illilM^^^^ 
 
 III 
 
 ■!l'!*l 
 
MAKING GOOD 
 
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 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 MSW YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS 
 ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 MACMILLAN & CO., Limitbd 
 
 LONDON . BOMBAY • CALCUTTA 
 MBLBOURNB 
 
 THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, L-mk 
 
 TORONTO 
 
MAKING GOOD 
 
 A STORY OF NORTHWEST CANADA 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN G. B. M'KEAN, V.O. 
 
 Author of "Scouting Thrills" 
 
 » » I' 
 
 Jf^m fork 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 1920 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
CopTKiaHT, 1920, 
 
 6t the macmillan company 
 
 Bet up and eleotrotypod. Published October, 1920. 
 
 < « ( • 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTEK 
 
 I 
 II 
 
 m 
 
 IV 
 
 V 
 
 VI 
 
 vn 
 
 On Board tlie Schooner Jersey 
 The Deserters 
 A Forest Fire . . 
 A Train Wreck . 
 The Gates of the West 
 On the Eanch . 
 The Cattle Enstlers . 
 Vm The Eound-Up . . 
 IX The Ice-Hockey Champi 
 X Lost in a Blizzard 
 XI The Eunaways . . 
 XII The Outlaw Broncho 
 Xni The Fair . ... 
 XIV The Great Stampede 
 
 ons 
 
 PAGE 
 
 3 
 
 22 
 
 42 
 
 53 
 
 61 
 
 79 
 
 100 
 
 118 
 
 136 
 
 154 
 
 171 
 
 188 
 
 204 
 
 219 
 
 424631 
 
 ±. 
 
CHAPTEE I 
 
 ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 
 
 JACK YOUNG stood contemplating tlie sail- 
 ing schooner Jersey as it lay in dock at 
 Bristol. The name appealed to him, for Jersey 
 had been his home for the sixteen years of his 
 life. He had not run away from home ; the old 
 homestead had been sold a few weeks ago on 
 the death of his father, and his mother had 
 gone to make her home with an older brother, 
 so Jack, with an inborn love of the sea, had 
 decided to seek adventure and a living on its 
 wide, rolling spaces. He walked over to the 
 Jersey and found it agog with life — it was 
 going out on the tide that night. Presently the 
 huge figure of a man came down the gangway, 
 and as he stepped on to the dock Jack walked 
 over to him. 
 
 ** Excuse me, sir," he said, **but is there any 
 chance of a job on your boat?" 
 
 The man stopped, turned suddenly, and stood 
 looking down at Jack for several seconds, then 
 slowly removed his pipe from his mouth. 
 
MAKING GOOD 
 
 **Wlio are you?'' he jerked out in gruff tones. 
 
 **Jack Young, sir, from Jersey.'' 
 
 *^H'm," growled out the man, who happened 
 to be the captain of the Jersey, **so you want 
 to go to sea, do you?" 
 
 *'Yes, sir," replied Jack, ** that's why I came 
 to Bristol, and seeing that your boat was 
 named the Jersey, I thought I'd like to start 
 my life as a sailor on her." 
 
 **Well, my lad, I do want a cabin boy as it 
 happens. If your mind's made up, just follow 
 me;" saying which the captain turned and 
 walked back up the gangway. Jack followed 
 him, his heart palpitating with excitement, for 
 now he was fairly launched on the big adven- 
 ture of life and in the career that he had 
 dreamed of from his earliest years. 
 
 Let us take a good look at Jack Young as he 
 stood in the captain's cabin listening to the de- 
 tails of his duties as cabin boy. He was tall 
 for his age, clean-limbed, and with a healthy 
 complexion, the result of an active outdoor life 
 on his father's old homestead in Jersey. His 
 hair was fair, and there was always a merry 
 twinkle in his blue eyes. His confident bearing 
 gave the impression of a boy accustomed to 
 responsibility and ready to deal with any emer- 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 5 
 
 gency. He was a manly, attractive-looking 
 youngster, and his looks pleased the captain, a 
 man difficult to please even in his most amiable 
 moods. 
 
 **Now, my lad,'' he was saying to Jack, **I 
 want no shirkin'. *Work' is my middle name, 
 and if ever I catch you tryin' to dodge it, you'll 
 wish you'd never left your Jersey to come 
 aboard mine." 
 
 This abrupt and somewhat brutal speech of 
 the captain's rather dismayed Jack, but he was 
 soon to learn that the life of cabin boy on board 
 a sailing schooner was not quite the same as he 
 had pictured it. Furthermore, he had been un- 
 fortunate in signing on with a captain who was 
 a notorious bully, and who took a malicious 
 pleasure in making life on board his vessel as 
 unbearable as he possibly could. Desertions 
 from his ship were frequent, and his evil repu- 
 tation made it difficult for him to get together 
 a decent crew. He was of a type fortunately 
 rarely found nowadays among merchant skip- 
 pers — one who believed more in the efficacy of 
 a rope's end than of a kind word. 
 
 **Now, my lad," he concluded, at the same 
 time opening the door of his cabin, '^you fol- 
 low me and I'll introduce you to your ship- 
 
6 MAKING GOOD 
 
 mates, as fine a bunch of rogues and cutthroats 
 as you'd ever wish to see, but they'll soon find 
 that * Bully Blair,' as they kindly call me, can 
 manhandle any three of 'em. 
 
 ^*Here you, Jones," he called as a tall, well- 
 built sailor passed them, *' here's a new Md I've 
 taken on for this voyage ; just find him a Ham- 
 mock. He says he wants to go to sea, but I 
 shouldn't be surprised if he's been kicked out 
 of his home an' thinks a sailor's life's a 
 picnic." 
 
 As the captain walked away Jack found him- 
 self looking up into the cheery, good-natured 
 face of the sailor Jones. 
 
 ''Hello, kid," he said genially, ''glad to meet 
 you. Just come along of me an' I'll fix you up. 
 Wliat's your name, kid?" he asked as they 
 walked away together. 
 
 "Jack Young," replied Jack cheerfully, his 
 heart going out in instant friendship to this 
 tall, good-natured sailor. 
 
 "A nice-soundin ' name, kid. Mine's Jones — 
 Joe Jones. Down this way, an' mind the step." 
 
 Presently they reached the crew's quarters, 
 a not very cheery place. 
 
 "Here, kid, sit down on this chest an' tell me 
 something about yourself, for I ain't disguising 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 7 
 
 the fact that I'm plumb sorry for you, for this 
 boat, from the captain downward, is a-carrying 
 as low-down a bunch of thugs as you'd meet in 
 a day's march." 
 
 Jack told the friendly and sympathetic Jones 
 his short life history. 
 
 ** That's pretty rough on you, kid," he re- 
 marked sympathetically when Jack had fin- 
 ished, ** having to leave your home so soon 
 an' start out to paddle your own canoe afore 
 you scarcely knows how to handle it. Still, 
 there's nothing like beginning on your own 
 when you're young. Now take meself for in- 
 stance: I was cow-punching in Texas when I 
 was your age; in fact, I grew up on a ranch, 
 but I got restless an' began wandering, and 
 finally I became a kind of half-baked sailor- 
 man. In knocking around I've met with some 
 real tough guys in my time, men who, if you 
 looked cross at 'em, would draw on you, an' 
 I've sailed along of some tough old crews; but 
 let me tell you, kid, that I'm powerful pleased 
 to have you for a shipmate, for you're about 
 the first white man I've met since I came aboard 
 this boat. Seeing that we understand each 
 other, and knowing that you'll treat this as 
 confidential, I don't mind telling you that, once 
 
8 MAKING GOOD 
 
 back on the other side, I 'm terminating my con- 
 tract with all possible speed and without bid- 
 ding the captain a loving farewell.'' 
 
 **Well, I can't say that you sound very en- 
 couraging," remarked Jack laughingly. 
 
 **Well, I should be sorry to discourage you, 
 kid, but I've crossed over on this boat an' I'm 
 only a-stayin' on it until I get back, for I sure 
 believe that a reptile would side-step to get out 
 of the way of some of the rogues aboard this 
 boat. And without wishing to say mean things 
 behind his back, I believe that this skipper has 
 got 'em all licked for murderous instincts. Not 
 that I'm altogether condemning him, for you 
 can't treat the roughnecks aboard this boat in 
 exactly the same way as you'd treat a Sunday- 
 school class. But now I must be going, kid. 
 Don't you worry," he concluded cheerily, pat- 
 ting Jack on the shoulder, **I'm not scared of 
 any of 'em, and I'll keep an eye on you." 
 
 Jones then went out to assist in getting the 
 schooner under way, and Jack was left alone for 
 a few minutes. This was a big change from the 
 quiet, hard-working life on the Jersey home- 
 stead and, as was quite natural, he felt a bit 
 lonely and strange. In all the bright, romantic 
 pictures his vivid imagination had painted for 
 
ON BOAED THE SCHOONER JERSEY 9 
 
 him, he had never once found a place in them 
 for anything resembling what he was now actu- 
 ally experiencing. And it was as well that he 
 had not, or it would have spoiled many other- 
 wise happy hours. 
 
 It was Jack's first test, and his cheery op- 
 timism and self-confidence brought him through 
 it with flying colors. The slightly dejected look 
 on his face as he sat, with clasped hands, lean- 
 ing forward and looking out into the gathering 
 gloom slowly gave way to a look of determina- 
 tion, then a smile played on his face, and finally 
 he commenced whistling a cheery tune. Then he 
 felt the schooner moving — there was no turn- 
 ing back now ! He was leaving behind him home 
 and friends, and as he thought of all this 
 meant to him the whistling stopped and a big 
 lump came into his throat. He gulped it down 
 and bravely whistled the same cheery tune. 
 
 '* That's the stuff, my son,'' called out Jones 
 as he burst cheerily into the fo'c's'le, '^keep 
 that spirit up an' you'll make good wherever 
 you go. But hurry along to the captain's cabin, 
 for he's calling for you and you'd better try 
 to keep in the old man's good books. He's a 
 reg'lar tartar if he thinks you're tryin' to 
 double-cross him." 
 
10 MAKING GOOD 
 
 But Jack was gone before Jones had finished 
 talking, for he was desperately anxious to 
 please his new employer. He knocked at the 
 captain's cabin door, and was greeted with a 
 scowl when he entered. 
 
 **Come, my lad,'' said the captain, '^ don't 
 you be goin' and forgettin' the advice I gave 
 you. I want no shirkin' an' I take no excuses. 
 Now get me a cup of strong coffee. ' ' 
 
 Jack hurried out to find the captain's cook 
 — a Chinaman. 
 
 *^ Hello, you new clabin boy, eh?" said the 
 genial Chinaman. 
 
 **Yes, that's me," replied Jack; **a cup of 
 strong coffee for the captain. ' ' 
 
 **Velly good, velly good;" then, **capitan's 
 velly bad man to boys," shaking his head 
 mournfully and eying Jack sympathetically. 
 
 * * Oh, he seems all right, John. ' ' 
 
 But John shook his head as much as to say, 
 **ah, but you just wait and see; you may think 
 so to-day, but wait until to-morrow." 
 
 After Jack had delivered the coffee he was 
 bidden, in gruff tones, * * to get out of my sight 
 and have a sleep." 
 
 The schooner was now gliding smoothly down 
 the Bristol Channel, the night being fine with 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 11 
 
 a light and favorable breeze blowing. Jack 
 returned to the crew^s quarters and found them 
 crowded with seamen whom he had not previ- 
 ously seen. In one comer he saw his friend 
 Jones busily engaged in a game of poker with 
 three other sailors. He walked over and imme- 
 diately received a cheery greeting from Jones. 
 
 ** Captain in a good humor to-night, kid?" 
 
 *'Not bad/' replied Jack, '*but he looks the 
 kind of man that could knock things about a 
 bit if he took the notion.'' 
 
 **You're right there," returned Jones with 
 emphasis, *'a dog sufferin' with rabies is a 
 reg'lar cooin' dove compared to the old man 
 when he's in a rage." Then Jones gave his 
 attention to the game in hand while Jack took 
 a look at his shipmates. They were an unkempt, 
 im-English looking crowd, and Jack could bet- 
 ter understand the force of some of Jones's 
 remarks. They were anything but a Sunday- 
 school class, and the skipper's bullying method 
 was probably the one they were most likely to 
 understand. Jack thought it very doubtful 
 whether they would have been at all favorably 
 impressed by gentler treatment. 
 
 He next turned his attention to the three 
 card companions of Jones. One of them, by his 
 
12 MAiaNG GOOD 
 
 looks and speech, was obviously a German, 
 while the other two were Russians. Their cruel, 
 greedy eyes never left the piles of money by 
 their sides. They played the game with a fierce 
 intentness, and, as Jack had been quick to ob- 
 serve previously, they angrily resented any in- 
 terruption. Jones was losing, but his good 
 humor never failed him, and he had a jocular 
 remark to make about every hand played, 
 whether it had been a winning or a losing one. 
 At last he picked up a hand which seemed to 
 please him, and he steadily increased his bets 
 until the German was the only other bettor. 
 He had raised the bet another shilling when; 
 Jack saw one of the other two slip a card to 
 the German. 
 
 He immediately jumped to his feet. 
 
 *'Say, Jones,'' he called out, * they're cheat- 
 ing you. I saw that man there pass him a 
 card.'' 
 
 There was an immediate uproar. 
 
 **Dat kid's a liar!" called out the German; 
 **he knows noding aboud dis game." 
 
 **He's not a liar," shouted back Jones; **it's 
 you that's a liar, an' a dirty thief in the bar- 
 gain. ' ' 
 
 They were all on their feet now and talking 
 
ON BOAED THE SCHOONER JERSEY 13 
 
 excitedly. The German edged over toward 
 Jack, aimed a swift blow at him, and knocked 
 him down. Jones's blood was np, and he 
 promptly stretched out the German, only to be 
 attacked by the other two men. 
 
 Jack got np on to his feet determined to help 
 Jones, when he saw the German get np and 
 reach for a bottle. He raised it and aimed a 
 blow at Jones's head that wonld have laid his 
 sknll open had it got home, when Jack dashed 
 in and took the blow on his arm. 
 
 Jones had dealt speedily and effectively with 
 the other two men, and now turned his atten- 
 tion to the German who, seeing how things 
 were going, was beating a hasty retreat through 
 the doorway. Jones then turned to Jack with 
 outstretched hand. 
 
 **Put it there, kid. I saw what you did. You 
 took a blow that was meant for me and saved 
 me from a broken skull at the least, and I won't 
 forget it. Sit down here," indicating an old 
 box. '*I'm sorry all this happened, an' I ought 
 to know better than to play cards with thugs 
 like these. But it's just as well for you to know 
 that what 's happened is no unusual occurrence. 
 I know I shouldn't mix meself up with 'em, but 
 what's a fellow to do? He can't mope in a cor- 
 
14 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ner. My, bnt I'm powerful pleased you came 
 aboard, for I sure needed some white man's 
 company! But this is no life for you, kid; it's 
 no life for me, and I reckon I'm tougher than 
 you are. Now I think I know something about 
 how you feel, and the wonderful pictures you've 
 been painting for yourself of a sailor's life, but 
 it don't always pan out. Besides, you've been 
 unlucky in starting aboard the Jersey^ for it's 
 a real tough life we live, and unfitted for a boy 
 like you. Now I 'm going to make a proposition 
 to you for you to think over. Wliat about com- 
 ing West with me when we hit into Halifax, the 
 port the Jersey's bound for?" 
 
 **Well, that's kind of you, and I'll think it 
 over," replied Jack. *^You see, I'd like to try 
 this kind of life, for I've always had a longing 
 to be a sailor." 
 
 *' That's all right, you think it over. Now 
 you just turn in for a sleep, for you'll have to 
 be up bright an' early in the momin'. What- 
 ever you do, don't get into the old man's black 
 books if you can help it. That will only make 
 bad worse." 
 
 Jack was only too pleased to turn in. The 
 time that had passed since he had left Jersey 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 15 
 
 had been full of novel and strange experiences, 
 which had culminated in the exciting fight in 
 which he had taken a part. He was also im- 
 pressed with the fact that he could make his 
 life bearable in his present surroundings only 
 by giving no cause for complaint. 
 
 It was still dark when he woke up with 
 strange and sickly sensations. The schooner 
 was now fairly out at sea and was rolling con- 
 siderably. Jack was at a loss to understand 
 what was wrong with him. The smells from 
 the cook's galley adjoining were nauseating; 
 he was suffocating, he must get out in the open 
 — a breath of air and he would be quite all right. 
 So he dropped out of his hammock to the floor, 
 staggered to the doorway, and up the steps lead- 
 ing to the deck. He felt faint and dizzy, but 
 was revived by the strong breeze blowing. It 
 was a blustering, dirty night and the tossing 
 waters looked menacing and unfriendly. But 
 the strong, reviving breeze, how thankful he 
 was for it! All was quiet on deck. The wind 
 filled the towering sails, and the Jersey was 
 making good progress. Presently the faint light 
 of dawn appeared, and the indistinguishable 
 things gradually took shape. He thought he 
 recognized the figure at the wheel, well pro- 
 
16 MAKING GOOD 
 
 tected in oilskins. Yes, it was Jones, so he de 
 cided to go over and have a chat with him. 
 
 ** Hello, Jones,'' he called out, **want any 
 help?'' 
 
 Jones turned his head, and a bright, wel- 
 coming smile lit up his face. 
 
 *^ Hello, kid," he answered cheerily, ** climb 
 up alongside an' let's have the news." 
 
 Jack scrambled up and joined him. 
 
 * * Up early this morning, eh ! Has the old man 
 been after you?" 
 
 * ^ No ; woke up feeling a bit queer, so thought 
 a breath of air would do me good," replied 
 Jack. 
 
 **0h, so that's your trouble, eh?" continued 
 Jones, laughing heartily. **Well, you'll feel 
 worse yet, kid, afore you feel better. We all 
 go through it, and it's no joke, I know; but 
 fight it down if you can, for the old man's a 
 holy terror if you're not always on the job." 
 
 **0h, I'll soon be all right," replied Jack 
 jauntily, though his looks rather belied his 
 words. 
 
 **0f course you will. I wanted to see you to 
 put you on your guard, for those dagos we had 
 the mix-up with are powerful treacherous, an' 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 17 
 
 it'd be wise to keep on the lookout. They don't 
 fight fair like a white man, an ' you need a pair 
 of eyes in the back of your head to watch for 
 all they're up to." 
 
 '^Thanks for the hint," replied Jack, '^I'll 
 be on the lookout." 
 
 After a few minutes he left Jones and went 
 along to the galley of the captain's cook. The 
 excellent little Chinaman was busily preparing 
 the captain's breakfast. 
 
 '*H'm, capitan send you 'long for bleakfast, 
 eh?" queried John. 
 
 *'No, he's still asleep," replied Jack; **be 
 back in a minute, John," he continued, and 
 made a wild rush for the door. 
 
 Ugh, how he hated food ! Still, he must not 
 give way to the horrible feeling; he must fight 
 it down, as Jones had advised him. 
 
 As the day wore on the wind became more 
 blustering, and the schooner tossed and pitched 
 in a way that was alarming to Jack. He felt 
 horribly sick and dizzy, and only got through 
 his work by the greatest effort. At night he 
 crawled into a comer of the fo'c's'le, too weak 
 to attempt to get into his hammock, and was 
 soon asleep from sheer exhaustion and fatigue. 
 
18 MAKING GOOD 
 
 The next morning he struggled to his feet, 
 determined to fight it out with nature, but 
 nature easily assumed the mastery and Jack 
 lay beaten. Jones came over to him. 
 
 **Say, kid, can't you pull your oar to-day? 
 Say so if you can't an' I'll look after the old 
 man for you." 
 
 ** Sorry," replied Jack, **but I simply can't 
 stand ; never felt so ill in all my life. ' ' 
 
 '* Don't you worry," replied the good-natured 
 sailor. *^I'll do enough to keep the old man 
 away from you." 
 
 Jack thanked him and subsided into the 
 stupor from which Jones had aroused him. The 
 hours passed unheeded by Jack, and he was 
 left undisturbed. The schooner rocked and 
 shook from the steadily growing gale, and the 
 following morning found Jack lying in the same 
 stupor. Toward noon the gale reached its high- 
 est pitch, and the sufferings of Jack became 
 more acute. By night, however, the wind had 
 subsided, and Jack had dropped off into a mer- 
 ciful sleep when he was suddenly aroused by 
 a feeling of pain. He awoke — startled to find 
 the captain's form towering over him. 
 
 *'Come on, you lazy young brat," he roared, 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 19 
 
 continuing to kick Jack, **up yon get. You can't 
 expect full-grown sailors to be always doing 
 your work.*' 
 
 Jack somehow struggled to his feet, faint and 
 dizzy. He looked so ill that even *^ Bully Blair'' 
 almost repented of his harshness. After he had 
 gone Jack dragged himself up on deck and felt 
 better for the fresh, strong breeze. It was sup- 
 per time, so he went along to the cook's galley. 
 
 *^0h, you came back, eh?" remarked John. 
 *^You sick? Oh, velly bad, velly bad. Chinee 
 sick too, no cook capitan's bleakfast, capitan 
 kick Chinee so," maldng a wild lunge with his 
 foot; ^^him velly bad man," he concluded. 
 
 The next morning Jack felt a little better, 
 though weak. 
 
 *^The old man treated you pretty rough last 
 night, kid, eh?" queried Jones. 
 
 '* Rather!" replied Jack. *^I can still feel it, 
 but perhaps it did me good, for I am better 
 to-day. ' ' 
 
 ^'You'll be all right now; but don't forget 
 what I told you: keep your eye skinned for 
 those dagos. I've turned around quick once 
 or twice and found them skulking suspiciously 
 
20 MAKING GOOD 
 
 behind me. That's the worst of a dago, he can 
 never take a lickin' an' forget it.'' 
 
 It was jnst before dark, and Jack was lean- 
 ing over the rail with his face to the strong 
 breeze that was blowing. He was feeling bet- 
 ter but still very weak. He was thinking over 
 the offer Jones had made him. Up to the pres- 
 ent his life as a sailor had not been a brilliant 
 success. He heard footsteps behind him, and 
 turned in time to see the German and another 
 man slink away. Jones was right, he thought; 
 he'd have to keep a sharp lookout for these men 
 whose enmity he had aroused. His only friend 
 on the schooner was Jones, and he thought what 
 a dismal, dreary, unhappy life it would be if 
 he left, as he said he intended doing. He turned 
 to walk away and saw Jones approaching. 
 
 ** Hello," called out Jones, ** still feeling 
 bad?" 
 
 **0h, not so bad now, thanks," replied Jack. 
 **I've just been thinking what a rotten time 
 I'd have here if you were gone, and it seems 
 to me that the best thing I can do is to go with 
 you. ' ' 
 
 **Well, I'll be mighty pleased to have your 
 company. ' * 
 
ON BOARD THE SCHOONER JERSEY 21 
 
 **Tell me something about your plans, and 
 what life is like on a Western ranch." 
 
 When they separated Jack had quite made 
 up his mind about the future ; he would go with 
 Jones and qualify himself, as Jones described 
 it, as a * 'full-grown cow-puncher." 
 
CHAPTER n 
 
 THE DESEETEES 
 
 AFTER Jack had made the decision to 
 accompany his friend Jones to the Cana- 
 dian Northwest he became more buoyant in 
 spirit, and cheerfully endured the hardships of a 
 sailor's life, the violent temper of the old man, 
 and the company of his undesirable shipmates. 
 At first he did not like the idea of deserting the 
 Jersey, but Jones soon disposed of his scruples 
 for him. 
 
 **You know,'' he would say, *' company like 
 you are in here is not good for you, an' the 
 captain has no claim on your loyalty. He'd 
 just as soon knock you down as look at you." 
 All of which was quite true, for Jack was in- 
 deed having a rough and trying time. He now 
 only longed for the day when the Jersey would 
 reach Halifax. The one bright spot in his life 
 was his friendship with Jones, and his happiest 
 hours were spent in listening to the stories the 
 sailor told Mm of his cowboy days. 
 
 Jack^ with his passionate love for horses, 
 
 22 
 
THE DESERTERS 23 
 
 reveled in the descriptions that Jones gave of 
 them — horses, more than half wild, that could 
 be conquered only by the greatest skill, perse- 
 verance, and patience. And the thrilling de- 
 scriptions of ^ ^ round-ups, ' ' of days and nights 
 spent in the saddle, of the herding together of 
 thousands of cattle and steering them for miles 
 across the open prairie, appealed to Jack's 
 ready imagination. 
 
 His first love of the sea was dying quickly, 
 and it could hardly be wondered at after his 
 unfortunate experiences. A desire for the wide 
 spaces of the rolling prairie was growing up 
 within him, and he longed for the time to come 
 when he could quietly slip away from the Jersey 
 and start out on the trek to the great West. 
 
 At last the town of Halifax, perched on the 
 hill, became distinguishable through the mist 
 hanging over it, and as the Jersey entered the 
 smooth waters of its spacious harbor Jack 
 thrilled with the anticipation of the new life 
 ahead of him. The daily talks with Jones had 
 given him a vivid picture of an adventurous, 
 open-air life, and his buoyant spirit could find 
 nothing in it that was not full of brilliant prom- 
 ise. After the Jersey had docked it was too 
 late to begin unloading operations that day, so, 
 
24 MAKING GOOD 
 
 after consultation with Jones, it was decided to 
 slip quietly away that night. 
 
 **I know it isn't playin' the game to beat it 
 afore the Jersey^s unloaded/' remarked Jones, 
 as he hastily packed a few things into a bundle, 
 *^but the skipper hasn't played the game him- 
 self; he's never missed an opportunity to cuff 
 you and swear at you, and he don't deserve no 
 better of you than what you are doing." He 
 paused and looked up. 
 
 **I suppose you're broke?" he inquired. 
 
 ' * Well, just about, ' ' replied Jack. * * I 've only 
 sixteen shillings and an odd copper or two." 
 
 ^^Well, you've got more than I have, kid. I 
 did have a few pounds when we left Bristol, 
 but lost it playing poker. Take a tip from me : 
 keep away from cards; it's a real mug's game. 
 It doesn't matter how much money you earn, 
 you'll never have a red cent if you dabble 
 in cards. I don't say that everybody that plays 
 cards is a crook, but I do say that everybody 
 that's a crook plays cards, and pretty often it's 
 darned hard to sort 'em out. Besides, you're 
 apt to quarrel and fall out with your best friend 
 over a game, and you never have enough horse 
 sense to stop playing until you're broke. But 
 for you I might have been a dead un, and all 
 
THE DESEETEES 25 
 
 over a game of cards. I hope you don't think 
 I'm preaching at yon, but IVe taken a great 
 fancy to yon, and I'm only telling yon a few 
 things for your own good that I know to be 
 true. Now what about it, kid, shall we beat it ? " 
 
 '*Yes, I'm ready when you are," replied 
 Jack. The sailor led the way while Jack, tin- 
 gling with excitement, followed closely behind. 
 On deck all was quiet, but noises of revelry and 
 drunken brawls came from the brightly lighted 
 saloons adjoining the docks. It was a dirty and 
 undesirable part of the fair city of Halifax, and 
 it was frequented by a very cosmopolitan and 
 quarrelsome crowd. No self-respecting citizen 
 familiar with its reputation was ever to be 
 found haunting its shadowy alleyways, and 
 policemen never patrolled their beat except in 
 pairs. As Jones had said, it was an easy mat- 
 ter to get away from the Jersey. He himself 
 was as nimble as a sailor ought to be, and he 
 found a good second in Jack. As they stood on 
 the dock he turned round and whispered to 
 Jack: 
 
 **We might as well dodge the dock police, for 
 they most likely will ask awkward questions. 
 We'll make for the railway sidings just behind 
 those houses, and I'll give you your first les- 
 
26 MAKING GOOD 
 
 son on how to travel cheap across the continent 
 when you are broke/' 
 
 By a little patient waiting, it was an easy 
 matter to dodge the dock police, and in a few 
 minutes they were comfortably seated on the 
 floor of one of the spacious box cars to be found 
 only on the American continent. 
 
 *^Now,'' commenced Jones, **our first job is 
 to find a freight express goin' to Montreal, for 
 that is our first stopping place. You see, IVe 
 got no money at all, and yours would hardly 
 pay our fare out of sight of Halifax. This is no 
 new game to me, for IVe traveled all over the 
 American continent and it has cost me nary a 
 cent. We call it *bummin' your road,' and you'll 
 be surprised the number of nice, self-respecting 
 folk you meet traveling the same way. I don't 
 say it's always pleasant and that the railroad 
 men exactly shake you by the hand when they 
 meet you, for they've got a nasty habit of stop- 
 ping the train and dumping you off at all kinds 
 of inconvenient places; but still, if you're lucky 
 and can make yourself look like a bale of cotton 
 goods when they're passing by, you usually get 
 to your destination without a lot of incon- 
 venience. 
 
 **Now, you wait here, and I'll pick the best 
 
THE DESERTBES 27 
 
 seat for you on the express/' Jones then 
 climbed out of the box car and disappeared into 
 the darkness. He had only been away for a few 
 minutes when Jack heard him approaching, 
 engaged in' a heated altercation with some one. 
 
 **I'm telling you/' he was saying, *^that I'm 
 only taking a short cut from the docks to the 
 station. ' ' 
 
 **Now, you beat it away from here as quick 
 as your long legs will take you, ' ' was the reply ; 
 ** we've heard yams like yours before, and 
 we're on the lookout for people like you. If you 
 were taking a short cut, why were you so mighty 
 interested in the freight express that's pullin' 
 out to Montreal?" (Jones chuckled inwardly 
 at this last remark, for now he was sure of the 
 destination of the freight train around which 
 he had been caught prowling by one of the rail- 
 road officials on duty.) 
 
 *' Well," retorted Jones angrily, *^ can't a fel- 
 low show a little interest in a freight train with- 
 out being suspected of wantin' to board itT' 
 
 ''Sure he can," was the reply, ''provided no- 
 body sees him." 
 
 They were now passing the box car in which 
 Jack was sheltered, so Jones took advantage to 
 give him a tip. 
 
28 MAKING GOOD 
 
 *^I'm enjoyin' your company real fine/' he 
 remarked genially; ** perhaps you'd like to see 
 me safely on to the station platform?'' 
 
 **Yes, I would," came back the reply without 
 hesitation; '*and whether you're enjoying my 
 company or not, I don't intend to leave you 
 tintil I see you there." 
 
 Jack took the hint, stepped quietly to the 
 ground, and kept Jones and his persistent com- 
 panion in sight. He crept along in the shadows 
 until he saw that Jones was alone, the other 
 having returned to his duty, and then hurried 
 toward him. 
 
 The sailor had a broad grin on his face. 
 
 **It's all right," he remarked in a low tone. 
 **I've picked out a good comfortable seat for 
 us in a car loaded with baled hay. I was just 
 returning for you when that chap spotted me 
 and insisted on keeping me company. I tried 
 to give you the tip when we passed the car you 
 were sitting in, and I see you caught on. We're 
 fairly in luck's way, for the engine's already 
 hitched on ready to pull out, and the sooner we 
 get away from Halifax the better. Just follow 
 me, and we'll be on that freight inside of five 
 minutes." 
 
 TEey carefully picked their way back to the 
 
THE DESERTEES 29 
 
 freight train, taking advantage of the darkest 
 places. It was no easy matter to climb into the 
 car, for there were a number of officials carry- 
 ing lanterns bnsily engaged around the train. 
 
 ^^Just follow me,'' Jones whispered; **I'll 
 climb up on to the car and give you a hand up, 
 but we'll have to be slick or else these railway 
 men will get us." 
 
 He seized the first opportunity, and ran 
 toward a box car, vaulted lightly into it, and 
 then turned and gave his hand to Jack, who 
 had followed closely behind. The only real 
 space in the car was at the top, so Jones climbed 
 up and then pulled Jack up after him. 
 
 ** That's fine," said Jones, breathing heavily. 
 **We're on the through express freight train 
 to Montreal, and here's a fine berth on a luxu- 
 rious sleeping car free of charge ! Oh, but this 
 is a great life when you know the ropes. And 
 now for something to eat. It's only a few of 
 these old ship biscuits and a tin of beef I man- 
 aged to pinch, but washed down with a drink 
 of water out of this flask it'll taste real fine." 
 
 **Say, if you've got some water there, for the 
 love of Mike pass it over. ' ' 
 
 Both Jack and Jones looked up, startled, for, 
 much to their amazement, they found that they 
 
30 MAKING GOOD 
 
 were not alone. Jones was the first to recover. 
 
 * * Sure, ' * he said cheerily, and passed over the 
 flask. Their new-found companion made no fur- 
 ther remark until he had taken a good long 
 drink. He handed the flask back to Jones. 
 
 ** Don't talk so loud until we get started. I've 
 been lying here since last night, and I wouldn 't 
 take it kin'dly if I got booted out at the last 
 minute. ' ' 
 
 **A11 right," whispered Jones, **I was for- 
 getting meself , for I ought to know better. ' ' 
 
 They all lay quiet, until, about fifteen minutes 
 later, the clanging of the bell on the engine 
 announced the train's immediate departure. 
 There were anxious moments during this 
 period, particularly when several men came to 
 a pause alongside the box car they were in and 
 stood talking, for, as Jones and their new-found 
 companion very well knew, it was not infre- 
 quent that a systematic search was made 
 throughout the whole of a train, and then it 
 was surprising to see the amount of excess 
 human freight that was collected out of it and 
 dispersed. They all heaved a sigh of relief when 
 at last the train was in motion, and then Jones 
 immediately set about the preparation of the 
 
THE DESEETEES 31 
 
 evening meal. In reply to an invitation to join 
 them, their new acquaintance said : 
 
 ^*WeIl, boys, I should certainly say so, seeing 
 that Vve had nary a bite of food or a drink of 
 water for nearly two days. It's a real godsend 
 yon boys getting on this car, for it '11 be the best 
 part of two days afore we git to Montreal.'' 
 
 ^^Yes," replied Jones, **the food an' drink 
 question is the most inconvenient thing 'bout 
 cheap traveling." 
 
 The meal over, they all settled comfortably 
 down for the night. The hay made a nice, soft, 
 comfortable bed, and Jack was soon sleeping 
 soundly. It was daylight when Jones woke him. 
 
 **Come on, wake up," he said cheerily; 
 ** breakfast is all ready and waiting, and no 
 captain to throw his sea boots at you. ' ' 
 
 ^'Eighto," replied Jack, sitting up and rub- 
 bing the sleep out of his eyes. 
 
 **I'm sorry," apologized Jones, **that we've 
 not got much variety on the menu, the only dif- 
 ference in meals being that we call 'em by a 
 different name. For instance, last night's meal 
 was supper, and this one is, as the Chinee cook 
 would call it, *bleakfast.' " 
 
 Jack did not mind this in the least, for the 
 
32 MAKING GOOD 
 
 food on the Jersey could not by any means be 
 called dainty, and, besides, he was so thor- 
 oughly enjoying these new experiences that he 
 was quite prepared to suffer any incidental 
 hardships. Fortunately it was a warm autumn 
 day, and they were cozy and comfortable. The 
 freight train rattled along at a good speed, and 
 Jack's excitement at the prospect of life on a 
 ranch out West increased with each mile that 
 was covered. 
 
 ^*Say, Jones,'* he asked, **I would like to 
 hear of some more of your experiences as a 
 cow-puncher.'' 
 
 ** Would you?" replied Jones. **Well, we 
 have lots of time to spare, and there 's not much 
 to see out of this Pullman, so I '11 tell you about 
 one of the wildest but handsomest-looking 
 young mares you would ever wish to see. We 
 ran her into the corral along with a bunch of 
 young horses from the range that we intended 
 to break in to riding. She was a real wild-look- 
 ing creature, an' I had my eye on her from the 
 first day. She didn't seem to pal on to the rest 
 of the horses, and wouldn 't even sniff at the hay 
 we threw in to her. But she was a real beauty 
 to look at — a kind of golden sorrel, and limbs 
 slick an' clean looking. We had no end of 
 
THE DESEETERS 33 
 
 trouble to cut her out from the rest of the bunch 
 and get her into the corral by herself. We had 
 a half-breed Indian named Joe Tatham who 
 did all the roping, for he was about the slickest 
 man at handling a rope that I ever did see. Joe 
 walked into the corral pretty confident, for 
 there wasn't a living thing that Joe wouldn't 
 put his rope over, when the mare turns round, 
 sees him standing there with the rope, and 
 instead of doing her best to get as far away 
 from him as she could, which all of them usually 
 do, she starts toward Joe at a mad gallop, teeth 
 bared like a dog. This was most unexpected, 
 and Joe only just managed to side-step and get 
 out of her way. She wheeled round and came 
 back at him again. This was too much for Joe, 
 so he lost no time in making for the corral 
 fence. She then stood there snorting an' rolling 
 her eyes as if defying the rest of creation to 
 master her. In a few minutes Joe was back in 
 the corral — not on foot this time, but on the 
 back of a pony. He didn't waste much time 
 before he dropped his rope over her and threw 
 her on her back. Two or three of us ran in, tied 
 her, and strapped a stock saddle on her back. 
 And then started some fun, for every man on 
 the ranch tried to stay on her back, but she threw 
 
34 MAKING GOOD 
 
 us all. Three of us she put clean over the cor- 
 ral fence, she broke the leg of * Broncho Jim/ 
 one of the best riders on the range, and gener- 
 ally played old Harry with the whole crowd. 
 Finally we had to let her go, an' the last I saw 
 of her she was on the range with a young foal 
 alongside of her. If he took after his mother, 
 then I guess some cow-punchers have had a little 
 of their pride taken out of 'em.'' Incidents of 
 this sort, of which Jones had an apparently 
 limitless store, fired Jack's imagination and 
 also helped to while away the time; so that, 
 despite the limitations of space and the monot- 
 ony of traveling. Jack was thoroughly enjoying 
 himself. 
 
 Their companion had little to say, spending 
 most of his time sleeping. He was not the type 
 of ** gentleman hobo" frequently met with, the 
 man who, down on his luck, and not fitted for 
 any useful trade or profession, slips into this 
 nomad life, and, good philosopher as he is, gets 
 more pleasure than discomfort out of it. 
 
 At noon of the second day the supply of food 
 and water ran out, so they all fervently hoped 
 that Montreal would soon be reached. As Jones 
 said, their luck was in, for shortly before dark 
 the freight train pulled into the goods sidings 
 
THE DESEETERS 35 
 
 at Montreal. They waited until it was dark, 
 and then slipped qnietly out of the box car, 
 glad in the freedom to exercise their limbs 
 again. They bid a hasty farewell to their com- 
 panion and, walking at a rapid pace, they were 
 soon clear of the depot. Jones knew Montreal, 
 particularly the places where cheap meals and 
 lodgings were to be had, and as they walked 
 along, he confided his plans to Jack. 
 
 * * The first thing we Ve got to do is to have a 
 good sluice down at a Y. M. C. A. place I know 
 of where you can get a good hot bath for a 
 nickel; after that there's a restaurant kept by 
 a Chinaman where you can get all you want to 
 eat for two-bits (twenty-five cents), and then 
 we'll go on to a place where you can get a com- 
 fortable bed for another two-bits. After which 
 we'll lay in a stock of grub and board another 
 *hobo express' for the "West. I'll spend to-mor- 
 row scouting around the goods depot to find the 
 likeliest freight to suit our purpose." 
 
 Jack was quite satisfied to leave everything 
 to his companion's greater experience, being 
 confident that everything would go smooth. 
 After they had had their bath, Jones apolo- 
 gized to Jack for his lack of funds. 
 
 **I'm real sorry that I've got to draw on 
 
36 MAKING GOOD 
 
 your funds/' he remarked. **I could easily get 
 a job here for a few days, but I guess you are 
 as keen as I am to get moving again." 
 
 **Sure I am/' replied Jack, **and you are 
 quite welcome to the little money I have. But 
 for you I don't know how on earth I should 
 have managed. I don't suppose I should ever 
 have got away from Halifax, and then most 
 likely that brute of a captain would have found 
 me and dragged me back aboard of the Jersey 
 to treat me worse than ever." 
 
 **Well, and that's quite likely what would 
 have happened," said Jones. 
 
 After the bath they went down to the Chinese 
 restaurant and, after the rough fare on the 
 Jersey and the still more undesirable food on 
 the journey from Halifax, the meal was a feast 
 to Jack of the most delightful description. The 
 bed, too, was a good one, a very pleasant con- 
 trast to being jostled on the top of a bale of 
 hay in a dark, stuffy box car. 
 
 The following day was a busy one, and the 
 little money that was left was judiciously 
 expended by Jones in purchasing the right kind 
 of foodstuffs, not too bulky but satisfying and 
 nourishing. Jones went out ** scouting," as he 
 said, leaving Jack to fill in time as best he 
 
THE DESERTERS 37 
 
 could. After an absence of about two hours lie 
 returned with a look of triumph on his face. 
 
 '^It's all right/' he announced boisterously 
 and cheerily; *^our luck's still in. I've got my 
 eye on a nice cozy seat for two on a freight 
 that is going through to Fort William. Think 
 of it; all the way to Fort William, and she's 
 pulling out at eleven o'clock to-night." 
 
 Shortly after nine o'clock Jones and Jack, 
 each carrying a small bundle of food, might 
 have been seen moving quickly and stealthily 
 in the direction of a freight train already made 
 up. There were quite a number of officials mov- 
 ing about, so they made for the first box car, 
 pulled back the sliding door until they could 
 squeeze in, and closed it quietly and slowly. 
 Jones felt around, and gave vent to his disap- 
 pointment as he touched only the hard, sharp 
 edges of boxes. 
 
 ** Afraid our luck has taken a turn, for 
 there 's nothing around here that feels like mak- 
 ing a comfortable bed. Still, we'll just sit on 
 one of these boxes until she starts, and then I 
 can strike a light and see if there's anything 
 to make a bed for you." 
 
 '* Don't mind about me," said Jack. **I can 
 rough it just as well as you can." 
 
38 MAKING GOOD 
 
 *'0h, I don't doubt that/' replied Jones, **biit 
 you ain't used to this kind of thing the same as 
 lam." 
 
 So they waited there patiently until the train 
 started and then, when quite sure that it was 
 well clear of the city, Jones struck a match. 
 After peering about for a few minutes he made 
 a joyful exclamation. 
 
 **Our luck's on the seesaw," he shouted, **for 
 I can see some bales of cotton or something of 
 the kind over in that corner. I'll strike another 
 light, then you can climb up and make yourself 
 comfortable, an' I'll follow you." 
 
 He struck another match while Jack climbed 
 over the boxes and on to the bales. Then he 
 carefully extinguished the match and climbed 
 up alongside Jack, who reached down and gave 
 him a helping hand. 
 
 **Well," remarked Jones after he had set- 
 tled himself down, ^^not half bad, is it?" 
 
 **I should say not," replied Jack; **I'm sure 
 I could roll off to sleep in two ticks. ' ' 
 
 **Look here," said Jones, suddenly becoming 
 serious, **you an' me are becoming pretty good 
 partners, even if I am six years older than you 
 are, and I feel the same kind of feeling toward 
 
THE DESEETEES 39 
 
 you as I would if you were my own brother, 
 for I've taken a fancy toward you an' know 
 that you'll make good some day. You know, 
 life's a pretty rough game to play if you are 
 playing a lone hand and don't exactly know the 
 value of the cards. To play it on your own 
 without a friend handy to tell you when to hold 
 your hand and when to show it, means that you 
 have to wait so long before you dare risk a little 
 gamble on it that the best part of your life ii 
 gone afore you are able to gather in the stakes. 
 I don't know whether you get my meaning or 
 not, but I intend to stay with you just to keep 
 you from making mistakes and to help you to 
 make good so that, for instance, when you want 
 to travel you can do it in proper style and not 
 have to sneak into a box car and dodge these 
 fellows on the lookout for you. Now, if we are 
 going to be partners, I don't want you to call 
 me Jones as if I was a stranger, but to call me 
 Joe, the first handle to my name — d'you under- 
 stand, kid?" 
 
 *^Sure, I understand, Joe," replied Jack; 
 ''but why don't you call me 'Jack' instead of 
 'kid'? You don't want a kid for a partner, do 
 you?" 
 
 "I'm sorry, Jack," replied Joe, "but you 
 
40 MAKING GOOD 
 
 seemed kind of young and sort of needed look- 
 ing after.'' 
 
 Jack thought this was a very happy arrange- 
 ment, and was delighted to be assured of the 
 constant help and companionship of Jones, who 
 knew the ropes and was a tall, strong, good- 
 hearted fellow. The next day they varied the 
 monotony of their traveling by sliding the door 
 back, and looking out on to the country they 
 were passing through. The early part of the 
 day it was through farm lands smilingly pros- 
 perous, with snug houses and orchards, but 
 toward dark they had passed into rough, wildly 
 picturesque country, with myriads of little lakes 
 with fringes of gorgeous autumn foliage. 
 
 The following morning they passed around 
 the edge of Lake Superior. In the late after- 
 noon the freight stopped and Jones, anxious to 
 replenish the small supply of water they had 
 left, decided to risk getting out and filling a 
 bottle from a small lake close to the railroad. 
 
 **It's nearly dark. Jack,'' he whispered, **and 
 I don't think they'll see me," so he dropped out 
 of the car on t^ the railroad track and darted 
 toward the lake. 
 
 But he was spotted. 
 
 **Hi, there, you hobo I" shouted the con- 
 
THE DESERTEES 41 
 
 ductor, **beat it for all you're worth; there's 
 no free rides on this railroad.'' 
 
 Jones paused, then turned round and shouted 
 to Jack, ''Come on, Jack, the game's up; he's 
 seen me." 
 
 Jack jumped out of the car and followed 
 Jones into the bush. 
 
 *'I'm sorry," said Jones in tones of anger 
 and despair ; ' ' it was a foolish thing to do, for 
 here we are stranded in the bush an' miles from 
 everywhere." 
 
 ''It was only bad luck, Joe," replied Jack. 
 The freight was now nearly out of sight. 
 
 "Ijet's sit down and think it over, and try 
 to figure out the best thing to do. Can you smell 
 anythin' burnin'?" he added excitedly. 
 
 ''Yes, what is it?" 
 
 Jones stood up, and just then in the gather- 
 ing darkness a flame shot up into the sky. 
 Jones's face was pale and drawn when he 
 turned toward Jack. 
 
 "They've set the bush on fire," he shouted; 
 then, seizing Jack by the shoulder, "run, kid, 
 run for your life!" he yelled. 
 
CHAPTER m 
 
 A FOEEST FIEB 
 
 AS SO frequently happens, a spark from 
 the engine had fallen into the thick, dry 
 undergrowth; this had burst into a flame and 
 had ignited the brittle shrubs, and these in turn 
 had carried the fire to the tall trees. In the 
 gathering gloom the sight of the flames leaping 
 from tree to tree was grand and awesome, and 
 Jones, looking back at this swiftly pursuing 
 enemy, realized the deadly peril they were in. 
 
 ** Faster, kid, faster,'' he urged; *4f we're 
 lucky we might get to a clearing before she 
 catches us up." 
 
 The thickness of the undergrowth impeded 
 their progress, and the thick columns of smoke 
 that preceded the fire blinded and choked them. 
 Jack struggled along, gasping and exhausted. 
 The fire was gaining on them rapidly, and they 
 were now being scorched by the great heat from 
 the blazing, roaring mass of trees behind them. 
 Jack, choked by the thick smoke and almost 
 overcome by the intense heat, with his eyes 
 
 42 
 
A FOREST FIRE 43 
 
 painful and swollen, now began to reel dizzily, 
 and Jones put his arm around him to help him 
 along. 
 
 **Come on, Jack, boy, keep it up; I think I 
 see the reflection from a lake just ahead of us. ' ' 
 
 There was no f^eply, and the man felt Jack 
 go limp in his arms — ^he had become uncon- 
 scious. Scarcely pausing in his stride, he threw 
 the lad on to his shoulder, and crashed heed- 
 lessly through the undergrowth, hands and face 
 bleeding, and his clothes almost torn to ribbons. 
 
 The steady roar of the rapidly pursuing 
 flames now deafened him; the heat scorched 
 and maddened him, and the smoke blinded and 
 choked him. It seemed as if a hundred fiends 
 were attempting to drag him back, back into 
 that furnace of flames. It was only his great 
 strength and magnificent physique, together 
 with a tremendous will power and a fierce deter- 
 mination to save the boy, that enabled him to 
 resist the impulse to give up the fight. In a 
 semi-conscious condition, sobbing with exhaus- 
 tion from the tremendous effort he was mak- 
 ing, he at last reached the shore of a fairly large 
 lake and plunged at once into its cool waters. 
 He was immediately revived, and his brain 
 began to work in a normal manner again. He 
 
44 MAKING GOOD 
 
 dipped Jack's head into the water, and the 
 effect was instantaneous. Jack opened his eyes 
 and looked wonderingly into the other's face. 
 
 '^That's better,'' said the sailor cheerily. 
 **Can you swim? We are not safe yet, but I 
 can see a little island about a couple of hun- 
 dred yards away; let us make for that." 
 
 **Lead the way, Joe, and I'll follow you," 
 replied Jack. They both were strong swim- 
 mers, and in a little while they dragged them- 
 selves up on to the small island. Although they 
 were so far safe, their plight was still desper- 
 ate. The great heat from the furnace of flames 
 around them was rJmost unbearable, for they 
 were literally ir he center of a blazing mass 
 of trees. 
 
 ** Stick to it," said Jones encouragingly as 
 Jack lay with his face buried in the earth; 
 ''she's at her worst right no"W.'' 
 
 It was a fascinating sight to watch, the flames 
 leaping from tree to tree like fiends in a frolic. 
 Fortunately, the trees fringing the lake were 
 not large ; they burned fiercely and quickly, and 
 after two or three hours the heat became more 
 bearable, so that th'ey were both able to sit up 
 and talk things over. 
 
 '^Well, Jack, I'm afraid our luck is out with 
 
A FOREST FIRE 45 
 
 a vengeance, though it was only by the mercy 
 of Providence that we escaped from a certain 
 and frightful death, for I don^t mind tellin' you 
 now that it was a pretty close call.'* 
 
 ^^I don't remember it all,'' said Jaci; **the 
 last remembrance I have of it was as though 
 the flames were wrapping themselves around 
 me and dragging me back, and it also seemed 
 as if strong hands were at my throat choking 
 me and as if red-hot pokers were gouging my 
 eyes out. Then there was a blank and the next 
 thing I remember I was in the lake. How did 
 I get there, Joe?" But Joe was not answering 
 questions then. 
 
 '^I know now," continued Jack. **You must 
 have carried me after I fainted." Then, 
 huskily, **Joe, it seems to me I owe my life 
 to you." 
 
 "Aw, shut up," replied Jones. '*I got you 
 into the scrape ; but for my darned pig-headed- 
 ness we should still have been aboard that 
 freight." 
 
 **Yes, but you risked your life to save mine." 
 
 ** Nothing of the sort. I knew that I could 
 easily make the lake ahead of the fire. ' ' 
 
 *'Well, I'm sorry I can't believe you, Joe, 
 for you said only a few minutes ago that it was 
 
46 MAKING GOOD 
 
 a pretty close call ; and look at your clothes, all 
 torn to ribbons.'' 
 
 * * Well, as for that, you have nothing to boast 
 about yourself. Jack, boy, for you look as much 
 like a hobo as anything I ever saw. Come on, 
 gather a few of the dead leaves together and 
 we'll make up a bed. With a nice free fire pro- 
 vided for us, we ought to sleep warm an' com- 
 fortable." 
 
 Jack was by now becoming used to strange 
 and novel kinds of beds. He lay awake for a 
 little while thinking of the miraculous escape 
 he had had from a frightful death, and with 
 his heart overflowing with gratitude toward his 
 companion sleeping beside him. It was truly a 
 wonderful sight that he saw around him: the 
 dull glow from the now smoldering trees, the 
 weird reflections in the water, and the distant 
 roar from the fire which had swept past them 
 to their great peril, and which was now greedily 
 devouring acres of splendid, stately trees. 
 Presently he fell asleep, and was awakened 
 some hours later by the cheery voice of Jones. 
 
 **Come on. Jack, shake a leg; we can't afford 
 to stay in this place, nice little island though 
 it is. The larder's empty, so we must hit the 
 trail as soon as possible, though I'm not at all 
 
A FOEEST FIEE 47 
 
 sure of bein' able to get far. The bush is thin 
 here and soon burns out, but where it is heavy 
 she sometimes burns for days an' weeks at a 
 time. Up to now IVe only seen a forest fire 
 at a distance. It looked bad enough then, but 
 last night's experience has that faded to a 
 shadow. Say when you are ready to take the 
 plunge and we '11 be going. ' ' 
 
 In a few minutes they were standing on the 
 shore of the lake, shaking the water off them- 
 selves. They were both in surprisingly good 
 spirits considering the trying experiences they 
 had passed through, and the difficulties of their 
 present position. Jack had all the optimism of 
 a boy of sixteen, which was encouraged by the 
 unfailing cheerfulness of Jones, backed up by 
 a resourcefulness and an experience of knock- 
 ing about the world under all manner of condi- 
 tions, both pleasant and otherwise. They had 
 not traveled far when they were driven back 
 by the heat and smoke from the smoldering, tall 
 trees. Added to this was the great danger from 
 falling trees and branches. 
 
 *^It's no go. Jack," said Jones; *^ we've got 
 to back up, for it would be suicide to attempt 
 to get through. We'll get back to the lake, and 
 give it another day to burn out." 
 
48 MAKING GOOD 
 
 So they beat a hasty retreat to the shore of 
 the lake. 
 
 **WelI, Jack/' remarked Jones, *'I don't 
 know how yon feel, but if I didn't have a kind 
 of sneaking regard for you I think I'd turn 
 cannibal. ' ' 
 
 Jack laughed. **I feel just about the same, 
 Joe ; but surely with so much water about there 
 ought to be some fish." 
 
 *^AVell," ejaculated Jones, **just step over 
 this way and kick me, will you? I guess this 
 smoke has got into my thinking box. Sure, some 
 of these little lakes are fairly alive with fish. 
 I'll hunt around an' see if I can find a fairly 
 stout branch that the fire hasn't nibbled at, 
 and if we're lucky enough to dig up a few 
 worms we might have a first-class breakfast 
 yet." 
 
 Jones returned unsuccessful; but, not to be 
 balked, he swam out to the little island and 
 came back with one between his teeth. Fortu- 
 nately they both had strong leather boot laces 
 and, by the aid of these, they had soon rigged 
 up a fishing line. It required a lot of patience 
 digging with old pieces of charred branches 
 before they dug up their first worm. When 
 everything was ready Jones waded into the 
 
A FOEEST FIEE 49 
 
 lake and soon had a nice catch of small fish. 
 There was no trouble about fixing up a fire, for 
 there were charred, smoking branches lying 
 around everywhere. All things considered, the 
 day passed off very comfortably and success- 
 fully, and at night they stretched themselves 
 out on the shore of the lake and slept soundly. 
 
 At daybreak the prospects of bursting out of 
 their fiery prison looked considerably brighter, 
 for the loud reports occasioned by falling trees 
 were noticeably fewer, and the smoke less dense 
 and troublesome than on the day previous. 
 
 *^I think we'll make it all right this time, 
 Jack,'' remarked Jones. **We'll get back to 
 the railroad and then travel back past the place 
 where the fire started, and then things will be 
 smooth. " 
 
 But it was by no means easy, for in places 
 the fire was still burning furiously ; but by per- 
 severing and carefully picking their way they 
 eventually reached the railroad and in a few 
 minutes were clear of the smoldering bush. 
 
 *^I reckon we'll shake hands on the narrowest 
 escape from being converted into a cinder that 
 I've ever had," remarked Jones. ** Fancy a 
 man who has been passing as a sailor for five 
 years being burned to death in a forest fire! 
 
50 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Sounds a bit rum — doesn't it? — ^but it nearly 
 came true. But you do look a scarecrow, Jack, 
 and no mistake, what with your blackened face 
 an' your tattered joy rags. I guess we'll have 
 to produce our credentials afore they'll allow 
 us to enter the first village we come to." 
 
 It was nearly three hours before they sighted 
 a village along the track, and their relief and 
 thankfulness can easily be imagined. 
 
 **IIope they'll take pity on us, Joe," said 
 Jack, *^and if I look half the wreck I feel I'm 
 pretty sure they will." 
 
 ** Don't you worry about that," replied 
 Jones; **we'll be all right here for a few days." 
 
 Their arrival in the small village, the center 
 of an industrious farming community, occa- 
 sioned a mild sensation. Even so far away they 
 had felt something of the heat from the fire, 
 and at night the steady, dull red glow in the 
 sky had told its own story. More than one of 
 the older inhabitants could tell a thrilling tale 
 of experiences in a forest fire, of the dreadful 
 devastation that it had wrought. The village 
 was only clear of the edge of the forest, and 
 already precautions had been taken in case the 
 wind should change. Their sympathy with these 
 two derelicts who had passed through such a 
 
A FOEEST FIEE 51 
 
 harrowing and perilous experience, and miracu- 
 lously escaped death, soon took ai practical 
 form. The good-natured proprietor of the little 
 hotel quickly took them under his care, and in 
 a short while our two heroes were eating raven- 
 ously the substantial meal he set before them. 
 
 '*Jack, boy," remarked Jones, *'our luck's 
 in again. There's no cause to complain of the 
 hospitality of the people in this town. I've just 
 had a talk with the proprietor, and he 's offered 
 us both a job for a few weeks if we care to stay. 
 I'm goin' to look after the livery stable he runs 
 here, and he said he could keep you busy help- 
 ing around the place. Of course, the wages ain't 
 very big, but I guess we had better stay here for 
 a little while. With the winter coming on, we 'd 
 better make sure of a decent home and then 
 get out West in the early spring, when things 
 are busiest around a ranch. What d'you say, 
 Jack?" 
 
 '^Well, Joe, I'm what you call a greenhorn 
 in this country, and I leave everything to you. 
 For myself, I think I'd like to work around here 
 for a little while." 
 
 '^It's a go then. Jack, so I'll fix things up 
 with the proprietor. Oh, the fellow that owns 
 the store across the way has sent over to say 
 
52 MAKING GOOD 
 
 that if we care to step over he'll give ns a new 
 rig-out, so our luck 's in for fair. ' ' 
 
 The owner of the general store was as good 
 as his word, and in a little while Jack was sport- 
 ing a new pair of blue overalls, a thick mack- 
 inaw coat, and a slouch hat. 
 
 The bright willingness of Jack, and the 
 cheery, robust manhood of Jones, soon gained 
 for them a general popularity in the village. 
 Jack often thought of the difference between 
 this and his life on board the Jersey, and never 
 once regretted having deserted at Halifax. 
 
 Since settling down in the little town he had 
 written home a glowing account of his new sur- 
 roundings and of his plans for going West with 
 Jones to qualify as a cow-puncher. All his spare 
 moments were spent around the stables, and 
 Jones, with his expert knowledge of horses and 
 the management of them, never tired of ex- 
 plaining things to him. 
 
CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 A TRAIN WRECK 
 
 JACK had his first experience of a Canadian 
 winter, and despite the discomforts of the 
 intense cold, he found it thoroughly enjoyable. 
 Being a good skater, he soon entered into the 
 popular pastime, and practiced assiduously at 
 the favorite game of ice hockey, at which he 
 promised to be extremely efficient and capable. 
 Altogether, his stay in the little Ontario town 
 was a very pleasant and profitable break in the 
 journey West. He grew taller and stronger and 
 more capable every day, and under the super- 
 vision of Jones he became a very efficient horse- 
 man, which promised well for him when the time 
 came for him to take his place among those pic- 
 turesque, devil-may-care riders of the plains. 
 
 Shortly after Christmas the two held a con- 
 sultation as to their future plans. 
 
 **I guess, Jack," said Jones, *^that we had 
 better be makin ' a move pretty soon. This is a 
 nice little town, and the folk about here are pow- 
 erful kind, but this life is too unexciting. If w© 
 
 53 
 
54 MAKING GOOD 
 
 stayed here much longer we'd be growing 
 beards and developing a rheumatiky limp. Now 
 weVe been here nearly four months, and IVe 
 got nearly a hundred dollars ^cached' away, 
 and you say you Ve got fifty, so with a hundred 
 an' fifty dollars in the exchequer we're in 
 pretty good shape to hit the trail again for the 
 West. What do you say, Jack?" 
 
 **Sure, I'm game, Joe; after all that you've 
 told me about ranching and bronchos and cow- 
 punchers I couldn't settle down here as a * chore 
 boy' for a hotel keeper for the rest of my life," 
 replied Jack. 
 
 ** That's the spirit, boy, that's the spirit," 
 remarked Jones approvingly; **they say a roll- 
 ing stone gathers no moss, which I don't deny, 
 but it gets a rare polish on it; besides, it's not 
 natural for a boy of your age to be content with 
 any old thing. Never be afraid to quit a job if 
 yon see a better one ahead of you. The man 
 that fastens on to the first and only job he ever 
 had grows on to it like a fossil, and pretty soon 
 he begins to look like one. There's nothing of 
 the fossil about you, Jack; you are just the 
 kind to make a name for yourself out West. 
 In a couple of weeks we'll hit the trail again, 
 and we'll travel in proper style — ^no stowing 
 
A TEAIN WRECK 55 
 
 away in a box car this time, to be chased into 
 the bush after they Ve set the darned thing on 
 fire, an' then having to sit in a lake with your 
 head in the water tryin' to keep your eyelashes 
 from bein' burned off. What do you say about 
 it yourself?" 
 
 **I'm all for riding, Joe, where you can look 
 out of the window and admire the scenery, in- 
 stead of spying out through a crack in the 
 doorway," replied Jack. 
 
 '*You're right; we will pay for the right to 
 do as you please, more or less, on our next train 
 traveling. ' ' 
 
 And so it was decided that they should, as 
 Jones said, hit the trail again. Two weeks after 
 this conversation they took leave of the good- 
 natured hotel proprietor and the many friends 
 they had made during their short stay in the 
 village. Two trains a day passed through the 
 tiny **flag" station, one going east and one 
 west, and these only stopped if they were 
 ** flagged." Jones and Jack bought their tickets 
 for Winnipeg, which made a big hole in their 
 fund. The train was duly ^ ^ flagged, ' ' and pulled 
 up for them to climb aboard. Fortunately, the 
 small station was on the direct transcontinental 
 route, and once aboard the train they had a 
 
56 MAKING GOOD 
 
 through trip to their destination, occupying a 
 little over two days. 
 
 This was Jack's first real train ride in Can- 
 ada, and the spacious car, filled with a cosmo- 
 politan crowd of European immigrants, proved 
 to be of great interest to him. 
 
 **A funny-looking crowd in here, Joe; what 
 are theyT' he asked after they had settled 
 down. 
 
 **0h, a bunch of dagos just arrived from 
 Europe. Not a very clean or sweet-smelling 
 crowd, are they? We have thousands of these 
 in the States, an' funny people they are; live 
 mostly on garlic, I think, judging from the smell 
 of 'em," replied Jones. 
 
 **They look pretty cold, don't they?" re- 
 marked Jack. 
 
 **They do, but if you were to see them out 
 West you'd be surprised to see the way they 
 try to keep themselves warm. They sew the 
 kids up in their clothes when the winter starts 
 and don't undo the stitches until the spring 
 comes — a real dirty crowd," concluded Jones 
 in disgust. 
 
 **Look here, Joe," called out Jack, **d'you 
 recognize this place?" 
 
 "I sure do; that's just about the spot where 
 
A TRAIN WRECK 57 
 
 we hit into the bush after leaving the freight, 
 and there's the lake that saved our lives." 
 
 The devastating effects of the fire were 
 plainly evident. What had been a magnificent 
 forest was now a desolate region of burned 
 stumps. More than once during the day Jack, 
 whose eyes were scarcely ever from the win- 
 dow, saw similar wide stretches of desolation. 
 Occasionally he and Jones took a stroll through 
 the cars to stretch their legs, and when the train 
 came to a standstill, as it did at intervals, they 
 got out and walked about, and more than once 
 narrowly escaping being left behind. Toward 
 dusk they were standing on the platform at the 
 end of their car when Jones remarked : 
 
 *' Smell anything burning^ Jack?" 
 
 ''Yes, I do," replied Jack. 
 
 ''Well, I guess we ought to know the smell 
 by now," continued Jones. He then leaned 
 over and looked out. In the fast gathering 
 gloom he saw a space ahead which he concluded 
 was a ravine or river which they would soon 
 cross, when, just as he was about to turn to 
 Jack, he saw the engine plunge into space! 
 There was a deafening, grinding crash, and he 
 was thrown headfirst down the embankment. 
 Jack, who had been standing immediately 
 
58 MAKING GOOD 
 
 behind, pitched over on top of him. They looked 
 up just in time to see the last of the ill-fated 
 train plunge down the bank. Then followed a 
 series of deafening crashes and the noise of 
 escaping steam. They scrambled to their feet 
 and ran along the track toward the point where 
 the train had disappeared. They paused on the 
 edge of a steep bank rising almost abruptly for 
 a hundred feet from the frozen river below. 
 A cloud of escaping steam hid from their view 
 the wreckage of the train. 
 
 **Eun back, Jack," said Jones, *'and give the 
 alarm to the first man you see; tell him to 
 phone for doctors to come at once. Ill scramble 
 down somehow and see if I can help anybody 
 — that is, if there 's anybody left alive. ' ' 
 
 Jack needed no urging; he ran the next two 
 miles faster than ever he had run in his life 
 before, and fell up against the door of the office 
 of a little flag station they had passed only a 
 few minutes before. It was some time before 
 he could give a coherent message, but when he 
 did the man on duty rushed to the telegraphic 
 board, and his fingers rapped out news of the 
 greatest and most tragic disaster in the whole 
 
A TEAIN WEECK 59 
 
 history of Canadian railways.* This done he 
 turned to Jack. 
 
 ^^Sit down, kid, and take a breath, for yon 
 deserve it. In an hour we '11 have an ambulance 
 train here, and you can go back on that." 
 
 But Jack could not be persuaded to stay; he 
 could picture Jones alone among that scene of 
 wreckage and death, and he wanted to get back 
 to help him. 
 
 Jones, as soon as Jack had gone, quickly 
 found a way down to the river, and plunged 
 into the work of rescue. The scene was beyond 
 description. The huge engine had plunged 
 almost through the ice, while a mass of indis- 
 tinguishable wreckage represented the rest of 
 the train. Alone in the darkness, with the ago- 
 nized cries of the injured ringing in his ears, 
 Jones worked like a Trojan. In the midst of it, 
 he was joined by Jack, and through their efforts 
 more than one unfortunate passenger was 
 extricated from a position of great pain and 
 peril. 
 
 Some time later bands of skilled workers and 
 doctors came on the scene, and by daylight all 
 
 *In the winter of 1910-11 a train disaster similar to the 
 one described above actually happened. 
 
60 MAKING GOOD 
 
 that conld be done for the injured had been 
 done. None had worked harder or more untir- 
 ingly than Jones and Jack, and their work came 
 in for general praise and commendation. 
 
 Jones turned to Jack. *^ Jack, boy, weVe got 
 to shake hands again. It's a miracle that we 
 are not lying there among that mangled iron 
 an' woodwork." And they shook hands sol- 
 emnly and silently. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE GATES OP THE WEST 
 
 JACK and Jones turned their attention to 
 the causes leading up to this terrible disas- 
 ter. The burned ends of what had been a bridge 
 jutted out from the river banks, and these told 
 the plain and tragic story. It could only have 
 happened in an isolated spot, for the bridge 
 had somehow caught alight, probably through 
 a hot cinder from a passing engine, and had 
 burned itself out without any one being any the 
 wiser. The driver of the ill-fated train, unaware 
 of the yawning chasm ahead, had driven the 
 train up to the brink and, too late, had applied 
 his brakes. It was this that had thrown Jones 
 and Jack off the platform and so had saved 
 their lives. Their prompt action, and the splen- 
 did services they had rendered to the unfor- 
 tunate victims, was suitably recognized by the 
 railway company ; they were richer by one hun- 
 dred dollars each and a first-class ticket to 
 
 61 
 
62 MAKING GOOD 
 
 their destination — Winnipeg — together with 
 free meals provided en route in the dining car, 
 and a sleeping berth. As Jones lounged in the 
 dining car sipping his coffee and puffing at an 
 excellent cigar, he remarked to Jack, sitting 
 opposite : 
 
 ^ * Say, Jack, but don 't this beat box car trav- 
 eling together with ship's biscuits, bully beef, 
 and cold water T' 
 
 **EatherI'' replied Jack. *^I've never even 
 dreamed of such luxury and comfort. As you 
 say, our luck's in for fair." 
 
 Forty-eight hours later they arrived at the 
 busy terminus at Winnipeg, after what had been 
 to Jack one of the most exciting experiences in 
 his life. He said so to Jones, but Jones affected 
 to treat it with tolerant good humor as though 
 the experience was, to him, an almost every- 
 day occurrence, which greatly amused Jack, 
 who was wide enough awake to see the exag- 
 gerated attempts his friend made to appear at 
 his ease. However, they were both very happy 
 when, with their modest packages, they emerged 
 from the terminus. 
 
 *'Well, Jack," remarked Jones, ** seeing that 
 we're rather flush, I think we ought to do our- 
 selves well for one night; we'll put up at a swell 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 63 
 
 hotel, have a swell dinner and a swell bed, an' 
 then to-morrow we'll think 'bout work again.'' 
 
 Jack cordially agreed to the proposition, and 
 followed his companion into the most palatial 
 hotel in Winnipeg. Their rongh attire did not 
 exactly harmonize with their surroundings, but 
 it did not excite notice or comment, for many 
 of the wealthiest ranchers of the West pat- 
 ronized the same hotel, and they never affected 
 any other attire than that of their ordinary 
 everyday life. 
 
 As events turned out this proved to be rather 
 a shrewd move on the part of Jones, for, after 
 booking rooms and handing their small pack- 
 ages to the uniformed porter, they adjourned 
 to the lounge and, according to the easy-going 
 custom of the West, entered into conversation 
 with their nearest neighbors. 
 
 Jones was equal to. every occasion, and being 
 a sociable, good-natured young giant, he was 
 soon engaged in conversation with a tall, clean- 
 shaven, and wholesome-looking man of about 
 fifty. Though Jones did not then know it, he 
 was one of the best and most widely known 
 ranchers of the West. He was a Scotch-Cana- 
 dian by the name of Mcintosh, who had spent 
 his boyhood days in the then **wild and woolly 
 
64 MAKING GOOD 
 
 West,'* his father having been a factor at one 
 of the Hudson Bay trading stations. He was a 
 typically shrewd and long-headed Scotsman, 
 and as good a judge of men as he was of horses. 
 He was pleased with Jones, and regarded Jack 
 approvingly. His conversation with the former 
 had come round to the most widely discussed 
 topic of the moment — the recent terrible rail- 
 way disaster, and Jones, with his highly de- 
 scriptive phraseology, had given him a graphic 
 description of it. 
 
 **So you were the two boys that the papers 
 are writing so much stuff about T' commented 
 Mcintosh in the slow, characteristic drawl of 
 the born Westerner. 
 
 **I suppose so,'' replied Jones, ** though to 
 tell the truth Jack and myself have never read 
 them ; we were too glad to come out of it with a 
 whole skin, and too thankful for the first-class 
 ticket, together with free feeds, to want to find 
 out anything more about that train wreck. We 
 were bound for the West, and had barely 
 enough money to see us safely and comfortably 
 to the end of our journey." 
 
 He then proceeded to give Mcintosh a history 
 of their adventure from the time Jack arrived 
 on board the Jersey. The rancher was highly 
 
THE GATES OP THE WEST 65 
 
 interested, and nodded approvingly at different 
 periods in Jones's detailed narrative. 
 
 ^^Well/' lie said in his slow drawl when 
 Jones had finished, **I guess that you two boys 
 are sure made of the right stuff, and just the 
 kind to make good out here. Now I can always 
 find room for a couple of good men. At present 
 I have a small herd of cattle, round about 
 twelve thousand head, and about two thousand 
 head of horses. My ranch is south of the foot- 
 hills in Alberta, so if you boys care to look me 
 up when the frost breaks I '11 be only too pleased 
 to give you both a job and will pay you good 
 wages, proAdded you both make good. The 
 West is no place for a slouch ; it wants hustlers, 
 boys not afraid to work. What d'you say, you 
 boys, are you on?" 
 
 '^Rather!" exclaimed Jack before even the 
 quick-spoken Jones had time to reply, his bright 
 eyes alight with excitement. 
 
 *'I guess we are, Mr. Mcintosh," said Jones. 
 **This friend of mine is plumb crazy to get on 
 a ranch, and speaking more for him than myself, 
 I don't think you'll regret givin' us the chance 
 to make good. For myself, I was brought up 
 on a ranch, just the same, you might say, as 
 some babies are brought up on the bottle. My 
 
66 MAKING GOOD 
 
 first memory is that of a cow pony, and now, 
 after being a sailor for moreen five years, I^m 
 just as keen about it as Jack here.'' 
 
 As they all stood up, preparatory to leav- 
 ing, the rancher gave Jones further particulars 
 of the location of his ranch. 
 
 *^Now, boys," he said cheerily, *^I'm leaving 
 on the train for Calgary in a few minutes, and 
 I'll be disappointed if you don't turn up as 
 promised. ' ' 
 
 **No need to worry 'bout that, Mr. Mcin- 
 tosh," replied Jones; '*we'll hang about Win- 
 nipeg for the next two weeks, by which time the 
 frost will have broken; then we'll hit the trail 
 straight for the Q. Z. ranch." 
 
 As the rancher shook hands with Jack he re- 
 marked approvingly, *^Boy, I like your looks; 
 you are the build for a cow-puncher— wiry, 
 clean-limbed, with a bright eye and a stubborn 
 mouth. I wish you luck, and if I can ever be 
 of any help to you don't be afraid to ask." 
 
 After he had gone Jack's excitement and 
 exultation knew no bounds, and even the good- 
 natured Jones had to remonstrate and throw in 
 a word of warning that a cow-puncher's life 
 was not all honey. ** There's one good thing 
 about it though, Jack: Mr. Mcintosh won't use 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 67 
 
 sea boots on you, as the big bully aboard the 
 Jersey did. We're in luck to meet a man like 
 that, for IVe known ranchers that 'u*d run the 
 skipper a pretty close race for the prize of 
 being the biggest bully on earth. Now, we'll 
 have that swell dinner we promised ourselves, 
 after which to bed. To-morrow we '11 pull out of 
 this hotel and find a cheaper place to live. It's 
 been a good investment, though. Never spend 
 your money recklessly. Jack, but to be close- 
 fisted don't necessarily imply that wealth will 
 follow as a natural consequence. Money spent 
 wisely and with a purpose will never ruin you, 
 for more often than not it more than comes back 
 to you. The man that's afraid to open his fist 
 in case he loses what he's got, can't expect that 
 people are goin' to pry it open to slip another 
 coin in." 
 
 After Jones had rid himself of this accu- 
 mulated wisdom, which Jack had readily ab- 
 sorbed, they went into the dining room. For a 
 rough sailor and cow-puncher, Jones conducted 
 himself admirably until the finger bowls were 
 brought round, when, instead of dipping his 
 fingers in daintily, he promptly raised his to his 
 lips and drained it to the last drop ! 
 
 Jack, though unused to dining in first-class 
 
68 MAKING GOOD 
 
 hotels, was careful to watch those at neighbor- 
 ing tables, and pointed out to Jones his serious 
 breach of etiquette. 
 
 Jones's admirably sustained sang-froid 
 hastily abandoned him and, not waiting for 
 any further explanations, he bolted out of the 
 dining room, to the serious discomfiture of the 
 waiters, whom he unceremoniously brushed- 
 aside. Jack followed discreetly in the rear, 
 only in time to see Jones ignoring the elevator 
 and disappearing up the broad staircase. When 
 Jack arrived in the bedroom he found Jones, 
 looking very hot and confused, seated on one 
 of the beds. Immediately Jack appeared he 
 called out: 
 
 **Come on, kid, pack up; this high life doesn't 
 agree with me." 
 
 'VDon't be silly, Joe ; we Ve paid for the room, 
 so why shouldn't we sleep here?" 
 
 ** Honest, Jack, I simply couldn't do it. I'll 
 have nightmare for sure if I stay in here over- 
 night." 
 
 Then he began to rave. **Now, Jack, can 
 you tell me why they bring you water at a meal 
 table if they don't intend you to drink it? It's 
 only natural to suppose that's what it's for 
 unless they bring a towel an' a piece of soap." 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 69 
 
 **I don't see why you should grumble/' re- 
 plied Jack, his eyes twinkling with merriment. 
 ''You wanted a swell dinner, and now that 
 youVe had it you don't seem to be satisfied." 
 
 ''You're right. Jack. I wanted a swell din- 
 ner, but I didn't expect to have a bath along 
 with it at the same time. Pack up, for it's out 
 we go on the hustle." 
 
 Jack patted the bed he intended to occupy. 
 
 *'Not with this for a couch, Joe," he replied; 
 "you can go if you like and call around in the 
 morning for me." 
 
 "Oh, well. Jack, have it your own way, but 
 I'm locking that door in case one of those chaps 
 in uniform takes a notion to try any of his 
 tricks on us." 
 
 The next morning Jones was up bright and 
 early, doing up his packages preparatory to 
 leaving. 
 
 "Come on. Jack, up you get," he shouted; 
 but Jack was too comfortable to pay much heed, 
 though at last he was compelled to do so. 
 
 "What's the hurry, Joe?" he inquired 
 sleepily. 
 
 "Oh, no perticular hurry. Jack, except that 
 I'm mighty anxious to get out into the open 
 air." 
 
70 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ** We've got to wait for breakfast, and that 
 won't be for another hour," grumbled Jack as 
 he turned over in bed. 
 
 ''Wait for breakfast here!" exclaimed Jones; 
 *'not on your life. If they expect me to bathe 
 after dinner, most likely they'll expect me to 
 go for a swim in the fishpond after breakfast ! 
 Oh, no, I'm not eating breakfast in this place." 
 
 In spite of all Jack's protestations, Jones re- 
 mained adamant, so Jack was compelled to get 
 up and dress. 
 
 Outside of the hotel the air was particularly 
 keen, the thermometer registering 43 degrees 
 below zero. 
 
 *'Well, Jack," remarked Jones as they 
 walked along, *'I'm makin' for the inside of the 
 first Chink restaurant that I see." 
 
 They did not go far before Jones saw what 
 he was looking for, and over a substantial 
 breakfast of ham, eggs, and hot cakes, they dis- 
 cussed their future plans. 
 
 **It's no good making a move for two weeks, 
 Jack, for the frost is unlikely to break before 
 then, so we'd better find some cheap lodgings 
 an' just hang about." 
 
 Jack was agreeable, so, breakfast over, they 
 set out on their quest for lodgings. Acting on 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 71 
 
 the information given them by a policeman on 
 point duty, they reached a part of the town 
 where they got comfortable lodgings at a rea- 
 sonable rate. As they were both too active to 
 enjoy idleness, even only for a few days, they 
 quickly secured temporary work at a large 
 livery stable, and as soon as the winter showed 
 signs of breaking up they bought their tickets 
 for Calgary. 
 
 It was after leaving Winnipeg that Jack got 
 his first glimpse of the vast rolling prairie, and 
 the suggestion of limitless space it conveyed 
 brought back to him vivid memories of his brief 
 experiences as a sailor. Instantly he knew that 
 he would love the outdoor, adventurous life 
 ahead, with the days spent in the saddle, as 
 Jones had told him, riding over these seemingly 
 limitless plains. His blood quickened at the 
 thought of it, and throughout the day his eyes 
 remained glued to the window. The small typic- 
 ally Western villages they passed through ab- 
 sorbed his interest, and he directed an endless 
 stream of questions at Jones, who good- 
 naturedly answered them all and encouraged 
 Jack in his riotous enthusiasm. 
 
 Early the following morning and before it 
 was daylight they arrived in Calgary. Jones 
 
72 MAKING GOOD 
 
 made inquiries of the time the first train left 
 for the little town in the foothills which was 
 their ultimate destination. They then had 
 breakfast, and caught their train, which took 
 them through the ranching country. Occasional 
 glimpses were obtained of riders galloping over 
 the prairies, and the thousands of head of stock 
 which were grazing made it plain that this was 
 the home of the ranchers. 
 
 They descended from the train at the small 
 station, and were now in a typical ranching 
 town. In front of each of the rambling wooden 
 stores was to be seen the ever familiar ** hitch- 
 ing pole,'' to which were fastened wiry and 
 occasionally wicked-looking bronchos. Tied to 
 the stock saddle was the lariat or lasso, the 
 stock in trade of every cow-puncher. 
 
 **Well, Jack, you must understand that a 
 man never walks in a cow country, and weVe 
 got to hire a rig at the livery stable and have 
 them drive us out.'' 
 
 They walked over to the livery stable, around 
 which lounged several men clad in the typical 
 outfit of the Western cow-puncher — Stetson 
 hat-, loosely tied, gaudily colored neckerchief, 
 and woolly **chapporals," better known as 
 ** chaps." These latter are, briefly, lambskin 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 73 
 
 trousers which protect the legs of the rider. 
 They buckle up at the top in the same way as 
 a belt. Jones asked for the proprietor. 
 
 '*Any chance of a rig to drive us out to 
 Mr. Mcintosh's ranch T' he asked. 
 
 **Yes," was the prompt reply, **Q. Z. ranch, 
 eh, about four miles awayT' 
 
 ** That's the place." As they waited for the 
 rig being got ready, Jack looked over the men 
 lounging around. They made a picturesque 
 group, and he admired their wiry, athletic 
 frames and noticed the peculiar walk which a 
 man develops after constant riding in the sad- 
 dle, a walk just as typical of the cow-puncher 
 as the **rolP' of the sailor. Indeed, it is very 
 similar. Not only does the life lived in the sad- 
 dle give a peculiarity to his walk, but it gives 
 a distinct and distinguishing curve to his legs. 
 Their constant exposure to the varying kinds 
 of weather gives a leathery appearance to the 
 skin, more or less in keeping with their pic- 
 turesque outfit. Jack took note of all these 
 things, and then and there determined that he 
 would in time become as daring, as skillful, and 
 of as striking appearance as any of them. As 
 the horses were being hitched up to the rig one 
 
74 MAKING GOOD 
 
 of the several men lounging about came up to 
 Jones. 
 
 '* Going out to the Q. Z.T' he asked. 
 
 ** Eight away," replied Jones; **have an in- 
 vitation from Mr. Mcintosh which he extended 
 to us to call on him . ' ' 
 
 **Well, I'm going out that way, an' if you 
 wouldn't mind waiting while I get my hoss I'll 
 ride out with you." 
 
 ''Glad to have your company," replied Jones. 
 
 In a few minutes their new acquaintance re- 
 turned leading his pony, and as Jones and Jack 
 climbed into the rig he leaped lightly into the 
 saddle, quite unconcerned at the vicious antics 
 of his half-wild broncho. 
 
 As he ''loped" along by the side of the rig he 
 carried on a spasmodic conversation with 
 Jones. 
 
 "Been in this country before?" he inquired. 
 
 "Nope," replied Jones, slipping into the 
 familiar phraseology and dialect of the range; 
 "been in Texas, though." 
 
 "Know Mr. Mcintosh?" he asked. 
 
 "Yes; met him in Winnipeg. He said if we 
 came down here he'd give us both a job. D'ye 
 know him?" 
 
 "Yes, work for him." 
 
 ^ 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 75 
 
 The conversation, carried on with long inter- 
 vals, was kept up until the buildings of the Q. Z. 
 ranch came in view. It was easy to see by the 
 extent of them and of the *^ corrals'* that this 
 was what was commonly known as '*a large- 
 sized ranch.'' The ** corrals," which at once 
 took Jack's eye and excited his interest, were 
 nothing more nor less than railed-in inclosures 
 of stout poles. Two large flattened posts were 
 driven into the ground, leaving a space between 
 them sufficiently wide to receive the ends of the 
 poles, laid horizontally. They were then care- 
 fully built up to a height of usually about seven 
 feet, but, as the end of the pole on the left of 
 the posts rested on the end of the one on the 
 right, there was a space between each pole 
 equal to its thickness. This enabled any one 
 outside the corral to see quite easily what was 
 happening inside. The great utility of a corral 
 fence was that any section could be taken down 
 to permit of an opening being made, and quickly 
 built up again, without in any way impairing 
 the general structure. The purpose of the cor- 
 rals will become increasingly evident as we fol- 
 low Jack's career as a cow-puncher. 
 
 As they approached the house their com- 
 panion, without even a nod for a farewell,^ 
 
 rik 
 
76 MAKING GOOD 
 
 dashed off in the direction of the outbuildings. 
 The spasmodic nature of the conversation and 
 this abrupt farewell made Jack wonder why the 
 rider should have expressed a desire to ride to 
 the ranch with them at all. But he was soon 
 to learn that the companionship of the range 
 was one of silence; men rode side by side for 
 hours without exchanging a word, but never- 
 theless appreciating to the full the enjoyment 
 of companionship. The man who talked contin- 
 uously was looked upon with suspicion; the 
 more a man talked the less capable he was con- 
 sidered to be. 
 
 The home of the rancher was an attractive- 
 looking, long, low bungalow with a wide, spa- 
 cious veranda. It was built on a knoll and com- 
 manded an extensive view of the rolling ranch 
 lands. The door opened and the rancher stood 
 on the threshold. He quickly recognized the 
 newcomers. 
 
 '* Welcome, boys, welcome; I'm real pleased 
 you've kept your word and looked me up.'* 
 
 He came to the rig and shook them heartily 
 
 by the hand. The warmth of his welcome went 
 
 straight to Jack's heart: it was the first **home 
 
 ^ouch" he had experienced since he left his 
 
 ^ome in Jersey. 
 
 ** Just leave your luggage outside while I take 
 
THE GATES OF THE WEST 77 
 
 you in to introduce you to my family. They all 
 know about you and will be real glad to meet 
 you." 
 
 Once inside the bungalow there followed in- 
 troductions to the rancher's family. In addition 
 to his wife, there was a nephew about a year 
 older than Jack, and a daughter about a year 
 younger. The lad, Chris, was, as Jack was soon 
 to learn, surly and ill-tempered, ever ready for 
 a quarrel, and inordinately proud of his unde- 
 niable skill as a cow-puncher. The girl, good 
 looking, and with the jaunty, confident bearing 
 of the Western ** cowgirl, '' was frankly pleased 
 to see them. The rancher invited them to par- 
 take of the meal then being prepared, after 
 which he himself took them over to the men's 
 quarters and introduced them to the foreman. 
 
 ** These are the two boys I told you about, 
 Bill," he said; **just fix 'em up with a bunk 
 and blankets for to-night. I'll see you about 
 them in the morning. " 
 
 After he had gone and they had settled down. 
 Jack took stock of his surroundings. The men 
 were housed in two large buildings, one for 
 sleeping and one for eating. He was allotted 
 a comfortable bunk alongside Jones and was 
 given a plentiful supply of blankets. 
 
 Well, Jack," said Jones as they turned in 
 
 
78 MAKING GOOD 
 
 for the night, **weVe been on our way a long 
 time, and have had all kinds of 'upsets,* but 
 weVe arrived, and I think you'll be happier 
 here than you would have been on board the 
 Jersey," 
 
 *'I'm sure of that, Joe. From to-morrow I'm 
 gping to throw my whole heart and soul into 
 the work.'' 
 
 ** That's the spirit, Jack, boy; keep it up and 
 you're bound to make good." 
 
 # 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 ON THE EANCH 
 
 THE following morning Mr. Mcintosh, 
 whose interest in them proved to be thor- 
 oughly genuine, came down to the men's quar- 
 ters to see that the new arrivals were properly 
 fixed up, as he said. He selected a horse for 
 Jones, who, thoroughly experienced rider that 
 he was, was quite ready to take on his new 
 duties. This done, he turned to his nephew who 
 had accompanied him. 
 
 ** Chris,'' he said, **you take this boy in hand 
 for a week or two and get him thoroughly used 
 to riding, so that he can take his place among 
 the rest of the boys." 
 
 He then turned to Jack. 
 
 **Now, it's up to you. Young, to make good. 
 You've been quite frank about what you can't 
 do, so I want to give you a fair chance, and I 
 haven 't any doubts about the result. Chris here 
 will help you to get acquainted with a pony, so 
 that you can soon take your place on the range. ' ' 
 
 79 
 
80 MAKING GOOD 
 
 He then walked away and left Jack in the 
 care of Chris. 
 
 **What d^ou want to be around a ranch for 
 if you can't rideT' growled the latter in surly 
 tones. 
 
 **0h, I can ride a bit,'* replied Jack cheer- 
 fully. **I only want a bit more experience. '^ 
 
 ** Well, if it's experience you want you'll jolly 
 soon get it. Come along this way and we'll see 
 what you can do." 
 
 Now this conversation had been overheard by 
 many of the boys in the **bunk house," as the 
 men's quarters were called. 
 
 The rancher's nephew was no favorite, and 
 they knew that Jack was in for a rough time 
 as he walked away with him toward the corral. 
 At the same time, the prospect of a bit of fun 
 at the expense of this young greenhorn was not 
 to be resisted, and even though they knew that 
 they would have to laugh with Chris, they were 
 quite prepared to overlook this disagreeable 
 feature of what promised to be a really interest- 
 ing time. Unpopular though Chris was, there 
 were few of the riders who could give a more 
 skillful display than he of horsemanship on a 
 bucking broncho. His favorite pony was a 
 smart-looking black gelding recently broke into 
 
ON THE RANCH 81 
 
 the saddle and only mastered after a difficult 
 duel. Accustomed as they were to these half- 
 wild equine creatures, with that inherited love 
 of freedom which violently resisted any attempt 
 to restrain it, many of the boys, with proud 
 reputations for skill and daring, avoided con- 
 tact with the pony which Chris was now lead- 
 ing out, and which was being provided as a test 
 of Jack's horsemanship. 
 
 *^0h, say,'' remarked one lanky youth, **give 
 the kid a chance unless you want to have 'im 
 killed an' done with." 
 
 Chris turned round on him fiercely. 
 
 ''You mind your own business. Slim; if he 
 wants to learn to ride, let him learn in one les- 
 son or else get off the ranch. We don't want 
 half-baked cow-punchers among the Q. Z. 
 crowd. If he breaks his neck, that's his funeral, 
 not mine." 
 
 This attitude on the part of the rancher's 
 nephew was one of pure selfishness. His repu- 
 tation as a horseman stood very high, indeed 
 for his age he was unequaled. He was extremely 
 sensitive to rivalry, and in Jack he saw a poten- 
 tial rival. 
 
 Why not, he reasoned, knock him out in the 
 first round and get rid of him? If he could go 
 
82 MAKING GOOD 
 
 back to his uncle and say that Jack was abso- 
 lutely no good as a horseman and never would 
 be any good, then Jack would be given the hum- 
 ble and menial duties of *^ chore boy!'' At the 
 outset of his newly chosen profession Jack was 
 confronted with the severest and, compara- 
 tively speaking, the most difficult test he would 
 T^er be called upon to face. 
 
 He made no comment on this obviously unfair 
 method of testing his capabilities as a rider. 
 He had been quite frank with Mr. Mcintosh; 
 he had not pretended to be a rider, and the 
 rancher, appreciating his frankness, had given 
 instructions that he should be taught; but his 
 nephew, to whom had been delegated the task 
 of teaching, had decided otherwise. It was not 
 to be a lesson in horsemanship, but a test. 
 Jack's mouth tightened and a grim fighting ex- 
 pression settled upon his face. 
 
 **I'll tackle the horse first," he said to him- 
 self, ** after which I'll have a go at the teacher." 
 
 He had too much spirit to offer a protest, and 
 toa much pride ever to make a complaint to 
 Mr. Mcintosh. Probably the most interested 
 onlooker was Jones, whose first impulse had 
 been to put a stop to this unfair treatment, but 
 seeing the expression on Jack's face, he said 
 
 9 
 
ON THE RANCH 83 
 
 to himself, **No, the kid is going to make a 
 ^ght of it, an' it will do him good." 
 
 The rolling eye of the broncho as he was led 
 into the corral was a plain warning that he was 
 prepared to make trouble for whoever proposed 
 to take a tilt with him. 
 
 *^Here you are," said Chris, handing the^ 
 bridle lines to Jack, ** climb up if you can, and 
 let us see what you 're made of. ' ' 
 
 Jack, with a determined **do-or-die" expres- 
 sion on his face, took hold of the lines and made 
 a motion as if he were going to climb into the 
 saddle. But the broncho, seeing and anticipa- 
 ting this, swerved round slightly toward him, 
 reared, and then struck at him violently with 
 his front feet. It was only Jack's agility that 
 saved him from a nasty blow ; but no sooner had 
 he averted this frontal attack than the broncho 
 swerved from him, dropped his head, and let 
 out with his hind feet. This time Jack did not 
 get quite clear and received a nasty kick on the 
 right leg above the knee. In spite of the momen- 
 tary pain (for fortunately it had been a glanc- 
 ing blow). Jack's determination to get on the 
 broncho's back had not weakened, and his 
 plucky attitude won for him many new friends 
 among the onlookers. 
 
84 MAKING GOOD 
 
 The broncho next reared up high on his 
 haunches, and for a moment it looked as though 
 he would come down on Jack's head. He 
 stepped lightly to one side, and as the bron- 
 cho came down heavily on his front feet, he 
 slipped his left foot into the stirrup, with his 
 back to the pony's head, grasped the horn of 
 
 ., the stock saddle with his left hand, and the back 
 %■■■ 
 part of the saddle with his right (as he had 
 
 been taught to do by Jones), and vaulted lightly 
 
 into the saddle. 
 
 For a greenhorn this was, as one of the on- 
 lookers said, **a nifty piece of work,'' and there 
 was a spontaneous shout of approbation. 
 
 **That kid's no slouch," shouted Jones enthu- 
 siastically, delighted that Jack had won the first 
 round of the bout with the broncho. There was 
 an ugly scowl on the face of Chris ; he had not 
 anticipated even this success for Jack. How- 
 ever, the latter 's troubles had only begun, for 
 scarcely had he touched the saddle than he was 
 bounced up out of it. He dropped back with a 
 thud that almost shook his teeth loose, and only 
 maintained his seat by wildly grabbing at the 
 horn of the saddle. 
 
 ** Don't pull leather, Jack," shouted Jones; 
 **let him throw you first." There was a con- 
 
ON THE RANCH 85 
 
 temptnous sneer on the face of Chris, and Jack 
 momentarily suffered a loss of the respect and 
 approval that he had so recently won from the 
 onlookers. 
 
 ** Pulling leather" was a method of retain- 
 ing one's seat that went against all the sport- 
 ing instincts of the cow-punchers. To pull 
 leather was to seize hold of the horn of the 
 stock saddle, the part projecting in the front 
 and around which the lariat rope was twisted 
 after an animal had been roped. This was con- 
 sidered to be taking an unfair advantage of a 
 horse, and a practiced rider who could not stay 
 in the saddle by skillfully distributing his bal- 
 ance and by maintaining a steady grip with his 
 knees would rather be thrown than pull leather. 
 Jack's action was prompted by ignorance of 
 the etiquette of ^^bronchobusting" and by a 
 perfectly natural instinct to seize hold of the 
 first thing handy to save himself. He heard 
 Jones 's warning, saw the sneer on Chris 's face, 
 and knew that he had committed some serious 
 breach of the rules of the game. Though not the 
 thing to do, it undeniably helped him to get his 
 balance and to give him time to get a good grip 
 with his knees, as he remembered Jones had 
 always advised him to do; for it was in Jack's 
 
86 MAKING GOOD 
 
 favor that he was cool and collected. He was 
 thinking rapidly, even though he was under- 
 going a difficult and unenviable experience that 
 was always to live in his memory. 
 
 The broncho next attempted to throw Jack 
 by violently bucking. Up he would go into the 
 air, arch his back, and drop his head, and then 
 come down on all fours with a tremendous con- 
 cussion. Lights danced in front of Jack's eyes, 
 his teeth were almost shaken loose, but in spite 
 of it all he somehow managed to hang on to his 
 seat, to the accompaniment of a noisy demon- 
 stration of admiration from the onlookers. 
 True, there was nothing very elegant about the 
 way he kept in the saddle; it lacked that easy 
 assurance of the skillful rider ; but at any rate 
 he was putting up a good fight. 
 
 This was not all in keeping with the expecta- 
 tions of Chris. He had confidently expected that 
 Jack would never even get into the saddle, much 
 less remain there. He was annoyed with his 
 pony, and furious to think that there was a 
 prospect that the laugh would be against him. 
 He stepped quickly over to the pony, raised his 
 * Squirt,'' and brought it across the pony's flanks 
 with a resounding thud. The result was the final 
 undoing of Jack, for the pony raised and shot 
 
ON THE EANCH 87 
 
 out his hind legs with tremendous vigor, and 
 precipitated the lad over his head in a twink- 
 ling. Fortunately Jack was only shaken, and 
 he laughed as Jones, who had rushed over to 
 him, helped him to his feet. 
 
 *^A lucky fall that, Joe, and it came before 
 I realized what had happened, '' he remarked, 
 as he dusted his clothes. 
 
 *^That wasn't a white man's trick, Jack, and 
 I'm go in' to make him pay for it." 
 
 ** Don't bother, Joe, just leave him to me. 
 I'd decided before I got into the saddle that 
 I'd settle with him after I was through with the 
 pony." 
 
 He left Jones and walked over to Chris, who 
 had caught the pony and was on the point of 
 leading him out of the corral. 
 
 *^Just a minute," he said with a quiet note 
 of determination in his voice ; * ^ I may not know 
 all the rules of the game in riding bronchos, but 
 I think I know how to play the game between 
 man and man, which, I am sorry to say, is more 
 than you do." 
 
 *^What d'you mean?" replied Chris, turning 
 on him fiercely. 
 
 **I only mean that you acted like the low- 
 down cad you are by first of all giving me a 
 
88 MAKING GOOD 
 
 pony to ride that only an expert cow-pnncher 
 could handle, and then deliberately maddening 
 the pony until he threw me.'' 
 
 **Well, what are you going to do about it?" 
 
 *^0h, nothing much, except settle with you 
 right now.'' 
 
 * * Settle with me I Why, I'll give you the worst 
 hiding you ever had in your life if you talk to 
 me like that." 
 
 *' That's just what I want you to try to do," 
 replied Jack quietly. 
 
 **IIere, Slim," called out Chris, **just take 
 my pony while I teach this greenhorn some 
 manners." 
 
 The boys now drew in closer; this promised 
 to be one of the best morning's sport they had 
 had for some time. Slim approached and took 
 charge of the pony, while Chris turned round 
 to Jack. 
 
 **I won't take off my coat," he said, **for 
 I scarcely think that will be necessary." 
 
 ** Neither will I," replied Jack, buttoning up 
 his coat, **or else you'll be making that an 
 excuse of how it came about that I gave you a 
 good hiding." 
 
 The physical advantage was decidedly with 
 the rancher's nephew, for he was taller and 
 
ON THE RANCH 89 
 
 heavier than Jack, but Jack was nimble and 
 particularly clever with his feet. A fight was 
 nothing new to him ; in his school days his abil- 
 ity had been unquestioned, and had gained for 
 him a respect among his schoolfellows. 
 
 If Chris was far ahead of Jack as a rider, 
 Jack was just as much his superior as a fighter. 
 The fight did not last long. Chris made a rush 
 at Jack as though to finish him off with one 
 blow, but Jack promptly shot out a beautifully 
 timed left to the jaw, which brought his an- 
 tagonist to an abrupt pause, and the applause 
 that followed it showed very clearly where the 
 ^* boys' '' sympathy lay. 
 
 *^That was a real beauty," shouted Slim 
 enthusiastically, and in his eagerness to see the 
 fight he let the pony wander off at his own sweet 
 will. Jack was quick to see his advantage as his 
 antagonist stood dazed and undecided in front 
 of him; he feinted with the left, and then 
 brought the right across to the point of his op- 
 ponent's jaw, putting the whole weight of his 
 body behind it. Chris dropped like a log, and lay 
 there until he was picked up and carried into 
 the bunk house. 
 
 Jones rushed over to Jack. '^You're a real 
 terror to fight, kid, and you did that beauti- 
 
90 MAKING GOOD 
 
 fully. You can bet your life he won^t be so dis- 
 respectful to you in the future. A conceited 
 young kid like him needed it.'^ 
 
 *^Yes, he did," replied Jack, *^but I'm sorry 
 it happened all the same. I suppose Mr. Mc- 
 intosh will be turning us both loose, and I would 
 be sorry for that after the kind way he has 
 treated us.'' 
 
 *^ Don't you worry about that. If he does 
 we can soon pick up another job, but I don't 
 think he will. He's not so powerful struck on 
 his nephew, leastways so the boys say, an ' more 
 than likely he will say it served him right." 
 
 For a youngster, and particularly a green- 
 horn. Jack was quickly taken into the fellow- 
 ship of those who ride the plains. The plucky 
 way in which he tackled the half-tamed bron- 
 cho, and his prompt and skillful settling with 
 Chris for the mean and contemptible trick he 
 had played, won for him the immediate friend- 
 ship and good will of the boys of the Q. Z. ranch. 
 They judged a man by his pluck and daring, 
 and also by his ability to use his fists — ^which 
 last was rapidly taking the place in their esti- 
 mation of the speed by which he could draw a 
 revolver. 
 
 When Mr. Mcintosh heard of the fight he 
 
ON THE RANCH 91 
 
 completely exonerated Jack. Chris did not meet 
 with any sympathy from him. **You had no 
 earthly right to put him np on that pony. Had 
 I known that you were going to do that I should 
 have taken him in hand myself, and as for the 
 contemptible trick you played on him — well, 
 all I can say is that I'm glad he gave you what 
 you deserved. He hasn't lived on a pony's back 
 all his life as you have, and I intended that he 
 should be given a fair chance to make good, 
 which I am sure he will. He seems pretty 
 capable of taking care of himself as far as you 
 are concerned, and all I can say is that I'll leave 
 you to him if you play him up in any way." 
 
 To Jack he said, **I'm sorry to hear there has 
 been trouble between you and Chris, and I want 
 you to forget it. I don't blam^ you in any way 
 for what happened. From all accounts Chris 
 did not play the game with you, and he de- 
 served the hiding you gave him. As long as 
 you do your work in a satisfactory way there'll 
 be no kick coming from me. As you seem to 
 have made a pretty good show with that tricky 
 broncho I've told Bill to give you a pony and 
 to make you one of the regular riders. Of 
 course you have a lot to learn yet, but the boys 
 have taken a fancy to you and you'll find them 
 
92 MAKING GOOD 
 
 willing to teach you all the tricks. As soon as 
 you are ready to take your place in the round-up 
 I'll pay you the same wage as the other boys 
 are getting.'' 
 
 Jack's feelings after this will be easily imag- 
 ined. He had been afraid that the trouble with 
 Chris would have led to his dismissal, in which 
 case, of course, Jones would have gone with 
 him. As Jones had said, this would not by any 
 means have been a calamity, as there was 
 always a job waiting for a rider ; but Jack had 
 appreciated to the full the kindness and the 
 hospitality of the owner of the Q. Z. ranch, and 
 particularly remembered the kind way he had 
 spoken to him in the hotel at Winnipeg, and 
 to have left the ranch more or less in disgrace 
 would have been a bitter blow to him. 
 
 €hris did not take his beating in a very sport- 
 ing spirit. It was the severest blow that his dig- 
 nity had ever suffered, and the fact that details 
 of the fight had become the common knowledge 
 of the riders on the range increased his feelings 
 of enmity toward Jack. It is true that he re- 
 frained from showing his feelings in an open 
 way, for he knew that his uncle never said a 
 thing that he did not mean, and he was wise 
 enough not to ignore a very emphatic warning. 
 
ON THE EANCH 93 
 
 But he found ways and means of making him- 
 self unpleasant. On one occasion, for instance, 
 Jack^s pony, a frisky but by no means vicious 
 animal, went into a perfect frenzy of madness 
 until he had thrown his rider, and Slim, who 
 was on the spot at the time and knew the tricks 
 that could be played on a novice, immediately 
 removed the saddle and found a prickly cactus 
 under the saddle cloth. It had been slipped 
 under while Jack, leaving his horse tied to a 
 corral fence, had gone to give a helping hand 
 with a troublesome young steer that was being 
 branded. Of course Jack could do nothing ex- 
 cept keep his eyes open so that the same kind 
 of thing shouldn't happen again. 
 
 Annoying and distressing as this petty per- 
 secution was, it was more than compensated 
 for by the consistent kindness of the rancher, 
 and his wife and daughter. Mrs. Mcintosh's 
 motherly heart had been touched by the story 
 of Jack's hardships aboard the Jersey and the 
 subsequent difficulties he had experienced be- 
 fore arriving at the Q. Z. ranch. Her daugh- 
 ter Joan was frankly friendly toward him, and 
 among his happiest experiences were some mad, 
 exhilarating gallops with her over the prairies. 
 She was as accomplished as any rider on the 
 
94 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Q. Z. rancli, and her skill with the rope was sim- 
 ply amazing. It was mainly from her that Jack 
 learned to use it himself with a dexterity that 
 soon landed him among the first flight of 
 ** ropers.'' 
 
 Jack never spent an idle moment from day- 
 light to dark, and when not out riding or husy 
 with the work around the ranch, he was practic- 
 ing assiduously at those arts in which it was 
 the aim of every cow-puncher to excel. The 
 lasso became a thing of life in his hands; it 
 unwound itself like a snake, moving unerringly 
 toward its object and encircling it with amaz- 
 ing rapidity and certainty. 
 
 Jack had soon been able to equip himself 
 with all the trappings of the cowboy, including 
 the ever-present automatic. It was one of his 
 chief aims to become an expert shot. A fair pro- 
 portion of his wages was spent in replenishing 
 his supply of ammunition, as never a day passed 
 but what he fired off two or three dozen rounds. 
 Naturally, with such constant practice, he 
 rapidly became expert, and his deadly accuracy 
 in shooting from his horse was unequaled. A 
 favorite trick of his was to ride after the coyote 
 or prairie wolf, and to fire at it from the saddle, 
 usually with telling effect. This was all to the 
 
ON THE EANCH 95 
 
 benefit of the ranch, for the coyote is a very 
 destructive animal, especially among young 
 calves, and a bounty was paid for every coyote 
 killed. They were usually very brazen, and 
 sometimes allowed Jack to ride comparatively 
 close up to them, only slinking away in a surly 
 manner, and not infrequently showing their 
 teeth as they were retreating. Out would flash 
 Jack's automatic, and in a twinkling the coyote 
 would be rolling over in its death agony. 
 
 It was Jack's success in dealing with the 
 coyotes that gained for him the nickname 
 ^^ Coyote Jack," and in spite of his youth he 
 quickly became a celebrity on the range — which 
 was a matter of no little pride to Jones. 
 
 The cow-punchers usually rode and worked 
 in pairs while on the range, and Jack and Jones 
 were inseparable. In spite of his rapidly 
 acquired accomplishments. Jack still regarded 
 himself as the merest novice, and continued to 
 look up to his friend as his ideal, for of all the 
 riders of the Q. Z. ranch there was none more 
 efficient and capable than Jones. 
 
 It was while working together on the range 
 that the ex-sailor figured once again las the pre- 
 server of Jack's life. It must be understood 
 that in every large herd of cattle grazing on the 
 
96 MAKING GOOD 
 
 prairies there were a few specially picked bulls 
 who grazed with the herd. They were fairly 
 good-natured, unless in any way seriously mo- 
 lested, when they would round on any one or 
 anything that annoyed them — not infrequently 
 another bull — and a battle royal would result. 
 
 In this instance the molester happened to be 
 Jack, and bulls, when aroused, are never in- 
 clined to show any preferential treatment, even 
 toward human beings. Jack and Jones had been 
 detailed off to run into the corral a certain 
 number of cattle which were eventually to be 
 shipped off to the stock market in Calgary. 
 They rode over to where the herd were graz- 
 ing and picked out the ones most suitable — a 
 difficult matter for any but the most accom- 
 plished riders, for there is nothing more stub- 
 born and stupid in the world than a young 
 steer. 
 
 They had picked out the required number and 
 were returning with them, when a strong young 
 three-year-old bull decided to make one of the 
 crowd. Jack galloped after him and tried to 
 cut him out, but he would not be denied, and 
 eventually got back in among them again. 
 
 ** Leave him alone, Jack,*' called out Jones; 
 
ON THE EANCH 97 
 
 ^Ve'll cut him out when we run 'em into the 
 corral.'' 
 
 When they finally arrived at the corral, the 
 bull refused to leave his family. Whether it was 
 that he had an inkling of their ultimate fate 
 and considered that they needed his protection, 
 or that he hated returning alone, it is difficult 
 to say, but there was no half-heartedness about 
 his determination to get into the corral with 
 them. Both Jack and Jones repeatedly cut him 
 out, but he Just as often returned. 
 
 When most of the cattle had been driven into 
 the corral Jack called out: ^^You run the rest 
 of them in, Joe, while I chase him away; I guess 
 he won't come back when he sees that they are 
 all inside. ' ' 
 
 He then turned his attention to the bull and 
 endeavored to drive him oif, which was not an 
 easy thing to do, for he swerved and rushed 
 back at the first opportunity. Balked in his at- 
 tempts to get back among the bunch at the 
 entrance, he presently espied some of them 
 inside the corral through the fence, and with- 
 out a second's hesitation he dashed madly into 
 it. There is no doubt that he must have seen 
 stars, and they must have been all bright red 
 
98 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ones, for when he turned toward Jack there was 
 the light of madness in his eyes. Instead of 
 submitting to being chased, he took on the role 
 of chaser. He turned around, deliberately sized 
 up Jack and his pony, lowered his head, and 
 went at them at a furious gallop. Jack, who 
 had been unprepared for this, was almost caught 
 napping; he just managed to avoid him by 
 swinging his pony round on his haunches. The 
 bull stopped, turned, and came back at him in 
 another wild charge, and so quick was he in ex- 
 ecuting this return move that Jack, though he 
 saw him coming, was unable to get the pony 
 out of his way. Head down, he charged and 
 caught the pony on its flanks, one of his horns 
 tearing open the flesh and the other penetra- 
 ting Jack's right leg. 
 
 Both pony and rider went down and lay ab- 
 solutely at the mercy of the now thoroughly 
 enraged bull. Fortunately Jones had turned just 
 in time to see the crash, and digging his heels 
 into his own pony's sides, he galloped over 
 from the corral. Before the bull could renew 
 his attack upon Jack, Jones was alongside. He 
 threw his feet out of the stirrups, and at the 
 right moment dropped from the saddle on to the 
 neck of the bull, seized his horns in both hands, 
 
ON THE RANCH 99 
 
 and threw him over on to his back. It was a 
 very skillful piece of *^ bull-dogging/' and the 
 bull, when he scrambled to his feet, was too 
 dazed and stunned to resume the fight. Jones 
 helped Jack on to his pony and took him over 
 to the bunk house. 
 
 After his leg was bandaged and he lay in his 
 bunk, Jack called Jones over to him. 
 
 ** Joe," he said, holding out his hand, ^* that's 
 the second time youVe come to my rescue. Only 
 such a cow-puncher as you are, and as I hope 
 to be, could have got me out of that scrape. ^ ' 
 
 *^ Don't you be a fool, Jack,'' replied Jones. 
 **YouVe got me plumb beat for cow-punching. 
 You only need to learn *bull-doggin' ' — an' I'll 
 give you a few lessons some day — and you'll 
 have me beat to a frazzle.'' 
 
CHAPTER Vn 
 
 THE CATTLE RUSTLEES 
 
 IT was several weeks before Jack fully recov- 
 ered from the injury inflicted by the bull, 
 and during the time of his convalescence he 
 spent many pleasant hours in the home of the 
 rancher. 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh had taken more than an ordi- 
 nary interest in Jack's welfare, and had been 
 immensely pleased at the remarkable progress 
 he had made. As a mark of his appreciation 
 he had presented the lad with a new sixty-five 
 dollar stock saddle. It was a beautiful saddle, 
 and in giving it to Jack he said : ^* Young, I want 
 you to accept this as a present from me. I've 
 been watching you since you came to the Q. Z., 
 and I have never seen a boy throw his heart 
 and soul into the work as you have done. You 
 are already almost equal to the best cow- 
 puncher I have, and that after only a little over 
 six months' experience. I guess you'll make a 
 big reputation for yourself, and when the Stam- 
 pedes come round I can see you clearing up 
 
 100 
 
THE CATTLE EUSTLERS . > m 
 
 the prizes and bringing them back with you to 
 theQ. Z. ranch.'' 
 
 Jack's delight at this splendid gift, accom- 
 panied by such kind words of encouragement, 
 can readily be imagined, and it was not in the 
 least diminished by the scowls of Chris, who 
 happened to be present and overheard these 
 remarks. The relationship between the two 
 was one of strict neutrality, neither of them 
 making any approach toward the establishment 
 of friendly intercourse. But this did not in any 
 way interfere with the pleasure Jack used to 
 feel when visiting Mr. Mcintosh's home. Mrs. 
 Mcintosh showed a motherly solicitude in 
 Jack's injury, and her daughter Joan vied 
 with her in her attentions. As Jones said to 
 him afterward, **Jack, boy, you've got to be 
 careful, for they're spoiling you at the ranch 
 house. You'll soon be turning your back on the 
 likes of us boys at the bunk house." 
 
 '* Don't you worry, Joe, old boy," replied 
 Jack; '^there's nothing in this wide world 
 would drag me away from you. ' ' 
 
 But they were glorious times for Jack, lying 
 in the hammock on the broad veranda, with 
 Joan reading to him, and interrupting the read- 
 ing with tales of the Northwest — of the days 
 
;102 MAKING GOOD 
 
 when the red man held unlimited sway. She 
 gave him thrilling accounts of fights against 
 great odds between the early white settlers and 
 the Indians. Many of the tales were of happen- 
 ings that had actually occurred at the Hudson 
 Bay post on which her father had lived, when 
 the settlers were compelled to seek safety be- 
 hind the barricades in the days of the Riel 
 Rebellion. 
 
 It was a fascinating story of how the great, 
 fertile plains of the West had passed into pos- 
 session of the British Empire through the 
 bravery and perseverance of that hardy race of 
 pioneers. It fired Jack's imagination, and often 
 as he lay with eyes closed he seemed to live 
 through those stirring times of the past. He 
 could scarcely believe that those inoffensive, 
 silent Indians he daily ran across had in them 
 the same blood as **the noble red man,'' the 
 unconquered warrior of the American conti- 
 nent. 
 
 He was to see, though, in days to come that 
 the fighting instinct was still strong, that the 
 traditions of the past were not a dead letter to 
 them. It was one day ^toward the end of Jack's 
 convalescence that Mr. Mcintosh came to him 
 with a worried look on his face. 
 
THE CATTLE EUSTLEES 103 
 
 ** Three more steers gone to-day, Young," he 
 said; *Hhat makes twelve in two weeks. I've 
 put the mounted police on, but they're baf- 
 fled. I thought the days of cattle rustling had 
 gone. There must be a gang working this coun- 
 try, for Wheeler on the Three-Bar ranch has 
 had ten stolen in less than a week." 
 
 ** Cattle rustling" was, as Jack knew, the 
 Westerner's equivalent for cattle thieving. 
 Every rancher branded his stock with a mark 
 registered at a certain Government office. 
 Branding was rather a cruel but necessary 
 thing. A red-hot iron was pressed into the hide 
 of the horses and cattle, imprinting on it the 
 brand of the owner. All horses and cattle 
 branded with a Q. Z. belonged to the Q. Z. 
 ranch, and similarly with other ranches. 
 
 Cattle rustling demanded both daring and 
 skill on the part of those who practiced it. The 
 thieves usually worked in gangs and in a sys- 
 tematic way, and young steers, recently 
 branded, were their favorite prey. They usu- 
 ally picked them out one at a time, caught them 
 and threw them, made up a fire on the spot, 
 branded them afresh, and drove them off. They 
 then collected the stolen cattle into a bunch. 
 
104 MAKING GOOD 
 
 drove them across the prairie, and sold them at 
 the first opportunity. 
 
 In the lawless days of the early pioneers the 
 fate of the cattle rustler, as with the horse thief, 
 was a swift and speedy one; he was taken to 
 the nearest tree and left there to dangle. Even 
 in the days of law and order the punishment 
 is deservedly severe. 
 
 The day following Mr. Mcintosh's announce- 
 ment. Jack discussed the matter with Joan. 
 
 '*l would love nothing better than to catch 
 them red-handed before the *mounties' got 
 them ! Can 't you think of some way of doing it, 
 Joan?'' he asked. 
 
 **Well," replied Joan, **I think the best thing 
 to do would be to pick out some place where 
 they are likely to work, and keep watch there. 
 They'll never do their work on the open 
 prairie. ' ' 
 
 ** That's a good idea, Joan; if we could only 
 once spot them it would be easy." 
 
 '*What about you and I going over toward 
 the river? I should think the coolies^ the very 
 place where they are likely to work." 
 
 **I'm on, Joan," replied Jack enthusiastic- 
 ally; ** that's a great idea of yours, and we'll 
 
 1 steep, grass-grown gullies leading to a river. 
 
THE CATTLE EUSTLERS 105 
 
 follow it up. We '11 keep quiet about it, but each 
 day we'll walk over toward the coolies. It 
 would be foolish to ride, for they would spot 
 our horses and get wise; but we'll take our 
 lariat ropes with us. I'm fairly good at throw- 
 ing now, and you are heaps better than I am. 
 If, as you say, they usually work in pairs, we 
 may catch them both." 
 
 Jack was full of enthusiasm and certain of 
 success the first day he hobbled over, with 
 Joan's aid, to the coolies. But many days were 
 to come and go before his hopes were to be 
 realized. The lookout they kept was not tedi- 
 ous, for they were glorious autumn days, but 
 each day as they went back to the ranch Jack's 
 hopes had sunk a little lower. 
 
 The cattle rustlers were growing bolder, and 
 in spite of the sharp lookout kept for them they 
 succeeded in evading detection, and continued 
 to carry on their thieving with increasing suc- 
 cess. Mr. Mcintosh had now lost over thirty 
 head of young cattle, and the losses of other 
 ranches in the district had been correspond- 
 ingly high; so Mr. Mcintosh called a confer^ 
 ence at his house, to which all the ranchers 
 affected were invited. 
 
 The result of the discussion was the offer of 
 
106 MAKING GOOD 
 
 a reward of five hundred dollars to any one de- 
 livering up to the ranchers named the bodies, 
 dead or alive, of any one or more of the gang 
 of cattle rustlers. This move smacked of the 
 bad old days, and gave the cow-punchers license 
 to use their shooting irons. 
 
 **Yes, sirree,^^ Slim was overheard saying, 
 *4f any of them cattle-rustlin' guys comes 
 within range of my oV six-shooter there'll be a 
 wide streak of daylight showin ' through them in 
 rather less than no time.'* 
 
 The promise of a reward gave an added zest 
 to Jack's naturally keen desire to lay the cattle 
 rustlers by the heels. 
 
 **We must buck up, Joan,'' he said, **for my 
 leg will be as fit as ever in a day or two and then 
 I'll be back on the range, and this little game 
 of ours will be off. Besides, all the boys are 
 dead keen to get hold of them now, and if the 
 rustlers get wise to this reward they'll soon 
 beat it in a hurry." 
 
 **0h, don't you worry, Jack," replied Joan, 
 pausing to pull tighter a wide leather belt to 
 which was attached an automatic, **I have an 
 idea that we'll soon be walking up to dad and 
 claiming that five hundred dollars." 
 
 For a few days following the publication of 
 
THE CATTLE RI?STLEES 107 
 
 the reward it really looked as if the rustlers 
 had gone or else had temporarily suspended 
 operations. The latter proved to be the case 
 for, after lying low for a couple of days, re- 
 ports of more thieving came in. 
 
 There was probably no one keener to catch 
 the thieves than Chris, for, since his fight with 
 Jack, his reputation had been more or less in a 
 state of eclipse. He rode the range from day- 
 light to dark, indefatigable in his efforts to 
 catch the thieves. 
 
 It was on the fourth day after the offer of 
 the reward, and the last day of Jack's conva- 
 lescence, that Joan and he lay looking down 
 into one of the few coolies in which they had 
 not previously kept watch. It was already dusk 
 and would soon be dark. 
 
 **Come on, Joan,'' Jack was saying, **I'm 
 afraid we're fairly out of luck; this was our 
 last chance, and it seems to have gone west 
 along with the others." 
 
 He was about to scramble to his feet when 
 he suddenly exclaimed: 
 
 ** Hello! D'you see that, Joan — over in the 
 next coolie?" 
 
 A thin curl of smoke, barely distinguishable, 
 had caught his attention. 
 
108 MAKING GOOD 
 
 * * Come on, ' ' he urged, trailing his lariat rope 
 behind him, **I believe we^re on the trail at 
 last." 
 
 Joan needed no urging, for she was every bit 
 as keen as Jack. They hurried quietly and 
 stealthily toward the coolie from which the 
 smoke was coming. As they approached the 
 edge they got down on their hands and knees 
 and then peered cautiously down into the coolie. 
 What Jack saw there made his heart bound with 
 excitement, for nearly a hundred feet below 
 them there were two men, half-breed Indians, 
 busily engaged in rebranding eight or ten 
 young cattle. 
 
 ^ * The cattle rustlers for certain I ' ' whispered 
 Jack. They had built up a little fire at the bot- 
 tom of the coolie with bits of dry wood that had 
 been thrown up earlier in the year when the 
 river was in flood. 
 
 As Jack and Joan lay watching them they 
 threw a rope around a young steer, gave it a 
 twist, and threw the steer over on to his back. 
 They quickly tied his legs, dragged him over 
 toward the fire, stuck the red-hot branding iron 
 on him, rubbed a little grease over the hide 
 where it had been seared, and then turned 
 him looee. Considering themselves apparently 
 
THE CATTLE EUSTLEES 109 
 
 secure, and emboldened by their success, they 
 failed to take even the most elementary precau- 
 tions, not even bothering to look up and around 
 them. Had they done so they could not have 
 failed to have seen the boy and girl stealing 
 carefully down toward them until they had the 
 men well within range of their lariat ropes. 
 
 **A little luck,^' whispered Jack, *^and we'll 
 have them clinched. You throw first, at the one 
 farthest away; I'll have my automatic handy in 
 case there's any shooting to do. As soon as 
 you've roped your man, I'll have a go at mine." 
 
 It was just at that moment that the man near- 
 est to them looked up carelessly, and, in the 
 gathering darkness, distinguished two forms 
 about sixty feet above him, maintaining a pre- 
 carious foothold on the side of the coolie and 
 poised ready for a throw. 
 
 Quick as he was to see and to draw. Jack was 
 even quicker, and as the half-breed whipped out 
 his revolver. Jack fired and smashed the 
 weapon out of his hand. 
 
 Joan, with admirable coolness and with her 
 aim undisturbed by the shooting, sent her lasso 
 -hissing toward the other half-breed. "With 
 deadly accuracy it hung for a brief second 
 poised over his head, then dropped over his 
 
110 MAKING GOOD 
 
 shoulders. With lightning-like swiftness the 
 girl tightened the rope and threw the half-breed 
 before he had realized all that was happening. 
 
 She then ran lightly down the side of the 
 coolie, and before the half-breed had gathered 
 his scattered wits, he was looking into the bar- 
 rel of an automatic. Joan slackened the rope 
 which had pinioned the man ^s arms to his sides, 
 and then curtly ordered him to hand over his 
 weapon. 
 
 In the meantime Jack was having an exciting 
 time, for the other half-breed, having had the 
 revolver smashed out of his hand by the shot 
 from the lad's automatic, had immediately 
 turned and fled toward two ponies, which were 
 grazing some distance away. Jack immediately 
 rushed after him. The half-breed made a fly- 
 ing leap into the saddle of one pony and tore off 
 at a mad gallop. Jack made for the other, 
 sprang on its back, with the lariat rope dang- 
 ling in one hand, and followed in swift 
 pursuit. 
 
 It was a thrilling chase, with Jack gaining 
 on the half-breed all the time. He refrained 
 from shooting, as he wished to take his prisoner 
 alive. He had been lucky enough to get the 
 speediest pony, or he would have been com- 
 
THE CATTLE BUSTLERS 111 
 
 pelled to jBre, and with his constant practice at 
 shooting at coyotes from the saddle, he would 
 no doubt have brought down his man. As it 
 was, he rapidly closed in on the half-breed, 
 swung the lasso round his head a few times, 
 and then threw it forward, catching the half- 
 breed round the body and dragging him to the 
 ground. Jack slipped the rope round the horn 
 of the saddle and drew it taut. He then jumped 
 to the ground and dashed over toward the man, 
 who was now vainly struggling to disentangle 
 himself; but the more he tugged at the rope 
 the tighter it became. Jack covered him with 
 his automatic, helped him to his feet, and then 
 walked him back toward the pony. 
 
 **A pretty good try to get away, old sport," 
 he remarked jocularly. 
 
 **You smart boy, eh, heap good shot,'' 
 grunted the half-breed. 
 
 **Well, I guess I was a little too smart for 
 you, and a girl has got your pal buffaloed. ' ' 
 
 Just then a shot rang out, and Jack's heart 
 gave a great bound. 
 
 **Come on, you," he said, turning fiercely 
 to the half-breed, **I'm going to truss you up 
 and leave you here." 
 
 With the slack rope he deftly and securely 
 
112 MAKING GOOD 
 
 pinioned the half-breed until he could scarcely 
 move as much as an eyelash. He left him lying 
 on the ground, sprang into the saddle at one 
 bound, and dashed back to the place where he 
 had left Joan. 
 
 It was now almost dark, and as he approached 
 the place he heard a moan of pain. 
 
 * * Joan ! Joan ! ' ' he called out wildly, a great 
 fear clutching at his heart. 
 
 ** Hello! That you, Jack?'' came back the 
 cheery response. *^Did you get the other 
 rustler r' 
 
 **Yes," replied Jack, his voice expressing the 
 relief he felt, **got him trussed up as nicely as 
 a prize Christmas turkey; but what's happened 
 here?" 
 
 **0h, you heard the shot I fired, I suppose?" 
 asked eToan calmly. *^Tliis man started playing 
 up ; suppose he thought a girl would never dare 
 pull the trigger. I warned him once, the second 
 time I let him have one in the foot, and it seems 
 to have hurt." 
 
 **Joan," said Jack admiringly, '*you're a 
 regular brick. Serves the brute right if you 
 have hurt him; he ought to have behaved him- 
 self when he was being decently treated. 
 Eather funny, though; I got mine in the hand 
 
THE CATTLE RUSTLESS 113 
 
 and you got yours in the foot I Now that I 
 know you are all right, I'll slip back on the pony 
 for my prisoner, and we'll be getting back to 
 the ranch with them.'' 
 
 He returned to the spot where he had left 
 the other half-breed bound, untied his legs, 
 helped him to his feet, and gave him the order 
 to go ahead while he himself followed behind 
 on the pony. 
 
 ^*Here we are, Joan," he called out cheerily. 
 ** Guess we're going to have some fun getting 
 out of here, though, for I'm lost. We can't 
 climb up the sides of the coolie. ' ' 
 
 '^That's easy," replied Joan; '*you don't 
 suppose I've lived here all my life without 
 knowing my way about. I'll act as guide if 
 you'll look after the prisoners." 
 
 They then helped Joan's prisoner into the 
 saddle. With true Indian stoicism the two men 
 accepted their fate more or less silently. Jack 
 finally freed his prisoner and gave him the 
 bridle lines. 
 
 *^Now, no monkey tricks," he said, **or else 
 I'll plug you clean through the head; d'you 
 understand?" 
 
 The half-breed nodded his head, signifying 
 that he understood. 
 
114 MAKING GOOD 
 
 **Lead on,'' called out Jack; and, guided by 
 Joan, with Jack bringing up the rear and cov- 
 ering the prisoners with his revolver, the little 
 procession moved forward in the darkness. 
 Joan soon led them to a path that brought them 
 out of the coolies on to the prairie. The lights 
 of the ranch twinkled in the distance, a good 
 two miles away. As they approached the build- 
 ings, they saw some of the boys moving around 
 attending to the stock kept on the ranch. 
 
 Jack thought he would attract their atten- 
 tion, so, pointing his automatic into the air, he 
 almost emptied the magazine. The bunk house 
 quickly emptied as the boys came tumbling out. 
 Jack recognized the tall form of Jones hurrying 
 toward them. 
 
 ** Hello, Joe," he called out, *' we've got two 
 nice-looking cattle rustlers here all ready for 
 killing." 
 
 *^Well, sirree," ejaculated Jones, '*if that kid 
 hasn't got us all beat to a frazzle." They were 
 soon surrounded by the Q. Z. boys. 
 
 *^And Miss Joan, too!" said Jones, as he 
 walked up. 
 
 * * Yes, Joe, and had it not been for Miss Joan, 
 these chaps would still have been running 
 around loose." 
 
THE CATTLE RUSTLEES 115 
 
 ''This way with them, Jack/' called out Bill 
 the foreman, and the little procession, now surr 
 rounded by a curious, congratulatory escort, 
 follow;cd Bill over to the bunk house; though 
 when they arrived there Joan was missing, for 
 she had taken the opportunity to slip off to the 
 ranch house. 
 
 The half-breeds, surly, defiant, and silent in 
 spite of their pain, were taken into the bunk 
 House. They neither denied nor admitted any 
 of the charges made against them. Mr. Mcin- 
 tosh, who had received a brief account from 
 Joan of her adventure, hurried over to view 
 and question the prisoners. He made an excla- 
 mation as soon as he saw them. 
 
 *^Why, that's Pete the half-breed!'' he said, 
 pointing to the man with the shattered foot, 
 the elder, by many years, of the two prisoners. 
 **I never thought you'd have the nerve to come 
 fback into this country after the narrow escape 
 you had from being dangled over twenty-five 
 years ago." 
 
 The man he pointed to was a notorious 
 Indian half-breed, a regular ^^bad man" type, 
 (with a romantic career. His white father had 
 sent him East in his boyhood days to a well- 
 Iknown university, but drink, which quickly 
 
ill6 MAKING GOOD 
 
 inflamed the Indian blood in him, had been his 
 downfall. He returned in disgrace, but not 
 before he had imbibed some of the culture of 
 civilization. The savage in him, however, quickly 
 came to the surface, and he became one of the 
 most lawless and reckless desperadoes the West 
 had ever known. He gathered about him a 
 gang, mostly Indians and half-breeds, which be- 
 gan a reign of terror, until the ranchers finally 
 banded themselves together and hunted them 
 down. Pete was caught red-handed at the very 
 game he had lately been engaged upon — cattle 
 rustling. ,He was hurried over to the nearest 
 tree, and would have met with a speedy death 
 but for the intervention of Mr. Mcintosh, who 
 had known his father, a highly respected factor 
 at one of the Hudson Bay posts. His horse was 
 given back to him, and he was taken over the 
 border into the States and warned, on peril of 
 being instantly shot on sight, never to return 
 into Alberta again. From that day no one had 
 seen or heard of Pete. 
 
 **Come, Pete,'' said Mr. Mcintosh sternly, 
 ** where are the other thieves you've had work- 
 ing with youT' 
 
 **You can find them for yourself,'' retorted 
 Pete angrily. 
 
THE CATTLE BUSTLERS 117 
 
 **Very well; bring a rope, boys; we can't 
 afford to waste time on him.'' 
 
 There was an unrelenting look in Mr. Mcin- 
 tosh's eye as the rope was slipped over Pete's 
 neck that alarmed the half-breed. He decided 
 that things had gone far enough, and gave the 
 required information. 
 
 ** There are four more in the gang," he said, 
 *^all of them boys that can use their shooting 
 irons to good purpose. You might find them 
 near the shack at the bend of Gopher Creek — 
 that is, provided you hurry, for we intended 
 pulling out of this country to-night." 
 
 * * Good enough ! ' ' said Mr. Mcintosh. ^ * Leave 
 two men here, Bill," he called to the foreman. 
 * * The rest of you boys saddle up ; we '11 rope in 
 the whole crowd yet." 
 
 There was a wild scramble for the ponies, 
 and a few minutes later over thirty odd riders, 
 Jack among them, were thundering across the 
 prairies with Mr. Mcintosh at their head. 
 
CHAPTER Vm 
 
 THE EOUND-UP 
 
 THE shack they were heading for was 
 nearly four miles away, and was an ideal 
 place for the purpose for which it had been 
 chosen, for it could only be approached from 
 one direction. As was afterward discovered, one 
 man had been posted there as sentry both day 
 and night. Across the creek and between it and 
 the river there was a piece of grassland where 
 the cattle rustlers had driven the stolen cattle. 
 The sentry, expecting the return of Pete and his 
 companion, was keeping a keen lookout. The 
 noise of the approaching riders was the first 
 warning that something was wrong. He gave the 
 alarm, and was soon joined by the other three. 
 The thunder of the hoofs of the approaching 
 horses quickly became more distinct, and soon 
 both horses and riders came into view. The 
 watchers ran back to the bottom of the defile, 
 down which the horsemen must come to reach 
 the shack. As the leading riders appeared they 
 
 118 
 
THE EOUND-UP 119 
 
 emptied their revolvers. Mr. Mcintosh was seen 
 to lurch in the saddle, and would assuredly 
 have fallen and have been trampled underfoot, 
 had not Jones, who, with Jack, was riding 
 alongside him, caught and held him. There was 
 no pause ; on thundered the riders down through 
 the defile. Eealizing how impossible it would 
 be for them to put up an effective resistance, 
 the cattle rustlers ran back to the shack and 
 opened fire as the riders came down upon 
 them. 
 
 Jones lifted Mr. Mcintosh bodily from his 
 horse and laid him across the saddle in front 
 of him. At the first chance he wheeled away 
 from the shack in order to render first aid. 
 
 Instead of charging at the shack, the riders, 
 with Bill, the foreman, and Jack at their head, 
 broke into single file and galloped round it, dis- 
 charging their revolvers into it. The firing from 
 the shack soon ceased, and one man came run- 
 ning out with his hands above his head. Bill, 
 with Jack at his side, rode up to the building, 
 dismounted, and went inside. As they entered 
 they stumbled over the form of one man, killed, 
 while the two others lay groaning where they 
 had fallen, close to the window. They lit the 
 lantern hanging in the center of the shack, the 
 
120 MAKING GOOD 
 
 walls of which were riddled with bullets. The 
 only man to escape had saved himself by lying 
 on the floor. One of the two wounded men 
 lived only a few minutes, the other was given 
 first aid and made comfortable until a rig could 
 be brought from the ranch to convey him there 
 for further treatment. Mr. Mcintosh had had 
 a very narrow escape, the bullet grazing the 
 side of his head. He had been temporarily 
 stunned, but quickly recovered, and insisted on 
 riding back to the ranch with the boys. A rider 
 was dispatched into town for a doctor, and after 
 he had attended to the rancher, Jack was sent 
 for. 
 
 **Well, Young,'* exclaimed Mr. Mcintosh, 
 reaching out his hand as Jack walked in, **we 
 have to thank you and Joan for rounding up 
 the cattle rustlers. I suppose you didn't think 
 when you two went down into the coolie after 
 them that you were tackling one of the most 
 desperate and murderous villains on the Amer- 
 ican continent. It's lucky for you that you got 
 there first." 
 
 **I didn't tackle him, Mr. Mcintosh," inter- 
 rupted Jack; ** Joan handled him, roped him as 
 neat as you'd like it, and then shot him in the 
 foot when he started his monkey tricks." 
 
THE ROUND-UP 121 
 
 The rancher's face lit up with pride. **Come 
 here, Joan, ' ' he called out, and as she came near 
 he caught her hand and drew her to him. 
 ^^ Girlie, your old dad's mighty proud of you, 
 but I tremble to think what might have hap- 
 pened to you. If anything had, that young ras- 
 cal there'' — indicating Jack — ** would have had 
 to pay for it." 
 
 ^^Oh, but you mustn't blame Jack, dad; I 
 urged him on to do it, in fact we were co-con- 
 spirators. We 've been on the lookout for weeks, 
 and this was to have been our last day, as Jack 
 was returning to work to-morrow; and you 
 should just have seen the way Jack shot the 
 six-shooter out of the hand of the other brute, ' ' 
 continued Joan enthusiastically. 
 
 **Come on, Young, let us hear the story," 
 said the rancher. 
 
 But here the doctor intervened. **Not to- 
 night, Mcintosh," he said, *^you must not have 
 any more excitement; keep quiet for a day or 
 two. There's no danger now, but we must be 
 careful." 
 
 **0h, well, just as you say, doc; but I'll have 
 to write out a check for five hundred dollars to- 
 morrow for these two young scamps. You'd 
 better take another day off, Young," he con- 
 
122 MAKING GOOD 
 
 tinued, as Jack prepared to leave; *'I reckon 
 you've had a busy day to-day.'' 
 
 When Jack returned to the bunk house he was 
 the center of an eager group of questioners. 
 
 **Well, sirree," remarked Slim, **if I don't 
 feel like a two-year-ol ' baby ! Five hundred dol- 
 lars for the arskin'^^an' before I can reach out 
 me hand to take it, I'll be shot if a young ten- 
 derfoot don't beat me to it! Now, ain't that 
 enough to make a feller want to eat grass for 
 the rest of his life ? ' ' 
 
 Jones turned on him fiercely. **Meanin', 
 Slim, that the kid hasn't earned the money?" 
 
 **Meanin' nothin' of the sort, you ol' sea- 
 goin' cow-puncher, but meanin' that the kid has 
 made me feel that I ain't growed up yet to be 
 a proper man." 
 
 Jones was mollified by this answer, and took 
 Jack away into a corner where he could get all 
 the details of his adventure from him. 
 
 **Well, Jack," he said when the latter had 
 finished his story, **I aint' a bit sure whether 
 or not I don't feel the same as Slim does. You 
 are one of the smartest kids I ever saw, and I 
 ain't sorry now that I helped you to get away 
 from the Jersey. I saw you were made of the 
 real genuine stuff, an' up to the present you've 
 
THE EOUND-UP 123 
 
 neither snrprised nor disappointed me. Keep it 
 up, Jack, boy, an' some day you'll make good 
 all right. I ain't been in th' picture at all since 
 we came here," he concluded, smiling good- 
 naturedly at Jack. 
 
 * ' Oh, yes, you have, Joe ; what about to-night 
 when Mr. Mcintosh was hit? — ^but for you he'd 
 have fallen off the saddle and been trampled 
 underfoot. Then what about the time that bull 
 had me at his mercy? Oh, no, Joe, you can't say 
 you haven't been in the picture," concluded 
 Jack. 
 
 **Mere details, Jack, mere details," replied 
 Jones, blushing and embarrassed at hearing 
 these things recounted. 
 
 The next day Mr. Mcintosh, now very much 
 better, sent for Jack and insisted on a detailed 
 account of the events leading up to the capture 
 of the cattle rustlers. When Jack had finished 
 he said, **Well, Young, you've certainly earned 
 that five hundred dollars, for Joan won't hear 
 of any of it going to her." 
 
 ^'Oh, but it must, Mr. Mcintosh," interrupted 
 Jack ; * * she must take at least half of it. ' ' 
 
 *^Now, don't you worry about her share of it, 
 my boy," continued Mr. Mcintosh, **you can 
 leave all of that to me. I could only wish that 
 
124 MAKING GOOD 
 
 you were as well provided for, and I agree with 
 her that the five hundred dollars should be paid 
 to you. You've got your future ahqad of you, 
 and some day I hope to see you the owner of 
 your own ranch. Now here's the check already 
 made out, and with it my wishes for the best of 
 luck." 
 
 Jack was a proud, happy boy when he left 
 the ranch house with the check in his pocket, 
 and the future was full of bright promise. His 
 heart was set upon becoming a rancher, and 
 this was the first step toward it. Then he be- 
 thought him of Jones. Good old Joe I He would 
 share the check with him; he owed so much to 
 him, and it would be one way of repaying it. 
 He sought out Jones and put before him the 
 proposal that he should take half of the five 
 hundred dollars. Jones did not reply for a few 
 seconds; when he did Jack regretted that he 
 had mentioned the matter. 
 
 **Jack, if you only measured up to some- 
 where around my size I'd try to thrash th' life 
 out of you. I don't doubt but what you mean 
 well, but you forget all 'bout this profit-shar- 
 ing scheme once an' for all or else I'll forget 
 that you an' me are pals. " So Jack had to give 
 up all idea of including Jones in ^lis good 
 
THE ROUND-UP 125 
 
 fortune, and his credit balance at the bank went 
 up by five hundred dollars. 
 
 Pete, the half-breed, together with his two 
 co-thieves, were tried at the assizes. The sen- 
 tences were justly severe, Pete being sent to 
 prison for fifteen years and the other two for 
 ten years each. All of the missing cattle were 
 recovered with the exception of two which had 
 been killed by the rustlers for their own con- 
 sumption. In addition to the five hundred dol- 
 lars, Jack received three further checks for 
 fifty dollars each from ranchers who had had 
 their missing cattle returned to them. 
 
 Upon receipt of these, Jack immediately 
 sought out Jones. 
 
 **Here, Joe," he called out, **tell me what 
 I'm to do with these things.'' 
 
 Jones looked at them. **Now, look here. 
 Jack, you an' me are goin' to fall out for sure 
 if you bring any more of them there financial 
 problems to me to solve. You ought to know 
 what to do with them; just tuck them away 
 along with that other check you had. ' ' 
 
 **Not me, Joe," replied Jack. **I wasn't the 
 only one that had a hand in catching the cattle 
 rustlers; what about you and the boys that 
 went over to Gopher Greek!" 
 
126 MAKING GOOD 
 
 '*Well, an' what about us?" 
 
 *'0h, nothing much, excepting that I want 
 you all to think of some way of spending this 
 money, for even if we have to fall out over it, 
 Joe, that's where the money is going." 
 
 So it was decided that the boys should go into 
 town one night, when the one hundred and fifty 
 dollars would be spent on their entertainment. 
 
 **Look here, Jack," said Jones as they were 
 saddling up on the night arranged, **you won't 
 find this party in any way resemblin' a Sunday- 
 school picnic. There's no holding these boys 
 when they let themselves loose, an' I wouldn't 
 be prepared to undertake that it won't finish up 
 in a funeral party with any one of us actin' the 
 part of the guest of honor. You stay near me, 
 Jack, and we'll try to keep the party in order." 
 
 The ride into town resembled nothing more 
 nor less than a wild, sustained cavalry charge, 
 which culminated in a simultaneous discharge 
 of revolvers and automatics as soon as the town 
 was reached. 
 
 **Come on, boys," shouted Slim above the 
 noise and hubbub, ** let's paint the ol' town 
 red." 
 
 ** Steady on there, Slim," shouted Jones, 
 **this is going to be a respectable party." 
 
THE EOUND-UP 127 
 
 ** Meaning/' shouted back Slim, *Hliat it's 
 goin' to be a hynin-singin' musical eveninT' 
 
 *^No, but meanin' that unless you behave 
 yourself you'll be tied to your horse with free 
 permission to return to the ranch in his own 
 time." 
 
 With Slim somewhat subdued, the rest of the 
 boys proceeded on more orderly lines. In ex- 
 tending invitations to the boys for the party, 
 Jack had included Chris, but had met with an 
 abrupt and surly refusal. He had taken no 
 pains to conceal his disappointment at not hav- 
 ing had a hand in catching the cattle rustlers, 
 and it was a bitter pill for him to swallow 
 that Jack had succeeded in doing it. 
 
 When the boys adjourned to the refreshment 
 bar of the only hotel in the town, imagine Jack's 
 surprise in finding Chris already there ! It was 
 common knowledge among the boys that Chris 
 spent more of his time and money there than 
 was good for a boy of his age, and he was 
 already inflamed with liquor when the party 
 went in. 
 
 Things went along merrily for some time. 
 To add to the entertainment a shooting compe- 
 tition was started, playing cards being stuck up 
 at one end of the room as targets, the one who 
 
128 MAKING GOOD 
 
 drew and fired quickest and getting most hits 
 on the card being declared the winner. Jack's 
 skill at this form of amusement was consider- 
 able, and Jones was not a whit behind him, so 
 the result of the shooting was a tie between 
 them. It was decided to shoot off the tie, each 
 one being timed and shooting separately. Bill, 
 the foreman, was acting as timekeeper, and 
 Jack was to shoot first. 
 
 **Get ready!'' called out Bill. Jack's hand 
 rested on his automatic ready to draw. *^Time !" 
 called out Bill. A shot rang out, but not from 
 Jack's automatic, and the room was plunged 
 in darkness. A pandemonium broke loose, but 
 only for a few seconds, for the proprietor, 
 always prepared for such contingencies, rushed 
 in with candles. 
 
 *^Who fired that shot?" called out Bill 
 angrily. 
 
 **I did," said Jones. 
 
 **YouI" replied Bill; then, sarcastically, 
 ** 'fraid the kid was goin' to beat you?" 
 
 ''Perhaps," returned Jones curtly. 
 
 *'0h, well, get on with the fun, boys," called 
 out Bill, *'the shooting's off." 
 
 Jones took Jack over into a corner. ''D'you 
 
THE EOUND-UP 129 
 
 notice anybody missin', JackT' lie asked, 
 Jack looked round. 
 
 *'Yes, Chris/' he replied. 
 
 **Well, then, you'll guess why I plugged the 
 gas mantle ; that boy was just aimin' to put you 
 out for the long count. I didn't want to call 
 attention to it, so thought I'd best put out the 
 lights. But keep your eye on him, Jack, he 
 means to get you some day." 
 
 The party broke up about midnight, and as 
 they rode out of the town they emptied their 
 revolvers into the air, and then galloped wildly 
 back to the ranch. Every one voted it a good 
 evening, and Jack became even more popular 
 because of his sporting refusal to accept the 
 one hundred and fifty dollars as a personal 
 gift. 
 
 '*Yes, sirree," Slim loudly remarked as the 
 boys were turning into their bunks, **that boy's 
 a real genuine cow-puncher; none o' yer milk- 
 and-water-daren't-spend-a-nickel fellows, but a 
 proper man." All of which was very pleasing 
 to Jack. To be one of the crowd of these dare- 
 devil riders was what he had set his heart upon, 
 and now he had succeeded. 
 
 The following days were busy ones for every 
 one on the ranch, for they were preparing for 
 
130 MAKING GOOD 
 
 the autumn round-up. In the spring and sum- 
 mer, horses and cattle were allowed to wander 
 at their own sweet will, and many of them wan- 
 dered away miles from the ranch. In the 
 autumn they were all rounded up and brought 
 back to the ranch so as to be within a conven- 
 ient distance should the severity of the winter 
 weather prevent them from getting sufficient 
 nourishment from the prairie grass. As long as 
 the snow was soft and not too deep, they usu- 
 ally ** rustled *' for themselves, but when it 
 froze hard and they were unable to paw their 
 way through it, then it was necessary for the 
 rancher to run them into corrals and other con- 
 venient places, and see that they got sufficient 
 food. In extremely severe weather the ranch- 
 ers, unless precautions had been taken, lost 
 heavily, thousands of cattle dying from expo- 
 sure and under-feeding. All the riders, with the 
 exception of one or two left behind for the 
 necessary duties on the ranch, went on the 
 round-up, and as they were usually away for 
 several weeks, a cook kitchen went along with 
 them. 
 
 One fine autumn morning, with a cloudless 
 sky and the air just a trifle nippy, the boys rode 
 out from the ranch. Bill, the foreman, detailed 
 
THE EOUND-UP 131 
 
 the riders off in pairs so that the country should 
 be thoroughly searched for all cattle bearing 
 the Q. Z. brand. The rendezvous at night was 
 stated to which they would return, driving 
 ahead of them all the cattle that could be found. 
 At night, riders were detailed to act as guard, 
 so that none of the cattle which had been 
 rounded up should stray off again. Occasion- 
 ally the cook kitchen would remain in one spot 
 for several days, to permit of a thorough search 
 being made. 
 
 Needless to say, Jack and Jones were paired 
 off, and, side by side, they rode across the prai- 
 ries day after day from daylight to dark. Those 
 days were among the happiest that Jack ever 
 spent. Together he and his companion would 
 ride over to a bunch of cattle, then go in among 
 them, cutting out from the bunch any that had 
 the Q. Z. brand on them. They would then run 
 them clear of their old friends in the direction 
 of another bunch. They were then left some 
 distance away, while Jack and Jones rode into 
 the new bunch and sorted out the Q. Z. cattle, 
 and returned with them to those that had 
 already been collected. In this way a nice little 
 bunch would be collected with which to return 
 to the rendezvous at night. 
 
132 MAKING GOOD 
 
 It was pleasant but tiring work, for it meant 
 hours being spent in the saddle each day, and it 
 frequently involved hard riding, as some of the 
 wanderers refused to be parted from their 
 friends of many months. At night Jack, with 
 his saddle for a pillow, rolled into his blanket ; 
 and often before falling asleep he lay for hours 
 looking into the sky with its myriads of scintil- 
 lating stars. Many happy evenings were spent 
 around the wood fire after supper. Slim could 
 knock a few decent tunes out of his violin, and 
 the boys lustily sang the choruses. Jack and 
 Jones had to take their turn as cattle guard at 
 night, and a busy time it was too, for, though 
 the majority of the cattle were quiet enough, 
 some were more restless, doubtless remember- 
 ing the friends they had recently been sep- 
 arated from, and they would attempt to escape 
 from^ the crowd of strangers and steal off in 
 the darkness. It was for these that Jack was on 
 the lookout and many tussels he had with them. 
 Some of them used to escape, and at daybreak 
 they could be seen hurrying off back to their old 
 haunts. 
 
 The round-up was fast coming to a close; 
 several hundred cattle had been gathered in 
 
THE EOUND-UP 133 
 
 and the party were retracing their steps back 
 to the ranch. 
 
 It was at the close of a long, tiring day, and 
 the boys had almost all returned to the camp. 
 Jack and Jones had dismounted and were lead- 
 ing their ponies over to the picket lines, when 
 there was an uneasy movement among the graz- 
 ing herd. There was a tossing sea of heads all 
 lifted up and sniffing. 
 
 ** What's on now, JoeT' asked Jack. **Look 
 at the cattle — every one of them sniffing. ' ' 
 
 **Was noticin* the same thing myself. Jack,'' 
 replied Jones, *^an' if I'm not plum crazy on 
 smellin' smoke since that forest fire way down 
 East, I should be mighty suspicious about a 
 smell of burning." 
 
 ^^Same here, Joe; but look over there. 
 Unless I've gone mad and am seeing things, 
 that's not only smoke but fire!" 
 
 * ' Quick, Jack, quick ! Into the saddle you get, ' ' 
 shouted Jones, seizing Jack's arm excitedly. 
 This was only the work of a few seconds 
 for Jack, and not any too soon, for surg- 
 ing toward them at a rapidly increasing pace 
 was the herd of several hundred cattle, heads 
 tossing and a wild look of fear in their eyes. On 
 they swept toward the little camp, moved by 
 
134 MAKING GOOD 
 
 that strongest of all animal instincts — the in- 
 stinct of self-preservation, and pursued by the 
 demon of fire which ran along the prairie like 
 a thing of life, helped in its pursuit by a strong 
 breeze. For the prairie was on fire, and the 
 prairie grass, already withered and dry by the 
 summer heat, was a willing servant of the 
 scorching demon. 
 
 *^This way, Jack," called out Jones. ''We 
 mustn't be caught in this stampede, '' and to- 
 gether they made a dash for safety. The flying 
 cattle presented a wild and fearsome spectacle. 
 Maddened and terrified by the pursuing flames, 
 they thundered across the prairie regardless of 
 all obstacles. It would have been utterly futile 
 and an act of insanity to attempt to stop them. 
 The boys rushed for their ponies and got clear 
 as best they could, away out of the path of the 
 maddened herd. Jack turned to see what was 
 happening in the camp, when to his horror he 
 saw that Chris and the cook, unable to reach 
 their horses, were in imminent danger of being 
 trampled underfoot. 
 
 **Look, Joe, we must go back. Chris and the 
 cook will be killed if we don't.*' 
 
 **It's madness. Jack," called out Jones, 
 '* they '11 run your pony down for sure." 
 
THE EOUND-UP 135 
 
 ** Anyhow, I'm going/' replied Jack, wheel- 
 ing his terrified pony round on his haunches 
 and dashing back in the face of the stampeding 
 cattle. 
 
 **I'm with you, then," shouted Jones, turn- 
 ing his pony at the same time and following 
 after Jack. 
 
 It was now a race as to whether the cattle 
 or the two horsemen would reach the unfortu- 
 nate boys first. The latter won by a matter of 
 yards only. Jack seized Chris and dragged him 
 up into the saddle, Jones doing the same serv- 
 ice for the cook just as the vanguard of the 
 cattle struck their ponies and swept them along 
 with them. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 
 
 THE herd of cattle swept onward as irre- 
 sistible as tlie tide on the seashore. Chris 
 scrambled into the saddle behind Jack, who 
 vainly tried to control his pony. Gored and 
 buffeted and terrified, the pony plunged madly 
 on. To have attempted to resist the pressure of 
 the cattle from behind would have been mad- 
 ness, for the pony would have been swept off his 
 feet. As it was. Jack had the greatest difficulty 
 in holding the pony up as he swept along in 
 the vanguard of the stampeding herd. 
 
 It was a thrilling and memorable ride, seated 
 on a pony mad with fright, and with a mob, sev- 
 eral hundred strong, of charging cattle behind 
 him. Despite the difficulties and the panicky 
 nature of the situation, Jack did not lose his 
 head. He knew that the cattle could not keep 
 up this pace for long, and then would come his 
 chance to forge ahead and get clear. 
 
 His deductions proved to be right, for pres» 
 
 136 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 137 
 
 ently the cattle began to slow down and Jack 
 seized every opportunity of pushing his pony 
 through the herd in front of him, until in a few 
 minutes, after much patience and skill, he 
 eventually got clear. The pony needed no urg- 
 ing, and Jack was soon well ahead of the cat- 
 tle. He edged off to the left until he was clear 
 of them and then wheeled back, getting round 
 and behind them. He pulled up his trembling, 
 exhausted pony. 
 
 *^Whew, you little pinto!'' he said, bending 
 over him, * * we had a narrow squeak that time. ' ' 
 
 *^You are right,'' said Chris from behind 
 him, **and perhaps I had the narrowest squeak 
 of all, for I hadn 't an earthly chance of getting 
 out of the way of them. ' ' 
 
 ** That's so," remarked Jack coldly; ** almost 
 as narrow an escape as I had when Jones put 
 the lights out." 
 
 Chris did not reply but slipped to the ground. 
 
 **I suppose I owe my life to you. Young," 
 he said ; then, taking out a note case he had, he 
 picked out ten five-dollar notes. 
 
 '^Here you are," he said, offering them to 
 Jack ; * * I 'd hate to owe anything to you, though 
 I'm much obliged for coming to my help." 
 
 Jack looked down at the notes for a few 
 
138 MAKING GOOD 
 
 seconds before speaking, then observed sarcas- 
 tically : 
 
 **Are you quite sure your life is worth that 
 much? Personally, I don't think it is, and 
 would be much obliged if you'd put that money 
 back into your pocket. ' ' 
 
 Just then Jones, with the cook behind, rode 
 up. 
 
 **Say, Jack, but I'm glad to see you safe. My 
 time and attention were too much taken up to 
 permit any distractions, and since that locoed 
 herd of cattle struck us, I haven't seen you 
 until now." 
 
 * * You boys are sure made of the right stuff, ' ' 
 broke in the cook enthusiastically. **I'd sure 
 begun singin' hymns in expectation of a sud- 
 den an' speedy death when this seagoin' cow- 
 puncher dashed in, picked me up, an' thro wed 
 me across th' saddle." 
 
 **Look," said Jack, **see the boys fighting 
 the fire! Come on, Joe, let's hurry over to 
 them." 
 
 They then rode over to where the camp had 
 been. Its appearance suggested that it had re- 
 cently been hit by a cyclone, for pots and pans 
 were trampled into the ground and the kitchen 
 was overturned. 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 139 
 
 **Here, Jack,^^ called out Jones, ** catch hold 
 of them empty oat sacks, an^ we'll go over to 
 help the boys. In the meantime, we'll tie the 
 ponies np here.'' 
 
 About three hundred yards away the boys 
 could be seen making tremendous efforts to put 
 out the prairie fire, and already they were meet- 
 ing with success. Empty oat sacks were being 
 used with which to beat out the fire. Getting in 
 behind the flames, the boys rapidly worked 
 along the fringe of the fire until a wide gap had 
 been cleared; they then divided and worked 
 outward from this so that, after several hours' 
 hard work, they had the fire under control and 
 finally extinguished. It was a weary crowd, 
 with blackened, scorched faces, that gathered 
 around the cook that night. 
 
 The cook had shown his usual resourceful- 
 ness, and supplies had been obtained from 
 ranchers in the neighborhood, who were only too 
 pleased to give them in return for the invalu- 
 able services the boys had rendered, for the 
 fire had been a very real and serious menace to 
 them. 
 
 *'Well boys," said Bill, '^I reckon we'll need 
 no cattle guards to-night, for the last I saw of 
 them they were hittin' the trail West faster 
 
140 MAKING GOOD 
 
 than any express train. I guess we got some 
 job on to-morrow roundin' 'em up again. Still, 
 they're well on the way to the Q. Z., so we may 
 not lose so much time, after all.'' 
 
 After water had been brought, the boys had 
 a good sluice down and a happy evening fol- 
 lowed. It is only in the crowded cities that men 
 worry, not in the open plains. 
 
 The next morning they were all up early and 
 pushed ahead in search of the cattle. They had 
 not gone far before they came upon the bulk of 
 them peacefully grazing. A few had become 
 separated, but by night-time they had all been 
 rounded up again. In a few more days they 
 were back at the ranch with all the stragglers 
 gathered in. 
 
 It had been a happy experience for Jack, and 
 the open-air life was agreeing with Eim tremen- 
 dously. He had grown taller since arriving at 
 the Q. Z., and had become more muscular. In 
 appearance he was as picturesque as the rest 
 of the cow-punchers, with his loosely knotted, 
 gaudily colored neckerchief, his woolly ** chaps," 
 and broad-brimmed Stetson hat. 
 
 The round-up had enabled him to resume his 
 intimate companionship with Jones. As a cow- 
 puncher the ex-sailor of the Jersey was second 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 141 
 
 to none on the Q. Z., but he did his work quietly 
 and without ostentation; he was one of the least 
 self-assertive of men and consequently attracted 
 little notice to himself. To Bill, the foreman, he 
 was only a steady, reliable cow-puncher ; but to 
 Jack he was a hero upon whom he lavished that 
 measure of hero worship which only a boy can 
 give. Jones, on the other hand, was inordinately 
 proud of Jack, and never tired of talking about 
 him. Over and over again he had detailed the 
 incident on board the Jersey when Jack gal- 
 lantly came to his assistance, and on the night of 
 the prairie fire he gave the boys a vivid account 
 of Jack^s plucky rescue. Since that time no 
 word had passed between Chris and Jack, but 
 Mr. Mcintosh, who had heard of the incident, 
 came over to the bunk house and thanked Jack 
 for his gallant conduct. 
 
 ** Young,'' he said, *'you are getting deeper 
 and deeper into the debt of the people at the 
 ranch house. As I am always saying, that 
 was a lucky chance meeting I had with you and 
 Jones ; you are both made of the real stuff that 
 makes good in this land of opportunity/' 
 
 Of course Mr. Mcintosh had not heard of 
 how his nephew attempted to repay Jack's 
 bravery in risking his own life to rescue him. 
 
142 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Jack had kept that a secret; he had not even 
 told it to Jones. The ill-concealed hostility of 
 Chris had not abated one jot. Gratitude was 
 apparently a minus quantity in his nature. 
 
 With the shortening of the days and the com- 
 ing of winter, life became a little less strenu- 
 ous on the ranch. It also brought with it 
 invitations to Jack to spend some of the long 
 evenings at the ranch house, invitations which 
 he was not slow to accept. In this way he met 
 many of the owners of neighboring ranches and 
 their families. There were many jolly dances 
 and happy evenings. But best of all he loved 
 the moonlight sleigh rides accompanied by the 
 musical jingle of the bells as the sleigh skimmed 
 over the frozen snow. His Stetson had given 
 way to a fur cap, and the mackinaw coat he had 
 had given Iiim on the journey came in, as he 
 said to Jones, ** mighty useful.'' 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh, knowing of the boys' passion 
 for gambling, sought to give them other inter- 
 ests in healthy outdoor sports, and soon after 
 the winter had set in there arrived at the Q. Z. 
 ranch a complete outfit for ice hockey. Mr. 
 Mcintosh, in order to create a general interest 
 in the game, offered a challenge cup to be com- 
 peted for by the boys of neighboring ranches. 
 
' THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 143 
 
 This was enthusiastically taken up, and entries 
 were received from the Circle-Bar, U-Bar, the 
 T-N, the S-Cross, the Three-Bar, and the Q. Z. 
 ranches. 
 
 Ice hockey became the prevailing topic, and 
 the keenest rivalry was shown. Bill, the fore- 
 man, took the lead at the Q. Z., and a part of 
 the large lake was cleared and smoothed down. 
 Here trial games took place for the final selec- 
 tion of the seven players to represent the Q. Z. 
 in their first game, which was against the XJ-Bar 
 ranch. 
 
 A committee of three prominent ranchers 
 took charge of the competition and made all the 
 arrangements. The team from the Circle-Bar 
 were established favorites, for two of the 
 rancher's sons had distinguished themselves 
 at the game while at college, and it was gener- 
 ally expected that their greater experience 
 would just about enable them to win the trophy. 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh was naturally very keen to see 
 his boys win it, and each afternoon he could be 
 found watching the trials, and discussing with 
 Bill the merits of the different players. There 
 were two or three who quickly established their 
 claims to a place in the team, Chris being one 
 of them, his speed and shooting ability mark- 
 
144 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ing him down as a certainty for one of the wing 
 positions. Jones was another who was soon 
 assured of a place in the team, his size, imper- 
 turbability, and quick eye making him an ideal 
 goal keeper. 
 
 At first Jack was one of the * * tryers, ' ' for he 
 was not very familiar with the game, his only 
 experience having been gained the previous 
 winter during the short stay in the little 
 Ontario town. He could skate well, however, and 
 this was a very good asset. He only needed ex- 
 perience and this, as was usual with him, he 
 spared himself no effort to obtain. His untiring 
 energy and dash obtained for him, in the final 
 selection, the important place of * * rover, ' ' prob- 
 ably the hardest-worked player on the side. 
 Jack was quite equal to this, though, for he was 
 in excellent condition. The games were to be 
 decided on the skating rink in town, which was 
 kept in first-class condition. One of the games 
 had already been decided, the Circle-Bar team 
 having easily disposed of that from the T-N 
 ranch by the one-sided score of eleven goals to 
 nothing. The games were attracting widespread 
 interest, and the crowd that gathered around 
 the rink when Q. Z. met U-Bar was a truly rep- 
 resentative one. When the teams took the ice 
 
THE ICEhHOCKEY CHAMPIONS 145 
 
 there were noisy exclamations from their par- 
 tisans. 
 
 *^Come on, Q. Z.," shouted Slim. *^Eat 'em 
 alive; you've got 'em buffaloed for a start." 
 
 The game promised to be closely contested 
 and was fought out with the greatest determi- 
 nation. The U-Bar team, to the accompaniment 
 of a noisy demonstration from their supporters, 
 were first to threaten danger. By a piece of 
 pretty play they swept down on the Q. Z. goal, 
 and one of the forwards, left with a clear open- 
 ing, sent in the puck for what looked like a 
 certain goal. 
 
 But Jones had anticipated this, and moved 
 over in time to meet the puck with his pads. 
 Some swift exchanges followed; the Q. Z. for- 
 wards swarmed round the U-Bars' goal, and in 
 a melee in front of the goal the puck was sent 
 into the net. The supporters of the Q. Z. team 
 immediately proceeded to empty their maga- 
 zines, firing their revolvers into the air. It re- 
 sembled nothing more nor less than a miniature 
 battle. This put the U-Bar team on their met- 
 tle, and their ** rover," the captain, and by far 
 the speediest and most skillful player on the 
 side, next put in a brilliant solo effort. Getting 
 hold of the puck near his own goal, he skated 
 
146 MAKING GOOD 
 
 tlirough the opposing players until he had the 
 Q. Z. goal at his mercy; but just as he was 
 about to shoot, Jack skated over to him, travel- 
 ing like a cyclone, and picked the puck off his 
 stick in brilliant fashion. He had worked up 
 such speed that he was unable to prevent him- 
 self from crashing into the boards protecting the 
 rink. It was a great save and came in for well- 
 deserved applause. The U-Bar boys were not 
 to be denied, though, and shortly before the 
 interval their captain broke through the Q. Z. 
 defence and scored a pretty goal. 
 
 The interval arrived with the score one-all, 
 which truly reflected the play, for it had been 
 an evenly fought, dingdong game. The pace had 
 been so hot that it seemed certain that stamina 
 would decide the result, and Bill confidently 
 assured Mr. Mcintosh that his side would win. 
 For the first few minutes of the second half the 
 play was rather tame but, urged on by their 
 supporters, the teams warmed up to their work. 
 There was a groan of disappointment when 
 Chris, after a pretty piece of individual play, 
 shot past an open goal. 
 
 For the next few minutes the U-Bar forwards 
 took possession of the game, and here both Jack 
 and Jones played magnificently, defending the 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 147 
 
 goal in splendid fashion; but at the end of fif- 
 teen minutes' play the U-Bar forwards rushed 
 the puck into the net. When the teams crossed 
 over at the end of the third period the score 
 was two goals to one in favor of the U-Bar 
 team. It was now that the superior stamina of 
 the Q. Z. boys began to tell, and the game had 
 only been in progress two minutes when the 
 equalizinfi fioal was obtained. The U-Bar team 
 were now pinned in their own half, and val- 
 iantly as they defended, the Q. Z. boys shot two 
 more goals, and a strenuous game resulted in a 
 victory for them by four goals to two. 
 
 It had been Jack's first real test, and he had 
 acquitted himself well. His tackling had been 
 daring and skillful, and his speed had enabled 
 him to cover the goal and prevent the opposing 
 forwards from getting to close quarters with 
 Jones. 
 
 *'You played a great game. Jack," Jones 
 remarked to him as they were taking off their 
 skates, **but you keep just a little too close to 
 the goal. Next time you want to try a run 
 through on your own. There's no better way 
 of defending your own goal than by attacking 
 your opponents. ' ' 
 
 Jack was always ready for tips, and deter- 
 
148 MAKING GOOD 
 
 mined to practice dashing through on his own. 
 The result gave great satisfaction to Mr. Mc- 
 intosh. **You boys are sure enough fighters/' 
 he said to them after the game, **and Bill had 
 you all in pretty good shape. If we can't beat 
 the Circle-Bar boys we can give them a good 
 run for their money, and if you do beat them, 
 there'll be one big celebration at my expense." 
 
 The following week the third game in the 
 competition took place, and a hard-fought game 
 resulted in a win for the Three-Bar team by 
 five goals to three. Three teams were now left 
 in the competition — the Circle-Bar, the Three- 
 Bar, and the Q. Z. The draw resulted in a bye 
 for the Q. Z. team, so on the day of the game 
 between the Circle-Bar and the Three-Bar 
 teams, Jack and Jones rode into town to wit- 
 ness it. 
 
 The sons of the owners of the Circle-Bar 
 ranch dominated the game, their brilliant indi- 
 vidual efforts completely demoralizing the 
 opposing defence, and the final score was eight 
 goals to three in their favor. 
 
 Jones had concentrated his attention on the 
 tactics of the Circle-Bar team, and gave his 
 deductions to Jack as they rode back to the 
 ranch. 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 149 
 
 **D'you know, Jack, I'm not at all sure that 
 we won't beat the Circle-Bar crowd. I watched 
 'em pretty closely, and they rely almost en- 
 tirely on the two Healy boys. Did you see how 
 easily their defence cracked up when the 
 Three-Bar boys pulled themselves together and 
 settled down to business? It's a two-man team 
 and you must drop that covering game of yours 
 and go for their goal every time. I'll take a 
 chance with these two boys. The more we push 
 their defence the less likely they will be to 
 trouble me." 
 
 ^*Yes," replied Jack, **I believe you've got 
 them pretty well sized up, Joe. I think you 
 should talk to the boys about it; a little think- 
 ing before a game is better than a lot of talk 
 and excusing afterward." 
 
 So Jones got the boys together, and as a 
 result they practiced the attacking game and left 
 the burden of the defence entirely on Jones's 
 broad shoulders. They all knew that he could 
 not be rattled, as Bill said ; a goal or two would 
 not in any way affect his play. 
 
 On the day of the game the town was as busy, 
 as crowded and lively as on the day of the 
 August Fair. Families from neighboring ranches 
 drove in, and everywhere there was the merry 
 
150 MAKING GOOD 
 
 musical jingle of sleigh bells. EougH stands 
 had been erected around the rink, all the ranch- 
 ers giving a helping hand. Joan, well muffled in 
 furs, was there with her father to cheer on the 
 Q. Z. boys. The Circle-Bar team, by virtue of 
 their easy victories, were the established favor- 
 ites, and the Q. Z. team knew well the diffi- 
 cult task they were up against. The referee had 
 been specially brought over from Calgary, and 
 was a man who knew the game from A to Z. 
 Both teams were given a rousing reception 
 when they took the ice, and it was soon appar- 
 ent that this was to be no ordinary game. 
 
 Jack was the hero of a sensational start. 
 Getting hold of the puck in the first minute of 
 the game, he dashed through the opposing play- 
 ers, and, never pausing to take aim, he swept 
 the puck into the net before they had recovered 
 from their astonishment. The Q. Z. supporters 
 literally brought down the house, for the vigor 
 of their applause, which was not altogether 
 vocal, caused part of the hastily erected stand to 
 collapse. But no one was hurt, and the game 
 was resumed. The keenness of the play was 
 responsible for a little ill feeling being intro- 
 duced, but the referee quickly intervened, and 
 the two offending players were sent off for a 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEl CHAMPIONS 151 
 
 few minuses to give their heated passions time 
 to cool down. 
 
 The puck traveled from end to end at an 
 amazing pace, and excitement ran high. The 
 two Healy boys swept through the Q. Z. defence, 
 only to give Jones an opportunity of effecting 
 a superb clearance. He sent the puck out to 
 Jack, who in turn sent it to Chris, and the Q. Z. 
 forwards swept down on the Circle-Bar goal. 
 Chris sent in a well-directed shot, only to hit 
 the goal keeper. It came out to a Q. Z. forward, 
 who promptly flashed it into the net before the 
 goal keeper had recovered, and so, at the end of 
 seven minutes' play, the Q. Z. team were two 
 goals up. The Healy boys began to get wise to 
 the tactics of the Q. Z. team, and, despite the ef- 
 forts of Jones, they rushed through three goals 
 before the end of the first period. When the 
 teams crossed over Jack repeated his former 
 effort and made the game three-all. The Q. Z. 
 forwards now overpowered the Circle-Bar 
 defence, and two more goals rewarded their 
 efforts, so that the score at the interval was five 
 goals to three in their favor. 
 
 The game so far had been fought at a tremen- 
 dous pace, and had been full of excitement and 
 surprises. The Circle-Bar supporters had not 
 
152 MAKING GOOD 
 
 expected that their team would be in arrears at 
 the interval, but the tactics that Jones had ad- 
 vised had been entirely successful. But more 
 thrills and sensations were in store for the spec- 
 tators, for within three minutes of the resump- 
 tion of play the Circle-Bar team had drawn 
 level. They had altered their methods, the team 
 packing their own goal and depending upon the 
 two Healy boys to raid the opposing goal. The 
 Q. Z. then did the same, so that for a few min- 
 utes the game became slow. 
 
 Toward the end of the first period of the 
 second half there were some fast exchanges, 
 and Jones had to capitulate once more to the 
 Healy boys, and on the resumption of the fourth 
 and last period the Q. Z. team were a goal in 
 arrears. 
 
 Jones called them together. **Take a chance, 
 boys, pile in on them, rattle 'em, do every- 
 thing but kill them unless you want them to 
 beat us.'' 
 
 The result of this advice was a savage on- 
 slaught on the Circle-Bars' goal, which swept 
 goal keeper and puck inlo the net. This success 
 was loudly acclaimed by the Q. Z. supporters. 
 Jack now joined issue with the Healy boys with 
 surprising success, partly due to the fact that 
 
THE ICE-HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 153 
 
 they had been carrying the team on their 
 shoulders through a fast, strenuous game. His 
 persistency finally took the sting out of the 
 Circle-Bar attack, and he crowned a brilliant 
 piece of checking by shooting a beautiful goal 
 from thirty yards out. Two more goals followed 
 in quick succession, and at the end of the game 
 the Circle-Bar team was well beaten with the 
 score nine goals to six. The Healy boys were 
 the first to admit that Jack^s stubborn persist- 
 ence had finally spoiled their game, and this, 
 added to the three brilliant goals he had scored, 
 made him the hero of the occasion. 
 
 ''Say, Jack,'' remarked Jones at the close 
 of the game, **you are a bit of a tartar when 
 you set your teeth into anything. The way you 
 hung on to them Healy boys was funny to 
 watch. I quite expected they'd turn on you an' 
 smash you with their sticks." 
 
 Joan sought out Jack and congratulated him 
 on his share in the triumph of the Q. Z. team, 
 Mr. Mcintosh kept his word to the boys, and 
 the rejoicings at the Q. Z. ranch were kept up 
 into the early hours of the morning. 
 
 ''It seems mean, boys, somehow," Mr. Mc- 
 intosh remarked in a little speech he made. "I 
 offered the cup for competition, and the first 
 resting place it finds is on my own sideboard. ' ' 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 LOST IN A BLIZZARD 
 
 THE competition for the cup had made 
 ice hockey immensely popular in the dis- 
 trict, and many games of a friendly nature 
 took place until a spell of bad wintry weather 
 compelled the ranchers to give their attention 
 to the cattle and horses. Although it had been 
 zero weather for many weeks, with occasional 
 falls of fine, powdery snow, the stock out graz- 
 ing had had no difficulty in gettting at the nour- 
 ishing prairie grass, and so caused the ranchers 
 no anxiety. As long as such conditions pre- 
 vailed there was ample time for recreation and 
 indulgence in the favorite winter pastimes, and 
 the boys, with their love for the open air, were 
 not slow to take advantage of it. 
 
 One evening, at sunset, they received fair 
 warning that these good times were, tempo- 
 rarily at any rate, coming to an end, for on 
 each side of the setting sun were two miniature 
 suns known as **sun dogs.'' And the **smi 
 
 154 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 155 
 
 dogs" never lied: their presence in the sky 
 might very well be compared to the warning 
 bark of the watchdog. 
 
 ^^Well, boys," remarked Bill that night, ^^I 
 guess we'll all have to be up in th' mornin' 
 an' round up the cattle. We've had a purty 
 good spell of fine weather, and I guess she'll 
 cut up rough now." 
 
 The darkness still lingered in the sky when 
 Jack pulled the round fur cap over his ears, 
 Ife'ttoned up his mackinaw coat, and tightened 
 up his ** chaps" preparatory to climbing into 
 the saddle. Jones was already waiting. 
 
 ** Looks bad, Jack," he remarked, ^^and feels 
 worse; shouldn't be surprised if we caught it 
 rough before we got back. It's a fifteen-mile 
 ride to where Bill has asked us to go. I guess 
 we'd better hit out at a good speed before she 
 turns ugly." 
 
 **A11 right, lead the way, Joe," Jack replied 
 cheerily, at the same time springing into the 
 saddle. They faced a cold, piercing wind which 
 compelled them to ride with heads lowered, and 
 little conversation passed between them as they 
 galloped across the prairie. The sky was a 
 mass of darkening clouds, and the cattle they 
 passed as they rode along, sensitive to all 
 
156 MAKING GOOD 
 
 changes in tKe weather, were lowing dismally 
 and crowding together in their fear. 
 
 They reached the appointed place, rounded 
 up the two or three stray cattle, and turned 
 back toward the ranch with them. The wind 
 now changed ; instead of blowing steadily from 
 one direction it became blustering and gusty. 
 Presently a few flakes of snow, scarcely per- 
 ceptible at first, began to fall. 
 
 *^We must run the cattle, Jack,'* Jones 
 advised, ^ ^ for it looks an ' feels as if we were in 
 for something real bad in the shape of 
 weather." And so they drove the cattle rapidly 
 ahead, only halting them when it was necessary 
 to round up small bunches some distance away. 
 At first they rode off together to drive in these 
 stray bunches, but as the snow began to fall 
 faster and the wind became more blustering, 
 they went in turn, while the one left behind pro- 
 ceeded to hustle along with the cattle already 
 rounded up. This was done so that they might 
 reach the ranch before the storm became worse. 
 
 Although the wind was piercingly cold, the 
 thermometer registered only a few degrees of 
 frost, between 15" and 20^ and the snowflakes 
 were consequently a little larger than usual, 
 and wet. They had rounded up over two hun- 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 157 
 
 dred head of cattle and were within two miles 
 of the ranch when the storm showed unmis- 
 takable signs of developing into a blizzard. Pres- 
 ently, dimly perceptible through the whirling 
 mass of snowflakes, they saw a small bunch of 
 cattle, not more than from fifteen to twenty 
 head. 
 
 *^Look, Joe,^^ called out Jack, **I'll just run 
 over and round up that bunch ; then we can run 
 them all into the corral." 
 
 **I don't think I'd bother about them. Jack," 
 Jones replied; ** seems to me the weather's 
 become uncommonly dirty the last few minutes, 
 and might at any time become a ragin' blizzard. 
 I think you'd better stay with me and get this 
 lot home. In a few minutes we '11 be back at the 
 ranch, and that little bunch over there will most 
 likely be all right. ' ' 
 
 '^Oh, I won't be a minute, Joe, and it will 
 just be as well to make sure of them;" saying 
 which, Jack dashed off in the direction of the 
 stray cattle now clustered together for warmth 
 and companionship. They did not want to move, 
 and gave Jack no end of trouble, while the in- 
 creasing violence of the snowstorm added to his 
 difficulties. It was some minutes before he got 
 them moving in the direction he wanted them to 
 
158 MAKING GOOD 
 
 go. He calculated that Jones would have moved 
 ahead some considerable distance, so he drove 
 them toward a point where he thought he could 
 effect a junction. With each minute the storm 
 developed in violence, and the wet, stinging 
 snowflakes which the wind, now developed into 
 a gale, dashed into Jack's face made it next to 
 impossible for him to look up. He fought the 
 storm and the stubborn cattle, hoping every 
 minute he would run into Jones. He seemed to 
 have been fighting his way for hours and still 
 there was no sign of Jones, when at last he 
 decided to leave the cattle and set out in search 
 of him. 
 
 The storm had now become a raging blizzard ; 
 the wind blew from no particular direction, but 
 from all directions at once, and it was per- 
 ceptibly colder; it whirled the mass of snow- 
 flakes about him until he became dizzy and 
 exhausted. In less than an hour the thermom- 
 eter had dropped more than thirty degrees, 
 so that the snow froze on to his eyelashes and 
 face and crusted his clothing. Then there fol- 
 lowed a struggle with his pony. The latter 
 pulled to go in one direction, while Jack stub- 
 bornly disputed with it, and insisted upon its 
 going in a direction almost entirely opposite. 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 159 
 
 His one idea now was to get back to the ranch. 
 His pony at last gave up the struggle and 
 yielded readily to every pull on the lines. The 
 poor, faithful little beast was crusted with 
 frozen snow. Had Jack for once yielded to its 
 sure instinct it would have taken him home. It 
 had fought with him for it, and having at last 
 yielded, it went forward with lowered head and 
 in a kind of stupor. The continued exposure 
 and the steadily increasing cold soon began to 
 make their effects felt on Jack. 
 
 First it was his right hand that became numb 
 and lifeless. With an effort he tore off the 
 frozen glove, and at the first glance he knew it 
 was frozen, so dismounted and rubbed it with 
 snow until the circulation, accompanied by 
 stinging pain, came back into it. He climbed 
 back into the saddle and roused his pony, and 
 for a few minutes it galloped rapidly in the di- 
 rection that, if followed. Jack was sure would 
 bring them home at last. On they pressed in 
 the face of the whirling, stinging snowflakes. 
 Occasionally Jack raised his lowered head in 
 the hope that out of the whirling mass of white- 
 ness there would emerge some recognizable 
 landmark; and each time he lowered his head 
 again with a sob of despair and disappointment. 
 
160 MAKING GOOD 
 
 At last he gave it up. He was lost! — lost in 
 a raging blizzard, blinded by snow, and with a 
 deadly paralysis creeping over his limbs and 
 faculties. Now he stumbled along on foot, lead- 
 ing his pony, in an effort to keep the circulation 
 going through his frozen limbs ; then, exhausted 
 by this, he dragged himself back into the saddle 
 and rode along in a stupor. He fought desper- 
 ately with an overpowering desire to lie down 
 and go to sleep. How delightfully drowsy he 
 was becoming! It seemed as if some seductive 
 voice was urging him to stretch himself out on 
 the prairie and quietly fall asleep. He fought 
 to overcome this creeping inertia, and, though 
 benumbed and half frozen, he struggled on his 
 way. 
 
 Jack had not been gone many minutes before 
 Jones fell in with two riders from the Q. Z. 
 who had been sent out to assist those who had 
 not yet returned. 
 
 **Come on, boys, let's keep 'em hustling,'* 
 he called out. ** Young will catch up with us, 
 for he's only gone after a bunch over to the 
 right." 
 
 The three riders soon got the cattle moving 
 at a good pace, and it was not long before they 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZAED 161 
 
 were running tliem into a corral already well 
 filled. Mr. Mcintosh greeted then as they rode 
 up. 
 
 ''Good work, boys,'' he called out; ''iFs a 
 dirty day, and I'm afraid it'll be rough on any 
 cattle left out. You boys have worked hard 
 to-day, and there's only a few hundred head 
 that we haven't got into corrals. When she lets 
 up we'll soon get them into a place where we 
 can feed them a little hay until they're able to 
 go out and rustle for themselves. You look 
 pretty well done up, Jones; had a long ride?" 
 
 '*Yes, boss," replied Jones, ''went fifteen 
 miles out this mornin'." 
 
 "That so, now! But you didn't go alone 
 surely?" 
 
 ' ' No, Young went with me ; I left him a little 
 way back — expect he'll be along in a few 
 minutes." 
 
 "I certainly hope so," said Mr. Mcintosh, 
 "for unless he's here pretty soon he's in for 
 a rough time, and I 'd hate to see anything hap- 
 pen to that boy. Let me know when he gets 
 back, Jones, will you?" he asked as he rode 
 away. 
 
 "I will, boss, for I'll be mighty anxious my- 
 self until he arrives, ' ' called out Jones. 
 
162 MAKING GOOD 
 
 The corrals were now jammed with cattle, 
 for they were the least capable of all the stock 
 on the ranch of taking care of themselves in a 
 storm. They either followed the storm, which- 
 ever direction it went, or else they simply stood 
 huddled together, and often fell frozen as they 
 stood. Horses, on the other hand, did not take 
 adverse conditions so quietly. They pawed 
 incessantly through the snow, always getting a 
 little food and keeping the circulation going by 
 the vigor of their movements. Jones had been 
 among the last of the riders to return, and he 
 was stiffened and frozen as he made his way to 
 the bunk house. 
 
 Hot coffee had been prepared, so that return- 
 ing riders might have a warm drink. Wood 
 was piled on to the stove and the place was 
 sizzling hot. The boys, after their long expo- 
 sure, appreciated the warmth and comfort, and 
 drew up the wooden benches to the stove while 
 they proceeded to fill their pipes. Outside the 
 blizzard raged, showing no signs of abatement. 
 
 **Well, sirree,'' Slim remarked, *^but this 
 storm sure beats anythin* I ever seed. Keckon 
 there'll be some hundred of cattle go west in 
 this. I'm glad to be seated snug an' cozy round 
 this lil' ol' fire a-toastin' me feet." 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 163 
 
 '*Yes, I guess you are," Jones chipped in, 
 '^but Jack Young's walking around somewhere 
 in that blizzard, lost to the wide." 
 
 **"We mustn't worry about him yet a while," 
 Bill remarked; ^^ maybe he's wandered off to 
 some other ranch, most likely the Three-Bar. 
 He'll probably show up when this storm blows 
 over." 
 
 **I wish I could feel the same way about it, 
 but I've got a notion that the boy's in trouble, 
 an' I feel mean to be sittin' in front of this 
 fire and that boy most likely wandering round 
 in the snow." 
 
 **0h, we mustn't give up hope yet, Joe; and 
 if he doesn't show up pretty soon most likely 
 some of the boys will be willing to ride round 
 for a little while to see if they can find him. ' ' 
 
 *^Yes, sirree, we sure will," called out Slim 
 above the shouts of the rest of the boys, ^^a HP 
 bit of snow won't a-keep me from lookin' for 
 that boy." 
 
 The minutes passed and Jack still failed to 
 show up. While the rest of the boys joined 
 noisily in their favorite card game, Jones paced 
 uneasily the floor of the bunk house, a great 
 fear clutching at his heart. 
 
 ''It's no good, Bill/' he called out at last, 
 
164 MAKING GOOD 
 
 **I simply can't stand this suspense. I'm going 
 to saddle up and go and look for that boy, and 
 I'd be mighty obliged to any boy that cares to 
 take a ride with me/' 
 
 **I'm a-going 'long with you," Slim called 
 out, **for I'm mighty anxious meself, an' will 
 feel better if I take a ride 'long with you, Joe. ' ' 
 
 The boys threw aside the cards and, under 
 Bill's supervision, a systematic search was 
 organized. 
 
 ** Better go in two pairs, boys," Bill advised, 
 *'^for it's a wicked day, and a couple of riders 
 could soon be separated. And be very careful 
 of your direction." 
 
 The twenty riders separated into groups of 
 four, and gallantly rode out into the fierce, 
 blinding storm in search of their lost compan- 
 ion. It seemed to be a hopeless search from 
 the beginning, for the whirling snowflakes com- 
 pelled them to ride with lowered heads and, 
 when only a few yards out, the ranch buildings 
 were blotted out from their sight. 
 
 **Well, sirree," Slim remarked to Jones from 
 the depth of his fur collar, *' unless that boy has 
 got into some shelter I'm 'fraid he's done for 
 by now. We've only bin out for half an hour, 
 an' I don't mind admittin' that I'm purty near 
 all in meself." 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 165 
 
 **You're right, Slim," Jones repIieS, **and 
 much as I hate to turn back I can't expect you 
 boys to go on any farther. We can only hope 
 that some of the others have found him.'' 
 
 It was no easy matter to steer a straight 
 course for home, but Slim, who rode one of the 
 oldest cow ponies on the ranch, led the way, 
 wisely giving a free hand to his pony. With 
 unerring instinct it led them back to the ranch, 
 to find that most of the boys had already 
 returned but without any news of Jack. Though 
 cold and exhausted, they refused to return to 
 the bunk house until the last rider had returned. 
 Mr. Mcintosh, together with Joan muffled up 
 in a fur coat, were among the group awaiting 
 the return of the search parties. 
 
 '*I'm afraid we've got to give up hope. Bill," 
 he remarked, as the last party of four returned. 
 
 **I'm afraid so, boss, an' I can tell you we 
 are all mighty sorry, for he was a real good 
 boy an' popular with everybody." 
 
 The group of boys stood round talking and 
 discussing Jack's disappearance. Poor Jones 
 was broken-hearted. 
 
 *^You know, Slim," he said, ** something told 
 me not to let that boy go after that bunch of 
 cattle; but you know what he was like. He'd 
 never be satisfied until he saw there was " 
 
166 MAKING GOOD 
 
 The talking ceased abruptly, while every- 
 body looked up with strained eyes; for stum- 
 bling toward them, crusted with a white coating 
 of frozen snow, came a horse, astride of which 
 was a rider with eyes closed and drawn face, 
 swaying in the saddle from side to side. 
 
 *'My God!'' shouted Jones, ''it's Jack! it's 
 Jack!" and ran to seize the pony, which, with 
 the snow crusted on its eyelashes, could scarcely 
 see, and the weary way it dragged its legs 
 showed how near to the point of final exhaus- 
 tion it was. As soon as hands reached out to 
 him Jack collapsed, unconscious, while the boys 
 carried him toward the bunk house. 
 
 ''Be careful, boys, that no parts of him are 
 frozen before you take him inside," advised 
 Mr. Mcintosh. The boys drew off his gloves and 
 found both hands frozen, so they quickly 
 applied snow and got a healthy color back into 
 them. They practically undressed him outside, 
 for there were few parts of his body not touched 
 by frost. They then carried him into the bunk 
 house, wrapped him in blankets, and applied 
 restoratives. 
 
 In the meantime his pony had been treated 
 no less tenderly. The faithful little creature, 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZARD 167 
 
 when at last it found that its master's control 
 had gone, had set itself the task of taking him 
 back to the ranch and to safety. It bore no ill 
 will toward the rider who had set aside its own 
 sure instinct and so condemned it to hours of 
 aimless wandering and exposure; but had 
 gladly started back, dragging along its stiff- 
 ened, frozen limbs until it stumbled through 
 the gate and found ready hands waiting to 
 assist it. Strongest and most faithful of man's 
 many animal friends, patiently submitting to a 
 control that is frequently foolish and often 
 cruel, it is difficult to speak too highly of the 
 horse or to lavish upon it a greater affection 
 than it deserves. 
 
 After recovering consciousness Jack, in spite 
 of the pain from his frostbites, immediately 
 fell into a sound, peaceful sleep that lasted for 
 several hours, in fact until the middle of the 
 following day. 
 
 Jones came to him as soon as he was awake. 
 *^Jack," he said, reaching out his hand, **I'm 
 jolly glad to see you lying there safe an ' sound. 
 I was sure worried to death about you yester- 
 day, and cursed meself in proper style for hav- 
 ing allowed you to go off after them cattle." 
 
168 MAKING GOOD 
 
 **Tliat was all my own fault, Joe/' replied 
 Jack, ** though I never dreamed that I should 
 have lost sight of you so soon.'' 
 
 *^I guess you had a pretty rough time of it, 
 didn't you?" asked Jones. 
 
 **I certainly did," answered Jack; **just sit 
 down on the side of the bunk there and I'll tell 
 you all about it. 
 
 *^ After leaving you I was soon alongside of 
 that bunch of cattle, but I could scarcely get 
 them moving, and all the time the storm was 
 getting worse. When I did get them going it 
 was impossible to see more than a few yards, 
 and, of course, quite impossible to see anything 
 of you. I drove the cattle ahead, though not 
 very quickly, for you know how they hate to 
 move." Jones nodded his agreement. *^At 
 first, ' ' continued Jack, * * I thought it would only 
 be a matter of minutes before I caught up with 
 you, so did not worry much. Then, after I had 
 been traveling for nearly an hour I began to 
 get anxious, so I left the cattle and went in 
 search of you. I rode hard at first, making sure 
 that I would catch up with you ; then I decided 
 to make for the ranch. I was confident it would 
 only be a matter of minutes before I hit it. 
 It was impossible to look up, even if I could 
 
LOST IN A BLIZZAED 169 
 
 have seen any distance. At first I was sure of 
 my direction, though the pony kept pulling off 
 to the right, and so I rode on and on, hoping 
 each minute to see the ranch buildings loom up 
 in front of me. More than once I had to rub 
 my hands with snow when I felt all sensation 
 go out of them, and often my face was frozen 
 too. It took hours before I would admit to my- 
 self that I was lost, and by that time I was on 
 the verge of collapse. Then I walked for what 
 seemed like ages, only climbing into the saddle 
 when too tired to drag along. I gradually fell 
 into a stupor, with an overpowering desire to 
 lie down and sleep. It was a terrible tempta- 
 tion, and it needed every ounce of will power I 
 had to fight against it. At last there came a 
 time when I couldn't drag one leg past another, 
 and I remember very dimly the struggle I had 
 to climb back into the saddle. I was past the 
 stage of caring whether I was frozen or not. 
 I couldn't grip the lines, and barely managed 
 to hold on to them. 
 
 **The rest is almost all a blank to me. Occa- 
 sionally I just saved myself from falling out 
 of the saddle, and these were really the only 
 moments I had of consciousness. I was terribly 
 drowsy and strangely warm, though I suppose 
 
170 MAKING GOOD 
 
 that was because I had got beyond feeling the 
 cold. Then I heard sounds of shouting, but it 
 all sounded so far away. I must have collapsed 
 then, for the next thing I remembered was that 
 I was lying in my bunk, with stinging pains in 
 nearly every part of my body. By the way, Joe, 
 they are still there, too.'' 
 
 As Jack concluded his story Mr. Mcintosh 
 walked into the bunk house. 
 
 **Well, how's Young to-day?" he called out, 
 and after Jack had replied he continued, **Mrs. 
 Mcintosh has sent down for you. Young, and 
 insists that some of the boys shall carry you 
 over. She's got a bedroom fixed up all snug for 
 you, and you've simply got to go." 
 
 Jack was only too pleased, so they carried 
 him over to the ranch house, and for the second 
 time Jack became an inmate, enjoying all the 
 comforts and attention that Mrs. Mcintosh 
 could lavish upon him. And in this she was well 
 supported by Joan, so that in a very short time 
 Jack forgot the harrowing experiences he had 
 passed through when lost in the blizzard. 
 
CHAPTER Xr 
 
 THE RUNAWAYS 
 
 THE period of Jack^s convalescence, a 
 delightfully pleasant and happy time to 
 him, only lasted for two weeks. The most dis- 
 tressing thing was the frostbites, for few parts of 
 his body had escaped. His friendship with Joan 
 rapidly developed. She related for his enjoy- 
 ment stories that had been handed down from 
 her grandfather's days when the West was the 
 land of the strong man and only the fittest sur- 
 vived — of the days when eacli man was a law 
 to himself, and justice could only be obtained 
 by his own hand. Most romantic of all were the 
 tales of the coming of those picturesque figures 
 which compelled respect for law and order 
 wherever they went — the Northwest Mounted 
 Police. The fearless, impartial way they had 
 carried out their duties in the face of the organ- 
 ized opposition made a thrilling and heroic 
 story. 
 
 The few days following the blizzard had 
 involved a lot of hard work for the boys at the 
 
 171 
 
172 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Q. Z., for it had been followed by a period of 
 intense cold, which had necessitated the feed- 
 ing of hundreds of head of cattle. Those ranch- 
 ers who had neglected the precautions taken 
 by Mr. Mcintosh had suffered heavily, for hun- 
 dreds of cattle had perished in the blizzard and 
 during the bitter weather that had followed. 
 
 Although it was still very cold when Jack 
 returned to his duties, the weather was fine 
 enough to permit of the large majority of the 
 cattle being turned out to graze, only the young 
 stock being kept in the corrals and fed. One of 
 the first jobs Jack was detailed off for was 
 the cutting of ice for use during the summer 
 months, and in this he had as his companion the 
 rancher's nephew, Chris. The relationship 
 between them was not one of extreme cordiality, 
 though there was no sign of that open hostility 
 on the part of Chris that had characterized his 
 attitude toward Jack during the greater part of 
 his stay on the Q. Z. ranch. 
 
 Jack was too good-natured to harbor any ill 
 feelings toward Chris, for, after all, he remem- 
 bered that Chris was the nephew of the man 
 who had been such a kind and genuine friend 
 to him. Though Chris was surly and showed his 
 ill temper on the slightest occasion, the days 
 
THE EUNAWAYS 173 
 
 were by no means unhappy ones for Jack. Cut- 
 ting ice was good, healthy exercise, and Jack 
 marveled at the thickness of it, varying from 
 two to four feet. The greatest difficulty was in 
 cutting out the first block, after which the work 
 was fairly straightforward, the only difficulty 
 being in dragging out the blocks after they had 
 been cut. This work took up their time for over 
 a week. 
 
 *'Well, boys,'' remarked Mr. Mcintosh, at 
 the end of this period, *^I think we've got about 
 enough in now to last us through the summer. 
 The next thing you'd better do, Chris, is to 
 gather up some of those old trees that came 
 down on the flood last spring. The frost will 
 be breaking pretty soon, and when that hap- 
 pens we'll all be too busy to pay much attention 
 to these little things. Better take the wagon 
 box off and take a couple of teams with you. 
 By the way, what about hitching up that nice 
 little mare we broke in last fall? She's never 
 been hitched up yet, so if you put her in along 
 with some steady horses it'll do her good." 
 
 -So it was decided that the next job Chris and 
 Jack should do together would be to gather up 
 some old trees for firewood. 
 
 **Well, Jack," remarked Jones that night. 
 
174 MAKING GOOD 
 
 *'how are you getting on with Chris? Any more 
 set-to 's?'' 
 
 **0h, no," replied Jack, **we say little and 
 work a lot." 
 
 **I suppose you Ve finished gettin' up ice, and 
 you're comin' back along of us now?" 
 
 **No; Mr. Mcintosh has given us another 
 job — gathering up logs for firewood from the 
 river bottom. We're taking a couple of teams 
 and going down there in the morning." 
 
 Since the time of the blizzard and with the 
 near approach of spring, popularity in ice 
 hockey had been on the wane, and poker was the 
 popular pastime. 
 
 **Not playing cards to-night, Joe?" queried 
 Jack. 
 
 * ^ Now, why should you be askin ' that of me, 
 Jack? Don't you know that I've never touched 
 a card since we left the Jersey? Have no time 
 for the game now. You don't know how much 
 I hated spongin' on you after we left the Jersey, 
 and I swore that I'd never touch the cards 
 again; and mighty glad I've been of it, too. 
 For the first time in my life I 've got a nice little 
 balance at the bank, and it's surprising the 
 amount of pleasure I get from just watchin' it 
 grow. I've got ambitions now, Jack, and if you 
 
THE RUNAWAYS 175 
 
 don't mind me becoming confidin' like, I'll tell 
 you what they are. ' ' 
 
 **Not a bit, Joe/' replied Jack, **as Slim 
 would say, * shoot.' " 
 
 **Well, I'm hopin' some day that you and I 
 will be able to start up a partnership and have 
 a ranch of our own — the J. J. ranch. What's 
 your idea about it. Jack?" 
 
 '^Splendid, Joe, splendid!" replied Jack. 
 ''Rather funny, too, for that's right in line 
 with my own ambitions, and that five hundred 
 dollars I was lucky enough to get has made 
 my bank balance look nice and respectable, 
 too." 
 
 ''I'm pleased to hear you say that. Jack; and 
 now I've got an idea that might help us along. 
 I suppose you've been reading in the papers 
 about the big Stampede they're organizing for 
 the fall to take place in Calgary? One of them 
 prizes is five thousand dollars for the best dis- 
 play of 'bull-doggin'.' Now, without wanting to 
 boast, I consider I 'm no slouch in that line, and 
 when the Stampede comes off I'll be right in 
 the line to take my chance." 
 
 "And I'll bet you win it, Joe," said Jack 
 enthusiastically. 
 
 "Oh, I'm not going to be too sure about that, 
 
176 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Jack," continued Jones, *'but I'll have a good 
 try.'' 
 
 *^Yes, and I see there are prizes both for 
 bronchobusting and roping, and I don 't see why 
 I shouldn't be one of the competitors if I put 
 in plenty of practice." 
 
 *^Well, seeing the way you catch on to things, 
 I shouldn't be the least bit surprised if you 
 don't pull off one or both of them." 
 
 The following morning Jack and Chris were 
 up early and started off to gather up logs. 
 There were few good trails leading to the river 
 bottom, and even the best of them were very 
 steep and difficult to negotiate. After they got 
 down they found they had to go some distance 
 before they came to anything suitable. The 
 little mare behaved fairly well, though more 
 than once she was difficult to control. She was, 
 however, hitched up with a fairly steady, 
 though by no means docile, gelding, and as both 
 boys knew thoroughly how to handle them, she 
 was kept in hand. 
 
 They had gone along the river bottom for 
 over a mile before they had gathered a load. 
 This done, they roped the logs together, 
 unhitched the horses and gave them a feed, and 
 also ate the lunch they had brought with them. 
 
THE RUNAWAYS 177 
 
 *' Guess it's too far to go back to the main 
 trail, Young/' remarked Chris. ^*I see a bit 
 of a trail leading up that hog's-back there; 
 think we 'd save time by trying it. ' ' 
 
 '^Yes, I think we could try it/' Jack replied, 
 ^Hhough it looks something like the side of a 
 house from here." 
 
 The trail, barely distinguishable, was very 
 narrow, and looking at it from a distance it 
 seemed almost impossible to drive horses and 
 a wagon along it, particularly the first fifty 
 yards. As it approached the top leading on to 
 the prairie it still remained narrow, though less 
 steep ; but on each side, should the wagon sway 
 and slip, there was a sheer drop of a hundred 
 feet or more. 
 
 As soon as the horses were finished feeding 
 they hitched them up again and prepared to 
 move. 
 
 **Here, Young," said Chris, **you take these 
 lines for the horses in the shafts, and I'll drive 
 the leaders. You may be handier than I am with 
 your fists, but I guess I know more about driv- 
 ing horses." 
 
 **0h, I wouldn't be so sure about that," 
 replied Jack, **for if I remember right, I think 
 you made the same mistake before." 
 
178 MAKING GOOD 
 
 **01i, well, we won't argue," replied Chris in 
 a surly tone; **we'll take the first fifty yards 
 on the gallop, and keep them hustling until we 
 get to the top/' 
 
 They arranged seats for themselves on the 
 logs, which were piled up fairly high, and then 
 moved off. As they approached the trail they 
 roused the horses, and started the ascent at a 
 gallop. It was a thrilling struggle to get over 
 that first fifty yards, and at one time it seemed 
 as if the horses were to be beaten. They were 
 almost at a standstill before they negotiated 
 this dangerous and difficult part. The two boys 
 urged them on, Chris working himself up into 
 a frenzy of excitement, not unmixed with fear. 
 It soon became apparent to Jack that they 
 would have their hands full before they reached 
 the top. To have allowed the horses to stop 
 would have been fatal, and as they plunged 
 madly ahead the loaded timbers swayed dan- 
 gerously. The excitement finally proved too 
 much for the little mare, and it soon became 
 apparent that she was out of control. 
 
 Jack was quick to see that it now depended 
 upon the leaders, for they were the stronger 
 team. At the same time, he exerted all his 
 strength in an effort to bring the mare under 
 
THE EUNAWAYS 179 
 
 control again, and just as it appeared that he 
 was about to succeed, the gelding, an erratic 
 brute at any time, became affected by the antics 
 of his companion and took the bit between his 
 teeth. They were now only a few yards from 
 the top and, desperate as the situation was. 
 Jack was hopeful that, once out on the prairie 
 for a straight run, he could get them back under 
 control again. At the same time he realized the 
 peril they were in, for the two horses, blinded 
 by fear, would have swerved but for the leaders 
 ahead, and a foot one way or the other meant 
 a sheer drop to a certain death. Up to this time 
 Chris, fully occupied with the leaders, had not 
 seen what was happening, but the frantic 
 efforts of the two horses hitched to the wagon 
 quickly called his attention to the fact that 
 they were out of control. Jack caught the 
 motion of his head. 
 
 *'Yes, yes, I know," he called out desper- 
 ately; ** don't mind them — ^keep the leaders 
 going." 
 
 But Chris, becoming frantic from fear, fool- 
 ishly dropped the lines of the leaders and 
 grabbed the others from Jack. Then the lead- 
 ers, steady and reliable up to this period, feel- 
 ing the control over them gone and spurred on 
 
180 MAKING GOOD 
 
 into fear by the runaways behind, dashed 
 wildly ahead. 
 
 The wagon for a moment trembled on the 
 very edge of a precipice ; it seemed that nothing 
 could save them, and Jack had given up hope, 
 when a sudden jerk dragged them clear and out 
 on to the prairie. 
 
 Full of peril as the situation was, there was 
 still a hope left that the two teams might run 
 themselves out, when Chris, who had taken the 
 lines from Jack, threw them wildly to one side 
 and jumped clear of the load of logs. 
 
 The leaders, fairly steady at ordinary times, 
 were blind through fear, and to Jack's horror 
 they swung round and headed straight for the 
 coolies. 
 
 Unless something miraculous happened it 
 would all be over in a few seconds. The only 
 thing now for him to do was to jump clear. He 
 made the attempt, but — his foot was caught in 
 the logs! The wild movements of the horses 
 and the sudden jerks had disturbed the logs, 
 and it was only when he attempted to jump 
 that Jack realized that one of his feet was 
 wedged. 
 
 He was trapped, and a few seconds would 
 decide his fate. The leaders had almost reached 
 
THE EUNAWAYS 181 
 
 the edge of the coolie, when Jack gave one final 
 despairing tug to free his foot; it came clean 
 ont of his boot! 
 
 He had no time to jump, so threw himself 
 sideways off the logs. Before he had time to 
 scramble to his feet he heard a deafening crash, 
 and looked up just in time to see the wagon and 
 logs turn end over end and fall with a sicken- 
 ing crash on the two horses hitched to it. The 
 wagon pole had dropped and had stuck into the 
 ground, and in a twinkling the wagon and logs 
 had turned over to fall on the two poor brutes 
 underneath. This stopped the leaders, who now 
 stood trembling on the brink of a steep coolie. 
 
 Just as Jack was getting up Chris came 
 along. **I thought you were done for that time, 
 Young; but why didn't you jumpT' 
 
 '^I couldn't — ^my foot was caught," replied 
 Jack angrily. **You see the mess you've made 
 by losing your head. Looks to me as though 
 there are two dead horses under those logs." 
 
 **Well, what about it?" growled out Chris, 
 who knew only too well that he had played any- 
 thing but a heroic part in the episode, and 
 resented Jack's perfectly justifiable comments; 
 ** there are plenty more horses, and I'm quite 
 satisfied to have saved my own skin." 
 
182 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ''Oh, well, it's no use arguing about it now," 
 replied Jack, ^^but you're in charge, so what 
 d'you propose doing nextT' 
 
 ''Unhitch the leaders, of course; then see 
 what we can do to get at the other two horses.'' 
 
 "Don't you think it just as well to leave 
 the leaders where they are?" queried Jack. 
 "Seems to me that the wagon and logs are 
 dangerously near to the edge of the coolie. 
 They can always hold it from slipping over 
 until we can move some of the logs and see 
 what can be done for the poor brutes under- 
 neath." 
 
 "Oh, that's all right, it can't slip now," 
 replied Chris. 
 
 "As you say, then; if it does slip it's your 
 funeral, not mine," answered Jack, with a 
 shrug. 
 
 They swung the two leaders round and pro- 
 ceeded to unhitch them. Three of the traces 
 had been taken off, and Jack was busy unhitch- 
 ing the fourth and last when it suddenly tight- 
 ened. Very slowly, but unmistakably, the 
 horses and wagon were slipping over the edge 
 of the coolie ! 
 
 "Look out!" yelled Jack, "they're going 
 over." The words were scarcely out of his 
 
THE RUNAWAYS 183 
 
 mouth when the thing he had feared and 
 warned Chris about had happened. It was a 
 sickening and fearful sight, and very distress- 
 ing to one who loved horses as passionately as 
 did Jack. Horses, wagon, and logs turned over 
 and over as they rolled down the side of the 
 steep bank, while the big horse, which was 
 attached by one trace, slid down on its haunches, 
 looking for all the world like a big dog. 
 
 *^Well, that^s done it,'' said Jack, **and it 
 fairly breaks my heart to see those poor brutes 
 of horses." 
 
 ** What's the good of getting sentimental 
 about horses, Young? There's enough of them 
 on the Q. Z. to take the place of those two." 
 
 */Well, you may feel that way about it, but I 
 hate to look on, for we're partly to blame for 
 this." 
 
 Fortunately the wagon and horses rolled into 
 a strong, thick clump of bushes when they had 
 got about halfway down the side of the coolie. 
 Jack immediately slid down (it was too steep 
 for walking) and unhitched the horse which 
 was clear of the wreckage. Underneath the 
 wagon and logs lay the other two horses 
 groaning in pain. 
 
 **Come on. Young," shouted Chris from 
 
184 MAKING GOOD 
 
 above, ** let's be getting back to the ranch. We 
 can't do any good here now. I'll get the old 
 man to send some of the boys along to clear 
 up this mess." 
 
 '*If you'll come down," replied Jack, ^*I 
 think we can get one of the horses clear." 
 
 **0h, I'm not coming; been mixed up in this 
 mess long enough now," answered Chris. 
 
 So Jack, unable to do anything single-handed, 
 puzzled over the best way to get the horse, 
 which had been dragged down, and which he 
 had succeeded in finally unhitching, up out of 
 the coolie. Fortunately, horses are much surer- 
 footed than men, and not only did it scramble 
 up itself, but it also dragged Jack up along 
 with it. 
 
 When Jack reached the top Chris was already 
 some distance away, riding back to the ranch 
 on the only horse that had been freed before the 
 overturned wagon had slipped over the edge. 
 
 Now Jack was without a boot on one foot, 
 and it was a cold day, with the thermometer 
 several degrees below zero; and as the excite- 
 ment subsided, he began to realize that his foot 
 was getting very cold. It had not entirely 
 escaped the frost on the day he had been lost 
 in the blizzard, and so was still very sensitive. 
 
THE EUNAWAYS 185 
 
 He wound his handkerchief round it, and then 
 climbed up on to the horse and followed after 
 Chris. 
 
 When Jack arrived back at the ranch he 
 found Chris already giving details of the 
 accident. 
 
 **I did everything I could to stop them, 
 uncle,'' he was saying, **but that kid Young 
 was absolutely to blame. He allowed them to 
 get out of control, and then sat in the wagon 
 frozen with fear until the whole thing nearly 
 turned over on top of him.'' 
 
 **0h, well, Chris, we won't go into that. Per- 
 sonally, I think Young is a very steady, reli- 
 able boy and not easily rattled," replied Mr. 
 Mcintosh. **I'll send some of the boys over to 
 see what can be done. 
 
 *^Well, Young," he called out to Jack, **been 
 mixed up in more accidents? Hope you're no 
 worse for it." 
 
 **No, I'm all right, sir; I only lost a boot," 
 answered Jack. 
 
 **How did that happen?" 
 
 **My foot got wedged in the logs and I 
 couldn't get it out. Finally my foot came out 
 of the boot, and so I was able to roll clear 
 before the wagon overturned." 
 
186 MAKING GOOD 
 
 *^0h, I see; so that's how it was/' remarked 
 Mr. Mcintosh, glancing signijficantly at Chris. 
 **We needn't worry over the horses, but I'm 
 mighty glad to see that you two boys came out 
 of it all right." 
 
 A party of the boys rode over to the scene of 
 the accident and proceeded to extricate the 
 horses. One of them was a little bruised, but 
 otherwise all right. The other was so badly 
 injured that it had to be shot where it lay. 
 Jack's boot, in perfectly good condition, was 
 found among the wreckage, and Jones, who 
 was one of the party, brought it back with him. 
 
 **Say, Jack," he remarked, **how did you 
 contrive to get those horses and that wagon 
 and logs into that place?" 
 
 So Jack gave him a detailed account of the 
 events leading up to the accident, together with 
 the conversation he had overheard passing 
 between Mr. Mcintosh and Chris. 
 
 ^* Don't you worry about that. Jack; you 
 know pretty well that that boy has no use for 
 you, and after the way you put him out I'm 
 not surprised. If any one had hit me as hard 
 as you hit him I'm calculatin' that I wouldn't 
 feel 80 powerful friendly toward him." 
 
 **Yes, but he asked for it," argued Jack. 
 
THE EUNAWAYS 187 
 
 **Well, he can never complain that he didn't 
 get what he asked for/' replied Jones. 
 
 The next day Chris and Jack took another 
 wagon and other horses and, avoiding the peril- 
 ous rente they had followed the previous day, 
 they brought back a load of logs. They con- 
 tinued working at this until sufficient had been 
 collected. The winter now showed signs of 
 breaking up, and it was not long before the boys 
 joyfully threw away their fur caps for the more 
 picturesque and comfortable Stetsons. All was 
 bustle and movement on the ranch, and the cat- 
 tle were given greater freedom to roam. Jack 
 was soon to enjoy the excitement and thrills of 
 breaking in bronchos, an experience to which 
 he eagerly looked forward. 
 
CHAPTER Xn 
 
 THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 
 
 THE return of spring was tlie signal for 
 increased activity on the Q. Z. ranch, and 
 Jack fully participated in this. He had now 
 been a cow-puncher for over a year, but his 
 inexperience in the early part of the previous 
 spring had prevented him from taking his part 
 in the branding of the young stock and in the 
 breaking in of bronchos. He had watched with 
 envy as the skilled riders and ropers did their 
 work, and had assisted occasionally in some of 
 the minor duties. 
 
 The summer had almost ended before he had 
 developed that skill with the rope that had 
 enabled him to play so successful a part in the 
 capture of the cattle rustlers. His mastery over 
 the half -wild bronchos had never yet been fully 
 tested. It is true that he had ridden some of 
 the fiercest and wildest horses on the ranch, 
 but only after they had been broken. As he 
 remarked to Jones, he had never tackled them 
 raw. 
 
 188 
 
THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 189 
 
 This was an experience he eagerly looked for- 
 ward to, and he fervently hoped that he wonld 
 be given a chance to test his abilities. Though 
 fully realizing the severity of the test he might 
 be subjected to, he had great confidence in the 
 result. 
 
 He had also received a promise from Jones 
 that he would instruct him in the dangerous and 
 difficult art of *^ bull-dogging,'' in which Jones 
 was amazingly expert and efficient. 
 
 The spring was well advanced before they 
 ran in the first batch of young cattle for brand- 
 ing, and Jack was immensely pleased when Bill 
 detailed him off as one of the two riders to do 
 the roping. No one could have done it more effi- 
 ciently and skillfully than he did. 
 
 The young steer, or whatever it happened to 
 be, was roped from opposite directions, so that 
 as soon as he was thrown, the ropes were tight- 
 ened and the steer lay helpless. A red-hot iron, 
 shaped with a Q and a Z, was then pressed into 
 its hide. In this way the ownership of the ani- 
 mal was definitely and legally claimed, and it 
 belonged to Mr. Mcintosh until he disposed of 
 it. Any one found in possession of an animal 
 bearing this brand was obliged, when called 
 upon, to produce documents showing that it had 
 
190 MAKING GOOD 
 
 come into his possession in a legal and proper 
 manner, failing which, he could be convicted of 
 theft. And so it was that the wise rancher was 
 always careful to *^cut out'* any strangers when 
 he was driving a bunch of his cattle or horses 
 into an inclosure. 
 
 The necessity for this branding, cruel as it 
 might appear to be, will be readily appreciated. 
 It was impossible for a rancher who owned 
 thousands of head of cattle and horses to pre- 
 vent them from straying, and, of course, he 
 could not claim them on the score of recogni- 
 tion. It was by no means an easy job that Jack 
 had, but he simply reveled in his work. 
 
 Later on the young horses were run in for the 
 same purpose, and these made a much greater 
 demand upon the skill and ability of the 
 '* ropers. '* They moved with lightning-like 
 swiftness, and it needed rapid thinking and 
 sound judgment to get the rope over them. 
 
 It was a wonderful experience for Jack, and 
 he fairly excelled himself; but his cup of joy 
 was brimming over when Bill, practiced cow- 
 puncher that he was, said, **Boy, you're sure a 
 wonder at handlin' the rope, and I'll back you 
 against any one in these parts. Ropin' seems 
 to be a natural gift with you, an' I believe you 
 
THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 191 
 
 could slip it over a streak of lightnin' if you 
 tried.'' 
 
 After the branding was finished the atten- 
 tion of the boys was turned to the exciting and 
 dangerous work of breaking in bronchos, and 
 it was now Jack's turn to play more or less 
 the part of looker-on. It gave Chris an oppor- 
 tunity to display his skill, and he took the fullest 
 possible advantage of it. He successfully 
 tackled many vicious brutes, and was never back- 
 ward in giving himself praise for some won- 
 derful work he did; so much so that Jones, who 
 rarely commented on any one, was constrained 
 to remark to Jack: 
 
 '^That boy is sure some rider, but don't he 
 know it? He thinks there's nothing standing 
 on four legs that he can't master, but he makes 
 a mistake there, an' sure as fate he's going to 
 be disconnected from the saddle, and the sooner 
 the better, both for himself an' the rest of us." 
 And in saying this Jones expressed the thoughts 
 and wishes of all the boys on the ranch. 
 
 But Chris was by no means the only one who 
 could successfully tackle vicious bronchos, for 
 Slim showed just as much ability and did his 
 work so imperturbably that no one envied him 
 his reputation. Slim had known what it was, 
 
192 MAKING GOOD 
 
 as Jones had expressed it, to be ^'disconnected 
 from the saddle,-' and, though such an event 
 rarely occurred, Slim knew that every once in 
 a while **a real Indian '^ came along, and then, 
 said he, *'I quif 
 
 The work was by no means confined to one 
 or two riders, for all the boys took their turn 
 at it. Jack with the rest. Jack was lucky in his 
 first essays at bronchobusting for, though the 
 horses were wild enough, they were not vicious 
 and he gradually gained a knowledge of their 
 favorite tricks. Allied to his wildness, the bron- 
 cho has, if it can be so described, a very nimble 
 wit. You can watch the changing expression 
 in his eyes as he finds himself bafiled ; sometimes 
 it is surprise at the non-success of his antics, 
 sometimes blazing fury at being worsted, and 
 sometimes cunning as he thinks out new moves. 
 He keeps the rider keyed up to the highest 
 pitch, for it is a battle of wits, and the rider 
 who fails to concentrate all his intelligence and 
 energies on the task in hand frequently finds 
 himself rolling in the dust. 
 
 Jack's intelligence and enthusiasm for his 
 job were great assets to him, and he came out 
 of his duels with credit. A success for the 
 
THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 193 
 
 broncho was a dangerous thing, for he gained 
 confidence and increased his cunning. 
 
 One day a beautifully built, clean-limbed sor- 
 rel or chestnut gelding was run into the corral. 
 The way he rolled his eyes as he stood in the 
 center of the corral was a warning to the boys 
 handling him that here was something unusual 
 to tackle. He was roped, thrown, and saddled 
 in a very short time, and then one of the boys 
 jumped nimbly into the saddle as he struggled 
 to his feet. At first he stood perfectly still, 
 unheeding all persuasions to get him to move. 
 The uncertainty of knowing just what trick he 
 intended to play first is a very disturbing and 
 unsatisfactory experience for the rider; it 
 ** keeps him guessing. '^ He prepares himself for 
 one thing, and invariably the horse does some- 
 thing entirely different, and unless the rider can 
 quickly pull himself together and counter this 
 move, the broncho is victorious. The rider pre- 
 fers even a hurricane duel to this suspense of 
 waiting for an animal to *^lay his cards on the 
 table,'' as Slim expressed it. 
 
 Now this particular broncho only showed a 
 **card'' at a time, and that only at long inter- 
 vals. He remained perfectly still for from two 
 
194 MAKING GOOD 
 
 to three minutes, and when he did move it 
 seemed that he had been gathering together all 
 his energies to throw them into one supreme 
 effort. He made a wild leap into the air, came 
 down on his front feet, shot out his hind legs 
 with tremendous force, and then looked calmly 
 down at his opponent rolling in the dust. 
 
 Now, ordinarily, the experienced cow-puncher 
 would laugh at such a trick to dislodge him; 
 but the unexpectedness of it, together with the 
 concentrated energy thrown into it, would have 
 unseated most riders. 
 
 * ' Holy mackinaw ! * ' remarked the man, as he 
 scrambled to his feet, **but that animal is some 
 kicker; if you tied me on with ropes, he'd bust 
 the ropes an ' get me off just the same. ' ' 
 
 When once a broncho had thrown a rider he 
 was turned over to another who was more 
 experienced and capable, so Slim was deputed 
 to tackle him. He was again roped and thrown, 
 and when he struggled to his feet Slim was in 
 the saddle. Again he stood perfectly still ; then 
 after a time he tried, by the same method, to 
 repeat his former success, but only succeeded in 
 dislodging Slim's hat. The look of surprise in 
 his eyes was quickly followed by another of 
 fury and then of cunning. There was a long 
 
THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 195 
 
 pause before the next move was attempted; 
 then he deliberately rolled over sideways ! Slim 
 nimbly slipped out of the saddle in time to avoid 
 being crushed, and was back into it again when 
 the broncho regained his feet. Then again those 
 changing expressions and that deliberate pause. 
 His next move was executed with amazing 
 rapidity, and he threw his whole energy into 
 it. He swung himself round on his hind legs 
 with such swiftness and energy that Slim was 
 sent rolling over and over in the dust. 
 
 **Well, sirree,'* he exclaimed, *^I sure thought 
 that a cyclone happened along just now, but 
 I suppose it must have been that broncho. I 
 hate to say quit, but I^m willin' to let some one 
 else have a try at him before I renew his 
 acquaintance.^' 
 
 *^ Guess we'll send for the boss's nephew," 
 remarked Bill, **for I think weVe got some- 
 thin' a bit unusual here." 
 
 So Chris was sent for, and approached his 
 task with such an air of jaunty self-assurance 
 that the boys were fervently hoping to see him 
 come a cropper. And that he did in a remark- 
 ably short space of time. 
 
 The broncho changed his tactics; he lashed 
 out in a fury of rage, doubtless resenting the 
 
196 MAKING GOOD 
 
 persistence of these two-legged creatures. It 
 required all Chris's skill and nimbleness to get 
 into the saddle, and when he did so the broncho 
 rushed madly toward the corral fence, stopped 
 dead in front of it, and neatly pitched Chris 
 off his back and over it. Up to the present the 
 unusual thing about the broncho, and the thing 
 that had gained for him such notable victories, 
 had been his great strength. When in action he 
 was a fiend incarnate. 
 
 Fortunately for Chris, he had been pitched 
 over on to some loose straw, otherwise he might 
 have been seriously hurt, for he had been 
 thrown with great force. 
 
 Bill now asked for volunteers, and one after 
 the other made an attempt to master the animal, 
 but never with complete success. 
 
 **Well, sirree," remarked Slim after he had 
 been thrown for the third time, * * it *s only once 
 in years that a brute as wise an ' as wicked hap- 
 pens along. I guess. Bill, we '11 have to give him 
 up for a bad one. ' ' 
 
 **Yes, I'm 'fraid so, Slim, unless any more 
 of the boys'd like to take a throw." 
 
 '*I'd like to take a try at him. Bill," remarked 
 Jack. 
 
 **Wen, boy, there he is; just hop to it. Seems 
 
THE OUTLAW BRONCHO 197 
 
 io me that he ought to be gettin^ tired of bein' 
 thrown an ' knocked about. ' ' 
 
 ** Tired!'' broke in Slim in tones of disgust, 
 **you can't tire him; he'd throw a house off 
 his back." 
 
 In a few minutes the broncho was ready for 
 Jack, who hopped neatly into the saddle. He 
 at once bent down, patted the animal, and spoke 
 kindly to him. The broncho was tired; he had 
 been used roughly, and no attempt whatever 
 had been made to conciliate him. It is possible 
 that those pauses before he commenced his 
 antics were in the nature of overtures to his 
 would-be conquerors. At least, so Jack had 
 thought, and he believed that a little kindly 
 treatment would prove an effective aid to break- 
 ing him. 
 
 *^ Steady, old man," he whispered to him; 
 ''play no dirty tricks on me and I'll treat you 
 well. You've had a rough time up to now, but 
 you have no need to be ashamed of yourself. 
 If you let me stay on your back for a few min- 
 utes I'll see that you're treated well." 
 
 Now if the broncho did not understand the 
 words, he seemed to appreciate the sentiments. 
 The wild, wicked look gave place to one almost 
 of benevolence. He seemed to be trying hard 
 
/ 
 
 198 MAKING GOOD 
 
 to reconcile himself to the new and strange 
 experience of having some one seated astride on 
 his back, and to the irritating piece of iron that 
 had been thrust in his mouth. 
 
 This rider did not enrage him by pulling 
 at it, and he refrained from annoying him by 
 digging into his ribs. Instead he stroked him 
 gently and coaxed him to behave himself. After 
 all they were not all enemies, so he responded 
 to these overtures. He broke into a trot, but 
 held himself ready in case he had made a mis- 
 take in trusting this stranger. 
 
 Jack made no attempt to restrain him, and 
 allowed him to trot around the corral at his 
 will. After a few minutes of this the broncho 
 stopped voluntarily, and Jack slipped out of 
 the saddle and proceeded to make a fuss over 
 him, patting him and whispering kind things 
 into his ear. Highly strung beast that he was, 
 he accepted these approaches with confidence, 
 and allowed Jack to lead him round. 
 
 '*Well, sirree,'* exclaimed Slim, **now if that 
 don't beat the band. That boy must understand 
 horse talk, for that brute's as gentle as a lamb 
 with him.'' 
 
 The amazement on the faces of the boys look- 
 
THE OUTLAW BEONCHO 199 
 
 ing on, most of whom had had an unforgettable 
 experience of the broncho's viciousness, was 
 really comical to see. They were too surprised 
 to say anything. A broncho was something to 
 be fought, and it was this constant tussling 
 with them that was the fascination that made 
 them love their profession. 
 
 The idea that occasionally one of these wild 
 things from the plains could be subdued merely 
 by kindness had never occurred to them. It 
 was a novelty to them, and after they had got 
 over their surprise they became frankly amused 
 at the idea. 
 
 ''How did you manage him, Jack?" asked 
 Jones. 
 
 **I only treated him with decent kindness, 
 which nobody else seemed to have thought of 
 doing," replied Jack. 
 
 **Well, it's unusual. Jack, to say the least." 
 
 **Yes, I agree with you there, Joe, but he's 
 an unusual horse, and I don't suppose many 
 of them would give you time to speak kindly 
 to them. In my opinion horses are a good deal 
 like human beings; you've got to decide your 
 attitude toward them before you approach 
 them. Now I saw that everybody climbed on to 
 
200 MAKING GOOD 
 
 his back with the one idea of making a fight of 
 it, and when it came to a fight, he had the lot of 
 you beaten to a frazzle.'' 
 
 **Well, I believe you are right, Jack; it's a 
 new idea to me, an' I'll try it one of these 
 days." 
 
 **0h, but you're likely to be disappointed, 
 Joe. He's a broncho in a thousand, and per- 
 haps fighting them is the only way to break the 
 majority of them in. ' ' 
 
 Just then Chris walked up. 
 
 '* Pretty soft, eh, Youngl" he said. '^The 
 brute was only so tired that he hadn't enough 
 life left in him to put up a fight." 
 
 ** Don't you believe it now," remarked Bill; 
 **that broncho had enough life left in him to 
 throw any three of us off at once." 
 
 **I'll bet you five dollars that he won't throw 
 me again," replied Chris, in sneering tones. 
 
 ** It's a go," remarked Bill, *' an' I'll be only 
 too pleased to pay you the money, just to prove 
 that I haven't made a mistake in judging an 
 unusual piece of horseflesh." 
 
 As Chris approached the broncho the wicked, 
 vicious look came back into his eyes, and he 
 snorted in a manner that should have warned 
 Chris to forego his attempt. But his pride had 
 
THE OUTLAW BEONCHO 201 
 
 received such a severe blow that he was blind 
 to every thought but the one of reestablishing 
 himself in the eyes of the rest of the boys. 
 
 ^* Better pay up your five dollars and leave 
 him alone," advised Slim. **He don't like you, 
 an' he's a powerful bad enemy to have — least- 
 ways that's my opinion." 
 
 **Well, if it's a fight he wants," said Chris, 
 his eyes blazing with fury and a cruel expres- 
 sion settling around his mouth, **I'll oblige 
 him." 
 
 *^Well, it's your own funeral," replied Slim; 
 **I'm only givin' you an ol' cow-puncher's 
 advice. ' ' 
 
 So fiercely did the broncho resent this 
 attempt to mount him that he had to be thrown 
 before Chris could get near him. It wasn't a 
 broncho that struggled to his feet; it was a 
 concentrated fury. He made a tremendous rush 
 over toward the corral fence, and shot Chris 
 out of the saddle smash into it. When the boys 
 picked him up he was bleeding and unconscious. 
 
 **Here, Young," called out Bill as the bron- 
 cho lashed out madly at every one that tried to 
 get hold of him. * ^ You are the only one that this 
 here locoed brute has taken a fancy to; see if 
 you can get hold of him. ' ' 
 
202 MAKING GOOD 
 
 After a little coaxing the broncho yielded to 
 Jack^s persuasions and allowed himself to be 
 led away. 
 
 Fortunately Chris had sustained no serious 
 injury. He soon recovered consciousness, and 
 a nasty cut on the forehead was the only bad 
 result of the conflict. The broncho was put 
 under Jack's charge and the understanding 
 between these two became daily more complete. 
 The broncho would allow no one else to 
 approach him, and after Chris's disastrous 
 second attempt to ride him, no one showed the 
 slightest desire to do so. 
 
 Each day Jack took him over the prairie for 
 a run, and the way he moved was a delight to 
 the eye of every lover of a horse. 
 
 '*That horso,'' remarked Slim, *4s a one* 
 man horse." 
 
 *'I agree with you, Slim," said Mr. Mcin- 
 tosh, who was standing by at the time. **It 
 seems a pity, too, for he's a fine-looking brute, 
 worth any man's three hundred dollars. I'll 
 strike a bargain with Young for him: he's 
 worth next to nothing to me, while he's worth 
 a lot of money to Young. He can have him 
 for fifty dollars." 
 
 When the proposition was put up to Jack 
 
THE OUTLAW BEONCHO 203 
 
 he fairly jumped at it, and so the broncho 
 passed into his possession. 
 
 '* You've got a bargain, Jack,*' remarked 
 Jones as Jack discussed the matter with him, 
 *'but I think he's just a bit too heavy for speed. 
 He's strong, though, and will be just the pony 
 for roping." 
 
 ^'Oh, but you should see him move, Joe," 
 crgued Jack. **Why, he'll have the rest of the 
 horses on the Q. Z. miles behind." 
 
 '*What about the black gelding belonging to 
 the boss's nephew?" asked Jones. ** That's a 
 fair record breaker." 
 
 *^Well, I'd like to have a try-out with him; 
 I think he '11 beat him, ' ' answered Jack. 
 
 '*Well, you'll get a chance to do that, for the 
 Fair will soon be along." 
 
 *^Yes, that's right, and I think he'll lift a 
 prize or two for me." 
 
 **Well, I hope so. Jack, and I'll let you hear 
 me shouting for you," answered Jones, as he 
 walked away. 
 
CHAPTER Xm 
 
 THE FAIB 
 
 THE local Fair was the event of the year for 
 the ranchers and their families, and the 
 event of the Fair was the program of races and 
 competitions for the display of those accom- 
 plishments which appealed most readily to all 
 cow-punchers. Although the Fair was only a 
 local one there was a large influx of people 
 from the surrounding districts, especially 
 from the larger towns, and from the city of 
 Calgary, for the display of horsemanship in the 
 various competitions was of such a high order 
 as to provide unsurpassed entertainment for 
 town and city visitors. 
 
 The prizes offered were very substantial, but 
 apart from these inducements there was the 
 keenest rivalry among the neighboring ranches, 
 such as usually exists among schools and col- 
 leges. There were competitions in roping, rid- 
 ing, and bull-dogging, in addition to the races. 
 
 The chief event among the latter was the 
 
 204 
 
THE FAIR 205 
 
 pony race confined to riders who were owners 
 of the horses ridden. To own the champion 
 racer in the district was a proud distinction 
 and it always brought out the pick of the horses 
 and the best riders, for the owners were nearly 
 all ranchers or their sons. Apart from the 
 honor attached to winning the race, there was a 
 very nice monetary reward in the shape of a 
 prize of one thousand dollars. 
 
 Now Jack, when he heard of this, promptly 
 sent in an entry, and proceeded to devote him- 
 self to getting his broncho into the finest pos- 
 sible condition. 
 
 Jack had a very serious rival in Chris, whose 
 black gelding was beautifully built for a racer, 
 being small and lighter than Jack's pony. He 
 was full of life and fire, and was certain of the 
 most capable handling. The first year he had 
 been eligible to compete (riders had to be six- 
 teen years of age or over, and must not weigh 
 less than one hundred and thirty pounds) Chris 
 had carried off the prize, which was popularly 
 regarded as the **Blue Ribbon '^ of the ranchers. 
 
 Jack confided his ambitions to Joan, who fre- 
 quently went with him for whirlwind gallops 
 over the prairie, and she was most enthusiastic 
 and hopeful of his chances. Since the incident 
 
206 MAKING GOOD 
 
 of the cattle rustlers they had been the most 
 loyal of friends and the closest of companions. 
 
 *'How d'you think my pony will show up 
 against Chris's?" he asked. 
 
 **0h, I'm not too confident, '* she replied; 
 ** that's a wonderful pony he has got, even bet- 
 ter than the one he won the race with last year, 
 and he rides so beautifully. Your pony moves 
 splendidly, but seems just a trifle too heavily 
 built for speed." 
 
 **Yes, Jones says the same, but he's very 
 deceiving ; when he really * opens up ' he goes like 
 the wind, but he so seldom seems inclined to do 
 his best. I'm only hoping he'll make the race 
 one of those rare occasions when he lets him- 
 self go." 
 
 At last the opening day of the Fair arrived 
 and this was the day on which the race was to 
 be decided. It was glorious autumn weather, 
 and the scene on the spacious Fair grounds was 
 an animated and attractive one. Camped just 
 outside the grounds was the majority of the 
 tribes of Sarcee Indians, who were specially 
 invited by the management to attend. One or 
 two of the events were arranged exclusively for 
 competition among the Indians, and at night 
 the whole of the tribe were to give an exhibi- 
 
THE FAIR 207 
 
 tion described on the program as an Indian 
 ** powwow,'' and included the famous Indian 
 war dance. The small town was thronged with 
 v^isitors, among whom mingled the picturesque 
 figures of the cowboys sporting new necker- 
 chiefs of flaming and dazzling hues. As Jack 
 looked on at this scene he at once understood 
 the ill-concealed eagerness of the boys for the 
 arrival of the Fair ; it was the event of the year 
 to them. 
 
 In addition to the pony race Jack was 
 entered for the roping competition, for which 
 he was a strong favorite. He was also bracketed 
 with Joan for a display of fancy roping, which 
 was to be one of the concluding events in the 
 day's long program. The two months preced- 
 ing the Fair had been busy and crowded ones 
 for Jack, and it had only been by hard work 
 and constant application that Joan and he had 
 attained their remarkable skill with the rope. 
 
 The program of events began at ten o'clock 
 in the morning, and the first event was a com- 
 petition for riders. Horses previously unbroken 
 were to provide the test, and for those riders 
 who successfully overcame them a notoriously 
 vicious broncho had been imported for the final 
 test. Among the entrants from the Q. Z. were 
 
208 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Chris and Slim. The former, who seemed to 
 have lost his nerve since he was thrown against 
 the corral fence, was soon obliged to drop out 
 of the competition. He was thrown in his first 
 two attempts. Among the Q. Z. entrants Slim 
 was doing by far the best, and was one of the 
 only two that survived for the final test. The 
 imported broncho well sustained his evil repu- 
 tation, and the winner of the competition could 
 not stay on his back for more than fifty seconds. 
 Slim, who came second, was dismounted at the 
 end of forty-five. 
 
 The next event was the roping competition. 
 Specially selected steers were run into the 
 inclosure, and each competitor in turn had to 
 rope, throw, and tie up a steer in the shortest 
 possible time. When Jack executed this in 
 thirty-eight seconds a rousing cheer greeted his 
 performance and he was declared an easy win- 
 ner by twelve seconds. lie generously attributed 
 his success to the splendid behavior of his pony, 
 which seemed to anticipate every movement 
 required of him. 
 
 Then followed one of the most interesting 
 events of the day's proceedings — the *^ bull- 
 dogging" competition. There were few entries 
 for this, as it was a difficult and dangerous test. 
 
THE FAIE 209 
 
 The riders were required to ride alongside of 
 a sturdily built steer, jump on to his neck and, 
 by the exercise of great strength and skill, to 
 throw him. The danger was in getting clear of 
 the steer when throwing him. 
 
 The first competitor came to grief in this 
 way. He succeeded in his throw, but for a few 
 moments he was inextricably mixed up with the 
 steer rolling on the ground, and as he did not 
 move when the beast got on to his feet again, 
 assistance was sent to him and he was found 
 to be badly crushed. 
 
 Several of the competitors did not succeed in 
 throwing their steer. Jones, who was one of the 
 last to compete, very cleverly dropped on to 
 the back of his steer and threw him, at the same 
 time rolling clear himself. Only three of the 
 competitors succeeded in doing this, so a pow- 
 erful, heavily built prairie bull was run into the 
 inclosure. The first competitor, after dropping 
 neatly across his neck, wrestled with him for 
 some time but had to give up the attempt to 
 throw him. The second had a similar experi- 
 ence, so that the interest attending Jones's 
 attempt was very keen. There were encouraging 
 yells from the boys from the Q. Z ranch when 
 Jones galloped over toward the bull. ''Dog 'im, 
 
210 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Jones/' they yelled. It was some time before 
 he could get into position; when he did he 
 dropped across the bulPs shoulders, seized his 
 horns, gave them a twist, and in a twinkling 
 the bull was rolling in the dust with Jones well 
 clear of him. It was a very neat and skillful 
 piece of work, and it revealed Jones as a mas- 
 ter at this difficult and dangerous art. 
 
 The crowd loudly applauded his fine effort 
 and he was deservedly declared the winner. 
 With two of the chief competitions to their 
 credit, the Q. Z. boys were highly pleased with 
 themselves. 
 
 The next event was confined to Blood Indians 
 only, and consisted of a bareback relay race, 
 four horses being used in turn by each rider. 
 It was very exciting, and roused even the 
 stolid, phlegmatic Indians to some show of 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 Then came what might be termed the classic 
 event of the day — the race for ponies, which has 
 already been referred to. The race was over a 
 distance of one mile and a half, and necessitated 
 covering the oval course twice. Fourteen ponies 
 had been entered, and the majority were splen- 
 did specimens of the prairie-bred horse. Jack 
 was very hopeful of his chance. There was a 
 
THE FAIR 211 
 
 beautiful bloom on the golden bide of bis pony 
 as be led bim out on to tbe course. If be would 
 only sbow tbat speed tbat be was capable of, 
 Jack was sure be would win. But be was ratber 
 a willful and moody brute, and bad to be coaxed 
 to do bis best. 
 
 Apart from tbe interest in tbe race, it was a 
 very pretty exbibition of borsemansbip. Jack's 
 borse was not a favorite, for bis temperament 
 was well known. Tbat position was sbared by 
 tbree borses, one of wbicb was Cbris's black 
 gelding. But if Jack's borse was not a favorite, 
 he bad many well-wisbers among tbe crowd, and 
 his eye bad caught tbe flutter of Joan's hand- 
 kerchief as she waved to him from the stand. 
 
 The arrangements were ratber primitive and, 
 as tbe borses were all high-spirited beasts, the 
 start was very straggling. Jack was one of the 
 last to get off, with the leaders many lengths in 
 front. He held a slack rein just to sbow bis 
 pony that the race was up to bim, but when the 
 circuit of tbe course had been once completed be 
 was last. 
 
 Tbe three favorites were fighting it out gal- 
 lantly in front, with Chris slowly drawing away 
 from tbe other two. Jack heard the shouts of 
 the crowd as be passed the stand. He lay over 
 
212 MAKING GOOD 
 
 the neck of his pony and whispered to him: 
 
 **Come on, old man, don't you know that 
 we're last? — just a little spurt to show that 
 you're made of the real stuff." 
 
 His pony pricked up his ears as though he 
 understood and, though more than thirty lengths 
 behind the leaders and with nearly three-quar- 
 ters of the distance covered, he began to put 
 in his effort. With great, tearing strides he 
 rapidly shortened the gap, and a roar went up 
 from the crowd. Horse after horse he passed 
 until he was on the heels of the foremost horses. 
 Chris was leading by two lengths, with the same 
 distance between the second and third, and it 
 was little more than a hundred yards to the 
 finishing post in front of the stand. 
 
 Could he do it? Jack lay across his pony's 
 neck urging him forward. On and on he 
 plunged until he was on the heels of Chris's 
 black gelding and the post was only a few yards 
 away. Then, seeming to ignore Jack's plead- 
 ings and entering into the struggle on his own 
 account, he literally threw himself at the post 
 in time to push his head in front of the black 
 gelding's as they passed it together. 
 
 It had been a thrilling, remarkable race, and 
 the result was as great a surprise to Jack as to 
 
THE FAIR 213 
 
 any one. It was also a great surprise to Chris, 
 who, on looking back after half the distance had 
 been covered, had had the satisfaction of see- 
 ing Jack hopelessly in the rear and apparently 
 out of it. He hated both horse and rider, for 
 they had both lowered his pride at different 
 times. When he saw Jack closing in upon him 
 he made a desperate struggle to keep the lead, 
 and only succumbed in the last few strides. He 
 took his beating with very bad grace, and this 
 was responsible for an incident which gave an 
 added thrill to a memorable event. As they 
 passed the post and rode along side by side for 
 some yards, he raised his quirt and deliberately 
 slashed Jack across the face. Stung and mad- 
 dened by pain. Jack threw his feet out of the 
 stirrups, sprang on to the black gelding's back, 
 and wrestled with Chris. The gelding bucked 
 and threw them both, and the struggle was con- 
 tinued on the grass until some of the boys ran 
 up and separated them. 
 
 Fortunately the incident had escaped the 
 notice of the crowd, though it was not very long 
 before the news of it was whispered around. 
 When Mr. Mcintosh heard of it he went into a 
 towering rage and swore that his nephew would 
 not be allowed to stay another day on the ranch. 
 
214 MAKING GOOD 
 
 Jones had been one of the first to reach the 
 two boys struggling on the ground, and the 
 way he had thrown Chris to one side expressed 
 the disgust he felt with him. 
 
 As Jack got to his feet he at once shook hands 
 with him. 
 
 ^ ^ Fine, Jack boy, fine, ' ' he remarked enthusi- 
 astically, ^^but how on earth did you persuade 
 your pony to put in a run like that ? ' ' 
 
 *^ Didn't have to persuade him, Joe; I only 
 whispered to him, and the way he shot ahead 
 was as great a surprise to me as to any one. ' ' 
 
 **Well, it was a fine effort and worth watch- 
 ing — which is more than I can say about what 
 happened afterward. The dirty skunk. ' * he con- 
 tinued, with emphasis, **he can't take a licking 
 in any shape or form, and I don't know how I 
 kept my hands off him. ' ' 
 
 **Well, you did me no good trun by dragging 
 us apart, Joe." 
 
 ^ ^ I know how you feel about it, but that kind 
 of thing doesn't go well in public. You can con- 
 sole yourself with the fact that you are a thou- 
 sand dollars richer over the race." 
 
 **Yes; a little nearer to getting the J. J. 
 ranch Joe, eh?" 
 
 '*Yes, but it's you who are getting all the 
 
THE FAIR 215 
 
 coin, Jack; about time I got a hustle on/' 
 **0h, you'll easily win the five thousand dol- 
 lars prize for bull-doggin ', Joe; nobody can 
 touch you at that," concluded Jack enthusias- 
 tically. 
 
 One of the most interesting and spectacular 
 events of the day was provided by the exhibition 
 of fancy roping given by Joan and Jack. Joan 
 rode around the inclosure while Jack, by the 
 exercise of great skill and dexterity, kept the 
 lasso encircling her but without touching her. 
 It was a fine piece of work and generously appre- 
 ciated by a critical crowd, which became wildly 
 enthusiastic when Joan performed the same 
 feat with Jack as the rider. 
 
 The last event of the day was a ** powwow" 
 by the Indians. They assembled on a large plat- 
 form erected for the purpose, with the 
 *' squaws" forming the outer circle and the 
 braves within. In the center was a drum, 
 around which were the *^ musicians" — two or 
 three of the young braves who beat on it. At 
 first they commenced very slowly and softly, 
 accompanying the raps with a weird sort of 
 chant, more like the steady drone of bees. The 
 squaws on the outside shuffled round, making a 
 scraping noise with their feet, and a movement 
 
216 MAKING GOOD 
 
 with their bodies, which resembled an old-fash- 
 ioned curtsy. They also hummed in tune with 
 the musicians. 
 
 The painted braves, who were the star per- 
 formers of the show, then started gliding move- 
 ments, each one imitating the animal whose 
 spirit he imagined himself to possess. The wolf 
 being a great tribal favorite, the majority of 
 them commenced snarling and clawing at the 
 air, and occasionally at each other ^s hair. 
 
 As the dance progressed the tom-tom was rat- 
 tled with increasing vigor, and the barks and 
 snarls and clawings of the ** wolves*' increased 
 correspondingly, while the old ladies on the out- 
 side bobbed more frequently and shuffled more 
 noisily until perfect pandemonium reigned. 
 Then gradually the rappings on the tom-tom 
 became fewer and less noisy, until they finally 
 ceased. 
 
 The spectators looked on good-humoredly 
 and applauded generously, highly amused at 
 the apparently maniacal movements of the red 
 men. But the latter treated the powwow as a 
 religious ceremonial and frowned at the hilar- 
 ity of the white onlookers. Each dance had its 
 own particular significance, and was announced 
 separately, but it could not be distinguished 
 from all previous ones by any new movements 
 
THE FAIR 217 
 
 on the part of the dancers, excepting that they 
 sometimes went the other way round, or clawed 
 with the left hand first instead of the right. The 
 white onlookers, unable to appreciate the fine 
 points in the dances, though enjoying the nov- 
 elty of them, were, without intending it, making 
 themselves very offensive to the red men, and, 
 in consequence, as dance followed dance the 
 frenzied niovements and sounds of the perform- 
 ers increased. Mr. Mcintosh was one of the first 
 to perceive that the old fighting spirit of the 
 red man was being aroused, and that the old 
 antagonism to the white man was being excited. 
 He dropped a hint to men with their families 
 present, and the women were hurried off home. 
 He also warned the boys (who good-naturedly 
 cheered louder as the shrieks of the dancers 
 became wilder) that they had better stay in case 
 trouble started. 
 
 As one of those responsible for the manage- 
 ment of the Fair, he advised that the Indians 
 be ordered to cease dancing at once and return 
 to their encampments near by. 
 
 This order of the committee was ignored by 
 the Indians, who, to the alarm of the older men 
 present, replied by starting up the war dance. 
 This was like a spark to tinder; the old pas- 
 sions and battle lust of the Indians flared up, 
 
218 MAKING GOOD 
 
 and terrifying, blood-curdling shrieks rent the 
 air, while the dancers went through all the 
 motions of scalping. The squaws, alive to the 
 situation, deserted in large numbers and dis- 
 appeared into the darkness. 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh held a hurried consultation 
 with other members of the committee, and it 
 was decided to charge into the frenzied, shriek- 
 ing Indians and disperse them. 
 
 The boys entered into this with great glee. 
 After firing a volley into the air, they charged 
 on to the platform and commenced cracking the 
 skulls of the Indians with the butt ends of their 
 revolvers. The musicians came in for a real 
 rough time, the tom-tom being quickly put out 
 of commission. The braves soon melted away 
 into the darkness and sought the safety of their 
 own encampment, with all their warlike pas- 
 sions effectively quenched. 
 
 The following day, at the pressing invitation 
 of the management, they returned to their 
 reserve, with the assurance that they would not 
 again be required to display their abilities for 
 the entertainment of unenlightened white men. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE GKEAT STAMPEDE 
 
 THE day following tlie Fair Mr. Mcintosh 
 was as good as his word, and Chris was 
 told to pack up and go. This he did with a very 
 bad grace. At the last moment he sought to 
 change Mr. Mcintosh's attitude toward him, 
 but the rancher was obdurate. 
 
 Apart from the unsportsmanlike conduct of 
 Chris in his dealings with Jack, the rancher 
 knew that he was keeping bad company, and 
 was frequenting the saloon in the town more 
 often than was good for a lad. He had remon- 
 strated with him, but without avail, and had 
 previously threatened to turn him oif the ranch 
 unless he mended his ways. Then came the in- 
 cident of the race, which was the direct cause 
 of Mr. Mcintosh's decision to pack Chris off. 
 He had given him every opportunity to make 
 good, but Chris had persistently abused his 
 privileges, and had paid no heed to the appeals 
 made to him. 
 
 The rancher fully believed that, working for 
 
 219 
 
220 MAKING GOOD 
 
 some one who would be strict with him, and 
 where he would be on the same footing as the 
 rest of the riders, Chris would pull himself 
 together. So Chris rode over to the Three-Bar 
 ranch and secured a job as a rider. 
 
 Though Mr. Mcintosh had been obdurate to 
 all the appeals and arguments of his nephew, 
 he really did not like seeing the boy go, and 
 after he had secured a job on the Three-Bar, 
 he rode over and had a chat with Wheeler, the 
 owner of the ranch. 
 
 The result was that Chris found himself 
 under very severe and strict discipline, and 
 gradually be reconciled himself to confining his 
 interest chiefly to his work. A gradual separa- 
 tion from many undesirable companions fol- 
 lowed, together with a growing appreciation of 
 the kindness and privileges he had so deliber- 
 ately abused. 
 
 Mr. Mcintosh was quick to see the change in 
 him, and confided to his wife the hopes he had 
 that Chris would eventually make good. It was 
 obvious that the lad was changed, for he made 
 friendly approaches to Jack and frankly apolo- 
 gized for the lamentable exhi'Bition in the Fair 
 grounds. 
 
 Jack was too good-natured to harbor any ill 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 221 
 
 feeling, and so it came about that tliey were 
 frequently seen riding together. 
 
 '* What's all this friendliness between you 
 and Chris f asked Jones of Jack one night. 
 
 **0h, I don^t much understand it myself/' 
 replied Jackj **he's sorry over the race affair, 
 and altogether seems to me to be pretty 
 decent. ' ' 
 
 **Well, I hope he means it all, Jack, for if 
 he's playing any underhand game on you he'd 
 better look out, for I'll be after him in less time 
 than it takes a rattler to shake his rattles." 
 
 But Jones had no need to be afraid of Chris's 
 intentions toward Jack; he was really changed 
 and genuinely anxious to wipe out the memories 
 of his former bad spirit. He had never dreamed 
 that Mr. Mcintosh would carry out his ex- 
 pressed intention to send him off, so that when 
 he did so it came as a severe shock to him. 
 
 The experience of working for a man who 
 treated him the same as the other boys was a 
 wholesome corrective to Chris, and he began to 
 realize what the abuse of his position and priv- 
 ileges had brought him. As soon as he came to 
 his senses he decided to amend and win his way 
 back into the good graces of his uncle. He knew 
 that his treatment of Jack had been particularly 
 
222 MAKING GOOD 
 
 distasteful to Mr. Mcintosh, and he also real- 
 ized that the only decent thing to do was to 
 apologize to Jack, and to show by his conduct 
 that he was genuinely sorry and ashamed of 
 himself. 
 
 So it came about that a real friendship 
 sprang up between the two boys, for Jack was 
 quick to forget and forgive, and showed, as he 
 always did, a generous appreciation of the skill 
 of Chris in handling horses. 
 
 But Jack's tim*^ was not wholly spent in 
 Chris's company, for he found time to develop 
 the warm friendship he felt for Joan, and they 
 had many enjoyable and thrilling rides together 
 over the spacious prairie. 
 
 The prevailing topic at this time was the 
 coming Stampede at Calgary. Thousands of 
 dollars were to be distributed in prizes, and 
 the Stampede was to last for a period of five 
 days. It was one of the biggest things of its 
 kind that had been attempted on the American 
 continent, and men world-famed for their abili- 
 ties as riders were to compete. To Jack and 
 Jones the Stampede meant a great deal more 
 than to most, for, apart from their sporting 
 interest in it, they regarded it as a serious busi- 
 ness proposition. It was their one great chance 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 223 
 
 to get sufficient capital to purchase a ranch, and 
 they were determined to develop their skill to 
 such an extent as to make them serious compet- 
 itors for the generous prizes offered. 
 
 It was a great tribute to Jack's persistence 
 to find himself regarded as the hope of the 
 ** foothills*' ranchers for the roping competi- 
 tion. By constant practice he had reached the 
 stage of perfection which had so easily secured 
 for him the prize for roping at the local Fair, 
 and this, accomplished with such ease, had 
 marked him out as a possible winner of the 
 competition at the Stampede. And in showing 
 their confidence in him they were backed up by 
 the management of the Stampede, who sent an 
 invitation to Jack and Joan to give an exhibi- 
 tion of roping. 
 
 If Jack was the choice of the district for rop- 
 ing, Jones was as strong a favorite for the bull- 
 dogging competition. Added to his skill, Jones 
 had the advantage of a splendid physique, and 
 it needed strength as well as skill to come 
 through the competition successfully. 
 
 The interest of the ranchers in the coming 
 Stampede, and their desire to see local talent 
 triumph in what were really world competi- 
 tions, took a practical shape. 
 
224 MAKING GOOD 
 
 At a meeting called together for this purpose 
 it was decided that all of those competing at the 
 Stampede should be released, as far as possible, 
 from their ordinary duties on the ranch. And, 
 for the benefit of those in the riding competi- 
 tions, the most difficult horses to ride were 
 pooled so that every one should have an equal 
 chance to test his skill and to increase his 
 confidence. 
 
 * * Well, Jack, ' ' remarked Jones when he heard 
 of the decision of the ranchers, ^* all I can say is 
 that they're the finest bunch of sports IVe ever 
 met, and if we don't make good at the Stampede 
 it '11 be no fault of theirs. ' ' 
 
 **No, nor of ours, Joe, for I'm all out to win." 
 
 **The same here, Jack, not forgetting that if 
 we win we'll be a small matter of eight thou- 
 sand dollars to the good." 
 
 This decision of the ranchers gave the com- 
 petitors four clear weeks in which to prepare. 
 Jack, who was quick to take advantage of this 
 privilege, was never tired of practicing the dif- 
 ficult art of roping, and gave the young steers 
 on the Q. Z. ranch a rough time, for he was con- 
 tinually riding in among them, roping and 
 throwing one of their number, while Jones 
 timed him. He was able to do it regularly in 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 225 
 
 thirty-three seconds, and once got it down to 
 thirty-one. 
 
 ^*Keep that up, Jack, and nothing will beat 
 you,'' remarked Jones encouragingly. 
 
 Then Jones would take a turn at his specialty 
 — ;bull-dogging. He would ride in among the cat- 
 tle, then pick out the swiftest and heftiest-look- 
 ing steer, ride alongside of him for some time, 
 leap nimbly across his shoulders, grasp his 
 horns, give them a twist, and crash! the steer 
 would go down, rolling over and over on the 
 prairie. Jack would applaud enthusiastically. 
 
 **Say, Joe, but nothing will stand up to you 
 if you treat 'em all as rough as that. ' ' 
 
 Chris occasionally rode out with them, and 
 his warm friendliness and encouragement were 
 in pleasing contrast to his former surliness. He 
 was practicing for the bronchobusting compe- 
 tition, and entered into his training with heart 
 and soul. 
 
 *^That boy has changed," Mr. Mcintosh re- 
 marked to his wife; ^4f only he keeps it up I'll 
 have him back and give him an interest in the 
 ranch. ' ' 
 
 At last the long-looked-forward-to opening 
 day of the Stampede arrived, and there was 
 great excitement at the ranch houses, for there 
 
226 MAKING GOOD 
 
 was to be a *^trek'' from the foothills into Cal- 
 gary, only sufficient men being left behind to 
 do the necessary duties. It was ardently hoped 
 that more than one world ^s championship 
 would be brought back to the ** foothills/' 
 
 The city of Calgary was en fete, and cow- 
 punchers from Texas and Montana jostled one 
 another in the streets. Elaborate preparations 
 had been made for those who wished to attend 
 the Stampede. On the opening day a huge 
 crowd of forty thousand assembled. 
 
 The bronchobusting competition, having the 
 most entries, was carried on simultaneously 
 with other competitions, and it was not 
 expected that the winner would be declared 
 before the end of the fourth day. The bull-dog- 
 ging competition was expected to last over the 
 first two days, while the roping competition 
 was arranged for the third and fourth days. 
 The fifth and last day was to be mainly devoted 
 to exhibition riding by the winners of the 
 competitions. 
 
 Bronchos renowned for their vicious quali- 
 ties had been specially imported for the riding 
 tests, and the spectators were highly enter- 
 tained by some thrilling duels between horses 
 and riders. The bronchos invariably had some 
 
THE GREAT STAMPEDE 227 
 
 little surprise for each rider, and there was a 
 rapid weeding out of the unskillful. 
 
 The riders from ** across the border" made 
 the best showing on the first day, the only Cana- 
 dian to survive the first test being an Indian. 
 
 In the bull-dogging competition Jones had 
 his first test and came through it easily, though 
 three-fourths of the competitors came to grief. 
 By the end of the second day all the foothills 
 representatives in the riding competitions had 
 come to grief, Chris and Slim among them, 
 though both had put up a game fight and had 
 nearly succeeded. 
 
 *^Well, sirree,'' remarked Slim in talking 
 over his experiences in the competition, **you 
 might as well hev tried to ride a streak of light- 
 nin ' or to sit on a barrel of lighted dynamite as 
 to keep your seat on that piece of devil flesh." 
 
 The second day's proceedings secured the 
 first championship for the foothills, and Jones 
 was the hero. In the concluding stage of the 
 bull-dogging competition, there were only four- 
 teen survivors of the first day's tests. A pow- 
 erful, vicious-looking wild steer, a ^^ maverick," 
 long-horned and red-eyed, was run into the in- 
 closure, and his demeanor and antics were so 
 hostile that two of the fourteen gracefully 
 
228 MAKING GOOD 
 
 declined combat. Of the remaining twelve Jones 
 was the sixth to compete, and the steer, up 
 to that time, had easily resisted all attempts 
 to put him down. But the succession of at- 
 tempts had irritated and annoyed him so that 
 when Jones began his attempt the steer was in 
 an ugly temper. He disdained to move when 
 Jones rode over to him, and it took the imited 
 efforts of three other riders to persuade him 
 into a run. Jones followed alongside, and lost 
 no time in getting across the steer's shoulders. 
 Then followed a thrilling struggle for mastery. 
 
 **Dog 'im, cowboy,'* yelled the crowd, wildly 
 excited. 
 
 The steer first of all made vicious attempts 
 to throw Jones, and it required all his strength 
 and skill to hang on. He then went careering 
 madly across the inclosure, while Jones, with a 
 hand on each horn, struggled grimly and with 
 tenacious strength, not only to retain his place 
 across the steer's shoulders but also to force 
 his head down until he finally toppled over. 
 Slowly but surely the steer's head was forced 
 down lower and gradually lower until, with his 
 head pushed in between his front legs, he som- 
 ersaulted over, Jones barely escaping being 
 crushed underneath him. It was a magnificent 
 
THE GREAT STAMPEDE 229 
 
 struggle, and Jones received a tremendous ova- 
 tion as he walked out of the inclosure. A fresh 
 steer, equally powerful, was run into the in- 
 closure and defied the efforts of the remaining 
 competitors, so that Jones was declared the 
 winner of the competition and the five thousand 
 dollars in prize money. 
 
 To the great delight of the crowd, he insisted 
 on trying conclusions with the undefeated steer, 
 and again he triumphed after another thrilling 
 but not quite so lengthy a struggle. He had well 
 won, and his face was beaming with delight 
 when Jack congratulated him. 
 
 *^Jack, boy,*' he called out as Jack ap- 
 proached, **what price the J. J. ranch nowf 
 
 ** Looks good, Joe, thanks to you, and nobody 
 can deny but what you^re a real champion.^' 
 
 The next day was the first day of the roping 
 competition, in which Jack was one of the 
 youngest competitors. It was remarkable to 
 think that, less than two years ago. Jack had 
 not known what roping was, and now he was 
 competing against the greatest ropers in the 
 world. His wonderful proficiency was the sim- 
 ple result of hard work and application, allied 
 to a quick eye and strong wrists. He was a 
 trifle nervous when answering to his name in 
 
230 MAKING GOOD 
 
 the roll of competitors, for after Jones had tri- 
 umphed so splendidly he was donbly anxious to 
 secure chief honors, and with them the three 
 thousand dollars in prize money. 
 
 Each competitor had to ride out, rope, throw, 
 and tie his steer, the one performing it in the 
 shortest time being awarded the prize. Up to 
 about halfway through the competition the best 
 time was thirty-eight seconds, and this was 
 returned in three cases. Shortly afterward this 
 was easily beaten by an old experienced cow- 
 puncher from Montana, who returned the splen- 
 did time of thirty- three seconds. Jack was one 
 of the last to compete, and as he rode into the in- 
 closure, the cynosure of thousands of eyes, his 
 heart beat wildly with excitement. He knew he 
 was up against one of the most difficult things he 
 had attempted, and he figured his rope nerv- 
 ously, waiting for the word to go. At last it 
 came, and he shot out his horse into the center of 
 the inclosure in pursuit of his steer, at the same 
 time swinging his rope ready for the throw at 
 the first favorable opportunity. Faced with the 
 record of thirty-three seconds he could not 
 afford to wait, and made the throw at a dead gal- 
 lop. In doing so he knew that he risked every- 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 231 
 
 tEng, and the vast crowd momentarily held its 
 breath while awaiting the result. The rope was 
 sent a few feet ahead of the stampeding steer, 
 and was so beautifully timed that he ran his 
 head right into it. Jack pulled up his horse, at 
 the same time wheeling him around until he was 
 facing away from the steer. Not waiting for the 
 rope to become taut he sprang out of the saddle, 
 relying on his pony to get the steer on to his 
 back, which he did, while Jack ran like a deer 
 toward the steer. With deft and sure fingers 
 he tied the feet of the fallen beast, then held up 
 his hand signifying that he was finished. 
 
 A hasty inspection of his work followed, 
 and then the time was ahnounced — thirty-three 
 seconds I He had made a tie of it ! The crowd 
 roared out its delight, for it had taken this 
 stripling to its heart. 
 
 At the conclusion of the day only two com- 
 petitors were left in. Jack being one of them. 
 A few others took part the following morning, 
 but none of them succeeded in approaching the 
 record of thirty-three seconds, so that the final 
 decision rested between Jack and the old cow- 
 puncher from Montana. It was set down as the 
 star turn on the afternoon's program and 
 aroused tremendous interest. The foothills con- 
 
232 MAKINa GOOD 
 
 tingent mustered in force in clamorous support 
 of Jack. 
 
 * * No need to say anything to encourage you, ' ' 
 remarked Jones shortly before Jack rode into 
 the inclosure, **but I believe you'll win.'* 
 
 Just then Chris came over. *^Best wishes, 
 Jack,'' he called out genially; *^we're all hop- 
 ing to see you win, and we believe you can do 
 it." 
 
 **That boy's changed. Jack," said Jones as 
 Chris turned and walked away ; * 4f he keeps it 
 up he'll grow into a white man yet. A final 
 shake. Jack — keep your head and you'll win 
 right enough." 
 
 The old cow-puncher waited impatiently for 
 the word to start. He had received a shock 
 when Jack had equaled his time, and he was 
 astonished at the youthfulness of his rival for 
 chief honors. He was a good sport, though, and 
 smiled pleasantly as Jack pulled up alongside of 
 him. 
 
 A few seconds later he dashed out in pur- 
 suit of his steer, and the time returned was 
 the same as before — thirty-three seconds. At 
 the word **go" Jack galloped after his steer to 
 the accompaniment of a roar of encouragement 
 from the huge crowd. A groan of suspense was 
 
THE GREAT STAMPEDE 233 
 
 heard as, for a brief second, it seemed as if 
 Jack had missed his steer, which was followed 
 by a frantic cheer as they saw he was safely 
 roped. The steer safely trussed up, Jack held 
 up his hand — thirty-three seconds ! Another tie I 
 
 The crowd yelled its delight at the prospect 
 of another duel between these two amazing 
 ropers. 
 
 It was decided to toss up as to who should 
 have the choice of competing first, and Jack 
 won. He decided to take his chance at once. 
 He was keyed up by nervous excitement and 
 knew that he could never hope to be in a bet- 
 ter condition to do himself justice. The steer 
 was released and went careering wildly across 
 the inclosure. At the same time Jack heard the 
 word ^^go." His horse seemed to have entered 
 into the spirit of the thing and tore after the 
 steer at a great pace. Jack shot out his rope, 
 making a beautiful throw. Then he took a 
 chance. So confident was he that his throw was 
 a perfect one that he did not wait for the rope 
 to touch the steer, trusting to the intelligence 
 of his pony to do the rest. He slipped out of the 
 saddle and was almost on top of the steer when 
 he crashed to the ground. His pony had wheeled 
 at the right moment. Frantic cheers went up 
 
234 MAKING GOOD 
 
 from the crowd when they realized what a dar- 
 ing chance Jack had taken, and when the time 
 was announced — thirty seconds — they redoubled 
 their cheering. It was the neatest, the most 
 skillful and daring piece of work that had been 
 seen during the whole of the Stampede to date. 
 
 The old cow-puncher was a fighter, though, 
 and he made a great effort to beat the time re- 
 turned, but failed by two seconds, so that Jack 
 was returned the winner. He was cheered to 
 the echo as he rode out of the inclosure, and was 
 fairly mobbed by the Q. Z. boys. 
 
 **You are right there with the goods, Jack,*' 
 called out Jones; and Slim was heard to say, 
 **Well, sirree, if that bc^y'd tried a few more 
 times he'd uv done it in less than no time.*' 
 
 When the excitement had died down and 
 Jack and Jones were alone, the latter began to 
 show alarming symptoms of apoplexy, so that 
 Jack asked in tones of great concern: 
 
 * * For goodness ' sake what 's wrong with you, 
 Joe?" 
 
 Jones gave a great gulp, and then began to 
 explain. *^IVe just bought an option on the 
 slickest little ranch in Alberta, Jack, and IVe 
 been fairly bustin' to tell you about it." 
 
 **Well, all I can say is that I'm awfully glad 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 235 
 
 you got the chance when you did; a few more 
 minutes with all that in you, Joe, and I'm sure 
 you'd have passed out." 
 
 *'You know that little ranch house by the 
 river — a pretty place right in among the trees 
 and about ten miles southwest of the Q. ZJ" 
 *^Yes, I know the place you mean, Joe." 
 '*Well, I've put down two hundred and fifty 
 dollars this mornin' for an option on it lastin' 
 ten days. I was fairly dying to tell you about it 
 before the competition came off, but thought it 
 might upset your nerve a little with so much at 
 stake; but I was plumb sure you'd win, Jack." 
 ** What's the price and terms, Joel" 
 ** Twelve thousand dollars — ^five thousand 
 down and the balance in three years. There's 
 a section of land goes with the ranch house and 
 buildings, and along with it a fifteen years' 
 lease on another two thousand acres, at a yearly 
 rent of five hundred dollars — dirt cheap, and 
 the chance of a lifetime. That leaves us five 
 thousand dollars to buy up stock, and in fifteen 
 years you'll be able to retire a wealthy man." 
 * * Hurrah ! ' ' yelled Jack, throwing his Stetson 
 into the air, **good for you, Joe. At last there's 
 going to be a J. J. ranch. ' ' 
 
236 MAKING GOOD 
 
 **You bet your life, Jack, and she's goin' to 
 go, too.'' 
 
 It was decided to go and look over the ranch 
 as soon as the Stampede finished. **And then 
 we'll cinch it with five thousand dollars. With 
 the remainder we can buy between one hundred 
 and fifty and two hundred head of cattle — a 
 nice little bunch to start with," said Jones. 
 
 Then they went back to watch the finals for 
 the bronchobusting competition. The Indian 
 rider was the only Canadian competitor left in. 
 He was riding when they reached the inclosure, 
 and was seated on a regular outlaw of the 
 prairie, which fairly catapulted itself into the 
 center of the ring. Holding loosely in his left 
 hand the halter rope — for ** busting" was done 
 without the aid of a bridle — this stoical Indian 
 took a succession of bucks and twists in a man- 
 ner that called forth the clamorous approba- 
 tion of the crowd. 
 
 **Bust 'im, Indian!" yelled the crowd. A 
 thrilling struggle followed, but in spite of the 
 violent contortions of the broncho, the Indian 
 maintained his seat and was declared the win- 
 ner of the competition, to the frantic delight of 
 the Canadian cow-punchers. 
 
 The following day Jack, along with Jones 
 
THE GEEAT STAMPEDE 237 
 
 and the other winners, gave exhibitions of their 
 powers. In the evening, with the huge stadium 
 brilliantly lighted, Joan and Jack gave their ex- 
 hibition of trick and fancy roping that fairly 
 brought down the house; so ended what had 
 been the most brilliantly successful episode in 
 Jack's adventurous career. 
 
 ^^Joan,'' he said to her as they walked back 
 to the stables with their horses, ** Jones and I 
 have practically bought a ranch; hope you'll 
 come to see us some time.'' 
 
 *^How splendid!" replied Joan enthusias- 
 tically; **what a wonderful pair of friends yon 
 two are. Of course I'll come as often as I dare, 
 but how sorry we shall be to lose you." 
 
 Just then they heard steps behind them; it 
 was Mr. Mcintosh, 
 
 **Dad," called out Joan, **I've got some 
 great news for you. Jack and Jones have 
 bought a ranch." 
 
 *^ That's no news, Joan, for I've heard all 
 about it. Jack, my boy," he said, ^*I want to 
 congratulate you on your pluck and persever- 
 ance. I knew you'd make good, and sorry 
 though I am to lose you two boys, I'm mighty 
 pleased to be able to shake you by the hand and 
 wish you both the best of luck. ' ' 
 
238 MAKING GOOD 
 
 ** Thank you, Mr. Mcintosh/' replied Jack 
 with some emotion; *Hhe Q. Z. has been a real 
 home to me, and I can never forget that if I 
 have made good my thanks are due entirely to 
 you. ' ' 
 
 ** Forget it, boy, forget it. Come on with your 
 pintos, you twoj we're riding back to the Q. Z. 
 to-night.'' 
 
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