st 2
a.m. when I received the order from the dispatcher at Winnipeg to
detain the east-bound train at my station when she arrived, till the
west-bound express crossed her--double tracks are yet unknown out
there.

I replied back that I understood the order, and was just about to let
the red lantern swing round from the station and face the track, when
I was startled by hearing a tremendous kicking and howling at the
door. In my surprise, I forgot to turn the lamp which was to signal
the engineer to stop at the station for orders.

Little wonder I was agitated. The nearest house was seven miles away,
and no white man could have walked a tenth of that distance in such a
blizzard and have lived. Had the shouting and kicking been less
imperative, I might have been superstitious. With trembling hands I
drew the bolt. Before I could step aside the door was thrown violently
open, and to my dismay two stalwart Cree Indians burst into the little
office. It was the manner of the savages in entering that made me feel
nervous. It was no uncommon thing for me to have Indians drop into the
station at night, and to see roaming bands of them pass the station at
all hours; but two drunken Cree Indians, even a native scout might
have been pardoned for fearing had he been unarmed and placed in my
position.

Without appearing to notice me, the braves walked over to the glowing
wood stove and began to warm themselves. I wanted to show that I
trusted them, and brought two chairs and asked them to be seated. As I
spoke they both turned their wicked, black eyes on me, but did not
deign to speak. Kicking the chairs to one side they began taking off
their great skin-coats and caps and red-and-white blankets.

As the taller of the two petulantly threw his wraps down, something
hard struck the floor heavily. He gave a cry of greedy exultation,
felt in the pocket of the coat, drew out a bottle of whiskey, and
proceeded without delay to break off the neck on the stove. It was
contrary to the law to sell liquor to Indians, but that did not matter
much, they always managed to get it.

Just as he was about to raise the ragged mouth of the bottle to his
lips, the telegraph instrument began to work. It had the effect that I
feared. Both the Indians, with superstitious dread in their eyes,
involuntarily took a couple of steps back toward the wall, where I was
sitting, devoutly hoping they would wrap themselves up in their
blankets and go off to sle