The old men remained seated, but the young ones slipped out of the circle one after another, and assembled in groups at the edge of the bushes, whence the whole procession, appearing at the rocky outlet to the valley, could be better seen. A young girl rode in front on a dark yellow reindeer. Her clothes were richly ornamented with silver, a fact which at once suggested that she was a great favourite in her family. She held a long spear in her hand, and wore a band, embroidered with beads, on her loose hair. As she rode along, she cleared her path by cutting away the twigs and gnarled branches which might catch from behind on the packsaddle or her clothing. When she raised her spear the sunbeams played on the edge of its steel surface in a fiery gleam, and hovered over her head for a moment like a will-o'wisp; then, passing along her shining silver scarf, they fell on her right hand, and finally faded away in the grass of the river-islands. 'Choka! Chogai!' the charming girl exclaimed. She was accompanied by two black dogs, which kept running ahead, and then turning back to examine and sniff at everything, leaving nothing unnoticed. Following her in a long line came the laden reindeer, some of which were being ridden by women, and children who were tied on to the top like tight bundles. At the very end of the caravan two armed huntsmen, aided by dogs, drove a herd of unladen reindeer with their calves. The noise, clatter, and bustle, the frightened calling of the cows seeking their calves which had gone astray in the confusion, the jingle of bells, the rattle of clappers hanging from the necks of the animals in front, the cries of the men calling to the herd or keeping it in order,--all this whirlpool of seething, exuberant life filled the valley with a resounding echo, and fell on the ear of the listener as a great familiar song of the happiness and well-being of a free nomad existence. The spectators' eyes glistened. Unable to restrain an outburst of feeling, they began to describe the impressions made upon them by the scenes and faces passing by like fleeting shadows. 'See, there is old Nioren!' 'What an energetic old woman!' 'Formerly all the Tungus women were like that.' 'So they say--' 'Look how cleverly she manages her reindeer.' 'That's one good thing, but they say that she bore a son to Seltichan not long ago, and that's better still.' 'There's nothing wonderful in that; Majantylan's wife is older, and she also bore--' 'Hush! Look, there is Sala, the old man's daughter-in-law, about whom they sing songs.' 'But is she not worthy of them?' 'Yes, indeed!' 'You may chatter away, but if Miore hears you, he will give it you!' 'What can he do to us? I am not afraid of him.' 'Look,--look!--Laubzal!--Zleci!' 'Actually!--What a wild reindeer!--They needn't have put a little boy on it!' 'He's a plucky lad! Look!--The old man will be delighted with him!' 'And Chun-Me!'