to be off. Out
there--in the night--something may happen before mornin'." Black Bart
licked the hand of the master and whined. "Easy, boy. We're startin'."

"But the night's just beginnin'," said Buck Daniels genially. "You got a
world of time before you, and with Satan to fall back on you don't have
to count your minutes. Pull up a chair beside me, Dan, and--"

The latter shook his head, decided. "Buck, I can't do it. Just to sit
here"--he looked about him--"makes me feel sort of choked. Them walls
are as close--as a coffin."

He was already turning; Kate straightened in the shadow, desperate.

"As a matter of fact, Dan," said Lee Haines, suddenly, "we need your
help badly."

"Help?"

The heart of Kate stood in her eyes as she looked at Lee Haines.

"Sit down a minute, Dan, and I'll tell you about it."

Barry slipped into a chair which he had pulled to one side--so that the
back of it was towards the wall, and every one in the room was before
him.

Chapter XIV. Suspense

The help which Lee Haines wanted, it turned out, was guidance across
a difficult stretch of country which he and Buck Daniels wanted
to prospect, and while he talked Barry listened uneasily. It was
constitutionally impossible for him to say no when a favor was asked of
him, and Haines counted heavily on that characteristic; in the meantime
Black Bart lay on the hearth with his wistful eyes turned steadily up
to the master; and Buck Daniels went to Kate on the farther side of the
room. She sat quivering, alternately crushing and soothing Joan with the
strength of her caresses. Buck drew a chair close, with his back half
towards the fire.

"Turn around a little, Kate," he cautioned. "Don't let Dan see your
face."

She obeyed him automatically.

"Is there a hope, Buck? What have I done to deserve this? I don't want
to live; I want to die! I want to die!"

"Steady, steady!" he cut in, and his face was working. "If you keep on
like this you'll bust down in a minute or two. And you know what tears
do to Dan; he'll be out of this house like a scairt coyote. Brace up!"

She struggled and won a partial control.

"I'm fighting hard, Buck."

"Fight harder still. You ought to know him better than I do. When he's
like this it drives him wild to have other folks thinkin' about him."

He looked over to Dan. In spite of the bowed head of the latter as he
listened to Haines yarning he gave an impression of electric awareness
to all that was