MY FIRST CHORE-BOY 143 



usual hour, without a thought of anxiety either for 

 the horses or their Jehu, feeling confident that the 

 Millingtons would have insisted on their remaining 

 at the Clyst, especially as Heriot's sight was defec- 

 tive. At dawn my slumbers were disturbed with a 

 shout — it might be described as a shout of triumph 

 veiled in modesty. 



" We have been out all night on the prairie. 

 Couldn't see an inch," shouted Heriot. " I dropped 

 the lines on the horses' necks and all that kind of 

 thing, but even old Jim threw up the game. So I 

 turned them into a bluff and stayed there all night." 



" What's all that, Heriot ? " demanded my 

 brother, rocking with mirth. " Lost in the bluff ! 

 Out all night ! Are Kit and Jim alive to take 

 breakfast, or are you the sole survivor ? " 



" I expect you are very cold and hungry," I said. 

 " Light the fire, and I'll come down and get you 

 some breakfast. Only why didn't you stay at the 

 Clyst ? " 



" Well, Mr. and Mrs. Millington both begged me 

 to stay," he answered, " but I told them that, 

 whether I got back or not, I knew you would expect 

 me to go on to the end." 



Hoist on my own petard, the only way out of 

 it was to get breakfast. Besides, it is no joke being 

 out all night in a snowstorm on the prairie even in 

 April, and the boy had come well through it, 

 although it was a case for discretion rather than 

 valour. However, I made him go to bed, said nice 

 things, and felt kind and gratefully disposed over 

 the whole matter. 



But the daily round and common task hung fire 

 badly after this splendid adventure, and as for 



