ven
out no intimation of what his defence would be.

Then, within a week, events began to stir in Durham County. Samuels
wrote a rather violent letter announcing his change of mind in regard to
the relinquishment. To this a formal answer of regret was sent, together
with an intimation that the matter was now irrevocable. Somebody sent a
copy of the local paper containing a vituperative interview with the old
mountaineer. This was followed by other copies in which other citizens
contributed letters of expostulation and indignation. The matter was
commented on ponderously in a typical country editorial containing such
phrases as "clothed in a little brief authority," "arrogant minions of
the law," and so forth. Tom Carroll, riding through Durham on business,
was treated to ugly looks and uglier words. Ross Fletcher, visiting the
county seat, escaped a physical encounter with belligerent members of an
inflamed populace only by the exercise of the utmost coolness and good
nature. Samuels moved further by petitioning to the proper authorities
for the setting aside of the relinquishment and the reopening of the
whole case, on the ground that his signature had been obtained by
"coercion and undue influence." On the heels of this a mass meeting in
Durham was called and largely attended, at which a number of speakers
uttered very inflammatory doctrines. It culminated in resolutions of
protest against Thorne personally, against his rangers, and his policy,
alleging that one and all acted "arbitrarily, arrogantly, unjustly and
oppressively in the abuse of their rights and duties." Finally, as a
crowning absurdity, the grand jury, at its annual session, overstepping
in its zeal the limits of its powers, returned findings against "one
Ashley Thorne and Robert Orde, in the pay of the United States
Government, for arbitrary exceeding of their rights and authorities; for
illegal interference with the rights of citizens; for oppression," and
so on through a round dozen vague counts.

All this tumult astonished Thorne.

"I had no idea this Samuels case interested them quite so much up there;
nor did I imagine it possible they would raise such a row over that old
long-horn. I haven't been up in that country as much as I should have
liked, but I did not suspect they were so hostile to the Service."

"They always have been," commented California John.

"All this loud mouthing doesn't mean much," said Thorne, "though of
course we'll hav