The Barrier

ors, and in the North that counts for much. Perhaps they built likewise upon the fact that he was ever the same to all, and that, in days of plent

hed their belts, and cursed and went hungry to sleep, accepting, day by day, the rations doled out to them by the grim, gray man at the log store. Some of them had money-belts weighted low with gold washed from the bars at Forty Mile, and there were others who had wandered in from the Koyukuk with the first frosts, foot-sore and dragging, the legs of their skin

tment, and every time they fared back into the hills bearing another outfit, for which he rendered no account, not even when the debts grew year by year, not even

od men to care for the trader and for his methods. He mixed in no man's business, he took and paid his dues unfalteringly. He spoke in a level voice, and he smiled but rarely. He gazed at a stranger once and weighed him c

ne might hear it hiss and grind by stooping at its edge to listen; but the slanting sun this afternoon made it appear like a boiling flood of molten gold which issued silently out of a land of mystery and vanished into a valley of forgetfulness. At least so the trader fancied, and found himself wishing that it might carry away on its bosom the heavy trouble which weighed him down, and bring in its place forgetfulness of all that had gone befo

e as they sang in unison. They stood well out upon the river's bank before a group of well-made houses, the peeled timbers of which shone yellow in the sun. He noted the symmetrical arrangement of the buildings, note

r's mouth deepened, and h

trace of pleasure, nor of that interest which good men are wont to show

santly on his ears, whereupon the shadows vanished from his face, and he turned expectantly, the

with twin braids of hair to her waist framing an oval face colored by the wind and sun. She was very beautiful, and a great fev

ack of the village are pink with them. I took Constantine's sq

to the hue of her wind-beaten cheeks. Every move of her graceful body was unrestrained and flowing, with a hint of Indian freedom about it. Beaded and tr

ive him a talking to when we came back. Oh, but I laid

man saw-and drew her red lips into an angry pout as she recounted her temperance talk till

eems like the moss and the grass and the little trees was crying for you. I reckon everything weeps when you're gone

e-log steps, and the girl settled bes

at the Mission would never end. Father Barnum and the others were very k

as much as a prie

said, gravely. "You

ly. "So you are! I k

mat too large for its resting-place, its edges turned up towards the line of unmelting snow. Beyond were other ranges thrust skyward in a magnificent confusion, while still to the farther side lay the purple valley of the Koyukuk, a valley that called insistently to re

Poleon when he went down to the coast? I

course I did-that is

ch o

get a good look at it, for Father Barnum shrieked when he saw it, then snat

ned when he gave it to me. You see, Poleon ain't much better on th

eon get back,

lls are too much for him. It won't take him l

is t

ere are thousands of tenderfeet up t

th him!" breathed the girl. "I never saw a ci

you out to the States, and let you see the world-maybe." He uttered the last wo

her, too, and the

cour

nd shining eyes told the story to Gale. "And Poleon must go, too. We can't go anywhere without him." The old man smiled

erected. Even as he looked he saw a bundle mounting towards its tip, and then beheld the Stars and Str

have taken care of ourselves so far, and I guess we're able to kee

ee," said Necia. "He is a blue-g

s coat and go to work, instead of wearing his clothes buttoned up all day. It don't take much 'savvy' to run a handful of thirteen-dollar-a-month soldi

ost, and to protect the miners in their own self-government. He won't

ted defence, the old man grunted again, with

event trouble, and to hold things steady till the law can be established. The Canadian Mounted Police are sending all their wo

you learn

rded her keenly. She could not see the curious look in his eyes, no

bring you something pr

er that first day when he drifted, singing, into sight around the bend up yonder? He had paddled his birch-bark from the Chand

d for his 'N

travel was on him, and so he drifted and sang, as he

used Gale, "and he never fou

t of him," Necia laughed. "Dear, funny

oming towards them up the trail from the barracks, he beheld a trim, blue-coated figure. He peer

the Lieutenant as he took a seat below Necia

zy?" inquir

dmitted. "I've never ha

ople around?" she continued,

see, it's my first command, and my instructions, although comprehensive, are rather vague. I am supposed to see that mining rights are observed,

man!" said Necia, at w

rfoot, adjust those things that are too knotty for the

ery popular with our people,"

silver from the admiring citizens of Flambeau. That leaves nothing but the women to like me, and,

and the young ones old with hardship and grave with the silence of the hills. Her life had been spent entirely among men who were her seniors, and, although she had ruled them like a spoiled queen, she knew as little of their sex as they did of hers. Unconsci

ontinued, "I'd rather have you l

They do anything I want th

of the place, because you are such a surprise. To think that in the heart of thi

she inquired, eagerly.

these surroundings, and yet unconventionally surprising-for any p

from the States, and I was carri

ven't lived

le I was very little, but of la

semina

been at the Mission. Father Barnum has been teaching m

ght with Lee, and an uncle was now in the service at Washington. On the mother's side the strain was equally militant, but the Meades had sought the sea. The old soldier had told her much more, of which she understood little; told her of the young man's sister, who had come all the way from Kentucky to see her brother off when he sailed from San Francisco; t

wn puppies. They were boy and girl, both brown as Siwashes, with eyes like jet beads and hair that was straight and coarse and black. At a glance Burrell knew them for "breeds," and evidently the darker half was closer to the surface now, for they choked, gurgled, stuttered, and coughed in their Indian tongue, while Necia answered them

an Egyptian maid, then at her warm, dark eyes, in which was a hint of the golden light of the afternoon sun. He noted covertly the slender lines of her

this undiscovered spot died out suddenly. What a picture she made! How fresh

agined there would be anybody in this place but men and squaws-men who hate the law and squaws who slink about-like that." He no

ed at hi

ifference wou

eds!" His tone conveyed i

she arose. A curiously startled look lay in her eyes, an

Gale, and this is my little brother John." Both round-eyed elfs made a ducking courtesy

of the store came the voice

a! Ne

then, turning to the young officer, she adde