hook his head and there was in the gesture both decisiveness
and disappointment.

"What commenced ter look like a mighty hopeful chanst falls flat right
hyar an' now," he announced. "I'd begun ter hope thet atter all a leader
hed done riz up amongst us, but I sees when ye talks erbout peace ye
means a peace fer other folks thet don't bind ner hamper yoreself. Thar
hain't nuthin' but folly in seekin' ter build on a quicksand like thet."

"I told ye fust-off thet we war a-wastin' time an' breath," broke out
Opdyke, furiously. "A man only courts trouble when he seeks ter gentle a
rattlesnake--ther seemly thing ter do air ter kill hit."

Parish Thornton turned his eyes and studiously appraised the
hare-brained advocate of violence, then he said, again addressing Hump
Doane:

"An' yit hit's a pity, Mr. Doane, ef you an' me kain't some fashion git
tergither in accord. We've got ther same cravin's in our hearts, us
two."

"I come ter ye onc't afore, Mr. Thornton," the cripple reminded him,
"an' I asked ye a question thet ye didn't see fit ter answer. Now I asks
ye ter lay by one grudge, when ye calls on us ter lay by many--an' hit
happens ergin thet ye don't see fit ter yield no p'int. Mebby me an' you
_have_ got cravin's fer betterment in common betwixt us--but hit 'pears
like thar's always one diff'rence risin' up thet balks everything
else."

CHAPTER XIX

Even the peppery Opdyke did not venture to break heatedly in on the
pause that followed those regretful words. Into the minds of the
majority stole a sense, vague and indefinable it is true, that a tragic
impasse was closing on a situation over which had flashed a rainbow
gleam of possible solution. Ahead lay the future with its sinister
shadows--darker because of the alternative they had glimpsed in its
passing.

Old Jim Rowlett came to his feet, and drew his thin shoulders
back--shoulders that had been broad and strong enough to support heavy
burdens through trying years.

"Mr. Thornton," he said, and the aged voice held a quaver of emotion
which men were not accustomed to hearing it carry, "I wants ter talk
with ye with ther severe freedom of an' old man counsellin' a young
'un--an' hit hain't ergoin' ter be in ther manner of a Doane argyfyin'
with a Harper so much es of a father advisin' with a son."

The young Thornton met those eyes so full of eagle boldness yet so
tempered with kindness, and to his own expression came a responsive
flash of that