he man rang
in his words.

"We got the arms for an outfit. But I don't guess we got enough for
defence of the post. It can't come to that. We daren't let it. I'm
getting a big outfit up this fall. Meanwhile, we'll need to get busy."

He pulled out his timepiece and studied it deliberately. Then he
closed its case with a snap and stood up. He looked down into Kars'
watchful eyes.

"They're on the river? Twenty miles back?"

His questions came sharply, and Kars nodded.

"They're in big force?"

Again Kars made a sign, but this time in the negative.

"I don't think it," he said.

"Right. I'll be on the trail in an hour."

The factor turned to the Padre.

"Say, just rouse out the boys while I get other things fixed. There
isn't a minute to waste."

He waited for no reply, but turned at once to Kars and Bill.

"Maybe you fellers'll keep your outfit right here. There's the
women-folk. It's in case of--accident?"

"I'll join you, and leave Bill, here, with the Padre and the outfit."
Kars' suggestion came on the instant.

But Murray vetoed it promptly. He shook his head.

"It's up to me," he said curtly. Then he became more expansive.
"You've had yours. I'm looking for mine. I'm getting out for the sake
of the women-folk. That's why I'm asking you to stop right here. You
can't tell. Maybe they'll need all the help we can hand them. I've
always figgered on this play. Best act my way."

There was something like a flicker of the eyelid as Kars acquiesced
with a nod. Except for that his rugged face was deadly serious. He
filled his pipe with a leisureliness which seemed incompatible with the
conditions of the moment. Bill seemed to be engrossed in the study of
the stove. Murray had turned to the Padre.

"Not a word to the women. We don't need to scare them. This thing's
got to be fixed sudden and sharp."

A moment later he was gone.

The Padre was climbing into a heavy overcoat. The night was chill
enough, and the little missionary had more warmth in his heart than he
had in his blood channels. He moved across to the door to do his part
of the work, when Kars' voice arrested him.

"Say, Padre," he cried, "don't feel worried too much. Murray'll fix
things."

His eyes were smiling as the priest turned and looked into them. Bill
was smiling, too.

"They _are_ twenty miles back--on the river?"

The priest's demand was significant. The smiles of these men had
raised a doubt