276 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



it was time we sat upon the brush together, or were married. 

 Accordingly, she talked the matter over with Ojistoh's parents. 

 They agreed with her, and Ojistoh's father said: 'It is well that 

 Oo-koo-hoo and Ojistoh should be married according to the 

 custom of our people, but it is also well that we should retain 

 the friendship of the priest and the nuns. On our return to 

 Fort Perseverance, therefore, the children must be married 

 in the face of the Church; but I charge you all not to let any 

 one at the Post know that Oo-koo-hoo and Ojistoh have already 

 been married after the custom of our people. It is well that we 

 should live according to the ways of our forefathers, and it is 

 also well that we should seem to adopt the ways of the white 

 man. Now call Ojistoh, and let me hear what she has to say.' 



"When Ojistoh came in, her father told her that I was a good 

 boy; that I would certainly make a successful hunter; and that, 

 if she would sit upon the brush with me, they would give her 

 plenty of marrow grease for her hair and some porcupine quills 

 for her moccasins. They might even buy her some ribbon, 

 beads, and silk thread for fancy work. Furthermore, they said 

 I would be given enough moose skins to make a lodge covering. 



" Ojistoh chewed meditatively upon the large piece of spruce 

 gum in her mouth, while she listened with averted eyes and 

 drooping head. But old Noo-koom, evidently supposing 

 Ojistoh to be in doubt, interposed: 'You must sit upon the 

 brush with him, because I have promised that you would. 

 Did we not eat the fat and the blood, and use the firewood 

 he left at our door?' 



"The remembrance, no doubt, of all that dainty eating 

 decided Ojistoh, and she gave her word that she would sit 

 upon the brush with me if they would promise to buy her a 

 bottle of perfume when they returned to Fort Perseverance. 

 When Ojistoh left the lodge, her father said to me: 



"Listen, my boy, Noo-koom tells me that you have been 

 sitting under the blanket with my daughter Ojistoh. She is a 



