n hand and prepared to
resist, to the other members of the party. They all looked toward the
ditch and plainly saw the ranchers there, standing to their arms.

But meanwhile Ruggles had addressed himself more directly to Magnus, and
between the two an angry discussion was going forward. Once even Harran
heard his father exclaim:

"The statement is a lie and no one knows it better than yourself."

"Here," growled Annixter to Dabney, who stood next him in the ditch,
"those fellows are getting too close. Look at them edging up. Don't
Magnus see that?"

The other members of the marshal's force had come forward from their
places behind the buggy and were spread out across the road. Some of
them were gathered about Magnus, Garnett, and Gethings; and some were
talking together, looking and pointing towards the ditch. Whether acting
upon signal or not, the Leaguers in the ditch could not tell, but it
was certain that one or two of the posse had moved considerably forward.
Besides this, Delaney had now placed his horse between Magnus and the
ditch, and two others riding up from the rear had followed his example.
The posse surrounded the three ranchers, and by now, everybody was
talking at once.

"Look here," Harran called to Annixter, "this won't do. I don't like the
looks of this thing. They all seem to be edging up, and before we know
it they may take the Governor and the other men prisoners."

"They ought to come back," declared Annixter.

"Somebody ought to tell them that those fellows are creeping up."

By now, the angry argument between the Governor and Ruggles had become
more heated than ever. Their voices were raised; now and then they made
furious gestures.

"They ought to come back," cried Osterman. "We couldn't shoot now if
anything should happen, for fear of hitting them."

"Well, it sounds as though something were going to happen pretty soon."

They could hear Gethings and Delaney wrangling furiously; another deputy
joined in.

"I'm going to call the Governor back," exclaimed Annixter, suddenly
clambering out of the ditch. "No, no," cried Osterman, "keep in the
ditch. They can't drive us out if we keep here."

Hooven and Harran, who had instinctively followed Annixter, hesitated
at Osterman's words and the three halted irresolutely on the road before
the ditch, their weapons in their hands.

"Governor," shouted Harran, "come on back. You can't do anything."

Still the wrangle continued, and one of