Shadows seemed to stir in its
blackness. They heard quite distinctly the clink of metal against
metal. A man rode out of the shadow and reined up by the fire.
"Halt!" commanded a harsh voice. The rivermen could make out the
troops--three or four score of them--standing rigid at attention.
Reed, afoot now in favour of the commanding officer, pushed forward.
"Who is in charge here?" inquired the officer crisply.
"I am," replied Orde, stepping forward.
"I wish to inquire, sir, if you have gone mad to counsel your men to
resist civil authority?"
"I have not resisted civil authority," replied Orde respectfully.
"It has been otherwise reported."
"The reports have been false. The sheriff of this county has
arrested about twenty of my men single-handed and without the
slightest trouble."
"Mr. Morris," cried the officer sharply.
"Yes?" replied the sheriff.
"Is what this man says true?"
"It sure is. Never had so little fuss arrestin' rivermen before in
my life."
The officer's face turned a slow brick-red. For a moment he said
nothing, then exploded with the utmost violence.
"Then why the devil am I dragged up here with my men in the night?"
he cried. "Who's responsible for this insanity, anyway? Don't you
know," he roared at Reed, who that moment swung within his range of
vision, "that I have no standing in the presence of civil law? What
do you mean getting me up here to your miserable little backwoods
squabbles?"
Reed started to say something, but was immediately cut short by the
irate captain.
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