“Jupka, put away your things; clear your house. I want to come down and gamble with you. I dreamed last night that I played with you.”
Jupka was lying with his head to the north. He made no answer. Hehku went down.
“Sit on the west side,” said Jupka to the two sisters; and he told Malewula to spread out two robes, one of cinnamon, the other of black bearskin. All the people held down their heads. None looked at the women except Malewula.
“I should be glad to give these women something to eat,” said Malewula, “but I don’t know what they like; let us offer them venison.”
He roasted venison, put it before them in a basket; they wouldn’t eat it, wouldn’t taste or touch it. Then he brought dried salmon in small pieces; the women turned away their faces. Next he put salmon flour and mountain-pine nuts before them; they wouldn’t eat, turned aside their faces.
“Take this food away,” said Hehku; “we don’t wish to eat. I came here to see people, I came here to gamble.”
The Mapchemaina said nothing for a long time. At last Kaitsiki spoke up.
“I do not know how to gamble, I cannot play,” said he.
“I do not like to hear you talk so. I know you,” said Hehku. “I know that you gamble a great deal. I know that you began to gamble long ago.”
Kaitsiki made no answer. He went to get gambling-sticks (counters). He brought grass and fixed everything for the play. They sat down, Hehku on the west, Kaitsiki on the east.