Part 26 (2/2)

Their progress had been r.e.t.a.r.ded by customs and opinions out of place on the prairie, but they might go a long way if these were abandoned. They were farming on the wrong lines, and wasting effort, but Harding did not think this would continue. Already some among them were pressing for a change. Harding was ready to work his big farm alone, but he looked to Allenwood for help that would benefit all.

The matter, however, had a more important side. Although Beatrice had refused him he did not despair; she had shown that she did not regard him with complete indifference. It was not his personal character, but his position and her father's hostility that stood in the way, and these were obstacles that might be overcome. He could expect nothing but the Colonel's stern opposition, and he must carefully arm himself for the fight; he did not undervalue the power of his antagonist.

Devine returned and threw him down a spade, and for the next hour Harding worked steadily, digging a trench to the buried wheels and beating its bottom flat. When his comrade came back they lined it with the logs he brought, and Harding started the engine. The machine shook and rattled, straining and panting under a full head of steam, but the wheels churned furiously in the soil and smashed the ends of the logs they bit upon. One big piece shot out of the trench and narrowly missed Devine, who fell among the harrows when he jumped. Harding stopped the engine as his friend got up.

”This won't do,” he said. ”We'll cut a log into short billets.”

They packed some, split into sections, under the wheels, and Harding restarted the engine.

”Now,” he said, ”you can shove the rest in as she grinds them down.”

The wheels spun, splintering the timber, rising a few inches and sinking again, while the big machine shook and tilted in danger of falling over.

Harding, standing on the slippery plates, opened the throttle wide, and after a while the front rose to a threatening height while the logs groaned and cracked.

”Stand clear!” he cried. ”She's climbing out!”

The engine straightened itself with a dangerous lurch, rolled forward, gathering speed, and ran out on to firmer ground. They had no further trouble, and when dusk settled down and the air grew sharp, Harding drew the fire and blew the water out of the boiler.

”After all, we have done pretty good work to-day,” he said. ”I'll come back and tend to those tubes as soon as she cools.”

They went home together, and after supper was finished, they sat smoking and talking in the kitchen. It was now sharply cold outside, but the small room was warm and cheerful with the nickeled lamp lighted and a fire in the polished stove.

”The mortgage man was trying to play you,” Devine remarked. ”He certainly didn't learn much. Do you reckon he has been lending money to the Allenwood boys?”

”I think it's very likely.”

”Then, with their way of farming and wheat going down, they won't be able to pay him off.”

”No; and he doesn't want them to pay him off,” Harding answered.

”You mean he wants their farms?”

”Yes; he'll probably get them, unless somebody interferes.”

”Ah!” exclaimed Devine. ”Who's going to interfere? ... Now _you_ have been thinking of something all afternoon.”

Harding smiled.

”It's possible I may see what I can do,” he admitted.

”You're a daisy!” Devine exclaimed. ”It wouldn't surprise me if you thought of buying up the Canadian Pacific. All the same, I don't see where you're going to get the money. What do you think, Hester?”

Hester laid down her sewing.

”Isn't it too big a thing, Craig? You have a great deal of land now, and even if you get a good harvest, you'd hardly have money enough to sow another crop and leave enough to carry you over a bad season.”

Harding quietly lighted his pipe, and there was silence for a few minutes. His sister and her fiance knew him well and had confidence in his ability; he had so far made good, but the boldness of this last scheme daunted them.

”Farming has two sides,” he said presently. ”You want to raise the best and biggest crop you can; and then you want to handle your money well.

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