When I got back, Jim asked me what I would do with the girl if I was successful in getting her away from the Indians.  I told him I would take her to Fort Yuma.

“And what in the name of God will you do with her when you get to Fort Yuma?” said Jim.

I told him that if Mrs. Jackson was there, which I was confident she was, that I would leave the girl with her, and that I had no fears but that the girl would be taken care of in the very best manner that Mrs. Jackson could provide for her.

Jim said:  “If the girl is satisfied with the Injuns, why don’t you let her alone?  She don’t know anything but Injun ways, and she never will.”

I told him that my mind was thoroughly made up, and I would rescue that girl from the Indians or lose my scalp in the attempt.  And now don’t say any more about it, for it will do no good.

He said:  “Go ahead and do as you please, as you have always got to have your own way about things, anyhow.”

I said:  “Yes, Jim; when I know I am right, I propose to have my own way.”

This ended the conversation, for the time being, at least, for Jim saw that I was determined in the matter, and he said no more about it.

On the day appointed I took my two favorite saddle-horses and rode over to the Pima village.  I started very early and arrived at the village about four o’clock in the afternoon.

After knocking about the village for a little while, my two Indian friends proposed that we take a ride.

Of course I knew the horseback ride was only a ruse to get a chance to tell me the plans laid by herself and the white girl for her escape, although she said that she just wanted to try my Pinto horse to see how he would ride.

And here I will say that I don’t believe there was another Indian in that village who had any idea of the scheme that was being worked up between myself and those two Indians, for they would never say a word to me while within earshot of any of the tribe.

The other Indians thought I was courting Nawasa, and it was always the custom among those Indians for a young couple never to ride out alone.

It has always been a mystery to me why those young Pimas took such a deep interest in the white girl, for they were merely untutored Indians, having only a few years since seen the first white man, and had not seen many since then.

But those two young Indians seemed to be as kind-hearted persons as I ever met, and were the most intelligent Indians I ever saw, who were not educated, and I often regretted that I did not take them to some school and have them educated, for it would have been a great benefit to the people on the plains at that time.

But to go on with my story.  We took our ride, and as soon as we were well away from the village Nawasa fold me that she had seen the white girl and completed plans for her escape.  She said that after making arrangements with the girl, she—­Nawasa—­had not gone to the Apache village, but had met the girl at the huckleberry patch most every day.