"I ride into camp to-morrow morning to see
the sick boy. I promised I would and I really want to. I find him in a
fever, for a fever he certainly will have. I dress his wounded ankle and
discover he must have some medicine. I get old Copperhead to ride back
with me for it. You wait here and arrest him without trouble."

The two men looked at each other, then at her, with a gentle admiring
pity. The plan was simplicity itself and undoubtedly eliminated the
elements of danger which the Inspector's possessed. It had, however, one
fatal defect.

"Fine, Mandy!" said her husband, reaching across the table and patting
her hand that lay clenched upon the cloth. "But it won't do."

"And why not, pray?" she demanded.

"We do not use our women as decoys in this country, nor do we expose
them to dangers we men dare not face."

"Allan," cried his wife with angry impatience, "you miss the whole
point. For a woman to ride into the Piegan camp, especially on this
errand of mercy, involves her in no danger. And what possible danger
would there be in having the old villain ride back with me for
medicine? And as to the decoy business," here she shrugged her shoulders
contemptuously, "do you think I care a bit for that? Isn't he planning
to kill women and children in this country? And--and--won't he do his
best to kill you?" she panted. "Isn't it right for me to prevent him?
Prevent him! To me he is like a snake. I would--would--gladly kill
him--myself." As she spoke these words her eyes were indeed, in Sergeant
Ferry's words, "like little blue flames."

But the men remained utterly unmoved. To their manhood the plan
was repugnant, and in spite of Mandy's arguments and entreaties was
rejected.

"It is the better plan, Mrs. Cameron," said the Inspector kindly, "but
we cannot, you must see we cannot, adopt it."

"You mean you will not," cried Mandy indignantly, "just because you are
stupid stubborn men!" And she proceeded to argue the matter all over
again with convincing logic, but with the same result. There are
propositions which do not lend themselves to the arbitrament of logic
with men. When the safety of their women is at stake they refuse to
discuss chances. In such a case they may be stupid, but they are quite
immovable.

Blocked by this immovable stupidity, Mandy yielded her ground, but only
to attempt a flank movement.

"Let me go with you on your reconnoitering expedition," she pleaded.
"Rather, let US go, Allan, you