STEVENSON. 



THE HOUSE OF THE SKOYO. 49 



Come with me to my bouse." "All right, we will go," Ma'asewe being 

 the spokesman. " Get into the pack on my back and I will carry you." 

 When the boys were tucked away the sko'yo started for her home. 



After a time she came to a broad, level, grassy country and Ma'asewe 

 called: ''Woman! do not go far in this country where there are no 

 trees, for the sun is hot and when there is no shade I get very sick in 

 my head. See, woman," he continued, " there in the mountains are trees 

 and the best road is there." The sko'yo called out, "All right," and 

 started toward the mountains. She came to a point where she must 

 stoop to pass under drooping limbs upon which rested branches, which 

 had fallen from other trees. Ma'asewe whispered to tlyunyewe, 

 "When she stoops to pass under we will catch hold of the tree and 

 hang there until she is gone." The boys caught on to the fallen timber 

 which rested across the branches of the tree, and the sko'yo traveled 

 on unconscious of their escape. When she had gone some distance 

 she wondered that she heard not a sound and she called, " Children!" 

 and no answer; and again she called, "Children," and receiving no 

 answer she cried, "Do not go to sleep," and she continued to call, "Do 

 not go to sleep." Hearing not a word fi'om the boys she shook the 

 pack in order to awaken them, as she thought they were sleeping 

 soundly. This bringing no reply she placed the pack upon the ground 

 and to her surprise the boys were not there. " The bad boys! the bad 

 boys !" she cried, as she retraced her steps to look for them. " Where 

 can they be? where can they be?" 



When she discovered them hanging from a tree she called, " You 

 bad boys! why are you there'?" Ma'asewe said, ">fo! woman; we are 

 not bad. We only wished to stop here and see this timber; it is very 

 beautiful." She compelled them to get into the pack and again started 

 oft", saying to the children, " You must not go to sleep." The journey 

 was long ere the house of the sko'yo was reached. She said, " 1 am 

 glad to be home again," and she placed the pack on the floor, telling 

 the boys to get out. " My children, I am vei'y tired and hungry. Run 

 out and get me some wood for fire." Ma'asewe whispered to his younger 

 brother, " Let us go for the wood." 



In a little while the boys returned with loads of wood on their backs. 

 Pointing to a small conical house near by, she said, "Children, carry 

 the wood there," and the sko'yo built a fire in the house and called the 

 boys to look at it saying, " Children, come here and see the fire; it is 

 good and warm." Ma'asewe whisiiered to his younger brother, "What 

 does the woman want?" Upon their approach the sko'yo said, " See! 

 I have made a great fire and it is good and warm; look in ;" and as the 

 children passed in front of her she pushed them into the bouse and 

 closed the door. She wished to cook the boys for her supper, and she 

 smacked her lips with satisfaction in anticipation of the feast in store 

 for her. But she was to be disappointed, as the boys threw shells from 

 their mouths which instantly protected them from the heat. 

 11 ETH 4 



