92 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. CHAP. vi. 



Domenique some tobacco now, and a coat to Michel, lie 

 no think white man tell lies.' 



I took the hint, and told one of the men to give the 

 chief a dozen pieces of tobacco, together with some flour, 

 pork, and tea to his squaw. This little piece of diplomacy 

 having been finished, I brought a flannel shirt, a rough 

 blue Hudson's Bay coat with brass buttons, and a pair of 

 buffalo moccasins. Laying them at the feet of the chief, 

 I told Louis to tell him that these were the clothes I 

 would give now to his son, and a complete suit when we 

 arrived at the Moisie Bay on our return. 



Domenique spoke again to his squaw, and also to 

 Michel. Turning round and looking at me, he said, 

 'Who is to steer my canoe if anything happens to my 

 son ? Who is to hunt for these little ones if anything 

 happens to me ? He is my only treasure my only son. 

 These are little children yet ; it will be many years before 

 they can be sons like this one.' 



'Tell him we will return his son safely to him; we 

 only want him to show us the portages on the old Mon- 

 tagnais road to Ashwanipi.' 



When this had been interpreted to Domenique, he drew 

 himself up, raised his arm above his head, with dilated 

 eyes looked me in the face, and in a loud voice said : 



' Michel shall go with you ; but if you do not bring 

 him safe back, I follow you to the sea, to the woods, to 

 the place where you live. You '11 remember me until you 

 die, and you '11 die soon if you do not bring my Michel 

 back to rne safe.' 



' Tell him again, Louis, that I will take care of him, and 

 bring him safe back.' 



