But during the night I sent them out for wood, and when they re-entered the cabin they attacked me--Link with an axe, and Givens with a piece of cordwood.

You can see where the axe landed--where it stuck in the floor, when Link missed me as I opened the door for him." The door opened and the men filed out, eager to ascertain the truth of Lawler's story.

Warden did not move; but his eyes, the expression of his face, indicated that he did not doubt Lawler's story.

But he sought to discredit it.
"What would my men cut your fence for, Lawler ?" Lawler laughed.

He had no intention of telling Warden about the confession the men had signed.
"You ought to know, Warden--they were your men." "Meaning that I sent them to cut the fence ?" demanded Warden.