“I shall not be there,” he said.
“No? Why, how is that? I do not understand!”
“I shall not go back to the white man’s school.”
“You won’t? What is the meaning of that? Why won’t you go back?”
“Because it is useless. They are right when they say the Indian can never become like the white man. I shall try no more.”
“But—but you are different! Think what you have done this day! By Jove! you have shown yourself all right! Think what a hero you would be at school if they knew the story! You are the lion of the football team anyhow. They can’t get along without you.”
“They must, for they will have me no more. You say I am different from the Indians. Perhaps I am to-day; but to-morrow and ever after that I shall be an Indian in everything! I shall forget that I was at the white man’s school. I shall forget that I can read and write and make the white man’s figures. I shall go back to be the same as I was before I learned such things, and my people will despise me, for they will say I am neither a white man nor an Indian.”
Frank used all his eloquence to influence the Indian to change his mind, but it was useless. Then Inza tried, but with no better success.
“Farewell,” said John again. “Take the horse to the Pueblo. It is owned there. Farewell forever!”
Inza’s eyes were full of tears.