ed, they and their elders opened the ball
officially. The first dance was--as it always is--the Double Jig, then
followed in regular order the same dances as those of the New Year's
feast. After a frolic of several hours' duration some of the dancers
grew weary and returned to the banquet room for refreshments. And thus
for three days and three nights the festivities continued.

THE WEDDING SPEECHES

During a lull in the dancing on the afternoon of the wedding day Little
Pine's sister went up to him and said: "Brother, may I kiss you? Are
you ashamed?" He answered: "No." She kissed him, took his wife's
hand, placed it in his with her own over both, and addressed the young
wife:

"As you have taken my place, do to him as I have done; listen to him,
work for him, and, if need be, die for him."

Then she lowered her head and began to cry.

Ne-Geek, The Otter, Neykia's oldest brother, then went up to Little
Pine and asked:

"Are you man enough to work for her, to feed her, and to protect her?"

"Yes," replied the new-made husband.

The Otter put the husband's hand on his sister's hand, and--looking him
straight in the eyes . . . shook his clenched fist at him and said in a
threatening tone . . . "Beware!"

In the midst of one of the dances Oo-koo-hoo walked up to the "band"
and knocked up the fiddle to command silence. Pulling his _capote_
tightly about him, he assumed a dignified attitude, slowly looked round
the room to see that he had the attention of all present, and began to
address the assemblage:

"The step which Shing-wauk has taken is a very serious one. Now he
will have to think for two. Now he must supply the wants of two. Now
he will realize what trouble is. But the One who made us . . . The
Great Mystery . . . The Master of Life . . . made us right. The man
has his work to do, and the woman has hers. The man must hunt and kill
animals, and the woman must skin and dress them. The man must always
stand by her and she by him. The two together are strong . . . and
there is no need of outside assistance. Remember . . . my
grandchildren . . . you are starting out together that way . . ."

To illustrate his meaning, he held up two fingers parallel, and added:

"If your tracks fork . . . they will soon be as far apart as sunrise is
from sunset . . . and you will find many ready to come in between.
Carry on in the way you have begun . . . for that is the way you should
end. And remem