h as the winds of _ookiah_ (winter). Tell her Ootah
would that her face become withered as frozen lands in winter. Tell
her Ootah would that her heart rot within her, that the wild beasts
feed upon her breasts. _Ioh-h--ioh-h-h_! Sing unto her the curses of
Ootah, and may she not rest!"

Below him the clouds, burning with vivid fire, moved in the varying
strata of air currents--to Ootah they were conveying his messages. The
sun, circling low about the horizon, shifted its rays, and within the
nebulous cloud-masses in the valleys, fountains of prism light played.
In this radiant phantasmagoria messages in turn came to Ootah.

He saw the figuration of Annadoah's tent, and within, reclining upon
her couch, the form of Annadoah. At the mirage picture of the
beauteous and beloved maiden his heart throbbed violently. In the high
altitude he found respiration difficult, and now he almost suffocated
for lack of breath. He felt a pang at his heart as he saw the white
chief enter the tent. The winds wailed sibilant and agonizing messages
into the ears of Ootah:

"Thou hast cursed Annadoah. Foolish Ootah! For thou lovest Annadoah!
Yea, her voice is as sweet as the sound of melting streams in
springtime. Lo, she whispers into the ears of Olafaksoah: 'Thou art
strong, Olafaksoah; Ootah hath the heart of a woman. Thou hurtest me,
Olafaksoah; thy arms bruise me, thy hands make me ache; but thou art
strong, thou art great, Olafaksoah; the heart of Annadoah trembles for
joy of thee.' Thus saith Annadoah!"

And in the winds Ootah heard Olafaksoah's coarse laughter.

"_Ioh--ioh-h-h_!" Ootah moaned.

"Thou wouldst that Annadoah's face be blighted as frozen land in
winter," laughed the winds, mockingly. "Thou dotard Ootah! Thou
lovest the face of Annadoah. It is very fair. It is golden as the
radiant face of _Sukh-eh-nukh_. Her eyes are as bright as stars in the
winter night. Oh-h-h, Ootah! Into the eyes of Olafaksoah Annadoah
gazes, yea, she faints with joy, thou silly Ootah!"

"_Ioh--ioh-h-h_!" wailed Ootah.

"Her lips are red, Ootah---red as a wound in the throat of a deer."

And in the cloud vision Ootah saw the blond chief take the head of
Annadoah between his two palms and press her lips fiercely upon his
own. Ootah's heart trembled as water.

"_Ioh--io-h-h_!" he sobbed, and tears coursed from his eyes.

The constant haunting thought of Annadoah's face pressed close to that
of Olafaksoah somehow made