prise.
Colina, seeing that she was getting nowhere, finally feigned to submit.
She obtained his permission to go among the Indians by herself in the
hope that they might tell her something they were afraid to tell the
police.
Accompanied by Cora she went from teepee to teepee. The Kakisas showed
themselves awed by her condescension, but still they were
uncommunicative.
She was Gaviller's daughter. The place of honor by the fire was made
for her, tea hastily warmed up, and doubtful Indian delicacies
produced. But she learned nothing.
At any mention of the names Ambrose Doane or Nesis a subtle, walled
look crept into their eyes, and they became unaccountably stupid.
She was about to give up this line of inquiry when, at a little
distance from the nearest teepee, she came upon a girl engaged in
dressing a moose-hide stretched upon a great frame. There were no
other Indians near. Colina resolved upon a last attempt.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MARYA.
Colina drew near the girl, pausing as if casually interested in her
work. She was a fat girl, with a peculiarly good-humored expression,
and evinced no awe at Colina's approach, but unaffected delight.
Colina obeyed an inward suggestion, sent Cora back to the Grampierres,
and sat down beside Marya, determined to take plenty of time to
establish friendly relations.
This was not difficult. The plump, copper-skinned maiden was overjoyed
by the opportunity to examine anything so wonderful as a white girl at
close range.
No part of Colina's person or attire escaped her scrutiny. Marya
stroked her with a soft crooning. The fastidious Colina bore it,
smiling. At the throat of her waist Colina was wearing a topaz-pin, to
which the Indian girl's eyes ever returned, dazzled.
Colina finally took it off, and pinned it in Marya's cotton dress.
Marya gave way to an extravagant pantomime of joy. Bowing her head,
she seized Colina's hand, and pressed it to her forehead.
Meanwhile they exchanged such simple remarks as lent themselves to the
medium of signs. Colina finally ventured to pronounce the name "Nesis"
at the same time asking by a sign which included the teepees if she was
there.
Marya looked startled. She hesitated, but Colina's hold was now strong
upon her. She shook her head. First glancing cautiously around to
make sure they were not observed, she nodded in the direction of up
river.
By simple signs she told Colina that Nesis was in a vil
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