“Get on the sledge,” he commanded. “Do as I’ve told you, or you’ll hear from me.”
As emotion had all but paralysed the young girl he forced her to a seat on the sledge and thrust the whip into her hand, then turned to Tillie. Tillie was making no move to approach the sledge.
“Did you hear what I said?” he demanded.
Tillie smiled strangely.
“Has the Snow-Burner become afraid of Iron Hair?” she asked.
“So little afraid that I no longer need you to help me in this matter,” retorted Reivers.
The shrewd squaw shook her head.
“How will the Snow-Burner find Iron Hair’s gold how? Iron Hair will not take the Snow-Burner to his camp alone. It is not the Snow-Burner that Iron Hair wants. It is a woman. Has the Snow-Burner given up the fight to get the gold which he wants so much? He knows he can not reach Iron Hair’s camp—alone.”
“Then I will not reach it at all. Get on the sledge.”
Tillie smiled but did not move.