Page:GB Lancaster--law-bringer.djvu/406

404 "For the boy joined on my recommendation," he said. "And he's a clever boy. I think he may be worth a good deal to us if he has a fair start. He has a temperament which takes up some things very enthusiastically."

"Then he probably won't stay with us. The work is not what it was when J was on patrol. Too much sentry-go and too little whiskey-smuggling and raiding to please the men. Isn't that so?"

"Why, certainly—in some cases." Tempest thought of Dick. "But I believe young Warriner would want to stay if he had more to do."

"Well, I'll make a note of it. Perhaps I can move him. You say that one of the men is a bad companion for him?"

"Undoubtedly. I shouldn't wonder if you had trouble with him later. Other parts of the world have possibly had trouble with him already."

"I'll make a note of that, too." The Commissioner turned from the subject with relief. " You are not quite strong yet? I notice that you limp a little. It started from a fall, did it?"

"The rheumatism settled in my hip. But I'll be all right once the warm weather comes. Yes; it was a fall. I ricked myself."

"Ah! I want to put you in charge of the MacKenzie District, Tempest. Channing has resigned, and he comes out this summer. You'll get your furlough first, of course. But if the doctor won't pass you I don't quite know what I'm going to do."

"He will pass me," said Tempest quietly.

He sat silent for a minute, trying to brace himself for the next thing which he wanted to say. Andree was seldom long away from his thoughts; but as he got nearer Regina she filled them up with a completeness which was absolute torture. Sight of the familiar little chapel and the prison across the barrack square had made him giddy with the flood of realisation. Was Andree now shut in Fort Saskatchewan prison? Had she met her death there, or did she live still? His love for her was now protection and pity only; but the memory of what had been was sharp. He turned in his chair with his face from the light.

"Corporal Heriot brought out some more information