30 FIFTY YEARS IN WESTERN CANADA

labours at Anarhém’s camp, Ezoosee, The Magpie,
sent by the Stone Chilcotins, put in an appearance.

On the morrow, the priest being ready to go, in-
structed the Magpie, a jolly good fellow, to get his
horse for his baggage. The Magpie did not budge,
but scratched his head awaiting further orders. On
the same being repeated, he said he had no horse, but
instead was blessed with a pair of good shoulders.
Whereupon the bystanders began to smile and chuckle
among themselves.

‘“‘How is that?” insisted the missionary. ‘I saw
you coming with a horse yesterday.”

‘“T don’t have it any more,”’ said the Indian.

“You sold it?”’

“Na,”

“You gave it away?”

“Still less.”’

‘Has it been stolen?”’

“Not in the least.”’

“Perhaps it broke loose, and you could not find
cP”

“Tt did not.”’

“Then what did you do with it?”

For once in his life the Magpie had lost his loqua-
city. Every one was intently looking at him, wonder-
ing if he was going to risk a confession. Not he. He
merely repeated that he had good shoulders, and that
the priest’s impedimenta would not weigh more than
feathers to his robust frame. Had he been a Christian,
he would have avowed that he had passed the night
gambling, and had lost the horse he had brought for
the use of the missionary.°

Another foible of the Chilcotins at that time, which

6 Cf. Au Pays del’Ours Notr, p. 34.