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62 LavucHiNnGg Boy 1 AI A I PA A SSS SOSSSNITVIISO YoY ‘God-damnedest la-dee-dah squaw I ever run | acrost!’ She had little appetite, but camped with a . group of distant relatives all too ready to look : askance at her, she took pains to do the normal. . which was to sup well. She helped with the cook- | ing, dipped into the pot of mutton, drank coffee. then rolled a cigarette. The Indians joked and §& laughed without reducing the speed of their eating. | Chunks of meat and bits of squash were scooped. dripping, from the pot, to be compounded with bread into appalling, mouth-filling tidbits. Three $& coffee cups and a Hopi bowl served for all to drink ff in turn; a large spoon was purely a cooking imple- § ment. They sprawled on a half-circle of sheep- skins within the open brush shelter, facing the} fire, chattering and joking. Still in holiday mood. they heaped the blaze high, lighting up the circle . and throwing lights that were ruddy, soft shadows Jl¢ on the bushes roundabout. Some of them prepared to sleep. Visitors] dropped in; more coffee was made. Slim Girl drew apart, into the darkness, and rolled up. Over] there, a chink of light showed in the blanketed door of a big, earth-covered winter hogahn. Sing-| ing came out of it, rollicking, running songs. J They were gambling there; Laughing Boy would ff soon be penniless. She smiled at the thought cf