Again the older boy called, “Here is some more wood”—and the bones of his other arm fell at the foot of the tree.
Again he called, and the bones of a leg dropped; then his other leg fell. The next time he called, down came the right half of his ribs; and then, next, the left half of his ribs; and immediately thereafter his spinal column. Then he called again, and down fell his hair.
The last time he called, “Here is some wood,” his skull dropped on the earth under the tree.
“Here, take those things home,” said he. “Tell the woman that this is her wood; she only wanted my bones.”
“But there is no one to go with me down the mountains,” said the younger boy.
“Yes; I will go with you, brother,” quickly came the answer from the tree top.
So the boy tied up his bundle, and, putting it on his shoulder, started for the pueblo. As he did so the other—he was now Co-lĭng′—soared from the tree top, always flying directly above the boy.
When the younger brother reached home he put his bundle down, and said to the woman:
“Here is the wood you wanted.”
The woman and the husband, frightened, ran out of the house; they heard something in the air above them.