made of beautifully
marked skins from the necks of the loons Oo-koo-hoo had shot with his
bow and arrow for that purpose.

After leaving the Indian shop, the hunter returned to his camp to talk
matters over with Amik and the women. He told them that he intended
selling most of his furs to the Company, but that he thought it wise to
stay away from the Factor until next day. But as Granny, being a Roman
Catholic, wanted to have Father Jois marry Neykia and The Little Pine,
she suggested that Oo-koo-hoo go and call upon the priest at once.
Notwithstanding that her mother was a Presbyterian, Neykia had joined
the Roman Catholic Church and when asked why she had done so, she said
it was because she thought the candles looked so pretty burning on the
altar.

Though The Owl was not in the least interested in any one of the white
man's many religions, nor in the priest, the clergyman, or the minister
of the three different denominations represented at the Post, he now
called upon the priest as his wife wished him to. During the course of
their conversation the priest said:

"My son, that was a beautiful silver fox you sold the Company three
years ago. I, myself, would have paid you well for it."

"Would you look as well upon a black fox?" asked Oo-koo-hoo in
surprise, as it is an unwritten law of the country that missionaries
are not to carry on trade with the Indians.

"Yes. Have you one?" questioned the priest.

"I have never seen a finer," replied the hunter.

"But do either of the traders know you have it?" asked the priest.

"No," answered Oo-koo-hoo, with a shake of his head.

Later, when the priest saw the skin, he was delighted with it, and a
bargain was soon made. Oo-koo-hoo was to get one hundred "skins" for
the black fox, and he was told to call next day. But after returning
to camp, he grew impatient and went back to the priest to demand his
pay. The priest said he would give him a tent and a rifle worth more
than fifty skins and that he would say ten masses for him and his
family, which would be a very generous equivalent for the other fifty
skins. But Oo-koo-hoo, suddenly flaring up, began to storm at the
priest, and demanded the black fox back. But the priest sternly
motioned for silence with upraised hand, and whispered: "This is God's
House. There must be no noise or anger here." And without another
word he withdrew to get the rifle and the tent. When he returned with
an old tent and a s