se where they
were large and he stumbled into the hollows between. Then they
struggled through short pine-scrub, crawled up a wet gorge where thick
willows grew, and afterwards got entangled among thickets of thorny
canes. Harding's clothes were badly torn and his boots giving out; his
breath was laboured and his heart beat painfully, but he pressed on
upwards without slackening his pace.

It was exhausting toil, and until he entered the North-West, he had
undergone no physical training and seldom tried his muscles; being left
to shift for himself at an unusually early age had prevented his even
playing any outdoor games. His career had been a humble one, but it
had taught him self-reliance, and when he was thrown into the company
of men brought up in a higher station he was not surprised that they
accepted him as an equal and comrade. There was, however, nothing
assertive in the man; he knew his powers and their limitations. Now he
clearly recognized that he had undertaken a big thing, but the need was
urgent, and he meant to see it through. He was of essentially
practical temperament, a man of action, and it was necessary that he
should keep up with his Indian guide as long as possible. Therefore he
braced himself for the arduous task.

In the afternoon they reached a tableland where travelling was slightly
easier, but when they camped without a fire among the rocks one of
Harding's feet was bleeding and he was very weary. Walking was painful
for the first hour after they started again at dawn, but by and by his
galled foot troubled him less, and he doggedly followed the Indian up
and down deep ravines and over rough stony slopes. Then they reached
stunted timber; thickly-massed, tangled pines, with many dead trees
among them and a number which had fallen, barring the way. The Indian
seemed tireless; Harding could imagine his muscles having been
toughened into something different from ordinary flesh and blood. He
was feeling distress, but for the present there was only one thing for
him to do, and that was to march. He saw it clearly with his shrewd
sense, and though his worn-out body revolted his resolution did not
flinch.

They forced a way through thickets, they skirted precipitous rocks,
passed clusters of ragged pines, and plunged down ravines. In the
afternoon the sun was hot, and when it got low a cold wind buffeted
them as they crossed the height of land, but although Harding's side
ached as w