father's very great wisdom and understanding. I have
made for thee a great match. Heed my words and walk in the way of my
words, go when I say go, come when I bid thee come, and we shall grow fat
with the wealth of this big white man who is a fool according to his
bigness."

The next day no trading was done at the store. The Factor opened whisky
before breakfast, to the delight of McLean and McTavish, gave his dogs
double rations, and wore his best moccasins. Outside the Fort
preparations were under way for a _potlatch_. Potlatch means "a giving,"
and John Fox's intention was to signalize his marriage with Lit-lit by a
potlatch as generous as she was good-looking. In the afternoon the whole
tribe gathered to the feast. Men, women, children, and dogs gorged to
repletion, nor was there one person, even among the chance visitors and
stray hunters from other tribes, who failed to receive some token of the
bridegroom's largess.

Lit-lit, tearfully shy and frightened, was bedecked by her bearded
husband with a new calico dress, splendidly beaded moccasins, a gorgeous
silk handkerchief over her raven hair, a purple scarf about her throat,
brass ear-rings and finger-rings, and a whole pint of pinchbeck
jewellery, including a Waterbury watch. Snettishane could scarce contain
himself at the spectacle, but watching his chance drew her aside from the
feast.

"Not this night, nor the next night," he began ponderously, "but in the
nights to come, when I shall call like a raven by the river bank, it is
for thee to rise up from thy big husband, who is a fool, and come to me.

"Nay, nay," he went on hastily, at sight of the dismay in her face at
turning her back upon her wonderful new life. "For no sooner shall this
happen than thy big husband, who is a fool, will come wailing to my
lodge. Then it is for thee to wail likewise, claiming that this thing is
not well, and that the other thing thou dost not like, and that to be the
wife of the Factor is more than thou didst bargain for, only wilt thou be
content with more blankets, and more tobacco, and more wealth of various
sorts for thy poor old father, Snettishane. Remember well, when I call
in the night, like a raven, from the river bank."

Lit-lit nodded; for to disobey her father was a peril she knew well; and,
furthermore, it was a little thing he asked, a short separation from the
Factor, who would know only greater gladness at having her back. She
returned to the