Clare could no longer contain her curiosity. “What is the matter, Martin?” she asked.
“Some red-skin mumbo-jumbo,” he answered angrily. “I’ll soon get to the bottom of it.”
Lowering his voice, he said to Mary: “Have him tell me exactly what happened two sleeps ago.”
Mary translated as Etzooah spoke. “Two sleeps ago. The sun was half-way to the middle of the sky. I spell down river near the rapids on the point where the tepee-poles are. I see White Medicine Man come paddling up. I moch surprise see him all alone because I know you gone down to see him. I call to him. He come on shore to me.”
“What kind of a canoe?” asked Stonor.
“Kakisa canoe. Got willow-branches in it, for cause Eembrie sit on his knees and paddle, not like Kakisa.”
This was a convincing detail. Little beads of perspiration sprang out on Stonor’s brow.
Etzooah went on: “We talk——”
“Could he speak Kakisa?”
“No. We talk by signs. He know some Kakisa words. I teach him that. I say to him Red-coat and White girl gone down river to see you. You not see them? How is that? Eembrie laugh: say: ‘I see them, but they not see me. Red-coat want to get me I guess, so I run away.’ Eembrie say: ‘Don’ you tell Red-coat you see me.’ That is why I not want tell. I mean no harm. Eembrie is my friend. I not want police to get him.”