Horsemen, sheep-herders, cattle-raisers, hunters--they all possessed long, wiry, powerful frames, lean, bronzed, still faces, and the quiet, keen eyes of men used to the open.
Their camp was situated beside a spring in a cove surrounded by aspens, some three miles from Pine; and, though working for Beasley, near the village, they had ridden to and fro from camp, after the habit of seclusion peculiar to their kind.
Dale and the brothers had much in common, and a warm regard had sprang up.

But their exchange of confidences had wholly concerned things pertaining to the forest.

Dale ate supper with them, and talked as usual when he met them, without giving any hint of the purpose forming in his mind.

After the meal he helped Joe round up the horses, hobble them for the night, and drive them into a grassy glade among the pines.

Later, when the shadows stole through the forest on the cool wind, and the camp-fire glowed comfortably, Dale broached the subject that possessed him.
"An' so you're working for Beasley ?" he queried, by way of starting conversation.
"We was," drawled John.