"They were fools to try to shoot." the man said. "But if they had kept it up any longer, we wouldn't have left one alive. It was mighty cold waiting there in that valley hour after hour for the devils to arrive, and my men were in no mood for any nonsense. But I guess this night's work'll settle the rebels, all right."
"What are you going to do with them?" Dane asked.
"Put them to work, of course," the leader replied, as he sat down to the breakfast Old Dennis had prepared, and helped himself to a piece of meat.
"Do they know how to work?"
"If they don't they'll learn before I'm through with them."
"Where are they now?"
"Oh, scattered around among the cabins getting something to eat.
They're the most dejected gang I ever saw."
Jean heard all this, for she was wide awake, lying quietly in the bunk. She preferred to remain there for a while, as she felt embarrassed with so many men in the room. But when they had eaten their breakfast and had gone outside, she got up and stood before Dane and Dennis.
"I'm mighty glad to see ye lookin' so well," the latter accosted. "That sleep has brought back the colour into yer purty cheeks. Now, when ye've had something to eat, ye'll be as chipper as a bird."
Breakfast at last over, Jean and Dane sat and talked for a while before the bright fire.