Until now they had had no opportunity of being alone since last night.
MacDonald spoke in a low, muffled voice: "Quade an' Culver Rann are goin' the limit, Johnny," he said.

"They left men on the job at Tete Jaune, and they've got others watching us.
Consequently, I've hit on a scheme--a sort of simple and unreasonable scheme, mebby, but an awful good scheme at times." "What is it ?" "Whenever you see anything that ain't a bear, or a goat, or a sheep, don't wait to change the time o' day--but shoot!" said MacDonald.
Aldous smiled grimly.
"If I had any ideas of chivalry, or what I call fair play, they were taken out of me last night, Mac," he said.

"I'm ready to shoot on sight!" MacDonald grunted his satisfaction.
"They can't beat us if we do that, Johnny.

They ain't even ordinary cut-throats--they're sneaks in the bargain; an' if they could walk in our camp, smilin' an' friendly, and brain us when our backs was turned, they'd do it.

We don't know who's with them, and if a stranger heaves in sight meet him with a chunk o' lead.