ed in
all my finery, and upon entering Noo-koom's lodge, I seized Ojistoh by
the hair of her head, and dragged her out. Her struggles to escape
from me were quite edifying in their propriety. Her shrieks were
heartrending--or rather, they would have been had they not alternated
with delighted giggles. By that time the wedding march had begun; for
as we struggling lovers led the way, the children, bubbling with
laughter, followed; and the old people brought up the rear of the
joyous procession. We, the happy couple, tussled with each other until
we reached a spot in the bush where I had cleared a space and laid a
carpet of balsam brush beside a fire. There I deposited her. With a
final shriek she accepted the new conditions, and at once set about her
matrimonial duties, while the others returned to their lodges to put
the finishing touches to the wedding breakfast.

"Oh, yes, my son, those were happy days," continued the hunter.
"There, beside a great fire in the open, was laid a carpet of brush, in
the centre of which a blanket was spread, and upon it the feast. There
were rabbits, partridges, and fish roasted upon sticks. In a pot,
boiled fresh moose and caribou meat; in another, simmered lynx
entrails, bear fat, and moose steak. In a third, stewed ducks and
geese. In a fourth, bubbled choice pieces of beaver, muskrat, lynx,
and skunk. Besides, there were caribou tongues, beaver tails, bear
meat, and foxes' entrails roasted upon the coals. Strong tea in
plenty, fresh birch syrup, forest-made cranberry wine, a large chunk of
dried Saskatoon berries served with bear's grease, frozen cranberries,
and a little bannock made of flour, water, and grease, completed the
fare.

"Then, too, Ojistoh sat beside me and ate out of my dish. She even
used my pipe for an after-dinner smoke. Then, after an interval of
rest, dancing began, by the dancers circling the fire to the measured
beat of a drum. Round and round we moved in silence. Then, breaking
into a chant, we men faced the women, and from time to time solemnly
revolved. But the women never turned their backs upon the fire. It
was rather slow, monotonous measure, only relieved by the women and
children throwing feathers at one another. Between each dance the
company partook of refreshments, and so the festivity proceeded until
daylight. Next morning Ojistoh's father gave us some wholesome advice
and then we set up housekeeping on our own account, and, as y