"Sa nashtio," began the former, "we have not found anything."
"There is nothing," added Zashue, rather excitedly; "my wife is innocent."
The Naua raised his eyes with an expression of astonishment and surprise, as if failing to understand.
"What is it that you have not found?" he asked, rather dreamily.
"No coco--" Tyope stopped and looked at the pictures on the wall. It is improper to mention the names of evil powers or agencies in presence of the symbols of Those Above. So he corrected himself and said,--
"Hapi?" the Naua inquired with a vacant stare, "what sort of hapi? Where did you look for them?" He bent his head, as if trying to remember.
"Hapi," exclaimed Tyope, "in the house of Say Koitza, this mot[=a]tza's wife;" and he pointed at his companion.
"Yes, indeed;" the chief of the Koshare now recollected. "I know; I recollect well." His eyes suddenly brightened; they assumed an expression of cunning as well as of suspicion. His quick glance moved back and forth from one of his visitors to the other. "So you found nothing? Then there is nothing! You were right, Zashue; your wife is good." He gave a chuckle which he intended for a benevolent smile.
"See," Say's husband exclaimed, turning to Tyope; "the Naua believes as I do. My wife is no--" the evil word he suppressed in time. He stopped, biting his lips in embarrassment.
Tyope's features moved not. He spoke to the chief of the Delight Makers as quietly and calmly as possible,--
"I believe as you do, nashtio; but while Say may be guiltless, Shotaye is not."
"Hush!" the Naua sternly interrupted; "think of those here." He pointed toward the symbols. "Don't you know that they must not hear the name of that woman?"
Tyope replied hastily, and eager to drown the reprimand his chief had given him,--
The old man became impatient. "Don't you see that I am at work? I am busy. Those here," he again nodded at the idols, "leave me no peace. I must be with them until the last otshanyi begins. In three days we go to the kaaptsh,--you, he, all our brethren,--and then we may speak. Now leave me alone. Go! Leave me! Go! Go!" he cried, and waved his hand upward. He was not to be spoken to any longer; he began to beat his drum and took up the low chant again. Zashue hurriedly climbed out of the estufa, and Tyope followed with an angry face. When the latter was on the open ground again, Zashue stepped up to him and said in a very decided tone,--