offered and still
hold firm. If she chose to play that game let her take the
consequences? His more generous self held back. Somehow he realized
that the humiliation would almost kill her--later.

"It is too late," he said coldly.

This in itself was a humiliation the proud Colina could not have
conceived herself living after. From between narrowed lids she shot
him a glance of the purest hate, and quickly turned away.

The riding crop switched the air like the tail of an angry cat. There
was a silence. All watched to see what she would do next.

Meanwhile the mill was grinding smoothly. The young miller was hidden
from Colina by the barricade of grain bags. Finally she looked over
the top and saw him attending the machine.

"Greer!" she exclaimed in surprise.

The boy started, and turned a pair of stricken eyes in her direction.
His ruddy cheeks paled a little. Manifestly she wielded a power over
him too.

"Are you against me?" she murmured sadly.

This was the same tone she had just used to Ambrose. His lip curled.
"He has to do what I tell him or be knocked on the head," he said
quickly.

Colina ignored this. "You could fight for me if you would," she
murmured to the boy.

A hot little flame of jealousy scorched Ambrose's breast. He laughed
jeeringly. "Who's next?" he cried.

Colina, not looking at him, drew a baleful breath between her teeth.
Suddenly she turned, and with hanging head slowly made her way toward
the door.

Ambrose thought she was beaten, and a swift wave of compassion almost
unmanned him. He abruptly turned away. He could stand anything but to
see Colina defeated and grieving. He clenched his teeth to keep from
crying out to her.

She had another card to play. She stopped at the door, and looked
about through her lashes to see if the way out was clear.

"Duncan!" she softly cried. The word was accompanied by a dazzling
smile of invitation.

The boy dropped his wrench as if he had been shot, and vaulting over
the grain bags, was out through the door after her before any one could
stop him.

CHAPTER XX.

UNDERCURRENTS.

As Greer disappeared in the darkness several men started in pursuit.

Ambrose was quicker. He flung himself into the opening, and thrust
them back. Though he was on fire with jealousy, he would not go after
Greer, nor let the others go.

He could scarcely have explained why--perhaps because he dimly
apprehended that it was Colina's