They smoked the first hour, and they passed the second in their chairs without moving.

They had mastered the borderer's art of doing nothing thoroughly, when nothing was to be done.

Then a man came upon the porch and spoke to them.

His name was Burnet, David G.Burnet.
"Good mornin'.

How is the new republic ?" said "Deaf" Smith.
"So you know," said Burnet.
"We don't know, but we've guessed, Hank an' me.