BACK AT FORT GOOD FAITH
Months later, at Fort Good Faith, Dick and Sandy sat in the trading room
engaged in a game of cribbage, when Factor MacClaren strode over to
their table, carrying in one hand a month’s old copy of an Edmonton
newspaper. He interrupted the game by spreading out the paper between
them, and turning the pages until he came to the particular item he had
just read.
“I knew you boys would be interested,” he said, indicating the place at
the bottom of the column. “Yesterday when the mail came in, I looked
over this copy of the Bulletin, but missed it somehow. Read it.”
“All right, Dick,” commanded Sandy, “read it aloud.”
Dick picked up the somewhat crumpled sheet and commenced breathlessly:
“Seattle, Washington, Dec. 3.—When the yacht, Elenore, put into harbor
this morning at eight o’clock, she was met at the wharf by Revenue
Officer Charles M. Steele and Corporal Dickinson, the latter a member
of the Canadian Royal Northwest Mounted Police, with papers for the
arrest and detention of the crew. The captain of the vessel, Silas
Reynolds, and one sailor were missing.
“It is alleged that the Elenore has been engaged in running contraband
and stolen fur from various Canadian points to this port. It is
understood that Captain Reynolds is under arrest in British Columbia.”
“The long arm of the law,” commented Sandy, as he glanced over Dick’s
shoulder. “I suppose it would have been just the same if they had
steamed into Rangoon. In the end, they always get caught.”
“Just like Murky did,” added Dick.
“Yes, just like Murky. You can’t fool the police.”
“Especially the Canadian Royal Mounted,” appended the other proudly.
In truth, Dick had every reason to be proud. In the inside pocket of his
coat there reposed the most priceless of all his possessions—a letter
from the commissioner at Ottawa.
His application had been approved. Next spring he and Toma would report
to the adjutant at the mounted police training barracks at Regina!
* * * * * *
Transcriber’s note:
--Silently corrected obvious typographical errors; left
non-standard (or amusing) spellings and dialect unchanged.
--Added a Table of Contents based on chapter headings.