Blake's Burden

provisions, camp stores, and winter clothes, and he had bought it and the pony because that seemed cheaper than paying for transport. The settlement for which he was boun

urchase of the animal with the idea of se

eered by compass. Now it was late in the afternoon and the men were tired of battling with the wind which buffeted their sunburned faces with sharp sand. They were crossing one of the high steppes of the middle prairie towards the belt of pines and muskegs which divides it

nst the sky, but, for the most part, there was only a rolling waste of dingy grass. The trail was heavy, the wheels sank deep in sand as they climbed a low rise, and, to make things worse, the rounded, white-edged clouds which had scudde

tinental climate is singularly mean, but I'd put this strip of Canada near the limit

u like; I don't feel ve

Last time we tried it the pony stampeded and the wheel went over my foot. The tent's no good; you'd

ne in the hollow we got a glimpse of from the last rise,

omplaining," Harding rejoined, "In fact, I've most been happy since we left the depot.

burdened and Harding refused. He explained that they could not expect to sell it in a

nd the trail led smoothly down a slight descent. This was comforting, because half the sky was barred with leaden cloud and the parched grass gleamed beneath it lividl

w minutes later they tethered the pony to lee of the cart and set up their tent. Then, while Blake was rummaging out provisions and Harding searching the bluff for dry st

You're for Swee

sed correctly, and asked h

you; run a store and hotel there, but feel I want to get out on the prairie n

wood a puff of icy wind suddenly stirred the grass. The harsh rustle it made was followed by a deafening crash, and a jagged streak of lightning fell from the leaden clouds; then the air was filled with the roar of driving hail. It swept the wood, rending leaves and smashing twigs, while the men crouched inside the straining tent and a constant blaze of lightning flickered about the grass. By and by

the prairie's western edge when they finished supper and, sitting round the f

fine animal," Blake re

gs to Clarke'

curious way to s

nes, and that's all there'll be when the doctor has done with hi

e doctor?" Har

ing to tenderfoot young Englishmen and Americans; finds them land and stock to start with, and makes a mighty good thin

arke at the Windsor not lo

im and Harding said

ng at the Windsor; an opium joint

live at Sweetwa

in the North and at a settlement on the edge of the bush country. Don't know what

, from religious convictions, a remarkably primitive life. There were, however, fanatics among them, a

said. "But, as they don't speak English

n't have done. Anyhow, the Dubokars are like the rest of us, good, bad, and pretty mixed, and the crowd back of Sweetwater belong to the last. At first some of them didn't believe it was right to work horses

in crude debauchery; but it was strange that a man of culture, such as Clarke appeared to be, should take a part in these exces

of the ridges. A lake gleamed in a hollow, a slow creek wound across the foreground in a deep ravine, and here and there in the distance one could see an outlying farm. A row of houses followed the crest of the ravine, the side of which formed a dumping ground for domestic refuse. Some were built o

of unpainted wood, with a verandah in front of it. Here Gardner took the pony from them and gave them a room which had no furniture except a chair and t

hes in the bedrooms when they don't give you any water," he remark

e seen the tariff, but on the whol

un had set and now and then a heavy shower beat upon the shingled roof, but the western sky was clear and flushed with vivid crimson, towards which the prairie rolled away in varying t

o my bed with his boots on after falling down in a muskeg. It's not the first time

him the liquor?"

s a pretty regular customer, but he

re isn't

but he offered no explanation

stricts is trying," he remarked. "The loneliness and mo

agreed a farmer, who appeared to be well educate

ake. "But what particular t

le they're alive. There's a fellow in this nei

sh a myth; allegorolical gentleman, everybody knowsh. Hard word that-allegorolical. Bad word too, reminds

ed," said Ga

talking to?" He leaned forward in danger o

. "He has something like shakes and agu

terwards reeled out of the door and held h

terrupt," he said. "Nice place

m, and Harding remarked to the farmer, "You hadn't f

w who makes a good many dollars by victimizing farmers who are forced to borrow when they lose a crop, as well as young fools from England

icks and the folks who practise them," Har

roke in. "Not all tricks! Seen funny things in t

zzled by something familiar in the voice, and now he knew the man, whom he had no wish to meet. He was to

nt to cut your old friend

e replied, and the other, holding on b

it wasn't your fault the ghazees broke our line that night. Said so to the Colonel-can see him now

man had been a lieutenant of native infan

solemn old Colonel, but they wouldn't listen to me. Very black night in India; ghazees coming yelling up the hill; not

itation of the call "Cease fire!" and then lost

lifted him to his feet. After he pushed him through the door there were sounds of a

he bartender will put

by the scene; then a man came up the steps. He was dressed in old brown overalls and carried

t Benson her

t you look after the fool? Anyhow, you must have come pretty qu

t I need hold myself responsible for Benson, but I found he wasn't in when I rode

come up here! I may see you to-morrow, but

soon afterwards they hear