have come among us on errands of healing; then you dressed
sumptuously, as befitted one bearing the word of the gods. Now you
come like an angry woman who would hide what is in her heart.

THE CHISERA

(_With dignity._) Cover your own heart, Padahoon, lest I ask what
mischief breeds in it to bid you observe me so much. I have not
forgot that you would have paid me a blanket to be made war leader in
the room of Simwa.

PADAHOON

(_With ugly insinuation._) Ugh! huh! Perhaps I had been as fortunate
as the Arrow-Maker, if, instead of giving it, I had offered to share
it with you.

THE CHISERA

_Kima!_ Padahoon, you do tempt me to try if I can curse.

PADAHOON

(_Conciliatory._) I have no wish to anger the friend of the gods, but
I am a plain man wishing good to my campody, and it seems not good to
me that Simwa has grown suddenly so great.

THE CHISERA

(_Recovering herself._) What has that to do with the Chisera?

PADAHOON

I have known this Simwa since he was first tied in a basket, and,
though he has grown to be war leader, I think he is most like a pod
of rattleweed that is swollen to twice its size at the end of the
season, yet has no more in it than at the beginning. And I do not
know how, without the help of magic medicine, he has come to be what
he is with so little in him.

THE CHISERA

The Chief's daughter has trusted him.

PADAHOON

She loves him. (_During this scene bursts of Indian music and singing
have been heard at intervals. It grows louder._ PADAHOON _and_
CHISERA _look off._) They come this way, Chisera. You are right. When
a man has married so fair a wife, there is not much left to be done
for him.

THE CHISERA

(_With bitter irony, as she moves over against_ SIMWA'S _hut and puts
up her blanket._) I am not so sure.

TIAWA

It is Chisera.

SEEGOOCHE

(_With alarm._) Where is my daughter?

(BRIGHT WATER _enters with the young girls, laughing and talking.
Her hair is braided with golden poppies and falls over her
shoulders. She sees the_ CHISERA _standing, tall and still, by_
SIMWA'S _hut, her whole figure shrouded in a blanket, which is
drawn up to cover all of her face but the eyes._)

BRIGHT WATER

Who is it comes to my wedding uninvited? How her eyes burn upon me!

SEEGOOCHE

Hush! She will hear you. It is the Chisera.

BRIGHT WATER

The Chisera? Never have I seen her like this. But she has come to
bring me a b