The wisest of the visitors seek places on the balconies and housetops; but not all of them can be accommodated there. Many are forced, if they would see anything, to stand on the ledge with the dancers. Dense groups mass at each end of the plaza and along the house-walls, and men and boys, white and red, stand four-deep on the outer edge, facing the snakes, and with a death-drop behind them. A tourist who would hesitate about hunting a rattlesnake out of a bush will at this time develop courage beyond all understanding.
When I first noted the possibility—the probability—of accident at this unguarded mesa-brink, I proposed stretching a stout rope along it as some small measure of [[250]]precaution; and I summoned the old Snake man to advise him of its purpose. A rope there might easily have been against the traditions, and I was new at the game of supervision. From the kiva came a nude figure and stood before me in the sight of the multitude. The interpreter explained my plan.
OPENING THE WALPI SNAKE DANCE
Antelope priests lined at the kisi
DRAMATIC ENTRY OF THE SNAKE PRIESTS AT WALPI
“I see,” said the old man, nodding; “these people are your friends, and you do not want them hurt.”
Now I did not care to vouch for all those present, and so corrected him.
“No, they are not my friends—not all of them; they are people who travel about the country and come to see your dance.”