Torrance strode to an open window and blew a silver whistle. Its shrill note had scarcely died away when a mounted man came up at a gallop, and a band of others in haste on foot. They stopped in front of the window, picturesque in blue shirts and long boots, sinewy, generously fed, and irresponsibly daring. "Boys," he said, "you've been told there's a change coming, and by and by this country will have no more use for you. Now, if any folks came here and pulled our boundaries up to let the mean whites from back east in, what are you going to do?" There was a burst of hoarse laughter. "Ride them down," said one retainer, with the soft blue eyes of a girl and a figure of almost matchless symmetry. "Grow feathers on them," said another. "Ride them back to the railroad on a rail." "I scarcely think that would be necessary," said Torrance quietly. "Still, you'd stand behind the men who pay you?" There was a murmur that expressed a good deal, though it was inarticulate, and a man stood forward. "You've heard them, sir," he said. "Well, we'll do just what you want us to. This is the cattle-baron's country, and we're here. It's good enough for us, and if it means lots of trouble we're going to stay here." Torrance raised his hand, and when the men moved away turned with a little grim smile to his guests. "They'll be quite as good as their word," he said. Then he led them back to the table, and when the decanter had gone round, one of the younger men stood up. "We want a constitution, gentlemen, and I'll give you one," he said. "The Cedar District Stockraisers' Committee incorporated to-day with for sole object the defence of our rights as American citizens!" Clavering rose with the others, but there was a little ironical smile in his eyes as he said, "If necessary against any unlawful encroachments made by the legislature!" Torrance turned upon him sternly. "No, sir!" he said. "By whatever means may appear expedient!" The glasses were lifted high, and when they had laid them down the men rode away, though only one or two of them realized the momentous issues which they and others had raised at about much the same time. They had not, however, met in conclave too soon, for any step that man makes forward towards a wider life is usually marked by strife, and the shadow of coming trouble was already upon the land. It had deepened little by little, and the cattle-barons had closed their eyes, as other men who have held the reins have done since the beginning, until the lean hands of the toilers fastened upon them, and fresh horrors added to an ancient wrong were the price of liberty that was lost again. They had done good service to their nation, with profit to themselves, and would not see that the times were changing and that the nation had no longer need of them.