Douglas sighed. "Old fool!" he muttered. "As Grandma Brown says, she can jaw. He's lost his chance with me." He slipped out of the door, mounted his horse and nodded to the group of youngsters waiting for him. Then he urged Buster up the steps, through the door and up the aisle. The others followed him. A moment later, the schoolroom was chaos. Horses pranced over the desks. Dogs barked and fought among the horses' legs. Babies screamed. Oaths filled the air. Lost Chief rocked with laughter. Fowler jumped upon the teacher's desk, appealing in dumb show for order. A plunging horse tipped the desk over and the minister went down among the prancing legs. In a moment he was up, and again he raised both hands in a plea for silence. Douglas, laughing gaily, twirled his lariat, and pinioned the two pleading hands, then, amidst shouts of laughter, he backed Buster from the room, drawing the minister none too gently with him. Outside, whither the crowd quickly followed, Douglas halted and, still laughing, allowed the preacher to free his hands. "Now go on back to Mountain City, Mr. Preacher," he cried, "and don't come back till you've learned not to scold like an old woman." Fowler pulled on his overcoat which somebody tossed him, and mounted his horse. Then he stood in his stirrups and pointed a trembling finger at Douglas. "Ye shall find no place for repentance, though ye seek for it with tears." "Why should I repent?" demanded Douglas. "Aw, run him! Run the bastard!" shouted Scott Parsons. But Doug rode between the preacher and the threatening young rider. "Let him go, Scott. He's had enough!" Fowler disappeared down the trail. Scott turned scowling toward Douglas, but before he could do more Judith cried, "Come on, everybody! Let's go down to the post-office and get Peter to open the hall for a dance!" "I will if somebody brings whiskey," agreed Scott, turning his horse toward Swift. "I'll go over to Inez Rodman's and get some if Maud will go with me," volunteered Judith. "Let's all go to Rodman's," cried Maud. The older people were riding slowly down the trail to the valley. The youngsters waited until the way was clear before leaving the school-yard, agreeing in the meantime that Judith and Maud should go after the whiskey while the others went to interview Peter; and the two girls departed forthwith. "Some one besides me will have to work on Peter," said Scott. "He's sore at me. I tried to kick Sister." "What did you do that for?" asked Jimmy Day. "Are you sick of living?" "She bit Ginger on the shoulder. I hate that dog." "Jude can handle Peter," said Douglas. "Come on, let's get going."