Wassamo took heed to what the Old Spirit said and answered that he would obey.
About midday the company began to assemble; and such a company Wassamo had never looked on before. There were Spirits from all parts of the country; such strange-looking persons, and in dresses so wild and outlandish! One entered who smiled on him. This, Wassamo was informed, was a Spirit who had charge of the affairs of a tribe in the North, and he was as pleasant and cheery a Spirit as one would wish to see. Soon after, Wassamo heard a great rumbling and roaring, as of waters tumbling over rocks; and presently, with a vast bluster, and fairly shaking the lodge with his deep-throated hail of welcome to the old Sand-Spirit, in rolled another, who was the Guardian Spirit and special director of a great cataract or water-fall not far off.
Then came with crashing steps the owner of several whirlwinds, which were in the habit of raging about in the neighboring country. And following this one glided in a sweet-spoken, gentle-faced little Spirit, who was understood to represent a summer gale that was accustomed to blow in at the lodge-doors, toward evening, and to be particularly well disposed toward young lovers.
The last to appear was a great rocky-headed fellow; and he was twice as stony in his manners. He swaggered and strided in, and raised such a commotion with his great green blanket when he shook it, that Wassamo was nearly taken off his feet; and it was only by main force that he was able to cling by his wife. This, which was the last to enter, was that wicked Island Spirit, who looked grimly enough at Wassamo's wife as he passed in.
Soon after, the old Sand-Spirit, who was a great speech-maker, arose and addressed the assembly.
"Brothers," he said, "I have invited you to partake with me of the offerings made by the mortals on earth, which have been brought by our relation," pointing to Wassamo. "Brothers, you see their wishes and desires plainly set forth here," laying his hand upon the figured moose-skins. "The offering is worthy of our consideration. Brothers, I see nothing on my part to hinder our granting their requests; they do not appear to be unreasonable. Brothers, the offer is gratifying. It is tobacco—an article which we have lacked until we scarcely knew how to use our pipes. Shall we grant their requests? One thing more I would say. Brothers, it is this: There is my son-in-law; he is mortal. I wish to detain him with me, and it is with us jointly to make him one of us."
"Hoke! hoke!" ran though the whole company of Spirits, and "Hoke! hoke!" they cried again. And it was understood that the petitioners were to have all they asked, and that Wassamo was thenceforward fairly accepted as a member of the great family of Spirits.
As a wedding-gift the Old Spirit promised his son-in-law one request, which should be promptly granted.
"Let there be no sand-squalls among my father's people for three months to come," said Wassamo.
"So shall it be," answered the old Sand-Spirit.