ng the face like shot. Osterman's thoroughbred took the second
crossing of Broderson's Creek in a single leap. Down under the Long
Trestle tore the cavalcade in a shower of mud and gravel; up again on
the further bank, the horses blowing like steam engines; on into the
trail to Hooven's, single file now, Presley's pony lagging, Hooven's
horse bleeding at the eyes, the buckskin, game as a fighting cock,
catching her second wind, far in the lead now, distancing even the
English thoroughbred that Osterman rode.

At last Hooven's unpainted house, beneath the enormous live oak tree,
came in sight. Across the Lower Road, breaking through fences and into
the yard around the house, thundered the Leaguers. Magnus was waiting
for them.

The riders dismounted, hardly less exhausted than their horses.

"Why, where's all the men?" Annixter demanded of Magnus.

"Broderson is here and Cutter," replied the Governor, "no one else. I
thought YOU would bring more men with you."

"There are only nine of us."

"And the six hundred Leaguers who were going to rise when this
happened!" exclaimed Garnett, bitterly.

"Rot the League," cried Annixter. "It's gone to pot--went to pieces at
the first touch."

"We have been taken by surprise, gentlemen, after all," said Magnus.
"Totally off our guard. But there are eleven of us. It is enough."

"Well, what's the game? Has the marshal come? How many men are with
him?"

"The United States marshal from San Francisco," explained Magnus, "came
down early this morning and stopped at Guadalajara. We learned it all
through our friends in Bonneville about an hour ago. They telephoned
me and Mr. Broderson. S. Behrman met him and provided about a dozen
deputies. Delaney, Ruggles, and Christian joined them at Guadalajara.
They left Guadalajara, going towards Mr. Annixter's ranch house on Quien
Sabe. They are serving the writs in ejectment and putting the dummy
buyers in possession. They are armed. S. Behrman is with them."

"Where are they now?"

"Cutter is watching them from the Long Trestle. They returned to
Guadalajara. They are there now."

"Well," observed Gethings, "From Guadalajara they can only go to two
places. Either they will take the Upper Road and go on to Osterman's
next, or they will take the Lower Road to Mr. Derrick's."

"That is as I supposed," said Magnus. "That is why I wanted you to come
here. From Hooven's, here, we can watch both roads simultaneously."

"Is anybody on th