She could not understand herself. She had not had this feeling at all
when Ben Frady had cleared the open space before the post-office of all
loafers, and she unwittingly had ridden on to the scene, and, grasping
the situation, had demanded his revolver from him and had received it.

Not until afterwards had she had any such sensations as this, when a
message had come to the house that the negroes on the farm were cutting
each other, and she had walked in upon them and had ordered them to
separate.

Bob had told her that he didn't know what it was all about, and the
uncertainty made the situation only more disquieting. Like most
Southern women, it did not occur to her to interfere before the event
in any affair that was men's own; but she began to formulate a plan
that depended for its success upon Bob's keeping her informed as to the
course pursued by his father. Could she depend on him? Her anxiety was
cruel.

VIII

Sydney Rides against Time

Three days later Bud brought to von Rittenheim the following note:

"DEAR BARON,--I say again that I haven't any idea what you are
driving at, but I never yet went back on a fight, so if you still
want one I'll meet you at twelve o'clock to-morrow on top of Buck
Mountain. I think you went to a picnic there when the chestnuts
were ripe last fall, so you know the place. I'll take the weapons
along with me, and you can examine them when you get there. I don't
want any second.

"Yours truly,

"HENRY MORGAN."

Von Rittenheim puzzled over the English of this document, and nodded
his head in satisfaction.

"At last he performs his duty. Buck Mountain I know. It is a distant
spot, ten miles from here. He is strange not to say what are the
weapons; but what can you expect?"

With a shrug derogating the social experience of his adopted land, he
proceeded to negotiate with Bud for the use of his mule on the next
day.

It was nearly eleven o'clock on the following morning when Bob Morgan
drew rein before the Carrolls' door, and asked to see Sydney.

"Beg her to come to the door just a moment, Uncle Jimmy. No, I'll not
send the horse around. And she'll want Johnny saddled at once. Send
word to the stable, please."

When she appeared he ran up the steps as far as his bridle would allow,
and spoke in a low voice, with a glance at the windows.

"It's this morning, Sydney, at twelve. Will you come? Father didn't
tell me about it unt