The Story

LLLIn the garden, SUCH A MERRY PARTY is in progress. Washington diplomat General Oscar Fairfax arrives; a friend of Mary's, Fairfax holds the position of Temporary Assistant Undersecretary, Second in Chage of Indian Affairs. Fairfax orders the Rangers to go off and find Captain Jim at once. Meanwhile, Chief Brown Bear has decided to adopt Billy as his son, and in an elaborate ceremony, Billy becomes the new "Yellow Feather."

LLLIn the bedroom of one of the Young Ladies, Nancy prepares to disguise herself so she can go out and help her Billy. Mary knows it's useless to try to stop her headstrong, if amusing, maid (NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY NANCY). In a black cape and headband, Nancy escapes, eager to act out her MATA HARI fantasies.

LLLA momentary respite from the intense action occurs when Ernestine and Fairfax share their memories of 1884 Vienna (DO YOU EVER DREAM OF VIENNA?). Lantern in hand, Mary seeks Jim, yet finds the time to salute her friend the cuckoo bird (COO COO). Yellow Feather appears, lashes Mary to a tree and is about to have his way with her when Jim arrives and saves her. Jim vows that the Forest Rangers will make the heinous Yellow Feather into a useful member of society before returning him to his father, Brown Bear, who need never know of the base state into which his son had fallen. Fairfax announces that the U.S. government has decided to return one quarter of the state of Colorado to Brown Bear and the Kadotas. His honor returned, Brown Bear gives the land to Mary and to his newly adopted son Billy. The real Yellow Feather, apparently having reformed in record time, returns to wave an American flag during the FINALE, in which all join happily.

—Ken Mandelbaum