“Well, no; but he declares there’ll be war if any one attempts to get him off the place, and that it will take a few more to dislodge him than the law is likely to send, and we’re about tired of hearing that kind of talk.” “Oh, but his poor wife and the children--Honey and the rest of them.” “That’s so; it is hard on them, but the innocent must suffer with the guilty sometimes. The wife will have to go with her children to her father’s till Hump can get her another home. He’s no fool, and he can get himself a place easy enough; no fear but that he’s feathered his nest well since he’s had this place of your grandfather’s. You see, Miss Agnes, in a country like this we must some times take the law in our own hands and use force, for there are such a lot of outrageous scoundrels that come into a new country, it’s hard waiting for the law to take its course; half the time the whole facts can’t be known, and justice would never be done. If Hump was given his way, and if you took the case to the courts, it might be years before you get your rights. I have known more than one settler driven from his own property by some one that defied him to take it, and we don’t intend that shall happen in this case.” Agnes was lost in thought. She was busy forming a plan. She nodded her head, for all at once it had come to her what she would do. She smiled as Dr. Flint stopped speaking. “I am sure it is very kind of you, Dr. Flint, to come and tell me. I am glad Mrs. Muirhead can go to her father’s house. I suppose I know very little about such things, but I have no doubt that you will do what is right in the matter.” “Oh, it isn’t I you must look to, for I shall not be in it.” “I’m rather glad of that.” She smiled again, and the doctor felt flattered. “Won’t you come in, doctor?” “Well, yes, I will. Miss Agnes, I’ve never met your father, and I have a professional curiosity to see him. I have an idea that I might be able to help him, but say nothing about it yet,” he added hastily, as Agnes allowed an exclamation of joy to escape her. “I will take you to him now. He is in the orchard, or what we call the orchard, for our trees are young and are not bearing yet. This is the way.” She led him by the path along the slope of the hill to where the young trees were being tended by Fergus Kennedy. The man looked up with his pleasant, childlike smile as he saw his daughter approaching. “This is Dr. Flint, father,” said Agnes.