' sense," said Silent. "Come out with me an' I'll saddle
your hoss. Call the wolf."

He opened the door and in response to her whistle Black Bart trotted
out and followed them out to the horse shed. There the outlaw quickly
saddled Kate's pony.

He said: "Whistlin' Dan is sure headin' back in this direction because
he's got an idea I'm somewhere near. Bart will find him on the way."

Silent was right. That morning Dan had started back towards Gus
Morris's place, for he was sure that the outlaws were camped in that
neighbourhood. A little before noon he veered half a mile to the right
towards a spring which welled out from a hillside, surrounded by a
small grove of willows. Having found it, he drank, and watered Satan,
then took off the saddle to ease the stallion, and lay down at a
little distance for a ten-minute siesta, one of those half wakeful
sleeps the habit of which he had learned from his wolf.

He was roused from the doze by a tremendous snorting and snarling and
found Black Bart playing with Satan. It was their greeting after
an absence, and they dashed about among the willows like creatures
possessed. Dan brought horse and dog to a motionless stand with a
single whistle, and then ran out to the edge of the willows. Down the
side of the hill rode Kate at a brisk gallop. In a moment she saw him
and called his name, with a welcoming wave of her arm. Now she was off
her horse and running to him. He caught her hands and held her for
an instant far from him like one striving to draw out the note of
happiness into a song. They could not speak.

At last: "I knew you'd find a way to come."

"They let me go, Dan."

He frowned, and her eyes faltered from his.

"They sent me to you to ask you--to free Lee Haines!"

He dropped her hands, and she stood trying to find words to explain,
and finding none.

"To free Haines?" he repeated heavily.

"It is Dad," she cried. "They have captured him, and they are holding
him. They keep him in exchange for Haines."

"If I free Haines they'll outlaw me. You know that, Kate?"

She made a pace towards him, but he retreated.

"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