Then said they to one another, "We must seek (but how?) the maidens; and we must summon them forth from their hiding with solemn promise, if only that we may look upon them once more and see that they go forth at least content with those who have not wrought this evil, and content with us, not wroth; and that they be not thus wroth or sad hearted, and therefore withhold not from us their sacred breaths of blessing, lacking which the corn seed, life of flesh, can not flourish. But who shall seek them for us? They left no trail behind and far must have instant journeyed, being now of other-being--as may be seen by their cast-off garments, left here with us. O, woe! woe the day when we heeded not well their preciousness! If woe to us, woe indeed to our murmuring children who know not what they want, and lightly consider too many of the things they have, therein lightly holding them!" THE SEEKING OF THE MAIDENS OF CORN BY THE EAGLE. Again, therefore, called they forth the two master-priests, and said: "Who, now, think ye, should journey to seek our precious maidens? Bethink ye, strong of will, who amongst the beings is even as ye are, strong of will and good of eyes? "There is our great elder brother and father, the Eagle, he of the side floating down (_sulahaiyan látane_) and the terraced tail-fan (_áwi‘hluiyan k‘yátine_); surely he is enduring of will and surpassing of sight." "Yea, most surely," said the fathers. "Go ye forth and beseech him." Then northward fared the twain swiftly to Twin mountain, where dwelt with his mate and his young, in a grotto high up among the crags, the Eagle of the White Bonnet. And when they climbed the mountain and spake in at the entrance of the grotto, behold! only the eaglets were there, who, frightened, screamed lustily, striving to hide themselves in the dark recesses to the rearward, "O, pull not our feathers, ye of hurtful touch, but wait, when we are older we will drop them e'en from the clouds for you!" "Hush!" said the warriors, "wait ye in peace, for we seek not ye but thy father!" But from afar came at once, a frown on his brow, the old Eagle. "Why disturb ye my pin-featherlings?" cried he. "Behold, father and elder brother, we come seeking only the light of thy favor. Listen!" Then they told him of the lost Corn maidens, and prayed him to seek them, that messages of conciliation might be sent them or given. "Being so, be it well with thy wishes. Go ye before contentedly," answered the Eagle, smoothing his feathers.