"Oh, no, I am not tired," was his answer.

"I want to do something for you."

"Why?"

"I am so grateful. I feel like the King's cat. I am trying to express
my feelings. I think I know, now, why the Indian women do the
drudgery."

As she looked at Him her dark eyes were very serious.

"I have done little," said he. "It is Mr. Binkus who rescued you. We
live in a wild country among savages and the white folks have to
protect each other. We're used to it."

"I never saw or expected to see men like you," she went on. "I have
read of them in books, but I never hoped to see them and talk to them.
You are like Ajax and Achilles."

"Then I shall say that you are like the fair lady for whom they fought."

"I will not ride and see you walking."

"Then sit forward as far as you can and I will ride with you," he
answered.

In a moment he was on the colt's back behind her. She was a comely
maiden. An authority no less respectable than Major Duncan has written
that she was a tall, well shaped, fun loving girl a little past sixteen