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The silent nights of stars, the laborious crests that tossed sudden and unspeakable views before the eyes, the eternal cañons that led beneath ranges of surpassing ht that could find expression only in her growing physical prowess She lived and ate like a splendid boy Day after day she scaled the ranges with Kut-le and Alchise; tenderly reared creature of an ultracivilization as she was, she learned the intricate lore of the aborigines, learned what students of the dying people would give their hearts to know

Kut-le wakened Rhoda at dawn one day She prepared the breakfast of coffee, bacon and tortilla Alchise shared this eagerly with Rhoda and Kut-le, though already he had eaten with the squaws The day was still gray when the three set out on a long day's trip in search of ga led up a cañon deep and quiet, with the night shadows still dark and cool within it The air was that of a northern day of June

Rhoda trarass, frorass to stunted cedar, from cedar to pines that at last rose triue Here Rhoda and Kut-le flung theround to rest while Alchise prowled about restlessly Across a hundred miles of desert rose faint snow-capped peaks

Kut-le watched Rhoda's rapt face for a time Then, as if unable to keep back the words, he said softly: "Rhoda! Stay here, always! Marry me and stay here always!"

Rhoda looked at the beautiful pleading eyes She stirred restlessly; but before she could frame an answer Alchise appeared, followed by a lean old Indian all but toothless ore a pair of tattered overalls and a gauze shirt The two Indians stopped before Kut-le, and Alchise jerked a thuer

"Sabe no white talk," he said

Kut-le passed the stranger a cigarette, which he accepted without comment A rapid conversation followed between the three Indians

"He is an Apache," explained Kut-le, finally, to Rhoda "His name is Injun Tom He says that Newman and Porter hired him to trail us but he is tired of the job They foolishly advanced hiht below here"

Rhoda sprang to her feet

"Where are you going?" sht!"

Under her tan Rhoda's face whitened

"Would they shoot you, Kut-le, even if I told the man murmured, "You dear!" under his breath Then aloud, "Not if I were your husband"