The boom of sliding avalanches answered him.  The sound was like that of muffled thunder.  Wild cries arose from the mountain birds.  They sounded demoniacal in the taut air.

Far below soared the black vultures of the arctic.  In a fit of anger Ootah shook his arms frantically at the shrieking birds.  For they seemed to mock him.

“Spirits of the clouds,” he wailed, “Ioh—­ioh—­ioh-h!  Ye that wander to the south!  Ye that fly to the north!  Ye that struggle hither and yon, from the east to the west.  Bear my curses to Annadoah.  Tell her that the heart of Ootah is bitter.  Tell her Ootah would that her voice become as harsh as the winds of ookiah (winter).  Tell her Ootah would that her face become withered as frozen lands in winter.  Tell her Ootah would that her heart rot within her, that the wild beasts feed upon her breasts. Ioh-h—­ioh-h-h!  Sing unto her the curses of Ootah, and may she not rest!”

Below him the clouds, burning with vivid fire, moved in the varying strata of air currents—­to Ootah they were conveying his messages.  The sun, circling low about the horizon, shifted its rays, and within the nebulous cloud-masses in the valleys, fountains of prism light played.  In this radiant phantasmagoria messages in turn came to Ootah.

He saw the figuration of Annadoah’s tent, and within, reclining upon her couch, the form of Annadoah.  At the mirage picture of the beauteous and beloved maiden his heart throbbed violently.  In the high altitude he found respiration difficult, and now he almost suffocated for lack of breath.  He felt a pang at his heart as he saw the white chief enter the tent.  The winds wailed sibilant and agonizing messages into the ears of Ootah: 

“Thou hast cursed Annadoah.  Foolish Ootah!  For thou lovest Annadoah!  Yea, her voice is as sweet as the sound of melting streams in springtime.  Lo, she whispers into the ears of Olafaksoah:  ’Thou art strong, Olafaksoah; Ootah hath the heart of a woman.  Thou hurtest me, Olafaksoah; thy arms bruise me, thy hands make me ache; but thou art strong, thou art great, Olafaksoah; the heart of Annadoah trembles for joy of thee.’  Thus saith Annadoah!”

And in the winds Ootah heard Olafaksoah’s coarse laughter.

“Ioh—­ioh-h-h!” Ootah moaned.

“Thou wouldst that Annadoah’s face be blighted as frozen land in winter,” laughed the winds, mockingly.  “Thou dotard Ootah!  Thou lovest the face of Annadoah.  It is very fair.  It is golden as the radiant face of Sukh-eh-nukh.  Her eyes are as bright as stars in the winter night.  Oh-h-h, Ootah!  Into the eyes of Olafaksoah Annadoah gazes, yea, she faints with joy, thou silly Ootah!”

“Ioh—­ioh-h-h!” wailed Ootah.

“Her lips are red, Ootah—–­red as a wound in the throat of a deer.”

And in the cloud vision Ootah saw the blond chief take the head of Annadoah between his two palms and press her lips fiercely upon his own.  Ootah’s heart trembled as water.