Meanwhile the daughter of the priest-chief opened the sky-hole and placed a sacred medicine-bowl half full of water on the floor where the sunlight would shine into it, and where it would reflect the sky, and there she sat looking intently down into the water. By-and-by the Eagle came in sight, and she saw his shadow in the water.
Just then the Sun drew his shield from his face. Oh! how hot it was down there on the earth. The sky was ablaze with light, and no one dared to look at it; and the sands grew so hot that they burned the moccasins of those who walked upon them. Everybody ran into the houses, and the Eagle spread his wings and gently descended, for he too was hot. And when he came near to the house, the girl let him in and welcomed him.
“Thou comest, father,” said she.
He only drooped his head and flapped his wings, unable even to speak, so hot was he.
She saw that he was near to fainting. Therefore she fanned him—made cool wind for him with the basket tray and her mantle—and sprinkled cold water upon his head.
“Thou hast been to the home of our father?” she asked, when he had recovered.
“Yes,” replied the Eagle.
“What has he advised that we should do?” asked she.
“This,” said the Eagle; “tomorrow morning at the dawn of day thou wilt arise and bathe thyself. Then at sunrise thou shalt put on thy finest garments. The dance will come forth; and then it will come forth the second time, and the third time, and again it will come the fourth time. Then I will mount thee upon my shoulders and bear thee away toward the Sun, who will be waiting for us. It may be that we shall have the good fortune to reach his home; and it may be that we shall get only a little way when everything shall come to pass unhappily and thou wilt be no more.” That is what he said to her.
It grew night. The girl collected all the basket-trays that she had made for her father’s sacred plumes; these by the fire-light she spread out, and then began to divide them into different heaps.