e lookout on the Upper Road?"

"Cutter. He is on the Long Trestle."

"Say," observed Hooven, the instincts of the old-time soldier stirring
him, "say, dose feller pretty demn schmart, I tink. We got to put some
picket way oudt bei der Lower Roadt alzoh, und he tek dose glassus
Mist'r Ennixt'r got bei um. Say, look at dose irregation ditsch.
Dot ditsch he run righd across BOTH dose road, hey? Dat's some fine
entrenchment, you bedt. We fighd um from dose ditsch."

In fact, the dry irrigating ditch was a natural trench, admirably suited
to the purpose, crossing both roads as Hooven pointed out and barring
approach from Guadalajara to all the ranches save Annixter's--which had
already been seized.

Gethings departed to join Cutter on the Long Trestle, while Phelps and
Harran, taking Annixter's field glasses with them, and mounting their
horses, went out towards Guadalajara on the Lower Road to watch for the
marshal's approach from that direction.

After the outposts had left them, the party in Hooven's cottage looked
to their weapons. Long since, every member of the League had been in
the habit of carrying his revolver with him. They were all armed and, in
addition, Hooven had his rifle. Presley alone carried no weapon.

The main room of Hooven's house, in which the Leaguers were now
assembled, was barren, poverty-stricken, but tolerably clean. An old
clock ticked vociferously on a shelf. In one corner was a bed, with a
patched, faded quilt. In the centre of the room, straddling over the
bare floor, stood a pine table. Around this the men gathered, two or
three occupying chairs, Annixter sitting sideways on the table, the rest
standing.

"I believe, gentlemen," said Magnus, "that we can go through this day
without bloodshed. I believe not one shot need be fired. The Railroad
will not force the issue, will not bring about actual fighting. When
the marshal realises that we are thoroughly in earnest, thoroughly
determined, I am convinced that he will withdraw."

There were murmurs of assent.

"Look here," said Annixter, "if this thing can by any means be settled
peaceably, I say let's do it, so long as we don't give in."

The others stared. Was this Annixter who spoke--the Hotspur of the
League, the quarrelsome, irascible fellow who loved and sought a
quarrel? Was it Annixter, who now had been the first and only one
of them all to suffer, whose ranch had been seized, whose household
possessions had been flung out i