on
Ambrose's subconsciousness, the sight of them standing motionless, all
the dark faces lighted by the glare, was not the least impressive.

With a sickening anxiety he perceived the signs of a rising savage
rage. The men scowled and muttered. More than once he heard the
words: "John Gaviller!" Men slipped away to the teepees and returned
with their guns.

Ambrose looked anxiously for Watusk. He could not reach the people
except through the man he distrusted.

He found him by himself in a kind of retreat among some poplars a
little way off, where he could see without being seen. Ambrose dragged
him back willy-nilly, adjuring him by the way.

"The people are working themselves into a rage. They speak of
Gaviller. You and I have got to prevent trouble. You must tell them
Gaviller is a hard man, but he keeps the law. He did not do this
thing. This is the act of another enemy."

"What good tell them?" said Watusk sullenly. "They not believe."

"You are their leader!" cried Ambrose. "It's up to you to keep them
out of trouble. If you do not speak, whatever happens will be on your
head! And I will testify against you. Tell the people to wait until
to-morrow and I pledge myself to find out who did this."

"You know who did it?" asked Watusk sharply.

"I will not speak until I have proof," Ambrose said warily.

"What happened to the men you left on guard?"

"They say they play jack-pot with a lantern near the door," said
Watusk. "See not'ing. Hear not'ing. Poof! she is all burn!"

"H-m!" said Ambrose.

They were now among the people.

"Speak to them!" he cried. "Tell them if they keep quiet Ambrose Doane
will pay for the flour that is burned up, and will grind them some
more. Tell them to wait, and I promise to make things right. Tell
them if they make trouble to-night the police will come and take them
away, and their children will starve!"

Watusk did, indeed, move among the men speaking to them, but with a
half-hearted air. He cut a pitiful figure. It was not clear whether
he was unwilling to oppose them or afraid.

Ambrose did not even know what Watusk was saying to them. At any rate
the men ignored their leader. Ambrose was wild at the necessity which
made him dependent on such a poor creature.

He followed Watusk, imploring them in English to keep their heads.
Some of the sense of what he said must have reached them through his
tones and gestures, but they only turned sullen,