called upon him to kill Thoma. The burning of
the house, the escape of his mother from the flames, the driving away of
the English people, the great storm on the bay, his first sight of the
pale-faced woman at Fort Frederick, the parting with her at Halifax, all
these events recurred to his mind in an instant and went like a flash
through his brain. His head seemed to dance like the canoe on the water,
then the canoe appeared to whirl round and round. He got so dizzy he
could scarcely see, and was afraid that he would fall overboard. He felt
something touch him on the shoulder like a dip from the wing of a bird.
He had his musket in the canoe, it was loaded. He suddenly pulled in the
paddle and then grasped the musket. It was "Chief Mag," and he pointed
it at Thoma who was sitting in the stern of the canoe. He fired and
Thoma rolled overboard and sank. Paddling on he arrived at his old
camping ground near the mouth of the river. The wigwam was still
standing but very much out of order, he sat in it till daylight and then
visited his mother's grave. After returning to the camp as he felt sad
and faint, he took his musket and wandered off in search of game. He
spent the remainder of the day near the resting place of "Old Mag," at
night he went to the camp and there slept. In the morning he got into
the canoe and paddled off up the river, arriving at Grimross he went on
shore and started at once by trail for Quebec, where after two moons he
arrived carrying Chief Mag with him. Here he was much in request by the
military, who detained him for three winters accompanying them on their
hunting excursions. During the latter part of the last winter, while
shooting with some officers on the borders of Acadia and Quebec, he met
an old Indian by the name of Joe Paul moving West with his family. From
him he learned that the pale-faced people were again living and trading
at Grimross. Paul told the officers that he must go back to the St.
John. They were not inclined to release him, until he had accompanied
them back to Quebec. Yielding to their entreaties he returned with them,
remaining a few days. Just before he left Quebec, there was a great stir
among the military. It was rumoured that war was impending, and the
officers tried hard to persuade him to remain and share with them the
fortunes of war, if they should be ordered to take part in the fighting.
He said he could not stay, but promised the officers, as he put on a new
red ja