But when unobserved he had reached the Navajo, he could not withhold a joyful exclamation that startled and interrupted the murderer.

He asked,-- "Dost thou know who that is ?" The other shrugged his shoulders.
"That is Topanashka, the strong and wise warrior.

That is very, very good!" Navajo number two looked closely at the corpse; then he grasped the hair again and resumed the cutting.

Number one touched his arm.
"Why do you do this ?" he asked.
The other chuckled.
"Dost thou not see it, Nacaytzusle," said he; "the people of the houses know that we only take a lock of the hair.

If now they find the body and see that this"-- he pointed to the skin--"is gone, they will think it is one of those up here"-- waving his hand to the north--"that has done it." Nacaytzusle, for he was indeed the second Navajo, nodded approvingly and suffered the other to go on.
Cutting, scraping, tearing, and pulling, he at last succeeded in making a deep incision around the skull.