CHAPTER XXII

HAIL

A thin crescent moon hung low in the western sky. The prairie was wrapped in silent shadows. Leland stood outside the homestead, with the bridle of an impatient horse in his hand, and talked with his wife. There was only one light in the house behind them, and everything was very still, but Leland knew that two men who could be trusted to keep good watch were wide awake that night. The barrel of a Marlin rifle hung behind his shoulders, glinting fitfully when it caught the light as he moved. Without thinking of what he was doing, he fingered the clip of the sling.

"The moon will be down in half an hour, and it will be quite dark before I cross the ravine near Thorwald's place," he said. "Jim Thorwald is straight, and standing by the law, but none of us are quite sure of all of his boys. Anyway, we don't want anybody to know who's riding to the outpost."

Carrie laid her hand upon his arm. "I suppose you must go, this once at least."

"Of course!" said Leland with a smile. "If I'm wanted, I must go again. The trouble's spreading."

"Then," said Carrie, "why can't they bring more troopers in? Why did you ever have anything to do with it, Charley?"

"It seemed necessary. A man has to hold on to what is his."

Carrie's fingers tightened on his arm. "Perhaps it is so; I suppose it must be; but, after all, I don't think that was your only reason. I mean, when you started the quarrel. No, you needn't turn away. I want you to look at me." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who was standing outsdie?
2. What was his wife's name?
3. Was the prairie loud?
4. What was it?
5. Did he trust some men to keep a watch?
6. How many/
7. Was there a thin crescent moon?
8. Where exactly?
9. Was there only one light in the house behind them?
10. Was Leland a part of a trooper?
Answer: 1. Leland
2. Carrie
3. no
4. silent
5. yes
6. two
7. yes
8. in the western sky
9. yes
10. no

Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 37th most populous built-up area, with an official population estimate of 196,670 for the city of Aberdeen and for the local authority area.

Nicknames include the "Granite City", the "Grey City" and the "Silver City with the Golden Sands". During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, which can sparkle like silver because of its high mica content. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the "Oil Capital of the World" or the "Energy Capital of the World". The area around Aberdeen has been settled since at least 8,000 years ago, when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don. The city has a long, sandy coastline and a marine climate, the latter resulting in chilly summers and mild winters.

Aberdeen received Royal Burgh status from David I of Scotland (112453), transforming the city economically. The city's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, and Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east of Scotland. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What is Aberdeen's population?
2. Where does it rank in Scotland?
3. And in the UK?
4. Give me one of its nickname?
5. Is there another one?
6. Name one please?
7. What did Aberdeen buildings comprise of in the mid 18 to mid 20 centuries?
8. What did that do?
9. why?
10. What other nicknames were given to it later on?
11. What are the 2 universities there?
12. The University of Aberdeen was founded in what year?
13. Name one of its heliport?
Answer: 1. about 196,670
2. third
3. 37th
4. Granite City
5. yes
6. Grey City
7. grey granite
8. sparkle
9. because of its high mica content
10. Oil Capital of the World
11. the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University
12. 1495
13. Aberdeen Heliport

CHAPTER XIV

DEFEAT

A good fire burned on the hearth in the library at Sandymere, although the mild air of an early spring morning floated in through the open window. Challoner sat in a big leather chair, watching the flames and thinking of his nephew, when a servant entered and handed him a card.

Challoner glanced at it.

"Clarke? I don't know any one of that name--"

He stopped abruptly as he saw the word _Sweetwater_ in small type at the bottom of the card. He knew that that was the name of the prairie town from which Blake had started on his quest into the wilderness.

"All right, Perkins," he said, rather eagerly; and a few minutes afterward Clarke entered the room, with an irritating air of assurance.

"Colonel Challoner, I presume?"

Challoner bowed.

"You have brought me some news of my nephew, Richard Blake?"

This disconcerted Clarke. He had not imagined that his object would be known, and he had counted upon Challoner's being surprised and thrown off his guard. It looked as if the Colonel had been making inquiries about Blake. Clarke wished that he could guess his reason, for it might affect the situation.

"That is correct," he said. "I have a good deal to tell you, and it may take some time."

Challoner motioned to him to be seated, and offered him a cigar; and Clarke lighted it before he spoke.

"Your nephew," he began, "spent a week in the settlement where I live, preparing for a journey to the North. Though his object was secret, I believe he went in search of something to make varnish of, because he took with him a young American traveler for a paint factory, besides another man." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who lit his cigar?
2. What was the nephew's name?
3. What was burning?
4. Where?
5. Who was sitting in a leather chair?
6. Did someone hand him a letter?
7. Who?
8. Who came into the room?
9. What news did he bring?
10. What name was at the bottom of the card?
11. What was Sweetwater?
12. Was it evening when all this was happening?
13. What time of day was it?
14. What was Clarke disconcerted by?
15. What was he counting on?
16. How long was the nephew in the settlement where Clarke lived?
17. What was he doing there?
18. What was he looking for?
19. Who did he take with him?
20. Where was one of the men from?
Answer:
1. Clarke
2. Richard Blake
3. fire
4. library
5. Challoner
6. yes
7. a servant
8. Clarke
9. of my nephew
10. Sweetwater
11. the prairie town from which Blake had started on his quest into the wilderness
12. no
13. early morning
14. his object would be known
15. Challoner's being surprised and thrown off his guard
16. week
17. preparing for a journey
18. something to make varnish
19. 2 men
20. paint factory