The chief greeted everyone in an open-topped wooden hat with long tails of fur hanging from its back. Each time he nodded, the soft bird down that filled his headdress floated about his visitors like snow. The guests came in fringed cloaks, fur boots, and capes trimmed with fur and shell buttons. All wore woven hats and carried baskets and boxes. Long into the night, people sat by the blazing fire, talking and laughing. Women moved about the guests pulling deeply carved wheeled tubs. From these animal-shaped containers they served fish stew, clam chowder and seaweed salads. Jonny filled his bowl again and again. For the first time in his life, he ate until he could eat no more. The first evening of celebration ended when the chief approached the fire with a large piece of hammered copper. It reminded Jonny of the heraldry shields he’d read about in the history books. The decorated metal gleamed in the golden light of the gigantic fire.
