Her hand touched his again, she wheeled, and rode away.  He remained standing with the hand she had grasped still raised.  And after a moment, as he had hoped, she turned in the saddle and waved to him.  His eyes were downward and he was smiling faintly when he re-entered the saloon.

Silent sat at a table with his chin propped in his hand—­his left hand, of course, for that restless right hand must always be free.  He stared across the room towards Whistling Dan.  The train of thoughts which kept those ominous eyes so unmoving must be broken.  He sat down at the side of his chief.

“What the hell?” said the big man, “ain’t you started yet?”

“Look here, Jim,” said Haines cautiously, “I want you to lay off on this kid, Whistling Dan.  It won’t meant anything to you to raise the devil with him.”

“I tell you,” answered Silent, “it’ll please me more’n anything in the world to push that damned girl face of his into the floor.”

“Silent, I’m asking a personal favour of you!”

The leader turned upon him that untamed stare.  Haines set his teeth.

“Haines,” came the answer, “I’ll stand more from you than from any man alive.  I know you’ve got guts an’ I know you’re straight with me.  But there ain’t anything can keep me from manhandlin’ that kid over there.”  He opened and shut his fingers slowly.  “I sort of yearn to get at him!”

Haines recognized defeat.

“But you haven’t another gun hidden on you, Jim?  You won’t try to shoot him up?”

“No,” said Silent.  “If I had a gun I don’t know—­but I haven’t a gun.  My hands’ll be enough!”

All that could be done now was to get Whistling Dan out of the saloon.  That would be simple.  A single word would suffice to send the timid man helter-skelter homewards.

The large, lazy brown eyes turned up to Haines as the latter approached.

“Dan,” he said, “hit for the timbers—­get on your way—­there’s danger here for you!”

To his astonishment the brown eyes did not vary a shade.

“Danger?” he repeated wonderingly.

“Danger!  Get up and get out if you want to save your hide!”

“What’s the trouble?” said Dan, and his eyes were surprised, but not afraid.

“The biggest man in this room is after your blood.”

“Is he?” said Dan wonderingly.  “I’m sorry I don’t feel like leavin’, but I’m not tired of this place yet.”

“Friend,” said Haines, “if that tall man puts his hands on you, he’ll break you across his knee like a rotten stick of wood!”

It was too late.  Silent evidently guessed that Haines was urging his quarry to flee.

“Hey!” he roared, so that all heads turned towards him, “you over there.”

Haines stepped back, sick at heart.  He knew that it would be folly to meet his chief hand to hand, but he thought of his pledge to Kate, and groaned.

“What do you want of me?” asked Dan, for the pointed arm left no doubt as to whom Silent intended.