difficult matter."

Harley listened patiently, eyes glittering and clean-shaven lips
pressed tightly against his teeth. "What do you propose to do?"

"I haven't decided yet. If we could get any justice from the courts, an
injunction."

"Can't be got from Purcell. Don't waste time considering it. Fight it
out yourself. Find his weakest spot, then strike hard and suddenly."
Harley's low metallic voice was crisp and commanding.

"His weakest spot?"

"Exactly. Has he no mines upon which we can retaliate?"

"There is the Taurus. It lies against the Copper King end to end. He
drove a tunnel into some of our workings last winter. That would give a
passageway to send our men through, if we decide to do so. Then there
is his New York. Its workings connect with those of the Jim Hill."

"Good! Send as many men through as is necessary to capture and hold
both mines. Get control of the entire workings of them both, and begin
taking ore out at once. Station armed guards at every point where it is
necessary, and as many as are necessary. Use ten thousand men, if you
need that many. But don't fail. We'll give Ridgway a dose of his own
medicine, and teach him that for every pound of our ore he steals we'll
take ten."

"He'll get an injunction from the courts."

"Let him get forty. I'll show him that his robber courts will not save
him. Anyhow, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Hobart, almost swept from his moorings by the fiery energy of his
chief, braced himself to withstand the current.

"I shall have to think about that. We can't fight lawlessness with
lawlessness except for selfpreservation."

"Think! You do nothing but think, Mr. Hobart. You are here to act,"
came the scornful retort; "And what is this but self-preservation."

"I am willing to recapture our workings in the Copper King. I'll lead
the attack in person, sir. But as to a retaliatory attack--the facts
will not justify a capture of his property because he has seized ours."

"Wrong, sir. This is no time for half-way measures. I have resolved to
crush this freebooter; since he has purchased your venal courts, then
by the only means left us--force."

Hobart rose from his seat, very pale and erect. His eyes met those of
the great man unflinchingly. "You realize that this may mean murder,
Mr. Harley? That a clash cannot possibly be avoided if you pursue this
course?"

"I realize that it is self-preservation," came the cold retort. "There
is no