"I refuse to pay one copper cent!" roared Hippy. "Go tell that timber-legged friend of yours that if he bothers us again he will either get a bullet through his real leg or land in jail or both. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! I don't believe you are deputies at all." "Then yer under arrest. The whole pack of ye is under arrest!" shouted the deputy, suddenly throwing up his rifle. _Bang!_ A bullet whizzed past the deputy's head, fired from the ready rifle of Joe Shafto, who, with finger on the trigger, was glaring through her big horn-rimmed spectacles, alert for a suggestive move on the part of either of the three men, which would be the signal for another shot from her rifle. CHAPTER XVI WILLY HORSE SHOWS THE WAY Elfreda laid a hand on Lieutenant Wingate's arm, then stepped between him and the deputy, who had lowered his rifle a little, hesitating, it appeared, whether to shoot and take his chances or to adopt the safer course. The fact that he chose the latter, and made no further effort to intimidate them with his weapon, was significant to Miss Briggs. "Mister Man, I am a lawyer, and I will speak with you. I believe you just said that we are all under arrest," reminded Elfreda in an ordinary conversational tone. "Ye are that, unless ye settle up," blustered the fellow. "Then, of course, you have warrants. Have you?" "Well, well, no, I reckon I hain't. Don't need none. I'm an officer of the law. This is my warrant," he said, tapping the rifle. "We have similar arguments, arguments that are fully as potent," replied Miss Briggs significantly. "We decline to recognize any authority unless backed by proper credentials. What county are you from, may I inquire?" "St. Louis County," grumbled the deputy. "And your companion--is he from the same county?" "Yes. Come! I ain't got time for per-laverin' around. Are ye goin' to pay up or go with us?" "Neither! You have no warrant; you have no proof that you are officers of the law, and you admit that you are from St. Louis County. Grace, what county are we now in?" "Beltrami County," replied Grace Harlowe, who had been consulting her map. Miss Briggs nodded. "Out of your jurisdiction, Mister Deputy! It might be in order for me to suggest that you remove your persons from our camp," finished Elfreda in the same even tone with which she had carried on the conversation throughout. "I'll see whether ye'll go with us or not!" raged the deputy. "Joe!" called Hippy sharply. "If these rough-necks don't go _instanter_, trim 'em right." "Don't set Henry on them. They might hurt him," called Grace. "Get out!" commanded Hippy. The three men got, but before going they warned the Overland Riders that they would have the law on them for shooting at officers in the discharge of their duty. In reply, Hippy waved a hand and grinned, and the men rode away rather more rapidly than they had come into the camp. "Great thought of yours, J. Elfreda," complimented Lieutenant Wingate.