Part 27 (1/2)

”My grandson,” said the old man, after a while, ”I should like to see somebody; I should like to see something, see people; I should like to have fun and see games of some sort.”

”I should like to see them too,” answered Tsaroki; ”I should like to see them, my grandfather. You are older than I; if you tell me what to do, I will do it.”

”My grandson, can you play on anything?”

”I should like to play if you would teach me,” said Tsaroki.

The old man put his hand behind him into a basket of things, drew out a flute and gave it to Tsaroki, who took it quickly, he was so glad.

He sat down, crossed his legs, and before he had blown into the flute, just as he touched his lips with it, beautiful sounds came out.

The young man was glad, wonderfully glad. The old man, who sat looking at him, asked,--

”How do you like the flute, my grandson?”

”I like it well,” said Tsaroki.

”I am glad to hear you play, my grandson; I am glad when you do something good. When I was young, I used to say good things, I used to do good things. Now, my grandson, think what you would like best to do.”

”I should like to hear something nice, to hear music, to hear beautiful sounds.”

After he had taken the flute Tsaroki did not sleep; he played for three days and three nights without stopping; then he stopped and asked,--

”What is this flute? What is it made of? It sounds so sweetly.”

”My grandson, I will tell you; that flute is of wood,--alder wood.

That is an alder flute, but the wood is people's bones. There were people long ago, and that alder wood grew out of their bones. My grandson, would you like to have another young man with you, or do you wish to be alone? I think it would be better for you to have company.”

”My grandfather, I should like to have another man with me; I could talk with him. I could live then more pleasantly.”

”My grandson, to see another young man you must go to the west; you must go in the middle of the night, when it is very dark, so that no one may see you. My grandson, it is better for you to go to-night.”

”Where? Which way do you want me to go, my grandfather?”

”Go west from here, far away; you will start when it is dark; you will get there in the dark. You will go to where the old woman Nomhawena Pokaila lives: she is your grandmother. When you go to her house, ask her about your brother; she will tell you where he is.”

”My grandfather, I don't believe that I can find her house. I don't know what kind of house it is.”

”You cannot miss it, my grandson. The night will be very dark; no one will be able to see anything, but you cannot miss the house. It is a little house; no one can see it, but you cannot miss it. You will go there very quickly, though 'tis far from here and the night is dark.”

Then the old man showed him a small sand trail; it was bright, just like a ray of light in the darkness, though it was very narrow, as narrow as a hair, and all around it was dark night. The old man had made this trail purposely.

Tsaroki started, and could see the trail straight ahead of him; he went over it as swiftly as an arrow goes from a bow. He travelled right on, and at the end of the trail, just on the trail itself, was a little bark house. He went into this house, and saw an old woman lying there with her back to the fire; she was sleeping on the south side of it. He walked in and stood at the north side. He sat down then, and was sitting a while when the old woman woke, turned her face to the fire, and saw some one opposite. She rose, stirred the fire to make light, looked at the young man, and said,--

”I see some person over there; who is it?”

”My grandmother, I am Tsaroki Sakahl. I have come because my grandfather, Waida Dikit, sent me to see you, so that you might tell me about my brother. I should like to know where my brother lives. I have come to see my brother and speak to him.”

”Very well, my grandson, I will tell you. He lives right over here on the west.”

As soon as she had finished speaking, Tsaroki stood up and went toward the west. He had not made many steps when he saw a large s.p.a.ce, a broad s.p.a.ce on which a great many people were sitting. The place was dark, but the people could see one another. Tsaroki saw all, and looked around carefully. He saw that all were at work except one man, who was sitting in the middle in a good place. He looked a long time, not knowing what to do, for Waida Dikit had said to him,--