It was not until she took her light cartridge belt from the wall and
buckled on her gun that they rose to follow. Before the first freshness of
the morning passed they were winding up the side of the mountain, Kate a
little in the lead, for she alone knew the way.
Where they rounded the shoulder, the men reined the horses with which Kate
had provided them and sat looking solemnly at each other.
"Maybe we'll have no chance to talk alone again," said Lee Haines. "This is
the last trail either for Barry or for us. And I don't think that Barry is
that close to the end of his rope. Buck, give me your hand and say
good-bye. All that a man can do against Whistling Dan, and that isn't much,
I'll do. Having you along won't make us a whit stronger."
"Thanks," growled Buck Daniels. "Jes save that kind farewell till I show
yaller. Hurry up, she's gettin' too far ahead."
At the bottom of the ravine, where they dismounted for the precipitous
slope above, Kate showed her first hesitation.
"You both know what it means?" she asked them.
"We sure do," replied Buck.
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