old sweat broke out on his forehead.

"They appointed us to tell you--to tell you that the time has come"--he
was stammering, his eyes fastened on the Italian's supple hand--"the
time has come when we, the workers, have decided--have decided that--"

Torrance lounged round the corner of the table that separated them, but
Werner had eyes only for Morani's hidden hand.

"--have decided that we must be freed from the yoke of bondage. We
demand the right to control ourselves, under our own leaders--"

He saw the wall of the room rush toward him--felt it strike him dizzy;
and he lay wondering what had happened. Gradually he became aware of a
great tumult about him, and he knew he was vitally concerned. His idea
of fighting happened to centre in a knuckle-duster with an ugly dagger
on the end of it. He drew it mechanically before his scattered wits
told him where to direct it.

The tumult increased. With the roar of a bull Torrance had turned his
attention to the other two. But they had taken surprisingly swift
measures for self-protection, and Torrance was momentarily baffled.
Morani glided behind the table, and Heppel, roused to unheard-of
activity, kicked a chair before the impending peril.

Torrance stumbled over the chair and crashed into the table, smashing
it flat, fortunately carrying Morani down with it. He was on his feet
before Heppel's slow wits realised the opportunity. Always the
contractor had handled these men with his big fists; other weapons only
dignified their resistance. These two fists of his, these great
muscles--they were made for a game like this.

From her room Tressa heard the entrance of the delegation but not their
message. At the first blow she ran to the door and peeped through.
Was it vengeance for the devastation her father had wrought in the big
camp riot? But she had faith in him almost equal to his own, and she
knew she would only be in the way out there. But as the fight
progressed, Torrance's bull voice rising with the fury of the fray, she
lifted a small automatic from a drawer and hastily examined it.

As she turned, her window was raised from the outside and some one
leaped through. Instantly the pistol was covering the intruder.

"No shoot! Indian come to help."

"Father don't require it," she returned stiffly. And she did not lower
the gun.

"I come by window," explained the Indian. "Camp watching. White girl
stay here. Indian help--maybe kill."

A lou