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Updated: May 2, 2025
Arrived at the fort we found our men and the few Indians who had not left us for their hunting-grounds, busy at the nets, or finishing the buildings that were yet incomplete. We also found that Big Otter had come in, bringing with him his wife, and his niece Waboose, with her mother.
In a week, or two at farthest, he will arrive, when I shall be absolutely free to go where I please. Meanwhile, to prevent even a shadow of impropriety, I ask your majesty for a fortnight's leave of absence to go a-hunting. Surely you won't refuse so small a favour? I will be sure to find Waboose, and bring her back by that time." "Well, Max, my boy, I won't refuse. Go, and God go with you.
"Waboose told me," he said. "Does the daughter of Weeum the Good hold communion with evil spirits?" asked the old chief, with a slight elevation of the eyebrows. "Not willingly, but evil spirits force themselves upon the daughter of Weeum the Good. My father knows that Attick is presumptuous. He wishes to mate Waboose."
While this was being done I led Waboose aside to a little knoll, from which we could see a beautiful country of mingled woodland and prairie, stretching far away to the westward, where the sun had just descended amid clouds of amber and crimson. "Is it not glorious!" I exclaimed. "Should we not be grateful to the Great Spirit who has given us such a splendid home?" Waboose looked at me.
I felt that it would be useless to press my correction, and therefore changed the subject by asking if her father had never tried to teach her English. Immediately she answered, with a somewhat bashful air "Yes, a leetil." "Why, you can speak English, Waboose," I exclaimed, stopping and looking down at her with increasing interest.
"Because you are still a servant of the Fur Company, and not entitled to break your engagement. Besides, it is desirable that Big Otter's people should know why he and Waboose have left them, and where they have gone; and if you explain matters correctly they will be quite satisfied, for they all respect the memory of Weeum the Good.
"Waboose," said I, with sudden earnestness, "I am going to tell you something that will probably surprise you, and I will show you something that may give you pleasure or pain I know not which. You remember, that when I found the curious ornaments near to the stunted pine-tree, I asked you not to question me at that time about the packet you gave to me long ago.
"And you, my friend," I said, "what will your movements be?" "Big Otter will go and help you to obey the commands of Weeum," he replied. "There is no wife, no child, waiting for him to return. He must be a father to Waboose. Muxbee will be her brother. The trail to Colorado is long. Big Otter has been there. He has been a solitary wanderer all his life, and knows the wilderness well.
Attick went to Waboose, and offered to take her to his wigwam; but the daughter of Weeum the Good turned away from him. Attick is proud, and he is fierce. He told Waboose that he would kill all the pale-faces. Although a fool, he does not boast. Waboose knew that he was in earnest. "Did she tell you so?" asked Muskrat, sharply. "No; but the blue eyes of Waboose tell tales.
"If it does not hurt her feelings too much to recall the past, I should like Waboose to tell me about her father." The girl looked at me in surprise. I had a fancy, at the time, that this was the result of the novel sensation of a man having any consideration for her feelings, for Indian braves are not, as a rule, much given to think about the feelings of their women.
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