Within the big trading-room at the factory, seats had been placed, the
chief and his headmen sat in a solemn circle, and McElroy, holding in
his two hands the long calumet, stood in the centre of the small
conclave.
Very gravely he pointed the stem, clinking with its dangling ornaments,
to east and west, to the heavens and to the earth, and then with a deft
motion swung it around his head.
"My brothers," he said, glancing around at the solemn visages of these
his friends and people, "may the sun smile all day upon us together in
peace."
Wherewith he smoked a moment at the carven mouthpiece and handed the
pipe to Quamenoka.
With the utmost gravity Ridgar took it from the chief, passed it to the
savage on his right, who likewise smoked and passed, it on, and
presently the ceremony was done and the visit had begun.
"My brothers are late this year at the trading," said the factor. "For
a fortnight has the ox waited in the pen, the bread of the feast been
set. So do we love our brothers of the forest. What is the word of the
west? What tribes come in to the factory with peltry? We would hear
Quamenoka speak."
He fell silent, sat down in his chair, and waited.
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