rts of those who were
about to undergo the trying ordeal. Some of them were ambitious to
become great warriors or hunters, others were ambitious to become
leaders or great medicine-men among the tribes. To succeed in their
ambitious purposes, it was necessary that the ordeal of suffering should
be passed through.

While the majority were thus fired by their selfish hopes of attaining
prominence and position as the result of their suffering, there were
several like Oowikapun who were unhappy in their souls, and were going
to try this method in hope of relief. Perhaps, like him, they had in
some way or other been in a place where a few rays of light had shone
upon their souls. These had revealed to them the sinfulness of their
lives and the hideousness of sin; but being ignorant of the great
Physician, instead of looking to him for healing and happiness, they
were going to see if there was any efficacy in these trying ordeals.

As the ceremonies were only held in the far West, where the devotees
gathered from various tribes, Oowikapun and those with him had to travel
for many days ere they reached the place.

Far beyond the limits of the hunting grounds of his people did he and
his deluded comrades journey. They had to work up the swift current and
make many portages around the rapids of the Nelson River. Then across
the northern part of treacherous Lake Winnipeg they ventured in their
frail canoes, and only their consummate skill in the management of these
frail boats saved them from going down to watery graves.

Up the mighty Saskatchewan for nearly a thousand miles they hurried on.
If their minds had not been troubled at the prospect of their coming
sufferings, they would as hunters have been delighted by that trip
through that glorious western country which then teemed with game.
Multitudes of buffalo coming down to the great river to drink, first
gazed on them with curiosity and then, when alarmed, went thundering
over the plains. The great antlered elks were seen in troops upon the
bluffs and hills, and bears of different kinds went lumbering along the
shores. Beautiful antelopes with their large luminous eyes looked at
them for a moment and then went flying over the prairies like the
gazelles in the desert.

They landed at Edmonton, where now there nestles in beauty on its
picturesque bluffs a flourishing little town. Oowikapun and his
comrades in those days, however, found only the old historic fort,