286 SPOKT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



is the time for showing off your talents. Do your 

 best, and you must inevitably charm your audience." 



These words, spoken in French, were understood 

 b}'' me alone. I struck a few chords, and watched 

 the effect upon the audience. It was magical ; the. 

 Indians all crowded round, men and women, keeping 

 the most profound silence. Then, overcoming my 

 diffidence, I began to play as well as I was able a 

 few reminiscences of the best composers, and the 

 effect was like enchantment. The performance was 

 somewhat varied, not to say incongruous, but at the 

 conclusion it was greeted with the most enthusiastic 

 applause, expressed in the form of " Whooivhoo .'" 



I had noticed among the Bed Skins a young girl 

 with a very pretty figure, feet like those of a child, 

 and bright black eyes, who, on hearing the first 

 notes of my guitar, came and placed herself by my 

 side and kept her eyes fixed upon the movements of 

 my fingers. When the improvisation was concluded, 

 Otami (that was her name) asked to be allowed to 

 examine the guitar. She scanned it over curiously, 

 and endeavoured with her little hands to imitate the 

 movements of my fingers. She tried to strike a 

 chord but in vain, and I was amused at the expres- 

 sion of infantine vexation which crossed her pretty 

 though dusky features. 



Next day we were compelled by the weather to 

 stay in camp, and I was busy about something under 

 the shelter of one of our waggons when Otami came 



