After that nobody could have told what was said by anybody during a full three minutes. Then there came a sort of breathing-spell that was almost silence. They had begun to walk towards the house, and Vic was leading Tah-nu-nu a little in advance of the rest.
"How did you say you managed to get away from Kah-go-mish?" asked Captain Moore.
"It's a pretty long story," said Cal, "but there isn't any Kah-go-mish. He was killed in a fight with the Mexicans."
"Did Ping get in before you left them?" asked Colonel Evans.
"Yes, he did, father. I felt real bad about that. Such a young fellow. Not any older than I am."
"Killed, was he? Colorado! I'm sorry," exclaimed Sam Herrick.
The leading features of Cal's capture and escape had already been told, but they were now gone over more minutely, and it was determined not at once to tell Tah-nu-nu.
"I must think the matter over," said Mrs. Evans.
"Poor little thing!"
That was what Vic said, but she took Tah-nu-nu to her own room, and the shy, frightened look of the lonely Indian girl began to turn into one of relief, but also of intense curiosity. She saw nothing but friendliness in the face of Vic, and at last she remarked: "Tah-nu-nu glad Heap Pony get away."