In the end he answered the last question first.

“My agreement with Kagig?”

“Yes, tell them!” put in Kagig.  “If I should, they would say I lied!”

“It’s nothing to speak of,” said Monty offhandedly.  “It dawned on our friend here that I have had experience in some of the arts of war.  I proposed to him that if he would take a force and go to find you, I would help him to the limit without further condition.  That’s all.”

“All, you ass?  Didums, I warned you at the time when you let them make you privy councilor that you couldn’t ever feel free again to kick over traces!  Dammit, man, you can be impeached by parliament!”

“Quite so, Fred. I propose that parliament shall have to do something at last about this state of affairs.”

“You’ll end up in an English jail, and God help you! —­social position gone—­milked of your last pound to foot the lawyers’ bills—­otherwise they’ll hang you!”

“Let ’em hang me after I’m caught!  I’ve promised.  Remember what Byron did for Greece?  I don’t suppose his actual fighting amounted to very much, but he brought the case of Greece to the attention of the public.  Public opinion did the rest, badly, I admit, but better badly and late than never.  I’m in this scrimmage, Fred, until the last bell rings and they hoist my number.”

“Fine!” exclaimed Gloria, jumping to her feet.  “So am I in it to a finish!”

Monty smiled at her with understanding and approval.

“Almost my first duty, Miss Vanderman,” he said kindly, “will be to arrange that you can not possibly come to harm or be prejudiced by any course the rest of us may decide on.”

“Quite so!” Will agreed with a grin, and Fred began chuckling like a schoolboy at a show.

“Nonsense!” she answered hotly.  “I’ve come to harm already—­see, I’m wounded—­I’ve been fighting—­I’m already prejudiced as you call it!  If you’re an outlaw, so am I!”

She flourished her bandaged wrist and looked like Joan of Arc about to summon men to sacrifice.  But the argument ready on her lips was checked suddenly.  The night was without wind, yet the outer door burst open exactly as if a sudden hurricane had struck it, and Maga entered with a lantern in her hand.  She tried to kick the door shut again, but it closed on Peter Measel who had followed breathlessly, and she turned and banged his head with the bottom of the lantern until the glass shattered to pieces.

“That fool!” she shouted.  “Oh, that fool!” Then she let him come in and close the door, giving him the broken lantern to hold, which he did very meekly, rubbing the crown of his head with the other hand; and she stood facing the lot of us with hands on her hips and a fine air of despising every one of us.  But I noticed that she kept a cautious eye on Kagig, who in return paid very little attention to her.

“Fight?” she exclaimed, pointing at Gloria.  “What does she know about fighting?  If she can fight,—­let her fight me!  I stand ready —­I wait for ’er!  Give ‘er a knife, an’ I will fight ’er with my bare ’ands!”