charm.
When the superior power of the chief had been fully tested and
acknowledged, and the women had been allowed ample time to remove
themselves to a safe distance and place innumerable barriers between
themselves and this fiendish monster, the pipe was gradually withdrawn
from before him, and he was once more allowed to follow the dictates of
his low and bestial mind. No sooner did he feel himself free from this
constraining influence than he dashed into the center of the group of
dancers, and attacking one of the young men who was dressed in the guise
of a buffalo, _hivung ee a wahkstia chee a nahks tammee ung s towa; ee
ung ee aht ghwat ee o nungths tcha ho a tummee osct no ah ughstom ah hi
en ah nohxt givi aht gahtch gun ne_.
After this performance he visited three others in succession, and
indulged in antics of a light character, that elicited shouts of
laughter and rounds of applause. The Indians considered the strict
observance of this particular ceremony as highly important, and
calculated to be of great benefit in attracting game to their vicinity
in the coming season.
During the scene Okeehede had become quite exhausted by his exercise,
and seemed to be anxiously looking around for some feasible means of
escape. The women had by this time overcome the fear which his entrance
had caused, and now gathered about him in shoals, poking him with bits
of stick, throwing stones at his body, and giving expression to their
dislike in various ways that suggested themselves on the spur of the
moment. At length, one more courageous than the rest gathered a handful
of yellow clay, and drawing quite near, awaited her opportunity when the
fiend's attention was directed to another quarter, then dashing up to
him, emptied the contents of her hands over his body. The change was
magical; the yellow clay was attracted and held by the grease with which
his body was besmeared, turning his color from black to bright yellow.
He seemed to become quite heartbroken at this signal disgrace, and
losing control of his feelings, commenced crying vehemently, when, as
quick as thought, a fearless young maiden made a frantic clutch at the
magic, ball-tipped wand. She was successful beyond her most sanguine
anticipations, and flew through the crowd, bearing the trophy high above
her head. The other women gathered around her, beseeching her to let
them break the wand, and thus end the spell. Their entreaties were at
last acceded to, and t
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