394 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT. 
around, he saw a great crowd on horseback riding towards him. To 
see better he drew off his mask, and then observed that they were 
dividing into two lines as they advanced; a moment later he was sur- 
rounded. The horsemen were of the tribe of Ute, a people whose 
language he did not understand. One young man rode up close to the 
Navajo, aimed an arrow at the breast of the latter and drew it to the 
head; but just as he was about to release it an old man began to ad- 
dress the party in a loud voice and the young warrior lowered his ar- 
row and relaxed his bow. Then the speaker dismounted, approached 
the captive, and seized him by the arm. For a long time there was 
much loud talking and discussion among the Ute. Now one would 
harangue the party and then another would make a speech, but after a 
while the dispute ceased and the old man motioned to the Navajo to 
move ou. They made him trot while they followed him on horseback 
in a semicircle, so that they could guard him and watch his movements. 
Soon they came to Tyél saka¢; shortly afterward they crossed the San 
Juan. That night they camped near @epéntsa, where they watched 
him closely all night and gave him nothing to eat. They bound his 
feet firmly together, tied his hands behind his back, and threw an un- 
tanned buckskin over him before they lay down to sleep. 
25, They set out on their journey again early in the morning. At 
Coinceski‘ (Scattered Springs) they stopped for a little while to eat, but 
the only food they gave the Navajo was the full of his palm of service 
berries. When they arrived on the south side of Cotsosi (Narrow Water) 
they halted for the night and a number went out tohunt. Among them 
they secured two deer, one large and one small; the feet of these they 
gave to their captive for his supper. Next morning they gave him a 
piece of liver, half of which he ate and the rest he kept. They moved 
on rapidly and rested for the night at Dsil-nahoyal, where there was a 
spring. They had given him nothing to eat all that day, and at night 
they gave him nothing; so it was well for him that he had secreted part 
of the liver. This he ate after dark. On the third morning he had to 
set out fasting and had to go on foot as usual. About noon, however, 
one of the Ute took pity on him and lent him a horse to ride, while 
the owner of the horse walked all the afternoon. That night they ar- 
rived at the bank of a large river, and here they gave him to under- 
stand, by signs, that this was the last river they would cross until they 
got home. Beyond the river there was nothing in sight but a great 
plain. 
26. By the light of the morning, however, on the next day, he dis- 
cerned some mountains showing their points faintly above the northern 
horizon. To these the Ute pointed and motioned to him to go ahead. 
They did not follow him immediately ; but saddled up at their leisure 
while the Navajo went on. Though he was now for some time alone 
on the trail and out of sight of his captors, he knew that he could 
not escape; all around and before him was a desert plain where he could 
a. ee 
