“Woonga make good fight.  What for go again into wolf trap?”

And so they reluctantly gave up the notion of carrying the big head of the bull moose back to the Post.

A little before noon of the second day they saw Lake Nipigon from the top of a hill.  Columbus when he first stepped upon the shore of his newly discovered land was not a whit happier than Roderick Drew when that joyous youth, running out upon the snow-covered ice, attempted to turn a somersault with his snow-shoes on!

Just over there, thought Rod—­just over there—­a hundred miles or so, is Minnetaki and the Post!  Happy visions filled his mind all that afternoon as they traveled across the foot of the lake.  Three weeks more and he would see his mother—­and home.  And Wabi was going with him!  He seemed tireless; his spirits were never exhausted; he laughed, whistled, even attempted to sing.  He wondered if Minnetaki would be very glad to see him.  He knew that she would be glad—­but how glad?

Two days more were spent in circling the lower end of the lake.  Then their trail turned northward, and on the second evening after this, as the cold red sun was sinking in all that heatless glory of the great North’s day-end, they came out upon a forest-clad ridge and looked down upon the House of Wabinosh.

And as they looked—­and as the burning disk of the sun, falling down and down behind forest, mountain and plain, bade its last adieu to the land of the wild, there came to them, strangely clear and beautiful, the notes of a bugle.

And Wabi, listening, grew rigid with wonder.  As the last notes died away the cheers that had been close to his lips gave way to the question, “What does that mean?”

“A bugle!” said Rod.

As he spoke there came to their ears the heavy, reverberating boom of a big gun.

“If I’m not mistaken,” he added, “that is a sunset salute.  I didn’t know you had—­soldiers—­at the Post!”

“We haven’t,” replied the Indian youth.  “By George, what do you suppose it means?”

He hurried down the ridge, the others close behind him.  Fifteen minutes later they trailed out into the open near the Post.  A strange change had occurred since Rod and his companions had last seen Wabinosh House.  In the open half a dozen rude log shelters had been erected, and about these were scores of soldiers in the uniform of his Majesty, the King of England.  Shouts of greeting died on the hunters’ lips.  They hastened to the dwelling of the factor, and while Wabi rushed in to meet his mother and father Rod cut across to the Company’s store.  He had often found Minnetaki there.  But his present hope was shattered, and after looking in he turned back to the house.  By the time he had reached the steps a second time the princess mother, with Wabi close behind her, came out to welcome him.

Wabi’s face was flushed with excitement.  His eyes sparkled.

“Rod, what do you think!” he exclaimed, after his mother had gone back to see to the preparation of their supper.  “The government has declared war on the Woongas and has sent up a company of regulars to wipe ’em out!  They have been murdering and robbing as never before during the last two months.  The regulars start after them to-morrow!”