was
enough. One thing held him. It was frail and subtle like the invisible
net of the enchanter--that word he had passed to Jim Silent, to see
that nothing came up the valley and to appear in the ranch house at
sunrise.

In the midst of his struggle, strangely enough, he began to whistle
the music he had learned from Dan Barry, the song of The Untamed,
those who hunt for ever, and are for ever hunted. When his whistling
died away he touched his hand to his lips where Kate had kissed him,
and then smiled. The sun pushed up over the eastern hills.

When he entered the ranch house the big room was a scene of much arm
stretching and yawning as the outlaws dressed. Lee Haines was already
dressed. Buck smiled ironically.

"I say, Lee," he said, "you look sort of used up this mornin', eh?"

The long rider scowled.

"I'd make a guess you've not had much sleep, Haines," went on Buck.
"Your eyes is sort of hollow."

"Not as hollow as your damned lying heart!"

"Drop that!" commanded Silent. "You hold a grudge like a woman, Lee!
How was the watch, Buck? Are you all in?"

"Nothin' come up the valley, an' here I am at sunrise," said Buck. "I
reckon that speaks for itself."

"It sure does," said Silent, "but the gal and her father are kind of
slow this mornin'. The old man generally has a fire goin' before dawn
is fairly come. There ain't no sign of smoke now."

"Maybe he's sleepin' late after the excitement of yesterday," said
Bill Kilduff. "You must of thrown some sensation into the family,
Buck."

The eyes of Haines had not moved from the face of Buck.

"I think I'll go over and see what's keeping them so late in bed," he
said, and left the house.

"He takes it pretty hard," said Jordan, his scarred face twisted with
Satanic mirth, "but don't go rubbin' it into him, Buck, or you'll be
havin' a man-sized fight on your hands. I'd jest about as soon mix
with the chief as cross Haines. When he starts the undertaker does the
finishin'!"

"Thanks for remindin' me," said Buck drily. Through the window he saw
Haines throw open the door of the shanty.

The outcry which Buck expected did not follow. For a long moment the
long rider stood there without moving. Then he turned and walked
slowly back to the house, his head bent, his forehead gathered in a
puzzled frown.

"What's the matter, Lee?" called Silent as his lieutenant entered the
room again. "You look sort of sick. Didn't she have a bright mornin'
smile for you?