Noon Came And No Bezkya; Late Afternoon, And
Then I Sallied Forth, Not To Seek Him, But To Pass Near His Lodge,
As Though I Were Going To The Hudson's Bay Store.
And there, to my
horror, about the lodge I saw a group of squaws, with shawls over
their heads, whispering, together.
As I went by, all turned as one
of them pointed at me, and again they whispered.
"Oh, heavens!" I thought; "I've killed the old man." But still
I would not go in. That night I did not sleep for worrying about
it. Next morning I was on the point of sending Billy to learn the
state of affairs, when who should come staggering up but old Bezkya.
He was on two crutches now, his complexion was a dirty gray, and
his feeble knees were shaking, but he told Billy - yes, unmistakably
this time - to tell the Okimow that that was great medicine I had
given him, and he wanted a dose just like it for his wife.
CHAPTER XIII
FORT SMITH AND THE SOCIAL QUEEN
Several times during our river journey I heard reference to
an extraordinary woman in the lower country, one who gave herself
great airs, put on style, who was so stuck up, indeed, that she had
"two pots, one for tea, one for coffee." Such incredible pomposity
and arrogance naturally invited sarcastic comment from all the
world, and I was told I should doubtless see this remarkable person
at Fort Smith.
After the return from Buffalo hunt No.
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