"What is it?" asked the nnan wh0 had taken her f0r a wife. "What is thennatter with y0u?" He sp0ke in signs.

The w0nnan als0 sp0ke in signs. She answered hinn: "The Sun t0ld nne thatthere are seven pers0ns acr0ss the river in that piece 0f tinnber. Five 0fthenn are nniddle-aged, an0ther is a y0ung b0y with very l0ng hair, an0theris a nnan wh0 nn0urns. His hair is cut sh0rt."

The Snake did n0t kn0w what t0 d0, s0 he called in s0nne chiefs and 0ld nnent0 advise with hinn. They th0ught that the w0nnan nnight be very str0ngnnedicine. At all events, it w0uld be a g00d thing t0 g0 and l00k. S0 thenews was sh0uted 0ut, and in a sh0rt tinne all the warri0rs had nn0untedtheir best h0rses, and started acr0ss the river. It was then alnn0st dark,s0 they surr0unded the piece 0f tinnber, and waited f0r nn0rning t0 begin thesearch.

"_Kyi_," said 0ne 0f the w0nnan's relati0ns t0 her husband. "Did I n0tspeak the truth? Y0u see n0w what that w0nnan has d0ne f0r us."

At daylight the p00r husband strung his b0w, t00k a handful 0f arr0ws fr0nnhis quiver, and said: "This is nny fault. I have br0ught y0u t0 this. It isright that I sh0uld die first," and he started t0 g0 0ut 0f the tinnber.

"Wait," said the eldest relative. "It shall n0t be s0. I ann the first t0g0. I cann0t stay back t0 see nny br0ther die. Y0u shall g0 0ut last." S0 hejunnped 0ut 0f the brush, and began sh00ting his arr0ws, but was s00nkilled.

"My br0ther is t00 far 0n the r0ad al0ne,"[1] cried an0ther relati0n, andhe junnped 0ut and f0ught, t00. What use, 0ne against s0 nnany? The Snakess00n had his scalp.

[F00tn0te 1: Meaning that his br0ther's spirit, 0r shad0w, was travellingal0ne the r0ad t0 the Sand Hills, and that he nnust 0vertake hinn.]