ad of lake
Wichikagan. Attick followed in another canoe, but kept far behind.
They did not know it was Attick. Waboose found it out afterwards.
Muxbee did not talk to Waboose of love. The ways of the pale-faces are
strange. Once I thought that Muxbee liked Waboose, and that, perhaps,
he might wed with her, and stay with us as the Good Weeum did, but I
doubt it now. He only asked her to take him to the stunted pine where
her father was so fond of going with her. When there he went looking
here and there about the rocks, and found a splendid thing--I know not
what--but Waboose told me it shone and sparkled like the stars. Beside
it was a bag of the yellow round things that the pale-faces love so
much. He told her he had expected to find these things, but she must
not ask him questions just then--he would tell her afterwards. I
suppose he is a great medicine-man, and holds intercourse with the
spirit-world." Big Otter paused thoughtfully a few seconds, and then
continued:--

"When he was putting these things in his breast, Waboose caught sight of
Attick among the bushes, and pointed him out. Muxbee sprang up and
levelled his gun with the two pipes at him, but did not fire. Attick
fled and they saw him no more."

"Did Waboose tell Big Otter all this?" asked the old chief.

"Yes. Waboose has no secrets from her mother's brother."

"And why has Big Otter left the pale-faces, and brought Waboose away
from them?" asked Muskrat.

"Because he fears for the pale-faces, that Attick will kill them and
carry off Waboose. By bringing Waboose here with us we draw Attick
along with us away from the pale-faces, and as long as Waboose is in our
camp she is safe. Attick dare not harm her."

A gleam of intelligence lit up the swarthy features of the old chief as
he said "Waugh!" with much satisfaction.

But both he and Big Otter were wrong in their calculations. So far,
indeed, the latter was right. The presence of Waboose in the camp
effectually drew Attick after them, and thus removed danger from the
inhabitants of Fort Wichikagan, but they were wrong when they thought
their camp a place of safety for the poor girl.

"Did Muxbee not care when Big Otter carried Waboose away?" asked the old
man.

"He did not know she was going, and I did not tell her she was not to
return. I took her away with her mother when Muxbee was out hunting. I
told the big pale-face chief that I must go with my tribe to hunt the
buffal