which had elapsed since his last visit to Vancouver, but it did not
seem to occur to him that it was in any way an unusual receptacle for
sugar. His companion, however, laughed a little as he stirred the
sticky mass round with his wet fingers.

"There is no use giving him our tobacco and matches in," said he.
"Here are the letters Mrs. Neilson gave me at the post-office, too."

Alton took the letters, and his face grew a trifle grim under the
flickering light of the lantern as he thrust them crumpled into his
pocket. "From England, and they will keep," he said. "There's nobody
I'm anxious to hear from in that country. Now we'll go on again,
Charley."

The Cayuse, however, objected, and there was a struggle before Alton
convinced it that resistance would be useless, while presently the
trail grew steeper and the roar of water came out of the darkness
before them.

"This," said Alton gravely, "is a great country, but it's mighty
unfinished yet, and it kind of hurts me to see all that power wasted."

"Wasted?" said Seaforth, smiling. "Don't the salmon swim in it, and
the bear and deer come down to drink?"

"Oh, yes," said Alton. "And sometimes the Siwash wash themselves in it
too, but that's not the question. This earth wasn't made for the bear
and deer, and they've thousands of poor folks they can't find a use for
back there in the old country. Isn't that so, Charley?"