While Kirby went through the oppressive rite of afternoon tea within the slant-roofed log cabin, and tried to hide from his wife the fear which grew as the shadows lengthened across the clearing out in the corral, the men had reached open mutiny. The smouldering sullenness[Pg 126] had at last burst into flaming defiance, blown by the gale of the woman's wrath.
"Say!" she apostrophized."I know he is not," she said decisively."Eh?" the parson was not sure he had heard.Landor went back to his command and waited. Another man rode up and joined the two. Ten minutes passed, and the troops grew restless.