"What are they going to do with Red Dick, Puffey?"
"Oh, he is of too much importance to be dealt with by the authorities
hereabouts."
"What! do they intend sending him up to Quebec?"
"Yes," replied Puffey; "and there he'll stand a very poor chance."
After a pause, "What do you know about him?" inquired Puffey.
"I don't know the fellow, and don't want to," was the rejoinder. "I
only felt interested because I was with the force when he was caught."
"Oh, I see! you were one of the volunteer force that aided the police."
"That's so, sonny."
"What was the name of him who took command of the volunteer force? Do
you remember him?"
"Yes, very well. It was a chap named Fellows, at Ranger's."
"Not been hereabouts long, has he?" inquired Puffey indifferently.
"Not above six or seven months, I believe," was the reply.
"Came from England, I think we were told?"
"Yes."
"He seemed to understand his business very well. Know much about him?"
"I only know that he is said to be on friendly terms with Ranger, and is
believed to be rather sweet on one of the women on his station."
"Is that so?" added Puffey. "Then the fellow hasn't lost much time."
"Well, I can't say for certain," continued the speaker, "as I work on a
neighbouring farm; but I heard one of my mates talking a while ago about
him."
Puffey felt that here, at all events, was a source from whence some
useful information might in all probability be gathered, but he was
anxious not to appear too eager, for fear of exciting unnecessary
inquiry.
Allowing the conversation to drop, he sat and watched the players until
the one he had held converse with gave signs of intending departure.
Rising from his seat, Puffey sauntered out of the store, and lounged
about for a while until he saw the other come out, when, accosting him,
he said--
"Look here, mate, I should like to have a word or two with you, if you
can spare a few moments."
"All right, Puffey," replied the fellow; "say on."
"You were speaking of a girl on Ranger's farm that the chap Fellows was
supposed to be sweet on. Now, as there is one on the same farm that I
have had my eye upon for some time, you'll understand the interest I may
appear to be taking in this matter. I should like to know the name of
the girl referred to, if you can tell me?"
"Oh! is that how the wind blows?" laughed the other.
"Well, I don't want you to go blabbing about the matter; we've all got
soft moments in our lives."
"Never fear, my boy! Jack Hart's not the chap to spoil sport."
"Call it sport if you like, but tell me who is the girl this Fellows is
after?"
"Her name is Jess Russell. She is the daughter of one of Ranger's men;
and they do say as fine a looking specimen of the sex as is to be found
in the North-West."
"That's not the one I was thinking about. I don't know her; but beauty
though she maybe, I'll back my girl to go one better."
"Poor old Puffey! Hit at last! I shouldn't have thought it of you."
"Well, it's not a case yet; so mind what I've said, that 'mum's' the
word."
"Right you are! Nor is it a clear case yet with that Fellows, as it is
said a chap named Barton has been noticed sneaking round after the same
girl."
"Oh," was Puffey's comment; "then there's likely to be ructions there
before long, if that's the case."
"Just as likely as not," was the reply. "Well, good-night, Puffey. I
must be going."
"So long, old chap," was his parting salute, as Puffey mounted his horse
and rode away, feeling that he had learned one thing from what he had
heard, and that was the cause which had led up to Barton's letter.
The next day Puffey, pursuing his quest, ventured to ride boldly up to
Ranger's homestead and inquire for Fellows by name. He was told he was
at work in the fields, but on receiving directions where he was to be
found, and how he might know him, he resolved to go in search of
Fellows, first stating, in order to allay any fears as to his motives,
that he was commissioned by his officer personally to thank him for the
part he had taken in the recent raid.
After a rather extended search, he at length came across his man, out on
a distant part of the prairie cutting corn.
Some astonishment was naturally manifested at the sight of a member of
the mounted police inquiring for one of the workers on the farm.
There are certain people who are seldom regarded as welcome visitors. A
man never hears that a policeman is inquiring for him without a feeling
of uneasiness beginning to steal over him, he could not perhaps tell
why, although all the time perfectly conscious that there was no need to
be at all apprehensive as to his object.
With Fellows it was different, since, although he had no reason to think
that his secret had been discovered, there was his own consciousness of
guilt, ever present, and ready to start into activity at the first
symptoms of coming danger.
Puffey--like the keen observer he was reputed to be--did not fail to
note the start which Fellows gave when he heard his name inquired for.
His sunburnt countenance did not, however, betray his momentary
agitation. Recovering his self-control, he advanced at once to the
constable, and looking steadily in his face, in a clear voice, unmarked
by the least tremor, exclaimed--
"My name is Fellows. What do you want with me?"
"You see who I am, Mr. Fellows; not always the most welcome of
visitors?"
"That's true, sir, no doubt; but I have no reason to regard you as
unwelcome."
"Nor will you," added Puffey, "when you learn the object of my visit."
The men who were working with Fellows had ceased their labours, and were
crowding round to hear what the detective had to say.
"I am commissioned by the Major," said Puffey, "who commanded the force
which recently made that successful raid, ending in the capture of Red
Dick, to return you his thanks for the very valuable aid rendered him on
that occasion, in the promptness with which his orders were carried out,
and for the precision with which the duties you undertook were
discharged. He fully recognises that the success of that enterprise was
in no small measure due to the alertness and cohesion of your force, as
well as to the able way in which that force was handled by you."
"Many of these men," replied Fellows, "standing round me, were present
on the occasion referred to, and in their name, as well as my own, you
may tell the Major that, whilst warmly thanking him for the flattering
words addressed to us, we were all only too pleased to serve with so
brave a force as the men he brought to lead us."
"That ends my mission with you," said Puffey. "Not a very terrifying
one, you must admit."
Presently he added, as if a new idea had suddenly struck him, "Are you
satisfied with your present occupation?"
"Yes; don't I look as if I was?" he asked.
"It was only a passing thought, which that moment occurred to me; you
are just the sort of chap we could very well do with in our force. Would
you care to join us?"
"No such idea has ever entered my head, and I don't feel as if I should
much care for the life."
"Well, I've no authority to ask you, but you might think it over."
"No harm in my doing that," he replied.
"How old are you, if it is not a rude question to ask?" said the
constable.
"Just turned twenty-nine."
"English, I judge?"
"Yes."
"Been long in the Colony?"
"Only about seven months."
"Any trade or profession?"
"Was a commercial in the Old Country."
"Married or single?"
"Single."
"Hope to remain so?"
"That depends on circumstances."
"You'll excuse my being so inquisitive, but I wished to make sure you
were qualified for the post I just now suggested to you; and from all
you tell me, I have no reason to doubt but our people would only be too
pleased to accept you if you choose to apply."
"Thanks; I'll think about it."
"A question sure to be asked, and therefore one I may as well put: Any
special reason for changing a commercial life for an agricultural one?"
"N--o; except that I was not getting on as well as I should have liked,
and so determined to make an entire change."
Puffey noticed that this last answer was not given quite so promptly as
the replies to his other questions had been, from which fact he was not
slow to draw his own conclusions.
It suited his purpose to induce the belief in Fellows' mind, that the
mounted police presented a good opening for the employment of his
abilities; but that it was an opinion likely to find support in official
quarters, should application be made for an appointment, was a matter of
no moment to him whatever.
Quitting the track, by which the small towns along the line of the
railway were usually reached, he started to return by a cross-cut over
the open prairie with which he was familiar, in the hope that by so
doing he might possibly come across farm-hands from whom something
further could be learned.
He had not proceeded far, before he saw three men seated beneath the
shade of a sheltering clump of trees bordering a small stream not above
three to four feet deep, and therefore easily fordable. The spot
selected was a small hollow, thickly covered with that short crisp
variety of grass known as "buffalo grass," on which they were now
resting after partaking of the usual midday meal.