st or Mr. Percival? Answer,
please."

"Naturally, my dear, I--why, of course, they were with Percival. He was
one man against a dozen. Besides, he does represent law and order. I
have never questioned that, have I?"

"Weren't you a weeny, teeny bit proud of him yesterday, Aunt Julia?"

"Weren't you?" countered the other.

"I could have hugged him," exclaimed Ruth, her eyes sparkling. "I hate
him,--mind you,--but I could have hugged him, just the same."

Mrs. Spofford looked searchingly into the girls clear, shining eyes.

"I wish I knew just how much you hate him, Ruth."

"Be honest, Auntie. What you mean is, how little I hate him; isn't that
so?"

"I don't believe you hate him at all."

"Well, the first chance you get, ask him how much I hate him. He will
tell you. Now let's talk about Easter Sunday. I don't in the least see
why I should go down on my knees to Mr. Percival in order to--"

"Manuel Crust went down on his knees, didn't he?"

"Don't be silly! Manuel Crust was leading a strike. I am arranging a
sacred entertainment."

"Still, if I were you, my dear, I would ask him what he thinks about
it."

"All right," cried Ruth, "I'll ask him. And what's more, I shall ask him
to sing in the choir. He will love it."

Not only did Percival promise to sing in the choir, but he eagerly
offered to help her with the decorations. But when she announced that
she was going up into the hills in quest of the little red winter
berries that grew in profusion, he flatly put his foot down on the
project.

"I don't feel any too sure of Manuel Crust and his gang," said he.
"They're in an ugly mood and they are brutes, Miss Clinton. Don't be
alarmed. They're not likely to molest you or any one else, but I don't
believe in taking chances. Just at present they're pretty sore at me
and they're doing all they can to stir up discord. It will work out all
right in the end, of course. They may be beasts but they're not fools."

"Is it true that Manuel Crust claims that every man should have his
woman?" she asked steadily.

He was surprised by the frank, unembarrassed question. "Crust is about
as vile as they make them, Miss Clinton. Most of these fellows are
decent, however."

"But you have not answered my question."

"I will answer it by saying that if he has any such notion as that in
his mind he will have it taken out of him in short order if he attempts
to put it into practice. The women on this island will be prote