The visits, however, were repeated so often for the same purpose, that I at length found it advisable to give a denial, by proxy, not wishing to part on bad terms with him, if possible, on account of the spring hunt.  I absented myself from the house, having instructed my interpreter how to act.  I took my station in a small grove of pines, close by, watching for the appointed signal to apprise me of the departure of the Indian.  My attention was suddenly arrested by most doleful cries at the house; and presently the voice of my interpreter was heard, calling me loudly by name.  I ran at the top of my speed, and arrived just in time to save the life of a poor old woman, who had been making sugar in my neighbourhood.  I found the father and two sons, both approaching manhood, in a complete state of nudity, dancing round the body of their victim (to all appearance dead), their bodies besmeared with blood, and exulting in the barbarous deed they had committed.  My interpreter informed me, that as soon as they observed the old woman approaching the house, the Christian father told his sons that now was the time to take revenge for the death of their brother, whose life had been destroyed by this woman’s “bad medicine.”  We drove the wretches away, and carried the miserable woman into the house; and so dreadfully bruised and mangled were her head and face, that not the least trace of her features could be distinguished.  At the end of a month she recovered sufficiently to crawl about.  Her son passed in the spring, with an excellent hunt.  When I related to him the manner his mother had been treated by the Indians, and the care I had taken of her, he coolly replied that he was sure they were bad Indians.  “It was very charitable of you,” said he, “to have taken so much care of the old woman.  Come to my wigwam next winter, and I shall trade with you, and treat you well.”  In the meantime every skin he had went to our opponents, although he was deeply indebted to the Company.

CHAPTER VI.

TRIP TO FORT COULONGE—­MR. GODIN—­NATIVES.

A large canoe arrived from Montreal about the latter end of June, by which I received orders to proceed to Fort Coulonge, situated about eighty miles higher up the Ottawa, to relieve the person then in charge of that post.  I accordingly embarked in the same canoe, accompanied by my young friend Mr. MacDougal, who joined me last autumn, and who kindly volunteered to proceed along with me to my destination.  This canoe was under the charge of people hired for the trip, and directed by the bowsman, or guide.  I soon discovered that I was considered merely as a piece of live lumber on board.  My companion and myself were reduced to the necessity of cooking our own victuals, or of going without them.  We pitched our tent as best we could, and packed it up in the morning without the slightest offer of assistance from the crew.