[Footnote 1:  Fur buyers who were not agents of the Fur Company.]

Robinson informed them of his success in shooting the deer and that it was even now being brought in.  The traders not only purchased what furs Robinson had on hand but also the two hind quarters of the deer which Mary was bringing home.  Robinson at once began drinking the fire water which he had received as part payment.

He was naturally irritable, and short-tempered even when sober, but he was much more so when under the influence of spirituous liquors.  The unprincipled traders, knowing this, and wishing to see him in one of his tantrums, began in a bantering way to question whether he had really shot a deer, since his wife was so long in coming with it.

This made him simply furious, and when Mary did at length arrive, laboring under the two-hundred-pound deer, she was met by her husband now wild with passion and the white man’s fire water.  Little suspecting danger she threw the deer from her shoulders, where it had been supported by the carrying strap across her forehead.  Weary and panting, she turned to go into the wigwam for her skinning knife, but ere she had gone a dozen steps she was startled by a yell from Robinson which caused her instantly to turn and face him.  The sight that met her eyes was appalling.  Before her stood her husband with an uplifted gleaming ax in his hands and curses on his tongue.  Seeing that there was no chance to fly from him she threw herself toward him, hoping thereby to escape the blow.  She succeeded in saving her head, but the ax buried itself in her spine.

Mary’s piercing screams speedily brought a number of Indians from neighboring wigwams.  When they found poor Mary lying there in agony, with the ax still imbedded in the bones of her back, their indignation knew no bounds.

Indians, as a rule, have great self-control, but this sight so stirred them that there was very nearly a lynching.  Robinson, now sobered by his fears, clearly foresaw that terrible would be his punishment, and while the Indians and traders turned to attend to Mary’s wounds the wretched husband stealthily slipped away into the forest and was never again seen there.  Rumors, however, at length reached Mary that he had fled away to the distant Kaministiquia River, where for a time he lived, solitary and alone, in a little bark wigwam.  One day, when out shooting in his canoe, he was caught in some treacherous rapids and carried over the wild and picturesque Ka-ka-be-ka Falls, about which so many thrilling Indian legends cluster.

For seven years Mary was a helpless invalid.  When she did recover her back had so curved that she looked like a hunchback.  As she was poor, and utterly unable either to hunt or to fish, we helped her in various ways.  She was always grateful for kindness, and in return was very willing to do what she could for us.  She was exceedingly clever with her needle, and with a little instruction was soon able to assist with the sewing required.  However, what especially won her to us and gave her a permanent place in our home, was her great love and devotion to our little ones.