table, with the food; when he
observed the two men look at the girl and make signs. He looked straight
and hard at the man-hunters for a moment, and seeing them exchange
glances and nod their ill-looking heads at each other he suddenly
dropped his handful of things and started forward. He caught the leader
by the shoulder, and whirling him about as he stood there with his
companion leering at the girl, he cried out:

"Hunting cattle, are you? What's your brand? What's the brand of your
cattle, I say? I know every brand in Shasta. Now what is your brand?"

Johnny had strode up angrily toward the two men, and followed them up as
they retreated. Old Forty-nine, who now was on the alert, and had his
sleeves rolled up almost to his elbows from the first, had not been
indifferent, but was reaching his tremendous fist towards the
retreating nose of Dosson. Yet it was too dark to distinguish friend
from foe.

"Why, we are not rich men, stranger. We are poor men, and have but few
cattle, and so, so we have no brand--eh? pardner--eh?"

"No. We got no brand. Poor men, poor men."

"We are poor men, with a few cattle that have gone astray. We are
hungry, tired poor men, that have lost their way in the night. Poor men
that's hungry, and now you want to drive us out into the storm."

"Oh, Forty-nine,--John Logan,--they're poor hungry men!" interposed
Carrie.

"There, there's my hand!" cried impulsive, honest old Forty-nine.
"That's enough. You're hungry. Sit down there. And quick, Carrie, pour
us the California wine. Here's a gourd, there's a yeast powder can, and
there's a tin cup. Thank you. Here's to you. Ah, that sets a fellow all
right. It warms the heart; and, I beg your pardon--it's mean to be
suspicious. Here, fill us up again. Ah, that's gone just to the spot!
Eh, fellows?"

"To the right spot! Keep him a drinkin', and the others, too,"
whispered Dosson to Emens.

"That's the game!" And the two villains winked at each other, and
slapped Forty-nine on the back, and laughed, and pretended to be the
best friend he had in the world.

The two men now sat at the table, and Carrie and Johnny bustled about
and helped them as they ate and drank. Meantime Logan went for more wood
to make a light.

"And here's the bread, and here's the meat, and--and--that's about all
there is," said the girl at last. Then she stood by and with alarm saw
the men swallow the last mouthful, and feel about over the table and
look up to her