The Arrow-Maker Part 29

CHIEF

They will not be far behind their arrows.

(_All listen. A faint whoop is heard._ PADAHOON _answers with his mouth covered with his hands. The rest of the women and children come out of the rocks. Fighting Men come clambering up the steep.

They show torn clothing and streaks of blood. The women bring them the water-bottles as they drop upon the ground._ WACOBA'S _husband_, PAMAQUASH, _with an arrow in his side, leaps once in air and drops dead. His wife sinks on the ground beside him, rocking and moaning. One breaks his unstrung bow across his knees and stamps the pieces in the earth. Finally comes_ SIMWA, _his war-bonnet bedraggled._)

SIMWA

Ugh! Is it so I find the fighting men of Sagharawite--huddled together like rabbits when the coyotes are after them?

WACOBA

(_Scattering dust on her head._) Ai! Ai! My man, my man!

SIMWA

Be still, you fool! Would you call up our enemies with your noise?

(_The wailing drops to a moan._) Put out that fire--they can sniff smoke as far as a vulture smells carrion. (CHOCO _stamps out the fire._) You, Choco, do you show your face to me, misgotten whelp of a coyote! It was you who led the fleeing.

CHOCO

(_Sullenly._) It was Tavwots.

TAVWOTS

By the Bear, you shall have a wound for that, though you ran too fast to have one in battle.

(_He draws the obsidian knife at his belt._)

PADAHOON

Fools! (_He strikes up_ TAVWOTS' _arm; another Indian jerks_ CHOCO _by the ankles causing him to sit down._) Have you killed so many in battle, Tavwots, that you can afford to lose us a fighting man?

(_The men subside, exhausted._)

CHIEF

Peace! Though I am too old for battle, yet am I master in the camp.

What has happened?

SIMWA

We have shown the Tecuyas what running is like.

TAVWOTS

The G.o.ds send we have run fast enough to throw them off the trail, else they will attack before morning.

(_Consternation among the women._)

CHIEF

(_To them._) _Kima!_ (_Their grief falls off to a whimper. To_ SIMWA.) Where met you?

SIMWA

Under Waban where they stayed to cook venison they had killed. We had every way the advantage--

TAVWOTS

As much as rabbits when they have met with coyotes. They were three to one of us.

SIMWA

(_Ignoring him with an effort._) We were between them and cover--we were driving them toward Waban--but they sent one out against us armed--Chief and father, how do you think he was armed who put the sons of the Bear to flight? With a stick--a painted stick with feathers on it. (_Angry and protesting murmurs._) An old man with a stick, Rain Wind, and they ran before him like squaws who deserve a beating! Faugh! (_Native movement of disgust._)

TAVWOTS

(_Rising on his elbow._) You shall be sicker, Simwa, when you have eaten your words. That old man was Tibu, the medicine man of the Tecuyas. I knew him.

SIMWA

Then it was you, Tavwots, who broke and ran?

TAVWOTS

He came upon us with charms and spells. He had the G.o.ds on his side.

CHOCO

Our hearts were turned to water because of his evil medicine.

CHIEF

Are not the G.o.ds of Sagharawite stronger than the G.o.ds of the Tecuyas?

TAVWOTS

Not when we have one to lead us who despises their blessings.

SIMWA

Well, I believe in the medicine of Tibu. He has made old women of you.

CHIEF

Think no more of that. Let us consider what is to be done.

(_Shadows of vultures appear on the rocks, attracted by the dead._ WACOBA _springs up from casting dust upon her head to flap them away with her blanket, which she spreads over the body of her husband._)