"So far as we can tell, nobody was killed," said Olsen. "Some of our fellows have got bullet-holes to nurse. But no one is bad hurt."
"That's good. I guess we came out lucky," replied Kurt.
"You must have had some fight, runnin' off that way after the I.W.W.'s. We heard you shootin' an' the I.W.W.'s yellin'. That part was fun. Tell us what happened to you."
So Kurt had to narrate his experiences from the time he stole off with the big shot-gun until his friends saw him again. It made rather a long story, which manifestly was of exceeding interest to the villagers.
"Dorn," said one of the men, "you an' Jerry saved this here village from bein' burned."
"We all had a share. I'm sure glad they're gone. Now what damage was done?"
It turned out that there had been little hurt to the property of the villagers. Some freight-cars full of barley, loaded and billed by the railroad people, had been burned, and this loss of grain would probably be paid for by the company. The loss of wheat would fall upon Kurt. In the haste of that great harvest and its transportation to the village no provision had been made for loss. The railroad company had not accepted his wheat for transportation, and was not liable.
"Olsen, according to our agreement I owe you fifteen thousand dollars," said Kurt.
"Yes, but forget it," replied Olsen. "You're the loser here."
"I'll pay it," replied Kurt.