nd, and Silent particularly, "I ain't the same sort as
these other fellers. I c'n understand the way you feel after bein'
herded around with a lot of tin horns like these. I'm suggestin'
that you take a long look at me an' notice the difference between an
imitation an' a real man."

She did look at him. She even smiled faintly, and the smile made
Buck's face once more grow very hot. His voice went hard.

"For the last time, I'm askin' if you'll go up to the cabin."

There was both wonder and contempt in her smile.

In an instant he was in his saddle. He swung far to one side and
caught her in his arms. Vaguely he heard the yell of excitement from
the outlaws. All he was vividly conscious of was the white horror of
her face. She fought like a wildcat. She did not cry out. She struck
him full in the face with the strength of a man, almost. He prisoned
her with a stronger grip, and in so doing nearly toppled from the
saddle, for his horse reared up, snorting.

A gun cracked twice and two bullets hummed close to his head. From
the corner of his eye he was aware of Silent and Rhinehart flinging
themselves upon Lee Haines, who struggled furiously to fire again. He
drove his spurs deep and the cattle pony started a bucking course for
the shanty.

"Dan!" he muttered at her ear.

The yells of the men drowned his voice. She managed to jerk her right
arm free and struck him in the face. He shook her furiously.

"For Whistling Dan!" he said more loudly. "He's dying!"

She went rigid in his arms.

"Don't speak!" he panted. "Don't let them know!"

The outlaws were running after them, laughing and waving their hats.

"Dan!"

"_Faint, you fool!_"

Her eyes widened with instant comprehension. Every muscle of her body
relaxed; her head fell back; she was a lifeless burden in his arms.
Buck dismounted from the saddle before the shanty. He was white,
shaking, but triumphant. Rhinehart and Purvis and Jordan ran up to
him. Silent and Kilduff were still struggling with Haines in the
distance.

Rhinehart dropped his head to listen at her breast for the heartbeat.

"She's dead!" cried Jordan.

"You're a fool," said Buck calmly. "She's jest fainted, an' when she
comes to, she'll begin tellin' me what a wonderful man I am."

"She ain't dead," said Rhinehart, raising his head from her heart,
"but Haines'll kill you for this, Buck!"

"Kate!" cried an agonized voice from the shanty, and old white-haired
Joe Cumberland ran to