'They will never let us off; it would be better to escape secretly.'
'I have already told you—' the old man repeated obstinately.
'Oh Father, let us escape, let us escape!' they all begged, stretching out their hands towards him. But the old man thrust away Miore, the most impetuous of them all, with a kick in the chest, and cried:
'Cursed birds of ill-omen, cease from breaking my heart!'
'I would like to know,' said 'Sparkling Ice,' who had been gloomy and silent hitherto, 'why Miore does not obey when our father commands him?'
The lad, who was lying as he had fallen, rose, and left the tent in silence.
Once more the people, from small to great, were assembled at the column in the valley. The armed men were dressed in their best attire,—various kinds of fur, which hung in long fringes. The sun shone on their ornaments as they took their seats in small bands according to families. They amused themselves, wrestled, and in no way betrayed the reason for coming there.
The members of Seltichan's family were distinguished among the rest by their choice arms and rich clothing, as well as by their strength, skill, and the proud independance of their bearing. Seltichan himself, who occupied the seat of honour among them, watched everything that took place with great attention.
'The tribe is enfeebled, and dying out,' he said from time to time. 'Was it not so with the family of Tumara? Where is Leljel, who was no less flourishing than we? Where is Nilken?'