"Yes, I think so."
Then she turned to Hal with a pitiful cry: "And you'll never come back."
"Oh, yes I will, Wah-na-gi; yes I will. I couldn't stay away. It's in my blood. I love this desolate land. It's my land. I love these people. They are my people. McShay is here; Bill is here; John McCloud is here; my mother is here; you are here. I couldn't stay away."
"If you do come back," said John McCloud with his eyes filled with tears, "you must bring this Indian woman clean hands and a pure heart. Promise me that."
"I'll do that or I won't come back; so help me God."
Upon the hands of the two men clasped in solemn pledge rested the small brown hand of Wah-na-gi.
John McCloud turned away to hide the emotion that was mastering him. Hal took the girl in his arms, held her long to his breast, then put her at arms' length and, looking into her eyes, said through his own tears:
"I'm coming back, Wah-na-gi, dear; I'm coming back."
"I'm coming back, Wah-na-gi, dear; I'm coming back."