Weary and filled with foreboding, the boy drove the horses to the stable, pulled off the harness as best he could, gave the horses food and drink and went into the house.

There a ghastly scene met his eye.

On the floor hard by the table lay Mackenzie on his face, snoring heavily in a drunken sleep, and at the table, with three empty bottles beside him and a fourth in his hand, sat French, staring hard before him with eyes bloodshot and sunken, and face of a livid hue.

He neither moved nor spoke when Kalman entered, but continued staring steadily before him.
The boy was faint with hunger.

He was too heartsick to attempt to prepare food.