lt a thrill of satisfaction as I turned to the
railroad autocrat.

"We will come," I said simply.

"That's good," was the laconic answer. "Don't think you'll regret it," and
with a nod to each of us the man who in a few moments had made a great
change in our destiny was gone.

"On the up-grade now!" said Johnston, "but don't lose your heads. The
great man paid you a tremendous compliment, Ralph, and that kind of thing
isn't usual with him; but take it coolly. More people get badly busted, as
they say in this benighted country, by sudden success than by hard luck!"

It was good to lounge in the tent door that evening, and remember that
there would be no more dreary awakenings to a day of profitless labor; but
perhaps it was the cool night wind and the frosty glitter of the stars
that helped to check the rush of hot, hopeful fancies through my brain. I
had learned already to distrust any untested offer of prosperity.

For another week nothing of moment happened, and then we spent an hour one
morning with the surveyor and a gray-haired gentleman from Winnipeg. He
differed from the former in many ways, and spoke with a deliberate
urbanity, but I felt that he also spoke with authority and was quietly
taking stock of us. We signed several papers, a receipt among them, and it
was only then that I realized what that unfortunate coulee had cost us,
while, when at last we went out, the surveyor said:

"You have made a good impression, and that man's favorable opinion may
mean great things to you. I shouldn't wonder if you cashed a good many big
pay drafts before we have finished with you."

"I hope so," I answered grimly. "At present we are rather poorer than when
we commenced the work, and whomever the new railroad benefits it has done
only harm to us. That, however, is in no way your fault, and having
started we're going on to see the end of it."

"Good man!" said the surveyor with a significant smile. "I shouldn't be
too previous. You have six days to straighten up your business;" and after
a brief conference with Harry I departed for Fairmead and Winnipeg.

Our few cattle were thriving among the herds of our neighbors, to whom we
made over our stock of prairie hay. The homestead would doubtless take
care of itself until we were ready to return there, as prairie homesteads
often have to do; while, whether it was owing to Jasper's eloquence or to
other causes, I found our remaining creditors both reasonable and willing