but that was what occurred. The men, stretching themselves as they
stepped to the shore, stopped and stared. I saw that I must speak
quickly.

"Let the canoes alone," I said. "We will stop here but a moment.
Go--all of you--and gather green twigs and young ferns, and flowers if
you can find them. Then bring them to me here. Go."

The men stood as jointless as tin images. But I saw that they were not
only dumfounded but afraid, so I laid my hand on my sword, to give them
better cause for their stupefaction. "Go!" I shouted again, and so
perverse is my nature that, though I knew well I had no cause for
merriment, I swallowed hard to keep back a smile.

The woman and I stood alone while the men jerked their way like
automatons from bush to tree. The chaos of their minds had numbed
their muscles, and they stripped the young boughs clumsily like a herd
of browsing moose. I did not look at the woman. I knew that she
needed all my courtesy, but it was hard to speak to her just then.

The men wandered for perhaps five minutes, then ranged themselves
before me. They bore a curious collection of grasses, mutilated
tamarack boughs, and crushed brakes. They eyed my sword hilt, and
looked ready for flight. Yet I was master, and they remembered it.
Had I ordered them to eat the fodder that they bore, they would not
have spoken, and I think that they would have endeavored to obey.

I pointed to the canoe where the woman was accustomed to sit. "Place
the greens there," I said. "Make a carpet of them where the red
blanket is lying. Work quickly,--then come here. No talking."