The cliff people were Indians, who had a language of their own.
As the man came nearer, the children saw it was not their father, though he looked very much like him.
“What are you doing here?” he said to Teni.
“We want to go home,” said the boy, “but we can not find the way.”
“You can not go home now,” said the man, “for those Indians would get you.”
“Come, I will take care of you.”
He took Mavo in his strong arms, and telling Teni to follow, he walked over the hot sand to a tall tower on the cliff.
The tower was made of stones held together with clay.
It stood high on the cliff, and from its little windows one could see far into the valley.