“Look!” she cried.
“Esther, get back,” ordered the old rancher. “Keep away from that window.”
“What the hell!” muttered Blaisdell. “She sees somethin’, or she’s gone dotty.”
Esther seemed turned to stone. “Look! The hogs have broken into the pasture! ... They’ll eat Guy’s body!”
Everyone was frozen with horror at Esther’s statement. Jean took a swift survey of the pasture. A bunch of big black hogs had indeed appeared on the scene and were rooting around in the grass not far from where lay the bodies of Guy Isbel and Jacobs. This herd of hogs belonged to the rancher and was allowed to run wild.
“Jane, those hogs—” stammered Esther Isbel, to the wife of Jacobs. “Come! Look! ... Do y’u know anythin’ about hogs?”
The woman ran to the window and looked out. She stiffened as had Esther.
“Dad, will those hogs—eat human flesh?” queried Jean, breathlessly.
The old man stared out of the window. Surprise seemed to hold him. A completely unexpected situation had staggered him.
“Jean—can you—can you shoot that far?” he asked, huskily.