“Now,” said Shoshone, loudly, “set ’em up, Snakesy. We’re going to baptize the baby. Make it whiskey straight, and make it strong.”
“Mein frients, I don’t vant to drink viskey. It goes to mein head und makes me grazy!”
“Whiskey straight, I said, and whiskey straight it will be! What do you want for a chaser?”
“Do me de favor und chase me,” groaned the unhappy man.
Snakes placed the glasses before the men. Shoshone pulled his pistol and, placing it at Morris’ temple, said gruffly:
“Down she goes, or off she blows!”
“All right, down she goes!” said Morris. “Do you t’ink I’m a tam fool? I needet mein head to talk mit.”
This brought a laugh from all, but Shoshone noticed the child standing there, pale with fright and perhaps hunger, he thought; so he stopped what they called “the initiation ceremonies,” to send Loney out to the dining-room for a dinner at his own expense, at the same time whispering to Loney that he need not be afraid. They would not hurt his friend. So Loney half-unwillingly went to the table, where such a meal as he had not had lately was set before him, and to which he did such justice as only a hungry boy can.
“Set ’em up again, Snakes; the baby likes his milk. Give Red Eagle a quart, Snakes.”
Red Eagle took the quart-bottle handed him by Snakes and went to one corner of the room and sat down with his bottle, from which he took ecstatic sips.