you've got the hunch," replied Joe, gloomily.

"My God! man, that would be horrible!" exclaimed Shefford.

"Horrible or not, it's liable to happen. The women can be kept here yet
awhile. Reckon there won't be any trouble here. It'll be over there in
the valley. Shefford, getting the women over there safe is a job that's
been put to me. I've got a bunch of fellows already. Can I count on you?
I'm glad to say you're well thought of. Bishop Kane liked you, and what
he says goes."

"Yes, Joe, you can count on me," replied Shefford.

They finished their meal then and repaired to the big office-room of
the house. Several groups of men were there and loud talk was going
on outside. Shefford saw Withers talking to Bishop Kane and two other
Mormons, both strangers to Shefford. The trader appeared to be speaking
with unwonted force, emphasizing his words with energetic movements of
his hands.

"Reckon something's up," whispered Joe, hoarsely. "It's been in the air
all day."

Withers must have been watching for Shefford.

"Here's Shefford now," he said to the trio of Mormons, as Joe and
Shefford reached the group. "I want you to hear him speak for himself."

"What's the matter?" asked Shefford.

"Give me a hunch and I'll put in my say-so," said Joe Lake.

"Shefford, it's the matter of a good name more than a job," replied the
trader. "A little while back I told the bishop I meant to put you on the
pack job over to the valley--same as when you first came to me. Well,
the bishop was pleased and said he might put something in your way.
Just now I ran in here to find you--not wanted. When I kicked I got the
straight hunch. Willetts has said things about you. One of them--the one
that sticks in my craw--was that you'd do anything, even pretend to
be inclined toward Mormonism, just to be among those Mormon women over
there. Willetts is your enemy. And he's worse than I thought. Now I want
you to tell Bishop Kane why this missionary is bitter toward you."

"Gentlemen, I knocked him down," replied Shefford, simply.

"What for?" inquired the bishop, in surprise and curiosity.

Shefford related the incident which had occurred at Red Lake and that
now seemed again to come forward fatefully.

"You insinuate he had evil intent toward the Indian girl?" queried Kane.

"I insinuate nothing. I merely state what led to my acting as I did."

"Principles of religion, sir?"

"No. A man's principles."

Withers interposed in his blu