ndy. Now, off you go!"

Phil sprang into his saddle.

"Say!" whispered Jim, straining upwards, "I'm going to bring the Mayor
along."

"Oh, hang the Mayor!" cried Phil hotly. "If we are going to be helping
him in any way, I guess you can count me out."

"But, Phil, laddie;--McLean of the Pioneer Company is coming, and
Morrison of the O.K. Company is coming.

"We can hardly leave Brenchfield out." Jim's voice was somewhat
sarcastic in its tone.

"Oh, I suppose not!" said Phil sourly, and unconvinced.

Jim laughed.

"Man, but you're thick in the skull. Eh, but it's a lark!" he
remarked, giving Phil's mare a whack on the flank and sending her
galloping off without further words of elucidation.

Phil found Jack McLean in his front parlour--late as it was--reading
a book to his last pipe before turning in. In as few words as
possible, he told him of what had happened and of the plan for the
capture of the thieves. McLean required no persuading. In five
minutes he was on his horse, ready for any escapade and swearing as
volubly as only a hardened official of the Pioneer Traders can who
has been systematically robbed without being able to lay the
thieves by the heels.

In ten minutes more, McLean, big Blair and Phil were heading west,
galloping hard for the Landing at the head of the Okanagan Lake.

The night was dark as pitch; there wasn't a star in the sky nor was
there a breath of moving air anywhere.

They reached Allison's Wharf in quick time, roused the complaining
lake-freighter and got him busy on his large gasoline launch. Not long
after that a clatter of hoofs on the hard roadway, a sudden stoppage,
and the sound of deep voices, betrayed the arrival of the others:
Langford, Morrison, Thompson the Government Agent, and the one police
official whom Phil felt was absolutely above suspicion,--Howden, who
was Chief Palmer's deputy--and Brenchfield, surly as a bear;--all
powerful men and capable of giving a good account of themselves in a
tight place.

They were eight, all told, with Allison in addition looking after his
own affairs, and they set out across the lake for the quiet little
landing below the Redmans settlement, leaving their horses at
Allison's place.

"Howden,--why didn't you bring the Chief?" asked Phil.

"Wish to hell we had! Might have saved me the trouble of coming. He's
up on the ranges somewhere. There's a lot of cattle missing up there
lately and he's keen on catching some of the ru