ry for him. He imagined that Benson had made a hard
fight, but he was being beaten by his craving. Still, it seemed unwise
to show any sympathy.

"You want to wallow like a hog for two or three days that you'll regret
all your life," he said. "You have your chance for breaking free now.
Be a man and take it. Hold out a little longer, and you'll find it
easier."

Benson regarded him with a mocking smile.

"I'm inclined to think the jag you so feelingly allude to will last a
week; that is, if I can raise money enough from Clarke to keep it up.
You may not understand that I'm willing to barter all my future for it."

"Yes," said Harding grimly; "we understand, all right. Yours is not a
singular case; the trouble is that it's too common. But we'll quit
talking about it. You can't go."

He was in no mood to handle the subject delicately; they were alone in
the wilds and the situation made for candor. There was only one way in
which they could help the man, and he meant to take it.

Benson turned to him angrily.

"Your permission's not required; I'm a free man."

"Are you?" Harding asked. "It strikes me as a very curious boast.
Improving the occasion's a riling thing, but there was never a slave in
the world tighter bound than you."

"That's an impertinence!" Benson exclaimed with a flush, as unsatisfied
longing drove him to fury. "What business is it of yours to preach to
me? Confound you, who are _you_? I tell you, I won't have it! Give
me food enough to last until I reach Sweetwater, and let me go!"

As he spoke, a haughty ring crept into his voice. Benson would not
have used that tone in his normal state, but he belonged by right of
birth to a ruling caste, and no doubt felt that he had been treated
with indignity by a man of lower station. Harding, however, answered
quietly.

"I am a paint factory drummer who has never had the opportunities you
have enjoyed; but so long as we're up here in the wilds the only thing
that counts is that we're men with the same weaknesses and feelings.
Because that's so, and you're hard up against it, my partner and I mean
to see you through."

"You can't unless I'm willing. Man, don't you realize that talking's
of no use? The thing I'm driven by won't yield to words. What's more
to the purpose, I didn't engage to go all the way with you. Now that
I've had enough, I'm going back to the settlement."

"Very well. You were right in claiming that there was no