There was a row of them before him, all without heads, while an ensanguined axe close by indicated the fashion of their execution.

He glanced at Deringham a moment, and then fell to work again.
"Oh, yes, this is Somasco, and the finest ranch this side of the Fraser," he said.

"Can you see Mr.Alton?
Well, I figure he's busy, and you had better wait a little.

Get hold of this.

It's your supper." Deringham recoiled a pace when a somewhat gory fowl struck him on the knee, and then sat down on a pile of cedar-wood staring at the speaker.
"I wish to see Mr.Alton as soon as possible," he said.
The other man looked up again, and grinned.