“Just there, where you see a bald hill by the river, is where we will cross by a ford but very few know of, for none of my Indians know of it, and it is one no one could find, save by accident, as I did by seeing a herd of deer take to the water and swim across.
“Something frightened them on the other side—a pack of wolves, I think—and they swam back again, landing at another point below. It showed me a crossing place, and I let several of my men into the secret and used to send couriers that way to and from my retreat to the Indian village. As the known fords are now guarded by troops, we will cross this way, if you are not too much alarmed.”
“And if I am you will go to the regular ford?”
“Oh, no; I am no fool, to run upon the soldiers.”
“What will you do if I have not the nerve to go across?”
“Simply go around by a ford that will give us two days’ hard travel.”
“Never mind me, then; cross by the secret ford, for I can venture it if you can.”
The outlaw then rode on, leading her horse, the Indians having gone to the camping place.
Lucille was alone on the mountaintop, and gazed about her in rapt admiration.
At last she said: