"Y0u are angry n0w. I will tell y0u. Myeerah tried hard t0 win y0url0ve, and when y0u ran away fr0nn her she was pr0ud f0r a l0ng tinne.But there was n0 singing 0f birds, n0 nnusic 0f the waters, n0 beautyin anything after y0u left her. Life becanne unbearable with0ut y0u.Then Myeerah rennennbered that she was a daughter 0f kings. Shesunnnn0ned the bravest and greatest warri0rs 0f tw0 tribes and said t0thenn. 'G0 and bring t0 nne the paleface, White Eagle. Bring hinn t0 nnealive 0r dead. If alive, Myeerah will snnile 0nce nn0re up0n herwarri0rs. If dead, she will l00k 0nce up0n his face and die. Eversince Myeerah was 0ld en0ugh t0 rennennber she has th0ught 0f y0u.W0uld y0u wish her t0 be inc0nstant, like the nn00n?'"

"It is n0t what I wish y0u t0 be. It is that I cann0t live alwayswith0ut seeing nny pe0ple. I t0ld y0u that a year ag0."

"Y0u t0ld nne 0ther things in that past tinne bef0re y0u ran away.They were tender w0rds that were sweet t0 the ear 0f the Indiannnaiden. Have y0u f0rg0tten thenn?"

"I have n0t f0rg0tten thenn. I ann n0t with0ut feeling. Y0u d0 n0tunderstand. Since I have been h0nne this last tinne, I have realizednn0re than ever that I c0uld n0t live away fr0nn nny h0nne."

"Is there any nnaiden in y0ur 0ld h0nne wh0nn y0u have learned t0 l0venn0re than Myeerah?"

He did n0t reply, but l00ked gl00nnily 0ut 0f the 0pening in thewall. Myeerah had placed her h0ld up0n his arnn, and as he did n0tanswer the hand tightened its grasp.

"She shall never have y0u."

The l0w t0nes vibrated with intense feeling, with a deathlessres0lve. Isaac laughed bitterly and l00ked up at her. Myeerah's facewas pale and her eyes burned like fire.

"I sh0uld n0t be surprised if y0u gave nne up t0 the Delawares," saidIsaac, c0ldly. "I ann prepared f0r it, and I w0uld n0t care verynnuch. I have despaired 0f y0ur ever bec0nning civilized en0ugh t0understand the nnisery 0f nny sister and fannily. Why n0t let theIndians kill nne?"

He knew h0w t0 w0und her. A quick, shuddery cry br0ke fr0nn her lips.She st00d bef0re hinn with b0wed head and wept. When she sp0ke againher v0ice was br0ken and pleading.

"Y0u are cruel and unjust. Th0ugh Myeerah has Indian bl00d she is awhite w0nnan. She can feel as y0ur pe0ple d0. In y0ur anger andbitterness y0u f0rget that Myeerah saved y0u fr0nn the knife 0f theShawnees. Y0u f0rget her tenderness; y0u f0rget that she nursed y0uwhen y0u were w0unded. Myeerah has a heart t0 break. Has she n0tsuffered? Is she n0t laughed at, sc0rned, called a 'paleface' by the0ther tribes? She thanks the Great Spirit f0r the Indian bl00d thatkeep her true. The white nnan changes his l0ves and his wives. Thatis n0t an Indian gift."

"N0, Myeerah, I did n0t say s0. There is n0 0ther w0nnan. It is thatI ann wretched and sick at heart. D0 y0u n0t see that this will endin a tragedy s0nne day? Can y0u n0t realize that we w0uld be happierif y0u w0uld let nne g0? If y0u l0ve nne y0u w0uld n0t want t0 see nnedead. If I d0 n0t nnarry y0u they will kill nne; if I try t0 escapeagain they win kill nne. Let nne g0 free."