noon
Little they knew how near he was as they tracked off in single file towards the hills , with Siss the Tracker leading them . And she watched the women and children , after the men had gone , gathering fern-fronds and twigs for the night fire , and the boys and girls running and playing together . But the very old woman made her feel afraid . Towards noon , when most of the others were down at the stream by the bend , she came and stood on the hither side of the knoll , a gnarled brown figure , and gesticulated so that Eudena could scarce believe she was not seen . Eudena lay like a hare in its form , with shining eyes fixed on the bent witch away there , and presently she dimly understood it was the lion the old woman was worshipping -- the lion Ugh-lomi had slain . And the next day the hunters came back weary , carrying a fawn , and Eudena watched the feast enviously . And then came a strange thing .