Was the girl trying to gain time for some reason, Kit wondered, that she talked thus. The officer was compelled to confess to himself that thus far she was a riddle he could not solve. They were riding along the trail side by side now, and as he made no response to her last remark, she continued, in her frank way: "I am glad to meet you, Lieutenant Carey, glad that you are the hero of whom I have heard so much, for now I can be more honest with you." "I wish you would be, and as an incentive I will say that but for the fact that I did not wish to discharge a weapon in this vicinity, I would have killed the Red Hatchet, not captured him." "And why, sir?" "I reconnoitered over the ridge and saw him with you, so could only believe you were his captive." "His captive?" "So I supposed, for I did not think that it was possible to be otherwise, and I went to get my rifle from my saddle-horn when I saw, upon my return, that you had parted, and he was coming toward where I stood. Seeing that I could use my lasso, I did so." "And I heard his cry when taken, saw that a soldier had him, and returned to tell you that he was not a foe." "And yet you implied a while since that you had told a falsehood?" "I said that I had, and I did." "That is strange. But it is a woman's way, I suppose, which no man need try to fathom." "That is severe, not gallant, Lieutenant Kit Carey; but I see that you misunderstand me wholly, so I will explain, if you will believe me." "Will you tell me the truth this time?" "Yes." "No losing the trail?" "Honest Injun, no!" she said, with a bright smile that lighted up her face wondrously. But instantly a shadow came upon it, and she said, seriously: "I told you a story because I wished to save Red Hatchet, and I will tell you why, though thus far it has been a secret to all save four persons." "And they are----" "First, Red Hatchet and myself, afterward my father and my brother were let in the secret; but now you shall know it." "I feel honored." "Do not be sarcastic with me, Lieutenant Carey, for I do not deserve it." "Pardon me." "I will do so, if you will drop sarcasm, and be as sincere as I intend to be with you." "I promise." "Then you shall know just why I wished to save Red Hatchet from death, and you shall know--my secret," and the cloud that came upon the lovely face as she uttered the words drove all the sunshine away. CHAPTER XII. THE SECRET. The lights and shades of the young girl's face, as thoughts flashed through her brain and words fell from her lips, Kit Carey had particularly observed. He made no reply to the last assertion, that he should know her secret, but waited with the calm patience of an Indian.