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"I know, father, that you do as the customs of the Zaashtesh require," he held himself erect with an attempt at pride, for he felt that in the present instance his personality and word represented customs which were law, "but I do not know that I shall tell you so or not. Do you understand me, umo?"
The sinister hints which Hayoue had dropped were as good as incomprehensible to him. That the Zaashtesh could be damaged through some of its own people he could not conceive; still he believed it, for Hayoue had said so and it must be true. But it was equally true that Okoya's thoughts were with his own affairs exclusively, and his uncle's talk affected him mainly on that score.
"The corn-plant is good," Zashue remarked to his brother; "the Zaashtesh will not starve this winter. We have called loudly to Those Above." "It is well," said the other in a tone of authority, which since his achievements he was wont to assume toward his elder brother; "when the Koshare perform their duty they are precious to the people."
"I thank you, sa uishe, I thank you for myself and for my brethren here that you have put this question to us. But" the voice grew more steady and strong "you know that it is our duty to pray, to fast, and to watch, that peace may rule among the Zaashtesh and that nothing may disturb it.
The brothers cast their eyes to the ground; both seem to be in doubt, Zashue is the first to speak. "Do you suppose that our people might be at that Zaashtesh?" Hayoue shrugged his shoulders. "It may be, I don't know." "Will it be safe for us to go to the Puyatye?" the other inquired doubtfully. The younger sighs and answers, "They have never done wrong to us."
Those village Indians that dwell east of the Rio Grande are Tanos, and the Queres call them Puyatye. There must be a Tano village in that corner far away where the bluish film hovers. Hayoue is right, a Puyatye Zaashtesh stands where to-day lies the capital of New Mexico, the old Spanish settlement of Santa Fé.
"Puyatye Zaashtesh," Hayoue replies; and each looks at the other inquiringly. Where we might have seen but the usual dim haze veiling distant objects, they have discovered a bluish tint capping the hills like a pale streak. It denotes the presence of smoke, therefore fire.
"I am not uakanyi, and can the Hishtanyi Chayan tell me to go along too with the men to strike the Tehuas?" "Certainly, for there are not many of us, and in the Zaashtesh all must stand up for each, and each for all. But when many go on the war-path there are always some of us with them in order that the Shiuana be in our favour." "Do the Shiuana help the Tehuas also?
We were only a few, and the shuatyam laid waste our corn, and killed many women. Many more, however, fled; we do not know whither. These we have gone out to find; we are looking for them this day here among you, but you have taken us captives. You have treated us, not as it is customary between the Zaashtesh, but as the Moshome are wont to do when strangers come to their hogans."
Hayoue nodded; the find pleased him. "That is from our women," said he. "The women from the Puyatye," Zashue said doubtingly, "wear skirts like our koitza." "It is so, but the women from Hashyuko do not go so far from their homes now. Nothing is ripe, neither cactus, figs, nor yucca fruit. What should they come out here for? When do our women ever go so far from the Zaashtesh?"
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