"By God, that's it! They sneaked out there and then went down on the other 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 back again. He turned his back on them.
The quiet which had fallen on the room was now broken by the usual clatter of voices, cursing, and laughter. In the midst of it Haines stepped 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 clean man'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?"