me in
from a long patrol, tired and entitled to a rest, albeit he was a noted
trail-maker. Nor does he relate any details of the trip after the insane
unfortunate. But those who have travelled the broken plain can see much
between the lines of the simply worded report. We can see the vast white
expanse of snow and ice wind swept at times by the fierce blizzards out
of the north. We can see the return journey when the violent man would
have to be watched day and night and yet given liberty enough at times
to keep him from being chloroformed with the cold. A fine humane act was
this and one that could only be done by a man who embodied in himself
the coolness, courage and gentleness that form so splendid a
combination. This and countless deeds of a like kind ensure the Mounted
Police an enduring place in our Canadian temple of Fame.

It appears that there were always some people who believed that all they
had to do when any mishap occurred in their experience was to sit back
and get the Police to put things right. This was a tribute to the way in
which the Force had exercised paternal oversight in their districts. But
it was carrying things rather too far and forgetting that the best help
comes to those who help themselves. There was a good deal of
horse-stealing and horse-straying in progress in 1902 and when their
horse got out of sight some settlers imagined they were stolen when in
reality they had only strayed. These people thought the Police should
assume the task of securing the return of their herds and droves. This
calls a mild protest from Inspector J. O. Wilson, when at Regina. Wilson
says, "Settlers are still prone to report a horse stolen when it is
missing without making any special effort to find it themselves. There
is a case on record where a settler named Hansen, who for the past seven
years has lost horses, now expects the Police to find them for him. Much
time has been spent in fully investigating his complaints, but this
gentleman is not yet satisfied and has written to say that he considers
it the duty of the Police to hunt up lost horses." And then the
Inspector indicates the lines along which the efforts of the Force are
properly directed. "In connection with this," he says, "I beg to state
that when horses are reported lost, descriptions are forwarded to all
detachments and instructions issued that should they be seen or heard
the owners are to be notified. A large number of horses have been
retur