stood "Forty-niner," with his arm about her. All the other
workmen whom Mr. Hale had seen were also present and an air of silent
fury pervaded the whole assemblage.

The stranger's glance passed swiftly from one face to another and saw
no kindness on any. Even the little captain's eyes were bent downward
and her lovely face wore a sorrow it made his own heart ache to see.

Joe Dean lounged forward.

"Stranger, have you broke your fast?"

"No."

Another silence, during which the blacksmith poured a cup of inky coffee
from the great pot, hacked off a piece of bread from a dusky loaf, and
shoved them toward their unwelcome guest across the table by which he
had sat down.

"Eat, and be quick about it."

The color rose in the Easterner's cheek, but he made no motion to obey,
and after a brief waiting, seeing this, Joe threw the coffee out of the
window and tossed the bread to the dogs.

"There's a horse outside. It's for you. The poorest we've got,
because once you've bestrode him no decent man'll ever mount him
again. He'll answer, though, to carry you beyond this valley, and
Samson'll go with you to see you leave it for good. Then he'll turn
the beast loose and may the Lord have mercy on your dirty soul. _Get!_"

Mr. Hale did not stir. His own eye gathered fire and the pink in his face
grew scarlet, but his voice was calm as he inquired:

"Am I still at Sobrante, the home of gentlefolks? By whose orders,
please, this present dramatic scene?"

"Yes; this is Sobrante. The home of gentlefolks--you spoke the truth for
once. The home of Cassius Trent, the truest man, the noblest heart, the
whitest gentleman the good Lord ever made. The home of a man! and not
a free hotel for whelps! Ugh! If I had promised the captain--Lady Jess,
let me off that word! I must at him, I _must_--_I will!_"

Joe's attitude was full of menace, but Mr. Hale neither moved nor took
his own cool gaze from his enemy's face. Though Jessica had taken swift
alarm and leaped down to place herself beside the smith and clasp his
hand with her own.

"No, no. You promised, and I'm your captain. Soldiers obey their
captains and you chose me yourself. You are not to hurt him nor abuse
him, though, I, too"--here she wheeled about and faced her guest,
crying: "hate you, hate you! Oh! that's wicked. That's rude. But, sir,
how dared you say my father--the best man ever lived--kept--took--it
isn't true, it isn't!"

The lawyer rose, somewhat unsteadily.