He felt pride in the elder's confidence, but was too modest to express it.

So he merely replied,-- "Nashtio, I am very young, and you are much wiser than I.How can I speak so that your heart may be relieved?
You know how I must speak, and when you tell me I will try and do it." He gazed into Hayoue's features with a timid, doubting look; he could hardly conceive that his uncle really needed advice from him.
It was Hayoue's turn to sigh to-day.

Slowly he said,-- "Last night the uuityam was together, and to-day the yaya and the nashtio are fasting." Okoya innocently asked,-- "Why do they fast ?" "That is just what I want to know," Hayoue impatiently exclaimed, "but surely it bodes nothing good." "Why should the wise men want something that is evil ?" said the other, in surprise.
"You are young, mot[=a]tza, you are like a child, else you would not ask such a question.

The wise men are doing penance, not because they intend harm, but in order to prevent the people from being harmed.

Do you understand me now ?" It began to dawn on Okoya's mind; still he had not fully grasped his uncle's meaning.
"Who is going to do evil things to us?
Are there Moshome about ?" Hayoue was struck by the remark.