up at the platform. Redmond regarded with a little awe the huge,
bear-like, uniformed figure of the teamster, whom he identified at once
from barrack gossip.

"Sergeant Slavin?" he enquired respectfully, eyeing the bronzed,
clean-shaven face, half hidden by fur cap and turned-up collar.

"Meself, lad!" came a rich soft brogue, "I was afther gettin' a wire from
th' O.C., tellin' me he was thransfering me another man. Yer name's
Ridmond, ain't it?---Whoa, now! T an' B!--lively wid thim kit-bags,
son!--team's pretty fresh an' will not shtand."

They swung off at a spanking trot. George surveyed the white-washed
cattle-corrals and few scattered shacks which seemed to comprise the
hamlet of Davidsburg.

"Not a very big place, Sergeant?" he remarked, "how far's the detachment
from here?"

"On'y 'bout a mile" grunted the individual, squirting a stream of
tobacco-juice to leeward, "up on the high ground beyant. Nay! 'tis just
a jumpin' off place an' shippin' point for th' ranches hereabouts.
Business is mostly done at Cow Run--East. Ye passed ut, comin'. Great
doin's there--whin th' cowpunchers blow in. Some burg!"

"Sure looked it!" Redmond agreed absently, thinking of the casual glimpse
he had got of the dreary main street.

They were climbing a slight grade. The sun-glare on the snow was
intense; the cutter's steel runners no longer screeched, and the team's