Whistling Dan was not in the cave, for if
he had been the child would have run to him for protection, or at least
cried out in her alarm. This information Haines whispered to Kate and she
nodded, turning a white face toward him. Then she stepped out from the rock
and went straight toward Joan.
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.
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