ion. I promise you here and now that you'll learn something about
those laws later."

"Still threat'nin' me right on my own land, are yeh, hey?"

"I am not threatening. I am simply standing up for my rights as a
citizen under the law."

"Wal, I ain't here to argue law nor nothin' else with yeh. I've had you
brought up here so's I can talk straight business with you. You've had
a pretty tart lesson, but I hope you've learned somethin' by it. I've
showed ye that a railro'd can't be built over Gideon Ward's property
till he says the word. An' he'll never say the word. Ye're licked. Own
up to it, now ain't ye?" Ward's voice was mighty with a conqueror's
confidence.

"Not by any means. You have simply incurred the penalty of being sent to
state prison. And while you're there I'll be building that railroad."

Fury fairly streamed from Ward's eyes. He choked, grasped at his throat,
writhed as if he were strangling, and stamped his foot until the camp
shook. At last he recovered his voice.

"I'll pay ye for that! Now see here!" He jammed a paper into Parker's
hands. "Sign that docyment, there an' now. Sign it an' swear ye'll stick
by your agreement; 'cause if ye go back on it, may the Lord have mercy
on your soul, for Gid Ward never will!"

Parker glanced at the crudely drawn agreement. It bound him as agent for
his principals to withdraw all material from the Po-quette Carry, and
abandon his railroad undertaking. It furthermore promised that he
would make no complaint on account of damages to property or
himself--admitting that he had been guilty of trespass.

Parker indignantly held the paper toward the colonel. The latter refused
to take it.

"Sign it!" he roared. "Sign it, or you'll take your medicine!"

"Do you think I am a fool, Colonel Ward? Or are you one? I cannot bind
my principals in any such manner. Furthermore, a signature obtained
under duress is of no value in court. I claim that I am under duress."

"You refuse to sign, then?"

"Absolutely. It would be easy enough to sign that paper and then go away
and do as I like. But I am not going to lie to you even for a moment.
The paper would be worthless in court."

"It ain't a paper that's goin' into court," Ward retorted. "It's a paper
by which you agree to get out of here. It's you an' me. It just means
that ro'd shan't be built."

"Put into other words, I am to be scared out, and run back home and
report that the road is impracticable?"

"There's