Yes, Dan was in prison; but no cry for help from him as he faced theterrible strait he was in with the dumb despair of an Indian at thestake; for his own bosom sin had brought him there, and this was tobe the bitter lesson that tamed the lawless spirit and taught himself-control.

 

　　The story of his downfall is soon told; for it came, as so oftenhappens, just when he felt unusually full of high hopes, goodresolutions, and dreams of a better life. On his journey he met apleasant young fellow, and naturally felt an interest in him, asBlair was on his way to join his elder brothers on a ranch in Kansas.

 

　　Card-playing was going on in the smoking-car, and the lad--for hewas barely twenty--tired with the long journey, beguiled the way withsuch partners as appeared, being full of spirits, and a littleintoxicated with the freedom of the West. Dan, true to his promise,would not join, but watched with intense interest the games that wenton, and soon made up his mind that two of the men were sharpersanxious to fleece the boy, who had imprudently displayed awell-filled pocket-book. Dan always had a soft spot in his heart forany younger, weaker creature whom he met, and something about the ladreminded him of Teddy; so he kept an eye on Blair, and warned himagainst his new friends.

 

　　Vainly, of course; for when all stopped overnight in one of the greatcities, Dan missed the boy from the hotel whither he had taken himfor safe-keeping; and learning who had come for him, went to findhim, calling himself a fool for his pains, yet unable to leave theconfiding boy to the dangers that surrounded him.

 

　　He found him gambling in a low place with the men, who were bound tohave his money; and by the look of relief on Blair's anxious facewhen he saw him Dan knew without words that things were going badlywith him, and he saw the peril too late.

 

　　'I can't come yet--I've lost; it's not my money; I must get it back,or I dare not face my brothers,' whispered the poor lad, when Danbegged him to get away without further loss. Shame and fear made himdesperate; and he played on, sure that he could recover the moneyconfided to his care. Seeing Dan's resolute face, keen eye, andtravelled air, the sharpers were wary, played fair, and let the boywin a little; but they had no mind to give up their prey, and findingthat Dan stood sentinel at the boy's back, an ominous glance wasexchanged between them, which meant:

 

　　'We must get this fellow out of the way.'

 

　　Dan saw it, and was on his guard; for he and Blair were strangers,evil deeds are easily done in such places, and no tales told. But hewould not desert the boy, and still kept watch of every card till heplainly detected false play, and boldly said so. High words passed,Dan's indignation overcame his prudence; and when the cheat refusedto restore his plunder with insulting words and drawn pistol, Dan'shot temper flashed out, and he knocked the man down with a blow thatsent him crashing head first against a stove, to roll senseless andbleeding to the floor. A wild scene followed, but in the midst of itDan whispered to the boy: 'Get away, and hold your tongue. Don't mindme.'

 

　　Frightened and bewildered, Blair quitted the city at once, leavingDan to pass the night in the lock-up, and a few days later to standin court charged with manslaughter; for the man was dead. Dan had nofriends, and having once briefly told the story, held his peace,anxious to keep all knowledge of this sad affair from those at home.

 

　　He even concealed his name--giving that of David Kent, as he had doneseveral times before in emergencies. It was all over very soon; butas there were extenuating circumstances his sentence was a year inprison, with hard labour.

 

　　Dazed by the rapidity with which this horrible change in his lifecame upon him, Dan did not fully realize it till the iron doorclanged behind him and he sat alone in a cell as narrow, cold, andsilent as a tomb. He knew that a word would bring Mr Laurie to helpand comfort him; but he could not bear to tell of this disgrace, orsee the sorrow and the shame it would cause the friends who hoped somuch for him.

 

　　'No,' he said, clenching his fist, 'I'll let them think me dead first.

 

　　I shall be if I am kept here long'; and he sprang up to pace thestone floor like a caged lion, with a turmoil of wrath and grief,rebellion and remorse, seething in heart and brain, till he felt asif he should go mad and beat upon the walls that shut him away fromthe liberty which was his life. For days he suffered terribly, thenworn out, sank into a black melancholy sadder to see than hisexcitement.

 

　　The warden of this prison was a rough man who had won the ill will ofall by unnecessary harshness, but the chaplain was full of sympathy,and did his hard duty faithfully and tenderly. He laboured with poorDan, but seemed to make no impression, and was forced to wait tillwork had soothed the excited nerves and captivity tamed the proudspirit that would suffer but not complain.

 

　　Dan was put in the brush-shop, and feeling that activity was his onlysalvation, worked with a feverish energy that soon won the approvalof the master and the envy of less skilful mates. Day after day hesat in his place, watched by an armed overseer, forbidden any butnecessary words, no intercourse with the men beside him, no changebut from cell to shop, no exercise but the dreary marches to and fro,each man's hand on the other's shoulder keeping step with the drearytramp so different from the ringing tread of soldiers. Silent, gaunt,and grim, Dan did his daily task, ate his bitter bread, and obeyedcommands with a rebellious flash of the eye, that made the wardensay:

 

　　'That's a dangerous man. Watch him. He'll break out some day.'

 

　　There were others more dangerous than he, because older in crime andready for any desperate outbreak to change the monotony of longsentences. These men soon divined Dan's mood, and in the mysteriousway convicts invent, managed to convey to him before a month was overthat plans were being made for a mutiny at the first opportunity.

 

　　Thanksgiving Day was one of the few chances for them to speaktogether as they enjoyed an hour of freedom in the prison yard. Thenall would be settled and the rash attempt made if possible, probablyto end in bloodshed and defeat for most, but liberty for a few. Danhad already planned his own escape and bided his time, growing moreand more moody, fierce, and rebellious, as loss of liberty wore uponsoul and body; for this sudden change from his free, healthy life tosuch a narrow, gloomy, and miserable one, could not but have aterrible effect upon one of Dan's temperament and age.

 

　　He brooded over his ruined life, gave up all his happy hopes andplans, felt that he could never face dear old Plumfield again, ortouch those friendly hands, with the stain of blood upon his own. Hedid not care for the wretched man whom he had killed, for such a lifewas better ended, he thought; but the disgrace of prison would neverbe wiped out of his memory, though the cropped hair would grow again,the grey suit easily be replaced, and the bolts and bars left farbehind.

 

　　'It's all over with me; I've spoilt my life, now let it go. I'll giveup the fight and get what pleasure I can anywhere, anyhow. They shallthink me dead and so still care for me, but never know what I am.

 

　　Poor Mother Bhaer! she tried to help me, but it's no use; thefirebrand can't be saved.'

 

　　And dropping his head in his hands as he sat on his low bed, Danwould mourn over all he had lost in tearless misery, till mercifulsleep would comfort him with dreams of the happy days when the boysplayed together, or those still later and happier ones when allsmiled on him, and Plumfield seemed to have gained a new and curiouscharm.

 

　　There was one poor fellow in Dan's shop whose fate was harder thanhis, for his sentence expired in the spring, but there was littlehope of his living till that time; and the coldest-hearted man pitiedpoor Mason as he sat coughing his life away in that close place andcounting the weary days yet to pass before he could see his wife andlittle child again. There was some hope that he might be pardonedout, but he had no friends to bestir themselves in the matter, and itwas evident that the great Judge's pardon would soon end his patientpain for ever.

 

　　Dan pitied him more than he dared to show, and this one tenderemotion in that dark time was like the little flower that sprung upbetween the stones of the prison yard and saved the captive fromdespair, in the beautiful old story. Dan helped Mason with his workwhen he was too feeble to finish his task, and the grateful look thatthanked him was a ray of sunshine to cheer his cell when he wasalone. Mason envied the splendid health of his neighbour, and mournedto see it wasting there. He was a peaceful soul and tried, as far asa whispered word or warning glance could do it, to deter Dan fromjoining the 'bad lot', as the rebels were called. But having turnedhis face from the light, Dan found the downward way easy, and took agrim satisfaction in the prospect of a general outbreak during whichhe might revenge himself upon the tyrannical warden, and strike ablow for his own liberty, feeling that an hour of insurrection wouldbe a welcome vent ............