Two days after his
confinement, he broke away from his prison and went to the wilds.
There he found Jim Silent, and the mountain-desert found another to
add to its list of great outlaws.
Morning came as he drew close to the house, and now his reminiscences
were cut short, for at a turn of the road he came upon Kate galloping
swiftly over the hills. He drew his horse to a halt and raised his
hand. She followed suit. They sat staring. If she had remembered his
broken promise and started to reproach, he could have found answer,
but her eyes were big with sorrow alone. He put out his hand without a
word. She hesitated over it, her eyes questioning him mutely, and then
with the ghost of a smile she touched his fingers.
"I want to explain," he said huskily.
"What?"
"You remember I gave you my word that no harm would come to Barry?"
"No man could have helped him."
"You don't hold it against me?"
A gust of wind moaned around them. She waved her arm towards the
surrounding hills and her laugh blended with the sound of the wind,
it was so faint. He watched her with a curious pang. She seemed among
women what that morning was to the coming day--fresh, cool, aloof.
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