"Now，"saidSinclair，"we’llhaveCrawley。"
　　InafewmomentsCrawleycamein，smilingandself—confident，withplentyofnerve，anabundanceofwit，andamostingenuousmanner。
　　Hemetthechairman’squestionswithreadyassuranceandcorroboratedthestorytoldbyCarroll。HewouldfranklyacknowledgethathehadheardabouttheLostRiver。Indeed，hehadbeenmoreorlessinterestedinitforsomeyearsand，thoughhedidnottakemuchstockinthedoctor’sword，stillhedeclaredthathisowninterestsandtheinterestsofMissMowbray，andindeedofallconcerned，demandedthatthethingwasworthlookinginto。Theyvisitedthelocalityindicatedbythedoctor;theyspentaweekinexploration，butcouldfindnotraceofsuchavaluablemineasthedoctorhaddescribed;andtheyhadcomeawaynotverymuchdisappointed;theyhadhardlyexpectedanyotherresult。TheyhadseenMr。Macgregor’scamp，buttheyhadnotapproachedit;theypassedbyatsomedistance，leavingeverythingundisturbed。
　　"YoucampedthatnightneartheOldProspector’sgrave？"askedSinclair。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Thenextdayyousetoffforhome？"
　　"Exactly。"
　　"YouandCarrollwerealwaystogether？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Youcamehomebythesametrailandwithoutanyotherexplorations？"
　　HereCrawleyhesitatedamoment。"Well，yes，exceptthatweranupagulchtolookatsomerocks。"
　　"Oh！Didyoufindanything？"
　　"Well，wethinkso，"saidCrawleypleasantly。
　　"Youwentbothtogetherupthegulch？Youwereneverseparated？"
　　"Wewenttogether，yes。"
　　"Anyfurtherquestions，gentlemen？"
　　Foratimetherewasnoresponse，thenIkecameslowlyforwardtothetableandstoodbyCrawley’sside。
　　"Youdidnotgonearthatcache？"
　　"No，"saidCrawleyfirmly。
　　"Areyoumightysureaboutthat？Betterbesure。"
　　"Iampositivewedidnotgowithintwentyorthirtyyards，"saidCrawleydefiantly。
　　"Allright，Crawley，"drawledIke，"betterhaveapipenow。"Andashespokehethrewdownatobaccopouchonthetable。
　　Crawleyturnedpale，grippedatthetabletosteadhimself，gazedatthepouchlyingbeforehimforafewmomentsandthenenquiredinavoicethatshookinspiteofallthathecoulddo:"Whogaveyou——
　　wheredidyougetthat？"
　　"It’syours，aintit？Gotyournameon，anyway，"saidIke。"Wheredidyouleaveit？"
　　"Don’tknow，"saidCrawley，turninggreenwithterror。
　　"Gentlemen，"saidIke，addressingthecrowd，"Iaintagoin’tomakenospeechtothisjury，butIwanttoremarkthatthishereblankreptileisablankliar，andifheaintamurderer’tainthisfault。
　　Thattherepouchofhis，"continuedIke，puttingalongforefingerdownuponthearticlelyingonthetable，"thattherepouchofhiswasfoundbythe’Prospector，’asPeraultcallshim，besidethatthereemptycache。That’sallIhavetosay。"AndIketurnedandwalkedslowlybacktohisseat。
　　Invainthetremblingwretchtriedfirsttoblusterandthentoexplain。CarrollwasagainsummonedandaffirmedemphaticallythatheandCrawleyhadbeenseparatedforthegreaterpartofoneday，andthatwhiletogethertheyhadnotapproachedMr。Macgregor’scamp。
　　"Thatwilldo，Carroll，"saidSinclairquietly。"Webelieveyouentirely，andIwouldliketosaythatformypartIammightygladthatyouareentirelyfreedfromsuspicion。"
　　"That’sso，youbet！"camefromthemenonallsides，asonebyonetheysteppedforwardtoshakeCarrollwarmlybythehand。
　　"Now，gentlemen，"saidSinclair，"makeyourdecision。Thisman，"
　　pointingtoCrawley，"ischargedwithaseriouscrime。Whatisyourverdict？"
　　Onebyonethementhrewintothehatonthetableabitofpaper。
　　InsilenceSinclairandTheKidreadandrecordedtheballots。WhentheyhadfinishedSinclairstoodup，lookingsternlyatCrawley，andsaid:
　　"Mr。Crawley，thisCommitteesayunanimouslythatyouareguilty。
　　Haveyouanythingtosaybeforesentenceispronounced？"
　　Thewretchedcreaturefellonhiskneeswithtearsandcriesentreatingmercy。
　　"Takehimaway，"saidSinclairsternly。"Now，gentlemen，whathaveyoutosay？Whatshallbedonetothismanwhomyouhavedecidedtobeguiltyofmurder？"
　　Thediscussionwhichfollowedwaslongandbitter。Sinclairandthosewhohadcomemorerecentlytothecountrywereforhandinghimovertothepolice。
　　"What’sthegoodofthat，Sinclair？"demandedMacnamara，oneoftheold—timers。
　　"Well，he’llgetjusticesure;he’llgetsentup。"
　　"Don’tknowaboutthat，"saidIke。"Yousee，youcan’tproveanythingbutstealin’，andyoucan’tprovethat，forsure。They’lltakehimdowntoRegina，andtheyaintgoingtogivehimmuchdownthereforstealin’alittlegrub。"
　　"Well，whatdoyoupropose？"saidSinclair。
　　"Well，"saidIke，"hangin’stoogoodforhim。Heoughttobehung，but’taintthecustominthisherecountry，Iunderstand，andI
　　surmisewe’dbetterscarethedaylightsoutofhimandgivehimtwelvehourstogetout。"
　　AftersomefurtherdiscussionIke’spropositionwasaccepted。ThatnightfourmaskedmentookCrawleyoutoftheroomwherehehadbeenkeptaprisonerandledhimoutofthevillageandupthetrailtothewoods，andthere，unheedinghisprayersandcriesandgroans，theymadesolemnpreparationsforhisexecution。InthemidstoftheirpreparationsSinclair，withanumber。ofothers，camegallopingupanddemandedtheprisoner’srelease，andafteralongandbitterdiscussionitwasfinallyagreedthatCrawleyshouldbegiventwelvehourstoleavethecountry，whichdecisionwasjoyfullyandtearfullyacceptedbytheterror—strickenwretch。
　　"Hello，oldman，there’saletterforyouinmyrooms。Thoughtyou’dbeinto—day，sotookcareofitforyou。"FatherMikedrewnearShock’sbuckboardandgreetedhimcordially。"ByJove！what’sthematterwithyou？Whathaveyoubeendoingtoyourself？"heexclaimed，lookingkeenlyintoShock’sface。
　　"Iamratherseedy，"saidShock。"Playedout，indeed。"AndhegaveFatherMikeanaccountofhislastweek’sexperience。
　　"GreatCaesar！"exclaimedFatherMike，"thatwasaclosething。Comerightalongandstretchyourselfoutofmycouch。Acupofteawilldoyougood。"Shock，gladlyacceptingtheinvitation，wentwithhim。
　　"There’syourletter，"saidFatherMike，ashesetShockinhisdeeparmchair。"YoureaditwhileImaketea。"
　　Theletterwas，asFatherMikehadsaid，afatone。ItwasfromhisConvenerandranthus:
　　"MYDEARMR。MACGREGOR:"
　　"TheenclosedletterfromtheSuperintendentwillexplainitself。
　　YouareinstructedtowithdrawforthwithyourservicesfromtheFort。Iknowyouwillbedisappointed。ThisisthesortofthingthatmakesourworkintheWestdepressing:notbigblizzardsnorsmallgrants，butfailureonthepartofEasternmentounderstandourneedsandtoappreciatethetremendousimportanceoftheseyearstotheWest。Nevermind，ourdaywillcome。IregretgreatlythattheCommitteeshouldhavebeeninfluencedbythepetitionenclosed。
　　Donotletthisworryyou。TheSuperintendent’sP。S。isduetosomemisunderstanding。Ihavewrittenhimonthismatter。Weknowsomeofyourdifficultiesandwehaveeveryconfidenceinyou，"etc。，etc。
　　FromtheSuperintendent’slettertheConvenerhadenclosedthefollowingextracts:
　　"IthasbeendecidedtowithdrawourservicesfromtheFort。IhadastifffightintheCommittee，butfailed;theywereallagainstme。
　　Dr。Macfarrenespeciallyso——hadprivateinformation（fromhisbrother，Isuppose）;presentedapetition，whichfindenclosed;
　　protestedagainstthewasteoffunds，etc。，etc。Thispreciouspetition，bytheway，seemedtoinfluencetheCommitteegreatly。I
　　neednottellyouitfailedtoinfluenceme，unlessindeedasanevidenceoftheneedofourservicesinthatplace。YouandIhaveseenthissortofthingbeforeintheWest。YoungLloydoftheParkChurch，too，waseloquentinopposing——theoldstory，fundsoverlapping，denominationalrivalry。Theseyoungmen，whodeclinetofacethefrontier，wouldshowbettertasteinseekingtolearnsomethingoftheWestthaninhamperingthosewhoaregivingtheirlivestothiswork。TheupholsteredseatoftheParkChurchpulpitdoesnotinducetheliveliestsympathywiththeWesternconditions。
　　MeantimetheConvenersitsonthechest，andtherestoftheCommitteeseemtofeelthattheirchiefdutyliesincuttingdownexpensesandthatthehighestpossibleachievementistheirmeetingtheAssemblywithoutadeficit。"
　　"P。S。——Dr。MacfarrenhintedagooddealatwantoftactonthepartofourMissionary，andyoungLloyd，whoknowsMacgregor，seemedtoconsiderthisquitepossible。OurMissionarymustnotantagonisemenunnecessarily。Sendhimthisletterifyouthinkwell;Ialwaysliketodealfranklywithourmen，"etc。，etc。
　　AsShookreadthelettersandglancedatthepetitionhislookofwearinesspassedawayandtheoldscrimmagesmilecamebacktohisface。"Readthat，"hesaid，handingtheletterstoFatherMike，whoreadtheminsilence。
　　"Withdraw！"heexclaimedinastonishmentwhenhehadfinishedreading。"Andwhy，pray？"
　　"Oh！don’tyousee，’fundsoverlapping，denominationalrivalry’？"
　　"’Overlapping，rivalry，’rot！YoucannotdomyworkhereandI
　　cannotdoyours。Isay，thispetitionwouldberichifitwerenotsodamnable，"addedFatherMike，glancingatthedocument。
　　"’Whereas，thetownisamplysuppliedwithchurchservicesthereisnodesireforservicesbythePresbyterians’——orbyanyothersforthatmatter，"interjectedFatherMike。"Letusseewhosignsthisblessedpaper？Macfarren。He’sabeautifulchurchman。InspectorHaynes。What’shegottodowithit？Frank，Smith，Crozier！Why，thethingisafarce！Notamanofthemevergoestochurch。’Whereas，thePresbyteriansarequiteunabletoassumeanyfinancialobligationinsupportofaminister。’Why，thewholeoutfitdoesn’tcontributeadollaramonth。Isn’titpreposterous，abeastlyhumbug！Whoisthisyoungwhipper—snapper，Lloyd，pray？"FatherMike’stonewasfullofcontempt。
　　Shockwinced。Hisfriendhadtouchedtheonly，placeleftrawbytheletter。"Heisacollegefriendofmine，"heansweredquickly。"A
　　finefellowandagreatpreacher。"
　　"Oh！"repliedFatherMikedrily。"Ibegpardon。Well，whatwillyoudo？"
　　"Withdraw，"saidShocksimply。"Ihaven’tmadeitgo，anyway。"
　　"Rot！"saidFatherMike，withgreatemphasis。"Macfarrendoesn’twantyou，andpossiblytheInspectorsharesinthatfeeling，——I
　　guessyouknowwhy，butyouareneededinthistown，andneededbadly。"
　　ButShockonlyreplied"Ishallwithdraw。Ihavebeenratherafailure，Iguess。Let’stalknomoreaboutit。"
　　"Allright，oldchap，"saidFatherMike。"Comealongtotea。IwishtoHeaventhereweremorefailureslikeyouinthecountry。"
　　Shock’slastserviceattheFortmarkedhisemancipationasapreacheroftheGospel。Hithertothepresenceofthosewhomheknewtobeindifferentorcontemptuouslycriticalhadwroughtinhimaself—consciousnessthatconfusedhisthought，cloggedhisemotion，andhamperedhisspeech。Thisnightallwaschanged。Thehallwasfull;theInspectorandhiswife，withthemenfromthebarracks，Macfarrenandhisfollowers，GeneralBradyandhisgracious，sweet—
　　facedwife，wereallthere。IkeandTheKid——whoseranchlayhalfwaybetweentheLakeandtheForthadriddenin，andfarbackinthedimdarknessofacornersatthedoctor。AsShockstoodupandlookedintothefacesofthemenbeforehimandthoughtoftheirlives，lonely，tempted，franklywicked，someofthemfardownindegradation，heforgothimself，hissuccess，orhisfailure。Whatmatteredthat！Howpettyseemednowallhisconsiderationsforhimself！Menwerebeforehimwhobyreasonofsinwereinsoreneedofhelp。Hebelievedhehadwhattheyneeded。Howtogiveittothem，thatwasthequestion。Withthisfeelingofsympathyandcompassion，deepenedandintensifiedbyapoignantsenseoffailure，Shockstooduptodelivertothemhislastmessage。Hewouldspeakthetruthto—night，andspeakithedid，withoutatingeofembarrassmentorfear。Ashiswordsbegantoflowhebecameconsciousofanewstrength，ofanewfreedom，andthejoyofhisnewstrengthandfreedomswepthimalongonafulltideofburningspeech。Heabandonedhisnotes，fromwhichhehadhithertofearedtobefarseparated;heleftthedesk，whichhadbeentohimabarricadefordefence，andstoodupbeforethepeople。HisthemewasthestoryoftheleprousmanwhodaredtocometotheGreatHealerinallthehideousnessofhisdiseaseandwhowasstraightwaycleansed。Afterreadingthewordshestoodfacingthemafewmomentsinsilenceandthen，withoutanymannerofintroduction，hebegan:
　　"That’swhatyouwant，men。Youneedtobemadeclean，youneedtobemadestrong。"Thepeoplestaredathimasifhehadgonemad，itwassounlikehisusualformal，awkwardself。Quietly，butwithintenseandseriousearnestness，hespoketothemoftheirsins，theirdrunkenorgies，theirawfulprofanity，theirdisregardofeverythingreligious，theiropenvicesandsecretsins。
　　"Say，"saidIketoTheKid，whosatnexttohim，"they’llbegettin’
　　outtheirgunssure！"Buttherewasnoangerinthefaceslifteduptothespeaker;thematterwastooseriousforangerandthetonewastookindlyforoffence。WithouthesitationShockwentonwithhisterriblyrelentlessindictmentofthemenwhosatbeforehim。
　　Then，withaswiftchangeoftoneandthought，hecriedinavoicevibratingwithcompassion:
　　"Andyoucannothelpit，men！Thepityofitis，youcannothelpit！
　　Youcannotchangeyourhearts;youlovethesethings，youcannotshakethemoff，theyhavegrownuponyouandhavebecomeyourfixedhabits。Someofyouhavetried:Iknowyouhavehadyourperiodsofremorseandyouhavesoughttoescape，butyouhavefailed。"
　　Hepausedamoment，andthencontinuedinavoicehumbleandremorseful:
　　"Ihavefailed，too。IthoughtinmyprideandmyfollythatIcouldhelpyou，butIhavefailed。Wehavefailedtogether，men——whatthenisbeforeus？"
　　Hisvoicetookadeepertone，hismannerwasearnestlyrespectfulandtenderlysympathetic，ashesetbeforethemtheDivineMan，soquicktosympathise，soreadyandsopowerfultohelp。
　　"Heisthesameto—night，men！AppealtoHimandHewillrespondasHedidtothispoorleprousman。"
　　Overandoveragainheurgedthisuponthem，heapingargumentuponargument，seekingtopersuadethemthatitwasworthwhilemakingtheattempt。
　　"Say，boss，seemsreasonable，don’tit，andeasy，too？"saidIketoTheKid，whowaslisteningwithfacepaleandintent。TheKidnoddedwithoutmovinghiseagereyesfromthespeaker’sface。
　　"ButIcan’tjustgitthethrow，quite，"continuedIke，withapuzzledair。
　　"Hush，listen！"saidTheKidsharply。Shockhadpausedabruptly。Forafewmomentshestoodlookingintotheeyesofthemengapingbackathimwithsuchintenseeagerness;thenleaningforwardalittlehesaidinavoicelow，butthrillingwithemotions:
　　"Doesanymanherethinkhisfatherormotherhasforgottenhimordoesnotcarewhathappenstohim？"
　　Shockwasthinkingofhisowndearoldmother，separatedfromhimbysomanyleaguesofemptyprairie，butsoneartohiminloveandsympathy。
　　"Doesanymanthinkso？"herepeated，"anddoyouthinkyourFatherinHeavendoesnotcare？Oh！donotthinkso！"Hisvoiceroseinacryofentreaty。Theeffectwastremendous。
　　"GodinHeaven，helpme！"criedTheKidtohimselfwithasobinhisvoice。
　　"Metoo，boss，"saidIkegravely，puttinghishandontheother’sknee。
　　Shock’sfarewellwasasabruptashisbeginning。Inasinglesentenceheinformedthemthattheserviceswouldbediscontinuedatthisendofthefield。Hewishedhecouldhaveservedthembetter;
　　heknewhehadfailed;heaskedtheirforgivenessashehadalreadyaskeditofhisGod;but，thoughhehadfailed，hecommendedthemtoHimwhohadneverfailedanymanappealingtoHimforhelp。
　　Therewasnohymn，butinasimple，shortprayertheservicewasclosed，andbeforethecongregationhadrecoveredfromtheiramazementShockhadpassedoutthroughthebackdoor。
　　"Well，I’llbeblanked！"saidIke，withagasp。
　　"Quitthat，Ike，"saidTheKidsharply。"Lookhere——Iamgoingtoquitswearingrightnow，sohelpme。"
　　"Allright，boss，I’mwithyou;putitthere。"
　　ThenabovethehumofconversationGeneralBrady’svoicewasheard:
　　"Gentlemen，itismyopinionthatwehavelostagreatmanto—night，afearlessmanandaChristiangentleman。"
　　"That’smyentireprognostication，General，"saidIke，withgreatemphasis。
　　MeantimeShockhadgonesearchingthroughthehotelsforthedoctor，whomhehadseenslippingoutbeforetheclosingprayer。Butthedoctorwasnowheretobeseen，andindespairShockwenttoFatherMike。Hefoundthatgentlemaninastateofenthusiasticexcitement。
　　"Mydearfellow，mydearfellow，"heexclaimed，"thatwasgreat！"
　　"What？"saidShocksimply。
　　"Thatsermon，man。Iwouldgivemyhandtopreachlikethat。"
　　"Preach？"saidShock。"Ididn’tpreach。Didyouseethedoctor？"
　　"Nevermindthedoctor，"saidFatherMike。"Comein，Iwanttotalkwithyou;comein。"
　　"No，Imustseethedoctor。"
　　"Well，then，wait;Iwillgowithyou。"
　　Shockhesitated。"IthinkIwouldrathergoalone，ifyoudon’tmind，"hesaid。
　　"Allright，oldchap，"saidFatherMike，"Iunderstand。Thedoor’salwaysopenandthekettleon。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidShock。"YouknowhowIappreciatethat，"andhewentout。
　　TherewasalightinMacfarren’soffice。Shockknockedatthedoorandwentin。HefoundthedoctorandMacfarrenseatedbyatable，uponwhichwereglassesandabottle。Thedoctorwaspale，nervous，shaking。
　　"Sitdown，Mr。Macgregor，"saidMacfarren，withmorecordialitythanhehadevershowntoShockbefore。
　　"Iwasjustsayingtothedoctorthatthatwasafinediscourse，averyablediscourse，Mr。Macgregor。"
　　Shockmadenoreply，butstoodlookingatthedoctor。
　　"Iwouldliketosay，"continuedMacfarren，"thatIregretyourleavingus。Ibelieve，onthewhole，itisamistake;werequirepreachinglikethat。"TherewasatouchofrealearnestnessinMacfarren’stone。
　　"Mr。Macfarren，"saidShock，"IamsorryIhavenotbeenabletohelpyou。Youneedhelp，youneedhelpbadly。JesusChristcanhelpyou。Goodnight。"Hetookthedoctor’sarmand，helpinghimup，walkedoffwithhim。
　　"Whatdoyouwant？"saidthedoctorfiercely，whentheywereoutside。
　　"Doctor，Iwantyourhelp。Ifeelweak。"
　　"Weak！GreatHeavensabove！YOUtalkofweakness？Don’tmockme！"
　　"Itistrue，doctor;comealong。"
　　"Whereareyougoing？"saidthedoctor。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidShock。"Letusgotoyouroffice。"
　　Thedoctor’sofficewasacheerlessroom，dusty，disordered，andcomfortless。Thedoctorsatdowninachair，laidhisheadonthetable，andgroaned。"Itisnogood，itisnogood。Itried，Itriedhonestly。Iprayed，Ievenhopedforatime——thisisallgoneI
　　brokemyword，Ibetrayedmytrusteventothedead。Allislost！"
　　"Doctor，"saidShockquietly，"Iwishthatyouwouldlookatmeandtellmewhat’sthematterwithme。Icannoteat，Icannotsleep，andyetIamweary。Ifeelweakanduseless——cannotyouhelpme？"
　　Thedoctorlookedathimkeenly。"You’renotplayingwithme，areyou？No，byJove！youarenot。Youdolookbad——letmelookatyou。"
　　Hisprofessionalinterestwasaroused。HeturnedupthelampandexaminedShockthoroughly。
　　"Whathaveyoubeendoing？What’sthecauseofthisthing？"heenquired，atlength，asifhefearedtoask。
　　Shockgavehimanaccountofhistendays’experienceinthemountains，sparingnothing。Thedoctorlistenedinanagonyofself—
　　reproach。
　　"Itwasmyfault，"hegroaned，"itwasallmyfault。"
　　"Notawordofthat，doctor，please。Itwasnotinyourhandsorinmine。TheLostRiverislost，notbyanyman’sfault，butbythewillofGod。Now，tellme，whatdoIneed？"
　　"Nothing，nothingatallbutrestandsleep。Rest;foraweek，"saidthedoctor。
　　"Well，then，"saidShock，"Iwantyoutocomeandlookaftermeforaweek。Ineedyou;youneedme;we’llhelpeachother。"
　　"Oh，God！Oh，God！"groanedthedoctor，"whatistheuse？Youknowthereisnouse。"
　　"Doctor，Itoldyoubeforethatyouaresayingwhatisbothfalseandfoolish。"
　　"Iremember，"saidthedoctorbitterly。"Youspokeofcommonsenseandhonesty。"
　　"Yes，andIsaysoagain，"repliedShock。"Commonsenseandhonestyiswhatyouneed。Listen——Iamnotgoingtopreach，Iamdonewiththatforto—night——butyouknowaswellasIdothatwhenamanfacestherightwayGodisreadytobackhimup。Itiscommonsensetobankonthat，isn’tit？Commonsense，andnothingelse。ButI
　　wanttosaythis，you’vegottobehonestwithGod。You’venotbeenfair。Yousayyou’veprayed——"
　　"GodknowsIhave，"saidthedoctor。
　　"Yes，"saidShock，withatouchofscorninhisvoice，"you’veprayed，andthenyouwentintothesameoldplacesandwiththesameoldcompanions，andsoyoufindyourselfwhereyouareto—night。Youcannotcureanymanofdiseaseifhebreakseveryregulationyoumakewhenyourbackisturned。GiveGodachance，that’sallIask。
　　BedecentlysquarewithHim。There’slotsofmysteryinreligion，butitisnotthere。Comealongnow，youaregoinghomewithme。"
　　"No，sir，"saidthedoctordecidedly。"Ishallfightitoutalone。"
　　"Willyouwalk，orshallIcarryyou？"saidShockquietly。
　　Thedoctorgazedathim。"Oh，confoundyou！"hecried，"I’ll"——Hestoppedshortandputtinghisfacedownuponthetableagainheburstintoastormofsobsandcried，"Oh，Iamweak，Iamweak，letmego，letmego，Iamnotworthit！"
　　ThenShockgotdownbesidehim，puthisarmaroundhisshoulder，andsaid:"Icannotletyougo，doctor。Iwantyou。AndyourFatherinHeavenwantsyou。Come，"hecontinuedafterapause，"we’llwinyet。"
　　ForhalfanhourtheywalkedthestreetsandthenturnedintoFatherMike’squarters。
　　"FatherMike，"saidShock，openingthedoor，"wewantcoffee，andI’mhungrierthanI’vebeenforthreedays。"
　　"Comein，"saidFatherMike，withakeenglanceatthedoctor，"comein，brothermine。You’veearnedyourgrubthisday。"
　　XVI
　　"STAYATYOURPOST，LAD"
　　RelievedfromhisstationattheFort，Shockwasabletodevotehimselfentirelytothewesternpartofhisfield，whichembracedtheLoonLakedistrictandextendedtwenty—fivemilesuptothePass，andhethrewhimselfwithredoubledenergyintohisworkofexplorationandorganisation。Longagohislittlecayusehadbeenfoundquiteunequaltothetaskofkeepingpacewiththetremendousenergyofhisdriver，andsoforthelongerjourneysShockhadcometodependmainlyuponBob，thegreatrangeysorrelsenthimbytheHamiltonboys，theonlyconditionattachedtothegiftbeingthatheshouldallowBobtovisittheranchatleastonceamonth。AndsoitcamethatShockandhissorrelbronchobecamewidelyknownovertherangesofallthatcountry。Manyalittleshackinfarawayvalleys，whereawomanwithherchildrenlivedinisolatedseclusionfromalltheworld，hediscoveredandbroughtintotouchwiththeworldabout，andbymeansofbooksandmagazinesandillustratedpapersbroughttoheartssickwithlongingsomeofthecolourandbrightnessfromthegreatworldbeyond，sooftenfondlylongedfor。
　　Manyacowboy，wildandreckless，witheverylinkofkin—shipbroken，anunrelatedunitofhumanitykeepinglonelywatchoverhisbunchofcattle，foundinShockafriend，andestablishedthroughhimanewabondwithhumansociety。ThehourspentwithShockinridingaroundthecattleoftenbroughttothisbitofhumandriftwoodanewrespectforhimself，anewsenseofresponsibilityforlife，andanewestimateoftheworthofhismanhood。AwayupinthePass，too，wheretheminerslivedandwroughtunderconditionswretched，debasing，andfraughtwithdanger，andwhereintheforest—campsthelumbermenlivedlivesmorewholesome，butmorelonely，Shockfoundscopeforthefullenergyofhispassiontohelpandserve。
　　"Ahospitaliswhattheyneeduphere，doctor！"heexclaimedonedayaftertheyhadmadeatourthroughtheshacksandbunkswheremensickandinjuredlayintheiruncaredformisery。"Ahospitaliswhattheywant，andsomekindofahomelikeplacewheretheycanmeettogether。AndbyGod’shelpwe’llgetthis，too，whenourhandsaresomewhatfree。Wehaveallwecandoforthenextfewweeks。"
　　Andsotheyhad。