venture, he at
length consented. Apetak imposed some conditions upon him that were
very stringent. One was that he was under no circumstances to divulge
to anyone the fact that he was going away blindfolded. Another was that
when the journey was completed, and he was safely back at home, he was
not to try and get there again. And the last was that for so many years
he was never even to mention or refer to the matter to anyone, white or
Indian. These seemed rather hard conditions, but as father's curiosity
had now been aroused he at length consented, and in a day or two he said
to his head clerk:--

"`I think I will go off on a bit of an excursion for a few days.'

"As these were of frequent occurrence, there was no stir or curiosity
excited. So, leaving orders as to the business for a few days, he and
Apetak started off with their guns, blankets, and the usual outfit in a
birch canoe. When away from the post Apetak got out the mask, with
which he blindfolded my father. It was a most thorough one, not a ray
of light penetrating it. When it was fastened on Apetak said:--

"`It will be all right, and you will not be sorry for this trip.'

"Taking up his paddle again, Apetak really began the journey. At first
he paddled the canoe round and round, until my father was completely
bewildered and knew not the north from the south. Then on and on the
strong Indian paddled for hours. Of course he and my father talked to
each other, and they laughed and chatted away at a great rate. They
landed at some portages, and Apetak helped father across, then he went
back for the canoe and supplies. Thus on they went for several days.
At the camp fire long after the sun was down Apetak would remove the
mask that so blindfolded father, and leave it off until nearly daylight.
But he never took it off until he had so confused him that, when his
eyes were uncovered he could not tell which way they had come. Early in
the afternoon of about the fourth day Apetak said:--

"`We are nearly at our journey's end. Soon I will show you what I have
brought you so far to see.'

"This was good news to my father, who had begun to feel this travelling
so long with the close covering on his face very irksome.

"Shortly after, Apetak stopped paddling, and, after helping my father to
land, he lifted his canoe out of the water, and hid it carefully among
the bushes. Then, placing a large bundle on his back, including his axe
and gun, he st