The old man brought out a great coil of rope to unwind and go up with it.
“Who is to stand and watch?” asked the other old man.
“Tsiwihl,” said Norwanchakus.
Tsiwihl put oak leaves near the coil, lay on them, and looked up. Old Lasaswa took one end of his rope, pulled it, and started. The rope was unwinding, and he was going up. Tsiwihl kept his eyes on Lasaswa. After a while he said, “Lasaswa is half-way up.” A little later he said, “He is more than half-way up!”
“But the rope is gone,” said Norwanchakus.
“Lasaswa is coming down,” said Tsiwihl.
The old man came to the ground. “My rope is too short. Some one else must try now,” said he.
“I will try,” said the other old man. This one had more rope. Five men had to help him roll it out of the house, there was so much. He took the presents for Sas and began to go up.
Tsiwihl watched closely. The rope was unwinding and Lasaswa was going up. “He is half-way up!” said Tsiwihl; “he is near where the first man was.” Tsiwihl moved his head a little, but never lost sight of Lasaswa. “He is as high as the other was; he is higher; he is going still higher!”
“But the rope has given out,” said Norwanchakus.