Their business it was to be to cut the wood for our fires, prepare our meals, and give a helping hand to whatever was going forward.

A messenger had also been sent to the Kakalin, or rapids, twenty-one miles above, to notify _Wish-tay-yun_,[3] the most accomplished guide through the difficult passes of the river, to be in readiness for our service on a specified day.
In the mean time, we had leisure for one more party, and it was to be a "real Western hop." Everybody will remember that dance at Mrs.Baird's.
All the people, young and old, that would be gathered throughout, or, as it was the fashion to express it, _on_ Green Bay, were assembled.

The young officers were up from Fort Howard, looking so smart in their uniforms--treasures of finery, long uncalled forth, were now brought to light--everybody was bound to do honor to the strangers by appearing in their very best.

It was to be an entertainment unequalled by any given before.

All the house was put in requisition for the occasion.