aver made
some expressive signs.

"Wah--bully--me heap wicked," rejoined the Woodpecker, expectorating
on a stone and beginning to whet his jack-knife.

The keen and suggestive "_weet, weet, weet_" of the knife on the
stone smote on Guy's ears and nerves with appalling effect.

"Brother Woodpecker, the spirit of our tribe calls out for the blood
of the victim--all of it."

"Great Chief Woodpecker, you mean," said Sam, aside. "If you don't
call me Chief, I won't call you Chief, that's all."

The Great Woodpecker and Little Beaver now entered the teepee,
repainted each other's faces, adjusted their head-dresses and stepped
out to the execution.

The Woodpecker re-whetted his knife. It did not need it, but he liked
the sound.

Little Beaver now carried a lot of light firewood and arranged it in
front of the prisoner, but Guy's legs were free and he gave it a kick
which sent it all flying. The two War-chiefs leaped aside. "Ugh! Heap
sassy," said the ferocious Woodpecker. "Tie him legs, oh, Brother
Great Chief Little Beaver!"

A new bark strip tied his legs securely to the tree. Then Chief
Woodpecker approached with his knife and said:

"Great Brother Chief Little Beaver, if we scalp him there is only one
scalp, and _you_ will have nothing to show, except you're content
with the wishbone."

Here was a difficulty, artificial yet real, but Yan suggested:

"Great Brother Chief
Red-headed-Woodpecker-Settin'-on-a-Stump-with-his-Tail-Waggling-over-the
Edge, no scalp him; skin his hull head, then each take half skin."

"Wah! Very good, oh Brother Big-Injun-Chief Great-Little-Beaver-
Chaw-a-Tree-Down."

Then the Woodpecker got a piece of charcoal and proceeded in horrid
gravity to mark out on the tow hair of the prisoner just what he
considered a fair division. Little Beaver objected that he was
entitled to an ear and half of the crown, which is the essential part
of the scalp. The Woodpecker pointed out that fortunately the prisoner
had a cow-lick that was practically a second crown. This ought to do
perfectly well for the younger Chief's share. The charcoal lines were
dusted off for a try-over. Both Chiefs got charcoal now and a new
sketch plan was made on Guy's tow top and corrected till it was
accepted by both.

[Illustration: "Ugh! Heap sassy!"]

The victim had really never lost heart till now. His flow of threats
and epithets had been continuous and somewhat tedious. He had
threatened to tell his "paw" an