of sharp terror and broke into a run. Bart yelped
his pleasure. Yet a cold horror rose in her heart as she hurried. Had
her father after all been right? What power had Dan, if he needed her,
to communicate with this mute beast and send him to her? As she ran
she wished for the day, the warm, clear sun--for these growing shadows
of evening bred a thousand ghostly thoughts. Black Bart was running
backwards and forwards before her as if he half entreated and half
threatened her.

Her heart died within her as she came in sight of Morgan's place.
There was only one horse before it, and that was the black stallion.
Why had the others gone so soon? Breathless, she reached the door of
the saloon. It was very dim within. She could make out only formless
shades at first. Black Bart slid noiselessly across the floor. She
followed him with her eyes, and now she saw a figure stretched
straight out on the floor while another man kneeled at his side. She
ran forward with a cry.

Morgan rose, stammering. She pushed him aside and dropped beside Dan.
A broad white bandage circled his head. His face was almost as pale as
the cloth. Her touches went everywhere over that cold face, and she
moaned little syllables that had no meaning. He lived, but it seemed
to her that she had found him at the legended gates of death.

"Miss Kate!" said Morgan desperately.

"You murderer!"

"You don't think that _I_ did that?"

"It happened in your place--you had given Dad your word!"

Still she did not turn her head.

"Won't you hear me explain? He's jest in a sort of a trance. He'll
wake up feelin' all right. Don't try to move him tonight. I'll go out
an' put his hoss up in the shed. In the mornin' he'll be as good as
new. Miss Kate, won't you listen to me?"

She turned reluctantly towards him. Perhaps he was right and Dan would
waken from his swoon as if from a healthful sleep.

"It was that big feller with them straight eyes that done it," began
Morgan.

"The one who was sneering at Dan?"

"Yes."

"Weren't there enough boys here to string him up?"

"He had three friends with him. It would of taken a hundred men to lay
hands on one of those four. They were all bad ones. I'm goin' to tell
you how it was, because I'm leavin' in a few minutes and ridin' south,
an' I want to clear my trail before I start. This was the way it
happened--"

His back was turned to the dim light which fell through the door. She
could barely make out the movem