out of that circle of listening men rose a low and ominous
sound. Some, remembering their own idle talk of kidnaping and the
like, shuddered at the practical application the dwarf's dim mind had
made of their words; and various plans for punishment were forming
when the captain clapped her hands for fresh attention.

"Hear me, 'boys.'Do you belong to me?"

"Ay, ay! Heart and soul!"

"Then you must mind me. You must let Ferd alone. You must do even more
to please me--and teach him to be good, not bad."

None answered these clear, commanding sentences, which, as the
strangers present thought, came so oddly from such childish lips, and
they wondered at the effect produced upon the Sobrante men. These
glanced at one another in doubt, each questioning the decision of his
neighbor; and then again at the lovely girl who had never before
seemed so wholly angelic.

"Will you do this?"

"Hold on, little one. Let the 'admiral' speak. Has she forgiven that
human coyote?"

The unexpected question startled Mrs. Trent. She was a strictly
truthful woman, and found her answer difficult. She had never liked
the wretched creature who had just brought such misery to her, and she
now loathed him. She had already resolved that, while she would
protect Ferd from personal injury, she would see to it that he was put
where he could never again injure her or hers. Her momentary
hesitation told. The whole assemblage waited for her next word amid a
silence that could be felt, when, suddenly, there burst upon that
silence a series of ear-splitting shrieks which effectually diverted
attention from the perplexed ranch mistress.

CHAPTER VI.

BEHIND LOCKED DOORS

The shrieks were uttered by Elsa Winkler, who frantically rushed to
the horse block, demanding: "Where? Where?"

Mrs. Trent gave one glance at the rough, unkempt woman, and sternly
remarked:

"Elsa, you forget yourself! Go back indoors, at once."

The unhappy creature shivered at this unfamiliar tone, yet abated
nothing of her outcry:

"My money! My money! My money!"

She had come to the ranch thinking only of Jessica's mysterious
absence, and meaning to do something, anything, which might help or
comfort the child's mother; but the long walk, for one so heavy and
unaccustomed to exercise, had made her physically ill by the time she
reached Sobrante. Which state of things was wholly satisfactory to
Aunt Sally, who, having received the visitor with dismay, now promp