internal mechanism on paper for a thousand years, you'd have no more trouble getting my point of view than I do yours." 

 Rhoda's face as she eyed the stern young profile was very sympathetic. Kut-le, turning to her, surprised upon her face that rare, tender smile for which all who knew her watched. His face flushed and his fine hands clasped and unclasped. 

 "Tell me about it, Kut-le, if you can." 

 "I can't tell you. The desert would show you its own power if you would give it a chance. No one can describe the call to you. I suppose if I answered it and went back, you would call it retrogression?" 

 "What would you call it?" asked Rhoda. 

 "I don't know. It would depend on my mood. I only know that the ache is there."  His eyes grew somber and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.  "The ache to be there—free in the desert! To feel the hot sun in my face as I work the trail! To sleep with the naked stars in my face! To be—  Oh, I can't make you understand, and I'd rather you understood than any one in the world! You could understand, if only you were desert-taught. When you are well and strong—" 

 "But why don't you go back?" interrupted Rhoda. 

 "Because," replied Kut-le slowly, "the Indian is dying. I hope that by living as a white, I may live. Up till recently I have worked blindly and hopelessly, but now I see light." 

 "Do you?" asked Rhoda with interest.  "What have you found?" 

 "It isn't mine yet."  Kut-le looked at the girl exultantly and there was a triumphant note in his voice.  "But it shall be mine! I will make it mine! And it is worth the sacrifice of my race." 

 A vague look of surprise crossed Rhoda's face but she spoke calmly: 

 "To sacrifice one's race is a serious thing. I can't think of anything that would make that worth while. Here comes Mr. DeWitt. It must be dinner time. John, come up and see a little desert owl at close range. Kut-le has all the desert at his beck and call!" 

 Kut-le persuaded Rhoda to change the morning rides, which seemed only to exhaust her, to the shortest of evening strolls. Nearly always DeWitt accompanied them. Sometimes they went alone, though John was never very far distant. 

 One 

 Prev. P 25/172 next