Reaching her own house Loseis found the terror-stricken girls huddled in a group. At the sight of her drenched clothing, Mary-Lou clasped her hands tragically.
“What has happened?” she gasped.
Loseis did not answer her immediately, but only leaned back against the door with widening eyes. For suddenly she had realized what had happened, and was appalled by the certain consequences. She alone there with that pack of terrified girls!
“Bar the door,” she said. “Shutter the windows. We’ll have to stand a siege now! . . . No, wait!” she cried as they moved to obey her. “We must have weapons. The men won’t be back for half an hour. I’ll fetch guns from the store!”
CHAPTER X
CONTRABAND
All night long Loseis and her girls listened in trepidation, but none approached their house. In the morning, Loseis, disdaining to remain under cover any longer, sallied out of the house to find Gault, and have it out with him. Anything was better than uncertainty.
The trader was at breakfast in the kitchen of the men’s house. Seeing Loseis at the door, he rose quickly, showing a smooth, composed face, but with eyes as hard as agate. “Good morning,” he said with extreme politeness; “I trust that you received no hurt from your ducking last night. I was coming over directly to inquire. How inexcusably careless of me! I shall never forgive myself!”
Loseis waved all this aside. “I should like a few words with you,” she said as politely as he.
“Please come in,” said Gault. He indicated the inner room.
“I would be glad if you would step outside,” said Loseis.