ummoned the last of his power and threw the reins over the head
of Satan.

"Take us in, Bart," he said, and twisting his fingers into Satan's
mane fell across the saddlehorn.

Satan, understanding the throwing of the reins as an order to halt,
came to a sharp stop, and the body of the senseless rider sagged to
one side. Black Bart caught the reins. They were bitter and salt with
blood of the master.

He tugged hard. Satan whinnied his doubt, and the growl of Black Bart
answered, half a threat. In a moment more they were picking their way
through the brush towards the house of Buck Daniels.

Satan was far gone with exhaustion. His head drooped; his legs
sprawled with every step; his eyes were glazed. Yet he staggered on
with the great black wolf pulling at the reins. There was the salt
taste of blood in the mouth of Black Bart; so he stalked on, saliva
dripping from his mouth, and his eyes glazed with the lust to kill.
His furious snarling was the threat which urged on the stallion.

CHAPTER XXVI

BLACK BART TURNS NURSE

It was old Mrs. Daniels who woke first at the sound of scratching and
growling. She roused her husband and son, and all three went to the
door, Buck in the lead with his six-gun in his hand. At sight of the
wolf he started back and raised the gun, but Black Bart fawned about
his feet.

"Don't shoot--it's a dog, an' there's his master!" cried Sam. "By the
Lord, they's a dead man tied on that there hoss!"

Dan lay on Satan, half fallen from the saddle, with his head hanging
far down, only sustained by the strength of the rein. The stallion,
wholly spent, stood with his legs braced, his head low, and his breath
coming in great gasps. The family ran to the rescue. Sam cut the rein
and Buck lowered the limp body in his arms.

"Buck, is he dead?" whispered Mrs. Daniels.

"I don't feel no heart beat," said Buck. "Help me fetch him into the
house, Dad!"

"Look out for the hoss!" cried Sam.

Buck started back with his burden just in time, for Satan,
surrendering to his exhaustion, pitched to the ground, and lay with
sprawling legs like a spent dog rather than a horse.

"Let the hoss be," said Buck. "Help me with the man. He's hurt bad."

Mrs. Daniels ran ahead and lighted a lamp. They laid the body
carefully upon a bed. It made a ghastly sight, the bloodless face with
the black hair fallen wildly across the forehead, the mouth loosely
open, and the lips black with dust.

"Dad!" said