Macfarlane took a step forward. "Here! Leave Miss Gaviller out of
this!" he said harshly.

Ambrose did not look at him, but his hand clenched ready to strike.
His eyes were fixed on Colina, demanding an answer.

Color came back to her cheeks and firmness to her voice. "Stop!" she
cried to Macfarlane in her old imperious way. "I'm the mistress here.
My father is incapable of giving orders. You've no right to judge this
man. None of us can choose. There is no evidence. I will not have
either one handcuffed!"

Macfarlane fell back disconcerted. "I was thinking of your father's
safety," he muttered.

"I will watch over him myself," she said. She went swiftly up the
stairs.

Ambrose sat by himself on a chair at the junction of the side passage
with the stair hall. Naturally, after what had passed, he avoided the
other men--and they him.

It was growing light. He saw the panes of the side door gray and
whiten. Later he could make out the damaged front of the store across
the square.

Macfarlane was again upon watch by the door. Strange and Pringle were
in the library. Giddings was with Colina and the sick man up-stairs.

Ambrose watched the coming of day with grim eyes. He had had plenty of
time to consider his situation. True, Colina had not failed him, but
he did not minimize the dangers ahead.

He knew something of the uncertainty of men's justice. Out of the
tumult of rage that had at first shattered him had been born a resolve
to guard himself warily.

Daylight had an odd effect of novelty. It seemed to him as if years
separated him from the previous day.

Strange came out of the library to take an observation. At the sight
of him Ambrose's eyes burned. If scorn could kill the half-breed would
have fallen in his tracks.

"They're still quiet," remarked Macfarlane.

"Too quiet," said Strange. "If they made a noise we could guess what
they were up to!"

The two men held a low-voiced colloquy by the door. Ambrose supposed
that Strange was again offering to go out to reconnoiter. The
policeman was expostulating with him.

He heard Strange say; "I'm afraid they may attempt to wreck the mill
before they go. That would be fatal for all of us. I had no
opportunity yesterday to put on new locks."

Macfarlane begged Strange not to risk himself.

"He's safe enough," thought Ambrose grimly.

Strange finally had his way.

Ambrose speculated on what his real object might be. "That b