latform, however, Long John spread out his feet to steady his
wavering body and waved a hand in hearty greeting to the crowd which
had assembled to welcome him home. His hat was gone; he had a
discolored eye, but the reluctance was gone from his carriage. And he
made a speech which for expressive briefness surpasses anything I've
ever heard, before or since:

"'There!' he declared his triumph. 'There! And now I guess I've
showed 'em no sanatorium could ever cure me!'"

But Garry did not laugh. His smile was mirthlessly sardonic.

"Then why the devil have you tried to keep me up here?"

Any man might well have objected to the manner of that question; many
men would have spoken too hastily, forgetting that there are worse ills
than those of the body. But Steve was not ready to hit back yet. He
was thinking of Miriam Burrell; he lied with skillful smoothness.

"I told you last night," he said. "I need men. And then, too, it's a
long time since I've seen you. I've not made so many friends, you
know, Garry."

Garrett Devereau would have stopped there, dripping as he was, in the
middle of the timber, had not Steve held to his stride. And he must
have caught a momentary glimpse of that self which he was exhibiting to
his companion, for his next words were a little mollified.

"Perspective is an excellent thing," he murmured. "It's been said
before, but I'm repeating it. It's not only illuminating in just the
matter of view, but it unsettles one's sense of values, doesn't it? I
mean the Bignesses and Smallnesses of things--and creatures. When I
went away, or rather when you did, back I don't remember how many
years, you were tugging at the bit to be up and at things. That used
to perplex me, although you may not have known it; I never really
caught your angle or viewpoint. But now that you are in the thick of
it I'm puzzled to know whether you find it--well, sufficient in itself."

O'Mara laughed softly over his shoulder.

"Sufficient!" he echoed. "Wouldn't you, if you were fact
[Transcriber's note: face?] to face every day with some problem or
other that had you stumped? Wouldn't you, if you were playing a game
that shifted so rapidly from point to point that it kept you dodging
and ducking and swearing to hold your feet?"

Garry drew a deep breath.

"That's what I've been trying to establish in my own mind," he
faltered. "I've been thinking perhaps--but, pah!" He spat out a
fragment of laught