258 MONAl's " WEED." 



Monai took from a corner of the room a wooden stool 

 which usually served as the seat of a little girl, Mr. 

 Howard's only child ; drew near the fire, seated himself, 

 and, without speaking, took from his pouch a case like 

 that which we use in Europe for holding cigars, and 

 offered it to me with a singularly charming grace. While 

 I admired the Redskin's present, he tranquilly filled his 

 pipe with tobacco, lighted it at the fire, and, after emitting 

 a few puffs, passed it on to me with a look that meant I 

 should follow his example. 



That I care little for the pipe, I confess ; the tobacco 

 smoked in these calumets always nauseates me ; so I was 

 about to refuse, when Mr. Howard said, 



" Don't be afraid, my friend \ this tobacco will do you 

 no harm. Try it, and you will see that Monai has no 

 wish to poison you." 



And, in truth, I found Monai's " weed " so delicious, 

 that I was imprudent enough to fill the pipe afresh, when 

 I had finished smoking the first "priming." 



Meanwhile, Mr. Howard filled a glass with sherry, and 

 handed it to Monai. 



" My brother," he said to him, " will you remain with 

 us to-night?" 



Monai, before replying, swallowed his sherry to the 

 very last drop. 



" The Indian," he replied, " goes to-morrow to the 

 chase. The weather is good for attacking the cariboo ; 

 the snow is nine and a half inches deep. Will my white 

 brother accompany me 1 I have brought two new pairs 

 of snow-shoes ; one for him, and one for myself." 



" In what direction shall we hunt, Monai ]" 



" Towards the north ; towards the country where we 



