But Bokwewa watched closely every word that fell from her lips, and often in conferring with her, forgot all mortal appetite and care of the body, noting what she had to say of spirits and fairies, of stars, and streams that never ceased to flow, the delight of the happy hunting-grounds, and the groves of the blessed.
One day Kwasynd had gone out as usual, and Bokwewa was sitting in the lodge on the opposite side to his brother's wife, when a tall youth entered. His face was like the sun in its brightness, and he stood straight as a cedar tree. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the door.
The woman made no resistance, but turned as she left the lodge and cast upon Bokwewa a smile of kind regard. Then saying, "I must leave you," she was at once gone from his view, with her companion.
He ran to the door, and looking far off in the sky, thought that he could discover, at a great distance, a shining track, and the dim figures of two who were vanishing into the clouds.
When his brother returned, Bokwewa related all to him exactly as it had happened.
The face of Ivwasynd changed and was dark as the night. For several days he would not taste food. Sometimes he would fall to weeping for a long time, and now for the first time seemed to realise how gentle and beautiful had been the ways of her who was lost. At last he said that he would go in search of her.
Bokwewa tried to dissuade him from it; but he would not be turned aside from his purpose.
"Since you are resolved," said Bokwewa, "listen to my advice. You will have to go South. It is a long distance to the present abiding-place of your wife, and there are so many charms and temptations by the way that I fear you will be led astray and forget your errand. The people whom you will see in the country through which you have to pass, do nothing but amuse themselves. They are very idle, gay and effeminate, and I fear that they will lead you astray. Your path is beset with dangers. I will mention two things which you must be especially on your guard against.
"In the course of your journey you will come to a large grape-vine lying across your path. You must not even taste its fruit, for it is poisonous. Step over it. It is a snake. You will nest come to something that looks like bear's fat, of which you are so fond. Touch it not, or you will be overcome by the soft habits of the idle people. It is frog's eggs. These are snares laid by the way for you."
Kwasynd promised that he would observe the advice, and bidding his brother farewell, he set out. After traveling a long time he came to the enchanted grape-vine. It looked so tempting, with its swelling purple clusters, that he forgot his brother's warning and tried the fruit. Then he went on till he came to the frog's eggs. They so much resembled delicious bear's fat that Kwasynd tasted them. He still went on.