keeping a fire burning in order to ward off dogs or wolves, which
would otherwise undoubtedly have broken into the tent and made short
work of the lifeless body deserted by all its friends and neighbours
and dearest connexions.

In the case of the wife of Michel, however, there arose a feeling
among her people in the camp, which appeared to be unanimous, not to
leave her poor mangled body deserted in the lodge, but at once to
commit it to the earth. Accordingly the women ceased their wailing,
there was a call for action, and each one bestirred himself with as
much earnestness and self-restraint as possible. Two or three of the
men started off to dig the grave (a work of no small labour at that
time when, be it remembered, the frost was hardly out of the ground),
others gathered round the women who were wrapping the deceased in her
blanket, with her shawl and handkerchief, her beaded leggings, and
moccasins, which were hunted out, one by one, and put on her with
loving, albeit trembling hands. Then the poor lifeless form was
lifted out of the tent, and carried a few yards further back from the
river, to where the grave was being made ready. Here all was soon
prepared; silently, reverently the body was lowered into its shallow
resting place; the earth was thrown over it, then a young fir-tree
was cut down, shorn of its bark, and driven upright in the ground,
and a few streamers of coloured rag or ribbon, furnished by the
women, tied on to the top of the pole. The task was ended, and the
young mother of twenty-eight years, who awoke that morning in the
full bloom of health and vigour, was left to slumber on in that long
sleep, which shall be broken only on the morning of the Resurrection!

And now, indeed, there was nothing more to be done, they must flee
from that desecrated spot as soon as possible. With one accord, every