e other faces the foe. You
hears that squaws is slaves? However is anybody goin' to be a slave
where thar's as near nothin' to do in the way of work as is possible an'
let a hooman live? Son, thar ain't as much hard labour done in a Injun
camp in a week--ain't as much to do as gets transacted at one of them
rooral oyster suppers to raise money for the preacher!

"Bill's fam'ly comes trailin' in to this powwow about pickin' out a squaw
for Bill. Besides Crooked Claw, thar's Bill's widow aunt, the Wild
Cat--she's plumb cunnin', the Wild Cat is, an' jest then bein' cel'brated
among the Osages for smokin' ponies with Black B'ar, a old buck, an'
smokin' Black B'ar out of his two best cayouses. Besides these two,
thar's The-man-who-bleeds, The-man-who-sleeps, Tom Six-killer,
The-man-who-steps-high, an' a dozen other squaws an' bucks, incloosive of
Bill's mother who's called the Silent Comanche, an' is takin' the play a
heap steady an' livin' up to her name.

"The folks sets 'round an' smokes Crooked Claw's kinnikinick. Then the
Wild Cat starts in to deal the game. She says it's time Bill's married,
as a onmarried buck is a menace; at this the others grunts agreement.
Then they all turns in to overhaul the el'gible young squaws. Which they
shore shows up them belles! One after the other they're drug over the
coals. At last the Wild Cat mentions the Saucy Willow jest as every
savage present knows will be done soon or late from the jump. The Saucy
Willow obtains a speshul an' onusual run for her money. But it's settled
final that while the Saucy Willow ain't none too good, she's the best
they can do. The Saucy Willow belongs to the Elk clan, while Bill
belongs to the B'ar clan, an' that at least is c'rrect. Injuns don't
believe in inbreedin' so they allers marries out of their clan.

"As soon as they settles on the Saucy Willow as Bill's squaw, they turns
in to make up the 'price.' The Wild Cat, who's rich, donates a kettle, a
side of beef, an' the two cayouses she smokes outen the besotted Black
B'ar. The rest chucks in accordin' to their means, Crooked Claw comin'
up strong with ten ponies; an' Bill's mother, the Silent Comanche,
showin' down with a bolt of calico, two buffalo robes, a sack of flour
an' a lookin' glass. This plunder is to go to the Saucy Willow's folks
as a 'price' for the squaw. No, they don't win on the play; the Saucy
Willow's parents is out _dinero_ on the nuptials when all is done. The