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For each team a strip of the brule was marked out to clear after
the axes。 The logs； brush； and stumps had to be removed and
dragged to the burning…piles。 Aleck； with his active； invincible
French…Canadians； Ranald with Farquhar's big； sleek blacks； and
Don with his father's team； worked side by side。 A contest was
inevitable； and before an hour had passed Don and Aleck； while
making a great show of deliberation； were striving for the first
place； with Aleck easily leading。 Like a piece of machinery； Aleck
and his team worked together。 Quickly and neatly both driver and
horses moved about their work with perfect understanding of each
other。 With hardly a touch of the lines； but almost entirely by
word of command； Aleck guided his team。 And when he took up the
whiffletrees to swing them around to a log or stump； his horses
wheeled at once into place。 It was beautiful to see them；
wheeling； backing； hauling； pulling； without loss of time or
temper。
With Don and his team it was all hard work。 His horses were
willing and quick enough； but they were ill…trained and needed
constant tugging at the lines。 In vain Don shouted and cracked his
whip； hurrying his team to his pile and back again； the horses only
grew more and more awkward； while they foamed and fretted and tired
themselves out。
Behind came Ranald； still humoring his slow…going team with easy
hand and quiet voice。 But while he refrained from hurrying his
horses； he himself worked hard； and by his good judgment and skill
with the chain； and in skidding the logs into his pile； in which
his training in the shanty had made him more than a match for any
one in the field； many minutes were saved。
When the cowbell sounded for dinner； Aleck's team stepped off for
the barn； wet； but fresh and frisky as ever； and in perfect heart。
Don's horses appeared fretted and jaded； while Ranald brought in
his blacks with their glossy skins white with foam where the
harness had chafed； but unfretted； and apparently as ready for work
as when they began。
〃You have spoiled the shine of your team；〃 said Aleck； looking over
Ranald's horses as he brought them up to the trough。 〃Better turn
them out for the afternoon。 They can't stand much more of that
pace。〃
Aleck was evidently trying to be good…natured； but he could not
hide the sneer in his tone。 They had neither of them forgotten the
incident at the church door； and both felt that it would not be
closed until more had been said about it。 But to…day； Ranald was
in the place of host； and it behooved him to be courteous； and
Aleck was in good humor with himself； for his team had easily led
the field； and besides； he was engaged in a kind and neighborly
undertaking； and he was too much of a man to spoil it by any
private grudge。 He would have to wait for his settlement with
Ranald。
During the hour and a half allowed for dinner； Ranald took his
horses to the well； washed off their legs； removed their harness；
and led them to a cool spot behind the barn； and there； while they
munched their oats； he gave them a good hard rub…down； so that when
he brought them into the field again； his team looked as glossy and
felt as fresh as before they began the day's work。
As Ranald appeared on the field with his glossy blacks； Aleck
glanced at the horses； and began to feel that； in the contest for
first place； it was Ranald he had to fear； with his cool； steady
team； rather than Don。 Not that any suspicion crossed his mind
that Farquhar McNaughton's sleek； slow…going horses could ever hold
their own with his； but he made up his mind that Ranald； at least；
was worth watching。
〃Bring up your gentry；〃 he called to Ranald； 〃if you are not too
fine for common folks。 Man； that team of yours；〃 he continued；
〃should never be put to work like this。 Their feet should never be
off pavement。〃
〃Never you mind；〃 said Ranald； quietly。 〃I am coming after you；
and perhaps before night the blacks may show you their heels yet。〃
〃There's lots of room；〃 said Aleck； scornfully； and they both set
to work with all the skill and strength that lay in themselves and
in their teams。
For the first hour or two Ranald was contented to follow； letting
his team take their way； but saving every moment he could by his
own efforts。 So that； without fretting his horses in the least； or
without moving them perceptibly out of their ordinary gait； he
found himself a little nearer to Aleck than he had been at noon；
but the heavy lifting and quick work began to tell upon him。 His
horses； he knew； would not stand very much hurrying。 They were too
fat for any extra exertion in such heat； and so Ranald was about to
resign himself to defeat； when he observed that in the western sky
clouds were coming up。 At the same time a cool breeze began to
blow； and he took fresh heart。 If he could hurry his team a little
more； he might catch Aleck yet； so he held his own a little longer；
preserving the same steady pace； until the clouds from the west had
covered all the sky。 Then gradually he began to quicken his
horses' movements and to put them on heavier loads。 Wherever
opportunity offered； instead of a single log； or at most two； he
would take three or four for his load； and in ways known only to
horsemen； he began to stir up the spirit of his team； and to make
them feel something of his own excitement。
To such good purpose did he plan； and so nobly did his team respond
to his quiet but persistent pressure； that； ere Aleck was aware；
Ranald was up on his flank； and then they each knew that until the
supper…bell rang he would have to use to the best advantage every
moment of time and every ounce of strength in himself and his team
if he was to win first place。
Somehow the report of the contest went over the field； till at
length it reached the ears of Farquhar。 At once the old man；
seized with anxiety for his team； and moved by the fear of what
Kirsty might say if the news ever reached her ears； set off across
the brule to remonstrate with Ranald； and if necessary； rescue his
team from peril。
But Don saw him coming； and knowing that every moment was precious；
and dreading lest the old man would snatch from Ranald the victory
which seemed to be at least possible for him； he arrested Farquhar
with a call for assistance with a big log； and then engaged him in
conversation upon the merits of his splendid team。
〃And look；〃 cried he； admiringly； 〃how Ranald is handling them！
Did you ever see the likes of that？〃
The old man stood watching for a few moments； doubtfully enough；
while Don continued pouring forth the praises of his horses； and
the latter； as he noticed Farquhar's eyes glisten with pride；
ventured to hint that before the day was done 〃he would make Aleck
McRae and his team look sick。 And without a hurt to the blacks；
too；〃 he put in； diplomatically； 〃for Ranald is not the man to hurt
a team。〃 And as Farquhar stood and watched Ranald at his work； and
noted with surprise how briskly and cleverly the blacks swung into
their places； and detected also with his experienced eye that Aleck
was beginning to show signs of hurry； he entered into the spi