“Why, you traitor!” roared Scott.  “You staged the whole play, and I’ll bet you staged this with your traps.”

“I never let a debt go unpaid,” chuckled Charleton.

“Aw, come off, Scott!” cried John Spencer.  “Give them the bull and send them home.  We are sick of your rows in this valley!”

Scott forgot that he was guarding the trail.  He spurred his horse furiously toward John, flourishing his six-shooter.  The two Mormons slipped quickly away.

“If you think you can sacrifice me for Jude, John Spencer!” cried Scott.  He got no farther, for Douglas, now on the Moose, cracked him on the right wrist with the butt of his own gun.  At the same time, Peter knocked John’s arm into the air.  Scott’s weapon dropped into the snow.

“Now,” said Douglas with his quiet grin, “this venison dinner party of mine is announced as over.  You Mormons take yourselves and your dogs off my place.  Frank,” to the sheriff, who had been an amused spectator up to this point, “come over here and soothe Scott.  He’s a right nervous cowman to-day.  Dad, you take Jude home.”

Frank rode slowly over to take Scott’s bridle.

“Well,” said Peter, “looks like our host wants to get rid of us.  Come on, Charleton.”

“I’ll get you later, Charleton!” shouted Scott.

“But how about—­” began Nelson.

Douglas turned in his saddle and faced the older man.  His young eyes suddenly looked grim and hard.  “Nelson, you have seen what Lost Chief is like to-day.  We have no fear and we have no friends and we have no God.  But Lost Chief is ours and we intend to keep it.  No Mormon is welcome.  Don’t use our trails or our range or our herd waters.  Now, go!”

“Those are hard words, such as a man can’t afford to speak to a neighbor,” said Elijah, turning his horse slowly.

Douglas did not reply, and not at all reluctantly the visitors spurred up the drifted trail.

“Come on, Judith!” John nodded to the girl.

“I’m going to stay and doctor Sioux up,” she said.

“Go on home, Judith,” urged Douglas.

“I’ll take care of the bull for you,” said old Johnny, who had not spoken a word during the entire episode.

“Nobody can touch him in the state he’s in but me.  You know that!” declared Judith.

“Judith,” repeated Douglas, “you go home.”

“Why?” demanded the girl.

“You know why, Judith.  Go on with Dad.”

Judith set her lips, and slowly, very slowly spurred Buster after John’s horse.  Not until she was out of earshot did Douglas say to Scott: 

“Scott, let’s you and me settle our differences once and for all.”  It was dark now and cold.  “You gather up that gun, Johnny, and we’ll go into the cabin where it’s warm.”

“I’ll not go near your house!” Scott spoke gruffly.

“Look here, Scott!  Don’t be a grouch!  Let’s see if we can’t get together.”