it, and exhibits the squalling brat in every attitude as a potential Koshare.  The people scream and shout with unmixed pleasure.  Now they point at a pair of monsters, one stamping and the other tripping daintily, who effectually mimic the late partners of the dance in the most heartless manner.  Another of these hideous creatures is sitting down, his head covered with a dirty rag, staring, stuttering, and mumbling, like an imbecile.  His pantomime is recognized at once as a cruel mimicry of the chief penitent while at prayer, and it is universally pronounced to be a superb performance.  To the Koshare nothing is sacred; all things are permitted, so long as they contribute delight to the tribe.

Topanashka appeared to be lonesome in his exalted seat upon the roof.  He arose quietly; and the bystanders made room for the tall man as with eyes fixed on an opposite terrace, he slowly descended and walked along the houses without deigning to take any notice of the gambols of the Koshare.  He brushed past Say Koitza, and without looking at her or moving a feature muttered so that she alone could hear,—­

“Watch, lest they discover the feathers.”

Passing to the other side of the court he seated himself near a small, slender man, somewhat younger than himself.  This was the tapop, or chief civil officer at the Rito.

The woman was greatly frightened by her father’s words.  It flashed upon her that should the Delight Makers raid her household and upset it, as they had others, the owl’s feathers might be detected.  In the troubled state of her mind she had failed to destroy or even remove them.  Nevertheless, she could not immediately leave her post, through fear of awakening suspicion; she must wait until the dance should begin and the goblins become quiescent.  Then?  What then?

The feathers lay buried in the earthen floor of the inner room.  Their removal must be accomplished with great care, in such a manner as to leave no signs of the earth having been recently disturbed.[7] There was no choice; they must be removed at all hazards.  There would be ample time if she could only afterward obliterate all traces of her work.  Luckily the kitchen was very dark, and the hearth covered with ashes.  Water was there also, but she dare not use it lest the moistened spot betray her.  Her mind was made up, however, and the attempt would be made as soon as the dance was renewed.

Singing and drumming are heard once more; the dancers fall into line; and when the chorus was shouting the second verse,—­

        “Na-ya, Ha-te Oyo-y[=a]-u[=a],
        U[=a]-tir-anyi Tya-au-era-nyi,”—­

and the jokers had dispersed, Say slowly retreated within the room, cowered down by the hearth, a sharp stone-splinter in her hand and her eyes fixed upon the door, watching lest anybody should appear.  She listened with throbbing heart to discover whether there was any shuffling sound to betray the approach of one of the Koshare.  She saw nothing, and no sound was heard except the beats of the drum and the monotonous rhythm,—­