Crowds of courtiers were in the apartment, all dressed in the most brilliant array.

The strangers looked around for their friend Shee-shee-banze, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Now and then the chief would cough, when a shower of silver ornaments and precious things would fly in all directions, and instantly a scramble would commence among the company, to gather them up and appropriate them.
As they thus rushed forward, the brides-elect saw their poor little friend crowded up into a corner, where nobody took any notice of him, except to push him aside, or step on him whenever he was in the way.

He uttered piteous little squeaks as one and another would thus maltreat him, but he was too busy taking care of himself to perceive that those whom he had left snug at home in the lodge were witnesses of all that was going on.
At length the signal was given for the company to retire, all but the two young damsels, upon whom Way-gee-mar-kin had set his eye, and to whom he had sent, by one of his assistants, great offers to induce them to remain with him and become his wives.
Poor Shee-shee-banze returned to his lodge, but what was his consternation to find the door open! "Ho! grandmother," cried he, "is this the way you keep watch ?" The old woman started up.

"There are my daughters-in-law," said she, pointing to the two logs of wood.

Shee-shee-banze threw himself on the ground between them.