ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE 31 



bestowed upon her lover. I was growing more inquisitive 

 than ever as to who Son-in-law might be. Indeed, I felt like 

 asking, but was really too shy, and besides, when I thought it 

 over, I concluded it was none of my business. 



When the time came for me to return to the Hudson's Ray 

 Post, I shook hands with them all Athabasca had nice hands 

 and a good grip, too. Her parents gave me a pressing invita- 

 tion to visit them again for a few days at New Year's, when 

 everyone in the country would be going to the great winter 

 festival that was always held at Fort Consolation. As I 

 paddled away I mused: 



"Ry George, Son-in-law is certainly a lucky dog, for Atha- 

 basca's a peach . . . but I don't see how in thunder her 

 lover ever gets a chance to call." 



LEAVING FORT CONSOLATION 



I was up early next morning and as I wished to see how 

 Oo-koo-hoo and his party would pack up and board their 

 canoes, I walked round the bay to the Indian village. After a 

 hasty breakfast, the women pulled down the lodge coverings of 

 sheets of birch bark and rolling them up placed them upon the 

 star-chi-gan the stage along with other things which they 

 intended leaving behind. The lodge poles were left standing in 

 readiness for their return next summer, and it wasn't long be- 

 fore all their worldly goods save their skin tepees and most of 

 their traps, which had been left on their last winter's hunting 

 grounds were placed aboard their three canoes, and off they 

 paddled to the Post, to say good-bye, while Amik secured his 

 advances. 



Just think of it, all you housekeepers no gold plate or silver- 

 ware to send to the vault, no bric-a-brac to pack, no furniture to 

 cover, no bedding to put away, no rugs or furs or clothes to send 

 to cold storage, no servants to wrangle with or discharge, 



