once, as a preliminary, be married. Cameron fortunately remembered that
young Fraser, whom he had known in his Fort Macleod days, was dead keen
to get rid of the "Big Horn Ranch." This ranch lay nestling cozily among
the foothills and in sight of the towering peaks of the Rockies, and was
so well watered with little lakes and streams that when his eyes fell
upon it Cameron was conscious of a sharp pang of homesickness, so
suggestive was it of the beloved Glen Cuagh Oir of his own Homeland.
There would be a thousand pounds or more left from his father's estate.
Everybody said it was a safe, indeed a most profitable investment.

A week's leave of absence sufficed for Cameron to close the deal with
Fraser, a reckless and gallant young Highlander, whose chivalrous soul,
kindling at Cameron's romantic story, prompted a generous reduction
in the price of the ranch and its outfit complete. Hence when Mandy's
shrewd and experienced head had scanned the contract and cast up the
inventory of steers and horses, with pigs and poultry thrown in, and had
found nothing amiss with the deal--indeed it was rather better than she
had hoped--there was no holding of Cameron any longer. Married he would
be and without delay.

The only drag in the proceedings had come from the Superintendent, who,
on getting wind of Cameron's purpose, had thought, by promptly promoting
him from Corporal to Sergeant, to tie him more tightly to the Service
and hold him, if only for a few months, "till this trouble should blow
over." But Cameron knew of no trouble. The trouble was only in the
Superintendent's mind, or indeed was only a shrewd scheme to hold
Cameron to his duty. A rancher he would be, and a famous rancher's
wife Mandy would make. And as for his sister Moira, had she not highly
specialized in pigs and poultry on the old home farm at the Cuagh Oir?
There was no stopping the resistless rush of his passionate purpose.