Page 91 (1/1)

When Rhoda woke, late in the day, Kut-le had spread Marie's cakes and fruit on leaves which he had washed in the brook

"They are quite clean, I think," he said a little anxiously "At least the squaws haven't touched therily When she had finished Rhoda clasped her hands about her knees She looked singularly boyish, with her sombrero pushed back fro from beneath the crown

"Isn't it queer," she said, "that you elude Jack and John DeWitt so easily?"

"The trouble is," said Kut-le, "that you don't appreciate the prowess of your captors"

"Humph!" sniffed Rhoda

"Listen!" cried Kut-le with sudden enthusiasm "Once in my boyhood Geronima and about twenty warriors, with twice as many squaws and children, fled to the mountains They never drew rein until they were one hundred and twenty miles from the reservation Then for six months they were pursued by two thousand American soldiers and they never lost a man!"

"How many whites were killed?" asked Rhoda

"About a hundred!"

"I don't understand yet," Rhoda shook her head, "how savages could outhites for so long a time"

"But it's not a contest of brains Whites must travel like whites, with food and rests The Apache travels like the coyote, living off the country Your ancestors have been training your brain for a thousand years Mine have spent centuries of days, twenty-four hours a day, training the body to endure hardships You have had a gliht mean to a white!"

As Kut-le talked, Rhoda sat with her eyes fastened on the rough face of a distant rock As she watched she saw a thick, leafy bush lanced at the unconscious Kut-le, then back at the bush Itthe trees and after a rowth far beyondAlchise and the squaws, then s, Kut-le It's your one weakness, I think"

Kut-le grinned

"Well now, honestly, what do you think that a lot of Caucasians can do with an eneht with nature at her cruelest? We have fought with our bare hands and we have won," he continued, half to himself "No white round!"

"Boaster!" laughed Rhoda

Just beyond the falls an aspen quivered John DeWitt stepped into view Haggard and wild-eyed, he stared at Rhoda She raised her finger to her lips, but too late Kut-le too looked up, and raised his gun Rhoda hurled herself toward hiht Rhoda in his arms