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Eastman, Charles A., 1858-1939

"Old Indian Days"

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-
fumed with scented grass and leaves. Many
pulled their blankets over their heads as if to
avoid recognition, and loitered shyly at a dis-
tance.
Among these last were Antelope and his
cousin, Red Eagle. They stood in the angle
formed by the bodies of their steeds, whose
noses were together.


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