"Perfectly stunning! . . . the most beautiful lot of women I have ever
seen!"

And then from beneath the bed clothes came--

"Y-e-s . . . _the blighters_!"




VII

LIFE AND LOVE RETURN

HYMEN COMES WITH SPRING

"My son, it is ever thus, when spring is on the way," smiled
Oo-koo-hoo, as Granny entered with glee and displayed a new deerskin
work-bag, containing needles, thread, thimble, and scissors; a present
from Shing-wauk--The Little Pine--Neykia's lover.

"Now that Spring and Love are going to hunt together," further remarked
the Indian, "the snow will run away, and the ice begin to tremble when
it hears the home-coming birds singing among the trees. Ah, my son, it
reminds me of the days of my youth," sighed The Owl, "when I, too, was
a lover."

"Tell me," I coaxed.