e good cheer of Mrs. Drew and the princess mother, and even
Minnetaki forced herself to smile, and laugh, though her eyes were
red, and all knew that she had been crying. Rod was glad when the meal
was over and they went out into the chill air of the morning, and down
to the edge of the lake, where their big birch-bark canoe was loaded
and waiting for their departure, and he was still more relieved when
they had bade a last good-by to the two mothers. But Minnetaki came
down to the canoe with them, and when Wabi kissed her she burst into
tears, and Rod felt a queer thickening in his throat as he took her
firm little hand and held it for a moment between both his own.

"Good-by, Minnetaki," he whispered.

He turned and took his position in the middle of the canoe, and with a
last shout Wabi shoved off and the canoe sped out into the gloom.

For a long time there was silence, except for the rhythmic dip of the
three paddles. Once Minnetaki's voice came to them faintly, and they
answered it with a shout. But that was all. After a time Rod said,

"By George, this saying good-by is the toughest part of the whole
business!"

His words cleared away the feeling of oppression that seemed to have
fallen on them.

"It's always hard for me to leave Minnetaki," replied Wabigoon. "Some
day I'm going to take her on a trip with me."

"She'd be a bully fellow!" cried Rod with enthusiasm.

From the stern of the canoe came a delighted chuckle from Mukoki.

"She brave--she shoot, she hunt, she be dam' fine!" he added, and
both Rod and Wabi burst out laughing. The young Indian looked at his
compass by the light of a match.

"We'll strike straight across Lake Nipigon instead of following the
shore. What do you say, Muky?" he called back.

The old pathfinder was silent. In surprise Wabi ceased paddling, and
repeated his question.

"Don't you think it is safe?"

Mukoki wet his hand over the side and held it above his head.

"Wind in south," he said. "Maybe no get stronger, but--"

"If she did," added Rod dubiously, noting how heavily laden the canoe
was, "we'd be in a fix, as sure as you live!"

"It will take us all of to-day and half of to-morrow to follow the
shore," urged Wabi, "while by cutting straight across the lake we can
make the other side early this afternoon. Let's risk it!"

Mukoki grunted something that was a little less than approval, and Rod
felt a peculiar sensation shoot through him as the frail birch head