red at
his friend's powers of endurance; he rarely complained of fatigue, and
very little sleep sufficed him. He sat up suddenly and said crisply:

"Well, boys, everything's ready!"

One by one his little army assembled, rising from the ground like
specters. They gathered stolidly about the Governor, who flashed his
electric lamp over their faces,--evil faces and dull faces, with eyes
bold or shrinking before the quick stab of the gleam.

"Remember, you're not to shoot except in self-defense," said the
Governor. "It's Carey, the leader, we're after. Those poor fools he's
got with him think there's big money in this; I've told you all about
that. They may run and they may put up a fight, but Carey must be taken
prisoner. Spread out four paces apart for the advance, and move in a
slow walk. When you hear me yell I'll be on top of the barricade. That's
your signal for the dash to go over and get him."

Leary was already deploying the men. The Governor laid his hand on
Archie's shoulder. In the contact something passed between them, such a
communication as does not often pass from the heart of one man to
another.

"If it comes to the worst for me, you and Isabel will look out for Ruth.
I needn't ask you that. Use the tug quickly to clear things up here;
there must be nothing left to tell the tale. See that old man Congdon
keeps his promise. That will of his is in my blue serge coat in the
closet of my room. If I die, bury me on the spot; no foolishness about
that. I died to the world seven years ago tonight, so a second departure
will call for no flowers!"

Tears welled in Archie's eyes as he grasped his friend's hand there in
the dark wood under the world-old watch of the stars.

Leary reported everything in readiness, and the signal to go forward was
given by a hand-clasp repeated along the line. Archie kept at the
Governor's heels as they advanced, pausing every fifty paces for a
methodical inspection of the company by Leary and Perky, the latter
having left the tug in charge of the engineer and joined the party last
of all.

When they reached the little stream that defined the boundary of Heart
o' Dreams territory the Governor, Archie and Leary got in readiness for
their dash across the bridge and over the barricade. The purl of water
eager for its entrance into the bay struck upon Archie's ear with a
spiteful insistence.

"There must be no chance of these fellows breaking past us and
frightening the women a