in the early morning, when father sun began to put his star babies to bed, the little cliff-dwellers awoke.

they looked about for their father and mother, for they thought they had been sleeping on their own little skin bed.

“why, teni,” said mavo, “we are out of doors; see the red cliff, and the cedar-tree over there.”

they called and called, but no one answered.

even the owl had gone.

teni took mavo by the hand, and said, “let us go home.”

so they started straight for the cliff which they thought was home.

they walked and walked, but the cliff was not as near as it seemed.

mavo began to cry, and said, “oh, teni, hurry home, i am so hungry!”

“never mind, mavo,” said teni, “i will find something for you to eat, and then we will try to find home.”

so mavo stopped crying, and clung to teni’s hand, as he looked about for the little plant which he knew was good to eat.

teni had to look a long time, and mavo was very tired before he found the plant.

“see, mavo! this is what i have been looking for,” said teni, as he stooped down and pulled up an herb.

“let us eat these roots; they are very good; then we will start for home.”

the brother and sister stopped a short time to eat their breakfast of roots, then they ran on again.

as the sun grew hotter the sand seemed to grow heavier.

how glad they would be to find their home!