Frank Merriwell's Athletes Part 38

"Never mind. We shall have some sport, and we are here for that."

"Is there anything else you wish to do?"

"You said something about wrestling."

"Yes."

"Some of the fellows are good wrestlers."

"It will take a good wrestler to match Whirling Bear."

"I will find a match for him."

"Very well. There is to be another race beside the religious race. Will you care to take part in that?"

"Yes. I wouldn't mind trying to see what I can do at that myself."

"I am not sure you will be allowed to take part in these things, but I will find out about it."

Then, lifting his hat to Inza and nodding to Frank, he strode away. The girl watched his retreating figure, and Frank watched her face.

"I don't care, I won't believe it of him!" she exclaimed. "No matter what Dan Carver says, I feel sure Swiftwing is a n.o.ble fellow."

"I am afraid, Inza, you are getting altogether too interested in him,"

said Frank, reproof in his voice.

She turned on him swiftly, indignation and surprise showing on her face and in her eyes.

"What do you mean to insinuate?" she flashed.

"Now, don't flare up like that, Inza!" urged Merry. "It is for your good that I wish to caution you."

"Oh, indeed!"

"Yes, indeed. I fear your admiration for John Swiftwing may lead you to treat him with such friendliness that he may mistake your motives."

"Frank Merriwell!" she cried; "I did not think this of you!"

"Don't misunderstand me," he hastened to say. "You cannot treat John Swiftwing as you might an ordinary savage. He has been educated in the East, and he is accustomed to Eastern ways. Already I am sure he admires you greatly, and--"

"And you don't like it!"

"It is not that, Inza, but--"

"It is that!" she flung back, in her impulsive manner. "I am astonished at you, Mr. Merriwell!"

"Inza, listen--"

"I don't care to listen, sir!"

"You must listen!"

"Must! You cannot force me to listen!"

"No, I will not try; but you must listen for your own sake. I am saying this for your good."

"Oh, thank you!"

How cutting her words and manner were! He felt the sting, and his face went from red to white, but he continued, firmly:

"If you were to continue to be so friendly with John Swiftwing he might think you in love with him."

"What of it!"

"It would be an easy thing for you to arouse a responsive pa.s.sion in his heart."

Inza clapped her hands.

"How jolly that would be! Think of having an Indian lover! Why, it is just awfully romantic!"

"It may seem very romantic, and all that, but it would be dangerous."

"Dangerous! Pooh!"

"Yes, dangerous. For all of his education, Swiftwing is an Indian, and he would not fancy being fooled and toyed with. If he fancied you had deceived him, there is no telling what he might take it into his head to do."

"Now you are trying to make out, like Dan Carver, that he is a common bad Indian. I thought better of you than that, Mr. Merriwell!"

Frank made a gesture of despair.

"You are very unreasonable this morning."

"And you are jealous-jealous of an Indian!" taunted the girl. "I did not think that of you!"

Frank straightened up proudly.

"You are at liberty to think what you like," he said. "I am not jealous, for I think you have more sense than to fall in love with John Swiftwing or any other redskin."

"Oh, I don't know!" Inza tossed back, tauntingly. "You can't always tell."

Frank turned away.

"Excuse me," he said. "I must find him and learn what he has been able to do about making arrangements for us."

He lifted his cap and walked away.

The look on Inza's face as she watched him depart told that she was not entirely pleased with herself.

"To think he should be jealous of John Swiftwing!" she murmured, "that's enough to stir any one up! And he is jealous! He needn't deny it! I'll make him still more so before I quit. I'll make him think I am really in love with John."