homes. I don't believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the
Indians' fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughing
with them until I could laugh no more."


CONTEST OF WITS

When we arrived at Fort Consolation, Oo-koo-hoo and his party were
greeted by a swarm of their copper-coloured friends, among whom were
The Little Pine and his father, mother, and sister. Making his way
through the press, The Owl strode toward the trading room to shake
hands with Factor Mackenzie; but the trader, hearing of Oo-koo-hoo's
arrival, hastened from his house to welcome the famous hunter; and The
Owl greeted him with:

"_Quay, quay, Hu-ge-mow_" (good day, Master).

On their way to the Indian shop they passed the canoe shed, where
skilled hands were finishing two handsome six-fathom canoes for the use
of the Fur Brigade; and they stopped to examine them.

The building of a six-fathom or "North" canoe generally takes place
under a shed erected for the purpose, where there is a clear, level
space and plenty of working room. Two principal stakes are driven at a
distance apart of thirty-six feet, the length of the craft to be.
These are connected by two rows of smaller stakes diverging and
converging so as to form the shape of the canoe. The smaller stakes
are five feet apart at the centre. Pieces of birch bark are soaked in
water for a day and no more, sewn together with wat-tap--the roots of
cedar or spruce gathered in spring--placed between the stakes with the