The chief pondered a moment, but Ni-ha-be had heard and understood, and a scared look arose in her face.
"Rita! Rita! you are going away? you will not be an Apache girl any more?"
"'OH, NI-HA-BE, COME WITH ME!'"
"Oh, Ni-ha-be, come with me!"
Their arms were around each other, and they were both weeping; but Ni-ha-be's mind was made up instantly.
"No. You are born white. You will go with your father. I am an Apache, and I will go with my father."
Many Bears was listening. "Send Warning hear what young squaw say? All Apaches say, good. She will stay with her own people."
Murray and Steve were anxious to begin their return to civilization, but it would be several days before a "train" would go with an escort, and they did not care to run any further risks. So the "farewell" was spread over sufficient time to make all sorts of explanations and promises, and Rita's mind became so full of dreams of her new life that she could easily give up the old one.
Ni-ha-be had never seen so much of the pale-faces before, and Rita tried again and again to persuade her to change her mind, but on the very last morning of all she resolutely responded: "No, Rita, you are all pale-face. All over. Head and heart both belong with white friends. Feel happy. Ni-ha-be only little Indian girl here. Out there on plains, among mountains, Ni-ha-be is the daughter of a great chief. She is an Apache."