a scrape. That's what delayed me."

"What was the trouble?"

"Oh, the same old story. Curly kin never mind his own bizness. He's
allus pokin' his nose into other people's affairs. He's too sassy."

"Where is he now?"

"In the smoker. I had to drag him along with me, an' that's what made
me late."

"Why didn't you leave him behind?"

"I should have done that. But it's the Brotherhood, ye see, that made
me do it. That feller ain't safe runnin' at large, an' somebody's got
to keep an eye on him, 'specially up here."

"It seems to me that you have undertaken a big task," and Reynolds
smiled.

"Indeed I have an' no one knows that better'n me. If I had my way,
he'd be shipped off to some Penitentiary. That's the right place for
the likes of him. An' he'll land thar some day, as sure as guns. But
in the meantime somebody's got to watch him."

Reynolds made no reply. In fact, he hardly heard his companion's last
words, for his eyes were riveted upon the wonderful sights around him.
Above towered the peaks of the White Pass Range, grand and majestic.
Away to the left, and far above, could be seen the railway track,