"Why! Ma Brewer, what's the matter? What'd you want of me?"
Before she could answer, a rough voice broke the silence.
"We all wanted ye, Tess."
She wheeled about and looked from one to the other.
Jake was still standing near the door. The triumphant leer on his face was reflected in the several expressions of the other men.
"Then, Ma Brewer wasn't sick?" Tess demanded slowly.
"Nope," said Jake, "but I'll bet someone else air."
Tessibel allowed her eyes to rove about the shack. A slight movement in the corner attracted her attention. There, like a forlorn little lamb, a tight rag about her mouth, her curls matted and damp, crouched Elsie Waldstricker. Instantly, Tess recognized her and her heart pumped with joy. Surely, her prayer had been answered! Here was her opportunity! The child was suffering, she could see that, but the very extremity of torture could hardly repay for the pain Boy'd endured. While Tess was pondering the penalties she'd inflict, a smile touched her lips. The frightened blue eyes searched the hard brown ones, but the child found no comfort or encouragement in the frowning face of the squatter girl.
"It's Waldstricker's brat," declared Jake, exultantly. "I were a snoopin' 'round Eb's place an' run on 'er down near the road by that there bunch of tamaracks. I says, 'What air the matter, Kid,' an' she says, 'I want my ma.' I says, 'Come along an' I'll git 'er fer ye,' an' the kid come jest like a lamb goes to the slaughterhouse." And Jake threw back his head and roared.
The other men joined in the grim laughter. After a minute, another voice sounded above the last ugly chuckles.