came at all, faced suddenly the first great crisis in her life; and stilling, with a strong effort of the will, the tumultuous beatings of her heart, she walked rapidly on, ahead of the teams, from starting-time until nightfall, fighting her first great battle with herself alone, and gaining the mastery at last without human aid or sympathy.
The immigrants, having concluded their purchases, toiled up the narrow grade to the table-land above thebluffs, and pursued their way through the stately evergreen forests and level plains of the Willamette valley to the homes of relatives, who awaited their coming with joy that was changed to mourning when they learned for the first time of the death of Mrs. Ranger.
After a few days of much-needed rest among the hospitable pioneers who had preceded them by two years and were now installed on a beautiful and valuable donation claim, the immigrant party decided to remain in each other's vicinity, and removed for the purpose to a beautiful vista of vacant land under the friendly shadow of the Cascade Mountains, with a westward outlook across the Willamette valley to the Coast Range, which alone intervened to shut from sight the surging billows of the Pacific Ocean.
It was here that the genius and education of Scotty, who will hereafter be designated by -his lawful name, proved of inestimable value. Supplied only with a rope and a carpenter's square, he led a private surveying party through the woods and prairies, locating their claims with such accuracy that the government survey, which was made years after, fully approved his work.
"You may not be a success at driving oxen or taking care of steers at night," said Captain Ranger, "but you are an artist with a rope and a square."
"Didn't I tell you he'd be worth his weight in gold when he reached a place where he could have a chance to use his brains?" asked Mrs. McAlpin, who took as
