This marked preponderance of Shyuamo in tribal affairs aroused apprehensions on the part of the other strong clans; it also caused the greater number of the weaker clusters to gravitate toward the growing element of power held by the Turquoise people.  A schism was slowly and imperceptibly preparing itself among the people of the Rito.  That schism was not the work of circumstances, it was being systematically prepared by two crafty men,—­Tyope and the Koshare Naua.

[Illustration:  Juanico:  A member of the modern village-council]

In working at such a division these two men had in view well-defined objects.  Their aim in itself was not absolutely illegitimate, since it foreshadowed what would be an inevitable necessity in the course of time.  What rendered their doings reprehensible and positively odious were the means employed to hasten events.  Their object was nothing less than to expel a part of the people, for the exclusive benefit of the remainder.

The extent of land that can be cultivated in the gorge of the Rito is small, and the tribe was growing in numbers.  The time was sure to come when the crops would no longer be adequate for all.  Furthermore, a positive danger threatened the people in their dwellings.  The rock, being extremely friable, crumbled constantly; and now and then inhabited caves were falling a prey to the wear and tear of the material in which they had been excavated.  As this slow decay was sure to continue, it was logical to expect that room must be found for the houseless outside.  Already the Corn clan had been compelled to build a house in the bottom of the valley.  All this further tended to curtail the space for agriculture, and rendered a diminution of numbers prospectively imperative.

These facts had been recognized by Tyope, and he had talked with the Koshare Naua about them for some time past.  They were the only persons who had thought of them, not so much deploring the necessity arising therefrom in the future as hailing them as welcome pretexts for their immediate personal aims.  Neither Tyope nor the Naua had such high ambition as to aspire to a change of the basis of social organization.  Neither of them had any conception of government but what was purely tribal, but they both aspired to offices and dignities such as tribal organization alone knows.  These seemed unattainable for them as long as there were other powerful clans at the Rito besides their own, whereas in case some of the former were expelled, it would leave vacant and at their disposal the positions which they coveted.

Tyope, for instance, looked forward to the dignity of head war-chief, or maseua; but as long as Topanashka lived he saw no chance for himself.  He therefore concocted with the young Navajo the sinister plan of murdering the old man.  It was even uncertain, in presence of the two powerful clans of Tanyi and Tyame, whether after the death of Topanashka it would be possible for him to secure the succession.