Shoop glanced quickly at the silent figure. Then his gaze drifted to the ground.
"'Mornin', Sun! Seen anybody 'round here this mornin'?"
"Mornin', fellas. Nope. Just me and Chance."
The men hesitated, eyeing Sundown suspiciously.
Corliss stepped toward the ranch-house.
"Guess we'll look in," he said, and stepped past Shoop.
Sundown had closed the door of the bedroom. He was at a loss to prevent the men entering the house, but once within the house he determined that they should not enter the bedroom.
He backed toward it and stood with one shoulder against the lintel. "Come right in. I ain't got to housekeepin' yet, but…"
He ceased speaking as he saw Corliss's gaze fixed on the kyacks. "Where did you get 'em?" queried the rancher.
The men crowded in and gazed curiously at the kyacks—then at Sundown.