As soon as Scott was sure that the marshal had made good his get-away with Foster he looked for Hopwood, but Hopwood had also disappeared. He could see nothing further that he could do there and turned down the road away from the village. He had not gone far when he heard some one walking fast behind him. It was Sewall.

Where are you going? Sewall asked.

Up to Jarred’s Scott replied.

So am I, Sewall said.

They walked in silence, each occupied with his own thoughts. Scott was wondering where the marshal had gone with his prisoner and whether they would have any trouble in convicting him. Sewall was deeply moved by his walk up that road which was to him almost like a foreign country. His thoughts finally took the form of words.

Do you know that I have been over this road only once before in thirty years, and that at night?

Scott looked at him in astonishment. Do you know Jarred? he asked suddenly.

Only by sight. I’ve seen him in the village once or twice, and once three years ago when he came up on our mountain, Sewall said thoughtfully.

What did they have, a conference? Scott asked.

No, one of Foster’s boys threw a stone across the street and hurt Vic. Jarred rode straight up here after him and horsewhipped him in his own yard.

I should not think he would have dared, Scott exclaimed. Where was Foster?

In the house, Sewall chuckled, and he stayed there. Jarred did not even look to see if he was in sight. He just licked the kid, turned his back on the house and rode away. From all I have heard, Jarred was never much afraid of anything.

I have always admired him, Scott said.

So have I, Sewall confessed simply.

Again they walked in silence. When they came to Jarred’s gate, Scott called softly and Hopwood appeared in the doorway.

How did you get here? Scott asked in surprise. He never got used to Hopwood’s unexpected movements.

I hurried up here to tell Vic that her mother was not seriously hurt, Hopwood exclaimed.

How is Jarred? Scott asked anxiously.

Hopwood’s face brightened. He seems much better. I believe he is going to get well.

Can we see him? Scott asked eagerly.

If you don’t make him talk too much, Hopwood consented reluctantly. He felt that it would be better not, but he could not refuse this man who had successfully accomplished what he had been trying in vain for years to do. He stepped aside to let them enter.

They walked into the little cabin stepping softly. Vic was hovering protectingly around the bed. The old man was very weak, but his pride kept him from looking ill even now. A pleased light came into his eyes when he saw Scott. He started slightly at the unexpected sight of Sewall. Scott noticed it.

Sewall could not wait for Foster and the marshal to get out of sight to come up to thank you for saving his child, he explained.

Sewall knelt appealingly beside the bed.

Jarred smiled and feebly stretched out his hand. I can easily be friends with Sewall, he whispered.

I have always been your friend, Sewall replied earnestly, and I am coming to see you often if I may.

With Foster in the penitentiary and you for my friend I can die in peace, but—Jarred added with a faint smile—I am not going to do it yet.

At a sign from Vic they left him as softly as they had come. Hopwood was waiting for them outside the door.

He is lots better, Hopwood exclaimed, but Vic wants to keep him quiet.

She is right, Scott said. Are you going down with us?

Hopwood blushed a little. No, I am going to stay here and see if I can be of any help to Vic.

Do you want me to send for a doctor? Scott asked. I would be glad to get one from Asheville for Jarred.

Hopwood shook his head. Jarred would not like it.

So they left Hopwood standing contentedly on call beside the door, and started slowly for the village.

Tell me, Scott exclaimed, why did Hopwood wear that iron hat? I have been wondering about it ever since I came and he has always told me he would tell me later.

He wanted to make his family think he was crazy, Sewall explained. Did he fool you?

At first, Scott admitted, but not for long.

Sewall laughed. He has more brains than anybody else in the family. He was crazy for a while after Foster struck him that time, and he began wearing the iron hat for protection. He soon got all right, but he was shrewd enough to see that he could hear a lot more and go wherever he pleased if they thought he was crazy.

Of course you know how crazy he is about Vic and Jarred. Well, he kept right on pretending to be crazy, and he did it so well that he fooled them all completely. All the time, he was working tooth and nail to help Jarred.

And you knew that all the time? Scott asked.

Certainly. Jarred was in the right, and Foster has been wrong always, Sewall exclaimed.

As they approached old man Sanders’ cabin they saw him waiting for them at the gate.

How is Jarred? he called, as soon as they were near enough to hear him.

Lots better, Scott said.

And is it true that Foster has gone to the penitentiary for life? he asked eagerly.

He’s gone to the penitentiary, all right, Scott said, and we hope it will be for life.

Good! the old man exclaimed enthusiastically. I congratulate you, young man, on the way you kept neutral, he added with a grin.

Well, it worked, anyway, Scott retorted. He had noticed that Mr. Sanders had hardly spoken to Sewall, and he had thought that he would be surprised to see him.

You surely know Mr. Sewall Wait, don’t you, Mr. Sanders? he asked.

Reckon I do, Mr. Sanders laughed. He licked me at cribbage here last night.

Scott looked at Sewall indignantly. I thought you told me that you had not been up this road for thirty years.

That was above here, Sewall laughed. I sneak over here in the evening every once in a while to play cribbage with Mr. Sanders.

Scott was beginning to see what a hollow thing that feud really was, and yet it had killed several people, wounded many more and ruined the community for years.

Did Jarred know it? he asked.

Sewall nodded. Sure. I have sat on the fence there and talked over the feud with Vic by the hour.

Do you think Vic will give it up? he asked again.

Sure she will, Sewall replied confidently. She’ll marry Hopwood some day and forget there ever was a feud unless Foster comes back. She’ll never forgive him, and she’ll never forgive her father.

They left Mr. Sanders and went down to the logging camp. There Scott gave directions to MacAndrews to go on with the logging in the morning as usual, and told him that if he were short of help he could hire anybody around there.

At the station he sent a telegram to his old boss in the forest service:

Feud ended. Place now foolproof for supervisors.

And when Mr. Roberts came home to supper that evening he brought the reply:

Good work. We are going to appoint you the next fool.

But Scott did not want that job till he had finished the one he had. He was deaf to the letters from Washington. A few days later, Mr. Johns arrived on the scene to plead with him in person. He listened with interest to Scott’s account of the struggle.

Well, he said admiringly when Scott had finished his story, you certainly turned the trick, all right. You pulled the Service out of a nasty hole and everybody appreciates it. Now we want you back as supervisor. It ought to be a peaceful enough job now, thanks to you.

But Scott still shook his head. Not till the last log is in here, he said, waving his hand toward the mountain slope.

Pshaw, Mr. Johns exclaimed impatiently, anybody can run this logging outfit now.

That’s just it, Scott replied quietly. It has been hard enough work to get it to run smoothly, and now I am going to have the benefit of it. I am going to make a bunch of money off that contract, low as the bid was. When it is all over I will take back the job if you want me to; but I would rather go back to my old horse in Arizona.

Well, we might even arrange that in time, Mr. Johns said, or maybe we could bring the horse here.

That would be better, came a quiet voice behind them, and they both started to find Hopwood looking at Scott reproachfully.

You are right, Hopwood, Scott replied gently. I had forgotten you. I will at least come back when you and Vic are married. Let’s all go up to see Jarred and tell him the news.