“It is well,” said the old man. “It is the custom of our people and of all people, that they may possess dignity, that they may be the heads of households; therefore, young men and maidens marry and establish themselves in certain houses. I have no objection. What dost thou think, my daughter?”
“I have no objection,” said the daughter.
“Ah, what did I tell you?” said the youth to himself, and ate with a great deal of satisfaction the meal placed before him.
The father laid out the corn-husks and tobacco, and they had a smoke; then he said to his daughter: “The stranger who is now my son has come a long way, and should not be kept sitting up so long.”
As the daughter led him to another room, he thought: “What a gentle creature she is! How softly she steps up the ladder.”
When the door was reached, she said: “Here we will say good-night.”
“What is the matter?” he asked.
Said she: “I would like to know of my husband this much, that he is a good hunter; that I may have plenty of food all my days, and plenty of buckskins for my clothing. Therefore I must ask that in the morning you go forth and hunt the deer, or bring home an antelope for me.”
The young man quickly recovered himself, and said: “It is well,” and lay himself down to rest.
So the next morning he went out, and there was the maiden at the top of the house watching him. He couldn’t wait for daylight; he wanted the Sun, his father, to rise before his time, and when the Sun did rise he jumped out of bed, tied his quiver to his belt, took his bow in his hand, and, with a little luncheon the maiden had prepared for him, started off.