irst you are made war leader, then you marry the Chief's daughter,
and now you have my collar of elks' teeth to top all.

SIMWA

(_Gathering up the stakes._) Will you take a chance to have it back
again?

TAVWOTS

I would, if I had anything to stake you; but my luck has left me
little but my shirt.

SIMWA

I will play you for that.

TAVWOTS

Not until after the wedding. (_Rises._)

SIMWA

As you like. Your shirt against the collar. Do you play, friends?

FIRST INDIAN

Not I.

YAVI

Nor I. The luck is all to Simwa. (_All rise._)

TAVWOTS

Yes. One would think he had been courting the Chisera.

SIMWA

(_Who has risen, turning sharply._) How?

TAVWOTS

I said I could not guess how you manage to be always winning, unless
you have made love to the Chisera, and she has persuaded the gods for
you. (_Slapping him on the back._) Why, this is the first time you
were ever accused of love-making and looked sourly over it!

SIMWA

(_Smirking._) No fault of mine if the women like a good figure.

TAVWOTS

No advantage either from this time henceforward. Here comes Chief
Rain Wind to marry you to his daughter.

CHIEF

(_Issuing from his wickiup in full holiday dress, blanketed._) Where
is she?

SEEGOOCHE

She gathers flowers with her young companions. She comes presently.

CHIEF

Bid the married women prepare to bless the bridal. Are the guests all
here?

SEEGOOCHE

Choco and the others who went out to hunt early this morning have not
yet returned.

CHIEF

I would speak with them when they come. And Padahoon?

TAVWOTS

I do not know, unless he visits the Chisera.

SIMWA

(_Startled._) Padahoon?

TAVWOTS

So often does he go to her house, if he did not have a wife already,
I should think he had an eye to her. The best cut of my next kill
against my shirt, Simwa, that he goes to find ways to make good
against you the loss of the leadership.

SIMWA

(_Complacently._) Padahoon cannot forgive me the victory at Castac.

TAVWOTS

Well, if the Tecuya Creek tribes keep up their quarreling, we are all
likely to wish you had not killed off so many of their fighting men.

SIMWA

I shall deal with the Tecuyas as I did with Castac.

TAVWOTS

The gods were with you. Next time Padahoon may win the Chisera to be
on his side.

SIMWA

(_Suspiciously._) What do you mean? Am I not war leader of
Sagharawite?

TAVWOTS

So lon