make the redskins
come an' settle round you like so many squaws, and dig up an' grub at
the ground, when it's quite clear that their natur' and the natur' o'
things about them meant them to be hunters. An' surely since the
Almighty made them hunters, He intended them to _be_ hunters, an' won't
refuse to make them Christians on _that_ account. A redskin's natur' is
a huntin' natur', an' nothin' on arth'll ever make it anything else."

"There is much truth in what you observe, friend," rejoined the pastor;
"but you are not _altogether_ right. Their nature _may_ be changed,
although certainly nothing on _earth_ will change it. Look at that
frozen lake." He pointed to the wide field of thick, snow-covered ice
that stretched out for miles like a sheet of white marble before them.
"Could anything on earth break up or sink or melt that?"

"Nothin'," replied Jacques laconically--

"But the warm beams of yon glorious sun can do it," continued the
pastor, pointing upwards as he spoke, "and do it effectually, too; so
that, although you can scarcely observe the process, it nevertheless
turns the hard, thick, solid ice into limpid water at last. So is it in
regard to man. Nothing on earth can change his heart or alter his
nature; but our Saviour, who is called the Sun of Righteousness, can.
When He shines into a man's soul it melts. The old man becomes a little
child, the wild savage a Christian. But I agree with you in thinking
that we have not been sufficiently alive to the necessity of seeking to
convert the Indians before trying to gather them round us. The one
would follow as a natural consequence, I think, of the other, and it is
owing to this conviction that I intend, as I have already said, to make
a journey in spring to visit those who will not or cannot come to visit
me. And now, what I want to ask is, whether you will agree to accompany
me as steersman and guide on my expedition."

The hunter slowly shook his head. "I'm afeard not, sir; I have already
promised to take charge of a canoe for the Company. I would much rather
go with you, but I must keep my word."

"Certainly, Jacques, certainly; that settles the question. You cannot
go with me--unless--" the pastor paused as if in thought for a
moment--"unless you can persuade them to let you off."

"Well, sir, I can try," returned Jacques.

"Do; and I need not say how happy I shall be if you succeed. Good-day,
friend, good-bye." So saying, the mission