50 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



tea, and wMsky spread out on tlie ground outside, we 

 adjourned to the ball-room, the sitting-room of the 

 little two-roomed house. It was crowded with guests, 

 dressed in full half-breed finery. At one end were 

 two fiddlers, who worked in relays, the music being in 

 most rapid time, and doubtless very fatiguing to the in- 

 strumentalists. The dance, in which about half a dozen 

 couples were engaged when we entered, appeared to be 

 a kind of cross between a Scotch reel and the "Lancers," 

 a number of lively steps, including a double-shuffle 

 and stamp, being executed with great vigour. The 

 dancing was dancing, and no mistake, and both the 

 men and their fair partners were exceedingly hot and 

 exhausted when the "set" was finished. The figures 

 appeared so intricate, and the skill of the performers 

 so admirable, that we were deterred by our natural 

 diffidence from yielding to the repeated solicitations 

 of the M.C. to select partners and foot it with the rest. 

 At length, however, Milton, with a courage equal to 

 the occasion, and, it is suspected, strongly attracted by 

 the beauty of the bride — a delicate-featured, pensive- 

 looking girl of sixteen or seventeen, with a hght 

 and graceful figure — boldly advanced, and led her out 

 amid the applause of the company. He succeeded in 

 interpreting the spirit of the music, if not with the 

 energy, certainly with a greater dignity and infinitely 

 less exertion than his compeers. His performance 

 was highly appreciated by all — including Treemiss 

 and Cheadle — who gazed with admiration, mingled 

 with envy, at a success they were unequal to 

 achieve. 



