Corporal Cameron of the North West Mounted Police: A Tale of the Macleod Trail

rning. Every time his eyes found the Indian his teeth came together in a grinding r

sunny glade resting the ponies, or went loping easily along the winding trails making ever towards the Southwest, the trader's cheerful face, his endless tales, and his invincible good

larger. Mid-day found them resting by a little lake, from whi

row night," said Raven, "where we shall part;

t vexed him that he could not bring himself to say so to-day with any great

pon the lake, "in other circumstances I might have found in you

ing of his old football captain, "b

en. "But, after all, what is a bunch o

on in horror. "What are

e Thunder has a grudge of very old standing against the Stonies, whom he heartily despises, and he doubtless enjoys considerable satisfaction from the thought that he has partially paid it. It wi

" said Cameron. "Surely in this country a

raders, or I. G. Baker's people, or any of them do the honest thing by the Indian they trade with? In the long ru

said Cameron. "You kn

utlaw." The grey-brown eyes had in them a wistful look. "Bah!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet and shaking himself. "The sight of your Edinburgh face and the sou

. Nighthawk came trottin

over the black, glossy neck and searching his pocket for a biscuit. "

mounted and calling Lit

ith us. Your twenty-four hours' parole is already up. To-morrow, perhaps to-night, I shall put you on the Macleod trail. You are a free man, but don't try to

ern tone. Little Thunder grunted a surly and unwilling acquiescence, an

ure swaying up the trail, his every movement in unison with that of the beautiful demon he bestrode. But with all h

ned his eyes upon Little Thunder getting his pack ponies out upon th

in front

rders from your chief. You go in front. I b

d his hand impatiently toward the trail. Following the direction of his hand, Cameron's eyes fell upon the stock of h

th men were racing for the pack and approaching each other at a sharp angle. Arrived at stri

s. Like a flash he dropped to his knees in an old football tackle, caught the Indian by the legs and tossed him high over his

cartridge belt, which, after a few minutes' anxious search, he discovered in the pack.

ht hours had created an entirely new environment, and with extraordinary facility his mind had adjusted itself to this environment, and though two days before he would hav

s mind regained its normal condition there deepened in his eyes a look of cunning hatred. With diff

meron. "And no nonsense, mind you," he ad

characteristic of his race that he should know when he was beaten and stoically accept defeat for the tim

e hours on the trail when Cameron heard behind him the thundering of hoofs. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw coming down upon him Raven, riding as if pursued by a thousand demons. The condition of his horse showed that the race had

hunder Raven rushed like a whirlwin

hat are you loafin

o the Indian and he came th

n a few minutes had the whole cavalcade madly careering down the sloping trail. Wilder and wilder grew the pace. Turning a sharp corner round a jutting rock a pack pony stumbled and went crashing fifty

ttered Raven with bitter oaths. "Oh, the c

a spot where the trai

er and then came raging back. "We are going to get this bunch down into the valley there," he shouted, pointing to the thick timber at the bot

t onward, taking infinite pains to cover their tracks at the various points of departure. While this was being done the trader stood shouting directions and giving

een minutes!" he kept muttering. "Just a sh

o the woods Raven turned to Came

t responsible I must ask you for that rifle." With the swiftness of a flash of light he whipped his gun into Cameron's face. "Don't move!" he said, still smiling. "This gun of mine

eron, with his heart filled with

on't know that we are aware of their presence. Ride! Ride! A little faste

ell upon

Only a few minutes longer, then we part

her

eve it is my old friend Sergeant Crisp. Only two of them

ed by a bullet that s

ere goes for you, sergeant!" He wheeled as he spoke. Turn

uted, throwing his pony acro

taggered, swayed, and pitched to the e

ll the sergeant not to follow. Trails hereabout are dangerous and good police sergeants are scarce. Again farewe

, who had struggled upright and was now swaying

from his pony and waving his hands wildly

and hold up your hand

hfully, "Oh, come on, you bally fool! Y

or I shoot!" cried t

ut for God's sake hurry up!" He ran towards the serge

as Cameron came near. "Const

ssion. "Arrest me, of course, but if you want to catch

id the sergeant pleasant

d a thief and you can c

le and we'll take a look round. How many might there be in your gang?" e

mpatiently. "A chap c

rgeant Crisp with a new i

an. Little Thunde

e, what a find!" exc

d in the woods there alone and the Indian is further

oubtless to give himself up," said sergeant Crisp with fine sarcasm. "Well, we are not

in incoherent snatches, to the intense amusement of Sergeant Crisp and his

a moment he stood looking down upon his horse. "Poor old chap!" he said. "We have gone many a mile together on Her Majesty's errands. If I have done my duty as faithful

ht be to-day if you had only listened to me. Why, man," he sh

rgeant Crisp,

but like a fool you let him go. But some day, so he

again. "Good! Very good in