"I give up!" he said quietly. Then he turned, walked slowly to the cañon edge, and clambered deliberately down the trail.
Jack and Billy stood dazed for a moment longer, then Porter cleared his throat.
"Miss Rhoda, don't do this! Now don't you! Come with us back to the ranch. Just for a month till you get away from this Injun's influence! Come back and talk to Mrs. Newman. Come back and get some other woman's ideas! For God's sake, Miss Rhoda, don't ruin your life this way!"
"When Katherine knows it all, she'll understand and agree with me," replied Rhoda. "Jack, try to remember everything I said, to tell Katherine."
"I tell her!" cried Jack. "Why can't you tell her yourself? What are you planning to do?"
"That is for Kut-le to say," answered Rhoda.
"Rhoda," said Jack, and his voice shook with earnestness, "listen! Listen to me, your old playmate! I know how fascinating Kut-le is. Lord help us, girl, he's been my best friend for years! And in spite of everything, he's my friend still. But, Rhoda, it won't do! It won't work out right. He's a fine man for men. But as a husband to a white woman, he's still an Indian; and after the first, that must always come between you! Think again, Rhoda! I tell you, it won't do!"
Rhoda's voice still was clear and high, still bore the note of exaltation.
"I have thought again and again, Jack. There could be no end to the thinking, so I gave it up!"
Kut-le's eyes were on the girl, inscrutable and calm as the desert itself, but still he did not speak.