Can you tell me what you and the boys are trailing me for ?" "No," said the trooper.

"Still, I guess our commander could.

If you don't know of any reason, you might ask him." Winston tightened his grip on the reins.

"I'll ride back with you to the outpost now." The trooper shook his bridle, and trotted behind the sleigh, while, as it swung up and down over the billowy rises of the prairie, Winston became sensible of a curious expectancy.

The bare, hopeless life he had led seemed to have slipped behind him, and though he suspected that there was no great difference between his escort and a prisoner's guard, the old love of excitement he once fancied he had outgrown forever, awoke again within him.