"Áa," he said again.
"I think I be understandin' now why we have started no fires, have eaten only dried meat and buffalo back fat, and why we be whisperin' or speakin' only in sign. 'Tis because enemies be around us?"
"Áa. But, rest of trail…bad…from now to Kal-is-pel tribe."
"Kal-is-pel tribe?"
"Flathead," he answered.
"Who be the mountain tribes?"
"Kootenais and the Snakes…guard these trails, and they know them better than I," First Rider answered her. "All way to Flathead camp, we must stay off trails as much as possible, and we must leave no trace…of passing."
Liliann simply nodded.
Turning his head, he gazed down at her, and, as though only realizing she held his hand, he brought both their hands up to his lips and placed a kiss upon hers. Then, releasing her hand, he put his arm around her shoulders.
"We go to gap in summit. Sun leaves…the blue…early these days. We go to gap now. Not far. If still light, we cross. If dark, we camp, cross pass next day. Perhaps, I think, should not…brought you. Bad pass. Hard even for men." Liliann was about to speak, when he said," Come, we go…if still light, we cross pass. If not, we find good place…for camp. I take watch through night. You need…strength for pass."
"And, thou? Does thou not also need sleep?"
"I know pass. Have been across it. I…strong enough…without sleep…get across it."
Liliann didn't argue. She was already tired, and they had yet several kilometers to cross before they would reach the gap in the range's summit.
As though he knew her thoughts, he said, "You tired, but you…strong, too. We go now."
And so, mounting their ponies, they made their way along the high plateau, keeping to the trail.
