head.

"A little more," iterated the savage, grasping a handful, which, with
much exertion, he severed from the head, and left the white skin
exposed to view.

"Won't you have some more?" continued Sneak, without evincing the
least pain. "Jest take as much as you please; if you tear it off till
my head's as bald as an egg, I won't beg you to let me alone."

"You brave fellow--won't pull your hair any more," said the chief.

"You be dod rot!" said Sneak, contemptuously.

"You mighty brave, shake hands!" continued the laughing savage,
holding his hand out in mockery.

"If you'll untie my foot a minit, I'll bet I kick some of the ribs out
of your body. Why don't you knock our brains out, and be done at once,
you black wolves you!" said Sneak.

"Oh, Sneak! for my sake--your poor friend's sake, don't put such an
idea as that into their heads!" said Joe, imploringly.

"You're a purty friend, ain't you? You'd give so _much_ to ransom me!
They aint a going to quit us without killin' us, and I want it all
over jest as soon as it kin be done."

"Oh, no, Sneak! Maybe they'll take pity on us and spare our lives,"
said Joe, assuming a most entreating look as the savage once more
approached him.

"You make good big Osage; you come with us, if we let you live?"
demanded the old Indian.

"I pledge you my most sacred word and honour I will!"

"You run away, you rascal," said the savage, plucking another tuft of
hair from Joe's head.

"I'll be hanged if I stand this any longer!" said Joe, striving to
break the cord that confined him.

"Don't notice the black cowards," said Sneak.

"How can I help noticing them, when they're pulling out my hair by the
roots!" said Joe.

"Look where they pulled mine out," said Sneak, turning that part of
his head in view which had been made literally bald.

"Didn't it hurt you?" asked Joe.

"Sartinly it did," said Sneak, "but I grinned and bore it. And now I
wish they'd pull it all off, and then my scalp wouldn't do 'em any
good."

"That's a fact," said Joe. "Here, Mr. Osage," he continued, "pull as
much hair off the top of my head as you want." The savages, instead of
paying any attention to him, seemed to be attracted by some distant
sound. They stooped down and placed their ears near the earth, and
listened intently for some time. At length they sprang up, and then
ensued another dispute among them about the manner in which the
prisoners should be disposed of. The old savage w