start something for which you'll be
sorry," said one of the men. "I'm from the shire town and I'm attorney
for the Comas corporation." He pointed to a man at his side, who pulled
aside his coat lapel and exhibited a badge. "This is a deputy sheriff.
The courts are protecting this property by an injunction."

"We've got only your word for that," stated the old man.

"You have been warned in law. That's all I'm here for. Now unless you
keep off this property you must take the consequences."

The lawyer and the officer marched away and were effaced by the fog.

"It's too bad it ain't a clear day," remarked the spokesman to the crew.
"We'd prob'ly be able to see the injunction that's guarding this dam.
But I ain't going to let a lawyer tell me about anything I can't see."

"But there's a thing I can see," called one of the men who had gone
skirmishing in the direction which the attorney and sheriff had taken.
"Here's a Comas crowd strung along the wings o' the dam. I can see what
they're lugging! Come on, men! It's a cant-dog, pick-pole fight."

The attackers went into the fray with a yell.

The defenders of the dam were on higher ground; some of them thrust with
the ugly weapons, others swung the strong staves and fenced. There was
the smash of wood against wood, the clatter of iron. Men fell and rolled
and came up! They who were bleeding did not seem to mind.

"They're backing up," yelled one of the Flagg crew. "Damn 'em, they're
getting ready to run, as usual!"

There did seem to be some sort of concerted action of retreat on the
part of the defenders.

"Look out for tricks," counseled Vittum, getting over the guard of an
antagonist and felling him.

A few moments later the line of the defense melted; the Comas men dodged
somewhere into the fog. The assailants had won to the higher level of
the dam's wing.

And then that level melted, too!

It was a well-contrived trap--boards covered with earth--a surface
supported by props which had been pulled away by ropes. More than half
the Flagg men tumbled into deep and muddy water and threshed helplessly
in a struggling mass until the others laid down their weapons and
pulled the drowning men out.

The attacking army retired for repairs and grouped on the solid shore.
Except for the roar of the sluiceway and the gasping of the men who were
getting breath there was something like calm after the uproar of the
battle.

Out of the fog sounded the voice of Director