CHAPTER XXXI
"LAUGH, DAMN IT!"
She brushed her father's anxious arms aside and ran to Buck.
"Shut up!" said Buck. "Talk soft. Better still, don't say nothin'!"
"Kate," stammered her father, "what has happened?"
"Listen an' you'll learn," said Buck. "But get busy first. I got toget you out of here tonight. You'll need strength for the work aheadof you. You got to eat. Get me some eggs. Eggs and ham. Got 'em? Good.You, there!" (This to Joe.) "Rake down them ashes. On the jump, Kate.Some wood here. I got only ten minutes!"
In three minutes the fire was going, and the eggs in the pan, whileJoe set out some tin dishes on the rickety table, under orders fromBuck, making as much noise as possible. While they worked Buck talked.By the time Kate's plate was ready his tale was done. He expectedhysterics. She was merely white and steady-eyed.
"You're ready?" he concluded.
"Yes."
"Then begin by doin' what I say an' ask no questions. Silent an' hiscrew'll be lookin' through the window over there pretty soon. You gotto be eatin' an' appearin' to enjoy talkin' to me. Get that an' don'tforget it. Mix in plenty of smiles. Cumberland, you get back into theshadow an' stay there. Don't never come out into the light. Your facetells more'n a whole book, an' believe me, Jim Silent is a quickreader."
Joe retreated to a corner of the room into which the light of the lampdid not penetrate.
"Sit down at that table!" ordered Buck, and he placed a generousportion of fried eggs and ham before her.
"I can't eat. Is Dan--"
"I hear 'em at the window!"
He slipped onto a box on the opposite side of the table and leanedtowards her, supporting his chin in his hands. Kate began to eathurriedly.
"No! no!" advised Buck. "You eat as if you was scared. You want to beslow an' deliberate. Watch out! They've moved the board that coversthe window!"
For he saw a group of astonished faces outside.
"Smile at me!"
Her response made even Buck forget her pallor. Outside the house therewas a faint buzz of whispers.
"Keep it up!"
"I'll do my best," she said faintly.
Buck leaned back and burst into uproarious laughter.
"That's a good one!" he cried, slamming the broad palm of his handagainst the table so that the tin dishes jumped. "I never heard thebeat of it!" And in a whispered tone aside: "_Laugh, damn it!_"
Her laughter rang true enough, but it quavered perilously close to asob towards the close.
"I always granted Jim Silent a lot of sense," he said, "an' has hereally left you alone all this time? Damn near died of homesickness,didn't you?"
She laughed again, more confidently this time. The board was suddenlyreplaced at the window.
"Now I got to go out to them," he said. "After what Silent has seenhe'll trust me with you. He'll let me come back."
She dropped her soft hands over his clenched fist.
"It will be soon? Minutes are greater than hours."
"I ain't forgot. Tonight's the time."
Before he reached the door she ran to him. Two arms went round hisneck, two warm lips fluttered against his.
"God bless you!" she whispered.
Buck ran for the door. Outside he stood bareheaded, breathing deeply.His face was hot with shame and delight, and he had to walk up anddown for a moment before he could trust himself to enter the ranchhouse. When he finally did so he received a greeting which made himthink himself a curiosity rather than a man. Even Jim Silent regardedhim with awe.
"Buck," said Jordan, "you don't never need to work no more. All yougot to do is to walk into a town, pick out the swellest heiress, an'marry her."
"The trouble with girls in town," said Buck, "is that there ain't noroom for a man to operate. You jest nacherally can't ride a hoss intoa parlour."
Lee Haines drew Buck a little to one side.
"What message did you bring to her, Buck?" he said.
"What d'you mean?"
"Look here, friend, these other boys are too thick-headed tounderstand Kate Cumberland, but I know her kind."
"You're a little peeved, ain't you Lee?" grinned Buck. "It ain't myfault that she don't like you."
Haines ground his teeth.
"It was a very clever little act that you did with her, but itcouldn't quite deceive me. She was too pale when she laughed."
"A jealous feller sees two things for every one that really happens,Lee."
"Who was the message from?"
"Did she ever smile at you like she done at me?"
"Was it from Dan Barry that you brought word?"
"Did she ever let her eyes go big an' soft when she looked at you?"
"Damn you."
"Did she ever lean close to you, so's you got the scent of her hair,Lee?"
"I'll kill you for this, Daniels!"
"When I left she kissed me good-bye, Lee."
In spite of his bravado, Buck was deeply anxious. He watched Hainesnarrowly. Only two men in the mountain-desert would have had a chanceagainst this man in a fight, and Buck knew perfectly well that he wasnot one of the two.
"Watch yourself, Daniels," said Haines. "I know you're lying and I'mgoing to keep an eye on you."
"Thanks," grinned Buck. "I like to have a friend watchin' out for me."
Haines turned on his heel and went back to the card table, where Buckimmediately joined the circle.
"Wait a minute, Lee," said Silent. "Ain't it your turn to stand guardon the Cumberlands tonight?"
"Right--O," answered Haines cheerfully, and rose from the table.
"Hold on," said Buck. "Are you goin' to spoil all the work I donetoday with that girl?"
"What's the matter?" asked Silent.
"Everything's the matter! Are you goin' to put a man she hates outthere watchin' her."
"Damn you, Daniels," said Haines fiercely, "you're rolling up a longaccount, but it only takes a bullet to collect that sort of a bill!"
"If it hadn't been for Haines, would the girl's father be here?" askedBuck. "Besides, she don't like blonds."
"What type does she like?" asked Silent, enjoying the quarrel betweenhis lieutenant and the recruit.
"Likes 'em with dark hair an' eyes," said Buck calmly. "Look at me,for instance!"
Even Haines smiled, though his lips were white with anger.
"D'you want to stand guard over her yourself?" said the chief.
"Sure," grinned Buck, "maybe she'd come out an' pass the time o' nightwith me."
"Go ahead and take the job," nodded Silent. "I got an idea maybe shewill."
"Silent," warned Haines, "hasn't it occurred to you that there'ssomething damned queer about the ease with which Buck slid into thefavour of the girl?"
"Well?"
"All his talk about manhandling her is bunk. He had some message forher. I saw him speak to her when she was struggling in his arms. Thenshe conveniently fainted."
Silent turned on Buck.
"Is that straight?"
"It is," said Daniels easily.
The outlaws started and their expectant grins died out.
"By God, Buck!" roared Silent, "if you're double crossin' me--but Iain't goin' to be hasty now. What happened? Tell it yourself! What didyou say to her?"
"While she was fightin' with me," said Buck, "she hollered: 'Let mego!' I says: 'I'll see you in hell first!' Then she fainted."
The roar of laughter drowned Haines's further protest.
"You win, Buck," said Silent. "Take the job."
As Buck started for the door Haines called to him:
"Hold on, Buck, if you're aboveboard you won't mind giving your wordto see that no one comes up the valley and that you'll be here in themorning?"
The words set a swirling blackness before Buck's eyes. He turnedslowly.
"That's reasonable," said Silent. "Speak up, Daniels."
"All right," said Buck, his voice very low. "I'll be here in themorning, and I'll see tha
t no one comes up the valley."
There was the slightest possible emphasis on the word "up."
On a rock directly in front of the shanty Buck took up his watch. Thelittle house behind him was black. Presently he heard the soft call ofKate: "Is it time?"
His eyes wandered to the ranch house. He could catch the drone of manyvoices. He made no reply.
"Is it time?" she repeated.
Still he would not venture a reply, however guarded. She called athird time, and when he made no response he heard her voice break toa moan of hopelessness. And yet he waited, waited, until the light inthe ranch house went out, and there was not a sound.
"Kate!" he said, gauging his voice carefully so that it could notpossibly travel to the ranch house, which all the while he carefullyscanned.
For answer the front door of the shanty squeaked.
"Back!" he called. "Go back!"
The door squeaked again.
"They're asleep in the ranch house," she said. "Aren't we safe?"
"S--sh!" he warned. "Talk low! They aren't all asleep. There's one inthe ranch house who'll never take his eyes off me till morning."
"What can we do?"
"Go out the back way. You won't be seen if you're careful. Haines hashis eyes on me, not you. Go for the stable. Saddle your horses. Thenlead them out and take the path on the other side of the house. Don'tmount them until you're far below the house. Go slow all the way.Sounds travel far up this canyon."
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"No."
"But when they find us gone?"
"Think of Dan--not me!"
"God be merciful to you!"
In a moment the back door of the shanty creaked. They must be openingit by inches. When it was wide they would run for the stable. Hewished now that he had warned Kate to walk, for a slow moving objectcatches the eye more seldom than one which travels fast. If Lee Haineswas watching at that moment his attention must be held to Buck for oneall important minute. He stood up, rolled a cigarette swiftly, andlighted it. The spurt and flare of the match would hold even the mostsuspicious eye for a short time, and in those few seconds Kate and herfather might pass out of view behind the stable.
He sat down again. A muffled sneeze came from the ranch house and Buckfelt his blood run cold. The forgotten cigarette between his fingersburned to a dull red and then went out. In the stable a horse stamped.He leaned back, locked his hands idly behind his head, and commencedto whistle. Now there was a snort, as of a horse when it leaves theshelter of a barn and takes the first breath of open air.
All these sounds were faint, but to Buck, straining his ears in anagony of suspense, each one came like the blast of a trumpet. Nextthere was a click like that of iron striking against rock. Evidentlythey were leading the horses around on the far side of the house.With a trembling hand he relighted his cigarette and waited, waited,waited. Then he saw them pass below the house! They were dimlystalking figures in the night, but to Buck it seemed as though theywalked in the blaze of ten thousand searchlights. He held his breathin expectancy of that mocking laugh from the house--that sharp commandto halt--that crack of the revolver.
Yet nothing happened. Now he caught the click of the horses' ironshoes against the rocks farther and farther down the valley. Still nosound from the ranch house. They were safe!
It was then that the great temptation seized on Buck.
It would be simple enough for him to break away. He could walk to thestable, saddle his horse, and tear past the ranch house as fast as hispony could gallop. By the time the outlaws were ready for the pursuit,he would be a mile or more away, and in the hills such a handicap wasenough. One thing held him. It was frail and subtle like the invisiblenet of the enchanter--that word he had passed to Jim Silent, to seethat nothing came up the valley and to appear in the ranch house atsunrise.
In the midst of his struggle, strangely enough, he began to whistlethe music he had learned from Dan Barry, the song of The Untamed,those who hunt for ever, and are for ever hunted. When his whistlingdied 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 armstretching and yawning as the outlaws dressed. Lee Haines was alreadydressed. 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. "Ireckon that speaks for itself."
"It sure does," said Silent, "but the gal and her father are kind ofslow this mornin'. The old man generally has a fire goin' before dawnis fairly come. There ain't no sign of smoke now."
"Maybe he's sleepin' late after the excitement of yesterday," saidBill 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," hesaid, and left the house.
"He takes it pretty hard," said Jordan, his scarred face twisted withSatanic mirth, "but don't go rubbin' it into him, Buck, or you'll behavin' a man-sized fight on your hands. I'd jest about as soon mixwith the chief as cross Haines. When he starts the undertaker does thefinishin'!"
"Thanks for remindin' me," said Buck drily. Through the window he sawHaines throw open the door of the shanty.
The outcry which Buck expected did not follow. For a long moment thelong rider stood there without moving. Then he turned and walkedslowly back to the house, his head bent, his forehead gathered in apuzzled frown.
"What's the matter, Lee?" called Silent as his lieutenant entered theroom again. "You look sort of sick. Didn't she have a bright mornin'smile for you?"
Haines raised his head slowly. The frown was not yet gone.
"They aren't there," he announced.
His eyes shifted to Buck. Everyone followed his example, Silentcursing softly.
"As a joker, Lee," said Buck coldly, "you're some Little Eva. I s'posethey jest nacherally evaporated durin' the night, maybe?"
"Haines," said Silent sharply, "are you serious?"
The latter nodded.
"Then by God, Buck, you'll have to say a lot in a few words. Lee, yoususpected him all the time, but I was a fool!"
Daniels felt the colour leaving his face, but help came from thequarter from which he least expected it.
"Jim, don't draw!" cried Haines.
The eyes of the chief glittered like the hawk's who sees the fieldmouse scurrying over the ground far below.
"He ain't your meat, Lee," he said. "It's me he's double crossed."
"Chief," said Haines, "last night while he watched the shanty, Iwatched _him!_"
"Well?"
"I saw him keep his post in front of the cabin all night withoutmoving. And he was wide awake all the time."
"Then how in hell--"
"The back door of the cabin!" said Kilduff suddenly.
"By God, that's it! They sneaked out there and then went down on theother side of the house."
"If I had let them go," interposed Buck, "do you suppose I'd be here?"
The keen glance of Silent moved from Buck to Haines, and then backagain. He turned his back on them.
The quiet which had fallen on the room was now broken by the usualclatter of voices, cursing, and laughter. In the midst of it Hainesstepped close to Buck and spoke in a guarded voice.
"Buck," he said, "I don't know how you did it, but I have an idea--"
"Did what?"
The eyes of Haines were sad.
"I was a clean man, once," he said quietly, "and you've done a cleanman's work!"
He put out his hand and that of Buck's advanced slowly to meet it.
"Was it for Dan or Kate that you did it?"
The glance of Buck roamed far away.
"I dunno," he said softly. "I think it was to save my own rottensoul!"
On the other side of the room Silent beckoned to Purvis.
"What is it?" asked Hal, coming close.
"Speak low," said Silent. "I'm talking to you, not to the crowd.I think Buck is crooked as hell. I want you to ride down to theneighbourhood of his house. Scout around it day and night. You may seesomething worth while."
Meanwhile, in that utter blackness which precedes the dawn, Kate andher father reached the mouth of the canyon.
"Kate," said old Joe in a tremulous voice, "if I was a prayin' man I'dgit down on my knees an' thank God for deliverin' you tonight."
"Thank Buck Daniels, who's left his life in pawn for us. I'll gostraight for Buck's house. You must ride to Sheriff Morris and tellhim that an honest man is up there in the power of Silent's gang."
"But--" he began.
She waved her hand to him, and spurring her horse to a furious gallopraced off into the night. Her father stared after her for a fewmoments, but then, as she had advised, rode for Gus Morris.