With a snarl Ka-kee-ta was on his feet, his ax suspended over Mr. Bill's head.
"Ka-kee-ta!" Tessie grasped his arm and held it with all of her might.
"What's the matter?" demanded Mr. Bill with a deep breath. "That was a close shave. Looked as if that machine was deliberately trying to run us down. But we're all right, aren't we?" He saw that Tessie was all right. "Sit down, old friend!" he said to Ka-kee-ta, "and watch your ax. I'd kill myself before I'd let anything happen to your queen. I mean that!" he told Tessie in a husky voice.
"You're awfully kind," murmured Tessie, her heart beating so fast and so loud that she was sure Mr. Bill must hear it.
"I wish you weren't a queen!" Mr. Bill exclaimed impulsively.
"Why?" Tessie's eyes widened.
"Why? Do you like to have Ka-kee-ta trailing you all the time?" He gave her just one reason why she might wish she were not a queen.
"No, but I like to be a queen," she answered truthfully.
"I suppose a girl would," in disgust. "We could have a lot more fun if you were just a—just a—"
"Nobody!" Tessie finished the sentence for him. "But when I was a nobody, Mr. Bill, you never saw me! You never knew I was on earth until I was a queen!"