"You'd deserve that, plenty.
You'll find wood beside the dugout.

Get some of it in here and start a fire.

Move; and don't try any monkey business!" He closed the door as the men went out.

He had no fear that they would try to escape--even a threat of death could not have forced them to leave the cabin.
When they came in they kindled a fire in the big fireplace, hovering close to it after the blaze sprang up, enjoying its warmth, for the interior of the cabin had become frigid.
Lawler, however, did not permit the men to enjoy the fire.

He sent them out for more wood, and when they had piled a goodly supply in a corner, and had filled a tin water pail from a water hole situated about a hundred feet straight out from the door of the cabin, he sent them again to the dugout after their ropes.