Mary Austin - The Arrow-Maker - A Drama in Three Acts

At first glance the scene appears devoid of life, but suddenly the call of a jay bird is heard faintly and far up the trail that leads to the right among the rocks. It is repeated nearer at hand, perfectly imitated but with a nuance that advises of human origin, and two or three half-naked Indians are seen to be making their way toward the bottom of the cañon, their movements so cunningly harmonized with the lines of the landscape as to render them nearly invisible. Choco and Pamaquash with two others come together at the end of the bank farthest from the Chisera's hut.

Who called?

It came from farther up.

Yavi, I think.

He must have seen something.

By the Bear, if the Castacs have crossed our boundaries, there are some of them shall not recross it!

Hush – the Chisera – she will hear you!

She is not in the hut. She went out toward the hills early this morning, and has not yet returned. Besides, if the Castacs have crossed, we cannot keep it from the women much longer.

( Who has moved up to a better post of observation. ) There is some one on the trail.

( The jay's call is heard and answered softly by Pamaquash.)

Yavi. But Tavwots is not with him. (Yavi comes dropping from the cliffs. ) What have you seen?

Smoke rising – by Deer Leap. Two long puffs and a short one.

(The news is received with sharp, excited murmurs.)

More than a score – and with all our youths we cannot count so many.

And this business of war leader still unsettled – The Council must sit at once. Go, one of you, and tell Chief Rain Wind that Tavwots has signaled from Deer Leap that more than a score of Castacs are out against us.

And tell the women to prepare a gift hastily for the Chisera. Who knows how soon we shall have need of her medicine.

(One of the Indians departs on this errand.)

Never so much need of it as when we have neglected our own part of the affair! Even before the Castacs began to fill up our springs and drive our deer, we knew that the Chief is too old for war; and now that the enemy has crossed our borders we are still leaderless.

So we should not be if we had followed the tribal use and given the leadership to years and experience. It is you young men who have unsettled judgment, with the to-do you have made about the Arrow-Maker.

I have nothing against years and experience, but when one has the gods as plainly on his side as Simwa —

Never have I seen a man so increase in power and fortune —

Huh – huh! I too have watched the growth of this Simwa. Also I have seen a gourd swelling with the rains, and I have not laid it to the gods in either case. But the Council must sit upon it. We must bring it to the Council.

( Hotly. ) Why should you credit the gods with Simwa's good fortune since he himself does not so claim it? For my part, I think with the Arrow-Maker, that it is better for a man to thrive by his own wits, rather than by the making of medicine or the wisdom of the elders.

( From above. ) Tst – st, Tavwots!

(Tavwots comes down the cañon panting with speed. He drops exhausted on the bank, and Yavi gives him water between his palms from the creek. )

Have they crossed?

Between Deer Leap and Standing Rock – more than a score, though I think some of them were boys – but they had no women.

They mean fighting, then!

Well, they can have it.

But they should not be let fatten on our deer before they come to it. Winnemucca, whom I left at Deer Leap, will bring us word where they camp to-night. In the mean time there is much to do. ( Rising. )

Much. No doubt Simwa will have something to suggest.

The Arrow-Maker is not yet war leader, my friend. I go to the Chief and the Council. ( He goes. )

And yet, I think the Chief favors Simwa, else why should he prefer to put the election to lot rather than keep to the custom of the fathers?

( Going. ) There might be reasons to that, not touching the merits of the Arrow-Maker.

Tavwots has met the women!

( Sounds of the grief of the women in the direction of the camp. )

They are coming to the Chisera. We should not have let them find us here; they will neglect their business with her to beset us with questions.

( To them enter three women of the campody of Sagharawite, carrying perfect-patterned, bowl-shaped baskets, with gifts of food for the Chisera. Seegooche, the Chiefs wife, is old and full of dignity. Tiawa is old and sharp, but Wacoba is a comfortable, comely matron, who wears a blanket modestly yet to conceal charms not past their prime. Seegooche and Tiawa wear basket caps, but Wacoba has a bandeau of bright beads about her hair. They show signs of agitation, instantly subdued at sight of the men .)

Is this true what Tavwots has told us, that the Castacs are upon us?

No nearer than Pahrump. Not so near by the time we have done with them. What gifts have you?

The best the camp affords. Think you we would stint when the smoke of the Castacs goes up within our borders?

Where is she?

Abroad in the hills gathering roots and herbs for to-night's medicine. Wait for her. – We must go look to our fighting gear.

(He goes out in the direction of the campody.)

( To Wacoba.) My bow case, is it finished?

And the bow inside it. See that you come not back to me nor to your young son until the bowstring is frayed asunder.

If you do your work with the Chisera as well as we with Castac, you shall not need to question our bowstrings. ( Going. )

Leave us to deal – though if she cannot help us in this matter, I do not know where we shall turn.

Never have I asked help of her, and been disappointed.

( Gathering flowers. ) Aye, but that was mere women's matters, weevil in the pine nuts, a love-charm or a colicky child. This is war!

( Still peering about. ) As if that were not a woman's affair also!

You may well say that! It was in our last quarrel with Castac I lost the only man-child I ever had, dead before he was born. When the women showed me his face, it was all puckered with the bitterness of that defeat. You may well say a woman's matter!

That was the year my husband was first made Chief, and we covered defeat with victory, as we shall again. It was Tinnemaha, the father of the Chisera, went before the gods for us, I remember.