His brother meanwhile attempted to approach the woman again, but she forbade it.
"Go away, Zashue, I tell you for the last time." Her speech and manner of action were very positive.
"Why do you drive us away?" he said in a tone of good-natured disappointment.
"I do not drive you away," replied Shotaye. "You may stay here a while. But then both of you must leave me." Her eyes nevertheless gazed at the two handsome forms with evident pleasure, but soon another thought arose.
"Sit down," she added quietly, as she grasped after the stew-pot, placed it on the fire, and sat down so that she was in the shadow, whereas she could plainly see the features of both men. The visitors had squatted also; they feared to arouse the woman's anger, and the surprise they had planned had failed.
Hayoue spoke up first,—
"You are good, sanaya, you give us food."
"Indeed," she remonstrated, "when I am not willing to do as you want, you call me mother and make an old woman of me." She looked at the young man, smiling, and winked at him.
"You are not very young after all," he teased; "you might easily be my mother."
"What! I your mother? The mother of such an elk? You have one mother already, and if you need another, go to Mitsha's mother." With these words she fixed her gaze on the youth searchingly and inquiringly. As her face was in the shadow Hayoue could not well notice its expression. But he said again, and very emphatically,—