And then––with his arms around her, and his robe covering her, his path was closed by a warrior who stood before him! His eyes turned quickly on every side, but on every side was a circle of men,––and 304 the men were all of the clan of Ka-yemo to whom Tahn-té had never been precious since the days of boyhood––and the camp of Coronado.
And the younger men were for claiming the maid when they saw her face, and the older men read triumph against Tahn-té for the work of this night.
“That which is meant for the gods is not to be given to men,” they said in chiding to the young men, and Tahn-té knew what they meant when they said it.
“It is the Navahu witch maid of Te-gat-ha,” cried another––“look––brothers! This is a Navahu arrow through the eye of Ka-yemo, and through the heart of Yahn Tsyn-deh. Alone here she has destroyed them!––and alone here would Tahn-té the Po-Ahtun-ho have cherished her! The priest of the men of iron is a man of strong magic. His vision has sent us to find the one who has made angry the gods of our land!”
“Go you and gather pine for the altar,” said the head of the clan, and two youths ran joyously down the slope;––for they were to aid in driving evil magic from the valley!
“This maid did not touch those dead people,” said Tahn-té,––“for that she must not suffer.”
“You Summer people are easily held by witches’ craft,” retorted one of the men insolently,––a day before he would only have addressed Tahn-té with reverence.
“Was she not marked for sacrifice at Te-gat-ha?”––“Has she not caused the killing of the corn?” “Did not the Navahu men come to destroy us because of her?” “Is the earth not angry that she has hidden in the sacred places?”
These questions came thick and fast for Tahn-té 305 to answer, and Tahn-té held her hand and knew there was no answer to be made. And Phent-zha, who was the oldest man there, looked at him keenly.
“Are you also not more weak in magic for her coming,” he asked,––“is your heart not grown sick? The magic of the white priest is against you;––and it is strong! When we have taken the heart from this witch, and you have again fasted in the hills, the sick land and the sick people will be made better.”