Scott let the girl sit on the ground with her back against his knees and watched the famous old man coming to protect his own. He presented a striking figure striding along through the moonlight with hurried dignity. His tall, gaunt form was as erect as that of a man of twenty, and his step as springy. His ever present rifle hung comfortably across the hollow of his arm. He cast one keen glance of suspicion at Scott and knelt beside the girl.

What is it, Vic? he asked tenderly.

I fell off old Dan, she confessed sheepishly.

Are you hurt? he insisted anxiously.

I have a knot on my head, and I twisted my leg, she said.

How under the sun did you come to fall off old Dan? her grandfather asked, as he laid down his long rifle and gathered her tenderly in his arms. Scott stepped back a pace or two out of earshot.

I was sitting on him sideways and he shied at a hound on top of the bank down below Sanders’.

And this gentleman? he asked, looking Scott squarely in the eye.

He found me in the road and brought me home, she replied shortly.

The old man straightened up with his burden and bowed solemnly to Scott. I thank you, sir.

I certainly am glad to have been of service to you, Scott replied cordially. I hope to have the pleasure of calling on you in a day or so if I may, so I will not intrude on you any longer at present.

Jarred frankly looked him over from head to foot. If you will be so kind as to wait till I have taken the girl in the house I would like to speak to you for a moment.

Certainly, Scott answered politely. He liked the old man’s frank, straightforward gaze, but it did not seem to him that steady eye looked on him with much favor. Perhaps he was no more grateful than his granddaughter. In less than five minutes he came out again to join Scott. He came straight to the point.

Sir, I am sorry that I could not invite you in, and I regret that I have to appear discourteous to a man who has rendered me the service you have. Scott listened in silent astonishment and the old man continued. I owe you a debt which I can never repay for the kindness you have shown my grandchild, but any man who aids my enemies can never be more to me than a creditor, as much as I would like to have it otherwise.

Scott was astonished at the old man’s courtly manner and fine English. He did not learn till later that many of these mountaineers were descendants of the old Huguenot families who were driven out of France and had retained a wonderful purity of speech. He answered as earnestly as he could.

I do not know what you mean, Mr. Morgan, unless you refer to the rumor that I am going to let the logging contract to the Waits.

You call it a rumor, Jarred replied a little doubtfully. It was reported to me as a fact, apparently a very widely known fact, he added bitterly.

I assure you that it is nothing more than a rumor and a false rumor at that. I have not spoken more than half a dozen words to a Wait since I came here.

That may all be true enough but did not your superior officer make the promise for you? Jarred asked with a slight sneer.

The sneer angered Scott but he knew that it was justified under the circumstances.

I, too, Mr. Morgan, have heard that Mr. Reynolds very rashly made some informal promises to the Waits in regard to that contract. All I can say is that he did it without conferring with me. I am entirely responsible for letting that contract and I do not feel myself in any way bound by what he may have said. I can assure you that there will be no contract let to either the Waits or the Morgans unless they will agree to forget their feud and take the contract together.

Old Jarred looked him squarely in the eye for a minute before he replied. Then he held out his hand. I beg your pardon, he said with dignity. You must charge my discourtesy to a mistake. I appreciate your frankness and I want to be equally frank. Under those conditions there will be no logging contract let here. Won’t you come in, sir?

Scott had grasped the proffered hand eagerly. Thank you, sir. I will not come in now because it is late and you will be busy with the little girl, but I would like to come up and talk things over with you to-morrow.

We’ll be glad to see you any time, Jarred answered cordially.

Good night, sir. I hope the little girl’s injuries are not serious.

She’ll be all right to-morrow, I think. And thank you again for helping her. Good night, sir.

Scott turned down the mountain and left the old man standing in the moonlight looking after him. He liked old Jarred; he was a man and a gentleman. He did not wonder that he held the Waits at bay almost unaided. One man like that could overawe a whole tribe of cowards such as the Waits appeared to be.

And when Scott paused outside the hotel for a moment before going in, he glanced admiringly up at the silvered mountainside where that staunch old man was nursing his hate with such undaunted courage.