swung out as she watched; it fell
with a horrible swish over Corrigan's head and was drawn taut, swiftly,
and a hoarse roar of approval drowned her shriek.

She heard Trevison's voice, muttering in protest, but his words, like her
shriek, were lost in the confusion of sound. She saw him fling his arms
wide, sending Barkwell and another man reeling from him; he reached for
the pistol at his side and leveled it at the crowd. Those nearest him
shrank, their faces blank with fear and astonishment. But the man with the
rope stood firm, as did Lefingwell, grim, his face darkening with wrath.

"This is the law actin' here, 'Firebrand,'" he said, his voice level.
"You've done your bit, an' you're due to step back an' let justice take a
hand. This here skunk has outraged every damned rule of decency an' honor.
He's tried to steal all our land; he's corrupted our court, nearly guzzled
Judge Lindman to death, killed Braman--an' Barkwell says the bunch of
pluguglies he hired to pose as deputies, has killed Clay Levins an' four
or five of the Diamond K men. That's plenty. We'd admire to give in to
you. We'll do anything else you say. But this has got to be done."

While Lefingwell had been talking two of the Vigilantes had slipped to the
rear of Trevison. As Lefingwell concluded they leaped. The arms of one man
went around Trevison's neck; the other man lunged low and pinned his arms
to his sides, one hand grasping the pistol and wrenching it from his hand.
The crowd closed again. The girl saw Corrigan lifted to the back of a
horse, and she shut her eyes and hung dizzily to the railing, while tumult
and confusion raged around her.

She opened her eyes a little later, to see Barkwell and another man
leading Trevison into the front door of the _Castle_. The street around
the car was deserted, save for two or three men who were watching her
curiously. She felt her father's arms around her, and she was led into the
car, her knees shaking, her soul sick with the horror of it all.

Half an hour later, as she sat at one of the windows, staring stonily out
in the shimmering sunlight of the street, she saw some of the Vigilantes
returning. She shrank back from the window, shuddering.

CHAPTER XXIX

THE CALM

The day seemed to endure for an age. Rosalind did not leave the car; she
did not go near her father, shut up alone in his apartment; she ate
nothing, ignoring the negro attendant when he told her that lunch was
served, hu