62 BREAK-UP

mood did not last. Excitement and curiosity com-
bined to draw us into the group that had already
gathered on the bank. The little green crab of a boat
came chug-chugging up the river until we could
see the people standing on her deck; she turned and
swung in toward the bank. The motor stopped: the
first boat had arrived.

There were greetings and hand-shakes; there was
laughter; there was a great commotion. Five new
faces came up the bank, and again we felt resent-
ment, mingled this time with embarrassment and a
sudden desire to run away. But the cargo was being
unloaded, and we went with the rest up to the Hud-
son’s Bay store to see what the gods had sent us.
With greedy eyes we watched fresh eggs being un-
packed, and real oranges; whites, half-breeds and
Indians made a rush for the counter to claim their
share. Bags of mail were sorted while the crowd
looked on. And eventually we made our Way to-
ward our shack laden with fruit and letters and
Christmas parcels. As we passed the little church we
saw the missionary standing on the steps, waiting
for a congregation that was far too busy to answer
the summons of his bell.

— ee