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 movement
of his lips. All the rest of his face was lost
in shadow. As he spoke she sometimes lost his
meaning and the stir of his lips became a nameless
gibbering. The grey gloom settled more deeply
round the room and over her heart while he talked.
He explained how the difference had risen between the
tall stranger and Whistling Dan. How Dan had
been insulted time and again and borne it with a sort
of childish stupidity. How finally the blow had
been struck. How Dan had crouched on the floor,
laughing, and how a yellow light gathered in his eyes.
At that, her mind went blank. When her thoughts
returned she stood alone in the room. The clatter
of Morgan’s galloping horse died swiftly away
down the road. She turned to Dan. Black Bart
was crouched at watch beside him. She kneeled
again—lowered her head—heard
the faint but steady breathing. He seemed infinitely
young—infinitely weak and helpless.
The whiteness of the bandage stared up at her like
an eye through the deepening gloom. All the mother
in her nature came to her eyes in tears.
RED WRITING
He stirred.
“Dan—dear!”
“My head,” he muttered, “it sort
of aches, Kate, as if—”
He was silent and she knew that he remembered.
“You’re all right now, honey. I’ve
come here to take care of you—I won’t
leave you. Poor Dan!”
“How did you know?” he asked, the words
trailing.
“Black Bart came for me.”
“Good ol’ Bart!”
The great wolf slunk closer, and licked the outstretched
hand.
“Why, Kate, I’m on the floor and it’s
dark. Am I still in Morgan’s place?
Yes, I begin to see clearer.”
He made an effort to rise, but she pressed him back.
“If you try to move right away you may get a
fever. I’m going back to the house, and
I’ll bring you down some blankets. Morgan
says you shouldn’t attempt to move for several
hours. He says you’ve lost a great deal
of blood and that you mustn’t make any effort
or ride a horse till tomorrow.”
Dan relaxed with a sigh.
“Kate.”
“Yes, honey.”
