Old Men
Good counsel! Good counsel!
Tribesmen
Simwa! Padahoon! The Arrow-Maker! Padahoon!
Chief
Padahoon, you have the more years; say what you will do. And do you, Chisera, bear it well in your heart as you go up before the Friend of the Soul of Man.
The Chisera
The trail of the gods is hard and none may walk therein save those that walk sincerely. Speak, then!
Padahoon
(Rising.) Chief and tribesmen, you know me. What I think in my heart, I say; and what I say I do. The piñon trees are ours, since the time of our father's fathers (general assent), and this is a vain fight for the men of Castac. Inasmuch as they have crossed our borders, they do evilly, but they are also Paiutes, as we are, and sons of the Bear. Aforetime when the Tecuyas came against us, they were as our brothers. Now, were I war leader, I should leave them at Pahrump and, going up behind the ridge of Toorape, strike at their villages. When we have their women and children and their stores, we can make terms with our brothers of Castac. So shall we save our honor and our allies.