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 hazarded upon the result of the game, and not only did every warrior bet, but the women carried it to excess, and even the children wagered their childish toys.

It was an affectation of the players to keep out of sight until everything was ready, and they usually were in the adjacent woods, busily painting and feathering in the most fantastic styles imaginable. The two parties who were to contend for the prize were divided, and posted in opposite parts of the woods, and during the process of festooning they indulged in wild whoops and cries.

The goals were now placed by the game director, and a stake set to mark the centre of the field where the ball was sometimes laid, according to custom. At a certain signal the two parties advanced leisurely from their covert, brandishing their sticks, shouting, making terrible contortions and grimaces and turning somersaults. It was customary among the lady loves of the Cherokees to run out on the field at this stage, and give beaded and other tokens of favoritism to their dusky gallants, which these savage lovers wore during the game as faithfully as the most chivalrous knight of the 12th century ever carried