“Busted jail with Lee Haines!” breathed Buck.  “It ain’t no ways nacheral.  Which Dan hates Lee Haines!”

“He was bought off by Jim Silent,” said old Sam.  “They opened a letter in Elkhead, an’ the letter told everything.  It was signed “J.S.” an’ it thanked Dan for gettin’ “L.H.” free.”

“It’s a lie!” said Buck doggedly.

“Buck!  Sam!” cried Mrs. Daniels, seeing the two men of her family glaring at each other with something like hate in their eyes.  “Sam, have you forgot that this lad has eat your food in your house?”

Sam turned as crimson as he had been pale before.

“I forgot,” he muttered.  “I was scared an’ forgot!”

“An’ maybe you’ve forgot that I’d be swingin’ on the end of a rope in Elkhead if it wasn’t for Dan Barry?” suggested Buck.

“Buck,” said his father huskily, “I’m askin’ your pardon.  I got sort of panicky for a minute, that’s all.  But what are we goin’ to do with him?  If he don’t get help he’ll be a dead man quick.  An’ you can’t go to Elkhead for the doctor.  They’d doctor Dan with six-guns, that’s what they’d do.”

“What could of made him do it?” said Mrs. Daniels, wiping a sudden burst of tears from her eyes.

“Oh, God,” said Buck.  “How’d I know why he done it?  How’d I know why he turned me loose when he should of took me to Elkhead to be lynched by the mob there?  The girl’s the only thing to help him outside of a doctor.  I’m goin’ to get the girl.”

“Where?”

“I dunno.  Maybe I’ll try the old Salton place.”

“And take her away from Jim Silent?” broke in his father.  “You might jest as well go an’ shoot yourse’f before startin’.  That’ll save your hoss the long ride, an’ it’ll bring you to jest the same end.”

“Listen!” said Buck, “they’s the wolf mournin’!”

“Buck, you’re loco!”

“Hush, pa!” whispered Mrs. Daniels.

She caught the hand of her brawny son.

“Buck, I’m no end proud of you, lad.  If you die, it’s a good death!  Tell me, Buck dear, have you got a plan?”

He ground his big hand across his forehead, scowling.

“I dunno,” he said, drawing a long breath.  “I jest know that I got to get the girl.  Words don’t say what I mean.  All I know is that I’ve got to go up there an’ get that girl, and bring her back so’s she can save Dan, not from the people that’s huntin’ him, but from himself.”

“There ain’t no way of changin’ you?” said his father.

“Pa,” said Mrs. Daniels, “sometimes you’re a plumb fool!”

Buck was already in the saddle.  He waved farewell, but after he set his face towards the far-away hills he never turned his head.  Behind him lay the untamed three.  Before him, somewhere among those naked, sunburned hills, was the woman whose love could reclaim the wild.

A dimness came before his eyes.  He attempted to curse at this weakness, but in place of the blasphemy something swelled in his throat, and a still, small music filled his heart.  And when at last he was able to speak his lips framed a vow like that of the old crusaders.