HARVEY ANDERSON. Stop by the cabins and tell Buck. Good-night. (_He shuts the door and walks about, stopping occasionally by the stove, absorbed in thought_) SECOND STRANGER. He'll hardly use us now. FIRST STRANGER. Probably not. (_They take up pieces of the ore_) FIRST STRANGER. (_To Anderson, who is walking about_) How much does this assay? SECOND STRANGER. He didn't hear you. EGERTON. (_Enters with the Doctor and speaks with him aside_) Drive down a mile or so and wait for me. (_Mrs. Egerton and the Nurse come in. Both are dressed for travelling_) MRS. EGERTON. (_Walks toward the outer door, then suddenly turns_) O Donald, Donald, this is Christmas Eve! Think of this night in years gone by! EGERTON. (_Tenderly_) Mary! NURSE. 'Thy will be done.' HARVEY ANDERSON. It's all right, mother. MRS. EGERTON. Harvey! (_She embraces him and goes out with the Nurse_) EGERTON. (_To the Doctor_) And you'll attend to everything? DOCTOR. Yes, Colonel. (_The Doctor goes out. Egerton shuts the door and stands for a moment apparently waiting till those who have just left get farther from the cabin. He then starts pacing to and fro as though he were undecided what to do. As he walks left toward Harvey Anderson his brow darkens. But as he turns right and draws near the bedroom the hard lines of his face relax. It is clear that a terrible struggle is going on within him_) EGERTON. (_To Harvey Anderson_) You here alone? HARVEY ANDERSON. Yes, Mr. Egerton. But that don't matter if there's anything---- (_Egerton stands for a moment, then resumes his walk_) HARVEY ANDERSON. Is there something I can do? EGERTON. (_Stopping midway between the bedroom and Anderson, to the strangers_) What do you say? FIRST STRANGER. We'll do the best we can. (_The Second Stranger removes his overcoat. The First lifts the instrument case upon the table and begins to open it. Egerton walks toward the bedroom_) HARVEY ANDERSON. (_Following him_) I don't believe-- I don't believe, though, Mr. Egerton, It's any use. FIRST STRANGER. (_Suddenly covering Anderson with pistols which he has taken from the case_) Keep those hands where they are. Bolt that door, Ned. (_The Second Detective bolts the outside door. He then comes to the table and takes from the case two pairs of handcuffs, a long black mackintosh, and a black cap_) FIRST DETECTIVE. Search him. SECOND DETECTIVE. (_Feels about Anderson's hips and sides_) Slip on this coat. HARVEY ANDERSON. (_To Egerton, while the detective puts the coat on him_) Well, partner, I've seen men where Hell was loud Shoot from behind dead bodies but, by God, I've never seen them shoot from such as him.