After a week had passed, Yellow Hair was still as bewildered by the continuance of his welcome as he had been the instant it was hurled at him.
He did not understand the partners and the partners did not understand him. Yellow Hair’s lack of understanding was honest and ungarnished, but the partners covered theirs with amazing bits of statesmanship which would have done credit to a more inclusive cause.
The welcome was statesmanship and policy in itself. This should not be construed to mean that the Nor’Westers were wanting in generosity and cheer as no one can deny that they were openhanded in the extreme, always feeling called upon to prove that they, singular or plural, could drink more whiskey per hour than anyone on the continent.
The attempt at wassail was calculated to make Yello
