go in and out among the workmen and his
friends. More and more the colonel became impressed with his manager's
genius for the picking of his men and binding them to his interests, and
as this impression deepened he became the more resolved that it was
a waste of good material to retain a man in a country offering such a
limited scope for his abilities.

But after four weeks spent in exploring the interior, from Quesnelle to
Okanagan, and in the following in and out the water-ways of the coast
line, the colonel met Ranald at Yale with only a problem to be solved,
and he lost no time in putting it to his manager.

"How in thunder can I get those narrow-gauge, hidebound Easterners to
launch out into business in this country?"

"I can't help you there, Colonel. I've tried and failed."

"By the great Sam, so you have!" said the colonel, with a sudden
conviction of his own limitations in the past. "No use tryin' to tell
'em of this," swinging his long arm toward the great sweep of the Fraser
Valley, clothed with a mighty forest. "It's only a question of holdin'
on for a few years, the thing's dead sure."

"I have been through a good part of it," said Ranald, quietly, "and I am
convinced that here we have the pick of Canada, and I venture to say
of the American Continent. Timber, hundreds of square miles of it,
fish--I've seen that river so packed with salmon that I couldn't shove
my canoe through--"

"Hold on, now," said the colonel, "give me time."

"Simple, sober truth of my own proving," replied Ranald. "And you saw a
fringe of the mines up in the Cariboo. The Kootenai is full of gold and
silver, and in the Okanagan you can grow food and fruits for millions of
people. I know what I am saying."

"Tell you what," said the colonel, "you make me think you're speakin'
the truth anyhow." Then, with a sudden inspiration, he exclaimed: "By
the great Sammy, I've got an idea!" and then, as he saw Ranald waiting,
added, "But I guess I'll let it soak till we get down to the mill."

"Do you think you could spare me, Colonel?" asked Ranald, in a dubious
voice; "I really ought to run through a bit of timber here."

"No, by the great Sam, I can't! I want you to come right along," replied
the colonel, with emphasis.

"What is he saying, Colonel?" asked Mr. Blair.

"Wants to run off and leave me to paddle my way home alone. Not much! I
tell you what, we have some important business to do before I go East.
You hear me?"

"And