lly commending the care and
efficiency of Mr. Nelson, who had had charge of the camp. The men
cheered wildly, Baptiste's shrill voice leading all. Nelson being called
upon, expressed in a few words his pleasure at seeing the Boss back, and
thanked the men for their support while he had been in charge.

The men were for making a night of it; but fearing the effect upon
Graeme, I spoke to Nelson, who passed the word, and in a short time the
camp was quiet. As we sauntered from the grub-camp to the office where
was our bed, we paused to take in the beauty of the night. The moon rode
high over the peaks of the mountains, flooding the narrow valley with
mellow light. Under her magic the rugged peaks softened their harsh
lines and seemed to lean lovingly toward us. The dark pine masses stood
silent as in breathless adoration; the dazzling snow lay like a garment
over all the open spaces in soft, waving folds, and crowned every stump
with a quaintly shaped nightcap. Above the camps the smoke curled up
from the camp-fires, standing like pillars of cloud that kept watch
while men slept. And high over all the deep blue night sky, with its
star jewels, sprang like the roof of a great cathedral from range to
range, covering us in its kindly shelter. How homelike and safe seemed
the valley with its mountain-sides, its sentinel trees and arching roof
of jewelled sky! Even the night seemed kindly, and friendly the stars;
and the lone cry of the wolf from the deep forest seemed like the voice
of a comrade.

'How beautiful! too beautiful!' said Graeme, stretching out his arms. 'A
night like this takes the heart out of me.'

I stood silent, drinking in at every sense the night with its wealth of
loveliness.

'What is it I want?' he went on. 'Why does the night make my heart ache?
There are things to see and things to hear just beyond me; I cannot get
to them.' The gay, careless look was gone from his face, his dark eyes
were wistful with yearning.

'I often wonder if life has nothing better for me,' he continued with
his heartache voice.

I said no word, but put my arm within his. A light appeared in the
stable. Glad of a diversion, I said, 'What is the light? Let us go and
see.'

'Sandy, taking a last look at his team, like enough.'

We walked slowly toward the stable, speaking no word. As we neared the
door we heard the sound of a voice in the monotone of one reading. I
stepped forward and looked through a chink between the l