an any of us what is right to do, and he will
do that, and no man can turn him from it; and,' he added, 'I should be
sorry to try.'
Then my wrath rose, and I cried--
'It's a tremendous shame! They love each other. You are talking
sentimental humbug and nonsense!'
'He must do the right,' said Nelson in his deep, quiet voice.
'Right! Nonsense! By what right does he send from him the woman he
loves?'
'"He pleased not Himself,"' quoted Nelson reverently.
'Nelson is right,' said Graeme. 'I should not like to see him weaken.'
'Look here,' I stormed; 'I didn't bring you men to back him up in his
nonsense. I thought you could keep your heads level.'
'Now, Connor,' said Graeme, 'don't rage--leave that for the heathen;
it's bad form, and useless besides. Craig will walk his way where his
light falls; and by all that's holy, I should hate to see him fail; for
if he weakens like the rest of us my North Star will have dropped from
my sky.'
'Nice selfish spirit,' I muttered.
'Entirely so. I'm not a saint, but I feel like steering by one when I
see him.'
When after a week had gone, Craig rode up one early morning to his shack
door, his face told me that he had fought his fight and had not been
beaten. He had ridden all night and was ready to drop with weariness.
'Connor, old boy,' he said, putting out his hand; 'I'm rather played.
There was a bad row at the Landing. I have just closed poor Colley's
eyes. It was awful. I must get sleep. Look after Dandy, will you, like a
good chap?'
'Oh, Dandy be hanged,!' I said, for I knew it was not the fight, nor the
watching, nor the long ride that had shaken his iron nerve and given him
that face. 'Go in and lie down I'll bring you something.'
'Wake me in the afternoon,' he said; 'she is waiting. Perhaps you will
go to her'--his lips quivered--'my nerve is rather gone.' Then with a
very wan smile he added, 'I am giving you a lot of trouble.'
'You go to thunder!' I burst out, for my throat was hot and sore with
grief for him.
'I think I'd rather go to sleep,' he replied, still smiling. I could not
speak, and was glad of the chance of being alone with Dandy.
When I came in I found him sitting with his head in his arms upon the
table fast asleep. I made him tea, forced him to take a warm bath,
and sent him to bed, while I went to Mrs. Mavor. I went with a fearful
heart, but that was because I had forgotten the kind of woman she was.
She was standing in the li
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