398 THE MOUNTAIN CHANT. 
disappeared a few of the Ute began to nod and close their eyes; soon the 
others showed signs of drowsiness; some stretched themselves out on 
the ground overpowered with sleep; others rose and departed from 
time to time, singly and in little groups, to seek their lodges and repose 
there. The last to drop asleep were the old man and the old woman 
who sat at the door; but at length their chins fell upon their bosoms. 
Then the Navajo, fearing no watchers, went to work and loosened the 
cords that bound him; he lifted, from the inside, some of the pegs which 
held the edge of the tent, and shoved out the two bags of embroideries 
which Qastcéélgi had told him to take. Passing out through the door 
of the lodge, where he found both the watch-dogs sound asleep, and 
taking with him the cords with which he had been tied and some of 
the tobacco, he went round to the back of the lodge, where he had put 
the bags; these he tied with the cords in such a manner that they would 
make an easily balanced double bundle. He shouldered his bundle and 
was all ready to start. 
33, At this moment he heard, at a little distance to the south of 
where he stood, the hoot of an owl. Instantly recollecting the words 
of the owllike form which he had encountered at the spring at night- 
fall, he set off in the direction from which the call proceeded. He had 
not walked far until he came to a precipitous bluff formed by two branch- 
ing canons, and it seemed at first impossible for him to proceed farther. 
Soon, however, he noticed a tall spruce tree, which grew beside the 
precipice from the foot to the summit, for the day had now begun to 
dawn and he could see objects more clearly. At this juncture Qastcéélgi 
again appeared to him and said: ‘ How is it, my grandchild, that you 
are still here? Get on the top of that spruce tree and go down into 
the canon on it.” The Navajo stretched out his hand to seize the top 
of the tree, but it swayed away from his grasp. ‘See, my grandfather,” 
he said to Qastcéélgi, “it moves away from me; I cannot reach it.” 
Then Qastcéél¢i flung the white lightning around the top of the tree, 
as an Indian flings his lasso around the neck of a horse, and drew it 
in to theedge of the cliff. ‘“ Descend,” he commanded the Indian, “and 
when you reach the bottom take four sprays from the tree, each from 
a different part. You may need them in the future.” So the Navajo 
went down, took the four sprays as he was bidden and put them under 
his robe. 
34, At the base of the bluff he again met Qastcéélci, and at this 
moment he heard a noise, as ofa greatand distant tumult, which seemed 
to come from above and from beyoud the edge of the cliff whence they 
had descended. From moment to moment it grew louder and came 
nearer, and soon the sounds of angry voices could be distinguished. 
The Ute had discovered the flight of their captive and were in hot pur- 
suit. ‘Your enemies are coming for you,” said the divine one; “ but 
yonder small holes on the opposite side of the cation are the doors of 
my dwelling, where you may hide. The bottom of the cafion is strewn 

