  They were glad to see the sunshine again. They sat down at the foot of the cliff to rest a moment. “Is that your home?” asked Teni, pointing to the cliff far above him. Mavo looked up at the stone house on the rocky shelf. (uncaptioned) This house, with its plastered walls, looked like a part of the cliff. There were finger-prints in the plaster, for the people had worked with their hands, because they had few tools. The tools they did have were made of stone and bone. (uncaptioned) The children noticed a woman climbing into the high door-way. Mavo said, “Who is that?” “My wife,” replied Demino. The woman turned and saw the children. She wore a loose skin tunic, and her long black hair hung over her shoulders. She smiled at the children, and motioned to Demino to come up into the house. A little boy was shouting to his father from the small window above the door. (uncaptioned) He, too, had seen the strangers, and wished them to come in. Demino waved his hand and said, “That is my little boy. He wants to see you.” “Let us hurry and climb the ladder.” Mavo cried, “I will not go! I will not go! I want my mother!” She did not like the strange house. Teni put his arm about his sister and said, “Come, Mavo. We must be brave.” When they were in the house even Teni felt strange, for it was very much larger than his house. Tears came to his eyes, but he tried hard not to cry. “Oh, Mavo!” he called, “see!” and they ran to the corner, where a tiny brown baby lay fast asleep on a deerskin. The little boy, who had been climbing up and down some wooden pegs in the wall, ran toward them, saying, “That is my baby brother.” (uncaptioned) Mavo lay down on the deerskin and put her little hands on the baby’s cheek. She was happy now, and soon fell asleep. |
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