nts has
done pitched their camps about half a mile apart so as to give the
pageant spread an' distances. When he's half way, the Strike Axe buck
fronts up an' slams loose with his Winchester; it's a signal the _baile_
is on.

"At the rifle crack, mounted on a pony that's the flower of the Strike
Axe herd, the Saucy Willow comes chargin' for the Crooked Claws like a
shootin' star. The Saucy Willow is a sunburst of Osage richness! an' is
packin' about five hundred dollars' worth of blankets, feathers, beads,
calicoes, ribbons, an' buckskins, not to mention six pounds of brass an'
silver jewelry. Straight an' troo comes the Saucy Willow; skimmin' like
a arrow an' as rapid as the wind!

"As Saucy Willow embarks on this expedition, thar starts to meet
her--afoot they be but on the run--Tom Six-killer an' a brace of squaw
cousins of Bill's. Nacherally, bein' he out-lopes the cousins, Tom
Six-killer runs up on the Saucy Willow first an' grabs her bronco by the
bridle. The two young squaw cousins ain't far behind the Six-killer,
for they can run like rabbits, an' they arrives all laughter an' cries,
an' with one move searches the Saucy Willow outen the saddle. In less
time than it takes to get action on a drink of licker the two young
squaws has done stripped the Saucy Willow of every feather, bead an' rag,
an' naked as when she's foaled they wrops her up, precious an' safe in a
blanket an' packs her gleefully into the camp of Crooked Claw. Here they
re-dresses the Saucy Willow an' piles on the gew-gaws an' adornments,
ontil if anything she's more gorgeous than former. The pony which the
Saucy Willow rides goes to the Six-killer, while the two she-cousins, as
to the balance of her apparel that a-way, divides the pot.

"An' now like a landslide upon the Crooked Claws comes the Strike Axe
household. Which they're thar to the forty-'leventh cousin; savages
keepin' exact cases on relatives a mighty sight further than white folks.
The Crooked Claw fam'ly is ready. It's Crooked Claw's turn to make the
feast, an' that eminent Osage goes the distance. Crooked Claw shorely
does himse'f proud, while Bill's mother, the Silent Comanche, is
hospitable, but dignified. It's a great weddin'. The Wild Cat is
pirootin' about, makin' mean an' onfeelin' remarks, as becomes a widow
lady with a knowledge of the world an' a bundle the size an' shape of a
roll of blankets. The two fam'lies goes squanderin' about among each
other, fre