' you folks, then stopped 'em when they was outa you
folks' sight around the curves, and ran back through the trees with
bars. We had our rock all picked out, and it didn't take the four o'
us no time to ease her to the edge and let 'er plunk down in the road
behind you. Then we run ahead through the woods and got on our wagons
before you caught up. Now you know--what're you goin' to do about it?"

"Shall I have Wild Cat take you out, one at a time," Jo asked
mischievously, after a thoughtful pause.

Keddie shrugged. "I ain't achin' for my portion o' that," he
confessed, "but ol' Timberline will know he's been in a fight."

"It was despicable of you boys," Jo said sternly. "We'll not fight
that way."

"But the empty water tank, Jo!" cried Heine. "My goat ain't through
gettin' got about that deal yet. You gotta fight the devil with fire,
as they say."

"I'm terribly sorry," Jo continued, her brow clouding. "That act is
responsible for to-day's trouble, and we haven't yet heard the last of
that, I'm afraid. And now _I'll_ have to apologize to Mr. Drummond and
explain."

"No, no, Jo! Let Hi-_ram_ do it. He knows how to apologize. Think o'
the water tank, Jo!"

"We have no proof that Drummond or his men were responsible for the
empty tank, boys. I'm terribly sorry. I must think over what's best
to be done now. We mustn't stoop to such methods. Even though we are
subjected to underhand competition, we ourselves must fight fair and
not descend to our enemy's level."

"You're aimin' to go to heaven, Jo," Gulick accused. "Drummond started
the dirty work. We can show him a dozen tricks to offset emptyin' our
tank. Better tell him not to do anythin' more. We'll stop his clock
if he does."

"You'll do it fairly, then, or you'll not drive teams for me," Jo
emphatically told them.

Their silence disturbed her. They knew that she could not do without
them. Even as matters stood, she could have used one more jerkline
skinner could she have found one good enough to handle her much-loved
animals. They were loyal to her, a stanch little army, hard to defeat
if their crude but forceful methods of fighting could be brought into
play. All of them looked upon the girl as their especial charge in
life, and whenever they fought for her they would, with only her
well-being in mind, fight as they saw fit. Still, she could control
them if forewarned of their plans. She always had controlled them--not
by con