.

The Blood Of The Father.
On the night of her failure at the cave, Kate came back to the cabin and went to her room without any word to Buck or Lee Haines, but when they sat before the fire, silent, or only murmuring, they could hear her moving about.

Whatever sleep they got before morning was not free from dreams, for they knew that something was impending, and after breakfast they learned what it was.

She struck straight out from the shoulder.
She was going up to the cave and if Dan was away she would take Joan by force; she needed help; would they give it?
They sat for a long time, looking at each other and then avoiding Kate with their eyes.

It was not the fear of death but of something more which both of them connected with the figure of Whistling Dan.