Part 12 (2/2)

CHIEF

Padahoon, you have the more years; say what you will do. And do you, Chisera, bear it well in your heart as you go up before the Friend of the Soul of Man.

THE CHISERA

The trail of the G.o.ds is hard and none may walk therein save those that walk sincerely. Speak, then!

PADAHOON

(_Rising._) Chief and tribesmen, you know me. What I think in my heart, I say; and what I say I do. The pinon trees are ours, since the time of our father's fathers (_general a.s.sent_), and this is a vain fight for the men of Castac. Inasmuch as they have crossed our borders, they do evilly, but they are also Paiutes, as we are, and sons of the Bear. Aforetime when the Tecuyas came against us, they were as our brothers. Now, were I war leader, I should leave them at Pahrump and, going up behind the ridge of Toorape, strike at their villages. When we have their women and children and their stores, we can make terms with our brothers of Castac. So shall we save our honor and our allies.

INDIANS

Good counsel! Ugh! Huh! Padahoon! Good counsel!

CHIEF

Speak, Simwa!

SIMWA

(_Rising._) Shall I call a thief my brother, and is a poacher my fellow that I should respect him? Sons of the Bear are the men of Castac? Aye, b.a.s.t.a.r.d sons, and the coyote is their mother. (_Grunts and cries of approval._) The Castacs have filled up our springs and driven our deer. They have stalked our hunters in the hills.

(_Grunts._) Aye, but we have given the stalkers arrows of ours to keep. (_Grunts of satisfaction._) Shall we go after our arrows, men of Sagharawite, or shall we wait until our ”brothers” of Castac come and stroke us? I am not so old as Padahoon, nor so wise, but, by the Bear that fathered us, were I war leader for the s.p.a.ce of one moon, there would be no more men of Castac to trouble our harvest.

YOUNG MEN

Simwa! Simwa! The Arrow-Maker!

OLD MEN

Padahoon! Padahoon!

CHIEF

Tribesmen, the wisdom of Padahoon is sound, and such as every man has in his own head; but the speech of Simwa is a water of mirage about our understanding. Shall we try what the G.o.ds will do? (_Nods and grunts of approval._)

OLD MEN

The G.o.ds--the Chisera--the Chisera!

CHIEF

The best of the spoil of Castac is yours, Chisera, if the choice be fortunate.

THE CHISERA

(_Rising to begin._) I want no spoil; this is also my quarrel. How will you have the venture tried?

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