh, +Mandy?" + +"Nonsense!" cried Mandy indignantly. "You were our hired man and just +like the rest of us." + +"Do you get that distinction, Moira? There is no such thing as servant +in this country," continued Cameron. "We are all the same socially and +stand to help each other. Rather a fine idea that." + +"Yes, fine," cried Moira, "but--" and she paused, her face still +flushed. + +"Who's Smith? is the great question," interjected Dent. "Well, then, +Miss Cameron, between you and me we don't ask that question in this +country. Smith is Smith and Jones is Jones and that's the first and last +of it. We all let it go at that." + +But now the last row of shingles was in place, the last door hung, the +last door-knob set. The whole house stood complete, inside and out, top +and bottom, when a tattoo beat upon a dish pan gave the summons to the +supper table. The table was spread in all its luxurious variety and +abundance beneath the poplar trees. There the people gathered all upon +the basis of pure democratic equality, "Duke's son and cook's son," each +estimated at such worth as could be demonstrated was in him. Fictitious +standards of values were ignored. Every man was given his fair +opportunity to show his stuff and according to his showing was his place +in the community. A generous good fellowship and friendly good-will +toward the new-comer pervaded the company, but with all this a kind of +reserve marked the intercourse of these men with each other. Men were +taken on trial at face value and no questions asked. + +This evening, however, the dominant note was one of generous and +enthusiastic sympathy with the young rancher and his wife, who had come +so lately among them and who had been made the unfortunate victim of +a sinister and threatening foe, hitherto, it is true, regarded with +indifference or with friendly pity but lately assuming an ominous +importance. There was underneath the gay hilarity of the gathering an +undertone of apprehension until the Inspector made his speech. It was +short and went straight at the mark. There was danger, he acknowledged. +It would be idle to ignore that there were ugly rumors flying. There was +need for watchfulness, but there was no need for alarm. The Police Force +was charged with the responsibility of protecting the lives and property +of the people. They assumed to the full this responsibility, though they +were very short-handed at present, but if they ever felt they needed +assistance they knew they could rely upon the steady courage of the men +of the district such as he saw before him. + +There was need of no further words and the Inspector's speech passed +with no response. It was not after the manner of these men to make +demonstration either of their loyalty or of their courage. + +Cameron's speech at the last came haltingly. On the one hand his +Highland pride made it difficult for him to accept gifts from any source +whatever. On the other hand his Highland courtesy forbade his giving +offense to those who were at once his hosts and his guests, but none +suspected the reason for the halting in his speech. As Western men they +rather approved than otherwise the hesitation and reserve that marked +his words. + +Before they rose from the supper table, however, there were calls for +Mrs. Cameron, calls so insistent and clamorous that, overcoming her +embarrassment, she made reply. "We have not yet found out who was +responsible for the originating of this great kindness. But no matter. +We forgive him, for otherwise my husband and I would never have come to +know how rich we are in true friends and kind neighbors, and now that +you have built this house let me say that henceforth by day or by night +you are welcome to it, for it is yours." + +After the storm of applause had died down, a voice was heard gruffly and +somewhat anxiously protesting, "But not all at one time." + +"Who was that?" asked Mandy of young Dent as the supper party broke up. + +"That's Smith," said Dent, "and he's a queer one." + +"Smith?" said Cameron. "The chap meets us everywhere. I must look him +up." + +But there was a universal and insistent demand for "the pipes." + +"You look him up, Mandy," cried her husband as he departed in response +to the call. + +"I shall find him, and all about him," said Mandy with determination. + +The next two hours were spent in dancing to Cameron's reels, in which +all, with more or less grace, took part till the piper declared he was +clean done. + +"Let Macgregor have the pipes, Cameron," cried the Inspector. "He is +longing for a chance, I am sure, and you give us the Highland Fling." + +"Come Moira," cried Cameron gaily, handing the pipes to Macgregor and, +taking his sister by the hand, he led her out into the intricacies of +the Highland Reel, while the sides of the living-room, the doors and +the windows, were thronged with admiring onlookers. Even Andy Hepburn's +rugged face lost something of its dourness; and as the brother and +sister together did that most famous of all the ancient dances of +Scotland, the Highland Fling, his face relaxed into a broad smile. + +"There's Smith," said young Dent to Mandy in a low voice as the reel was +drawing to a close. + +"Where?" she cried. "I have been looking for him everywhere." + +"There, at the window, outside." + +Even in the dim light of the lanterns and candles hung here and there +upon the walls and stuck on the window sills, Smith's face, pale, stern, +sad, shone like a specter out of the darkness behind. + +"What's the matter with the man?" cried Mandy. "I must find out." + +Suddenly the reel came to an end and Cameron, taking the pipes from +young Macgregor, cried, "Now, Moira, we will give them our way of it," +and, tuning the pipes anew, he played over once and again their own Glen +March, known only to the piper of the Cuagh Oir. Then with cunning +skill making atmosphere, he dropped into a wild and weird lament, Moira +standing the while like one seeing a vision. With a swift change the +pipes shrilled into the true Highland version of the ancient reel, +enriched with grace notes and variations all his own. For a few moments +the girl stood as if unwilling to yield herself to the invitation of the +pipes. Suddenly, as if moved by another spirit than her own, she stepped +into the circle and whirled away into the mazes of the ancient style of +the Highland Fling, such as is mastered by comparatively few even of the +Highland folk. With wonderful grace and supple strength she passed from +figure to figure and from step to step, responding to the wild mad music +as to a master spirit. + +In the midst of the dance Mandy made her way out of the house and round +to the window where Smith stood gazing in upon the dancer. She quietly +approached him from behind and for a few moments stood at his side. He +was breathing heavily like a man in pain. + +"What is it, Mr. Smith?" she said, touching him gently on the shoulder. + +He sprang from her touch as from a stab and darted back from the crowd +about the window. + +"What is it, Mr. Smith?" she said again, following him. "You are not +well. You are in pain." + +He stood a moment or two gazing at her with staring eyes and parted +lips, pain, grief and even rage distorting his pale face. + +"It is wicked," at length he panted. "It is just terrible wicked--a +young girl like that." + +"Wicked? Who? What?" + +"That--that girl--dancing like that." + +"Dancing? That kind of dancing?" cried Mandy, astonished. "I was brought +up a Methodist myself," she continued, "but that kind of dancing--why, I +love it." + +"It is of the devil. I am a Methodist--a preacher--but I could not +preach, so I quit. But that is of the world, the flesh, and the devil +and--and I have not the courage to denounce it. She is--God help +me--so--so wonderful--so wonderful." + +"But, Mr. Smith," said Mandy, laying her hand upon his arm, and seeking +to sooth his passion, "surely this dancing is--" + +Loud cheers and clapping of hands from the house interrupted her. The +man put his hands over his eyes as if to shut out a horrid vision, +shuddered violently, and with a weird sound broke from her touch and +fled into the bluff behind the house just as the party came streaming +from the house preparatory to departing. It seemed to Mandy as if she +had caught a glimpse of the inner chambers of a soul and had seen things +too sacred to be uttered. + +Among the last to leave were young Dent and the Inspector. + +"We have found out the culprit," cried Dent, as he was saying +good-night. + +"The culprit?" said Mandy. "What do you mean?" + +"The fellow who has engineered this whole business." + +"Who is it?" said Cameron. + +"Why, listen," said Dent. "Who got the logs from Bracken? Smith. Who +got the Inspector to send men through the settlement? Smith. Who got the +lumber out of the same Inspector? Smith. And the sash and doors out of +Cochrane? Smith. And wiggled the shingles out of Newsome? And euchred +old Scotty Hepburn into building the fireplace? And planned and bossed +the whole job? Who? Smith. This whole business is Smith's work." + +"And where is Smith? Have you seen him, Mandy? We have not thanked him," +said Cameron. + +"He is gone, I think," said Mandy. "He left some time ago. We shall +thank him later. But I am sure we owe a great deal to you, Inspector +Dickson, to you, Mr. Dent, and indeed to all our friends," she added, as +she bade them good-night. + +For some moments they lingered in the moonlight. + +"To think that this is Smith's work!" said Cameron, waving his hand +toward the house. "That queer chap! One thing I have learned, never to +judge a man by his legs again." + +"He is a fine fellow," said Mandy indignantly, "and with a fine soul in +spite of--" + +"His wobbly legs," said her husband smiling. + +"It's a shame, Allan. What difference does it make what kind of legs a +man has?" + +"Very true," replied her husband smiling, "and if you knew your Bible +better, Mandy, you would have found excellent authority for your +position in the words of the psalmist, 'The Lord taketh no pleasure in +the legs of a man.' But, say, it is a joke," he added, "to think of this +being Smith's work." + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN THE SUN DANCE CANYON + + +But they were not yet done with Smith, for as they turned to pass into +the house a series of shrill cries from the bluff behind pierced the +stillness of the night. + +"Help! Help! Murder! Help! I've got him! Help! I've got him!" + +Shaking off the clutching hands of his wife and sister, Cameron darted +into the bluff and found two figures frantically struggling upon the +ground. The moonlight trickling through the branches revealed the man +on top to be an Indian with a knife in his hand, but he was held in such +close embrace that he could not strike. + +"Hold up!" cried Cameron, seizing the Indian by the wrist. "Stop that! +Let him go!" he cried to the man below. "I've got him safe enough. Let +him go! Let him go, I tell you! Now, then, get up! Get up, both of you!" + +The under man released his grip, allowed the Indian to rise and got +himself to his feet. + +"Come out into the light!" said Cameron sharply, leading the Indian +out of the bluff, followed by the other, still panting. Here they were +joined by the ladies. "Now, then, what the deuce is all this row?" +inquired Cameron. + +"Why, it's Mr. Smith!" cried Mandy. + +"Smith again! More of Smith's work, eh? Well, this beats me," said her +husband. For some moments Cameron stood surveying the group, the Indian +silent and immobile as one of the poplar trees beside him, the ladies +with faces white, Smith disheveled in garb, pale and panting and +evidently under great excitement. Cameron burst into a loud laugh. +Smith's pale face flushed a swift red, visible even in the moonlight, +then grew pale again, his excited panting ceased as he became quiet. + +"Now what is the row?" asked Cameron again. "What is it, Smith?" + +"I found this Indian in the bush here and I seized him. I thought--he +might--do something." + +"Do something?" + +"Yes--some mischief--to some of you." + +"What? You found this Indian in the bluff here and you just jumped on +him? You might better have jumped on a wild cat. Are you used to this +sort of thing? Do you know the ways of these people?" + +"I never saw an Indian before." + +"Good Heavens, man! He might have killed you. And he would have in two +minutes more." + +"He might have killed--some of you," said Smith. + +Cameron laughed again. + +"Now what were you doing in the bluff?" he said sharply, turning to the +Indian. + +"Chief Trotting Wolf," said the Indian in the low undertone common to +his people, "Chief Trotting Wolf want you' squaw--boy seeck bad--leg +beeg beeg. Boy go die. Come." He turned to Mandy and repeated +"Come--queeek--queeek." + +"Why didn't you come earlier?" said Cameron sharply. "It is too late +now. We are going to sleep." + +"Me come dis." He lowered his hand toward the ground. "Too much mans--no +like--Indian wait all go 'way--dis man much beeg fight--no good. Come +queeek--boy go die." + +Already Mandy had made up her mind. + +"Let us hurry, Allan," she said. + +"You can't go to-night," he replied. "You are dead tired. Wait till +morning." + +"No, no, we must go." She turned into the house, followed by her +husband, and began to rummage in her bag. "Lucky thing I got these +supplies in town," she said, hastily putting together her nurse's +equipment and some simple remedies. "I wonder if that boy has fever. +Bring that Indian in." + +"Have you had the doctor?" she inquired, when he appeared. + +"Huh! Doctor want cut off leg--dis," his action was sufficiently +suggestive. "Boy say no." + +"Has the boy any fever? Does he talk-talk-talk?" The Indian nodded his +head vigorously. + +"Talk much--all day--all night." + +"He is evidently in a high fever," said Mandy to her husband. "We must +try to check that. Now, my dear, you hurry and get the horses." + +"But what shall we do with Moira?" said Cameron suddenly. + +"Why," cried Moira, "let me go with you. I should love to go." + +But this did not meet with Cameron's approval. + +"I can stay here," suggested Smith hesitatingly, "or Miss Cameron can go +over with me to the Thatchers'." + +"That is better," said Cameron shortly. "We can drop her at the +Thatchers' as we pass." + +In half an hour Cameron returned with the horses and the party proceeded +on their way. + +At the Piegan Reserve they were met by Chief Trotting Wolf himself and, +without more than a single word of greeting, were led to the tent in +which the sick boy lay. Beside him sat the old squaw in a corner of the +tent, crooning a weird song as she swayed to and fro. The sick boy lay +on a couch of skins, his eyes shining with fever, his foot festering +and in a state of indescribable filth and his whole condition one of +unspeakable wretchedness. Cameron found his gorge rise at the sight of +the gangrenous ankle. + +"This is a horrid business, Mandy," he exclaimed. "This is not for you. +Let us send for the doctor. That foot will surely have to come off. +Don't mess with it. Let us have the doctor." + +But his wife, from the moment of her first sight of the wounded foot, +forgot all but her mission of help. + +"We must have a clean tent, Allan," she said, "and plenty of hot water. +Get the hot water first." + +Cameron turned to the Chief and said, "Hot water, quick!" + +"Huh--good," replied the Chief, and in a few moments returned with a +small pail of luke-warm water. + +"Oh," cried Mandy, "it must be hot and we must have lots of it." + +"Hot," cried Cameron to the Chief. "Big pail--hot--hot." + +"Huh," grunted the Chief a second time with growing intelligence, and +in an incredibly short space returned with water sufficiently hot and in +sufficient quantity. + +All unconscious of the admiring eyes that followed the swift and skilled +movements of her capable hands, Mandy worked over the festering and +fevered wound till, cleansed, soothed, wrapped in a cooling lotion, the +limb rested easily upon a sling of birch bark and skins suggested and +prepared by the Chief. Then for the first time the boy made a sound. + +"Huh," he grunted feebly. "Doctor--no good. Squaw--heap good. Me two +foot--live--one foot--" he held up one finger--"die." His eyes were +shining with something other than the fever that drove the blood racing +through his veins. As a dog's eyes follow every movement of his master +so the lad's eyes, eloquent with adoring gratitude, followed his nurse +as she moved about the wigwam. + +"Now we must get that clean tent, Allan." + +"All right," said her husband. "It will be no easy job, but we shall do +our best. Here, Chief," he cried, "get some of your young men to pitch +another tent in a clean place." + +The Chief, eager though he was to assist, hesitated. + +"No young men," he said. "Get squaw," and departed abruptly. + +"No young men, eh?" said Cameron to his wife. "Where are they, then? I +notice there are no bucks around." + +And so while the squaws were pitching a tent in a spot somewhat removed +from the encampment, Cameron poked about among the tents and wigwams of +which the Indian encampment consisted, but found for the most part +only squaws and children and old men. He came back to his wife greatly +disturbed. + +"The young bucks are gone, Mandy. I must get after this thing quickly. I +wish I had Jerry here. Let's see? You ask for a messenger to be sent +to the fort for the doctor and medicine. I shall enclose a note to the +Inspector. We want the doctor here as soon as possible and we want Jerry +here at the earliest possible moment." + +With a great show of urgency a messenger was requisitioned and +dispatched, carrying a note from Cameron to the Commissioner requesting +the presence of the doctor with his medicine bag, but also requesting +that Jerry, the redoubtable half-breed interpreter and scout, with +a couple of constables, should accompany the doctor, the constables, +however, to wait outside the camp until summoned. + +During the hours that must elapse before any answer could be had from +the fort, Cameron prepared a couch in a corner of the sick boy's tent +for his wife, and, rolling himself in his blanket, he laid himself +down at the door outside where, wearied with the long day and its many +exciting events, he slept without turning, till shortly after daybreak +he was awakened by a chorus of yelping curs which heralded the arrival +of the doctor from the fort with the interpreter Jerry in attendance. + +After breakfast, prepared by Jerry with dispatch and skill, the product +of long experience, there was a thorough examination of the sick boy's +condition through the interpreter, upon the conclusion of which a long +consultation followed between the doctor, Cameron and Mandy. It was +finally decided that the doctor should remain with Mandy in the Indian +camp until a change should become apparent in the condition of the boy, +and that Cameron with the interpreter should pick up the two constables +and follow in the trail of the young Piegan braves. In order to allay +suspicion Cameron and his companion left the camp by the trail which led +toward the fort. For four miles or so they rode smartly until the trail +passed into a thick timber of spruce mixed with poplar. Here Cameron +paused, and, making a slight sign in the direction from which they had +come, he said: + +"Drop back, Jerry, and see if any Indian is following." + +"Good," grunted Jerry. "Go slow one mile," and, slipping from his +pony, he handed the reins to Cameron and faded like a shadow into the +brushwood. + +For a mile Cameron rode, pausing now and then to listen for the sound of +anyone following, then drew rein and waited for his companion. After a +few minutes of eager listening he suddenly sat back in his saddle and +felt for his pipe. + +"All right, Jerry," he said softly, "come out." + +Grinning somewhat shamefacedly Jerry parted a bunch of spruce boughs and +stood at Cameron's side. + +"Good ears," he said, glancing up into Cameron's face. + +"No, Jerry," replied Cameron, "I saw the blue-jay." + +"Huh," grunted Jerry, "dat fool bird tell everyt'ing." + +"Any Indian following?" + +Jerry held up two fingers. + +"Two Indian run tree mile--find notting--go back." + +"Good! Where are our men?" + +"Down Coulee Swampy Creek." + +"All right, Jerry. Any news at the fort last two or three days?" + +"Beeg meetin' St. Laurent. Much half-breed. Some Indian too. Louis Riel +mak beeg spik--beeg noise--blood! blood! blood! Much beeg fool." +Jerry's tone indicated the completeness of his contempt for the whole +proceedings at St. Laurent. + +"Something doing, eh, Jerry?" + +"Bah!" grunted Jerry contemptuously. + +"Well, there's something doing here," continued Cameron. "Trotting +Wolf's young men have left the reserve and Trotting Wolf is very +anxious that we should not know it. I want you to go back, find out what +direction they have taken, how far ahead they are, how many. We camp +to-night at the Big Rock at the entrance to the Sun Dance Canyon. You +remember?" + +Jerry nodded. + +"There's something doing, Jerry, or I am much mistaken. Got any grub?" + +"Grub?" asked Jerry. "Me--here--t'ree day," tapping his rolled blanket +at the back of his saddle. "Odder fellers--grub--Jakes--t'ree men--t'ree +day. Come Beeg Rock to-night--mebbe to-morrow." So saying, Jerry climbed +on to his pony and took the back trail, while Cameron went forward to +meet his men at the Swampy Creek Coulee. + +Making a somewhat wide detour to avoid the approaches to the Indian +encampment, Cameron and his two men rode for the Big Rock at the +entrance to the Sun Dance Canyon. They gave themselves no concern about +Trotting Wolf's band of young men. They knew well that what Jerry could +not discover would not be worth finding out. A year's close association +with Jerry had taught Cameron something of the marvelous powers of +observation, of the tenacity and courage possessed by the little +half-breed that made him the keenest scout in the North West Mounted +Police. + +At the Big Rock they arrived late in the afternoon and there waited +for Jerry's appearing; but night had fallen and had broken into morning +before the scout came into camp with a single word of report: + +"Notting." + +"No Piegans?" exclaimed Cameron. + +"No--not dis side Blood Reserve." + +"Eat something, Jerry, then we will talk," said Cameron. + +Jerry had already broken his fast, but was ready for more. After the +meal was finished he made his report. His report was clear and concise. +On leaving Cameron in the morning he had taken the most likely direction +to discover traces of the Piegan band, namely that suggested by Cameron, +and, fetching a wide circle, had ridden toward the mountains, but he +had come upon no sign. Then he had penetrated into the canyon and ridden +down toward the entrance, but still had found no trace. He had then +ridden backward toward the Piegan Reserve and, picking up a trail of one +or two ponies, had followed it till he found it broaden into that of a +considerable band making eastward. Then he knew he had found the trail +he wanted. + +"How many, Jerry?" asked Cameron. + +The half-breed held up both hands three times. + +"Mebbe more." + +"Thirty or forty?" exclaimed Cameron. "Any Squaws? + +"No." + +"Hunting-expedition?" + +"No." + +"Where were they going?" + +"Blood Reserve t'ink--dunno." + +Cameron sat smoking in silence. He was completely at a loss. + +"Why go to the Bloods?" he asked of Jerry. + +"Dunno." + +Jerry was not strong in his constructive faculty. His powers were those +of observation. + +"There is no sense in them going to the Blood Reserve, Jerry," said +Cameron impatiently. "The Bloods are a pack of thieves, we know, but our +people are keeping a close watch on them." + +Jerry grunted acquiescence. + +"There is no big Indian camping ground on the Blood Reserve. You +wouldn't get the Blackfeet to go to any pow-wow there." + +Again Jerry grunted. + +"How far did you follow their trail, Jerry?" + +"Two--t'ree mile." + +Cameron sat long and smoked. The thing was extremely puzzling. It seemed +unlikely that if the Piegan band were going to a rendezvous of Indians +they should select a district so closely under the inspection of the +Police. Furthermore there was no great prestige attaching to the Bloods +to make their reserve a place of meeting. + +"Jerry," said Cameron at length, "I believe they are up this Sun Dance +Canyon somewhere." + +"No," said Jerry decisively. "No sign--come down mesef." His tone was +that of finality. + +"I believe, Jerry, they doubled back and came in from the north end +after you had left. I feel sure they are up there now and we will go and +find them." + +Jerry sat silent, smoking thoughtfully. Finally he took his pipe from +his mouth, pressed the tobacco hard down with his horny middle finger +and stuck it in his pocket. + +"Mebbe so," he said slowly, a slight grin distorting his wizened little +face, "mebbe so, but t'ink not--me." + +"Well, Jerry, where could they have gone? They might ride straight +to Crowfoot's Reserve, but I think that is extremely unlikely. They +certainly would not go to the Bloods, therefore they must be up this +canyon. We will go up, Jerry, for ten miles or so and see what we can +see." + +"Good," said Jerry with a grunt, his tone conveying his conviction that +where the chief scout of the North West Mounted Police had said it was +useless to search, any other man searching would have nothing but his +folly for his pains. + +"Have a sleep first, Jerry. We need not start for a couple of hours." + +Jerry grunted his usual reply, rolled himself in his blanket and, lying +down at the back of a rock, was asleep in a minute's time. + +In two hours to the minute he stood beside his pony waiting for Cameron, +who had been explaining his plan to the two constables and giving them +his final orders. + +The orders were very brief and simple. They were to wait where they were +till noon. If any of the band of Piegans appeared one of the men was +to ride up the canyon with the information, the other was to follow +the band till they camped and then ride back till he should meet his +comrades. They divided up the grub into two parts and Cameron and the +interpreter took their way up the canyon. + +The canyon consisted of a deep cleft across a series of ranges of hills +or low mountains. Through it ran a rough breakneck trail once used by +the Indians and trappers but now abandoned since the building of the +Canadian Pacific Railway through the Kicking Horse Pass and the opening +of the Government trail through the Crow's Nest. From this which had +once been the main trail other trails led westward into the Kootenays +and eastward into the Foothill country. At times the canyon widened into +a valley, rich in grazing and in streams of water, again it narrowed +into a gorge, deep and black, with rugged sides above which only the +blue sky was visible, and from which led cavernous passages that wound +into the heart of the mountains, some of them large enough to hold a +hundred men or more without crowding. These caverns had been and +still were found to be most convenient and useful for the purpose of +whisky-runners and of cattle-rustlers, affording safe hiding-places for +themselves and their spoil. With this trail and all its ramifications +Jerry was thoroughly familiar. The only other man in the Force who +knew it better than Jerry was Cameron himself. For many months he had +patroled the main trail and all its cross leaders, lived in its caves +and explored its caverns in pursuit of those interesting gentlemen whose +activities more than anything else had rendered necessary the existence +of the North West Mounted Police. In ancient times the caves along the +Sun Dance Trail had been used by the Indian Medicine-Men for their pagan +rites, and hence in the eyes of the Indians to these caves attached a +dreadful reverence that made them places to be avoided in recent years +by the various tribes now gathered on the reserves. But during these +last months of unrest it was suspected by the Police that the ancient +uses of these caves had been revived and that the rites long since +fallen into desuetude were once more being practised. + +For the first few miles of the canyon the trail offered good footing +and easy going, but as the gorge deepened and narrowed the difficulties +increased until riding became impossible, and only by the most strenuous +efforts on the part of both men and beasts could any advance be made. +And so through the day and into the late evening they toiled on, ever +alert for sight or sound of the Piegan band. At length Cameron broke the +silence. + +"We must camp, Jerry," he said. "We are making no time and we may spoil +things. I know a good camp-ground near by." + +"Me too," grunted Jerry, who was as tired as his wiry frame ever allowed +him to become. + +They took a trail leading eastward, which to all eyes but those familiar +with it would have been invisible, for a hundred yards or so and came +to the bed of a dry stream which issued from between two great rocks. +Behind one of these rocks there opened out a grassy plot a few yards +square, and beyond the grass a little lifted platform of rock against a +sheer cliff. Here they camped, picketing their horses on the grass and +cooking their supper upon the platform of rock over a tiny fire of dry +twigs, for the wind was blowing down the canyon and they knew that they +could cook their meal and have their smoke without fear of detection. +For some time after supper they sat smoking in that absolute silence +which is the characteristic of the true man of the woods. The gentle +breeze blowing down the canyon brought to their ears the rustling of +the dry poplar-leaves and the faint murmur of the stream which, tumbling +down the canyon, accompanied the main trail a hundred yards away. + +Suddenly Cameron's hand fell upon the knee of the half-breed with a +swift grip. + +"Listen!" he said, bending forward. + +With mouths slightly open and with hands to their ears they both sat +motionless, breathless, every nerve on strain. Gradually the dead +silence seemed to resolve itself into rhythmic waves of motion rather +than of sound--"TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM. TUM-ta-ta-TUM." It was +the throb of the Indian medicine-drum, which once heard can never be +forgotten or mistaken. Without a word to each other they rose, doused +their fire, cached their saddles, blankets and grub, and, taking only +their revolvers, set off up the canyon. Before they had gone many yards +Cameron halted. + +"What do you think, Jerry?" he said. "I take it they have come in the +back way over the old Porcupine Trail." + +Jerry grunted approval of the suggestion. + +"Then we can go in from the canyon. It is hard going, but there is less +fear of detection. They are sure to be in the Big Wigwam." + +Jerry shook his head, with a puzzled look on his face. + +"Dunno me." + +"That is where they are," said Cameron. "Come on! Only two miles from +here." + +Steadily the throb of the medicine-drum grew more distinct as they moved +slowly up the canyon, rising and falling upon the breeze that came down +through the darkness to meet them. The trail, which was bad enough in +the light, became exceedingly dangerous and difficult in the blackness +of the night. On they struggled painfully, now clinging to the sides of +the gorge, now mounting up over a hill and again descending to the level +of the foaming stream. + +"Will they have sentries out, I wonder?" whispered Cameron in Jerry's +ear. + +"No--beeg medicine going on--no sentry." + +"All right, then, we will walk straight in on them." + +"What you do?" inquired Jerry. + +"We will see what they are doing and send them about their business," +said Cameron shortly. + +"No," said Jerry firmly. "S'pose Indian mak beeg medicine--bes' leave +him go till morning." + +"Well, Jerry, we will take a look at them at any rate," said Cameron. +"But if they are fooling around with any rebellion nonsense I am going +to step in and stop it." + +"No," said Jerry again very gravely. "Beeg medicine mak' Indian man +crazy--fool--dance--sing--mak' brave--then keel--queeck!" + +"Come along, then, Jerry," said Cameron impatiently. And on they went. +The throb of the drum grew clearer until it seemed that the next turn in +the trail should reveal the camp, while with the drum throb they began +to catch, at first faintly and then more clearly, the monotonous chant +"Hai-yai-kai-yai, Hai-yai-kai-yai," that ever accompanies the Indian +dance. Suddenly the drums ceased altogether and with it the chanting, +and then there arose upon the night silence a low moaning cry that +gradually rose into a long-drawn penetrating wail, almost a scream, made +by a single voice. + +Jerry's hand caught Cameron's arm with a convulsive grip. + +"What the deuce is that?" asked Cameron. + +"Sioux Indian--he mak' dat when he go keel." + +Once more the long weird wailing scream pierced the night and, echoing +down the canyon, was repeated a hundred times by the black rocky sides. +Cameron could feel Jerry's hand still quivering on his arm. + +"What's up with you, Jerry?" said Cameron impatiently. + +"Me hear dat when A'm small boy--me." + +Then Cameron remembered that it was Sioux blood that the +life-stream in Jerry's veins. + +"Oh, pshaw!" said Cameron with gruff impatience. "Come on!" But he was +more shaken than he cared to acknowledge by that weird unearthly cry +and by its all too obvious effect upon the iron nerves of that little +half-breed at his side. + +"Dey mak' dat cry when dey go meet Custer long 'go," said Jerry, making +no motion to go forward. + +"What are you waiting for?" said Cameron harshly. "Come along, unless +you want to go back." + +His words stung the half-breed into action. Cameron could feel him in +the dark jerk his hand away and hear him grit his teeth. + +"Bah! You go hell!" he muttered between his clenched teeth. + +"That is better," said Cameron cheerfully. "Now we will look in upon +these fire-eaters." + +Sharp to the right they turned behind a cliff, and then back almost upon +their trail, still to the right, through a screen of spruce and poplar, +and found themselves in a hole of a rock that lengthened into a tunnel +blacker than the night outside. Pursuing this tunnel some little +distance they became aware of a light that grew as they moved toward +it into a fire set in the middle of a wide cavern. The cavern was of +irregular shape, with high-vaulted roof, open to the sky at the apex and +hung with glistening stalactites. The floor of this cavern lay slightly +below them, and from their position they could command a full view of +its interior. + +The sides of the cavern round about were crowded with tawny faces of +Indians arranged rank upon rank, the first row seated upon the ground, +those behind crouching upon their haunches, those still farther back +standing. In the center of the cavern and with his face lit by the fire +stood the Sioux Chief, Onawata. + +"Copperhead! By all that's holy!" cried Cameron. + +"Onawata!" exclaimed the half-breed. "What he mak' here?" + +"What is he saying, Jerry? Tell me everything--quick!" commanded Cameron +sharply. + +Jerry was listening with eager face. + +"He mak' beeg spik," he said. + +"Go on!" + +"He say Indian long tam' 'go have all country when his fadder small boy. +Dem day good hunting--plenty beaver, mink, moose, buffalo like leaf on +tree, plenty hit (eat), warm wigwam, Indian no seeck, notting wrong. Dem +day Indian lak' deer go every place. Dem day Indian man lak' bear 'fraid +notting. Good tam', happy, hunt deer, keel buffalo, hit all day. Ah-h-h! +ah-h-h!" The half-breed's voice faded in two long gasps. + +The Sioux's chanting voice rose and fell through the vaulted cavern like +a mighty instrument of music. His audience of crowding Indians gazed +in solemn rapt awe upon him. A spell held them fixed. The whole circle +swayed in unison with his swaying form as he chanted the departed +glories of those happy days when the red man roamed free those plains +and woods, lord of his destiny and subject only to his own will. The +mystic magic power of that rich resonant voice, its rhythmic cadence +emphasized by the soft throbbing of the drum, the uplifted face glowing +as with prophetic fire, the tall swaying form instinct with exalted +emotion, swept the souls of his hearers with surging tides of passion. +Cameron, though he caught but little of its meaning, felt himself +irresistibly borne along upon the torrent of the flowing words. He +glanced at Jerry beside him and was startled by the intense emotion +showing upon his little wizened face. + +Suddenly there was a swift change of motif, and with it a change of +tone and movement and color. The marching, vibrant, triumphant chant +of freedom and of conquest subsided again into the long-drawn wail of +defeat, gloom and despair. Cameron needed no interpreter. He knew the +singer was telling the pathetic story of the passing of the day of the +Indian's glory and the advent of the day of his humiliation. With sharp +rising inflections, with staccato phrasing and with fierce passionate +intonation, the Sioux wrung the hearts of his hearers. Again Cameron +glanced at the half-breed at his side and again he was startled to note +the transformation in his face. Where there had been glowing pride there +was now bitter savage hate. For that hour at least the half-breed was +all Sioux. His father's blood was the water in his veins, the red was +only his Indian mother's. With face drawn tense and lips bared into +a snarl, with eyes gleaming, he gazed fascinated upon the face of the +singer. In imagination, in instinct, in the deepest emotions of his soul +Jerry was harking back again to the savage in him, and the savage in him +thirsting for revenge upon the white man who had wrought this ruin upon +him and his Indian race. With a fine dramatic instinct the Sioux reached +his climax and abruptly ceased. A low moaning murmur ran round the +circle and swelled into a sobbing cry, then ceased as suddenly as there +stepped into the circle a stranger, evidently a half-breed, who began to +speak. He was a French Cree, he announced, and delivered his message in +the speech, half Cree, half French, affected by his race. + +He had come fresh from the North country, from the disturbed district, +and bore, as it appeared, news of the very first importance from those +who were the leaders of his people in the unrest. At his very first +word Jerry drew a long deep breath and by his face appeared to drop from +heaven to earth. As the half-breed proceeded with his tale his speech +increased in rapidity. + +"What is he saying, Jerry?" said Cameron after they had listened for +some minutes. + +"Oh he beeg damfool!" said Jerry, whose vocabulary had been learned +mostly by association with freighters and the Police. "He tell 'bout +beeg meeting, beeg man Louis Riel mak' beeg noise. Bah! Beeg damfool!" +The whole scene had lost for Jerry its mystic impressiveness and had +become contemptibly commonplace. But not so to Cameron. This was the +part that held meaning for him. So he pulled up the half-breed with a +quick, sharp command. + +"Listen close," he said, "and let me know what he says." + +And as Jerry interpreted in his broken English the half-breed's speech +it appeared that there was something worth learning. At this big +meeting held in Batoche it seemed a petition of rights, to the Dominion +Parliament no less, had been drawn up, and besides this many plans had +been formed and many promises made of reward for all those who dared to +stand for their rights under the leadership of the great Riel, while +for the Indians very special arrangements had been made and the most +alluring prospects held out. For they were assured that, when in the far +North country the new Government was set up, the old free independent +life of which they had been hearing was to be restored, all hampering +restrictions imposed by the white man were to be removed, and the +good old days were to be brought back. The effect upon the Indians was +plainly evident. With solemn faces they listened, nodding now and +then grave approval, and Cameron felt that the whole situation held +possibilities of horror unspeakable in the revival of that ancient +savage spirit which had been so very materially softened and tamed +by years of kindly, patient and firm control on the part of those +who represented among them British law and civilization. His original +intention had been to stride in among these Indians, to put a stop to +their savage nonsense and order them back to their reserves with never a +thought of anything but obedience on their part. But as he glanced about +upon the circle of faces he hesitated. This was no petty outbreak of +ill temper on the part of a number of Indians dissatisfied with their +rations or chafing under some new Police regulation. As his eye traveled +round the circle he noted that for the most part they were young men. +A few of the councilors of the various tribes represented were present. +Many of them he knew, but many others he could not distinguish in the +dim light of the fire. + +"Who are those Indians, Jerry?" he asked. + +And as Jerry ran over the names he began to realize how widely +representative of the various tribes in the western country the +gathering was. Practically every reserve in the West was represented: +Bloods, Piegans and Blackfeet from the foothill country, Plain Crees and +Wood Crees from the North. Even a few of the Stonies, who were supposed +to have done with all pagan rites and to have become largely civilized, +were present. Nor were these rank and file men only. They were the +picked braves of the tribes, and with them a large number of the younger +chiefs. + +At length the half-breed Cree finished his tale, and in a few brief +fierce sentences he called the Indians of the West to join their +half-breed and Indian brothers of the North in one great effort to +regain their lost rights and to establish themselves for all time in +independence and freedom. + +Then followed grave discussion carried on with deliberation and courtesy +by those sitting about the fire, and though gravity and courtesy marked +every utterance there thrilled through every speech an ever deepening +intensity of feeling. The fiery spirit of the red man, long subdued by +those powers that represented the civilization of the white man, was +burning fiercely within them. The insatiable lust for glory formerly won +in war or in the chase, but now no longer possible to them, burned in +their hearts like a consuming fire. The life of monotonous struggle for +a mere existence to which they were condemned had from the first been +intolerable to them. The prowess of their fathers, whether in the +slaughter of foes or in the excitement of the chase, was the theme of +song and story round every Indian camp-fire and at every sun dance. +For the young braves, life, once vivid with color and thrilling with +tingling emotions, had faded into the somber-hued monotony of a dull and +spiritless existence, eked out by the charity of the race who had robbed +them of their hunting-grounds and deprived them of their rights as free +men. The lust for revenge, the fury of hate, the yearning for the return +of the days of the red man's independence raged through their speeches +like fire in an open forest; and, ever fanning yet ever controlling the +flame, old Copperhead presided till the moment should be ripe for such +action as he desired. Back and forward the question was deliberated. +Should they there and then pledge themselves to their Northern brothers +and commit themselves to this great approaching adventure? + +Quietly and with an air of judicial deliberation the Sioux put the +question to them. There was something to be lost and something to be +gained. But the loss, how insignificant it seemed! And the gain, how +immeasurable! And after all success was almost certain. What could +prevent it? A few scattered settlers with no arms nor ammunition, with +no means of communication, what could they effect? A Government nearly +three thousand miles away, with the nearest base of military operations +a thousand miles distant, what could they do? The only real difficulty +was the North West Mounted Police. But even as the Sioux uttered the +words a chill silence fell upon the excited throng. The North West +Mounted Police, who for a dozen years had guarded them and cared for +them and ruled them without favor and without fear! Five hundred red +coats of the Great White Mother across the sea, men who had never been +known to turn their backs upon a foe, who laughed at noisy threats and +whose simple word their greatest chief was accustomed unhesitatingly to +obey! Small wonder that the mere mention of the name of those gallant +"Riders of the Plains" should fall like a chill upon their fevered +imaginations. The Sioux was conscious of that chill and set himself to +counteract it. + +"The Police!" he cried with unspeakable scorn, "the Police! They will +flee before the Indian braves like leaves before the autumn wind." + +"What says he?" cried Cameron eagerly. And Jerry swiftly interpreted. + +Without a moment's hesitation Cameron sprang to his feet and, standing +in the dim light at the entrance to the cave, with arm outstretched and +finger pointed at the speaker, he cried: + +"Listen!" With a sudden start every face was turned in his direction. +"Listen!" he repeated. "The Sioux dog lies. He speaks with double +tongue. Never have the Indians seen a Policeman's back turned in +flight." + +His unexpected appearance, his voice ringing like the blare of a trumpet +through the cavern, his tall figure with the outstretched accusing arm +and finger, the sharp challenge of the Sioux's lie with what they all +knew to be the truth, produced an effect utterly indescribable. For +some brief seconds they gazed upon him stricken into silence as with a +physical blow, then with a fierce exclamation the Sioux snatched a rifle +from the cave side and quicker than words can tell fired straight at +the upright accusing figure. But quicker yet was Jerry's panther-spring. +With a backhand he knocked Cameron flat, out of range. Cameron dropped +to the floor as if dead. + +"What the deuce do you mean, Jerry?" he cried. "You nearly knocked the +wind out of me!" + +"Beeg fool you!" grunted Jerry fiercely, dragging him back into the +tunnel out of the light. + +"Let me go, Jerry!" cried Cameron in a rage, struggling to free himself +from the grip of the wiry half-breed. + +"Mak' still!" hissed Jerry, laying his hand over Cameron's mouth. +"Indian mad--crazy--tak' scalp sure queeck." + +"Let me go, Jerry, you little fool!" said Cameron. "I'll kill you if you +don't! I want that Sioux, and, by the eternal God, I am going to have +him!" He shook himself free of the half-breed's grasp and sprang to his +feet. "I am going to get him!" he repeated. + +"No!" cried Jerry again, flinging himself upon him and winding his +arms about him. "Wait! Nodder tam'. Indian mad crazy--keel quick--no +talk--now." + +Up and down the tunnel Cameron dragged him about as a mastiff might +a terrier, striving to free himself from those gripping arms. Even as +Jerry spoke, through the dim light the figure of an Indian could be seen +passing and repassing the entrance to the cave. + +"We get him soon," said Jerry in an imploring whisper. "Come back +now--queeck--beeg hole close by." + +With a great effort Cameron regained his self-control. + +"By Jove, you are right, Jerry," he said quietly. "We certainly can't +take him now. But we must not lose him. Now listen to me quick. This +passage opens on to the canyon about fifty yards farther down. Follow, +and keep your eye on the Sioux. I shall watch here. Go!" + +Without an instant's hesitation Jerry obeyed, well aware that his master +had come to himself and again was in command. + +Cameron meantime groped to the mouth of the tunnel by which he had +entered and peered out into the dim light. Close to his hand stood an +Indian in the cavern. Beyond him there was a confused mingling of forms +as if in bewilderment. The Council was evidently broken up for the time. +The Indians were greatly shaken by the vision that had broken in upon +them. That it was no form of flesh and blood was very obvious to them, +for the Sioux's bullet had passed through it and spattered against the +wall leaving no trail of blood behind it. There was no holding them +together, and almost before he was aware of it Cameron saw the cavern +empty of every living soul. Quickly but warily he followed, searching +each nook as he went, but the dim light of the dying fire showed him +nothing but the black walls and gloomy recesses of the great cave. At +the farther entrance he found Jerry awaiting him. + +"Where are they gone?" he asked. + +"Beeg camp close by," replied Jerry. "Beeg camp--much Indian. Some +talk-talk, then go sleep. Chief Onawata he mak' more talk--talk all +night--then go sleep. We get him morning." + +Cameron thought swiftly. + +"I think you are right, Jerry. Now you get back quick for the men +and come to me here in the morning. We must not spoil the chance of +capturing this old devil. He will have these Indians worked up into +rebellion before we know where we are." + +So saying, Cameron set forward that he might with his own eyes look upon +the camp and might the better plan his further course. Upon two things +he was firmly resolved. First, that he should break up this council +which held such possibilities of danger to the peace of the country. And +secondly, and chiefly, he must lay hold of this Sioux plotter, not only +because of the possibilities of mischief that lay in him, but because of +the injury he had done him and his. + +Forward, then, he went and soon came upon the camp, and after observing +the lay of it, noting especially the tent in which the Sioux Chief had +disposed himself, he groped back to his cave, in a nook of which--for +he was nearly done out with weariness, and because much yet lay before +him--he laid himself down and slept soundly till the morning. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN THE BIG WIGWAM + + +Long before the return of the half-breed and his men Cameron was astir +and to some purpose. A scouting expedition around the Indian camp +rewarded him with a significant and useful discovery. In a bluff some +distance away he found the skins and heads of four steers, and by +examination of the brands upon the skins discovered two of them to be +from his own herd. + +"All right, my braves," he muttered. "There will be a reckoning for this +some day not so far away. Meantime this will help this day's work." + +A night's sleep and an hour's quiet consideration had shown him the +folly of a straight frontal attack upon the Indians gathered for +conspiracy. They were too deeply stirred for anything like the usual +brusque manner of the Police to be effective. A slight indiscretion, +indeed, might kindle such a conflagration as would sweep the whole +country with the devastating horror of an Indian war. He recalled the +very grave manner of Inspector Dickson and resolved upon an entirely +new plan of action. At all costs he must allay suspicion that the Police +were at all anxious about the situation in the North. Further, he must +break the influence of the Sioux Chief over these Indians. Lastly, he +was determined that this arch-plotter should not escape him again. + +The sun was just visible over the lowest of the broken foothills when +Jerry and the two constables made their appearance, bringing, with them +Cameron's horse. After explaining to them fully his plan and emphasizing +the gravity of the situation and the importance of a quiet, cool and +resolute demeanor, they set off toward the Indian encampment. + +"I have no intention of stirring these chaps up," laid Cameron, "but I +am determined to arrest old Copperhead, and at the right moment we must +act boldly and promptly. He is too dangerous and much too clever to be +allowed his freedom among these Indians of ours at this particular time. +Now, then, Jerry and I will ride in looking for cattle and prepared to +charge these Indians with cattle-stealing. This will put them on the +defensive. Then the arrest will follow. You two will remain within sound +of whistle, but failing specific direction let each man act on his own +initiative." + +Jerry listened with delight. His Chief was himself again. Before the +day was over he was to see him in an entirely new role. Nothing in life +afforded Jerry such keen delight as a bit of cool daring successfully +carried through. Hence with joyous heart he followed Cameron into the +Indian camp. + +The morning hour is the hour of coolest reason. The fires of emotion and +imagination have not yet begun to burn. The reactions from anything +like rash action previously committed under the stimulus of a heated +imagination are caution and timidity, and upon these reactions Cameron +counted when he rode boldly into the Indian camp. + +With one swift glance his eye swept the camp and lighted upon the Sioux +Chief in the center of a group of younger men, his tall commanding +figure and haughty carriage giving him an outstanding distinction over +those about him. At his side stood a young Piegan Chief, Eagle Feather +by name, whom Cameron knew of old as a restless, talkative Indian, an +ambitious aspirant for leadership without the qualities necessary to +such a position. Straight to this group Cameron rode. + +"Good morning!" he said, saluting the group. "Ah, good morning, Eagle +Feather!" + +Eagle Feather grunted an indistinct reply. + +"Big Hunt, eh? Are you in command of this party, Eagle Feather? No? Who +then is?" + +The Piegan turned and pointed to a short thick set man standing by +another fire, whose large well shaped head and penetrating eye indicated +both force and discretion. + +"Ah, Running Stream," cried Cameron. "Come over here, Running Stream. I +am glad to see you, for I wish to talk to a man of wisdom." + +Slowly and with dignified, almost unwilling step Running Stream +approached. As he began to move, but not before, Cameron went to meet +him. + +"I wish to talk with you," said Cameron in a quiet firm tone. + +"Huh," grunted Running Stream. + +"I have a matter of importance to speak to you about," continued +Cameron. + +Running Stream's keen glance searched his face somewhat anxiously. + +"I find, Running Stream, that your young men are breaking faith with +their friends, the Police." + +Again the Chief searched Cameron's face with that keen swift glance, but +he said not a word, only waited. + +"They are breaking the law as well, and I want to tell you they will be +punished. Where did they get the meat for these kettles?" + +A look of relief gleamed for one brief instant across the Indian's face, +not unnoticed, however, by Cameron. + +"Why do your young men steal my cattle?" + +The Indian evinced indifference. + +"Dunno--deer--mebbe--sheep." + +"My brother speaks like a child," said Cameron quietly. "Do deer and +sheep have steers' heads and hides with brands on? Four heads I find +in the bluff. The Commissioner will ask you to explain these hides and +heads, and let me tell you, Running Stream, that the thieves will spend +some months in jail. They will then have plenty of time to think of +their folly and their wickedness." + +An ugly glance shot from the Chief's eyes. + +"Dunno," he grunted again, then began speaking volubly in the Indian +tongue. + +"Speak English, Running Stream!" commanded Cameron. "I know you can +speak English well enough." + +But Running Stream shook his head and continued his speech in Indian, +pointing to a bluff near by. + +Cameron looked toward Jerry, who interpreted: + +"He say young men tak' deer and sheep and bear. He show you skins in +bluff." + +"Come," said Running Stream, supplementing Jerry's interpretation and +making toward the bluff. Cameron followed him and came upon the skins of +three jumping deer, of two mountain sheep and of two bear. They turned +back again to the fire. + +"My young men no take cattle," said the Chief with haughty pride. + +"Maybe so," said Cameron, "but some of your party have, Running Stream, +and the Commissioner will look to you. You are in command here. He will +give you a chance to clear yourself." + +The Indian shrugged his shoulders and stood silent. + +"My brother is not doing well," continued Cameron. "The Government feed +you if you are hungry. The Government protect you if you are wronged." + +It was an unfortunate word of Cameron's. A sudden cloud of anger +darkened the Indian's face. + +"No!" he cried aloud. "My children--my squaw and my people go hungry--go +cold in winter--no skin--no meat." + +"My brother knows--" replied Cameron with patient firmness--"You +translate this, Jerry"--and Jerry proceeded to translate with eloquence +and force--"the Government never refuse you meat. Last winter your +people would have starved but for the Government." + +"No," cried the Indian again in harsh quick reply, the rage in his +face growing deeper, "my children cry--Indian cannot sleep--my white +brother's ears are closed. He hear only the wind--the storm--he sound +sleep. For me no sleep--my children cry too loud." + +"My brother knows," replied Cameron, "that the Government is far away, +that it takes a long time for answer to come back to the Indian cry. +But the answer came and the Indian received flour and bacon and tea and +sugar, and this winter will receive them again. But how can my brother +expect the Government to care for his people if the Indians break the +law? That is not good. These Indians are bad Indians and the Police will +punish the thieves. A thief is a bad man and ought to be punished." + +Suddenly a new voice broke in abruptly upon the discourse. + +"Who steal the Indian's hunting-ground? Who drive away the buffalo?" The +voice rang with sharp defiance. It was the voice of Onawata, the Sioux +Chief. + +Cameron paid no heed to the ringing voice. He kept his back turned upon +the Sioux. + +"My brother knows," he continued, addressing himself to Running Stream, +"that the Indian's best friend is the Government, and the Police are the +Government's ears and eyes and hands and are ready always to help the +Indians, to protect them from fraud, to keep away the whisky-peddlers, +to be to them as friends and brothers. But my brother has been listening +to a snake that comes from another country and that speaks with a forked +tongue. Our Government bought the land by treaty. Running Stream knows +this to be no lie, but the truth. Nor did the Government drive away the +buffalo from the Indians. The buffalo were driven away by the Sioux from +the country of the snake with the forked tongue. My brother remembers +that only a few years ago when the people to which this lying snake +belongs came over to this country and tried to drive away from their +hunting-grounds the Indians of this country, the Police protected the +Indians and drove back the hungry thieving Sioux to their own land. And +now a little bird has been telling me that this lying snake has been +speaking into the ears of our Indian brothers and trying to persuade +them to dig up the hatchet against their white brothers, their friends. +The Police know all about this and laugh at it. The Police know about +the foolish man at Batoche, the traitor Louis Riel. They know he is +a liar and a coward. He leads brave men astray and then runs away and +leaves them to suffer. This thing he did many years ago." And Cameron +proceeded to give a brief sketch of the fantastic and futile rebellion +of 1870 and of the ignoble part played by the vain and empty-headed +Riel. + +The effect of Cameron's words upon the Indians was an amazement even to +himself. They forgot their breakfast and gathered close to the speaker, +their eager faces and gleaming eyes showing how deeply stirred were +their hearts. + +Cameron was putting into his story an intensity of emotion and passion +that not only surprised himself, but amazed his interpreter. Indeed so +amazed was the little half-breed at Cameron's quite unusual display of +oratorical power that his own imagination took fire and his own tongue +was loosened to such an extent that by voice, look, tone and gesture he +poured into his officer's harangue a force and fervor all his own. + +"And now," continued Cameron, "this vain and foolish Frenchman seeks +again to lead you astray, to lead you into war that will bring ruin +to you and to your children; and this lying snake from your ancient +enemies, the Sioux, thinking you are foolish children, seeks to make +you fight against the great White Mother across the seas. He has been +talking like a babbling old man, from whom the years have taken wisdom, +when he says that the half-breeds and Indians can drive the white man +from these plains. Has he told you how many are the children of the +White Mother, how many are the soldiers in her army? Listen to me, and +look! Get me many branches from the trees," he commanded sharply to some +young Indians standing near. + +So completely were the Indians under the thrall of his speech that a +dozen of them sprang at once to get branches from the poplar trees near +by. + +"I will show you," said Cameron, "how many are the White Mother's +soldiers. See,"--he held up both hands and then stuck up a small twig in +the sand to indicate the number ten. Ten of these small twigs he set in +a row and by a larger stick indicated a hundred, and so on till he had +set forth in the sandy soil a diagrammatic representation of a hundred +thousand men, the Indians following closely his every movement. "And all +these men," he continued, "are armed with rifles and with great big guns +that speak like thunder. And these are only a few of the White Mother's +soldiers. How many Indians and half-breeds do you think there are with +rifles?" He set in a row sticks to represent a thousand men. "See," he +cried, "so many." Then he added another similar row. "Perhaps, if all +the Indians gathered, so many with rifles. No more. Now look," he said, +"no big guns, only a few bullets, a little powder, a little food. Ha, +ha!" he laughed contemptuously. "The Sioux snake is a fool. His tongue +must be stopped. My Indian brothers here will not listen to him, but +there are others whose hearts are like the hearts of little children who +may listen to his lying words. The Sioux snake must be caught and put in +a cage, and this I do now." + +As he uttered the words Cameron sprang for the Sioux, but quicker than +his leap the Sioux darted through the crowding Indians who, perceiving +Cameron's intent, thrust themselves in his path and enabled the Sioux to +get away into the brush behind. + +"Head him off, Jerry," yelled Cameron, whistling sharply at the same +time for his men, while he darted for his horse and threw himself upon +it. The whole camp was in a seething uproar. + +"Back!" yelled Cameron, drawing his gun. The Indians fell away from him +like waves from a speeding vessel. On the other side of the little bluff +he caught sight of a mounted Indian flying toward the mountains and with +a cry he started in pursuit. It took only a few minutes for Cameron to +discover that he was gaining rapidly upon his man. But the rough rocky +country was not far away in front of them, and here was abundant chance +for hiding. Closer and closer he drew to his flying enemy--a hundred +yards--seventy-five yards--fifty yards only separated them. + +"Halt!" cried Cameron, "or I shoot." + +But the Indian, throwing himself on the far side of his pony, urged him +to his topmost speed. + +Cameron steadied himself for a moment, took careful aim and fired. The +flying pony stumbled, recovered himself, stumbled again and fell. But +even before he reached the earth his rider had leaped free, and, still +some thirty yards in advance, sped onward. Half a dozen strides and +Cameron's horse was upon him, and, giving him the shoulder, hurled the +Indian senseless to earth. In a flash Cameron was at his side, turned +him over and discovered not the Sioux Chief but another Indian quite +unknown to him. + +His rage and disappointment were almost beyond his control. For an +instant he held his gun poised as if to strike, but the blow did not +fall. His self command came back. He put up his gun, turned quickly +away from the prostrate Indian, flung himself upon his horse and set off +swiftly for the camp. It was but a mile distant, but in the brief +time consumed in reaching it he had made up his mind as to his line of +action. Unless his men had captured the Sioux it was almost certain that +he had made his escape to the canyon, and once in the canyon there was +little hope of his being taken. It was of the first importance that he +should not appear too deeply concerned over his failure to take his man. + +With this thought in his mind Cameron loped easily into the Indian camp. +He found the young braves in a state of feverish excitement. Armed with +guns and clubs, they gathered about their Chiefs clamoring to be allowed +to wipe out these representatives of the Police who had dared to attempt +an arrest of this distinguished guest of theirs. As Cameron appeared +the uproar quieted somewhat and the Indians gathered about him, eagerly +waiting his next move. + +Cameron cantered up to Running Stream and, looking round upon the +crowding and excited braves, he said, with a smile of cool indifference: + +"The Sioux snake has slid away in the grass. He has missed his +breakfast. My brother was about to eat. After he has eaten we will have +some quiet talk." + +So saying, he swung himself from his saddle, drew the reins over his +horse's ears and, throwing himself down beside a camp fire, he pulled +out his pipe and proceeded to light it as calmly as if sitting in a +council-lodge. + +The Indians were completely nonplussed. Nothing appeals more strongly +to the Indian than an exhibition of steady nerve. For some moments they +stood regarding Cameron with looks of mingled curiosity and admiration +with a strong admixture of impatience, for they had thought of being +done out of their great powwow with its attendant joys of dance and +feast, and if this Policeman should choose to remain with them all day +there could certainly be neither dancing nor feasting for them. In the +meantime, however, there was nothing for it but to accept the situation +created for them. This cool-headed Mounted Policeman had planted himself +by their camp-fire. They could not very well drive him from their camp, +nor could they converse with him till he was ready. + +As they were thus standing about in uncertainty of mind and temper +Jerry, the interpreter, came in and, with a grunt of recognition, threw +himself down by Cameron beside the fire. After some further hesitation +the Indians began to busy themselves once more with their breakfast. In +the group about the campfire beside which Cameron had placed himself was +the Chief, Running Stream. The presence of the Policeman beside his fire +was most embarrassing to the Chief, for no man living has a keener sense +of the obligations of hospitality than has the Indian. But the Indian +hates to eat in the presence of a white man unless the white man shares +his meal. Hence Running Stream approached Cameron with a courteous +request that he would eat with them. + +"Thanks, Running Stream, I have eaten, but I am sure Jerry here will +be glad of some breakfast," said Cameron cordially, who had no desire +whatever to dip out of the very doubtful mess in the pot which had been +set down on the ground in the midst of the group around the fire. +Jerry, however, had no scruples in the matter and, like every Indian +and half-breed, was always ready for a meal. Having thus been offered +hospitality and having by proxy accepted it, Cameron was in position to +discuss with the Chief in a judicial if not friendly spirit the matter +he had in hand. + +Breakfast over, Cameron offered his tobacco-pouch to the Chief, who, +gravely helping himself to a pipeful, passed it on to his neighbor who, +having done likewise, passed it in turn to the man next him till the +tobacco was finished and the empty pouch returned with due gravity to +the owner. + +Relations of friendly diplomacy being thus established, the whole party +sat smoking in solemn silence until the pipes were smoked out. Then +Cameron, knocking the ashes from his pipe, opened up the matter in hand, +with Jerry interpreting. + +"The Sioux snake," he began quietly, "will be hungry for his breakfast. +Honest men do not run away before breakfast." + +"Huh," grunted Running Stream, non-committal. + +"The Police will get him in due time," continued Cameron in a tone of +quiet indifference. "He will cease to trouble our Indian brothers with +foolish lies. The prison gates are strong and will soon close upon this +stranger with the forked tongue." + +Again the Chief grunted, still non-committal. + +"It would be a pity if any of your young men should give heed to these +silly tales. None of your wise men have done so. In the Sioux country +there is frequent war between the soldiers and the Indians because bad +men wish to wrong the Indians and the Indians grow angry and fight, but +in this country white men are punished who do wrong to Indians. This +Running Stream knows to be true." + +"Huh," grunted Running Stream acquiescing. + +"When Indians do wrong to white men it is just that the Indians should +be punished as well. The Police do justly between the white man and the +Indian. My brother knows this to be true." + +"Huh," again grunted Running Stream with an uneasy look on his face. + +"Therefore when young and foolish braves steal and kill cattle they must +be punished. They must be taught to keep the law." Here Cameron's voice +grew gentle as a child's, but there was in its tone something that made +the Chief glance quickly at his face. + +"Huh, my young men no steal cattle," he said sullenly. + +"No? I am glad to hear that. I believe that is true, and that is why I +smoke with my brother beside his camp fire. But some young men in this +band have stolen cattle, and I want my brother to find them that I might +take them with me to the Commissioner." + +"Not know any Indian take cattle," said Running Stream in surly +defiance. + +"There are four skins and four heads lying in the bluff up yonder, +Running Stream. I am going to take those with me to the Commissioner and +I am sure he would like to see you about those skins." Cameron's manner +continued to be mild but there ran through his speech an undertone of +stern resolution that made the Indian squirm a bit. + +"Not know any Indian take cattle," repeated Running Stream, but with +less defiance. + +"Then it would be well for my brother to find out the thieves, for," and +here Cameron paused and looked the Chief steadily in the face for a few +moments, "for we are to take them back with us or we will ask the Chief +to come and explain to the Commissioner why he does not know what his +young men are doing." + +"No Blackfeet Indian take cattle," said the Chief once more. + +"Good," said Cameron. "Then it must be the Bloods, or the Piegans or the +Stonies. We will call their Chiefs together." + +There was no hurry in Cameron's manner. He had determined to spend +the day if necessary in running down these thieves. At his suggestion +Running Stream called together the Chiefs of the various bands of +Indians represented. From his supplies Cameron drew forth some more +tobacco and, passing it round the circle of Chiefs, calmly waited until +all had smoked their pipes out, after which he proceeded to lay the case +before them. + +"My brothers are not thieves. The Police believe them to be honest +men, but unfortunately among them there have crept in some who are not +honest. In the bluff yonder are four hides and four heads of steers, two +of them from my own herd. Some bad Indians have stolen and killed these +steers and they are here in this camp to-day, and I am going to take +them with me to the Commissioner. Running Stream is a great Chief and +speaks no lies and he tells me that none of his young men have taken +these cattle. Will the Chief of the Stonies, the Chief of the Bloods, +the Chief of the Piegans say the same for their young men?" + +"The Stonies take no cattle," answered an Indian whom Cameron recognized +as the leading representative of that tribe present. + +"How many Stonies here?" + +The Indian held up six fingers. + +"Ha, only six. What about the Bloods and the Piegans?" demanded Cameron. +"It is not for me," he continued, when there was no reply, "to discover +the cattle-thieves. It is for the Big Chief of this camp, it is for you, +Running Stream, and when you have found the thieves I shall arrest them +and bring them to the Commissioner, for I will not return without them. +Meantime I go to bring here the skins." + +So saying, Cameron rode leisurely away, leaving Jerry to keep an eye +upon the camp. For more than an hour they talked among themselves, but +without result. Finally they came to Jerry, who, during his years +with the Police, had to a singular degree gained the confidence of the +Indians. But Jerry gave them little help. There had been much stealing +of cattle by some of the tribes, not by all. The Police had been +patient, but they had become weary. They had their suspicions as to the +thieves. + +Eagle Feather was anxious to know what Indians were suspected. + +"Not the Stonies and not the Blackfeet," replied Jerry quietly. It was +a pity, he continued, that innocent men should suffer for the guilty. He +knew Running Stream was no thief, but Running Stream must find out the +thieves in the band under his control. How would Running Stream like to +have the great Chief of the Blackfeet, Crowfoot, know that he could not +control the young men under his command and did not know what they were +doing? + +This suggestion of Jerry had a mighty effect upon the Blackfeet Chief, +for old Crowfoot was indeed a great Chief and a mighty power with his +band, and to fall into disfavor with him would be a serious matter for +any junior Chief in the tribe. + +Again they withdrew for further discussion and soon it became evident +that Jerry's cunning suggestions had sown seeds of discord among them. +The dispute waxed hot and fierce, not as to the guilty parties, who were +apparently acknowledged to be the Piegans, but as to the course to be +pursued. Running Stream had no intention that his people and himself +should become involved in the consequences of the crimes of other +tribes whom the Blackfeet counted their inferiors. Eagle Feather and his +Piegans must bear the consequences of their own misdeeds. On the other +hand Eagle Feather pleaded hard that they should stand together in this +matter, that the guilty parties could not be disclosed. The Police could +not punish them all, and all the more necessary was it that they should +hold together because of the larger enterprise into which they were +about to enter. + +The absence of the Sioux Chief Onawata, however, weakened the bond of +unity which he more than any other had created and damped the ardor of +the less eager of the conspirators. It was likewise a serious blow to +their hopes of success that the Police knew all their plans. Running +Stream finally gave forth his decision, which was that the thieves +should be given up, and that they all should join in a humble petition +to the Police for leniency, pleading the necessity of hunger on their +hunting-trip, and, as for the larger enterprise, that they should +apparently abandon it until suspicion had been allayed and until the +plans of their brothers in the North were more nearly matured. The time +for striking had not yet come. + +In this decision all but the Piegans agreed. In vain Eagle Feather +contended that they should stand together and defy the Police to prove +any of them guilty. In vain he sought to point out that if in this +crisis they surrendered the Piegans to the Police never again could they +count upon the Piegans to support them in any enterprise. But Running +Stream and the others were resolved. The thieves must be given up. + +At the very moment in which this decision had been reached Cameron rode +in, carrying with him the incriminating hides. + +"Here, Jerry," he said. "You take charge of these and bring them to the +Commissioner." + +"All right," said Jerry, taking the hides from Cameron's horse. + +"What is up, Jerry?" said Cameron in a low voice as the half-breed was +untying the bundle. + +"Beeg row," whispered Jerry. "Eagle Feather t'ief." + +"All right, keep close." + +Quietly Cameron walked over to the group of excited Indians. As he +approached they opened their circle to receive him. + +"My brother has discovered the thief," he said. "And after all a thief +is easily found among honest men." + +Slowly and deliberately his eye traveled round the circle of faces, +keenly scrutinizing each in turn. When he came to Eagle Feather he +paused, gazed fixedly at him, took a single step in his direction, and, +suddenly leveling an accusing finger at him, cried in a loud voice: + +"I have found him. This man is the thief." + +Slowly he walked up to the Indian, who remained stoically motionless, +laid his hand upon his wrist and said in a clear ringing voice heard +over the encampment: + +"Eagle Feather, I arrest you in the name of the Queen!" And before +another word could be spoken or a movement made Eagle Feather stood +handcuffed, a prisoner. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +"GOOD MAN--GOOD SQUAW" + + +"That boy is worse, Mrs. Cameron, decidedly worse, and I wash my hands +of all responsibility." The old army surgeon was clearly annoyed. + +Mandy sat silent, weary with watching and weary with the conflict that +had gone on intermittently during the past three days. The doctor +was determined to have the gangrenous foot off. That was the simplest +solution of the problem before him and the foot would have come off days +ago if he had had his way. But the Indian boy had vehemently opposed +this proposal. "One foot--me go die," was his ultimatum, and through +all the fever and delirium this was his continuous refrain. In this +determination his nurse supported him, for she could not bring herself +to the conviction that amputation was absolutely necessary, and, +besides, of all the melancholy and useless driftwood that drives hither +and thither with the ebb and flow of human life, she could imagine none +more melancholy and more useless than an Indian crippled of a foot. +Hence she supported the boy in his ultimatum, "One foot--me go die." + +"That foot ought to come off," repeated the doctor, beginning the +controversy anew. "Otherwise the boy will die." + +"But, doctor," said Mandy wearily, "just think how pitiable, how +helpless that boy will be. Death is better. And, besides, I have not +quite given up hope that--" + +The doctor snorted his contempt for her opinion; and only his respect +for her as Cameron's wife and for the truly extraordinary powers and +gifts in her profession which she had displayed during the past three +days held back the wrathful words that were at his lips. It was late in +the afternoon and the doctor had given many hours to this case, riding +back and forward from the fort every day, but all this he would not have +grudged could he have had his way with his patient. + +"Well, I have done my best," he said, "and now I must go back to my +work." + +"I know, doctor, I know," pleaded Mandy. "You have been most kind and +I thank you from my heart." She rose and offered him her hand. "Don't +think me too awfully obstinate, and please forgive me if you do." + +The doctor took the outstretched hand grudgingly. + +"Obstinate!" he exclaimed. "Of all the obstinate creatures--" + +"Oh, I am afraid I am. But I don't want to be unreasonable. You see, the +boy is so splendidly plucky and such a fine chap." + +The doctor grunted. + +"He is a fine chap, doctor, and I can't bear to have him crippled, +and--" She paused abruptly, her lips beginning to quiver. She was near +the limit of her endurance. + +"You would rather have him dead, eh? All right, if that suits you better +it makes no difference to me," said the doctor gruffly, picking up his +bag. "Good-by." + +"Doctor, you will come back again to-morrow?" + +"To-morrow? Why should I come back to-morrow? I can do no more--unless +you agree to amputation. There is no use coming back to-morrow. I have +other cases waiting on me. I can't give all my time to this Indian." The +contempt in the doctor's voice for a mere Indian stung her like a whip. +On Mandy's cheek, pale with her long vigil, a red flush appeared and +in her eye a light that would have warned the doctor had he known her +better. + +"Is not this Indian a human being?" she asked quietly. + +But the doctor was very impatient and anxious to be gone. + +"A human being? Yes, of course, a human being, but there are human +beings and human beings. But if you mean an Indian is as good as a white +man, frankly I don't agree with you." + +"You have given a great deal of your time, doctor," said Mandy with +quiet deliberation, "and I am most grateful. I can ask no more for THIS +INDIAN. I only regret that I have been forced to ask so much of your +time. Good-by." There was a ring as of steel in her voice. The doctor +became at once apologetic. + +"What--eh?--I beg your pardon," he stammered. + +"It is not at all necessary. Thank you again for all your service. +Good-by." + +"Eh? I don't quite--" + +"Good-by, doctor, and again thank you." + +"Well, you know quite well I can't do any more," said the old doctor +crossly. + +"No, I don't think you can." + +"Eh--what? Well, good-by." And awkwardly the doctor walked away, +rather uncertain as to her meaning but with a feeling that he had been +dismissed. + +"Most impossible person!" he muttered as he left the tent door, +indignant with himself that no fitting reply would come to his lips. And +not until he had mounted his horse and taken the trail was he able to +give full and adequate expression to his feelings, and even then it +took him some considerable time to do full justice to himself and to the +situation. + +Meantime the nurse had turned back to her watch, weary and despairing. +In a way that she could not herself understand the Indian boy had +awakened her interest and even her affection. His fine stoical courage, +his warm and impulsive gratitude excited her admiration and touched her +heart. Again arose to her lips a cry that had been like a refrain in her +heart for the past three days, "Oh, if only Dr. Martin were here!" Her +experience and training under Dr. Martin had made it only too apparent +that the old army surgeon was archaic in his practice and method. + +"I know something could be done!" she said aloud, as she bent over her +patient. "If only Dr. Martin were here! Poor boy! Oh! I wish he were +here!" + +As if in answer to her cry there was outside a sound of galloping +horses. She ran to the tent door and before her astonished eyes there +drew up at her tent Dr. Martin, her sister-in-law and the ever-faithful +Smith. + +"Oh, oh, Dr. Martin!" she cried, running to him with both hands +outstretched, and could say no more. + +"Hello, what's up? Say, what the deuce have they been doing to you?" The +doctor was quite wrathful. + +"Oh, I am glad, that's all." + +"Glad? Well, you show your joy in a mighty queer way." + +"She's done out, Doctor," cried Moira, springing from her horse and +running to her sister-in-law. "I ought to have come before to relieve +her," she continued penitently, with her arms round Mandy, "but I knew +so little, and besides I thought the doctor was here." + +"He was here," said Mandy, recovering herself. "He has just gone, and +oh, I am glad. He wanted to cut his foot off." + +"Cut his foot off? Whose foot off? His own?" said Dr. Martin. + +"But I am glad! How did you get here in all the world?" + +"Your telegram came when I was away," said the doctor. "I did not get it +for a day, then I came at once." + +"My telegram?" + +"Yes, your telegram. I have it here--no, I've left it somewhere--but I +certainly got a telegram from you." + +"From me? I never sent a telegram." + +"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Cameron. I understood you to desire Dr. +Martin's presence, and--I ventured to send a wire in your name. I hope +you will forgive the liberty," said Smith, red to his hair-roots and +looking over his horse's neck with a most apologetic air. + +"Forgive the liberty?" cried Mandy. "Why, bless you, Mr. Smith, you are +my guardian angel," running to him and shaking him warmly by the hand. + +"And he brought, us here, too," cried Moira. "He has been awfully good +to me these days. I do not know what I should have done without him." + +Meantime Smith was standing first on one foot and then on the other in a +most unhappy state of mind. + +"Guess I will be going back," he said in an agony of awkwardness and +confusion. "It is getting kind of late." + +"What? Going right away?" exclaimed Mandy. + +"I've got some chores to look after, and I guess none of you are coming +back now anyway." + +"Well, hold on a bit," said the doctor. "We'll see what's doing inside. +Let's get the lie of things." + +"Guess you don't need me any more," continued Smith. "Good-by." And he +climbed on to his horse. "I have got to get back. So long." + +No one appeared to have any good reason why Smith should remain, and so +he rode away. + +"Good-by, Mr. Smith," called out Mandy impulsively. "You have really +saved my life, I assure you. I was in utter despair." + +"Good-by, Mr. Smith," cried Moira, waving her hand with a bright smile. +"You have saved me too from dying many a time these three days." + +With an awkward wave Smith answered these farewells and rode down the +trail. + +"He is really a fine fellow," said Mandy. "Always doing something for +people." + +"That is just it," cried Moira. "He has spent his whole time these three +days doing things for me." + +"Ah, no wonder," said the doctor. "A most useful chap. But what's the +trouble here? Let's get at the business." + +Mandy gave him a detailed history of the case, the doctor meanwhile +making an examination of the patient's general condition. + +"And the doctor would have his foot off, but I would not stand for +that," cried Mandy indignantly as she closed her history. + +"H'm! Looks bad enough to come off, I should say. I wish I had been here +a couple of days ago. It may have to come off all right." + +"Oh, Dr. Martin!" + +"But not just to-night." + +"Oh, I knew it." + +"Not to-night," I said. "I don't know what the outcome may be, but it +looks as bad as it well can." + +"Oh, that's all right," cried Mandy cheerfully. Her burden of +responsibility was lifted. Her care was gone. "I knew it would be all +right." + +"Well, whether it will or not I cannot say. But one thing I do know, +you've got to trot off to sleep. Show me the ropes and then off you go. +Who runs this camp anyway?" + +"Oh, the Chief does, Chief Trotting Wolf. I will call him," cried Mandy. +"He has been very good to me. I will get him." And she ran from the tent +to find the Chief. + +"Isn't she wonderful?" said Moira. + +"Wonderful? I should say so. But she is played right out I can see," +replied the doctor. "I must get comfortable quarters for you both." + +"But do you not want some one?" said Moira. "Do you not want me?" + +"Do I want you?" echoed the doctor, looking at her as she stood in the +glow of the westering sun shining through the canvas tent. "Do I want +you?" he repeated with deliberate emphasis. "Well, you can just bet that +is just what I do want." + +A slight flush appeared on the girl's face. + +"I mean," she said hurriedly, "cannot I be of some help?" + +"Most certainly, most certainly," said the doctor, noting the flush. +"Your help will be invaluable after a bit. But first you must get Mrs. +Cameron to sleep. She has been on this job, I understand, for three +days. She is quite played out. And you, too, need sleep." + +"Oh, I am quite fit. I do not need sleep. I am quite ready to take my +sister-in-law's place, that is, as far as I can. And you will surely +need some one--to help you I mean." The doctor's eyes were upon her +face. Under his gaze her voice faltered. The glow of the sunset through +the tent walls illumined her face with a wonderful radiance. + +"Miss Moira," said the doctor with abrupt vehemence, "I wish I had the +nerve to tell you just how much--" + +"Hush!" cried the girl, her glowing face suddenly pale, "they are +coming." + +"Here is the Chief, Dr. Martin," cried Mandy, ushering in that stately +individual. The doctor saluted the Chief in due form and said: + +"Could we have another tent, Chief, for these ladies? Just beside this +tent here, so that they can have a little sleep." + +The Chief grunted a doubtful acquiescence, but in due time a tent very +much dilapidated was pitched upon the clean dry ground close beside +that in which the sick boy lay. While this was being done the doctor was +making a further examination of his patient. With admiring eyes, +Moira followed the swift movements of his deft fingers. There was no +hesitation. There was no fumbling. There was the sure indication +of accurate knowledge, the obvious self-confidence of experience in +everything he did. Even to her untutored eyes the doctor seemed to be +walking with a very firm tread. + +At length, after an hour's work, he turned to Mandy who was assisting +him and said: + +"Now you can both go to sleep. I shall need you no more till morning. I +shall keep an eye on him. Off you go. Good-night." + +"You will be sure to call me if I can be of service," said Mandy. + +"I shall do no such thing. I expect you to sleep. I shall look after +this end of the job." + +"He is very sure of himself, is he not?" said Moira in a low tone to her +sister-in-law as they passed out of the tent. + +"He has a right to be," said Mandy proudly. "He knows his work, and now +I feel as if I can sleep in peace. What a blessed thing sleep is," she +added, as, without undressing, she tumbled on to the couch prepared for +her. + +"Is Dr. Martin very clever? I mean, is he an educated man?" + +"What?" cried Mandy. "Dr. Martin what?" + +"Is he very clever? Is he--an educated man?" + +"Eh, what?" she repeated, yawning desperately. "Oh, I was asleep." + +"Is he clever?" + +"Clever? Well, rather--" Her voice was trailing off again into slumber. + +"And is he an educated man?" + +"Educated? Knows his work if that's what you mean. Oh-h--but I'm +sleepy." + +"Is he a gentleman?" + +"Eh? What?" Mandy sat up straight. "A gentleman? I should say so! That +is, he is a man all through right to his toe-tips. And gentle--more +gentle than any woman I ever saw. Will that do? Good-night." And before +Moira could make reply she was sound asleep. + +Before the night was over the opportunity was given the doctor to +prove his manhood, and in a truly spectacular manner. For shortly +after midnight Moira found herself sitting bolt upright, wide-awake and +clutching her sister-in-law in wild terror. Outside their tent the night +was hideous with discordant noises, yells, whoops, cries, mingled with +the beating of tom-toms. Terrified and trembling, the two girls sprang +to the door, and, lifting the flap, peered out. It was the party of +braves returning from the great powwow so rudely interrupted by Cameron. +They were returning in an evil mood, too, for they were enraged at the +arrest of Eagle Feather and three accomplices in his crime, disappointed +in the interruption of their sun dance and its attendant joys of feast +and song, and furious at what appeared to them to be the overthrow of +the great adventure for which they had been preparing and planning for +the past two months. This was indeed the chief cause of their rage, for +it seemed as if all further attempts at united effort among the Western +tribes had been frustrated by the discovery of their plans, by the +flight of their leader, and by the treachery of the Blackfeet Chief, +Running Stream, in surrendering their fellow-tribesmen to the Police. +To them that treachery rendered impossible any coalition between the +Piegans and the Blackfeet. Furthermore, before their powwow had been +broken up there had been distributed among them a few bottles of +whisky provided beforehand by the astute Sioux as a stimulus to their +enthusiasm against a moment of crisis when such stimulus should be +necessary. These bottles, in the absence of their great leader, were +distributed among the tribes by Running Stream as a peace-offering, but +for obvious reason not until the moment came for their parting from each +other. + +Filled with rage and disappointment, and maddened with the bad whisky +they had taken, they poured into the encampment with wild shouting +accompanied by the discharge of guns and the beating of drums. In terror +the girls clung to each other, gazing out upon the horrid scene. + +"Whatever is this, Mandy?" cried Moira. + +But her sister-in-law could give her little explanation. The moonlight, +glowing bright as day, revealed a truly terrifying spectacle. A band +of Indians, almost naked and hideously painted, were leaping, shouting, +beating drums and firing guns. Out from the tents poured the rest of the +band to meet them, eagerly inquiring into the cause of their excitement. +Soon fires were lighted and kettles put on, for the Indian's happiness +is never complete unless associated with feasting, and the whole band +prepared itself for a time of revelry. + +As the girls stood peering out upon this terrible scene they became +aware of the doctor standing at their side. + +"Say, they seem to be cutting up rather rough, don't they?" he said +coolly. "I think as a precautionary measure you had better step over +into the other tent." + +Hastily gathering their belongings, they ran across with the doctor to +his tent, from which they continued to gaze upon the weird spectacle +before them. + +About the largest fire in the center of the camp the crowd gathered, +Chief Trotting Wolf in the midst, and were harangued by one of +the returning braves who was evidently reciting the story of their +experiences and whose tale was received with the deepest interest and +was punctuated by mad cries and whoops. The one English word that could +be heard was the word "Police," and it needed no interpreter to +explain to the watchers that the chief object of fury to the crowding, +gesticulating Indians about the fire was the Policeman who had been the +cause of their humiliation and disappointment. In a pause of the uproar +a loud exclamation from an Indian arrested the attention of the band. +Once more he uttered his exclamation and pointed to the tent lately +occupied by the ladies. Quickly the whole band about the fire appeared +to bunch together preparatory to rush in the direction indicated, but +before they could spring forward Trotting Wolf, speaking rapidly and +with violent gesticulation, stood in their path. But his voice was +unheeded. He was thrust aside and the whole band came rushing madly +toward the tent lately occupied by the ladies. + +"Get back from the door," said the doctor, speaking rapidly. "These +chaps seem to be somewhat excited. I wish I had my gun," he continued, +looking about the tent for a weapon of some sort. "This will do," he +said, picking up a stout poplar pole that had been used for driving the +tent pegs. "Stay inside here. Don't move till I tell you." + +"But they will kill you," cried Moira, laying her hand upon his arm. +"You must not go out." + +"Nonsense!" said the doctor almost roughly. "Kill me? Not much. I'll +knock some of their blocks off first." So saying, he lifted the flap of +the tent and passed out just as the rush of maddened Indians came. + +Upon the ladies' tent they fell, kicked the tent poles down, and, +seizing the canvas ripped it clear from its pegs. Some moments they +spent searching the empty bed, then turned with renewed cries toward the +other tent before which stood the doctor, waiting, grim, silent, savage. +For a single moment they paused, arrested by the silent figure, then +with a whoop a drink-maddened brave sprang toward the tent, his rifle +clubbed to strike. Before he could deliver his blow the doctor, stepping +swiftly to one side, swung his poplar club hard upon the uplifted arms, +sent the rifle crashing to the ground and with a backward swing caught +the astonished brave on the exposed head and dropped him to the earth as +if dead. + +"Take that, you dog!" he cried savagely. "Come on, who's next?" he +shouted, swinging his club as a player might a baseball bat. + +Before the next rush, however, help came in an unexpected form. The tent +flap was pushed back and at the doctor's side stood an apparition that +checked the Indians' advance and stilled their cries. It was the Indian +boy, clad in a white night robe of Mandy's providing, his rifle in his +hand, his face ghastly in the moonlight and his eyes burning like flames +of light. One cry he uttered, weird, fierce, unearthly, but it seemed +to pierce like a knife through the stillness that had fallen. Awed, +sobered, paralyzed, the Indians stood motionless. Then from their ranks +ran Chief Trotting Wolf, picked up the rifle of the Indian who still lay +insensible on the ground, and took his place beside the boy. + +A few words he spoke in a voice that rang out fiercely imperious. Still +the Indians stood motionless. Again the Chief spoke in short, sharp +words of command, and, as they still hesitated, took one swift stride +toward the man that stood nearest, swinging his rifle over his head. +Forward sprang the doctor to his side, his poplar club likewise swung up +to strike. Back fell the Indians a pace or two, the Chief following them +with a torrential flow of vehement invective. Slowly, sullenly the crowd +gave back, cowed but still wrathful, and beginning to mutter in angry +undertones. Once more the tent flap was pushed aside and there issued +two figures who ran to the side of the Indian boy, now swaying weakly +upon his rifle. + +"My poor boy!" cried Mandy, throwing her arms round about him, and, +steadying him as he let his rifle fall, let him sink slowly to the +ground. + +"You cowards!" cried Moira, seizing the rifle that the boy had dropped +and springing to the doctor's side. "Look at what you have done!" She +turned and pointed indignantly to the swooning boy. + +With an exclamation of wrath the doctor stepped back to Mandy's aid, +forgetful of the threatening Indians and mindful only of his patient. +Quickly he sprang into the tent, returning with a stimulating remedy, +bent over the boy and worked with him till he came back again to life. + +Once more the Chief, who with the Indians had been gazing upon this +scene, turned and spoke to his band, this time in tones of quiet +dignity, pointing to the little group behind him. Silent and subdued the +Indians listened, their quick impulses like those of children stirred +to sympathy for the lad and for those who would aid him. Gradually the +crowd drew off, separating into groups and gathering about the various +fires. For the time the danger was over. + +Between them Dr. Martin and the Chief carried the boy into the tent and +laid him on his bed. + +"What sort of beasts have you got out there anyway?" said the doctor, +facing the Chief abruptly. + +"Him drink bad whisky," answered the Chief, tipping up his hand. "Him +crazee," touching his head with his forefinger. + +"Crazy! Well, I should say. What they want is a few ounces of lead." + +The Chief made no reply, but stood with his eyes turned admiringly upon +Moira's face. + +"Squaw--him good," he said, pointing to the girl. "No 'fraid--much +brave--good." + +"You are right enough there, Chief," replied the doctor heartily. + +"Him you squaw?" inquired the Chief, pointing to Moira. + +"Well--eh? No, not exactly," replied the doctor, much confused, "that +is--not yet I mean--" + +"Huh! Him good squaw. Him good man," replied the Chief, pointing first +to Moira, then to the doctor. + +Moira hurried to the tent door. + +"They are all gone," she exclaimed. "Thank God! How awful they are!" + +"Huh!" replied the Chief, moving out past her. "Him drink, him +crazee--no drink, no crazee." At the door he paused, and, looking back, +said once more with increased emphasis, "Huh! Him good squaw," and +finally disappeared. + +"By Jove!" said the doctor with a delighted chuckle. "The old boy is a +man of some discernment I can see. But the kid and you saved the day, +Miss Moira." + +"Oh, what nonsense you are talking. It was truly awful, and how +splendidly you--you--" + +"Well, I caught him rather a neat one, I confess. I wonder if the brute +is sleeping yet. But you did the trick finally, Miss Moira." + +"Huh," grunted Mandy derisively, "Good man--good squaw, eh?" + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE OUTLAW + + +The bitter weather following an autumn of unusual mildness had set in +with the New Year and had continued without a break for fifteen days. A +heavy fall of snow with a blizzard blowing sixty miles an hour had made +the trails almost impassable, indeed quite so to any but to those bent +on desperate business or to Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police. To +these gallant riders all trails stood open at all seasons of the year, +no matter what snow might fall or blizzard blow, so long as duty called +them forth. + +The trail from the fort to the Big Horn Ranch, however, was so +wind-swept that the snow was blown away, which made the going fairly +easy, and the Superintendent, Inspector Dickson and Jerry trotted along +freely enough in the face of a keen southwester that cut to the bone. +It was surely some desperate business indeed that sent them out into +the face of that cutting wind which made even these hardy riders, burned +hard and dry by scorching suns and biting blizzards, wince and shelter +their faces with their gauntleted hands. + +"Deuce of a wind, this!" said the Superintendent. + +"It is the raw southwester that gets to the bone," replied Inspector +Dickson. "This will blow up a chinook before night." + +"I wonder if he has got into shelter," said the Superintendent. "This +has been an unusually hard fortnight, and I am afraid he went rather +light." + +"Oh, he's sure to be all right," replied the Inspector quickly. "He was +riding, but he took his snowshoes with him for timber work. He's hardly +the man to get caught and he won't quit easily." + +"No, he won't quit, but there are times when human endurance fails. Not +that I fear anything like that for Cameron," added the Superintendent +hastily. + +"Oh, he's not the man to fall down," replied the Inspector. "He goes the +limit, but he keeps his head. He's no reckless fool." + +"Well, you ought to know him," said the Superintendent. "You have been +through some things together, but this last week has been about the +worst that I have known. This fortnight will be remembered in the annals +of this country. And it came so unexpectedly. What do you think about +it, Jerry?" continued the Superintendent, turning to the half-breed. + +"He good man--cold ver' bad--ver' long. S'pose catch heem on +plains--ver' bad." + +The Inspector touched his horse to a canter. The vision that floated +before his mind's eye while the half-breed was speaking he hated to +contemplate. + +"He's all right. He has come through too many tight places to fail +here," said the Inspector in a tone almost of defiance, and refused to +talk further upon the subject. But he kept urging the pace till they +drew up at the stables of the Big Horn Ranch. + +The Inspector's first glance upon opening the stable door swept the +stall where Ginger was wont to conduct his melancholy ruminations. It +gave him a start to see the stall empty. + +"Hello, Smith!" he cried as that individual appeared with a bundle of +hay from the stack in the yard outside. "Boss home?" + +"Has Mr. Cameron returned?" inquired the Superintendent in the same +breath, and in spite of himself a note of anxiety had crept into his +voice. The three men stood waiting, their tense attitude expressing the +anxiety they would not put into words. The deliberate Smith, who had +transferred his services from old Thatcher to Cameron and who had taken +the ranch and all persons and things belonging to it into his immediate +charge, disposed of his bundle in a stall, and then facing them said +slowly: + +"Guess he's all right." + +"Is he home?" asked the Inspector sharply. + +"Oh, he's home all right. Gone to bed, I think," answered Smith with +maddening calmness. + +The Inspector cursed him between his teeth and turned away from the +others till his eyes should be clear again. + +"We will just look in on Mrs. Cameron for a few minutes," said the +Superintendent. "We won't disturb him." + +Leaving Jerry to put up their horses, they went into the ranch-house and +found the ladies in a state of suppressed excitement. Mandy met them at +the door with an eager welcome, holding out to them trembling hands. + +"Oh, I am so glad you have come!" she cried. "It was all I could do +to hold him back from going to you even as he was. He was quite set on +going and only lay down on promise that I should wake him in an hour. +Sit down here by the fire. An hour, mind you," she continued, talking +rapidly and under obvious excitement, "and him so blind and exhausted +that--" She paused abruptly, unable to command her voice. + +"He ought to sleep twelve hours straight," said the Superintendent with +emphasis, "and twenty-four would be better, with suitable breaks for +refreshment," he added in a lighter tone, glancing at Mandy's face. + +"Yes, indeed," she replied, "for he has had little enough to eat the +last three days. And that reminds me--" she hurried to the pantry and +returned with the teapot--"you must be cold, Superintendent. Ah, this +terrible cold! A hot cup of tea will be just the thing. It will take +only five minutes--and it is better than punch, though perhaps you men +do not think so." She laughed somewhat wildly. + +"Why, Mrs. Cameron," said the Superintendent in a shocked, bantering +voice, "how can you imagine we should be guilty of such heresy--in this +prohibition country, too?" + +"Oh, I know you men," replied Mandy. "We keep some Scotch in the +house--beside the laudanum. Some people can't take tea, you know," she +added with an uncertain smile, struggling to regain control of herself. +"But all the same, I am a nurse, and I know that after exposure tea is +better." + +"Ah, well," replied the Superintendent, "I bow to your experience," +making a brave attempt to meet her mood and declining to note her +unusual excitement. + +In the specified five minutes the tea was ready. + +"I could quite accept your tea-drinking theory, Mrs. Cameron," said +Inspector Dickson, "if--if, mark you--I should always get such tea as +this. But I don't believe Jerry here would agree." + +Jerry, who had just entered, stood waiting explanation. + +"Mrs. Cameron has just been upholding the virtue of a good cup of tea, +Jerry, over a hot Scotch after a cold ride. Now what's your unbiased +opinion?" + +A slight grin wrinkled the cracks in Jerry's leather-skin face. + +"Hot whisky--good for fun--for cold no good. Whisky good for sleep--for +long trail no good." + +"Thank you, Jerry," cried Mandy enthusiastically. + +"Oh, that's all right, Jerry," said the Inspector, joining in the +general laugh that followed, "but I don't think Miss Moira here would +agree with you in regard to the merits of her national beverage." + +"Oh, I am not so sure," cried the young lady, entering into the mood +of the others. "Of course, I am Scotch and naturally stand up for my +country and for its customs, but, to be strictly honest, I remember +hearing my brother say that Scotch was bad training for football." + +"Good again!" cried Mandy. "You see, when anything serious is on, the +wisest people cut out the Scotch, as the boys say." + +"You are quite right, Mrs. Cameron," said the Superintendent, becoming +grave. "On the long trail and in the bitter cold we drop the Scotch and +bank on tea. As for whisky, the Lord knows it gives the Police enough +trouble in this country. If it were not for the whisky half our work +would be cut out. But tell me, how is Mr. Cameron?" he added, as he +handed back his cup for another supply of tea. + +"Done up, or more nearly done up than ever I have seen him, or than I +ever want to see him again." Mandy paused abruptly, handed him his +cup of tea, passed into the pantry and for some moments did not appear +again. + +"Oh, it was terrible to see him," said Moira, clasping her hands and +speaking in an eager, excited voice. "He came, poor boy, stumbling +toward the door. He had to leave his horse, you know, some miles away. +Through the window we saw him coming along--and we did not know him--he +staggered as if--as if--actually as if he were drunk." Her laugh was +almost hysterical. "And he could not find the latch--and when we opened +the door his eyes were--oh!--so terrible!--wild--and bloodshot--and +blind! Oh, I cannot tell you about it!" she exclaimed, her voice +breaking and her tears falling fast. "And he could hardly speak to us. +We had to cut off his snow-shoes--and his gauntlets and his clothes +were like iron. He could not sit down--he just--just--lay on the +floor--till--my sister--" Here the girl's sobs interrupted her story. + +"Great Heavens!" cried the Superintendent. "What a mercy he reached +home!" + +The Inspector had risen and came round to Moira's side. + +"Don't try to tell me any more," he said in a husky voice, patting her +gently on the shoulder. "He is here with us, safe, poor chap. My God!" +he cried in an undertone, "what he must have gone through!" + +At this point Mandy returned and took her place again quietly by the +fire. + +"It was this sudden spell of cold that nearly killed him," she said in a +quiet voice. "He was not fully prepared for it, and it caught him at +the end of his trip, too, when he was nearly played out. You see, he was +five weeks away and he had only expected to be three." + +"Yes, I know, Mrs. Cameron," said the Inspector. + +"An unexpected emergency seems to have arisen." + +"I don't know what it was," replied Mandy. "He could tell me little, but +he was determined to go on to the fort." + +"I know something about his plans," said the Inspector. "He had proposed +a tour of the reserves, beginning with the Piegans and ending with the +Bloods." + +"And we know something of his work, too, Mrs. Cameron," said the +Superintendent. "Superintendent Strong has sent us a very fine report +indeed of your husband's work. We do not talk about these things, +you know, in the Police, but we can appreciate them all the same. +Superintendent Strong's letter is one you would like to keep. I shall +send it to you. Knowing Superintendent Strong as I do--" + +"I know him too," said Mandy with a little laugh. + +"Well, then, you will be able to appreciate all the more any word of +commendation he would utter. He practically attributes the present state +of quiet and the apparent collapse of this conspiracy business to +your husband's efforts. This, of course, is no compensation for his +sufferings or yours, but I think it right that you should know the +facts." The Superintendent had risen to his feet and had delivered his +little speech in his very finest manner. + +"Thank you," said Mandy simply. + +"We had expected him back a week ago," said the Inspector. "We know he +must have had some serious cause for delay." + +"I do not know about that," replied Mandy, "but I do know he was most +anxious to go on to the fort. He had some information to give, he said, +which was of the first importance. And I am glad you are here. He will +be saved that trip, which would really be dangerous in his present +condition. And I don't believe I could have stopped him, but I should +have gone with him. His hour will soon be up." + +"Don't think of waking him," said the Superintendent. "We can wait two +hours, or three hours, or more if necessary. Let him sleep." + +"He would waken himself if he were not so fearfully done up. He has a +trick of waking at any hour he sets," said Mandy. + +A few minutes later Cameron justified her remarks by appearing from +the inner room. The men, accustomed as they were to the ravages of +the winter trail upon their comrades, started to their feet in horror. +Blindly Cameron felt his way to them, shading his blood-shot eyes from +the light. His face was blistered and peeled as if he had come through a +fire, his lips swollen and distorted, his hands trembling and showing +on every finger the marks of frost bite, and his feet dragging as he +shuffled across the floor. + +"My dear fellow, my dear fellow," cried the Inspector, springing up to +meet him and grasping him by both arms to lead him to a chair. "You ran +it too close that time. Here is the Superintendent to lecture you. Sit +down, old man, sit down right here." The Inspector deposited him in the +chair, and, striding hurriedly to the window, stood there looking out +upon the bleak winter snow. + +"Hello, Cameron," said the Superintendent, shaking him by the hand with +hearty cheerfulness. "Glad, awfully glad to see you. Fine bit of work, +very fine bit of work. Very complimentary report about you." + +"I don't know what you refer to, sir," said Cameron, speaking thickly, +"but I am glad you are here, for I have an important communication to +make." + +"Oh, that's all right," said the Superintendent. "Don't worry about +that. And take your own time. First of all, how are you feeling? +Snow-blind, I see," he continued, critically examining him, "and +generally used up." + +"Rather knocked up," replied Cameron, his tongue refusing to move with +its accustomed ease. "But shall be fit in a day or two. Beastly sleepy, +but cannot sleep somehow. Shall feel better when my mind is at rest. I +cannot report fully just now." + +"Oh, let the report rest. We know something already." + +"How is that?" + +"Superintendent Strong has sent us in a report, and a very creditable +report, too." + +"Oh," replied Cameron indifferently. "Well, the thing I want to say is +that though all looks quiet--there is less horse stealing this month, +and less moving about from the reserves--yet I believe a serious +outbreak is impending." + +The Inspector, who had come around and taken a seat beside him, touched +his knee at this point with an admonishing pressure. + +"Eh?" said Cameron, turning toward him. "Oh, my people here know. You +need not have any fear about them." A little smile distorted his face as +he laid his hand upon his wife's shoulder. "But--where was I? I cannot +get the hang of things." He was as a man feeling his way through a maze. + +"Oh, let it go," said the Inspector. "Wait till you have had some +sleep." + +"No, I must--I must get this out. Well, anyway, the principal thing +is that Big Bear, Beardy, Poundmaker--though I am not sure about +Poundmaker--have runners on every reserve and they are arranging for +a big meeting in the spring, to which every tribe North and West is to +send representatives. That Frenchman--what's his name?--I'll forget my +own next--" + +"Riel?" suggested the Inspector. + +"Yes, Riel. That Frenchman is planning a big coup in the spring. You +know they presented him with a house the other day, ready furnished, at +Batoche, to keep him in the country. Oh, the half-breeds are very keen +on this. And what is worse, I believe a lot of whites are in with them +too. A chap named Jackson, and another named Scott, and Isbister and +some others. These names are spoken of on every one of our reserves. +I tell you, sir," he said, turning his blind eyes toward the +Superintendent, "I consider it very serious indeed. And worst of all, +the biggest villain of the lot, Little Pine, Cree Chief you know, our +bitterest enemy--except Little Thunder, who fortunately is cleared out +of the country--you remember, sir, that chap Raven saw about that." + +The Superintendent nodded. + +"Well--where was I?--Oh, yes, Little Pine, the biggest villain of them +all, is somewhere about here. I got word of him when I was at the +Blood Reserve on my way home some ten days ago. I heard he was with +the Blackfeet, but I found no sign of him there. But he is in the +neighborhood, and he is specially bound to see old Crowfoot. I +understand he is a particularly successful pleader, and unusually +cunning, and I am afraid of Crowfoot. I saw the old Chief. He was very +cordial and is apparently loyal enough as yet, but you know, sir, how +much that may mean. I think that is all," said Cameron, putting his hand +up to his head. "I have a great deal more to tell you, but it will not +come back to me now. Little Pine must be attended to, and for a day or +two I am sorry I am hardly fit--awfully sorry." His voice sank into a +kind of undertone. + +"Sorry?" cried the Superintendent, deeply stirred at the sight of +his obvious collapse. "Sorry? Don't you use that word again. You have +nothing to be sorry for, but everything to be proud of. You have done a +great service to your country, and we will not forget it. In a few days +you will be fit and we shall show our gratitude by calling upon you to +do something more. Hello, who's that?" A horseman had ridden past the +window toward the stables. Moira ran to look out. + +"Oh!" she cried, "it is that Mr. Raven. I would know his splendid horse +anywhere." + +"Raven!" said Cameron sharply and wide awake. + +"Raven, by Jove!" muttered the Inspector. + +"Raven! Well, I call that cool!" said the Superintendent, a hard look +upon his face. + +But the laws of hospitality are nowhere so imperative as on the western +plains. Cameron rose from his chair muttering, "Must look after his +horse." + +"You sit down," said Mandy firmly. "You are not going out." + +"Well, hardly," said the Inspector. "Here, Jerry, go and show him where +to get things, and--" He hesitated. + +"Bring him in," cried Mandy heartily. The men stood silent, looking at +Cameron. + +"Certainly, bring him in," he said firmly, "a day like this," he added, +as if in apology. + +"Why, of course," cried Mandy, looking from one to the other in +surprise. "Why not? He is a perfectly splendid man." + +"Oh, he is really splendid!" replied Moira, her cheeks burning and her +eyes flashing. "You remember," she cried, addressing the Inspector, "how +he saved my life the day I arrived at this ranch." + +"Oh, yes," replied the Inspector briefly, "I believe I did hear that." +But there was little enthusiasm in his voice. + +"Well, I think he is splendid," repeated Moira. "Do not you think so?" + +The Inspector had an awkward moment. + +"Eh?--well--I can't say I know him very well." + +"And his horse! What a beauty it is!" continued the girl. + +"Ah, yes, a most beautiful animal, quite remarkable horse, splendid +horse; in fact one of the finest, if not the very finest, in this whole +country. And that is saying a good deal, too, Miss Moira. You see, this +country breeds good horses." And the Inspector went on to discourse in +full detail and with elaborate illustration upon the various breeds of +horses the country could produce, and to classify the wonderful black +stallion ridden by Raven, and all with such diligence and enthusiasm +that no other of the party had an opportunity to take part in the +conversation till Raven, in the convoy of Jerry, was seen approaching +the house. Then the Superintendent rose. + +"Well, Mrs. Cameron, I fear we must take our departure. These are rather +crowded days with us." + +"What?" exclaimed Mandy. "Within an hour of dinner? We can hardly allow +that, you know. Besides, Mr. Cameron wants to have a great deal more +talk with you." + +The Superintendent attempted to set forth various other reasons for a +hasty departure, but they all seemed to lack sincerity, and after a few +more ineffective trials he surrendered and sat down again in silence. + +The next moment the door opened and Raven, followed by Jerry, stepped +into the room. As his eye fell upon the Superintendent, instinctively he +dropped his hands to his hips and made an involuntary movement backward, +but only for an instant. Immediately he came forward and greeted Mandy +with fine, old-fashioned courtesy. + +"So delighted to meet you again, Mrs. Cameron, and also to meet your +charming sister." He shook hands with both the ladies very warmly. +"Ah, Superintendent," he continued, "delighted to see you. And you, +Inspector," he said, giving them a nod as he laid off his outer leather +riding coat. "Hope I see you flourishing," he continued. His debonair +manner had in it a quizzical touch of humor. "Ah, Cameron, home again I +see. I came across your tracks the other day." + +The men, who had risen to their feet upon his entrance, stood regarding +him stiffly and made no other sign of recognition than a curt nod and a +single word of greeting. + +"You have had quite a trip," he continued, addressing himself to +Cameron, and taking the chair offered by Mandy. "I followed you part +way, but you travel too fast for me. Much too strenuous work I found +it. Why," he continued, looking narrowly at Cameron, "you are badly +punished. When did you get in?" + +"Two hours ago, Mr. Raven," said Mandy quickly, for her husband sat +gazing stupidly into the fire. "And he is quite done up." + +"Two hours ago?" exclaimed Raven in utter surprise. "Do you mean to say +that you have been traveling these last three days?" + +Cameron nodded. + +"Why, my dear sir, not even the Indians face such cold. Only the Mounted +Police venture out in weather like this--and those who want to get away +from them. Ha! ha! Eh? Inspector? Ha! ha!" His gay, careless laugh rang +out in the most cheery fashion. But only the ladies joined. The men +stood grimly silent. + +Mandy could not understand their grim and gloomy silence. By her +cordiality she sought to cover up and atone for the studied and almost +insulting indifference of her husband and her other guests. In these +attempts she was loyally supported by her sister-in-law, whose anger was +roused by the all too obvious efforts on the part of her brother and +his friends to ignore this stranger, if not to treat him with contempt. +There was nothing in Raven's manner to indicate that he observed +anything amiss in the bearing of the male members of the company about +the fire. He met the attempt of the ladies at conversation with a +brilliancy of effort that quite captivated them, and, in spite of +themselves, drew the Superintendent and the Inspector into the flow of +talk. + +As the hour of the midday meal approached Mandy rose from her place by +the fire and said: + +"You will stay with us to dinner, Mr. Raven? We dine at midday. It is +not often we have such a distinguished and interesting company." + +"Thank you, no," said Raven. "I merely looked in to give your husband +a bit of interesting information. And, by the way, I have a bit of +information that might interest the Superintendent as well." + +"Well," said Mandy, "we are to have the pleasure of the Superintendent +and the Inspector to dinner with us to-day, and you can give them all +the information you think necessary while you are waiting." + +Raven hesitated while he glanced at the faces of the men beside him. +What he read there drew from him a little hard smile of amused contempt. + +"Please do not ask me again, Mrs. Cameron," he said. "You know not how +you strain my powers of resistance when I really dare not--may not," he +corrected himself with a quick glance at the Superintendent, "stay in +this most interesting company and enjoy your most grateful hospitality +any longer. And now my information is soon given. First of all for you, +Cameron--I shall not apologize to you, Mrs. Cameron, for delivering +it in your presence. I do you the honor to believe that you ought to +know--briefly my information is this. Little Pine, in whose movements +you are all interested, I understand, is at this present moment lodging +with the Sarcee Indians, and next week will move on to visit old +Crowfoot. The Sarcee visit amounts to little, but the visit to old +Crowfoot--well, I need say no more to you, Cameron. Probably you know +more about the inside workings of old Crowfoot's mind than I do." + +"Visiting Crowfoot?" exclaimed Cameron. "Then I was there too soon." + +"That is his present intention, and I have no doubt the program will +be carried out," said Raven. "My information is from the inside. Of +course," he continued, "I know you have run across the trail of the +North Cree and Salteaux runners from Big Bear and Beardy. They are +not to be despised. But Little Pine is a different person from these +gentlemen. The big game is scheduled for the early spring, will probably +come off in about six weeks. And now," he said, rising from his chair, +"I must be off." + +At this point Smith came in and quietly took a seat beside Jerry near +the door. + +"And what's your information for me, Mr. Raven?" inquired the +Superintendent. "You are not going to deprive me of my bit of news?" + +"Ah, yes--news," replied Raven, sitting down again. "Briefly this. +Little Thunder has yielded to some powerful pressure and has again +found it necessary to visit this country, I need hardly add, against my +desire." + +"Little Thunder?" exclaimed the Superintendent, and his tone indicated +something more than surprise. "Then there will be something doing. +And where does this--ah--this--ah--friend of yours propose to locate +himself?" + +"This friend of mine," replied Raven, with a hard gleam in his eye and +a bitter smile curling his lips, "who would gladly adorn his person with +my scalp if he might, will not ask my opinion as to his location, and +probably not yours either, Mr. Superintendent." As Raven ceased speaking +he once more rose from his chair, put on his leather riding coat and +took up his cap and gauntlets. "Farewell, Mrs. Cameron," he said, +offering her his hand. "Believe me, it has been a rare treat to see you +and to sit by your fireside for one brief half-hour." + +"Oh, but Mr. Raven, you are not to think of leaving us before dinner. +Why this haste?" + +"The trail I take," said Raven in a grave voice, "is full of pitfalls +and I must take it when I can. The Superintendent knows," he added. +But his smile awoke no response in the Superintendent, who sat rigidly +silent. + +"It's a mighty cold day outside," interjected Smith, "and blowing up +something I think." + +"Oh, hang it, Raven!" blurted out Cameron, who sat stupidly gazing into +the fire, "Stay and eat. This is no kind of day to go out hungry. It is +too beastly cold." + +"Thanks, Cameron, it IS a cold day, too cold to stay." + +"Do stay, Mr. Raven," pleaded Moira. + +He turned swiftly and looked into her soft brown eyes now filled with +warm kindly light. + +"Alas, Miss Cameron," he replied in a low voice, turning his back upon +the others, his voice and his attitude seeming to isolate the girl from +the rest of the company, "believe me, if I do not stay it is not because +I do not want to, but because I cannot." + +"You cannot?" echoed Moira in an equally low tone. + +"I cannot," he replied. Then, raising his voice, "Ask the +Superintendent. He knows that I cannot." + +"Do you know?" said Moira, turning upon the Superintendent, "What does +he mean?" + +The Superintendent rose angrily. + +"Mr. Raven chooses to be mysterious," he said. "If he cannot remain here +he knows why without appealing to me." + +"Ah, my dear Superintendent, how unfeeling! You hardly do yourself +justice," said Raven, proceeding to draw on his gloves. His drawling +voice seemed to irritate the Superintendent beyond control. + +"Justice?" he exclaimed sharply. "Justice is a word you should hesitate +to use." + +"You see, Miss Cameron," said Raven with an injured air, "why I cannot +remain." + +"No, I do not!" cried Moira in hot indignation. "I do not see," she +repeated, "and if the Superintendent does I think he should explain." +Her voice rang out sharp and clear. It wakened her brother as if from a +daze. + +"Tut, tut, Moira!" he exclaimed. "Do not interfere where you do not +understand." + +"Then why make insinuations that cannot be explained?" cried his sister, +standing up very straight and looking the Superintendent fair in the +face. + +"Explained?" echoed the Superintendent in a cool, almost contemptuous, +voice. "There are certain things best not explained, but believe me if +Mr. Raven desires explanation he can have it." + +The men were all on their feet. Quickly Moira turned to Raven with a +gesture of appeal and a look of loyal confidence in her eyes. For a +moment the hard, cynical face was illumined with a smile of rare beauty, +but only for a moment. The gleam passed and the old, hard, cynical face +turned in challenge to the Superintendent. + +"Explain!" he said bitterly, defiantly. "Go on if you can." + +The Superintendent stood silent. + +"Ah!" breathed Moira, a thrill of triumphant relief in her voice, "he +cannot explain." + +With dramatic swiftness the explanation came. It was from Jerry. + +"H'explain?" cried the little half-breed, quivering with rage. +"H'explain? What for he can no h'explain? Dem horse he steal de +night-tam'--dat whiskee he trade on de Indian. Bah! He no good--he one +beeg tief. Me--I put him one sure place he no steal no more!" + +A few moments of tense silence held the group rigid. In the center stood +Raven, his face pale, hard, but smiling, before him Moira, waiting, +eager, with lips parted and eyes aglow with successive passions, +indignation, doubt, fear, horror, grief. Again that swift and subtle +change touched Raven's face as his eyes rested upon the face of the girl +before him. + +"Now you know why I cannot stay," he said gently, almost sadly. + +"It is not true," murmured Moira, piteous appeal in voice and eyes. A +spasm crossed the pale face upon which her eyes rested, then the old +cynical look returned. + +"Once more, thank you, Mrs. Cameron," he said with a bow to Mandy, "for +a happy half-hour by your fireside, and farewell." + +"Good-by," said Mandy sadly. + +He turned to Moira. + +"Oh, good-by, good-by," cried the girl impulsively, reaching out her +hand. + +"Good-by," he said simply. "I shall not forget that you were kind to +me." He bent low before her, but did not touch her outstretched hand. As +he turned toward the door Jerry slipped in before him. + +"You let him go?" he cried excitedly, looking at the Superintendent; but +before the latter could answer a hand caught him by the coat collar +and with a swift jerk landed him on the floor. It was Smith, his face +furiously red. Before Jerry could recover himself Raven had opened the +door and passed out. + +"Oh, how awful!" said Mandy in a hushed, broken voice. + +Moira stood for a moment as if dazed, then suddenly turned to Smith and +said: + +"Thank you. That was well done." + +And Smith, red to his hair roots, murmured, "You wanted him to go?" + +"Yes," said Moira, "I wanted him to go." + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WAR + + +Commissioner Irvine sat in his office at headquarters in the little town +of Regina, the capital of the North West Territories of the Dominion. A +number of telegrams lay before him on the table. A look of grave anxiety +was on his face. The cause of his anxiety was to be found in the news +contained in the telegrams. An orderly stood behind his chair. + +"Send Inspector Sanders to me!" commanded the Commissioner. + +The orderly saluted and retired. + +In a few moments Inspector Sanders made his appearance, a tall, +soldierlike man, trim in appearance, prompt in movement and somewhat +formal in speech. + +"Well, the thing has come," said the Commissioner, handing Inspector +Sanders one of the telegrams before him. Inspector Sanders took the +wire, read it and stood very erect. + +"Looks like it, sir," he replied. "You always said it would." + +"It is just eight months since I first warned the government that +trouble would come. Superintendent Crozier knows the situation +thoroughly and would not have sent this wire if outbreak were not +imminent. Then here is one from Superintendent Gagnon at Carlton. He +also is a careful man." + +Inspector Sanders gravely read the second telegram. + +"We ought to have five hundred men on the spot this minute," he said. + +"I have asked that a hundred men be sent up at once," said the +Commissioner, "but I am doubtful if we can get the Government to agree. +It seems almost impossible to make the authorities feel the gravity +of the situation. They cannot realize, for one thing, the enormous +distances that separate points that look comparatively near together +upon the map." He spread a map out upon the table. "And yet," he +continued, "they have these maps before them, and the figures, but +somehow the facts do not impress them. Look at this vast area lying +between these four posts that form an almost perfect quadrilateral. +Here is the north line running from Edmonton at the northwest corner +to Prince Albert at the northeast, nearly four hundred miles away; +then here is the south line running from Macleod at the southwest four +hundred and fifty miles to Regina at the southeast; while the sides of +this quadrilateral are nearly three hundred miles long. Thus the four +posts forming our quadrilateral are four hundred miles apart one way by +three hundred another, and, if we run the lines down to the boundary and +to the limit of the territory which we patrol, the disturbed area may +come to be about five hundred miles by six hundred; and we have some +five hundred men available." + +"It is a good thing we have established the new post at Carlton," +suggested Inspector Sanders. + +"Ah, yes, there is Carlton. It is true we have strengthened up that +district recently with two hundred men distributed between Battleford, +Prince Albert, Fort Pitt and Fort Carlton. But Carlton is naturally a +very weak post and is practically of little use to us. True, it guards +us against those Willow Crees and acts as a check upon old Beardy." + +"A troublesome man, that Kah-me-yes-too-waegs--old Beardy, I mean. It +took me some time to master that one," said Inspector Sanders, "but then +I have studied German. He always has been a nuisance," continued the +Inspector. "He was a groucher when the treaty was made in '76 and he has +been a groucher ever since." + +"If we only had the men, just another five hundred," replied the +Commissioner, tapping the map before him with his finger, "we should +hold this country safe. But what with these restless half-breeds led by +this crack-brained Riel, and these ten thousand Indians--" + +"Not to speak of a couple of thousand non-treaty Indians roaming the +country and stirring up trouble," interjected the Inspector. + +"True enough," replied the Commissioner, "but I would have no fear +of the Indians were it not for these half-breeds. They have real +grievances, remember, Sanders, real grievances, and that gives force to +their quarrel and cohesion to the movement. Men who have a conviction +that they are suffering injustice are not easily turned aside. And +these men can fight. They ride hard and shoot straight and are afraid of +nothing. I confess frankly it looks very serious to me." + +"For my part," said Inspector Sanders, "it is the Indians I fear most." + +"The Indians?" said the Commissioner. "Yes, if once they rise. Really, +one wonders at the docility of the Indians, and their response to fair +and decent treatment. Why, just think of it! Twenty years ago, no, +fifteen years ago, less than fifteen years ago, these Indians whom we +have been holding in our hand so quietly were roaming these plains, +living like lords on the buffalo and fighting like fiends with each +other, free from all control. Little wonder if, now feeling the pinch of +famine, fretting under the monotony of pastoral life, and being +incited to war by the hot-blooded half-breeds, they should break out +in rebellion. And what is there to hold them back? Just this, a feeling +that they have been justly treated, fairly and justly dealt with by the +Government, and a wholesome respect for Her Majesty's North West Mounted +Police, if I do say it myself. But the thing is on, and we must be +ready." + +"What is to be done, sir?" inquired Sanders. + +"Well, thank God, there is not much to be done in the way of +preparation," replied the Commissioner. "Our fellows are ready to a man. +For the past six months we have been on the alert for this emergency, +but we must strike promptly. When I think of these settlers about Prince +Albert and Battleford at the mercy of Beardy and that restless and +treacherous Salteaux, Big Bear, I confess to a terrible anxiety." + +"Then there is the West, sir, as well," said Sanders, "the Blackfeet and +the Bloods." + +"Ah, yes, Sanders! You know them well. So do I. It is a great matter +that Crowfoot is well disposed toward us, that he has confidence in our +officers and that he is a shrewd old party as well. But Crowfoot is an +Indian and the head of a great tribe with warlike traditions and with +ambitions, and he will find it difficult to maintain his own loyalty, +and much more that of his young men, in the face of any conspicuous +successes by his Indian rivals, the Crees. But," added the Commissioner, +rolling up the map, "I called you in principally to say that I wish you +to have every available man and gun ready for a march at a day's notice. +Further, I wish you to wire Superintendent Herchmer at Calgary to +send at the earliest possible moment twenty-five men at least, fully +equipped. We shall need every man we can spare from every post in the +West to send North." + +"Very good, sir. They will be ready," said Inspector Sanders, and, +saluting, he left the room. + +Two days later, on the 18th of March, long before the break of day, the +Commissioner set out on his famous march to Prince Albert, nearly three +hundred miles away. And the great game was on. They were but a small +company of ninety men, but every man was thoroughly fit for the part +he was expected to play in the momentous struggle before him; brave, of +course, trained in prompt initiative, skilled in plaincraft, inured to +hardship, oblivious of danger, quick of eye, sure of hand and rejoicing +in fight. Commissioner Irvine knew he could depend upon them to see +through to a finish, to their last ounce of strength and their last +blood-drop, any bit of work given them to do. Past Pie-a-pot's Reserve +and down the Qu'Appelle Valley to Misquopetong's, through the Touchwood +Hills and across the great Salt Plain, where he had word by wire from +Crozier of the first blow being struck at the south branch of the +Saskatchewan where some of Beardy's men gave promise of their future +conduct by looting a store, Irvine pressed his march. Onward along the +Saskatchewan, he avoided the trap laid by four hundred half-breeds at +Batoche's Crossing, and, making the crossing at Agnew's, further down, +arrived at Prince Albert all fit and sound on the eve of the 24th, +completing his two hundred and ninety-one miles in just seven days; and +that in the teeth of the bitter weather of a rejuvenated winter, without +loss of man or horse, a feat worthy of the traditions of the Force of +which he was the head, and of the Empire whose most northern frontier it +was his task to guard. + +Twenty-four hours to sharpen their horses' calks and tighten up their +cinches, and Irvine was on the trail again en route for Fort Carlton, +where he learned serious disturbances were threatening. Arrived at Fort +Carlton in the afternoon of the same day, the Commissioner found there a +company of men, sad, grim and gloomy. In the fort a dozen of the gallant +volunteers from Prince Albert and Crozier's Mounted Police lay groaning, +some of them dying, with wounds. Others lay with their faces covered, +quiet enough; while far down on the Duck Lake trail still others lay +with the white snow red about them. The story was told the Commissioner +with soldierlike brevity by Superintendent Crozier. The previous day a +storekeeper from Duck Lake, Mitchell by name, had ridden in to report +that his stock of provisions and ammunition was about to be seized by +the rebels. Immediately early next morning a Sergeant of the Police with +some seventeen constables had driven off to prevent these provisions and +ammunition falling into the hands of the enemy. At ten o'clock a scout +came pounding down the trail with the announcement that Sergeant Stewart +was in trouble and that a hundred rebels had disputed his advance. +Hard upon the heels of the scout came the Sergeant himself with his +constables to tell their tale to a body of men whose wrath grew as +they listened. More and more furious waxed their rage as they heard +the constables tell of the threats and insults heaped upon them by the +half-breeds and Indians. The Prince Albert volunteers more especially +were filled with indignant rage. To think that half-breeds and +Indians--Indians, mark you!--whom they had been accustomed to regard +with contempt, should have dared to turn back upon the open trail a +company of men wearing the Queen's uniform! The insult was intolerable. + +The Police officers received the news with philosophic calm. It was +merely an incident in the day's work to them. Sooner or later they would +bring these bullying half-breeds and yelling Indians to task for their +temerity. + +But the volunteers were undisciplined in the business of receiving +insults. Hence they were for an immediate attack. The Superintendent +pointed out that the Commissioner was within touch bringing +reinforcements. It might be wise to delay matters a few hours till his +arrival. But meantime the provisions and ammunition would be looted +and distributed among the enemy, and that was a serious matter. The +impetuous spirit of the volunteers prevailed. Within an hour a hundred +men with a seven-pr. gun, eager to exact punishment for the insults +they had suffered, took the Duck Lake trail. Ambushed by a foe who, +regardless of the conventions of war, made treacherous use of the white +flag, overwhelmed by more than twice their number, hampered in their +evolutions by the deep crusted snow, the little company, after a +half-hour's sharp engagement with the strongly posted enemy, were forced +to retire, bearing their wounded and some of their dead with them, +leaving others of their dead lying in the snow behind them. + +And now the question was what was to be done? The events of the day +had taught them their lesson, a lesson that experience has taught all +soldiers, the lesson, namely, that it is never safe to despise a foe. +A few miles away from them were between three hundred and four hundred +half-breeds and Indians who, having tasted blood, were eager for more. +The fort at Carlton was almost impossible of defense. The whole South +country was in the hands of rebels. Companies of half-breeds breathing +blood and fire, bands of Indians, marauding and terrorizing, were +roaming the country, wrecking homesteads, looting stores, threatening +destruction to all loyal settlers and direst vengeance upon all who +should dare to oppose them. The situation called for quick thought and +quick action. Every hour added to the number of the enemy. Whole tribes +of Indians were wavering in their allegiance. Another victory such as +Duck Lake and they would swing to the side of the rebels. The strategic +center of the English settlements in all this country was undoubtedly +Prince Albert. Fort Carlton stood close to the border of the half-breed +section and was difficult of defense. + +After a short council of war it was decided to abandon Fort Carlton. +Thereupon Irvine led his troops, together with the gallant survivors of +the bloody fight at Duck Lake, bearing their dead and wounded with +them, to Prince Albert, there to hold that post with its hundreds of +defenseless women and children gathered in from the country round about, +against hostile half-breeds without and treacherous half-breeds within +the stockade, and against swarming bands of Indians hungry for loot and +thirsting for blood. And there Irvine, chafing against inactivity, eager +for the joyous privilege of attack, spent the weary anxious days of the +next six weeks, held at his post by the orders of his superior officer +and by the stern necessities of the case, and meantime finding some +slight satisfaction in scouting and scouring the country for miles on +every side, thus preventing any massing of the enemy's forces. + +The affair at Duck Lake put an end to all parley. Riel had been +clamoring for "blood! blood! blood!" At Duck Lake he received his first +taste, but before many days were over he was to find that for every drop +of blood that reddened the crusted snow at Duck Lake a thousand Canadian +voices would indignantly demand vengeance. The rifle-shots that rang out +that winter day from the bluffs that lined the Duck Lake trail echoed +throughout Canada from ocean to ocean, and everywhere men sprang to +offer themselves in defense of their country. But echoes of these +rifle-shots rang, too, in the teepees on the Western plains where the +Piegans, the Bloods and the Blackfeet lay crouching and listening. +By some mysterious system of telegraphy known only to themselves old +Crowfoot and his braves heard them almost as soon as the Superintendent +at Fort Macleod. Instantly every teepee was pulsing with the fever of +war. The young braves dug up their rifles from their bedding, gathered +together their ammunition, sharpened their knives and tomahawks in eager +anticipation of the call that would set them on the war-path against the +white man who had robbed them of their ancient patrimony and who held +them in such close leash. The great day had come, the day they had been +dreaming of in their hearts, talking over at their council-fires and +singing about in their sun dances during the past year, the day promised +by the many runners from their brother Crees of the North, the day +foretold by the great Sioux orator and leader, Onawata. The war of +extermination had begun and the first blood had gone to the Indian and +to his brother half-breed. + +Two days after Duck Lake came the word that Fort Carlton had been +abandoned and Battleford sacked. Five days later the news of the bloody +massacre of Frog Lake cast over every English settlement the shadow of +a horrible fear. From the Crow's Nest to the Blackfoot Crossing bands of +braves broke loose from the reserves and began to "drive cattle" for the +making of pemmican in preparation for the coming campaign. + +It was a day of testing for all Canadians, but especially a day of +testing for the gallant little force of six or seven hundred riders who, +distributed in small groups over a vast area of over two hundred and +fifty thousand square miles, were entrusted with the responsibility of +guarding the lives and property of Her Majesty's subjects scattered in +lonely and distant settlements over these wide plains. + +And the testing found them ready. For while the Ottawa authorities with +late but frantic haste were hustling their regiments from all parts of +Canada to the scene of war, the Mounted Police had gripped the situation +with a grip so stern that the Indian allies of the half-breed rebels +paused in their leap, took a second thought and decided to wait till +events should indicate the path of discretion. + +And, to the blood-lusting Riel, Irvine's swift thrust Northward to +Prince Albert suggested caution, while his resolute stand at that +distant fort drove hard down in the North country a post of Empire that +stuck fast and sure while all else seemed to be sliding to destruction. + +Inspector Dickens, too, another of that fearless band of Police +officers, holding with his heroic little company of twenty-two +constables Fort Pitt in the far North, stayed the panic consequent upon +the Frog Lake massacre and furnished food for serious thought to the +cunning Chief, Little Pine, and his four hundred and fifty Crees, as +well as to the sullen Salteaux, Big Bear, with his three hundred braves. +And to the lasting credit of Inspector Dickens it stands that he brought +his little company of twenty-two safe through a hostile country +overrun with excited Indians and half-breeds to the post of Battleford, +ninety-eight miles away. + +At Battleford, also, after the sacking of the town, Inspector Morris +with two hundred constables behind his hastily-constructed barricade +kept guard over four hundred women and children and held at bay a horde +of savages yelling for loot and blood. + +Griesbach, in like manner, with his little handful, at Fort +Saskatchewan, held the trail to Edmonton, and materially helped to bar +the way against Big Bear and his marauding band. + +And similarly at other points the promptness, resource, wisdom and +dauntless resolution of the gallant officers of the Mounted Police +and of the men they commanded saved Western Canada from the complete +subversion of law and order in the whole Northern part of the +territories and from the unspeakable horrors of a general Indian +uprising. + +But while in the Northern and Eastern part of the Territories the Police +officers rendered such signal service in the face of open rebellion, it +was in the foothill country in the far West that perhaps even greater +service was rendered to Canada and the Empire in this time of peril by +the officers and men of the Mounted Police. + +It was due to the influence of such men as the Superintendents and +Inspectors of the Police in charge of the various posts throughout +the foothill country more than to anything else that the Chiefs of +the "great, warlike, intelligent and untractable tribes" of Blackfeet, +Blood, Piegan, Sarcee and Stony Indians were prevented from breaking +their treaties and joining with the rebel Crees, Salteaux and +Assiniboines of the North and East. For fifteen years the Chiefs of +these tribes had lived under the firm and just rule of the Police, had +been protected from the rapacity of unscrupulous traders and saved from +the ravages of whisky-runners. It was the proud boast of a Blood Chief +that the Police never broke a promise to the Indian and never failed to +exact justice either for his punishment or for his protection. + +Hence when the reserves were being overrun by emissaries from the +turbulent Crees and from the plotting half-breeds, in the face of the +impetuous demands of their own young men and of their minor Chiefs to +join in the Great Adventure, the great Chiefs, Red Crow and Rainy Chief +of the Bloods, Bull's Head of the Sarcees, Trotting Wolf of the Piegans, +and more than all, Crowfoot, the able, astute, wise old head of +the entire Blackfeet confederacy, held these young braves back from +rebellion and thus gave time and opportunity to Her Majesty's Forces +operating in the East and North to deal with the rebels. + +And during those days of strain, strain beyond the estimate of all +not immediately involved, it was the record of such men as the +Superintendents and Inspectors in charge at Fort Macleod, at Fort +Calgary and on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway construction +in the mountains, and their steady bearing that more than anything else +weighed with the great Chiefs and determined for them their attitude. +For with calm, cool courage the Police patrols rode in and out of the +reserves, quietly reasoning with the big Chiefs, smiling indulgently +upon the turbulent minor Chiefs, checking up with swift, firm, but +tactful justice the many outbreaks against law and order, presenting +even in their most desperate moments such a front of resolute +self-confidence to the Indians, and refusing to give any sign by look +or word or act of the terrific anxiety they carried beneath their gay +scarlet coats. And the big Chiefs, reading the faces of these cool, +careless, resolute, smiling men who had a trick of appearing at +unexpected times in their camps and refused to be hurried or worried, +finally decided to wait a little longer. And they waited till the fatal +moment of danger was past and the time for striking--and in the heart +of every Chief of them the desire to strike for larger freedom and +independence lay deep--was gone. To these guardians of Empire who fought +no fight, who endured no siege, who witnessed no massacre, the Dominion +and the Empire owe more than none but the most observing will ever know. + +Paralleling these prompt measures of the North West Mounted Police, the +Government dispatched from both East and West of Canada regiments of +militia to relieve the beleaguered posts held by the Police, to prevent +the spread of rebellion and to hold the great tribes of the Indians of +the far West true to their allegiance. + +Already on the 27th of March, before Irvine had decided to abandon Fort +Carlton and to make his stand at Prince Albert, General Middleton had +passed through Winnipeg on his way to take command of the Canadian +Forces operating in the West; and before two weeks more had gone the +General was in command of a considerable body of troops at Qu'Appelle, +his temporary headquarters. From all parts of Canada these men gathered, +from Quebec and Montreal, from the midland counties of Ontario, from +the city of Toronto and from the city of Winnipeg, till some five or six +thousand citizen-soldiers were under arms. They were needed, too, every +man, not so much because of the possible weight of numbers of the enemy +opposing them, nor because of the tactical skill of those leading the +hostile forces, but because of the enemy's advantage of position, owing +to the nature of the country which formed the scene of the Rebellion, +and because of the character of the warfare adopted by their cunning +foe. + +The record of the brief six weeks' campaign constitutes a creditable +page in Canadian history, a page which no Canadian need blush to read +aloud in the presence of any company of men who know how to estimate at +their highest value those qualities of courage and endurance that are +the characteristics of the British soldier the world over. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +TO ARMS! + + +Superintendent Strong was in a pleasant mood, and the reason was not far +to seek. The distracting period of inaction, of doubt, of hesitation was +past, and now at last something would be done. His term of service along +the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway construction had been far from +congenial to him. There had been too much of the work of the ordinary +patrol-officer about it. True, he did his duty faithfully and +thoroughly, so faithfully, indeed, as to move the great men of the +railway company to outspoken praise, a somewhat unusual circumstance. +But now he was called back to the work that more properly belonged to an +officer of Her Majesty's North West Mounted Police and his soul glowed +with the satisfaction of those who, having been found faithful in +uncongenial duty, are rewarded with an opportunity to do a bit of work +which they particularly delight to do. + +With his twenty-five men, whom for the past year he had been polishing +to a high state of efficiency in the trying work of police-duty in the +railway construction-camp, he arrived in Calgary on the evening of the +tenth of April, to find that post throbbing with military ardor and +thrilling with rumors of massacres and sieges, of marching columns and +contending forces. Small wonder that Superintendent Strong's face took +on an appearance of grim pleasure. Straight to the Police headquarters +he went, but there was no Superintendent there to welcome him. That +gentleman had gone East to meet the troops and was by now under +appointment as Chief of Staff to that dashing soldier, Colonel Otter. + +But meantime, though the Calgary Police Post was bare of men, there were +other men as keen and as daring, if not so thoroughly disciplined for +war, thronging the streets of the little town and asking only a leader +whom they could follow. + +It was late evening, but Calgary was an "all night" town, and every +minute was precious, for minutes might mean lives of women and children. +So down the street rode Superintendent Strong toward the Royal Hotel. At +the hitching post of that hostelry a sad-looking broncho was tied, whose +calm, absorbed and detached appearance struck a note of discord with his +environment; for everywhere about him men and horses seemed to be in +a turmoil of excitement. Everywhere men in cow-boy garb were careering +about the streets or grouped in small crowds about the saloon doors. +There were few loud voices, but the words of those who were doing the +speaking came more rapidly than usual. + +Such a group was gathered in the rear of the sad-looking broncho before +the door of the Royal Hotel. As the Superintendent loped up upon his +big brown horse the group broke apart and, like birds disturbed at their +feeding, circled about and closed again. + +"Hello, here's Superintendent Strong," said a voice. "He'll know." + +"Know what?" inquired the Superintendent. + +"Why, what's doing?" + +"Where are the troops?" + +"Is Prince Albert down?" + +"Where's Middleton?" + +"What's to be done here?" + +There were many voices, all eager, and in them just a touch of anxiety. + +"Not a thing do I know," said Superintendent Strong somewhat gravely. +"I have been up in the mountains and have heard little. I know that the +Commissioner has gone north to Prince Albert." + +"Have you heard about Duck Lake?" inquired a voice. + +"Yes, I heard we had a reverse there, and I know that General Middleton +has arrived at Qu'Appelle and has either set out for the north or is +about to set out." + +"Heard about Frog Lake?" + +"Frog Lake? No. That is up near Fort Pitt. What about it?" + +For a moment there was silence, then a deep voice replied: + +"A ghastly massacre, women and children and priests." + +Then another period of silence. + +"Indians?" murmured the Superintendent in a low voice. + +"Yes, half-breeds and Indians," replied the deep voice. And again there +was silence. The men waited for Superintendent Strong to speak. + +The Superintendent sat on his big horse looking at them quietly, then he +said sharply: + +"Men, there are some five or six thousand Indians in this district." +They were all thinking the same thing. "I have twenty-five men with me. +Superintendent Cotton at Macleod has less than a hundred." + +The men sat their horses in silence looking at him. One could hear their +deep breathing and see the quiver of the horses under the gripping knees +of their riders. Their minds were working swiftly. Ever since the news +of the Frog Lake massacre had spread like a fire across the country +these men had been carrying in their minds--rather, in their +hearts--pictures that started them up in their beds at night broad awake +and all in a cold sweat. + +The Superintendent lowered his voice. The men leaned forward to listen. +He had only a single word to say, a short sharp word it was-- + +"Who will join me?" + +It was as if his question had released a spring drawn to its limit. From +twenty different throats in twenty different tones, but with a single +throbbing impulse, came the response, swift, full-throated, savage, +"Me!" "I!" "Here you are!" "You bet!" "Count me!" "Rather!" and in three +minutes Superintendent Strong had secured the nucleus of his famous +scouts. + +"To-morrow at nine at the Barracks!" said this grim and laconic +Superintendent, and was about turning away when a man came out from the +door of the Royal Hotel, drawn forth by that sudden savage yell. + +"Hello, Cameron!" said the Superintendent, as the man moved toward the +sad-appearing broncho, "I want you." + +"All right, sir. I am with you," was the reply as Cameron swung on to +his horse. "Wake up, Ginger!" he said to his horse, touching him with +his heel. Ginger woke up with an indignant snort and forthwith fell into +line with the Superintendent's big brown horse. + +The Superintendent was silent till the Barracks were gained, then, +giving the horses into the care of an orderly, he led Cameron into the +office and after they had settled themselves before the fire he began +without preliminaries. + +"Cameron, I am more anxious than I can say about the situation here in +this part of the country. I have been away from the center of things for +some months and I have lost touch. I want you to let me know just what +is doing from our side." + +"I do not know much, sir," replied Cameron. "I, too, have just come in +from a long parley with Crowfoot and his Chiefs." + +"Ah, by the way, how is the old boy?" inquired the Superintendent. "Will +he stick by us?" + +"At present he is very loyal, sir,--too loyal almost," said Cameron in +a doubtful tone. "Duck Lake sent some of his young men off their heads a +bit, and Frog Lake even more. The Sarcees went wild over Frog Lake, you +know." + +"Oh, I don't worry about the Sarcees so much. What of Crowfoot?" + +"Well, he has managed to hold down his younger Chiefs so far. He made +light of the Frog Lake affair, but he was most anxious to get from +me the fullest particulars of the Duck Lake fight. He made careful +inquiries as to just how many Police were in the fight. I could see that +it gave him a shock to learn that the Police had to retire. This was a +new experience for him. He was intensely anxious to learn also--though +he would not allow himself to appear so--just what the Government was +doing." + +"And what are the last reports from headquarters? You see I have not +been kept fully in touch. I know that the Commissioner has gone north to +Prince Albert and that General Middleton has taken command of the forces +in the West and has gone North with them from Qu'Appelle, but what +troops he has I have not heard." + +"I understand," replied Cameron, "that he has three regiments of +infantry from Toronto and three from Winnipeg, with the Winnipeg Field +Battery. A regiment from Quebec has arrived and one from Montreal and +there are more to follow. The plan of campaign I know nothing about." + +"Ah, well," replied the Superintendent, "I know something about the +plan, I believe. There are three objective points, Prince Albert and +Battleford, both of which are now closely besieged, and Edmonton, +which is threatened with a great body of rebel Crees and Salteaux under +leadership of Little Pine and Big Bear. The Police at these points can +hardly be expected to hold out long against the overwhelming numbers +that are besieging them, and I expect that relief columns will be +immediately dispatched. Now, in regard to this district here, do you +know what is being done?" + +"Well, General Strange has come in from his ranch and has offered his +services in raising a local force." + +"Yes, I was glad to hear that his offer had been accepted and that he +has been appointed to lead an expeditionary force from here to Edmonton. +He is an experienced officer and I am sure will do us fine service. +I hope to see him to-morrow. Now, about the South," continued the +Superintendent, "what about Fort Macleod?" + +"The Superintendent there has offered himself and his whole force for +service in the North, but General Middleton, I understand, has asked him +to remain where he is and keep guard in this part of the country." + +"Good! I am glad of that. In my judgment this country holds the key. The +Crees I do not fear so much. They are more restless and uncertain, but +God help us if the Blackfeet and the Bloods rise! That is why I called +for volunteers to-night. We cannot afford to be without a strong force +here a single day." + +"I gathered that you got some volunteers to-night. I hope, sir," said +Cameron, "you will have a place for me in your troop?" + +"My dear fellow, nothing would please me better, I assure you," said +the Superintendent cordially. "And as proof of my confidence in you I am +going to send you through the South country to recruit men for my troop. +I can rely upon your judgment and tact. But as for you, you cannot leave +your present beat. The Sun Dance Trail cannot be abandoned for one hour. +From it you keep an eye upon the secret movements of all the tribes in +this whole region and you can do much to counteract if not to wholly +check any hostile movement that may arise. Indeed, you have already done +more than any one will ever know to hold this country safe during these +last months. And you must stay where you are. Remember, Cameron," added +the Superintendent impressively, "your work lies along the Sun Dance +Trail. On no account and for no reason must you be persuaded to abandon +that post. I shall get into touch with General Strange to-morrow and +shall doubtless get something to do, but if possible I should like you +to give me a day or two for this recruiting business before you take up +again your patrol work along the Sun Dance." + +"Very well, sir," replied Cameron quietly, trying hard to keep the +disappointment out of his voice. "I shall do my best." + +"That is right," said the Superintendent. "By the way, what are the +Piegans doing?" + +"The Piegans," replied Cameron, "are industriously stealing cattle and +horses. I cannot quite make out just how they can manage to get away +with them. Eagle Feather is apparently running the thing, but there is +someone bigger than Eagle Feather in the game. An additional month or +two in the guardroom would have done that gentleman no harm." + +"Ah, has he been in the guard-room? How did he get there?" + +"Oh, I pulled him out of the Sun Dance, where I found he had been +killing cattle, and the Superintendent at Macleod gave him two months to +meditate upon his crimes." + +Superintendent Strong expressed his satisfaction. + +"But now he is at his old habits again," continued Cameron. "But his +is not the brain planning these raids. They are cleverly done and are +getting serious. For instance, I must have lost a score or two of steers +within the last three months." + +"A score or two?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "What are they doing +with them all?" + +"That is what I find difficult to explain. Either they are running them +across the border--though the American Police know nothing of it--or +they are making pemmican." + +"Pemmican? Aha! that looks serious," said the Superintendent gravely. + +"Yes, indeed," said Cameron. "It makes me think that some one bigger +than Eagle Feather is at the bottom of all this cattle-running. +Sometimes I have thought that perhaps that chap Raven has a hand in it." + +"Raven?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "He has brain enough and nerve in +plenty for any dare-devil exploit." + +"But," continued Cameron in a hesitating voice, "I cannot bring myself +to lay this upon him." + +"Why not?" inquired the Superintendent sharply. "He is a cool hand and +desperate. I know his work fairly well. He is a first-class villain." + +"Yes, I know he is all that, and yet--well--in this rebellion, sir, +I believe he is with us and against them." In proof of this Cameron +proceeded to relate the story of Raven's visit to the Big Horn Ranch. +"So you see," he concluded, "he would not care to work in connection +with the Piegans just now." + +"I don't know about that--I don't know about that," replied the +Superintendent. "Of course he would not work against us directly, but he +might work for himself in this crisis. It would furnish him with a good +opportunity, you see. It would give him plenty of cover." + +"Yes, that is true, but still--I somehow cannot help liking the chap." + +"Liking the chap?" echoed the Superintendent. "He is a cold-blooded +villain and cattle-thief, a murderer, as you know. If ever I get my hand +on him in this rumpus--Why, he's an outlaw pure and simple! I have +no use for that kind of man at all. I should like to hang him!" The +Superintendent was indignant at the suggestion that any but the severest +measures should be meted out to a man of Raven's type. It was the +instinct and training of the Police officer responsible for the +enforcement of law and order in the land moving within him. "But," +continued the Superintendent, "let us get back to our plans. There must +be a strong force raised in this district immediately. We have the kind +of men best suited for the work all about us in this ranching country, +and I know that if you ride south throughout the ranges you can bring me +back fifty men, and there would be no finer anywhere." + +"I shall do what I can, sir," replied Cameron, "but I am not sure about +the fifty men." + +Long they talked over the plans, till it was far past midnight, when +Cameron took his leave and returned to his hotel. He put up his own +horse, looking after his feeding and bedding. + +"You have some work to do, Ginger, for your Queen and country to-morrow, +and you must be fit," he said as he finished rubbing the horse down. + +And Ginger had work to do, but not that planned for him by his master, +as it turned out. At the door of the Royal Hotel, Cameron found waiting +him in the shadow a tall slim Indian youth. + +"Hello!" said Cameron. "Who are you and what do you want?" + +As the youth stepped into the light there came to Cameron a dim +suggestion of something familiar about the lad, not so much in his face +as in his figure and bearing. + +"Who are you?" said Cameron again somewhat impatiently. + +The young man pulled up his trouser leg and showed a scarred ankle. + +"Ah! Now I get you. You are the young Piegan?" + +"Not" said the youth, throwing back his head with a haughty movement. +"No Piegan." + +"Ah, no, of course. Onawata's son, eh?" + +The lad grunted. + +"What do you want?" inquired Cameron. + +The young man stood silent, evidently finding speech difficult. + +"Eagle Feather," at length he said, "Little Thunder--plenty Piegan--run +much cattle." He made a sweeping motion with his arm to indicate the +extent of the cattle raid proposed. + +"They do, eh? Come in, my boy." + +The boy shook his head and drew back. He shared with all wild things the +fear of inclosed places. + +"Are you hungry?" + +The boy nodded his head. + +"Come with me." + +Together they walked down the street and came to a restaurant. + +"Come in and eat. It is all right," said Cameron, offering his hand. + +The Indian took the offered hand, laid it upon his heart, then for a +full five seconds with his fierce black eye he searched Cameron's face. +Satisfied, he motioned Cameron to enter and followed close on his heel. +Never before had the lad been within four walls. + +"Eat," said Cameron when the ordered meal was placed before them. The +lad was obviously ravenous and needed no further urging. + +"How long since you left the reserve?" inquired Cameron. + +The youth held up three fingers. + +"Good going," said Cameron, letting his eye run down the lines of the +Indian's lithe figure. + +"Smoke?" inquired Cameron when the meal was finished. + +The lad's eye gleamed, but he shook his head. + +"No pipe, eh?" said Cameron. "Come, we will mend that. Here, John," +he said to the Chinese waiter, "bring me a pipe. There," said Cameron, +passing the Indian the pipe after filling it, "smoke away." + +After another swift and searching look the lad took the pipe from +Cameron's hand and with solemn gravity began to smoke. It was to him +far more than a mere luxurious addendum to his meal. It was a solemn +ceremonial sealing a compact of amity between them. + +"Now, tell me," said Cameron, when the smoke had gone on for some time. + +Slowly and with painful difficulty the youth told his story in terse, +brief sentences. + +"T'ree day," he began, holding up three fingers, "me hear Eagle +Feather--many Piegans--talk--talk--talk. Go fight--keel--keel--keel all +white man, squaw, papoose." + +"When?" inquired Cameron, keeping his face steady. + +"Come Cree runner--soon." + +"You mean they are waiting for a runner from the North?" inquired +Cameron. "If the Crees win the fight then the Piegans will rise? Is that +it?" + +The Indian nodded. "Come Cree Indian--then Piegan fight." + +"They will not rise until the runner comes, eh?" + +"No." + +Cameron breathed more easily. + +"Is that all?" he inquired carelessly. + +"This day Eagle Feather run much cattle--beeg--beeg run." The young man +again swept the room with his arm. + +"Bah! Eagle Feather is no good. He is an old squaw," said Cameron. + +"Huh!" agreed the Indian quickly. "Little Thunder go too." + +"Little Thunder, eh?" said Cameron, controlling his voice with an +effort. + +The lad nodded, his piercing eye upon Cameron's face. + +For some minutes Cameron smoked quietly. + +"And Onawata?" With startling suddenness he shot out the question. + +Not a line of the Indian's face moved. He ignored the question, smoking +steadily and looking before him. + +"Ah, it is a strange way for Onawata to repay the white man's kindness +to his son," said Cameron. The contemptuous voice pierced the Indian's +armor of impassivity. Cameron caught the swift quiver in the face +that told that his stab had reached the quick. There is nothing in the +Indian's catalogue of crimes so base as the sin of ingratitude. + +"Onawata beeg Chief--beeg Chief," at length the boy said proudly. "He do +beeg--beeg t'ing." + +"Yes, he steals my cattle," said Cameron with stinging scorn. + +"No!" replied the Indian sharply. "Little Thunder--Eagle Feather steal +cattle--Onawata no steal." + +"I am glad to hear it, then," said Cameron. "This is a big run of +cattle, eh?" + +"Yes--beeg--beeg run." Again the Indian's arm swept the room. + +"What will they do with all those cattle?" inquired Cameron. + +But again the Indian ignored his question and remained silently smoking. + +"Why does the son of Onawata come to me?" inquired Cameron. + +A soft and subtle change transformed the boy's face. He pulled up his +trouser leg and, pointing to the scarred ankle, said: + +"You' squaw good--me two leg--me come tell you take squaw 'way far--no +keel. Take cattle 'way--no steal." He rose suddenly to his feet. "Me go +now," he said, and passed out. + +"Hold on!" cried Cameron, following him out to the door. "Where are you +going to sleep to-night?" + +The boy waved his hand toward the hills surrounding the little town. + +"Here," said Cameron, emptying his tobacco pouch into the boy's hand. +"I will tell my squaw that Onawata's son is not ungrateful, that he +remembered her kindness and has paid it back to me." + +For the first time a smile broke on the grave face of the Indian. He +took Cameron's hand, laid it upon his own heart, and then on Cameron's. + +"You' squaw good--good--much good." He appeared to struggle to find +other words, but failing, and with a smile still lingering upon his +handsome face, he turned abruptly away and glided silent as a shadow +into the starlit night. Cameron watched him out of sight. + +"Not a bad sort," he said to himself as he walked toward the hotel. +"Pretty tough thing for him to come here and give away his dad's scheme +like that--and I bet you he is keen on it himself too." + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +AN OUTLAW, BUT A MAN + + +The news brought by the Indian lad changed for Cameron all his plans. +This cattle-raid was evidently a part of and preparation for the bigger +thing, a general uprising and war of extermination on the part of the +Indians. From his recent visit to the reserves he was convinced that the +loyalty of even the great Chiefs was becoming somewhat brittle and would +not bear any sudden strain put upon it. A successful raid of cattle such +as was being proposed escaping the notice of the Police, or in the teeth +of the Police, would have a disastrous effect upon the prestige of the +whole Force, already shaken by the Duck Lake reverse. The effect of +that skirmish was beyond belief. The victory of the half-breeds was +exaggerated in the wildest degree. He must act and act quickly. His home +and his family and those of his neighbors were in danger of the most +horrible fate that could befall any human being. If the cattle-raid were +carried through by the Piegan Indians its sweep would certainly include +the Big Horn Ranch, and there was every likelihood that his home might +be destroyed, for he was an object of special hate to Eagle Feather and +to Little Thunder; and if Copperhead were in the business he had even +greater cause for anxiety. + +But what was to be done? The Indian boy had taken three days to bring +the news. It would take a day and a night of hard riding to reach his +home. Quickly he made his plans. He passed into the hotel, found the +room of Billy the hostler and roused him up. + +"Billy," he said, "get my horse out quick and hitch him up to the +post where I can get him. And Billy, if you love me," he implored, "be +quick!" + +Billy sprang from his bed. + +"Don't know what's eatin' you, boss," he said, "but quick's the word." + +In another minute Cameron was pounding at Dr. Martin's door upstairs. +Happily the doctor was in. + +"Martin, old man," cried Cameron, gripping him hard by the shoulder. +"Wake up and listen hard! That Indian boy you and Mandy pulled through +has just come all the way from the Piegan Reserve to tell me of a +proposed cattle-raid and a possible uprising of the Piegans in that +South country. The cattle-raid is coming on at once. The uprising +depends upon news from the Crees. Listen! I have promised Superintendent +Strong to spend the next two days recruiting for his new troop. Explain +to him why I cannot do this. He will understand. Then ride like blazes +to Macleod and tell the Inspector all that I have told you and get him +to send what men he can spare along with you. You can't get a man here. +The raid starts from the Piegan Reserve. It will likely finish where the +old Porcupine Trail joins the Sun Dance. At least so I judge. Ride by +the ranch and get some of them there to show you the shortest trail. +Both Mandy and Moira know it well." + +"Hold on, Cameron! Let me get this clear," cried the doctor, holding him +fast by the arm. "Two things I have gathered," said the doctor, speaking +rapidly, "first, a cattle-raid, then a general uprising, the uprising +dependent upon the news from the North. You want to block the +cattle-raid? Is that right?" + +"Right," said Cameron. + +"Then you want me to settle with Superintendent Storm, ride to Macleod +for men, then by your ranch and have them show me the shortest trail to +the junction of the Porcupine and the Sun Dance?" + +"You are right, Martin, old boy. It is a great thing to have a head like +yours. I shall meet you somewhere at that point. I have been thinking +this thing over and I believe they mean to make pemmican in preparation +for their uprising, and if so they will make it somewhere on the Sun +Dance Trail. Now I am off. Let me go, Martin." + +"Tell me your own movements now." + +"First, the ranch," said Cameron. "Then straight for the Sun Dance." + +"All right, old boy. By-by and good-luck!" + +Cameron found Billy waiting with Ginger at the door of the hotel. + +"Thank you, Billy," he said, fumbling in his pocket. "Hang it, I can't +find my purse." + +"You go hang yourself!" said Billy. "Never mind your purse." + +"All right, then," said Cameron, giving him his hand. "Good-by. You are +a trump, Billy." He caught Ginger by the mane and threw himself on the +saddle. + +"Now, then, Ginger, you must not fail me this trip, if it is your last. +A hundred and twenty miles, old boy, and you are none too fresh either. +But, Ginger, we must beat them this time. A hundred and twenty miles +to the Big Horn and twenty miles farther to the Sun Dance, that makes +a hundred and forty, Ginger, and you are just in from a hard two days' +ride. Steady, boy! Not too hard at the first." For Ginger was showing +signs of eagerness beyond his wont. "At all costs this raid must be +stopped," continued Cameron, speaking, after his manner, to his horse, +"not for the sake of a few cattle--we could all stand that loss--but to +balk at its beginning this scheme of old Copperhead's, for I believe +in my soul he is at the bottom of it. Steady, old boy! We need every +minute, but we cannot afford to make any miscalculations. The last +quarter of an hour is likely to be the worst." + +So on they went through the starry night. Steadily Ginger pounded the +trail, knocking off the miles hour after hour. There was no pause for +rest or for food. A few mouthfuls of water in the fording of a running +stream, a pause to recover breath before plunging into an icy river, or +on the taking of a steep coulee side, but no more. Hour after hour they +pressed forward toward the Big Horn Ranch. The night passed into morning +and the morning into the day, but still they pressed the trail. + +Toward the close of the day Cameron found himself within an hour's ride +of his own ranch with Ginger showing every sign of leg weariness and +almost of collapse. + +"Good old chap!" cried Cameron, leaning over him and patting his neck. +"We must make it. We cannot let up, you know. Stick to it, old boy, a +little longer." + +A little snort and a little extra spurt of speed was the gallant +Ginger's reply, but soon he was forced to sink back again into his +stumbling stride. + +"One hour more, Ginger, that is all--one hour only." + +As he spoke he leapt from his saddle to ease his horse in climbing a +long and lofty hill. As he surmounted the hill he stopped and swiftly +backed his horse down the hill. Upon the distant skyline his eye had +detected what he judged to be a horseman. His horse safely disposed of, +he once more crawled to the top of the hill. + +"An Indian, by Jove!" he cried. "I wonder if he has seen me." + +Carefully his eye swept the intervening valley and the hillside beyond, +but only this solitary figure could he see. As his eye rested on him the +Indian began to move toward the west. Cameron lay watching him for some +minutes. From his movements it was evident that the Indian's pace was +being determined by some one on the other side of the hill, for he +advanced now swiftly, now slowly. At times he halted and turned back +upon his track, then went forward again. + +"What the deuce is he doing?" said Cameron to himself. "By Jove! I have +got it! The drive is begun. I am too late." + +Swiftly he considered the whole situation. He was too late now to be of +any service at his ranch. The raid had already swept past it. He wrung +his hands in agony to think of what might have happened. He was torn +with anxiety for his family--and yet here was the raid passing onward +before his eyes. One hour would bring him to the ranch, but if this were +the outside edge of the big cattle raid the loss of an hour would mean +the loss of everything. + +"Oh, my God! What shall I do?" he cried. + +With his eyes still upon the Indian he forced himself to think more +quietly. The secrecy with which the raid was planned made it altogether +likely that the homes of the settlers would not at this time be +interfered with. This consideration finally determined him. At all costs +he must do what he could to head off the raid or to break the herd +in some way. But that meant in the first place a ride of twenty or +twenty-five miles over rough country. Could Ginger do it? + +He crawled back to his horse and found him with his head close to the +ground and trembling in every limb. + +"If he goes this twenty miles," he said, "he will go no more. But it +looks like our only hope, old boy. We must make for our old beat, the +Sun Dance Trail." + +He mounted his horse and set off toward the west, taking care never to +appear above the skyline and riding as rapidly as the uncertain footing +of the untrodden prairie would allow. At short intervals he would +dismount and crawl to the top of the hill in order to keep in touch +with the Indian, who was heading in pretty much the same direction as +himself. A little further on his screening hill began to flatten +itself out and finally it ran down into a wide valley which crossed +his direction at right angles. He made his horse lie down, still in the +shelter of the hill, and with most painful care he crawled on hands and +knees out to the open and secured a point of vantage from which he could +command the valley which ran southward for some miles till it, in turn, +was shut in by a further range of hills. + +He was rewarded for his patience and care. Far down before him at the +bottom of the valley a line of cattle was visible and hurrying them +along a couple of Indian horsemen. As he lay watching these Indians he +observed that a little farther on this line was augmented by a similar +line from the east driven by the Indian he had first observed, and by +two others who emerged from a cross valley still further on. Prone upon +his face he lay, with his eyes on that double line of cattle and its +hustling drivers. The raid was surely on. What could one man do to check +it? Similar lines of cattle were coming down the different valleys and +would all mass upon the old Porcupine Trail and finally pour into the +Sun Dance with its many caves and canyons. There was much that was +mysterious in this movement still to Cameron. What could these Indians +do with this herd of cattle? The mere killing of them was in itself a +vast undertaking. He was perfectly familiar with the Indian's method of +turning buffalo meat, and later beef, into pemmican, but the killing, +and the dressing, and the rendering of the fat, and the preparing of the +bags, all this was an elaborate and laborious process. But one thing +was clear to his mind. At all costs he must get around the head of these +converging lines. + +He waited there till the valley was clear of cattle and Indians, then, +mounting his horse, he pushed hard across the valley and struck a +parallel trail upon the farther side of the hills. Pursuing this trail +for some miles, he crossed still another range of hills farther to the +west and so proceeded till he came within touch of the broken country +that marks the division between the Foothills and the Mountains. He had +not many miles before him now, but his horse was failing fast and he +himself was half dazed with weariness and exhaustion. Night, too, was +falling and the going was rough and even dangerous; for now hillsides +suddenly broke off into sharp cut-banks, twenty, thirty, forty feet +high. + +It was one of these cut-banks that was his undoing, for in the dim +light he failed to note that the sheep track he was following ended thus +abruptly till it was too late. Had his horse been fresh he could easily +have recovered himself, but, spent as he was, Ginger stumbled, slid and +finally rolled headlong down the steep hillside and over the bank on +to the rocks below. Cameron had just strength to throw himself from the +saddle and, scrambling on his knees, to keep himself from following his +horse. Around the cut-bank he painfully made his way to where his horse +lay with his leg broken, groaning like a human being in his pain. + +"Poor old boy! You are done at last," he said. + +But there was no time to indulge regrets. Those lines of cattle were +swiftly and steadily converging upon the Sun Dance. He had before him an +almost impossible achievement. Well he knew that a man on foot could do +little with the wild range cattle. They would speedily trample him into +the ground. But he must go on. He must make the attempt. + +But first there was a task that it wrung his heart to perform. His +horse must be put out of pain. He took off his coat, rolled it over his +horse's head, inserted his gun under its folds to deaden the sound and +to hide those luminous eyes turned so entreatingly upon him. + +"Old boy, you have done your duty, and so must I. Good-by, old chap!" He +pulled the fatal trigger and Ginger's work was done. + +He took up his coat and set off once more upon the winding sheep trail +that he guessed would bring him to the Sun Dance. Dazed, half asleep, +numbed with weariness and faint with hunger, he stumbled on, while the +stars came out overhead and with their mild radiance lit up his rugged +way. + +Suddenly he found himself vividly awake. Diagonally across the face of +the hill in front of him, a few score yards away and moving nearer, a +horse came cantering. Quickly Cameron dropped behind a jutting rock. +Easily, daintily, with never a slip or slide came the horse till he +became clearly visible in the starlight. There was no mistaking that +horse or that rider. No other horse in all the territories could take +that slippery, slithery hill with a tread so light and sure, and no +other rider in the Western country could handle his horse with such +easy, steady grace among the rugged rocks of that treacherous hillside. +It was Nighthawk and his master. + +"Raven!" breathed Cameron to himself. "Raven! Is it possible? By Jove! +I would not have believed it. The Superintendent was right after all. He +is a villain, a black-hearted villain too. So, HE is the brains behind +this thing. I ought to have known it. Fool that I was! He pulled the +wool over my eyes all right." + +The rage that surged up through his heart stimulated his dormant +energies into new life. With a deep oath Cameron pulled out both his +guns and set off up the hill on the trail of the disappearing horseman. +His weariness fell from him like a coat, the spring came back to his +muscles, clearness to his brain. He was ready for his best fight and he +knew it lay before him. Swiftly, lightly he ran up the hillside. At the +top he paused amazed. Before him lay a large Indian encampment with rows +upon rows of tents and camp fires with kettles swinging, and everywhere +Indians and squaws moving about. Skirting the camp and still keeping +to the side of the hill, he came upon a stout new-built fence that ran +straight down an incline to a steep cut-bank with a sheer drop of thirty +feet or more. Like a flash the meaning of it came upon him. This was to +be the end of the drive. Here the cattle were to meet their death. Here +it was that the pemmican was to be made. On the hillside opposite there +was doubtless a similar fence and these two would constitute the fatal +funnel down which the cattle were to be stampeded over the cut-bank to +their destruction. This was the nefarious scheme planned by Raven and +his treacherous allies. + +Swiftly Cameron turned and followed the fence up the incline some three +or four hundred yards from the cut-bank. At its upper end the fence +curved outward for some distance upon a wide upland valley, then ceased +altogether. Such was the of the hill that no living man could turn +a herd of cattle once entered upon that steep incline. + +Down the hill, across the valley and up the other side ran Cameron, +keeping low and carefully picking his way among the loose stones till he +came to the other fence which, curving similarly outward, made with its +fellow a perfectly completed funnel. Once between the curving lips of +this funnel nothing could save the rushing, crowding cattle from the +deadly cut-bank below. + +"Oh, if I only had my horse," groaned Cameron, "I might have a chance to +turn them off just here." + +At the point at which he stood the of the hillside fell somewhat +toward the left and away slightly from the mouth of the funnel. A +skilled cowboy with sufficient nerve, on a first-class horse, might turn +the herd away from the cut-bank into the little coulee that led down +from the end of the fence, but for a man on foot the thing was quite +impossible. He determined, however, to make the effort. No man can +certainly tell how cattle will behave when excited and at night. + +As he stood there rapidly planning how to divert the rush of cattle from +that deadly funnel, there rose on the still night air a soft rumbling +sound like low and distant thunder. That sound Cameron knew only too +well. It was the pounding of two hundred steers upon the resounding +prairie. He rushed back again to the right side of the fenced runway, +and then forward to meet the coming herd. A half moon rising over the +round top of the hill revealed the black surging mass of steers, their +hoofs pounding like distant artillery, their horns rattling like a +continuous crash of riflery. Before them at a distance of a hundred +yards or more a mounted Indian rode toward the farther side of the +funnel and took his stand at the very spot at which there was some hope +of diverting the rushing herd from the cut-bank down the side coulee to +safety. + +"That man has got to go," said Cameron to himself, drawing his gun. But +before he could level it there shot out from the dim light behind the +Indian a man on horseback. Like a lion on its prey the horse leaped with +a wicked scream at the Indian pony. Before that furious leap both man +and pony went down and rolled over and over in front of the pounding +herd. Over the prostrate pony leaped the horse and up the hillside fair +in the face of that rushing mass of maddened steers. Straight across +their face sped the horse and his rider, galloping lightly, with never +a swerve or hesitation, then swiftly wheeling as the steers drew almost +level with him he darted furiously on their flank and rode close at +their noses. "Crack! Crack!" rang the rider's revolver, and two steers +in the far flank dropped to the earth while over them surged the +following herd. Again the revolver rang out, once, twice, thrice, and +at each crack a leader on the flank farthest away plunged down and was +submerged by the rushing tide behind. For an instant the column faltered +on its left and slowly began to swerve in that direction. Then upon the +leaders of the right flank the black horse charged furiously, biting, +kicking, plunging like a thing possessed of ten thousand devils. +Steadily, surely the line continued to swerve. + +"My God!" cried Cameron, unable to believe his eyes. "They are turning! +They are turned!" + +With wild cries and discharging his revolver fair in the face of the +leaders, Cameron rushed out into the open and crossed the mouth of the +funnel. + +"Go back, you fool! Go back!" yelled the man on horseback. "Go back! I +have them!" He was right. Cameron's sudden appearance gave the final and +necessary touch to the swerving movement. Across the mouth of the funnel +with its yawning deadly cut-bank, and down the side coulee, carrying +part of the fence with them, the herd crashed onward, with the black +horse hanging on their flank still biting and kicking with a kind of +joyous fury. + +"Raven! Raven!" cried Cameron in glad accents. "It is Raven! Thank God, +he is straight after all!" A great tide of gratitude and admiration +for the outlaw was welling up in his heart. But even as he ran there +thundered past him an Indian on horseback, the reins flying loose and a +rifle in his hands. As he flashed past a gleam of moonlight caught his +face, the face of a demon. + +"Little Thunder!" cried Cameron, whipping out his gun and firing, but +with no apparent effect, at the flying figure. + +With his gun still in his hand, Cameron ran on down the coulee in the +wake of Little Thunder. Far away could be heard the roar of the rushing +herd, but nothing could be seen of Raven. Running as he had never run in +his life, Cameron followed hard upon the Indian's track, who was by this +time some hundred yards in advance. Suddenly in the moonlight, and far +down the coulee, Raven could be seen upon his black horse cantering +easily up the and toward the swiftly approaching Indian. + +"Raven! Raven!" shouted Cameron, firing his gun. "On guard! On guard!" + +Raven heard, looked up and saw the Indian bearing down upon him. His +horse, too, saw the approaching foe and, gathering himself, in two short +leaps rushed like a whirlwind at him, but, swerving aside, the Indian +avoided the charging stallion. Cameron saw his rifle go up to his +shoulder, a shot reverberated through the coulee, Raven swayed in his +saddle. A second shot and the black horse was fair upon the Indian pony, +hurling him to the ground and falling himself upon him. As the Indian +sprang to his feet Raven was upon him. He gripped him by the throat and +shook him as a dog shakes a rat. Once, twice, his pistol fell upon the +snarling face and the Indian crumpled up and lay still, battered to +death. + +"Thank God!" cried Cameron, as he came up, struggling with his sobbing +breath. "You have got the beast." + +"Yes, I have got him," said Raven, with his hand to his side, "but I +guess he has got me too. And--" he paused. His eye fell upon his horse +lying upon his side and feebly kicking--"ah, I fear he has got you as +well, Nighthawk, old boy." As he staggered over toward his horse the +sound of galloping hoofs was heard coming down the coulee. + +"Here are some more of them!" cried Cameron, drawing out his guns. + +"All right, Cameron, my boy, just back up here beside me," said Raven, +as he coolly loaded his empty revolver. "We can send a few more of these +devils to hell. You are a good sport, old chap, and I want to go out in +no better company." + +"Hold up!" cried Cameron. "There is a woman. Why, there is a Policeman. +They are friends, Raven. It is the doctor and Moira. Hurrah! Here you +are, Martin. Quick! Quick! Oh, my God! He is dying!" + +Raven had sunk to his knees beside his horse. They gathered round him, a +Mounted Police patrol picked up on the way by Dr. Martin, Moira who had +come to show them the trail, and Smith. + +"Nighthawk, old boy," they heard Raven say, his hand patting the +shoulder of the noble animal, "he has done for you, I fear." His voice +came in broken sobs. The great horse lifted his beautiful head and +looked round toward his master. "Ah, my boy, we have done many a journey +together!" cried Raven as he threw his arm around the glossy neck, "and +on this last one too we shall not be far apart." The horse gave a slight +whinny, nosed into his master's hand and laid his head down again. A +slight quiver of the limbs and he was still for ever. "Ah, he has gone!" +cried Raven, "my best, my only friend." + +"No, no," cried Cameron, "you are with friends now, Raven, old man." He +offered his hand. Raven took it wonderingly. + +"You mean it, Cameron?" + +"Yes, with all my heart. You are a true man, if God ever made one, and +you have shown it to-night." + +"Ah!" said Raven, with a kind of sigh as he sank back and leaned up +against his horse. "That is good to hear. It is long since I have had a +friend." + +"Quick, Martin!" said Cameron. "He is wounded." + +"What? Where?" said the doctor, kneeling down beside him and tearing +open his coat and vest. "Oh, my God!" cried the doctor. "He is--" The +doctor paused abruptly. + +"What do you say? Oh, Dr. Martin, he is not badly wounded?" Moira threw +herself on her knees beside the wounded man and caught his hand. "Oh, it +is cold, cold," she cried through rushing tears. "Can you not help him? +Oh, you must not let him die." + +"Surely he is not dying?" said Cameron. + +The doctor was silently and swiftly working with his syringe. + +"How long, Doctor?" inquired Raven in a quiet voice. + +"Half an hour, perhaps less," said the doctor brokenly. "Have you any +pain?" + +"No, very little. It is quite easy. Cameron," he said, his voice +beginning to fail, "I want you to send a letter which you will find in +my pocket addressed to my brother. Tell no one the name. And add this, +that I forgive him. It was really not worth while," he added wearily, +"to hate him so. And say to the Superintendent I was on the straight +with him, with you all, with my country in this rebellion business. I +heard about this raid; and I fancy I have rather spoiled their pemmican. +I have run some cattle in my time, but you know, Cameron, a fellow who +has worn the uniform could not mix in with these beastly breeds against +the Queen, God bless her!" + +"Oh, Dr. Martin," cried the girl piteously, shaking him by the arm, "do +not tell me you can do nothing. Try--try something." She began again to +chafe the cold hand, her tears falling upon it. + +Raven looked up quickly at her. + +"You are weeping for me, Miss Moira?" he said, surprise and wonder in +his face. "For me? A horse-thief, an outlaw, for me? I thank you. And +forgive me--may I kiss your hand?" He tried feebly to lift her hand to +his lips. + +"No, no," cried the girl. "Not my hand!" and leaning over him she kissed +him on the brow. His eyes were still upon her. + +"Thank you," he said feebly, a rare, beautiful smile lighting up the +white face. "You make me believe in God's mercy." + +There was a quick movement in the group and Smith was kneeling beside +the dying man. + +"God's mercy, Mr. Raven," he said in an eager voice, "is infinite. Why +should you not believe in it?" + +Raven looked at him curiously. + +"Oh, yes," he said with a quaintly humorous smile, "you are the chap +that chucked Jerry away from the door?" + +Smith nodded, then said earnestly: + +"Mr. Raven, you must believe in God's mercy." + +"God's mercy," said the dying man slowly. "Yes, God's mercy. What is it +again? 'God--be--merciful--to me--a sinner.'" Once more he opened his +eyes and let them rest upon the face of the girl bending over him. +"Yes," he said, "you helped me to believe in God's mercy." With a sigh +as of content he settled himself quietly against the shoulders of his +dead horse. + +"Good old comrade," he said, "good-by!" He closed his eyes and drew a +deep breath. They waited for another, but there was no more. + +"He is gone," said the doctor. + +"Gone?" cried Moira. "Gone? Ochone, but he was the gallant gentleman!" +she wailed, lapsing into her Highland speech. "Oh, but he had the brave +heart and the true heart. Ochone! Ochone!" She swayed back and forth +upon her knees with hands clasped and tears running down her cheeks, +bending over the white face that lay so still in the moonlight and +touched with the majesty of death. + +"Come, Moira! Come, Moira!" said her brother surprised at her unwonted +display of emotion. "You must control yourself." + +"Leave her alone. Let her cry. She is in a hard spot," said Dr. Martin +in a sharp voice in which grief and despair were mingled. + +Cameron glanced at his friend's face. It was the face of a haggard old +man. + +"You are used up, old boy," he said kindly, putting his hand on the +doctor's arm. "You need rest." + +"Rest?" said the doctor. "Rest? Not I. But you do. And you too, Miss +Moira," he added gently. "Come," giving her his hand, "you must get +home." There was in his voice a tone of command that made the girl look +up quickly and obey. + +"And you?" she said. "You must be done." + +"Done? Yes, but what matter? Take her home, Cameron." + +"And what about you?" inquired Cameron. + +"Smith, the constable and I will look after--him--and the horse. Send a +wagon to-morrow morning." + +Without further word the brother and sister mounted their horses. + +"Good-by, old man. See you to-morrow," said Cameron. + +"Good-night," said the doctor shortly. + +The girl gave him her hand. + +"Good-night," she said simply, her eyes full of a dumb pain. + +"Good-by, Miss Moira," said the doctor, who held her hand for just a +moment as if to speak again, then abruptly he turned his back on her +without further word and so stood with never a glance more after her. +It was for him a final farewell to hopes that had lived with him and had +warmed his heart for the past three years. Now they were dead, dead as +the dead man upon whose white still face he stood looking down. + +"Thief, murderer, outlaw," he muttered to himself. "Sure enough--sure +enough. And yet you could not help it, nor could she." But he was not +thinking of the dead man's record in the books of the Mounted Police. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE GREAT CHIEF + + +On the rampart of hills overlooking the Piegan encampment the sun +was shining pleasantly. The winter, after its final savage kick, had +vanished and summer, crowding hard upon spring, was wooing the bluffs +and hillsides on their southern exposures to don their summer robes of +green. Not yet had the bluffs and hillsides quite yielded to the wooing, +not yet had they donned the bright green apparel of summer, but there +was the promise of summer's color gleaming through the neutral browns +and grays of the poplar bluffs and the sunny hillsides. The crocuses +with reckless abandon had sprung forth at the first warm kiss of the +summer sun and stood bravely, gaily dancing in their purple and gray, +till whole hillsides blushed for them. And the poplars, hesitating with +dainty reserve, shivered in shy anticipation and waited for a surer +call, still wearing their neutral tints, except where they stood +sheltered by the thick spruces from the surly north wind. There they +had boldly cast aside all prudery and were flirting in all their gallant +trappings with the ardent summer. + +Seeing none of all this, but dimly conscious of the good of it, Cameron +and his faithful attendant Jerry lay grimly watching through the +poplars. Three days had passed since the raid, and as yet there was no +sign at the Piegan camp of the returning raiders. Not for one hour +had the camp remained unwatched. Just long enough to bury his new-made +friend, the dead outlaw, did Cameron himself quit the post, leaving +Jerry on guard meantime, and now he was back again, with his glasses +searching every corner of the Piegan camp and watching every movement. +There was upon his face a look that filled with joy his watchful +companion, a look that proclaimed his set resolve that when Eagle +Feather and his young men should appear in camp there would speedily be +swift and decisive action. For three days his keen eyes had looked forth +through the delicate green-brown screen of poplar upon the doings of the +Piegans, the Mounted Police meantime ostentatiously beating up the Blood +Reserve with unwonted threats of vengeance for the raiders, the bruit of +which had spread through all the reserves. + +"Don't do anything rash," the Superintendent had admonished, as Cameron +appeared demanding three troopers and Jerry, with whom to execute +vengeance upon those who had brought death to a gallant gentleman and +his gallant steed, for both of whom there had sprung up in Cameron's +heart a great and admiring affection. + +"No, sir," Cameron had replied, "nothing rash; we will do a little +justice, that is all," but with so stern a face that the Superintendent +had watched him away with some anxiety and had privately ordered a +strong patrol to keep the Piegan camp under surveillance till Cameron +had done his work. But there was no call for aid from any patrol, as it +turned out; and before this bright summer morning had half passed away +Cameron shut up his glasses, ready for action. + +"I think they are all in now, Jerry," he said. "We will go down. Go and +bring in the men. There is that devil Eagle Feather just riding in." +Cameron's teeth went hard together on the name of the Chief, in whom +the leniency of Police administration of justice had bred only a deeper +treachery. + +Within half an hour Cameron with his three troopers and Jerry rode +jingling into the Piegan camp and disposed themselves at suitable +points of vantage. Straight to the Chief's tent Cameron rode, and found +Trotting Wolf standing at its door. + +"I want that cattle-thief, Eagle Feather," he announced in a clear, firm +voice that rang through the encampment from end to end. + +"Eagle Feather not here," was Trotting Wolf's sullen but disturbed +reply. + +"Trotting Wolf, I will waste no time on you," said Cameron, drawing his +gun. "I take Eagle Feather or you. Make your choice and quick about +it!" There was in Cameron's voice a ring of such compelling command that +Trotting Wolf weakened visibly. + +"I know not where Eagle Feather--" + +"Halt there!" cried Cameron to an Indian who was seen to be slinking +away from the rear of the line of tents. + +The Indian broke into a run. Like a whirlwind Cameron was on his trail +and before he had gained the cover of the woods had overtaken him. + +"Halt!" cried Cameron again as he reached the Indian's side. The Indian +stopped and drew a knife. "You would, eh? Take that, will you?" Leaning +down over his horse's neck Cameron struck the Indian with the butt of +his gun. Before he could rise the three constables in a converging rush +were upon him and had him handcuffed. + +"Now then, where is Eagle Feather?" cried Cameron in a furious voice, +riding his horse into the crowd that had gathered thick about him. "Ah, +I see you," he cried, touching his horse with his heel as on the farther +edge of the crowd he caught sight of his man. With a single bound his +horse was within touch of the shrinking Indian. "Stand where you are!" +cried Cameron, springing from his horse and striding to the Chief. "Put +up your hands!" he said, covering him with his gun. "Quick, you dog!" he +added, as Eagle Feather stood irresolute before him. Upon the uplifted +hands Cameron slipped the handcuffs. "Come with me, you cattle-thief," +he said, seizing him by the gaudy handkerchief that adorned his neck, +and giving him a quick jerk. + +"Trotting Wolf," said Cameron in a terrible voice, wheeling furiously +upon the Chief, "this cattle-thieving of your band must stop. I want the +six men who were in that cattle-raid, or you come with me. Speak quick!" +he added. + +"By Gar!" said Jerry, hugging himself in his delight, to the trooper who +was in charge of the first Indian. "Look lak' he tak' de whole camp." + +"By Jove, Jerry, it looks so to me, too! He has got the fear of death on +these chappies. Look at his face. He looks like the very devil." + +It was true. Cameron's face was gray, with purple blotches, and +distorted with passion, his eyes were blazing with fury, his manner one +of reckless savage abandon. There was but little delay. The rumors +of vengeance stored up for the raiders, the paralyzing effect of the +failure of the raid, the condemnation of a guilty conscience, but +above all else the overmastering rage of Cameron, made anything like +resistance simply impossible. In a very few minutes Cameron had his +prisoners in line and was riding to the Fort, where he handed them over +to the Superintendent for justice. + +That business done, he found his patrol-work pressing upon him with a +greater insistence than ever, for the runners from the half-breeds and +the Northern Indians were daily arriving at the reserves bearing +reports of rebel victories of startling magnitude. But even without +any exaggeration tales grave enough were being carried from lip to lip +throughout the Indian tribes. Small wonder that the irresponsible young +Chiefs, chafing under the rule of the white man and thirsting for the +mad rapture of fight, were straining almost to the breaking point the +authority of the cooler older heads, so that even that subtle redskin +statesman, Crowfoot, began to fear for his own position in the Blackfeet +confederacy. + +As the days went on the Superintendent at Macleod, whose duty it was to +hold in statu quo that difficult country running up into the mountains +and down to the American boundary-line, found his task one that would +have broken a less cool-headed and stout-hearted officer. + +The situation in which he found himself seemed almost to invite +destruction. On the eighteenth of March he had sent the best of his men, +some twenty-five of them, with his Inspector, to join the Alberta Field +Force at Calgary, whence they made that famous march to Edmonton of over +two hundred miles in four and a half marching days. From Calgary, too, +had gone a picked body of Police with Superintendent Strong and his +scouts as part of the Alberta Field Force under General Strange. Thus +it came that by the end of April the Superintendent at Fort Macleod had +under his command only a handful of his trained Police, supported by two +or three companies of Militia--who, with all their ardor, were unskilled +in plain-craft, strange to the country, new to war, ignorant of the +habits and customs and temper of the Indians with whom they were +supposed to deal--to hold the vast extent of territory under his charge, +with its little scattered hamlets of settlers, safe in the presence of +the largest and most warlike of the Indian tribes in Western Canada. + +Every day the strain became more intense. A crisis appeared to be +reached when the news came that on the twenty-fourth of April General +Middleton had met a check at Fish Creek, which, though not specially +serious in itself, revealed the possibilities of the rebel strategy and +gave heart to the enemy immediately engaged. + +And, though Fish Creek was no great fight, the rumor of it ran through +the Western reserves like red fire through prairie-grass, blowing almost +into flame the war-spirit of the young braves of the Bloods, Piegans +and Sarcees and even of the more stable Blackfeet. Three days after that +check, the news of it was humming through every tepee in the West, +and for a week or more it took all the cool courage and steady nerve +characteristic of the Mounted Police to enable them to ride without +flurry or hurry their daily patrols through the reserves. + +At this crisis it was that the Superintendent at Macleod gathered +together such of his officers and non-commissioned officers as he could +in council at Fort Calgary, to discuss the situation and to plan for all +possible emergencies. The full details of the Fish Creek affair had just +come in. They were disquieting enough, although the Superintendent made +light of them. On the wall of the barrack-room where the council was +gathered there hung a large map of the Territories. The Superintendent, +a man of small oratorical powers, undertook to set forth the disposition +of the various forces now operating in the West. + +"Here you observe the main line running west from Regina to the +mountains, some five hundred and fifty miles," he said. "And here, +roughly, two hundred and fifty miles north, is the northern boundary +line of our settlements, Prince Albert at the east, Battleford at the +center, Edmonton at the west, each of these points the center of a +country ravaged by half-breeds and bands of Indians. To each of these +points relief-expeditions have been sent. + +"This line represents the march of Commissioner Irvine from Regina to +Prince Albert--a most remarkable march that was too, gentlemen, nearly +three hundred miles over snow-bound country in about seven days. That +march will be remembered, I venture to say. The Commissioner still holds +Prince Albert, and we may rely upon it will continue to hold it safe +against any odds. Meantime he is scouting the country round about, +preventing Indians from reinforcing the enemy in any large numbers. + +"Next, to the west is Battleford, which holds the central position and +is the storm-center of the rebellion at present. This line shows the +march of Colonel Otter with Superintendent Herchmer from Swift Current +to that point. We have just heard that Colonel Otter has arrived at +Battleford and has raised the siege. But large bands of Indians are +in the vicinity of Battleford and the situation there is extremely +critical. I understand that old Oo-pee-too-korah-han-apee-wee-yin--" the +Superintendent prided himself upon his mastery of Indian names and +ran off this polysyllabic cognomen with the utmost facility--"the +Pond-maker, or Pound-maker as he has come to be called, is in the +neighborhood. He is not a bad fellow, but he is a man of unusual +ability, far more able than of the Willow Crees, Beardy, as he is +called, though not so savage, and he has a large and compact body of +Indians under him. + +"Then here straight north from us some two hundred miles is Edmonton, +the center of a very wide district sparsely settled, with a strong +half-breed element in the immediate neighborhood and Big Bear and Little +Pine commanding large bodies of Indians ravaging the country round +about. Inspector Griesbach is in command of this district, located +at Fort Saskatchewan, which is in close touch with Edmonton. General +Strange, commanding the Alberta Field Force and several companies of +Militia, together with our own men under Superintendent Strong and +Inspector Dickson, are on the way to relieve this post. Inspector +Dickson, I understand, has successfully made the crossing of the Red +Deer with his nine pr. gun, a quite remarkable feat I assure you. + +"But, gentlemen, you see the position in which we are placed in +this section of the country. From the Cypress Hills here away to the +southeast, westward to the mountains and down to the boundary-line, +you have a series of reserves almost completely denuded of Police +supervision. True, we are fortunate in having at the Blackfoot Crossing, +at Fort Calgary and at Fort Macleod, companies of Militia; but the very +presence of these troops incites the Indians, and in some ways is a +continual source of unrest among them. + +"Every day runners from the North and East come to our reserves with +extraordinary tales of rebel victories. This Fish Creek business has had +a tremendous influence upon the younger element. On every reserve there +are scores of young braves eager to rise. What a general uprising would +mean you know, or think you know. An Indian war of extermination is +a horrible possibility. The question before us all is--what is to be +done?" + +After a period of conversation the Superintendent summed up the results +of the discussion in a few short sentences: + +"It seems, gentlemen, there is not much more to be done than what we +are already doing. But first of all I need not say that we must keep our +nerve. I do not believe any Indian will see any sign of doubt or fear in +the face of any member of this Force. Our patrols must be regularly +and carefully done. There are a lot of things which we must not see, a +certain amount of lawbreaking which we must not notice. Avoid on every +possible occasion pushing things to extremes; but where it is necessary +to act we must act with promptitude and fearlessness, as Mr. Cameron +here did at the Piegan Reserve a week or so ago. I mention this because +I consider that action of Cameron's a typically fine piece of Police +work. We must keep on good terms with the Chiefs, tell them what good +news there is to tell. We must intercept every runner possible. Arrest +them and bring them to the barracks. The situation is grave, but not +hopeless. Great responsibilities rest upon us, gentlemen. I do not +believe that we shall fail." + +The little company broke up with resolute and grim determination stamped +on every face. There would be no weakening at any spot where a Mounted +Policeman was on duty. + +"Cameron, just a moment," said the Superintendent as he was passing out. +"Sit down. You were quite right in that Eagle Feather matter. You did +the right thing in pushing that hard." + +"I somehow felt I could do it, sir," replied Cameron simply. "I had the +feeling in my bones that we could have taken the whole camp that day." + +The Superintendent nodded. "I understand. And that is the way we should +feel. But don't do anything rash this week. This is a week of crisis. +If any further reverse should happen to our troops it will be extremely +difficult, if indeed possible, to hold back the younger braves. If there +should be a rising--which may God forbid--my plan then would be to back +right on to the Blackfeet Reserve. If old Crowfoot keeps steady--and +with our presence to support him I believe he would--we could hold +things safe for a while. But, Cameron, that Sioux devil Copperhead must +be got rid of. It is he that is responsible for this restless spirit +among the younger Chiefs. He has been in the East, you say, for the last +three weeks, but he will soon be back. His runners are everywhere. His +work lies here, and the only hope for the rebellion lies here, and he +knows it. My scouts inform me that there is something big immediately +on. A powwow is arranged somewhere before final action. I have reason to +suspect that if we sustain another reverse and if the minor Chiefs from +all the reserves come to an agreement, Crowfoot will yield. That is the +game that the Sioux is working on now." + +"I know that quite well, sir," replied Cameron. "Copperhead has captured +practically all the minor Chiefs." + +"The checking of that big cattle-run, Cameron, was a mighty good stroke +for us. You did that magnificently." + +"No, sir," replied Cameron firmly. "We owe that to Raven." + +"Yes, yes, we do owe a good deal to--to--that--to Raven. Fine fellow +gone wrong. Yes, we owe a lot to him, but we owe a lot to you as +well, Cameron. I am not saying you will ever get any credit for it, +but--well--who cares so long as the thing is done? But this Sioux must +be got at all costs--at all costs, Cameron, remember. I have never +asked you to push this thing to the limit, but now at all costs, dead or +alive, that Sioux must be got rid of." + +"I could have potted him several times," replied Cameron, "but did not +wish to push matters to extremes." + +"Quite right. Quite right. That has been our policy hitherto, but now +things have reached such a crisis that we can take no further chances. +The Sioux must be eliminated." + +"All right, sir," said Cameron, and a new purpose shaped itself in his +heart. At all costs he would get the Sioux, alive if possible, dead if +not. + +Plainly the first thing was to uncover his tracks, and with this +intention Cameron proceeded to the Blackfeet Reserve, riding with Jerry +down the Bow River from Fort Calgary, until, as the sun was setting on +an early May evening, he came in sight of the Blackfoot Crossing. + +Not wishing to visit the Militia camp at that point, and desiring +to explore the approaches of the Blackfeet Reserve with as little +ostentation as possible, he sent Jerry on with the horses, with +instructions to meet him later on in the evening on the outside of the +Blackfeet camp, and took a side trail on foot leading to the reserve +through a coulee. Through the bottom of the coulee ran a little +stream whose banks were packed tight with alders, willows and poplars. +Following the trail to where it crossed the stream, Cameron left it for +the purpose of quenching his thirst, and proceeded up-stream some little +way from the usual crossing. Lying there prone upon his face he caught +the sound of hoofs, and, peering through the alders, he saw a line +of Indians riding down the opposite bank. Burying his head among the +tangled alders and hardly breathing, he watched them one by one cross +the stream not more than thirty yards away and clamber up the bank. + +"Something doing here, sure enough," he said to himself as he noted +their faces. Three of them he knew, Red Crow of the Bloods, Trotting +Wolf of the Piegans, Running Stream of the Blackfeet, then came three +others unknown to Cameron, and last in the line Cameron was startled to +observe Copperhead himself, while close at his side could be seen the +slim figure of his son. As the Sioux passed by Cameron's hiding-place +he paused and looked steadily down into the alders for a moment or two, +then rode on. + +"Saved yourself that time, old man," said Cameron as the Sioux +disappeared, following the others up the trail. "We will see just which +trail you take," he continued, following them at a safe distance and +keeping himself hidden by the brush till they reached the open and +disappeared over the hill. Swiftly Cameron ran to the top, and, lying +prone among the prairie grass, watched them for some time as they took +the trail that ran straight westward. + +"Sarcee Reserve more than likely," he muttered to himself. "If Jerry +were only here! But he is not, so I must let them go in the meantime. +Later, however, we shall come up with you, gentlemen. And now for old +Crowfoot and with no time to lose." + +He had only a couple of miles to go and in a few minutes he had reached +the main trail from the Militia camp at the Crossing. In the growing +darkness he could not discern whether Jerry had passed with the horses +or not, so he pushed on rapidly to the appointed place of meeting and +there found Jerry waiting for him. + +"Listen, Jerry!" said he. "Copperhead is back. I have just seen him +and his son with Red Crow, Trotting Wolf and Running Stream. There were +three others--Sioux I think they are; at any rate I did not know them. +They passed me in the coulee and took the Sarcee trail. Now what do you +think is up?" + +Jerry pondered. "Come from Crowfoot, heh?" + +"From the reserve here anyway," answered Cameron. + +"Trotting Wolf beeg Chief--Red Crow beeg Chief--ver' bad! ver' bad! +Dunno me--look somet'ing--beeg powwow mebbe. Ver' bad! Ver' bad! Go +Sarcee Reserve, heh?" Again Jerry pondered. "Come from h'east--by +Blood--Piegan--den Blackfeet--go Sarcee. What dey do? Where go den?" + +"That is the question, Jerry," said Cameron. + +"Sout' to Weegwam? No, nord to Ghost Reever--Manitou +Rock--dunno--mebbe." + +"By Jove, Jerry, I believe you may be right. I don't think they would go +to the Wigwam--we caught them there once--nor to the canyon. What about +this Ghost River? I don't know the trail. Where is it?" + +"Nord from Bow Reever by Kananaskis half day to Ghost Reever--bad +trail--small leetle reever--ver' stony--ver' cold--beeg tree wit' long +beard." + +"Long beard?" + +"Yes--long, long gray moss lak' beard--ver' strange place dat--from +Ghost Reever west one half day to beeg Manitou Rock--no trail. Beeg +medicine-dance dere--see heem once long tam' 'go--leetle boy me--beeg +medicine--Indian debbil stay dere--Indian much scare'--only go when mak' +beeg tam'--beeg medicine." + +"Let me see if I get you, Jerry. A bad trail leads half a day north from +the Bow at Kananaskis to Ghost River, eh?" + +Jerry nodded. + +"Then up the Ghost River westward through the bearded trees half a day +to the Manitou Rock? Is that right?" + +Again Jerry nodded. + +"How shall I know the rock?" + +"Beeg rock," said Jerry. "Beeg dat tree," pointing to a tall poplar, +"and cut straight down lak some knife--beeg rock--black rock." + +"All right," said Cameron. "What I want to know just now is does +Crowfoot know of this thing? I fancy he must. I am going in to see him. +Copperhead has just come from the reserve. He has Running Stream with +him. It is possible, just possible, that he may not have seen Crowfoot. +This I shall find out. Now, Jerry, you must follow Copperhead, find out +where he has gone and all you can about this business, and meet me +where the trail reaches the Ghost River. Call in at Fort Calgary. Take a +trooper with you to look after the horses. I shall follow you to-morrow. +If you are not at the Ghost River I shall go right on--that is if I see +any signs." + +"Bon! Good!" said Jerry. And without further word he slipped on to his +horse and disappeared into the darkness, taking the cross-trail through +the coulee by which Cameron had come. + +Crowfoot's camp showed every sign of the organization and discipline of +a master spirit. The tents and houses in which his Indians lived were +extended along both sides of a long valley flanked at both ends by +poplar-bluffs. At the bottom of the valley there was a series of +"sleughs" or little lakes, affording good grazing and water for the +herds of cattle and ponies that could be seen everywhere upon the +hillsides. At a point farthest from the water and near to a poplar-bluff +stood Crowfoot's house. At the first touch of summer, however, +Crowfoot's household had moved out from their dwelling, after the manner +of the Indians, and had taken up their lodging in a little group of +tents set beside the house. + +Toward this little group of tents Cameron rode at an easy lope. He found +Crowfoot alone beside his fire, except for the squaws that were cleaning +up after the evening meal and the papooses and older children rolling +about on the grass. As Cameron drew near, all vanished, except Crowfoot +and a youth about seventeen years of age, whose strongly marked features +and high, fearless bearing proclaimed him Crowfoot's son. Dismounting, +Cameron dropped the reins over his horse's head and with a word of +greeting to the Chief sat down by the fire. Crowfoot acknowledged his +salutation with a suspicious look and grunt. + +"Nice night, Crowfoot," said Cameron cheerfully. "Good weather for the +grass, eh?" + +"Good," said Crowfoot gruffly. + +Cameron pulled out his tobacco pouch and passed it to the Chief. With an +air of indescribable condescension Crowfoot took the pouch, knocked the +ashes from his pipe, filled it from the pouch and handed it back to the +owner. + +"Boy smoke?" inquired Cameron, holding out the pouch toward the youth. + +"Huh!" grunted Crowfoot with a slight relaxing of his face. "Not +yet--too small." + +The lad stood like a statue, and, except for a slight stiffening of +his tall lithe figure, remained absolutely motionless, after the Indian +manner. For some time they smoked in silence. + +"Getting cold," said Cameron at length, as he kicked the embers of the +fire together. + +Crowfoot spoke to his son and the lad piled wood on the fire till it +blazed high, then, at a sign from his father, he disappeared into the +tent. + +"Ha! That is better," said Cameron, stretching out his hands toward the +fire and disposing himself so that the old Chief's face should be set +clearly in its light. + +"The Police ride hard these days?" said Crowfoot in his own language, +after a long silence. + +"Oh, sometimes," replied Cameron carelessly, "when cattle-thieves ride +too." + +"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot innocently. + +"Yes, some Indians forget all that the Police have done for them, +and like coyotes steal upon the cattle at night and drive them over +cut-banks." + +"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot again, apparently much interested. + +"Yes," continued Cameron, fully aware that he was giving the old Chief +no news, "Eagle Feather will be much wiser when he rides over the plains +again." + +"Huh!" ejaculated the Chief in agreement. + +"But Eagle Feather," continued Cameron, "is not the worst Indian. He is +no good, only a little boy who does what he is told." + +"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot with childlike simplicity. + +"Yes, he is an old squaw serving his Chief." + +"Huh?" again inquired Crowfoot, moving his pipe from his mouth in his +apparent anxiety to learn the name of this unknown master of Eagle +Feather. + +"Onawata, the Sioux, is a great Chief," said Cameron. + +Crowfoot grunted his indifference. + +"He makes all the little Chiefs, Blood, Piegan, Sarcee, Blackfeet obey +him," said Cameron in a scornful voice, shading his face from the fire +with his hand. + +This time Crowfoot made no reply. + +"But he has left this country for a while?" continued Cameron. + +Crowfoot grunted acquiescence. + +"My brother has not seen this Sioux for some weeks?" Again Cameron's +hand shaded his face from the fire while his eyes searched the old +Chief's impassive countenance. + +"No," said Crowfoot. "Not for many days. Onawata bad man--make much +trouble." + +"The big war is going on good," said Cameron, abruptly changing the +subject. + +"Huh?" inquired Crowfoot, looking up quickly. + +"Yes," said Cameron. "At Fish Creek the half-breeds and Indians had a +good chance to wipe out General Middleton's column." And he proceeded +to give a graphic account of the rebels' opportunity at that unfortunate +affair. "But," he concluded, "the half-breeds and Indians have no +Chief." + +"No Chief," agreed Crowfoot with emphasis, his old eyes gleaming in +the firelight. "No Chief," he repeated. "Where Big Bear--Little +Pine--Kah-mee-yes-too-waegs and Oo-pee-too-korah-han-ap-ee-wee-yin?" + +"Oh," said Cameron, "here, there, everywhere." + +"Huh! No big Chief," grunted Crowfoot in disgust. "One big Chief make +all Indians one." + +It seemed worth while to Cameron to take a full hour from his precious +time to describe fully the operations of the troops and to make clear +to the old warrior the steady advances which the various columns were +making, the points they had relieved and the ultimate certainty of +victory. + +"Six thousand men now in the West," he concluded, "besides the Police. +And ten thousand more waiting to come." + +Old Crowfoot was evidently much impressed and was eager to learn more. + +"I must go now," said Cameron, rising. "Where is Running Stream?" he +asked, suddenly facing Crowfoot. + +"Huh! Running Stream he go hunt--t'ree day--not come back," answered +Crowfoot quickly. + +Cameron sat down again by the fire, poked up the embers till the blaze +mounted high. + +"Crowfoot," he said solemnly, "this day Onawata was in this camp and +spoke with you. Wait!" he said, putting up his hand as the old Chief +was about to speak. "This evening he rode away with Running Stream, Red +Crow, Trotting Wolf. The Sioux for many days has been leading about your +young men like dogs on a string. To-day he has put the string round the +necks of Red Crow, Running Stream, Trotting Wolf. I did not think he +could lead Crowfoot too like a little dog. + +"Wait!" he said again as Crowfoot rose to his feet in indignation. +"Listen! The Police will get that Sioux. And the Police will take the +Chiefs that he led round like little dogs and send them away. The Great +Mother cannot have men as Chiefs whom she cannot trust. For many years +the Police have protected the Indians. It was Crowfoot himself who once +said when the treaty was being made--Crowfoot will remember--'If the +Police had not come to the country where would we all be now? Bad men +and whisky were killing us so fast that very few indeed of us would have +been left to-day. The Police have protected us as the feathers of the +bird protect it from the frosts of winter.' This is what Crowfoot said +to the Great Mother's Councilor when he made a treaty with the Great +Mother." + +Here Cameron rose to his feet and stood facing the Chief. + +"Is Crowfoot a traitor? Does he give his hand and draw it back again? +It is not good that, when trouble comes, the Indians should join the +enemies of the Police and of the Great Mother across the sea. These +enemies will be scattered like dust before the wind. Does Crowfoot think +when the leaves have fallen from the trees this year there will be any +enemies left? Bah! This Sioux dog does not know the Great Mother, nor +her soldiers, nor her Police. Crowfoot knows. Why does he talk to the +enemies of the Great Mother and of his friends the Police? What does +Crowfoot say? I go to-night to take Onawata. Already my men are upon his +trail. Where does Crowfoot stand? With Onawata and the little Chiefs +he leads around or with the Great Mother and the Police? Speak! I am +waiting." + +The old Chief was deeply stirred. For some moments while Cameron was +speaking he had been eagerly seeking an opportunity to reply, but +Cameron's passionate torrent of words prevented him breaking in without +discourtesy. When Cameron ceased, however, the old Chief stretched out +his hand and in his own language began: + +"Many years ago the Police came to this country. My people then were +poor--" + +At this point the sound of a galloping horse was heard, mingled with the +loud cries of its rider. Crowfoot paused and stood intently listening. +Cameron could get no meaning from the shouting. From every tent men came +running forth and from the houses along the trail on every hand, till +before the horse had gained Crowfoot's presence there had gathered about +the Chief's fire a considerable crowd of Indians, whose numbers were +momentarily augmented by men from the tents and houses up and down the +trail. + +In calm and dignified silence the old Chief waited the rider's word. He +was an Indian runner and he bore an important message. + +Dismounting, the runner stood, struggling to recover his breath and to +regain sufficient calmness to deliver his message in proper form to the +great Chief of the Blackfeet confederacy. While he stood thus struggling +with himself Cameron took the opportunity to closely scrutinize his +face. + +"A Sarcee," he muttered. "I remember him--an impudent cur." He moved +quietly toward his horse, drew the reins up over his head, and, leading +him back toward the fire, took his place beside Crowfoot again. + +The Sarcee had begun his tale, speaking under intense excitement which +he vainly tried to control. He delivered his message. Such was the +rapidity and incoherence of his speech, however, that Cameron could make +nothing of it. The effect upon the crowd was immediate and astounding. +On every side rose wild cries of fierce exultation, while at Cameron +angry looks flashed from every eye. Old Crowfoot alone remained quiet, +calm, impassive, except for the fierce gleaming of his steady eyes. + +When the runner had delivered his message he held up his hand and +spoke but a single word. Immediately there was silence as of the grave. +Nothing was heard, not even the breathing of the Indians close about +him. In sharp, terse sentences the old Chief questioned the runner, who +replied at first eagerly, then, as the questions proceeded, with some +hesitation. Finally, with a wave of the hand Crowfoot dismissed him and +stood silently pondering for some moments. Then he turned to his people +and said with quiet and impressive dignity: + +"This is a matter for the Council. To-morrow we will discuss it." Then +turning to Cameron he said in a low voice and with grave courtesy, "It +is wise that my brother should go while the trails are open." + +"The trails are always open to the Great Mother's Mounted Police," said +Cameron, looking the old Chief full in the eye. + +Crowfoot stood silent, evidently thinking deeply. + +"It is right that my brother should know," he said at length, "what the +runner tells," and in his deep guttural voice there was a ring of pride. + +"Good news is always welcome," said Cameron, as he coolly pulled out his +pipe and offered his pouch once more to Crowfoot, who, however, declined +to see it. + +"The white soldiers have attacked the Indians and have been driven +back," said Crowfoot with a keen glance at Cameron's face. + +"Ah!" said Cameron, smiling. "What Indians? What white soldiers?" + +"The soldiers that marched to Battleford. They went against +Oo-pee-too-korah-han-ap-ee-wee-yin and the Indians did not run away." No +words could describe the tone and attitude of exultant and haughty pride +with which the old Chief delivered this information. + +"Crowfoot," said Cameron with deliberate emphasis, "it was Colonel Otter +and Superintendent Herchmer of the Mounted Police that went north +to Battleford. You do not know Colonel Otter, but you do know +Superintendent Herchmer. Tell me, would Superintendent Herchmer and the +Police run away?" + +"The runner tells that the white soldiers ran away," said Crowfoot +stubbornly. + +"Then the runner lies!" Cameron's voice rang out loud and clear. + +Swift as a lightning flash the Sarcee sprang at Cameron, knife in hand, +crying in the Blackfeet tongue that terrible cry so long dreaded by +settlers in the Western States of America, "Death to the white man!" +Without apparently moving a muscle, still holding by the mane of his +horse, Cameron met the attack with a swift and well-placed kick which +caught the Indian's right wrist and flung his knife high in the air. +Following up the kick, Cameron took a single step forward and met the +murderous Sarcee with a straight left-hand blow on the jaw that landed +the Indian across the fire and deposited him kicking amid the crowd. + +Immediately there was a quick rush toward the white man, but the rush +halted before two little black barrels with two hard, steady, gray eyes +gleaming behind them. + +"Crowfoot!" said Cameron sharply. "I hold ten dead Indians in my hands." + +With a single stride Crowfoot was at Cameron's side. A single sharp +stern word of command he uttered and the menacing Indians slunk back +into the shadows, but growling like angry beasts. + +"Is it wise to anger my young men?" said Crowfoot in a low voice. + +"Is it wise," replied Cameron sternly, "to allow mad dogs to run loose? +We kill such mad dogs in my country." + +"Huh," grunted Crowfoot with a shrug of his shoulders. "Let him die!" +Then in a lower voice he added earnestly, "It would be good to take the +trail before my young men can catch their horses." + +"I was just going, Crowfoot," said Cameron, stooping to light his +pipe at the fire. "Good-night. Remember what I have said." And Cameron +cantered away with both hands low before him and guiding his broncho +with his knees, and so rode easily till safely beyond the line of the +reserve. Once out of the reserve he struck his spurs hard into his horse +and sent him onward at headlong pace toward the Militia camp. + +Ten minutes after his arrival at the camp every soldier was in his place +ready to strike, and so remained all night, with pickets thrown far out +listening with ears attent for the soft pad of moccasined feet. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE LAST PATROL + + +It was still early morning when Cameron rode into the barrack-yard at +Fort Calgary. To the Sergeant in charge, the Superintendent of Police +having departed to Macleod, he reported the events of the preceding +night. + +"What about that rumor, Sergeant?" he inquired after he had told his +tale. + +"Well, I had the details yesterday," replied the Sergeant. "Colonel +Otter and a column of some three hundred men with three guns went out +after Pound-maker. The Indians were apparently strongly posted and could +not be dislodged, and I guess our men were glad to get out of the scrape +as easily as they did." + +"Great Heavens!" cried Cameron, more to himself than to the officer, +"what will this mean to us here?" + +The Sergeant shrugged his shoulders. + +"The Lord only knows!" he said. + +"Well, my business presses all the more," said Cameron. "I'm going after +this Sioux. Jerry is already on his trail. I suppose you cannot let +me have three or four men? There is liable to be trouble and we cannot +afford to make a mess of this thing." + +"Jerry came in last night asking for a man," replied the Sergeant, "but +I could not spare one. However, we will do our best and send you on the +very first men that come in." + +"Send on half a dozen to-morrow at the very latest," replied Cameron. "I +shall rely upon you. Let me give you my trail." + +He left a plan of the Ghost River Trail with the Sergeant and rode to +look up Dr. Martin. He found the doctor still in bed and wrathful at +being disturbed. + +"I say, Cameron," he growled, "what in thunder do you mean by roaming +round this way at night and waking up Christian people out of their +sleep?" + +"Sorry, old boy," replied Cameron, "but my business is rather +important." + +And then while the doctor sat and shivered in his night clothes upon the +side of the bed Cameron gave him in detail the history of the previous +evening and outlined his plan for the capture of the Sioux. + +Dr. Martin listened intently, noting the various points and sketching an +outline of the trail as Cameron described it. + +"I wanted you to know, Martin, in case anything happened. For, well, you +know how it is with my wife just now. A shock might kill her." + +The doctor growled an indistinct reply. + +"That is all, old chap. Good-by," said Cameron, pressing his hand. "This +I feel is my last go with old Copperhead." + +"Your last go?" + +"Oh, don't be alarmed," he replied lightly. "I am going to get him this +time. There will be no trifling henceforth. Well, good-by, I am off. +By the way, the Sergeant at the barracks has promised to send on half +a dozen men to-morrow to back me up. You might just keep him in mind of +that, for things are so pressing here that he might quite well imagine +that he could not spare the men." + +"Well, that is rather better," said Martin. "The Sergeant will send +those men all right, or I will know the reason why. Hope you get your +game. Good-by, old man." + +A day's ride brought Cameron to Kananaskis, where the Sun Dance Trail +ends on one side of the Bow River and the Ghost River Trail begins on +the other. There he found signs to indicate that Jerry was before him +on his way to the Manitou Rock. As Cameron was preparing to camp for +the night there came over him a strong but unaccountable presentiment +of approaching evil, an irresistible feeling that he ought to press +forward. + +"Pshaw! I will be seeing spooks next!" he said impatiently to himself. +"I suppose it is the Highlander in me that is seeing visions and +dreaming dreams. I must eat, however, no matter what is going to +happen." + +Leaving his horse saddled, but removing the bridle, he gave him his +feed of oats, then he boiled his tea and made his own supper. As he was +eating the feeling grew more strongly upon him that he should not camp +but go forward at once. At the same time he made the discovery that the +weariness that had almost overpowered him during the last half-hour +of his ride had completely vanished. Hence, with the feeling of half +contemptuous anger at himself for yielding to his presentiment, he +packed up his kit again, bridled his horse, and rode on. + +The trail was indeed, as Jerry said, "no trail." It was rugged with +broken rocks and cumbered with fallen trees, and as it proceeded became +more indistinct. His horse, too, from sheer weariness, for he had +already done his full day's journey, was growing less sure footed and +so went stumbling noisily along. Cameron began to regret his folly in +yielding to a mere unreasoning imagination and he resolved to spend the +night at the first camping-ground that should offer. The light of the +long spring day was beginning to fade from the sky and in the forest the +deep shadows were beginning to gather. Still no suitable camping-ground +presented itself and Cameron stubbornly pressed forward through the +forest that grew denser and more difficult at every step. After some +hours of steady plodding the trees began to be sensibly larger, the +birch and poplar gave place to spruce and pine and the underbrush almost +entirely disappeared. The trail, too, became better, winding between +the large trees which, with clean trunks, stood wide apart and arranged +themselves in stately high-arched aisles and long corridors. From the +lofty branches overhead the gray moss hung in long streamers, as Jerry +had said, giving to the trees an ancient and weird appearance. Along +these silent, solemn, gray-festooned aisles and corridors Cameron rode +with an uncanny sensation that unseen eyes were peering out upon him +from those dim and festooned corridors on either side. Impatiently he +strove to shake off the feeling, but in vain. At length, forced by +the growing darkness, he decided to camp, when through the shadowy and +silent forest there came to his ears the welcome sound of running water. +It was to Cameron like the sound of a human voice. He almost called +aloud to the running stream as to a friend. It was the Ghost River. + +In a few minutes he had reached the water and after picketing his horse +some little distance down the stream and away from the trail, he +rolled himself in his blanket to sleep. The moon rising above the high +tree-tops filled the forest aisles with a soft unearthly light. As his +eye followed down the long dim aisles there grew once more upon him +the feeling that he was being watched by unseen eyes. Vainly he cursed +himself for his folly. He could not sleep. A twig broke near him. He +lay still listening with every nerve taut. He fancied he could hear soft +feet about him and stealing near. With his two guns in hand he sat bolt +upright. Straight before him and not more than ten feet away the form of +an Indian was plainly to be seen. A slight sound to his right drew his +eyes in that direction. There, too, stood the silent form of an Indian, +on his left also an Indian. Suddenly from behind him a deep, guttural +voice spoke, "Look this way!" He turned sharply and found himself gazing +into a rifle-barrel a few feet from his face. "Now look back!" said the +voice. He glanced to right and left, only to find rifles leveled at him +from every side. + +"White man put down his guns on ground!" said the same guttural voice. + +Cameron hesitated. + +"Indian speak no more," said the voice in a deep growl. + +Cameron put his guns down. + +"Stand up!" said the voice. + +Cameron obeyed. Out from behind the Indian with the leveled rifle glided +another Indian form. It was Copperhead. Two more Indians appeared with +him. All thought of resistance passed from Cameron's mind. It would mean +instant death, and, what to Cameron was worse than death, the certain +failure of his plans. While he lived he still had hope. Besides, there +would be the Police next day. + +With savage, cruel haste Copperhead bound his hands behind his back and +as a further precaution threw a cord about his neck. + +"Come!" he said, giving the cord a quick jerk. + +"Copperhead," said Cameron through his clenched teeth, "you will one day +wish you had never done this thing." + +"No speak!" said Copperhead gruffly, jerking the cord so heavily as +almost to throw Cameron off his feet. + +Through the night Cameron stumbled on with his captors, Copperhead in +front and the others following. Half dead with sleeplessness and blind +with rage he walked on as if in a hideous nightmare, mechanically +watching the feet of the Indian immediately in front of him and thus +saving himself many a cruel fall and a more cruel jerking of the cord +about his neck, for such was Copperhead's method of lifting him to his +feet when he fell. It seemed to him as if the night would never pass or +the journey end. + +At length the throbbing of the Indian drum fell upon his ears. It was to +him a welcome sound. Nothing could be much more agonizing than what he +was at present enduring. As they approached the Indian camp one of his +captors raised a wild, wailing cry which resounded through the forest +with an unearthly sound. Never had such a cry fallen upon Cameron's +ears. It was the old-time cry of the Indian warriors announcing that +they were returning in triumph bringing their captives with them. +The drum-beat ceased. Again the cry was raised, when from the Indian +encampment came in reply a chorus of similar cries followed by a rush +of braves to meet the approaching warriors and to welcome them and their +captives. + +With loud and discordant exultation straight into the circle of the +firelight cast from many fires Copperhead and his companions marched +their captive. On every side naked painted Indians to the number of +several score crowded in tumultuous uproar. Not for many years had these +Indians witnessed their ancient and joyous sport of baiting a prisoner. + +As Cameron came into the clear light of the fire instantly low murmurs +ran round the crowd, for to many of them he was well known. Then silence +fell upon them. His presence there was clearly a shock to many of +them. To take prisoner one of the Mounted Police and to submit him to +indignity stirred strange emotions in their hearts. The keen eye of +Copperhead noted the sudden change of the mood of the Indians and +immediately he gave orders to those who held Cameron in charge, with the +result that they hurried him off and thrust him into a little low hut +constructed of brush and open in front where, after tying his feet +securely, they left him with an Indian on guard in front. + +For some moments Cameron lay stupid with weariness and pain till his +weariness overpowered his pain and he sank into sleep. He was recalled +to consciousness by the sensation of something digging into his ribs. As +he sat up half asleep a low "hist!" startled him wide awake. His heart +leaped as he heard out of the darkness a whispered word, "Jerry here." +Cameron rolled over and came close against the little half-breed, bound +as he was himself. Again came the "hist!" + +"Me all lak' youse'f," said Jerry. "No spik any. Look out front." + +The Indian on guard was eagerly looking and listening to what was going +on before him beside the fire. At one side of the circle sat the Indians +in council. Copperhead was standing and speaking to them. + +"What is he saying?" said Cameron, his mouth close to Jerry's ear. + +"He say dey keel us queeck. Indian no lak' keel. Dey scare Police get +'em. Copperhead he ver' mad. Say he keel us heemse'f--queeck." + +Again and again and with ever increasing vehemence Copperhead urged his +views upon the hesitating Indians, well aware that by involving them in +such a deed of blood he would irrevocably commit them to rebellion. But +he was dealing with men well-nigh as subtle as himself, and for the very +same reason as he pressed them to the deed they shrank back from it. +They were not yet quite prepared to burn their bridges behind them. +Indeed some of them suggested the wisdom of holding the prisoners as +hostages in case of necessity arising in the future. + +"What Indians are here?" whispered Cameron. + +"Piegan, Sarcee, Blood," breathed Jerry. "No Blackfeet come--not +yet--Copperhead he look, look, look all yesterday for Blackfeet +coming. Blackfeet come to-morrow mebbe--den Indian mak' beeg medicine. +Copperhead he go meet Blackfeet dis day--he catch you--he go 'gain +to-morrow mebbe--dunno." + +Meantime the discussion in the council was drawing to a climax. With +the astuteness of a true leader Copperhead ceased to urge his view, and, +unable to secure the best, wisely determined to content himself with the +second-best. His vehement tone gave place to one of persuasion. Finally +an agreement appeared to be reached by all. With one consent the council +rose and with hands uplifted they all appeared to take some solemn oath. + +"What are they saying?" whispered Cameron. + +"He say," replied Jerry, "he go meet Blackfeet and when he bring 'em +back den dey keel us sure t'ing. But," added Jerry with a cheerful +giggle, "he not keel 'em yet, by Gar!" + +For some minutes they waited in silence, then they saw Copperhead with +his bodyguard of Sioux disappear from the circle of the firelight into +the shadows of the forest. + +"Now you go sleep," whispered Jerry. "Me keep watch." + +Even before he had finished speaking Cameron had lain back upon the +ground and in spite of the pain in his tightly bound limbs such was his +utter exhaustion that he fell fast asleep. + +It seemed to him but a moment when he was again awakened by the touch +of a hand stealing over his face. The hand reached his lips and rested +there, when he started up wide-awake. A soft hiss from the back of the +hut arrested him. + +"No noise," said a soft guttural voice. Again the hand was thrust +through the brush wall, this time bearing a knife. "Cut string," +whispered the voice, while the hand kept feeling for the thongs that +bound Cameron's hands. In a few moments Cameron was free from his bonds. + +"Give me the knife," he whispered. It was placed in his hands. + +"Tell you squaw," said the voice, "sick boy not forget." + +"I will tell her," replied Cameron. "She will never forget you." The boy +laid his hand on Cameron's lips and was gone. + +Soon Jerry too was free. Slowly they wormed their way through the flimsy +brush wall at the back, and, crouching low, looked about them. The camp +was deep in sleep. The fires were smoldering in their ashes. Not an +Indian was moving. Lying across the front of their little hut the +sleeping form of their guard could be seen. The forest was still black +behind them, but already there was in the paling stars the faint promise +of the dawn. Hardly daring to breathe, they rose and stood looking at +each other. + +"No stir," said Jerry with his lips at Cameron's ear. He dropped on his +hands and knees and began carefully to remove every twig from his path +so that his feet might rest only upon the deep leafy mold of the +forest. Carefully Cameron followed his example, and, working slowly and +painfully, they gained the cover of the dark forest away from the circle +of the firelight. + +Scarcely had they reached that shelter when an Indian rose from beside +a fire, raked the embers together, and threw some sticks upon it. As +Cameron stood watching him, his heart-beat thumping in his ears, a +rotten twig snapped under his feet. The Indian turned his face in their +direction, and, bending forward, appeared to be listening intently. +Instantly Jerry, stooping down, made a scrambling noise in the leaves, +ending with a thump upon the ground. Immediately the Indian relaxed his +listening attitude, satisfied that a rabbit was scurrying through the +forest upon his own errand bent. Rigidly silent they stood, watching him +till long after he had lain down again in his place, then once more they +began their painful advance, clearing treacherous twigs from every place +where their feet should rest. Fortunately for their going the forest +here was largely free from underbrush. Working carefully and painfully +for half an hour, and avoiding the trail by the Ghost River, they made +their way out of hearing of the camp and then set off at such speed as +their path allowed, Jerry in the lead and Cameron following. + +"Where are you going, Jerry?" inquired Cameron as the little half-breed, +without halt or hesitation, went slipping through the forest. + +"Kananaskis," said Jerry. "Strike trail near Bow Reever." + +"Hold up for a moment, Jerry. I want to talk to you," said Cameron. + +"No! Mak' speed now. Stop in brush." + +"All right," said Cameron, following close upon his heels. + +The morning broadened into day, but they made no pause till they had +left behind them the open timber and gained the cover of the forest +where the underbrush grew thick. Then Jerry, finding a dry and sheltered +spot, threw himself down and stretched himself at full length waiting +for Cameron's word. + +"Tired, Jerry?" said Cameron. + +"Non," replied the little man scornfully. "When lie down tak' 'em easy." + +"Good! Now listen! Copperhead is on his way to meet the Blackfeet, but +I fancy he is going to be disappointed." Then Cameron narrated to Jerry +the story of his recent interview with Crowfoot. "So I don't think," he +concluded, "any Blackfeet will come. Copperhead and Running Stream are +going to be sold this time. Besides that the Police are on their way to +Kananaskis following our trail. They will reach Kananaskis to-night and +start for Ghost River to-morrow. We ought to get Copperhead between us +somewhere on the Ghost River trail and we must get him to-day. Where +will he be now?" + +Jerry considered the matter, then, pointing straight eastward, he +replied: + +"On trail Kananaskis not far from Ghost Reever." + +"Will he be that far?" inquired Cameron. "He would have to sleep and +eat, Jerry." + +"Non! No sleep--hit sam' tam' he run." + +"Then it is quite possible," said Cameron, "that we may head him off." + +"Mebbe--dunno how fas' he go," said Jerry. + +"By the way, Jerry, when do we eat?" inquired Cameron. + +"Pull belt tight," said Jerry with a grin. "Hit at cache on trail." + +"Do you mean to say you had the good sense to cache some grub, Jerry, on +your way down?" + +"Jerry lak' squirrel," replied the half-breed. "Cache grub many +place--sometam come good." + +"Great head, Jerry. Now, where is the cache?" + +"Halfway Kananaskis to Ghost Reever." + +"Then, Jerry, we must make that Ghost River trail and make it quick if +we are to intercept Copperhead." + +"Bon! We mus' mak' beeg speed for sure." And "make big speed" they +did, with the result that by midday they struck the trail not far from +Jerry's cache. As they approached the trail they proceeded with extreme +caution, for they knew that at any moment they might run upon Copperhead +and his band or upon some of their Indian pursuers who would assuredly +be following them hard. A careful scrutiny of the trail showed that +neither Copperhead nor their pursuers had yet passed by. + +"Come now ver' soon," said Jerry, as he left the trail, and, plunging +into the brush, led the way with unerring precision to where he had made +his cache. Quickly they secured the food and with it made their way back +to a position from which they could command a view of the trail. + +"Go sleep now," said Jerry, after they had done. "Me watch one hour." + +Gladly Cameron availed himself of the opportunity to catch up his sleep, +in which he was many hours behind. He stretched himself on the ground +and in a moment's time lay as completely unconscious as if dead. But +before half of his allotted time was gone he was awakened by Jerry's +hand pressing steadily upon his arm. + +"Indian come," whispered the half-breed. Instantly Cameron was +wide-awake and fully alert. + +"How many, Jerry?" he asked, lying with his ear to the ground. + +"Dunno. T'ree--four mebbe." + +They had not long to wait. Almost as Jerry was speaking the figure of an +Indian came into view, running with that tireless trot that can wear out +any wild animal that roams the woods. + +"Copperhead!" whispered Cameron, tightening his belt and making as if to +rise. + +"Wait!" replied Jerry. "One more." + +Following Copperhead, and running not close upon him but at some +distance behind, came another Indian, then another, till three had +passed their hiding-place. + +"Four against two, Jerry," said Cameron. "That is all right. They have +their knives, I see, but only one gun. We have no guns and only one +knife. But Jerry, we can go in and kill them with our bare hands." + +Jerry nodded carelessly. He had fought too often against much greater +odds in Police battles to be unduly disturbed at the present odds. + +Silently and at a safe distance behind they fell into the wake of the +running Indians, Jerry with his moccasined feet leading the way. Mile +after mile they followed the trail, ever on the alert for the doubling +back of those whom they were pursuing. Suddenly Cameron heard a sharp +hiss from Jerry in front. Swiftly he flung himself into the brush and +lay still. Within a minute he saw coming back upon the trail an Indian, +silent as a shadow and listening at every step. The Indian passed his +hiding-place and for some minutes Cameron lay watching until he saw him +return in the same stealthy manner. After some minutes had elapsed a +soft hiss from Jerry brought Cameron cautiously out upon the trail once +more. + +"All right," whispered Jerry. "All Indians pass on before." And once +more they went forward. + +A second time during the afternoon Jerry's warning hiss sent Cameron +into the brush to allow an Indian to scout his back trail. It was clear +that the presence of Cameron and the half-breed upon the Ghost River +trail had awakened the suspicion in Copperhead's mind that the plan to +hold a powwow at Manitou Rock was known to the Police and that they were +on his trail. It became therefore increasingly evident to Cameron that +any plan that involved the possibility of taking Copperhead unawares +would have to be abandoned. He called Jerry back to him. + +"Jerry," he said, "if that Indian doubles back on his track again I mean +to get him. If we get him the other chaps will follow. If I only had a +gun! But this knife is no use to me." + +"Give heem to me," said Jerry eagerly. "I find heem good." + +It was toward the close of the afternoon when again Jerry's hiss warned +Cameron that the Indian was returning upon his trail. Cameron stepped +into the brush at the side, and, crouching low, prepared for the +encounter, but as he was about to spring Jerry flashed past him, and, +hurling himself upon the Indian's back, gripped him by the throat and +bore him choking to earth, knocking the wind out of him and rendering +him powerless. Jerry's knife descended once bright, once red, and the +Indian with a horrible gasping cry lay still. + +"Quick!" cried Cameron, seizing the dead man by the shoulders. "Lift him +up!" + +Jerry sprang to seize the legs, and, taking care not to break down the +brush on either side of the trail, they lifted the body into the thick +underwood and concealing themselves beside it awaited events. Hardly +were they out of sight when they heard the soft pad of several feet +running down the trail. Opposite them the feet stopped abruptly. + +"Huh!" grunted the Indian runner, and darted back by the way he had +come. + +"Heem see blood," whispered Jerry. "Go back tell Copperhead." + +With every nerve strung to its highest tension they waited, crouching, +Jerry tingling and quivering with the intensity of his excitement, +Cameron quiet, cool, as if assured of the issue. + +"I am going to get that devil this time, Jerry," he breathed. "He +dragged me by the neck once. I will show him something." + +Jerry laid his hand upon his arm. At a little distance from them there +was a sound of creeping steps. A few moments they waited and at their +side the brush began to quiver. A moment later beside Cameron's face +a hand carrying a rifle parted the screen of spruce boughs. Quick as +a flash Cameron seized the wrist, gripping it with both hands, and, +putting his weight into the swing, flung himself backwards; at the same +time catching the body with his knee, he heaved it clear over their +heads and landed it hard against a tree. The rifle tumbled from the +Indian's hand and he lay squirming on the ground. Immediately as Jerry +sprang for the rifle a second Indian thrust his face through the screen, +caught sight of Jerry with the rifle, darted back and disappeared with +Jerry hard upon his trail. Scarcely had they vanished into the brush +when Cameron, hearing a slight sound at his back, turned swiftly to +see a tall Indian charging upon him with knife raised to strike. He had +barely time to thrust up his arm and divert the blow from his neck to +his shoulder when the Indian was upon him like a wild cat. + +"Ha! Copperhead!" cried Cameron with exultation, as he flung him off. +"At last I have you! Your time has come!" + +The Sioux paused in his attack, looking scornfully at his antagonist. +He was dressed in a highly embroidered tight-fitting deerskin coat and +leggings. + +"Huh!" he grunted in a voice of quiet, concentrated fury. "The white dog +will die." + +"No, Copperhead," replied Cameron quietly. "You have a knife, I have +none, but I shall lead you like a dog into the Police guard-house." + +The Sioux said nothing in reply, but kept circling lightly on his toes +waiting his chance to spring. As the two men stood facing each other +there was little to choose between them in physical strength and agility +as well as in intelligent fighting qualities. There was this difference, +however, that the Indian's fighting had ever been to kill, the white +man's simply to win. But this difference to-day had ceased to exist. +There was in Cameron's mind the determination to kill if need be. One +immense advantage the Indian held in that he possessed a weapon in +the use of which he was a master and by means of which he had already +inflicted a serious wound upon his enemy, a wound which as yet was but +slightly felt. To deprive the Indian of that knife was Cameron's first +aim. That once achieved, the end could not long be delayed; for the +Indian, though a skillful wrestler, knows little of the art of fighting +with his hands. + +As Cameron stood on guard watching his enemy's movements, his mind +recalled in swift review the various wrongs he had suffered at his +hands, the fright and insult to his wife, the devastation of his home, +the cattle-raid involving the death of Raven, and lastly he remembered +with a deep rage his recent humiliation at the Indian's hands and how +he had been hauled along by the neck and led like a dog into the Indian +camp. At these recollections he became conscious of a burning desire to +humiliate the redskin who had dared to do these things to him. + +With this in mind he waited the Indian's attack. The attack came swift +as a serpent's dart, a feint to strike, a swift recoil, then like +a flash of light a hard drive with the knife. But quick as was the +Indian's drive Cameron was quicker. Catching the knife-hand at the wrist +he drew it sharply down, meeting at the same time the Indian's chin with +a short, hard uppercut that jarred his head so seriously that his grip +on the knife relaxed and it fell from his hand. Cameron kicked it behind +him into the brush while the Indian, with a mighty wrench, released +himself from Cameron's grip and sprang back free. For some time the +Indian kept away out of Cameron's reach as if uncertain of himself. +Cameron taunted him. + +"Onawata has had enough! He cannot fight unless he has a knife! See! I +will punish the great Sioux Chief like a little child." + +So saying, Cameron stepped quickly toward him, made a few passes and +once, twice, with his open hand slapped the Indian's face hard. In a mad +fury of passion the Indian rushed upon him. Cameron met him with blows, +one, two, three, the last one heavy enough to lay him on the ground +insensible. + +"Oh, get up!" said Cameron contemptuously, kicking him as he might a +dog. "Get up and be a man!" + +Slowly the Indian rose, wiping his bleeding lips, hate burning in his +eyes, but in them also a new look, one of fear. + +"Ha! Onawata is a great fighter!" smiled Cameron, enjoying to the full +the humiliation of his enemy. + +Slowly the Indian gathered himself together. He was no coward and he was +by no means beaten as yet, but this kind of fighting was new to him. He +apparently determined to avoid those hammering fists of the white man. +With extraordinary agility he kept out of Cameron's reach, circling +about him and dodging in and out among the trees. While thus pressing +hard upon the Sioux Cameron suddenly became conscious of a sensation +of weakness. The bloodletting of the knife wound was beginning to tell. +Cameron began to dread that if ever this Indian made up his mind to run +away he might yet escape. He began to regret his trifling with him and +he resolved to end the fight as soon as possible with a knock-out blow. + +The quick eye of the Indian perceived that Cameron's breath was coming +quicker, and, still keeping carefully out of his enemy's reach, he +danced about more swiftly than ever. Cameron realized that he must bring +the matter quickly to an end. Feigning a weakness greater than he felt, +he induced the Indian to run in upon him, but this time the Indian +avoided the smashing blow with which Cameron met him, and, locking his +arms about his antagonist and gripping him by the wounded shoulder, +began steadily to wear him to the ground. Sickened by the intensity +of the pain in his wounded shoulder, Cameron felt his strength rapidly +leaving him. Gradually the Indian shifted his hand up from the shoulder +to the neck, the fingers working their way toward Cameron's face. Well +did Cameron know the savage trick which the Indian had in mind. In a +few minutes more those fingers would be in Cameron's eyes pressing the +eyeballs from their sockets. It was now the Indian's turn to jibe. + +"Huh!" he exclaimed. "White man no good. Soon he see no more." + +The taunt served to stimulate every ounce of Cameron's remaining +strength. With a mighty effort he wrenched the Indian's hand from his +face, and, tearing himself free, swung his clenched fist with all his +weight upon the Indian's neck. The blow struck just beneath the jugular +vein. The Indian's grip relaxed, he staggered back a pace, half stunned. +Summoning all his force, Cameron followed up with one straight blow upon +the chin. He needed no other. As if stricken by an axe the Indian +fell to the earth and lay as if dead. Sinking on the ground beside him +Cameron exerted all his will-power to keep himself from fainting. After +a few minutes' fierce struggle with himself he was sufficiently revived +to be able to bind the Indian's hands behind his back with his belt. +Searching among the brushwood, he found the Indian's knife, and cut from +his leather trousers sufficient thongs to bind his legs, working with +fierce and concentrated energy while his strength lasted. At length as +the hands were drawn tight darkness fell upon his eyes and he sank down +unconscious beside his foe. + + + +"There, that's better! He has lost a lot of blood, but we have checked +that flow and he will soon be right. Hello, old man! Just waking up, +are you? Lie perfectly still. Come, you must lie still. What? Oh, +Copperhead? Well, he is safe enough. What? No, never fear. We know the +old snake and we have tied him fast. Jerry has a fine assortment of +knots adorning his person. Now, no more talking for half a day. Your +wound is clean enough. A mighty close shave it was, but by to-morrow you +will be fairly fit. Copperhead? Oh, never mind Copperhead. I assure you +he is safe enough. Hardly fit to travel yet. What happened to him? Looks +as if a tree had fallen upon him." To which chatter of Dr. Martin's +Cameron could only make feeble answer, "For God's sake don't let him +go!" + +After the capture of Copperhead the camp at Manitou Lake faded away, for +when the Police Patrol under Jerry's guidance rode up the Ghost River +Trail they found only the cold ashes of camp-fires and the debris that +remains after a powwow. + +Three days later Cameron rode back into Fort Calgary, sore but content, +for at his stirrup and bound to his saddle-horn rode the Sioux Chief, +proud, untamed, but a prisoner. As he rode into the little town his +quick eyes flashed scorn upon all the curious gazers, but in their +depths beneath the scorn there looked forth an agony that only Cameron +saw and understood. He had played for a great stake and had lost. + +As the patrol rode into Fort Calgary the little town was in an uproar of +jubilation. + +"What's the row?" inquired the doctor, for Cameron felt too weary to +inquire. + +"A great victory for the troops!" said a young chap dressed in cow-boy +garb. "Middleton has smashed the half-breeds at Batoche. Riel is +captured. The whole rebellion business is bust up." + +Cameron threw a swift glance at the Sioux's face. A fierce anxiety +looked out of the gleaming eyes. + +"Tell him, Jerry," said Cameron to the half-breed who rode at his other +side. + +As Jerry told the Indian of the total collapse of the rebellion and the +capture of its leader the stern face grew eloquent with contempt. + +"Bah!" he said, spitting on the ground. "Riel he much fool--no good +fight. Indian got no Chief--no Chief." The look on his face all too +clearly revealed that his soul was experiencing the bitterness of death. + +Cameron almost pitied him, but he spoke no word. There was nothing that +one could say and besides he was far too weary for anything but rest. +At the gate of the Barrack yard his old Superintendent from Fort Macleod +met the party. + +"You are wounded, Cameron?" exclaimed the Superintendent, glancing in +alarm at Cameron's wan face. + +"I have got him," replied Cameron, loosing the lariat from the horn of +his saddle and handing the end to an orderly. "But," he added, "it seems +hardly worth while now." + +"Worth while! Worth while!" exclaimed the Superintendent with as much +excitement as he ever allowed to appear in his tone. "Let me tell you, +Cameron, that if any one thing has kept me from getting into a blue funk +during these months it was the feeling that you were on patrol along the +Sun Dance Trail." + +"Funk?" exclaimed Cameron with a smile. "Funk?" But while he smiled he +looked into the cold, gray eyes of his Chief, and, noting the unwonted +glow in them, he felt that after all his work as the Patrol of the Sun +Dance Trail was perhaps worth while. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +WHY THE DOCTOR STAYED + + +The Big Horn River, fed by July suns burning upon glaciers high up +between the mountain-peaks, was running full to its lips and gleaming +like a broad ribbon of silver, where, after rushing hurriedly out of the +rock-ribbed foothills, it settled down into a deep steady flow through +the wide valley of its own name. On the tawny undulating hillsides, +glorious in the splendid July sun, herds of cattle and horses were +feeding, making with the tawny hillsides and the silver river a picture +of luxurious ease and quiet security that fitted well with the mood of +the two men sitting upon the shady side of the Big Horn Ranch House. + +Inspector Dickson was enjoying to the full his after-dinner pipe, +and with him Dr. Martin, who was engaged in judiciously pumping +the Inspector in regard to the happenings of the recent +campaign--successfully, too, except where he touched those events in +which the Inspector himself had played a part. + +The war was over. Batoche had practically settled the Rebellion. Riel +was in his cell at Regina awaiting trial and execution. Pound-maker, +Little Pine, Big Bear and some of their other Chiefs were similarly +disposed of. Copperhead at Macleod was fretting his life out like an +eagle in a cage. The various regiments of citizen soldiers had gone back +to their homes to be received with vociferous welcome, except such of +them as were received in reverent silence, to be laid away among the +immortals with quiet falling tears. The Police were busily engaged in +wiping up the debris of the Rebellion. The Commissioner, intent upon his +duty, was riding the marches, bearing in grim silence the criticism of +empty-headed and omniscient scribblers, because, forsooth, he had +obeyed his Chief's orders, and, resisting the greatest provocation to +do otherwise, had held steadfastly to his post, guarding with resolute +courage what was committed to his trust. The Superintendents and +Inspectors were back at their various posts, settling upon the reserves +wandering bands of Indians, some of whom were just awakening to the +fact that they had missed a great opportunity and were grudgingly +surrendering to the inevitable, and, under the wise, firm, judicious +handling of the Police, were slowly returning to their pre-rebellion +status. + +The Western ranches were rejoicing in a sense of vast relief from the +terrible pall that like a death-cloud had been hanging over them for six +months and all Western Canada was thrilling with the expectation of a +new era of prosperity consequent upon its being discovered by the big +world outside. + +Upon the two men thus discussing, Mrs. Cameron, carrying in her arms her +babe, bore down in magnificent and modest pride, wearing with matronly +grace her new glory of a great achievement, the greatest open to +womankind. + +"He has just waked up from a very fine sleep," she exclaimed, "to make +your acquaintance, Inspector. I hope you duly appreciate the honor done +you." + +The Inspector rose to his feet and saluted the new arrival with becoming +respect. + +"Now," said Mrs. Cameron, settling herself down with an air of +determined resolve, "I want to hear all about it." + +"Meaning?" said the Inspector. + +"Meaning, to begin with, that famous march of yours from Calgary to the +far North land where you did so many heroic things." + +But the Inspector's talk had a trick of fading away at the end of +the third sentence and it was with difficulty that they could get him +started again. + +"You are most provoking!" finally exclaimed Mrs. Cameron, giving up the +struggle. "Isn't he, baby?" + +The latter turned upon the Inspector two steady blue eyes beaming with +the intelligence of a two months' experience of men and things, and +announced his grave disapproval of the Inspector's conduct in a distinct +"goo!" + +"There!" exclaimed his mother triumphantly. "I told you so. What have +you now to say for yourself?" + +The Inspector regarded the blue-eyed atom with reverent wonder. + +"Most remarkable young person I ever saw in my life, Mrs. Cameron," he +asserted positively. + +The proud mother beamed upon him. + +"Well, baby, he IS provoking, but we will forgive him since he is so +clever at discovering your remarkable qualities." + +"Pshaw!" said Dr. Martin. "That's nothing. Any one could see them. They +stick right out of that baby." + +"DEAR Dr. Martin," explained the mother with affectionate emphasis, +"what a way you have of putting things. But I wonder what keeps Allan?" +continued Mrs. Cameron. "He promised faithfully to be home before +dinner." She rose, and, going to the side of the house, looked long and +anxiously up toward the foothills. Dr. Martin followed her and stood at +her side gazing in the same direction. + +"What a glorious view it is!" she said. "I never tire of looking over +the hills and up to the great mountains." + +"What the deuce is the fellow doing?" exclaimed the doctor, disgust and +rage mingling in his tone. "Great Heavens! She is kissing him!" + +"Who? What?" exclaimed Mandy. "Oh!" she cried, her eyes following the +doctor's and lighting upon two figures that stood at the side of the +poplar bluff in an attitude sufficiently compromising to justify the +doctor's exclamation. + +"What? It's Moira--and--and--it's Smith! What does it mean?" The +doctor's language appeared unequal to his emotions. "Mean?" he cried, +after an exhausting interlude of expletives. "Mean? Oh, I don't +know--and I don't care. It's pretty plain what it means. It makes no +difference to me. I gave her up to that other fellow who saved her life +and then picturesquely got himself killed. There now, forgive me, Mrs. +Cameron. I know I am a brute. I should not have said that. Don't look +at me so. Raven was a fine chap and I don't mind her losing her heart to +him--but really this is too much. Smith! Of all men under heaven--Smith! +Why, look at his legs!" + +"His legs? Dr. Martin, I am ashamed of you. I don't care what kind of +legs he has. Smith is an honorable fellow and--and--so good he was to +us. Why, when Allan and the rest of you were all away he was like a +brother through all those terrible days. I can never forget his splendid +kindness--but--" + +"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Cameron, I beg your pardon. Undoubtedly he is +a fine fellow. I am an ass, a jealous ass--might as well own it. But, +really, I cannot quite stand seeing her throw herself at Smith--Smith! +Oh, I know, I know, he is all right. But oh--well--at any rate thank +God I saw him at it. It will keep me from openly and uselessly abasing +myself to her and making a fool of myself generally. But Smith! Great +God! Smith! Well, it will help to cure me." + +Mrs. Cameron stood by in miserable silence. + +"Oh, Dr. Martin," at length she groaned tearfully, "I am +so disappointed. I was so hoping, and I was sure it was all +right--and--and--oh, what does it mean? Dear Dr. Martin, I cannot tell +you how I feel." + +"Oh, hang it, Mrs. Cameron, don't pity me. I'll get over it. A little +surgical operation in the region of the pericardium is all, that is +required." + +"What are you talking about?" exclaimed Mrs. Cameron, vaguely listening +to him and busy with her own thoughts the while. + +"Talking about, madam? Talking about? I am talking about that organ, +the central organ of the vascular system of animals, a hollow muscular +structure that propels the blood by alternate contractions and +dilatations, which in the mammalian embryo first appears as two tubes +lying under the head and immediately behind the first visceral arches, +but gradually moves back and becomes lodged in the thorax." + +"Oh, do stop! What nonsense are you talking now?" exclaimed Mrs. +Cameron, waking up as from a dream. "No, don't go. You must not go." + +"I am going, and I am going to leave this country," said the doctor. "I +am going East. No, this is no sudden resolve. I have thought of it for +some time, and now I will go." + +"Well, you must wait at least till Allan returns. You must say good-by +to him." She followed the doctor anxiously back to his seat beside the +Inspector. "Here," she cried, "hold baby a minute. There are some things +I must attend to. I would give him to the Inspector, but he would not +know how to handle him." + +"God forbid!" ejaculated the Inspector firmly. + +"But I tell you I must get home," said the doctor in helpless wrath. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Cameron. "Look out! You are not holding him +properly. There now, you have made him cry." + +"Pinched him!" muttered the Inspector. "I call that most unfair. Mean +advantage to take of the young person." + +The doctor glowered at the Inspector and set himself with ready skill to +remedy the wrong he had wrought in the young person's disposition while +the mother, busying herself ostentatiously with her domestic duties, +finally disappeared around the house, making for the bluff. As soon as +she was out of earshot she raised her voice in song. + +"I must give the fools warning, I suppose," she said to herself. In the +pauses of her singing, "Oh, what does she mean? I could just shake her. +I am so disappointed. Smith! Smith! Well, Smith is all right, but--oh, I +must talk to her. And yet, I am so angry--yes, I am disgusted. I was +so sure that everything was all right. Ah, there she is at last, +and--well--thank goodness he is gone. + +"Oh-h-h-h-O, Moira!" she cried. "Now, I must keep my temper," she added +to herself. "But I am so cross about this. Oh-h-h-h-O, Moira!" + +"Oh-h-h-h-O!" called Moira in reply. + +"She looks positively happy. Ugh! Disgusting! And so lovely too." + +"Did you want me, Mandy? I am so sorry I forgot all about the tea." + +"So I should suppose," snapped Mandy crossly. "I saw you were too deeply +engaged to think." + +"You saw?" exclaimed the girl, a startled dismay in her face. + +"Yes, and I would suggest that you select a less conspicuous stage for +your next scene. Certainly I got quite a shock. If it had been Raven, +Moira, I could have stood it." + +"Raven! Raven! Oh, stop! Not a word, Mandy." Her voice was hushed and +there was a look of pain in her eyes. + +"But Smith!" went on Mandy relentlessly. "I was too disgusted." + +"Well, what is wrong with Mr. Smith?" inquired Moira, her chin rising. + +"Oh, there is nothing wrong with Smith," replied her sister-in-law +crossly, "but--well--kissing him, you know." + +"Kissing him?" echoed Moira faintly. "Kissing him? I did not--" + +"It looked to me uncommonly like it at any rate," said Mandy. "You +surely don't deny that you were kissing him?" + +"I was not. I mean, it was Smith--perhaps--yes, I think Smith did--" + +"Well, it was a silly thing to do." + +"Silly! If I want to kiss Mr. Smith, why is it anybody's business?" + +"That's just it," said Mandy indignantly. "Why should you want to?" + +"Well, that is my affair," said Moira in an angry tone, and with a high +head and lofty air she appeared in the doctor's presence. + +But Dr. Martin was apparently oblivious of both her lofty air and the +angle of her chin. He was struggling to suppress from observation a +tumult of mingled passions of jealousy, rage and humiliation. That this +girl whom for four years he had loved with the full strength of his +intense nature should have given herself to another was grief enough; +but the fact that this other should have been a man of Smith's caliber +seemed to add insult to his grief. He felt that not only had she +humiliated him but herself as well. + +"If she is the kind of girl that enjoys kissing Smith I don't want her," +he said to himself savagely, and then cursed himself that he knew it was +a lie. For no matter how she should affront him or humiliate herself +he well knew he should take her gladly on his bended knees from Smith's +hands. The cure somehow was not working, but he would allow no one to +suspect it. His voice was even and his manner cheerful as ever. Only +Mrs. Cameron, who held the key to his heart, suspected the agony through +which he was passing during the tea-hour. And it was to secure respite +for him that the tea was hurried and the doctor packed off to saddle +Pepper and round up the cows for the milking. + +Pepper was by birth and breeding a cow-horse, and once set upon a trail +after a bunch of cows he could be trusted to round them up with little +or no aid from his rider. Hence once astride Pepper and Pepper with his +nose pointed toward the ranging cows, the doctor could allow his heart +to roam at will. And like a homing pigeon, his heart, after some faint +struggles in the grip of its owner's will, made swift flight toward the +far-away Highland glen across the sea, the Cuagh Oir. + +With deliberate purpose he set himself to live again the tender and +ineffaceable memories of that eventful visit to the glen when first his +eyes were filled with the vision of the girl with the sunny hair and the +sunny eyes who that day seemed to fill the very glen and ever since that +day his heart with glory. + +With deliberate purpose, too, he set himself to recall the glen itself, +its lights and shadows, its purple hilltops, its emerald loch far down +at the bottom, the little clachan on the hillside and up above it the +old manor-house. But ever and again his heart would pause to catch anew +some flitting glance of the brown eyes, some turn of the golden head, +some cadence of the soft Highland voice, some fitful illusive sweetness +of the smile upon the curving lips, pause and return upon its tracks to +feel anew that subtle rapture of the first poignant thrill, lingering +over each separate memory as a drunkard lingers regretful over his last +sweet drops of wine. + +Meantime Pepper's intelligent diligence had sent every cow home to its +milking, and so, making his way by a short cut that led along the Big +Horn River and round the poplar bluff, the doctor, suddenly waking from +his dream of the past, faced with a fresh and sharper stab the reality +of the present. The suddenness and sharpness of the pain made him pull +his horse up short. + +"I'll cut this country and go East," he said aloud, coming to a +conclusive decision upon a plan long considered, "I'll go in for +specializing. I have done with all this nonsense." + +He sat his horse looking eastward over the hills that rolled far away to +the horizon. His eye wandered down the river gleaming now like gold in +the sunset glow. He had learned to love this land of great sunlit spaces +and fresh blowing winds, but this evening its very beauty appeared +intolerable to him. Ever since the death of Raven upon that tragic +night of the cattle-raid he had been fighting his bitter loss and +disappointment; with indifferent success, it is true, but still not +without the hope of attaining final peace of soul. This evening he knew +that, while he lived in this land, peace would never come to him, for +his heart-wound never would heal. + +"I will go," he said again. "I will say good-by to-night. By Jove! I +feel better already. Come along, Pepper! Wake up!" + +Pepper woke up to some purpose and at a smart canter carried the doctor +on his way round the bluff toward a gate that opened into a lane leading +to the stables. At the gate a figure started up suddenly from the shadow +of a poplar. With a snort and in the midst of his stride Pepper swung on +his heels with such amazing abruptness that his rider was flung from his +saddle, fortunately upon his feet. + +"Confound you for a dumb-headed fool! What are you up to anyway?" he +cried in a sudden rage, recognizing Smith, who stood beside the trail in +an abjectly apologetic attitude. + +"Yes," cried another voice from the shadow. "Is he not a fool? You would +think he ought to know Mr. Smith by this time. But Pepper is really very +stupid." + +The doctor stood speechless, surprise, disgust and rage struggling for +supremacy among his emotions. He stood gazing stupidly from one to the +other, utterly at a loss for words. + +"You see, Mr. Smith," began Moira somewhat lamely, "had something to say +to me and so we--and so we came--along to the gate." + +"So I see," replied the doctor gruffly. + +"You see Mr. Smith has come to mean a great deal to me--to us--" + +"So I should imagine," replied the doctor. + +"His self-sacrifice and courage during those terrible days we can never +forget." + +"Exactly so--quite right," replied the doctor, standing stiffly beside +his horse's head. + +"You do not know people all at once," continued Moira. + +"Ah! Not all at once," the doctor replied. + +"But in times of danger and trouble one gets to know them quickly." + +"Sure thing," said the doctor. + +"And it takes times of danger to bring out the hero in a man." + +"I should imagine so," replied the doctor with his eyes on Smith's +childlike and beaming face. + +"And you see Mr. Smith was really our whole stay, and--and--we came +to rely upon him and we found him so steadfast." In the face of the +doctor's stolid brevity Moira was finding conversation difficult. + +"Steadfast!" repeated the doctor. "Exactly so," his eyes upon Smith's +wobbly legs. "Mr. Smith I consider a very fortunate man. I congratulate +him on--" + +"Oh, have you heard? I did not know that--" + +"Yes. I mean--not exactly." + +"Who told you? Is it not splendid?" enthusiasm shining in her eyes. + +"Splendid! Yes--that is, for him," replied the doctor without emotion. +"I congratulate--" + +"But how did you hear?" + +"I did not exactly hear, but I had no difficulty in--ah--making the +discovery." + +"Discovery?" + +"Yes, discovery. It was fairly plain; I might say it was the feature of +the view; in fact it stuck right out of the landscape--hit you in the +eye, so to speak." + +"The landscape? What can you mean?" + +"Mean? Simply that I am at a loss as to whether Mr. Smith is to be +congratulated more upon his exquisite taste or upon his extraordinary +good fortune." + +"Good fortune, yes, is it not splendid?" + +"Splendid is the exact word," said the doctor stiffly. + +"And I am so glad." + +"Yes, you certainly look happy," replied the doctor with a grim attempt +at a smile, and feeling as if more enthusiasm were demanded from him. +"Let me offer you my congratulations and say good-by. I am leaving." + +"You will be back soon, though?" + +"Hardly. I am leaving the West." + +"Leaving the West? Why? What? When?" + +"To-night. Now. I must say good-by." + +"To-night? Now?" Her voice sank almost to a whisper. Her lips were white +and quivering. "But do they know at the house? Surely this is sudden." + +"Oh, no, not so sudden. I have thought of it for some time; indeed, I +have made my plans." + +"Oh--for some time? You have made your plans? But you never hinted such +a thing to--to any of us." + +"Oh, well, I don't tell my plans to all the world," said the doctor with +a careless laugh. + +The girl shrank from him as if he had cut her with his riding whip. But, +swiftly recovering herself, she cried with gay reproach: + +"Why, Mr. Smith, we are losing all our friends at once. It is cruel of +you and Dr. Martin to desert us at the same time. Mr. Smith, you +know," she continued, turning to the doctor with an air of exaggerated +vivacity, "leaves for the East to-night too." + +"Smith--leaving?" The doctor gazed stupidly at that person. + +"Yes, you know he has come into a big fortune and is going to be--" + +"A fortune?" + +"Yes, and he is going East to be married." + +"Going EAST to be married?" + +"Yes, and I was--" + +"Going EAST?" exclaimed the doctor. "I don't understand. I thought +you--" + +"Oh, yes, his young lady is awaiting him in the East. And he is going to +spend his money in such a splendid way." + +"Going EAST?" echoed the doctor, as if he could not fix the idea with +sufficient firmness in his brain to grasp it fully. + +"Yes, I have just told you so," replied the girl. + +"Married?" shouted the doctor, suddenly rushing at Smith and gripping +him by both arms. "Smith, you shy dog--you lucky dog! Let me wish you +joy, old man. By Jove! You deserve your luck, every bit of it. Say, +that's fine. Ha! ha! Jeerupiter! Smith, you are a good one and a sly +one. Shake again, old man. Say, by Jove! What a sell--I mean what a +joke! Look here, Smith, old chap, would you mind taking Pepper home? +I am rather tired--riding, I mean--beastly wild cows--no end of a run +after them. See you down at the house later. No, no, don't wait, don't +mind me. I am all right, fit as a fiddle--no, not a bit tired--I mean I +am tired riding. Yes, rather stiff--about the knees, you know. Oh, it's +all right. Up you get, old man--there you are! So, Smith, you are going +to be married, eh? Lucky dog! Tell 'em I am--tell 'em we are coming. My +horse? Oh, well, never mind my horse till I come myself. So long, old +chap! Ha! ha! old man, good-by. Great Caesar! What a sell! Say, let's +sit down, Moira," he said, suddenly growing quiet and turning to the +girl, "till I get my wind. Fine chap that Smith. Legs a bit wobbly, but +don't care if he had a hundred of 'em and all wobbly. He's all right. +Oh, my soul! What an ass! What an adjectival, hyphenated jackass! Don't +look at me that way or I shall climb a tree and yell. I'm not mad, I +assure you. I was on the verge of it a few moments ago, but it is gone. +I am sane, sane as an old maid. Oh, my God!" He covered his face with +his hands and sat utterly still for some moments. + +"Dr. Martin, what is the matter?" exclaimed the girl. "You terrify me." + +"No wonder. I terrify myself. How could I have stood it." + +"What is the matter? What is it?" + +"Why, Moira, I thought you were going to marry that idiot." + +"Idiot?" exclaimed the girl, drawing herself up. "Idiot? Mr. Smith? I am +not going to marry him, Dr. Martin, but he is an honorable fellow and a +friend of mine, a dear friend of mine." + +"So he is, so he is, a splendid fellow, the finest ever, but thank God +you are not going to marry him!" + +"Why, what is wrong with--" + +"Why? Why? God help me! Why? Only because, Moira, I love you." He threw +himself upon his knees beside her. "Don't, don't for God's sake get +away! Give me a chance to speak!" He caught her hand in both of his. "I +have just been through hell. Don't send me there again. Let me tell you. +Ever since that minute when I saw you in the glen I have loved you. In +my thoughts by day and in my dreams by night you have been, and this day +when I thought I had lost you I knew that I loved you ten thousand times +more than ever." He was kissing her hand passionately, while she sat +with head turned away. "Tell me, Moira, if I may love you? And is it +any use? And do you think you could love me even a little bit? I am not +worthy to touch you. Tell me." Still she sat silent. He waited a few +moments, his face growing gray. "Tell me," he said at length in a +broken, husky voice. "I will try to bear it." + +She turned her face toward him. The sunny eyes were full of tears. + +"And you were going away from me?" she breathed, leaning toward him. + +"Sweetheart!" he cried, putting his arms around her and drawing her to +him, "tell me to stay." + +"Stay," she whispered, "or take me too." + +The sun had long since disappeared behind the big purple mountains +and even the warm afterglow in the eastern sky had faded into a pearly +opalescent gray when the two reached the edge of the bluff nearest the +house. + +"Oh! The milking!" cried Moira aghast, as she came in sight of the +house. + +"Great Caesar! I was going to help," exclaimed the doctor. + +"Too bad," said the girl penitently. "But, of course, there's Smith." + +"Why, certainly there's Smith. What a God-send that chap is. He is +always on the spot. But Cameron is home. I see his horse. Let us go in +and face the music." + +They found an excited group standing in the kitchen, Mandy with a letter +in her hand. + +"Oh, here you are at last!" she cried. "Where have you--" She glanced at +Moira's face and then at the doctor's and stopped abruptly. + +"Hello, what's up?" cried the doctor. + +"We have got a letter--such a letter!" cried Mandy. "Read it. Read it +aloud, Doctor." She thrust the letter into his hand. The doctor cleared +his throat, struck an attitude, and read aloud: + + +"My dear Cameron: + +"It gives me great pleasure to say for the officers of the Police Force +in the South West district and for myself that we greatly appreciate the +distinguished services you rendered during the past six months in your +patrol of the Sun Dance Trail. It was a work of difficulty and danger +and one of the highest importance to the country. I feel sure it will +gratify you to know that the attention of the Government has been +specially called to the creditable manner in which you have performed +your duty, and I have no doubt that the Government will suitably express +its appreciation of your services in due time. But, as you are aware, +in the Force to which we have the honor to belong, we do not look for +recognition, preferring to find a sufficient reward in duty done. + +"Permit me also to say that we recognize and appreciate the spirit +of devotion showed by Mrs. Cameron during these trying months in so +cheerfully and loyally giving you up to this service. + +"May I add that in this rebellion to my mind the most critical factor +was the attitude of the great Blackfeet Confederacy. Every possible +effort was made by the half-breeds and Northern Indians to seduce +Crowfoot and his people from their loyalty, and their most able and +unscrupulous agent in this attempt was the Sioux Indian known among +us as The Copperhead. That he failed utterly in his schemes and that +Crowfoot remained loyal I believe is due to the splendid work of the +officers and members of our Force in the South West district, but +especially to your splendid services as the Patrol of the Sun Dance +Trail." + + +"And signed by the big Chief himself, the Commissioner," cried Dr. +Martin. "What do you think of that, Baby?" he continued, catching the +baby from its mother's arms. "What do you think of your daddy?" The +doctor pirouetted round the room with the baby in his arms, that +young person regarding the whole performance apparently with grave and +profound satisfaction. + +"Your horse is ready," said Smith, coming in at the door. + +"Your horse?" cried Cameron. + +"Oh--I forgot," said the doctor. "Ah--I don't think I want him to-night, +Smith." + +"You are not going to-night, then?" inquired Mandy in delighted +surprise. + +"No--I--in fact, I believe I have changed my mind about that. I have, +been--ah--persuaded to remain." + +"Oh, I see," cried Mandy in supreme delight. Then turning swiftly upon +her sister-in-law who stood beside the doctor, her face in a radiant +glow, she added, "Then what did you mean by--by--what we saw this +afternoon?" + +A deeper red dyed the girl's cheeks. + +"What are you talking about?" cried Dr. Martin. "Oh, that kissing Smith +business." + +"I couldn't just help it!" burst out Moira. "He was so happy." + +"Going to be married, you know," interjected the doctor. + +"And so--so--" + +"Just so," cried the doctor. "Oh, pshaw! that's all right! I'd kiss +Smith myself. I feel like doing it this blessed minute. Where is he? +Smith! Where are you?" But Smith had escaped. "Smith's all right, I say, +and so are we, eh, Moira?" He slipped his arm round the blushing girl. + +"Oh, I am so glad," cried Mandy, beaming upon them. "And you are not +going East after all?" + +"East? Not I! The West for me. I am going to stay right in it--with the +Inspector here--and with you, Mrs. Cameron--and with my sweetheart--and +yes, certainly with the Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail." + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail, by Ralph Connor + *** \ No newline at end of file