lled their souls to overflowing. Suddenly Mandy sprang to her feet.

"Now, let me go, for within an hour we must be away. Oh, what a day
we've had, Allan, one of the very best days in all my life! You know
I've never been able to talk of the past to you, but to-day somehow I
could not rest till I had gone through with it all."

"Yes, it's been a great day," said Allan, "a wonderful day, a day
we shall always remember." Then after a silence, "Now for a fire and
supper. You're right. In an hour we must be gone, for we are a long way
from home. But, think of it, Mandy, we're going HOME. I can't quite get
used to that!"

And in an hour, riding close as lovers ride, they took the trail to
their home ten miles away.

CHAPTER IV

THE BIG CHIEF

When on the return journey they arrived upon the plateau skirting the
Piegan Reserve the sun's rays were falling in shafts of slanting light
upon the rounded hilltops before them and touching with purple the great
peaks behind them. The valleys were full of shadows, deep and blue. The
broad plains that opened here and there between the rounded hills were
still bathed in the mellow light of the westering sun.

"We will keep out a bit from the Reserve," said Cameron, taking a trail
that led off to the left. "These Piegans are none too friendly. I've had
to deal with them a few times about my straying steers in a way which
they are inclined to resent. This half-breed business is making them all
restless and a good deal too impertinent."

"There's not any real danger, is there?" inquired his wife. "The Police
can handle them quite well, can't they?"

"If you were a silly hysterical girl, Mandy, I would say 'no danger' of
course. But the signs are ominous. I don't fear anything immediately,
but any moment a change may come and then we shall need to act quickly."

"What then?"

"We shall ride to the Fort, I can tell you, without waiting to take our
stuff with us. I take no chances now."

"Now? Meaning?"

"Meaning my wife, that's all. I never thought to fear an Indian, but, by
Jove! since I've got you, Mandy, they make me nervous."

"But these Piegans are such--"

"The Piegans are Indians, plain Indians, deprived of the privilege of
war by our North West Mounted Police regulations and of the excitement
of the chase by our ever approaching civilization, and the younger
bloods would undoubtedly welcome a 'bit of a divarshun,' as your friend
Mike would say. At present the