," replied The Bear,
"the other islands are all south of this one, and you know that we
found his canoe adrift south of here and north of all the other
islands. That is sufficient proof." Then he added: "The reason
Simpson's Brother did not answer is because he is not on the island,
but in the water."

Again they all clamoured for proof and The Bear answered: "But first I
must find where he landed, and the quickest way to find that place is
to remember that the wind was blowing too strong for him to land on the
north shore, and that the running swells were too strong for him to
land on either the east or west sides, therefore he landed on the south
side--the sheltered side. Now let us go and see where he drew up his
canoe."

But one of the others argued that that would be impossible as Simpson's
Brother was not such a fool as to act like a white man and drag his
canoe over the rocks. The Bear, however, persisted that there would be
some sign, at least where the bow touched shore when the cripple got
out, and that he, The Bear, would go and find it. But first he would
go and examine the nests to learn from which of them the cripple had
removed the eggs. Thus they would learn where he had been working; and
the finding of the landing place would be made easier. So The Bear set
to work. From the empty nests he soon learned where the cripple had
been working, and after a careful search he presently found on a big
rock a little white spot no larger than a man's finger nail.

"There, my friends, is where Simpson's Brother landed, for that white
mark is of gum and proves where the bow of the canoe bumped the rock."

They then asked The Bear where he thought the cripple was, and
pointing, he replied:

"If we search long enough we shall find him in the deep water down
there; for when Simpson's Brother was getting aboard his canoe, he
slipped and in falling struck his head upon the rock; the blow stunned
him, and without a struggle he slid into the water, and was drowned."

When they had brought their canoes round and had peered into the deep
water, true enough, they discovered the body on the bottom of the lake.
Securing a long pole, they fastened a gun worm to one end and, reaching
down, twisted it into the cripple's clothing and brought the body to
the surface. Sadly they placed it in the unfortunate man's canoe,
towed the craft and its burden to the other island, and sent to Fort
Rae for the priest, Father Rour