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All three then went down to the library where Nels was building the fire. Tierney loudly voiced his approval as the red and yellow flames began to creep over the wood. A minute later, however, he was choking and swearing as the acrid wood smoke rolled out into the room instead of up the chimney. "Aye fix him," explained Nels. "Chimney cover to keep out draft, mebbe." He hurried out of the room.
"Yes, Baby is falling asleep; and Rodger is brave, he will watch her. . . . Tell me, is Nels killed?" "No, I think we can save him. But we must be quick." She was by his side running, as he added: "I know how to do it, when we get him to the light." They worked together and it was all they could do, but they got Nels into the tent.
"Yes," said Marsh, "I was going to look over the house, but there seemed to be nobody home." "Men inside," answered Nels, giving Marsh a shock. "Tell me all about it, Nels," said Marsh, patting the man on the shoulder, "and I'll give you some more money." "House close two year. Since den Aye see fonny men most in night time. Big, black car no light. House stay close all dark fonny so Aye watch."
It was a penetrating silence before the voice of Ian Deal: "You two what in God's name " That was all of words. His black Arab, Kala Khan, had come to halt twice a lance-length from the tusker. Carlin and Skag and Nels stood half the circle away from the man and mount, a little farther from the still beast, the red right eye of which made the central point of the whole tableau.
"Ay ban yere by you fellers," he confessed sorrowfully, unable to determine which person it was that wanted him. "So I see," admitted the sheriff laconically. "Are you Nels Swanson?" The fellow swallowed something in his throat that seemed to choke him. This question sounded familiar; it brought back in a rush a recollection of his late controversy with Mr. O'Brien.
Presently Nels drove round to the front of the hotel with the gray horse and a high-top buggy. Harry King regarded him closely as he passed, but Nels looked straight ahead. A boy came out carrying Stiles' heavy valise. "Put that in behind here," said Stiles, as he climbed in and seated himself at Nels Nelson's side.
Stillwell's stentorian laugh rolled across the mesa. Madeline and her guests found it impossible to restrain their mirth. And when Nels got up he cast a reproachful glance at Madeline. His feelings were hurt. His second attempt, not by any means so violent, resulted in as clean a miss as the first, and brought jeers from the cowboys. Nels's red face flamed redder. Angrily he swung again.
"Florence, you jest hit the nail on the haid. Cowboys are all plumb flirts. I was wonderin' why them boys nooned hyar. This ain't no place to noon. Ain't no grazin' or wood wuth burnin' or nuthin'. Them boys jest held up, throwed the packs, an' waited fer us. It ain't so surprisin' fer Booly an' Ned they're young an' coltish but Nels there, why, he's old enough to be the paw of both you girls.
"Don't you believe what the Able's captain said about me?" inquired Rodney, who had little dreamed that he would become an object of suspicion almost as soon as he set his foot on Missouri soil. "He told me you were true blue." "And so we are, when we know the feller we're talking to." said the man who was sitting in front of him, and whom he afterward heard addressed as Nels.
Apparently they felt no anxiety or even particular interest. Don Carlos, who had been covertly watching them, now made his scrutiny open, even aggressive. He looked from Stewart to Nels and Monty, and then to the other cowboys. While some of his men prowled around the others watched him, and the waiting attitude had taken on something sinister.
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