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Across the Plains 1858 Dec eloquence, and hasten to the fire to feel its genial warmth. He would go out at intervals of every fifteen minutes, and harangue an audience that was not visible until the cold drove him in again. In this manner he kept speaking till "Night, drew her sable mantle around, And pinned it with a star." Not understanding the tenor of his speech, we manifested our indifference, by quietly ensconsing ourselves in an unoccupied corner of the lodge and solaced ourselves with smoking the weed. About eight o'clock, P.M., we should judge, the inmates of the lodges were called together by a violent ringing of a cow-bell. having all assembled in the Chief's lodge, (the one, we were in) prayers was said, and hymns sang in a compound mixture of French, Latin and Indian, taught to them by the Priest. After prayers, they retired to their respective lodges; a few minutes after, the squaws came in, in single file, and deposited their contributions of smoked venison and Misas-qui-tom-i-ca, or service berries, at the foot of the altar. The altar, was formed out of a square box &? made from cedar bark, the box was covered with a mat of unclear, and at the foot was also a mat. Catholic pictures were pinned to the side of the lodge over the altar. Each squaw upon depositing her contribution would cross herself in a pious manner before the altar, and receive a benedicite? from the chief, who is acting priest for the band. These contributions were for the coming feast on the morrow. Upon the completion of the donations, the venison was put into a large kettle, and the berries in another,