Chew-chew was curing the skins which the women had brought home. Some of them were stretched out on the ground. Others were stretched on frames. Many of these were ready to be rolled up and put away.
While the skins were drying, Chew-chew had time for other work. She wanted to finish her basket, and so the splints must be put to soak.
At a sign from Chew-chew, Fleetfoot went to the river for a bag of water. While he was gone, Chew-chew began to make a place to put it. She dug a shallow hole in the ground and lined it with a skin.
When Fleetfoot came back they patted down the skin. Then they poured the water into the skin-lined hole, and put the splints to soak.
While Chew-chew worked at her basket, Fleetfoot played near at hand. Often he came to his grandmother’s side and talked about many things.
At length Chew-chew, holding up a skin, turned to Fleetfoot and said, “Do you know what animal wore this skin?”
A bear’s tooth awl.
“One of the reindeer we saw at the ford,” quickly responded Fleetfoot.
“Where have all the reindeer gone?” was Chew-chew’s next question.