The sober and half-drunken men and Gil Steele began loud and angry explanations.

Steele was interrupted by his wife, who staggered and almost fell as she threw herself on his breast and fainted.

Thus was the step from tragedy to comedy taken, but no one thought of laughing.

The tragedy was too close.
Then came another interruption: the arrival of the double-laden horses with Injun and Dorgan.

When the latter was dragged into the group, and the bag of money thrown on the ground in front of him, there was another ominous silence.