crossed their guns over the heads of the wedding party, and discharged
a _feu de joie_.

On reaching a certain log-house the procession broke up. The older
people went in to partake of the wedding breakfast, while the bride and
groom went over to one of the warehouses and amused themselves dancing
with their young friends until they were summoned to the second table
of the marriage feast. Everybody at the Post had contributed something
toward either the feast or the dance. Out of respect for Oo-koo-hoo
the Factor had furnished a liberal stock of groceries and had, in
addition, granted the free use of the buildings. The clerk had sent in
a quantity of candies and tobacco. The priest had given potatoes; the
clergyman had supplied a copy of the Bible in syllabic characters; and
the minister had given the silver-plated wedding ring. The nuns had
presented a supply of skim-milk and butter. Mr. Spear provided jam,
pickles, and coal-oil for the lamps. The Mounted Police contributed
two dollars to pay for the "band"--the fiddle and the concertina--and
ammunition enough for the _feu de joie_. The friends and relations had
given a plentiful store of fresh, dried, and pounded fish; and had also
furnished a lavish supply of moose, caribou, and bear meat; as well as
dainty bits of beaver, lynx, muskrat, and skunk.

The bridal party having dined, they and their elders opened the ball
officially. The first dance was--as it always is--the Double Jig, then
followed in regular order the same dances as those of the New Year's
feast. After a frolic of several hours' duration some of the dancers
grew weary and returned to the banquet room for refreshments. And thus
for three days and three nights the festivities continued.