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meet　her　waking　glance；　lest　it　should　rebuke　his　madness　of　the　night；　how；　as　her　eyes　noted　the　haggard　look　of　sleepless　watching　and　of　pain；　her　heart　flowed　over　as　with　a　mother's　pity　for　her　child；　and　how　she　longed　to　comfort　him　but　dared　not；　how　he　thought　of　the　coming　days　and　feared　to　think　of　them；　because　in　them　she　would　have　no　place　or　part；　how　she　looked　into　the　future　and　wondered　what　like　would　be　a　life　in　this　new　and　wonderful　landall　this；　no　matter　what　his　skill　or　art；　no　man　could　tell。

It　was　still　morning　when　Jack　French　and　Brown　rode　up　the　Night　Hawk　ravine；　driving　two　saddled　ponies　before　them。　　Their　common　anxiety　had　furnished　the　occasion　for　the　healing　of　the　breach　that　for　a　year　and　more　had　held　these　friends　apart。

With　voluble　enthusiasm　Mr。　Penny　welcomed　them；　plunging　into　a　graphic　account　of　their　struggle　with　the　storm　till　happily　they　came　upon　the　dogs；　who　led　them　to　Kalman　and　his　camp。　　But　French；　brushing　him　aside；　strode　past　to　where；　trembling　and　speechless；　Marjorie　stood；　and　then；　taking　her　in　his　arms；　he　whispered　many　times　in　her　ears；　〃Thank　God；　little　girl；　you　are　safe。〃

And　Margaret；　putting　her　arms　around　Jack's　neck；　whispered　through　radiant　tears；　〃It　was　Kalman；　Jack。　　Don't　listen　to　yon　gommeril。　　It　was　Kalman　saved　us；　and　oh；　Jack；　he　is　just　lovely！〃

And　Jack；　patting　her　cheek；　said；　〃I　know　all　about　him。〃

〃Do　you；　indeed？〃　she　answered；　with　a　knowing　smile。　　〃I　doubt。　But　oh！　he　has　broken　his　foot　or　something。　　And　oh；　Jack；　he　has　got　a　mine！〃

And　Jack；　not　knowing　what　she　meant；　looked　curiously　into　her　face　and　wondered；　till　Brown；　examining　Kalman's　foot　and　finding　a　broken　bone；　exclaimed　wrathfully；　〃Say；　boy；　you　don't　tell　me　you　have　been　walking　on　this　foot？〃

But　Kalman　answered　nothing。

〃He　came　for　mefor　us；　Mr。　Brown；　through　that　awful　storm；〃　cried　Marjorie　penitently；　〃and　is　it　broken？　　Oh；　Kalman；　how　could　you？〃

But　Kalman　still　answered　nothing。　　His　dream　was　passing　from　him。　She　was　restored　to　her　world　and　was　no　longer　in　his　care。

〃And　here's　his　mine；〃　cried　Marjorie；　turning　Jack　toward　the　black　seam。

〃By　Jove！〃　cried　Mr。　Penny；　〃and　I　never　saw　it。　　You　never　showed　it　to　me。〃

But　during　those　hours　spent　in　the　cave　Kalman　and　Marjorie　had　something　other　to　occupy　their　minds　than　mines。　　Jack　French　examined　the　seam　closely　and　in　growing　excitement。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry！　Kalman；　did　you　find　this？〃

Kalman　nodded　indifferently。　　Mines　were　nothing　to　him　now。

〃How　did　you　light　upon　it？〃

And　Kalman　told　him　how。

〃He's　just　half　dead　and　starved；〃　said　Marjorie　in　a　voice　that　broke　with　pity。　　〃He　watched　all　last　night　while　we　slept　away　like　a　pair　o'　stirks。〃

At　the　tone　in　her　voice；　Jack　French　turned　and　gave　her　a　searching　look。　　The　quick；　hot　blood　flamed　into　her　cheeks；　and　in　her　eyes　dawned　a　frank　shyness　as　she　gave　him　back　his　look。

〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃he's　fair　dune　oot。〃

But　Jack　only　nodded　his　head　sagely　while　he　whispered　to　her；　〃Happy　boy；　happy　boy！　　Two　mines　in　one　night！〃

At　which　the　red　flamed　up　again　and　she　fell　to　examining　with　greater　diligence　the　seam　of　black　running　athwart　the　cave　side。

In　a　few　minutes　they　were　mounted　and　away；　Brown　riding　hard　to　bring　the　great　news　to　the　engineer's　camp　and　recall　the　hunting　parties；　the　rest　to　make　the　ranch；　Marjorie　in　front　in　happy　sparkling　converse　with　Jack　French；　and　Kalman；　haggard　and　gloomy；　bringing　up　the　rear。　　A　new　man　was　being　brought　to　birth　within　him；　and　sore　were　the　parturition　pangs。　　For　one　brief　night　she　had　been　his；　now　back　to　her　world；　she　was　his　no　more。

It　was　quite　two　days　before　the　shining　sun　and　the　eager　air　had　licked　up　from　earth　the　drifts　of　snow；　and　two　days　before　Marjorie　felt　quite　sure　she　was　able　to　bear　again　the　rigours　of　camp　life；　and　two　days　before　Aunt　Janet　woke　up　to　the　fact　that　that　foreign　young　man　was　altogether　too　handsome　to　be　riding　from　morning　till　night　with　her　niece。　　For　Jack；　meanwhile；　was　attending　with　assiduous　courtesy　the　Aunt　and　receiving　radiant　looks　of　gratitude　from　the　niece。　　Two　days　of　Heaven；　when　Kalman　forgot　all　but　that　she　was　beside　him；　two　days　of　hell　when　he　remembered　that　he　was　but　a　poor　foreign　boy　and　she　a　great　English　lady。　　Two　days　and　they　said　farewell。　　Marjorie　was　the　last；　turning　first　to　French；　who　kissed　her；　saying；　〃Come　back　again；　little　girl；〃　and　then　to　Kalman；　sitting　on　his　broncho；　for　he　hated　to　go　lame　before　them　all。

〃Good…by；　Kalman；〃　she　said；　smiling　bravely；　while　her　lips　quivered。　　〃I'll　no　forget　yon　awful　and；〃　leaning　slightly　toward　him　as　he　took　her　hand；　〃yon　happy　night。　　Good…by　for　now。　　I'll　no　forget。〃

And　Kalman；　looking　straight　into　her　eyes；　held　her　hand　without　a　word　till；　withdrawing　it　from　his　hold；　she　turned　away；　leaving　the　smile　with　him　and　carrying　with　her　the　quivering　lips。

〃I　shall　ride　a　bit　with　you；　little　girl；〃　said　Jack　French；　who　was　ever　quick　with　his　eyes。

She　tried　to　smile　at　him；　but　failed　piteously。　　But　Jack　rode　close　to　her；　talking　bright　nothings　till　she　could　smile　again。

〃Oh；　Jack；　but　you　are　the　dear！〃　she　said　to　him　as　they　galloped　together　up　the　trail；　Mr。　Penny　following　behind。　　〃I'll　mind　this　to　you。〃

But　before　they　took　the　descent　to　the　Night　Hawk　ravine；　they　heard　a　thunder　of　hoofs；　and　wheeling；　found　Kalman　bearing　down　upon　them。

〃Mercy　me！〃　cried　Aunt　Janet；　〃what's　wrang　wi'　the　lad？〃

〃I　have　come　to　say　good…by；〃　he　shouted；　his　broncho　tearing　up　the　earth　by　Marjorie's　side。

Reaching　out　his　hands；　he　drew　her　toward　him　and　kissed　her　before　them　all；　once；　again；　and　yet　again；　with　Aunt　Janet　screaming；　〃Mercy　sakes　alive！　　The　lad　is　daft！　　He'll　do　her　a　hurt！〃

〃Hoots！　woman；　let　the　bairns　be；〃　cried　Marjorie's　father。　　〃He　saved　her　for　us。〃

But　having　said　his　farewell；　Kalman　rode　away；　waving　his　hand　and　singing　at　the　top　of　his　voice　his　Hungarian　love…song；


　　　　　〃While　the　flower　blooms　in　the　meadow；　　　　　　　　　And　fishes　swim　the　sea；　　　　　　　Heart　of　my　heart；　soul　of　my　soul；　　　　　　　　　I'll　love　and　live　for　thee；〃


which　none　but　Marjorie　could　understand；　but　they　all　stood　watching　as　he　rode　away；　and　listening；


　　　　　〃With　my　lances　at　my　back；　　　　　　　　　My　good　sword　at　my　knee；　　　　　　　Light　of　my　life；　joy　of　my　soul；　　　　　　　　　I'll　fight；　I'll　die　for　thee！〃


And　as　the　song　ceased　she　rode　away；　and　as　she　rode　she　smiled。



CHAPTER　XVII

THE　FIGHT　FOR　THE　MINE


The　early　approach　of　winter　checked　the　railroad　construction　proper；　but　with　the　snow　came　good　roads；　and　contractors　were　quick　to　take　advantage　of　the　easier　methods　of　transportation　furnished　by　winter　roads　to　establish　supply　depots　along　the　line；　and　to　open　tie　camps　up　in　the　hills。　　And　so　the　old　Edmonton　Trail　was　once　more　humming　with　life　and　activity　far　exceeding　that　of　its　palmiest　days。

As　for　Kalman；　however；　it　was　the　mine　that　absorbed　his　attention　and　his　energies。　　By　day　and　by　night　he　planned　and　dreamed　and　toiled　for　the　development　of　his　mine。　　With　equal　enthusiasm　Brown　and　French　joined　in　this　enterprise。　　It　was　French　that　undertook　to　deal　with　all　matters　pertaining　to　the　organization　of　a　company　by　which　the　mine　should　be　operated。　　Registration　of　claim；　the　securing　of　capital；　the　obtaining　of　charter；　all　these　matters　were　left　in　his　hands。　　A　few　weeks'　correspondence；　however；　revealed　the　fact　that　for　Western　enterprises　money　was　exceedingly　difficult　to　secure。　　French　was　eager　to　raise　money　by　mortgaging　his　ranch　and　all　his　possessions；　but　this　proposal　Kalman　absolutely　refused　to　consider。　　Brown；　too；　was　opposed　to　this　scheme。　　Determined　that　something　should　be　done；　French　then　entered　into　contracts　with　the　Railroad　Company　for　the　supply　of　ties。　　But　though　he　and　Mackenzie　took　a　large　force　into　the　woods；　and　spent　their　three　months　in　arduous　toil；　when　the　traders　and　the　whiskey　runners　had　taken　their　full　toll　little　was　left　for　the　development　of　the　mine。

The　actual　working　of　the　mine　fell　to　Kalman；　aided　by　Brown。　There　was　an　immediate　market　for　coal　among　the　Galicians　of　the　colony；　who　much　preferred　it　to　wood　as　a　fuel　for　the　clay　ovens　with　which　they　heated　their　houses。　　But　they　had　little　money　to　spare；　and　hence；　at　the　beginning　of　the　work；　Kalman　hit　upon　the　device　of　bartering　coal　for　labour；　two　days'　work　in　the　mine　entitling　a　labourer　to　a　load　of　coal。　　Brown；　too；　needed　coal　for　his　mill。　　At　the　Crossing　there　was　large　demand　for　coal；　while　correspondence　with　the　Railroad　Company　discovered　to　Kalman　a　limitless　market　for　the　product　of　his　mine。　　By　outside　sales　Kalman　came　to　have　control　of　a　little　ready　money；　and　with　this　he　engaged　a　small　force　of　Galicians；　who；　following　lines　suggested　by　Brown；　pushed　in　the　tunnel；　ran　cross　drifts；　laid　down　a　small　tramway；　and　accomplished　exploration　and　development　work　that　appeared　to　Kalman's　uninstructed　eyes　wonderful　indeed。　The　interest　of　the　whole　colony　c