Together they went into the trader's house.
Back in the store there was silence after the priest and the soldier went out, which Gale broke at last:
"This forgiveness talk is all right, I suppose—but I WANT RUNNION!"
"We'll git him, too," growled Lee, at which Poleon uttered a curt exclamation:
"No!"
"Why not?" said the miner.
"Wal," the Canadian drawled, slowly, then paused to light the cigarette he had rolled in a bit of wrapping-paper, inhaled the smoke deeply to the bottom of his lungs, held it there a moment, and blew it out through mouth and nostrils before adding, "you'll jus' be wastin' tam'!"
Gale looked up from beneath his thatch of brow, and asked, quietly:
"Why?"
"You 'member—story I tol' you wan day, two, t'ree mont' ago," Poleon remarked, with apparent evasion, "'bout Johnny Platt w'at I ketch on de Porcupine all et up by skeeter-bugs?"