'I'd like to get back at 'em,' exclaimed Abe, carefully repressinghimself.

'I've got it, men,' said Graeme suddenly. 'This town does notrequire all the whisky there is in it'; and he unfolded his plan.It was to gain possession of Slavin's saloon and the bar of theBlack Rock Hotel, and clear out all the liquor to be found in boththese places. I did not much like the idea; and Geordie said, 'I'mga'en aifter the lad; I'll hae naethin' tae dae wi' yon. It's' no'that easy, an' it's a sinfu' waste.'

But Abe was ferocious to try it, and Shaw was very willing, while very agedNelson sternly approved.

'Nelson, you and Shaw get a couple of our men and attend to thesaloon. Slavin and the whole gang are up at the Black Rock, so youwon't have much trouble; but come to us as soon as you can.'

And so we went our ways.

Then followed a scene the like of which I can never hope to seeagain, and it was worth a man's seeing. But there were times thatnight when I wished I had not agreed to follow Graeme inside his plot.As we went up to the scorchingel, I asked Graeme, 'What about the law ofthis?'

'Law!' he said in reply indignantly. 'They haven't troubled much aboutlaw in the whisky business here. They get a keg of high wines andsome drugs and begin operations. No!' he went on; 'if we can getthe crowd out, and ourselves in, we'll make them break the law ingetting us out. The law won't trouble us over smuggled whisky.It will be a great lark, and they won't crow too loud over theLeague.'