When they had gathered, Black Fox greeted the Animals:--
"Good Year to you, Subjects, and much eating, each unto his own way of life!"
Whisky-Jack preened his mischievous head, ruffled his blue-gray feathers, broke into the harsh, cackling laugh of the Jay, and sneered, "Eating! always of eating; and never a more beautiful song to you, or--"
"Less thieving to you, eh, Mister Jay," growled Muskwa. "You who come by your eating easily have it not so heavily on your mind as we Toilers."
"Well, let me see," continued Black Fox, with reflective dignity, "here Ye have all assembled; for form's sake I will call your names."
From Mooswa to Wapoos each one of the Dwellers as his name was spoken stepped forward in the circle and saluted the King.
"Jack has been a faithful messenger," said Black King; "but where are Cougar, and Buffalo, and Eagle?"
"They had notice, thank you, Majesty, for your praise. Cougar says the mountain is his King, and that he wouldn't trust himself among a lot of Plain Dwellers."
"He's a Highway Robber and an Outlaw, anyway, so it doesn't matter," asserted Carcajou.
"You wouldn't talk that way if he were at your throat, my fat little Friend," lisped Whisky-Jack. "Buffalo is afraid of Man, and won't come; nearly all his brothers have been killed off, and he is hiding in the Spruce woods near Athabasca Lake."