leather which fitted his feet like gloves. A pair of leggings of scarlet cloth were attached to a waist-belt, and bound below the knee with garters of variegated bead-work.
It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied with himself. He retouched the paint on his shoulders several times, and modified the glare of that on his wide mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage, before he could tear himself away; but at last he did so, and throwing a large piece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust his looking-glass under his belt, and proceeded to mount his palfrey, which was held in readiness near to the tent door by one of his wives. The horse was really a fine animal, and seemed worthy of a more warlike master. His shoulders, too, were striped with red paint, and feathers were intertwined with his mane and tail, while the bridle was decorated with various jingling ornaments.
Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild-goose and turkey feathers in one hand, and a whip dangling at the wrist of the other, this incomparable dandy sallied forth for a promenade—that being his chief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be done. Other men sharpened their knives, smoked, feasted, and mended their spears and arrows, or played at athletic games.
“Let’s follow my buck,” said Joe Blunt.
“Oui. Come ’long,” replied Henri, striding after the rider at a pace that almost compelled his comrades to run.
“Hold on!” cried Dick, laughing; “we don’t want to keep him company. A distant view is quite enough o’ sich a chap as that.”
“Mais you forget I cannot see far.”
“So much the better,” remarked Joe; “it’s my opinion we’ve seen enough o’ him. Ah! he’s going to look on at the games. Them’s worth lookin’ at.”
The games to which Joe referred were taking place on a green level plain close to the creek, and a little above the waterfall before referred to. Some of the Indians were horse-racing, some jumping, and others wrestling; but the game which proved most attractive was throwing the javelin, in which the young braves were engaged.
This game is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart, in an arena about fifty yards long. One of the players has a hoop of six inches in diameter. At a signal they start off on foot at full speed, and on reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the hoop rolls
