"Four," said Flora, firmly. "I'm coming."
Grant did not try to dissuade her.
"Write to Flett," he said.
He went out hastily in search of blankets and provisions, and when he returned, his hired men had gathered about the door and the note was finished. He threw it to one of them.
"Ride with that as hard as you can," he said, and called another,
"You'll come with us."
"We're a strong party already," Edgar broke in. "You're leaving the place poorly guarded, and the rustlers may have counted on something of the kind. Suppose they finish their work by driving off every beast that's left as soon as we have gone."
"I've got to take my chances; we'll want the boys to make a thorough search."
Grant swung round toward the remaining men.
"You two will watch out behind the woodstack or in the granary. No stranger's to come near house or stable."
"The woodpile," said Flora, with a hard white face and an ominous sparkle in her eyes. "You would command the outbuildings there. If anybody tries to creep up at night, call once, and then shoot to kill."