It was some seconds before Murray could trust himself to speak, but he was thinking very fast.
"The talking leaves have told Many Bears the truth. Now Send Warning is troubled in his mind."
All could see that, and it made them not a little anxious.
"What want? What do?"
"Go into lodge with young squaw. Knotted Cord stay and talk with Apache chief. Nobody come into lodge. Take a little time. Then tell what hear."
It was an unusual request, but there could be no objection, in view of the fact that there was "great medicine" to be looked into. An Indian conjurer always requires the absence of all observers for the performance of his most important juggling. It was at once decided by the chief that Send Warning should have his way.
Rita listened, pale and serious, while Ni-ha-be looked on in jealous amazement.
"I am an Apache girl? Why can he not teach me to hear the talking leaves?"
No doubt he could have done so if she would have given him plenty of time, and been willing to begin with A B C, as Rita had done long years before.
How should all that ABC business have come back to Rita as it did, when she found herself alone in her lodge with that white-headed old pale-face warrior?