Jean was only too glad to accept the offer.  She was weary to the point of exhaustion, and her head ached.  As she laid herself down upon the bunk, and Old Dennis tenderly covered her with two grey blankets, the softest bed in which she had ever slept never felt so good.  She knew how weary Dane must be, for he had merely pressed her hand as she left his side.  She thought of that terrible journey through the forest, and the fight Dane had made to reach the camp.  At first he had helped her along the trail, but when she could go no farther he had carried her like a child in his strong arms.  She understood something of what that meant, and she had pleaded with him to leave her and save himself.  But he had laughed at her, saying that she was not nearly as heavy as his pack and musket which he had thrown aside.  But he could not deceive her, for she knew by his hard breathing, and the way he at times staggered from side to side how great was the strain upon his almost giant strength.  She thought of all this as she lay there.  But the bed was comfortable, the roar of the wind among the trees most lulling, and ere long she was fast asleep.

And while the two tired ones slept Old Dennis kept faithful watch.  He sat before the fire smoking his black stub of a pipe, and listening intently for the return of the mast-cutters.  He had no doubt about the defeat of the slashers, and a smile overspread his furrowed face as he thought of the surprise in store for them.

During the night the storm beat itself out, the wind fell, and a great peace rested upon the snow-enshrouded forest.  As the dawn of a new day stole gently over the land the mast-cutters returned, bringing with them the rebel prisoners.  The noise of their arrival awoke Dane, who sprang from his bunk greatly refreshed after his sound sleep.  Then from the leader of the mast-cutters he learned the story of the round-up of the slashers.  They were taken in a narrow valley, and after several had fallen, the rest surrendered.

“They were fools to try to shoot.” the man said.  “But if they had kept it up any longer, we wouldn’t have left one alive.  It was mighty cold waiting there in that valley hour after hour for the devils to arrive, and my men were in no mood for any nonsense.  But I guess this night’s work’ll settle the rebels, all right.”

“What are you going to do with them?” Dane asked.

“Put them to work, of course,” the leader replied, as he sat down to the breakfast Old Dennis had prepared, and helped himself to a piece of meat.

“Do they know how to work?”

“If they don’t they’ll learn before I’m through with them.”

“Where are they now?”

“Oh, scattered around among the cabins getting something to eat.  They’re the most dejected gang I ever saw.”

Jean heard all this, for she was wide awake, lying quietly in the bunk.  She preferred to remain there for a while, as she felt embarrassed with so many men in the room.  But when they had eaten their breakfast and had gone outside, she got up and stood before Dane and Dennis.