cene, however, until they suddenly fixed
themselves upon a spot where two figures were stretched upon the
ground. One was lying upon its side with its knees drawn up as though
asleep; the other was stretched upon its back, its arms flung out and
its legs lying across the other's body. The dead eyes were staring up
at the darkened sky, glazed and motionless.

He stared down upon these figures for some time, and the sight seemed
to put fresh strength into him; and at last, when he turned away, a
pitiful attempt at triumph shone in his dull eyes, and a ghostly smile
flitted about the corners of his sagging lips.

He had seen all he wanted to see. His work was done. James was dead.
He knew death when he saw it, and he had seen it shining in those
staring eyes. James had passed over the one-way trail, and his had
been the hand that had sped him upon his journey.

Now he took a deep breath and stood swaying. Then he glanced with
measuring eye at the foot-box at his feet. He changed his support,
and, bending slowly, dragged a rawhide rope from inside it. The next
moment he fell back upon the seat. But his work had only begun. For
some time he fumbled with the rope, passing it about his body and the
iron stanchions of the back of the seat, and after awhile had
succeeded in knotting it securely. Then, after a moment of hard
breathing, he reached out and untied the reins from the rail of the
cart and gathered them into his hands. And as he did so his lips moved
and his voice croaked brokenly.

"Come on, Gyp," he mumbled hoarsely. "Come, gal. Hey--you, Pete. You,
too--Maisie. Come on. Get on."

It was the word his faithful friends had awaited.

Chilled and eager, they leapt at their bits, and the traces snapped
taut. They were off; and in their eager rush the reins were almost
torn from the driver's numbing fingers. Again he spoke, and in his
halting words was a world of affection and encouragement.

"Easy, children," he said. "Easy, boys an' gals. Ther' sure ain't no
hurry now. They're dead--all--dead. Dead as--mutton."

He clawed full possession of the reins again. And in a moment the cart
was speeding down the long gradient that was to bear them on the
prairie world beyond.

The man was lolling forward, straining on the rope that held his
helpless body to the seat, and his eyes closed wearily. The speed of
the team, the direction, these things meant nothing to him now. The
trail was well marked right in to Spawn City