what has the Medicine Man done? Nothing.
He says he knows much, but he is wrong. Shrahegan feels the fire. He
hears a strange voice which gives him no rest."

It was truly a marvellous spectacle to see this giant savage,
travailing in the throes of a new birth. It reminded Keith of a
picture which often came to his mind, of the beginning of civilization
among his own rude ancestors. All around was a dreary land, wind-swept
and cold, over which men, women and children were crawling, fighting
and dying. In the midst of this pathetic scene one man had lifted his
head and was listening as if to a voice from the far-off sea, while in
his dull, stupid eye the gleam of a new light could be dimly discerned.
The light of God was breaking, which at last burst forth into such
marvellous glory.

"Shrahegan," said Keith, when the Indian had finished, and stood
looking away toward the East, "what do you want? What will give you
rest?"

"To see. To know," came the slow, thoughtful reply.

"For yourself only?"

"No, no! For my people, too. Shrahegan wants them to have the fire,
and to see other things."

"And do you want a teacher?"

"Ah, Shrahegan wants the pale-face teacher to live among his people, to
help them. And will he come?" he questioned, looking deep into the
missionary's eyes.

"Yes, he will come, or send another better," came the reply. "And
while he is away Shrahegan will not forget?"

"Shrahegan will not forget. How can he when he has seen the light and
felt the fire?"

When once alone, Keith's steps quickened. The King's business required
haste and he must not delay. After crossing the mountain he reached
the unnamed river flowing free and strong before him. Here was an
opportunity which a frontiersman could not afford to overlook. The
stream would speed him on his way to Klassan.

With some difficulty he fashioned a small raft from the dead, broken
trees on the bank, and entrusting himself to this with a prayer for
guidance, was soon sweeping down with the current.

Day after day he moved onward, past islands, bars, and jutting points,
guiding the craft by means of a long, stout pole by many a dangerous
place. Just when he expected that one day more would bring him to
Klassan, he found that the speed of the current was decreasing to a
considerable extent. Then he was surprised to find the ice drifting
slowly in various places. The farther he advanced the slower became
his progress,