Gulden grunted something.

"Mrs. Kells, I'm glad to meet you," said Pearce.

Just then the other three men entered the cabin and Joan took
advantage of the commotion they made to get out into the air. She
felt sick, frightened, and yet terribly enraged. She staggered a
little as she went out, and she knew she was as pale as death. These
visitors thrust reality upon her with a cruel suddenness. There was
something terrible in the mere presence of this Gulden. She had not
yet dared to take a good look at him. But what she felt was
overwhelming. She wanted to run. Yet escape now was infinitely more
of a menace than before. If she slipped away it would be these new
enemies who would pursue her, track her like hounds. She understood
why Kells had introduced her as his wife. She hated the idea with a
shameful and burning hate, but a moment's reflection taught her that
Kells had answered once more to a good instinct. At the moment he
had meant that to protect her. And further reflection persuaded Joan
that she would be wise to act naturally and to carry out the
deception as far as it was possible for her. It was her only hope.
Her position had again grown perilous. She thought of the gun she
had secreted, and it gave her strength to control her agitation and
to return to the cabin outwardly calm.

The men had Kells half turned over with the flesh of his back
exposed.

"Aw, Gul, it's whisky he needs," said one.