“You are stupid, Gesnip,” said her brother. “Don’t you see they are burning it to separate it into two parts? Then they will burn each log into the shape of a boat, finishing it up with axes of bone or horn. Uncle told me how they did it.”
“Why have they put the green bark on the top of the log?”
“I think it is to keep it from burning along the edge; don’t you see? And then there are wider pieces to protect it at the ends. See how they watch the fire and beat it out in one place and then in another.”
“Why does it burn so fast?” asked Gesnip.
“Because they have daubed it with pitch. Can’t you smell it?” said the boy, sniffing.
“Yes, I can smell it,” replied his sister. “But come now and help me gather tules. Father is going to burn down our house and build a new one for winter, and I must make a tule rug for each one of you for beds in the new home. It will take a great many tule stems.”
“It is cold to wade,” said Payuchi, stepping into the water at the edge of the river.
“Yes,” answered Gesnip, “I don’t like to gather tules in winter.”
The children pulled up the long rough stems one by one until they had a large pile.
“I think we have enough,” said Payuchi, after they had been working about two hours.