ey thrown themselves
into any doubtful trial of strength. In a slow, steady haul they were
to be relied upon; but they never could be got to jerk, and a jerk is
an important feature in stump-hauling tactics. To-day, however, a new
experience was awaiting them. Farquhar was an old man and slow, and
Yankee, while he was unwilling to hurry him, was equally unwilling that
his team should not do a full day's work. He persuaded Farquhar that his
presence was necessary at one of the piles, not with the hand-spike,
but simply to superintend the arranging of the mass for burning. "For it
ain't every man," Yankee declared, "could build a pile to burn." As for
his team, Yankee persuaded the old man that Ranald was unequaled in
handling horses; that last winter no driver in the camp was up to him.
Reluctantly Farquhar handed his team over to Ranald, and stood for some
time watching the result of the new combination.

Ranald was a born horseman. He loved horses and understood them. Slowly
he moved the blacks at their work, knowing that horses are sensitive to
a new hand and voice, and that he must adapt himself to their ways, if
he would bring them at last to his. Before long Farquhar was contented
to go off to his pile, satisfied that his team was in good hands, and
not sorry to be relieved of the necessity of hurrying his pace through
the long, hot day, as would have been necessary in order to keep up with
the other drivers.

For each team a strip of the brule was marked out to clear after the
axes. The logs, brush, and stumps had to be removed and dragged to the
burning-piles. Aleck, with his active, invincible French-Canadians,
Ranald with Farquhar's big, sleek blacks, and Don with his father's
team, worked side by side. A contest was inevitable, and before an hour
had passed Don and Aleck, while making a great show of deliberation,
were striving for the first place, with Aleck easily leading. Like a
piece of machinery, Aleck and his team worked together. Quickly and
neatly both driver and horses moved about their work with perfect
understanding of each other. With hardly a touch of the lines, but
almost entirely by word of command, Aleck guided his team. And when he
took up the whiffletrees to swing them around to a log or stump,
his horses wheeled at once into place. It was beautiful to see them,
wheeling, backing, hauling, pulling, without loss of time or temper.

With Don and his team it was all hard work. His horses were