ny "Waughie" responses, mingled with numerous "Ho's!"
of astonishment, and a few other sounds that seemed to indicate
disbelief in Okematan's veracity.

"What," continued Okematan, with considerable vehemence, "what would my
braves do if Okematan and a few of the Cree chiefs were to take all the
lands of Red River, and all the buffalo, and all the birds and beasts to
themselves, and drive the braves with their families to the shores of
Lake Winnipeg, to live there on fish, or die, or leave the country if
they did not like it! What would they do?"

Okematan's voice increased in fervour, and he put the finishing question
with an intensity that called forth a chorus of "Waughs!" and "Ho's!"
with a glittering of eyes, and a significant grasping of scalping-knives
and tomahawks that rendered further reply needless.

"Would you not scorn us," he continued, "scalp us, tear out our eyes,
roast us alive?--but no--the Cree Nation loves not cruelty. You would
merely pat us on the head, and tell us to go and make moccasins, and
boil the kettle with the squaws!

"Then, when I began to know them better, I found that all the Paleface
chiefs over the great salt lake are not greedy and foolish. Some are
open-handed and wise. I also found that there is a tribe among them,
who lived chiefly in the mountain lands. These are very kind, very
brave, very wise, and very grave. They do not laugh so loud as the
others, but when they are amused their eyes twinkle and their sides
shake more. This tribe is called Scos-mins. I love the Scos-mins! I
lived in the wigwam of one. He is old and fierce, but he is not bad,
and his heart is large. In his house were some other Scos-mins--braves
and squaws. They were very kind to me. This is one of them."

The flashing eyes of the entire party were turned upon Peter Davidson,
who, however, had presence of mind enough to gaze at the cloudless
heavens with immovable solemnity and abstraction.

"There are two others, whom I look upon as sons. One is named Arch-ee;
the other Leetil Beel. Now," continued Okematan, after a pause, "my
advice is that we should teach the Paleface chiefs over the great salt
lake a lesson, by receiving the poor braves who have been driven away
from their own lands and treating them as brothers. Our land is large.
There is room for all--and _our_ chiefs will never seize it. Our hearts
are large; there is plenty of room there too.

"The Great Spirit who rules over