“Yes.”

“Then begin by doin’ what I say an’ ask no questions.  Silent an’ his crew’ll be lookin’ through the window over there pretty soon.  You got to be eatin’ an’ appearin’ to enjoy talkin’ to me.  Get that an’ don’t forget it.  Mix in plenty of smiles.  Cumberland, you get back into the shadow an’ stay there.  Don’t never come out into the light.  Your face tells more’n a whole book, an’ believe me, Jim Silent is a quick reader.”

Joe retreated to a corner of the room into which the light of the lamp did not penetrate.

“Sit down at that table!” ordered Buck, and he placed a generous portion of fried eggs and ham before her.

“I can’t eat.  Is Dan—­”

“I hear ’em at the window!”

He slipped onto a box on the opposite side of the table and leaned towards her, supporting his chin in his hands.  Kate began to eat hurriedly.

“No! no!” advised Buck.  “You eat as if you was scared.  You want to be slow an’ deliberate.  Watch out!  They’ve moved the board that covers the window!”

For he saw a group of astonished faces outside.

“Smile at me!”

Her response made even Buck forget her pallor.  Outside the house there was a faint buzz of whispers.

“Keep it up!”

“I’ll do my best,” she said faintly.

Buck leaned back and burst into uproarious laughter.

“That’s a good one!” he cried, slamming the broad palm of his hand against the table so that the tin dishes jumped.  “I never heard the beat of it!” And in a whispered tone aside:  “Laugh, damn it!”

Her laughter rang true enough, but it quavered perilously close to a sob towards the close.

“I always granted Jim Silent a lot of sense,” he said, “an’ has he really left you alone all this time?  Damn near died of homesickness, didn’t you?”

She laughed again, more confidently this time.  The board was suddenly replaced at the window.

“Now I got to go out to them,” he said.  “After what Silent has seen he’ll trust me with you.  He’ll let me come back.”

She dropped her soft hands over his clenched fist.

“It will be soon?  Minutes are greater than hours.”

“I ain’t forgot.  Tonight’s the time.”

Before he reached the door she ran to him.  Two arms went round his neck, two warm lips fluttered against his.

“God bless you!” she whispered.

Buck ran for the door.  Outside he stood bareheaded, breathing deeply.  His face was hot with shame and delight, and he had to walk up and down for a moment before he could trust himself to enter the ranch house.  When he finally did so he received a greeting which made him think himself a curiosity rather than a man.  Even Jim Silent regarded him with awe.

“Buck,” said Jordan, “you don’t never need to work no more.  All you got to do is to walk into a town, pick out the swellest heiress, an’ marry her.”