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I therefore write down here, as briefly as I can, my story and my wishes, and shall give the letter with my miniature to my darling Waboose whose Christian name is Eve, though she knows it not with directions not to open it, or let it out of her hands, until she meets with a white man whom she can trust, for well assured am I that the man whom my innocent and wise-hearted Eve can trust be he old or young will be a man who cannot and will not refuse the responsibility laid on him.
A gleam of surprise mingled with pleasure rippled over her pretty face when she found that I could speak to her in the native tongue. "Yes," she replied in the same language. "I have wandered far. I was the bearer of a message." As she volunteered no more I continued: "If Waboose goes to her wigwam, will she object to the pale-face bearing her company?"
"Waboose," said I, during the conversation above referred to, "you need not be anxious about your mother. I feel assured that her complaint is of such a nature that her general health will be benefited by a trip over the snow provided she is kept warm and does not travel too far each day.
"Your duty is to obey the commands of Weeum! My tribe will not die of grief because Waboose does not return. As for Salamander send him where you please. He is nobody nothing!"
Waboose, to whom this promise had been made, was a favourite niece of Big Otter, and had been named Waboose, or "rabbit," because she was pretty innocent, soft, and tender. "My father," said Mozwa, rather solemnly, "Big Otter has not broken his word, for all the berries are not yet ripe." He plucked a berry which chanced to be growing near his hand, as he spoke, and held it up to view.
"He took the mother of Waboose home to dwell with Himself and with her father Weeum. And men and women, you know, cannot be taken to the happy land without leaving their children behind them fatherless and motherless." Big Otter did not reply, but I saw by his grave look that he was not satisfied.
"Yes, I knew he was presumptuous, but I did not know he was so great a fool," replied the old chief scornfully. "My father knows," continued Big Otter, "that when the pale-face chief went and brought Waboose back to Fort Wichikagan, Attick was staying there in his wigwam by the lake. The big chief of the pale-faces, who fears nothing, had forgiven him.
"Very unfortunate," said I, "that this should happen at the beginning of our career in this region. We must thwart his plans if we can." "Moreover," continued Lumley, with a sly look, "I am told that he has the presumption to aspire to the hand of Waboose!" "Indeed!"
On returning to Fort Wichikagan four days after Big Otter had left, and hearing what had occurred, I told Lumley I would follow in pursuit and fetch Waboose back. He remonstrated, of course, but in vain. "You know that a sacred trust has been imposed upon me," said I, earnestly, "and I have resolved to fulfil it.
It was written, he said, merely because the Indian chanced to be travelling towards Wichikagan, and contained nothing of importance. To my surprise and disappointment it contained no reference whatever to Waboose. On turning over the last page, however, I found a postscript. It ran thus: "P.S. By the way, I had almost omitted to mention Eve. My dear boy, I believe you are right.
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