"God!" he cried, in a
burst of childish desperation, and collapsed again in the chair.
But Kate Cumberland picked up the papers and tobacco which he had dashed
to the floor and rolled a cigarette with deft fingers. She placed it
between his lips and held the match by which he lighted it. Once, twice,
and again, he drew great breaths of smoke into his lungs, and then he
could open his eyes and look at them. They were not easy eyes to meet.
"You're hungry, Buck," she said. "I can see it at a glance. I'll have
something for you in an instant."
He stopped her with a gesture.
"I done it!" said Buck Daniels. "He's comin'!"
The doctor flashed his glance upon Kate Cumberland, for when she heard
the words she turned pale and her eyes and her lips framed a mute
question; but Joe Cumberland drew in a long breath and smiled.
"I knowed it!" he said softly.
The wind whistled somewhere in the house and it brought Buck Daniels
leaping to his feet and into the centre of the room.
"He's here!" he yelled. "God help me, where'll I go now! He's here!"
He had drawn his revolver and stood staring desperately about him as if
he sought for a refuge in the solid wall. Almost instantly he recovered
himself, however, and dropped the gun back into the holster.
"No, not yet," he said, more to himself than the others. "It ain't
possible, even for Dan."
Kate Cumberland rallied herself, though her face was still white.
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