ndian tribes. In some mysterious, and to the
whites, most unaccountable way, the news of success or disaster was
carried hundreds of miles in a marvellously short period of time. For
example, the defeat and death of General Custer at the battle of the
Rosebud was known among the Sioux Indians, near Saint Paul, for several
hours before the military authorities at the same place had any
knowledge of it, although the whites were able to communicate more than
half of the way with each other by telegraph. An interesting subject
this might prove for some one who had time and patience to give it a
thorough investigation.

The rumours of coming blessings to the people kept increasing. At
length they assumed a form so tangible, that the people began to
understand what was meant. It seemed that some hunters met some other
hunters in their far-off wanderings, who had come across a party of
Norway House Christian Indians, who informed them that a visit might be
soon expected from the white man with the great book, about which there
had been so many strange things circulating for such a long time. When
Astumastao heard these rumours she was excited and perplexed. While
hoping most sincerely that they were true, and would speedily be
fulfilled, yet she could not but feel that she would have rejoiced to
have been able to have made the long journey, for which she had been so
industriously preparing, and have had something to do in bringing the
missionary and the book among her own people. And then she let her
thoughts go to some one else, and she said to herself, "I will rejoice
if it turns out to be the work of Oowikapun."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

IN NEED OF A MISSIONARY.

The success which has attended the efforts of the missionaries in
preaching the Gospel among the most northern tribes of Indians has been
very encouraging. For a long time they had been dissatisfied with their
old paganism. They had in a measure become convinced that their
religious teachers, their medicine-men, and conjurers, were impostors
and liars, and so, while submitting somewhat to their sway, were yet
chafing under it. When the first missionaries arrived among them they
were soon convinced that they were their true friends. Not only were
they men of saintly lives and pure characters, but they were men who
practically sympathised with the people, and to the full measure of
their ability, and often beyond, they helped the sick and suffering
one