farming;
and every desirable settler who takes up Carrington land increases the
value of our possessions, and what is more important, our means of
progress. We want more bridges, graded roads through the coulees, a
stockyard on the railroad, and some day a branch line; and with all
deference to you, we mean to get them. If this is impossible under present
conditions, those conditions must be changed."

There was a murmur of approval, but watching Colonel Carrington I knew
that the man had said too much. In reply to a sharp question as to who was
to undertake the building operations my name was mentioned.

"Lorimer of Fairmead! I might have known it!" gasped the Colonel.

Then there was silence as he gazed down the long rows of faces before
answering.

"I have listened with painful surprise," he said. "You wish to hear my
views, and you shall have them, but first I want to read the agreement
made by each one of you when you first settled in Carrington."

He did so, and some of the men looked uncomfortable, for the
land-settlement scheme practically made him supreme authority over all
matters which the law of Canada did not affect. It also made it clear that
he had borne the largest share of the cost of inaugurating the colony. He
broke off, and it was a few moments before he went on again.

"I founded this colony, and--I feel compelled to mention it--delivered
some of you from difficulties, and brought you here. I have spent my time
and money freely for the good of the Carrington district, and I have made
it what it is, a place where an English gentleman can live economically if
he will work a little, enjoying abundant sport and the society of his
equals. That was my one object, and I have accomplished it, but further I
will not go. Green Mountain is the finest cover for game on the prairie,
and while I live no man shall cut timber, make roads, or put up a factory
there. Neither will I in any way countenance the opening up of
Carrington--my Carrington--to industrial exploitation for the influx of
all and sundry. I will have no railroad nor any kind of factory within our
limits if I can prevent it, and seeing in it the thin end of the wedge I
must ask you to abandon the creamery scheme."

He broke off abruptly, and then turned to Lyle again.

"Have you lost your senses, Raymond. Would you make this clean, green land
like Lancashire or parts of Pennsylvania?"

One could see by the faces of the others that this sh