or, by turning to the left, ride after the buffalo on his own
undulating plains. Here the Indian instructed Tony in all the mysteries
of the hunter's craft, showed him how to set traps for wolves and foxes,
and snares for rabbits, and taught him how to use the gun, and how to
follow the tracks of game in the snow. He also made him a little bow,
with a sheaf of blunt-headed arrows, and a pair of snow-shoe frames, the
interstices of which were filled up by the red man's wife.

Petawanaquat had only one wife, named Meekeye. He might have had half a
dozen wives if he had chosen, because he was a strong, able, and
successful hunter, which is equivalent to saying he was, for an Indian,
a rich man, and among the Indians there is no legal limit, we believe,
to the number of a man's wives. But _our_ red man seemed to think one
quite enough. He was very good to her--which is more than can be said,
alas! of many white men. He never failed to bring her the tit-bits of
all animals slain in the chase. He never beat her if she grew weary on
the march, as too many of his savage countrymen are wont to do, but, on
the contrary, relieved her of part of her burden, and, as a rule,
carried the heaviest part of the family baggage on his own shoulders or
sledge. Moreover, when on a visit with his furs to the stores of the
fur-traders, he never failed to consult Meekeye as to every purchase
that he made, and invariably gladdened her heart with gifts of scarlet
cloth and white enamelled beads, and brilliant ribbons and little
circular mirrors, which were deemed ample in size, though hardly big
enough to display to advantage the point of an average nose. In short,
Petawanaquat was quite un-Indian and chivalrous in his attentions to his
squaw, who repaid him with faithful service, and, above all, with loving
looks from the orbs which had originated her name.

Some people may think the loving looks produced the chivalry; others
that the chivalry caused the looks. Whichever way it was, the result
was mutual felicity. The red man had no family, hence Meekeye took to
Tony with something of the fervour of a mother. Tony soon reciprocated.
At first he indulged some of his mischievous tendencies, but, being
only smiled at when he was naughty, found that the interest of being bad
was gone, and ere long gave it up.

In the presence of his new father he never dared to be other than
absolute perfection. Petawanaquat's solemnity was too much f