MEETING OF THE WILD MEN 167 



and old Granny did the "light fantastic" — and at one time or 

 another all the principal guests were upon the floor; all save — 

 the priest. The scarlet tunics of the corporal and the con- 

 stable of the Royal North- West Mounted Police as well as the 

 sonibre black of the English Church and the Presbyterian 

 clergymen, added much to the whirling colour scheme, as well 

 as to the joy of the occasion. But look where I would I could 

 not find "Son-in-law," and though the blushing Athabasca 

 was often in the dance, it was plain to see her lover was not 

 there, for even the handsome policemen, though they paid 

 her marked attention, gave no sign, either of them, of being 

 the lucky one. In the number of partners, Oo-koo-hoo's 

 granddaughter outshone them all, and, moreover, her lover 

 was present. At every chance Shing-wauk — The Little Pine — ■ 

 was shyly whispering to her and she was looking very happy. 

 Even I rose to the occasion and had for my first partner our 

 host's swarthy wife, a wonderful performer, who, after her 

 husband's retirement from the service of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, became the most popular dancer in all Winnipeg. 

 Nor must I forget my dance with that merry, muscular, iron- 

 framed lady, Oo-koo-hoo's better half — old Granny — who at 

 first crumpled me up in her gorilla-like embrace, and ended by 

 swinging me clean off my feet, much to the merriment of the 

 Indian maidens. 



As the afternoon wore on the Rabbit Dance began, and was 

 soon followed by the Hug-Me-Snug, the Drops of Brandy, and 

 the Saskatchewan Circle, and — last but not least — the Kissing 

 Dance. And when the Kissing Dance was encored for the fifth 

 time, the company certainly proclaimed it a Happy New Year. 



THE BEAUTIFUL ATHABASCA 



Again at tea time the guests gathered round the festive 

 board; then, a little later, the music once more signalled the 



