Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/266

264 The lamp on the desk burned low and went out, leaving an evil smell of smoke and kerosine. Down the side street among the naked cotton-woods a starved Indian dog was yelping to the sky his qualifications for a canine heaven through his eternal purging away of all the fleshly joys. Insensibly that dog, emblem of his race, obtruded himself on Tempest's thought. Unfed, cursed and kicked the summer through; strapped into the traces all the winter; harness-galled, sore-footed, strained by the dragging of interminable sledges, it yet had the unflagging heart which did not fail, the warm tongue for its master's hand, the ready and obedient ear for his voice. Tempest bowed his head down in his hands and thought that matter out. In some way it made his own conduct seem less excusable, less righteous.

Through long hours of struggle and wordless prayer Tempest won back to himself his belief in mankind. Dick had not betrayed him. He had been called by Nature even as Tempest himself, and the strain in the man's eyes and voice, and the thinner lines of his big body bore witness that he had recognised Tempest's prior right and had attempted to yield to it. It was Tempest who had sinned in doubting his friend. It was Tempest who had judged another man unheard. It was Tempest who had no right, no choice. Tempest who must tread the barren trail of duty, leaving the younger man free to love.

He sprang up, walking the room with his light rapid steps. This thing had gone beyond him. The sacrifice was his to make, whether he would or no. It only remained for him to make it manfully, ungrudgingly, gallantly, believing that when the great day of understanding came he would be glad of it.

But he loved Andree well, and the other man was his friend. And he was human as all strong men of flesh and blood and temper are human. Morning caught him walking still, with his fight half-fought and the future yet dim and cold before him. For he loved Andree. He loved her at this moment better than his God; and it was his friend who had taken her from him.

For Tempest the next day was filled with the ordinary routine of the post. There was the inspection of the bar-