They were sitting in front of Nampu’s house while Mrs. Burton made these reflections. She was resting in the shadow of the cliffs behind the hut on a splendid Indian blanket of black and red. Near her Nampu was molding a great earthenware bowl, shaped and colored like a great red disk cut in two and hollowed on the inside. Around it the crude outline of a snake lay coiled. Already Polly had asked to be allowed to purchase it.
A few yards off Se-kyal-ets-tewa sat upright with his legs crossed underneath him. He was silent unless he was spoken to, but he seemed to keep his eyes fixed on the three girls who formed another group at some distance off.
None of his new acquaintances at their second meeting thought of or spoke to the Indian by the English name of John Mase—the name by which he had introduced himself on the train.
Suddenly Mrs. Burton turned to him.
“I hope you will come to see us as often as possible at camp,” she began, speaking with her usual impulsiveness and thinking it might be amusing to study the different influences at work in the Indian youth. “I would like to have you teach us of your people and some day take us to your village perhaps. Later on we are hoping to see your great August festivals.”
Mrs. Burton had not meant to be condescending, but there may have been an unconscious suggestion in her tone. The Indian hesitated and frowned. Then, seeing that the three girls were coming toward Nampu’s house, he rose up.
“Thank you,” he answered, but without signifying whether his reply meant agreement.
Next day Peggy Webster asked him the same question.
She and Bettina and Dawapa were standing in a small group at the entrance of the Painted Desert, waiting for the others to join them. They had walked from Nampu’s house—a distance of only a mile or two.
“You will not disappoint us, Se-kyal-ets-tewa,” Peggy urged, thrusting her hands into her pockets in a boyish fashion and nodding her head vigorously. “But if you do decide to come won’t you give us some other name to call you by? Life isn’t very long at best and Se-kyal-ets-tewa——”