THE CLIFF HOME
"Come, Teni," said the little boy, "I will show you my home."
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
Teni was glad to see this strange house, for he had never been in one so
large before.
They climbed about from room to room.
There were so many that Teni could not count them.
After a while the little boy said, "Let us go into this store-room."
So they climbed the notched pole and lifted the stone from the hole
which led into the largest granary.
Teni said, "There is only one granary in our house. How many have you?"
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
"Five," said the little boy, "but this is the largest one."
"See how much food we have!"
Teni's eyes opened wide with wonder. He had never seen a storeroom so
well filled. There were piles and piles of skin boxes filled with
powdered buffalo's meat. There were large baskets filled with grain and
beans.
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
In one corner was a box of wheat, and hanging from the pegs in the wall
were the skin clothes and skin leggings ready for winter's wear.
The boys climbed up some of the pegs and looked over the wall into the
large reservoir.
There was only a little water in it, because it had not rained for many
months.
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
One of the stone jars on the wall had some water in it, and Teni took a
long drink.
Then they crept carefully along the wall till they came to a part of the
cliff which hung over the reservoir.
The boys stood here a few moments and looked down at the water.
"This reservoir is nearly empty," said Teni.
"Have you another?"
"Yes," said the boy, "but we pray for rain every day, because the other
reservoir is nearly empty also."
Just then Teni thought of Mavo, so they started back.
On the way they stopped at a round room which was in the center of this
queer house.
"What is this room?" said Teni.
"The kiva," said the boy. "All the men of this cliff village sleep here
on the skins which you see scattered about."
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
On a shelf in one part of the kiva was a curious-looking doll baby with
a painted face, long hair, and bright-colored clothes.
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
This doll was an idol, so the children stopped to put some red corn at
its feet, touching its dress very gently.
"Let us light the fire," said Teni.
They walked to a hole in the center of the floor and sat down beside it.
Then they rubbed two pieces of flint together to make a spark.
They lighted the cedar wood that was in the hole, and watched the flames
grow brighter and brighter.
[Illustration: (uncaptioned)]
"Hush!" said Teni, "we must be very quiet. I can hear the spirits
talking in the fire."
"The spirits say that Mavo and I will soon be at home with father and
mother and we shall be glad, too."
By and by the boys went quietly from the still room.