forests for a year. Two of them were from the Barrens, and this
was their first glimpse of civilized life in five years. As we sat
there a woman came up the street. She turned in at the hotel.
About me there was a sudden lowering of voices, a shuffling of
feet. As she passed, every one of those twelve rose from their
seats and stood with bowed heads and their caps in their hands
until she had gone. I was the only one who remained sitting! That,
Greggy, is the one great law of life up here, the worship of woman
because she is woman. A man may steal, he may kill, but he must
not break this law. If he steals or kills, the mounted police may
bring the offender to justice; but if he breaks this other law
there is but one punishment, and that is the punishment of the
people. That is what this letter purposes to do--to break this law
in order that its penalty may fall upon us. And if they succeed,
God help us!"

It was Gregson who jumped to his feet now. He took half a dozen
nervous steps, paused, lighted a cigarette, and looked down into
Philip's upturned face.

"I understand now where the fight is coming in," he said. "If this
thing goes through, these people will rise and wipe you off the
map. They'll lay it to you and your men, of course. And I fancy it
won't be a job half done if they feel about it as I'd feel. But,"
he demanded, sharply, "why don't you put the affair into the hands
of the proper authorities--the police or the government? You've
got--By George, you must have the name of the man to whom that
letter was addressed!"

Philip handed him a soiled white envelope, of the kind in which