feelingly allude to will last a week; that is, if I can
raise dollars enough from Clarke to keep it up. You mayn't understand
that I'm willing to barter all my future for it."

"Yes," said Harding grimly; "we understand all right. Yours is not a
singular case; the trouble is that it's too common. But we'll quit
talking about it. You can't go."

He was in no mood to handle the subject delicately; they were alone in
the wilds and the situation made for candour. There was only one way
in which they could help the man and he meant to take it. Benson
turned to him angrily.

"Your permission's not required; I'm a free man."

"Are you?" Harding asked. "It strikes me as a very curious boast.
Improving the occasion's a riling thing, but there was never a slave in
Dixie tighter bound than you."

"That's an impertinence," Benson rejoined, flushing, as unsatisfied
longing drove him to fury. "What business is it of yours to preach to
me? Confound you! who are you? I tell you I won't have it. Give me
food enough to last until I reach Sweetwater and let me go."

As he spoke a haughty ring crept into his voice and Blake was moved to
compassion because he recognized it and found it ludicrous. Benson,
who would not have used that tone in his normal state, belonged by
right of birth to a ruling caste, and no doubt felt that he had been
treated with indignity by a man of lower station. Harding, however,
answered quietly--

"I am a paint factory drummer who has never had the opportunities you
have enjoyed, but so long as we're up here in the wilds the only thing
that counts is that we're men with the same weaknesses and feelings.
Because that's so, and you're hard up against it, I and my partner mean
to see you through."

"You can't unless I'm willing. Man, don't you realize that talking's
of no use? The thing I'm driven by won't yield to words. What's more
to the purpose, I didn't engage to go all the way with you. Now I've
had enough, I'm going back to the settlement."

"Very well. You were right in claiming that there was no engagement of
any kind. So far, we have found you in grub, but we're not bound to do
so, and if you leave us, you must shift for yourself." Harding
addressed Blake, who sat nearest the provisions. "You'll see that your
friend doesn't touch those stores."

There was silence for a moment or two, and Benson, whose face was
marked with baffled desire and scarcely controlled fury, glared