The hint of authority beyond his superiors nettled them both.

"I don't know what hold you have over that damned crew," Torrance
stormed, "but if you'd make them watch the horses you'd be earning your
money better than running up here."

"That damned crew steal no horses," Koppy objected with dignity. "I
hold my men--yes," he went on proudly. "You pay me for that. I make
them obey boss. Ignace Koppowski make them--"

"Yes, yes," Conrad broke in testily. "We know your full name. Drop
the heroics."

"No heroics to think of young missus." Koppy turned to Tressa, forced
to be an uncomfortable witness of one of the frequent quarrels that
never reached an issue. "If she say no danger, Ignace Koppowski
satisfied." He bent his big frame with surprising grace.

Tressa smiled on the Pole from the upper step. She never could
understand why her father and lover hated the fellow so. "Thank you,
Koppy. Not a bit of danger--as it happened. It was good of you to be
concerned."

The Pole repeated the obeisance. Conrad caught his eye as he lifted
his head.

"And now," he ordered shortly, "you've learned all you're likely to.
Get out."

A flash of anger came and went in the underforeman's face. He
straightened, looking Conrad in the eye.

"Up here I take boss's orders. Boss want us to go--we go. But boss
maybe need us some day. Perhaps we find who steal horses."

"I wish to hell you would," grunted Torrance. "It's worth fifty bucks
in your hand if you do. Horses don't grow on spruce trees in this
country."

"Horses don't. Boss lose no more--and Ignace Koppowski take no more
pay."

With the flourish of the surprising promise he was swinging about to
leave, when Conrad spoke.

"One moment, Koppy." His voice was very quiet, but his chin was thrust
forward a little. "When Miss Torrance requires protection, there are
those here can give it without your assistance. That's all."

A strange gleam they did not understand shot into the Pole's eyes.
"Perhaps--not," he muttered, and disappeared over the grade, his two
silent followers at his heels.

Torrance scowled after them. "I'd be willing to lose every horse in
the camp, if you'd go with them."

"I'll fire him to-morrow." The words chipped from Conrad's lips.

Torrance laughed. "Two years with them brutes hasn't taught you much,
Adrian. Fire Koppy, and there wouldn't be a bohunk in camp the same
night. . . . And their successors would be vile