Jennie clapped her hands. "Good! That is a splendid resolution. I always knew you meant right." Curtis held out his hand. "Shake hands, my boy. There isn't a moment to be lost. If they are coming at all, they will start about sunrise. I hope they have reconsidered the matter and broken camp." Calvin looked a little uneasy. "Well, I'll tell ye, Major, I'm afraid them lahees that we sent back home will egg the rest on; they sure were bilun mad, but I'll go and do what I can to head 'em off. If I can't delay 'em, I'll come along with 'em, but you can count on me to do any little job that'll help you after we get here. Good-night." "Good-night. Don't take any rest." "Oh, I'm all right. Nobody ain't huntin' trouble with me." After he went out Jennie said: "I call that the grace of God working in the soul of man." Curtis looked at her keenly. "I call it the love of woman sanctifying the heart of a cowboy." She colored a little. "Do we women go on the pay-rolls as assistant agents?" "Not if we men can prevent it. What kind of a report would it make if I were forced to say, 'At this critical moment the charming Miss So-and-so came to my aid, and, by inviting the men in to dinner with a sweet smile, completely disarmed their hostility. Too much honor cannot be given,' etc." "I guess if history were written by women once in a while those reports wouldn't be so rare as they are." XXIII THE RETURN OF THE MOB Curtis was awakened about four o'clock by Wilson at his window. "Are you awake, Major?" "Yes; what is it?" "Two of the scouts have just come in from the hills. They are sure the ranchers are coming to make war. Bands of white men are crossing the county to join the camp. It certainly looks owly, Major." Curtis rose and went to the window. "The troops will be here by nine o'clock at the furthest, and the mob will not move till sunrise, and can't reach here, even by hard riding, before eleven." "Shall I send a courier out to meet the troops and hurry them on?" asked Wilson, whose voice was untouched of fear. "It might be well. Send Two Horns to me if you can find him. Keep silent as to these reports." "All right, Major." Curtis did not underestimate the dangers of the situation. If the troops did not arrive, and if the armed posse of the settlers should come and attempt to arrest Elk, war would follow, that was certain. Meanwhile he was one day's hard riding from either the fort or the telegraph line, with the settlers between, and no news could reach him for twenty-four hours.