is 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 gods 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