Factors of the Hudson's Bay
Company, coureurs de bois, and voyageurs had come among them at times,
and once the renowned Father Lacombe, the Jesuit priest, had stayed with
them three months; but never to this day had they seen a Protestant
mikonaree, though once a factor, noted for his furious temper, his powers
of running, and his generosity, had preached to them. These men, however,
were both over fifty years old. The Athabascas did not hunger for the
Christian religion, but a courier from Edmonton had brought them word
that a mikonaree was coming to their country to stay, and they put off
their stoical manner and allowed themselves the luxury of curiosity. That
was why even the squaws and papooses came up the river with the braves,
all wondering if the stranger had brought gifts with him, all eager for
their shares; for it had been said by the courier of the tribe that
"Oshondonto," their name for the newcomer, was bringing mysterious loads
of well-wrapped bales and skins. Upon a point below the first rapids of
the Little Manitou they waited with their camp-fires burning and their
pipe of peace.
When the canoes bearing Oshondonto and his voyageurs shot the rapids to
the song of the river,
"En roulant, ma boule roulant,
En roulant, ma boule!"
with the shrill voices of the boatmen rising to meet the cry of the
startled water-fowl, the Athabascas crowded to the high banks.
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