In the second year of his reign at Wabinosh—­a factor is virtually king in his domain—­there came to the Post an Indian chief named Wabigoon, and with him his daughter, Minnetaki, in honor of whose beauty and virtue a town was named in after years.  Minnetaki was just budding into the early womanhood of her race, and possessed a beauty seldom seen among Indian maidens.  If there is such a thing as love at first sight, it sprang into existence the moment John Newsome’s eyes fell upon this lovely princess.  Thereafter his visits to Wabigoon’s village, thirty miles deeper in the wilderness, were of frequent occurrence.  From the beginning Minnetaki returned the young factor’s affections, but a most potent reason prevented their marriage.  For a long time Minnetaki had been ardently wooed by a powerful young chief named Woonga, whom she cordially detested, but upon whose favor and friendship depended the existence of her father’s sway over his hunting-grounds.

With the advent of the young factor the bitterest rivalry sprang up between the two suitors, which resulted in two attempts upon Newsome’s life, and an ultimatum sent by Woonga to Minnetaki’s father.  Minnetaki herself replied to this ultimatum.  It was a reply that stirred the fires of hatred and revenge to fever heat in Woonga’s breast.  One dark night, at the head of a score of his tribe, he fell upon Wabigoon’s camp, his object being the abduction of the princess.  While the attack was successful in a way, its main purpose failed.  Wabigoon and a dozen of his tribesmen were slain, but in the end Woonga was driven off.

A swift messenger brought news of the attack and of the old chief’s death to Wabinosh House, and with a dozen men Newsome hastened to the assistance of his betrothed and her people.  A counter attack was made upon Woonga and he was driven deep into the wilderness with great loss.  Three days later Minnetaki became Newsome’s wife at the Hudson Bay Post.

From that hour dated one of the most sanguinary feuds in the history of the great trading company; a feud which, as we shall see, was destined to live even unto the second generation.

Woonga and his tribe now became no better than outlaws, and preyed so effectively upon the remnants of the dead Wabigoon’s people that the latter were almost exterminated.  Those who were left moved to the vicinity of the Post.  Hunters from Wabinosh House were ambushed and slain.  Indians who came to the Post to trade were regarded as enemies, and the passing of years seemed to make but little difference.  The feud still existed.  The outlaws came to be spoken of as “Woongas,” and a Woonga was regarded as a fair target for any man’s rifle.