THE WEAKNESS OF MAKU
A number of years passed, and Maku kept the cave while She Wolf did
the hunting. She Wolf was so occupied with the business of provider,
meat-getter and fish-catcher, that she did not have time to think about
any of the other business of life. But it was otherwise with Maku.
There was not much for her to do after the children were weaned and she
sat lazily in the sun and allowed her mind to run on old days.
It happened that a man began to hang about the cave. He had bright
feathers in his hair, and whenever Maku looked at him, he blinked and
nodded and showed his sharp white teeth, and sometimes she cast him a
word and then he would boast and tell her of his mighty deeds.
Sometimes Maku dreamed about this man at night; but she put off going
with him as long as she could, for that is the way with a woman. But
one day she got to thinking about Strong Hand, and the caresses and the
beatings that were equally sweet, and her blood began to run the more
swiftly.
And she thought too, on the pains of labor which are so terrible that
they are akin to a mighty joy, and of the downy little face that had
snuggled in her bosom, and of the little hands that had gripped and
tugged at her hair, and of the tiny voice that had piped in the night
because of hunger.
And thinking of these things and remembering, she could not resist any
longer. And the very next time the man presented himself before the cave
she went with him, to be caressed, and to be beaten, and to find her
happiness.
When She Wolf came back with the kill, the children ran out to meet her
and they told breathlessly, and at one and the same time, how a man,
adorned as to his head with bright feathers, had come and taken Maku away
with him.
She Wolf was very tired, for the hunt had been long.
“It is well,” she said “for now there is one less mouth to feed.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]