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Fortree branches black against the evening sky as she lay across Kut-le's breast The pursuers hadThe entire incident ically intent

Having long learned the futility of struggling, Rhoda lay quietly enough, her ears keen to catch the sound of pursuit Kut-le did not remove his hand from her mouth But as he dropped rapidly and skilfully down the round, you see! It will take theood while in the dusk to find that back trail Only a few Indians know it"

But Rhoda's heart was beating high Let Kut-le boast as he would, she was sure that Jack and John DeWitt were learning to follow the trail The most vivid picture in her mind was of the utter weariness of John's face In the past weeks Rhoda had learned how fearful had been the hardships that would bring such weariness to a human face Tears came to her eyes No one so weak, so useless as herself, she felt, could be worth such travail

Silently they h the dusk Rhoda knew that the other Indians must be close behind them, yet no sound betrayed their presence After a half-hour or so she struggled to be set down But Kut-le only tightened his hold and it was fully two hours later that he set her on her feet

"Don'ther blanket to her shoulders, for the night was stinging sharp She was not afraid She had grown so accusto black rims that had at first paralyzed her with fear

"Now," said Kut-le, "I' to travel on foot The only horses within easy distance are some that a bunch of Navajos have in the cañon below here So ill go down and get the back for you We will have to hike pronto after we get 'em Just reme and that if you make any noise, the Navajos will shoot you up, with the rest of us! Keep right behind roup moved carefully down the cañon trail In a short tih these, the only sound Rhoda's panting breaths Suddenly Kut-le stopped

"Wait here!" he breathed in Rhoda's ear, and he and Alchise disappeared