He waved his hand. Two figures were coming over the distant rise beyond Barzilla Ball's cottage, at that distance seeming no larger than Carolyn May herself. The little girl and the dog were running blithely, following the patrol path. "All right," returned Captain Littlefield, and turned back along the beaten track with his nephew. The little girl and her dog had passed Uncle Smith Dodge's house before she noticed the two men approaching. Although the dusk was falling, she recognized the saturnine man at that distance. Now, Carolyn May was no "'fraid-cat." She would have scorned such a title had any of her schoolmates flung it at her. But that dark-faced man with his black, thick brows and glittering eyes, made her shudder. Nor did she like René much, and she soon recognized the chauffeur as the second man coming along the path. She ran back of Uncle Smith's calf pen to hide until the two men should have passed. From that spot she suddenly observed a third man who had just climbed from the beach. It was Baby Laird's father, and he was headed homeward, too. She was about to join him, when the two others showed that they knew and were about to speak to the baby's father. It was the saturnine man who addressed himself to Joe Bassett, while René held back. "Well, well!" he said, advancing with hand outstretched. "I wondered why I did not run across you. I declare! You look well. Brown as a berry. It must agree with you here. And the wife and baby?" "Are well," said the young man. He quite ignored the extended hand of the secretary. His glance went to the chauffeur and he nodded. "Howdy, René?" he said. "Thank you, sir. I enjoy my health," the French Canadian said; but he did not draw near. "I failed to hear from you in regard to that proposition I was enabled to make you, Mr. Joe," the other man said, dropping his voice. "That Arizona proposition is still open for you." "The offer was inspired, I presume?" young Bassett ventured. "Naturally I could not have spoken of the mining company's need without his permission," was the reply. "And if I do not accept?" "Mr. Joe," said the man, urgently, "you know without being told by me that when the old man is determined on a thing he will carry it through, in spite of everything. If he has made up his mind that you and yours will suit him better in Arizona than here, to Arizona you'll go, or you'll be sorry." "If I can make my living here in the East--Why! Inness, I've a chance to stay right here on this island and go into partnership with a man in a good, paying business." "If you do you'll be sorry," snapped the secretary. "And perhaps your partner will suffer, too. The old man is ruthless--you know that! Once he is determined--" Joe Bassett's head had come up like that of a spurred horse, and his shoulders squared themselves with a gesture of decision. "Who is he, that he should rule all the world?" he demanded hotly. "I'll not be driven, Inness!"