shoulder.--"For the crime he committed this morning he shall
pay: but to the law, not to you. Put up your revolvers, men. Go back to
Viking. Don't risk your lives; don't break the law and make yourselves
criminals and outlaws. Is it worth it? Be men. You have been the
aggressors. There isn't one of you but feels that justice which is the
boast of every man of the West. You wanted to avenge the crime of this
morning. But the vengeance is the law's.--Stand back--Stand back!" he
said, and drew his revolver, as the leader of the river-drivers stepped
forward. "I will kill the first man that tries to lay his hand upon my
prisoner. Don't be mad. I am not one man, I am a whole country."

I shall never forget the thrill that passed through me as I saw a man
who, but a handful of months before, was neck deep in his grave, now
blossomed out into a strong, defiant soldier.

There was a pause. At last the leader of the river-drivers spoke. "See,"
he said, "Sergeant, I guess you're right. You're a man, so help me! Say,
boys," he continued, turning to his followers, "let him have the Injin.
I guess he's earned him."

So saying he wheeled, the men with him, and they tramped up the slope
again on their way back to Viking. The man who had achieved this turned
upon the fishers.

"Back to your homes!" he said. "Be thankful that blood was not shed here
to-night, and let this be a lesson to you. Now, go."

The crowd turned, slowly shambled down the riverside, and left us three
standing there.

But not alone. Out of the shadow of one of the houses came two women.
They stepped forward into the light of the bonfire burning near us. One
of the women was very pale.

It was Mrs. Falchion.

I touched the arm of the man standing beside me. He wheeled and saw her
also. A cry broke from his lips, but he stood still. A whole life-time
of sorrow, trouble, and love looked out of his eyes. Mrs. Falchion came
nearer. Clasping her hands upon her breast, she peered up into his face,
and gasped:

"Oh--oh--I thought that you were drowned--and dead! I saw you buried
in the sea. No--no--it cannot be you! I have heard and seen all within
these past few minutes. YOU are so strong and brave, so great a man!...
Oh, tell me, tell me, are you in truth my husband?"

He spoke.

"I was your husband, Mercy Falchion. I was drowned, but this man"--he
turned and touched my shoulder--"this man brought me back to life.
I wanted to be dead to the world. I begged