MAN ON THE QU'APPELLE TRAIL 25 > 



retorted the big farmer with heat. " What do you mean, 

 talking like that? If you're serious in what you say 



" I said I was, didn't I ?" snapped the other. 



" Then you ought to be tied up on the Two-Bar and 

 muzzled, for you're plumb mad, McNair! It's just 

 that kind of firebrand talk that's hurting our cause. 

 The farmers have got enough enemies now, God knows, 

 without making a lot of new ones. Doggone your hide, 

 Mac, what're you trying to do ? Stir up another rebel- 

 lion like that of '85?" 



" If it's necessary you bet I am !" he brazened. 



"You, of aU men!" 



"An' why not me? Just because I've worn the 

 Queen's uniform, eh? Well, let me tell you, sir, I 

 belonged to a body of men who stood for British justice 

 an' a square deal to even the meanest Injun in the 

 Territories." The ex-mounted policeman spoke with 

 pride. "We'd never have handled the beggars if it 

 hadn't been for that. Even the Injuns were men enough 

 to recognize justice, an' that's more'n these commercial 

 blood-suckers to-day can do! If our case was in the 

 hands of the Force it'd rest on its merits an' us grain 

 growers'd get justice. Instead, where is it ? in the 

 hands of a pussy-footed, hifalutin' bunch o' political ( 

 windbags in the East who don't care a damn about us \ 

 hayseeds out West ! An' what's more " 



" The Koyal Mounted stood for law and order, Bob ; 

 but you'd class yourself with the half-breeds, would 

 you? Have another little rebellion like that of '85 with 

 all the " 



"Not like '85," interrupted the rancher. "No, sir, 

 this one'll be bloodless ; but it'll knock the spots off the 

 'breeds' little shindig all the samee !" 



