Free Savage Betrayal by Theresa Scott Page B

urgently whispered reminders of how badly they needed this alliance with the Ahousats restrained his fury.
    With a final croak, the Speaker directed the attention of everyone back to where the canoes lay on the beach. Some of Fighting Wolf’s men separated themselves from the others and headed down to where the canoes waited. The men staggered up the beach carrying armloads of gifts to present to the bride’s family. Although the bulk of the gifts would be arriving the next day, Fighting Wolf brought several canoes filled with blankets, furs and other gifts as representative of his family’s great wealth. The men set the bales of goods down on the pebbly beach, near Thunder Maker’s longhouse and above the high tide mark, so that the incoming tide would not ruin any of the precious items.
    Thunder Maker stomped over to inspect the proffered gifts. He did not have to pretend the vehemence with which he angrily rejected this first offering. At his signal, his Hesquiat men carried all the prizes back down to the waiting canoes.
    The rejection of the groom’s gifts was a traditional part of the marriage transaction. Over the next few days he was expected to dismiss the bridal price three or four times before finally accepting. Thunder Maker took exquisite satisfaction in refusing, expected though it was. He regretted he could not reject the full bride price today; that treat would have to wait until tomorrow. He brightened.
    Turning on his heel, he marched up to the longhouses, too angry to watch the visitors load the gifts back into the canoes.
    He would show those cocky Ahousats! He had some difficult games to challenge them with. They wouldn’t be so arrogant after a few failures, he thought angrily. These were games that Thunder Maker owned through inheritance, and only he and his family had the right to display them at wedding ceremonies. He was very proud of the privileges and knew the Ahousats would be hard-pressed to win them.
    The crowd followed him up the beach to the open space in front of the longhouses. People chatted and visited with each other, happy to have exciting entertainment on such a fine day. Dressed in their finery, everyone looked their best. A festive air prevailed.
    At a gesture from Thunder Maker, his men leaned two strong poles against each other, then anchored them firmly in the sand. The stout poles were tied together at the fork where they met, at approximately the height of three men. A cedar rope, greased in bear fat, dangled just off the ground. To claim the prize, a contestant must climb to the top of the slippery rope.
    ***
    Fighting Wolf quickly scanned his men, his eyes narrowing. He must choose carefully; he wanted to impress the Hesquiat dogs with Ahousat superiority.
    At his signal, two lean, healthy specimens of manhood, Otterskin and Birdwhistle, stepped forward.
    Otterskin was one of Fighting Wolf’s most trusted fighting men, a man who could be relied on to do his best. Seeing that the poles were supported by two strong men, Otterskin carefully eyed the dangling rope. Giving a quick jump, he anchored himself securely on the slippery rope and entwined it once around his fist. Now to climb it. He paused for a moment, then jerked himself sharply upwards to wrap his free arm around the rope. To his utter dismay, he quickly slid downward and landed in a heap on the sand. Shaking the sand off his now greasy body, he strode ruefully over to the sidelines.
    It was Birdwhistle’s turn. Fighting Wolf’s cousin glided forward and was under the rope in one smooth movement. Looking up at it for a brief moment, he suddenly jumped high from his standing position. He entangled the rope around both his hands and wrapped it over his heels in one even movement. Carefully, one hand over the other, he slowly ascended the rope, always keeping the rope looped over one heel.
    The crowd groaned with him as he slowly gained the top of the greasy rope. A collective sigh went up as he debonairly touched