“She’s been very good to him.”

“He’s been on his knees to her all her life.”

“There’ll be trouble out of this, though.”

“Pshaw! The girl is her own master.”

“I mean, someone will probably get hurt over there.” He nodded in the direction of Fort O’Battle.

“That’s in the game. The girl is worth fighting for, hein?”

“Of course, and the law must protect her. It’s a free country.”

“So true, my captain,” murmured Pierre drily. “It is wonderful what a man will do for the law.”

The tone struck Halby. Pierre was scanning the horizon abstractedly.

“You are always hitting at the law,” he said. “Why do you stand by it now?”