as much to say as the bucks among Injuns.  They owns their own ponies an’ backs their own play an’ is as big a Injun as anybody, allowin’ for that nacheral difference between squaw dooties an’ buck dooties—­one keeps camp while the other hunts, or doorin’ war times when one protects the herds an’ plunder while the other faces the foe.  You hears that squaws is slaves?  However is anybody goin’ to be a slave where thar’s as near nothin’ to do in the way of work as is possible an’ let a hooman live?  Son, thar ain’t as much hard labour done in a Injun camp in a week—­ain’t as much to do as gets transacted at one of them rooral oyster suppers to raise money for the preacher!

“Bill’s fam’ly comes trailin’ in to this powwow about pickin’ out a squaw for Bill.  Besides Crooked Claw, thar’s Bill’s widow aunt, the Wild Cat—­she’s plumb cunnin’, the Wild Cat is, an’ jest then bein’ cel’brated among the Osages for smokin’ ponies with Black B’ar, a old buck, an’ smokin’ Black B’ar out of his two best cayouses.  Besides these two, thar’s The-man-who-bleeds, The-man-who-sleeps, Tom Six-killer, The-man-who-steps-high, an’ a dozen other squaws an’ bucks, incloosive of Bill’s mother who’s called the Silent Comanche, an’ is takin’ the play a heap steady an’ livin’ up to her name.

“The folks sets ‘round an’ smokes Crooked Claw’s kinnikinick.  Then the Wild Cat starts in to deal the game.  She says it’s time Bill’s married, as a onmarried buck is a menace; at this the others grunts agreement.  Then they all turns in to overhaul the el’gible young squaws.  Which they shore shows up them belles!  One after the other they’re drug over the coals.  At last the Wild Cat mentions the Saucy Willow jest as every savage present knows will be done soon or late from the jump.  The Saucy Willow obtains a speshul an’ onusual run for her money.  But it’s settled final that while the Saucy Willow ain’t none too good, she’s the best they can do.  The Saucy Willow belongs to the Elk clan, while Bill belongs to the B’ar clan, an’ that at least is c’rrect.  Injuns don’t believe in inbreedin’ so they allers marries out of their clan.

“As soon as they settles on the Saucy Willow as Bill’s squaw, they turns in to make up the ‘price.’  The Wild Cat, who’s rich, donates a kettle, a side of beef, an’ the two cayouses she smokes outen the besotted Black B’ar.  The rest chucks in accordin’ to their means, Crooked Claw comin’ up strong with ten ponies; an’ Bill’s mother, the Silent Comanche, showin’ down with a bolt of calico, two buffalo robes, a sack of flour an’ a lookin’ glass.  This plunder is to go to the Saucy Willow’s folks as a ‘price’ for the squaw.  No, they don’t win on the play; the Saucy Willow’s parents is out dinero on the nuptials when all is done.  They has to give Bill their wickeyup.