he camp. There was only one way of dealing
with the man's genius for mischief. And that way did not lie in the
direction of persuasion or moral talk. Force was the only thing such a
nature as his would yield to. The Padre knew well enough that such
force lay to his command should he choose to exert his influence in
the camp. He was man of the world enough to understand that the moral
condition of the life in this camp must level itself. It could not be
regulated--yet. But the protection of a young and beautiful girl was
not only his duty, but the duty of every sane citizen in the district,
and he was determined it should be carried out. There was no ordinary
law to hold this renegade in check, so, if necessary, he must be
treated to the harshness of a law framed by the unpracticed hands of
men who only understood the wild in which they lived.

On his way home the Padre encountered Buck, who had been back to the
fur fort, and, learning from Curly the facts of what had occurred, was
now on his way to join his friend.

They paused to talk for some minutes, and their talk was upon those
things which were still running through their minds in a hot tide of
resentment. After a while they parted, Buck to continue his way to the
camp, and the Padre to his home.

"I think it's all right for to-night," the Padre said as he prepared
to move off. "I don't think he'll make another attempt. Anyway, the
boys will be sober. But you might have an eye on him."

Buck nodded, and in the darkness the fierce anger in his dark eyes was
lost to his companion.

"I'll be to home when the camp's abed," he said. "I'll sure see the
gal safe."

So they parted, leaving the Padre perfectly confident in Buck's
ability to make good his assurance.

* * * * *

It was a wild scene inside the drinking-booth over which the
ex-Churchman presided. The men had returned from their fruitless
pursuit of their intended victim. And as they came in, no longer
furiously determined upon a man's life, but laughing and joking over
the events of their blind journey in the darkness, Beasley saw that
they were rapidly sobering.

Still raging inwardly at the result of the Padre's visit he set to
work at once, and, before any one else could call for a drink, he
seized the opportunity himself. He plied them with a big drink at his
own expense, and so promptly enlisted their favor--incidentally
setting their appetites for a further orgi