Across the Border Read Online Free

not worship the things He has made, as wonderful as they are.”
    â€œI don’t think all Indians believe that way. I’ve met some who say they don’t want any part of the white man’s God.”
    â€œThat is true. And Indians meet many white men who feel the same way.” Silver Wing glanced at Luke, but he didn’t reply. She continued. “I have also seen that when they meet trouble, God is the first one they call on.”
    For a while they walked in silence, and Luke thought over her words. She couldn’t know that he had considered doing just that. He had reached the end of what he could do by himself.
    â€œHow long will it take your men to start searching?” he asked finally.
    Silver Wing eyed him with a surprised expression. “They are all around us right now. Haven’t you seen them?”
    Luke admitted that he hadn’t, nor had he heard any noise among the trees.
    Silver Wing shook her head. “You will not hear them, but once in a while, you will catch sight of one if you look carefully.”
    But as closely as he watched, Luke saw only slight movements in the woods that might have been the wind or running creatures. The closer they came to the creek, the more concerned he was that Alice had been carried off and wouldn’t be found. He dreaded facing Manda and the others with the news that she was gone.

    Running in her bare feet wasn’t the best way to travel, Alice found. There seemed to be more slippery pine needles, leaves, and tree roots than she had noticed before. This wasn’t the path she’d come on, but she didn’t dare turn around to search for it. Whatever was chasing her was falling behind. She could no longer hear the crunch of branches. But what if it had gone around the trees and was waiting to pounce on her? She mustn’t stop until she reached the creek and could see the house.
    All at once Alice was pulled back sharply. Her heart almost stopped.
    She looked around to see what had grabbed her.
    Then she sobbed with relief. Her skirt was caught on the branches of a fallen tree. The only sound she could hear was her own gasping breath.
    Peering around cautiously, she saw nothing but trees in every direction. Carefully Alice loosened her skirt from the branch. She was glad it wasn’t torn. Ma wouldn’t be happy about that, and Frances would probably give Alice the task of mending it.
    Gratefully she sat down and leaned against the tree. She was weary and would rest for a few minutes. Then she’d make up her mind which way home might be. Resting her head against the tree trunk, she fell asleep.
    When she awoke, the woods seemed a little darker than before. How long had she slept? She must make herself get up, or it would be past suppertime at home. She was hungry and thirsty, and there didn’t appear to be anything to eat or drink out here in the woods.
    Before she could move, though, Alice’s heart thumped again. A voice shouted something she didn’t understand, and the sound echoed throughout the woods until it seemed that there must be a hundred people saying the same thing. At the same time, Alice was lifted from the ground by strong brown arms and was carried swiftly through the trees.

    The shout reached Silver Wing and Luke, and Silver Wing smiled.
    â€œThey have found her. She will be at home before we are.”
    Luke was startled. “How do you know?”
    â€œThey just told us. Did you not hear them?”
    â€œI heard a noise, but I didn’t know what it was.”
    â€œA happy noise,” Silver Wing said. “It is the signal that the child is safe. It is the quickest way invented to send a message. One man will bring her home, and the others will return to the village.”
    When they reached the creek, Luke was amazed. The whole family was already gathered around Alice. Silver Wing had predicted correctly.
    Simon ran to meet Luke and Silver Wing. “Alice is