"Did you hear him, Rita? He was one of the braves who went to find the ford. They forgot to ask the squaws where to look for it."
Steve heard the rippling laugh, but he did not understand the words. Could they be making fun of him? His cheeks burnt red-hot at the thought of it, for he turned his head just long enough to see that those two pairs of bright and searching eyes were looking straight at him. They dropped instantly, but not before they had seen the quick flush rise to his face.
"Ni-ha-be," whispered Rita, "he will think we are rude."
"Ni-ha-be—Rita," said Red Wolf at that moment, "tell Dolores she must cook for the Knotted Cord. The chief says so. Bring blanket. Bring water. Be quick."
Dolores was near enough to hear, and she was perfectly willing. It was a post of honor to cook for a guest of Many Bears. The girls, too, were ready to bring gourds of drinking water, blankets to sit down upon, or do anything else which could properly be asked of two young Apache ladies of their high rank.
"Rita," said Ni-ha-be, while they were dipping their water-gourds in the river, "he is as handsome as an Apache."
"He is not nearly so good-looking as Send Warning. He is a mere boy."
"Can he see to talk with the talking leaves? His eyes are very good."
"I don't know; I will find out. Send Warning is a wise man—I am sure he is. They will talk to him. He is old, and the snow is on his head."
"Father says the snow is bad on a head sometimes. Every thing dies under it. Head good for nothing."