The Legend of the Phantom by Jacob Nelson

especially tricky part of the path. As he hurried forward, a root from some dark tree caught Kit’s foot. Kit felt himself slip as his burden shifted across his shoulders. He stumbled and fell into Caribo.
    They fell heavily together, the girl’s weight pulling them down as Kit’s sore muscles strained to keep her aloft.
    In the course of the hard tumble they came to rest under the canopy of a large bush; arms, legs and branches of the bush all intertwined. The pursuit was nearing. Kit tried to get untangled and realized he couldn’t see a thing. Then the reason dawned on him. The bush they had fallen into had bounced back into shape, and covered them, which hid them from view.
    Drawing back the thick wave of bra nches on the far side of the path, near the back side of the bush, a small opening into the earth was evident. A cave. Safety. Kit whispered to Caribo, “We go in there.” Kit was too sore to go on.
    H aving need of a safe place of refuge, Caribo agreed and gathered up some small rocks. He threw them within the small opening. Meanwhile, Kit prepared his sword for any unexpected surprise. Nothing appeared. Without hesitation Kit slid inside.
    Caribo pass ed in the girl, who by this time was finally awake. Kit reassured her that she was safe, not thinking about the fact that she wouldn’t be able to understand him yet. She looked around wildly and tried to beat him with her small fists, however, as Kit held her flailing arms, his soothing voice and the emotional drain from so many hard experiences in the last few days so overcame her that she shortly melted into his arms into a deep sleep.
    Caribo , meanwhile, found some loose rock to block the entrance, which he placed in such a fashion that it left it looking like the entrance had never existed.
    The warriors shortly ran past the path, and Kit and Caribo eventually followed the girl’s example and slept from sheer exhaustion.
     
    The next day, Kit awoke to the sound of a loud yell and opened his eyes to find Caribo attempting to gag the girl. Angry, Kit started to yell, but Caribo quickly shushed him, indicating that there may be searchers outside looking for them.
    “What happened,” Kit demanded in a harsh whisper.
    “The girl tried to steal my jade knife while I slept,” Caribo quickly explained to Kit, as he accused her, “which woke me up. She tried to get away, which was when I grabbed her.” Then showing his hand he continued, “As I reached out to stop the girl she bit me!”
    “And the yell I heard?”
    “That was me,” Caribo admitted, looking somewhat ashamed. “But I tell you it hurt. So now I will gag her.” Meanwhile, as he talked, to forestall any further bites, he attempted to gag her.
    “Caribo ! Just let her go.” As Kit moved in to stop the gagging, he came between the girl and Caribo. Lashing out, the girl’s elbow caught Kit square in the mouth, splitting his lip. Blood gushed from Kit’s wound as the girl spit out the cloth that Caribo had attempted to gag her with.
    Caribo reached for the flailing limb, and that time was rewarded for his effort by catching the girl’s arm. With her arm in check, Caribo scooped up the fallen, dirty cloth and once again tried to force the gag into the girl’s mouth.
    However , Kit again intervened and stayed Caribo’s hand; urging him to let her free. Not convinced, but willing to let his friend have his way, Caribo dropped the gag.
    With Kit’s help the girl was finally able to get away from Caribo and the gag, and having done so, scrambled for a corner of the cave.
    There she glared at the men, taking them in. Again , she was amazed at how handsome the pale one was, but she wasn’t going to let him take her back. Staring him in the eyes, her first words were simply, “Who sent you? My father?”
    But being unfamiliar with the language, Kit simply shook his head as he asked Caribo for a translation. Caribo had none. Additionally he was done with the whole situation and retreated to