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Read Ebook: The Arrow-Maker: A Drama in Three Acts by Austin Mary
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Ebook has 1605 lines and 22524 words, and 33 pages
CHOCO
And this business of war leader still unsettled--The Council must sit at once. Go, one of you, and tell Chief Rain Wind that Tavwots has signaled from Deer Leap that more than a score of Castacs are out against us.
PAMAQUASH
And tell the women to prepare a gift hastily for the Chisera. Who knows how soon we shall have need of her medicine.
CHOCO
Never so much need of it as when we have neglected our own part of the affair! Even before the Castacs began to fill up our springs and drive our deer, we knew that the Chief is too old for war; and now that the enemy has crossed our borders we are still leaderless.
PAMAQUASH
So we should not be if we had followed the tribal use and given the leadership to years and experience. It is you young men who have unsettled judgment, with the to-do you have made about the Arrow-Maker.
CHOCO
I have nothing against years and experience, but when one has the gods as plainly on his side as Simwa--
YAVI
Never have I seen a man so increase in power and fortune--
PAMAQUASH
Huh--huh! I too have watched the growth of this Simwa. Also I have seen a gourd swelling with the rains, and I have not laid it to the gods in either case. But the Council must sit upon it. We must bring it to the Council.
YAVI
Why should you credit the gods with Simwa's good fortune since he himself does not so claim it? For my part, I think with the Arrow-Maker, that it is better for a man to thrive by his own wits, rather than by the making of medicine or the wisdom of the elders.
PAMAQUASH
Tst--st, Tavwots!
CHOCO
Have they crossed?
TAVWOTS
Between Deer Leap and Standing Rock--more than a score, though I think some of them were boys--but they had no women.
CHOCO
They mean fighting, then!
YAVI
Well, they can have it.
TAVWOTS
But they should not be let fatten on our deer before they come to it. Winnemucca, whom I left at Deer Leap, will bring us word where they camp to-night. In the mean time there is much to do.
CHOCO
Much. No doubt Simwa will have something to suggest.
TAVWOTS
The Arrow-Maker is not yet war leader, my friend. I go to the Chief and the Council.
CHOCO
And yet, I think the Chief favors Simwa, else why should he prefer to put the election to lot rather than keep to the custom of the fathers?
YAVI
There might be reasons to that, not touching the merits of the Arrow-Maker.
PAMAQUASH
Tavwots has met the women!
CHOCO
They are coming to the Chisera. We should not have let them find us here; they will neglect their business with her to beset us with questions.
SEEGOOCHE
Is this true what Tavwots has told us, that the Castacs are upon us?
CHOCO
No nearer than Pahrump. Not so near by the time we have done with them. What gifts have you?
TIAWA
The best the camp affords. Think you we would stint when the smoke of the Castacs goes up within our borders?
WACOBA
Where is she?
CHOCO
Abroad in the hills gathering roots and herbs for to-night's medicine. Wait for her.--We must go look to our fighting gear.
PAMAQUASH
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