Mary Hunter Austin

The Arrow-Maker Mary Hunter Austin

Book Excerpt: ...hat was mere women's matters, weevil in the pine nuts, a love-charm or a colicky child. This is war!SEEGOOCHE(Still peering about.) As if that were not a woman's affair also!TIAWAYou may well say that! It was in our last quarrel with Castac I lost the only man-child I ever had, dead before he was born. When the women showed me his face, it was all puckered with the bitterness of that defeat. You may well say a woman's matter!SEEGOOCHEThat was the year my husband was first made Chief, and we covered defeat with victory, as we shall again. It was Tinnemaha, the father of the Chisera, went before the gods for us, I remember. TIAWAWell for us that he taught her his strong medicine. Not a fighting man from Tecuya to Tehachappi but trusts in her.(Goes to the creek and dips up water to drink in her basket cap.) WACOBA(Tentatively.) It is believed by some that she makes medicine for Simwa, the Arr..