t off
together on a long missionary journey, one of the objects of which was,
to assist in the building of a new church. For a time, the erection of
the little sanctuary in the wilderness went on uninterruptedly, much to
the delight of the resident Christian Indians, who had long wished for
one in which to worship God.

The securing of sufficient food for the builders, was one of the duties
that devolved upon, and gave considerable anxiety to, the missionary.
When the supplies which had been secured were about exhausted, and it
seemed as though the work of building would have to cease on account of
the lack of food, word came through some passing hunters that they had
seen abundance of sturgeon sporting at the foot of some great rapids of
the Nelson River. As they are considered delicious and nourishing food,
an expedition was at once prepared to go and capture as many of them as
possible. The missionary himself, an energetic, active man, took charge
of the party, and insisted, on going in his beautiful cedar canoe. When
they reached the head of the rapids, at the foot of which the sturgeon
were reported to have been seen in such numbers, there was a brief rest
ere the run down was attempted. The Indians all protested against the
missionary's resolve to run such wild rapids in a canoe which they were
certain was so unfitted for such a dangerous trip. The missionary,
however, was stubborn and unmoved by their entreaties. When they saw
that their words availed not, to change his resolve, an old experienced
guide said:

"Well, then let one of us go with you, to sit in the stern of your boat
and help you to steer, and also, by our weight, to keep the head of your
canoe high up as we run the rapids."

This kindly offer to risk and to share the dangers, he also refused,
saying, "that he could go in his white man's canoe anywhere an Indian
could go in a birch-bark." Their objection to his canoe, was, that it
was not built high enough in front, and so when he made the last wild
rush in the rapids where the pitch in the waters was so steep, instead
of the boat rising like a duck on the mad billows at the foot, it would
plunge under like a log and disappear.

Well would it have been for the wilful missionary if he had listened to
the advice of these experienced men who knew what they were talking
about. He, however, cut them short by ordering them to enter their
canoes and go on, and he would soon follow. With regre