第60章

There was no stir in the little figure.Even the wind seemed to take part in the secret and did not lift the golden hair.Once the eyes of the child glittered as they turned toward Kate, but otherwise she made no motion, like a rabbit which will not budge until the very shadow of the reaching hand falls over it.

So it was with Joan, and as Kate leaned silently over her she sprang to her feet and darted between the hands of her mother and away among the rocks.

Past the reaching hands of Lee Haines she swerved, but it was only to run straight into the grip of Buck Daniels.Up to that moment she had not uttered a sound, but now she screamed out, twisted in his arms, and beat furiously against his face.

"Joan!" cried Kate."Joan!"

She reached Buck and unwound his arms from the struggling body of the child.

"Honey, why are you afraid? Oh, my baby!"For an instant Joan stood free, wavering, and her eyes held steadily upon her mother bright with nothing but fear and strangeness.Then something melted in her little round face, she sighed.

"Munner!" and stole a pace closer.A moment later Kate sat with Joan in her arms, rocking to and fro and weeping.

"What's happened?" gasped Haines to Daniels."What's happened to the kid?""Don't talk," answered Buck, his face gray as that of Kate."It's Dan's blood."He drew a great breath.

"Did you see her try to--to bite me while I was holdin' her?"Kate had started to her feet, holding Joan in one arm and dashing away her tears with the free hand.All weakness was gone from her.

"Hurry!" she commanded."We haven't any time to lose.Buck, come here! No, Lee, you're stronger.Honey, this is your Uncle Lee.He'll take care of you; he won't hurt you.Will you go to him?"Joan shrank away while she examined him, but the instincts of a child move with thrice the speed of a mature person's judgment; she read the kindly honesty which breathed from every line of Haines' face, and held out her arms to him.

Then they started down the slope for the horses, running wildly, for the moment they turned their backs on the cave the same thought was in the mind of each, the same haunting fear of that small, shrill whistle pursuing.

Half running, half sliding, they went down to the bottom of the gorge.

While the pebble they started rushed after them in small avalanches, and they even had to dodge rocks of considerable size which came bounding after, Joan, alert upon the shoulder of Lee Haines, enjoyed every moment of it; her hair tossed in the sun, her arms were outstretched for balance.So they reached the horses, and climbed into the saddles.Then, without a word from one to the other, but with many a backward look, they started on the flight.

By the time they reached the shoulder of the hill on the farther side, with a long stretch of down slope before, they had placed a large handicap between them and the danger of pursuit, but still they were not at ease.On their trail, sooner or later, would come three powers working towards one end, the surety of Black Bart following a scent, the swiftness of Satan which never tired, and above all the rider who directed them both and kept them to their work.His was the arm which could strike from the distance and bring them down.They spurted down the hill.

No sooner were they in full motion than Joan, for the first time, seemed to realize what it was all about.She was still carried by Lee Haines, who cradled her easily in his powerful left arm, but now she began to struggle.

Then she stiffened and screamed: "Daddy Dan! Daddy Dan!""For God's sake, stop her mouth or he'll hear!" groaned Buck Daniels.

"He can't!" said Haines."We're too far away even if he were at the cave now.""I tell you he'll hear! Don't talk to me about distance."Kate reined her horse beside Lee.

"Joan!" she commanded.

They were sweeping across the meadow now at an easy gallop.Joan screamed again, a wild plea for help.

"Joan!" repeated Kate, and her voice was fierce.She raised her quirt and shook it."Be quiet, Munner whip--hard!"Another call died away on the lips of Joan.She looked at her mother with astonishment and then with a new respect.

"If you cry once more, munner whip!"

And Joan was silent, staring with wonder and defiance.

When they came close to the cabin, Lee Haines drew rein, but Kate motioned him on.

"Where to?" he called.

"Back to the old ranch," she answered."We've got to have help."He nodded in grim understanding, and they headed on and down the slope towards the valley.