Old Gaston Isbel showed this tragic realization in his lined face.
"Wal, boys, I'll tell the women," he said.

"Shore you needn't worry none aboot them.

They'll be game." Jean rode away to an open knoll a short distance from the house, and here he stationed himself to watch all points.

The cedared ridge back of the ranch was the one approach by which Jorth's gang might come close without being detected, but even so, Jean could see them and ride to the house in time to prevent a surprise.

The moments dragged by, and at the end of an hour Jean was in hopes that Blaisdell would soon come.