here had
passed," he said, "to the beautiful island, a little while before, the
soul of a tender and lovely maiden, well known to the son of the Red
Elk. Being fatigued with her long journey, he had rested awhile in his
cabin, and had then told him the story of their long and affectionate
attachment, and her persuasion that her lover would attempt to follow
her to the Lake of Spirits. She had but just passed, and a little more
speed on his part would enable him to overtake her. But he could not be
permitted to carry his body, nor the body of his dog, nor his bow, nor
his war-spear, beyond the door of the cabin, which was the gate of the
land. He must leave them in his charge till his return, but he need not
fear that harm would happen to them. So saying, he opened the gate, and
gave him a glimpse of the wide and spacious road beyond.""

The Chepewyan was not long in disincumbering himself of the deadening
clog of mortality. Leaving his body, and the bodies of his dog, and
spear, and bow, in the hands of the gatekeeper, with a charge to have
them delivered to his friends if he should not return, he entered upon
the road to the Blissful Island. He had travelled but a couple of
bowshots, when it met his view still more beautiful than his fathers had
painted it. He stood upon the brow of a hill, sloping gently away to a
smooth lake, which stretched as far as the eye could see. Upon its banks
were groves of beautiful trees of all kinds, and many, very many canoes
were seen gliding over its waters. A light breeze ruffled its waves--so
light that they only reminded him of the opposition which a weak man
makes to the will of the strong. Afar, in the centre of the lake, lay
the beautiful island appointed for the residence of the good Chepewyan.
And scarcely three bowshots from him, leaning upon a bank of flowers, in
contemplation of the glorious scene, was the soul of her so fondly
loved. Beautiful vision! The sight lends to his steps the fleetness of
an antelope; he bounds forward, and is soon at her side. Into his arms
she flies, and though they clasp but thin air, embrace but her
resemblance, yet the doing so gives a hundred times the joy it could
have done, when his spirit was clogged with the grossness of mortality,
and he folded to his breast a corporeal form.

At length they reached the lake. They found upon its bank, chained by a
rope of sand to the shade of a willow, two canoes made of a white stone
that glittered in t