the Wise Man drank of the water. Drank, but saw not Yaeethl,
the Invisible. To the wife, her mother, the maiden gave the
cup, and of the water the Mother drank. Drank, but heard not
Yaeethl, the Still. Then the maiden, Ye-see-et, the Virgin,
daughter of Yakootsekaya-ka, the Keeper of the Sun, Moon, and
Stars, lifted the cup to her lips.

"The Mother spoke not. The Father moved not. The Daughter
drank.

"Past the red of her lips, by the white of her teeth, down the
throat of the girl rolled the grain of sand. Rolled until it
lay close under her heart, and paused. Under the heart of the
maiden lay Yaeethl, waited Yaeethl, grew Yaeethl. Warmed by
the heart of the maiden Yaeethl grew.

"And time passed.

"Then the mother of the maiden, looking upon her daughter,
became troubled in her mind. Troubled was the mind of the
Mother, but silent her tongue.

"And time passed.

[Illustration]

"Again the Mother looked upon her daughter, and looking, spoke
to the Wise Man, her husband, of the thought that was hers.
Spoke she of the troubled thought concerning the maiden, their
daughter.

"When the Mother's thought was the thought of the Father his
heart was filled with anger at his daughter for the disgrace
she would bring upon his name. Angrily he questioned her, that
he might revenge himself upon the thief of her innocence. But
the girl looked into the eyes of her father and denied both
thief and theft. No man had she seen save him, her father. Of
the cause of The Thought that troubled them was she ignorant,
and as innocent as ignorant. And the truth shone from her eyes
as she spoke, straight was her tongue. Empty of shame was her
face.

"And the Mother, looking into the eyes of her daughter,
believed. And after a time was the Wise Man convinced. Yet
troubled were they and lost upon the trail of thoughts. Tender
had they always been of their daughter. Ten times as gentle
were they now, for Yaeethl lay big under the heart of the
girl, though they knew him not, and of their love was she in
sore need.

"And time passed.

"Then upon the maiden came Kod-se-tee, the Woman Pain, and
Yaeethl entered the lodge.

"Yaeethl whom they knew not, Yaeethl the Boy in the maiden's
arms. Tokanay, the Baby, they