it a little more easily while I
carved it, she shouted out:

"Your piece of meat is a very poor one, mine is a very good piece," and
before I could realise what she was about, she exchanged the pieces. Of
course I could do nothing but accept it, with thanks. I had to approve
of the motive, even if I did not applaud the deed. It was an act of
kindness that we are not all educated up to.

After the dinner we had a religious service that lasted until supper
time. Then, after a good supper of fish, we had another service, that
lasted until midnight. Then she put me in charge of one of her Indians
who had a large wigwam. With him my Indians and I spent the night.
There were only twenty-two of us sleeping around the fire in the centre.

I remained with them for a number of days, and since then, they have all
given up paganism, and have become good earnest Christian people.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

BIG TOM.

His full name was Mamanowatum, which means, "O be joyful." He was a big
man, almost gigantic, and generally slow in his movements, except when
on the trail. When he arose to address an assembly, either in council,
or church, he got up by inches, and seemed to rest between. But when he
was up, and began to talk, he had something to say that was worthy of
attention.

Our first introduction to him was in 1868. He was the guide and
steersman of the Hudson Bay inland boat, in which my wife and I
travelled from Fort Garry, on the Red River of the North, to Norway
House, situated on Playgreen Lake, beyond the northern extremity of Lake
Winnipeg.

At this time Big Tom, as he was called by everybody, had been an earnest
Christian for several years. Earlier missionaries had preceded us, and
among the Indian converts was this godly man, about whom it is a
pleasure to write. We both took to him at once. He was one of nature's
noblemen. While pleased with his kindly considerate ways, we admired
the skill and ability with which he managed the little boat on such a
stormy lake.

The long and dangerous journey was of about four hundred miles and
occupied us for about fourteen days. Big Tom steered our boat with a
long oar, which he used as a rudder. The principal propelling power of
these boats, is the long strong oars, manned by the Indian crews. We
had in our boat eight good oarsmen, and the vigour and endurance of
these men was a matter of constant admiration. When head winds
prevailed, or we were in the mid