The journey back up Long Man from the Yonega town seemed more tedious to Timpoochee.
Yufala and the others worked harder paddling upstream. Timpoochee wanted to take his turn but he sat silently in the middle of the boat, fearing if he said anything - particularly about the episode on the Yonega ship - he would unleash his father’s wrath.
After journeying for a while in a stretch of calm, smooth water Yufala finally began talking.
“In the old days people danced often and often danced all night,” he said. “There was once a dance at a very old town, near the origin of Chattahoochee, in the lower mountains.
“The dance had been going on for a while when in walked two young women, both with long, beautiful hair. No one knew them.
“They danced with one partner then another, charming them all.
“One of the young warriors fell in love with one of the women, because of her beautiful hair, and before the night passed asked her to marry him, through an old man as was the custom then.
“The woman told the old man in reply that she would marry the young warrior but she would first have to ask her brother, who was at home. The young woman promised to return to the next dance, seven days later, with a reply from her brother and in the meantime the young warrior would have to fast to prove his love.
“The women slipped away in the morning without anyone seeing them leave.
“The young, smitten warrior did as he was told and fasted, counting the seven days until the next dance.”
“He showed up early and anxious when it was time for the next dance and well into the evening the two women appeared again, just as suddenly as the first time.
“They told the young warrior their brother was willing but he would have to follow them home after the dance and warned him if he told anyone where he went or what he saw he would surely die.”