uilding up the future greatness of
this wonderful country. At least, that's what they called him at the
last big speech-making, but I don't quite see what good it would do us
if you kicked the bottom of that kettle in, Charley. Now it's curious
how a thing that's once started goes on. Jimmy took a notion that
there was silver here, and that drew me in as well as Mrs. Jimmy. Then
you came along, and presently it got hold of Hallam. The Somasco
Consolidated has got drawn in, too--now there are you and I, with only
the Almighty knows how much upon our shoulders, up here in the rain and
snow."

Seaforth glanced at his comrade reflectively as he said, "I was
wondering if there was anybody else."

Alton's face grew suddenly impassive. "Oh, yes," he said. "There's
another man I don't know, the one who lighted the fire. He's back
there somewhere."

Seaforth said nothing for a minute or two, but as he glanced about him
the shadows seemed to grow darker beyond the flickering radiance of the
fire, and the roar of wind in the branches angrier. He had been a prey
to half-formed suspicions of late, and there was something sinister in
the thought of that man who followed them.

"Harry," he said presently, "you have got most of the things you wanted
so far?"

"Yes," said Alton quietly. "It wasn't always easy, and they didn't
come to me, but I knew what I wanted, and I usually got it."

Seaforth made a sign of comprehension. "Did it ever occur to you that
you had probably as much already as is good for you?"

Alton glanced at him with half-closed eyes. "A little plainer,
Charley."

"You have Somasco, the liking of all the ranchers down the valley, the
timber rights and mill. You have also Carnaby, and most folks would
think you a fortunate man. Now the man who wants too much is
occasionally sorry when he gets it."

Alton's eyes glinted. "I have a partner, too, who doesn't know where
to stop," he said.

Seaforth met his comrade's gaze steadily. "This," he said
reflectively, "is a good country. In fact I don't know a better one
for the man who wants to live as he was meant to in the wind and sun,
watching what he has worked for slowly grow. Is it a little thing,
Harry, to see the oats and timothy where the forest had been, to clear
a new way for the river with giant powder, and hear the big wheels
humming where there was only a frothing rapid? Orchards, barns, and
homestead built by your own labour, horses