\"Wal，Ireckononlyabootfivehundredgoodhossstepsareseparatin’
usfromthatoutfit，\"drawledBlaisdell。
Noonerepliedtohisjocularity。GastonIsbel’seyesnarrowedtoaslitinhisfurrowedfaceandhekeptthemfasteneduponGreaves’sstore。
Blue，likewise，hadasombercastofcountenance，not，perhaps，anydarkernorgrimmerthanthoseofhiscomrades，butmorerepresentativeofintensepreoccupationofmind。ThelookofhimthrilledJean，whocouldsenseitsdeadliness，yetcouldnotgraspanymore。Altogether，themannerofthevillagersandthewatchfulpacingtoandfrooftheJorthfollowersandthesilent，bodingfrontofIsbelandhismensummedupforJeanthemenaceofthemomentthatmustverysoonchangetoaterriblereality。
AtacallfromMeeker，whostoodatthebackofthecabin，GastonIsbelrodeintotheyard，followedbytheothersofhisparty。\"Somebodylookafterthehosses，\"orderedIsbel，ashedismountedandtookhisrifleandpack。\"Betterleavethesaddleson，leastwaystillweseewhat’scomin’off。\"