"With all my heart," she said. "Let us start!"
"I've given my horse a hard ride. He must have some rest."
She moaned softly in her impatience, and then: "We'll go back to the
house and you can stable your horse there until you're ready to start.
Dad will go with us."
"Your father cannot go," he said shortly.
"Cannot?"
"Let's start back for the ranch," he said, "and I'll tell you
something about it as we go."
As they turned their horses he went on: "In order that you may reach
Whistling Dan, you'll have to meet first a number of men who are
camping down there in the willows."
He stopped. It became desperately difficult for him to go on.
"I am one of those men," he said, "and another of them is the one whom
Whistling Dan is following."
She caught her breath and turned abruptly on him.
"What are you, Mr. Lee?"
Very slowly he forced his eyes up to meet her gaze.
"In that camp," he answered indirectly, "your father wouldn't be
safe!"
It was out at last!
"Then you are--"
"Your friend."
"Forgive me. You _are_ my friend!"
"The man whom Dan is following," he went on, "is the leader. If he
gives the command four practised fighters pit themselves against
Barry.
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