The Arrow-Maker Part 10

You have wearied yourself too much making medicine. If you have no more faith in the G.o.ds, have a little in me. If I can go out of Sagharawite as war leader, I shall come back with the spoil of Castac. (_Shouts are heard nearer than before._) Now I go quickly!

(_He turns carelessly from her lingering caress and crosses to the toyon, starting back at the sight of_ PADAHOON, _moving noiselessly through the chaparral, blanketed and watchful._) What! Has the Sparrow Hawk eaten _when-o-nabe_ that he must visit the Chisera on the eve of Council?

PADAHOON

I come from the Chief--but I had not expected to find Simwa, the scoffer, before me.

SIMWA

(_Uneasily._) I have been gathering eagles' feathers for my arrows under Toorape.

PADAHOON

Quite so--and are not the first hunter to find the shortest way past the house of the Medicine Woman. But it is well known that Simwa seeks no charms for himself. The Chief has been asking for you.

(_He pa.s.ses on to the_ CHISERA, _standing stiffly with strained attention by her hut._ SIMWA _hesitates, recovers himself, and pa.s.ses out with the appearance of indifference._)

Chisera, Rain Wind, Chief of Sagharawite, greets you, and bids me say that at the moth-hour he will be here with the fighting men to invite the favor of the G.o.ds in this war with Castac.

THE CHISERA

And before that--?

PADAHOON

There will be a Council--

THE CHISERA

To choose a war leader.

PADAHOON

So the Chief has said.

THE CHISERA

And it is the purpose of the Council to put this election to the G.o.ds?

PADAHOON

It may come to that--(_A pause._) Chief Rain Wind is a dotard. What should a woman know of these matters?

THE CHISERA

All that the G.o.ds are thinking in their hearts.

PADAHOON

The G.o.ds, aye! But what word have the G.o.ds of the affairs of Sagharawite except as you carry it? Now between us--Chisera--

THE CHISERA

What is there between us, Padahoon, that our talk should be otherwise than appears at the Council?

PADAHOON

There should be a matter of two doeskins, tanned white and fine (_he produces them from under his blanket_) if the G.o.ds are friendly.

Look, Chisera!

(_He spreads them out before the_ CHISERA, _who is seated by the hut, feathering a prayer-stick._)

PADAHOON

(_Dropping the doeskins negligently._) Oh, the man can make an arrow.

THE CHISERA

But not lead a war party?

PADAHOON

A war leader, Chisera, should be neither old and timid, nor young and overbold, but of middle years and discretion; not so hot in his heart that his head cannot reason with it, nor so reasonable that it cools his heart.

(_As he stands again, his hands are folded inside his arms; he is not so sure of his errand_.)

THE CHISERA

Like ... Padahoon.

PADAHOON

(_Wheedling._) What will the G.o.ds think of a blanket of the Navajoes (_he spreads it out before her_)--thick and fine--and four strings of sh.e.l.ls--and a cake of mesquite meal--?

THE CHISERA

Are the G.o.ds a-cold, Padahoon, that you bring them a blanket? Is there hunger in their camp, think you?

PADAHOON

Let the things stay in yours, Chisera; they will remind you to speak well of me when you go before the Friend of the Soul of Man.

THE CHISERA

Put up your pack, Padahoon!

PADAHOON

It is a little matter, Chisera; a handful of sticks thrown on the ground. What should the G.o.ds care for a handful of sticks? And the blanket is very thick. Shall I leave it a little while, that you may admire it?