So loud and piercing was her shriek that Shotaye was seized with sudden fright.  Rising quickly, she ran to the doorway and peeped outside to see if the scream had attracted attention.  But there appeared to be nobody about, except a few children who were playing and romping in front of the caves and whose cries had drowned the shriek.  Reassured she returned to Say, who was lying with her face on the floor, tearing her hair and uttering low convulsive groans.  Shotaye grew frightened, and brought water in a gourd.  She moistened her forehead and hands with the liquid, rubbed her face, and thus finally brought her back to some composure.  After drinking some water Say sat on the robes again, shivering and gasping.  Her mind seemed entirely gone, the expression of her features was akin to idiocy.  The room had grown darker, night was approaching.

As soon as she appeared to be quiet, Shotaye felt tempted to resume her questionings.  But she bethought herself of the late hour, and of the suspicion which might arise in case Say Koitza should not be home in time.  Still, she must ask some questions; her positive mind required some additional knowledge which must be gained ere she could afford to let her visitor return home.  Shotaye returned to the entrance, looked stealthily outside, and listened.  Dusk had set in, and the bottom of the gorge was wrapped in twilight.  The shrubbery along the brook appeared dim and pale, the lofty pines looked like black monuments.  On the southern declivity all detail had vanished, but the top of the southern mesa glistened yet like a golden seam.  In the recess formed by the angle of the cliffs which contained her home, the usual bustle of the evening hours prevailed; and laughter, merry and boisterous, issued from a cave opposite that where Shotaye, concealed by folds of the half-lifted curtain, stood watching with eye and ear.  In those caves fronting hers dwelt the family of Zashue, Say’s husband.  Thence sounded the merriment, and the woman recognized familiar voices.  Surely enough Hayoue was there; and there could be no mistake, that clear good-natured laugh was from Zashue himself.  Shotaye dropped the curtain and turned back considerably relieved.  If Zashue was at his mother’s and brother’s home, she reasoned, he would not return to the big house that night; and since he was so gay, so merry, it was not likely that he knew anything of the terrible accusation against his wife and her.  If that were the case there was no immediate danger, since all the Koshare were not informed of the matter.  Returning to the hearth she poked the embers, placed on them another stick of pitchy wood, and fanned it with her breath until the flames burst forth, lively and bright.  Until then Say had remained motionless in her seat.  She had taken no notice of her friend’s movements; but when the wood flamed and a warm glow began to spread over the apartment, she started like one whose dreams are suddenly disturbed and began to speak.