Arbor Croche! Nathaniel gave an involuntary shudder as he turned with Obadiah. Croche, chief of sheriffs, scourge of the mainland--the Attila of the Mormon kingdom, whose very name caused the women of the shores to turn white and on whose head the men had secretly set a price in gold! Without knowing it his hand went under his coat. Obadiah saw the movement and as he advanced to meet the officer of the king he jerked the arm back fiercely. Half a dozen paces away the chief of sheriffs paused and bowed low. But the councilor stood erect, as he had stood before the king, smiling and nodding his head. "Ah, Croche," he greeted, "good morning!" "Good morning, Councilor!" "Sheriff, I would have you meet Captain Nathaniel Plum, master of the sloop _Typhoon_. Captain Plum this is His Majesty's officer, Arbor Croche!" The two men advanced and shook hands. Nathaniel stood half a head above the sheriff, who, like his master, the king, was short and of massive build, though a much younger man. He was a dark lowering hulk of a creature, with black eyes, black hair, and a hand-clasp that showed him possessed of great strength. "You are a stranger, Captain Plum?" The councilor replied quickly. "He has never been at St. James before, sheriff. I have invited him to stay over to see the whipping. By the way--" he shot a suggestive look at the Officer. "By the way, Croche, I want you to see him safely aboard his sloop to-night. His ship is at the lower end of the island, and if you will detail a couple of men just before dusk--an escort, you know--" Nathaniel felt a curious thrill creep up his spine at the satisfaction which betrayed itself in the officer's black face. "It will give me great pleasure, Councilor," he interrupted. "I shall escort you myself if you will allow me, Captain Plum!" "Thank you," said Nathaniel. "Captain Plum is to remain with me throughout the day," added Obadiah. "Come at seven--to my place. Ah, I see that people are assembling near the jail!" "We have changed our plans somewhat, Councilor." The officer turned to Nathaniel. "You will see the whipping within half an hour, Captain Plum." He turned away with another bow to the councilor and hastened in the direction of Strang's office. "So that is the gentleman who thinks he is going to put a bullet through me!" exclaimed Nathaniel when the officer had gone beyond hearing. He laughed, and there was a kind of wild expectant joy in his voice. "Obadiah, can you not make arrangements for him to go with me alone?" "He will not go with you at all, Nat," gloated the old man. "Ho, ho, we are playing at his own game--treachery. When he calls at my place you will be aboard ship." "But I should like to have a talk with him--alone, and in the woods. God--I know a man at Grand Traverse Bay whose wife and daughter--" "Sh-h-h-h!" interrupted the councilor. "Would you kill little Winnsome's father?" "Her father? That animal! That murderer! Is it true?"