of chilliness, sprang upright,
and saw that the first rays of the red sun scintillated upon something
that was not dew among the grass. With a cry I strode over to Harry's
berth. Even half-asleep he could read the fear in my face.

"What is it?" he asked.

I scarcely knew my own voice as I answered hoarsely: "Frost!"

We ran out half-dressed, and when we stood by the edge of the tall wheat,
which was already turning yellow, we knew that the destroyer had breathed
upon our grain, and that every stately head contained its percentage of
shriveled berries. Still, it might yet sell under a lower grading--if
there were no more frost. But the frost came twice again--and on the third
sunrise I stood staring across the blighted crop with despairing eyes,
while my hands would tremble in spite of my will. Few men had labored as
Harry and I had done; indeed, it was often only the hope of winning Grace
Carrington that sustained me, while now I was poorer far than when first I
landed in Canada. Neither dare I contemplate what the result of my folly
would be to Harry. But Harry, who seldom thought of himself, laid his hand
affectionately on my shoulder.

"Poor old Ralph!" he said. "Well, we did our best, and there's room for us
somewhere in this wide country. I suppose it is--hopeless--absolutely?"

"Quite!" I answered, trying to steady my voice. "We can leave it with a
clear conscience to the gophers. However, we might earn a little with the
teams to feed us through the winter, and strike out next spring for
British Columbia. The new railroad people are open to let track-grading
contracts, you know. Lend me your double-barrel; I'm in no mood for
talking, and an all-day tramp after prairie-chicken may help to steady
me."

I took down the old weapon--it was a muzzle-loader--and called our little
English terrier Grip. He was rather a nuisance than otherwise when
stalking prairie-fowl, but he was an affectionate beast, and I felt glad
of his company. Then for several hours I strode on across the prairie,
hardly seeing the clattering coveys at which Grip barked furiously, and I
might have wandered on until midnight but that when skirting a grove of
willows he must most foolishly follow the trail of a coyote. Now, the
prairie-wolf, though timorous enough where a man is concerned, is
generally willing to try conclusions with even a powerful dog, and when
presently a great snarling commenced I burst at full speed through the
willows. I