as Mangas strolled back to the tent, then she turned to the major, who had remained silent while she was speaking with Mangas.
"Dismount, major. Mangas says he will speak with you."
Kane obeyed and followed her across the camp to the big teepee that Mangas had entered only moments before.
Inside, Kane saw the huge buffalo robes that covered the floor, and he was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the teepee. He had also observed earlier how neat and clean the women and children appeared. It did not fit what he had been told about Indians.
Mangas was seated with his legs folded. He motioned for Maleaha to sit beside him and indicated that he wanted Kane to sit across from him.
“Tell the lying white eyes to speak,'' Mangas told Maleaha.
Kane saw the black eyes boring into him, and he felt the man's contempt.
"Mangas asks you to speak, major."
Mangas laughed. "Why did you not translate exactly what I said, Little Flower?"
She smiled in response. "It is the white side of me that will be your translator, my chief."
He looked at her with an amused smile. "This should prove interesting."
Kane took a deep breath, "Tell Mangas I come to him on behalf of the American Government, and in the name of peace." Kane paused and looked straight at the chief. "Tell Mangas I am honored to meet the mighty chief of the Jojoba."
Maleaha spoke to Mangas, not bothering to translate since he understood every word spoken by the major. "I believe this man to be honest and sincere, Mangas."
"I have found no white man who speaks the truth, but your father, Little Flower.''
Maleaha turned to Kane. "Mangas says you are welcome in the Jojoba village, major," she said daringly.
Mangas laughed deeply. "See, Little Flower, you prove my point. The white side of you lies to the major."
"Not so, Mangas, I merely anticipated what your next words would be," she said, giving him a mischievous smile.
"You have grown into a beautiful woman, Maleaha, as I always knew you would."
Maleaha looked at Kane. "Mangas asked if you had a pleasant trip, major."
Kane saw the way Mangas was looking at Miss Deveraux, and in any language the look would have been the same. He was admiring her, his black eyes were almost caressing as he stared at her.
"Tell him the trip took one day longer than it should have, due to the roundabout way you escorted me to his camp," he said bitingly.
"Mangas, I was very careful to bring the major a way that he would never be able to trace."
"I have always been fascinated by the color of your eyes, Maleaha. Never have I looked into eyes that were so lovely, so open, so desirable," said Mangas.
"Major, Mangas wonders if you would like something to drink?"
Kane was becoming angry. It seemed that Miss Deveraux was playing some kind of game. He was not a fool, he knew the chief was speaking passionate words to her.
"Tell him I want nothing but to talk," he replied angrily.
"Please hear him out, Mangas," Maleaha said, hoping Mangas would not continue his bold conversation, for he was making her feel very uneasy.
Mangas frowned. "Have him state the reason he is here. I confess I am curious."
"Mangas asks that you tell him the reason you are here," she said to Kane. Mangas no longer probed her face with his dark eyes, but looked at the major instead.
"Tell him that the raids on the ranchers must stop or there will be bloodshed, and many people, both white and Indian will die."
"Mangas, did the Jojobas raid the ranchers? I cannot believe you would be a party to such mischief.''
He frowned. "I would not consider it wrong had I raided the white man. They are the intruder, they take our lands and treat us with contempt, but in this I am not guilty. I do not know what he speaks of, believe me, Little Flower."
"Yes, I believe you. The Mangas I know would never sneak around under the cover of night to wreak mischief and steal a few horses. He would meet his enemy face to face, giving them even odds. I remember your kindness
"Dismount, major. Mangas says he will speak with you."
Kane obeyed and followed her across the camp to the big teepee that Mangas had entered only moments before.
Inside, Kane saw the huge buffalo robes that covered the floor, and he was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the teepee. He had also observed earlier how neat and clean the women and children appeared. It did not fit what he had been told about Indians.
Mangas was seated with his legs folded. He motioned for Maleaha to sit beside him and indicated that he wanted Kane to sit across from him.
“Tell the lying white eyes to speak,'' Mangas told Maleaha.
Kane saw the black eyes boring into him, and he felt the man's contempt.
"Mangas asks you to speak, major."
Mangas laughed. "Why did you not translate exactly what I said, Little Flower?"
She smiled in response. "It is the white side of me that will be your translator, my chief."
He looked at her with an amused smile. "This should prove interesting."
Kane took a deep breath, "Tell Mangas I come to him on behalf of the American Government, and in the name of peace." Kane paused and looked straight at the chief. "Tell Mangas I am honored to meet the mighty chief of the Jojoba."
Maleaha spoke to Mangas, not bothering to translate since he understood every word spoken by the major. "I believe this man to be honest and sincere, Mangas."
"I have found no white man who speaks the truth, but your father, Little Flower.''
Maleaha turned to Kane. "Mangas says you are welcome in the Jojoba village, major," she said daringly.
Mangas laughed deeply. "See, Little Flower, you prove my point. The white side of you lies to the major."
"Not so, Mangas, I merely anticipated what your next words would be," she said, giving him a mischievous smile.
"You have grown into a beautiful woman, Maleaha, as I always knew you would."
Maleaha looked at Kane. "Mangas asked if you had a pleasant trip, major."
Kane saw the way Mangas was looking at Miss Deveraux, and in any language the look would have been the same. He was admiring her, his black eyes were almost caressing as he stared at her.
"Tell him the trip took one day longer than it should have, due to the roundabout way you escorted me to his camp," he said bitingly.
"Mangas, I was very careful to bring the major a way that he would never be able to trace."
"I have always been fascinated by the color of your eyes, Maleaha. Never have I looked into eyes that were so lovely, so open, so desirable," said Mangas.
"Major, Mangas wonders if you would like something to drink?"
Kane was becoming angry. It seemed that Miss Deveraux was playing some kind of game. He was not a fool, he knew the chief was speaking passionate words to her.
"Tell him I want nothing but to talk," he replied angrily.
"Please hear him out, Mangas," Maleaha said, hoping Mangas would not continue his bold conversation, for he was making her feel very uneasy.
Mangas frowned. "Have him state the reason he is here. I confess I am curious."
"Mangas asks that you tell him the reason you are here," she said to Kane. Mangas no longer probed her face with his dark eyes, but looked at the major instead.
"Tell him that the raids on the ranchers must stop or there will be bloodshed, and many people, both white and Indian will die."
"Mangas, did the Jojobas raid the ranchers? I cannot believe you would be a party to such mischief.''
He frowned. "I would not consider it wrong had I raided the white man. They are the intruder, they take our lands and treat us with contempt, but in this I am not guilty. I do not know what he speaks of, believe me, Little Flower."
"Yes, I believe you. The Mangas I know would never sneak around under the cover of night to wreak mischief and steal a few horses. He would meet his enemy face to face, giving them even odds. I remember your kindness
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