f their own race,
too, I might not be able to restrain them. They are also feeling sore
over the contemptible trick Pritchen imposed upon them the day I
returned, and it would take very little to cause a complete outburst.
They never forget an injury or a kindness. As it is, they will spend
so much time out in the hills talking about that trick that I'm afraid
their hunting will suffer."

"But what are you going to do?" inquired Joe.

"Try to do my duty, and hold out till Spring. Then if he becomes too
offensive, and I see our mission will suffer, I shall hold a Council of
the leading Indians about the matter."

Joe leaned eagerly forward with an anxious look upon his face. "Say,
parson, I wouldn't wait till Spring if I were in your shoes. You'll
need their help before that."

"How do you know?"

"Pritchen will work through the miners. He'll not touch you himself,
that is quite evident, but he'll cut at you in some other way. I've
heard him talk; and you have no idea how he's poisoning the men's
minds."

"Never fear," returned Keith. "We're in the Great Master's keeping,
and He will look after us. But come, let us get something to eat. We
have talked too long already, though it has been a comfort to unburden
my mind. After our bite we must get this room ready for the men
to-night."

"And I'll round up as many as I can," replied Joe, as they set out for
the mission house.

CHAPTER XIII

PRITCHEN GETS BUSY

Several days after the conversation in the school room, Pritchen was
striding along the trail, which wound through the Indian village.
Under his right arm he carried his long, narrow snow-shoes, while over
his left shoulder was a small rifle, pendant from which were a few
plump white ptarmigan. The trail ran close to the mission house, and,
drawing near, the hunter observed the missionary by the door splitting
fire wood.

For days Pritchen had steered clear of his hated opponent, and had not
met him face to face since the shooting affray in the saloon. His
anger, which burned like a fire in his heart, had become much
intensified since then by the change affairs had taken. The Reading
Room had proved a success, notwithstanding his jibes and sneers, and a
goodly number of men were spending their evenings there who formerly
haunted Perdue's place.

"D-- him!" muttered Pritchen half aloud. "I don't want to have any
words with the cur. I wish I had taken some other route."

Even the