308 PHEASANT BALLS OR DANCES. 



I was lucky enough to be present at several of 

 these balls whilst at Fort Colville. Their usual 

 time of assembling is about sunrise, and late in 

 the afternoon; they select a high round-topped 

 mound ; and often, ere the fair are wooed and 

 won, and the happy couple start on their domes- 

 tic cares, the mound is trampled and beaten bare 

 as a road. 



I had often longed to be present at one of 

 these chicken-dances; and it so happened that, 

 riding up into the hills early one spring morning, 

 my most ardent wishes were fully realised. The 

 peculiar ' chuck-chuck' came clear and shrill upon 

 the crisp frosty air, and told me a dance was afoot. 

 I tied up my horse and my dog, and crept 

 quietly along towards the knoll from whence the 

 sound appeared to come. Taking advantage of 

 some rocks, I weazled myself along, and, with- 

 out exciting observation, gained the shelter of 

 an old pine-stump close to the summit of a hil- 

 lock ; and there, sure enough, the ball was at its 

 height. 



Eeader, can you go back to the days of your 

 first pantomime, your first Punch-and-Judy, or 

 bring to your remembrance the fresh, bounding, 

 joyous delight that you felt in the days of your 

 youth, when you had before your eyes some long 



