Curtis, sitting at the head of the board as host, plied the sheriff with cold chicken, discussing meanwhile the difficulties under which the Tetongs labored, and drew from that sorely beleaguered officer admissions which he afterwards regretted. "That's so, I don't know as I'd do any better in their places, but--" Jennie, with a keen perception of her power over her guests, went from one to the other, inquiring, in her sweetest voice: "Won't _you_ have another slice of bread? Please do!" Elsie, less secure of manner, followed her with the pitcher of milk, while the young men bruised each other's shins beneath the table in their zealous efforts to diminish the joy each one took in the alluring presence of his cup-bearer. Calvin sat near the end of the table, and his assured manner made the others furious. "Look at that stoatin' bottle," growled Green, out of the corner of his mouth; "he needs killin'." "Ah, we'll fix that tommy-cod!" replied Galvin. While the girls were at the upper end of the table the man on Calvin's right leaned over and said: "Say, Cal, 'pears like you got the run o' the house here." Calvin, big with joy and pride, replied: "Oh, I ride round and picket here once in a while. It pays." "Well, I should say yes--carry all your cheek right with ye, don't ye?" As the boys began to shove back, Curtis brought out a box of cigars and passed them along the line. "Take hearty, boys; they don't belong to the government; they're mine, and you'll find them good." As they were all helping themselves, the sheriff coughed loudly and called out: "Boys, the Major and me has fixed this thing up. I won't need but three of you; the rest can ride back and tell the gang on the West Fork it's all right. Cal, you and Tom and Green stay with me. The rest of you can go as soon as your dinner's settled." The ones not chosen looked a little disappointed, but they made no protest. As they rose to go out they all made powerful effort to do the right thing; they lifted their eyes to the girls for a last glance and grumbled: "Much obliged, ladies!" And in this humble fashion the ferocious posse of the sheriff retreated from the house of their enemy. Once outside, they turned on each other with broad grins. They straightened--took on grace and security of manner again. They were streaming with perspiration, and their neckerchiefs were moist with the drip of it, but they lit their cigars nonchalantly, flung their hats rakishly on their heads, and turned to take a last look at the house. Elsie appeared at the door. "Boys!" she called, and her clear voice transfixed every soul of them. "You mustn't do anything reckless. You won't, will you?" Galvin alone was able to reply. "No, miss, we won't. We won't do nothing to hurt you nor the Major's sister--you needn't be scart." "You can trust Captain Curtis; he will do what is right, I'm sure of that. Good-bye."