Comanche by J. T. Edson Read Free Book Online Page A

back a short distance, giving the appearance of a jacket’s lapels, then fastening the turned back sections to poles outside the tepee, the hole made could be shielded from the wind and create a draught that sucked the smoke from inside. Leaning forward precariously, the pairaivo could not have picked a more inconvenient position had she tried.
    Being astride a fast-running horse, even one almost out of control, held no terrors for a Comanche boy. As he tore along, Loud Voice whooped in delight and showed how he gained his name by the volume of noise he could turn loose. He shot at an angle between the tepees of Sleeps Long And Deep and the tsukup’s next-door neighbour, coming into the tepee builders’ view unexpectedly. Seeing the charging pony headed straight at her, the youngest wife not unnaturally decided to avoid being run down. Unfortunately she forgot that the pairaivo perched insecurely with a foot on her shoulder. With a shriek, the woman flung herself backwards and the pairaivo found herself deprived of one support. Letting out a howl of mingled surprise, fright and anger, the pairaivo lost her balance. Her other foot slipped from the second wife’s shoulder and she fell forward. While sturdily constructed, the tepee lacked its final supports. The pairaivo’s weight, being at the upper part, caused the tepee to collapse.
    Never noted for a mild, even temper when things went wrong, Sleeps Long And Deep did not view the incident calmly. Showing some speed on his feet, he nimbly avoided the falling tepee and leg-waving, curse-screaming pairaivo and so came to no actual harm. However he knew that he would not be fed until after the erection of the tepee and, being a man who enjoyed food, did not care for the idea. Letting out a screech of rage, he shook his fist after the whooping, delighted, departing youngsters who regarded the affair as a glorious joke.
    ‘May Piamempits take you!’ he howled.
    None of the youngsters took any notice of the words, being more concerned with reaching the desired play-area before any other band arrived. Watching the departing children, Sleeps Long And Deep snorted angrily. Despite the fact that they tended to act soberly and show a serious outlook when in the presence of strange white men, the Comanche people possessed a well-developed sense of humour and enjoyed their fun the more if it be boisterous and visual. So the mishap at Sleeps Long And Deep’s tepee brought about much mirth among the onlookers.
    Followed by laughter, which did nothing to lesson his wrath, Sleeps Long And Deep stalked angrily off in search of War Club; Loncey and Loud Voice being the acknowledged leaders of that particular bunch of youngsters. Although War Club and Ysabel—the latter just returned from a most profitable trading trip to the white settlements—managed to put on a straight, unsmiling face by the time the tsukup reached them, they declined to take any action against the boys. True it did not become very young Comanches to treat a respected tsukup and craftsman in such a manner, but one had to excuse their wildness as part of growing up to make useful warriors.
    Nor did Sleeps Long And Deep receive any more comfort on carrying his grievance to other members of the family circle. Loud Voice’s older brother and paternal uncles—the latter classing as his father by Comanche tradition—only laughed. While on a less formal basis than War Club’s brothers, the ara * took a more definite line in the matter and stated that no punishment would come to the boys. As a sop to Sleeps Long And Deep’s wounded pride, however, the ara presented him with a week’s supply of wapiti meat. That had always been the Comanche way, the ara and his nephew being on an easygoing friendly footing. Any boy could treat his ara’s property as his own and rely on the other’s support and protection should be get into trouble.
    In the face of such determined opposition. Sleeps Long And Deep obtained no