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

Ay, truly, Seegooche, there are no joys so hard to do without as those we have not had.

Therefore, we ask a charm, Chisera, for our sweethearts; and, in the mean time, may this remind you —

( She drops a bracelet in the Chisera's basket. )

( Going forward. ) The scarlet beads from me, Chisera. I am to be married in the time of tasseling corn.

The shells from me, Chisera. Good medicine!

Strong Bow is my lover, Chisera. Bring him safe home again.

( The girls retire after dropping their gifts in the Chisera's basket. )

( A little stiffly. ) You have no need of gifts. Am I not young, even as you? Should you pray for your lover any more or less for the sake of a few beads?

( Anxiously. ) Be not angry, Chisera. They would repay you for the dancing and the singing.

( The Chisera gathers up the gifts that the older women have brought and goes into the hut. The girls take up their gifts, puzzled. )

I am afraid you have vexed her with your foolish quest.

Has the Chisera a lover also, that she speak so?

It is not possible and we not know of it, for since her father's death if any sought her hand in marriage, he must come to my husband in the matter of dowry.

No fear that any will come while she is still the Chisera.

She is the wisest of us all.

Wisdom is good as a guest, but it wears out its welcome when it sits by the hearth-stone.

She has great power with the gods.

So much so that if she had a husband, he dare not beat her lest she run and tattle to them.

She is our Chisera, and there is not another like her between Tehachappi and Tecuya. If she were wearied with stooping and sweating, if she were anxious with bearing and rearing, how could she go before the gods for us?

Aye, that is the talk in the wickiups, that we must hold her apart from us to give her room for her great offices, but I have always said – but I am old and nobody minds me – I have always said that if she had loved as we love and had borne as we have borne, she would be the more fitted to entreat the gods that we may not lose.

( As the Chisera comes out of the hut. ) If you are angry, Chisera, turn it against our enemies of Castac.

You know that I cannot curse.

Is it true, Chisera, that you make no bad medicine?

Many kinds of sickness I can cure, and give easy childbirth. I can bring rain, and give fortune in the hunt, but of the making of evil spells I know nothing.

But your father, the medicine man – he was the dread and wonder of the tribes.

Aye, my father could kill by a spell, and make a wasting sickness with a frown, but he thought such powers not proper to women: therefore he taught me none.

But you will bring a blessing on the battle? Oh, Chisera, they do not tell us women, but we hear it whispered about the camp that the men of Castac are five and twenty, and even with the youths who go to their first battle we cannot make a score of ours. It is the Friend of the Soul of Man must make good our numbers.

Even now I go to prepare strong medicine.

Come away, then, and leave the Chisera to her work. ( Going. )

May the gods befriend you. If we have your blessing, we care little for another's curse. ( Going. )

Stay. After all, we are but women together, and if a woman may give counsel, women may hear it.

Would we might hear yours to-day!

When the smoke of the medicine fire arises, so as to be seen from the spring, do you come up along the creek as far as the black rock.

Yes, yes!

When you hear the medicine rattles, stand off by the toyon.

By the toyon – yes!

But when the rattles are stopped, and the singing falls off, come up very softly, not to disturb the Council, and hear what the gods have said. If the men speak against it, I will stand for you.

Our thanks to you, Chisera, for this kindness.

And though you are a Chisera, and have strange intercourse with the gods, I know you a woman, by this token.

Doubt it not, but go.

Come away, girls.

( They go out, the girls with them. But Bright Water lingers, and comes back to the Chisera.)

Chisera —

Chief's daughter?

Call me by my name.

Bright Water, what would you have of me?

Can you – will you make a charm for one going out to battle whose name is not spoken?

How shall the gods find him out, if he is not to be named?

( Earnestly. ) Oh, he is handsome and strong in the shoulders; the muscles of his back are laced like thongs. He is the bravest —

( Laughing. ) Chief's daughter, whenever I have made love charms, they have been for men handsome and strong in the back.

( Abashed. ) I know not how to describe him.

( Still smiling. ) And his name is not to be spoken? (Bright Water continues to look down at her moccasin. ) If I had something of his: something he had shaped with his hands or worn upon his person, that I could make medicine upon —

Like this?

(Takes amulet from her neck and holds it out.)

( Taking it. ) Did he give you this?

He made it.

( Examining it. ) It is skillfully fashioned.

Will it answer?

To make a spell upon? Yes, if you can spare it.

Shall I have it again?

When the time is past for which the spell is made.

Make it, then; a powerful medicine against ill fortune in battle. And this for your pains, Chisera. ( Holds out bracelet. )

( Proudly. ) I want no gifts. Keep your bracelet.

( With equal pride. ) The Chief's daughter asks no favors.

But if a Chisera choose to confer them? ( With sudden feeling. ) What question is there between us of Chief's daughter and Chisera? We are two women, and young.