man averred that the
statement only made the fight more worth while he was indorsed with
great heartiness.

"All right!" agreed Vittum. "We'll consider that point settled." He drew
a long breath; he inquired with anxious solicitude; "Did you overhear
him saying anything about Latisan? He might have heard something, coming
in fresh from outside."

The scout gave the girl a glance of apology; he was a tactless
individual in shading facts. "Of course, all that Three C's bunch is
liars, and Craig worst of all. But I did hear him say that Latisan is
loafing in New York and is prob'ly in jail by this time."

The girl rose and walked away, and the fog shut her from their sight
immediately. She heard the old man cursing the incautious scout. "Why
the blazes didn't you smooth it? You've gone to work and hurt her
feelings. She made her mistake, and she admits it. We all make our
mistakes," said the rebuker. "But she's true blue! I ain't laying up
anything against Latisan because he doesn't show up. It's because the
girl is here that we are making men of ourselves right now. She's
deserving of all we can give her. By gad! say I, she's going to make
good with our help."

She was a considerable distance down the river path, but she heard that
speech and the shout of the men indorsing the declaration.

Lida hastened as rapidly as she was able along the path that led to
Skulltree; she had reconnoitered on the previous day--going as near the
dam as she dared, trying to make the lay of the land suggest some method
by which battle might be avoided.

While she ran down the path that morning she was arriving at some
definite conclusions. The news about Director Craig had put desperate
courage into her. The upper and the nether millstones of men and events
in the north country had begun their grim revolutions; she resolved to
cast herself between those stones in an effort to save faithful men who
were innocent of fault.

When the dull rumble of the sluiceway waters informed her that she was
near the camp of the enemy she went more cautiously, and when she heard
the voices of men she called, announcing that she desired to speak with
Director Craig.

Somebody replied, after a pause which indicated that considerable
amazement had been roused by a woman's voice.

"Come along, whoever you are! Mr. Craig is on the dam."

A man who kept jerking his head around to stare frankly at her led her
along the string piece of the great structu