the dowagers derived much honor from their
position, especially upon public occasions, tak-
ing to themselves no small amount of credit
for the good reputations of their charges.

Weshawee, whose protege had many suitors
and was a decided coquette, fidgeted nervously
and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered
her necklace to ease her mind, for she dreaded
lest, in spite of watchfulness, some mishap
might have befallen her charge. Her anxiety
was apparently shared by several other chap-
erons who stole occasional suspicious glances
in the direction of certain of the young braves.
It had been known to happen that a girl un-
worthy to join in the sacred feast was publicly
disgraced.

A special police force was appointed to keep
order on this occasion, each member of which
was gorgeously painted and bedecked with
eagle feathers, and carried in his hand a long
switch with which to threaten the encroaching
throng. Their horses wore head-skins of fierce
animals to add to their awe-inspiring appear-
ance.

The wild youths formed the outer circle of
the gathering, attired like the woods in au-
tumn, their long locks glossy with oil and per-