The girl could hardly wait until the ceremony of placing the white people was finished: then she said, eagerly:
“Hello, white men—and you, too, boys. I didn’t know you were here. My! It’s good to see so many people. I’m tired of Indians. They brought me from another village. I have to listen to you and tell them what you say. Then I will tell you what they say. How did you come here? Will you take me away? Don’t tell them. Don’t let them know. But will you take me away?”
“You bet!” cried Tom, forgetting himself for an instant: then he became silent again. But the girl, without changing her expression, nodded.
“I like you,” she said. “I didn’t know boys could get in here—or men either.”
“We’re not boys,” challenged Nicky. “We’re young fellows!”
Evidently the chief was impatient, for he could not understand what was being said. He spoke gruffly, one word. The girl turned and made some gestures, also speaking several strange words. Then she turned back toward Tom, and from then on she seemed, for some odd reason, to ignore Henry and Mort, almost—her whole mind seemed to be centered on Tom, and she studied him and appeared to be wondering about him and he, in turn, could not take his eyes off her face.
“The chief doesn’t like us to talk,” she explained. “But I’m glad you came. Will you take me away? Honest—cross-your-heart?”
Tom made the gesture, Nicky and Cliff following suit. Henry and Mort bent glowering looks on them and shook their heads at them vigorously.
For once, forgetting his manners, Nicky grinned back impudently.
“Listen,” said the girl. “The chief thinks the older men are big doctors and he thinks you boys—young fellows!——” and she laughed at them and clapped her hands like a teasing child of ten, “are bad doctors. He is going to make you show him which is strongest—magic, you know. So if you b—young men can do big magic, don’t waste any time. These Indians are cruel. Don’t joke with them.”