s. She shuddered.

"What are they going to do, Moya?" whispered Joyce.

Her friend looked at her steadily. "Didn't you hear? They said they
wanted to talk over the arrangements."

"Yes, but--didn't it seem to you----? Why did he give you that pistol?"

"Oh, just so that we wouldn't be afraid."

Hand in hand they sat. Their hearts beat like those of frightened
rabbits. The wail of the wind screaming outside seemed the cry of lost
souls. Was murder being done out there while they waited?

Kilmeny strode after the Cornishmen with the light-footed step of a
night nurse. Beside the huge miners he looked slight, but the flow of
his rippling muscles was smooth and hard as steel. He had been in many a
rough and tumble fray. The saying went in Goldbanks that he "had the
guts" and could whip his weight in wildcats. There was in him the
fighting edge, that stark courage which shakes the nerve of a man of
lesser mettle. He knew that to-night he needed it if ever he did. For
these men were strong as bears and had as little remorse.

Inside the shaft-house, his quick glance swept the dimly lighted room
and took in every detail.

Trefoyle put the lantern down on a shelf and turned to the man who had
interfered with them. "Is't a fight ye want, mon?"

Kilmeny knew the folly of attempting argument or appeal to their sense
of right. Straight to business he cut. "I'm not hunting one. But I
reckon this is up to me. I'll take you one at a time--unless you'd
rather try it two to one and make sure."

His sneer stung. Peale tore off his coat with an angry roar.

"By Goad, I'm good enough for you."

Head down like a bull, he rushed at his foe. Jack sidestepped and lashed
out at him as he shot past. Peale went down heavily, but scrambled
awkwardly to his feet and flung himself forward again. This time Kilmeny
met him fairly with a straight left, tilted back the shaggy head, and
crossed with the right to the point of the jaw.

As the fellow went to the floor the second time Jack was struck heavily
on the side of his face and knocked from his feet upon the body of the
Cornishman. Even as he fell Kilmeny knew that Trefoyle had broken faith.
He rolled over quickly, so that the latter, throwing himself heavily on
top of him, kneed his partner instead of Jack.

His great hands gripped the young man as he wriggled away. By sheer
strength they dragged him back. Kilmeny wrapped his legs around Trefoyle
to turn over. He heard a groan and g