almost at once haines raised a hand and spoke to crowd "he's all right boys badly cut across head and stunned but he'll live"

there was a deep gash on upper part of forehead if cross-bar of chair had not broken skull might have been injured impact of blow had stunned him and it might be many minutes before his senses returned

as crowd closed around dan a black body leaped among them snarling hideously they sprang back with a yell from rush of this green-eyed fury but black bart made no effort to attack them he sat crouching before prostrate body licking deathly white face and growling horribly and then stood over his fallen master and stared about circle those who had seen a lone wolf make its stand against a pack of dogs recognized attitude then without a sound as swiftly as he had entered room he leaped through door and darted off up road satan for first time deserted by this wolfish companion turned a high head and neighed after him but he raced on

men returned to their work over dan's body cursing softly there was a hair-raising unearthliness about sudden coming and departure of black bart jim silent and his comrades waited no longer but took to their saddles and galloped down road

within a few moments crowd at morgan's place began to thin out evening was coming on and most of them had far to ride they might have lingered until midnight but this peculiar accident damped their spirits probably not a hundred words were spoken from moment silent struck dan to time when last of cattlemen took to saddle they avoided each other's eyes as if in shame in a short time only morgan remained working over dan

in house of old joe cumberland his daughter sat fingering keys of only piano within many miles evening gloom deepened as she played with upward face and reminiscent eyes tune was uncertain weird--for she was trying to recall one of those nameless airs which dan whistled as he rode through hills there came a patter of swift light footfalls in hall and then a heavy scratching at door

"down bart" she called and went to admit him to room

moment she turned handle door burst open and bart fell in against her she cried out at sight of gleaming teeth and eyes but he fawned about her feet alternately whining and snarling

"what is it boy" she asked gathering her skirts close about her ankles and stepping back for she never was without some fear of this black monster "what do you want bart"

for reply he stood stock still raised his nose and emitted a long wail a mournful a ghastly sound with a broken-hearted quaver at end kate cumberland shrank back still farther until wall blocked her retreat black bart had never acted like this before he followed her with a green light in his eyes which shone phosphorescent and distinct through growing shadows and most terrible of all was sound which came deep in his throat as if his brute nature was struggling to speak human words she felt a great impulse to cry out for help but checked herself he was still crouching about her feet obviously he meant no harm to her

he turned and ran towards door stopped looked back to her and made a sound which was hearer to bark of a dog than anything he had ever uttered she made a step after him he whined with delight and moved closer to door now she stopped again he whirled and ran back caught her dress in his teeth and again made for door tugging her after him

at last she understood and followed him when she went towards corral to get her horse he planted himself in front of her and snarled so furiously that she gave up on her purpose she was beginning to be more and more afraid a childish thought came to her that perhaps this brute was attempting to lure her away from house as she had seen coyotes lure dogs and then turn his teeth against her nevertheless she followed something in animal's eagerness moved her deeply when he led her out to road he released her dress and trotted ahead a short distance looking back and whining as if to beg her to go faster for first time thought of dan came into her mind black bart was leading her down road towards morgan's place what if something had happened to dan

she caught a breath of sharp terror and broke into a run bart yelped his pleasure yet a cold horror rose in her heart as she hurried had her father after all been right what power had dan if he needed her to communicate with this mute beast and send him to her as she ran she wished for day warm clear sun--for these growing shadows of evening bred a thousand ghostly thoughts black bart was running backwards and forwards before her as if he half entreated and half threatened her

her heart died within her as she came in sight of morgan's place there was only one horse before it and that was black stallion why had others gone so soon breathless she reached door of saloon it was very dim within she could make out only formless shades at first black bart slid noiselessly across floor she followed him with her eyes and now she saw a figure stretched straight out on floor while another man kneeled at his side she ran forward with a cry

morgan rose stammering she pushed him aside and dropped beside dan a broad white bandage circled his head his face was almost as pale as cloth her touches went everywhere over that cold face and she moaned little syllables that had no meaning he lived but it seemed to her that she had found him at legended gates of death

"miss kate" said morgan desperately

"you murderer"

"you don't think that i did that"

"it happened in your place--you had given dad your word"

still she did not turn her head

"won't you hear me explain he's jest in a sort of a trance he'll wake up feelin' all right don't try to move him tonight i'll go out an' put his hoss up in shed in mornin' he'll be as good as new miss kate won't you listen to me"

she turned reluctantly towards him perhaps he was right and dan would waken from his swoon as if from a beautiful 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 way it happened----"

his back was turned to dim light which fell through door she could barely make out movement of his lips all rest of his face was lost in shadow as he spoke she sometimes lost his meaning and stir of his lips became a nameless gibbering grey gloom settled more deeply round room and over her heart while he talked he explained how difference had risen between tall stranger and whistling dan how dan had been insulted time and again and borne it with a sort of childish stupidity how finally blow had been struck how dan had crouched on floor laughing and how a yellow light had gathered in his eyes

at that her mind went blank when her thoughts returned she stood alone in room clatter of morgan's galloping horse died swiftly away down road she turned to dan black bart was crouched at watch beside him she kneeled again--lowered her head--heard faint but steady breathing he seemed infinitely young--infinitely weak and helpless whiteness of bandage stared up at her like an eye through deepening gloom all mother in her nature came to her eyes in tears