m, while he felt for those who necessarily must suffer.

"What can be done to aid those unfortunate ones, who, in addition to
their sorrows and troubles incident to the ravages of the small-pox
among them, are now to be exposed to pinching famine and want?" was the
question that sympathising friends were asking each other. As a last
resort it was decided to appeal to the Norway House Christian Indians,
and ask them to form a brigade of boats, and take the much-needed
supplies up the mighty Saskatchewan River, where they could be reached
by those needing them.

To me, as Missionary of these Indians, Mr Stewart, the highest official
of the Hudson's Bay Company, came; and we talked the matter over, and
the risks which the Indians, not one of whom had been vaccinated, must
run in going on such a perilous journey. They would have to go hundreds
of miles through the disease-stricken land where hundreds had died. But
it seemed essential that something must be done, and there were
possibilities that the Indians, by acting very wisely, could escape
infection: so we decided to call them together, and see what they would
do in this emergency.

When the church bell was rung, and the people had assembled together in
their Council house, wondering what was the matter, I described the sad
circumstances to them, and then presented the request, that one hundred
and sixty of them should take twenty boats loaded with supplies, and go
up the Saskatchewan, to save these white people from starving. I said
to these converted Indians, my own people:

"I know your race on this continent has not always been fairly treated;
but never mind that. Here is a grand opportunity for you to do a
glorious act, and to show to the world and to the good Lord, Whose
children you are, that you can make sacrifices and run risks when duty
calls, as well as the whites can."

We told them that there was a possibility that they, by keeping in the
middle of the great river all the time, and _never_ going ashore, might
all escape. They would be provided with abundance of food; so they need
not go ashore to hunt. Then we asked, "Are you willing to run the risk,
and avail yourselves of this chance to do a glorious act?" Turning to
one of the most trusted guides in the country, one of my best Class-
Leaders, I said: "Samuel Papanekis, you are to be the guide and leader
of this party." He was a son of the old centenarian, and brother of the
Reverend Edward