7'Jie Home of tJie Wolverene and Beaver. 8 1 



repaired, preceded by Mr. Groves, Paul, Pierre, and 

 the interpreter. The white men seated themselves 

 on buffalo robes, and their guests formed a circle, 

 around which the pipe lighted by the officer passed 

 solemnly, each man taking a long whiff and handing 

 it to his neighbour, after which he allowed the 

 smoke to roll out slowly from his mouth and 

 nostrils. Whilst this important ceremony was pro- 

 ceeding, perfect silence reigned throughout the 

 assembly; but after the rum had passed round once 

 or twice all restraint was removed, and conversation 

 went on freely enough by means of signs and 

 broken English and French. 



" Monsieur Paul," whispered Lefranc, as two new 

 Indians joined the circle, " voyez-vons ccs Jionunes ? 

 Uiin, le plus grand — the vary big one, that is Tcte- 

 de-bois, the rascal who steal my traps." 



Paul looked at the new-comer, and saw an 

 Ojibbeway of gigantic size, and with rather sinister 

 features, the effect perhaps of a scar which traversed 

 the countenance from the eye to the chin. Tete- 

 de-bois took his seat among the rest of his tribe, 

 who made way with alacrity, for he was held in 

 great respect, owing to his enormous strength. He 

 took no notice of Pierre, pretending not to see him, 

 and applied himself steadily to the rum bottle 

 whenever it came within his reach. Meanwhile 



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