212 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 53 



and a close observer learns to look there for a betraying muscular 

 movement. 



In prej^aration for a moccasin game a blanket is spread on the 

 ground, beside which are placed the articles staked on the result of 

 the game. A rifle is usually wagered on the result of six consecutive 

 games, a blanket on three games, and a shirt on one game, while a 

 beaded bag is staked on two or three games, according to its value. 



Before beginning the game a knife is tossed to decide which side 

 shall be first to hide the bullets. On the side which is to hide the 

 bullets one player holds a drum; the other lays four moccasins in a 

 row on the blanket and takes in his hand the four bullets which he is 

 to hide. On the side which is to guess, one player holds the striking- 

 stick with which to toss aside the moccasins, and the other, seated at 

 his left, holds in liis left hand the four bullets with which he will 

 indicate his guess. Beside these players are laid the 20 sticks with 

 which the score is kept. 



When all is ready the drummer sings a moccasin game song and 

 beats the drum while his partner lifts the toe of each moccasin with 

 liis left hand and slips a bullet under it with his right hand, his 

 opponents watcliing closely to detect some change of manner or facial 

 expression when the marked bullet is placed in position. (Pis. 27, 28.) 



If the guessing player who holds the striking-stick is sure that he 

 knows under which moccasin the marked bullet is hidden and is 

 willing to risk the score on his own judgment, he extends his right 

 liantl with two fingers spread. In this case his partner does not 

 indicate his guess, and if the leading player's guess is correct the score 

 is the same as for a ''double crack." This course is seldom followed, 

 however, usually each of the guessing players deciding where he thinks 

 the mai'ked bullet is hidden. 



The guesser holding the bullets slips the marked one into a position 

 corresponding to the moccasin under wliich he thinks the other marked 

 bullet is concealed. For instance, if the guesser thinks his opponent 

 has hidden the marked bullet under the moccasin next to the right end 

 of the row, he places the marked bullet in his own hand between the 

 first and second fingers, the position corresponding to that moccasin 

 when his open hand is extended toward his opponents. The man 

 holding the bullets is allowed only one guess. The man with the 

 striking-stick is allowed thi'ee guesses; if he tosses aside two mocca- 

 sins without disclosing the marked bullet, he may turn another, on 

 which the score is made. His partner then indicates his own guess; 

 if correct, he opens his hand and shows the marked bullet in the 

 right position; if incorrect, he extends his hand with the thumb 

 down, meaning "I have guessed wrong" (pi. 29). 



A correct guess by both players is called a ''double crack," which 

 entitles them to an additional turn at hiding the bullets, provided 



