Part 28 (1/2)

(_Still with her eyes on the_ CHIEF, _ignoring Seegooche._)

CHIEF

Chisera, I am an old man, and I knew your father. We had much good talk together--I am very old--but I am not blind in my judgment as I am in my eyes. In war-time there is but one law for those faithless to the tribal obligation. You know it.

THE CHISERA

(_Drawing her blanket._) I know it.

SEEGOOCHE

(_Dropping to the ground and beating the earth with her palms._) Do not, do not refuse it, wise one, friend of the Friend! What has Simwa done that you should destroy us?

THE CHISERA

_You ask me that, Seegooche?_

SEEGOOCHE

I know--you said--Such a small thing, Chisera. To love you a little before he loved my daughter. Young men do often so--and you were very fair and no doubt beguiled him--Ah, who could withstand you, daughter of the G.o.ds? (_Wheedling._) But your punishment is heavy upon him.

THE CHISERA

Is it so?

SEEGOOCHE

(_Thinking she has gained a point._) It is indeed as you said; he makes no more arrows, and his luck in the hunt is gone from him. And the men mock him. A war leader should not be mocked, Chisera.

THE CHISERA

No more should a friend of the G.o.ds, but Simwa mocked me.

SEEGOOCHE

(_Loosing hope._) He was mad, Chisera, he had eaten rattle-weed. But my daughter did not mock you. Think of my daughter!

THE CHISERA

When does your daughter ever think of me?

SEEGOOCHE

(_Broken and drooping._) Every day she thinks of you. When she is a-hungered, when her man brings her nothing from the hunt--as--you have said, Chisera. When she digs roots with the old women and no one prevents her for the sake of a child to be born.

THE CHISERA

(_With relish._) Does she dig roots?

SEEGOOCHE