Annette - The Metis Spy

So a large fire was built upon the prairie, a short distance from

the chief's lodge, and the huge festival pot was suspended from a

crane over the roaring flames. First, about fifteen gallons of water

were put in; then Big Bear's wives, some of whom were old and

wrinkled, others being lithe as fawns, plump and bright-eyed, busied

themselves gathering herbs.

Some digged deep into the marsh for "bog-bane," others searched

among the knotted roots for the little nut-like tuber that clings to

the root of the flag, while a few brought to the pot wild parsnips,

and the dried stalks of the prairie parsley. A coy little maiden whom

many a hunter wooed, but failed to win, had in her sweet little brown

hands a tangle of wintergreen vines, and maiden-hair.

Then came striding along the young hunters with the dogs. Each dog

selected for the feast was white as the driven snow. If a black hair,

or a blue hair, or a brown hair was discovered anywhere upon his body

he was taken away; but if he were sans reproche he was put into the

pot just as he was, with head, and hide, and paws, and tail, his throat

simply having been cut.

Six dogs were thrown in, and the roots and stalks of the prairie

plants, together with salt, and bunches of the wild pepper-plant, and

of swamp mustard, were added for seasoning. Through the reserves

round about for many miles swarthy heralds proclaimed that the great

Chief Big Bear was giving a White Dog feast to his braves before

summoning them to the war-path. The feast was, in Indian experience,

a magnificent one, and before the young men departed they swore to

Big Bear that they returned only for their war-paint and arms, and

that before the set of the next sun they would be back at his side.

True to their word the Indians came, hideous in their yellow paint.

If you stood to leeward of them upon the plain a mile away you could

clearly get the raw, earthy smell of the ochre from their hands and

faces. Some had black bars streaked across their cheeks, and hideous

crimson circles about their eyes. Some, likewise, had stars in

pipe-clay painted upon the forehead, and others were diabolical in the

figures of horrid beasts, painted with savage skill upon their naked

breasts.

The beleaguered could notice all these preparations with their

glasses; and the men spoke to each other in low tones. Savages seemed

to be gathering from all points of the compass, and massing upon the

plateau round about the camps of the Cree Chief. But several bands

were stationed around the Fort, in such a manner as to cut off

retreat from the stockades should escape be attempted.

Close to the fort was the shining, yellow Saskatchewan; and for

miles, with a glass, you could see the bright coils of its leisurely

waters, as that proud river pierced its way through the great stretch

of plain till it became lost in the haze of the distance.