“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 towards
them.
“Jest a little accident happened to your daughter,”
explained Buck. “Never mind. I c’n
carry her in all right. You fellers stay back.
A crowd ain’t no help. Ain’t no cause
to worry, Mr. Cumberland. She ain’t hurt!”
He hastened on into the shanty and laid her on the
bunk within. Her father hurried about to bathe
her face and throat. Buck pushed the other three
men out of the room.
“She ain’t hurt,” he said calmly,
“she’s jest a little fussed up. Remember
I said in fifteen minutes I’d have her eatin’
out of my hand. I’ve still got ten minutes
of that time. When the ten minutes is up you
all come an’ take a look through that window.
If you don’t see the girl eatin’ at that
table, I’ll chaw up my hat.”
He crowded them through the door and shut it behind
them. A cry of joy came from old Joe Cumberland
and Buck turned to see Kate sitting up on the bunk.
“LAUGH, DAMN IT!”
She brushed her father’s anxious arms aside
and ran to Buck.
“Shut up!” said Buck. “Talk
soft. Better still, don’t say nothin’!”
“Kate,” stammered her father, “what
has happened?”
“Listen an’ you’ll learn,”
said Buck. “But get busy first. I got
to get you out of here tonight. You’ll
need strength for the work ahead of you. You
got to eat. Get me some eggs. Eggs and ham.
Got ’em? Good. You, there!”
(This to Joe.) “Rake down them ashes. On
the jump, Kate. Some wood here. I got only
ten minutes!”
In three minutes the fire was going, and the eggs
in the pan, while Joe set out some tin dishes on the
rickety table, under orders from Buck, making as much
noise as possible. While they worked Buck talked.
By the time Kate’s plate was ready his tale was
done. He expected hysterics. She was merely
white and steady-eyed.
“You’re ready?” he concluded.
