Tyope had known Nacaytzusle thoroughly from childhood.
Twenty years before, the Dinne had killed an old woman from the Tyuonyi.
The murder took place near the gorge, on the mesa north of it, whither she had gone to collect the edible fruit of the pinon tree.

When the corpse was discovered the scalp had been taken; and this, rather than the killing, demanded speedy revenge.

A number of able-bodied men of the clan to which the grandmother belonged gathered in order to fast and make the usual sacrifices preliminary to the formation of a war party.
On the last night of their fast a delegate from the hishtanyi chayani appeared in their midst, and performed the customary incantations.

He painted their bodies with the black lustrous powder of iron and manganese ore which is believed to strike terror into the hearts of enemies.

He selected their leader, invested him with the office, and blessed the war-fetiches.