Produced by Al Haines [Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: 1. A Camp Kitchen. 2. Lumber Jacks in the Bush.] TRAIL-TALES OF WESTERN CANADA BY F. A. ROBINSON, B.A. MARSHALL BROTHERS, LTD., LONDON, EDINBURGH & NEW YORK TO THE REVEREND ROBERT JOHNSTON, D.D., MINISTER OF THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MONTREAL, AND TO FRIENDS IN HIS CONGREGATION WHOSE UNFAILING INTEREST AND KINDNESS HAVE FOR YEARS BEEN AN INSPIRATION IN THE WRITER'S LIFE-WORK. INTRODUCTION This book has this virtue among others, that it is a true rescript of events that have happened in the author's personal experience. It is made up of human documents that deal with matters of surpassing interest. The book tells in simple and vivid style the story, always fascinating and thrilling, of the triumph of the Gospel in the souls of men. It is a heartening book and a moving. It will bring courage and hope to those who read it, and awaken in their hearts a deeper passion to share in God's great mission to men. The new west is full of the broken driftwood of humanity, showing the marks of the attrition of time and conflict and defeat--good stuff it is, but waste and lost. This book tells of its salvage to the infinite joy of men, and to the glory of God. The author has the further distinction of having seen himself a large part of the events he describes. The book will do good wherever it goes. CHARLES W. GORDON. ("Ralph Connor.") WINNIPEG, CANADA. _October_ 5_th_, 1914. CONTENTS Old Ken's Round-up Charl The Banner Mines The "Hop" "Thy Touch has still its Ancient Power" "If a Man be Overtaken" The Superintendent's Visit The Cookee The Regeneration of Bill Sanders The Snake-room The Bush Fire Ruth and the Prodigal The Cord of Love Nell's Home-going LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FRONTISPIECE. A camp kitchen. Lower half, Lumber Jacks in the Bush. FACING PAGE 42. 1. A young miner before his dark and dingy cabin. 2. A mine and bunk-house. 3. "They buried her half a mile from the camp" (see page 48). FACING PAGE 43. 1. Company house in a mountain mining town. 2. He said he was "The only gentleman in the place" (see page 34). 3. An open-air meeting in British Columbia mining camp, between shifts. 4. Miners at entrance to a British Columbia mine. FACING PAGE 90. 1. A prairie shack. 2. A copper miner's shack. 3. A bachelor's shack. 4. A shack on the hillside. 5. A mountain-side shack. FACING PAGE 128. 1. A western lumber camp. 2. Lumber camp group in Sunday attire. 3. The day's work ended. 4. A typical bar-room. FACING PAGE 156. 1. Part of a town site after being swept by bush fires. 2. A bush fire getting under way. FACING PAGE 157. 1. Improvised dwellings; cover districts into which people have fled for safety. 2. The long line of coke ovens (see page 183). 3. The fire rapidly approaching. FACING PAGE 204.