Within, the Grainger dance, a great success from the start, was in full swing.
“They need one more couple here,” Pearse Masters greeted Maybelle as she reëntered. “Come on,” and they joined a set where Hilda and Billy Grainger stood as one of the head couples. Big John Martin, famous all over the range for his improvisations, was “calling off,” dealing heavily in freehand epithet, comment and admonition.
“Now balance—balance all—and cut ’em to one side,
Swing—swing! Now chase your squirrels as fast as you can ride!”
There was applause and laughter from both dancers and lookers-on.
“Gents to the center. All Hippity-hop;
Hipp’s the youngest calf of all the blame’ crop.”
The ancient grinned. Some of the boys sounded a mild “Yip-pee!”
“Ladies, circle ’em, circle ’em, then,
Cut your partners out of the pen.”