"Why did you not call off your dogs?"
"Well, sir, those dogs were mine, and they were kept on purpose to keep such fellows as you off."
"Well, old man, they failed that time, and let me tell you that just such fellows as we want to stay here all night, and would like to have the young lady get us some supper. Jim, you go see to the horses and get my carbine and revolver."
The girl looked up to her father to see what he had to say. The old man looked at us and said:
"Do you call yourselves gentlemen and force yourselves upon us?"
"Now, that has nothing to do with the case. Do you call yourself a gentleman and stand and see your dogs tear a man to pieces? There is only one thing about this matter: I want to know, miss, if you will get us some supper."
"Yes, sir," said the girl, "if pa says so."
"Well," said the old man, "you might as well get them something to eat, for if you don't they might burn the house down."
Just then Jim came in. It was now getting dusk.
"Jim, you stay here to watch the old man and I will go out and see how things look around here. Don't let him go out of the room, and keep an eye on the girl, too."