George pulled up before the door—there was only one, by the bye, and no windows—and exchanged a friendly greeting with Jake, Ike, Ed, et hoc genus omne.
“What’s the word?” asked George. “How is hay-cutting comin’ on?”
“We ain’t cut a blade of hay to-day,” said one of the men. “Them cussed Injuns kep’ us corralled here all day.”
“Whew!” whistled George.
“How many were they?” the lieutenant inquired.
“Somewhere’s about thirty or forty.”
“Many guns among ’em?” asked the conductor.
“Some of ’em had rifles; all of ’em as I seen had six-shooters.”
“How long did they remain about?”
“Pretty nigh all day. They kep’ shootin’ at us at long range, and we returnin’ their fire, until about ten minnits before the coach kem.”