"Humph!" said Cumberland, a little baffled; "maybe that's because Dan is kind of fond of you, gal, an' he has sort of introduced you to his pets, damn 'em! That's just the pint! How is he able to make his man-killers act sweet with you an' play the devil with everybody else." "It wasn't Dan at all!" she said stoutly, "and he _isn't_ queer. Satan and Black Bart let me do what I want with them because they know I love them for their beauty and their strength." "Let it go at that," growled her father. "Kate, you're jest like your mother when it comes to arguin'. If you wasn't my little gal I'd say you was plain pig-headed. But look here, ain't you ever felt that Dan is what I call him--different? Ain't you ever seen him get mad--jest for a minute--an' watched them big brown eyes of his get all packed full of yellow light that chases a chill up and down your back like a wrigglin' snake?" She considered this statement in a little silence. "I saw him kill a rattler once," she said in a low voice. "Dan caught him behind the head after he had struck. He did it with his bare hand! I almost fainted. When I looked again he had cut off the head of the snake. It was--it was terrible!" She turned to her father and caught him firmly by the shoulders. "Look me straight in the eye, Dad, and tell me just what you mean." "Why, Kate," said the wise old man, "you're beginnin' to see for yourself what I'm drivin' at! Haven't you got somethin' else right on the tip of your tongue?" "There was one day that I've never told you about," she said in a low voice, looking away, "because I was afraid that if I told you, you'd shoot Black Bart. He was gnawing a big beef bone and just for fun I tried to take it away from him. He'd been out on a long trail with Dan and he was very hungry. When I put my hand on the bone he snapped. Luckily I had a thick glove on and he merely pinched my wrist. Also I think he realized what he was doing for otherwise he'd have cut through the glove as if it had been paper. He snarled fearfully and I sprang back with a cry. Dan hadn't seen what happened, but he heard the snarl and saw Black Bart's bared teeth. Then--oh, it was terrible!" She covered her face. "Take your time, Kate," said Cumberland softly. "'Bart,' called Dan," she went on, "and there was such anger in his face that I think I was more afraid of him than of the big dog. "Bart turned to him with a snarl and bared his teeth. When Dan saw that his face turned--I don't know how to say it!" She stopped a moment and her hands tightened. "Back in his throat there came a sound that was almost like the snarl of Black Bart. The wolf-dog watched him with a terror that was uncanny to see, the hair around his neck fairly on end, his teeth still bared, and his growl horrible. "'Dan!' I called, 'don't go near him!'