THE WEDDING SPEECHES

During a lull in the dancing on the afternoon of the wedding day Little
Pine's sister went up to him and said: "Brother, may I kiss you? Are
you ashamed?" He answered: "No." She kissed him, took his wife's
hand, placed it in his with her own over both, and addressed the young
wife:

"As you have taken my place, do to him as I have done; listen to him,
work for him, and, if need be, die for him."

Then she lowered her head and began to cry.

Ne-Geek, The Otter, Neykia's oldest brother, then went up to Little
Pine and asked:

"Are you man enough to work for her, to feed her, and to protect her?"

"Yes," replied the new-made husband.

The Otter put the husband's hand on his sister's hand, and--looking him
straight in the eyes . . . shook his clenched fist at him and said in a
threatening tone . . . "Beware!"

In the midst of one of the dances Oo-koo-hoo walked up to the "band"
and knocked up the fiddle to command silence. Pulling his _capote_
tightly about him, he assumed a dignified attitude, slowly looked round
the room to see that he had the attention of all present, and began to
address the assemblage: