Oowikapun | Page 9

and across stormy lakes, through great forests, where fierce
wild beasts were ever ready to spring upon them, and where quaking
bogs were in the way to swallow up those who were for a moment off
their guard. The company was constantly diminishing as they
journeyed on, for the dangers were so many that death in various forms
was constantly cutting them off. The survivors, full of sadness, and
hurried on by some irresistible impulse, could not stop long in the way.
All they could do was to give those who had fallen a hasty burial and
then join in the onward march.
Darker and darker became the sky, and worse and worse seemed the
way; still they were impelled on and on. They had to cross the wide,
stormy lakes, and in every one of them some of the party were lost. In
every rough portage some fell fainting by the way, and sank down to
rise no more. The crouching panther and the fierce wolves in the dense
forests were ever on the alert, and many a man and woman, and even
some of the little children, fell victims to these savage beasts. A feeling
of sadness and despair seemed to take possession of all. Vainly they
called upon the conjurers and medicine-men to get help from their
Manitos to make the ways easier and their sorrows less, and to find out
for them why they were travelling on this trail, and the place to which it
led.
Very unsatisfactory were the answers which they received. They had no
information to give about the trail; yet some said that they had heard
from their forefathers that there was a place called the happy hunting
grounds beyond the high mountains; but the way was long and dark,
and they had no guide to lead them in the gloom, none to tell them how
they could find the passes in the mountains. While thus almost
broken-hearted in the way, the thought came to Oowikapun in his
dream or vision that surely there must be a better trail than this rough
one, wherein so many of the people were perishing so sadly. With this
thought in his mind he resolved, if possible, to break away from the
company, and try to find a safer path. If he failed in his efforts and

perished miserably in his search, why, what did it matter? They were
dying off very rapidly where they were, and things could not be worse.
Then if he succeeded in finding a better road, where the skies were
bright, and the storms came not, and the portages were short and easily
passed, and the breezes on the lakes only wafted them on their way, and
no savage beasts lurked along the trail, and he could find some one who
had been over the way, or could tell him that it ended well, and if he
could succeed in getting his people in this better path, how rejoiced he
and they would be!
Then it seemed in his dream that he made the effort to break away; but
he told no one of what was in his heart or of his resolves, for he was
afraid of being ridiculed by his comrades if he should try and then fail
in his efforts. He found it very hard at first to get out from the old trail;
but he persevered and succeeded, although but slowly at first. He found
the way become smoother, and in some way which he could not
understand help was being given him several times just when he
needed it. Cheering words and sweet songs at times fell upon his ears,
and made him forget that he was alone and footsore in this trying work;
and once when his way led him over a great lake, and he was in a little
boat in which it seemed impossible for him to reach the farther shore,
and he was about to give up in despair, a strong, firm hand took the
little helm, and soon he was safe at his landing place.
From this place the travelling was very much easier, and he journeyed
on, ever looking for the safer trail for his people. Seeing before him a
pleasant hill, he hurried to its summit, and there before him in the
valley, stretching away in the distance on and on until lost in a golden
cloud of brightness, like the sunlight on the waters, he saw a broad trail,
smooth and beautiful, with a great company of happy people walking in
it. As he observed more carefully, he saw that some were Indians, some
white people, and some of other colours; but all seemed so happy,
bright, and joyous, that Oowikapun wept as he thought of the unhappy
condition