Once on the ground he walked--still trembling and suspiciously scanning the cliff wherein the Corn people had their abodes--as straight as possible toward the big house.

Nobody interfered with him; not even his two defenders noticed that he had gone; they both remained standing silent, with hearts beating anxiously.
"Okoya," the woman called from below, "come and eat.

Mitsha, come down and give sa uishe something to eat." A thrill went through Okoya's whole frame.

She had called him _sa uishe_,--"my child." He ventured to cast a furtive glance at the maiden.
Mitsha had recovered her self-control; she returned his shy glance with an open, free, but sweet look, and said,-- "Come and partake of the food." There was no resisting an invitation from her.

He smiled; she returned the smile in a timid way, as shy and embarrassed as his own.
She descended first and Okoya followed.