was a particularly fortunate circumstance, and
with grim haste they set about taking advantage of the mask that would
hide their advance. In single file they began their march down the river
shore. There were men who bore cant dogs; others were armed with pike
poles. But there was no intent to cut and thrust. It was to be a man's
fight with the flat of those weapons, with the tools of the job, honest
thwacks given and taken. If one of them had ventured to pack an edged
weapon or a gun he would have been shamed among his fellows.

Halfway to the dam they met the girl, hurrying back. She understood. She
did not ask questions. But when they halted she explained her own
movements.

"I took it on myself to go to Director Craig," she said. "I was hoping I
might be able to make him look at the thing in the right way. I did not
apologize for you or for what has been done. If I could prevent this
trouble I would make any sacrifice of myself."

"We know that," stated Vittum, and he was indorsed by whole-souled
murmurs.

"But he would not listen to me. And all I can say to you men is this:
God bless you and help you!"

They thanked her and then they stood aside from the path, offering her a
way for retreat to the rear.

But she turned and walked on toward the dam. She shook her head when
they protested. "No, I claim it as my right to go with you." She was
even brave enough to relieve the tenseness of the situation by a flash
of humor. "I don't believe one of those Comas cowards will get near
enough to hurt any one of you. Haven't we found them out already? But if
anybody in this crew does get hurt, you'll find me in full charge of the
field hospital!"

There was no more talk after that; they trod softly on the duff under
the trees; they dodged the ledges where their spike-soled boots might
have rasped.

"Did you note where the main bunch is, miss?" whispered the old man at
her side.

"I saw only one man except Craig. The director was out on the dam, near
the gates."

"Where the cap'n is, there the gang must be. We'll use that tip."

The men deployed as soon as they were in the open space near the end of
the dam.

Even though they had had the protection of the fog up to that point,
they knew their attack could not be made wholly a surprise; they were
depending on their resoluteness and on being able to beat their way to a
control of the gates.

Two men appeared to them in the fog.

"Now just a moment before you