He was breathing hard and excitedly.

“Can’t you stay—­and join in the campaign?” he pleaded.

“I can’t,” replied Rod.  “I can’t, Wabi; I’ve got to go home.  You know that.  And you’re going with me.  The regulars can get along without you.  Go back to Detroit with me—­and get your mother to let Minnetaki go with us.”

“Not now, Rod,” said the Indian youth, taking his friend’s hand.  “I won’t be able to go—­now.  Nor Minnetaki either.  They have been having such desperate times here that father has sent her away.  He wanted mother to go, but she wouldn’t.”

“Sent Minnetaki away?” gasped Rod.

“Yes.  She started for Kenogami House four days ago in company with an Indian woman and three guides.  That was undoubtedly their trail you found.”

“And the footprint—­”

“Was hers,” laughed Wabi, putting an arm affectionately around his chum’s shoulders.  “Won’t you stay, Rod?”

“It is impossible.”

He went to his old room, and until suppertime sat alone in silent dejection.  Two great disappointments had fallen upon him.  Wabi could not go home with him—­and he had missed Minnetaki.  The young girl had left a note in her mother’s care for him, and he read it again and again.  She had written it believing that she would return to Wabinosh House before the hunters, but at the end she had added a paragraph in which she said that if she did not do this Rod must make the Post a second visit very soon, and bring his mother with him.

At supper the princess mother several times pressed Minnetaki’s invitation upon the young hunter.  She read to him parts of certain letters which she had received from Mrs. Drew during the winter, and Rod was overjoyed to find that his mother was not only in good health, but that she had given her promise to visit Wabinosh House the following summer.  Wabi broke all table etiquette by giving vent to a warlike whoop of joy at this announcement, and once more Rod’s spirits rose high above his temporary disappointments.

That night the furs were appraised and purchased by the factor for his Company, and Rod’s share, including his third of the gold, was nearly seven hundred dollars.  The next morning the bi-monthly sled party, was leaving for civilization, and he prepared to go with it, after writing a long letter to Minnetaki, which was to be carried to her by the faithful Mukoki.  Most of that night Wabi and his friend sat up and talked, and made plans.  It was believed that the campaign against the Woongas would be a short and decisive one.  By spring all trouble would be over.

“And you’ll come back as soon as you can?” pleaded Wabi for the hundredth time.  “You’ll come back by the time the ice breaks up?”

“If I am alive!” pledged the city youth.

“And you’ll bring your mother?”

“She has promised.”

“And then—­for the gold!”

“For the gold!”