Один из великих дней

Затем наступил, наконец, один из великих дней в жизни Синопы. Одетый все в свою новую военную одежду, с выдровой кожей, обтянутой на спине, он отправился с дедом на встречу москитов. Она проходила в очень большой ложе одного из вождей. Многие мальчики были там, сидя близко друг к другу на диванах, но ни у кого из них не было такой хорошей одежды или они сами были такими красивыми, как он. Но все они были его друзьями. Когда он вошел, они кричали: "О, вот Синопа. Добро пожаловать, брат, добро пожаловать.

Красный журавль подошёл к задней части ложи и сел с двумя стариками. Они общались несколько минут, а потом один из них, сначала призвав к молчанию, совершил долгую молитву. Он умолял Солнце и всех богов неба, земли и вод дать им долгую жизнь и счастье, и всегда много игры в пищу. В конце молитвы все мальчики воскликнули: "Да, все вы великие боги, жалейте нас; пожалейте нас ".

Далее старики взялись за барабаны

Then came at last one of the great days in the life of Sinopah. Dressed all in his new war-clothes, with otter-skin bow-case slung on his back, he went with his grandfather to the meeting of the Mosquitoes. It was held in a very large lodge of one of the chiefs. Many boys were there, sitting close together on the couches, but none of them had as fine clothes or were themselves as handsome as was he. But they were all his friends. When he entered they cried out: "Oh, here is Sinopah. Welcome, brother, welcome."

Red Crane went to the back of the lodge and sat with two old men. They talked together for a few minutes, and then one of them, first calling out for silence, made a long prayer. He begged the Sun, and all the gods of the sky, the earth, and the waters, to give them all long life and happiness, and always a plenty of game for food. At the end of the prayer all the boys cried out, "Yes, all you great gods, have pity on us; have pity on us."

Next the old men took up their drums and beat them in time to a war-song they sung. The boys all arose then and danced around and around the fireplace, old Red Crane often stopping them to show one of the dancers his mistakes. Then after the dance they rested, and one of the old men gave them a talk on kindness of heart. During another rest, old Red Crane spoke about bravery, saying, among other things, that for the good of the tribe one must be ever ready to give his life.