"There, Rhoda," he said, "no one can hear you. You will only make yourself sick."
Rhoda struck his hand feebly.
"Don't touch me!" she cried hoarsely. "Don't touch me, you beast! I loathe you! I am afraid of you! Don't you dare to touch me!"
At this Kut-le imprisoned both her cold hands in one of his warm palms and held them despite her struggles, while with the other hand he smoothed her tumbled hair from her eyes.
"Poor frightened little girl," he said, in his rich voice. "I wish I might have done otherwise. But there was no other way. I don't know that I believe much in your God but I guess you do. So I tell you, Rhoda, that by your faith in Him, you are absolutely safe in my hands!"
Rhoda caught her breath in a childlike sob while she sstill struggled to recover her hands.
"I loathe you!" she panted. "I loathe you! I loathe you!"
But Kut-le would not free the cold little hands.
"But do you fear me, too? Answer me! Do you fear me?"
The moon had risen and Rhoda looked into the face that bent above hers. This was a naked savage with hawk-like face. Yet the eyes were the ones that she had come to know so well, half tragic, somber, but clear and, toward her, tender, very, very tender. With a shuddering sigh, Rhoda looked away. But against her own volition she found herself saying: "I'm not afraid now! But I loathe you, you Apache Indian!"
Something very like a smile touched the grim mouth of the Apache.
"I don't hate you, you Caucasian!" he answered quietly.
He chafed the cold hands for a moment, in silence. Then he lifted her to her saddle. But Rhoda was beyond struggle, beyond even clinging to the saddle. Kut-le caught her as she reeled.
"Don't tie me!" she panted. "Don't tie me! I won't fight! I won't even scream, if you won't tie me!"
"But you can't sit your saddle alone," replied Kut-le. "I'll have to tie you."
Once more he lifted her to the horse. Once more with the help of his silent companion he fastened her with blankets. Once more the journey was begun. For a little while, distraught and uncertain what course to pursue, Rhoda endured the misery of position and motion in silence. Then the pain was too much and she cried out in protest. Kut-le brought the horses to a walk.
"You certainly have about as much spunk as a chicken with the pip!" he said contemptuously. "I should think your loathing would brace you up a little!"