team of
dogs with a provision-sled and driver came rattling up.

"What cheer?" said the tall man heartily, as he held out his hand.

"Wat-chee?" replied Petawanaquat, grasping the hand, and repeating the
phrase as he had learnt it in the settlements.

The tall man was very affable, and at once revealed the object of his
journey. He was a missionary, he said, and was making a tour among the
native tribes of that region to preach the good news of salvation from
sin and its consequences through Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Petawanaquat listened with grave intelligence, but with the reticence of
an Indian.

"Some tribes of Indians, I have been told, are encamped not far from
this spot," said the missionary through his interpreter.

Petawanaquat admitted that such was the case, and that some lodges of
Indians were pitched in the mountains not two days' march from his tent.

The missionary entered the wigwam and sat down. He gradually introduced
the subject of his mission, and endeavoured to bring it home to the
Indian and his wife, who, however, replied in very brief sentences. He
also addressed Tony, but that sharp child seemed to be less
impressionable than a pine stump, and refused to utter a word on any
subject. The missionary, however, was a true man, with the love of God
burning brightly in his breast. Although slightly disappointed he was
not discouraged. He spoke of Christ crucified with great earnestness,
and commended the Christian virtues--among others the duty of forgiving,
nay, even loving, one's enemies, and especially of returning good for
evil. He also dwelt much on the wickedness of harbouring revengeful
feelings, and on the sweetness and blessedness of doing good to others--
enforcing his arguments on the latter point by quoting the Saviour's own
words, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them."

Still the red man listened with stolid composure, Meekeye with apparent
indifference, and Tony with absolute vacancy, so that the missionary,
after offering up a silent prayer, went on his way with a sad feeling at
his heart that his labour with that family of savages had been in vain.
He comforted himself, however, with the reflection that it is written,
"Your labour is _not_ in vain in the Lord."

And he was right. His labour had not been in vain, though it was not
given to him at that time to see the fruit thereof.

We have said that Petawanaquat had smoked and p