{Dew-Woman} _(Looking to Red Cloud.)_ Let Red Cloud speak. Since the morning of the world has Red Cloud ever been reborn with the ancient wisdom to guide us. {War Chief} Save in war. In war I command. _(He picks out hunters by name.)_ Deer Foot... Elk Man... Antelope. Run through the forest, climb the hill-tops, seek down the valleys, for aught you may find of this Sun Man. _(At a wave of the War Chief's hand the three hunters depart in different directions.)_ {Dew-Woman} Let Red Cloud speak his mind. {Red Cloud} _(Quietly)_ Last night the earth shook and there was a roaring in the air. Often have I seen, when the earth shakes and there is a roaring, that springs in some places dry up, and that in other places where were no springs, springs burst forth. {Shaman} There is a sign. The Shamans told it of old. The Sun Man will bear the thunder in his hand. {People} There is a sign. The Sun Man will bear the thunder in his hand. {Shaman} The roaring in the air was the thunder of the Sun Man's return. Now will he destroy the Nishinam. Such is the word. {War Chief} Hoh! Hoh! _(From right Deer Foot runs in.)_ {Deer Foot} _(Breathless.)_ They come! He comes! {War Chief} Who comes? {Deer Foot} The Sun Men. The Sun Man. He is their chief. He marches before them. And he is white. {People} There is a sign. The Sun Man is white. {Red Cloud} Carries he the thunder in his hand? {Deer Foot} _(Puzzled)_ He looks hungry. {War Chief} Hoh! Hoh! The Sun Man is hungry. It will be easy to kill a hungry Sun Man. {Red Cloud} It would be easy to be kind to a hungry Sun Man and give him food. We have much. The hunting has been good. {War Chief} Better to kill the Sun Man. _(He turns upon People, indicating most commands in gestures as he prepares the ambush, making women and boys conceal all the camp outfit and game, and disposing the armed hunters among the ferns and behind trees till all are hidden.)_ {Elk Man and Antelope} _(Running down hillside)_ The Sun Man comes. _(War Chief sends them to hiding places)_ {War Chief} _(Preparing himself to hide)_ You have not hidden, O Red Cloud. {Red Cloud} _(Stepping into shadow of big tree where he remains inconspicuous though dimly visible)_ I would see this Sun Man and talk with him. _(The sound of singing is heard, and War Chief conceals himself)_ _(Sun Man, with handful of followers, singing to ease the tedium of the march, enter from right. They are patently survivors of a wrecked exploring skip, making their way inland)_