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Updated: June 29, 2025
As they neared the top of the hill, Sholoc, who was ahead, lifted his hand and motioned them to stop. "Hush," he said softly, "elk." Swiftly the men slipped off their loads and with bows in hand each one crept flat on his belly over the hill crest. Gesnip and Cleeta peeped through the high grass.
A great hunter like Sholoc might make his quiver from the tails of lions he had killed. Projecting from the quiver were the bright-feathered ends of the arrows, which were of reed and were two or three feet long, with points of bone, flint, or obsidian. The hunters, knowing how hard it was to kill large game, had chosen their arrows carefully, taking those that had obsidian points.
They were met at the foot of the grade by a crowd which surrounded them, all chattering at once. Sholoc told of the elk, and a number of men started off on the run to bring in the big game. As the visitors entered camp, Macana, a kind-faced woman, better dressed than most of her tribe, came forward. She placed her hand on Sholoc's shoulder, her face lighting up with love and happiness.
Sholoc became a great hunter, then chief of the people of Santa Catalina, where he became a great fisherman also." The children looked grave. "Do you think such bad seasons can ever come again?" asked Gesnip. "Who can tell?" replied the mother, with a sigh. "Last year was very bad and there is little rain yet this year. That is why the men offered gifts to Chinigchinich last night."
"We are the children of Cuchuma and Macana," replied Gesnip, working her toes in and out of the soft sand, too shy to look her uncle in the face. "Children of my sister, Sholoc is glad to see you," said the chief, laying his hand gently on Cleeta's head. "Your mother, is she well?" "She is well and looking for you these many moons," said Gesnip. The men at once began unloading the boats.
"You are welcome, brother," she said. "The sight of you is good to my eyes, sister," an answered Sholoc. That was all the greeting, although the two loved each other well. Macana took the basket from Payuchi's back. "Come," she called to Gesnip, "and help me wash the mussels."
She came down to see my mother, and when she found how hard it was to get food for us all, she took me by the hand and tumbled Sholoc who was smaller than little Nakin, into her great seed basket and took us off to the mountains until times should grow better; but the rains did not come until it was too late. I stayed with her until I married your father.
But they were in time after all, and were stretched out on their mats some minutes before their father and Sholoc came in. Macana's first duty in the morning was to attend to the baby, whose wide-open black eyes gave the only sign that it was awake.
"Sholoc has come from Santa Catalina with baskets of abalone and fish, and with ollas all speckled, and strings of money. He is near the top of the grade now. Upon hearing the good news the lad darted away at a great pace, his sisters following as fast as they could.
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