"What can I do?" she pleaded desperately. "It is for my father--"
His face brightened as he caught at a new hope.
"Show me the way to Silent's hiding place and I'll free your father
an' reach the end of this trail at the same time, Kate!"
She blenched pitifully. It was hopeless to explain.
"Dan--honey--I can't!"
She watched him miserably.
"I've given them my word to come back alone."
His head bowed. Out of the willows came Satan and Black Bart and stood
beside him, the stallion nosing his shoulder affectionately.
"Dan, dear, won't you speak to me? Won't you tell me that you try to
understand?"
He said at last: "Yes. I'll free Lee Haines."
The fingers of his right hand trailed slowly across the head of Black
Bart. His eyes raised and looked past her far across the running
curves of the hills, far away to the misty horizon.
"Kate--"
"Dan, you _do_ understand?"
"I didn't know a woman could love a man the way you do Lee Haines.
When I send him back to you tell him to watch himself. I'm playin'
your game now, but if I meet him afterwards, I'll play my own."
All she could say was: "Will you listen to me no more, Dan?"
"Here's where we say good-bye.
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