CANADIAN HISTORY READERS

just below the rapids, sitting apparently on
the water but in reality astride the upturned
boat. The good missionary immediately
guessed the nature of the disaster. A quarter
of a mile farther down were other rapids
which surely would engulf Louis in their
furious elements. Fortunately, before he
reached the second rapids Louis let go the
canoe and swam ashore. At the instructions
of Father Morice, Louis returned through the |
pathless forest to Fort George, thirteen miles
distant, and asked for another canoe and
three men to man it. This untoward drown-
ing accident of the son of the chief placed
Father Morice in a very delicate position,
for, according to the law of the Indians, the
missionary who employed Louis and the
chief's son was responsible for the death of
the latter. In fact, in remote parts of the
district it was believed that the enraged chief
had killed Father Morice.

‘When the new canoe came down, ac-
companied by one which was manned by the
father, the mother and the wife of the
drowned man, it was pitiful to hear the
lamentations; but not only was there no
violence offered the good missionary, nor a

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