Judge Breckenridge joined Kie Wicks and his party, after giving instructions to Tommy Sharpe, and he followed Kie on what he knew to be a "wild goose chase." Kie flattered himself that he was being very clever in keeping the searchers away from the old man.
The girls waited impatiently for Kit. "I do wish she would hurry," fussed Bet. "What's keeping her?"
"Maybe she found Young Mary there, as she hoped, and as it's been such a long time since they've seen each other, they'll need to do a lot of talking to make up for lost time."
But Kit's meeting with her Indian friend was very different from what the girls pictured.
Even Kit was surprised and a little hurt at the lack of interest in her childhood friend.
The Indian girl was already dressed in the bright silk gown that Kit had brought her. Kit caught the girl in her arms and squeezed her tight. But Young Mary was as rigid as a post. Not by word or sign did she betray the fact that she was glad to see Kit.
But Kit understood. She saw a bright light in Mary's eyes and was satisfied.
"Why Mary, you're a beauty in that dress. I want you to come over and meet my friends."
Mary shook her head. She was already gliding away toward the canyon where the Indians were camped by the stream. They had chosen the same spot that the professor had used for a camping site.
And when Kit joined the group of Indians by the side of the creek she realized that Mary was now a grown-up Indian woman. She did not run or dance about any more, but seated herself with the squaws and seemed happy.