Lee Haines set his teeth.

"All the world," he said.

Even in the dim light he saw the yellow glow of Dan's eyes and he
felt as if a wolf stood there trembling with eagerness to leap at his
throat.

"An' what are you to her?"

"No more than the dirt under her feet!"

"Haines, you lie!"

"I tell you that if she cared for me as much as she does for the horse
she rides on, I'd let the whole world know if I had to die for it the
next moment."

Truth has a ring of its own.

"Haines, if I could hear that from her own lips, I'd let you go free.
If you'll show me the way to Kate, I'll set you loose the minute I see
her."

"I can't do it. I've given my faith to Silent and his men. Where she
is, they are."

"Haines, that means death for you."

"I know it."

Another plan had come to Dan as they talked. He took Haines inside
again and coming out once more, whistled for Bart. The wolf appeared
as if by magic through the dark. He took out Kate's glove, which the
wolf had brought to him in the willows, and allowed him to smell it.
Bart whined eagerly. If he had that glove he would range the hills
until he found its owner, directed to her by that strange instinct
of the wild things. If Kate still loved him the glove would be more
eloquent than a thousand messages. And if she managed to escape, the
wolf would guide her back to his master.

He sat on his heels, caught the wolf on either side of the shaggy
head, and stared into the glow of the yellow green eyes. It was as if
the man were speaking to the wolf.

At last, as if satisfied, he drew a deep breath, rose, and dropped the
glove. It was caught in the flashing teeth. For another moment Bart
stood whining and staring up to the face of his master. Then he
whirled and fled out into the night.

CHAPTER XXI

ONE WAY OUT

In a room of the Salton place, on the evening of the next day after
Calder's death, sat Silent, with Kilduff, Rhinehart, and Jordan about
him. Purvis was out scouting for the news of Haines, whose long
absence commenced to worry the gang. Several times they tried to
induce Kate to come out and talk with them, but she was resolute
in staying alone in the room which they had assigned to her.
Consequently, to while away the time, Bill Kilduff produced his mouth
organ and commenced a dolorous ballad. He broke short in the midst of
it and stared at the door. The others followed the direction of his
eyes and saw Black Bart standing framed ag