"I see him."
"If he could understand me, I would speak to him."
"Oh, Ni-ha-be! that would be a dreadful thing to do."
Ni-ha-be would not have done any such thing, and Rita knew it; but the chief's daughter saw no reason why she should not lead her sister pretty near the young pale-face brave as they passed him. They could see that he was smiling at them, and it was an act of politeness to smile back. Ni-ha-be laughed. It was that, perhaps, which led Steve into a mistake. He wanted to say something, and in his haste he forgot to speak Mexican-Spanish, as he ought to have done if he expected to be understood by an Apache young lady.
"There has been a great fight. Your father has taken some prisoners."
"We know it," answered Rita; and she was almost as much startled as was Steve himself.
"'WHAT! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ENGLISH?'"
"What! do you understand English?"
Ni-ha-be turned, and looked at her in astonishment.