第15章

"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。