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At different times he gave Watusk presents silk handkerchiefs, finger rings, pistols, a sword. By and by he said he would make Watusk great presents. "Nesis's story then jumped to the time, last summer, when Watusk and many of the people rode into Fort Enterprise to get flour," Colina went on. "In the mean time Ambrose Doane had been to Enterprise, and had gone away again to get an outfit.
Whenever we stopped I talked to Nesis. We stayed up most of that night. It was too cold to sleep. By the end of the second day I knew everything she had to tell me." Colina drank some water and went on. "Nesis's story begins a year ago. In the middle of the winter my father was accustomed to send Gordon Strange with an outfit to the Kakisa River to trade with the tribe and bring back the fur.
He makes her say whatever he wants." "It is the truth I am crazy 'bout you," said Nesis. Ambrose sighed. "Listen to me. I tell you straight, if you go with me it will ruin me. I am as good as a jailbird already." She gave her head an impatient shake. "I not understand," she said sadly. "You say it. I guess it is truth." There was a silence. Nesis's childlike brows were bent into a frown.
Day and night Nesis's strange cries of terror rang in his ears. He knew something about the Indians' ideas of punishing women. His imagination never ceased to suggest terrible things that might have befallen her. "God! Every one that comes near me suffers!" he cried in his first despair. The explanation of their surprise proved simple.
Nesis's last act was to heap fresh wood on the fire. Colina, approving all she did was glad to let her run things. She could not guess how she purposed evading the Indians in front. They mounted, and proceeded into the woods, walking their horses slowly. Colina could not make out the trail, but her horse could. Nesis led the way. They climbed a little hill and descended the other side.
Colina bethought herself of profiting by Nesis's experience. "Nesis," she called, "you know these people! What should we do?" Nesis, rousing herself and turning her dreadfully eloquent eyes upon Colina, signified that they must ride on for the present. When the sun went down she would tell what to do. For an hour thereafter they rode without speaking.
He had finished his hole in the flooring and was commencing to dig in the earth, when a soft scratching on the wall gave notice of Nesis's presence outside. "Angleysman, you there?" she whispered through the chink. "Here!" said Ambrose. "The boat is ready," she said. "I got grub and blanket and gun." "Ah, fine!" whispered Ambrose. "You almost out?" she asked. He explained his situation.
Nesis's eyes flamed up with a kind of bitter triumph. Her voice rose shrilly. "She hate you, too! Always she is bad to you. I know that, too. What you want wit' Colina Gaviller? Are you a dog to lie down when she beat you?" Ambrose's eyes gleamed ominously. "Stop it!" he cried. "You don't know what you're talking about." His look intimidated her.
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