take a part in taming it. Yonder on the Oregon is a complete
railroad, which will be running from the coast to the mines in a
few weeks. Another ship back there has the wire and poles and
fixings for a telephone system, which will go up in a night. As to
tables d'hote, I saw a real French count in Seattle with a
monocle. He's bringing in a restaurant outfit, imported snails,
and pate de joies gras. All that's wanting is the chaperon. In my
flight from the Ohio I left mine. The sailors caught her. You see
I am not far ahead of schedule."

"What part are you going to take in this taming process?" he
asked.

She paused long before replying, and when she did her answer
sounded like a jest.

"I herald the coming of the law," she said.

"The law! Bah! Red tape, a dead language, and a horde of shysters!
I'm afraid of law in this land; we're too new and too far away
from things. It puts too much power in too few hands. Heretofore
we men up here have had recourse to our courage and our Colts, but
we'll have to unbuckle them both when the law comes. I like the
court that hasn't any appeal." He laid hand upon his hip.

"The Colts may go, but the courage never will," she broke in.

"Perhaps. But I've heard rumors already of a plot to prostitute
the law. In Unalaska a man warned Dextry, with terror in his eye,
to beware of it; that beneath the cloak of Justice was a drawn