Yelping like wolves, they move slowly
toward the fire, bearing aloft slender wands tipped with balls of
eagle-down. Rushing around the fire, always to the left, they
begin thrusting their wands toward the fire, trying to burn off
the down from the tips. Owing to the intensity of the heat this
is difficult to accomplish. One warrior dashes wildly toward the
fire and retreats; another lies as close to the ground as a
frightened lizard, endeavoring to wriggle himself up to the fire;
others seek to catch on their wands the sparks that fly in the
air. At last one by one they all succeed in burning the downy
balls from the wands. The test of endurance is very severe, the
heat of the fire being so great.
"The remarkable feats, however, are performed in connection with
another dance that follows. This is heralded by a tremendous
blowing of horns. The noise grows louder and louder until
suddenly ten or more men run into the corral, each of them
carrying two thick bundles of shredded cedar bark.
Four times they run around the fire waving the bundles, which are
then lighted. Now begins a wild race around the fire, the rapid
running causing the brands to throw out long streamers of flames
over the hands and arms of the dancers.
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