tcry of blind fury. One spirit
alone was common to all--resistance at whatever cost and to whatever
lengths.

Suddenly Osterman leaped to his feet, his bald head gleaming in the
lamp-light, his red ears distended, a flood of words filling his great,
horizontal slit of a mouth, his comic actor's face flaming. Like the
hero of a melodrama, he took stage with a great sweeping gesture.

"ORGANISATION," he shouted, "that must be our watch-word. The curse
of the ranchers is that they fritter away their strength. Now, we must
stand together, now, NOW. Here's the crisis, here's the moment. Shall we
meet it? I CALL FOR THE LEAGUE. Not next week, not to-morrow, not in the
morning, but now, now, now, this very moment, before we go out of that
door. Every one of us here to join it, to form the beginnings of a vast
organisation, banded together to death, if needs be, for the protection
of our rights and homes. Are you ready? Is it now or never? I call for
the League."

Instantly there was a shout. With an actor's instinct, Osterman had
spoken at the precise psychological moment. He carried the others off
their feet, glib, dexterous, voluble. Just what was meant by the League
the others did not know, but it was something, a vague engine, a machine
with which to fight. Osterman had not done speaking before the room rang
with outcries, the crowd of men shouting, for what they did not know.

"The League! The League!"

"Now, to-night, this moment; sign our names before we leave."

"He's right. Organisation! The League!"

"We have a committee at work already," Osterman vociferated. "I am a
member, and also Mr. Broderson, Mr. Annixter, and Mr. Harran Derrick.
What our aims are we will explain to you later. Let this committee
be the nucleus of the League--temporarily, at least. Trust us. We are
working for you and with you. Let this committee be merged into the
larger committee of the League, and for President of the League"--he
paused the fraction of a second--"for President there can be but one
name mentioned, one man to whom we all must look as leader--Magnus
Derrick."

The Governor's name was received with a storm of cheers. The harness
room reechoed with shouts of:

"Derrick! Derrick!"

"Magnus for President!"

"Derrick, our natural leader."

"Derrick, Derrick, Derrick for President."

Magnus rose to his feet. He made no gesture. Erect as a cavalry officer,
tall, thin, commanding, he dominated the crowd in an instant.