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.

“I’ve given them my word to come back alone.”

His head bowed.  Out of the willows came Satan and Black Bart and stood beside him, the stallion nosing his shoulder affectionately.

“Dan, dear, won’t you speak to me?  Won’t you tell me that you try to understand?”

He said at last:  “Yes.  I’ll free Lee Haines.”

The fingers of his right hand trailed slowly across the head of Black Bart.  His eyes raised and looked past her far across the running curves of the hills, far away to the misty horizon.

“Kate—­”

“Dan, you do understand?”

“I didn’t know a woman could love a man the way you do Lee Haines.  When I send him back to you tell him to watch himself.  I’m playin’ your game now, but if I meet him afterwards, I’ll play my own.”

All she could say was:  “Will you listen to me no more, Dan?”

“Here’s where we say good-bye.”

He took her hand and his eyes were as unfathomable as a midnight sky.  She turned to her horse and he helped her to the saddle with a steady hand.

That was all.  He went back to the willows, his right arm resting on the withers of Black Satan as if upon the shoulder of a friend.  As she reached the top of the hill she heard a whistling from the willows, a haunting complaint which brought the tears to her eyes.  She spurred her tired horse to escape the sound.