Every one of the ordinary rules and regulations for the government of an
Indian village was knocked in pieces by the victory over the Lipans.
Even Mother Dolores could not reasonably have forbidden Ni-ha-be and
Rita from hurrying out of their lodge to join in the general rejoicings.
"Rita, there is Knotted Cord."
"I see him."
"If he could understand me, I would speak to him."
"Oh, Ni-ha-be! that would be a dreadful thing to do."
Ni-ha-be would not have done any such thing, and Rita knew it; but the
chief's daughter saw no reason why she should not lead her sister pretty
near the young pale-face brave as they passed him. They could see that
he was smiling at them, and it was an act of politeness to smile back.
Ni-ha-be laughed. It was that, perhaps, which led Steve into a mistake.
He wanted to say something, and in his haste he forgot to speak
Mexican-Spanish, as he ought to have done if he expected to be
understood by an Apache young lady.
"There has been a great fight. Your father has taken some prisoners."
"We know it," answered Rita; and she was almost as much startled as was
Steve himself.
[Illustration: "'WHAT! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ENGLISH?'"]
"What! do you understand English?"
Ni-ha-be turned, and looked at her in astonishment.
"Only some. Not any more talk now. Come, Ni-ha-be."
"Talk Apache, so I can hear. You shall not say any more words to him.
Tell me his words."
Ni-ha-be's jealous pride was touched to the quick at finding that Rita
possessed still another accomplishment that she had not.
Rita quickly explained all that had been said, but she did it in a way
that told both her sister and Steve Harrison that she was a good deal
excited about something.
"Come, Ni-ha-be, come."
"I will. There is Red Wolf. We must hurry."
Poor Rita! The terrible whooping and clamor and tumult all around her
confused her more than ever. She was glad there was enough of it to keep
Ni-ha-be from asking her any questions; but it seemed as if she would be
willing to give her favorite pony to hear a few words more in that
strange tongue--the tongue she had known once, and forgotten, till the
talking leaves began to speak it to her.
Pretty soon the girls were mingling with their friends and relatives,
and crowding as closely as they dared upon the line of warriors in their
eagerness to get a glimpse of the prisoners by the light of the camp
fires.
It was getting late, but Many Bears had work to do before he could think
of calling for a luncheon, or going to his lodge. He had seen his
captives safely bound and put away under guard, and he now summoned his
old men for a brief but very important "talk."
Murray had guessed right when he said he would be sent for, but he had
not waited for the arrival of any messenger. The words were hardly out
of the mouth of Many Bears before a brave in the crowd responded,
"Send Warning is here."
"Where is the Knotted Cord?"
"In lodge. Wait there."
That explanation came from Red Wolf, and the Apaches knew exactly where
their pale-face friends were at that particular moment, which was the
precise thing Murray wanted them to feel sure of, considering what he
knew was about to be found out.
All the rest of the village was full of noise, but the dignity of the
older men enforced silence upon the circle now gathering closely around
the chief.
Many Bears turned to Murray.
"Send Warning gave good counsel. His head is white. He is wise. Tell
Apaches now where all pale-face gone. No come."
"Send Warning can guess. The pale-faces don't like to be killed. Find
too many Apaches. Run away and save scalp."
"Ugh! Good. Nobody know where they go. No use follow. Apaches take Lipan
prisoners. What Send Warning say about them?"
"Keep them till to-morrow. No hurry. Something else to think of now.
More fight maybe."
The chief nodded his head, but a chorus of "ughs" expressed the dissent
of his council. They meant to decide the fate of old Two Knives without
delay. Three of the older braves still insisted upon arguing the case
one after the other, and by the time the last of them ceased speaking,
Murray felt pretty safe about To-la-go-to-de. He said to himself: "The
old fox has half an hour the start of them now. He is miles and miles
away."