plans to meet emergencies, and so Astumastao
speedily resolved on a plan to bring help to them. What she did was
this. She cut a long pole from a clump of tall, slender trees which
grew near their wigwam, and then securely fastening her shawl to it, she
hoisted it up as a signal on a point where it was visible from the
shore. Soon it was observed, and help came speedily.

There was a good deal of genuine sorrow expressed by the Indians in
their own quiet way. After many questions had been asked and answered,
they wrapped up the body in birch bark, and conveyed it across to the
mainland, and there buried it with their usual Indian pagan rites, much
to the regret of Astumastao.

Left alone with her aunt, who was quite feeble, upon Astumastao fell the
chief work of supplying food for both. Bravely did she apply herself to
the task; and such was her skill and industry that a good degree of
success crowned her efforts, and very seldom indeed was it that their
wigwam was destitute of food. Often had she some to spare for the old
and feeble ones who, according to the heartless custom of some of the
tribes, when they reach the time of life when they can neither snare
rabbits nor catch fish, are either thrown out of the wigwams in the
bitter cold, and left to freeze to death, or they are deserted in the
forests, and left to be devoured by the wild beasts.

Astumastao, when a poor orphan child, had been rescued and kindly cared
for, and she never forgot those early days and kindly deeds performed
for her happiness, and so now we see her ever striving to comfort or
help others.

During the remaining part of the summer which followed the sad death of
her uncle, she succeeded in killing a number of reindeer, which are at
times very plentiful in those high latitudes. Annoyed by the numerous
flies, these reindeer frequently rush into the great lakes and rivers;
and as the Indians can paddle their light canoe much faster than these
animals can swim, they easily overtake and kill them.

Astumastao, with a couple of other Indian girls, succeeded in killing
quite a number of them. Their plan was to lash a sharp knife to the end
of a pole, and then when they had paddled near enough they stabbed the
deer and dragged it ashore. All the deer do not give up without a
struggle. This Astumastao found to her cost one day. She and a couple
of young maidens about her own age had hurried out to try and kill a
famous deer whose many-p