MOUNT RAINIER 



but a newer and far handsomer one than he had left 

 on the fourth evening before. 



"A very decrepit old squaw, ablaze with vermilion 

 and decked with countless strings of hiaqua and costly 

 beads, was seated on the ground near the door, tending 

 a kettle of salmon, whose blue and fragrant steam 

 mingled pleasantly with the golden haze of sunset. 

 She resembled his own squaw in countenance, as an 

 ancient smoked salmon is like a newly-dried salmon. 

 If she was indeed his spouse, she was many years older 

 than when he saw her last, and much better dressed 

 than the respectable lady had ever been during his 

 miserly days. 



"He drew near quietly. The bedizened dame was 

 crooning a chant, very dolorous, like this : 



'My old man has gone, gone, gone, 

 My old man to Tacoma, has gone. 

 To hunt the elk, he went long ago. 

 When will he come down, down, down, 

 Down to the salmon-pot and me ?' 



'He has come from Tacoma down, down, down, 

 Down to the salmon-pot and thee,' 



shouted the reformed miser, rushing forward to supper 

 and his faithful wife." 



"And how did Penelope explain the mystery?" I 

 asked. 



"If you mean the old lady," replied Hamitchou, 

 "she was my grandmother, and I'd thank you not to 

 call names. She told my grandfather that he had been 

 gone many years ; she could not tell how many, 

 having dropped her tally-stick in the fire by accident 

 that very day. She also told him how, in despite of 

 the entreaties of many a chief who knew her economic 

 virtues, and prayed her to become mistress of his 

 household, she had remained constant to the Absent, 

 and forever kept the hopeful salmon-pot boiling for 

 his return. She had distracted her mind from the 



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