did very well. So healthful were we, and so congenial was
the work and its surroundings, that there were no sleepless nights,
except when sometimes myriads of mosquitoes assailed us, or a fierce
thunderstorm swept over us. Then the nights were not so pleasant, and
we welcomed the coming of the day, even if, because of the storm, it
revealed a damp condition of affairs among our supplies.

This was the general plan of our proceedings: when we reached one of the
little Indian villages at a time which had been, perhaps, arranged six
months or a year before. All who possibly could come in from contiguous
fishing or hunting grounds, were there to meet me; then, for several
days services would be held, after which the Indians would return to
their different hunting grounds, while I would again launch my canoe and
with my skilled paddlers, push on to some other point, where would be
gathered another company of Indians awaiting my arrival and longing to
hear the glorious Gospel of the Son of God.

Very precious was the Word to those people so isolated. The coming of
the missionary in his canoe to preach to them, and perhaps teach them
how to read for themselves the precious Book, was one of the few happy
breaks during the brief summer months in their lonely, monotonous lives.
They were ever on the lookout for my coming, and especially did those
who had renounced their paganism and accepted Christianity give me a
hearty welcome, even if it was expressed in their quiet, dignified way.

The Indian's alertness and keenness of hearing, as well as of seeing,
was something remarkable to me. The following is a good illustration of
it. One summer, when thus travelling, I was on the lookout for some
friendly Indians whose camping place was determined each summer by the
abundance of the food supply. Anxious to make as much of the time as
possible, my men and I were paddling away in our canoe at four o'clock
in the morning. To hasten our progress, we pushed out into the centre
of the great river, down which we were travelling, as there the current
was much more rapid than near the shore. At that early hour, the
morning mists still lay low and dense on either side, completely hiding
from view every object on the shore. While thus pushing on between
those walls of vapoury mist, we were startled by the rapid firing of
guns. To me this was a decided mystery, but it was at once understood
by my experienced canoemen. Quickly turnin