"Then yer drove him erway, Cloud?"
"Had it not been for the pale chief I would have done so forever."
"What had I tew do with it?"
"If I had made him an enemy he might have followed and found you."
"That's jest as true as gospil and I hain't in no condition tew take my own part ner yours nuther, jest now."
"I wear a knife."
"Yes, and hain't got no use of but one arm. But what did ther painted raskil want?"
She busied herself with bathing his swollen neck, kept her face bowed and pretended not to hear, and he continued:
"War he er lover, Cloud?"
"He has often told me he loved me," she responded in a low voice, being thus compelled to answer.