They followed Bela round in company like dogs contending for scraps, ready upon no occasion at all to bare their teeth and snarl at each other.
Bela, perceiving her power, and being only a human woman, naturally abused it a little. Thus to see white men, whom all her life she had revered, cringing for her favour, went to her head a little.
She made them fetch and carry for her like women, she would have said. Thus the situation was reversed from that of her first appearance in the shack.
"Bring me sewing," she said. "I not lak do not'ing."
A variety of damaged garments was pressed upon her.
"I sew one for each man," she said.
Having made Husky comfortable, she took her work out into the sunshine. Jack, Shand, and Joe lounged in front of her smoking, watching her covertly; each privately making up his mind to secure that charming sewing-machine for his own household, whatever the cost.
"Ain't you got not'ing to do?" asked Bela coolly.
"This is a holiday," replied Jack.
"The stable is dirty," she persisted.