278 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



choice pieces of beaver, muskrat, lynx, and skunk. Besides, 

 there were caribou tongues, beaver tails, bear meat, and foxes' 

 entrails roasted upon the coals. Strong tea in plenty, fresh 

 birch syrup, forest-made cranberry wine, a large chunk of dried 

 Saskatoon berries served with bear's grease, frozen cranberries, 

 and a little bannock made of flour, water, and grease, completed 

 the fare. 



"Then, too, Ojistoh sat beside me and ate out of my dish. 

 She even used my pipe for an after-dinner smoke. Then, after 

 an interval of rest, dancing began, by the dancers circling the 

 fire to the measured beat of a drum. Round and round we 

 moved in silence. Then, breaking into a chant, we men faced 

 the women, and from time to time solemnly revolved. But the 

 women never turned their backs upon the fire. It was rather 

 slow, monotonous measure, only reheved by the women and 

 children throwing feathers at one another. Between each 

 dance the company partook of refreshments, and so the festivity 

 proceeded until dayhght. Next morning Ojistoh's father 

 gave us some wholesome advice and then we set up housekeep- 

 ing on our own account, and, as you see, have continued it 

 even to this day; haven't we, my httle Ojistoh.^^" smiled the 

 old hunter at his wife. 



nature's sanctuaries 



One Sunday morning, when spring was all a-dance to the 

 wondrous wild music of the woods, I sat in the w armth of the 

 sun and thought of my Creator. Later, I learned that Oo-koo- 

 hoo and Amik were also thinking of Him; for in the wilderness 

 one often thinks of The Master of Life. That morning I 

 thought, too, of the tolhng of village chm-ch bells and of cathe- 

 dral chimes, and I contrasted those metallic sounds with the 

 beautiful singing of the birds of the forest; also I contrasted the 

 difference of a Sunday in the city with a Sunday in the wilder- 



