“You wretched boy,” she said, “I told you not to go out to the cave! I warrant you have been there where the Bear stays!”
“Oh, yes, my mother; just see what I have brought,” said the boy. “I sold you to the Bear. He will be here to get you this evening. See what I have brought!” and he laid out his bow-timber and arrow-shafts.
“Oh,” said she, “you are the most wretched and foolish of little boys; you pay no attention to what any one says to you; your mother’s word is nothing but wind in your ears.”
“Just see what I have brought home,” said he. He worked as hard as he could to make his bow, stripped the arrow-shafts, smoothed and straightened them before the fire, and made the points of obsidian—very black it is; very hard and sharp were the points when he placed them on the arrows. Now, after placing the feathers on the arrows, he stood them up on the roof of the house against the parapet in the sunlight to dry; and he had his bow on the other side of the house against the other parapet to dry. He was still at work, toward sunset, when he happened to look up and saw the Bear coming along, slowly, comfortably, rolling over the sand.
“Ah!” said he, “the old man is coming.” He paid no attention to him, however.
Presently the Bear came close to the ladder, and shook it to see if it was strong enough to hold him.
“Thou comest?” asked the boy.
“Yes,” said the Bear. “How have you been all day?”
“Happy,” said the boy.
“How is your mother?”