red to look upon the occasion as a
picnic especially arranged for their benefit. They grinned, and nudged
each other, and seemed ready to back the leader up in any desperate
plan he might see fit to carry out.

McGee stood there, with his arms folded across his massive chest. As
he drew closer to the giant Phil wondered after all whether he might
not have injured his cause by thus setting the balance of the camp
against the man who had been leader all these years, by virtue of his
brute strength, and his commanding ways.

McGee looked at him with a black scowl on his heavy face. His wife and
Tony were near by, both of them white-faced and anxious; as though
fearful lest after all the man's natural obstinacy was about to bring
ruin upon their newborn hopes.

Phil stood directly in front of the big man. He tried to meet his
piercing gaze frankly and steadily, yet not arouse his passion further
by a display of bravado.

As for Larry, he kept as near his chum as possible, listening, and
hoping for good news, yet fearing the worst. Every time his eyes were
drawn toward the twin stakes, against his will as it seemed, he would
shudder, and shut his teeth hard together, as though suffering
dreadfully. Yet Larry was inwardly determined not to show the white
feather if he could help it.

"Younker," said McGee, in his deep voice that seemed so in keeping with
his tremendous physique; "yuh admits as how yer the boy uh Doc.
Lancing, don't yuh?"

"Why, yes," Phil replied, as pleasantly as he could, yet with firmness.
"I told you right in the start that was a fact; and also why I had
chosen to voyage down this river instead of choosing the Suwanee. It
was to meet you, McGee; to shake hands with you; and let you see a
letter my father had given to me. I told you I came in peace, and with
a white flag of truce; I said my father wanted to be the friend of
every man, woman and child on these lands; and was ready to enter into
a contract with you all, binding himself to almost your own terms.
That's why I'm here, McGee. That's why I made no attempt to run when
you and your men came. I expected that you would treat me just as
messengers are always treated in war times, when they come under the
white flag of truce."

"An' yuh sped me tuh believe all thet?" demanded the giant.

"I hoped you would, McGee," replied Phil. "We helped your boy Tony
before we even knew that he was a McGee; and after we found it out, it
made us