of the Waniyanpi.
Many of the Yellow Knives and soldiers, rather than face this withering fire, lowered themselves from the trail, slipping and sliding, then, abrasively, down the side of the rock face. Some may have survived. In moments then our groups, that of Hci and Waiyeyeca, and that from the barricade itself, met, Yellow Knives and soldiers slain or forced from the trail. Cuwignaka, in joy, embraced the leader of the group come down from the barricade. The name of the leader of that group was Canka.
I looked over the edge of the trail.
There were many bodies below. Some had caught on rocks. Others had fallen to lower segments of the trail. Some, even, had plunged bounding, and turning and striking, from plane to plane, to the grass.
'Yellow Knives on kaiila approaching the lower barricade!' called Kahintokapa, from above.
Ropes were thrown down to us. Our weapons and shields slung about us we then climbed the ropes to the height of the escarpment. By the time these Yellow Knives had dismounted and cast aside the lower barricade, it tumbling downward, breaking and shattering in its descent, and remounted, we were safe. Some of them rode about a bit on the trail but then, under sporadic arrow fire, they withdrew.
There were many Yellow Knives left on the trail below. I had recognized one of them. It was he who had been the second of the war chiefs from the summer camp. No longer did he sing medicine.
Kaiila warriors, laughing and joking, congratulated one another, exhibiting grisly trophies.
In the Barrens conflict is typically quarterless.
'Open your mouth,' said Hci to Iwoso.
She did so, expelling the wet stone into the palm of his hand.
Chapter 47
THE THIRD DAY OF WAR
'I think they will be coming in the neighborhood of noon,' said Cuignaka.
It was now the third day in the siege of Council Rock.
Yesterday afternoon we had seen Kinyanpi. Yesterday night we had lit a great bush beacon which we had prepared. This beacon, whether used for the emisson of smoke in daylight hours, or its flame at night, could be seen for pasangs across the prairie.
'The Yellow Knives, left to their own resorces,' said Hci, 'would have withdrawn after the failure of the first day. It seems to me highly unlikely that the discipline of the soldiers and beasts can long be maintained over them.'
'Doubtless they now have the backing of the Kinyanpi,' I said. 'Flighted scouts, at any rate, were observed yesterday.'
'More than Kinyanpi will be required to bring them again to the barricade,' said Hci.
'You expect, then,' said Cuwignaka, 'only one more major assault.'
'And it will be the most determined of all,' said Hci, grimly.
'And who will be its leaders?' asked Cuwignaka.
'The beasts, of course,' I said.
'Yes,' said Hci.
'It is nearly noon,' said Cuwignaka, looking upward.
'I hear drums,' I said.
'Medicine drums,' said Hci.
'Soldiers are leaving the camp,' I said.
'Yes,' said Hci.
'They are riding south,' I said.
'Interesting,' said Hci.
'There is a Kinyanpi rider,' said Cuwignaka, pointing upward.
'Doubtless a scout,' said Hci.
'There is movement now, in the Yellow-Knife camp,' I said.
'They are coming,' said Hci.
'Who is their lead?' asked Cuwignaka.
'The beasts,' I said.
'We do not know how long the day will last,' said Hci. 'Feed and water Bloketu.'
She was roped to her post, just as she had been the first two days.
'Do you beg food and drink?' asked Cuwignaka.
'Yes, Master,' she said.
He fed her and watered her.
'Thank you for my food and drink, Master,' she said.
'I beg food and drink,' said Iwoso, suddenly.
Shall I give her food and water?' asked Cuwignaka.
Iwoso looked at Hci. The decision would obviously be his. Yesterday she had not begged. Accordingly, as it is customarily the case when begging is required, she had received neither food nor drink.
'Yes,' said Hci.
Iwoso was then fed and watered. Her mouth, her head extended, clung greedily, desperately to the spout of the water bag. Then it was pulled from between her teeth. She tried to lick at the water at the side of her mouth.
'Do you think me weak, Iwoso,' asked Hci, 'that I have so soon permitted you food and drink?'
She looked at him puzzled.
'Have you not asked yourself why I might do this, so soon?' he asked.
She looked at him, frightened.
'I am doing it to improve your appearance,' he said, 'much as one might water an animal before its sale, that you will look your best for the Yellow Knives.'
'Again you use me for your purposes, tricking me!' she said.
'You may now thank me for your food and drink,' he said.
'Thank you for my food and drink,' she said, in fury.
'More humbly, more appropriately,' said Hci.
'I thank you for my food and drink,' she said. 'I thank you for it — humbly,' she said.
Hci looked at her.
'— My captor,' she added.
Hci put his hand under her chin and held her head up. 'Do you think her throat would look well in a collar?' he asked Cuwignaka.
'Yes,' said Cuwignaka.
'I will never wear a collar!' said Iwoso, her head held up by Hci's hand.
'My collar?' asked Hci.
'Of course,' said Cuwignaka.
'I will never wear your collar!' said Iwoso. 'I would die first!'
'The beast in the lead,' I said, 'is called Sardak. That closest to him is Kog.'
'They are fearsome things,' said Cuwignaka.
'Surely,' said Hci, joining us, 'they are of the medicine world.'
'Do not be afraid,' I said to him.
'They expect all opposition to crumble before them, at their very appearance,' said Cuwignaka, bitterly.
'They can bleed and die, like men,' I told Hci.
'Things of the mdicine world,' said Hci, 'may sometimes seem to bleed and die, but they do not truly do so.'
'They are not of the medicine world,' I said.
'I am uneasy,' said Hci.
