Thereupon Socoy, his eldest brother, laughed at him. "O stupid Tucay! to stint yourself, when your Lilote knows nothing of your success! We men need the flesh to give us great strength. It is a woman's place to deny herself for us."
The five other brothers argued in the same strain. Tucay answered each time: "You do what you like. I wish to save half of my game for my wife."
"And the better half at that," scoffed Socoy; and all the others joined in teasing their youngest brother.
Lilote behind the willows heard and saw all. Her heart quickened as she listened to Tucay's words. Her mouth watered when the rabbit legs sizzled on the hot coals, but she kept as still as the quail in the thicket.
The brothers licked their lips in satisfaction over the last morsels, and hid the bones and skins in the gulch below the village. Then they settled around the fire to smoke.
In a little while Lilote came noisily out of her own hut. She rubbed her eyes and yawned broadly. Her face was bound up in cascara leaves. As she saw the brothers, she stopped in apparent surprise. "Are you home so soon, or have I slept all day? I had a pain in my face this morning and did not go out. How much game did you get?"
