Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-06-16
A Woman Adrift in Labrador.
The Lucky Finding Of a Faithful indian
Guide.

fire, seated on a pile Of balsam branches.
is Na-pi-sh. one OF my Indian guides.
No-ho-po-no, my other guide, has gone to
rest an hour ago.
Na-pi-sh Is silent and motioniess as
bronze statue, save when his eyes follow
the direction Of the sparks as they dart
upward among the treetops, or when he
raises his head to listen. At times he
disappears among the shadows to bring
logs for the fire when II burns low. Il was
in a moment OF need that we became ac-
quainted. and since that time he has been
my guide and friend.
had vainly endeavored to obtain in
formation relative to conditions and nos
sibilities OF travel in southern Labrador;
so 1 started out with provisions. camping
outfit, and letter Of introduction TO the
Hudson Bay factor at Mingan, resolved
to trust to fortune. On my arrival. the
factor informed me that there were no
guides at Mingan. An the Indians are
hunters" he remarked.
Then I must get a hunter to accom-
pany me-" I said. Where are they?"
"A band Of Nontagnies are camped
some distance UP the ST. John river; that
Is sixteen miles west OF here. You must
get an Indian to take you along the coast
in a sailboat; then go up the river in a
canoe"
On receiving this information. I started
out IN search Of an Indian boatTnan. The
frame dwellings Of the Montagnie Indians
were scattered here and there In a clear
ing between the sands and the forest to
the West Of the Hudson Bay post. Only
a few wigwam frames were TO be seen
erected by the hunters from the interior
when they came down 20 the coast to sell
their fuTs.
The coast hunters had long since dis
carded their primitive sbodes The grass
grown circles where the wigwams Of their
fathers had stood were everywhere in
evidence. passed the little church. with
its quaint graveyard enclosed by a wooden
railing. and approaching an aged sQuaw
who sat sewing In front Of her door. 1
asked II she could tell me where could
find a boatman. Her white dog. who was
sleeping with his nose between his paws
Strengthened himself up and began bark
ing. ! was soon surrounded by dogs. my
position becoming not a little dangerous,
and picking up some small stones BEGAN
pelting my demonstrative visitors. Then
appeared a little savage, who rushed on
when spoke to him. and hid behind an
elderly Indian. who was seated on the
ground in a sheltered hollow engaged in
tanning sealskins. In front Of him. sup
ported by three large stones, was a large
caldron. in which some liquid required In
the process Of tanning was boiling He
would stop scraping the sealskins from
time to time to add a brand 10 the FIRE
that cracked underneath the pot
He looked up pleasantly as 1 approach
ed and saluted me in French. This was
indeed encouraging I soon made him ac-
Quainted with the object Of my quest.
He listened with the utmost attention.
and replied. after due elaboration: Ma
pi-sh. my son. viii go with you; he speaks
French. too, and has a saiIboat and a
canoe"
Where is your SOM asked
Over there" he said, pointing: you
will find him"
Engaging a Guide.
On nearing the shore Of the Hudson
on the ground They were laughing and
talking, and. judging from their manner
as l came I'D, felt sure that / was the
subject Of their conversation
Are you Na-pi-sh?' l said TO the elder
Of the two.
Yes, l am Na-pi-sh," he replied.
I saw your father over there and he
said you would take me to the band Of
Montagnie Indians UP the St John river"
said Il wish to get some hunters TO
take me into the interior. ! am going on
a camping expidition.'
He looked surprised. and began talking
in the Cree dialect TO his friend. who
discovered later could not speak French.
and had not followed our conversation.
As spoke saw a smile break through
the stoical expression OF his face
You have a sailboat and cancer"
said
Yes"
Doubtless you understand this coast
weIl?"
Yes. 1 understand the coast" said Ma
pl-sh. but would need another man 10
accompany me"
DO you think you could find one:''
Yes. No-ho-po-no viii go with me-" he
said looking towards his companion.
We then entered into the important
question Of payment, which was soon sat-
isfactorily settled.
How soon can We start?r I asked.
Na-pi-sh looked at the sky and the bay.
and answered Bad weather
There was a strong wind blowing. but
the sun was shining and the waters in the
bay were calm enough. 1 did not know
then that Mingan Island. which lay about
half mile from the shore. formed an
effective breakWater and accounted for
the calm So i said: Never mind the
weather. Wen make a start"
Na-pi-sh looked rather undecided. but
made no reply, and followed by No-ho-po-
no, moved on toward the shore with less
alacrity than could have wished. In less
than an hour. however. was comfortably
rounded by my baggage. A number OF
fishermen had ventured out that morning
but had turned back They were seated
on their barge, which was pulled up on
the sands. They looked amazed when they
saw US put out.
Na-pi-sh sat at the stern. rudder in
hand and No-ho-po-no would glide along
the edge Of the boat with his moccasined
feet to alter the sails or shoot at the
seals that put their heads up above the
water in the most tantalizing manner and
then Owed under.
Soon became conscious Of a loud and
prolonged roaring Of waters. II seemed
Ike the distant thunderings Of the cata-
racts among the mountains But on re-
Election concluded that It must come
from some other direction, as the wind
was not in the north and the mountains
were several miles distant At length I
aked Na-pi-sh the meaning OF this con-
tinuous sound.
1T is the waves breaking on the sands"
he replied.
How can that be-" I said: lit is calm
here"
Wait till We get out from the shelter
Of this island and you win see the waves
and hear them"
few moments later he stood up in the
boat, then leaning forward and shading