Back of her in the teepee a woman was moving about her work,--the daughter, Pahrunta. Burton smiled at her and she smiled back in recognition.
Welch said something in their own tongue, and the younger woman waddled across the place and brought out a large basket holding the wares that she took to the town to sell. They were mostly trumpery things,--impossible birch-bark baskets and bead-worked match-holders and collar-boxes supposed to appeal to the taste of the tourist. But Burton saw, with thankfulness, that the large basket which held the things was woven with the same strong, peculiar twist that he had studied so carefully in the example he already owned.
"Ask them who made the large basket," he said, while he handled the gay trivialities with careless hand.
Welch duly translated the inquiry, and said: "She did,--Ehimmeshunka here. Made it long ago, she says."
"Ask her if she will teach me to make one like it."
This, translated, provoked only laughter from Pahrunta and a grunt from Washitonka. The old, old woman looked on without expression.
"Tell her I will pay her," said Burton, showing money.
It took a good deal of explaining to get the idea really understood, and then Ehimmeshunka shook her head.
"She says the winter has come into her fingers and they are like twigs when the frost is on them," he explained, with some difficulty. "Now she can only put beads on a string like a child."
"Ask if she ever taught any one else when her fingers were young."
Before Welch could translate this question, Washitonka spoke a curt word to the woman. His intonation and look needed no translation. Burton guessed quickly enough that it was an injunction of silence, and this was confirmed when Ehimmeshunka's grin faded into stolidity and she took up her work again.
"Old Wash says she never taught anybody," said Welch.
This response and the look he had intercepted gave Burton pause. Was he being purposely blocked in his investigation? He did not wish to prejudice his case by too much urgency, so he deemed it best to drop the matter for the time. He gave Ehimmeshunka a coin, and turned away with Welch.
"What do you know yourself about these people?" he asked the Agent.
"Well, not much. You see, I've just come."