“Uiye tha, ‘two days!’”

She could not fully comprehend.  Until better informed she drew the conclusion that the Navajos were in pursuit of him, but more she failed to understand.  To ascertain his meaning she pointed at him, then at herself, raised four of her fingers, and asked,—­

“Tehua?”

Cayamo shook his head, counted two on his fingers, accompanying the gestures with the words,—­

“Tema quio Puye,” pointing to the north at the same time.  Now her doubts were cleared.  Shotaye saw that two days hence she would be expected among the Tehuas.  She nodded eagerly and rose.  If the Navajos, as she rightly concluded, were on her warrior’s trail, it was unsafe for both of them to remain here long; but neither could she insinuate to Cayamo that she would like to go with him at once.  To her surprise the man bent down and with his fingers drew a line on the ground which ran in the direction where the cave-dwellings of the Tehuas were situated.  The woman bent over him with great curiosity.

“Tupoge,” said Cayamo, indicating the southern end of the line and looking askance.  Shotaye nodded that she understood, and he slowly moved his fingers along the line to the north, uttering,—­

“Tema quio.”

The northern terminus of the streak he designated as Puye.  Finally he made a mark across the middle of the line, saying very positively,—­

“Uiye tha Shotaye Teanyi.”  These words he accompanied successively with the signs for the number two, for male Indian, and for the meeting of two persons.

Nothing could be clearer.  Two days hence Shotaye was to leave the Rito for the Puye; and as Cayamo himself would be unable to meet her, owing to the ceremonies which he had to perform in honour of the scalp, some male friend of his, called Teayni, would meet her half-way and conduct her safely to the abode of his people.  With a radiant face the woman nodded assent, and made other gestures expressive of delight and agreement.  Cayamo took advantage of his cowering posture to fasten the war-sandals to his naked feet, and then rose and took the trail towards the north, but Shotaye held him back in token of misgivings.  He understood her motive, but pointed to his circular foot-gear and smiled.  It was clear that he trusted to the round tracks left by that contrivance for safety.  So he went on toward the brink of the gorge that lay before them.  As soon as his form had sunk below it, Shotaye also turned, this time in the direction of the Rito.

Everything was right at last!  She felt safe, completely safe; for the road was clear to her, and furthermore Cayamo, of whose attachment she was now fully convinced, would provide for a guide during the second half of the journey, which was utterly unknown to her.  Everything was moving to her fullest satisfaction, provided she could escape from the Rito.