“A truce!” cried Gladys, coming to the rescue of Nyoda. “Let’s play charades.”
“Good!” said Migwan. “You be leader of one side and let Nyoda take the other. Whichever side gives up first will have to get supper for the rest.”
Gladys chose Sahwah, Mrs. Gardiner, Betty, Ophelia, Tom and Calvin. Nyoda chose Mr. and Mrs. Landsdowne, Hinpoha, Migwan, Chapa, Medmangi and Nakwisi. Gladys’s side went out first and came in without her.
“Word of three syllables, first syllable,” said Sahwah, who acted as spokesman. The whole company sat down in a row, striking the most doleful attitude and groaning as if in pain, and shedding tears into their handkerchiefs.
“Most woeful looking crowd I ever saw,” remarked Mr. Landsdowne.
“Woe!” shouted Nyoda, triumphantly, and the guess was correct.
The weepers continued their weeping in the second syllable, and then Gladys appeared, felt of all their pulses and gave each a dose out of a bottle, whereupon they all straightened up, lost their symptoms of distress, and capered for joy.
“Cure,” said Migwan. The players shook their heads.
“Heal,” shouted Hinpoha, and Gladys acknowledged it.
In the last syllable Gladys went around and demanded payment for her services, but in each case was met with a promise to pay at some future time.