Once you are in the hills, you could never find
your way back again without our help. The waterholes are hard to find,
and this far south there's little food."
24 So they journeyed off, traveling most of the might and the next day.
They stopped only for a few hour's rest during the heat of the day.
Then, again, they pushed on. By late the next morning they were still
marching.
25 One of Swift Deer's men came up to their guide who was called Mad
Cat. "You've got to slacken this pace," he pleaded. "Swift Deer has a
bad heart. If you continue at this rate, you'll kill him!"
26 Mad Cat turned to Swift Deer. "A man who coughs all the time, a man
with bunches on his arms and a man with a weak heart. I've heard your
people do things like this….send the useless and the dying on dangerous
missions, but it's the first time I've ever actually seen it.
27 You should have told me. We wouldn't have pressed on so quickly. I
want you alive, you know! I had intended to make more time
today, but there is a resting place nearby, a nice cool cave where you
can get some decent sleep."
28 "I can stand the pace!" Swift Deer argued.
29 "Maybe, maybe not," snapped Mad Cat, "but I'm not taking any
chances!"
30 They found the cave and bedded down. Several of the bandits went out
and returned with a large lizard that made a good stew. Swift Deer did
not really mind the rest. He found Mad Cat quite good company, and the
two chatted quite a bit.
31 Mad Cat was a Trn. He had rented a little farm from the master of a
large estate. One day, when he returned home, he found the master's son
using his wife. Though he had a guard of six men it made no difference.
Mad Cat killed them all! During the fight