s Sunday," shouted Alec back to him, for they were both
on the Sagasta-weekee route. "I'll just go on and tell them you will be
along after a while and dine with us."

It was considerably later when the clerk arrived. That afternoon, in
conversation with Mr Ross, he gravely stated that one of the
temptations of that country was a disposition to travel rapidly, to and
from church, on the Lord's day. Frank and Sam, as well as Mr Ross, had
been promptly informed by Alec of the challenge and the race with this
young gentleman, and so when Alec heard the remark just mentioned he
gravely replied:

"Well, Mr Morrison, you need not have any qualms of conscience about
your speed to-day. We started about the same time from the church, and
it was a long time after I reached home ere you arrived."

This bit of sarcasm, so well put in, so tickled Sam that he fairly
exploded, and with his handkerchief in his mouth he rushed out of the
room. Soon after he was joined by Frank, and together they laughed
until they were sore. The hypocrisy of the young fellow was so evident
that they were delighted with Alec's comforting remarks.

Mr Hurlburt, the missionary, generally came over and held an evening
service at Mr Ross's house every second Sabbath. The alternate Sabbath
evening was spent in holding a similar service at the fort. These
services were very delightful. The boys often drove over to the mission
services in the afternoon with their trains and brought back with them
Mr and Mrs Hurlburt, and when it could be arranged--which was
frequently done--the two sweet young daughters.

To Frank, with his powerful train, was generally assigned the
missionary, who was a large, portly man; to Alec, with his beautiful
fleet train, was assigned the pleasure of bringing Mrs Hurlburt, and at
first Sam had the exquisite delight of tucking the robes of rich beaver
around the fair young daughters from the mission home, and carefully
bringing them over to Sagasta-weekee. This pleasure was, however, soon
taken from him. It was indeed a happy group that assembled around the
hospitable tea table those delightful evenings. The boys used to plead
so hard to be allowed to drive back with the loads that they generally
succeeded in having their way, although Mr Ross always took the
precaution of sending an extra team of dogs under the guidance of an
experienced Indian. This was necessary, as not only did vicious, mad
wolves sometimes cross th