That brandin' today, an' that ridin' tonight has bushed me--kinda." Malcolm agreed and they stepped to the bunkhouse door.
The moonlight threw a mellow glare upon the porch of the ranchhouse near the kitchen door.

It bathed in its effulgent flood two figures, the boss and the master, who were sitting close together--very close together--on the porch.
The two figures came into instant focus in Dade's vision.

He stepped back with a amused growl and gave place to Malcolm, who also looked.
Silently they went back into the bunkhouse.
"I reckon," suggested Dade, from the darkness, "that if we're figgerin' to go to bed we'll have to bunk right here.

There's no tellin' when them two will get through mushin'.

An' it's been too hard a tussle for them to have us disturbin' them now." From the porch there came a low protest from the ally.
"Don't, Cal," she said; "don't you see that Dade and Malcolm are watching us ?" "Jealous, I guess," he laughed.