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:
"The step which Shing-wauk has taken is a very serious one. Now he will have to think for two. Now he must supply the wants of two. Now he will realize what trouble is. But the One who made us … The Great Mystery … The Master of Life … made us right. The man has his work to do, and the woman has hers. The man must hunt and kill animals, and the woman must skin and dress them. The man must always stand by her and she by him. The two together are strong … and there is no need of outside assistance. Remember … my grandchildren … you are starting out together that way …"
To illustrate his meaning, he held up two fingers parallel, and added:
"If your tracks fork … they will soon be as far apart as sunrise is from sunset … and you will find many ready to come in between. Carry on in the way you have begun … for that is the way you should end. And remember … if your tracks once fork … they will never come together again … my grandchildren … I have spoken."
After Little Pine's father, as well as several of the guests, had made their remarks, Naudin, Neykia's mother, rose to address her daughter. Overcome with nervousness, she pulled her shawl so far over her face as to leave only a tiny peep-hole through which to look. Hesitatingly she began: