“Ah, have they won you away from us too?”
This touched the red woman. Her face worked painfully. She did her best to explain. “Kakisas my people,” she said. “Maybe you think they foolish people. All right. Maybe they are not a wise and strong people like the old days. But they my people just the same. I can’t tell white men their things.”
“She’s right,” put in Clare quickly. “Don’t ask her any more.”
“Well, what do you think?” he asked. “Do you not wish to go any further?”
“Yes! Yes!” she cried. “I must go on!”
“Very good,” he said grimly. “We’ll start to-morrow.”
“I not go,” said Mary stolidly. “My people mad at me if I go.”
Here was a difficulty! Stonor and Clare looked at each other blankly.
“What the devil——!” began the policeman.
“Hush! leave her to me,” said Clare, urging him out of the shack.