waved them back. "The longer that man stops as he is, the better
chances he's going to have." He glanced towards the window. "Boys, can you
see what they're doing now?"

"Hauling out prairie hay," said Clavering. "They've broken into the store,
and from what one fellow shouted they've found the kerosene."

Torrance said nothing whatever, and his silence was significant. Listening
with strained attention, Flora Schuyler could hear a faint hum of voices,
and now and then vague sounds amidst a patter of hurrying steps. They told
her very little, but the tension in the attitude of the half-seen men had
its meaning. It was evident that their assailants purposed to burn them
out.

Ten minutes passed, as it were interminably, and still nobody moved. The
voices had grown a little louder, and there was a rattle as though men
unseen behind the buildings were dragging up a wagon. Suddenly a rhythmic
drumming came softly through it, and Clavering glanced at Torrance.

"Somebody riding this way at a gallop," he said.

The beat of hoofs grew louder. The men without seemed to be running to and
fro, and shouting to one another, while those in the hall clustered about
the window, reckless of the risk they ran. Standing a little behind them
Hetty saw a dim mounted figure sweep out of the waste of snow, and a
hoarse shout went up. "Hold on! Throw down that rifle! It's Larry Grant."

XIV

TORRANCE'S WARNING

In another moment the horseman pulled up, and sat motionless in his saddle
with his head turned towards the house. Hetty could see him silhouetted,
shapeless and shadowy in his big fur-coat, against the whiteness of the
snow, and the relief she felt betrayed itself in her voice as she turned
to Miss Schuyler.

"Yes," she said, "it's Larry. There will be no more trouble now."

Flora Schuyler laughed a little breathless laugh, for though she also felt
the confidence her companion evinced, the strain had told on her.

"Of course," she said, "he knew you wanted him. There are men like that."

It was a simple tribute, but Hetty thrilled with pride. Larry was at least
consistent, and now, as it had been in the days both looked back upon, he
had come when she needed him. She also recognized even then that the fact
that he is generally to be found where he is wanted implies a good deal in
the favour of any man.

And now half-seen objects moved out from behind barn and stable, and the
horseman turned towards them. His voi