"Now what the ---- is all this about?" he said.

"Stand back," said Horton solemnly as he drew out a paper. "It's the
hand of the law. Here's a warrant for Roger Damer, and it's his body
we've come for. You will put the handcuffs on him, Constable Andersen,
and if he tries to stop you Tom has full authority to pound the
wickedness out of him."

"Hold on," said the big man. "That's your way of it. Now has it
struck you that there are things we might do?"

"Oh, yes," said Horton with undiminished gravity. "You're going to
stop where you are, like lawful citizens, because there are enough of
us to make you if you don't want to."

The argument was incontrovertible, and there was only a growl of
protest as the venerable Scandinavian did his duty. Then while two men
stood on guard over their prisoner Horton turned for the last time to
the miners.

"I'm kind of sorry I don't know quite enough about you to take the rest
of you along," he said. "Still, if I can find out anything we'll come
back for you again. Well, boys, we'll be going. Hitch that lariat on
to the prisoner's wrists, and keep a good hold on it, Constable
Andersen."

Nothing more was said, for Horton's men marched out of camp as silently
as they had come, and it was only when the pines had closed about them
that a hoarse laugh went back in answer to the volley of vituperation
that rose out of the hollow behind them. Damer spoke no word to any
man all that day or the next, but when they camped on the second night
high up on the hillside he signed to Seaforth, who passed the fire
where he lay a little apart from the rest.

"Somebody is going to be sorry for this," he said. "Now a sensible man
would wonder what you expect to make by it."

"You mean that we can't connect you with the horse-stealing?"

"Yes," said the man, "if there was any. Now there are men behind me
who will make you and Horton very sorry you ever fooled with me."

Seaforth smiled outwardly and with his eyes, for he surmised that the
prisoner was willing to bargain for his freedom, but his lips were set
and he found it difficult to restrain the rage that welled up within
him.

"Well," he said, "I don't know that it is of any great importance
whether we do or not. It will be enough to hold you by until we find
out all that happened one snowy night when somebody fixed a lariat
across a trail, and there was another affair up in the bush."

The light of the fire was on the