She barely heard him. Her hand was still against his face. A deep awe and content was creeping through her, so that she began to smile and was glad that the dark covered her face. She felt abashed before him for the first time in her life, and there was a singular sense of shame. It was as if some door in her inner heart had opened so that Dan was at liberty to look down into her soul. There was terror in this feeling, but there was also gladness. "Kate." "Yes--honey!" "What were you hummin'?" She started. "I didn't know I was humming, Dan." "You were, all right. It sounded sort of familiar, but I couldn't figger out where I heard it." "I know now. It's one of your own tunes." Now she felt a tremor so strong that she feared he would notice it. "I must go back to the house, Dan. Maybe Dad has returned. If he has, perhaps he can arrange to have you carried back tonight." "I don't want to think of movin', Kate. I feel mighty comfortable. I'm forgettin' all about that ache in my head. Ain't that queer? Why, Kate, what in the world are you laughin' about?" "I don't know, Dan. I'm just happy!" "Kate." "Yes?" "I like you pretty much." "I'm so glad!" "You an' Black Bart, an' Satan--" "Oh!" Her tone changed. "Why are you tryin' to take your hand away, Kate?" "Don't you care for me any more than for your horse--and your dog?" He drew a long breath, puzzled. "It's some different, I figger." "Tell me!" "If Black Bart died--" The wolf-dog whined, hearing his name. "Good ol' Bart! Well, if Black Bart died maybe I'd some day have another dog I'd like almost as much." "Yes." "An' if Satan died--even Satan!--maybe I could sometime like another hoss pretty well--if he was a pile like Satan! But if you was to die--it'd be different, a considerable pile different." "Why?" His pauses to consider these questions were maddening. "I don't know," he muttered at last. Once more she was thankful for the dark to hide her smile. "Maybe you know the reason, Kate?" Her laughter was rich music. His hold on her hand relaxed. He was thinking of a new theme. When he laughed in turn it startled her. She had never heard that laugh before. "What is it, Dan?" "He was pretty big, Kate. He was bigger'n almost any man I ever seen! It was kind of funny. After he hit me I was almost glad. I didn't hate him--" "Dear Dan!" "I didn't hate him--I jest nacherally wanted to kill him--and wantin' to do that made me glad. Isn't that funny, Kate?" He spoke of it as a chance traveller might point out a striking feature of the landscape to a companion. "Dan, if you really care for me you must drop the thought of him." His hand slipped away. "How can I do that? That writin' I was tellin' you about--" "Yes?" "It's about him!" "Ah!" "When he hit me the first time--" "I won't hear you tell of it!" "The blood come down my chin--jest a little trickle of it. It was warm, Kate. That was what made me hot all through." Her hands fell limp, cold, lifeless.