ss, to the rhythm of an eternal clank and
roar.

"I guess hell must look something like that," said a voice.

McMurdo turned and saw that one of the policemen had shifted in his seat
and was staring out into the fiery waste.

"For that matter," said the other policeman, "I allow that hell must BE
something like that. If there are worse devils down yonder than some we
could name, it's more than I'd expect. I guess you are new to this part,
young man?"

"Well, what if I am?" McMurdo answered in a surly voice.

"Just this, mister, that I should advise you to be careful in choosing
your friends. I don't think I'd begin with Mike Scanlan or his gang if I
were you."

"What the hell is it to you who are my friends?" roared McMurdo in a
voice which brought every head in the carriage round to witness the
altercation. "Did I ask you for your advice, or did you think me such
a sucker that I couldn't move without it? You speak when you are spoken
to, and by the Lord you'd have to wait a long time if it was me!" He
thrust out his face and grinned at the patrolmen like a snarling dog.

The two policemen, heavy, good-natured men, were taken aback by the
extraordinary vehemence with which their friendly advances had been
rejected.

"No offense, stranger," said one. "It was a warning for your own good,
seeing that you are, by your own showing, new to the place."

"I'm new to the place; but I'm not new to you and your kind!" cried
McMurdo in cold fury. "I guess you're the same in all places, shoving
your advice in when nobody asks for it."

"Maybe we'll see more of you before very long," said one of the
patrolmen with a grin. "You're a real hand-picked one, if I am a judge."

"I was thinking the same," remarked the other. "I guess we may meet
again."

"I'm not afraid of you, and don't you think it!" cried McMurdo. "My
name's Jack McMurdo--see? If you want me, you'll find me at Jacob
Shafter's on Sheridan Street, Vermissa; so I'm not hiding from you, am
I? Day or night I dare to look the like of you in the face--don't make
any mistake about that!"

There was a murmur of sympathy and admiration from the miners at the
dauntless demeanour of the newcomer, while the two policemen shrugged
their shoulders and renewed a conversation between themselves.

A few minutes later the train ran into the ill-lit station, and there
was a general clearing; for Vermissa was by far the largest town on the
line. McMurdo picked up his leathe