"Kate!" called Joe Cumberland. "Are you mad, girl, to dream of goin' out in a night like this?"
"I'm not going!" she answered hurriedly. "I'm afraid—and I won't leave you, Dad!"
She had stopped as she spoke, but Black Bart, snarling terribly, threw his weight back, and dragged her a step forward.
"Buck," cried old Joe Cumberland and he dragged himself up and stood tottering. "Shoot the damned wolf—for God's sake—for my sake!"
Still the wolf-dog drew the girl in that snarling progress towards the door.
"Kate!" cried her father, and the agony in his voice made it young and sent it ringing through the room. "Will you go out to wander between heaven and hell—on a night like this?"
"I'm not going!" she answered, "I won't leave you—but oh—Dad!——"
He opened his lips for a fresh appeal, but the chorus of the wild geese swept in upon the wind, blown loud and clear and jangling as distant bells out of tune. And Kate Cumberland buried her face in her hands and stumbled blindly out of the room and down the hall—and then they heard the wild neighing of a horse outside.
"Buck!" commanded Joe Cumberland. "He's stealin' my girl—my Kate—go out! call up the boys—tell'em to stop Dan from saddlin' a horse for Kate——"
"Wait and listen!" cut in Buck Daniels. "D'you hear that?"