Reluctant though he was to be near Davis and to be compelled to speak with him, he did as she requested. Dismounting, he leaned an arm across the saddle, and only occasionally lifted his face to Bess’ in response to her questions during the dance. But she was now all absorbed in the graceful undulations of the dancer. See how he stretches out his neck and writhes his body like a huge reptile, curving now to the right, till his face nearly touches his shoulder, and swiftly moving forward and again to the left, in long, gliding vibrations! Some of his manoeuvers were so suggestive of a living snake, that Bess could feel her flesh creep. When the music increased, the singing of the squaws shrieked higher and shriller, the dancer thrust forth his head and hissed. She impulsively threw up her hands which came in unexpected contact with the decoration on her sombrero. She gave a little, nervous scream as she felt the rattles quiver under her touch. West glanced quickly at her and asked anxiously if she were ill. Before she could reply, however, Davis said, “Really Bess, this exhibition of savagery is rather hard on your nerves. Let me take you away!” He looked with insolent eyes at Henry West who met the gaze without a tremor of the eyelashes. “It is not that which made me act so silly. I unconsciously touched these things on my hat and they always send the shivers through me. I could not bear them at all, except that they are my first trophy.” “Are you coming with me?” asked Davis, as he began to turn his horse’s head. “Oh, no; for see, all the others are now joining Two Feathers in the snake ceremony! See! even those small boys are dancing like old warriors!” Forward and backward swayed the circle of dancers, undulating in and out past each other; bending their bodies low towards the ground with a creeping movement until they seemed like a huge, squirming mass of bright colored and winged reptiles. In measured tread they danced, they swayed, they moved, in perfect time to the singing of the squaws and the hollow sounding drum. Their heels struck the earth with such unison that one could feel the vibrations. Would they never tire? West asked to be excused, as he wished to prepare his horses for the relay race which was to begin later. The fact was, he felt himself growing hot and angry in Davis’ presence and feared that something might occur to make him lose his self-control. Once during the conversation Davis had asked Henry West why he had not joined in the dance. Bess did not see the smiling sneer as he asked the question, and consequently thought it was only meant for a joke.