unspoken demand there in the poplars was that he free McTrigger,
and it was backed up by a threat which Kedsty understood and which
terrified him to his marrow. McTrigger must have seen him
afterward, for he waited at the office until Kedsty came. I don't
know what passed between them. Constable Doyle says they were
together for half an hour. Then McTrigger walked out of barracks,
and no one has seen him since. It's mighty queer. The whole thing
is queer. And the queerest part of the whole business is this
sudden commission of mine at Fort Simpson."

Kent leaned back against his pillows. His breath came in a series
of short, hacking coughs. In the star glow O'Connor saw his face
grow suddenly haggard and tired-looking, and he leaned far in so
that in both his own hands he held one of Kent's.

"I'm tiring you, Jimmy," he said huskily. "Good-by, old pal! I--I--"
He hesitated and then lied steadily. "I'm going up to take a
look around Kedsty's place. I won't be gone more than half an hour
and will stop on my way back. If you're asleep--"

"I won't be asleep," said Kent.

O'Connor's hands gripped closer. "Good-by, Jimmy."

"Good-by." And then, as O'Connor stepped back into the night,
Kent's voice called after him softly: "I'll be with you on the
long trip, Bucky. Take care of yourself--always."

O'Connor's answer was a sob, a sob that rose in his throat like a
great fist, and choked him, and filled his eyes with scalding