mother's kinsmen."
195 The young warrior stepped forward. "Father," he said, "long have I
dreamed of embracing you. My mother's father has told me that you were a
man of great strength, yet abundant gentleness, one that a son could be
proud of!"
196 Great Mountain stepped forward and seized the youth in a great hug.
Then, he stood back, seized him by the shoulders and looked at him. "You've got your
mother's beauty," he laughed, "and it looks like, my strength! We used
to talk of children, wondering what they'd be like. How is your mother,
boy?"
197 The young man turned away and looked to his grandfather. "My
beloved daughter," announced The Chieftain, "and the love of your
heart, has slept in The Mountain Of Fire for most of her son's years. A
crowded marketplace is not the proper surroundings to talk of such
things. My tents are outside the city. Let us go there."
198 Swift Deer noticed his great friend wipe a tear from his eye with
the corner of his sleeve. "Yes," he agreed, "let us have privacy."
199 When they were in his tent, food and drink sat before them, The Old
Chieftain continued his story. "After you had killed that worthless son
of mine and fled, which at the time you were right in doing because I
would have had your head, I was extremely bitter with my daughter, and
even more so when I learned that your child was within her body.
201 But as she talked of you, and I talked with your kin, and found
what kind of a man you were, my heart softened, and I realized a
dishonor had been done.
202 I sent agents trying to find you,but no one could, and we thought
you dead.