ere was
nothing blustering in his attitude, nothing even forceful. There was a
simplicity, a directness that was strangely compelling. And Will found
himself obeying the silent command in spite of his fury.

"Get out, laddie," said Peter gently. "Get out, quick."

And in those moments while Will watched his prey hobbling to freedom,
he remembered Eve and what it would mean if the story of his doings
reached her.

As the boy vanished through the doorway Peter turned.

"Thanks, Will," he said, in his amiable way. "You'd far best let him
go. When you hurt that boy you hurt Eve--ter'ble."

Swift protest leaped to Will's lips.

"But the chickens. He killed 'em. I caught him red-handed."

"Just so, Will," responded the big man easily. "He'll answer for
it--somewhere. There's things we've been caught doing 'red-handed'
by--some one. And we'll answer for 'em sure--somewhere."

CHAPTER VIII

THE "BOYS" OF THE VILLAGE

The saloon was well filled, and it was evident from the atmosphere
pervading the place that something unusually welcome was afoot.

As a rule evenings spent in the saloon at Barnriff were not gatherings
one would readily describe as being "gay." At least it would require a
strong imagination to do so. A slight modification would be best. The
Barnriff men were rarely lightsome, and when they disported themselves
it was generally with a sombre sort of joy. That was their attitude
just now. There was a peculiar earnestness about them, even in the
fact of living. They seemed to be actuated by a deadly thoroughness
which had a tendency to kill, not so much levity as lightness, and
leave them mourning.

To-night such an atmosphere of sombre joy was prevailing. It was a
similar attitude to that which they adopted on election day,
Independence Day, at a funeral, or a wedding. It was the way anything
out of the ordinary always affected them.

The fact of the matter was Doc Crombie, who was doctor, veterinary
surgeon, horse dealer, and a sort of self-elected mayor of the place,
was going to hold a meeting in the saloon. He was going to make a
formal speech, and the speech was the point.

Now, if there was one thing Barnriff bowed the knee to it was the man
who could, and would, make a speech. It had all the masses' love for
oratory, and was as easily swayed by it as a crowd of ignorant
political voters. Besides, Doc Crombie was a tried orator in Barnriff.
He had addressed a meeting once before, and,