tion-builder. And any outsider who knows the
country's history, the manner of life on the frontier and who has also
been in contact with these scarlet-coated riders, not only finds it
necessary to read between the lines for the facts but will enjoy the
ingenious efforts of these men to avoid anything savouring of egoism.
Without being so intended some of these reports are positively humorous
on account of this determination to keep "display" in the background.
Here is a gem of that type. It is a report written by Corporal C. Hogg,
who was stationed at North Portal on the Soo Line near the international
boundary. Such localities are often a sort of "No Man's Land" where
would-be desperadoes think they can set law to defiance. Corporal Hogg's
report of an evening's proceeding in that region, with a foot-note by
his superior officer who had received it, makes interesting reading. We
quote them in regular order as follows:

"On the 17th instant I, Corporal Hogg, was called to the hotel to
quiet a disturbance." Hogg put the state of disorder mildly. He
proceeds: "I found the room full of cowboys and one, Monaghan or
'Cowboy Jack,' was carrying a gun and pointed it at me, against
sections 105 and 109 of the Criminal Code." It was taking long
chances, but the Mounted Police generally waited for the other man
to start things. In this case they were started right there and
then. For the Corporal goes on to say, "We struggled." This is
terse, but it involved much more than was said, as will later
appear. "Finally," proceeds the Corporal, "I got him handcuffed
behind and put him inside. His head being in bad shape I had to
engage the services of a doctor who dressed his wound and
pronounced it as nothing serious. To the doctor Monaghan said that
if I hadn't grabbed his gun there would have been another death in
Canadian history. All of which I have the honour to report.

"(S.) C. HOGG, Corporal."

The Officer who received this report puts on the finishing touch by a
memorandum upon it to this effect: "During the arrest of Monaghan the
following property was damaged: Door broken, screen smashed up, chair
broken, field jacket belonging to Corporal Hogg damaged, wall
bespattered." It looks as if Monaghan's ancestors may have hailed from
Donnybrook, and it must be admitted that he lived up to the traditions
of Fair day in that region. But he had never me