Endurance is a sign of merit in the Red River jig. A man or woman steps into the limelight and commences to jig, a dark form in moccasins slips up in front of the dancer, and one jigs the other down, amid plaudits for the survivor and jeers for the quitter.
It is the square dance that interests us, our attention being divided between watching the deft forms in the half light and listening to the caller-off. _Louie-the-Moose_ first officiates. His eyes look dreamy but there is a general's stern tone of command in his words:
"Ladeez, join de lily-white han's, Gents, your black-and-tan! Ladeez, bow! Gents, bow-wow! Swing 'em as hard's ye can.
"Swing your corner Lady, Then the one you love! Then your corner Lady, Then your Turtle Dove!"
Over and over again Louie reiterates his injunction, to the accompaniment of pattering moccasins and a humming chorus from door and windows. There are phrases of variation, too. We catch the words, "_Address your pardner," "Adaman left," "Show your steps," "Gents walk round, and all run away to the west_."
Then Michel Manvil takes hold of the situation. He stands up to it, and we hear
"Ladies round ladies, and gents all so! Ladies round gents, and gents don't go!"
The third fiddler is a full-blooded Chipewyan. In some dancing academy in the woods he has learnt a "call-off" all his own, and proud indeed is he of his stunt. We manage to copy it down in its entirety, fighting mosquitoes the while and dodging out into the open now and again for a little air.
"'Slute your ladies! All together! Ladies opposite, the same-- Hit the lumber with yer leathers, Balance all, and swing yer dame! Bunch the moose-cows in the middle! Circle, stags, and do-si-do-- Pay attention to the fiddle! Swing her round, an' off you go!
"First four forward! Back to places! Second foller--shuffle back! Now you've got it down to cases-- Swing 'em till their back-teeth crack! Gents, all right, a heel and toeing! Swing 'em, kiss 'em if you kin-- On to next, and keep a-goin' Till you hit your pards ag'in!
"Gents to centre; ladies round 'em, Form a basket; balance all! Whirl yer gals to where you found 'em! Promenade around the hall! Balance to yer pards and trot 'em Round the circle, double quick! Grab and kiss 'em while you've got 'em-- Hold 'em to it; they won't kick!"