Winston of the Prairie

below the level of the prairie, as the rivers of that country usually do, and the trees which there alone found shelter from the winds straggled, gnarled and stun

was firm, a horseman might cross when the water was low, and heavy sledges make the passage on the ice in winter time. The other arm twisted i

pinion had not been asked, he agreed with Sergeant Stimson that the whisky-runners would attempt the passage. They were men who took the risks as they came, and that route would considerably shorten the journey it was especially desirable for them to make at nigh

t through fur and leather with the keenness of steel. The temperature had fallen steadily since morning, and now there was a presage of a blizzard in the moaning wind and murky sky. If it broke and scattered its blindi

rising from the hollow, row on row, struck a faint sparkle from the ice beneath them, and then went out leaving the gloom intensified. It was evident to Shannon that his eyes would not be much use to him that night, for which reason he kept his ears uncovered at the risk of losing them, but though he had been born in the bush and all the sounds of the wilderness had for him

they rode for the ford, and then help to cut off the retreat of any who escaped the sergeant, while if they found the ice too thin for loaded beasts or rode towards the bridge, a flash from his carbine would bring his comrades across in time to join

but there is a limit to what man can bear, and the troopers who watched by the frozen river that night had almost reached it. Shannon could not feel the stirrups with his feet. One of his ears was tingling horribly as the blood that had almost left it resumed its efforts to penetrate the congealing flesh, while the mittened ha

d the power of speech. "Sure ye know the order that was given me, a

he tossing birches his young face was very grim. Like many another trooper of the Northwest police, Shannon had his story, and he r

on was a well-favored lad. He had worked harder than most grown men could do, won one good harvest, and had a few dollars in the bank when Courthorne rode up to Blake's homestead on his big black horse. After that, all Shannon's hopes and ambitions came down with a crash; and the day he found Blake gray in face with shame

r, his business to watch the forking of the trail, and when he could only hear the thrashing of the birches, he moved his mittened hand from the bridle, and patted the restive horse. Just then the bluff was filled with sound as a blast that drove a haze of snow before it roared down. It was followed by a sudden s

hoarse voice. "Thro

gust of passion, and it was not fear that caused his stiffened fingers to slip upon the carbine. It fe

ter, get do

to think for himself swiftly and shrewdly from his boyhood up, and realized instinctively that if he escaped scathless the ringing of the rifle would warn the rustlers who he surmised were close behind. He was also a police trooper broken to the iron bond of discipline, and if a bullet from the Marlin was to

said. "The last time I put my

rry you're not a trifle older, but it will teach Sergeant Stimson the folly of sending a lad to deal with me.

or right, once they were entangled amidst the trees. Then it would be time to give the alarm, and go down with a bullet in his body, or by some contrivance evade the deadly rifle and come to grips with his enemy. He also knew Lance Courthorne, and remembering

er or open your lips, and I'll have great pleasure in shooting you. In the meanwhile

of moonlight shone down upon them, and in place of showing apprehensio

said he. "There'll be one of us in--to-morrow, but for th

is eyes. "You haven't felt mine yet," he said. "

e meanwhile," he said, "I'm wondering why you're wearing an honest man

ressure of the other's finger on the trigger. He, however, did not move at all, and while the birches roared about them they stood silently face to face, the man of birth

d it would be well to wait a little until they had straggled out where the trail was narrow and deeply rutted. No one could turn them hastily there, and the men who drove them could scarcely escape the troopers who waited them, if they blundered on through the darkness of the bush. So five breathless minutes passed, Trooper Shannon standing tense and str

hip the trigger guard gashed his mitten. He sprang sideways scarcely feeling the bite of the steel, for the lad's hand brushed his shoulder. Then there was a crash as something went down heavily amidst the crackling twigs. Courthorne stooped a little, pant

ost silently in and out among the birches and swung himself into the saddle of a tethered horse. Unlooping the bridle from a branch, he pressed his heels home, realizing as he did it that there was no time to lose, for it was evident that one of the troopers was somewhat close behind him, and others were

his friends and enemies. Trooper Shannon had also been silenced forever, and if he could cross the frontier unrecognized, nobody would believe the story of the man he would leave to bear the brunt in place of him. Accordingly he headed at a gallop down the winding trail, while sharp orders and a dru

and the edge of the bluff, cutting off his road to the prairie. It was evident he could not go on, while the crackle of twigs, roar of hoofs, and jingle of steel behind him, made it plain that to turn was to

ce reached him. "You're takin

above him, something whirred through the twigs above hi

ng through the undergrowth straight down the declivity, while thin snow whirled abo

it Courthorne could not turn. The bronco he bestrode was madly excited and less than half-broken, and it is probable no man could have pulled him up just then. It may also have been borne in upon Courthorne, that he owed a lit

and something seemed to move in the midst of it while the ice rang about it. Then as the trooper pitched up his carbine there was a crash that was followed by a horrible flo

his way up the slope, leading the horse by the bridle, and only swung himself into the saddle when he found the trail again. A ca

's hurt and Shannon ha

the trail. Ten minutes later, he drew bridle close by a man who held a lantern, and saw Sergeant Stimson sitting very grim in

r man?" he sa

ver, and the ice wouldn't carry him. I saw him ride away from here just aft

rade close by his feet. Shannon appeared to recognize him, for his eyes moved a little and the gray lips fell apart.

m's for a wagon," said the Sergeant

" said Tro

there was a ring in

ast he was riding Winston's horse, a

h blackened muzzle at his feet. "And I think you could recog

er signed to him. "I fancy Shanno

s comrade's neck, and took the mittened hand

cap," he said, and then

er that, boys,"

t together, and he felt his manhood melting as he looked down into his dimming eyes. There was a

his head a little on Payne's arm

utterance, while when the gust passed all three, who had

into his upturned face, and there was a very impressive silence intensified by