yum_?"

These words made him wince, but he could only feel that they were true,
and that he deserved them all; and he felt that, until he did something
to redeem himself in the eyes of this brave, true woman, he was only
worthy of her reproofs.

Seeing that her words had so hurt him, this generous-hearted girl, who,
while grieved at the failures he had made, could also appreciate his
noble qualities and sympathise with him in his struggles for the light,
quickly turned the conversation, and then, as though making a confidant
of him, told him of all the plans of their contemplated journey, which
was to begin just as soon as the spring opened, as they supposed it
would take them all the season of open water in their lakes and rivers
to go and return. Then she added: "And shall I not be happy when again
I see the spire of that house of prayer at Norway House? And if I can
only succeed in getting the promise of a missionary to come and dwell
among our people I shall forget all the dangers and hardship of the
trip."

One day, while Oowikapun was pondering over the words of Astumastao, and
thinking of the risks she and her companions were about to run, and the
dangers they would have to encounter in their great undertaking, and
contrasting it with the listless, aimless life he had lately been
leading, suddenly there came to him, as a revelation, a noble resolve
which took such possession of him and so inspired him that he appeared
and acted like another man.

To carry it out was quickly decided upon, and so, letting no one know of
his purpose, he very early, one crisp, wintry morning, tied his little
travelling outfit, with his axe and gun, upon his sled, and, without
saying "Good-bye" to anyone, even to Astumastao, secretly left the
village.

There were many surmises among the people when it was known that he was
gone. Many conjectures were made, and when some hunters returned along
the trail which led to his own village, and reported that the tracks of
his sled and snow-shoes were not seen in that direction, they were all
the more surprised; and it was a long time ere they had any hint of
where he had gone or the cause which had taken him away.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE.

The mysterious disappearance of Oowikapun from the village of his
friends caused a good deal of excitement and innocent gossip. That he
was deeply in love with Astumastao was evident to all, and while she did
not allow