Mitsha avoided the Navajo; and when Nacaytzusle attempted to press his suit, the girl repelled his addresses in a manner that showed her aversion to him beyond any possible question.
Had Mitsha been less positive in her behaviour, it is quite likely that the character of the young captive might have changed,--that he might have softened little by little, entering into the path traced by the customs of sedentary Indians.

As it was, his hatred to them increased, and with it the desire to recover his independence by returning to his kindred.
About a year before, then, Nacaytzusle disappeared from the Tyuonyi.
Shortly afterward Tyope was suddenly accosted by him while hunting on the mesa, and a secret intercourse began, which led to the negotiations of which we have just heard the main purport.

These negotiations were now broken, and in a manner that made a return to the Rito rather dangerous.

The very qualities which had fascinated Tyope--the wariness, agility, and persistency of the Navajo, his physical strength, and above all his supposed natural faculties for magic, coupled with his thorough knowledge of the country--caused Tyope to ponder upon his means of escape.
The blow which he dealt the savage was sufficient to teach him that a hand-to-hand encounter would not result favourably to him.

At the same time this slight injury could not fail to exasperate the Navajo, and Tyope knew that the savage would lie in wait for him at some point which he had to pass on his return.