“Right!  Right!” called several men.

“I didn’t expect you to like the sermon,” said Mr. Fowler.  “I’m through saying pleasant things to you folks.  You are going to get straight facts from now on.”

“That’s as it may be.  But you keep your tongue off of Lost Chief women.”

“I don’t know why you get your back up, Young Jeff!” cried Grandma Brown.  “The people of Lost Chief aren’t ignorant.  They do what they do because they prefer it that way.  They know what the world calls their doings.  Why be squeamish when Fowler comes in here and just repeats the world’s attitude on such doings?  Inez is the ruination of our young folks, and we all know it.”

“That’s right!” called Mrs. Falkner; and Mary Spencer added a low, “Yes!  Yes!”

“She’s better than any man in the room, right now!” cried Judith.  “If you are going to drive her out, you ought to drive the men out.”

“Fine!” called Charleton Falkner.

There was a quick guffaw of laughter, during which John Spencer rose.

“Fowler, I don’t want to seem to go against my own son, but I want to say that if you try any more sermons like this one, I’m going to head a committee to run you out of the Valley.”

“I’d want to be head of that committee myself.  Don’t be a hog, John!” drawled Charleton.

“That’s a good idea!” exclaimed Scott Parsons.  “If the preacher says, ‘Drive Inez out,’ we’ll say, ‘Out with the preacher!’”

“You’re all talking like a parcel of children!” said Grandma Brown.

“Come on!” shouted Scott.  “The Pass is open.  Let’s send him out now!”

Douglas slid to the end of the seat.  Fowler stood tensely behind the table, pale, but calm.  Peter Knight spoke for the first time.

“I’ve got an idea.  Let’s give the sky pilot just one more chance.  Let’s ask him to preach a sermon next Sunday that we can all feel the right kind of an interest in, or else resign, himself.”

Douglas spoke suddenly, “Just what would that kind of a sermon be about, Peter?”

“Well, that’s Fowler’s job,” replied Peter.  “He’s been at it all his life.  He’s probably learned by this time the kind of sermons people don’t like.  I don’t want to see him driven out of Lost Chief.  I want him to have his chance.”

“That’s fair enough,” exclaimed Charleton.  “This isn’t such bad fun.  Why drive him out while the fun lasts?  How about it, John?”

“Fair enough!” agreed John.

“Nothing doing!” cried Scott.

“Now, Scott,” warned Charleton amiably, “you run the bull business and you’ll have your hands full.  We old regulars will handle the preacher.”

“Huh!” sniffed Grandma Brown.  “Wonderful!  ‘Old regulars!’ Well, don’t any of you old regulars forget that Douglas Spencer has grown up and that his brand mark is the same as his grandfather’s.  I think you all are acting like a parcel of children!”