, ten railroad
companies would not make us, and we're open to defy any man in the
Dominion, director or surveyor, to force an injustice upon us."

The autocrat was not in the least angry, and smiled dryly as he said: "I
believe you. Well, I make no promises, but if you're not above all
assistance I guess I might help you. You can lay off and rest your teams
for two days anyway, while I turn loose the shovelers; then you'll want
all the energy that's in you."

In different circumstances we might have enjoyed that holiday. As it was,
I lay still in the sunshine all day, disconsolately staring across the
prairie down the track that was apparently going to complete our
discomfiture, and smoking until my mouth was blistered. Where Harry went
to I did not know. On the second evening, however, our new partner, who
had been back to the main line for supplies, came in, and listened with
apparent unconcern while we explained matters to him. Acting under
impulse, I even suggested that we might release him from his unfortunate
bargain, but he laughed as he answered:

"You're generous, but it can't be done. Experiences of this kind are not
new to me, and I'm a Jonah, as I warned you. Still, when bad luck follows
one everywhere--floods on the Fraser, cattle-sickness, snow coming heavy
just when one is finding signs of gold--you know there's no earthly use
running away from it, and it's wisest to laugh at fortune and stay right
where you are. Dare say we'll come out on the right side yet; and if we
don't, in fifty years it won't make much difference. Now try to look less
like guests at a funeral, and talk of something cheerful."

I made some moody answer and envied him his way of taking things, while
Harry tried to smile, and Johnston, lifting down a banjo, commenced a
plantation ditty, which he sang with so much spirit that presently he had
most of the shovel gang for an appreciative audience. Then there were
roars of laughter when he stood in the entrance of the tent and, with the
utmost solemnity, made them a ridiculous speech. After this they went away
to their canvas dwellings, and I knew that Ellsworthy Johnston was one of
those born soldiers of fortune who extract the utmost brightness from an
arduous life, and, meeting each reverse with a smiling face, cheerfully
bear their ill-rewarded share in the development of Greater Britain beyond
the seas. One may find a good many of them on the Western prairie.

We recommenced work