my weight on my left foot--and down I came."

Again Seaforth shrank from his task. "You were warned not to try to
walk much for a week or two."

"Pshaw!" said Alton with sudden fierceness. "There's more than that."

Seaforth laid his hand compassionately upon his comrade's shoulder.
"It had to come sooner or later--and I was afraid to tell you before.
You will never walk quite as well as you used to, Harry."

Alton clutched the balustrade, and a greyness crept into his face.
"I," he said very slowly, "a cripple--all my life!"

Seaforth said nothing, and there was a silence for almost a minute
until Alton slowly straightened himself. "Well," he said quietly,
"there is no use kicking--but this was to have been the best day of my
life."

Seaforth understood him and saw his opportunity. "I don't think that
will make any difference, Harry."

Alton seemed to choke down a groan. "I had so little before," he said.

Again Seaforth laid his hand upon his shoulder, "Shake yourself
together, Harry. After all, I don't think it is the things that one
can offer which count," he said. "Let me help you back."

Alton resolutely shook off his grasp, and moved very slowly and stiffly
towards the living-room. "No," he said. "I'm not going back there any
more. Get me a big black cigar, Charley--and then go right away."

Seaforth did as he was bidden, for there were many things which
demanded his attention, but he glanced at his comrade as he went out,
and the sight of the gaunt figure sitting very grim and straight in a
chair by the window would return long afterwards to his memory.

"He takes it badly--and a little while ago I should have thought he was
right," he said.

It was several hours later when Seaforth returned to the house, and
found Mrs. Margery in a state of consternation.

"Where's Harry?" he said.

"'Way down to the settlement," said the woman. "Okanagan was fool
enough to hoist him on a horse, and though I talked half-an-hour solid
I couldn't stop him."

Seaforth smiled dryly. "I scarcely think you could. Harry is himself
again. What has taken him to the settlement, anyway?"

The woman glanced at him contemptuously. "All men are fools," said
she. "He went to meet that girl from the old country, and find out his
mistake."

Seaforth said nothing, but went out in haste and saddled a horse, for
although it had been apparent to him that there was no affection wasted
between Alice Deringham and