The Arrow-Maker Part 12

(_Eleven of the elders seat themselves in a circle about the fire, turning toward the_ CHIEF. _The others stand or sit attentively in the background. The_ CHIEF _at the fire hands the ceremonial pipe to_ YAVI _who lights it._ RAIN WIND _blows a puff of smoke to all the G.o.ds, returning to his place in the Council; the pipe pa.s.ses from hand to hand; when it has pa.s.sed all about, each tribesman blowing smoke and saluting, the_ CHIEF _rises and stands before the_ CHISERA'S _hut_.)

Chisera, Chisera, come to Council!

THE CHISERA

(_Advancing to his side._) Rain Wind, Chief of Sagharawite, what will you have of me?

(PAMAQUASH _lights the medicine fire._)

CHIEF

To carry a matter too hard for us before the Friend of the Soul of Man.

THE CHISERA

Nothing that men contrive in their hearts is too hard for the G.o.ds.

Speak, then!

(_Goes and sits beside the_ CHIEF.)

CHIEF

(_Rising._) Tribesmen, for as many years as a fir tree needs to bear cones, I have been Chief in Sagharawite. Now I am old, and, like a badger, see only my own trail (_grunts of dissent_), and my legs carry me no farther than my eyes see. Therefore, since there is war with Castac concerning the pinon trees which are ours (_grunts and exclamations_), it is right you have a younger man to lead you. But, since it has never happened that there must be a war leader chosen while there is a chief alive and sitting in Council, I think it well to inquire how the G.o.ds stand toward us. Tribesmen, what do you say?

(_Sits with great dignity._)

CHOCO

(_Rising and saluting the_ CHIEF _with lifted hand. Speaking with great deliberation and winning sober approval._) Chief Rain Wind has said. The occasion is strange and the candidates of such diverse but equal merit that it is impossible for a just man to choose between them. Let the Chisera carry it to the G.o.ds.

CHIEF

This is truth which Choco says--whom the G.o.ds will favor they favor.

They are not greatly bound to the choice of men.

THE COUNCIL

Good counsel! good counsel! (_a.s.sent from the bystanders._)

TAVWOTS

(_Continuing, with earnestness._) Tribesmen, I am not myself of two minds in this business. I speak freely for Padahoon according to our custom which is, without discredit to the Arrow-Maker, for the leadership of the elder. But at least let us remember that the G.o.ds have high affairs; they are not always listening to the gossip of the camp-fire and hut. What word have they of Sagharawite except as the Chisera carries it? If we put the choice to them, let her know what we are thinking in our hearts. Let Simwa and Sparrow Hawk declare it so that we and the G.o.ds shall know how they stand toward the conduct of this war. I have said. (_Seats himself amid general approval._)

OLD MEN

Good counsel! Good counsel!

TRIBESMEN

Simwa! Padahoon! The Arrow-Maker! Padahoon!

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?