nt in company with Mr. Dunbar,
exploring the garden, Barry following behind lost in amazement at the
new phase of character displayed by their visitor.

"I have not had such a delightful evening, Mr. Dunbar, for years," said
Duff, when they had finished making the round of the garden. "I have
heard about your garden, but I had no idea that it held such a wealth
and variety of treasures. I had something of a garden myself in the old
country, but here there is no time apparently for anything but cattle
and horses and money. But if you would allow me I should greatly like to
have the pleasure of bringing Mrs. Duff to see your beautiful garden."

Mr. Duff was assured that the Dunbars would have the greatest pleasure
in receiving Mrs. Duff.

"Do bring her," said Barry, "and we can have a little music, too. She is
musical, I know. I hear her sing in church."

"Music! Why, she loves it. But she dropped her music when she came here;
there seemed to be no time, no time, no time. I wonder sometimes--Well,
I must get at my business. It is this letter that brings me. It is from
an American whom you know, at least, he knows you, a Mr. Osborne Howland
of Pittsburgh."

Mr. Dunbar nodded.

"He is planning a big trip up the Peace River country prospecting for
oil and mines, and later hunting. He says you and your son engaged to
accompany him, and he asks me to complete arrangements with you. I am
getting Jim Knight to look after the outfit. You know Jim, perhaps. He
runs the Lone Pine ranch. Fine chap he is. Knows all about the hunting
business. Takes a party into the mountains every year. He'll take Tom
Fielding with him. I don't know Fielding, but Knight does. Mr. Howland
says there will be three of their party. Far too many, but that's his
business. I myself am rather anxious to look after some oil deposits,
and this will be a good chance. What do you say?"

Father and son looked at each other.

"It would be fine, if we could manage it," said Mr. Dunbar, "but my work
is so pressing just now. A great many are coming in, and I am alone in
the office at present. When does he propose to start?"

"In six weeks' time. I hope you can come, Mr. Dunbar. I couldn't have
said so yesterday, but I can now. Any man with a garden like this, the
product of his own planning and working, is worth knowing. So I do
hope you can both come. By the way, Knight wants a camp hand, a kind of
roustabout, who can cook--a handy man, you know."

"I ha