Maybe I'll try the old Salton place."
"And take her away from Jim Silent?" broke in his father. "You might
jest as well go an' shoot yourse'f before startin'. That'll save your
hoss the long ride, an' it'll bring you to jest the same end."
"Listen!" said Buck, "they's the wolf mournin'!"
"Buck, you're loco!"
"Hush, pa!" whispered Mrs. Daniels.
She caught the hand of her brawny son.
"Buck, I'm no end proud of you, lad. If you die, it's a good death!
Tell me, Buck dear, have you got a plan?"
He ground his big hand across his forehead, scowling.
"I dunno," he said, drawing a long breath. "I jest know that I got to
get the girl. Words don't say what I mean. All I know is that I've got
to go up there an' get that girl, and bring her back so's she can save
Dan, not from the people that's huntin' him, but from himself."
"There ain't no way of changin' you?" said his father.
"Pa," said Mrs. Daniels, "sometimes you're a plumb fool!"
Buck was already in the saddle. He waved farewell, but after he set
his face towards the far-away hills he never turned his head. Behind
him lay the untamed three. Before him, somewhere among those naked,
sunburned hills, was the woman whose love could reclaim the wild.
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