The woman had been quite a favourite of his ever since she became so kind to his sick mother.

Nevertheless he had always felt afraid of her on account of her reputation as a doubtful character.

Now the sight of her made him angry, for she was his mother's friend and a witch also! So he resumed his walk and passed her with a short, sulky _guatzena_.

Shotaye noticed his surly manner and looked straight at him, returning the morose greeting with a loud _raua_ that sounded almost like a challenge.
Then she went on with a smile of scorn and amusement on her lips.

She was not afraid of the young fellow, for she attributed his surly ways to sitting up late.
Okoya was glad to get out of the woman's reach, and he did not stop until at the entrance to the caves which Hayoue and his folk occupied.
There was no necessity of announcing himself; he merely lifted the curtain of rawhide that hung over the doorway, and peeped in.
His youthful uncle--so much he saw at a glance--was not in.