Zashue Tihua was at work in the fields of the Water clan, on the southern border of the cultivated plots.  He was not alone; another young man kept him company.  It was his younger brother, Hayoue.  They were weeding side by side, and exchanging remarks while the work went on.  Zashue looked up, and his handsome face brightened when he discovered Shyuote coming toward them through the maize.  A visit from his favourite child, although by no means an unusual occurrence, was always a source of pleasure.  He liked to have Shyuote around him when he was at work.

Throwing a small, sharp stone-splinter toward the boy, he called out to him,—­

“Come, take this okpanyi and begin weeding where you stand.  Weed toward us until we meet, and we will go home together to the yaya.”

This was still further a source of displeasure to Shyuote, who above all things disliked work.  He had not come down to the fields to toil.  What he sought for was a friendly chat with his father, a few hours of lounging and loafing near him.  Disappointed and pouting, he bent over the work assigned, while the two men went on with their task as well as with their conversation.

Hayoue was taller than his brother, and a strikingly handsome young Indian.  His eyes had a more serious and less mischievous expression than those of Zashue.  He was yet unmarried; but, notwithstanding, a marked predilection for the fair sex formed one of his characteristics.  He was held in high esteem by the leading men of the tribe, Tyope and his adherents excepted, for his sagacity, good judgment, and personal valour.

“I tell you,” Zashue spoke up, “Shyuote will become a good one.”

Hayoue shrugged his shoulders and replied,—­

“You should know your own children better than I, yet I tell you Okoya also is good; besides, he is wise and reserved.”

“Yes; but he is too much with the women, and his mother stands nearer to him than his father.  He never follows me to the fields unless I tell him.  Look at the little one, on the other hand.  He will be a man.”

While his brother spoke Hayoue had quietly observed Shyuote; and the slow, loitering way in which the boy performed his work had not escaped his observation.  He said,—­

“It may be.  To-day he certainly acts rather like an old woman.  See how loath he is to weed the plants.”

“You always prefer Okoya,” replied Zashue.  “You like him because he never opens his mouth unless an arrow is forced between his teeth.”

“And you prefer Shyuote because you are making a Koshare of him,” Hayoue answered, with great composure.

“He surely will become a good one, a better one than I am.”

“If he becomes as good a Delight Maker as you are, Zashue, we may be satisfied.  Shall you soon retire to the estufa?” he inquired, changing the subject of the conversation.

“I don’t know; the Naua has not said anything as yet, but the time is near at hand when we should begin to work.  Before going into the round house in the rocks, we ought to be sure that there are no Navajos in the neighbourhood.  You are Kauanyi, a member of the order of warriors,” he added with a side-glance at his brother, “do you know anything of the sneaking wolves in the mountains?”