rolled in long echoes along the gorge and was banged back by the
mountain sides.

"Latisan, those bullets went into the air. If you and your men come onto
this dam----"

"There's only one kind of a fight up here among honest men--and you
won't stand for it, eh?"

"We've got your number! You're declared outlaws. These men will shoot to
kill."

In the chorus from the Flagg crew there were howls and groans.

"And argument won't bring to you any sense of reason and decency, will
it?" demanded the drive master.

"We shall shoot to kill!" insisted the magnate of the Comas corporation.

"All right! If those are your damnable principles, I'll go according to
'em."

The girl caught his hands when he started away. "You must not! No matter
what you are--no matter what you know I am, now. He'll understand when
we tell him--down there! There's more to life than logs!"

"I have my plans," he assured her, quietly. "You must realize how much
this thing means to me now."

The unnatural silence in the ranks of the Flagg crew, after Latisan's
declaration had been voiced, provoked Craig to venture an apprehensive
inquiry. "You don't intend to come ramming against these guns, do you?"

"Hold your guns off us! I'm going away. And these men are going with
me."

"That's good judgment."

"But I'm coming back! I won't sneak up on you. That isn't my style of
fighting. You'll hear me on the way. I'll be coming down almighty hard
on my heels. Remember that, Craig!"

Lida was at his side when he marched away up the shore toward the Flagg
camp at the deadwater, and his men trailed him, mumbling their comments
on the situation and wondering by what sort of miracle he would be able
to prevail over armed gangsters who were paid to kill.

"I'm going to ask you all to excuse me for playing a lone hand from now
on, boys," said the drive master, standing in front of them when they
were gathered at the camping place. "If they weren't working a dirty
trick with their guns, I'd have you along with me just as I intended in
the past. But you have had your fun while I've been making a fool of
myself! Give me my chance now!"

He bowed to Lida and walked up the shore alone. No one stayed him. The
girl locked together her trembling fingers, straining her eyes till he
disappeared.

He knew the resources and methods of the drive. Soon he came upon a
bateau pulled high on the river bank. There were boxes in the bateau,
covered by a tarpaulin whos