[MARY puts a loaf of bread, some fried eggs, and a coffee pot on the table.] MARY. There! I hope ye're satisfied. [The SERGEANT and DICK pull their chairs to the table, and begin to eat.] SERGEANT. Is this all we get? Come, it won't do you any good to be stingy. [Obviously, from now on, everything the SERGEANT says drives MARY nearer madness.] MARY. It's all I got. SERGEANT. It isn't a mouthful for a chickadee! Give us some butter. MARY. There ain't none. SERGEANT. No butter on a farm? God, the way you lie! MARY. I-- SERGEANT. Shut up! DICK. Have you got any cider? SERGEANT. Don't ask. She and the man probably drank themselves stupid on it. [Throws fork on floor.] I never struck such a place in my life. Get me another fork. How do you expect me to eat with that bent thing? [MARY stoops with difficulty and picks up the fork. Gets another from the cupboard and gives it to the SERGEANT.] SERGEANT. Now give us some salt. Don't you know that folks eat it on eggs? [MARY crosses to the cupboard; mistakes the pepper for the salt, and puts it on the table.] SERGEANT [sprinkles pepper on his food]. I said salt, woman! [Spelling.] S-A-L-T. Salt! Salt! [MARY goes to the cupboard; returns to the table with the salt. Almost ready to drop, she drags herself to the window nearer back, and leans against it, watching the SOUTHERNERS like a hunted animal. THADDEUS sits nodding in the corner. The SERGEANT and DICK go on devouring the food. The SERGEANT pours the coffee. Puts his cup to his lips, takes one swallow; then, jumping to his feet and upsetting his chair as he does so, he hurls his cup to the floor. The crash of china stirs THADDEUS. MARY shakes in terror.] SERGEANT [bellowing and pointing to the fluid trickling on the floor]. Have you tried to poison us, you God damn hag? [MARY screams, and the faces of the men turn white. It is like the cry of the animal goaded beyond endurance.] MARY [screeching]. Call my coffee poison, will ye? Call me a hag? I'll learn ye! I'm a woman, and ye're drivin' me crazy. [Snatches the gun from the wall, points it at the SERGEANT, and fires. Keeps on screeching. The SERGEANT falls to the floor. DICK rushes for his gun.] THADDEUS. Mary! Mary! MARY [aiming at DICK, and firing]. I ain't a hag, I'm a woman, but ye're killin' me. [DICK falls just as he reaches his gun. THADDEUS is in the corner with his hands over his ears. The NORTHERNER stands on the stairs. MARY continues to pull the trigger of the empty gun. The NORTHERNER is motionless for a moment; then he goes to THADDEUS, and shakes him.] NORTHERNER. Go get my horse, quick! [THADDEUS obeys. The NORTHERNER turns to MARY. She gazes at him, but does not understand a word he says.]