ll, my boy, she needs no help that either you or I can give."

Perault, the half-breed, and Crawley sat in silence at the other side
of the fire. Shock remained near, the girl, wondering at her marvellous
self-control. Verse after verse she sang in a voice low, but clear and
sweet. As the refrain occurred again and again,

"O sweet and blessed country, the home of God's elect,
O sweet and blessed country that eager hearts expect,
Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest,"

the only change was that the song rose a little clearer and fuller and
with deeper tone.

After she had finished the camp lay in perfect silence.

"Are you asleep, father, dear?" his daughter said at length, but there
was no reply. She touched his hands and his face.

"Father!" she cried in a voice of awe and fear, but still there was no
reply.

The doctor came hastily into the light, looked into the old man's face,
and said: "He is gone."

With a long, low, wailing cry the girl laid herself upon the ground by
her father's side and put her arms around him. They all gathered about
the couch, with the doctor and Shock standing nearest.

"Poor child!" said the doctor softly. "This is a sad night for her."

"Yes," said Shock, in a voice quiet and steady. "For her the night is
sad, but for him the day has dawned and there shall be night no more."

There, in that wide valley where the yellow pine needles lie deep and
where morning and evening the mingling lights fall softly through the
overarching boughs, they laid the Old Prospector to rest under the
pines and the stars that had been his companions for so long.

XV

EJECTED AND REJECTED

In the main room of the Old Prospector's house some ten or twelve
stern-faced men had gathered. The easy, careless manner that was
characteristic of the ranchers and cowboys of the district had given
place to an air of stern and serious determination. It was evident that
they had gathered for some purpose of more than ordinary moment. By
common consent Sinclair, a shrewd and fair-minded Scotch rancher who
possessed the complete confidence of every man in the company, both for
his integrity and his intelligence, was in the chair.

"Where is Mr. Macgregor?" he enquired.

"Gone to the Fort," answered The Kid. "He is on duty there to-morrow.
He wished me to say, however, that he has no desire to push this
matter, as far as he is personally concerned, but that if the committee
thinks