"O John, don't! Don't! Maybe Billy is right. I'm afraid he is! But
one thing I do know. Rhoda is as safe in Kut-le's hands as she would
be in Jack's. I know it, John!"

John did not move, but at Katherine's words the color came back into
Jack Newman's face.

"That's right!" he said stoutly. "It's a devilish thing for Kut-le to
do. But she's safe, John, old boy, I'm sure she is."

Billy Porter, conscience-stricken at the effect of his words, clapped
John on the shoulder.

"Aw shucks! I let my Injun hate get the best of my tongue. Of course
she's safe enough; only the darn devil's got to be caught before he
gets to Mexico and makes some padre marry 'em. So it's us to the
saddle a whole heap."

"We'd better get an Indian to help trail," said Jack.

"You'll have a sweet time getting an Injun to trail Kut-le!" said
Porter. "The Injuns half worship him. They think he's got some kind
of strong medicine; you know that. You get one and he'll keep you off
the trail instead of on. I can follow the trail as soon as he quits
covering it. Get the canteens and come on. We don't need a million
cowboys running round promiscuous over the sand. Numbers don't help in
trailing an Injun. It's experience and patience. It may take us two
weeks and we'll outfit for that. But we'll get him in the end. Crook
always did."